Thank God for little brothers!

I asked Joe's family with 5 adult appetites to Easter dinner a few weeks ago. Unfortunately they had already been invited elsewhere. Ok, so then I plan for Allison's 5, my mom, Jim's nephew Bruce and myself.

I decided to make turkey with cornbread stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, and that strawberry pretzel salad. Allison offered to bring coleslaw and a relish tray. Mom decided to make homemade buns and a German chocolate cake. Yum!

Thursday morning, Joe texted me and asked if they were still invited Sunday. Their host family got the flu and cancelled their dinner. I told him of course they were still invited and could he please bring a card table and chairs. He said he'd be happy to and they would also bring the deviled eggs and a ham. Fantastic! So, I added buttered corn to my previous menu and called it good.

I got busy in the kitchen early this morning, frying bacon and getting the cornbread stuffing together. That done, I pulled the turkey out of the frig, unwrapped it and started to wash it only to realize that it was too old. The color was off and I couldn't risk making my company sick by cooking it. Into the trash it went. Now what? We're supposed to eat at 1:30.

Now Joe & Shari always make waaaaay too much food so with bated breath I called Joe at 8:30 this morning to ask what size ham they had. Thankfully they again overbought and got a 9 pounder. SAVED!! Joe called back a few minutes later and said he'd be happy to make a roaster full of his homemade meatballs and brown gravy as well. Niiiice! Now my mashed potatoes will have gravy and we'll have another meat option :)

The moral of this tale is to always invite people who think nothing of bringing furniture and providing the food for your dinner :)

Tricked Out Pantry!

I had Joe, Shari and their kids over for dinner on Sunday. Joe came early and put FIVE new shelves in my pantry! I love my walk in pantry and I have five new reasons to love it!

I'm now eyeing my guest room closet and wondering who I can invite for dinner that would be willing to trick that out for me. I only need three shelves in there.

Paul did the laundry room shelving, Joe did the pantry, who's up for the guest room closet?

BLEACHERS!!

You make my ass tired. After spending an hour and a half riding the bleachers last night, my poor ass is sore. And seeing as how it was still sore this morning, I had a stadium seat ordered before 6:30AM! Lol!

Both boys are into football and basketball so in the next 10 years I'll probably get a lot of use out of that seat. And I'm sure my ass will thank me!

I'm Back!

I'm in my house finally! There are things I love about it and things I hate about it but Stella and I are settling in very comfortably. I still need a driveway, a lawn and a fence but they'll come. If you're not paying for labor you have to wait for your laborer to have time. Funny how that works!

Not Happening

Who knew there were specialty plumbers. The guys who install the bathtubs can't do the finish work (hooking up faucets) or vice versa. Of course that means that my bathtub is finally installed but the faucets don't work. Neither do the toilets So... I won't have running water until Tuesday :(

I guess I'll move in when I get back home from Sarah's :(

Saturday's the BIG day!!

So far if everything goes as planned tomorrow, I get to movve in Saturday!!!

End in Site??

If the carpet gets here in time, the counter top people aren't lying, the plumbers get their asses back and Andy can get it together, I'll be able to move in on the 17th! Which will give me 3 whole days to settle in as best I can before I leave to go to Sarah's for two weeks. That''s a lot of "ifs" keep your fingers crossed!!

I've Got Heat!

I have heat, tile and cabinets. Some of the light fixtures are hung and things are starting to fall into place. My counter tops have been templated but it will be three to four weeks before they are ready.I can live without counter tops.

So, the plumbing guy needs to come back and set the toilets, bathtub and shower. The carpet guy is installing the carpet a week from today provided the carpet I ordered comes in in time.

I won't have a driveway, a fence or grass until spring but I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.

I'm hoping to be able to move in even if I don't get unpacked before I go to Sarah's for Christmas on the 20th. Then on the 4th when I get home, it'll be full speed ahead to unpack and settle in.

