Closing Delayed

By ONE day which is a relief. So tired have done very little today. High winds & cool here so Sweetie stayed inside making phone calls for utilities, etc.

Also discovered the water heater isn't working. Someone's going to check it tomorrow.

Ah, the joys of home ownership!

Located the same solid wood kitchen table & four chairs on Craigslist for $80 that a used furniture store in Homasassa wanted $479 for! The tiny glass/metal table & chairs will sit on our back porch for now. So little counter space I wanted a larger table for rolling pie crust, building puzzles and baking. We tend to eat on TV trays in our chairs unless we have company.

Overall, things are still on track. Look forward to just relaxing when we finally sign on the dotted line.

Honestly, I'm Not a Dizzy Blonde

But, from all accounts I've managed to play the part all day.

Woke up, tried to open the closet door thinking it was the bathroom door.

Found the bathroom & sat down on the toilet lid!

Asked Sweetie to pour me a cup of coffee as I dropped into my favorite chair & promptly knocked the coffee cup over when I reached for the phone.

Fortunately, no important papers where soaked.

Went to the library to fax real estate papers & the fax was jammed. When it was fixed, faxed 13 pages & called the realtor. Six pages came through clearly, the rest blurry. She had to change her cartridge. Then called me back to say I'd forgot to sign the;most important page.

Drove to the grocery store instead of the post office to mail the deposit check. Backed out of there & nearly ran an old lady over. Arrived at post office - it was closed for lunch. Came home & spilled another cup of coffee, then decided to vacuum. Finished in time to return to post office. Forgot the check at home.

Back home to get the check; back to post office; filled out the overnight paperwork & asked clerk for my receipt. He said when I paid him he'd give me one.

Picked up chicken and macaroni & cheese at the grocery deli; left the parking lot without hitting anyone found my way to our road. Doing well until I drove past our house. Turned around & parked by the back door thankful I was home.

Came inside, told Sweetie I'm done for the day.

Ate chicken dinner, drank coffee without spilling.

Staring at boxes thinking they ought to be filled. Sweetie says he'll duck tape me to the chair if I do anymore.

Might be interesting!

Day 1 of Three!

Only five cars at the yard sale today but two of them made it worthwhile. Riding mower and Hoosier cabinet are sold.

I packed more boxes today; swept a portion of the pole barns so the new utility trailer is parked on a nail free surface; and hauled boxes to a staging area in the barn. Sweetie was able to help with a few things then spent time searching for a boat and answering the phone.

Be glad when we're on the road. I've taken two naps this evening & feel as though the walls are closing in on us when I see a path between stacks of boxes.

Salonpas pain relief pads on my back and one Aleve have kept me on the move. Time for bed now. Sweet dreams everyone!

Final Yard Sale

Sunday through Tuesday we sell a few pieces of furniture and other items with the shiny 2011 riding mower sitting front and center.

Sweetie and I called my Dad tonight to tell him of our move but someone else had tipped him off. He took it well, saying he knew it's where Sweetie wants to be.

If we have success at the sale & our Buyer signing goes off without a hitch, we may be Florida bound a few days early.

I've packed boxes most of the day & a Salongpas pad on my back has given welcome relief. While I handle the yard sale Sweetie will be packing his tools - I hope.

We're hoping for good weather all week & will view weather maps for our route before leaving.

God willing, this time next week, we'll be in Florida.

Da, Da, Da,!

We sign the contract on our new home Monday.

We leave here Friday, March 30 th for a 24 hour drive at 55 mph. Will stay off major 70+mph routes and enjoy the scenery.

Closing will be either Monday or Tuesday, April 2nd or 3rd.

Lots to do until then. TTYL

He Bought All But 5 Items!

We opened the yard sale at 1 p.m. today and did $400 in sales by 3:15 p.m.

Then serendipity arrived.

A mid-30's couple with two young daughters walked up the drive, said "Hello" and wandered around for a few minutes. About 10 minutes later he asks, "Are you interested in one price for everything here?"

"We've had a few people ask the same question but show us the money," Sweetie and I said in unison.

A few minutes later a deal was struck and the garage sale signs were removed. He returned 40 minutes later with a van pulling a 16' trailer. Two trips later the barn was empty and we celebrated with ice cream.

Five items were excluded: riding mower, air compressor, acetelyene tanks/torches, Husquavarna Grass Bagger still in the box and our gas grill with side burner. Those items amount to $2100.

Total sales, including removing the remainder of the items from pole barn come to over $3500. When we sell the reserved items we'll begin packing our trailer & head to Florida - hopefully earlier than we expected.

We're relieved to have an empty barn & no more stress on Sweetie. He's pushed himself too hard & collapsed yesterday. It un-nerved all of us but keeping him housebound was out of the question today. I threatened to hog tie him if he didn't SIT outside sipping water or juice while the rest of us did the work.

Fortunately he behaved himself. I think yesterday's episode sunk into his hardpan skull.

Now to buy the 8-10' open trailer, load it with storage tubs, ladder, a few tools and
finalize a sale here and purchase there.

Overall, it's been a great day. Time to rest. Talk to you all again. Treesong

Yard Sale Success & Sunday Update

$829 at our yard sale today! Work paid off but Sweetie learned (I hope) a tough lesson.

