Women and Bicycles {throughout history}

I came across an article today that I found quite fascinating. It's actually an excerpt from a book that I think I may need to check out. Its topic centers on women and bicycles, and specifically, women throughout history and their attempts to master appropriate clothing while riding bicycles, so I couldn't help but stop and read. While I highly recommend popping over to read the entire article here, my favorite portion reads:

*Image from renekmueller.com
John Kemp Starley's "Safety Bicycle" 1885

     "Yet bicycles did not give women the vote. There was no miracle; no suffragettes freewheeled through the House of Commons or D-locked themselves to the Downing Street railings. By the time women were finally given the vote in 1928, bicycles were as much a fact of ordinary life as underground trains. But by offering women a chance to see themselves as free, to take possession of their own physical health and to claim their independence in the workplace, the bicycle had done something extraordinary. It had changed the world and made it a better place.
     In some ways, it’s still doing so. A century on, cycling’s impact on both fashion and politics continues. The huge rise in the numbers of commuter cyclists in the past few years has led to a corresponding rise in cycle-related clothing. Not all of it has been beneficial. No one could claim that hi-vis does much for a sensitive complexion.
     But in mainland Europe, where cycles have been part of the general cityscape for decades, people adapt their cycles and their speed to suit what they’re wearing rather than the other way round. Instead of racing to work on a road bike as many do in London, they ride in exactly what they put on that morning. Sites such as www.copenhagencyclechic.com make it plain that on a bike with a skirt-guard and a step-through frame, it’s perfectly possible to pedal across town with stilettos, two children and several large items of kitchen furniture.
     A bicycle still offers freedom, but this time from cars and queues, from oil, from rising prices and a life inside. It gives us back the landscape and makes us part of nature again. It belongs to everyone – every age, every class, every race and religion. And, most importantly of all, it’s fun. A century on, and bicycles are still liberating us all." -- from Bella Bathurst, Bicycles: The Chains that Set Women Free

**Note: It looks as though Bathurst's book, The Bicycle Book, can be purchased here. I can't seem to find a spot here in the U.S. quite yet to purchase, though I'm sure it could easily be shipped from the U.K.

Bicycle Harasser Cited

I know this is making its rounds, particularly here in Colorado, but I just have to link to the video because as many times as I've been screamed at or harassed by drivers on highways with no way to document the incidents, I am so happy that both passenger and driver were cited for this incident.

Early Summer Bicycle Plans

So, my spring break officially comes to an end today... so very sad. It wasn't much of a "break" really, as the most I was able to accomplish was all education-related. I sometimes wonder why the school bothers to give us a week off if they're just going to assign us so many things to do that we just work the whole week, but I suppose it's a nice week off for the professors, if nothing else. With every day that passed, I'd look out in the garage at the bicycles, wishing I had enough time to go for a nice long ride, but I just never had enough solid chunks of time to go out and ride. With that in mind, I started day dreaming about being able to ride this summer.

*Image from osixandseven on Flicker

Because a ride is rarely quick from our current home, I started thinking about the summer months and what my bicycle plans will be because we'll be in such close proximity to many things that are fun bicycle destinations. I've already mapped out several spots I plan to visit via bicycle after the move, and after school lets out in early May, I will have some free time to roam about the city.

I'm hoping that the plan will actually help to get me through the final stretch of class. I'm looking forward to visits to parks, lakes, and actually just running errands via bike! I'm also realizing that this will be my last free summer. I've enjoyed very much being a kid again and having summer months for frolicking and doing what I please. I will miss it when I have to be a grown up again and get a real job once more. {sigh} Stupid real jobs. If only I could live in fantasy land forever. A girl can dream, right?

Another Art Show - Pablo Neruda

Another art show has come to fruition... This one is a Pablo Neruda Festival for which my painting class has been asked to create works that reference some of Neruda's poetry. If you're in the Denver area and are bored Friday evening, or just want to check out something different, you should definitely take a look!

While I'm not thrilled with my painting, it looks like there will be some very interesting things to see... so, come check it out! The show opens Friday, April 1, and will run until April 29.

Pashley Poppy Review and Some Thoughts on Its Modifications

I've now had the Pashley Poppy for a time (a couple of months), and while I did briefly discuss some changes that were made to the stock Poppy bicycle, it feels as though enough time has passed to provide a bit more detail about the changes that were made to the bike, as well as to better evaluate how it's working for my needs.

