We made it. We've got the main boxes unloaded. Still no landline phone, internet, or cable tv. It's amazing what you can do with a mobile phone.

It's been a hell of a week and it's only Wednesday.

Today the movers came and packed up the contents of the house.

It's strange to see your stuff turned into one semi load.

And it was a full load.

I took a few pictures of the process, but I'm using my parents' computer and I have no way to down load them.

The unload starts tomorrow.

As of right now, we have no internet at the new place.

Once we do, though. Better watch out.

...

All this packing has me wondering...

-Just how much stuff does one person need? No, not just one - Five.

-If I were to be traveling by covered wagon, what would I take?

-Will I be ready Wednesday when the movers come?

-Where will all this go in the new house?

-How long will it take to unpack?

...

My nerves are getting the better of me. I was up packing at 5:30 this morning.

..

Saturday

So we closed on the house on Wednesday. Having had to be pulled from the mover's schedule once, I didn't want to repeat that. Sometime Wednesday afternoon, I called the mover and asked when he thought we might be able to get back on the schedule. Having worked with plenty of neurotic housewives, he was up for the task.

"Would later next week work?"

NEXT week? You mean like a week from Wednesday?

Yes.

So here I sit, getting ready to start my second full day of packing. Yesterday it was all I could do to get half of my craft room done.

Needless to say, I'll be even more absent than I've been.

However, even with a new house, I look forward to sharing my Before and Afters.

...

The neighbors have set up a going away party for us tonight. I'm aiming not to drink too much as I can't lose a day to a hangover.

...

Have a great weekend.

...

A picture is worth...

Keys to the new house.

More pictures to follow. Today has been an absolute whirlwind. If you'd asked me Monday if we would close on the house (of my dreams), I would have said no.

I love it when a plan comes together...

The family that looked at our house Saturday came back Monday.

Tuesday they made an offer. We countered back.

This morning we signed the papers with a price somewhere in the middle.

Not bad - house goes on the market Friday, and is off by Wednesday.

Hopefully it will all work out...


...

Today we're just hanging out in Cow Town. The kids and I went to the neighborhood pool as it's rather hot here. Guess my blood just thickened a bit being Up North for the last three years.

...

Week and a day

It's been a week and a day since our mortgage company said, "No, thank you" to our pending house purchase. Never mind we were pre-approved. Never mind we've had a mortgage in good standing for the last ten years. Never mind we have 20 percent to put down. It doesn't matter. My husband's going to work for his dad making it a family business. With that, the bank is requesting a year's worth of pay stubs from his dad.

Our broker, who pre-approved us, said that our best bet would be to rent for a year and reapply.

No. Thank you.

We are working with a couple other banks, hoping one of them understands.

So for now, our closing on the 19th is off. We are not sure when, or even if, we will be able to close on the house that both of us could agree on. The house that it took three trips and over thirty houses to find. The house that I could see our youngest graduating from high school.

Right now it's all up in the air.

I don't do well with that.

At all.

...

Making my list and checking it twice...

The last couple days I've sat down with pen and paper, trying to make sense of all there is to do this month. Funny, when the calendar said May I was still able to ignore the fact that we are moving. Now that it says June, and the close date is clearly marked, I can ignore it no longer.

Writing it all down makes it easier for me - rather than seeing a list of 'how am I ever going to get all this done?!?' I see a list that keeps me from forgetting something.

Thinks like packing a night light within easy reach for the first night. And making sure there's toilet paper.

...

June 19

We found a house and a yard in a school district we like.

Trifecta.

Offer has been accepted with a closing date of June 19th.

Dare I say I'm getting a little excited?

...

The other day, my oldest came home and told me how they'd made cups out of newspaper for sprouting seeds.



Tear newspaper in strips and get them wet. Wrap across the bottom and halfway up the side of an empty soda can. Wrap around the can a couple times and carefully slide off. Reform a bit if necessary and fill with planting medium.

We chose Cosmos, Zinnia, and Marigolds for their quick sprouting time.

If we were going to be here for the summer, we'd be planting a whole lot more.

Maybe next year.

...