Granted he's ill but he's doubly stubborn. I'd asked him for a week to remove (with my help) anything he wanted to keep out of the pole barn. Two items came inside. He couldn't be bothered with anymore effort.

Today he spent more hours laying down than sitting outside. Tons of men showed up, willingly sorting through heaps of his stuff - aside from all the items on two 12 feet tables and on the lawn.

I asked him about prices for certain items & always got: "Couple bucks or whatever you think it's worth." SEVEN times I went inside, woke him up and asked, "How much do you want for the Yanmar generator, the drill press, the chop saw, the miter saw, the pinto hitch..." and on and on it went.

So he wakes up at 5 p.m., wanders through the pole barn and asks, "Where's my circular saw?" SOLD, I said.

He has his shorts twisted, his fat lip sticking out and a scowl on his face.

Then he has the nerve to bitch cause he can't find all his fishing poles, tackle boxes, best pointed shovel and rake.

I told him - I PUT THEM IN THE SHED HE JUST WALKED THROUGH TO COME OUTSIDE!!!!!

He was about to mention his circular saw again and thought better of it.

He's gone to bed for the night at 9p.m. I told him I'd be happy to sleep all day tomorrow and he can run the yard sale.

I don't appreciate doing 90% of the work & then being bitched at.

I sound like it, right?

Now that I've spouted off, I feel better. Thanks! Have a great night. I get to control the remote tonight! Yippee

Tomorrow (Sunday) is here. I asked Sweetie (who controls the remote) if he'd turn on CBS Sunday Morning. He scowls some more and tells me that I have a yard sale today.

One of our cats kept me awake most of the night. I told him he can BEGIN the yard sale for the next few hours. Meanwhile, I hauled two more boxes - one puzzles, one cans of unopened equipment paint - and he began giving me precise order, as usual. Told him it's his sale, he can decide where they go.

We have two friends here & one of them will help him out. The other one's sleeping.

This is an adult game of tit for tat. I bring out two boxes, he tells me: "You were probably going to let them walk off with those orange shrimp baskets too."

Seriously, I'm not that stupid. They're heavy duty and able to hold his stuff but they're also great laundry baskets, etc.

Best he stay outside, I stay inside.

Our Offer Was Accepted!

We'll be homeowners again next week. An inspection was done today by the realtor's husband - at no charge - & minor items like calking and replacing two steps were all that' was found. The seller is also having the bedroom ceilings repainted and indoor/outdoor bug spraying done as a precaution.

She is leaving the place turnkey - dishes, pots & pans, towels, bedding, drapes, etc. Fine with us! We will use this stuff for a short time while we paint the kitchen cabinets & just relax for awhile.

Sweetie wants to rent a pontoon boat for a ride on the Withalacoochee. Sounds wonderful!

Our first of four yard sales is Saturday with great weather forecast. I packed more today and took a nap.

Thanks for all your wishes and prayers. TTYL

More Moving News

It seems as fast as we try to sort things out here & clear out the worse Sweetie's health gets. I feel like we're racing the clock.

Told him today we can forget about buying & pulling a trailer. ITS'S TOO MUCH WORK & harder driving.

I'm packing 8 storage containers, two cats in their carriers and shoving his air compressor in somewhere. THAT is it.

We changed our minds again today & as of tomorrow have probably bought a place near the Withlacoochee River in Inglis/Yankeetown. It's another mobile home - which I really didn't want - but we are used to them & this one is pristine, the right size, on very large treed lot & furnished with all appliances. In other words, we drive down there, meet the realtor & pick up the keys. We already have two companies scheduled to visit the place & give an estimate for a 12x20 screened room off one side.

This leaves us with about half the sale price of our home & some tucked away for his SMALLER boat.

I will be surprised but very thankful if he ever gets on the water. At the very least he will be where he wants to be & everything is taken care of.

Now, back to sorting and pricing.

We Have Sold!

The stars are aligning for us. We sold our home today. Close in 30-60 days. Got asking price and sold "AS IS." No finishing the deck or replacing a bathroom floor or finishing trim around windows.

Buyer wants to take care of all of it! He plans to expand deck, add two stalls on pole barn and move driveway. He owns two businesses and has other income streams.

And, he loves cats so he is taking Slick, the male cat who was here when we arrived. We love Slick but he attacks Kitty Kitty. Moving with two spayed female cats who get along will be easier on all of us.

All we have to do now is clear out the pole barn. I start sorting things tomorrow.

Sweetie has decided to invest in a single axle 10 or 12 foot trailer to haul the new riding mower & attachments, grill, antique iron table from Mexico, some tools & a step ladder. He'll build side on it and we'll stuff a few small things in the crannies. Cats and storage boxes will go in car. Then we'll sell the trailer when we arrive in Fort Myers.

He said he couldn't get his investment back on the mower/attachments if he sold it now so whatever!

Florida is closer than we originally thought!

There Goes Another Load!

We've been clearing out the pole barn thanks to buyers with cash in hand. Gone are the bass boat & motor, truck, cement mixer, welder, insulation, sink, tools (not all), Jon boat and a few household items.

Won't be long and we're down to small items that will be priced individually or combined in boxes with the best item on top & priced per box.

Thus far we've paid off three large debts. Can't complain about that.

This is one move I look forward to more all the time because it means ONE trip with no trucks, dollys or trailers.

Warm weather means garage sale time so bring it on Mother Nature!