The first thing I had to do was figure out where I was going to sit down. I had some furniture and a lot of small stuff, but I didn't have a couch or even a chair. I decided to invest in a nice couch that would fit a few friends. Whether people are coming over to watch a football game or enjoy a fire in the fireplace, I wanted to have enough seating for more than a couple friends to hang out. Here's the Den at the house! Unfortunately we don't have central air conditioning, so you can see the box fan at work. I'm considering the idea of knocking out that wall to put in a sliding glass door to increase airflow and access to the back porch! Right now the entrance is a side door through the laundry room behind the Den. It's not really an ideal location to easily get in and out from outside, where I'd love to spend 98% of the time I'm at home.
I obtained a couple things during my time down here including the TV above and the table below from Laura as a family she was nannying for moved out and generously gave away some of their things. I'm not the biggest fan of the railing and carpeted dining room floor, but I'm continually reminding myself that this house is more of an investment toward my future than a place for me to invest my finances.
One of the things I enjoyed the most when I first saw this house was the large kitchen. For some reason, apartments and rent-able homes never have enough kitchen space. Apparently if you don't own, then you're not expected to want kitchen space. We comfortably had 6 people making 3 completely separate dinners in this kitchen a couple weeks ago. With the help of the grill outside, we cooked it all up and barely got in each other's way! I've been utilizing the grill a lot, but the kitchen has also been great. Since moving, I've started a workout routine that has me leaving the house between 5:30-6 every morning. That has me in bed pretty early, so I have been trying to cook a week's worth of meals every weekend... all made possible by the huge kitchen!
I had intended to put this final picture on here and let everyone know that I have a sweet room up for grabs! Well... I've been praying with expectation a lot lately, and God has done more than I ever thought He'd want to do to bless me. One of the things I asked for was that God would provide me with someone to live in the final room that would be a good addition to the house. After Laura came across a Craigslist ad for a guy needing a room a few days ago, I contacted him about the room I have available. He came and checked it out and couldn't believe I was going to rent it to him for the price I asked! I told him, if he's going to help me pay my mortgage, then I'm going to help him save some money for his future. I haven't talked to him much since he stopped by, but he wants the room and he'll be moving in soon! It's such a great blessing to ask and receive! But, if all this excites you, and you want to check out what Charleston has to offer, then feel free to let me know and take Brandon's spot when he goes back to school at the end of August!
I've started some sweet projects now that things are finally getting settled down inside! I bought some plants and I'm starting a butterfly garden in the front of the house hoping to get some colorful visitors throughout the summer months. I dug up some Sago Palm pups from around town and I'm working on potting them and caring for them until I can transplant them in front of the house to add a little pizzazz. I also got a couple ferns for the woods along the edge of the house, where I've actually already had Mississippi Kites nesting!
This is one of the fledglings that was flying around the house one day. They did really well in the air, but landing was still a trick they had to master. When I saw them I headed onto the roof hoping for some good shots, but this is the best I got. The way they landed was similar to a child falling on their butt. In order to take more care in landing, the kites would spread their wings and just fall onto the leaves around the branch they wanted to land on, then search with their feet until they found the branch! It was a pretty cool sight, and it's definitely a blessing to have such a cool part of creation reproducing in my yard.
I've also had at least 6 deer at one time in the yard, along with tree frogs, lizards and a poisonous snake nearby (I was excited to take his picture, but I'm definitely keeping my eye out for him!)
Brandon and I have set the kayak out to sea twice now from the boat launch a half mile from the house. Both times we've gone out to an uninhabited island called Caper's Island and collected driftwood. It's a pretty interesting paddle. If we launch too close to low tide, we end of battling pluff mud and oyster beds on the way out. If we don't time it right on the way back in, we encounter the same thing. Then the route takes us across the intercoastal waterway into some fairly open water as we head out the inlet between Caper's Island and Dewee's Island. Caper's is a very popular spot for camping and weekend beach activities for boaters, but it's a beautiful island and a very relaxing retreat from home. There's a ton of driftwood lining the beach, so I finally have all but two pieces that I need to build a sweet coffee table! I've realized by owning this home that things are a lot cooler when they're free!
The projects will continue, and I hope to continue being able to tell cool stories. I really want my home to be a place of peace for my friends here, and also a place for visitors to find rest. God has blessed me with so much over the last couple years, and I believe that's because He wanted me to share it with the people around me. I believe that everything God has given me, He's given me as a gift to share with the people around me in order to deepen relationships with friends, family and even strangers sometimes. My house is your house. Mi casa es tu casa. Please come visit and enjoy the history, beaches and food Charleston has to offer!
Love you guys! Thank you so much for the prayers! As children of God, He cares for us as a father cares for his children. He wants the best for us and will give us the best if we honor Him with the little things!
