Serenity Now

      Whew, its been a crazy week, phone calls, real estate addendums, people wanting this, wanting that, pay this pay that.  

     Today I went to the town office to get a copy of Anders Death Certificate , yes, I cried but its okay just seeing it in print it kinda cuts like a knife is all, I needed it for the lawyer evidently the buyers bank wanted it since of course the house was in both our names .  So after I got it and dropped it off at the lawyers, I went to the local propane company to see if I could schedule them to install a 100 lb tank on my camper once I move it....Nope sorry we don't do that.....ahhh yes, so I went to tractor supply and got another space heater and another small 20lb tank, alls it will run now is the propane stove and I'll probably run the furnace to keep the camper up to temperature than shut it off. 

     The electrician came to the cabin yesterday and checked the electric and said all looks good and I won't have to worry about blowing fuses, He installed a new 30amp outlet for me to plug the camper into so I can run all the space heaters I need when its really cold. I was please to find an outlet in the area I'm going to put the chickens so I will have a place to plug in their heated water dish, and a light in there too!  The cabin was cozy warm with just the small electric space heater so thinking its insulated better than we thought, not that I want to live in there permanently but will be spending a few nights on the couch in there as I decided its going to be easier to move in with out the camper in the way of the moving van.  I sent the electrician a copy of my little house to give me an estimate.

     Today I started calling to get services switched over and then my daughter mentioned she didn't think there was a mailbox on the property so I checked an no there isn't, so I went to go get a post office box , course when they assigned my number she mentioned that it was a least a foot of the floor in the post office since the post office has flooded twice just this year once 7 feet I told her that if I knew it was going to rain heavy I'd be sure to come get my mail LOL also eventually I'll put up a mailbox at the house but will wait until the site work is done maybe even the house. I got the electric service scheduled to be switched and when I went to switch the internet...they told me I probably wouldn't be happy with it where I'm going because for some reason in that town its 2/3 slower than here...so I checked another provider, nope can't get it, then another one, nope, so had to go with Starlink...which is why I went to get my post office box since I need a place to mail it too since who knows when it will get mailed...

     I went to the camper and installed the new propane tank and low and behold I went to light the stove and no gas was coming in...ugh ...so went to my facebook winter camping group and they gave me some tips on how to fix that problem so I'll try Monday since I just want to stay home tomorrow...LOL  

     I came home , unloaded the car, fed ex came with the new mattress for the camper then I decided to take a hot shower and get comfy which I did, sweat pants, Anders viking kitty t shirt and his flannel shirt.  now I'm watching starwars in time line order...:) best movies ever...

    Monday I start switching all my addresses on everything I can remember.....Oh I got all the times for the closing, so before I go to the last one for my land I'll load up the car with as much stuff as I can fit with stuff from the garage as that needs to go in first. then I'll go look at that view again, oh how Anders would love this view.... 

Its Christmas?

 So yes Christmas is coming, I did put up a tree but admit to not spending too much time decorating it, The lights are peaceful though and I put Anders Santa Hat on top.  Izzy said I needed to put the presents under the tree so I did that too, Christmas shopping was a bit different too, I really wasn't in to it and not really sure how I did but I'm done so thats that.  I guess Christmas just isn't the same this year understandably, hoping next year I can partake in it a little more.

Wednesday the house was appraised, the person who came said she already checked out the comps and didn't feel there would be a problem getting the value out that the buyers offered but I'm still not packing anymore until I get the official word. I've done a bit more though, One room upstairs totally empty, cleaned and door shut. The master has just a couple things to bring down with some assistance so I don't scratch the new floor up there. 

I'm amazed how little I have to move since I've cleaned out so much and the buyers are keeping a bunch of larger items I offered them. Simplifying is awesome. 

I've been making lists, lists and more lists, things I need to buy, people I need to call, things I need to do, you name it, I've been chatting up a lot on the facebook group I belong to , surviving winter in an RV, they have given me so many tips on winterizing my camper!  You'd be surprised how many people live in a RV full time, and so many who live in the northern states and Canada. I really like it when I'm taking to people and they support me and not tell me I'm crazy and I'm going to freeze to death *insert crazy face here. I'm still really excited about it, although still stressing a bit about the logistics of the actual move so I try not to think about it , I've actually slept amost 8 hours for a few nights in a row with the help of my magic benadryl tablet.  So somethings have eased my mind a bit, others not so much.  

