We're moving! Take a look at our new place :)

Vinny and I have been trying to find a rental home with a yard for several months now, since our lease at our current apartment ends at the end of the month. We had almost lost hope when we found this cute little ADU (accessory dwelling unit, typically a smaller complete unit on a property with an existing home), right around the corner from the neighborhood we live in now (and love!).

We stopped by today and by this evening found out that we landed the place! Take a look:

The little bungalow is basically one large room with a bathroom and separate bedroom. One wall is made up of a closet (not seen, to the left of the fridge) and the kitchen. It's funny how similar the new kitchen is to our current one, abeit the new one has more counter space :)

Turning a little to the right, you can see the door on the left to the bathroom, then the closet where the washer/dryer is, then the door to the bedroom.

Another shot of the north end of the home. The wall to the right of the bedroom is the only flat wall really; all other walls are taken up by windows, doors, and kitchen!

Continuing to the right, you see the bay window which overlooks the small yard (a major selling point for us!) and the neighbor's lovely garden.

Further right you see a door to the back yard and a small closet. Just out of frame is the front window and door, then you've come 360 degrees from the first picture.

The bathroom is basic but clean (unlike so many rentals we visited!) and has a window where I plan to put plants.

The bedroom is small, but actually slightly larger than our current one, with two windows and cathedral ceilings.

The bedroom closet will be an interesting venture into shared accommodations, as currently Vinny and I each have our own closet.

The biggest selling point for this place was that it has a small outdoor space (our current apartment doesn't have have a balcony or a window that opens fully). Here's the front window with a path to the yard (front door is just to the left, out of frame). The main home on this property is on the other side of the fence, so it's pretty private.

We have  big plans for this little patio/yard situation! You can see the bay window; just left of frame is the door that I pointed out earlier that leads outside. There's a watering hose right by the door for our dirty mutt to get clean in the muddy Portland winter :)

Last but not least, we have an outdoor shed that will be perfect for all of our adventure gear. I don't talk about it very much on this blog, but Vinny and I are outdoor enthusiasts and have a lot of accompanying gear!

What do you think? I'll be back soon with ideas of how we'll use the space!

Here's what you can do.

"If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor." -Desmond Tutu




"We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented." -Elie Wiesel




These quotes have been running through my mind since the shootings of Philando Castile and Alton Sterling, the most recent in a long and horrifying string of deaths at the hands of policemen.


(And before anyone tries to confuse this topic with another, I was also horrified to hear of the police deaths in Dallas; I agree with Trevor Noah, who stated, "You can be pro-cop and pro-black, which is what we should all be.")


Because I cannot be neutral on this topic, and because I am a white person who has benefited greatly from the color of my skin, I've been trying to find ways that I can help solve the problem of institutionalized racism in our country. I don't have any great answers, but I found this article to have some great suggestions of stepping-stones in the right direction.