Chaos

It's move out weekend and there is currently a hurricane shaking up the trees outside. We move into a temporary rental tomorrow and then the new owners of Black Pig Farms will hunker down here with all of their crap. I'm feeling preemptively guilty about the ugly tracks that our 16ft moving van will leave in the front yard tomorrow. We wouldn't do that on purpose you know. 

Packing up all your crap sure makes a pair go down memory lane. The "keep," "chuck," and "giveaway" piles do not seem to be growing at equal rates. 

"Do you want to keep this?"
"Yeah."
"Why? It's been in the attic since we moved in."
"Just because."

"I get it."

I began packing crap at the start of the month and I realized that all of those things that have been sitting in storage (and at my folks house) is most certainly stuff I don't need. It was the first group out. The "We won't need this between now and moving day" stuff - so really we should simplify our life and get rid of it. 

But we won't. 

In sappy house news, I tried to come up with what I'll miss the most about this place but it's not a certain room or view or spot in the backyard. What I'll miss is sure to be present in the next house - the shock-filled kitchen experiments, giddy cozy movie nights, pantsing Brett and then running away scream laughing.... these are best parts of life at Black Pig Farms. Isn't that icky? With Brett coming along with me to the new house and all, I don't think I'll actively miss this cute little structure. When I think back on my life in another forty years, what I'll remember about it will simply be the high happiness factor of our time here. 

It's been a real joy-filled home. 

Ellen's 34th Birthday Weekend

Even though today is her birthday, we just passed through Ellen's birthday weekend. (Please refer to my previous thoughts on appropriate times to celebrate one's birth date, here.) The weekend itself was a real doozie. Lee's brother, Dayton, got married, so there was lots of hubbub throughout the family to prepare for the big day. I got to make the rehearsal dinner flowers which were so happy and bright and celebratory. Working with colorful blooms is thrilling. 
So that was Friday; I made flower arrangements and Ellen and Lee went to the rehearsal dinner while Mom and Dad watched Nick and Liv. 

Saturday, Brett and I had a garage sale. The collection of tools and wedding decor that we can't take with us made for what we thought would be a tantalizing display for the community. I'm squeamish about asking for money in exchange for crap, so Mom came over to help move along the inventory. I found the whole thing terribly awkward while Brett made assorted man-friends throughout the morning. I've never seen him so chatty. He marked all of his wares too high (no one would bite) while Mom was practically giving away my vases and decorative bee-bobs. "50 cents!' she told one lady holding a $9 candle still in the plastic. In the end we made beans... but we got rid of lots of crap, so I suppose it was a success. 

From the garage sale, Mom darted back home to change into her wedding duds. Ellen was one of the bridesmaids and Liv was the flower girl. So Ellen left early that morning to get ready with the bridesmaids and Lee went to be with the groomsmen. Dad was home watching Nick and Liv by himself which went well except that Nick tinkled all over Dad's lap and then barfed on him. Dad told us last night that he's gotten to an age whereupon feeling that warm sensation take over his legs, it occurred to him that maybe he was the one that tinkled. He had to check.

At 3:00, Nick's babysitter arrived and then Mom, Dad and Liv headed out to the wedding. Meanwhile, Brett and I got our Covid booster shots and then went tile shopping for our new bathroom. We got into a decor fight so calm and understated that I couldn't decide if we were actually mad or just hungry. We brought a Lowes employee into our discrepancy and he patched it all up for us before we went over to Home Depot and gave them our business. 

Back at the wedding, on Ellen's birthday Saturday, she escorted her little blonde princess down the aisle. 

Proper, non-blurry photos to come.

She didn't throw any petals but she sure looked cute. So did Livvy.

Mom and Dad brought Liv home shortly after the ceremony so that Ellen and Lee could stay out and celebrate. 

Back at our place, Brett and I began to wither. 

"Does your head hurt?"

"Yeah. Yours?"

"Uh huh. Is your neck stiff?"

"Yeah. My legs are aching."

I was required to get a Covid booster for an upcoming adventure. Brett chose to go ahead and get the new bivalent booster because both Clint and Susan have Covid right now and Susan is unconcerned about spreading it to others. That night we tumbled into flu-like symptoms and watched Peaky Blinders to remind us that things aren't so bad. 

We got up the next morning (I intentionally didn't say "woke up" because I'm not sure we ever fell asleep) and tried to start packing up the house for our move-out day this coming Saturday. Little progress was made.

By the afternoon we were back on our feet and ready for Ellen's Birthday Sunday Dinner. Dad prepared a meal curated by the birthday girl and then we had cake. Lee's grandma made "the pink cake" for them and you wouldn't believe the amount of frosting Mom consumed. Then we gave Ellen her presents. 

"Brett and I have a little gift for you," I told her at the crowded dinner table. I pulled out the little envelope and passed it over to Ellen. 

"Ooh!" she squealed. Ellen opened the glossy white seal to reveal gift card to a favorite store on King Street. "Oh thank you!" she said. 

"Well," I interrupted, "There's a problem." The table waited for my explanation. "I went by the other day and well, the store has closed."

"What?" Dad said, "What do you mean?

"Well I walked by and it's gone. They're renovating it. Some swanky brand is moving in." The table began to snicker.

"What a horrible gift," Dad said, and then he laughed maniacally.

"Why did they sell you gift card if they were closing?" Brett asked.

"Maybe the employee didn't know." I suggested. Dad's unbridled laughter had the whole table grinning. "But there's an upside!" I added. "I checked, and they have a website with all the same goodies for sale."

