I ache all over...

Nick and Michael were a great help with moving this weekend. On Friday, Michael rented a truck and the two of them started to move all my large pieces of furniture. We worked until about 2 am the first night. My bedroom stuff has been moved, but I am sleeping on a mattress on my floor because I need a split queen box spring. The stairs in my house are very narrow and turn 180 degrees, so my box spring won't fit. Mattress Warehouse sells the split queen, but won't have one until Thursday, so I am stuck on the floor until then. My first night in my new house was nice, but I was too tired to really get excited. On Saturday, we started moving the rest of the furniture and this time we were able to get Anne's stuff over as well as the ferrets. We worked until 3 am which was when we all just about dropped from exhaustion. Sunday was a slow day and mostly was spent putting things in their proper place. We still have a lot to do, but the house is starting to take shape.

I have also started to meet my neighbors. Kathleen lives diagonally in front of me. She came over to say hi while I was still in the painting phase. Her father lived next door to me until he passed away and now she is trying to sell his estate. I knew that the house was an estate because I actually had viewed the house when it went on the market right before I made an offer on my house. She was very helpful and gave me the number of her lawn guy so that I could keep my lawn nice while I don't have a mower.

My neighbors across the street are Bryan and Stacy (whose names might not be spelled this way). Bryan came over an introduced himself at about 11:50pm the other night. He also gave me two certificates for free Little Caesar's pizza since he is the regional manager. His wife works at St. Joseph Hospital and they both love to garden.

My neighbor that lives to the opposite side of the house for sale is very strange. I don't think I know her name but she keeps talking to me and watching me. She is an older lady and keeps telling me that Animal Control has been on my property laying traps to take care of a pregnant raccoon. I think she is very glad that the house is no longer empty because it will mean less animals hanging around her property. She also doesn't like us parking close to her driveway and I think she has been watching us move in.

I am glad that my neighbors are friendly, even the weird lady next door.

Vacation!

For the last two weeks, Anne, Nick, Michael and myself have been busily working on the house.

Anne's Room Before

Anne's room has been changed from an ugly purple to Baby Boots, a softer purple/blue wall color with white trim and ceiling.

Anne's Room After (the toilet is not a permanent part of her room)

My room has transitioned from a beige room with very dirty walls to Mint Spritzer, a very very pale green with white trim and ceiling.

My Room before

My Room after (the green is so light the camera has a hard time picking it up)

The hall which was a dingy pinkish color was also painted, Swiss Mocha, the same white used throughout the bedroom trim and ceilings.

Anne painting the hallway

The final room to be improved upon was the living room. It was a really deep yellow with paneling on the lower half. While the two-tone approach to the room was attractive, the paneling was scratched up in places so it had to go. The room was then pained Star Bright, a much lighter yellow.

The paneling has been removed and the walls repaired

A look at the new paint (on right) and the sun-room with old color

Living room painting finished

There is still a lot of work left to be done like putting the trim back on and covering the outlets (most had been ripped out of their slots) but that can be done at a much leisurely pace once we move.

Now I am finally on vacation in Canada. It is really crowded in the cottage now that everyone is an adult. We just don't fit like we used to, but that's okay. It is nice to escape from civilization if only for a little while. I have been searching for a piece of Muskoka artwork for my new house, but it looks as if I can't afford anything I like, but that is what happens when you shop in millionaire tourist country. The water has been really nice and it has been super nice since there are none of the pesky bugs that are normally around in early summer when we usually come.

On the down side I have been having a really hard time finding mint Aero bars. These are the most amazing candy bars ever. They are chocolate on the outside and a minty bubbly structure on the inside. You can also get them in milk and dark chocolate, but mint is my favorite and they don't sell them in the States except for at specialty import stores which are never located near me.

I have the rest of the week and then I am heading back to the States to move into my house.