Minnesota is Heaven, But Virginia is Home

Peek into the kitchen--countertops should come in this week. The new green trim looks great...red door needs 2-3 more coats of paint and the screen porch needs to be screened.  Oh, and the front walk needs to be put back into place.  All of the white areas you see on the front porch are repaired/replaced pieces of wood that are primed and waiting to be painted.   William and Hans in the living room--floors are all refinished.        April 22nd was the day that they picked for final inspection from our lender, so I know that they'll have the work done...there's still quite a few little things that need to be done.  Countertops.  Third floor carpet.  Doors and doorknobs upstairs.  Appliance installation.  There aren't any sinks plumbed in yet.  The screen porch needs to be screened.  Paint needs to be touched up where it has been scuffed.  Every surface needs to be cleaned of sawdust.  ...

House news.  No pictures, of course...maybe I'll drive by today and shoot a couple, but don't hold me to that.  My attention span is a little short right... SQUIRREL! now.  Sorry.  The most wonderful house news is that the contractors have scheduled the final inspection for April 22nd! So, in other words, all those horrific nightmares I had of us trying to move out of this house, move into that house, cleaning up this house AND have closing on 4/30 were just that...my vivid and severely worrisome and pessimistic imagination.  Our moving truck will be here on 4/29.  It's a one day affair to load, drive 1.5 miles to the new house and unload.  It's not the shortest move I've ever done, but it will be easier than our shortest recorded land move (Stuttgart:  Patch Barracks apartment block to apartment block). I'm hoping that we can close by 4/26, so keep on keeping your fingers and toes crossed and saying prayers, because those three days t...

"Happy" Solo  Will's laugh almost stole his sister's thunder...  The entire cast, enjoying the applause. A bit out of focus, but I love this shot.  She enjoyed herself so much! A congratulatory hug from little brother.   Annika had her first stage performance on Saturday and it was a hit!  She played Happy the Dwarf in The Generic Theater's "Onceuponatime Land".  She had been taking a class since January that culminated in this performance.  She did so well--the kid has a brain for memorization and lyrics and a great set of pipes.  The class combined acting, singing and a little dance.  She has already said she would like to go to their summer camp and also take a jazz or hip-hop dance class.  She was definitely in her element on Saturday...it was a lot of fun to watch.  Just ask William, whose belly laugh just about upstaged his sister.  I'm thinking Hollywood needs a little more William in i...

 Living room - this was last Tuesday.    All the drywall/plaster was finished, including the new archway (in the back right corner) to the kitchen.  At the foot of the staircase--plaster repair is done. Entryway original light fixture that they will repair.  Dining room, looking into the kitchen--we are getting a new chandelier.     In the kitchen doorway--halfway done laying tile.  First door will be powder room.  Second door is mudroom/laundry and back door. Master with drywall--first door is bath, second is the walk-in closet, which will have a pocket door. A closer look at the kitchen tile being set.   Guys--FINALLY, some pictures!!  These are not that old, but I'm going to go over this afternoon and shoot some new ones, because they have finished painting and have cabinets in kitchen.  All the tile has been set and there are vanities in the bathrooms.  A lot of changes an...