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".

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!

Selling Our House

Our home. 39 Years.

So many memories are enclosed within our half acre lot. When we moved into this track home of four bedrooms we had one son. Little did we realize that I was pregnant. Only a few days later the wonder of adding to our family and needing a third bedroom became our life.

Now that the building of a new home is progressing it had finally become the time to put our house on the market. Empty nesters don't need four bedrooms and two levels. 

Social media and the internet has drastically changed the realty world. The realtor used a fabulous photographer. These pictures are some of the ones that were used on the posting. I have to think that they are part of the whirlwind we jumped into.

The living area that have provided family times over the years.

Many changes have been done over the time since the beginning. Open space living was gained and lost through my DIY projects. Build a wall. Tear down a wall. Extend a wall. Add wainscoting.

Memories of family that gathered around the dining table--some that are no longer on this earth. How many meals?

Oh, and the kitchen. Dark cabinets were transformed by MY painting project only to be completely replaced with the beauty of solid oak cabinets and hunter green countertops. Yet, the next painting was done by a professional that created a dreamy white kitchen. And the green countertops said goodbye to granite. My kitchen I will miss!

Can you envision the floor that looked like vinyl bricks? Thinking back to the years of harvest gold, rust and brown wallpaper, darkness that is thankfully a memory and not reality.

 The three bedrooms on this floor have gained various sons. Mr. Spouse and I kept the same bedroom since are the "masters" of the house.

Each of our three sons had a turn in the three additional bedrooms. As a new baby was added the room shuffling began.

Downstairs offered the final stop of our kids as they matured. The last bedroom they occupied before moving onto adulthood.

To my astonishment the downstairs "den" of the 90's became one of my favorite rooms. The cozy size is a great place for afternoon naps!

Privacy abounds in our backyard. Memories of the kids playing, riding big wheels and bikes, laughter, arguments, neighborhood kids--these will live in my heart as we exit our family home.

Our house was under contract the first day on the market. Hopefully, a new family will create their memories and enjoy the country living. 

So, goodbye 152 Highland. You have served us well.