I’m starting a blog here to keep friends and family updated on the purchase and construction of my first home. I’ll keep pictures and updates rolling as they happen.

So far, it looks like we close on Nov 1, 2006 and will begin our move-in process then. But, let’s start at the beginning, shall we?

Ann and I have been contemplating buying a new home for over 5 years, but little planning and saving went on. We knew we were going to stay in the Denver Metro area here in Colorado and we wanted Ann’s mom, Barbara, to move in with us.

Ann is very busy working for Opera Colorado and Central City Opera as their Wardrobe Manager, in charge of all costuming for their productions. In their off-seasons, she also works with other smaller theatre companies in Golden and Denver doing Costume Design as well as running the entire costume process for them. Ann has several worker bees that she can call on as needed for the various work she does and is very happy in her work. Ann’s profession is not a common one, and good people are hard to find. This puts Ann in the postion of being in high demand… just how she likes it. She complains often about how busy and exhausted she is but, really, she wouldn’t have it any other way.

Barbara is technically retired now. She makes cloth dolls and quilts for a variety of competitions and she teaches doll-making classes in several locations (www.DollsOfCloth.com). She also does lots of sewing work for Ann as a side job to help Ann with her production schedules.

I am self-employed as a web design and hosting company and also do computer repairs, upgrades, maintenance, etc. My business has been running for almost 3 years now and, while provides a fun, flexible and enjoyable job, doesn’t quite cover all the bills. I usually keep a second job at the same time and, fortunately, Ann has been able to cover us when I don’t. I plan on having a second job in late July, but that will be for another post. I have about 20 clients who are all very happy and amazed at what I do for them and their websites. I also have about 3-4 clients who rely on me for their home office computers as well as their websites. For these select few, they claim me to be a vital part of their business plan.

So, that’s enough about us. It’s time to start blogging about the house!

Update, September 06:

Last month Barbara decided not to move in with us as she was not yet ready to give up her independence. I did get the second job and, as it turns out, we can afford the house without her.

I’m working for Deep Rock Water as an outside salesman. Deep Rock is a 100+ year old company that bottles water from a protected artesian aquifer 852 feet below Denver. It’s a government-monitored, protected water source that only three companies are allowed to draw from: Deep Rock Water, Sierra Springs and The Brown Palace Hotel. Deep Rock is, by far, the number one water company in the Denver Metro Area, Colorado Springs, Pueblo and Fort Collins, and have been for a very long time. The work is good and gets me out of the house on a daily basis. It’s a nice change, and my computer chair is probably enjoying the relief.

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