Americana theme

Yeah.. I have it on a little crooked.. I was trying to get it on the bed to see what it would look like- I have wanted to do an Americana theme to the guest room.. I found this comforter and shams at 50% off at JCPenney's ..it arrived today after everyone left. It's a start.

Showers of blessings..

The body is weak, but the spirit is joyful and would leap for joy if it were physically possible.
This morning Bob the Builder came to do some repair jobs on our home. The major problem was one of the back door opening on it's own at the most unusual hours. Normally the wee hours of the morning when the wind is howling.. More than once I have felt the cold draft into our snuggy bedroom and gone to investigate only to find the back door standing wide open. Bob was very good.. corrected the problem, tightened the door and even brought us a new inside door to be installed by us- it's the door to the laundry / back door. It needs installed on the kitchen doorway. I have to get hinges and special knob/latch for mobile homes, but the door was delivered.
Good Neighbor Dave was here at the same time and has our driveway very passable now, widened, and the snow pushed away. We are thankful for good neighbors who care for us without even knowing us that well. I wonder if he realizes he is an instrument ordered by God's hand in response to prayer for help.. perhaps I'll tell him that next time, or when I take that cheesecake/plate of cookies over to try to repay him. I have a feeling he won't take money- he is having such fun out there.
I called the Medical supply and ordered Wendell's oxygen tank to be filled today, as the truck, no matter which one they send, won't have any difficulty getting out now. (or in, for that matter) I brought my car down from the end of the driveway.

My aching back

Our new home is sweet. It's just what we love.. homey and warm and pleasant. The week before the move I started having back problems.. spasms and the S-I joint out of place. Ugh!
Pain and more pain.. pain pills, patches, heat and cold.. nothing relieved it much.
I suspect moving boxes, though not heavy by any means, was at the base of it all.
This weekend was pretty nasty, and though I rested most of Sunday and Monday (I didn't unpack much of anything), it still gave me enough pain for the medication. Today was my office day. I was sore, but I could walk and move a little better than the previous two days. So I ventured out this morning early, cleared the 2-3" of snow off the car and made it successfully up the driveway. I thought I had it made, but when I turned onto 3 Degree Road, the car did a mini donut with a truck behind me and a car coming from the direction I needed to turn.. I tensed up, naturally , and made it through without hitting anyone. Roads were ICY! Wendell put studded snow tires on, so I wasn't fearful of the drive to that point. At the stop sign at the fire hall, the car had a mind of it's own and tried to slide right through with more traffic coming. I really tensed up then, and decided to pull off into the fire hall parking area. At least the truck behind me wouldn't rear-end me. It's a wonder he didn't- he was so close behind me. My legs didn't want to move at that point and I had intense pain in my back again. :( I turned around and went back home and called the office manager to tell her I wouldn't be in.
I layed down for several hours. I got up just before 1pm.. very sore. Hard to even sit up on the edge of the bed. I've tried heat and a little bit of ice too- it's just gonna have to rest for another day or so.
I'm up and on my feet now, but have to lay down frequently.

Our move was smooth. Everyone helped and in one day, the majority of our belongings were transferred to 'the house next door'. Literally, we have moved next door. There are still many boxes to be unpacked, but these are not in the kitchen area, nor the living room. For a while, we had boxes lining our hallway. These are broken down and bagged for the next burning day.
I have a gas range. I've never had one before. I love this kind of cooking. Nothing more than low low flame for anything so far. Our furnace is gas too. It's a dryer heat than we are used to, but I think I'll like it.

Our furnishings are meager, but we have everything we need for comfort. Wendell and I have decided to make one more purchase- that of 2 pole lamps for the living room. It is so dark in there when the sun goes down. I wish it had a ceiling light.

Wendell and I have worked at getting the dryer hooked up so we could wash clothes here. Last night we got it done.. and it hummed like a sewing machine- till I put a load of wet clothes in it and it sounded like someone put a load of tin cans in it and turned it on. Crash! Bang! Clank! Bump! Thump! Well, you get the picture. Ah..well.. I think there is a new dryer in our future.. maybe.