I'm so happy that the longest night has passed. the days are starting to get longer and it won't be long until we notice the difference!  I so look forward to spending so very much outside again. It's been years since I've been able to spend all day outdoors.  

So the next step is to get through Christmas and New Years Even without Anders, remembering the games we used to play while watching the ball drop. I'll probably watch some movies and play games on my computer.  then it will be pack, pack, pack, and start moving somethings into the camper. whew.....

Being Grateful for what I DO have...

 So much joy in my life yesterday *insert big heart here! My two wonderful Granddaughters spent the day with me, we played games, watched a movie, took apart more lego sets, did some crafting/art. Also before we left their house for mine when I picked them up, I got a video chat call from my Children and Grandchildren in Germany * another heart here!  It is a season that brings so much joy but admit it's not the same for sure this year.  For the most part though I'm mostly able to hold it together by thinking and being grateful for 

1. The time Anders and I did have together and all the fun we had and joys we shared, sure those memories bring some tears but I know they always will and thats okay.

2. For my family all of them , children, grandchildren, sisters, brother ( and the in laws too!), aunts, cousins, nieces and nephews. Love them all and appreciate every message I get from them.

3. For the fact I have a roof over my head and food enough to eat and to feed my critters.

4. My three kitties, two dogs, chickens and goaties. ( for those who haven't heard because of my concern of a big move for the goaties, I asked and the new owners of my current house have offered to keep my goaties so they can live out their lives here where they are familiar and feel safe. Goats don't handle stress well at all and I'm so grateful for them for doing this for me.)

5. Grateful for all my friends, those I get to see in person and those who support me from a far thats one good thing about the internet! Also the fact that so far I have two offers of help with loading up my UHAUL on the 14th - would love all the help I can get as I admit now this is my biggest stress factor ( there has to be something right?! )  

Loading the Uhaul on the 14th, then 15th selling one house, then buying property later in the day, hopefully the weather cooperating so that Ryan can move my camper to my property,  I went to look and indeed the people taking care of the property have had the driveway plowed so that there is room to park it . But honestly if he can't move it that day I can stay in the cabin until he moves it or in the camper where it sits at my daughters so I really should stop worrying about that part....( easier said than done) I need to make a set of steps with a landing for the camper for the dogs though as Whiskey just turned 13 and the current steps on the camper I'm pretty sure he won't like ) Which is why I may spend the first night on the couch in the cabin. 

This is where my camper will sit way back there , I look forward to moving all the wood piles  and burning them in the wood stove inside that "cabin" . I am excited but I just need the logistics of the move to happen * insert crazy face here! 

Friday I laid down so puzzle mats on the non carpeted part of the main camper floor and got some scatter rugs to help with wet dog and people feet. I have a big rug I'll put down there once its moved and leveled because the slide out exposes more of the floor. its going to be so cozy. I also got window covers for the really cold nights and clear plastic to cover them all to help with the drafts. I installed my new Electric heater, will need help installing the propane one once moving day gets closer.

Here it is with the slide out ,  What makes this doable with all the critters is the fact there is a garage, and inclosed spot for my chickens and the "cabin" where a wood stove resides so we can all hang in there if we feel cooped up on a day to crappy to do stuff outside. Although both my dogs laze the day away mostly so I imagine Montgomery on the big bed in the gooseneck , whisky on the couch and me in the rocker chair, hanging out while I read, puzzle, crochet, or watch movies on those days . Course Montgomery loves to be outside but will have to be on a run as he will run away otherwise , Whiskey I'm grateful is a homebody and never ventures away from Mom. As soon as I'm able I'll be fencing in some of the yard for the chickens and dogs.

Yes some think this is crazy, but I can't wait for it to happen, I'm totally lost in this "big" house now, two floors of rooms that I have no use for.  Course in February I'll be making lots of phone calls getting quotes on building my new little house..:)  My adventure is getting closer  28 days to go! 

Roller Coaster Riding

 

You're thinking "Why did she post a photo of a package of bagels?"  Ya, I know I did it there is a point to the photo.

So yesterday I went and ran some errands, I have a love/hate relationship with errands these days. I used to go through the stores saying Hi or good morning to everyone I saw, now days I admit I almost avoid eye contact incase I see someone I know and they stop me to say how sorry they are. Hey, I totally get it and I do appreciate it but then that grief that I had tucked inside gets a chance to leak out. There are some places in the store that I'm more vulnerable to that . The deli, where I always bought Anders a 4" thick chunk of Havarti cheese for his fancy danish sandwiches, Oranges for awhile there during Chemo he ate 8 of those clementines everyday, theres a few other spots too but this time it was the bagels that bit me. I love Cinnamon/Raisin he hated them so I never bought them. So when I picked them up I had to stop and take a few deep breaths. Silly thing to tear up over bagels...

