When my husband and I moved to Loveland from Fort Collins, our wants were fairly simple: a house downtown, where we could walk to our business, to dinner and to enjoy the liveliness of a downtown atmosphere. We are a small family: just us and the dog. We didn’t need much, and I love the quirkiness of an older home. When we found our home, it was perfect: quaint, 100+ years old, a picket fence, a backyard for the mutt and newly remodeled.
Five years later and a pandemichas managed to infect me with the same itch many of you might be experiencing. The house has, frankly, grown too small. There aren’t enough closets, we need another bathroom, a bigger laundry, etc. But wanting doesn’t mean having and though I keep a close eye on what is available, inventory is tight, and prices keep rising. At the same time, alternatives like a home remodel or even new build come with their own challenges, which we explore in this month’s issue. Should you list it, remodel it or build it? There are no easy answers.
It may be easier to scratchthat itch with some organization and simplification. Check out our article on organizing your home. We called on some local organization experts for their advice. One point that particularly stood out to me is how often we buy more, rather than using what we already have tucked away in those packed-out closets. So, I am organizing ferociously and trying to edit, edit, edit. It is challenging, but so rewarding to get rid of the extra and pair down to the essentials. Not that it will stay that way, but I am feeling a little more accomplished all the time. (Full disclosure: the clothes closet will be the last, and probably most difficult, project.)
If the inside of your home isproviding you good vibes but your lawn is the greater stressor, check out our article on xeriscaping. This is a topic that is much more encompassing than most realize. It is not about simply ripping out your green material in favor of grey rock yards. Rather, it is about thoughtful planning that makes the most of your hard work while acknowledging our acrid climate. I found this article extremely enlightening and helpful.
Finally, some thoughts on one of my favorite topics: food. Our local ethnic restaurants provide a rich assortment of spices, flavor combinations and eating rituals that underscore the importance that food plays in our lives. What stands out most to me is how passionate the restaurant owners are about hospitality. When you enter their restaurants, it is as if it were an extension of their homes. Cooking for others provides an amazing sense of togetherness. If you haven’t tried one of the restaurants featured in this article, you are missing out on more than an eating experience. You are missing out on an opportunity to build community.
So, friends, live well and eatwell. I hope this issue helps you to do both.
Until next month,
Angie Grenz
