Saturday, March 2, 2013 @ 7:52 AM
Yup yup … it happened!
Good morning! WE ARE OFFICIAL
HOMEOWNERS!!!! Can you believe it! It happened and all in the blinking of an
eye. We’re trying to now calm ourselves
down almost 24 hours later so that we can write about the experience. Fortunately Rich will be out of the house for
the next 5-6 hours so we should be moving things along in a writing
direction. I’m thinking of you too this
morning LuAnn … in some sort of a nice new memory you are included in this
dream … we’ve become overnight mobile home sisters! YAY!!!
There is so much to talk about in getting the new place I
hardly know where to begin. We have for
the record been up 2-3 hours, but we spent some time talking to Rich, and then
after he left we’ve been getting a grasp on all the good wishes in our Facebook
messages. At this point there were 28
likes and about 40 messages where people were just the most special in sharing
our day. There’s been more since! We’ve now changed the Cover of our Facebook
page to the above, and we’ve got a new time line
Yup, yup … it’s for real! Almost in three weeks! YAY!!!
You already know of most the progress of our move. We’ve got most of the LR packed including
books, desk, and files, and we’ve got all of the sewing room packed. Rich says that today and tomorrow we can do
some work on the closets, but then he changed it to say that we’d just work on
the back closet where his clothes and fishing gear are. Maybe we will have to progress that
some.
Yesterday after the closing we had gone back to the house
and one of the things we did was go over the closet in the Master Bedroom …
there are bigger closets around, but it should work, just that Rich and I are
both going to need going through our stuff to see what can be eliminated so
that it isn’t over-crowded. One of the
changes will be is that on one side of the closet there isn’t a hanger, but
instead a white wire shelving. I think
one of the things that might be put on there is our multitude of pajamas and I
think we can also put Rich’s t-shirts – the kinds with pictures. That will take some stress off the things
that need to be hung. Rich has a super
big closet in his room (office/bike) so we’re going to put in there the extra
coats and his extra sportswear from officiating. That will cut down some of the bulk to … and
as well now I’m thinking that we should put out of season clothes in there
too. It’s a double closet that is almost
as long as the room. I just don’t want
to get into a thing where we are shoving everything in tightly to the
closet. Neither one of us actually have
a lot of clothes we can wear at any one time so it should be ok. There is also a little built in closet with a
hanger that’s about two feet wide. We
will have to decide what to do with that, but hopefully it will take care of
some of Rich’s shirts … if anything he has more shirts than the two of us have
anything else. He’s already decided he
wants the other four built-in drawers under the clothes rod for his underwear,
t-shirts and socks … I can handle that too, but then after some discussion last
night we decided to keep his clothes chest and put the TV on it.
Basically, the chest is not as wide as the media chest and
we’ve got a space that would fit the thinner chest. The only problem is that we’ll need to switch
the old TV from my father in the bedroom with the smaller TV from the sewing
room. I don’t like the extra space the
TV will take up in the sewing room, but it is too wide for the top of the
chest. We’ll run this by one more time
with Rich and see what he thinks.
We’re jumping all over the place though now. Maybe if we put down first a bit of a time
line… LOL – I’ll post it when I can, but our horoscope says today that this
week we won the cosmic Sweepstake! OMG
is this so true!
Ok, down to business.
The first thing was that we were excited the last few days because of
how close closing was … EVERYTHING there worked out perfectly. We left on time and got to the new place for
the walk-through exactly at 9:30 AM.
Then we spent the best time with Betty and Bill the last owners. They’d lived and loved in the house for the
last ten years. It is really true they
put themselves into the place both physically and psychologically. I think they were especially sorry to be
losing the sunroom. Betty shared that
they spent most of their time there. I
believe it because it’s such a cool room.
THEN, we discovered too that they left a two-seater reclining couch for
us and a rocker. That was really neat …
I loved it … Rich admitted that he wouldn’t have to go out and by outdoor
furniture, and then the other thing that they left were two backed-barstools
and four simple wooden barstools. I’m
thinking now that the two backed ones will go on either side of the sewing machine
in the sitting room. Yesterday we found
how particularly wonderful it is to be in that room and it would allow visitors
to gather there too.
So far we’d only planned to have the two recliners, but I
think it’s going to be a perfect space with the additional high chairs. It seems that when people get in the room
they like staring into the fireplace like us.
I mean to share that room!
I am figuring the 4 simplest bar stools will be used as
portable tables between furniture. That
will allow space for a coffee cup or water bottle, but it won’t gather
clutter. We still have to work that one
through with Rich, but so far we like it.
We still have the new barstools coming in so we have LITERALLY plenty of
them. I expect there will be three of
them at the pass-through counter, and there might be one in the corner between
the living room and our bedroom. Then
the one without a back will be tucked away in the kitchen out of Rich’s way,
but will give me a place to sit unimpeded in the kitchen. That seemed to be another gathering space
yesterday.
Betty was just the most friend person and she really
specialized in cleaning, decorating, and plants – all of which showed in the
house abundantly. Rich spent more time
with Bill, but he seemed to be a handyman AND a storyteller. Just the nicest people. They were both friendly and helpful all that
new homeowners could dream!
Unfortunately, their new home situation fell through, so for the next
while, they will be staying at an extra home of one of their kids with most of
their stuff in storage. Rich said that
if he knew he was dislocating them he would have let them stay longer, but they
are the ones who asked for the early closing, so I’m thinking they were at a
point of handling it. I’m sure the
$50,000 would come in handy as CASH too, so if something does come-up they will
be fluid. We’re really hoping the best,
and since they are just going to be a town or two over, we invited them to stop
by for sure! They were both very patient
with our questions and touring ourselves around and making sure to assert that
the place was no longer theirs, but ours.
They were just incredibly neat people!
The Realtor, Carolyn, got a little edgy toward the end and
you could see her nudging us all out the door for the closing part. So, the place was locked-up and then we all
met over at the Realtor’s office. Both
the selling and closing Realtors were from the same agency, so it seemed really
friendly. It went by very quickly the
four homeowners seemed to want to continue talking and the two Realtors were
maneuvering paperwork between us. There
was just a couple of signatures and the passing over of money, and that was
really all there was too it other than the handshakes and hugs. It was very friendly. Rich and I will still need to take the title
to a person who wasn’t in yesterday so she could register the title, but that
will happen early this week. Maybe
though as late as Tuesday. Not sure when
Rich plans on going out (on a weekday), but I’d like him to switch it to Monday
so I can go too. Because I’m thinking
she will need my signature, maybe we’ll have to cancel Dr. Marvin if Rich
really gets bogged down by work.
That was the bad part over the last couple of days. Rich had some terrible business things happening
in that his customer was rushing and his workshop was bulking at all the new
work and what needed to be done to set it up.
He was threatening Rich to pull the job if he wasn’t paid more. Rich handled it as best he could then tried
to put it out of his mind, but you could see he was being bothered by it
yesterday … and he was really taken-up with it again this morning. He said he’d have to work 7-8 hours at the
workshop today. I’m hoping that he can
smooth it out. I know it’s his baby, but
you hate to see him going through that extra kind of stress.
After the closing, yesterday, Rich and I stopped at Subway
to pick up a half sandwich each. It was
really cool afterward in that the name of our new city is “Sandwich,” and the
first place Rich ever took us as a couple was to Subway Sandwich! I think it was then written in Proverbs! We ate the sandwich at the new house sitting
at the pass-through (LR side) … I think there was talking throughout. Rich also gave me a couple of cookies and you
KNOW how happy we would be with that!
After lunch, we both moved slowly through each of the rooms and spaces,
trying to get a grasp on all that we’d purchased. It was such a nice fulfilling feeling. We had brought the tape measure and
walked-out the furniture lines as we’d been planning to see what would fit and
what we’d like to stay the same or change.
There will be a lot more of that coming down the pike – that is the
kinds of decisions we’d been making.
One of the big ones’ was that Rich figured that the desk AND
the two couches, his chair AND tv would fit in the living room. I had been afraid there wouldn’t be room for
the second couch – though that was the preference. It makes a homier setting because the couches
and Rich’s chair would form a U. That was
also nice because the secondary plan was to put the second couch in the sunroom
and with Betty and Bill leaving furniture, there wouldn’t have been room for
it. Their furniture is nothing fancy or
really new, but it is nice and comfortable and seems to have grown roots in
that room. I like the idea of sitting
with Rich in a 2-seater love seat with our feet up and looking out three sides
of nothing beside windows! It’s so romantic!