It was a dry warmish day yesterday so with Anders talking in my ear I knew I should get the car washed. Thing is I HATE the car wash, all last year or so I was going alone but I would always call him while I was there his voice has ALWAYS calmed me. So yep I had to buckle up and deal with it. I survived to tell the story and I know every time I go it will get easier.  My stop at Agway to get grain, minerals, salt and birdseed had no issues as he rarely went into there with me.  

I came home put away the groceries and packed up another box of stuff, I'm glad I have over a month to do this as I still am freaking out over how the transition is all going to happen. 

Pack up current home in U haul , less the things the buyers said they'll keep thankfully my bed so I will have a place to sleep that night!  Go to closing on current home thankfully new owners say okay leave the u haul till you can move it. *insert heart here   Go to closing on land , move u haul to land , when will camper get there? All depends on the weather, If the weather is nasty thankfully I can just stay in it where it sits until Ryan can move it.  Once its there I need to build some nice wooden steps to make it easier to get in and out of it.  Plug it in to the cabins electric current and take a deep breath! Then I'll have an electrician put in a dedicated RV plug outside the cabin along with an outlet to plug in some lights I can hang around to light up the area in front of the cabin at night for when I need to bring out the dogs, and have Freds come up to hitch the big propane tank to the camper for my stove and space heater. I'll also need to build a roost for my little chickens and an area where then can get there food but the goats can't since they'll be in the same area for now.  Although once again new owners say I can leave them as long as I need to *insert another big heart here. All the while my brain thinks of this paragraph as until I'm there I will wonder...

My brain got a break for a bit though when my family came up and got a Christmas tree from my neighbor and I decided I would too since she sells them for $25.00 so it will make a good snack for the goats later , yes I'm going to move a Christmas tree.  First time I have decorated one for years though as the girls have usually have done it, it was my wonderful son in laws birthday yesterday though so they had things to do . <3  I picked the colored lights because they seem more cheery to me than straight white, I wanted them to twinkle but for some reason I couldn't find the twinkle bulbs.  I just picked the first 20 ornaments I grabbed out of the box in no particular order and put Captain bear and Anders santa hat on top. Looking at it actually makes me smile which is a great thing!

Big storm coming tonight I guess into tomorrow could get a ton of heavy snow so I'm going to take it easy as I'll be shoveling the deck a lot ....wheeeee!

Lists , Lists and more Lists !

 

This photo I "borrowed" from one of the groups I belong to on Facebook, people who live in their campers/RV full time all year round all over the country. So for those who greet me with "YOUR GOING TO FREEZE" instead of way to go, have fun, this is for you :) 

Now keep in mind I am NOT going to live in my camper forever, just until I get my little 650' house build and ready to move into.Once I'm there, I honestly am not going to rush about it, I want to make this as stressless as possible I've had enough of that for a lifetime.

I am a list maker, I always have been. I get up in the morning and think about the things I need to do for the day and I write it down. Now I have lists of lists....I'm hoping it makes for a more peaceful transition.  I am starting to make piles of things that will go to the camper of course: things for entertainment games, art materials, cooking, eating, cleaning, things to keep me warm. Another pile to go in the "cabin" which are things I might want easy access to: my extra clothes, sewing machine, my business stock and fabric all which will be stored in plastic totes, a couch to sit by the wood stove with the dogs and then the rest will get stored in the garage for either permanent  storage or until the house is built.  

My Grandchildren were here for a bit yesterday we watched Christmas movies , Izzy crafted, Maddy and I played some games. It was just what I needed Love those girls so much!

I emptied out the chicken coop/greenhouse yesterday of everything except the chickens and their food and water. They will be easy to move I have a couple crates and luckily I only have 9 chickens, I hope my new neighbor across the road won't mind hearing Coffee my little rooster!  The goats I still am wondering about them, I worry that this move is going to stress them out and being senior citizens thats really not a great thing. But I'll do everything I can to make it easier for them.  

We've got a big storm coming in tomorrow so I'm going to run into town to get a few things so this addition to my upcoming journey will end now.