One Year Later

One Year Later...

We are settled. For the past ten months we are adapting to a different home, different town, and different lifestyle. 

Looking back (as in hindsight) the stress of moving after so many years in one house was real. OCD was not apparent as I thought. The slowness of days in anticipation of the final closing is all a distant memory.

So, what would I have done differently? What would have made a move more enjoyable if there is such a thing? 

I would have found a mover! We delayed making that decision because we hoped that the house would be completed when we had to move out of our home. I envision that type of move to be much better suited to my stress level. Pack. Movers place all the belongings in a vehicle and drive the ten miles to our new house. Unload. Sounds so very simple.

But, that wasn't how our move transpired. Finding out at the last week that there was no way we would be able to move in, we didn't find a place to move us and store our furniture. So, as you see in the picture above, the PODS arrived. Mr. Spouse really enjoyed that! 

Two pods didn't hold our 40 years of STUFF. Next came a UHaul and those belongings were stored in the company headquarters. Hide your eyes!

The boxes I packed were clearly labeled. That was a good step in organization. However, between the two PODS and the UHaul the many boxes became a disorganized mess. Originally I had placed the boxes we would need on the living level together. The non-necessary items were to be taken to the basement to be sorted and unpacked whenever...

Oh, my, there were boxes everywhere! It was 90 degrees on move in day. We did get some help in unpacking the PODS. The problem came in which area things should be taken--garage or basement. To say that I gained lots of exercise going up and down the stairs is definitely an understatement.

I would NOT have attempted to climb a ladder to make some needed corrections to our house before closing. Breaking a finger, nearly cutting my finger off, and damaging said finger's tendons created difficulty in packing, moving, and unpacking. I have the scars for a finger that will never be the same. 

But...

we love our house! 

We have amazing sunsets. The mountain views were a major draw of building on this particular location. Daily we enjoy the views of the sunrises and sunsets. The weather we can gaze as it approaches over the mountain ranges is worth every negative in moving drama.

One level living is the best! The house plan that I picked turned out just as I had hoped. The furnishings and decor seemed to be great choices. To daily hear Mr. Spouse say he loves our home is music to my ears.

Yes, after the rain sometimes a rainbow means we were right where we were supposed to be.

Spring's New Life

Winter is not my favorite season. To know that spring has arrived is enough to bring contentment. Last spring was focused on watching the construction of our house which caused a dim memory of spring's new life.

We bought our lot from the neighboring house and landscaping has become part of our yard now. Creeping phlox, flowering bushes, and crepe myrtle trees were the only beauty of the construction site.

The landscapers worked to renew and refresh! What a joy to see the life that still existed. Autumn tends to be a great time to acquire shrubs at a discount. I added some burning bushes and a hydrangea I brought from the previous home. To my joy they lived and are now sprouting new growth.

I appreciate green grass. September inTennessee means a short time frame to sowing grass and getting a sparse coverage before the frosts arrive. Two hurricanes provided tremendous and forceful rains that washed away portions of the loose soil. To hours spent resowing, watering, and lots of hope we did get a ground cover before the growing season ended. One major benefit was that our grass was the greenest in the neighborhood since it was new grass!

One beautiful snow created memories of our new neighborhood. (Guess we were lucky not to have to clean the inclined driveway more than the one time).

God works in mysterious ways. To deciding to build near our son and daughter-in-law, moving in, and the blessing of a granddaughter--this is where we were meant to be.

We are blessed to see our precious one and the ease of keeping her while mom works is beyond our imagination from a short year ago. Yes, this is where we are supposed to live.

Yes, spring has arrived and with it a bright and sunny feeling surrounds us.

Light streams in from all the windows!

Daily, we say "it's nice to be living here".

Beginning the Decorating

I feel as if we just moved in and finished unpacking and organizing. Now it is time to decorate for Christmas!

After being in the former home for 39 years I was in a comfortable position of knowing how and what I would do. Now with the new home I am a newbie!

The open spaces do give a bit of freedom of not feeling closed in by too many items.