Hehehe we were just talking to Brandy for a second. She is Rich’s niece. I am so hopeful that they will come out and
visit. I’d like to have her and Alicia
out on their own AND then of course with their Dad and Grandparents. We might be using more of the sunroom than
conceived though because they are all smokers.
I still want our place to be inviting.
Maybe they can handle taking a break from it? AND of course there will be the sunroom. We figure that when it’s warm enough to be
out there, we’ll have all three sides of the windows open so it should work and
allow everyone to be happy.
Another concession that came up yesterday was that Rich and
us talked about getting the guest bathroom handicap accessible. This is a very important thing in making his
mother comfortable. We were thinking at
first just grab bars and raised commode, we’re not sure though … we were
looking at other toilets too. CS said
you could get them for as much as the plastic thing and they would be a lot
easier to keep clean. Then of course the
ideal thing would be to turn the shower also accessible by making it a walk-in
with a bench stool. I’m pretty sure that
is against Rich’s budget, but I’m a little leary of the master bath, because
you need to take a step up into it and then it’s a bathtub so you have to step
over the edge, there is no grab bar and the tub has a rounded edge on the
bottom. Just thinking of the whole house
the bathrooms would get redone first.
Just it would cost a lot of money.
We got snapped at yesterday, but we’d looked into a handyman
in the Sandwich area and found one that seemed good, but then Rich
growled. Just that if we have things
that need to get done like handicap accessible and Rich doesn’t have the tools,
time or inclination – I am going to want a sub to take care of it. Rich pointed out that we don’t have money
either, and I know what he is talking about, but having safety immediately
taken care of for his mother has to be a top priority. We don’t want her falling down here. That would terrify me! I think most things are like though if Rich
doesn’t think of it … then it isn’t going to make his priority list.
I can do without the extra safety, though I’m big enough and
clumsy enough that I shouldn’t go through it, but we just can’t take a chance
with his mother.
I guess that would be moving our story for the day
along. After Rich and I went through
room after room we stopped to talk/sit in front of the fire. I was ready for umm whatever, but Rich
thought not *sigh*. His mother did call
though because she had talked Bud into going to Red Lobster. She wanted Rich and us to come, but Rich
wanted to get back to his own schedule.
He’d had a bad work day prior to the closing and it was still on his
mind. We did stop though for dinner on
the way home at our favorite Mexican restaurant for a Margarita. WooHOO!!!
But, the thing was that Rich’s mother and Bud did come over
and it was the first time that his mother was in the house. I think she had a good first impression. She had to get up three stairs that were
unfamiliar to her, but Rich was there to help.
There too … those three steps we have to get a stable bar there to make
it more accessible for her. Someone
should always be behind her, and then the wheelchair is just lifted-up and
in. Rich talked about a ramp he could
build from the garage through the breezeway and up the stairs. He thought only when his mother came over,
but I saw no reason we couldn’t have one up all the time. I’m not excited to pieces about going up stairs
either. A lot more talking has to happen
there though.
She really like the sunroom a lot and she thought the
kitchen was big and that Rich was going to love it. She took favor to the pass-through and when
she asked about the toilet in the back utility room we said, no we had more
than two toilets, and the one in the back was only going to be for the
cat. She seemed ok with that. I think too that Rich would like to put a
door between the back of the kitchen and the laundry room. I would be happier with a saloon type opening
that would be easy for the cats to navigate and one where it wouldn’t be a
trouble bringing loads of clothes back and forth. I can see his point on not wanting peoples’
first impression to be seeing our washer and dryer. I LIKE it though. Not their first glance, but just having one
so close.
Rich’s mother was a little confused in the living room,
because she was seeing it and maybe being overwhelmed with the size of the
room, and then she was seeing the master bedroom and not understanding what
that room was for. She could see the
window seat and when we told her it was our Master bedroom, she said no it
wasn’t. Not much to do there until she
got through the door to see more of it.
She seemed to like it, and I remember her asking Rich if he had enough
furniture to fill the house. Rich gave
her assurances. She did offer to give us
about a dozen fancy towels and we told her if she was serious we’d accept them
for the guest bathroom. We told her
honestly, we only had enough towels to accommodate one bathroom. That seemed to please her and would give in
her guest bathroom something she could enjoy.
I did look in there and found that there was no place to hang towels,
but that’s easily fixed.
I checked out both bathrooms and there are advantages of
both, but I didn’t like that the master bath toilet seat didn’t fit
properly. That’s going to need being
addressed before I use that toilet again.
The bowl is slightly larger than the seat. That makes me WAYYY too uncomfortable. Enough said!
Rich’s mother really couldn’t grasp the idea of a sewing room
or a room for Rich (office/gym), but when she got to the guest room, we
introduced it as that, and she said where was HER room. And, we smiled and laughed and said, “right
here.” Then she looked around and nodded
and seemed to think it was ok. Bud was a
little pushy in that I had just told Mom that we were going to fix the bathroom
for her, and then Bud turned around apparently not hearing that and said, well
I guess we won’t be coming over much.
And, then we were concerned. I
said, we move all the way out here and you’re not coming over? Then he pointed to the bathroom and
complained. We then told him, maybe you
didn’t hear. I just said that we were
going to make the bathroom handicapped accessible. He said, Hmpf. And, then pretty much went on. He also brought over his measurer and stated
that the bedroom windows were only 28” – so smaller like he had argued at the
other house. It was to me like … they
are fine! They are pretty much ceiling
to floor and we just didn’t get what he was trying to do other than find
imperfections. So we were like not going
that direction.
Both seemed to calm down a bit and settle when we got back
to the sitting room in front of the fireplace and with the carpet. Rich’s mother wanted to insist we should have
a formal dining room, but she really doesn’t understand she doesn’t have
deciding power in our house. We will
accommodate her needs, but not all her wants.
She has to understand that Rich and us are our own entity and that the
house is ours and not hers. Because she
gave Rich money toward the purchase, she did not get to “buy” the house. Rich and us tried to explain the idea of a
sitting room, but she wasn’t accepting that as well, so we both let it go. Maybe she’ll appreciate the space more after
it happens. Rich tried to explain having
coffee there with Ann in the morning, and then the more soured Bud, said, Ann’s
not going to do that, or then he said it wouldn’t be long until we stopped
talking to each other in the morning. It
was very frustrating, but we were in such a good mood, we didn’t allow it to
deflate our bubble. We knew that Bud was
going to be contrary and we had to be just dealing with that. He is either going to get better or not.
He also made it a point to measure Rich’s garage. He decided that Rich should put his boat in
it because it was 25’ deep. Rich said he
would love to because he’d naturally want it there too, but although the boat
is 19’ – with trailer hitch and motor, it is more like 31’. I don’t think Bud really minds the boat at
his place, but maybe he’s trying to draw lines with Rich. He suggested also that Rich keep his boat in
a locked area the other park offered down the block for only $15 a month. I would like to see it first, but in reality,
I would really like to get it out of Bud’s driveway because we just don’t need
that kind of aggravation and the expense and safety is good at the other
place. For the times Rich wanted to work
on the boat, or load it before a trip, he can leave it overnight in our
driveway. It might as well be in the
other place in-between our place and being at the Plainfield lakes (Rich’s
club). It’s a longer lasting resolution
and doesn’t put a burden on his step-father.
The boat only has to be stored elsewhere during the winter months.
Eh … letting it go.
The older couple didn’t stay overly long, but there was some nicer
conversations sitting/standing by the fire.
Rich’s mother seemed to talk and look in to the fire as we had been
doing. It is very mesmerizing. It seems that most people encounter it and
think why or why not they have or have not gotten a fireplace for
themselves. I think most people still
love them – and to have 2-sides? That’s
just crazy dumb-luck! Rich allowed us to
open the glass doors while the fire was going … before they had been closed and
I didn’t know the rules. But, open –
they let in a lot of nice warmth in the room which Rich’s mother seemed to
appreciate. We hadn’t turned up the heat
past the old owners 65 because we weren’t living in the place yet. It just makes the fire that much more special.
Not too long after the folks left, Rich and I left and as
explained went out to dinner. There
might have been a little messing around afterward, but of course I’d never tell
*sigh*. Rich and I talked more into the
night as it had been a continuous discussion through the day from start to
finish. I talked to my mother, sister
and two of the three sons yesterday, but I’m not sure if Rich called his
family. He did mention it to Bob, and
Bob sorta Hmpf’d. Rich says he doesn’t
like it that Rich is moving out of the area, but Bob moved a couple towns away
too with his girlfriend, Linda. Rich
said he’d still be coming in toward the city 2-3 times a week so would arrange
times to meet with Bob for coffee. It should
work out and of course, you ALWAYS want people to visit!
