Sunday, July 27

Hummingbird Wars!

I've started a hummingbird war in my backyard with a single feeder.

A month or so ago, I noticed there were two ruby throated hummingbirds that liked to hang around my althea and some of the other fragrant flowers in my yard, and they liked to camp out in a couple of my trees.


So we bought a hummingbird feeder. At first I think it was too close to the other bird feeder in the yard, so I moved it further back, under a trellis.



Now there are those two that love the feeder, but I think a third (or more, I can't tell -- they don't wear name tags) has been trying to use the feeder and it gets chased off by the first two. One of the residents is a female or a juvenile -- they look the same this time of year, and I won't be able to tell for another couple of months. But there has been an ensuing war any time one of them approaches.

They are all now so fond of the feeder, any time of day I look out there I don't have to wait more than a few minutes before I see one of them using it. They are not very timid *at all* and they let me get quite close. (I guess they figure, correctly, that they are faster than I am.) Today I camped out in a lawn chair near the feeder and took some pictures. While I was taking pictures, they got into a fight around my head. It is the *weirdest* humming sound to have flying around your ears!

(After I took these pics I realized there is a "sports" setting on our digital camera, and I may be able to get a couple of better images using it. But then it started to rain so I will have to try tomorrow.)

(Also, I will get a second feeder so they stop fighting!)










Tuesday, August 28

Holy crap, we bought a house!

They accepted our first offer!

There was a big article on the front of Charlotte.com today (which means it was big in the Charlotte Observer) about how houses aren't selling, and are staying on the market longer and going for a lot less than the owners had hoped for. Maybe they got scared?

I'm exhausted, so I'm going to bed. But here's some details for you detail oriented folks...

Single Family Area: 5/7 Charlotte, NC 28277 County: Mecklenburg
Total Fin HLA: 2738 Unheated SqFt: 463
Beds: 4 Baths: 3/1
New Construction: No Year Built: 2003 Completed: Builder: Ryan

ROOMS
Main: Breakfast, Dining Rm, Entry Hall, Great Rm, Kitchen, Laundry, Living Rm
Upper: Bedroom 2, Bedroom 3, Bedroom 4/Bonus, Master BR
Lower: None
Basement: None

PROPERTY
Approx Lot Dimension: .155 Approx. Acres: 0.155

DESCRIPTION
Type: 2 Story Style: Transitional Exterior Const: Vinyl
Parking: 2 Car Garage, Back Load Driveway: Concrete Foundation: Slab
Fireplace: Yes Fireplace Location: Gas Logs, Great Room Laundry: 1st Floor, Utility Room
Floor: Ceramic Tile, Laminate, Wall-to wall Carpet Doors/Windows:
Equipment: Cable Prewire, Ceiling Fan(s), CO Detector, Cooktop Electric, Dishwasher, Disposal, Electric Dryer Hookup, Ice Maker Connection, Refrigerator, Security System, Self Cleaning Oven, Smoke Detector
Interior Features: Attic Stairs Pulldown, GardenTub
Exterior Features: Fenced Yard, In-Ground Irrigation, Patio, Porch
Community Features: Playground, Pool

UTILITIES
Water/Sewer: City Sewer, City Water HVAC: Central Air, Gas Hot Air, Multizone A/C, MultiZone Heat Water Heater: Gas

REMARKS
Picture perfect! Absolutely beautiful home in immaculate condition! Wonderful rocking chair front porch. Gourmet kitchen w/cherry cabinets & island opens to spacious great room w/gas log fireplace. Extensive pergo flooring & upgraded lighting throughout. Huge bonus room with private bath. Incredible fenced yard. Extended patio overlooks rose garden & pond. Irrigation. A MUST SEE!!

Monday, August 27

Exciting weekend!

We've found the house we want to make an offer on!

Here are pictures:

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v386/ultravioletu/house/

The few things you can't see from the photos are the upstairs level (2 br + master, bathrooms need a little cosmetic work, but they're good), the super-secret extra hideaway
(it seriously needs a bookcase to make it a secret passage) bonus room which has wood floors, a full bath, extra storage and is big enough to comfortably hold a pool table, and the finished garage complete with nice oil resistant flooring.

Our buyer's agent thinks the listed price is high, but we're probably still going to end up paying more than we wanted to pay for a house. Isn't that always the way, though?

Keep wishing us luck!!