Well sort of... You cannot imagine how many trips to the dump my husband has made in the past two weeks. We've turned up nothing of value, except a box of Legos and a few Hot Wheels. Much of what has gone is mounds of paper work -- me from my writing and the operation of the school and Barry from his years of travel and church work. I must have gone through at least two thousand photos. Kept the ones of family and friends and a few other significant ones which amounts to a couple of hundred total. It doesn't help to have photographers in the family.
We have filled a few boxes with items from drawers and closets and still have a few more boxes to fill with books -- my Flamborough collection and Barry's theological ones. We have gathered a bunch of stuff for a garage sale -- have to re-coup a little on the financial side. Whatever else is left will go to the church's big Garage Sale in May and to the Salvation Army, and some has been given away.
This house is our resource for retirement funds. Most pastors don't get pensions. We are fortunate to have this large house and have kept it in good condition. We have already had the outside painted and once we are out, will paint the inside. We close escrow next week.
Then comes the process of selling. We are praying for a fair price. Not thinking of renting at the moment even though we have two property managers in the family. But we will face all this after we are settled in the new home. Looks like we will be moving in before Easter. Find it hard to believe! January 24 was the first time we seriously thought of moving. So it will be about 8 weeks total. Amazing.
We are continuing to pray for smooth negotiations and operations and then hopefully a normal life once again. If you are someone who prays, please join us in prayer.
No photos today. Thinking about too many other things.
More news to come.
Saturday, February 23, 2013
Monday, February 11, 2013
E IS FOR.......
E IS FOR ESCROW EXCITEMENT !!!
Yes, the cat is out of the bag! We are moving!
We've been talking about downsizing for quite a while, but haven't ever done anything about it. We live in a four bedroom house with a lot more yard than we need. Our boys moved out more than 20 years ago and we should have done it years ago. So for the past 40 years we have lived very happily in this house, accumulating more and more stuff. Imagine, 40 years of STUFF! But less than a month ago we suddenly decided to take a look around and figure how, when, where, what...etc. Really, just out of the blue.
So in less than three weeks we have taken the plunge -- actually more of a high dive into a whirlpool. We found what we wanted and expect to go into escrow at the weekend.
Of course it wasn't that simple. Obviously we had a financial limit, but we also had a size limit (2 bedrooms)and a location limit, ( not too far away from the church). Barry was concerned about security for me, since he is often away, but I didn't want to be crowded in with other homes.
We went looking in a senior living park that is only a mile away from where we live now. At first I wasn't too excited as it seemed the homes (modular) were all on top of one another and most of them had next to no back yard, literally. But then I saw a house that I said to Barry would be a great location. It backs on to the creek and has some trees around so I could still watch my birds, and had a deck at the back. So we started making inquiries.
At first we got, "No, it's not for sale"; then we heard it was sold; then, "it won't be on the market for a couple of months.." It wasn't even listed. In the mean time we must have looked at ten or fifteen houses, but either we didn't like the floor plan, or it was too big or there was no yard space at the back, I still liked this first house by the creek but I hadn't even seen inside, though it looked well cared for on the outside. We hadn't even see the floor plan, never mind looked at what condition the home was in.
We did our homework too, thoroughly looking into all the pro's and cons checking out possible problem areas. The inside of the home is in pristine condition even though it is an older home, and the floor plan is ideal. The people who own it have done a great job keeping it immaculate.
Now comes the REALLY hard part. Clearing out and sorting through forty years of STUFF.
We still have toys the boys had when they were in grade school. So one day at a time we are clearing closets and drawers and will be for quite a long time.
For those readers who are not familiar with our Southern California climate, our average year round temperature is 72 degrees and rainfall is 10 inches. Very rarely do we get frost and we have no rain from April to November, so modular homes are quite popular and very adequate.
So why all the secrecy? Mainly because my husband was pastor of a large church in town before he retired and is known by so many people. We know many real estate agents, personally, and just wanted to be free to make the right decision without any outside or well meant pressures.
You can see why my blogging is going to be spasmodic for a while. The home is move-in ready and we could move in by Easter, so we have to get busy clearing out our home here. But I will be back and will still visit and comment as often as I can.
This is my entry for ABC Wednesday, letter E. To see more intriguing entries, please click
Yes, the cat is out of the bag! We are moving!