I hope Rich talks to his kids soon. It doesn’t seem they are really responding to
him with this move, and I’m not sure why.
Or, if it isn’t a lack of communication from Rich – OR, me being over-communicative. I was surprised that Jillian hasn’t dropped
by our FB this week with all the news.
I’m really hoping we didn’t do anything to upset her. I don’t know also if the ex is causing
problems with it, but I don’t really need to know that. Just I want that the kids would feel
comfortable visiting and talking to their father about his happiness. I think Rich did say something about letting
Jillian know he had a bed waiting for Jillian and Chris. I’d like to think that if Natty visited, he
could sleep on one of the couches, on one of the recliner’s or out on the
loveseat in the sunroom. Brandy teased
about putting a bed out there too, because her Dad wouldn’t be able to sleep
without his cigarettes and TV. I hope
she’s wrong, but we’re readying ourselves to her truths. Might be Rich’s family is too confined with
our smoking rules. I just hope not. Dr. Marvin and Us talked about it again on
Thursday. Pretty much his thoughts are
that it would be rude for a smoker to put their smoke odors and carcinogens in
our home. I know he’s right and I would
so much love a smoke-free environment, but you don’t want to insult others
either. Rich’s mother’s smoking smells
were really strong in our home yesterday just from her clothing. It’s a little harder too in that we’ve been
smoke free for seven years after smoking 25 years. It’s always a bit of a tension not wanting to
pick up the old habit because there were some comforts in smoking. Just we are much more aligned that it really
smells, costs and is an unsafe preoccupation and addiction. We DON’T want to slip backward! Plus, we have
friends and family – especially the boys and Grandchildren that don’t want to
be exposed to the smoking. It’s just
hard.
Ok, moving on. I’m
sorry … just these thoughts have really been hanging on me. Good good … doing a little chatting
online. I’m afraid we’ve been closer to
hovering over FB as we’ve been writing.
Seems like a good combination.
I’m not really sure where we are at with the writing though we’ve seemed
to slide … thinking now about the smoking and figure we’re finished with that
right now. So, what shall we call up
next? Everything down the line seems to
be covered, but I don’t know if you can understand just how excited we are?
I think it is going to be a day where we have to put our
excitement into something. I might just
want to go look at my clothes closet.
Taking the pajamas off the hangers gives me the feeling we’ll be able to
fit the rest of it in the closet. Rich
said something yesterday about living a simple beautiful life. I feel that too. I seem to be talking more to Dr. Marvin, Rich
and Linda about what it feels like to be making changes, because everything
else seems so strange like a BIG change is looking out your front door to see
nothing but fields that will switch to fields of corn or soy bean. It’s just really unique. My grandmother grew up on a farm … and this
seems to be some toss-back to that direction.
It’s really legendary the switches in thoughts from going toward farmland
and coming then back into the city. It
is just completely different worlds. I
can’t get enough saying that I’m living now in the country! Beside slower Internet I am really looking
forward to all that might mean. There’s
so many that seem to be excited for us that that’s carrying on its’ own energy
too. Just crazy Good!
I’m not sure if I said, but Rich didn’t want me to go in
today because he knew we’d just stare into the fire … couldn’t I say, but
HAPPILY??!! *sigh*
I know I know … he’s concerned with a lot of things and I
know his interest is in the right place, just we’ll get pushed only so far and
then we’re thinking … to hell with that … Look at us be MOBILE! Hehehe Just for the record though I should check on
the cost of a trip out there. HEY –
THAT’S not bad! Rich said it cost $20,
but not in MY car … the estimated fuel cost is $5.05 … Oh … that’s not round
trip … Ok, the cost is REALLY $10.17, BUT it’s money really well spent? Rich wants me to train to his time schedule
which means we wait to go until tomorrow, but then he only wants to spend an
hour there and then go over to his mothers.
THAT’s NOT what I was thinking. I
want to spend some real time there. Rich
is like – ok, you do a load of clothes and you put up the china … But,
otherwise we don’t need to be there. We
told him you are not understanding how a woman bonds with her home! Especially being born a CANCER! Double trouble there!
*sigh* We’ll try to appease him some, but not all the
way. It was a super feeling getting my
own key and garage door opener, and now then I want to go try that out. You know … go to my own house all by myself
for the first time? Rich just isn’t
getting this part. *DOUBLE SIGH*
HE was going in on Tuesday and Thursday, but those are Dr.
Marvin days. If he doesn’t change up,
we’ll go in a couple of the other days by ourselves. WE know we have to be there Friday – early,
but we’ll also go out by ourselves on Monday and/or Wed. You just can’t tell a woman it’s not ok to go
to her brand new house! Just troubling!
Ok, good we covered that nugget!
What else? Rich is
already making plans in that he thinks that his ex is ready to give up some of
the “stuff” in her garage. But, I think
that when she figures out Rich wants some of the “stuff,” it’s going to become
more important for her to keep, BUT I hope that I am wrong. Rich REALLY enjoyed being in his own garage
yesterday. I watched him lovingly take
things out of his vehicle and place them on shelves and such. He’s going to have a blast with it, and it
might be a toss-up to whether he likes the kitchen or garage best! When we sat in the kitchen and asked him
where he wanted to put things. He said
that his pans and bowls were going high over the sink, stove, dishwasher area
and that he had drawers for the hotpads, towels, utensils and such. He decided that all the plates, cereal bowls,
glasses and cups were going over the pass-through. He was making choices about odd dishes and
things that would go below like cans and boxes.
He was having trouble there, because he wanted everything on top. There was a thin closet pantry, but he
figured he’d take a shelf or two out there to store long brooms and cleaning
supplies. He claimed a white wire
stand-up series of small pocket baskets AND the long cupboards over the washer
and dryer for cans and such. There is
still a shelf over the washer and dryer so I thought the other was ok, because
I’d rather have the detergents easy to reach.
I didn’t want to put so much in there though it would be uncomfortable,
because we’ll have to get back there several times a day to take care of the
kitty needs. He got everything placed in
the kitchen and he was leaning back satisfied, and we turned around and
discovered an additional double cupboard and drawers that hadn’t been filled
yet. Oh man oh man … the man was in a
fantasy. Now we’re thinking though that
the drawer can be for things like warranty manuals, notes, and take-out menus. There’s just so much going on.
We went around and about the sewing room … well we did all
the rooms, but some were a little more important. The sewing room probably has more per space
than any room. I don’t think it’s
actually bigger than the other two back bedrooms, but it’s prime real estate,
just past the sitting room with those French doors. Rich at the very end conceded that it was my
room and he had told me I could do it my way.
I want the four bookshelves in L’s on either side of the west window. He had other ideas, but it broke down to me
wanting to SEE the shelves, and him wanting to hide at least one behind a
door. LIKE NOOOO. That’s not what I want. I can understand sharing decisions, but if
we’ve given over the LR, Sitting room, kitchen, office, guest room, master
bedroom AND sunroom to him, we at LEAST get that one room to decide.
It’s a little clunky now.
I think Rich is reacting to thoughts that his wife had done so much
organizing in THERE house and he hadn’t
had any choice, and so now is overkill and he wants to make final decisions on
EVERYTHING. I do have input, but am not
liking it very much that it seems we’ve gone back to the 50’s where the male is
supposed to be the one making all the decisions. We have to work on that some more to better
understand each other’s needs. Curtains
were like that too. He didn’t like the
homemade job on the LR curtains and so even though they matched the other
curtains it was like no use arguing with him.
We came to some PARTIAL agreements.
He wants to put our PRESENT curtains in the LR, but they would use only 2
of the four panels. So, I told him I
would like to use a panel in our bedroom and another panel in the guest room
(one window). My logic is not only for
matching and not wasting the curtains, but that they have a material on the
back of the fabric so that the curtains cannot be seen through. It is really important on those windows,
because they are all east windows… I’m
not sure if you remember, but the park looks like this …
A little clumsy drawing, but you can see the north/south
road way over to the right. There is
only one road coming into the park. Then
to the north it is Chrissy Drive and to the south it is Rick Drive. There is houses (mobile homes) all around the
outside of these two streets, and then there is a row of homes down the middle. OUR home is marked in red on the right of the
oval race track – ok, except its 15 mph.
ANYONE coming into the park will come down that little street to get to
Chrissy and Rick Drives. By the way that
little street is Peggy. *sigh* THIS MEANS … that every care entering or
exiting our park is going to flash his headlights directly at our east
windows. Again our home is marked in
red. It’s kind of fun in one way, but
there isn’t much privacy if everyone looks into your front windows. Those are the double LR windows, the guest
bedroom, and the one wall in our master bedroom. SOOO, again … we want the curtains with the
plastic backing in there. See? Makes sense!
