New Old House

We've bought our first home! I've been painting, getting it freshened up and bright. Love this house! We are so blessed!

Merry Christmas and a Happy Full Moon

Merry Christmas to both of my readers! We've had a good day and snow with it. The best present by far was...bubble wrap! If the wind has cleared off the clouds I might be able to see the moon.

Battened hatches

Saturday we went over to Emily and Dave's to find that Dave and Ethan had already shifted the piano further into the garage. Just in time as yesterday we had our first snow of the season and it was very wet. Barring a tornado spouting just over the garage, the piano is in as good and safe of a space as we can hope given our current finances. I have been able to put it out of my mind more lately as there is nothing we can do about it now.

Yesterday was also Chas' sister's funeral. He was so glad to be able to see his family and they had a great photo taken of the siblings. I'm glad for that opportunity and that no one seemed to mind terribly that I wasn't there with the girls. Neve was able to get her naps and be as rested as possible while Chas saw to his family obligations.

This weather is just in time to make Thanksgiving seem more of a reality. I am grateful for the days when the sun shines and all is still autumn and beautiful. But I did stand for several minutes at the window yesterday enjoying the thick fat snowflakes as they fell on the locust tree outside in our front yard. It is all melted away now but the mountains, always visually present, are made even more striking by the blanket of snow. Never have I tired of watching the mountains here. Instead of brown with the rusting remnants of maples on the slopes they are transformed into huge alpine presences of Northern majesty that seem to have advanced even closer than before. Certainly they seem taller as the slopes are clouded in and the peaks rise above them into the sun that we, mere mortals that we are, cannot see or feel.

disappointment

I have been so excited to be in our new house and yet have experienced my first deep and profound disappointment with it.

The piano cannot fit in here.

My piano is an 89-year-old upright. 57 inches wide x 54 inches high x 700 pounds and too big to fit down these stairs and into the living room where I had so lovingly planned to put it. The professional piano movers initially said they would try but then, after some taking of measurements, said they wouldn't. So it was taken over to Emily & Dave's garage where it sits just inside the garage door.

I haven't slept well in three nights for worry that there will be serious damage to it before we can get it installed farther in towards the middle, away from the moisture and drafts. I'm sick about this and can't let my mind rest.

New condo

Two weeks ago today we moved into our new condo. Renting, not purchased, but still OUR OWN PLACE! Bless Chas' sister & bro-in-law for letting us live in their basement for four months, but we are so very grateful to be in our own home now. It all happened so fast and so many little blessings have dominoed into this blessed arrangement. From my seeing the For Rent sign to moving in was a grand total of one week.

I saw it on Friday. A weekend passed. The sign was still there on Monday so I called. It was empty and unlocked, waiting for the carpet cleaners and we were both able to see it and pick up an application. Tuesday we filled out the application. Chas forgot to sign it. I was able to take it to his work and get his signature and take it to the landlady's home. She wasn't there so I got back in my car. Before I could back out of her driveway she pulled up and I was able to hand it to her and pay the application fee. Wednesday we signed the lease and paid up which we could do because the credit union was still open. Saturday we moved in. Wow.

In the first couple of days before signing we were wondering if we were moving too fast and getting a place that was priced too far above our means. We prayed mightily that if it was right to do this that it would work out and we would be able to afford it, but that we would keep looking and waiting if it wasn't right. It is right to be here. My girls - my precious, precious girls are in a small but bright and clean and airy upstairs room without dampness and mold. Chas and I can sleep in our queen bed again instead of a double. So much more sleeping room! I am the boss of my own kitchen and what I make for meals gets eaten! The piano will be moved in on Thursday next. Mavis will be able to continue with piano lessons.

Thanks be to God that this blessing has been granted.

Lunar eclipse Blood Moon

Hello, Moon! I watched the moon rise this evening, not realizing the eclipse would be so advanced as the moon actually rose. We live in the mountainous West and I am still learning which set of peaks to face when observing the moonrise. All over the neighborhood we could hear others outside watching as well. I wished for a quiet clear night in which to see this phenomenon, but I am satisfied that the clouds were sparse and that I could see everything as clearly as my myopia allows. Time for a new eye exam, maybe. Either way...happy birthday to me.

Labor Day

For Labor Day this year we traveled to Idaho to visit my family and celebrate Neve's first birthday. Who said this year could fly by so quickly? Where has it gone? Goodness! But here we are on the birthday of my little Bright One who came so unexpectedly and has given so much love and joy with her arrival. I am thankful to my Heavenly Parents for her.