Saturday, November 24, 2018

Almost there...

Getting moved in to the new house has been a LOT of hard work. We're not quite done yet, but by Monday night we will be. Monday afternoon is when we have Stanley Steemer coming to clean the carpet at the old house, and while they're doing that we'll be doing our last few runs to the trash dump. That evening we'll finally be able to lock the doors and leave the rental house for the last time--what a relief that will be!

Of course, there's still going to be a lot of unpacking and cleaning at the new house. I'm glad now that I didn't have time to clean and shine the floors beforehand-- with all the foot traffic moving in entails, it would have been a totally wasted effort. There are boxes and clutter everywhere, and stuff we haven't figured out the placement for yet is just sitting in random corners. We have beautiful new area rugs still in their plastic wrappers, and a brand new tv stand in the box needing to be put together. Right now all of our time and energy at the new house has focused in on getting the two 120 gallon aquariums up and running. The fish are all in small holding tanks at the old house, and those still need to be taken down and brought over, too. I hope we never move again, and if we do, I'm going to refuse to have any part of taking aquariums with us. This makes the third time I've had to help lug buckets of substrate, and gear, and even (god help me!) boxes of rocks. It's exhausting, especially with all the other heavy lifting moving involves.

Although I have to admit, the final results are beautiful in the home. We've hit on the perfect spots in the new house to show off the tanks. They're going to look really, really good!

The dogs have been unsettled. Ginger, especially, looks at us with big reproachful eyes and it's pretty clear she wants to go back home. George has been glued to her side for the most part. They both spent a little time playing in the back yard yesterday, but when it got late in the day they both seemed ill at ease. I guess they need time to adjust.

Mad at us...

Marco is taking it all in stride. He's a bold little guy and enjoys change and novel situations. He has been talking a little more than usual since coming over here. His version of contact calls within the flock (for security) happen to be in English!

So that's where we are at the moment. Crazy busy, but getting the job done! I've been too tired each night to open the celebratory bottle of champagne sitting in the fridge, but tonight may be the night!

We're so happy to be here.


35 comments:

  1. What a sweet house! And I can just see trees growing in that yard. Trees for shade and maybe trees for fruit! Moving IS so much work but it is some of the most rewarding work imaginable. Now, I've never had to move giant aquariums so I can't speak to that. Sounds daunting as hell.
    I hope the dogs adjust soon. Glad to hear that Marco is taking it all in his own bird stride.

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    1. We have 5 crepe myrtle trees along the left side of the house (I can't wait to see what color the flowers are!) and a dogwood on the right side of the front yard.

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  2. What a sweet house that now will be a lovely home.
    One of my rescue dogs would not walk into a building that had open space and cement floors. To much like the shelter I think. She got over it but it took time. A Border Terrier, I still miss her very much. For Ginger and George it will take time but they will adjust and be happy gud dugs soon.

    cheers, parsnip and badger

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    1. Ginger is the most unhappy at the moment. We're hoping once we're settled in and can establish a routine she'll come around.

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  3. I am SO happy for you and yours! All will adjust in time. Enjoy.

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    1. Thank you Colette! Once this moving stuff is over we can all start to adjust!

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  4. You make me smile, Jennifer. We all do this once or twice in a lifetime. You may be on three or four, for all I know. But you are doing it with inspiring grace.

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    1. That's an awfully nice comment, Joanne. Thank you. I'm trying to muster up as much grace and patience as possible during the course of this whole process. I feel beyond fortunate to have a home of my own, finally, and getting moved in is just a minor inconvenience in the grand scheme of things.

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  5. You have a lovely home there and the dogs will be happy once you move in properly. Exciting times for you.

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  6. what a lovely home! the puppies will need some time to adjust. just don't hurt yourself moving things. congrats!

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    1. Thank you! It seems to be perfect for the two of us...we're very happy!

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  7. 120 gallons!?! That's almost a half ton of water! We've never had anything over 55 gallons.
    So glad you are moved in and it appears the dogs are feeling good about it. That is the important thing!

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    1. It's over half a ton of water...we had to set up a 40 gallon tank for a fish called a Blood Parrot that Gregg rescued from the brink of death and nursed back to health for one of his clients. We've been unable to find a good home for it. So that's a total of 280 gallons of water running at our house right now!

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  8. Your dogs will come around, you and Gregg are there and that is the main thing. Plus their food bowls, ha ha. I can't imagine moving, it is so exhausting. You are making good progress, now enjoy that champagne.

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    1. Ginger is having a tough time with the move. We feel so bad for her. The champagne is still waiting...tomorrow night when we're totally done at the old house is when I'm planning to crack it open!

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  9. Ooh, love the look of your new home! Your pack is probably just trying to get used to the new smells around the place :) Those dogs are so adorable!

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    1. I think they're pretty adorable, too! Thank you!

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  10. That is a beautiful home Jennifer.

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    1. Thank you Yael. I think we're going to be comfortable here! ❤

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  11. Pretty house,and soon enough you won't be able to remember how the dogs reacted to the move!

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    1. I wish they'd come around. Soon enough, I suppose!

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  12. Thanks for the update Jennifer and congratulations on getting there - well mostly! Will the new house have a name as well as a number? My suggestion is "Marco's Place".

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    1. I was inspired by this comment to try to think of a name for our house! I'll let you know what I come up with!

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  13. It really does have a lovely cosy look about it; the dogs will soon settle in, and forget they ever lived anywhere else.

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    1. It really is cosy! Right now I'm relaxing by the fire, sipping a rum and Coke after a looooong day of cleaning at the old place. Dinner is in the oven and everything seems snug and nice!

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  14. I'm glad all the hard work is paying off and you'll soon be established in your new home! I can't imagine having to move two large aquariums like that. I had a small aquarium in college (25 gals, I think?) and I moved it a couple of times, and I haven't had one since!

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    1. Even with all the equipment you could need and Gregg's know how, it's a big, big job with lots of heavy lifting. But the payoff is two gorgeous aquariums to dress up our home!

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  15. What a lovely house - it already looks like a home, and I have only seen the outside for now!
    Heads off to you doing all that hard work yourself. I guess I'd have drawn the limit at the heavy lifting; my back does not allow it.
    In the end, you are doing it all for you and your family (counting your dogs and Marco, too) - all for the Greater Good :-)
    It will be such a good feeling to close the door of your rented house for the last time from the outside! I'll raise a mental glass of bubbly along with you!

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    1. PS: Don't forget to let me have your new address, if you want a Christmas card ;-)

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    2. I'll send you an email asap! Thank you!

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  16. The worst is over!! Welcome to your new home. I hope that the dogs perk up soon when they realise they still get fed and you and Gregg are there too. I would love to see a photo of the fish tanks when they are up and running. ( and the interior of the house too. ) X

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    1. The worst IS over! I'll post aquariums videos one day soon!

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  17. I’m so happy for you. The house looks charming. And George and Ginger will adjust... and quickly. I’m sure all the work and coming and going leaves them unsettled, but they (like you) will get over it.

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