And since the smaller windows are only 28” and one panel is about 60”
we’ll be fine. I had over budgeted
before to get the right drape. It turns
out my coral curtains in the sewing room are only 54” so they are too short for
the new sewing room, BUT, they may be long enough for the other bedroom windows
on the south side. PLUS the pink/coral
would match the flowers from the LR curtains.
They should be ok, because the window over the window seat has got
protection over it so you can see out with nobody being able to look in J See it might work!
There’s more curtain work to be done, but this is pretty
good so far. Rich doesn’t like the
LR/bedroom curtains the last owner did, because he thought they were
uneven. *sigh*. He likes the more heavy drapery in the
sitting room, which I don’t like, but eventually we’ll switch it out and try to
keep his needs in mind when picking a different curtain. He likes them because they are purple his
favorite color, but the chairs in that room are going to be olive green … it
just doesn’t work – and the other two bedrooms will need to be replaced. Rich’s mom suggested curtains that have
scissors on them for the sewing room and fishes for Rich’s room … that umm will
be taking under advisement. If Rich
wants fishes … sure, but we’re always going to go for just plain pretty! We’re fortunate that all the curtains have
shades, so we can keep our privacy too!
WooHOO more fun ahead!
There is just so much stuff that goes into making it a
home. I’m not crazy about some of the
other stuff that was found in the home.
I think the walls don’t look as solid as I would like them too. You can see seems between panels, and there
is some crazy quarter rounds and other corners not finished
professionally. Like along one wall you
have a dark brown quarter round on the wall, and it matches the chair rail
above, but attached to the dark brown is another quarter round that matches the
lighter floor. It was like they could
decide so left both of them there. There
are some pull out shelves in the bathroom I don’t like squeaky/crackly things
and there is some imperfections in wall paper and the back sliding door has a
catch. It is just going to take some
time to get things all right. For now
though we are very grateful that the homeowner tried and did some fantastic
things, but allow us some room to make improvements too. If it’s going to be a forever home, there
will be plenty of time. For the record I
think they did a great job on the laminated wood and carpeting. YAY! I
don’t mind some of the wallpaper, but some of it also looks like the original
paint from 1988.
Rich and I are also in discussion of what happens to my
fireplace. We’ve come to semi-agreement
that it could go in the breezeway and a rack of coat hooks be placed under the
mantel. BUT, there is also the part on
the complete stripping of the wood and touching it up with nice stain. Rich is hinting that it could be done by me
in the garage, and we’re not so keen on that, but can understand that the cost
of finishing could be too much to pay out.
We also have the antique sewing machine of my Grandma Rasmussen, and the
antique tea cart of my Grandma Ludford.
I’m grateful for Rich including them all in our new home, but they ALL
have to be stripped and refinished which sounds like a lot of time away from my
computer and sewing machine. I know I
know … use the garage … get to know the neighbors, etc. *double sigh coming in here too* We’re not done with concessions on this one!
Down deep though … I think I could do it. J The stain could match the light walnut color
of kitchen and it’s fireplace. Might
really be worthwhile that after almost 25 years this poor fireplace mantel
we’ve been toting from house to house would finally have a place! I love it that Rich can see it in the
breezeway! We’ll still have to work with
the window. I don’t think the space was
as wide as I might have hoped.
Another area I hadn’t thought about before that Rich tuned
into yesterday was that there is a space on top of the cabinets over the
fridge, pass-through and even on top of the sink side. He is thinking of something decorative. I could see some really pretty dishes going
up there, but I’m thinking that Rich is thinking more like pictures. I think it’s too high for pictures, but I’d
be willing to concede if he took the space for some of his map pictures. I could see back to back frames floating from
the center that could then be seen on either side of the cupboard top. Trying to remember now exactly HOW tall they
were. I would rather keep the kids
pictures no higher than the fireplace mantel.
Hmm, looking … it’s not a lot of space … but, we’ll have to see after we
were out there if it would be enough.
Another idea too would be to put Rich’s map pictures up on the LR side
of the pass through and other possible spaces on the LR wall. He’s pretty sure now that he can fit the big
map rug on the smaller wall in back of the TV.
It’s is still a 9 foot wall – and would have to have the smoke detector
rearranged, but the map is only about 6 foot wide. The unfortunate part is that some of it will
be in back of the TV. Can’t do much
there. It is the only wall that will
take it.
Connie Sue’s blanket will go up behind the treadle and those
loose bar stools and we discovered there would be a room between the wet bar
and window and maybe the other side of the window for something. Rich doesn’t want too many quilts up, but
there has to be some – it’s part of my artistry! Oh, I remember … there is a strange hanging
rod to the right of the window in the sitting room. That’s going to be a place to hang at least
one quilt, and the baker’s rack in that room will hold completed quilts –
folded. I like the lace A LOT in the
French doors on either side of the house, I would never replace them. I’m thinking that most of the walls in the
sewing room will be taken up with bookshelves, doors or windows, but I’m
thinking of putting the two design boards CS and us made horizontally – one
over each of the tables. I’m thinking
behind the east sewing room wall will have the 7 1/2 foot of table space, and
then there’s about 4-5 inches of clearing for the French door, but what I
forgot yesterday is that behind the French door will bet the perfect wall to
hold the ironing table.
I’m thinking that our bedroom will have either fishes’
quilts and the postage stamp quilt from Kentucky will go on the guest bed. I’m not sure how Rich wants to decorate his
office. We’re thinking he might want to
frame pictures of his kids grown-up and cards he’s received and such. I’ve got some of those types of pictures too
that could be hung over or under the design walls. They are 30” x 60”. Anyway … I’m not sure if I said it, but Rich
has some map books that might not be valuable, but look pretty. I wonder if he’d let us take some – smaller
book size and frame them and those could be the pictures on top of the
pass-through cabinet. There’s really not
much room in the master bedroom for pictures, but maybe we could hang some of
the old one’s we have kept … There is also pictures from the kids. I could see me framing some of them and
hanging them between the other pictures.
Maybe the more neutral classics I have could be for the master bedroom
and bath areas. Rich is still looking
for a place for some of his trophyies.
Maybe they will go back in the master bath. It has a big enough sink. Not crazy happy though about his old mask
being there. It doesn’t belong on a wall
with flowers. Would it be BETTER above
his work bench? That’s what I am saying
at least.
For now we’re just going to be happy Rich feels like doing
some framing. He says we can look in
garage sales for frames and I think that would be a lot of fun. We just have to have an idea what kinds of
picture sizes we have. I don’t think
either of us have decided on a picture or set of two pictures that we both like
enough for either side of the fireplace.
Ideally it would be family pictures with the kids, but I only want small
pictures up to 8 ½ x 11” on the mantel, I would like a couple big family
portraits on either side of the stacks.
I could see me trying to get the boys and grandkids and DIL’s to a
photographer, but Rich would then as well have to work hard in getting his
family pulled together. In the most
idealistic of pictures, I would be in Rich’s and he would be in ours, but I
don’t see that happening (me being in his pictures) any time soon. I think it is an important goal though to at
least get a family portrait done if Jillian came to down with her guys and we
could get Rich’s Mom and Bud there. I’d
bow out if the could get Chris and his family together with Jillian. That’s the pictures I want on the
fireplaces. I will take the sitting room
side and Rich’s family can take the kitchen side where is mother will most
often be. On my own I’d probably be on
the sitting side more, or at that time be more apt to be looking up.
There are other stray things that have been decided. Like Rich’s mother has some towel sets that
have never been used, and we told her we’d take them, hmm, did I say that
already? Rich is going to take a shelf
out of the back bedroom hall closet and make so the vacuum fits there, and he
wants games and fun things to do also in that closet – we’re thinking here like
the portable poker table and chips. Ok,
and board games. We want the electric
broom to go in the mudroom with the washer and dryer as well as the broom and
dustpan. That makes sense as to carpet
and laminate floors. Rich’s closet is
going to take the winter coats, his official’s uniforms and any extra clothing. His floor or shelf in the closet will take
certain boxes of records like bills, pictures, taxes, and such. I will get the guest closet which should be
big enough to take on 8 of the under bed organizers. That would allow still space for two under
our bed in the Master bedroom, and four more spaces under the guest bed. Nobody will notice J I’ve got 9 now, hmm, does
that mean I can get 4 more? I’m thinking
so … MORE scraps! The other part of that
is the hanging bar AND the shelf above the closet. MAN o MAN heaven to me! It means that we’ll be able to get like 6-8
more canvas cubbies for different colors of fabric (not to be longer down than
over the under bed organizers) … And, it will mean that we can put all the
bigger pieces of fabric on top of the closet.
