The Front Porch Swing

[heartsizedfarm]

My dad used to take me dress shopping when I was a teen. I think because I was so self critical I couldn't stand it, and my mother was no good because she loved clothes and just didn't get me.

I remember having to buy a prom dress and my dad's advice was something to the effect of, if you say to yourself that's a pretty dress, well that's not the one. But if you say to yourself what a pretty GIRL, then that's the right one.

He's been gone ten years now but he is still with me in the dressing room when I'm trying things on! Last time I went clothes shopping I couldn't find anything nice at all and I complained to him "why can't I find anything nice?" And I could hear his voice clear as a bell "Because you're in a *********** thrift shop, stupid! Go to a proper ladies dress shop and spend a little bit of money on yourself for a change!"

 

[Triple Willow]

My dad used to take me dress shopping when I was a teen. I think because I was so self critical I couldn't stand it, and my mother was no good because she loved clothes and just didn't get me.

I remember having to buy a prom dress and my dad's advice was something to the effect of, if you say to yourself that's a pretty dress, well that's not the one. But if you say to yourself what a pretty GIRL, then that's the right one.

He's been gone ten years now but he is still with me in the dressing room when I'm trying things on! Last time I went clothes shopping I couldn't find anything nice at all and I complained to him "why can't I find anything nice?" And I could hear his voice clear as a bell "Because you're in a *********** thrift shop, stupid! Go to a proper ladies dress shop and spend a little bit of money on yourself for a change!"

Now that's a good dad.

 

[Tomtommom]

Watcha think? Pretty aint it?

Hubby dug the hole all by himself (by hand) over the past few weeks... they delivered it this morning. Gotta have a surveyor check if it's far enough from the property line, before the county will sign off on the permit... and then put all that dirt around it.

Hubby was grinning like a kid at Christmas this morning

I'm happy he's happy. Nice to have a safe spot close to home. And we ended up spending less than we were expecting, since we went with a smaller shelter.. and did the installation ourselves. I think we ended up spending a little under $3500, that includes taxes, permit, gravel and buying some tools for the job. Not too shabby. Put it on a 0% APR card so we can make payments every month

 

[mimischicksnat]

Duane, Omelette, and Enchillada are helping me weed my raspberries.

We have a black raspberry patch that is SO hard to maintain. Wouldn't they destroy the raspberries?

 

[wyoDreamer]

Watcha think? Pretty aint it?

Hubby dug the hole all by himself (by hand) over the past few weeks... they delivered it this morning. Gotta have a surveyor check if it's far enough from the property line, before the county will sign off on the permit... and then put all that dirt around it.

Hubby was grinning like a kid at Christmas this morning

I'm happy he's happy. Nice to have a safe spot close to home. And we ended up spending less than we were expecting, since we went with a smaller shelter.. and did the installation ourselves. I think we ended up spending a little under $3500, that includes taxes, permit, gravel and buying some tools for the job. Not too shabby. Put it on a 0% APR card so we can make payments every month

Congrats on the safe place!

It sounds like a lot of work went into it, but the load of worry off the mind is so totally worth it. With some landscaping and some time for things to grow it will look great. How high do you backfill it? Just to the top or do you make a hill over it?

We do alot of deals on the 0% for 12 months deals on store credit cards. DH believes in the "why use our money when we can use theirs" mentality. Almost always, we have the lump of cash sitting in the bank so we could pay it off immediately if need be, but this gives us a slush fund in case of emergency. It also really helps with the big purchases, since you have to use credit to have a high credit score. Our credit score is the only reason we could buy the second place in WI while we still owned a this place in WY.

Oh ya, hope you never have to use it!

 

[jmoeller]

Watcha think? Pretty aint it?

Hubby dug the hole all by himself (by hand) over the past few weeks... they delivered it this morning. Gotta have a surveyor check if it's far enough from the property line, before the county will sign off on the permit... and then put all that dirt around it.

Hubby was grinning like a kid at Christmas this morning

I'm happy he's happy. Nice to have a safe spot close to home. And we ended up spending less than we were expecting, since we went with a smaller shelter.. and did the installation ourselves. I think we ended up spending a little under $3500, that includes taxes, permit, gravel and buying some tools for the job. Not too shabby. Put it on a 0% APR card so we can make payments every month

Very happy for you. I wouldn't ever consider a home with out a basement not just because we have to much junk, but for tornados as well. I realize building in Wi is different than Al. but I'm very glad you will be safe now. The piece of mind knowing it is in your back yard will be worth every penny.

We have a black raspberry patch that is SO hard to maintain. Wouldn't they destroy the raspberries?

MULCH! That is a necessity for my raspberries. I weed once in the spring and mulch like crazy.
The chickens were only in the garden for a few hours. They are residing in my basement at the moment.

I just took them out for a little "field trip" I considered letting the chickens have run of the garden and decided against it because I am afraid of the destruction.

 

[Tomtommom]

My husband grew up in Pleasant Grove, AL... a place partially wiped off the map TWICE. Once in the 90s, again three years ago. Not a lot of homes here with basements... the ones that do have a basement are often the type of homes that have the garage/basement thing going on, which really doesn't offer a lick of protection.

If you look at the satelite image of Pleasant Grove now, you can still see the tornado's path, and that's 3 years later... this was right after. That image still gives me goosebumps. We drove through the area a few weeks after it happened..... it's impossible to even imagine or describe the devastation.

I know my husband will sleep better at night, knowing we have a shelter in place.

 

[heartsizedfarm]

We have a black raspberry patch that is SO hard to maintain.  Wouldn't they destroy the raspberries? 

My chooks can just reach the lowest berries so there's plenty left over.

 

[mimischicksnat]

My chooks can just reach the lowest berries so there's plenty left over.

I don't think Hubs would be willing to share. They are HIS berries (even though I alone maintain the patch), but the chooks are mine...

 

[heartsizedfarm]

My husband grew up in Pleasant Grove, AL... a place partially wiped off the map TWICE. Once in the 90s, again three years ago. Not a lot of homes here with basements... the ones that do have a basement are often the type of homes that have the garage/basement thing going on, which really doesn't offer a lick of protection. If you look at the satelite image of Pleasant Grove now, you can still see the tornado's path, and that's 3 years later... this was right after. That image still gives me goosebumps. We drove through the area a few weeks after it happened..... it's impossible to even imagine or describe the devastation. I know my husband will sleep better at night, knowing we have a shelter in place.

That's an incredibly vivid graphic. Like a long scar.