"Oh!" Relief washed over the dinner table. Ellen smiled with satisfaction.

"...but you can't use gift cards online," I added.

"This is the worst gift ever!" Dad jeered and then he cackled; gut-busting, sinister laughs.

"I'm going to email them," I said, "Maybe they'll take pity on us!" The family had lots to say about my crappy gift, even though it was purchased with good intentions. 

"Well, thank you," Ellen finally mustered, with a touch of confusion.

Dad then recounted the whole exchange again just for his amusement. "Hey Ellen, here's a gift card to a store that's closed but don't worry, they have a website. You can't use the gift card online but I'll email them tomorrow!" "Hahhahaahaha!"

When the scoffing and laughter died down, Mom slid her birthday card across the table. Inside was a monetary donation, and words of love of course, and Ellen thanked Mom and Dad for their more viable gift. Then it occurred to Ellen that she owed me the exact amount of money that was tucked into her birthday card. "Oh no!" Dad yelled and then broke into another round of self-satisfying laughter. Ellen sheepishly pulled out the cash and slid it down the table to me. I snatched it up and tucked it into my bra. 

"Happy Birthday!" Brett cheered.

Ellen hung her head. "Thanks everyone."

A House Project Update

Contractor Dad has been kicking butt over at "the job site." He schedules other contractors to come in and work on top of each other in the name of speedy progress. We've barely had the place a full month and it's unrecognizable from the inside. Walls are gone. Ceilings are gone. Showers have appeared. We have air conditioning now!

I know it's hard to follow along on a building project in this way. You know I'll do a proper Before/During/After blog post when the time comes - but for now, here's our one big room. 

On the left there is our kitchen sink window. (Well, its the hole for the window- it won't be here until November. Who knew windows had such a long shipping time?) On the far right is the front door. That almost the whole house there in the photo; kitchen, living, and dining.

The ceiling has been insulated since taking these pictures, and the sheetrock is being hung as I type. Taking the ceiling out has really "transformed the space" (they say that a lot on home decor shows) in a way that's even better than we expected. Brett and Dad were convinced it wouldn't be all that much higher due to the house having a low pitched roof, but I ignored their naysaying and insisted, because I like...have a vision?... and they (and I) have been pleasantly surprised. 

In the back of the house, in our very pink bedroom, we replaced the existing wee window with the old sliding glass door that led to the porch. Oh the room is so bright now. 

A fun bit about having your papa be your contractor is that when you make requests (outlandish or otherwise) he scoffs and rolls his eyes instead of saying "Yes ma'am. I'm on it ma'am. You can count on me." The customer is always right you know. Sometimes I'll come to him wild with a brilliant idea and I'll present my scheme and twinkle my excitement in his face. And then he just goes, "No." and walks off. 

Initially, he had this sliding glass door prepared to be placed off-center and it drove me nuts. The window hole and surrounding exterior beebobs made it easier for it sit off to the right. I tiptoed and hemmed and hawed finally asked him, "Hey Pops, can we center that door in the room?" He didn't like it. He didn't think so. 

But you just have to wait him out and then finally he says, "That would look better wouldn't it?" Then he exhales, slumps his exhausted shoulders and calls you a nerd. The next time you come over, it will be fixed.

In the very last room in the house, we're making a bathroom closet duo. Pops has already rigged up a shower, made a wall out of thin air, and snuggled us a toilet area behind a half wall for privacy. 

The best part of the whole renovation is here...

... the archway. I love arches. I love them as doors, windows, cabinets, mirrors, you name it. They feel regal. Classic. European. I asked for three different archways in this house but Dad said no to all but this one; the one dividing the big room from the rest of the house. He said arches are sensationally easy to frame out so I scoffed at his unwillingness to arc my other two doorways. (It's that arched doors are really expensive.) Since this doesn't have a door, he approved. 

And I love this arched chunk of wall more than I probably ought to. 

Mostly Dogs And A Furniture Excursion

Well first of all, Hayden sent me these two pictures of baby Grace and I'm just beside myself. 

Look at her wee tail curled around Brett's wrist. 

What a bully she's grown into.

Here, the girls listen to me discuss my plans for the day. Pippa politely feigns interest most of the time. Grace just waits for me to leave. 

Ok, last one. Pip put herself in time out. 

Anyways, a couple weeks ago, Dad hired the toughest people he knows to help him move some furniture around. He didn't actually pay the hired help but he rented a Uhaul and barked at Ellen and me to meet him at the garage at 9:30. 

Ellen and I hoisted and heaved, pushed, shoved, twisted, and wrapped in protective blankets. Dad focused his efforts on the strategic packing of the Uhaul.

"Be sure to lock the knees and yank with your lower back." - Brett

Once we loaded up the contents of the garage, it was off to Aunt Melody's to gather more. I would tell you what this is all about but it's a secret mission; one that the church sent Dad on to do some good for some people. (You'd think the church could afford real movers - what with that tax break and all.)

We finally all piled into the truck, and it smelled real bad in there. 

"Eww! It stinks in here," Ellen exclaimed as she climbed into the middle seat. I noticed a wet smear on my seat as I heaved a leg inside.

"My seat it wet!" I shouted. Dad began to laugh.

"This truck is so gross, Dad," Ellen said. 

"Oh no it does smell in here." I said. Dad caught a case of the giggles.

"It's a smelly truck!" Ellen exclaimed.

"Smelly truck Jerry!" Dad yelled. 

We barreled along down the road trying not to touch anything in the smelly truck. There's no real point to this story but we laughed the whole time. 

The Two Girls and An Old Guy Moving Company