We've been talking about downsizing for quite a while, but haven't ever done anything about it. We live in a four bedroom house with a lot more yard than we need. Our boys moved out more than 20 years ago and we should have done it years ago. So for the past 40 years we have lived very happily in this house, accumulating more and more stuff. Imagine, 40 years of STUFF! But less than a month ago we suddenly decided to take a look around and figure how, when, where, what...etc. Really, just out of the blue.
So in less than three weeks we have taken the plunge -- actually more of a high dive into a whirlpool. We found what we wanted and expect to go into escrow at the weekend.
Of course it wasn't that simple. Obviously we had a financial limit, but we also had a size limit (2 bedrooms)and a location limit, ( not too far away from the church). Barry was concerned about security for me, since he is often away, but I didn't want to be crowded in with other homes.
We went looking in a senior living park that is only a mile away from where we live now. At first I wasn't too excited as it seemed the homes (modular) were all on top of one another and most of them had next to no back yard, literally. But then I saw a house that I said to Barry would be a great location. It backs on to the creek and has some trees around so I could still watch my birds, and had a deck at the back. So we started making inquiries.
At first we got, "No, it's not for sale"; then we heard it was sold; then, "it won't be on the market for a couple of months.." It wasn't even listed. In the mean time we must have looked at ten or fifteen houses, but either we didn't like the floor plan, or it was too big or there was no yard space at the back, I still liked this first house by the creek but I hadn't even seen inside, though it looked well cared for on the outside. We hadn't even see the floor plan, never mind looked at what condition the home was in.
From this...
...to this...
Finally it all came together. The owners had just finished upgrading the home and were ready to sell. We had the inspection and it came through with flying colors. It has two bedrooms, two baths, an office and a sun room -- as well as the covered deck at the back. This is a park that quite a number of our church members live in, so we know its reputation. In this park the home owners own not only the home but also the land it is on. It has excellent security and many other attributes I won't go into here. Suffice it to say, we put in an offer and it was immediately accepted. It was as if the Lord was just holding it ready for us.
We are continuing to pray that the Lord will smooth the way ahead of us When everything is in place we will give Him the praise. God is good all the time! All the time God is good!
Now comes the REALLY hard part. Clearing out and sorting through forty years of STUFF.
We still have toys the boys had when they were in grade school. So one day at a time we are clearing closets and drawers and will be for quite a long time.
For those readers who are not familiar with our Southern California climate, our average year round temperature is 72 degrees and rainfall is 10 inches. Very rarely do we get frost and we have no rain from April to November, so modular homes are quite popular and very adequate.
So why all the secrecy? Mainly because my husband was pastor of a large church in town before he retired and is known by so many people. We know many real estate agents, personally, and just wanted to be free to make the right decision without any outside or well meant pressures.
You can see why my blogging is going to be spasmodic for a while. The home is move-in ready and we could move in by Easter, so we have to get busy clearing out our home here. But I will be back and will still visit and comment as often as I can.
This is my entry for ABC Wednesday, letter E. To see more intriguing entries, please click
Saturday, February 9, 2013
BIG NEWS COMING!
I haven't been posting blogs for several weeks and soon I will tell you why.
On Tuesday I will post my entry for ABC Wednesday,-- letter E, and this will be my big news. So if you are curious about what is happening in my life, come back and visit Tuesday afternoon or Wednesday and I will tell the big secret.
See you then!
On Tuesday I will post my entry for ABC Wednesday,-- letter E, and this will be my big news. So if you are curious about what is happening in my life, come back and visit Tuesday afternoon or Wednesday and I will tell the big secret.
See you then!
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Sorry for the Long Silence.
Some may think that my last blog was a bit of a knee jerk reaction, but for me it was a heartfelt reaction to something that was so momentous in the lives and deaths of many people. I just don't want these kinds of incidents to become common place to me while I go on with my comfortable life without another thought for the suffering of others. It would be sort of like fiddling while Rome burns.
As it turns out it was a good time to refrain from blogging for a while because several other major events happened this past week.
First our dear friend of 40 years, Hubie, went to be with the Lord quite unexpectedly. His memorial service was last week. He was so well loved by people in the church and all over town that there were more than 300 people at the service. He was the GREAT Mister Dependable and Mr. Fix-it, but not a big wheel in city matters or politics etc. -- just a humble and caring man.As an usher, he would always greet me every Sunday morning with a big smile and a kiss on the cheek. He is greatly missed.
