Almost a Camera!

Last evening I figured out how to use the webcam thing on this laptop so now I can show you at least a few pictures while we're passing through the Valley of Camera Death. I still have my first digital camera... it's about ten years old... and when I find it I promise to take some pictures on the farm. For now, enjoy this little picture of Baby Bea on the studio carpet.

I haven't seen more than a few square feet of it since our stuff arrived and yesterday was spent having a happy little clear-out. The kitties have lived in the room off and on so you can guess how gross it was because I couldn't get in there to properly clean. Turns out the Rug Doctor pet stain remover is as good as it says. I sprayed it on late last night and this morning all but the two worst stains are gone. Now I'm off to run the machine and get the carpet all nice and beautiful again.

Not sure how the lady in the picture is swinging that machine.... they weigh 35 pounds and there's no handle!

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UPDATE:

That little machine sure did the job! Even the unspeakable gifts the kittens hid under the furniture are gone. Not mostly.... totally!

Doesn't that look better? Now to put everything back after the carpet is dry. I think I'll be making a giant trash pile with all those years' worth of excess accumulation!

Nutmeg Makes a Decision

Yes, Nutter... our brain damaged, epileptic, well-medicated, and completely loving dog... who suffered two bouts of movers like a happy-go-lucky Labrador (even cozying up to strangers!)... who didn't pee on the seat of my car on her way out... yes, Nutmeg... who never thought beyond the couch and the next milkbone...

Made a decision.

She decided she didn't like being moved. In nowhere, Oklahoma (I think) she made her break while Russ did what one does at the side of the highway on a long trip. Off she went... even figuring out the right direction for home. Russ valiantly sacrificed his tweaky knee to chase her down and bring her back. Were it not for some big weeds, she'd have gotten away.

Russ, dutiful Russ, managed to get he and the dog to our new home in one piece without major trauma. Or so I thought. Nutter was just playing sweet. Who knew she was a schemer! She talked me into letting her out... made me believe she was glad to be where all her family seemed to be.

HA!

And she promptly left. We've not seen her in five days and, with the roads and the weather, presume she has gone to be a pest to Mr. Tam and her beloved kitty, Catfish. It's a sad feeling to have lost her. Gut wrenching that it was my fault after all Russ did not to poison her over the years. Yet... I get the feeling that she's happy. And I'm proud that she showed some gumption.

If only just once.

We've Cleared Customs!

And that means our things from Scotland are now on their way from the Port of Baltimore to our new home in Floyd! Now to make some room for it as the Strattons aren't completely moved out yet. Russ can tell you more about that.

End of Day Two

Stop number one... Oklahoma City.

Stop number two... Hurricane Mills, Tennessee.

Home of Loretta Lynn's Ranch, her Coal Miner's Daughter Museum, and a Days Inn with a cheap pet rate, free breakfast, and a supposed high speed internet connection.

Day two of the journey ends soon for Russ & Lilly. Hopefully the kitty will decide she's thirsty and drink something. She's touched neither food nor drink since yesterday morning. Guess she's heard those old folk songs one time too many...

Russ sounds much less frazzed than yesterday. Except for construction near Memphis, it's been a much easier drive. Barring the unforeseen that means they'll be rolling up to the new place tomorrow afternoon.

Wednesday Was Move Day

We never thought it would all fit, but somehow it did. We are now officially, really, truly, no-kidding, you betcha, uh-huh, this-ain't-a-joke MOVING.

Russ and Miss Lilly are on the road between Oklahoma City and Nashville as I write. I took the day off yesterday and just bummed around town. Today it's all about getting things back into some kind of order in preparation for an orderly packing of our masses of stuff. What that means is: I get to fix all the little thing that went skew-wiff in the past two days.

That's a true 16-foot truck packed to the roof and you'd hardly know it looking inside the house. We had the movers out to pack the thing on Monday. I'll write about the experience later. For now, enjoy these pictures of a more peaceful, gentle part of the moving experience.

Goodbye Russ! I'll see you in a few weeks!

The cab was loaded up with all the necessities for the cross-country journey.

And one really unhappy cat rides shotgun!

A final check that the little car is well attached.

Off They Go!

It's (mostly) Loaded

Today we picked up our 16 foot Penske truck and trailer for the car. The goons arrived at 3 pm... right on time for Santa Fe... we were scheduled for an hour earlier. Three hours to load, a trip back to the truck place because they forgot to put the moving blankets in the truck, and an implosion for April... but all is now well. The dish-washing woman, the cook, and the packer have all quit. We are negotiating for their return at the end of the week but we're pretty sure there will have to be concessions...

Tomorrow Russ tries to tie up loose ends, pack some lenses, and decide which clothes to take. Early Wednesday morning he pulls out with his favorite kitty, Miss Lilly, for company. He expects to arrive at the new house Saturday mid-day.

As you can see from the picture, Miss Lilly is quite excited about the move. Well, she's excited about all the boxes at any rate.

Move Update... the (first) big day approaches

We've been giving treats in Miss Lilly's travel crate for about a week. April put in her pillow today now that everyone has gotten used to the box. A few hours on and we're having a dispute about who gets to sleep in the new prime location. (Lilly eventually won the showdown.)

In other news, April managed to sprain her left thumb fighting a recalcitrant tape dispenser. It hurts like mad and she can't bend it but she'll survive and plow through the next hundred boxes or so left to be packed before the truck is loaded on Monday.

It's Sold!!!

And we just showed out house in Santa Fe to a Realtor (estate agent) yesterday and he was really excited. He said that he's sold a lot of million dollar (or more) homes that weren't nearly as nicely finished as ours. Here's hoping is California clients get as excited as he did!

Timing is Everything

And as you may know, contractors have no sense of time.

Our move is timed to coincide with the Stratton's move into their new cottage and their move is timed to coincide with it actually being finished. That looks like the end of November or early December. There is a silver lining to this... we have extra time to catalog all our stuff. The dark cloud, of course, is a cross-country trip in a U-haul in the middle of winter.