Built in 1946, it is a strange and organic little beast with 6 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms - I have dubbed it Frankencasa. It has roofs on top of roofs and additions bodged and glued and contraptionized. Someone handy and with a good deal of knowledge in "ethnic engineering" lived here last. However, it has been empty for nearly a year until I've come upon it with a rake, shears, and a vengeance.

OK, so those that know me know that my mother passed away last year - will be one year come July 11th. I moved into my dad's house when he said he couldn't live there anymore - he saw her everywhere. Well, he's feeling a lot better now and didn't want to toss over ownership, which left me house hunting.

After more than enough false starts, we finally find a place that we're thoroughly in love with and - it has no door knobs, plug covers, an unfinished ceiling etc. VA wont give us the loan unless those little things are done - the Seller (a bank owned foreclosure) would do nothing. So my fella and I bust ass to get a motley list of 14 odds and ends over three days to make the deadline - before we own the house. Long story short, closing is set for May 30th.

I built the 4' diameter firepit yesterday so I could burn a years worth of leaves today.

I stink not so pretty.