Done Apartment Hunting

July is dashing by, and while summer in the city is fun, I'm not too sad...in fact, if it looks to be this hot and sticky until September, August can dash on by as well! Teasing aside, I am enjoying myself, and seeing the clock run just means we've kept ourselves busy. It's a comfort that we have been able to get right to work, meet new friends, and continue making progress nestling in. We are both digging in at work and trying to be productive. I am feeling fairly at ease with my coworkers despite knowing them only 1.5 months. It's been easier than the first (second?) time around, that's for sure.

That said, can you believe that in just over a week we will have been here 2 months already? Wowie zowie! In an exciting culmination to those first 2 months, we will be moving into our new apartment next Friday. After a month of searching and all it entails, including some disappointments and realizations, it feels like a loooong time coming. {sigh}

We contemplated and stewed and compared/contrasted, and I think we have found a good spot for us. It's not right in Boston or even Cambridge, but next door in a small town called Belmont. After Kirkland, I was itching to get out of suburbia, but Belmont doesn't feel so much like that...just quieter, cuter, and out of the way. We were sold on the distance, the price tag, the details and the living situation (ie, nice landlord). The next week may feel pretty sloooow waiting anxiously to move in! Take a look below, you'll see what I mean.

The whole first floor. You read that right. We asked for space, and we got it! The little porch you see to the left? That's ours! :)

Hello, original fireplace and built-in cabinet. Hello, french door to sunny nook. Nathan wants to hang a sword over the mantle, and with all I want to do with the apartment, I think this is fair. Now, who has an old sword for him? :P

Oh, hardwood floors, I've waited patiently for you. A dining room...no more eating in the kitchen/living room. And...there's another built in opposite the window. joy.

One of the two bedrooms...perhaps the master? I'm imagining His and Hers closets. I like the dark wood contrast to the painted white wood trim. Did you see the glass door knobs? :) Oh, and there's another french door....to a sun porch! no kidding.

Sweet, little tiled bath...penny tiles and subway tiles, happy callie. spoiled callie.

I. am. so excited!
I think it goes to show that good bones in a space make all the difference. Well kept woodwork, keen planning and a dose of charm can make a space. And they'll have to, because we may not have furniture for a while! Ha!

So, what do you think we should do with the space? Colors? Furnishings?
I've started collecting Home Inspirations, room by room, at Pintrest, a fun site for web image collections. Check out my pins and if you like, make your own--I have 4 more Pintrest invitations to share! I'd love to see your opinions and favorite spaces.
xo

Celebrating Grandpop

memory board by my sister Stacia

My thanks and appreciation to all who shared time with us this past weekend, honoring my Grandpop. It was a time to recognize his service, love, and passion for life, and to come together to celebrate our family. It was wonderful to have community show their support and let us know how Jordan affected their lives. I was glad that amidst the sorrow, we were able to also celebrate my sisters' birthdays and share some laughs.

Miles Jordan Evans

10.18.1916-07.11.2010

My grandfather left this past Sunday. He gave it his all. He lived for 94 years.
Thanks to my brother for finding this dapper old photo from his Navy days.
I will be happy to be home with my family this weekend.

This Day in July

I've been a poor blogger lately. There's been so much to share over the past few weeks that I've neglected to post. There will be more to come, I promise. But for now, here is just a taste of our Saturday evening here in Cambridge.

Nathan and I enjoyed a mostly lazy Saturday (we both have 3-day weekends!) though we did visit an apartment. That's right, we are on the hunt for our next home...more on that another time. After the sun went down and it cooled off a bit, we went to nearby Cafe Pamplona to sit outside and have a treat. We shared a cannoli with our iced latte and thai iced tea. This particular cafe with its bunker-like interior and yellow umbrellas remind me of my brief time in Europe 4 years ago to this day. This particular corner with its curved street, brick paved walk, tall old church....had our fellow coffee sippers been speaking with a foreign tongue, I would have thought I was back in France.* It was nice to be able to say to Nathan, this is what it was like.

*However, I cannot fail to forget or mention that beverages do not come iced in France. This is a stark difference. An iced beverage on a hot day in July is a haven, and a beverage un-iced is a cruelty...I guess Europe is too good for ice. In this regard, I'm truly an American.

And on the way home, we came across this:

How exciting to be living in 'the cradle of liberty' this July 4th.

Happy Independence Day!

Puddle Jumping

This week we are finally enjoying some sunny days in Cambridge. I was beginning to worry we brought that overcast, rainy weather with us from Seattle. However, East coast rain is a little more substantial than West coast rain. Truth be told, I was excited to hear thunder again and see puddles building up on these old uneven streets.

