Finally!
Its taken over two years to get this size and this is the biggest of the bunch but from this point they seem to grow at a faster rate. I had one years ago that grew too tall for the house. The lemon blossoms smell amazing but never got regular sized lemons from them.
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/.​ said...
Just to give you a reference what it costs the city here annually for snow removal.
Ottawa's winter operations budget is $85.8 million for this year. The 2023 budget included an additional $3.5 million to help the city maintain roads, sidewalks and pathways in the winter.
Of course that's separate from us but the amount is shocking and we don't get nearly the amount of snow as we used to.
Wow, yeah, that's some big bucks.

Pandora said...
Oh well for you have that's probably completely reasonable. My living situation is most likely to be more like your friend as I live in an old building in the historic city centre so I'm fine with what I pay compared with that!
Just to give you a reference what it costs the city here annually for snow removal.
Ottawa's winter operations budget is $85.8 million for this year. The 2023 budget included an additional $3.5 million to help the city maintain roads, sidewalks and pathways in the winter.
Of course that's separate from us but the amount is shocking and we don't get nearly the amount of snow as we used to.
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/.​ said...
It's actually not bad when you consider they deal with everything you listed plus snow removal in the winter and lawn maintenance plus the swimming pool. It's a large property so the snow and lawn mowing would be a big part of it.
I know someone who lives in a beautiful old building downtown and they're paying almost $800!
Oh well for you have that's probably completely reasonable. My living situation is most likely to be more like your friend as I live in an old building in the historic city centre so I'm fine with what I pay compared with that!

Pandora said...
That's a lot. I pay about 90€ a month which covers a weekly cleaner for the communal areas, the water charges for my flat and I guess insurance for the actual building. So yeah, but not too much considering.
It's actually not bad when you consider they deal with everything you listed plus snow removal in the winter and lawn maintenance plus the swimming pool. It's a large property so the snow and lawn mowing would be a big part of it.
I know someone who lives in a beautiful old building downtown and they're paying almost $800!
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/.​ said...
Random question but do you have to pay monthly condos fees? I pay $330 a month at the moment.
That's a lot. I pay about 90€ a month which covers a weekly cleaner for the communal areas, the water charges for my flat and I guess insurance for the actual building. So yeah, but not too much considering.

Pandora said...
I understand. I had quite a lot of renovations done on my old house and it was miserable.
Random question but do you have to pay monthly condos fees? I pay $330 a month at the moment.
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/.​ said...
I'd have to take down a wall between the kitchen and dining room to put an island in. Many of my neighbors have done it, but it's a big job and I hate living thru renos.
I understand. I had quite a lot of renovations done on my old house and it was miserable.

Pandora said...
When you do get round to doing up your kitchen it’s definitely worth looking to see if IKEA have anything you might want
I'd have to take down a wall between the kitchen and dining room to put an island in. Many of my neighbors have done it, but it's a big job and I hate living thru renos.
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/.​ said...
I've admired it everytime it pops up in one of your pics.
When you do get round to doing up your kitchen it’s definitely worth looking to see if IKEA have anything you might want

Pandora said...
I really love it. The wooden top is really beautiful.
I've admired it everytime it pops up in one of your pics.
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Pandora said...
I have a separate living room with couch and TV so I am happy with the main bit being open plan. I have very high ceilings too so it’s such a nice airy area.
Sounds lovely. My ceilings aren’t as high as my other house but high enough. I admire Hawaii with all the flowing curtains and open paneled patio doors. I need fresh air always.

Elle said...

I have an open plan as well. They make the areas seem bigger and I prefer them. Otherwise I feel claustrophobic.
I have a separate living room with couch and TV so I am happy with the main bit being open plan. I have very high ceilings too so it’s such a nice airy area.

Pandora said...
It’s hard to say because I have an open plan kitchen and living/dining area. I recently rearranged the kitchen to accommodate a pizza oven I bought on a whim and so made my kitchen bigger by moving out the island. The positives of open plan - adjustable room sizing

I have an open plan as well. They make the areas seem bigger and I prefer them. Otherwise I feel claustrophobic.

Elle said...
LOL. Is your real kitchen that big?
It’s hard to say because I have an open plan kitchen and living/dining area. I recently rearranged the kitchen to accommodate a pizza oven I bought on a whim and so made my kitchen bigger by moving out the island. The positives of open plan - adjustable room sizing

Pandora said...
That’s a picture I googled! Yes, I bought my place a couple of years ago.
LOL. Is your real kitchen that big?

Elle said...
Your apartment kitchen is bigger than I imagined it would be. Did you buy your place?
That’s a picture I googled! Yes, I bought my place a couple of years ago.

Pandora said...
I really love it. The wooden top is really beautiful.
Your apartment kitchen is bigger than I imagined it would be. Did you buy your place?

I really love it. The wooden top is really beautiful.

Yeah, most of their stuff is good for students or people on a budget, but the island is beautiful.
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Oh yeah, it can be a mission going there. A lot of their furniture is so basic and you can tell it’s Ikea but they do actually have some pretty nice stuff. I love this island and it matches really well with the other kitchen units that were already here.

Beautiful.
Funny, I was just mentioning to someone the other day that I need to go Ikea for a few bookshelves. I actually hate going there because of the way it's setup and the one here is HUGE.
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It’s an island that I got from IKEA

I see it now, and I don't quite know what to say
I love you butcher block countertop, it is your counter? I want you replace mine since it's been 32 years since I renovated the kitchen. Fuck, I'm old.
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