I know you have all seen the U-Haul moving vans with the ad “An Adventure in Moving” on the trucks.  Though not in a U-Haul, I have been immersed in that Adventure.   The fine print reads that “adventure” does not always translate to “fun”.  An adventure can be an ordeal.  Unfortunately, my purchase, sale and relocation to my new home have been less than pleasant in most aspects.

We signed the contracts in late August, but for one reason or another, the closing had to be rescheduled several times, and I finally moved on September 9^th from the city to a suburb about 8 miles down Texas 288.  The second ordeal was the move itself.  I was not at all pleased with my movers.  They could give the tortoise a run for his money in the slow department.  I had only a dining room table and china cabinet and bedroom (having sold most of the furniture with the condo) to move, but it took 5 hours!  In the Texas heat!  Granted, I had a lot of boxes, but…  All-Some Movers do not win my recommendation.  They also treated my fragile boxes like footballs.  I’m praying that my crystal and china are okay.

I love my new house, but I am giving her a little “facelift”.   I know it is always a mistake to try to live in a home you are renovating.   I might have stayed in a hotel, but I have a rather large and loveable cat to consider.  Spencer is very easy going, but he’s far too big to smuggle into a roadside inn.  So, here I am in the middle of chaos.  A couple more days, however, and it should be done.  Then I can actually straighten up (my clothes are in a heap on the living room rug), clean and settle in to watch my new TV.  Game of Thrones and Outlander, here I come!

The facelift includes new wood flooring in a rich hickory throughout, with the exception of the foyer, baths and kitchen, which are in tile.   The kitchen is a white marble-look shot with beige.   The baths are difficult to describe, but are called “Ginger”—not orange at all but tend a bit to the pinkish.   I’ll run pictures later.   The baths are the final touch, completed hopefully today and tomorrow.  Of course, they can only do one at the time because you are not supposed to walk on them for 24 hours.

Last night, I treated myself to dinner at Texas Roadhouse Grill—a small sirloin, salad and loaded baked potato.  I had to send the steak back once because it was overdone, but it was really good and I needed the energy, having neglected things like food during this Adventure.

It has been fun replacing the furniture.   I bought a slate leather sofa and huge entertainment center at The Dump.  The kitchen is large enough to accommodate a black bistro table with white leather stools.  My decorating plan for the kitchen is “wine”, and I ordered cute wooden plaques with wine bottle labels for one wall.  One plaque I must have!  “I cook with wine.  Sometimes I even put it in the food.”

Yesterday, my son took me to a used office furniture place.  I found a nice gray chair with colored squiggles in the fabric and a cherry filing cabinet with bookcase at a very reasonable price.

Soon (fingers crossed) I should be all settled in.  I plan to have a housewarming party.  You’re invited!

Have an excellent weekend!!

Linda

I’ve gone past cabin fever into full-blown Spring Fever. There are so many things I want to do, need to do, or have to do, that I just don’t know where to start.

I’ve decided to make a list. Spring cleaning needs to be at the top, but it will have to wait. We just bought a new house. Well, it’s new to us, anyway. So the Spring cleaning will have to be totally re-vamped into an all out rake out, toss out, haul off and pack to move cleaning.

Did I mention how much I hate to move? We’ve been in the present house 23 years! There are still some boxes I haven’t unpacked from the last move. At least this time we won’t be under the gun with a time limit to be out. We own the present house and are not planning to put it on the market until the real estate market recovers in our area.

Now, back to my list. Hummm, so, number one on the list has to be preparing to move. The previous owners painted over wallpaper and this beautiful pea green and cream color scheme is still peeking through more than four coats of paint! We took up the tile also. Will post the after pictures as soon as it is after. LOL

Number two is throw out some of the junk that is piled up in my office. I mean it, toss the junk out.

We are remodeling the new house, added hardwood flooring—real old-fashioned planks throughout the house. We took the second bedroom on the main level, tore out a wall and opened it to the master bedroom to make double walk-in closets and a big master bath. Then we had to tear down wallpaper that had been painted over throughout the house. Also we are removing two small closets in a bedroom upstairs to make the room bigger. We’re changing all the toilets in the house and revamping the hall bathroom into a more modern looking guest bath. All of this is on-going and about halfway done. The crew we hired is doing a great job so far. My office is on the main floor! Yes, no more falling up or down the stairs. Everything I need is on the main floor. We're having the cabinets painted an antique cream with chocolate glaze which will match the cabinets in the new master bath.

Number three, make a plan—start with one room at a time—make piles—yard sale, trash, and keep. The things in the keep pile will be packed and the boxes marked by content and room.

Number four—this should be number one—find time to write.
This is my new office. Notice the step down? We had the floor moved up level--no more step down. The hardwood will be much warmer than the tile was. Also had the electrical outlets moved up to about six inches above the height of my desk, hubby did that for me! Isn't he the sweetest man? No more crawling under the desk to plug up my laptop.
Did I mention I fell out the door again and turned my ankle? Walking with a brace on my left ankle—so I should have time to write, since I can’t stand for long periods. Another reason for moving the floor up level, I'd be sure to turn my ankle here.

Number five—is to get back into the habit of meeting regularly with my critique partner. You didn’t really think I’d make a list and not put the important stuff on it did you?

Number six—write everyday.

Number seven—complete the WIP, which is a vampire story.

Number eight—get on with the move.

Number nine—throw a virtual housewarming party and invite all my fuzzy friends! After all the Scarlet Pumpernickel knows how to throw a party!