Thursday, June 2, 2016

Movin' On UP

...to the Southside, where all the kool kids live!
Today is moving day and to say I have been busy is a massive understatement. I don't pack. I bring. It's different. Today I put all my crystal beverage glasses in socks and then into my hamper. At 5am I brought my clothes and curtains here, had a shower, got gas, stopped at Hardee's for takeout breakfast and got back to the old house by 7:30.
My pots and pans have been here for days, then dishes, glasses and food, but the very first thing we did was plant the garden. Yes. First things first. It was so hot that I only did the small bed and quit. Later after 5, we returned and finished the other bed.

Half of our hosta is here, acting as a living guardrail on the porch.

 We had planned to rent a small truck to bring our trees and bigger hosta, but in a blast of enthusiasm we wrapped the bigger coral bark with handy wrap and got it into the car without breaking anything. Buoyed by that success we next wedged in the smaller maple and voila, here they are. The big hosta will be next. 
Once the garden was in, I could relax and have my first guests. My sister and niece came over after church (so fun to have the whole family attending together) and had our first meal with the new dishes!
 I love that white counter top...my dreams realized.
 The whiteness...pre Dawgs. We did bring them and then experienced muddy paw prints everywhere, GASP, but guess what? The floor cleans up in a flash and the proof is in the pudding. Why even try to hide the dirt? If I can see, I can clean it.


My studio-to-be and the doors to the screened porch, (doggie house) which is where I am sitting now, with the pugs. A ceiling fan was installed and I am gratefully enjoying the breeze while I wait for Dave and the movers to arrive. So glad I am an old woman and won't have any heavy lifting to do ever again. Until I decide to rearrange the furniture...O well.
The hall bath which I set up immediately.  It's your standard issue, but it does match the kitchen cabinets.

It's been three month since we listed our other house and while we've had lots of viewings, no nibbles. So our real estate guy decided we should lower the asking price. This resulted in immediate calls for showings, which we postponed as the house is a wreck during the move. Grrr. But I am glad to have the renewed interest, and once it's empty, we won't have that awful routine of frantic cleaning, leaving with the dogs, and holding our breath.
We've met our young neighbors and Dave has already suggested sharing our lawn mower with them. The amount of grass we have is minuscule, but they have a front yard, so sharing has saved them from getting a mower.
Did I mention that I got a bike? Dave has two, so I am catching his enthusiasm.  The streets are flat here, and bike lanes are everywhere. I can't wait to visit my pal Mary, on my bike!
26" Women's Kent Bayside Cruiser Bike  
It matches my petunias!

18 comments:

  1. Looking great! The plantings outside really make it a cozy looking cottage :) I love a white kitchen, which is what I have had for 12 years (who knew it would be popular now??) and love the fresh, cleanness of it. I have pops of red also in my kitchen. Keep the pictures coming :)

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  2. Oh how I wish I could have just one of the houses I've watched you rennovate and decorate. You are some talented and industrious woman. I admire your tenacity.

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  3. Of course the gardening had to come first! And it really looks wonderful... you should be given credit as a "live in" model home, for prospective buyers to drive by and get ideas! Can't wait to see how the inside looks with all your wonderful art work up on the walls! Have fun, and enjoy not having to do any heavy lifting!

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  4. I've been following your house posts since the beginning and am so glad to see the move well underway. I also envy the location and amenities in your new neighborhood. I'm your age and wouldn't dare bring a bike out in Acworth, Ga where I live. Keep posting, especially the quilt room! and the kitchen.

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  5. All looks super !!! Can't believe you have so much finished already - pots moved, garden bed planted and had folks for dinner. Bring on your next post when the furniture is all in place.

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  6. congratulations on your new home! May you make lots of happy memories and art here!

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  7. Hi Mel and Colleen, I did an All White kitchen 28 years ago, and I was most amused by a comment made at an Open Home when it was on the market 4 years ago "Golly, what a lovely modern kitchen" The owners had had a new halogen cooktop put in, but the white cupboard surfaces were looking great, 24 years later! I must admit I was surprised. Never dates, easy to see the dirt, and the accent colour can easily be changed.

    SO lovely to see you finally moving in Mel, you must be thrilled with how it's turned out. Now we're praying for a good sale of your old place!

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  8. You are so lucky to be able to put out large pots like that and not have them stolen. In my neighborhood, they'd be gone within a week. I love the cobalt blue.

    I'm surprised you weren't forced to put a railing around the porch but just up the front steps.

    What is that big ugly metal box? Utilities? Can you plant anything next to it to hide it? Cannas or something?

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  9. Thanks for taking time out of a very busy day to share your move with us. Your new home and garden looks great. Can't wait to see it with the furniture in and quilts and paintings hung on the walls. Judith P.

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  10. So glad to hear that everything is going well with the move. If I was one of your new neighbors I'd be thinking what a cool couple you guys are just by looking at what you've done to the outside of your new home! Looks so interesting and inviting. And congrats on the new bike! The photo didn't show up on my screen but I can just imagine it and all the fun you'll have biking around town.

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  11. You've already made it a home with your gorgeous plants out front. If we were getting new neighbors and the first thing they did was make the yard look pretty, I would know that they are going to be great. Congratulations! Everything looks marvelous.

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  12. I wish you both a happy and healthy life in your new home!

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  14. I've always loved WHITE! My kind of house! Wishing you the best memories and happiness there!

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  15. Hi there Melody, the new digs look super fab!! I'm glad to see you have your priorities in order and that the garden is in, haha!
    We moved back to Tucson over the Holidays, (yay) I'm now in MAJOR bike shopping mode! I'm in the market for the same style bike you have. My main goal, (along with getting a little cardio and more leg strength), is to give our 8-month-old chocolate Labrador, Annie, more exercise than I can give her while walking. I trained our last 2 Labs to run nicely alongside the bike, and it was great fun. But, onto my main reason for posting... LOVE your new bike!!! What kind of bike (make/model) is it, and where did you get it?

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  16. I have house envy, spanking new and so sparkly white, just waiting for your gorgeous artworks.

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  17. Thanks so much for sharing this with us. I've followed you from Indiana to the house in the woods, to the house in the suburbs, and now to the house in the city. I love your enthusiasm for everything. I hope you and Dave will be happy here.

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  18. Thanks so much for sharing this with us. I've followed you from Indiana to the house in the woods, to the house in the suburbs, and now to the house in the city. I love your enthusiasm for everything. I hope you and Dave will be happy here.

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