My thinking here too is that there is enough room up there that we can
put our pink shelves up there. It will
help if we can stack them between things to keep the piles straight and then
put some of the looser smaller things in the shoebox pouches. The pink thing isn’t real pretty, but its’s
good and handy.
That means that the shelves going into the real sewing room
will be able to maintain the plans that we had had before. Might take a little look at that list again
now. Hold on.
Seems that we’ve still got the fat quarters to deal
with. I don’t know if we could stack them
all WITH the bigger fabric between the pink boxes. I think we would like to keep the insides of
some of the boxes for other things like the six major sizes of small cuts of
fabric like the 1 ½” squares or the 3 x 6” rectangles. I would actually like to see the Fat quarters
in the fabric closet. Maybe what we
would do is use one or two of the under bed containers for that purpose. That would work. WE just don’t want to hide fabric behind
fabric. We had been thinking 3 regular
fabric containers, 5 scrap containers, and one for backings, but more of the
regular fabrics and backings can come out and leave more space for picking up
scraps. We could also use the pink bins
for some loose kits or grammas things that would leave open a bookshelve for
threads. Basically, we’re reworking the
situation because we had first drawn the plan having the Media cabinet in the
room. Now those things have to go
elsewhere. I think the three containers
of rulers are one of the few things that I want on the cutting board
table. I do admit it would be fun also
to place there the cups of colored pencils, crayons, and markers. Might want to just by chance include there
too the anatomy coloring books or perhaps better yet, get some new ones. I want something fun and easy for the girls –
even though mostly it would be Isa. This
is part of the other list we’d written before.
I’m not sure what is going in the baskets, like one was for gramma’s
quilts, but that will now be in the sitting room. Grammas things will be in a pink container –
I love you can stack things in the container AND build on top of them! Makes good use of the space.
Four Bookcases (left to right)
3a – 3d, and 4a – 4d each get two pink plastic shoebox
trays to help stack and ten pink dividers to support stacks
1a) First double basket
1b) Gramma’s things threads
1c) Second double basket
1d) Paper rolls
1e) Top-shelve Grammas sheet backings
2a) Decorative shelf items incl. fabrics
2b) Single basket
2c) Magazines
2d) Books
2e) Batting
3a) White scrap fabrics
3b) Pink/purple scrap fabrics
3c) Yellow/gold/orange scrap fabrics
3d) Green scrap fabrics
3e) Black/Grey scrap fabrics
4a) Beige scrap fabrics
4b) Red scrap fabrics
4c) Brown scrap fabrics
4d) Blue scrap fabrics
4e) Miscellaneous (mixed-colored) scrap fabrics
TV cabinet (Left to Right)
1a) Three trays of rulers
1b) Cups of writing utensils
2a) Thread
2b) First continuing projects
2c) Second continuing projects
3a) 1 ½” x 1 ½” (1 ½” misc. pieces) cut scraps
3b) 2 ½” x 2 ½” (2 ½” misc. pieces) cut scraps
3c) 2 ½” x LOF (40”-42”) strips
4a) Radio
4b) Two plastic 4-drawer storage
5a) 3” x 3” (3” misc. pieces) cut scraps
5b) 4 ½” x 4 ½” (4 ½” misc. pieces) cut scraps
5c) 5” and up (5-6” misc. pieces) cut scraps
We still need to think of the radio, but no
reason it can’t be on the desk again.
AND, we have to remember that there’s going to be a problem fitting TV’s
in. I would prefer that Rich allowed one
more TV. The thing is that if his mother
or brother were here or others, well we know that his brother and mother sleep
or go to bed with TV.s My vote is since
the tall chest is going in our bedroom and the 38” TV only fits on the Media
cabinet going in the guest room – It is the bedroom that gets a new tv. The LR TV is fine and is 42”, My dad’s old
38” goes to the guest room, I keep Maury’s old 25” in the sewing room, AND then
our bedroom gets a new 32” to fit the top of the chest. It looks like we could do it for $250-280 and
the better TV might be a refurbished like through Samsung at Best Buy. Well, that will be the idea put out at
least. It just seems to make the most
sense and it should be done soon, so I can call the TV people and put one more
connection in.
I think I’m going in this direction because I can really see
Rich’s brother and mother being over frequently enough. Mark drives a big rig cross country, and
about 5 weeks he stops in town to see his mother, brother, daughters and
grandchild. Otherwise he’s stays up in
WI. He has been having problems sleeping
over at his moms because of all the screaming and fussing happening over there,
but if he’d stay with us just 6 minutes from his Mom’s he would still have to
limit his smoking to the sunroom. Not
sure yet if either Mark or his Mom are willing to do that. Guess we have to wait longer to find
out. I would still think though that
Mark could have a good time over here and it would be fun to get to know him
better and his girls. We could still
meet over at Rich’s or they could come to our place, but the thing is there’d
be more opportunities for people to get together – especially family and that
would be a good thing right? I’m
thinking Mark could feel really at home in Rich’s kitchen. Just gotta handle the damn cigarettes!
Ok, we’re back there again … better be moving on again. Where did we last leave off? Did we figure out everything happening in the
sewing room and fabric closet in the guest room. Hmm, that is something to be considered. With as much as Rich’s Mom and brother smoke,
maybe it is a better idea to put the fabric in Rich’s closet and keep the extra
coats in the guest room. Shoot
shoot. I hate when a plan falls
apart. I still have to worry about them
trying to be sneaky and break the rules, but as well we found out yesterday
that their clothes smell really bad. I
don’t know if there is a choice. I’d
much rather have the freedom of the guest room for working with my fabric and
there would be room on the bed to sort, sit, whatever without bothering Rich,
BUT could we RISK the odor!?? Shoot shoot,
we just can’t throw a room away? Time I
guess to get out the anxiety pills, brb
Hmm, got some cheese and chicken pot pie soup. That’s a good idea. We had once can of Sprite, but we’re back to
water. Ok, that was a little note.
A store brand – Insignia from Best Buy only cost about $230
for a 32”. Definitely would put Rich in
charge of that … my only thing is that it is 32”
Ok, moving on … what else do we need to organize? We’re sure writing a lot today … sorry about
that. There has to be a lot of decisions
made about things though and that’s sometimes harder than packing. To be fair I’m corralling a lot of decisions
now gone over by both Rich and us. He’s
been doing HIS fair share of thinking too!
Hmm, think we went over that … moving on, moving on…
Did we ever finish in the sewing room? Better look at that one more time. Going for the list. Ok, ok … I’m thinking
we’re good there. I think in some ways
that it would be more fun to put the fabric on the shelves in the sewing room,
but it’s not big enough to keep it all together like having the really long
shelves, cubbies, AND under the bed organizers.
We’re thinking again air freshener in the bedroom … we really want the
guest room and not be in the room with Rich’s stuff and exercise bike etc. It just isn’t conducive to taking things in
and out of the closet. Just need to
maybe get one of the air purifiers. I
don’t think we came up with good solutions on that this week. The best thing was to attach something like
the IQAir Perfect 16 Whole House Air Purifier for $2,700, but that IS then
$2,700 and we don’t have that kind of money, but it is the best we did after a
lot of reviews. It’s highly reviewed and
has the ability to get out a lot from the air like allergens, bacteria, dust
and smoke. It’s also good for conserving
energy and hooks up to the existing forced air (HVAC) system. The down side is that it only works when the
forced air/heat is on. IF we got really
rich … maybe THEN we could consider something like this. Just have to be patient … a whole life to
live in this house!
Take it easy girls – we’ll have to go back and be taking
more stress medicine!
I hope that we’re doing a good job of covering everything …
so much to think about! And, I’m pretty
sure we are just at a smattering of things discussed between Rich and us this
last couple of days. I sure hope he’s
doing ok with the customer … it seems like a long day. One thought would be now … If we took the fat
quarters out of our bedroom to get into the fabric closet with the others, then
that would mean we’d have four more dresser drawers and since Rich now wants to
keep the chest of drawers, he has plenty of room inside that so he wouldn’t
need the built in drawers … he’s got his fishy stuff outside … so. Hmm, I know I think what we can use that
little two foot closet and drawers for is for him to keep all the current
officiating clothes and equipment.
