19 days to go

 

So I made it through my first Thanksgiving and Christmas without Anders, thanks to my supporting friends , wonderful family and an invite to my wonderful son in laws family's Christmas Eve get together.  Brief moments of guilt would creep in with my subconscious whispering "really should you be laughing right now? Your husband passed away just a short time ago" But you know, I know very well that's exactly what he would of wanted. His whole life he hated seeing anyone sad. So I powered through. 

The hardest part is seeing my Grandchildren's achievements  knowing just how proud he would be of them seeing them play sports, create things, etc and then I have to go back to my belief that those that pass away are still here with us watching those achievements. So once again I power through.  

I took down the Christmas Tree the day after Christmas only because I wanted to give it to my goats, they LOVE Christmas trees. It made them so happy. :) After all thats what its all about making people and critters happy..:)

I spent a lot of time packing up more stuff yesterday getting out of the Holiday Season ups and downs and getting back into the , holy crap how am I going to do this, sell one house, buy some land, move the camper, move all my stuff, my chickens, dogs and cats.....breathe Donna!

I can't WAIT until this is all done and I'm at the land, living day to day, planning what I want to do tomorrow...

So now I'm living with piles of storage crates and piles of stuff waiting , I sent a request through the realtor to see if they would let me move in the day before closing since that way it would be a Sunday when hopefully there would be more people available to help versus on Monday a work day. If so I'll spend my first night in the "cabin" and then the camper could come in the next day when the driveway didn't have so much traffic.  My brain is on over drive. Course they might say no, and I haven't got the official ITS ON ! The appraisal is finished and the value was found though so now just waiting for the underwriters and the lawyers to say good to go.

Meanwhile I can't believe its almost January and I'm out doing chores in a shortsleeved shirt.  BUT now I'm hoping that this weather holds out until January 15th!  Today I'll pack up more stuff , maybe even haul some stuff out to the garage incase the sellers so nope you can't move in until closing day and the buyers want in the house on closing day....what a crazy system...so anyhow if your reading this stay tuned if there is anyway you can help carry stuff out of the house or in the house, or drive some stuff to the land in the back of your truck or car...:) I'll buy the pizza!

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.....

The wait begins

 

Christmas is weeks away but admit not feeling the joy of the Holiday season for reasons I'm sure you totally understand. However because of this venture I'm on I'm not engulfed in grief I'm looking towards the future.  I am so grateful that Anders and I were able to talk about all this in the last few months before he passed.  He was such a brave man, never complained and was never afraid. Not sure if he did this for my benefit or not but I'm thinking yes, he hated to see people sad. Regardless he prepared me for this future and I'm grateful.

I'm not putting many decorations out, just enough to make the place colorful. I treasure things I have that have been passed down or given to me from family for this season, gives me a connection somehow to them.  

This week I got my heaters for the Camper as I don't expect the onboard HVAC to do much in Vermont winters. I got a really neat electric infrared heater that evidently you can actually heat your house with if you put one in every room, it only pulls 4.2 amps so will help me not blow fuses in the camper something my online "surviving winter in an RV" has taught me! I also got a highly recommended propane heater that I'll only use in the daytime. Course once I'm actually living in it I'll get some foam insulation to skirt the bottom and the gooseneck and slide out. Insulate windows and the door. Yes I've research this venture!  Some think I'm crazy, but you know I'm excited about it. HONEST!  

BTW I didn't HAVE to sell my house I could of stayed here forever but it just feels so empty, its way to big for just me and my critters and way too much land for me to take care of when I really want to enjoy my life. The last seven years I've spent caring for my Husband and I wouldn't trade that for anything. Thru sickness and in health , when we say those vows no one really considers what it truly means, ask me I can tell you.  Anyhow, I look forward to going back to the gym, to walking, hiking, doing some fun runs, working on cleaning up my new property as oh my its has plenty to do but luckily less that an acre!

Here is where I'll be living for the winter :) How cool is this?

Now here is my future....:)  I can't wait to sit out under the covered porch and watch the rain.

Yesterday I said I was going to take a run to the dump and to Big Lots however I didn't. I ended up taking longer than I thought to clean out more stuff from drawers etc, and replacing the zipper on Izzys coat. It's cold out today 6F currently  but a clear blue sky, ( always sunny on really cold days since there are no clouds to cover us in a cozy cloud blanket in the winter) Anyhow I will run those errands today.  While I wait for the word on my house to be appraised for its future owners.  Once thats done that I will really start packing. :)