Sunday in Suburbia: The Search is Over

Well my dears - looks like we have ourselves a house.  A true suburban abode right in the midst of northern Atlanta's neighborhoodacropolis. 

Backyard

About two days after our heartbreaker (Loosing a Bidding War) we went to the other side of suburbia to check out a new listing.  The price was the same as the heartbreaker as was most of the finishes and square footage.  The yard of the new one was nicer, but it felt a lot more like a typical neighborhood kind of house - Mr. Suburbia.  Less character than the one we loved.  So...we decided to keep on a-lookin'.   Then an interesting prospect out near the heartbreaker came on the market.  A four side brick ranch with a partial unfinished basement, a pool and a 1 acre fairly private lot.  We went, we saw, we liked, we offered.  I barely slept that night.  I woke up wondering if we made a horrible mistake.  We loved everything about the house, but it was rather tiny.  At about 1800 square feet and only 3 bedroom and 2 bathrooms we wondered how we were going to have two kids + my home office + room for in-laws to come stay.  The unfortunate reality was - we wouldn't.  Sure people do it all the time.  The kids have to bunk together a few days while the grandparents squeeze into a full size bed in the other kid room.  But where does my office go?  I need space for all the drawing storage...However, this house was the exact same price as Mr. Suburbia on the other side of town.  And Mr. Suburbia had 6 bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms and no pool or septic tank to have to maintain.  Crap...now what do we do?

Chicken and Dumplings

Well, I've had a lot of misses lately in the kitchen.  They have been good dishes, but need some tweaking before I suggest to anyone to cook them!  However, this Crockpot version of Chicken and Dumplings is a keeper.  I've added some onions, carrots and mushrooms to the traditional version and I like the additions.  Also decided to post the recipe using recipe cards.  Why did I not think of making recipe cards sooner?  Perhaps because I have been trying to do too many things lately, and therefore nothing is really being done successfully...which is the opposite of what I believe in!  Therefore I am re-evaluating a few things... hence why I have not posted in like three weeks.  Some people may think recipe cards are outdated, but I still use them frequently.  I am way to clumsy and my current kitchen is way too small to have my laptop in there as I cook.  Maybe one day I'll have a special kitchen laptop that I don't have to worry about ruining with the mess I create as I cook, but for now I prefer printing the cards and saving the computer from disaster.

Monday Menu Makeover: Fish in Parchment

Fish in Parchment

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The first time I did this dish was super senior year in college (IE: I took the five year plan).  It was for my dear friend Laura's birthday who I have known since 7th grade.  I forgot about preparing fish this way for a while now, but it is the absolute best way to make fish!  The flavors slowly seep into the fish and it cooks in its own juices creating a very moist and subtly flavorful fillet.  

Saturday in Suburbia: Loosing a Bidding War

House Hunting Tip of the Week: Bidding Wars STINK  

Not Becoming Emotionally Attached is Harder than you Think

Here we are in March, our last month on our regular rent rate and six months into the house search, and we are still not under contract. On Monday a new listing came on the market.  From the photos the house seemed wonderful; adorable front porch, wood floors throughout first floor, neutral paint throughout, updated counters and sinks in the kitchen, half bath, and master bath, and BIG rooms.    

Late morning on Wednesday we pull into the driveway in front of the drive under garage.  The quaint neighborhood with charming house after charming house already pulled at my heart, as well as the short drive into downtown Alpharetta, an area full of good old fashioned mom & pop stores.  Walking around the path to the front porch I let out a sigh, "ah, how ideal."  The curb appeal  was already apparent and with a few flower boxes at the rails on the front porch along with some color in the flower beds this house would be a dream.

From Curb Appeal on HGTV ~ What I envisioned for the front porch.