While our current living location isn't exactly ideal for any type of city bicycle, it has been useful for short rides, and the move to a new place looks as though it will actually come to fruition in a few short weeks. For now, it's useful on trips to the market, or to the very few close by places, but I think it's going to become much more useful after the move. When I think about being able to ride just about everywhere (except, of course, the trips to school), I find it difficult to believe that this is actually about to happen. It must seem strange to most people that I'm excited about moving to a place that's less than 10 miles from our current home, but truly, it's been a long wait and the convenience of the new location is quite exciting!

But, I digress... The Poppy has been a welcome addition to the fold, and with the changes that were made, it's been pretty ideal. The stock set up has short, close to flat handlebars with cork grips. I knew when the bike arrived that, at minimum, the grips would need to be replaced as they were both severely cracked, but after my initial ride with the original handlebars I felt like an adult attempting to ride a small child's bicycle.

Original cork grips, showing one of the smaller cracks

It was completely uncomfortable to me because it felt far too close between saddle and handlebar. I had no recollection of the Princess Sovereign model feeling this way. I don't think at that time I realized the difference a set of handlebars could make in the way a bicycle feels. I really didn't enjoy the ride on the Poppy the first time because of that crunched in feel, and I thought briefly that perhaps this bicycle would be another to go by the way side. However, after obtaining the mustache handlebars for the Hillborne, and realizing that the stretch was just too much for me on a bicycle that has an almost too far reach as it is, I thought it was worth trying these on the Poppy.

I hadn't seen a Pashley Poppy with mustache bars before, and while I initially thought it might be a strange look, they turned out to be a great option. The stretch the mustache bars provided between saddle and stem was just what I needed. The reach isn't so far that I feel overly stretched, but it provides enough room to feel comfortable, and even a bit racier than the standard set up (in my opinion). The ride itself feels more comfortable as well, though I suspect this is just a by-product of being in a more comfortable position.

Mustache handlebar set up on the Poppy

After the handlebar switch, I wasn't sure I liked the standard brake levers, nor the location I'd likely have to place the levers. While typically people who put mustache handlebars on a bike tend to use a similar style of brake levers, I really wanted to keep the upright feel of the bicycle. This was resolved by purchasing a set of inverse brake levers (Note: I didn't buy mine from Velo-Orange, however, they are the same brand) to be placed at the bar ends. This brought its own set of issues, as I didn't understand at the time that the levers wouldn't adjust the brakes, so there was absolutely no tension, or in other words, there was no ability to stop. This problem was resolved with a small tensioner Sam constructed to work with the other end of the brake cables. I have to say, I love these levers! Braking somehow seems easier, and while it may be entirely in my head, the set up really seems to be working.

Tektro inverse brake levers up close

The next decision was in regard to transporting goods via bicycle. For me, it is pointless to have this set up work so well if I can't carry anything with me. Initially, I thought I would put a rear rack on the Poppy, but after some thought, I decided that perhaps a large front basket made more sense.

Wald Woody front basket on the Poppy

Thus far, the basket has provided what I need. I can put two large reusable grocery bags in it, or a slew of other items, and the depth of the basket doesn't cause things to fall out while riding. I have still debated whether or not a rear rack is necessary, but thus far, this particular set up seems to be quite functional.

As for the ride with this set up, I am extremely happy. The ride is comfortable and functional. If there is anything that might feel strange for some, I would say that some might find that the basket is too close to the handlebars, making it a challenge to utilize every possible hand position. It hasn't been bothersome to me, however, as I mostly ride with my hands in the upright position. The brake cables are also to the sides of the basket, which, in super tight turning instances could create a bit of a tight squeeze.

Cables surrounding the sides of the Wald basket

Thus far, the Poppy has been a joy to have and to ride, and I look forward to a lot more riding... who knows? There could be even more modifications to come!

The {Long} Fat Rant

I'm on a rant... again. :o)  This seems to happen with more frequency than I would like, but it's a common theme that comes up in various places and it just bothers me to no end when I read people's comments on articles, news stories, blog posts, etc that are discussing the problem with obesity in {fill in a country, state, city, etc}. Perhaps I take it all a little too personally (okay, I know that I do), so I'll grant anyone that starting point, but I become close to enraged when I see/read about "average" size people admonishing those who are not a perfect Barbie size for being over weight, obese, and so on. This rant started specifically after reading comments on an article here, but truly, I could've picked many articles that I've come across over the course of my life, so in no way is this meant in specific response to anything in particular.

