Got up early today to start the projects, which are many. Final dump run with all the old carpet!! Grocery store for coffee for home. Post office, etc. So around 1015 I decided to treat myself to a latte. Drive-through at Starbucks. Got to the pay window and the barista said the woman before me had paid for my coffee! I was astonished. Such a small, unexpected surprise in a busy day did so much for my attitude (which, I should admit, has needed some adjustment.)
Home now cleaning windows, listening to the flooring being installed, and generally enjoying the windows open on this spring day. The windows here haven't been washed in some time. So long that I'm finding it impossible to get them really clean. They are better, but still need something. Tried my tried-and-true water and a microfiber cloth first. Then the windex. Haven't gone to soap and water as the faucets outside haven't been turned on yet and I didn't want soap to dry on them. Anybody have a good solution? The windows will need replacing at some point, we were hoping that point would be later. We'll see.
I pumped the tires on the bike and plan to take a short ride in a bit. Another wonderful attitude-altering activity. You can't imagine how happy we all are up here to have winter in the rear-view.
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
Sunday, April 12, 2015
Spring. Really.
Beautiful, warm, breezy day today. EVERYONE in southern Maine is outside doing something. Windows are all open. I did a short walk to Back Cove along Baxter Blvd, saw a lovely Great Blue Heron, lots of Mallards, and lots of happy Portlanders. Unfortunately, Annelle didn't get to join me. She's at work taking care of things that need to get tied up before she leaves. I don't feel so bad for her though- she has the whole summer to enjoy the outdoors anytime she takes a notion.
Things in C5 are looking up too. Laundry room/downstairs powder room is done-ish. At least for now. It's organized and we can do laundry without searching for things. This is an improvement.
Drew (that great American) came over yesterday to help with demo of the upstairs vanity. I had reached an impasse in the strength department. The first part was so easy. Who knew the frame was in there so well? A few oomphs and we had it done though. Once the flooring is in we will probably have to have someone build something as we discovered it's a non-standard depth to the door. Unanticipated, but solvable, just not at any of the usual building stores.
Now that doors and windows are open, Jack is starting to meet the feline neighbors. Lots of hissing going on at the moment. I have the water bottle ready should things get out of hand. I'm a little surprised there are so many outdoor cats here. Jack is a roamer (even though he's such a scaredy cat) and I wouldn't trust him if he decided to head towards Forest.
A few more short projects ahead for me today on this day-that-can't-be-beat.
Things in C5 are looking up too. Laundry room/downstairs powder room is done-ish. At least for now. It's organized and we can do laundry without searching for things. This is an improvement.
Drew (that great American) came over yesterday to help with demo of the upstairs vanity. I had reached an impasse in the strength department. The first part was so easy. Who knew the frame was in there so well? A few oomphs and we had it done though. Once the flooring is in we will probably have to have someone build something as we discovered it's a non-standard depth to the door. Unanticipated, but solvable, just not at any of the usual building stores.
Now that doors and windows are open, Jack is starting to meet the feline neighbors. Lots of hissing going on at the moment. I have the water bottle ready should things get out of hand. I'm a little surprised there are so many outdoor cats here. Jack is a roamer (even though he's such a scaredy cat) and I wouldn't trust him if he decided to head towards Forest.
A few more short projects ahead for me today on this day-that-can't-be-beat.
Thursday, April 9, 2015
Closing
Monday we closed on our Four Rivers home. Sunday we went over to finish the final cleaning and walk-through. We sat out on the deck for a while and enjoyed the view. Had a few tears along with the memories. That chapter giving way to the next.
The closing itself was ok. Met the new owners who seem delighted. They live in the neighborhood, are on the association board and had a plan that in the next 10 years if one of the marsh houses came on the market they would relocate there. Looks like their 10 years came early! I do think it's a perfect house for them and their 2 children. I'm interested in seeing (she said "come by") what she does with the kitchen reno. She and I seemed to have some of the same ideas about the space and how to best utilize it.