I spent my walk home from work dodging little lakes, but perhaps by Autumn we'll need to invest in some puddle jumpers!

via {this is glamorous}

Our First Week, Part 1

Our first Boston week has come and gone, and already I'm losing track of the days. I realize I haven't written much lately despite and due to all that's been going on. Here's a rundown at some length, for those of you interested and my own record...I've separated this week into two parts to break it up a bit. Hang on for part two! If you'd like to skip the wordy details, there will be pictures below! :)

Our last few days in Washington were easy. We were kept busy most of the week before packing boxes and selling the last of our things. By Friday (the 28th) we had shipped out most everything and were quite relieved. Nathan had rented a car for the day to finish running errands, so after a large FedEx trip we enjoyed one last trip to Burgermaster and the Crest Cinema (finally saw Alice in Wonderland!)

Saturday and Sunday were spent cleaning and finding homes for leftover free items...so much stuff, ugh...now that we're here, I hate to buy some of those same things again. Anyway, on Sunday we finished packing our suitcases, all 4, and stayed at a hotel to get out of our empty apartment. My friend Naomi had a housewarming party, so we were able to say goodbye to all my friends...sad, but a fun night too. We took a cab to the airport on Monday and with one straight through 5-hour flight, we made it to Boston! We arrived late, so we stayed at a hotel and ordered Chinese food...I think this is our ceremonial meal of choice for any new place.

We settled into our new apartment on Tuesday, or at least dropped all our bags. We wandered the streets a while before grabbing a pizza around the corner at Angelo's--cheap and delicious! A fall-back for this cook's lazy nights. Wednesday was hot and humid, but we managed to take a walk to the Paper Source store so I could talk with the manager--all went well because I am the new shift supervisor! :) Happily employed in my first week, a pleasant contrast to my arrival in Washington. Nathan waited for me at a coffee shop down the street, and we had gyros after the meeting. We then picked up Metro passes and took the T down to MIT. The trains are easy and a lot like Chicago's system, so we felt at home. MIT sits right next to the Charles River and overlooks the Boston skyline.

After two days of eating out we made a grocery trip on Thursday. A large grocery, a la Safeway, is a mile away and on a frequent bus route. I was pleased to find that most things are even less expensive than in Washington. I feel like something else happened this day, but I've already forgotten. hm.

Friday, we went to Target...got a little lost on the bus, but eventually made it there. That night we went to a diner around the corner called Zoe's. I had a mushroom reuben--how awesome is that? Vegetarian dream, that's how awesome. :) Apparently they have amazing frappes, but we'll have to go back and let you know.

Saturday morning we awoke to an alarm in our building that continued to beep for 2 hours, no lie. I had to call the management company to check it out. Right after, the bulk of our FedEx boxes arrived and were hauled upstairs. I was a tad grumpy by this point, but a trip to the big library across the street made the day better. The old stone portion of the library has been connected to a new glass expansion, and it's beautiful. We now have library cards and access to books from all over Boston! Woohoo!

Afterward we took the train to the South End to visit the neighborhood where Nathan goes for work. He showed me his building and the beautiful old brownstones along the street. We walked a short way up to Boston Common and then had lunch at a pub across the street. A long but fun day! I hope all this walking pays off, but for all the eating we like to do, it probably won't. ;)

Phew! And that is our first week in Boston/Cambridge!

Last night in Seattle: Pasta Party! Oh, how I'm missing these awesome ladies!

The dome at MIT, with evidence of graduation celebration

The Harvard Lampoon building, apparently the site of humor publications, and a fun architectural neighbor

The library as seen from beneath the big willow tree. People love the park here too!

Brownstones in Boston's South End

Also in the South End, this amazing building. Almost like Paris.

Look, Mom! Revisiting Make Way for Ducklings at Boston Common. :)

The Washington Memorial at Boston Common

Hello from Beantown

Good Morning! We made it. We're here. Sigh of relief. We flew in late Monday night and on Tuesday started settling into our summer apartment in Cambridge. We have been taking long walks around the neighborhood trying to become familiar. Our task this morning is to venture out to a grocery. It has been pretty hot for these spoiled Northwest kids, but it's great to have some summer sun.

We are staying just a few blocks from the Harvard campus, which means...lovely parks, lots of restaurants, bars and cafes, cute shops and leafy tree lined streets. So far, I'm smitten. I think Nathan is loving it too. I'll leave you with just a few photos before we dash out!

Our building

A peek in our apartment

(I've never had a window in the bathroom, but I like the air and light.)

Bedroom, wall of windows, covered by trees...morning light and breezes :)

We live just diagonally across from the Cambridge Public Library and a huge park.

A view of Boston over the Charles River from Cambridge