WARNING: I'm annoyed at the moment, so this may be less than kind... please do not take offense.

First of all, if you are an individual who has never been overweight in your life (and I'm not talking about 5 or 10 pounds, but rather someone who has actually struggled with weight), you have no business judging anyone else... and quite honestly, even if you have been or are currently over weight, you still shouldn't be setting goals or determining what is or isn't acceptable as far as someone else's lbs' go. Telling someone to not eat certain foods, or to "just exercise more" isn't a productive solution in my opinion. As someone who has been obese her entire life (yes, my entire life - I recall being the super chubby kid, even in kindergarten), and had to listen to other people tell me what is and isn't acceptable, I am truly and honestly fed up (Ha! No pun intended) with the situation. It's very easy to judge based on the surface, but the reality is that just looking at an individual doesn't necessarily tell you what they do or eat in their every day life.

My kindergarten school photo - Ugh!

In ninth grade (and actually far beyond the 9th grade) I had a friend named Christa. Christa weighed about 80 pounds soaking wet... after two double cheeseburgers... wearing extra clothing... and on a "fat" day. I'm sure seeing us together was quite a sight for some, as I was easily more than double her size... and that was after I'd spent some time starving myself to lose weight. Christa ate literally everything within her reach. She never ate a vegetable - ever (she always said the only vegetable she would eat was a potato... and that was only if it had been deep fried), would easily eat two to three times the amount of food of anyone else around, and yet she remained annoyingly slim.

That's me in the hot pink top, and Christa in the Hypercolor pink t-shirt (ahh, remember Hypercolor shirts?)
This was a surprise 15th b-day party for me... Yay! I was actually "thin" here.

I, on the other hand, hardly ate most days. Generally, I forgot breakfast (or woke up too late to eat it), I would perhaps eat a few bites of yogurt, a piece of fruit, and/or half a turkey sandwich for lunch. Dinner was whatever mom had cooked, or whatever I made for my little brother and me, but by no means were these meals ridiculous portions. Sure, there were days when I'd have not so great food (I mean, who are we kidding? Everyone gives in to temptation now and again), but I was always irritated that no matter what I did, I couldn't be a "normal" size. I took up running for a time, walked to the local park, even had my mom get me a gym membership so I could work out after school every day, but nothing seemed to help.

Yeah, I've always danced to the beat of my own drum...
Not sure what I was on this particular day

Okay, so a lot of people struggle with weight growing up, right? I would agree, but it never ended for me. In fact, it got worse. It seemed (and still seems) that the harder I fight to lose, the heavier I become. I finally realized a few years ago that I am fighting an endless battle that I likely won't win... and I'm honestly okay with that. However, the rest of the world seems to have issue with it. Why do the masses in general assume (and it is a big assumption) that because an individual is over the standard accepted size that s/he is constantly stuffing his/her face with never ending fast foods, constantly downing chocolaty indulgences, and never moving his/her body?

Me with my Hillborne on a long ride this past September...
I really hate this picture, but hey, it's somewhat proof that I don't sit around doing nothing all day.

My doc and I had a chat a few years back about being unable to lose weight. I went in, not seeking a pill or some magical fix, but truly wanting to know what is wrong with me. After blood work and various tests his statement to me was this: "I only wish the rest of my patients were as healthy as you." So, my obvious reply was, "Then why can't I lose weight?" He shook his head somewhat identifying with me (the doc is a bit on the chubby side too - which is probably why I love him so - he refrains from judgement) and said, "The only thing I can tell you is that your body is getting too many calories. Hey, look at it this way, if we were in a famine, you'd be one of the ones to survive!" Hardy-har-har doc. So, how can I get too many calories if I'm eating the number that all the "experts" say I should be eating, at least 99% of the time?

Maybe if I fatten up Sam, I won't look so big? Just kidding...
he is just the sampler of my baking before he takes it to work to share with others...
to fatten them up (kidding... truly kidding). I just like to bake and share.

My answer is this: It doesn't matter. I am alive and healthy now, in this moment. Sure, I would love to lose weight and not feel like a freak show standing next to the "normals" (including hubby - Hi Sam... love you!), but that isn't who I am, and while I cannot speak for every single over weight man, woman, and child on the planet, I know what I do and don't do, what I eat and don't eat, and quite honestly, I don't need someone else telling me what to do or not do because the supposed "expert" advice they provide obviously doesn't work for me. And while I do realize that there are over weight individuals who definitely do over indulge on a regular basis, this doesn't mean that every person who has extra pounds is partaking in every food item that comes his/her way, nor that they never exercise or do anything active. It all seems so never-ending.

