We're home!

and the truck has arrived.

Moving adventures

I am proud to say I left North Carolina without ever visiting one of these.

There's a story to that, but I'm not explaining now.

The movers were impressed with my box fabricating abilities.

MBecause of that extreme talent, my beloved violets made the trip just fine.


We found this little nest on the front porch the day we left.
One benefit of not having the house rented is the chance that
these eggs can hatch unbothered by front door traffic.
I believe it was a mockingbird nest.


I thought Dad would enjoy this picture of the boats near DC.

I had time to take pictures as we crept along in traffic.

And then...

we made it!!

Little box, big money

I really do love the fact that we have prescription insurance and can mail order meds. for a lot less than getting them at the local pharmacy.

This box was $300.00.

Which begs the question,

how much would it have been otherwise?!?

Marty's big fan of...

Be sensible!!

WHY???

would you wear these shoes at the airport?

They make my feet hurt just to look at them.

(but they are pretty!)

These are more sensible for traveling, I'd say!

What I miss about North Carolina

Let's see...

Martins, McCrackines, Shamines, Fr. Matt and Fr. Chris, our master bathroom, the pantry. My knock out roses and the garage. So far, I have not missed the weather one.single.bit.

Post-moving madness and some thoughts

Well.

This moving thing gets tougher every time, I think because I get older in between. I told Matt I can. not. move. when I'm 50. We have a two year lease here and by then I'll be 49.7, so he'll have to slick it in quickly if we are to move again before I'm officially too old.

That being said, I think I could live here until I go to the nursing home. It is just so lovely and beautiful. The shade, the breezes, the very friendly neighbors (we've had no less than 4 offers of "If you need anything, just knock!" and one even invited us over to their Memorial Day picnic on Sunday. They fed the kids and were exceptionally nice. Joel, next door, showed off his 23 pound snapping turtle before he killed it and made snapper soup. The boys were enthralled with that. Joel also offered to share his soup, but I kindly told him it was too special to waste on folks who would not appreciate it as they should (!). He sweetly sent over 3 boxes of nails with the boys to be sure I had just the kind I needed. He also calls the girls "Noe and Canoe," which they think is very funny.

When I signed I signed in here to blogger, I had to type in my password and it made me smile. About four years ago, when we lived in the little house (that I HATED), Matt and I were going through a very rough patch and I changed my password to "going home" because I was thinking about it. Really, just picking up and leaving North Carolina until we could work things out. (Yes, well, moving to NC was originally not so great for the kids and I). Anyhow....when I typed it today I thought that the whole NC time period was leading up to these blessings of moving here. To the lake, to the climate we love, to a place we could truly feel at home. Except for leaving behind the good friends we made in NC, things here are all good so far.

And I am grateful.

ps. pictures soon, when the camera /computer cord is found.

Our trip to the St. Louis Arch

Kids loved it. No fear here!
Cardinals Stadium--made me think of my old friend, Brady.
The little elevator "pod" made me anxious.

I like this picture. I took it from the bottom.

And I though this one would make a nice postcard.

I saw the arch years ago on a church youth group trip with a friend.

There seems to be a lot more to the museum part now,

but the creepy little elevator pods were just as anxiety provoking

this time as they were then.

This time the wind was not blowing, and I was very grateful for that

because I could feel it swaying back then. It can sway as much as 18 inches in a big wind.

Me no likey.