Choices. So many choices to make when building a home. And our new home build is all about those choices. Bottom line, it comes down to cost and good taste. This week we decided on colors for the exterior of our home and stone for our backsplash and fireplace. I could not be happier with our choices, and I’m going to share them with you here!

For the exterior of our home, we have decided on Cobble Stone Hardie board – board and batten style. For the trim, we have decided on Arctic White. These choices were made after I found this image of this home at dusk with warm interior lighting. I was sold. I called James Hardie and inquired about the color of the siding and trim on this home and they confirmed it for me. I even love the color of the roof on this home. It ties it all together nicely.

And, the columns on the front porch will be Red Cedar, like this …

We haven’t decided on a front door yet, but we are fairly sure we want a double door for the front door, the same or similar color as the columns, and the garage doors we think will look nice in a stain that will be complimentary to the columns on the front of the house as well. I’m thinking, just enough wood to make it rustic without being too much.

And so it goes, we are preparing our house plans, signing contracts, calling about Perc tests, siting the home on the property, and trying not to panic. Breathe … Breathe … it will be okay. Yeah, that. Forgive me if I’m experiencing a bit of anxiety over this HUGE project and life changing experience ahead of us this year. We have a wonderful builder, and the Good Lord taking care of us in this retirement journey of ours.

And speaking of retirement – looks like Bob and I will be focused on our crafting, quilting, landscaping, fine art businesses full time going forward. Bob is very qualified for AI IT Executive leadership roles, but it doesn’t look like any company wants to take on a man who is 63y/o. Sad, really. His experience is exceptional, as has been his career for the last 30 years. He brings a lot of knowledge and experience to the table, but nope … these companies pass over him more often than not. A few even take him on several interviews right up to the CEO, only to come back and say “We’ve decided not to fill this role now after all,” or something like that. It’s not like they can come right out and say “Yep, you have great experience, and your resume is outstanding, but you are 63y/o, and we really want someone younger.” Bob has always been on the cutting edge of technology. His entire career he’s been 10 steps ahead of the technology curve. Oh well, we have to make all this happen on retirement income. It’ll all work out. It always has. God has been good to us for 30 years, I don’t suspect he will stop now. We all ride the roller coaster of life. We can panic or throw our hands in the air, riding the front seat, and enjoy the breeze. I may have anxiety right now, that’s just my nature, but I am excited about this new home of ours, and the place we will soon be calling “home.”