So Close!!

My builder says he can have everything finished in 10 days however the gas company says they can't put in the meter and have my furnace running until December 15th. I am so frustrated!!! I wonder if I'll even be moved in before I leave on December 20th for Connecticut? I just want to go home! Living with someone else makes me feel like I can't even call my soul my own :(

Still Homeless

Everything is at a standstill until we get electricity. Can't tile until we have heat so the thinset will dry, can't stain until we have heat, can't do anything else until the tile is in... and did I mention I'm homeless? UGH!!! I'm beginning to think that selling my condo was one of the stupidest things I've ever decided to do! I just want to go to sleep and not wake up until everything is done!! Wahhhhhh!!!!

Moving

Yesterday Paul, Ellen, Joe and Karter moved most of my stuff out of my condo and into Karter's garage. I have my clothes, beauty supplies, computer and cleaning supplies left. I'm washing rugs and getting the rest of my things out today and plan to clean tomorrow. Tuesday is closing day.
I will be living at Karter and Allison's full time starting tonight!!

Babysitting Blues

I've been babysitting the boys since last Monday night and I'm ready to be done. They've actually been quite good but I'm not used to being "on" all the time anymore. Allison and Karter will be home around midnight tonight :)

Tomorrow, Thursday and Friday night Stella and I will get to sleep in our own bed and then on Saturday we have our big move. No, our house isn't ready yet but I'm closing on the condo Tuesday morning. That will give me Sunday and Monday to clean it before handing over the keys. And you guessed it, we're moving in with Allison and Karter so it'll be full time boys until the house is done. Is it wrong to pray for speed for your builder??

Time Really Does Fly!

While packing my craft room, I found this picture of me with my big brother. I must have been about a year old in that picture. That would make Paul around 3-1/2. Wasn't he cute?! I think I'll have a copy of it made for him for his 61rst birthday this week :)

By Request

Bottom picture is the front of my house. Top picture is of the side with the garage. Sarah, that's your bedroom window you see :)

Andy (the builder) says he'll finish sheeting it today and will move on to the shingles next week :)

RAFTERS!

I drove out to Allison's last night and could hardly believe my eyes. My house has rafters and is looking like an actual house now!! Yay!

Bittersweet

It's hard to let go of a dream even when you're reaching towards a new dream.
I sold my condo today for full asking price, cash deal and we aren't closing until November first. A perfect deal for me. My new house is due to be done sometime in November so if I have to live with Allison and Karter for awhile, it won't get too long for any of us.

I remember 10 years ago when Jim and I were in the process of having this place built. We were so happy, I think it was the happiest time in our marriage. It was perfect for the two of us. However because Jim isn't here anymore and I've added Stella to my life, it isn't really the perfect place for me anymore. That makes me sad.

I think I've come to a place in my grieving process that I have to let go of this one last thing. It's sucks.

At the same time I'm excited about moving forward and planning and picking out things for the new house. I'm most excited for Stella to have her own yard to RLH in.

Progress

Digging is done, footings are in and concrete has been poured :) Floor trusses have arrived and I picked out my new front door and my bathtub :)

Things are Coming Together!

I closed on my lot yesterday, met with my builder, we ordered trusses and have started picking things out for my new home. Karter is going to do the digging this coming week and things will start happening fast. I'm getting very excited!

Me and the gang :)

Excited and Scared

Both at the same time. I bought a lot in Burlington today and am going to have a home built on it for Stella and I. I'm nervous about selling my condo. Thankfully I have a pretty savy brother who has agreed to hold my hand during the whole process. I've never done anything like this alone so it's pretty scary!!

I opened my safe today which hasn't been opened since a couple months after Jim died. In it I found 54 mature savings bonds!! Jim used to have one taken out of his check once a month and I had forgotten all about them. I'm taking it as a sign that Jim approves of my decision and I'm going to use the money for window treatments and decorating my new place :)