Here we go again!

Today is Sunday, August 24, 2025:

Since I moved to Oregon three or four years ago, I've tried to start writing in my blog several times! Each time it gets too sad and I just quit, this time I'm not quitting!

Excitement last night, just got home, all the alarms in the house went off. For one thing, there are only two windows in this whole place that actually open. Two. Out of many. It’s like the house is playing hard-to-get with fresh air. The whole place stays warm, partly because there are no fans in the attic, and partly because apparently “ventilation” was just a suggestion to the builders.

But I’ll say this: I love all the cabinetry, and the doors are gorgeous. So, at least if I suffocate, it’ll be in style.

Out front, though? Chef’s kiss. There’s a gorgeous garden with multiple levels, stairs leading up to the road in a couple of places, and—oh, did I mention—an actual waterfall and a pond. Yes, a pond. I can already see myself sitting out there a lot. It’s just gorgeous. (Did I already say “gorgeous”? Well, it is. Deal with it.)

The house itself is painted barn red. Now, as much as I love barns, I’m not exactly thrilled about living in one. I’m planning to hold off on any major color changes until I’ve lived here a year and figured out which projects really matter. Adult patience, blah blah.

Now here’s where it gets cool: I’ve been messing around with ChatGPT. I can upload a picture of a room in the house, and it shows me exactly what it would look like with different styles, colors, furniture—you name it. It’s basically like having an HGTV channel in my pocket, minus the fake drama.

Step out the front door, and to the right you’ll find the pond, waterfall, and beautiful garden. Step to the left, though, and it’s a blank canvas: a flat surface that stretches about 65 feet to the end of the house. Width-wise, we’ve got at least 40 feet before we’d have to excavate the hillside. Translation: plenty of room for me to go full “outdoor paradise.”

Here’s what I see: a lovely oversized patio with a barbecue, smoker, pizza oven, a couple of burners, endless counter space, cupboards galore, and a pergola big enough to shade a small kingdom. Add a long dining table for the family, plus couches, loveseats, chairs, and swings for lounging—and boom. A backyard so amazing that my neighbors will probably start making excuses to “borrow sugar” just to hang out here.