In fact, I'm currently avoiding a trip to our new doctor (our insurance recently changed, unfortunately) because I don't want the lecture about losing weight. I'm not stupid, and believe me rarely does a day goes by that I'm not reminded by someone that I am, indeed, obese, but even the doctor's want to make decisions based solely on just seeing a person and reading that the pounds reflected on the scale are more than they should be, given the person's height. Shouldn't there be a better way to deal with this? Perhaps they should get to know the person and their habits before making a judgement call?

I guess the bottom line for me is this: I am tired of feeling like I have to justify my right to exist in a world full of people who choose to place judgement prior to knowing anything about me. I suppose if I could say anything to these individuals it would be that 1) Your comments are sometimes hurtful, particularly when you don't know the person (These insults can often come in a form that may not seem to the person saying it to be an insult at all, but believe me, perception is key here - For example, if I have one more guy at the gym tell me "good job" while I'm running on a treadmill - which in my mind is code for "Oh, look that fat woman decided she needed to exercise... Good for her!" Not realizing that I've been running for the last several years, making their statement a huge insult to me- I'm going to scream, or possibly just take them out, right there in front of everyone at the gym - believe me, if nothing else, I can sit on you!); and 2) Please don't judge a book by its cover. Even "normal" size people have things about themselves they wish they could change. It may not be something that anyone can see, but I'm sure there's something. Think about how you'd feel if everyone you ran into on a daily basis was judging you because of your flaw, pointing it out at every opportunity. In the end, we're all just trying to live our lives the best that we can, and there's really no reason to interfere with someone else's happiness... or at least, that's my take on the situation.

The Leather Hole Punch Hunt: Finding Brick House Leather Co

Yay! The saddle for the Hillborne is now laced and back where it belongs. I'm so happy. I feel as though Tony's been out of commission forever, and I know it's been at least a month now between waiting for the handlebars for so many weeks and trying to find someone who could punch holes and lace the saddle up for me.

Over the weekend, Sam and I traveled at least a hundred miles attempting to find someone who could simply punch some holes in the saddle.  After all the traveling, we realized that there was a leather shop here in Longmont, and though they are closed over weekends, today I was able to pay the store a visit and have everything resolved quickly and for a very reasonable price.

In fact, I have to say (for any locals who happen to read this), if you have any need for leather repair/service/etc, Brick House Leather Co is definitely a place to check out. The owner is super sweet, and was able to help me out right at that moment. As an added bonus, she's also a seamstress, and is willing to do minor things such as hemming, adding zippers, or even buttons to garments. As a shorter person, I was happy to hear this, and will definitely be visiting again. I was also interested that the owner makes her own leather conditioner that is organic (unlike many that are made from petroleum by-products), and while I haven't yet tried it, when mine runs out, I'm anxious to give it a try.

For now, my two bicycles seem to be whole again, and now I can just ride (which is completely wonderful!). The weather even seems to be cooperating for the time being, so I think that means it's time for a good long ride.

The Inspection

As posted last week, we had our home inspection on the house we are potentially buying earlier this week. The inspection went surprisingly well, and for a house that is almost 75 years old, there wasn't much that needs repair...and most of it will be resolved by the seller, prior to closing (which is even better). Of course, there will still be things that need updating and fixing, but for the most part, it is move-in ready, so we're happy campers.

Living Room at the new house - small, but cute (and I love all the windows!)

It was great to be there for the inspection because it provided us another view of the house. It was our third time seeing the house, so we were able to take a look at all the little things that we don't always see the first or even second time around. Surprisingly, we didn't really find much that was bothersome. While the kitchen needs updating, it is usable/livable at the moment. My favorite part of the physical house is all the light in the house... I truly believe one can never have enough windows.

Dining Room off the Living Room... again, lots of light (yay!)
Though it's new, the chandelier will be going, as I'm not a fan
 (assuming this actually happens <<< my anti-jinx)

My overall favorite aspect of this house is the location. After 7 1/2 years of wanting to be close to actual places we frequent, it could very well be happening within a month. To be able to ride our bicycles to just about anywhere and not have it be an all day excursion is truly thrilling... not to mention that there are some beautiful long-distance rides to experience more frequently as well.

