moving

We did a traditional processional into church yesterday waving our palm branches and singing “All Glory, Laud, and Honor”.  It was such a beautiful way to begin Holy Week.    The little girls paid close attention to communion yesterday in anticipation of their first communion on Easter.  These palm fronds (leftover from our Palm Sunday service) will be a visible reminder for us as we anticipate the events in the last week of the life of Christ.

~in other news~

The packing continues.   Caiti came home Saturday to help with packing up her room and Taylor’s (accompanied by her boyfriend Cody).  We got lots accomplished,  not the least of which was packing up both her and Taylor’s closets.  It was  a whirlwind of memories as we took down all the  sports paraphernalia, trophies, pictures,etc.   They were both such a big help and I didn’t cry at all that day.   Which brings me to my next point.   How do y’all do it?  You friends of mine who’ve moved in the last few years—-how were able to be so stoic and not collapse into a pool of tears every 5 minutes?  I need to know your secret.

And then the littles and I decided to make crafts instead of packing start packing up the playroom.  We were up there a total of five minutes before I was sewing and they were cutting and pasting.  We’ve decided we’re REALLY gonna miss this room.   We won’t have a craft room per se in the  lake house.  I may set up my sewing machine in the guest room—which just so happens to overlook the lake.  Maybe I’ll require that all guests do a little sewing while they stay with us!  I did whip up a little dish mat yesterday which I plan to give to the sweet lady whose house we’re buying.  We bonded on the phone last week and she’s as sentimental about her house as I am about mine.   She got ‘verklempt’ when she told me how she prayed that God would send people to buy the house who would love the lake  like they had.  I got ‘verklempt’ when I told her that this transaction has been nothing if not divine.

So, here’s the 411:

1.  Something has wedged itself underneath my mouse on my laptop–a crumb or some milkshake or french fry or something.   In essence, the mouse is always engaged.  It clicks on EVERYTHING.  It’s almost impossible to surf the net, let alone blog.  I must go see my friends at the apple store soon.

2.  We are closing on our house next week.  NEXT WEEK!

3.  I have to finalize my kitchen plans by Wednesday.  Now I’m having second thoughts about my cooktop.   I should have gone with a Viking.   The Viking stove is not much more than the Kitchen Aid cooktop and the double ovens I had picked out.  But the stove is 48 inches whereas the cooktop was 36.  That throws my cabinets off.   But I want it to be right even if I have to change it at the last hour.  HELP!  Have you seen or better yet cooked on a Viking stove?  They’re like buttah!

4.  My girls have their first communion on Easter.  We are so excited for them.   I’ve got lots of neat stuff planned to help us all remember our Lord’s death and resurrection.  Issues is having a special Holy Week series which I can’t wait to hear.

5.  It  will take approximately forty eleven boxes to pack up my craft room.  I packed about 10 boxes last night and it doesn’t look like I’ve taken one thing out.  As fast as I could pack it, my girls were digging stuff out so they could finish their crafts.  And they’ve unpacked the American Girl box twice already.  They come by it honestly because I’ve left 6 or 7 boxes untaped so I could have access to my stuff.   I really don’t like moving.

6.  I probably won’t see you again until after Easter.  {either that or I’ll maniacally blog in the wee hours of the morning when I can’t sleep}    I pray you have a blessed week and maybe when I see you again, I’ll be the proud new owner of the best view in town.

Love and hugs,

edie

I know it’s somewhat necessary when you’re moving but I really don’t enjoy packing up my stuff.  Books should be on book shelves.   I’ve got three or four large baskets of books already that I’m sure I can’t live without until the move is done.   When exactly do I think I’ll have time to read anyways?  Thanks to my sister and her gracious help this weekend,  my schoolroom/garage is almost packed.    Almost because we still have to do school during the move.

And then there’s the brainstorming for the kitchen redo at the lake house.   Number one design problem:  two full size windows right in the middle of the kitchen.  We have decided to leave existing walls and windows as they are, by the way.  My solutions so far are as follows:

1.  Expand the island space an additional 2-3 feet and do away with the ‘breakfast room’.  The island will be a wonderful shade of island blue (similar to my current kitchen but toned down a bit) with white quartz countertops and seating for four.

2.  Extend the cabinets on the back wall to nearly fill the space between the windows—that space will have a gas cooktop and a hood in the center of it and the upper cabs will go to the ceiling.  The cabs on that wall will be a creamy white.

3.  The side wall will have a counter depth frig  and double ovens and a coffee center with cabs to the ceiling to maximize storage.

4.  I’m considering a pantry style cabinet in the left corner of the room.

5.  Other features:  remove the existing light and add recessed can lighting throughout  and three pendant lights over the island,  apron front sink in the island,  possibly adding simple shelving (glass maybe) over part of the windows in which to store pretty items and to help tie the windows in with the rest of the kitchen,  add tile work where possible under the upper cabs.

So, here are my questions for you. Can you think of other ways to make the existing windows feel more a part of the room?   Would you paint the railing (I’m not crazy about the railing) or maybe just stain it darker?  None of the things I mentioned are set in stone YET so tell me your thoughts.  I’m all ears.  But hurry ’cause I will be ordering cabinets, countertops and appliances soon.  And don’t worry, the existing cabinetry including the island will be used in other parts of the house.

I’m really excited about this move and if our first boat ride is any indication, it’s gonna be a wild ride.  I’m holding on.  Emme’s praying.