I began in the dining room and put up my "woodlands" skinny tree. Since it has a bit of autumn colors it seems only proper that this tree gets to be the leader.

The ribbons were from Hobby Lobby and most of the other decor have been in my stash from previous years of Walmart. Nothing can beat the burlap poinsettias!  A few pine cone picks and birds add to the woodland theme.

A country and East Tennessee Christmas seems to bring back memories of cutting an evergreen pine to be used as I was growing up. In the first years of our marriage we tried the purchase of live trees that could be planted in the yard after the holidays. The trees became a bright Tennessee orange--meaning that they promptly died.  

The Farm Fresh sign was this year's find at TJMaxx during our last Florida visit. A couple of Target dollar spot trees add to the buffet. 

Now on to the next tree that welcomed our first Christmas at 151.

After all, these skinny trees become a quick addition. Using red ornaments, plaid ribbons, and several memories from my teacher gifts has brightened up even the cloudiest of days!

What would Christmas be without a little cooking and baking? This nook area is definitely one that I enjoy. The World Market everett sofa table is a joy to display items from Rae Dunn, Possible Dreams Santa, and more things I have collected over the years.

A quick peek into the living area reveals I have more time to enjoy exploring new options in sharing my Christmas decor.

New House Kitchen

When we decided to build one of my first priorities was open space kitchen with a breakfast nook. To say that I spent time looking on Instagram, Pinterest, and blogs would be a slight exaggeration! I was definitely inspired by wowilovethat.design. I had saved pictures of that kitchen two years ago and definitely before we planned to build.

To see the inspiration become a reality was the favorite dream in my eyes.

Our walls are painted on Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray. This home has an abundance of windows and this choice seems to be a great one.

Moving day brought a quick decision on arrangement of dishes and pantry items. Since the sink is in the island the dishes needed to be in close proximity. And since there is a Rae Dunn obsession from someone in this family the extra counter space has delivered!

Our cabinets are a creamy white from Armstrong.

The nook is a favorite place to grab a quick meal.

Today I am blessed! 

We Arrived

Finally we could walk in the front door or our house! The shiny hardwood floors and Agreeable Gray walls shouted a warm welcome! To the left of the foyer is the dining room. It definitely is an open space home.

Straight ahead is the family room, kitchen, and breakfast nook.

The fireplace with built-ins flanking both sides were an upgrade from the original plans. Originally the fireplace was to be centered on the far right bookcase. Symmetry is part of my brain so I asked that the fireplace be shifted to the left in order to have small bookcases on both sides. This was a great change as the fireplace now is centered in the cozy family room space and a straight view from the kitchen island. (Can I say I can watch TV while washing dishes?)

I can already tell the second bathroom/powder room door will need to remain closed! Nothing like a potty view from the dining/living room! The back wall of the family room looks outdoors on the screened in porch. I love the amount of light that can stream into our home! The TV is to be mounted over the fireplace so the outlet and video stream cable will be hidden.

The dining room has an astounding view of the mountains. I may add wainscoting later. As for now, I am just excited to see the clean, finished house!

A study is on the front of the house and access is from the foyer. This was one of the selling points of the plan. I wanted a small room I could use as a library, my office, or "baby room" since we found out we will be having a grand baby born in December! The mountains can be seen in the distance above the homes in the neighborhood.

I am totally in love with the creamy white kitchen. A small eating area will probably be used much more than the dining room. Selecting all the lights for the house provided me with sleepless nights and much time surfing the internet. I selected a oil rubbed bronze in all the areas.

I had a special order french doors that would open out instead of in gave extra dining space to the breakfast nook.

The screened in porch provides a view of country living with the mountain view in the distant view.

The master bedroom (complete with internet and cable already installed--husband's needs can I say?) is a welcome retreat. The builder added additional square feet and he was right on in that decision! It is spacious and the tray ceiling gives added dimension.

Our master bath is definitely easy to appreciate. A separate toilet room provides privacy.

The other side of the house contains two bedrooms and a bath. One bedroom will become the guest room and the other will be Mr. Spouse's office.

I am ready to get this house filled with our belongings!