So, as we wade through the process of funding the loan and remedying the little things in this possible new house, we grow more and more excited about the future possibilities. Even though it's small, we know that location was most important to us, and we are finding ourselves very much looking forward to the change.

Alternative Modes of Transport Paying Off (Literally!)

A new (unfortunately, short-term) plan, subsidized by a federal grant, has risen up to encourage locals to find alternate modes of transportation between Boulder/Denver (Hwy 36) and Longmont/Boulder (the Diagonal/Hwy 119). The Boulder County Business Report states that the program has been a great success, and that handing out $2/day to individuals (totalling $70k thus far) who were driving alone to work, and are now carpooling, bicycling, or taking public transportation has been an eye opener for these participants.

Black line highlights the Diagonal/Hwy 119 route
Red line highlights the Boulder Turnpike/Hwy 36 route

While the ultimate goal is to reduce the horrendous amount of car traffic on the two highways noted above, I'm curious to see if the long term affects from this short-term kind of experiment will pay off over the long run.  I think anything that helps people realize they don't always need to be in a car, driving alone, is an awesome step forward though, so hopefully this will encourage others to give it a go as well.

115 Years Later

There's an interesting historical article this morning on the web. You can find the full story by clicking here, but I wanted to share the link because I thought it was interesting to read about the "bicycle craze" that hit the Southhampton area in 1896 with "reckless wheelmen terrorizing pedestrians."  Apparently, people were so into bicycles that the "craze" was blamed for lowered rates of international travel that year.

One of the things that struck me about the article was the mention that the "young people" were really into bicycles at the time. I'm wondering if it was just a fad that came and left, or if that area would've seen an array of people on bikes.  As I prepare to enter spring break time, I can't help but wonder if there are still people who feel terrorized by bicycles on sidewalks. It is legal to ride on them in my city (except as posted otherwise), and even though there are few places I actually ride on sidewalks in town, there are a couple of streets that I believe merit the use. Of course, I always ride incredibly slow through these areas, as I know I need to look for pedestrians.

Happy Hump Day!

Small Bicycle Changes/Additions

I haven't been writing much about bicycles these days... there just seems to be so many other things on my mind. However, that certainly doesn't mean they aren't being used, and that transformations aren't continuing.

On the lessening-the-number-of-bikes front, Sam has officially eliminated one more:  one of the mountain bikes. The Surly was the one to go, and a happy new owner in Boulder was the recipient of this build. Sam is now down to his self-set requirement of "only" three bicycles: The Diamondback mountain bike, the Surly LHT, and his little folder (which I suspect he is eventually going to sell - or replace... but that remains to be seen).

As for me, the replacement Nitto Noodle bars finally arrived for the Hillborne. I swear, I could have driven cross-country and back several times in the amount of time it took to ship these from a few states away. Regardless of the slow shipment, I am glad to have these Noodle's back on the Hillborne, as I think they are the best choice for me on this ride. In addition to the new/replacement bars, I also got an awesome deal on some Brooks leather handlebar tape, and decided to use it instead of replacing with the old cork tape. It's definitely a more saturated/rich look, but I also think it's something I will enjoy.

Brooks brown leather handlebar tape on the Nitto Noodle bars

In addition to the handlebars, I am in contact with a local bike shop that sells/repairs Brooks saddles. My intention is to have them punch holes in the B72 so that I can lace it and prevent the spread from the softer style saddle, as I seem to need the width of this saddle riding in a more upright style on this bicycle. I'm hoping to have that project finished by end of month, at the latest.

Someday soon, this saddle won't "spread" when I ride... YIPEE!

The final little item related to bicycles was the receipt of a front and rear light mount for the Pashley Poppy. I have removable lights for the Hillborne, and decided that, since I will never be riding both at the same time, I could just get mounts and use these on either bike, rather than purchasing separate lights for each bike.

Pashley Poppy front mount for my Cateye head light

Pashley Poppy rear mount for my PDW tail light

So, there you have it... my lack of bicycle love is simply a lack of posting, and truly the attention to the two-wheeled transportation is continuing. By this time next month, I could be writing about new bicycle adventures in a new neighborhood. Time will tell.

Under Contract... Again

So, hopefully I'm not jinxing us by posting this (as it seems to have been bad luck in the past), but Sam and I had our offer accepted on another house. This came after some semi-drama with another house that became a multiple offer situation. However, I firmly believe that everything happens for a reason, and the house that we are now under contract with is the right house for us.

