The Move Accomplished

 

The sale has closed/completed on the Amish farmhouse where we have lived during the past four years. There has been little time for reflection or nostalgia.  Our buyers needed to bring in their furniture and dozens of packed boxes prior to the closing as they had sold their home in another state--a 4 hours drive away. 

I managed to clear our belongings out of two bedrooms and the sunroom and accomplished at least a rudimentary cleaning of those rooms--floors vacuumed and mopped, the insides of the windows washed. By the time the buyers arrived with a second load it was clear that I wouldn't be able to do more than a cursory cleaning as spaces were filling up too fast.

Looking back on the past three weeks, it is difficult to distinguish one day from another. 

Jim began conveying loads of our household plunder to the storage unit on the new property while I continued to sort and pack; phone messages, emails, arrangements to be made for the closing; installation of landline phone and wifi at the new property; 

trips to building suppliers and lumber yards to order lumber, doors, windows.

Jim moved himself and several of the more obliging cats into the camper trailer, as he didn't like having so many tools on site with no one here. I stayed at the farmhouse for two more nights packing and cleaning into the wee hours. 

The weather changed the night that I moved to the camper, bringing my beloved Teasel cat who had resisted being caught and stuffed into a cat carrier.

After weeks of steamy, unseasonably hot and rainy weather the temperature took a fast dive of 30 degrees.

We are enduring more rain, varying from cloudbursts to mere drizzles, but now with chilly temperatures which have had me scrambling for warmer clothing.

Inevitably I brought various items into the camper which aren't essential, have lugged boxes up to the storage trailer, rootled about in there in mostly vain attempts to find things I think I should have with me.  It has been an exhausting process--made more disheartening by the inclement weather.

I have moved most of the plants which summered on the farmhouse porch.

I'm hoping Jim will have time to work up a strip of ground as a temporary home for them.

Sadly, I suspect I will lose some of the houseplants as there will be no space available to shelter them.

Gina carried home my heirloom geraniums; our renter, Fred, has provided a winter haven for my towering Norfolk Pine.

Jim's workshop at the farmhouse still needs clearing out.  He has tractors in varying states of repair/disrepair which need to be moved.

On Sunday, our son, Howard, arrived pulling his tool trailer.

We were able to locate and purchase a clean and attractive camper for him to occupy while he assists with the building project.

Thus far he has been helping to trouble-shoot a problem with our hot water system, move the refrigerator and freezer out of the farmhouse, and finally today, make a start on building preparations.

Although overcast and chilly it didn't rain today!

By the end of the afternoon staging had been set up.

I have pottered about, trying to better organize the camper, keep up with laundry [we have an apartment sized washer and dryer in the camper] make one simple hot meal per day.

The cats have acclimated.  The three boy cats go in and out during the day. 

Often they rush inside, hurl themselves at the litter box as though their 'business' couldn't be accomplished outside.

Dealing with the litter box is an ongoing duty!

I walked up the lane to the mailbox this afternoon, pausing to take photos.

The trek to and from is nearly a half mile walk.

Our neighbor is a good steward of his property. 

Here is a rustic birdhouse on the line fence.

Our neighbor has livestock, including this 'jack' who stands at stud.

I am always amused when he gives voice.

A resident horse and a few beef cattle observe my progress along the lane.

This bull is a noble looking creature.

Most of the meadow and roadside flowers have gone to seed.

This clump of goldenrod was a bright spot of color on a grey day.

In the midst of the moving, my laptop crashed.  There is no space to set up my desktop unit with all its accessories and cords.

The laptop was under warranty and to my delight the computer shop exchanged it for an upgraded model. Having sorted and installed some vital programs I am once again able to communicate and read online. 

Catching up with my favorite bloggers will provide a welcome break in the coming days as I seek to establish new patterns and routines in this interim situation of the next several months.