Garage Doors and Primer and Scarecrows

I have yet to compose a response to the HOA's reply from yesterday. I did have a nice chat with my Realtor, who concurred that I would have more pull once we're actually living in the house. She was able to offer me some good insight on various HOA inner workings and gave me a good pep talk.

Moving on...

This morning, Nolan and I made our way to the Heritage Farmstead Museum for a build-your-own scarecrow event.

The Museum offers great "Mommy and Me" events approximately every-other Friday. Nolan enjoys seeing the animals and meeting the other kids, and I enjoy getting him out of the house.  Not to be really mom-ish, but I also really enjoy watching him have fun.  I am such a grown-up.

Here's Nolan and the other kids during story time:

Nolan is in the red pants and navy shirt, to the left of the girl
with the long blond hair.

Must have been pretty suspenseful because
he's holding onto that platform.

I think he was a little into it.

And how he's checking out the girl next to him.

After story time, Nolan and the kids helped make a real scarecrow.

Busy working (no such thing as a free lunch, 'eh?)

Nolan surrounded by four girls.  He was their muscle.

"Uh... where's the guy's head?"

 After making a headless corpse scarecrow, the kids headed back into the pole barn to make a craft.  The kids made a scarecrow head out of a brown lunch sack filled with newspaper (cause that will withstand the Texas weather).

Nolan squishing his scarecrow head.

Normally, there's a chance to feed the animals and go on a wagon ride, but we left because I forgot to take my medications and I was feeling withdrawal symptoms.  Gah!!  Not fun!

We went to the gym, then decided a trip to the house sounded fun.  Here are some pictures!

A garage door.  This poor door doesn't realize that in a few weeks
it will be hiding a massive amount of stuff.

Hard to tell, but the walls and ceiling have been textured and
primed (I think).

Master bathroom looking into the master closet.

Upstairs in one of the bedrooms.

And then my cell phone died so I couldn't take pictures of the homeless people squatting in our house.  Boo!

At the gas station, I saw some firewood on sale (which kills me to buy because I think about the ample piles of logs at my folks', some of which I helped stack three weeks ago) and I impulsively purchased two bundles (4.50/each... not kidding).

We stopped by the liquor store, grabbed some Fireball, came home, and I got this magnificent fire roaring.

At least the wood looks really nice.

Now it's almost 8 o'clock on a Friday night in Texas, and I'm going to put Nolie to bed and probably fall asleep in minutes.  Such is the life when you're a rock star like me.

And Now It's a Battle (But Not a War)

As many of you are probably following on Facebook, I'm having a frustrating great experience dealing with our new HOA.  For those who are not following, or those who would like a recap, here's what has happened:

Pre-November 5: I found a wood swing set I wanted to buy for Nolan to set up after we move in. The problem is the height: Its peak is 11'6".  The HOA allows only 8' tall play structures.  Anything over is considered an accessory (or secondary) structure and requires ARC approval.

November 5: I sent a request to the Architectural Review Committee (ARC) of our HOA, based on this particular part of the HOA bylaws:

November 6:  I received this reply:

My appeal request: 

 The denial of my appeal:

My response:

HOA's reply:

 Basically, this illustrates the HOA:

And what it is telling me:

I haven't yet formulated a response to the woman's most recent reply.  Her reply actually made me have more questions, such as:

1. Why do you hate children?
2. In addition to children, do you hate puppies and kittens?
3. I bet you hate sunshine and rainbows, too.
4. I recognize that number three was not a question, but it's a pretty safe assumption.

Seriously, though, I do have questions:

1. Who is the committee?
2. How do I contact the members?
3. Did you actually send in my variance request, or did you just allude to that believing that I wouldn't be any wiser?
4. Why wouldn't you tell me in the very beginning that soon-to-be residents aren't allowed to request variances?
5. What is the point of even having the variance option if the committee rarely grants approval (and never for play sets)?
6. Did the committee grant approval to the residents with over-8' tall play sets?
7. What is the real reason my request for a variance was denied?
8. Why do you hate children?

Readers, what is your opinion on the matter?  Keep in mind, it appears the HOA is currently being held by a private management company.  I don't believe that the woman I am dealing with is a resident of Sunset Pointe, but I could be wrong.  I also have no clue on who the members of the alleged committee are.

One final graphic:

HOA: Friend or Foe?

I'm in the middle of my first HOA battle.  Thus far, it's been pretty easygoing. It hasn't even really been a battle, but it makes it so much more exciting to refer to it that way instead of something like "I'm in contact with the HOA about getting approval for my son's wooden play set."

On one side of the battle, we have me:

And on the other side, we have the HOA:

And all I want to do is put in this:

So we can be like this:

 But they just want to do this:

Or maybe even this:

(I am having way too much fun Googling these pictures.  I love the internet.  Moving on...)

The HOA has honestly been quite nice and accommodating in helping me get the necessary paperwork to fill out a waiver so I can put in this playset.  The reason I'm having to jump through so many hoops to install this is because the HOA states that any playsets over 8' tall (the one I've bought is 11'6") are considered "secondary fixtures" and therefore require ARC approval.

The items I need to include in my application are:

• A one-page application
• A picture of the unit
• The dimensions of the unit
• A copy of the survey
• An indication on the survey of where I am going to place this playset
• Copies of my social security card and driver's license
• A signed and notorized commitment form stating I will put the HOA above all else
• A DNA sample

Hahaha... I'm kidding on that last one.  They just need a blood sample. 

It'll take approximately 30 days for them to make a decision.  I have no clue who is in charge of the decision-making process, or if I have to appear before a commission, or anything else.  I've already purchased the playset, so hopefully I didn't jinx it.

I do understand the purpose of HOA (to keep people from doing gross things in their yards and houses and to maintain the Stepford-look), but sometimes I think they're a little extreme.  For example, do I seriously need to get permission before I put in a lawn ornament in my front yard?  That seems a bit.... much.

What are your thoughts?  Any past negative/positive experiences with your HOA?