Sam and I had actually "stalked" this house last year when we were on one of our rounds of "let's find a new house." At that time, it had some issues that needed to be resolved (such as no furnace) that would have prevented us from purchasing the place. Fortunately for us, the timing kind of worked itself out, and now the house has been updated (electrical, plumbing, paint - and it has a furnace now!) and is ready to be lived in. The main floor living space is a little over 700 square feet and it has a lot of windows that let in awesome light (something I really wanted in a new home). The basement square footage provides an additional 700 and some odd square feet that need to be finished (it was started, but never completed), but it will make great storage for now, and potentially in the future a guest room and possible entertaining space.

While the yard has been cleared of refuse, it needs quite a bit of work, but I think we're actually both looking forward to the potential possible in it. It could make a great entertaining space as well. In addition to the yard, we'll also need to figure out where the art studio will be located as it doesn't presently have a spot for this. Unfortunately, the basement area has low ceilings, so it's not conducive for this, but we think we have a solution in the works.

Overall, we're keeping positive that this one will actually work out. Our inspection is early next week, so as long as that goes well (which we anticipate because everything has been updated), it looks like a spring move may be in the works.

Bicycle vs Car

An interesting quick video on one woman's choice to pick up a bicycle instead of driving everywhere.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Now, if only people would come to a similar conclusion when gas prices are down. I understand that the cost of a gallon of gas is often a huge motivator for people to try to save some money, but I think it goes beyond the price of filling the tank. Shouldn't we just take these short trips by foot or bicycle anyway? It seems so wasteful of resources to take those 2 mile and under trips by car... but maybe that's just me?

Zzzzzz Zzzzzzz

I'm exhausted. I know I have no right to complain when there are others with schedules far fuller than my own, but I am just not sleeping - or at least not sleeping well.  Last night I drifted off around 11p, which was perfect, except that at a little after 3a, the lovely Labrador decided that licking was of utmost importance, and I suddenly woke out of my slumber and couldn't get back to sleep until about 5a. I half slept until a little before 7a, but then felt groggy because I neither completely slept, nor was I completely awake. I have visions of falling asleep in strange places in the middle of the day because I just can't seem to keep it together.

A friend, fake-sleeping in a work bathroom
We used a bunch of these images a few years ago for a prank on a Director who had gone out of town and feared we weren't actually working while he was away.

Among mid-terms, paintings that are due for an upcoming show (and haven't even been started), house hunting stuff (like finding houses, getting worked up about them, and then not having our offer accepted, or finding extreme problems in the house), bike stuff that needs to get done, dogs that need exercise, and just the regular every day stuff that happens in everyone's life, I can't seem to keep my mind quiet. At night, the wheels keep turning with everything I need to do, and I generally just don't fall asleep. If I do, it's a half sleep and I wake exhausted and start again, and every night is full of anxiety-ridden dreams.

I know this is a familiar feeling for many, and others have to add in children, a job, and many other things, so I have no business whining about my lack of sleep, but I feel like I'm going to lose it if I don't get a good nights' rest soon. I keep thinking that at some point, I will become so tired, I will simply fall asleep, but it doesn't seem to happen as I think it will.

For now, I continue on, and remain hopeful that The Sandman is on his way to me - and soon.

On the Hunt... Again

While winter seems to be rounding the corner to spring for most around the country, here in Colorado the winter season soldiers on. We've had a couple of rather cold and dreary days here, but it's typical to not really reach spring time here until late April or early May. How can one complain though when we get so many beautiful days of sunshine even in the heart of winter? As has been pointed out before, we don't get a lot of spring or fall. It mostly goes from winter to summer and vice versa.

Typical view/weather from about November until May at the current house
(except that the mountains aren't pictured here)

Though we had a coldish weekend this past week, Sam and I ventured out for a round of house hunting again. Unfortunately, the house we were under contract with in Denver didn't work out. We discovered some structural integrity issues (basically, the foundation was crumbling and shifting), and while we really like the house, and more so the area, we weren't certain we could take on the costs of replacing or repairing the foundation. When this fell through, we talked about what we really want in a house and a 'hood. We discovered that these were the top things on our list:
1) Ease of walk-ability/bike-ability
2) Proximity to an art scene, whether small or larger
3) Comfort/ease within the community
4) A house that feels like home, and that functionally serves our purposes
The extra "bonus" item would be to try to find a turn of the century house to live in. So, after some debate and  a reality check in regard to our budgetary concerns with potentially owning two houses (and renting out the current one), we considered the idea of staying in Longmont, but actually living in the city instead of the fringe area we currently inhabit.

