Ch Ch Cha Changes

Hosta III by Laura Trevey

As most of you know by now, my husband and I put our house on the market 10/25/09, sold it 10/26/09, closed on it 12/04/09 and were already moved in to my MIL's farm house.  After a hasty preparation for Christmas, our older son's visit home and our younger son's return from Europe, we are now preparing for the new decade with a whole lotta unknowns ahead.

If last night is any indication of what to expect, it will be a happy one.  We celebrated the coming of the new year with close friends at an elegant wine bistro, a four course meal paired with wines, a fireworks display at the park across the street and snowflakes the size of small ornaments, fluffy and falling all around us.  There was a glow in the village from the blue moon hiding behind the clouds, the lamp lights decorated with red velvet beribboned wreaths and the streets were full of happy visitors and locals wearing 2010 tiaras and hats, blowing little horns and laughing.  Everyone seemed to be in good moods.  The sense of anticipation was palpable.  Many are thrilled to see the old decade depart.

My husband and I both felt it was the best New Year's eve of our adult lives.  He described it as "magical".  We were with friends, we had wonderful food, beautiful weather, gaiety and love.  We closed the night out in our favorite bar owned by friends, drinking champagne and chatting about skiing, family and just plain stuff.

We are blessed and we know it.  So many are not.  But I choose to be selfish today and share my happiness.  Tomorrow I will think again of those less fortunate and my contributions to changing the world.

The Big News

Home Sweet Home

Well blogging friends, our lives are changing, again! 

We sold our home of the past eleven years in one day.  It hit the MLS Sat 10/24.  Sun 10/25 was the first showing and the couple made an offer that night.  They offered $25k below asking and we simply said "No".  They came back with a full price, all cash, no contingencies offer.  I cried like a baby.  We signed the papers Mon 10/26.  Home inspection, the next hurdle, was Fri 10/30.

Kitchen

Home inspection went swimmingly...clean as a whistle!   How many people inhabit a 25 yr old home which they maintain but still hasn't any problems?  We must be living right!

Next hurdle, and this is the biggie...we have to be out by Dec 3rd.  No last Thanksgiving or Christmas in our beloved home.  Our older son won't stay here again as he doesn't come home for the holidays til Dec 15th. Son # 2, newly returned from Europe made it back just in time to help to his father.  They are gonna have to haul ass as well as furniture!

Living Room

It's been a work in progress since we bought it and we've loved every second in this beautiful place.    We did a major structural renovation when we first took possession.  My husband has since done the majority of painting, repairing, building, tiling, wood paneling, wainscoting, etc.  The kitchen was my contribution.  I started renovations on 9-11.  All the guys who worked on it were there when the towers were hit, a terrible day indeed.  None of those guys has forgotten my kitchen!  I'll sure miss it.

Most of all I'll miss my home and the memories of my children growing up there.  When they were young, they felt isolated because it sits atop a small mountain.  Now, as young men, they appreciate the location and the lovely views.  They too are sad but their lives will go on, taking them away from this house.

Dining Room

The next five weeks will be hectic and stressful but we'll get through.  We are moving into my mother in law's large two story farm house.  It's about 20 min away.  We'll live upstairs and she'll live downstairs.  She's 83 now and, since my FIL died in July, quite lonely.  No idea how this will go but we're giving it a shot.  It could be best for all concerned. She's protected, her home will be maintained, we'll lower our overhead and make plans for a new phase in our lives.

Den

Just thought I'd share a few of the wonderful photos my husband took for the realtor web site.  He's captured the essence of our house.

As he puts it, "There's not a room, or even a corner, I haven't touched." 

There isn't a room or a corner that hasn't touched us as well.