Still unpacking

 Some days seem like we're going backwards, just moving boxes from one corner to another.  It will all come together, but impossible to say when.  Until then I don't have anything to show you indoors but it will happen.  Maybe. 

The Tim and Marty show just kept working on the driveway, which goes from the street all the way back to the alley, even new gravel in the alley.  They lost count at 22 loads.  I admit to a bit of the vapors when the bill was presented.

But it does mean no more mud.  Yay! 

                          Marty loves me!   Or maybe it's my checkbook.

A few loads of beautiful topsoil to fill in all the ruts from the trucks driving around there whilst moving houses to and fro.  Who knew dirt could be beautiful?

The hot tub got moved!  Three men and a truck.  With Al to supervise.

This great big truck for one small hot tub, all the way next door.

Notice the artichoke plants look pretty good, even without chokes.

Can't say much for the blueberries.

See all that new gravel in the alley?  

The key was the big lift, the ramp, and the door on the deck that swings open so they just rolled it right on over.

Too bad they didn't fix the hole where everything had to get ripped open to repair the leak.  Al says that's next on his list, but right now he's installing a new toilet.  We didn't like the puny little one that came with the house so now have a fancy skirted number, chair height for geezers, gentle close seat.  There are priorities in life, ya know.  The hall bathroom will be another day. 

Is it wine o'clock yet?

Digger Extraodinaire

                                See how good that man is with his shovel?

He loves to say that he was a professional ditch digger - for PGE between Cal and the Peace Corps.  Apparently that is a talent that stays with a fella.

                                     See how the deck is being enclosed?  

                 See how the chaos just moves from one place to another? 

                     Will we ever get 2300+ sq ft of stuff into 1400 sq ft? 

                              It's a dilemma yet to be solved. 

 

Finally!

 One Old man andThree Young Studs Moving Company (two of them live right across the street) loaded up the big furniture for the huge trip next door.  He (the old man) was smart enough to get a big truck because it had a better ramp than the smaller options.  

Just the right height to walk straight onto the new deck to unload.  

Isn't it a charming new house?  Do you admire how we've furnished it?  Where is anything?  Where did all this stuff come from?  Why do we own it?  How will we ever get all of it in the cupboards and closets?  Will the thrift shop schedule a pick-up run?  

Do you know that the word run has the most definitions of any word in the dictionary at 645?  Set is next with 430.  

Somehow it will all work out and you know I'll keep you posted on the progress.  If I can find my desk. . . . . 

Bomb Cyclone

It was so cold during the night that a puddle on the deck table turned to ice but it warmed so nicely  that the concrete crew took off their jackets.  This load is going to the ramp at the front door and stairs at the back door.  Hard to believe all of this mess is going to be something acceptable. 

The house next door is getting a new roof - active neighborhood today.

This is what old people do when the power goes out and takes the heat with it.

Candles and flashlights to the rescue.

Notice the glass of Jameson is empty.

The highest wind gust was recorded at 51 mph but now (Wednesday morning at 9:30) it's calm and sunshine.  It might not last but we'll enjoy it for now.

Hurry up and wait

 

Who know it would all take so long?  The rain didn't help.  But here we are - - 

More deck in progress - that sucker is so strong!

Stairs at the back door.

A long but legal ramp at the front door. 

Patch in process.  Painted and a new floor.  

Amazing what old men can do! 

Another slow week

 

This is the beginning of the hot tub deck, so it has to be really sturdy.

This is an amazing crew but they had to go pour concrete for somebody else so will be back another day to continue the job.

Hard to believe this is ever going to be the Patch.

Paint is a good beginning. 

Not much visible progress

 Didn't we all think that  a manufactured home  would just be plunked down, ready to go, bring your bed and dishes and move in?  I had no idea how much is involved to make it livable.  This week Al and his pal Don (it's kind of unclear which one of them is the boss and which is the sidekick) put on the skirt.  I really want to paint some ruffles on it. 

The interior guy did the plaster and paint and whatnot to close the seam where the two sides join.  Electricians and plumbers were doing work I don't even want to know about.  Al and Don spent hours in the shed to make Al's workshop and add electricity.  I tried to pack stuff but kept distracting myself with deciding what to keep and what to haul to the thrift shop.  Help!

Concrete supports for the hot tub deck because that thing 

weighs a lot even before I get in it. 

One day closer.

          Doesn't look like it's going to be much, does it?  I might be scared.

                                       That's a big bonfire in the future.

This is the back of Gert's house, which was a small window but quickly became a big hole.

Then a double door.  Makes me want to swoop through it with a swirling skirt, but I'd probably miss the step, gash my face open on the leftover metal siding and get an expensive ambulance ride to the hospital.  

Doesn't matter how old boys get, they are still playful.  The tires and axels were hauled away to be used on another house coming down the road to somebody else.

Siding replaced at the splice so it's beginning to look like a real house.

More supports to hold the whole thing together for attaching the skirt.

                                This is what remains of the book collection 

                                  - after a huge trip to Friends of the Library.  

Grape-like  hardy kiwi ready for the pickin.  Yes, they are as tasty as regular kiwi.