Our 2nd Christmas

So we're spending our second Christmas in the house this year. 2009 ended up being a bit of a bear, I went on assignment in the DC area from August '09 - February '10. We did watch the Saints become world champions from the media room, though, so that was very exciting!

I'm finally getting things organized and put away. The last room that hasn't really been tackled is my craftroom and I hope to get that done before the end of the year. We've had many gatherings at the house, parties with family, dinners for the Race and Gravy series and for our community at St. Albans, and this is just the beginning of our memories here.

So what about the energy savings? Save for a bill this past summer when our air conditioner malfunctioned (still under a fantastic warranty, thanks Maytag!), our highest electricity bill has been about $120. I did some comparison and had we stayed with DEMCO (we don't get a choice around here), our bill would have been lower than it was in our old, smaller house (seems Entergy's rates are higher for electricity).

And does the stuff really work? LED can lights. Check! Tankless water heaters. Check! (Although, I should mention unlimited hot water probably isn't the most environmentally friendly use of water resources when you're in the shower and it feels really good!) Concrete floors. Check! Extremely easy to maintain, though they do make you more tired when standing on them for long periods, so we're investing in a few gel mats for the kitchen.

I should also mention that in July 2009 we added a member to the Nelson clan. Little Chester is a Scottish Fold/British Shorthair cat who has jumped right into the family. He loves sitting in the big art glass windows in the game room and eating, well, just about anything.

As 2010 draws to an end, we pause to count our blessings. At a time when people don't have a lot or maybe less than they used to, we've been extremely blessed with this beautiful home and the great benefits of investing in energy efficiency and sustainability. I still wake up in the morning and think, "I love this house."

From our home to yours...have a blessed holiday season and a wonderful New Year!