Buddies.

One of the reasons we moved here was so the cousins could hang out together and sport matching jaunty caps.



In house news, I spent the entire day in my closet unpacking all my craft and sewing supplies. Whew, I have a lot of stuff. Megan commented on my closet saying it was like stepping into another world...or being at a theme park. I'll post a picture when everyting is put away.

Yeah, I'm Back.

Its been a nice break, but I'm kind of sad I didn't keep up my blogging during the move. There has been a lot going on and I don't know if I'll remember it.
Our actual move was a nightmare that I won't detail. The ray of sunshine on that day was John, Sarah and Ethan hanging out with us, then driving across the state to see our new house, help us get settled, then heading home sometime after midnight. True. Friends.
Mark,Darlene, Keith and Lance stopped by our first weekend here,then Renee, Sara and Eva drove over for pajama Monday. Unfortunately our house was still pretty much in boxes so we met up with Jessica at Target, and visited while drinking coffee.



This past Saturday Sarah came over to help with the house. I had become overwhelmed and things were at a standstill. She arrived and started unpacking boxes and working her magic in every room. It was great to have her and Ethan visit with us, and we were sad to see them leave this morning.







I know its not much of a post, but its a start.

Why I'm Not Blogging.

I have been unpacking and cleaning, (The house has not been lived in or cleaned for 3 years,) all week, and still have more to do. This is the state of the house this morning.









I can't, (don't want to,) imagine what it would have been like had I not had an estate sale bfore we moved. As it is, I'm ready to get rid of more stuff. Unfortunately where we live does not allow garage sales, so its either Goodwill, or a g.s. at Jessicas.

It's Done.

We have moved.I'm surrounded by boxes, in a very dirty, (but awesome,) house. I hope to get everything cleaned and unpacked this week and make it a home.

Because I Needed More to Pack.

I bought a curio box and plate at a garage sale on Friday. Its a sickness you know.

"The Bed's Too Big Without You"

(The Police)

Addison, Kate and Clay were here visiting me today while Jessica attended to some homeschool business. Without fail, this is where we always end up.







Incase you are wondering about Kat and Addisons attire, this is what they wear at home. Its Florida. It's 90 degrees out. I'd go topless too if I could get away with it.

Listen to My Girl!

Jessica will be one of three women interviewed today at noon, on being a second generation homeschooler.

Is It Bad?

...That I keep hoping something will happen and the sale of our home won't go through? I keep thinking, maybe its like when Abraham through faith and obedience to God, was taking Isaac to sacrifice him and at the last minute God provided a sacrifice and Isaac was spared and Abraham got to keep his son.
We spent all weekend house hunting for a rental in the Tampa area. We had a wonderful realtor*
helping us out; she was very understanding of my chemical sensitivities and the fact that sometimes I just needed to be in a house for 30 minutes or so to make sure it was safe for me. She also understood that I could step through the door of a house and know I couldn't be in it. We found one possible home and you can view it here.
Its more than we want to spend, but it is located in the lovely Saddlebrook resort. The pros: all tile floors, a pool, lots of great light, 8 miles from Jessica, very quiet. The cons: All my friends are in Orlando, it's in the burbs, has a small dated kitchen, not kid friendly, no sidewalks, surrounded by lush landscaping and golf courses. Yes, that is a con, because for anything to be lush in FL it requires lots of chemical spraying and fertilizing.
I've tried looking for homes in Orlando too. While just about every other home has a for sale sign in its yard, both our realtor and myself could only find 12, four bedroom homes for rent in the entire metro Orlando area. As the Today show proclaimed, it is the year of the landlord.
Our tentative closing date is March 5th. I. Am. Not. Ready.



*Deborah Catterton, with Charles Rutenberg Realty - she has been truly wonderful.

I'm Going to Try

It's going to be spent looking for a place to live. I'd like tobe wearing that outfit, visiting somewhere I could wear boots and a sweater. I think its called escapism.

31

Today is my anniversary. Normally spent at the beach; Brewier is working in the Tampa area right now so our date will have to wait until this weekend. Bummer.
Valentines day was pretty uneventful around here. Normally the house would be decorated, I'd have heart shaped cookies made, and hand crafted Valentines to give to loved ones. Instead I continued packing up all my worldly possessions, though I did get a rose from my chiropractor, and my pizza box had a big, "Happy Valentines Day!" written across it.
It was a beautiful winter day here...the kind tourist long for.



Megan and I moved our rattan sofa to the back yard and enjoyed the blue skies.

The Patron Saint of Misfits.

This is the painting I was telling you about yesterday, painted by the lovely local artist, Dawn Shreiner. I knew the moment I saw it, it belonged to me.

The Newest Member of My Bird Family.

I took a break from packing yesterday to go to the Orlando Folk Festival. One of my favorite artists, Dawn Schreiner, was there and I'm always anxious to see her latest paintings. (I bought one of her paintings with my Christmas money and realized I haven't blogged it yet!) Megan, Oliver and I had a great time walking around and visiting with the artists, and were just finishing up our walk around the park when we reached the last artists tent and I spied this sparkling, rhinestone beauty, sculpted and adorned by local artist Melissa Menzer.



Look at those fancy tail feathers.



There are even lizards! I adore lizards.



Do you see the calligraphy nib hiding in the wing? Did you know I do calligraphy?



It was as if this little gem was made just for me. Megan told me to pick it up before someone else did, and then informed me I shouldn't put it down unless I was sure I wasn't going to buy it. I'm so glad I took her advice because as I was getting ready to pay for it, a not so pleasant woman came up and told me she had come back to buy the bird. She then huffed and puffed around the displays picking things up and putting them down, muttering, I was going to buy that.
Thank you Megan, (and thank you for taking these fantastic photos for me.)

A Day of Rest.

I packed nothing. I cleaned nothing. I sat and watched the first season of Downton Abbey. The only picture I have is the one I took of breakfast.



Megan likes the middle and I like the edges.

Its Over

We ended up having our estate sale both Saturday and Sunday, selling all but a couple of boxes of books and clothes. We are all tired and sunburned but it was so worth it. Of course I'm already finding things that didn't make it out to the sale; those will go into the donation box. In the week leading up to the sale I never slept more than 4 hours a night, but here a a few of the photos I was able to tak in my zombie like condition.

Renee cam over one evening and gave me a luxurious leg and foot massage.



(Call her at The Loft at Dawchers, 407.647.5300, and you can get one too.)

Addison had a Dr appointment in Orlando , so I got to have lunch with Kate and play in the back garden with all the children.



Cutie pie Clay



Oliver LOVES his cousins.



Today is cleaning day. I have never ever had such a messy dirty house and it is driving both Megan and I crazy. Tomorrow packing resumes, along with the search for a place to rent.