Today I got online and changed our address with the post office and driver's licenses. The DLs are free, the post office charges $1 to change the addy- rip off!
I called the bank and made the changes for our new checks too. Let's see.. our insurances, and car registration.. all done. Hope I haven't missed anyone.. Maybe I better check in with the personnel office at the hospital so they have our correct addy.

I still need my printer. I may go for it tomorrow. Can't do much with the back so inflamed. Best not to try picking anything up with any weight.

*** When we moved in here, we had a king sized bed. JJ and Keith put it together for us, and the only sheets I could locate at that point were the satin ones I'd bought on sale months before.
Had to laugh as we stood there watching the top sheet and the comforter slide slowly to the floor right before our eyes. I found the cotton sheets and they remade the bed for us. At least the covers stay on the bed now.. hahaha..

Time to move..

Well........ not quite.. but on Friday we begin the task of moving to our new home. It's so exciting.. I wish it were tonite, but things have worked out perfectly with Paul and Amy and the kids as well as JJ and Keith being totally available to help. Wendell and I are thrilled, and I believe Charlie is also pleased with his new home.
So much to do.. time is crunching in.. but we shall be content, thank the Lord for his blessings on our family.. the awesome provisions.. and trust He'll see us through..

No Foto Friday this week, but will catch up tomorrow with pictures.
As I think about this, I may not have my computer hooked up right away.. but I'll fill everyone in on the big move when it is.

New phone number and address.. I'll send out an email soon and the Imm Newsletter asap.

house update

Well, we need another electrical inspection.. and our house number out at the road. Hopefully we will make the big move by Friday. I work Thursday all day, so I don't see us moving then.. I'll be pretty tired.
In the mean time, though I'm disappointed, I'm still optimistic and looking to the future! God is good.. His time is always the best time.

Update new house etc..

Christmas is getting closer and closer.. we have most everything done as far as what gifts we'll be giving this year..
The update on the house is .. looking good for this week. Though the weatherman says freezing rain/icy this morning and we likely won't try driving in it.. the rest of the week isn't too bad. God always provides what we need, and we need a frozen (or close to it) ground to move our belongings to our new home.
Monday-39* and cloudy..
Tuesday 40* and showers. This could be a troublesome day, but maybe not.
Tuesday the inspector is to come to check the trailer one more time before giving us the permit to occupy the home. It's also a full work day for me.
Wednesday calls for 29* and snow showers.. this could be our best moving day. Thursday they are calling for 32* and partly cloudy.. and the rest of the week is similar. Sounds like a 'go'.

I have again noted today that although we hear so much about the "bad" economy, I couldn't get even near to any part of KMart today when I tried to stop to just window shop at the Christmas trees. In fact, I've NEVER seen it so crowded. The closest parking space was the whole way across the lot up by the street.. trust me, a long walk for me. One might have thought they were giving away their stock, there were so many cars all over. This seems to be the case all over.. so... where's the bad economy? hmmmmm

house update-decks are on

This is our front entrance. It is a small deck and just right for us as we will nearly always use the back entrance..

This is the back entrance..

and the beautiful deck they finished this afternoon.

I noticed I wasn't the only one taking pictures of this carpentry.. One of the workers took pictures before hopping in his truck and driving away. It's a beautiful and roomy deck.

Pray for the inspector to arrive tomorrow that we can move in .. !!

New house skirting

Inching .... inching.... inching.... slowly, but surely... today the skirting went on around the bottom of our house.. Tomorrow perhaps the steps will be built to access front and back doors. Pray in that direction please.

All around the house is a sea of mud. We need to find someone soon to deliver a couple loads of gravel/stone to give us some way to get out or in.

The telephone was installed yesterday, but the line is not buried yet. We do have a phone number for anyone interested, but since we can't answer a phone that isn't there yet, there's not much point.
We are going to talk to another guy on Monday about a water filter , so there is no water hooked up yet either.
And of course, there is that final inspection by the township that gives us an occupancy permit- without it, we can't live there at all.
Slow moving so it seems..

new house in place

When I retired from the hospital, I realized that this major step was nothing more than turning a page in my life. Today we are doing just that once more.

Notice chickens in almost all of these photos? funny birds!

This afternoon we will get to take a walk through again.. an inspection tour to make sure no glass is broken and that it is all that we agreed to.

