Time to eat crow. Pass the Tabasco, please.

*Your picture here*

Okay, I've already made fun of New Year's resolutions saying nobody ever follows through, but I'm having second thoughts about the subject.  For the past year my friend Pixel has been updating us on her "54 by 54" project....54 things she wants to do/try before her 54th birthday.  Now Bug wants to do something similar and has listed a few things on her blog.  One of them struck a nerve with me:  She wants to pay off a considerable chunk of her debt.

K and I need to do the same.  I say "need", which isn't true.  We can easily afford our lifestyle and service our debt, but still, it's debt.  Ewwww!  If we didn't have that debt we could perhaps take some of those exotic vacations we've dreamed of.  Other than that I don't really want for anything.  

K, on the other hand, has dropped hints recently about us buying/building a home.  I have no burning desire for one, but I'm not opposed, either.  I've had many homes over the past 35 years and what I remember most is the work that comes with them.  All K sees is decorating it just the way she wants, with all the features she's seen on Pintrest (?) and in magazines.  If I could find a suitable property I could probably build one for what we're paying now in monthly rent, so financially it makes sense.  And of course I want her to be happy....a pretty powerful argument.

Still, that debt (much of it medical related) complicates either travel or a new home.  Our big vices are dining out and buying books/magazines.  As things are now we can't walk out our apartment door without dropping $20-$40.  It would be quite a shock to stay in more and eat "Helper", but it would probably be a good exercise in self-control.  I think we need to do this.

Resolution.

S

New home photos

For the past 10 months my brother and I have been building a new custom home for Mr. & Ms. "W".  We put the finishing touches on it today, and tomorrow their family is moving in.  It has 6,000 square feet of living space, plus an over-sized 3-car garage, a large covered patio, an upstairs balcony, and a 600 sq. ft. unfinished bonus room suitable for future conversion.  It is valued at $1.3M (Dallas money, as opposed to California money or Manhattan money....BIG difference).  As promised, photos (you can left click to enlarge if you wish):

The front facade is mainly native stone, with brick accents.

Entry is through a pair of 9' tall custom steel doors with wrought iron accents.

The foyer features a curving staircase leading up to a Juliet balcony.

The view from the Juliet balcony.  The space above the door is a reading room accessible from the upstairs "children's study".

To the left off the foyer is the study.  NOTE:  These photos were taken before the wood floors had their final application of polyurethane sealer.

To the right off the foyer is the formal dining room.

Further back is the family room with views of the rear yard, and open to the kitchen, too.

Ahh...the kitchen.

The kitchen features true gourmet-quality appliances....Wolf range, ovens (3), warming drawer, and microwave, 48" Sub-Zero refrigerator, Asko dishwasher, plus an instant hot water dispenser, a pot-filler over the range, etc.  

And a pantry in need of....everything.

A hallway behind the kitchen connects to a mother-in-law suite with en suite bath....

...and a media room / home theater.  The electronics will come later.

The utility (futility?) room....

...and a small mud room for the "chirren"...

...accessible directly from the 3-car garage.

That's enough for now.  I'll bore you with more later.   :)

S