Montauk.

Some of you who know me well are aware of the fact that I've been drooling over Montauk sofas for a while (about 3 years).  I  had it planned out for years - I was going to get the 'Julian' sofa in the 1015 Natural Linen fabric.  The people at the Montauk store knew me well, that "girl who's gonna buy a sofa, just once she gets a house".  Grant and I would go and visit our future sofa every time we were in that part of town.


We saved for this expense for a long time. I'm not a new furniture kind of person - 99% of the things we have are either a hand-me down (beautiful hand-me-downs, though) or a reclaimed/salvaged pieces from the Salvation Army. We also have a few road-side picks (props to Idalia). But this was one thing I was not willing to compromise on. I was going to have a Montauk.


So, even before the ink had dried on the real-estate papers, we headed to Montauk to order our sofa.  It was one of those surreal days - days I only dreamt about. We marched in, went to the counter and very matter-of-factly said, "I'll take 1 of those and a little friend to go along" (the little friend was a single 'Wingback' chair).


(Actually, it didn't happen exactly like that.... we played the whole "we're unsure if we're going to get anything..." customer,  hummed and hawed. Can't show your hand...even though they kinda knew me by name by then.)


Grant, being the salesman he is, got us a sweet deal on the 2, which is just a reminder that everything is negotiable.  A lot negotiable. Even if they say it isn't.

A few weeks later, the truck rolled up. Again, a surreal moment. However, they forgot to deliver the single wingback chair, so that was going to come later.  But my dream sofa was here.


It was well covered in plastic. Since Grant was making an ultimate mess in the house with the re-wiring (more on that in another blog), I thought it best to leave it covered until the mess was done.


But I couldn't wait that long. On moving day, we removed the plastic.  I needed to lay upon the lap of luxury that is Montauk..... (sigh)  ;)


Dream come true.

March, April and May showers bring me flowers (and dessert)

My favourite thing about being a homeowner is having a yard.... ok, having laundry, a dishwasher and a 6 burner stove is great too.... but none compare to the yard.  


When we first saw the place in March, the yard was brown and dead - not so impressive. By the time the house became 'ours' there were ferns popping out everywhere and oodles of plants to identify. This is heaven for a girl that spend an entire summer wandering around the city of Hamilton with a waterbottle and her GPS unit, identifying and recording the health and status city trees while getting chased off front lawns by unruly dogs and/or Italian grandmothers. 


However, I wholeheartedly admit that the state of my front yard is a little embarrassing. A huge black umbrella of a Crimson King Norway Maple (hence the lack of grass anywhere in the front), a half dead cherry tree, 2 random rhubarb shrubs right smack in the middle of our entranceway (more on that later), and one very unknown tree/shrub.  The only redeeming quality of the front yard is the lovely White Pine right against the porch. The Smoke Bush is ok too. 


I have big plans for you, front yard. And it will involve a chain saw. But I thought it would probably not be the best thing to move in and serenade my neighbours with the ring of a chainsaw the very first day.... gives the wrong impression... That day is coming though.


In the meantime, I made a pie out of the rhubarb (might as well eat it away). A first on 2 fronts: 
1) the first pie I ever made; 
2) the first time I harvested something 'from the land' (from 'my' land). 


I feel a bit like a farmer. It feels good.

First World Problem

Grant and I went on our first public transportation day-adventure in downtown Toronto on Saturday. There were 2 highlights from this trip:

1) World Naked Bike Ride Day was on. 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sniderscion/5823293434/

Nothing like sitting in Fresh having a Dragon Bowl for lunch and looking up to see this. Bon appetit! 

2) Herman Miller chair guy.

We walked into one of the fancy-pants design furniture stores on King b/c they were having a sale on chairs that I love. We went to the back and started sampling the office chairs. There was another guy there about 30 minutes ahead of us doing the exact same thing - except he was actually considering a purchase (we were just dreaming).  He gave us the low-down on every chair, and had it narrowed down to 2 or 3.  Big choice though - do you spend $2500 on the absolutely awesome chair, or $2000 on the very comfortable chair, or $1500 on the good enough chair, but not as good as the other 2 (I mean, come on, you've come this far....what's another $1000 for  perfection?). The intensity!! The pressure of such a big decision!! Heaven forbid you make the WRONG decision and drop $2000 on a chair and get home and realize you'd make the wrong choice!! WHAT TO DO??

Then he muttered the BEST thing I've heard in a long time... "First-World problem, First-World problem."  What a clarifying moment. Yes, deciding which ridiculously expensive chair to buy was indeed a First-World problem. 

So, this is my new thing. When the pressure to buy expensive house stuff is on, don't let it get to you - just breath and think, "First-World problem".  That should give it some perspective.

Little City Syndrome

So, some background first.


Grant and I just bought our first house. And it happens to be in Toronto. This is a big deal for me on 2 fronts:
1) It's my first house.
2) It's in a big city.


Having grown up in a small city (yes, Chatham is a city!), I still have little city syndrome, even though we've lived in Oakville (25 minutes away) for the past 6 years. I still prefer that Grant drives downtown so I can ogle at the big buildings and the important people walking out of them.


So, it's an exciting time in my life, and I thought it would be a good time to document my experiences moving to 'the big smoke' and being a first-time homeowner. Normally, things are not as exciting all at once. Must take advantage of this - hence, this blog.

Land-Line Girl

I didn't wake up this morning thinking I was going to start a blog.  I always thought it wasn't me.... I planned on being one of those people who 'didn't go there' - who didn't feel the need to be like every other 12-39 year old who's addicted to social media.  Hell - I hate updating my Facebook profile, and I don't even have a cellphone.


Wait.


That's a lie. I do have one, but it's an old flip phone that I only use for 'emergency purposes' (aka Pay-As-You-Go, aka, I-Never-Use-It). And if I need it, most of the time the battery is dead b/c I forget I even have it. So, I would say that I don't have a cell phone - not the way that 'normal' people do. I am a land-line girl.


Ok, so the land-line girl is starting a blog... a bit of an oxymoron (but not ironic - let's not go there yet).  I guess I finally realized that I can participate in social media without becoming a social media crackhead.  I sit in front of a computer all day anyway. Might as well have a little fun with it.