We seriously considered two houses in our neighborhood, and today we’re sharing a random little story involving the one we didn’t buy. We’ll also recap what we learned from our astrocartography readings: what the stars had to say about our move to Florida, whether those readings felt accurate or off, and one random sentence about a certain mammal that made Sherry unexpectedly thrilled. Plus: the saga of a small outdoor project that took far longer than planned, the purchase that changed our minds about outdoor furniture, and—of course—another of Sherry’s embarrassing moments.
What’s New
- We just had a new fence installed between our yard and the house being built next door. You’ll also get a peek at our little exterior shed, which first appeared in our outdoor before & after post. And yes, there are a few weeds that need addressing.
- The fence color is Halcyon Green by Sherwin-Williams—the same shade our friends used in their kitchen makeover. We love how it complements the house and adds a grounded, calm backdrop to the yard.
- Next up: extending the fence around the bedroom side of the house to create a private courtyard/patio. You might remember the rough mock-up we shared in last month’s bedroom tour—we’re excited to make that feel more finished and cozy.
- If you missed any of the interior progress posts, here’s a quick list of the rooms we’ve been working on: the kitchen (with some recent updates), the bedroom and the future plans for it, the living room, our laundry closet, our son’s room with a DIY headboard/bookshelf, and our daughter’s channel-tufted headboard and colorful wall mural. We’ve also been documenting the exterior changes, including an exterior before & after tour and a post about sprucing up our quirky outdoor shower.
- And for those who came looking for the cheese meme, it’s included in the original post—our cheese-themed version of the popular “Months of 2020” meme made us laugh and we thought you might appreciate it, too.
- We also referenced the infamous “Laura” neighbor story from our Cape Charles days—if you want the full anecdote, listen to Episode #59 where we tell it around the 17:30 mark.
- Speaking of embarrassing stories, Sherry pulled out some photos of me on a Segway from more than a decade ago. At the time, an advertising agency I worked with added a printed “shield” to Segways as a State Fair promotion, and I was selected as a “leg model” to be photographed for it. Later, the team photographed me again in the same outfit to show how the real legs matched the printed shields. The resulting pictures are equal parts mortifying and focused—concentrating hard so I didn’t accidentally roll an expensive Segway into a canal. Modeling at its finest.
Our Astrocartography Analyses
- We originally discussed astrocartography and a pet psychic reading on Episode #174. In this post we revisit those readings and how they related to our decision to move.
- We also touched on the broader astrological chatter that circulated recently—like the rumor about a 13th zodiac sign adding confusion to star signs—and pointed to reputable debunking articles when that topic resurfaced.
- Most importantly, our astrocartography readings with Pati Carlson were surprisingly detailed and insightful. Even as a skeptic, I found many of her observations strikingly accurate. We spent over four hours across two readings, and she picked up on personality tendencies—like my “maximizer” traits compared to Sherry’s more “sufficer” approach—that honestly felt spot on. If you’re at all curious about how place-based astrology might relate to major life moves, our experience felt like a useful tool for reflection.
We’re Digging
- We finally bought outdoor dining chairs earlier this summer and they’ve changed our opinion about outdoor seating. We wanted chairs that are stackable, lightweight, easy to clean, affordable, and that don’t collect water—features that make them practical for our Florida yard. Although the exact chairs are currently out of stock, look for similar models with those key attributes when shopping.
- On the reading front, I recommended the book Why Fish Don’t Exist by Lulu Miller. It blends biography, science history, and memoir in a way that’s hard to describe but deeply engaging. If you enjoy thought-provoking nonfiction that’s both personal and informative, it’s worth a read.
- We also noted that Bookshop.org is a helpful way to buy books online while supporting independent bookstores—especially useful if you can’t visit local shops in person. It’s a thoughtful alternative for purchasing titles and supporting small businesses at the same time.
If you’re trying to track down something we’ve covered in a past episode, we keep a master list of “We’re Digging” recommendations from previous shows, as well as a Book Club page listing every book we’ve mentioned. Those are handy resources if an episode title escapes you but you remember a specific recommendation.
Finally, a note of thanks to Agility Bed for sponsoring this episode. They offered a discount code in the original post; always check current promotions directly on their site if you’re interested in mattresses, pillows, or bedding.
Thanks for following along with our updates. We’re grateful you listened—and we’ll keep sharing the wins, the weird moments, and the little projects (both finished and ongoing) as we settle into Florida.
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