While in need of work, this house was not completely horrible from the outside;
however, it was completely destroyed inside

Our weekend hunt led us to several houses around the city and we were surprised both at the extreme dilapidation of some of the houses, as well as the great living spaces we were able to find. It's a little sad to see so many potentially great houses in complete disrepair. If we had the ability, I know we'd love to take one of those on as a project, but since we do have to live in the house while doing repairs, it must be at minimum, inhabitable while we work. The good news is, we found a few houses that we really loved, and one in particular that stood out as "our home." An offer was put in on Monday, and now we wait to hear the results.

I will say, one of the most exciting things about the house we found is the walk score. Our current home is a 12 out of 100, while this one we found is a 68 out of 100 (in the beta version of Walk Score, it's actually a 70 out of 100, and the current home is a 10 out of 100). Quite a difference going from "car-dependent" to "very walkable."

So, we start again and hope for the best with our home hunt.

First Friday at Tennyson's Tap

Last night we went to the art exhibition at Tennyson's Tap, as well as checking out the local art on Tennyson Street in Denver. It was a strange feeling to have a piece of art hanging somewhere than in the closet of my art space, or in our living room at home.

I, unfortunately, forgot the camera, so all I had was the camera phone, in a poorly lit space, so the photos are not fabulous. Our friend, Will, who had come along as support, sold me out about 15 seconds after we arrived on site. I had gone to greet the curator of the show when I turned around to, "Her! There she is. She did it!" and a gentleman asking about my "barn" painting.

I was a bit shocked (and unprepared) to be asked questions about the painting, but I think I did okay, considering that I am always highly unsure of what to say about my work. I have to admit, it was pretty cool to see a painting of mine hanging up in a show though. I'm still trying to wrap my head around it all.

A live musician was playing while we were there, which definitely made the mood more lively, and also relaxed (which is great for me as I fear the typical gallery scene and its formalities). There were also some other interesting pieces to see, some of which I hadn't viewed prior to the show. It was definitely fun to check out the work of others as well. Overall, a good experience, and again, if anyone is in the Denver area, the exhibit will be up until mid-April, so I would highly recommend coming in to check it out.

A Quick Peek @ the "Possible" New House

Yesterday, we had an inspection done on the potential new house. I forgot what a long process an inspection is, as it has been awhile. The inspector was quite thorough, however, and for that, we were quite grateful.

The actual living area of the house is a little over 700 sq feet (we've both lived in apartments larger than this house, crazy as that seems). If this goes through, the short wall pictured above would be removed to open up the living area.

 The kitchen is small and a little awkwardly arranged, but I think we can make it work. Definite changes and updates are needed, but I don't think there's anything so hideous that it would need to be immediately replaced.

There is only one bathroom, and it's small, but it works. We figured at some point down the line (in many years) we could add on a master suite area with a larger bathroom. For now though, this one would work.

The yard (both back and front) are probably what need the most work. Right now everything is dormant, so it doesn't seem to bad, but the reality is that there is much that needs to be dug up and either replaced or cleaned out. At least there is a one car garage though to serve as a studio for our stuff.

The biggest issue found by the inspector was not what we anticipated (we figured there would be electrical and plumbing issues). Instead, what we discovered is that there are foundation issues - as in, the house is sliding. The question has become whether or not this is something we want to get ourselves into, knowing that it will take tens of thousands of dollars to repair the foundation. At this point, it is still up in the air, so we'll see what happens in this process, but I thought it was kind of fun to share a few pictures of the little house.

Art Exhibition

If anyone in the Denver area will be around this Friday, I hope you'll take a bit of time to come out to First Friday and take a peek at some of the artwork by myself and fellow classmates at Tennyson Tap at 38th and Tennyson. The theme is "landscapes" and there are some very interesting pieces... everything from the quite abstract to very literal, so a bit for everyone's tastes.  Plus, all the galleries on Tennyson will be open for the normal First Friday routine. Fun should be had by all!  If you can't make it out for First Friday, the show will be up until mid-April, so there will be plenty of time to come by and take a look (Plus, there's the added bonus of being able to get a beer on-site).