I'm walking on air..

new house, moving in place

Wheels..lots of wheels

new house, driveway

They pulled across the driveway first, then had a conference to discuss which way would be best to move the trailer in.

Over the bank, of course

Ground is softish.. they hooked the bulldozer up to the tractor and pulled the house onto the driveway

WOW! That was some fancy maneuvering

new house.. turn 3

Home stretch.. 3rd turn was a bit of difficult, but the driver was excellent.

This one, of course, is making the turn

Approaching the last sharp turn in our road

New house turn #2

This one was after he got through White's turn.. another sharp one!

Approaching White's turn

New house arrives Nov 24,2009

Naturally, these are backward... this is the trailer after they got through turn #1.. It was the hardest I think. They had to back up several times.. not an easy thing with a 76' trailer. Hats off to the driver.

Making the turn at Kennedys

Heading for turn #2.. up Kennedys hill

It's here!!! Our new house

I had to go to Butler today to pick up some hose.. I left early and made a stop at a store and then headed home. I'd taken my camera with me, as I knew the house was to be delivered at 10am.. I thought I might see it out on Rt 8. I didn't.. I kept on going toward home, and caught up with it as it came to our road and was making the turn.. Glad I had my camera with me.

Turning onto our road

I could see the trailer ahead.. this should have been the 1st picture, but I can't get things in order... especially right now!

NEW HOUSE

FURNISHING OUR HOME

Tonite was like heaven.. I am excited for the Z's in that they purchased a kitchen suite.. table, chairs, and a gorgeous hutch. WOW! Then the evening got even better when we went to the furniture store one more time and bought our bed, frame, mattress cover.. it's a king size and is it comfortable?! YES.
Tomorrow I'm going back to purchase our sofa and 2 glider rockers. This is such a delight to me. The store has a 50% off sale going on, and we are taking advantage. God has supplied the financial backing, and we are moving forward. God is so good.
We still need some chest of drawers and bedside stands, but these are not critical at the moment.
I'll be looking.

China cupboard

I've been feeling kind of discouraged over a couple of issues. God is so good and understands my kind of nonsense. There wasn't good reason for my discouragement except that so many things seemed to be hitting me at once.

I have been waiting for a most important phone call for a month. It came finally today.. in God's time , which of course, is always the best timing. It seems like I get frustrated with the way He handles things until I realize if it was MY way, it would likely be a disaster. Things happening in His time are always better and I don't want it any other way. In fact, the details of the call were so much better than I'd anticipated.. can't ask for more than that.

I was feeling a bit green this morning and couldn't seem to get my act together, but after the call, made my own call to Wendy to tell her what was happening. I mentioned to her that I was looking for a used china cupboard for our new home, but didn't want to go alone.. I'd have to ask Amanda.

Before our conversation was over, Amanda walked in and asked me to go to some of the thrift stores. This is absolutely true. I had planned to put a note on Facebook tonite to let folks know I was looking for a small used china closet. So when Amanda wanted to go 'slumming'.. I agreed. Can't hurt to look, eh?

We walked into St Vincent de Paul.. and there it was. My heart nearly stopped.. and immediately I searched for the price tag.. $99.99. I could afford this today. It's worth so much more than that, but God had it all planned for us, even the price. I called Paul for help hauling it and Charlie to tell him we had to store this thing for a week. All things worked together for good for us.

When we got to White's where Charlie is staying, Paul, Daniel and John unloaded it into the empty kitchen there, and put the top on the base. My heart about stopped for the second time today. It's so beautiful.. elegant.. more than I could have anticipated. Thank you my children for being so generous with your time and muscle..
Now I have a place to put my beautiful china that Wendell gave me just before we were married. It's spent most of 40 years in either a box or in a cupboard where no one ever saw or used it. We will be using it often now.. I only regret that we didn't start using it sooner. I am pleased.

Oct 29 Demolition update

The demolition crew was here bright and early this morning to cut up and remove the last of the old trailer..the frame. Now, just a sea of mud remains.

Next step is to have the site inspected to insure that all of the trailer is officially gone, then we wait to hear from the home sales company.. it's hard to wait. Once they call, we will go up to inspect our home and make sure all is as it was supposed to be.. then they bring it on site and install it.

Simple eh?.. but so exciting and such a happy occasion.