That’s a GREAT idea. It would
also keep his braces and such. I’m
liking that a lot. He could also
probably have room for his extra stuff from his dresser, so that maybe we could
use both his and my bottom dresser/chest for pajamas for us and t-shirts for
him. That would mean we could take out
the white shelves in the bedroom closet and that could go to the laundry room
OR garage for storage … the point would be then we might actually have enough
room in our closet for the dirty clothes sorter. It is about 32” so that should work. I’m pretty sure the closet is longer than 3
feet. Good good … it’s starting to all make
sense.
There’s another couple of spots to be tested. I think for one we have to have some place in
the kitchen to keep our medicines. I’m
thinking drawer and hoping they would be side enough to hold even the taller
vitamins. AHA! There are at least five drawers under the
pass-through. We’re thinking silverware,
a couple for utencils, maybe one junk drawer and the one closest to the mudroom
next to where we’re going to keep the open stool – that could be for our
medicine. Rich still has one more drawer
in the corner unit – hmm thinking that is going to be for small bags, aluminum,
and saran wrap … and then underneath?
Maybe still some over stacked things.
There seems to be plenty of counter space for the microwave, but we need
a new one … because ours is grinding something terrible and is too small, and
then one of the corner cabinets would hold convection oven. Rich says that there is still room for his
toaster and the blender, and we’re still figuring on the coffee pot. I like on top of the dishwasher as to being
close to the sink for filling, but I like it to be the ONLY thing maybe on the
counter under the pass-through.
Basically, I would like being able to grab a cup of coffee through the
living room thing closer to where my desk is going to be. It might stand out there, but it would relay
how important the coffee pot really is AND the cups would be right on top of
that. We’d also keep the coffee and
filters there. Rich decided that our
garbage will be right between the dishwasher and the sliding glass. Fine fine … works for me. He wants to go back to using the tall kitchen
garbage that has been stored in a back closet.
Good good.
The closet that turns out to be in the bathroom between the
stool and across from the bath is going to be plenty good for the towels, AND
probably the sheets and such. Maybe we
could use some of the area under the corner cabinet where the “papers” are
going to be for things like table cloths and place mats. I’m pretty sure that Rich’s mom is going to
want some kind of table mat thing happening.
Not our style, but we’d aim to please there, especially with the washing
machine right next to that location.
Under the drawers by the pass-through, Rich wants dry goods … Did I say
that already? Maybe?
I just want everything to have a place. Oh man oh man…. It’s only 2 pm and we’ve
filled the 20th page of a word document. It reminds me of back in the days I’d write
from morning to 5 pm and cover 30 pages.
Yup … you could consider me/us long winded.
Ok, we were going to lead to another section of the house
not defined. I think we have room in the
master bathroom by the drawers under the sink or built-ins across from that to
put our products that are traditionally in the hall linen closet … like spare
toiletries or first aid, hot pads and such.
The cleaning that is in there will be fine in the mudroom closet. AND, we were thinking now that there will be
enough room in Rich’s office closet floor for the boxes of extra paperwork, so
that the upper shelves would be a good place for the extra small leather bags
and small suitcases we have. The bottom
would have enough room for the biggest suitcases too. AND, the desk was cleaned out enough to be
able to fit in our desk, plus we will have one of the two drawer horizontal
filing cabinets for current paper work in the living room. It did a lot of good to clean all that
out. Rich is going to take the second
filing cabinet and throw it out with the bad two drawers so that we can make
one good file cabinet out of the two pieces.
That will be for putting ready stock paper, envelops, printer, and
scanner.
I’m thinking the Christmas tree/stuff and the folding chairs
will be out in the garage with the folding chairs, with the exception that if
the bulbs are too fragile, they might also go in Rich’s storage closet. There is one wall W/O garbages that is
particularly long in the garage and is the one I see the extra books going
into. I would still like Rich to
build-in some kind of secure rope something to hold the rows of books so they
don’t fall down and become dangerous. It
really was a nice size garage. Rich fit
his vehicle in easily to one side and he had like 4-5 feet in back of it between
the SUV and garage door. He still has to
put up my thing hanging from the ceiling to show me where I have to park – so
it bumps my windshield when I drive in.
Just don’t have a good concept of depth and don’t want to land the
garage door on the back of my car. It’s
really amazing in that there is still room in the garage for a workbench for
Rich. He still has to evaluate the south
and west walls for shelving for his fishing gear and lawn things. That’s TOTALLY his department! Blah!
His old garage was a mess after many years. I’m hoping now without extra junk and kids’
stuff he’ll find plenty of room for all his needs.
Hmm, got a little worried about 20 pages so we FINALLY
backed ourselves up.
Rich and us almost forgot, but there was one dead corner in
the living room, and then we remembered that it was going to get an 2 shelves –
L-shaped set of bookcases for the encyclopedia and school books. I LOVE it … I sure do hope the living room is
as great as all the other rooms. We’ve
really got a lot of stuff and found not much problem in filling a four bedroom
home, hmm? LOL
Did I remember the part that Rich wants the extra fridge in
the garage? NOOOOO not happening! I COULD see it going in the sun room
though. Ok, ok … we’ll think man
rules. BUT, we’re figuring with all
those smokers we’re going to need filling up a bar in the sunroom, yah
know? Rich is not agreeing also up
front, but there seems to be some small concession of a ping-pong table going
in the garage rather than the sunroom.
Looking out the sunroom from the comfort of the love seat we’re thinking
yes it be better not to obstruct the view.
And, it would be a lot of fun rolling out the table and playing outside
on the driveway, you think? I’m thinking
I could go for it, especially if it meant getting the table. I’m thinking there would be enough room for
it in front of my car OR, between the books and work table. Just really excited about it!
As to the sunroom itself.
So far what we are seeing is the balancing of chairs. We’re seeing the two seater, the rocking
chair, and then across from that a table set … MAYBE outdoor furniture. Rich’s mother is between her wheel chair or
the white plastic pre-formed chairs.
Personally, they are too small for me and we’re more likely to stay to
the two seater, but I could see a table with a couple plastic chairs out there
in the far outside corner. That’s the
corner – double ventilation that Rich want to put the smokers, and it would
give them a place for their ashtrays.
Perhaps with a fan blowing at them and out through the window. It be good for Rich’s mother to be getting
that far toward the outside. I’d like
something more comfortable, but I could see Rich’s mom looking at the cheaper
stuff out of habit. SHE THOUGH too
complains about sore rear ends, AND how she’s going to stay in a wheel chair
over at our place.

Hmm, this is the set I liked, but without the umbrella … for
the Table w/lazy Susan and five chairs, it is selling for $400 at Walmart. Seems good to me, though looking at the
space, I would wonder if the rocking chair would have to go to the garage – so
might be too much. I like a table of
five … would allow a dinner outside or room for UP to five smokers! Think that almost takes care of all of Rich’s
family. The chairs looks sturdy/steel,
have a nice fabric weather-resistant cushion and the safety glass table
works. I really like the round feature
of the table for gathering people in a comfy setting. It would also work for someone’s FIVE
grandchildren! It is a 4 ½ foot table
and the chairs would each need 3 feet … so across that would be like 10-11
feet.
This is the space it would have to fit.
I’m thinking to rockers in the back in this picture – that’s got to be
at least 11 feet across. The one on the
right in the corner is the one they left … so maybe without that there would
enough room … I’m thinking that the two-seater could come down this way
further, or maybe even be pulled back at an angle. I would really have to ask Rich what he would
think. I’d be willing to go on his best
guess. There would be extra room for
extra chairs past that? Really not sure
… think things are being crowded, but it depends on the need for a big table
like this or a small bistro table. Rich
was talking to about putting one of the old kitchen chairs in each bedroom to
sit down and put socks and shoes on. I
would rather put a good kitchen chair, but realize Rich doesn’t want the wheels
– more something solid. Just the other
would be more comfortable. Whichever two
don’t go to the bedrooms would go here.
Thinking again the fifth chair of the bar set would go three in toward
the kitchen one in the kitchen, and then one in the corner between pass-through
and bedroom. That still works. I like the kitchen chairs still in the
sunroom so it would be close to the kitchen if needed.
If there were enough room, it be fun to have the old rocker
in the garage so I could sit out there with Rich, not sure he’s got an
allowance for space. We might need to
get a snow blower though Rich says he could do without. Just I could snowblow, but could not
shovel. We’ll see … winter will be over
about that time. As to a tally though
with table, five chairs, 2 seater couch (Rich and me) and Two kitchen chairs
that would be seating for 9 people – PLENTY – like if Maury and his family came
over and we were in the sunroom. That
would leave four chairs for the kitchen table, five barstools for the
pass-through, one chair in each two bedrooms, Rich and our work chairs in the
sewing room and office, plus my desk chair, plus two recliners AND two
barstools by the treadle and four barstools for mini-tables. Hmm, better include here seating for an
additional 7 more people on the two couches and Rich’s chair … How many? We could fill-up our whole house with a chair
for everyone with a total of ta-da … 34 people!
