County Livin'

So not only am I living in a house without a sidewalk for the first time in my life, but I also now live on a gravel road! Don't get me wrong this was not a house Andy had to talk me into by any means, I liked the idea of having a yard bigger than a city lot and still do. I continue to love the location, but I have to say it's been a bit of an adjustment for this self-proclaimed city slicker and still continues to be. But this afternoon, on our walk, with a canopy of turing leaves over head and the crunch of gravel under foot I knew without a doubt that this home will be a place of much joy for this family! So here are a few photos of the new pad, but I'll be posting more outdoor shots as the leaves change and we get outside to do more playing, now that our week of rain has finally come to a close. One of my favorite things about the house is the open floor plan on the main floor between the living room, a huge kitchen, and dining room. It's been so nice to be able to keep up with what what's going on in the living room while I'm getting meals ready! This is the view from the living room looking into the kitchen and dining room.This is the view from the kitchen looking toward the living room. The doors to the right of the sliding door lead upstairs to what I've come to refer to as the "boy cave." But don't let the name fool you, there's nothing cave like about it.

At the top of the steps there's a big open area, which will serve as the playroom (seen below). The boys bedrooms are to each side and their bathroom wraps around the stairway you've just climbed, sort of behind you to your right. My hope is that we'll be able contain all the toys and excitement that goes along with being a boy in their space (is that too much to ask, since I am giving them the entire upper level to do their thing, for pete's sake).
Not shown on the main floor is a hall that leads to the master bedroom and bath and laundry room, as well as a half bath. Andy's favorite part of the house is the basement, it's a walkout and it's huge, but unfinished at the moment. Andy's organizing a space for his workshop and scheming up a plan for a theatre (that's what they call them in the Porter homes), and I have my eye set on a space that will be a scrapbooking and sewing space. It has the electrical, heating, plumbing, and egress windows set up so that it could easily have two additional bedrooms and a bath finished down there someday. Definitely enough space for us now and as the boys grow. Until I can snatch a few more spare moments to write, I hope you are able to catch a few spare moments of your own to experience the beauty that is autumn!