Back here at C5 things are still kind of chaotic. 26 boxes of wood flooring are in the living room. Most of the carpet is up and gone to the dump but I still have a couple of rolls and LOTS of staples to tend to this weekend. Once the upstairs flooring is done we can move some of these things in the living room and basement up to the office/guest room and we can get on with a less complicated arrangement. The plumber is here right now detaching the toilet and sink upstairs so I can demo the vanity (it's practically demoed itself, actually) so on Monday the floor can be installed.
And the big news: Annelle is leaving her job at Mercy on May 8. She isn't sure what's next, but she feels strongly that, since life IS short, she wants to explore other options. We have been talking about this for a while but were not in a place to go ahead with the plan until we sold the house. So the day after closing she turned in her notice! Go Annelle.
Lots of change. Lots of good things. And after todays snow, Spring should show up.
The closing itself was ok. Met the new owners who seem delighted. They live in the neighborhood, are on the association board and had a plan that in the next 10 years if one of the marsh houses came on the market they would relocate there. Looks like their 10 years came early! I do think it's a perfect house for them and their 2 children. I'm interested in seeing (she said "come by") what she does with the kitchen reno. She and I seemed to have some of the same ideas about the space and how to best utilize it.
Back here at C5 things are still kind of chaotic. 26 boxes of wood flooring are in the living room. Most of the carpet is up and gone to the dump but I still have a couple of rolls and LOTS of staples to tend to this weekend. Once the upstairs flooring is done we can move some of these things in the living room and basement up to the office/guest room and we can get on with a less complicated arrangement. The plumber is here right now detaching the toilet and sink upstairs so I can demo the vanity (it's practically demoed itself, actually) so on Monday the floor can be installed.
And the big news: Annelle is leaving her job at Mercy on May 8. She isn't sure what's next, but she feels strongly that, since life IS short, she wants to explore other options. We have been talking about this for a while but were not in a place to go ahead with the plan until we sold the house. So the day after closing she turned in her notice! Go Annelle.
Lots of change. Lots of good things. And after todays snow, Spring should show up.
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Spring
No other way around it. It's not pretty in Maine. Grey snow, brown grass, bare trees. People call it Mud Season. I think it's more like Sand Season. Everything is dirty, sandy.
Annelle is at Four Rivers doing laundry. I'm here in the, as yet, unnamed condo, patching walls. Next step is application of some cool, paintable wallpaper stuff that will hide the existing sheetrock problems. The wall is behind where the washer and dryer are, and I'm going to hang shelving, so I figured it was a good place to experiment.
Jack is settling in. Still cautious, but he's coming out from the covers and exploring. He's eating again! And sitting in my lap in the evening like always. He hasn't tried to run out the door yet, but I'm sure it will come. :(
Things we have in our new neighborhood:
several friends
local eating places
taverns/pubs
the good liquor store
tattoo parlors
The Aladdin market
Back Cove
USM
the melting pot Hannafords (grocery. very different from our previous Oconee County type grocery)
Things I will miss but can visit:
the marsh
Black Point Inn
So it looks like it's going to work out nicely. Eventually, when I get it together, I will post some photos.
Annelle is at Four Rivers doing laundry. I'm here in the, as yet, unnamed condo, patching walls. Next step is application of some cool, paintable wallpaper stuff that will hide the existing sheetrock problems. The wall is behind where the washer and dryer are, and I'm going to hang shelving, so I figured it was a good place to experiment.
Jack is settling in. Still cautious, but he's coming out from the covers and exploring. He's eating again! And sitting in my lap in the evening like always. He hasn't tried to run out the door yet, but I'm sure it will come. :(
Things we have in our new neighborhood:
several friends
local eating places
taverns/pubs
the good liquor store
tattoo parlors
The Aladdin market
Back Cove
USM
the melting pot Hannafords (grocery. very different from our previous Oconee County type grocery)
Things I will miss but can visit:
the marsh
Black Point Inn
So it looks like it's going to work out nicely. Eventually, when I get it together, I will post some photos.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)