OH MAN OH MAN … We’re REALLY sure we will never have that many, but for
sure we could invite Rich’s whole family out!
That be so cool … Just the damn cigarette problem *grumpf*
Ok, that was really a trip!
We didn’t count either the 10 folding chairs. Man-o-man … maybe 44 chairs was a little
exuberant? *giggle*
We might then be able to even invite all Bud’s kids over
along with Mark’s family. CERTAINLY
there would be enough chairs to invite our sewing sisters, OR neighbors. I might go to my grave thinking what the hell
did we get into with all these chairs?
AND, why were we blessed with 9 chairs from the old homeowners? I think that’s where we really went astray! Maybe we’ll be able to talk ourselves out of
the patio furniture, just thinking that’s something Rich wanted. *sigh*
We’ll see … have plenty more for him to go through with us J
I HOPE his day is going well enough. It’s very long. It’s already 3:30 PM and he’s not home. That’s busting the 6 hour theory.
That’s another thing too about the table. Rich and us would be able to add the poker
setting above this table, hmm maybe too short for an 84” over poker table that
be like 28” a section of three … mean that the middle 28” would be supported …
not good … I think we’d be better-off with our 54” table and getting an octagon
or round table – perhaps
Ok getting here. This
one is about $110 – 52” for eight players which would then fit pretty good on a
54” round table without too much bumping problems. That would make sense then for getting the
patio set … we’d just have to pull the two-seater couch out of the way? Not sure … gotta check one thing … hmm, our
kitchen table without it’s middle section – made round is 42” so it be 5” too big on either side – the
table top. AND if you left it in it still
be too wide, and not long enough for the extended table.
But, then there is another option. We could do with smaller tables – a couple
and then get a folding poker table for about $160 (Amazon Brybelly). The table is a 10 seater, but only 42” wide –
though 7 feet long (84”). I like the
price and that you could get rid of the table if not in play … like why do we
always need a big table in the sun room, when most often it is going to be just
Rich and us. It kind of depends – for
regular people coming over is there less than five that can come over to eat in
the sunroom, or do they need to lean on a table, or can they sit back in a
chair?
Eh … didn’t copy over … maybe we can let go of the lawn
furniture and only worry about what we got … two-seater couch, one rocker, two
kitchen chairs, and all the folding chairs you can ask for with the four stool
simple movable mini-tables. THEN, we’d
only need to get the one folding leg poker table, and at Christmas and New years
we can clear out space in the living room and play there. AHA! I
like it! Simple, clean and
efficient. I really don’t want to
clutter the sunroom unnecessarily unless we needed to pull stuff out for
parties or get togethers. I’m pretty
good with that now AND cost … $160! It’s
boggling! We just got too many chairs to
buy more lawn furniture.
AHA! It’s 4 PM now
and Rich came home. He had a hard day
and said he was going to have to do business stuff all night to arrange the
changes needed by everyone. He’s not
sure if its going to work, because the customer and the workshop are pulling
all the loose ends in different directions.
He seems tired and hungry. He’s
doing something with hamburger already.
Eh, we can go for that. It’s
really been a long day on the computer.
We’re still bothered by just one more little space. As to the little drawers in the Bathroom, I’d
just as easily take out their pull-out bottoms, because they rub and grind and
are ugly and would tip anything put on them.
The other thing was that in back of the pass-through on the LR side
there is a small china cabinet … more the size for curio’s and under that there
are two cabinets – not remember if they were drawers or doors. Maybe doors I think, but I’m not sure what to
put behind the glass doors. There is a
light in there and in the two china cabinets in the kitchen that are all
out. Most likely burnt out bulbs. It seems the right size for cups and saucers,
but I’m not sure, I don’t have anything like that. I think CS does, but I wouldn’t upset her
collection.
Maybe what I could do is put in there my Grandmothers coffee
cups. They are all matching, but would
look pretty and there are quite a few of them.
It’s silly space really, but a space people coming in the first time
might notice. The only other thing I
could think of putting in there is the little animals Rich gave me that are on
my desk hutch now. Hmm, maybe blending
odd with even, we could put the glasses AND the little animals in. there are like 8-10 animals … we could have
them playing in there, and then it would be both fun AND nice. I think that’s the idea! Maybe we’d put other plates in there too, but
that would leave the other cabinets for serving bowls, plates, platters and
bowls. We’re not sure where the creamers
would go.
The one other idea would be to ask CS for the white and red
Crystal juice glasses that I gave her. I
think she has too many, but maybe she’s found a place for them already. I wouldn’t take back anything that she’s
attached to. Maybe then we’ll stick with
the coffee cups and saucers – I like them!
Ok, good good … feeling fine! It
kind of combines living room with kitchen, but only sorta.
I’m remembering sort of what we’ve been talking about all
day, but so much has gone through our minds and we’ve then put it back on
you. Please forgive us for all
this. Just with a new house there is
always so much to think about.
I’d like to think that everything has found a nice place in
the new house to be. I can’t think of a
corner not yet touched today. Hmm, maybe
one corner. Rich’s mother noticed the
bar when she sat down in the sitting room.
Ok, go figure. But there’s been
talk about filling up a bar – or maybe just having what his mother drinks. We’ve got plenty of glasses to go over the
bar, but we still need an ice cube bucket which wouldn’t be hard to find. I could see a couple other bottles under the
sink area like the Margarita and I would like some vodka and maybe rum. Rich’s mother gets the whisky. I would also then like to have Bloody Mary
mix and a couple frozen orange juices for the possibilities of screwdrivers …
that used to be a favorite of mine. Then
added to that just a couple of bottles of wine.
There, that sounds good, right?
We’re still thinking the beer and pop goes in the fridge in the sun
room. Rich’s brother is a big beer
drinker and might need a whole shelf!
Usually Rich and I keep diet coke, zero coke and diet sprite, but to be
fair there should be regular coke in there too for our kids. None of them needs a diet. The case of water we keep on hand usually is
in the fridge. Hmm, remembering having
wine coolers too and hard lemonades! Ok,
ok … obviously we could do fine in the mini-bar area. It’s really cool to have water over there to
mix with Rich’s mother’s drinks. Fun,
right? Who would ever know we needed a
bar and was excited to get one!
Rich is making hamburgers and fries tonight and he says he
has to go to the store for bread. He
hasn’t been in a while and the old bread was allll green! That’s no good, but reminds me we haven’t
found a place for the wicker/bread thing.
It also holds the rice cakes.
It’s something that I would like to see put away, but Rich likes it out. BLAH!
Where does that go?
Hmm, maybe we could put the microwave and toaster over on
the pass-through corner, AND we could put the bread/rice cakes/bananas inside
behind the couple two three bars, and then we could have the convection oven
and the blender on the other corner – with the blender nearest the sink, and
then the coffee behind the bars on the other side. What other appliances do we need on top? Rich likes to leave the popcorn popper on top
behind the stove, but we’re against that … we want it in one of those big cabinets
under the microwave. Then he has the
sider counter where the microwave is for popping if he pulls it out. Things go under there too on either side like
the waffle maker, the crockpot and the wok.
I’m not really sure what else. I
know that he has some plastic and we’re not crazy about that. Maybe he can only keep enough of that to go
on top of the fridge/freezer.
Theoretically we still have our drink mix too from Herbalife, but I
don’t want that on top of the fridge as the first thing people see. I think that is going to go with the dry
goods under the pass-through. I think we might have to put stuff under there
too like the seasonings? Hmm, that
should be by the area he is cooking?
Think there are five cupboards like tere are five
drawers. The first for coffee cups
(coffee and filters – up or down), then glassware, then small and medium bowls,
and small and medium plates, and THEN the last one over my can be for the
things like seasonings and extracts and baking powder. Hmm, baking supplies like flour and sugar …
forgot about them as well, as hot chocolate, tea, nuts it will have to share
space under the pass through in the lower cabinets. That means especially that we’re going to
want to find containers for the flours and sugars and nuts, and such. We’re still not convinced that we aren’t
going to have a mouse problem. Maybe we
could start saving special coffee containers for some of that kind of
stuff? Not sure. I’ve gone through it before where EVERYTHING
was put in plastic containers. I finally
through all of it when I was convinced and have stayed convinced we didn’t need
all of that.