There is another major event that is quite unexpectedly looming these past weeks and for the near future. It is claiming much of our time and thoughts. It involves many appointments and important decisions. I can't be specific because of the wide-spread nature of the web, but when we are ready I will let you know. I mention it now because it has been, and will continue to be, a factor in the frequency of my blogging. (Thought I'd just mention that it is not a health issue, praise the Lord!)
I am getting some art work done here and there but scanning, cropping and preparing for them to be posted is quite time consuming in my inexpert hands . I would like to keep up with Inchies and ABC Wednesday but don't know if I can. So for now I will blog when I can. I am continuing to visit as many of my blogging friends as I can and I'm leaving comments, so you won't all forget me.
As it turns out it was a good time to refrain from blogging for a while because several other major events happened this past week.
First our dear friend of 40 years, Hubie, went to be with the Lord quite unexpectedly. His memorial service was last week. He was so well loved by people in the church and all over town that there were more than 300 people at the service. He was the GREAT Mister Dependable and Mr. Fix-it, but not a big wheel in city matters or politics etc. -- just a humble and caring man.As an usher, he would always greet me every Sunday morning with a big smile and a kiss on the cheek. He is greatly missed.
There is another major event that is quite unexpectedly looming these past weeks and for the near future. It is claiming much of our time and thoughts. It involves many appointments and important decisions. I can't be specific because of the wide-spread nature of the web, but when we are ready I will let you know. I mention it now because it has been, and will continue to be, a factor in the frequency of my blogging. (Thought I'd just mention that it is not a health issue, praise the Lord!)
I am getting some art work done here and there but scanning, cropping and preparing for them to be posted is quite time consuming in my inexpert hands . I would like to keep up with Inchies and ABC Wednesday but don't know if I can. So for now I will blog when I can. I am continuing to visit as many of my blogging friends as I can and I'm leaving comments, so you won't all forget me.
Sunday, January 20, 2013
AS OF TODAY...
AS OF TODAY...
...I am taking a break from blogging, in honor of the 81 or more hostages who were so brutally and savagely, mutilated and tortured to death in Algeria.
I cannot go back to my blog and witter on about my doodles, tangles and inchies and the trivialities of my life while evil of this magnitude runs rampant in our world.
I need time to think and pray.
...I am taking a break from blogging, in honor of the 81 or more hostages who were so brutally and savagely, mutilated and tortured to death in Algeria.
I cannot go back to my blog and witter on about my doodles, tangles and inchies and the trivialities of my life while evil of this magnitude runs rampant in our world.
I need time to think and pray.
(I wasn't blogging in 9/11)
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
A IS FOR ...
A is for...
ARTY ARBUCKLE'S ADVENTUROUS AFFAIR
Arty Arbuckle ambled apprehensively through the arbor of aspens that surrounded the old mansion. He'd show his arch-enemy, Andy Anderson, he thought acrimoniously. He was not anachrophobic.
The ancient house loomed ahead. It had been abandoned ages ago. Anecdotes abounded about the large, hairy spiders to be found in the annex. Accordingly, he attempted to step airily across the antechamber that led to the annex. An assortment of antique furniture angled everywhere around the airless, gloomy room. Arty hesitated but avoided any accidental collisions. The atmosphere was asphyxiating. Feeling a little anxious -- and a little creepy, he stretched out his arm and gave the annex door a push. It opened arthritically, so Arty advanced cautiously. The light from the annex windows temporarily blinded him.
"Aaaagh!" he screamed, appalled at the apparition that appeared before him. He thought he was having an angina attack. There in front of him stood a.......a......what?
With a rush of adrenalin, his legs almost crumpled under him and the hair on the back of his neck arose. Then....... amazingly, awesome relief washed over him. The long-mirrored door of an ancient armoir stood open in front of him. The awful apparition Arty saw was.... himself!
The above is my contribution for the 12th ROUND of ABC WEDNESDAY which begins today. What an a achievement! Hats off to Mrs. Nesbitt our founder and Roger Owen Green, our fearless leader. To see more contributions to this excellent project, please click HERE
Monday, January 14, 2013
EVERY INCHIE MONDAY
For the second Inchie of the year the subject is GIRL. I chose to do an ice skater. I love to watch ice skating on TV. So here she is, my ice skating GIRL.
Welcome to all the new Inchie-ers (now there's a good word for you!) We have some really talented people who have joined us, so it will keep me on my toes to keep up!
To see more Inchies for this week please click HERE . There is still time to join us. We have no official starting date. Come when you can. Join in the fun. Thanks to Trillian who set up this project for us.
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