Mortgage Monday: The Next Purchases

Another purchase down and many more to go... 

Now that the lawn has been taken care of and the property is in a state where we can actually enjoy some time outside it is time to start looking for all the other things that we previously avoided. While there was some outdoor space at our last rental we pretty much didn’t spend any significant time outside on the small patio and opted to take advantage of the spaces maintained by the homeowners association. Of course, we didn’t really have the time to plan anything especially since we considered that place a stopgap.

While we previously bought a tractor and already had a few other items necessary to maintain the property (i.e. snow blower, rakes, trailer for the tractor, leaf blower, etc.) we have still been needing a few other things to round out the tool shed. And thanks to a $100 refund on the tractor, we did cover a few of those things by picking up a weed eater and other small items. However, that is only a small part of the long list of things that we need for our outdoor space. Thankfully, the other items are more about relaxation rather than work.

Having purchased a lot of furniture late last year just prior to settlement I am not really looking forward to buying any more but that is the situation that we are in now. Thankfully, this is a much smaller endeavor this time around as we are looking for something to complete the patio. While we have one adirondack chair out there now for relaxing and we will be purchasing another shortly, we need to find a decent table and chairs that is also toddler friendly. We did take a quick look at a few things this past weekend but didn’t end up buying anything… some of the options at the big retailers are really expensive!

This is going to be one of those searches that both needs to get done rather quickly but that is also going to require some online investigation and, possibly, some trips to various consignment stores and thrift shops. It all comes down to finding some outdoor furniture that will allow us to enjoy the outdoor space that we now have while, at the same time, keeping it budget friendly. After all, we have had a lot of expected and unexpected costs lately and we want to retain some semblance of financial sanity. This is not an unmanageable task and we are all looking forward to making the outdoors part of our home.

Not Good Enough For The Main Room

My wife and I decided to get out of the apartment today and just spend some time together which has been a rare occurrence as of late with work and other commitments. So we decided to revisit a place for breakfast which we hadn’t been to in a few years, Classic Diner. It’s a bit of a drive from our place but it is good to go back to places that you have fond memories of to either reinforce them or, as was the case today, quash them.

The parking situation and the wait have always been an issue with this popular eatery so that wasn’t anything that was any different from what we remembered. However, a big difference was noticed once our table was ready and we waded through the snootiness of the main dining room on our way to the back room where the vast majority of the tables were unoccupied. As the waitress walked back and forth trying to get our drink order right three times we noticed a pattern to the groups of people being ushered into the rear containment area… we were all dressed casually.

Maybe it was coincidence but based on the clientele on display in the front it didn’t seem like a likely scenario. From that moment on we had to wrangle the server if we wanted anything and even after watching her write down our food orders on her pad we still didn’t get everything we asked for. The only saving grace for the diner is the fact that what we did receive was excellent… just as we remembered it being. But great food is only part of the experience and we will not be returning any time soon.

After our breakfast experience we got in the car and began making our way back to the apartment. With no other plans for the day I brought up the idea of going for a drive and picking up a few things that we had been holding off on getting for some time now. Once my wife agreed I put a little twist on the trip by pointing the car in the direction of Cabela’s in Hamburg, Pennsylvania.

For those of you who are unfamiliar, Cabela’s is one of the largest retail chains in the country for hunting, fishing, and outdoor gear. The stores themselves are impressive both in size and design to the extent that when we pulled up we noticed that this location is larger than the Lowe’s and Wal-Mart across the street, combined. We were also allowed all over and not kept in the corner. It really is more of an afternoon trip rather than a quick stop and shop. That might explain why we didn’t leave until just after 5:00 PM mainly because of the Bargain Cave in the back and trying to get our bearings at times in order to locate a few specific items.

While I am certain that we will both not be going to Classic Diner again anytime soon, and my wife has no desire to return to Cabela’s in the near future, I am certain that I will make the trip up again to find additional items, especially ones on clearance, on a somewhat regular basis. Plus it is a really nice drive up into the mountains and you already know how I feel about going to the mountains. And I will be sure to take a few pictures next time I’m up there to give you a better idea of what I am talking about.

Until then, I suggest you find one near you and just go for a walk through the store. It is a completely different experience than what you usually find at a retailer (especially a chain with maybe Bass Pro Shop being the only exception). If you take the trip let me, and everyone else, know what you think by leaving a comment below.