Not much on the house/moving front. We did order granite countertops for our current house. We couldn't lower the price of ours enough to make a difference (we're already going to lose quite a bit on the sale), and most all of the competition has it.

...

We're going back down next week for a day or two - the final house hunting stretch. A couple of interesting houses have come on the market in since our last visit. Right now there are just so many choices out there, but not exactly what we're looking for. At some point, we're going to have to pick one and go with it. Not just yet, though...


...

My husband left this morning for his parents'. The funeral will be tomorrow. Though I wish I could be there, it wasn't in the cards.

I spent a good two hours today sorting through a small part of my fabric, and was able to set aside enough for three quilts. I'm looking to do a couple two (or three) color quilts using vintage flannel for backing.

Tomorrow I'm hoping to put together a quick and easy Irish Chain. Given the fact that it's a two hour late start for my grade-schoolers and my oldest spent most of the day today throwing up (so she'll be home tomorrow), we'll see how much I get done.

...

A couple days ago, my husband and I set about looking for houses online. He's taking the list with him and may drive by a couple the next two days. There is one that has me a tiny bit excited. Situated not too far out of town, it's on four acres. A two-story five bedroom farmhouse with a wrap-around porch, the property even sports a barn.

I've always wanted an acreage with a barn.

...

Party? I don't think so!

I'm working on the Pretzel Party Quilt for the local quilt shop. Remember how I said they were looking for people to sew samples and they took me up on it? Yea... I don't know as I'd call the pattern a "party."

Though I don't think I'm out of my league, I'm getting very good at Y angles.

...

Thanks for all the well wishes about the big girl. I managed not to either call or email the director Saturday. I will, however, send one in the next day or two. I'd just like to know what sort of qualifications/training the referees have, and when/if they call fouls.

The hard part of this? It's just the beginning. I don't know how my parents sat through the number of games they did.

The amazing part? My daughter wants to skip dance tonight so that she won't miss basketball. I think I've created a monster.

...

Though I'm still resigned to the fact that we're going to move, I'm really trying to start looking at the bright side.

...

No words left today. Yesterday kind of took it out of me.

I will miss this place

...

Buffer Zone

The last couple weeks have brought more than the usual holiday related stress.

A week before Christmas, my husband was offered a 'voluntary buyout' of his current employment.

Not just him, but nearly everyone at the corporate office.

For the record, this is his second early retirement package in his 39 short years.

Yesterday was the day which he needed to declare his intent to take the package, or wait and see if other layoffs are necessary.

The package was very good, and after much discussion we decided he should take it. A bit like playing "Deal or No Deal" there were multiple numbers floating around. If this, then that... I told him that if he was serious about moving on to take the package and not look back. The amount to be possibly gained by waiting was not worth the stress.

So, much to my chagrin, it looks as though we will be moving to at the end of the school year.

I'd be happy to stay right where I am until the kids graduate. I have made myself at home here. My husband? Not so much. Not that he wouldn't, but the winters are hard on him and he's never really felt like this is 'home'. It's just different when you're home with the kids. We moved here on a Friday, and Monday he was at work - leaving me home. Leaving me to find my own way so to speak. If I want to make friends, I must put myself out there. I had to make this my home.

Fortunately, unlike many that find themselves without a job, with the compensation we will be able to wait until the kids are out of school to relocate. Also, unlike many that find themselves without a job, we have the backup of his dad's business. A business with quite a bit of opportunity and his dad is terribly excited to have him come on board.

It worries me to be so close to his parents. Not that they aren't lovely people, I've just never lived closer than three hours from them. Especially after our move here and with all my husband's travel, I got very, very used to taking care of things on my own. Very.

So right now I'm trying to concentrate on the good that will come of this. First and foremost, my husband will be back in an entrepreneurial position. It is his nature - it's what he does and thrives with. Secondly, this won't kill me. Well... No secondly, we can pick out a new house. New draperies to make, painting, decorating... I just need the appropriate buffer zone - you know, not next door to the in laws. Third, as always - It will be an adventure. It could possibly be a tough transition for the kids, but if we take this as a good thing, they will too.


...

Two posts in one day ... Who knew?

...