Moving Day

Finally, the day has arrived. We were to move on Tues, but there was an ice storm. No school. No work - which we've never been closed for a day since I've been here for 24 years. Actually, in town streets were ok, but we stayed in and spent the day packing and baking and relaxing. School was delayed the next morning too.

Today, the movers arrived at 8:45 and had the house loaded in the truck by 10:30. I had everything organized and ready for them - 3 extra days gained me a lot of organizing and more boxes packed. They had to take apart the bunk bed and the day bed. Then they only had to drive 2 miles up the street to our new house. They had everything unloaded there by 12:15.

It's kind of giddy to think we'll be living there now. Exciting to rearrange the furniture and get everything in it's new place. I'm looking forward to deciding where everything will go in the kitchen.

Right now the cat is playing with little bits of trash left on the floor. Nibbles stayed shut in the bathroom and when I let him out he was not too happy to see everything gone. He really hates the new house - because it's new and because it was empty. So I hope he'll also be excited to explore our old furniture in a new location. Right now he is having fun hopping around. And I'm doing load after load of bed linens. Kids each have a laundry basket full of clean clothes to move over and a lot of their clothes went over in their dresser drawers.

After the movers left, I drove over to the Y and walked around on their trails. The ice still remains on the trees, though today it is melting more. I've never seen ice remain 4 days. Every tree and bush is gorgeous and the town has been like a fairyland this week. First thing in the morning, everything is frosty white. When the sun comes out, everything glistens and at night, the
street lights turn all the trees white. I've taken lots of photos and I'll post some.

M.F.H.

Moving Soon

Hadn't realized how long it's been since I've written, but people tell me they are actually checking the blog, so I guess I'm overdue to add more photos.

I didn't record at all Frank coming up to help me paint. We painted or touched up 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, the living/kitchen and the front room. I'd probably only have less than half that done without his help. I still have some touch up to do. And still deciding colors for some rooms.

House is basically done except for fireplace mantel which should be this week. And for some reason, kitchen people have not installed glass inserts in cabinet doors for 3 weeks! And I'm missing 1 countertop in laundry and hooks in mudroom. Garage needs to be emptied of workmen's stuff. I have to clean basement. They swept it out, but it's dirty. So I hope to clean this weekend before I can install and fill shelves in basement and garage.

Sarah is having her delayed birthday/slumber party this Sat. night at the new house. We don't need furniture for that.

Next I have to check with work and call the movers and set a date to move. I've been delaying because I need to empty so many cabinets (china) and bookshelves. But once the date is set, I'll go into overdrive and get it done.

Christmas presents to buy and wrap, Christmas cards to write and send, Christmas concerts and parties to attend. . . And it snowed last night. So I promise more photos soon.

M.F.H.

Finally, photos!

Here's some photos of the exterior and the kitchen cabinets that were installed yesterday. As far as flooring, they did the underlayment for the Duratile.

M.F.H.

The Siding is Done!

Finally, siding finished yesterday, just ahead of rain. I think it's taken 8 weeks. Now I'll be able to post a photo of the house. They also did the grading of the lot, which I was afraid would have been postponed by the rain, but he got it done. It rained and poured half the day and evening, so I'm hoping that by the weekend, the weather turns nice and it will be easy to dig up plants. So this weekend, I'm either planting or painting.

They also hung alot of the ceiling fixtures. The fans in the girls' bedrooms are huge. They didn't look that big in the stores. L will not be able to have a draped 4 poster bed for certain. Woodwork is still going up and 2 doors are hung. I have to do some touch up on the painting we've done, so we may not get much more painting done this weekend. Flooring is to start Mon with the Durastone and fireplace. Kitchen cabinets were to have started yesterday, but didn't, but I imagine they'll be in by the weekend.

Lots happening and its exciting finally, after a long wait.

M.F.H.

Drywall and painting done

Heard last night that the painting of the drywall is done. It's all done in white - alabaster. Or as the contractor kept mistakenly saying - albatross!

I have to stop out and see it this afternoon. I can start painting now, but will be out of town this weekend. With Dad sick, I don't know how much painting I'll get done. Which will all work out. Kids are still uncertain what color they want their rooms and I think once they see the carpet in, it will help them decide. So we'll see if I can get living/kitchen, master bed and bath painted.

Week #6 for siding and it's still not done. It's been muddy and rainy, so guys are working at another house instead. Today or tomorrow they are suppose to pour driveway and sidewalk and front porch. So then siding should finish. And landscape can start, if I can get ahole of the guy. And if I can buy some trees at the place that's going out of business.

Flooring's ready to order. Cabinets are ordered, but not handles. Doors ordered, but not knobs. Still have some lighting to buy. It will be so exciting to see cabinets go in and flooring. But no picutres to post. Do you really want to see empty all white rooms?

M.F.H.

Siding, drywall, formica, bannisters, doors

A lot going on at the moment. I understand the siders have finally started on the final wall, the front of the house. It seems like they started a month ago.

On Mon. the ceilings will be finished and they'll start doing the walls.

I spent the day out of town comparing backsplash tile samples to formica and meganite samples,

Then I went and talked to the stained glass shop.

Then stopped at the door/bannister company where I picked out doors, newell posts, bannisters, ballisters, door knobs and even saw some cabinet knobs I like. Fortunately for me, I like plain and simple and that's usually the cheapest and often what they have in stock. Their stock doorknobs and handles are very nice.

When the kids get home from school, will go out and look at the house. Haven't been there since Tues. Seemed like not much is happening.

I also talked yesterday to the mortgage people and to EDJones and figured out the financials.

And I have the name of the landscaper to call. So lots to do and I especially need to add some photos.

M.F.H.

Drywall

Started drywall on Mon. and it is almost done. The family was working when we stopped by at 5:30 and were probably going to stay until it was done. Lots of the floors already have red paper down, so I imagine next week, they will finish it.

Meanwhile, the siding continues. They are half way done with the third side, after 2 weeks. Most everything else seems to be going so fast. The main thing I notice is how dusty, dirty everything is. Windows, fireplace, everything will have to be cleaned when the drywall is done.

Last Sun. we were invited to a neighborhood picnic. That was nice. Got to meet most everyone and everyone was friendly. The kids knew more people than they realized. And I knew a fair amount of people too.

Sorry there haven't been more photos. I'm waiting for the siding to be done. And white drywall just doesn't photograph well. All I'd be showing you would be empty white walls. By Oct. there should be lots of photos as the kitchen and flooring go in.

I' m on vacation next week. Trying to get things completed around the current house, but I'm coming to realize that there is no way I can get this house on the market before we move. And I'm not sure how well it will sell over the winter. Perhaps best to put it on the market in March any way. And then I can always move more plants in the spring. This week will help me decide what I will be doing.

M.F.H.