T-minus 22 days

Percy reminded me I haven't posted anything in many days.  She would like you to know how the house is coming along.  We move in 22 days.  Good thing I got a new tent this year and we have a big back yard.  

I'm not entirely sure where we were last time I posted but here is the view from the front door now.  Dad showed up and promptly removed the too narrow second entry door.  So now the fridge and range we bought will actually fit inside the house when they arrive on the 23rd.  Hopefully we will be ready for them by then.  

I wasn't sure Percy could play nice with Dad's dogs so she got to hang out inside for a little bit.  Until I realized it might be more hazardous than outside.  There used to be a furnace where that giant hole in the floor is now.  It's normally covered up by a grate.  

But Dad and Chad needed to get down in the crawl space and level the foundation.  Lots of head shaking at what has been done in the past.  Like reading just the middle part of a mystery novel.  See the new shiny boiler furnace thingy?  It makes the house toasty.  But have to hot wire it because there are no walls to install the thermostat on yet.  

We also finally got all the flooring up.  Finally.  And sent the dumpster away.  Very heavy.  Only one real hiccup.  There's a couple rotten boards in the kitchen.  Including one under a wall.  Hmmmm....

The little dogs are exhausted after the long drive north.  Or maybe it was destroying the big dog bed that exhausted them.  Or just getting up and down the three deck stairs....who knows.  

This is where I have spent more time than I want to think about.  Almost done.  Clean or not.  Next up....fridge.  

The wonderful man bought me a small greenhouse and set it up.  Which is good because Dad brought me some plants.  Like a lime tree.  And tomatoes.  Mmmmm....

Every day is an adventure and a celebration.  And a couple loads of laundry.  Good times.  

I'm trying to decide if I want a 'garden window' at the kitchen sink.  These herbs jumped into my bucket when I went to the store.  Visual aids.  

Dad got to do the honor of removing the last layers of flooring upstairs.  This is the prize - original linoleum.  

And then...Chad climbed up on the roof.  Not to jump off, but to throw chunks of rotten concrete off the top.  Dad and I got to herd the dogs out of the way of the falling concrete.  

And then there was a hole in the roof.  Not normally a cause for celebration, but we were excited.  

The chimney slowly being disassembled, one layer at a time.  

Only one brick would not come off in one piece.  So many layers of paint and who knows what.  

The dogs....slept on....and on...and on....except when they were barking.

And then, the chimney was gone.  Guess who got to carry almost all the 50+lb bricks down to the front yard on the too steep stairs?  My forearms still ache.  Two days later.  

I was afraid for a moment that he was going to get beamed up....

We were delirious and covered in soot by the end.  And very celebratory.  And now my shower is dirty.  

My bricks.  All 22 of them.  We did some experimental yard decorating with them yesterday....I'll let you know what we decide.  

Major accomplishments inside meant a little time for outside work.  Dad and I started the dismantle of the raised chive bed.  Percy was immediately inside it.  We can't move it yet because the power hasn't gone underground yet.  Dad divided the chive into three still giant clumps for me.  

The man rototilled the giant garden space for me.  Supervised first by one dog....

...and then another.  Just to make sure he was doing it right.  Which is nice, it freed me up to do other stuff, like move plants and start the next round of peas and beans.  

Slowly but surely Peejay is learning how to climb that tree.  Stay tuned for the next update....maybe insulation and wall covering....who knows!