http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/neighbors/3144 A house (or condo, or apartment) becomes a home when it reflects you in some way. Having recently moved to Bakersfield, my carpet is still peppered with packing peanuts.&nbsp; The boxes I've been using as a coffee table are finally empty now, and finding a place for the contents has made the difference between thinking of it as a new address and starting to call it home.What makes where you live a home?I've heard of cat fanatics constructing literal catwalks near the ceilings for their felines to move about without ever touching the floor. I've seen entire rooms dedicated to a knick-knack or an action figure collection.What do you like to show off about your home?&nbsp; What have you done to make it your own?&nbsp; Are you planning to change anything in the near future?-Matylda Czarnecka A house (or condo, or apartment) becomes a home when it reflects you in some way. Having recently moved to Bakersfield, my carpet is still peppered with packing peanuts.&nbsp; The boxes I've been using as a coffee table are finally empty now, and finding a place for the contents has made the difference between thinking of it as a new address and starting to call it home.What makes where you live a home?I've heard of cat fanatics constructing literal catwalks near the ceilings for their felines to move about without ever touching the floor. I've seen entire rooms dedicated to a knick-knack or an action figure collection.What do you like to show off about your home?&nbsp; What have you done to make it your own?&nbsp; Are you planning to change anything in the near future?-Matylda Czarnecka en-us Fri, 23 Jun 2006 16:58:39 PDT <p>The best part of our home without a doubt is the deck . On a nice evening we BBQ and relax listening to the birds chirp. It is so nice.</p> <p>Our home is comfortable and kid and pet friendly.</p> <p>We have a lot of ongoing remodeling. The kitchen is about to go through a serious makeover in August. Oh, I can't wait!</p> <p>Lots still to do but well worth i t :-D</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/neighbors/3144/#c_14175 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/neighbors/3144/#c_14175 <p>The best part of our home without a doubt is the deck . On a nice evening we BBQ and relax listening to the birds chirp. It is so nice.</p> <p>Our home is comfortable and kid and pet friendly.</p> <p>We have a lot of ongoing remodeling. The kitchen is about to go through a serious makeover in August. Oh, I can't wait!</p> <p>Lots still to do but well worth i t :-D</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>From KatieB:</p> <p>Yikes!!!&nbsp; I live with Erik!&nbsp; How scarey is that????</p> <p>When we moved in, there was just one huge Chinese Elm in the back.&nbsp; Now, it's filled with bananas, palms, hibiscus flowers, plenty of bamboo and ferms.&nbsp; We have a large fountain/pond, copper chimes and bird feeders.</p> <p>The inside is pretty much the same as Erik's except for Mexican, mine's Hawaiian - colonial Hawaii - no pink flaminoes!&nbsp; We have two birds that add to the tropical sounds.&nbsp; I used cool blues/greens/purples because I wanted to reflect water and reverse the psychological effects of the heat in the summer.&nbsp; </p> <p>Sad thing is, we're moving down.&nbsp; Since I'm unable to work we're moving...oh well.&nbsp; You can re-recreate your paradise anywhere you go!&nbsp; It's gonna be hard, though.</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/neighbors/3144/#c_14189 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/neighbors/3144/#c_14189 <p>From KatieB:</p> <p>Yikes!!!&nbsp; I live with Erik!&nbsp; How scarey is that????</p> <p>When we moved in, there was just one huge Chinese Elm in the back.&nbsp; Now, it's filled with bananas, palms, hibiscus flowers, plenty of bamboo and ferms.&nbsp; We have a large fountain/pond, copper chimes and bird feeders.</p> <p>The inside is pretty much the same as Erik's except for Mexican, mine's Hawaiian - colonial Hawaii - no pink flaminoes!&nbsp; We have two birds that add to the tropical sounds.&nbsp; I used cool blues/greens/purples because I wanted to reflect water and reverse the psychological effects of the heat in the summer.&nbsp; </p> <p>Sad thing is, we're moving down.&nbsp; Since I'm unable to work we're moving...oh well.&nbsp; You can re-recreate your paradise anywhere you go!&nbsp; It's gonna be hard, though.</p> We love our house -- built in 1958, it has some nice mid-century modern touches, like the flag stone fireplace. The kitchen is huge and nicely designed.&nbsp; <br /><br />My favorite place is the yard.&nbsp; The previous owner did a great job of landscaping it.&nbsp; There are roses and catus and interesting trees, including some wonderful palms.<br /><br />I don't think we'll ever have a house that better suits us. http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/neighbors/3144/#c_14222 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/neighbors/3144/#c_14222 We love our house -- built in 1958, it has some nice mid-century modern touches, like the flag stone fireplace. The kitchen is huge and nicely designed.&nbsp; <br /><br />My favorite place is the yard.&nbsp; The previous owner did a great job of landscaping it.&nbsp; There are roses and catus and interesting trees, including some wonderful palms.<br /><br />I don't think we'll ever have a house that better suits us. <p>No pool!</p> <p>20 years of pool maintenance at two homes was way enough for me. Our new place - ocean view and temperatures below 70 degrees in the summer. Now that's cool. And no pool!&nbsp;</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/neighbors/3144/#c_14348 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/neighbors/3144/#c_14348 <p>No pool!</p> <p>20 years of pool maintenance at two homes was way enough for me. Our new place - ocean view and temperatures below 70 degrees in the summer. Now that's cool. And no pool!&nbsp;</p> Like you I just moved to Bakersfield. My wife and i have been together for nearly 20 years, with 7 kids between us. We just found home after all thsoe years. For the first time we have started hanging pictures of our family, something I hope never ends, and setting here looking at all my family around me is one of the greatest pleasures of my life, only bested by my Wife and Kids, and 7 grandkids, I see them all everyday, and home is quiet now, my pictures don't fight with each other. Life is great at home. God Bless All. http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/neighbors/3144/#c_14571 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/neighbors/3144/#c_14571 Like you I just moved to Bakersfield. My wife and i have been together for nearly 20 years, with 7 kids between us. We just found home after all thsoe years. For the first time we have started hanging pictures of our family, something I hope never ends, and setting here looking at all my family around me is one of the greatest pleasures of my life, only bested by my Wife and Kids, and 7 grandkids, I see them all everyday, and home is quiet now, my pictures don't fight with each other. Life is great at home. God Bless All.