I think that is something we will have to talk to Rich
about. Maybe it’s a matter of going to
garage sales for that too? Shoot, what
was it that we were also going to get?
Ohhh, I know picture frames.
Might be a good idea, or to look at Craigs list or eBay. We will again have to talk to them on
that. We should have five cabinets under
the counter so we’re thinking we’ll be ok, right? Lots of room, just want to make sure it stays
clean!
Rich is back from the store.
He left for some of that bread, remember? He did for the sake of argument come out and
say he could make the bread for hamburgers.
And, we looked at him steady and said, how long? He said about an hour … Just shook our head
then and said … go to the store please.
It’s really for him in that we take our hamburger without bread unless
it’s some kind of special hard bun, but we’re thinking that’s not the way he
went. Nope … he didn’t get good
bread. Just told him we don’t want any
for sure! Then he was in the cabinet
looking at all the soups. There are
about 8-10 cans in there, but none of them are cream soups like the potpie soup
we had for lunch (no lunch meat or cheese in the house). He said why did you eat all the soup. I said I just had the two cream soups,
because we keep telling you that’s all we want to have. It could be inferred that HE eat all those
other soups he buys and I don’t want.
Shoot shoot, how did we find crabby in here? Maybe it’s going to be time to cut ourselves
off. I don’t want the crabby in our
writing. It seems we’ve done fine all
day without it, but I didn’t think I’d get grouched on for eating the soup I’d
asked for. I feel bad in that he seems
to have wanted it too. He said that it
was more calories, but it was like well that goes two ways. BLAH!!!
He’s talking to his Mother now … I think she’s hungry … she
wants vegetable soup, but she likes to forget Bud doesn’t like it so it makes
them grouchy at each other. Maybe Rich
will be understanding of me too then! I
think we’re really FINALLY going to get ready to move on. There is still going to be a need for
re-reading everything written, and soon Rich will be in here wanting to use the
TV. We have had music on all day. We turned that off to prepare for not hearing
it … harder to prepare for noisy TV … It NEVER mixes with writing. He has told his mother that we will be over
at the house for a couple of hours and then he’d come over and help her with
the bills. Maybe that is my out to say I
can stay at the house all by myself. I
would LOVE THAT! WooHOO!!!
Hmm, the microwave is sounding really sick. I hope it doesn’t break before Rich will need
to buy another. We were supposed to get
a microwave in the move, but I think the people forgot or disregarded it and it
wasn’t a big deal to fight for. Just let
it go.
AHA! We got a letter
from Emily! She congratulated us on the
house. That brought another smile. Maybe for a few moments though we should
think through what’s going to happen then tomorrow. I’m thinking PJ’s now in the dresser,
remember that plan? ANYWAY. It doesn’t make sense to do the clean clothes
tomorrow when we’re going to need a dresser for them on the other end. We can simply box them for the movers and
that’s fine, but I was trying to think toward being over at the house. We KNOW we’re going to want to bring a couple
of loads of dirty laundry. I think 2-3
would be fine and that would most likely clean us out! Sweet.
Rich said something about bringing over my china and now that I have a plan
– that would be a good idea. We also
told him we’d need some cleaning supplies, so maybe we will gather that
tomorrow. Since we are working in the
kitchen I can use the sink instead of a bucket, and we can bring the electric
broom we’re not using now – and temporarily the Swiffer to see how that is
going to work. We’re going to need some
rags/dishcloths – about the same thing there.
Kitchen washcloths and hand towels are some of the quick things I put on
Rich’s list. I’m more used to a washcloth
then a sponge thing.
AHA - A little break.
Linda is running through … she’s on messages, but has said hello and
goodbye in about the same sentence, and Rich says about 10 minutes to dinner,
maybe less. She’s been busy all day and
that will continue tonight because she’s grandchild and friend’s cat sitting. Her
Granddaughter only over night, but the cat for eleven days WOW! Nice friend!
Back then to tomorrow?
Ok, we can do wash, then dry and fold, and then china in-between. I’m not sure if that is going to take the
full time, but maybe then we could pack as well a duster. We saw some places yesterday where there were
little cobwebs or dust. Thinking that’s
a great idea, and then the rest of the time we can stare into the fire!
Hmm, Linda seems to have disappeared, and CS stopped by
online. I think she’s feeling far away,
but nothing to do, but suggest she come down.
Can’t do more than that. I am
just thinking though we’d like her here after we put things in place, then
before. I’d rather do most things on my
own and have her down to just sew. Nikki
has volunteered to help and even Brandy.
I might take both of them up on it if they are available at the right
time (before I just do things), but we’re really going to need help more than
anything in putting together the sewing room and fabrics. I know CS would probably like to help there
most though … Hmm, not sure I know what to do.
We’ll see how serious CS is. We
would maybe have her come down with us after the sewing group the weekend after
we move – and then look toward Mark or me bringing her back home. It would depend on a lot of things like her
appointments. Hmm, it’s the beginning of
a plan. I have to admit that after we
get past all our other neurosis it be fun having her down for a few days to do
the sewing room. I know she’d be a big
help and she’d find it very welcoming to be in touch with what’s going on down
here in my sewing world. I would have to
check it out with her AND Rich, but there certainly is a beauty in having a
good spare bed, bedroom and bathroom, AND even that soon, it will all be ready!
Ok, gotta REALLY go Rich has brought in dinner, CS was
writing and hinting for a visit so we’re taking her up on it and Rich would
have to adjust if she said yes. We wrote…
Ann
Ludford Garvey SLOOWWW
down girl ... we're just talking about maybe getting gas in your car. We
haven't talked to Rich yet, but was thinking for a few moments. He's going to
want everything put together first, but we're thinking it be nice to have you
help with the sewing room and "fabric closet." Yup we got a fabric closet
and I got it all planned out! I know where I want everything and everything
seems to have a place. The sewing room doesn't have a closet, but the guest
room has a DOUBLE closet. One thought was to maybe save your gas, and then you
just come home with us after the Saturday sewing on March 30th. Then either
Rich and me, or me, or Uncle Marky could transport you back. I think the whole
thing could e done in a couple of days. Would LOVE to have you down - and for
uncle Marky to stop for dinner too IF time allowed and everyone was agreeable.
It's been a progression of thoughts in having you or anyone help, but giving
thoughts ALL day long toward placement of everything. We're thinking it be the
right thing to discuss. We've got to go ... Rich has served dinner, but let me
know your first thoughts.
Stranger things have happened, Ok … chow!
Ok, we’re back, but just for a few moments. We had dinner. CS didn’t respond, but Rich and I ate – with him
watching TV, and then we interrupted his thoughts after eating when we tried to
talk to him. I asked him what he’d
planned for Sunday. He said he has made
no plans. So, then we said we just heard
that we were going with him for a few hours to the new house, and then he would
going over to help her with the bills.
We were like that sounded to me like I could be in the new house for 3-4
hours. And, he said he wanted me to come
over with him to his Mom’s and we were like to listen to you both arguing about
bills? Then more stuff and basically, he
came to the conclusion that he didn’t want me driving there by ourselves and
that he thought we would continue to do things as a couple, but by now we’re
upset, because we’re thinking we are being turned into a 50’s couple where the
woman has no free will. I asked him what
do you think we are going to do at the new house, and he said he had to bring
fishing gear there because he was going to gather it at the house. And we said fine, we want to do 2-3 loads of
wash and put the China away, but then he said he was going to fill the car with
his stuff, and so I was like – what were you planning I do? BESIDES, obviously he wanted me to go to his
mothers. I had waited today for him, but
now he was not giving me the opportunity to do work there I wanted to do, and
then he went into the part of how I should have helped him by cleaning the house
and we said we helped in other ways, because we’d be planning all day, but we
didn’t tell him that, because I figured by now he’d be upset if he knew we were
planning all on our own. It’s becoming though
like I just take care of what HE wants, but by then I had given him a headache
and he didn’t want to talk except he told me what a bad couple of days and that
he’d just bought a house … and we were like WE BOTH just bought a house, did it
surprise him that we might be working on the move in our own way?
Basically, then we just let him turn on the TV again, and we
took some more stress medicine. Fine if
he needs quiet time, just my mind is still busy! We really meant it though when we said we don’t
want to share all our grouchiness. Better I chill out. We’re going to post, and then read back over
our work in the other room. Sometimes
people need space! I didn’t expect I
wouldn’t be allowed to drive to my own house L
*grumbly* On TV people are yelling and screaming and crying and gun
shots are being fired. I refuse to
believe I’m the one causing stress!
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