In the Kitchen....

Hi Friends,

Hubby and I finished up the trim in the living room and dining room early this morning. It was before 7:00 a.m. for those of you early birds! ~smile~ Hubby has been working on the kitchen faucet this morning. I've got to go pick up a tool for him; so, I stopped by the library to give y'all an update. Amy, Michael, and Emily have been painting drawers and cupboards. I've got to go back and do a few touch ups. ~grin~ Annie, you should be here! You could paint to your heart's content!

It's been raining in buckets around here for a couple of days. I don't think we'll be moving anything for a few days. We want a little solid ground to walk on! The field down by the river is flooding. The water's moving fast. I'm glad it's far from the house. We're up on a rise. All we've had is some water in the basement from ground water. I'm not sure how to fix that problem. I'm glad I've got my big strong man and big strong son to figure that one out!

Well, got to get back to business!

Laura
Hoping for One Little House
On the Banks of Center Creek

Getting Closer....

The wood floor is finished! Hurrah!
We're finishing up the painting over the next 2-3 days. Lowell has put the new sink in the kitchen. Yay! The faucet isn't working, :( . He had to call Moen and they're sending him a part to fix it.

If it stops raining, we may be able to start putting furniture in the living room late tonight or early tomorrow.

It's been a long 5 weeks. I've not written much. I hope you haven't given up on me. ;)

We're having some difficulty finding an internet provider for our area.

Blessings to you all as you enjoy Fall!

Laura
A Woman of Two Houses
Who Longs to Live in One!

A Tale of Three Houses

Well, we're in...three houses! We still have a few things in our old house. The new house isn't quite ready. Lowell and his friend, Bob, decided to refinish the wood floors in the living room, dining room and hall. They first pulled up all the old carpet, took up the tin nailed to the floor, filled in the holes around the few patched boards, then sanded for about 15 hours! Then came cleaning up the dust, staining, and the first coat of polyurethane. They then had to stop for the move. They still have more sanding and two more coats of polyurethane to go. All this translates to a minimum of one more week before we can move in! So, since no one is living in the big house, much of our furniture is in the hall, dining room and living room. Everything else is in the garage!

So, for a day or two, my Lowell is a man of three houses! I'm at the old house cleaning. We'll be "camping" in the big house until the little house is ready. Fortunately, the carpet in the living room is plush! We've still got lots of trim left to finish and the bathroom needs to be finished. We also need to finish painting the kitchen cabinets and drawers. The counter top went in Sunday, thanks Dave! The sink and faucet must be bought and installed soon.

Praise God! The owner has financed everything we've needed so far! God bless him!

Well, I've got to get back to work pretty soon.

Have a wonderful week; I may not get back to the computer for a few days.

Laura

We're Getting Closer...Big Move in Four Days

Well the books are packed, the china's packed, the kitchen's packed. Those are the biggies. Thanks to Chelsea and Caity and Emily for helping me.

The walls are painted in the new house except for a few touch ups and for finishing the bathroom. Thanks David and Joyce. The trim's almost painted thanks to Chelsea, Johnny, Carolyn, Wayne, Emily, Gene, Caity, Michael, Amy, Hunter, Zach, Kaiden, Clayton and Jedidiah.

Today the old wood floors in the living room and the dining room are being sanded. Thanks Bob and Lowell.

At the old house, I've got to step back and get some laundry done and try to make some order out of the chaos. I've got to try to get some more boxes, too. My Amy has a yearly dr check up as well that was scheduled before I knew about The Big Move.

As you can see, we get by with a little help from our friends.

Thank you God for friends!

Laura

Crazy Busy

That's what I'd call this week. Crazy busy. The big move is Saturday. Our dear friends, David and Joy helped this weekend. Dave brought a paint sprayer and sprayed all the walls a nice cream color. Joy helped with the yard sale and with packing china. Oh yeah, we had to make a run for the border at Taco Bell, too! I give you a hundred thank yous Joy and David!

This week we'll be painting trim white, pulling up the carpets, cleaning the wood floors, packing, cleaning at both houses, and wishing for more sleep!

Tonight, we're having a painting party from 6-9 pm. All hands are welcome.

Gotta get busy!
Laura

Good Books and Good Friends

"Good books, like good friends, are few and chosen;

the more select, the more enjoyable."

~Louisa May Alcott

I'm afraid that I need to take this quote to heart...the book part, that is. I have finished packing our books. I sorted, gave away, and am paperback swapping and selling some. I recorded each book that I packed on a 3 x 5 card. That way I can find exactly what I need when I need it. I have about twenty boxes. Whew! I think I'll have to sort again when I unpack. No wonder we're a reading family!

By the way, I have really good friends. God chose well for me.

Harvest Blessings,

Laura

Little House... Big House

Hi,
I thought you might like to see some photos that my Honey took a couple of months ago of the Little House and the Big House. We met with the owners today and signed a lease on the little house and discussed our duties as caretakers. God has really blessed us. They're going to pay for paint, new countertop in the kitchen, building a wall to make another bedroom, moving the laundry upstairs, and anything else that needs to be taken care of. Wow, I couldn't ask for more.

First, here is the caretaker's cottage, the Little House:

The big front porch is on the east side. I think I'll be heading out there with my Bible and a cup of tea some mornings. There are lots of trees out near the road that give the place some privacy.

This is the view of the north and west sides of the house. The Big House is just to the right of the pictured area. Notice the window box. Petunias?
Here we see the north side of the house from the front of the house.
The yard is like a park. It's just beautiful. There beds for flowers, trees to climb, a couple of tire swings, and a play house.
Part of curving driveway.The Big House. No one is currently living in the Big House. The owner's son is considering buying it. As usual, the future is unclear. Nonetheless, I choose to be content with living in the blessings that God has provided for us now. God our Creator is the ultimate Caretaker.

Blessings,
Laura

Books, Boxes, and Baby Steps

I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed when I think of all that needs to be done this month. We already had a rather busy month before we decided to move. Fortunately, my Honey was able to help me focus my thoughts a bit. One thing at a time. One day at a time. So tonight, I'm going to pack books. Just like I planned yesterday before I got overwhelmed. ~grin~ Why do I tell you this? I tell you because you might feel the very same way right now. You might think that you're the only one who ever feels this way. It's not true.

So, I'm going to take every thought captive as the Good Book says and take baby steps as Fly Lady says. I can do this bit by bit. You can do what you need to do just the same way.

I'm off to pack another box of books!

Laura
Books, Boxes, and Baby Steps

The Three Biggest Factors in Moving

For me and mine, the three biggest factors in actually physically moving are books, clothes, and papers. Why? Because we have more books, clothes, and papers than anything else. So, today I started with books. Each time we move, I start with packing books. They're easy to pack; and, with the exception of school books and a few others, I can get by without them for the month or two that they are packed. Here's how I'm sorting books this time:

1. Keep out.
2. Pack and store.
3. Paperback Swap.
4. Give away.

I've got the first bookcase sorted. I just got some boxes. I'll pack up what I've sorted, put the swap books in the swap box to be listed after the move, and then I'll be taking the give away books to the homeschool meeting.

Now, I just have eight bookcases to go!

Um... did I mention we like to read?

Blessings,
Laura
I think I'll go read now!