I'm getting closer...

We're on the countdown now. Thursday I'm scheduled to close on this house, and Friday for Elizabeth's house. The movers are scheduled for Friday, and I hope to have my final cleaning done and keys handed over by Saturday afternoon. I'm letting myself get excited now!

I painted the guest room in my new home. Pumpkin butter and spicy cayenne are the names of the paint colors, and it's looking good. 3 walls in the pumpkin butter, and one in cayenne. That was a lot more cutting in since I had an accent wall, but it was worth it. I have a little bit of touch up to do, but that will be done quickly. And I'll keep my eyes open for the right window treatment. It was so much easier to do the painting with the room empty.

I found a picture that someone else painted their living room the same colors. Let me see if I can put it in here. Painting the guest room was actually an audition to see if I want to do the living room at some point, and I just might. This color combination was on the cover of a Behr (Home Depot) color sample booklet.

Anyway, that's it for now from Alvarado. Good Lord willin' the next post will be from Mansfield...unless I get wordy in the next few days.

And by the way, happy birthday to Angela!

Hello Dolly

John, Bonnie, and I went to see Dolly Parton at the Nokia Theater in Grand Prairie Sunday nite. What a show! She started right at 8:00 and she was on stage the whole time. Talented lady...she writes her own songs, plays several instruments, and at 60+ still struts around the stage in her what-look-to-be 5" heels.

I figured there would be a nice size crowd show up to see her, and it was. A few empty seats on the outer edges, but that was it. And a variety of ages too. In the row in front of us was a fellow who brought his mother, and I thought isn't that nice, bringing her to the show for Mother's Day. He was into it as much as mom, with his binoculars for a better look, and waving his arms in the air, occasionally pumping his fist for added emphasis.

Lots of fun, and this was the last show of this tour. They were originally supposed to be here March 15th, but she had some medical reason for postponing. If she comes to your area on down the way, see if you can make it. You won't be disappointed.

the woo-hoo's continue

As can well be imagined, the past few weeks have been busy...but worth it. We close on my house the 22nd, and on Elizabeth's house the 23rd (I'm buying her house in Mansfield). Woo-hoo! Things are coming together better than expected.

I've got boxes out the kazoo (don't ask me where/what that is, it's an expression, okay???), and chunked/donated quite a bit. Of course, now that it's all gone, one of the girls at work is having a charitable donation garage sale that I could have given it to, but isn't that the way it always is. At least it's out of here.

It's a bit frustrating at times thinking about doing something only to realize you can't get to what you want, but I think I'll survive.

It may be that my next post will be after the move. Until then, I keep on keepin' on.

Woo-hoo!

After weeks of work, sweat, and frustration (well, 3 weeks) I've got an offer on my house! I would imagine all the signatures will be in place by tomorrow or so, and we're looking at a closing date of May 22nd. Needless to say, I'm excited, and looking forward to this next phase of my life.

Will there be tears of sadness as I prepare to depart? I don't think so, though I do like my neighbors and will miss the evening chats while watering the lawn or just sitting out in the yard. There was an element of emotion when I sold my house in Burleson, but I think that was because I had raised my kids there and it held so many memories. Now I think its a sense of finding where I want to make some new roots, and the anticipation of meeting new people and discovering new roads.

New beginnings. Sounds good, doesn't it?

The Aargh and The Fun

You know, this business of selling a house could really get a person down if you let it. I mean, you work to get the house ready to sell, cleaning from top to bottom. Clear out clutter. Then you wait for it to show. Then you wait for a comment or offer. Then you wait some more.

I try not to take it personal. Why isn't my house showing? Do they like what they see? If it's good enough for me, why isn't it good enough for them? Or, if it's not good enough for me to want to stay here, how can I expect someone to want it? I know, I know. Don't overthink it.

And I also know that I've only been into this a relatively short time. It's been listed with the realtor all of 2 1/2 weeks now. Sigh. Patience, Elsie, patience.

On a brighter note, I went to the Main Street Arts Festival in Fort Worth today, and it was really nice. John and Bonnie joined me, and we strolled around Sundance Square taking it all in. I learned about egg tempera (egg white mixed with powder for the paint), and how one artist was able to get the effect of light cascading over her subjects/characters (working and working repeatedly using water and a fan brush till she was satisfied). I think that was the best part of it, that the artists were right there and you could visit with them about their craft. That, and the fact we went on Friday instead of the weekend, when I'm sure it will really be packed.

What else has been going on? It has been a couple of weeks since I've posted, so let me scratch my brain a bit, and see.

I went to the Botanical Gardens with Robert and his family last weekend. First time I'd been in years, and it was beautiful. Elizabeth and David had gone, and we decided to visit. Well actually, Robert and Angela decided and asked if I wanted to join them. Anyway, it was perfect weather, and quite enjoyable. In the picture that I'm attaching, you may notice Rhett holding a shoe. Ashlynn's shoe had fallen into the water, and after Dad tried to get it, we gave up and started to head on down the path. Rhett was upset that we weren't getting Sister's shoe, so Dad found a long enough twig (as you see in the picture) and was able to reach it before it drifted out too far, and pull it in. Rhett was happy, and good brother that he is, had looked out for his sister.

Anyway, that's it for now. Life is good.

Thought this was cute

The kids were over last weekend, and Rhett enjoyed the waterhose as Ashlynn and I just looked around the yard. In the first picture you can see Rhett examining and getting acquainted with the hose. Now look at the little-boy grin in the second picture, and guess what might have caused it! Just click on the picture to bring it big enough to see his expression.

number magic

As I'm sorting through things in preparation of moving, I come across all kinds of good stuff. The bulletin board in my sewing room held a variety of items that have drawn my attention for one reason or another. I had pictures cut from magazines of hair styles I liked, as well as clothes. These pretty well got tossed since they had been there for years and I just don't wear dresses or skirts anymore. There were pictures of upholstery projects that I will get to someday, and ideas for future paintings. Also, some quilt blocks in anticipation of time or inspiration to complete. My favorite is a picture of an old truck that I'd love to have the ability to restore. I'm keeping it just because it speaks to me. Underneath the layers were a few Reader's Digest articles, pretty much "bloom where you're planted" pieces full of feel-good words. At the bottom of the page of one of these articles was one of the filler items Reader's Digest is known for. Here it is:

Take your house number and double it. Add five. Multiply by half a hundred, then add your age (if you're under 100). Add the number of days in a year, and subtract 615. The last two figures will be your age; the others will be your house number.

Now, if you're over 100 I don't know what you do but you probably don't care about the silly thing anyway. And I used the standard year, not leap year.

Try it, just for grins.