18 Days and Counting

Greetings. We have 18 days until the BIG truck is loaded and we are on the road. We are making visual progress. We have been working every day. There have been days when I would be up at 6:00 and go non-stop until 5:00 and everything just looked worse than when I started. I hate it when things are half done. It seems like everything we have done had to be done in stages. The dining room is finally done. It is so clean and new looking. Friday we pulled out the fireplace insert and what a mess. The insert has been in for 30 years. It kept is toasty warm in the winter and I loved it. I will miss it. The EPA has banned them so you can't purchase them anymore and they want to stop people from using them. This is a before picture of the family room. I was getting it ready for it's new floor.

This is the black hole. One of the features I loved about this house was the fireplace. I love the brick. When we first put the insert in I was concerned about hiding the beauty of the used brick and the character I felt it gave to the room. It worked well.

The floor is in. It is so beautiful. I will put the area rug in, hang the vertical blinds and put the furniture in and enjoy it for the next 18 days.

Thursday I attended my last meeting at the Manteca Quilt Guild. I'm really going to miss those people. I'm leaving with so many wonderful memories. I encouraged them all to stop in a visit when they are in Oregon. I know a few who will. The quilt below is the new opportunity quilt for the March 2011 quit show. This is one of the most beautiful quilts I have seen in a long time. The focal fabric was so ugly, I could not have imagined it in a quilt, let alone turning out like this.

I must sign off. I have painting and packing to do and a couple of appointments. I hope your day is filled with blessings, I know my will be.

God's peace.

Are We Done Yet?

It's 105 degrees and I'm not in the mood for this game. It's too hot to do anything, except maybe quilt or read a book. This move is becoming a nightmare. Everywhere you look things are half completed. This is Missy looking at the new flooring in the dining room. The floor is beautiful but what about the molding? Where is the furniture? Half done! Oh, by the way, Missy prefers carpet. This is a picture of Paul and Joe finishing up the project, minus the molding.

This is the first floor board, where it all started. No molding there either.

Now here is the living room. It's done except for the window treatment. You can't tell because it has the dining room furniture in it and boxes of who knows what. The two bathrooms and the master bedroom are the only rooms that do not resemble this. It's making me crazy.

This is where I go when I'm about to blow. I love this area in the back yard. I hope I can re-create it when I get to Oregon. I haven't checked out what flowers grow well in that area.

This little plant has been providing little tomatoes for us since the middle of July. I know I will have a small vegetable garden at our new home. There is already a raised bed with a small garden planted. I am really looking forward to it. I might even start with a winter garden.

These are my bell peppers. They weren't originally planned as a container plant but things worked out that way because of the lack of time or my failure to management it better. Maybe a little of both. I will be cooking with these very soon.

There is still so much to do I can't even think about it. Paul hurt his back so things have really slowed down. I'm hoping that we can hold off showing our house until we have moved. As I pack things up I have to stack boxes in corners and what kind of staging is that? I'm praying for a sense of humor so I can laugh at this experience, wisdom to know what is right, and strength to get through it. I'm also thankful for the gift a a new home and moving to a new town with the opportunity of making new friends. I'm focusing on the gifts. Thank you Lord.

God's peace be with you.

Middle of the Week Update

As I review my progress this week I'm feeling much better about the numerous dead lines that are ahead of us. The living room is not complete. I have to buy a window covering and that is it. It looks clean and fresh. The bathroom floor is done and I'm going to paint the doors and do some touch up painting. My master bedroom is almost done. I need to paint doors, finish trim and hang the vertical blinds. I see things coming together now. The credit goes to God because that is who I asked for the patience, organizational skills and determination to get this done. I was doing a lot of praying. Thank you God!!!! I do enjoy painting and that is helpful.

The other task that I got completed is the purchase of homeowners insurance. I have to ask, is everything cheaper in Oregon? Homeowners insurance is half the cost there than in CA. Our new home is rural too. I just don't get it. That sure made the experience a pleasant one. I can't wait to check out the auto insurance.

Between the painting and cleaning I am also packing things that I won't need until we move into our new home. I love pictures and I take a lot of them. This is a picture of a quilt that was in a Modesto quilt show a few years ago. I love it. This is a thread and fabric technique that I'm looking forward to learning. The detail is incredible. I don't know how successful I will be and I won't know until I try. I have so much to look forward to. I must get back to work. The feeling of accomplishment is too good to pass up. Have a blessed day.

Brief Update

I've been trying to get our house ready to sell. Things are moving along at a snail's pace. There is so much to do and so little time. Then there is the issue of people who don't share your urgency. It took two weeks to get the wall paper off the living room walls, prime, and paint. If I knew how to do some of the repair work I could have done it my self in four days. I visited Home Depot for advise. I researched the web for advice and I read How To books. What a waste of time. The most important details are left out. WHAT'S UP WITH THAT? I had to depend on people who know how to do the work for instructions on what to do. I think I can add some thing new to my repertoire of talents. This week the GOAL is to paint the master bedroom and bathroom and by the grace of God, get the dining room floor in. As I ponder this weeks goals I'm feeling my sore tired muscles and preparing myself mentally to stand up and walk. This is a wake up call, I'm not so young anymore. I wish I was quilting. I miss it so. Missing Oregon and The Sewing Basket too.

Back to work I go.
Wishing you a blessed week.

Sleepless night

I was up at 5:00 this morning because I just can't sleep. I have so much to do before September 17th. I made a list and that list seems to grow every day. I have been packing things I know I won't need until I move and now I'm not sure where to store all these boxes. I'm not even half done. This afternoon the real estate people will be here to set up the sale of this house. Did you notice I didn't refer to it as home? I'm really looking forward to this move, although I will miss so many people. The last thing to pack up will be my quilting room because I really need the stress release I get when I unwind at my sewing machine. I cut out the background fabric for my Ladies of the Sea quilt and now I feel a bit relaxed. I'm going to organize my projects so I can grab one when the need arises.

Have you seen McKenna Ryan's newest creation. I love it. I think the Sewing Basket is going to offer this one. I can visualize this on a wall in my new home. I think it's great to have something to look forward to so I will add this to my list.
There is so much to do I feel guilty sitting at my computer. So, I'm going to call this a break and since my break is now over, it's back to work.

I was told how to eat an elephant. One bite at a time. That's how I'm dealing with this move. I'll keep you posted.

Wishing you a blessed day.

The Count Down Begins

As I sat in church this morning talking with friends and singing praises to the Lord it hit me, I'm leaving some awesome friends and a fabulous church family. The Praise and Worship band is incredible and after I leave church I feel the Holy Spirit within. Pastor Dan is incredible too. Am I going to find a church family like this one in Oregon? I couldn't hold back the tears. I have six more Sundays and I know it's not going to get any easier. I'm going to make new cards with my address on it and hand them out. Thank God for email. I have so much work to do in this house to get it ready for sale. I'll keep you posted on my progress. 48 days and counting.
Wishing you a blessed week.