I'm a Tucson homeowner!!!

I closed today on my house in Tucson (Oro Valley)! The picture is me on Feb. 27 when I decided to make the offer. Because of the coronavirus, I didn't fly down for the closing but my real estate agent stood in for me and just called to say I'm a new homeowner! He's going to keep an eye on it until I move down at the end of April.

I just love the little entry

with its sitting area and trees.

And I can't wait to stretch out in a lounge chair under the awning in the back yard and look at the mountains and blue sky.

I'm going to be a desert dweller!!!

Meanwhile, back in Gig Harbor

the boxes are piling up around me.

I discovered a little journal from 1985 that I don't think I've looked at for over 30 years. It's from an Outward Bound trip I took when I was in my 20s and decided that I needed a confidence-building adventure. I had never sailed before, and we were in an old whaling boat that you could either sail or row, depending on conditions. We took turns being captain, navigator, cook, etc. 

This entry is from a day that I was captain and we decided to do a night sail. One of my best memories was of another night when I was navigator and we sailed by the stars. Everyone was asleep except for me and the night watch person. She kept me company as we whispered and enjoyed the utter peace in a gently rocking boat under a sky full of stars with shimmering starlit water around us as far as we could see.

But back to reality. We're all going a little bonkers after being cooped up at home for weeks and having to social distance when we go out. I baked a chocolate wacky cake last night and social distanced the chocolate chips on top.

Have a colorful day

The seller died and other news

The front of the Tucson house.

A few days ago I got a call from my realtor who said don't worry everything is coming together you can still close the seller died. What! The seller was found dead (in his new house, not the one I'm buying) by his realtor when she went over to check on him because he wasn't responding to her calls and texts.

I don't know how he died, but the house I'm buying is in a trust so his sister came down and they hustled to get trustee signatures and the official death certificate and I was able to sign the papers yesterday, just one day late. 

I'm still planning to move as planned at the end of April, even though I'll have to isolate once I get down there (like everyone else) and won't be able to meet anyone for who knows how long. Needless to say, I'm anxious.

On the bright side, my son and his wife just closed on a house in Madison, WI, this week and they're all smiles. The had a drive-up closing, where they stayed in their car in the title company parking lot and someone brought the papers out to them and slipped them through the window. Keith and Rachel signed everything in the car, then passed the papers back out.

They've been working from home. Here's a picture of Keith working in his pajama pants.

My daughter, on the other hand, is on the front lines at Trader Joe's dealing with the public all day. She said they restock the toilet paper every night and it sells out immediately every morning.

I was getting really sick of eating pasta and the same old breakfast sandwiches and frozen broccoli at home, so a few days ago I ordered a spicy Thai chicken wrap at Devoted Kiss down in the harbor. Usually it's nearly impossible to find a close parking space, but it was wide open that day. After I picked it up, I climbed this staircase for some exercise and took a picture of the harbor. All recreational boat traffic is prohibited, but the fishing boats and ferries can still go out.

I've now packed 133 boxes and it seems like it will never end. I'm trying to use up food while at the same time having enough to get through this.

I heard about the double rainbow last week, but from my house I couldn't see anything because of all the trees. This is from a video posted on Instagram of a pod of orcas swimming outside our harbor under the rainbows!

And this next one is also from Instagram, from Alisa Burke, one of my favorite bloggers to follow.

 Have a colorful day

Coping, coming together

I know the coronavirus pandemic is no laughing matter, but sometimes you just need a little humor. I've been collecting coronavirus memes and will pass on some of my favorites in the coming weeks.

But I've also noticed how the crisis is bringing people together (from six feet apart). My sister, who lives in the little town of Port Hadlock, WA, just sent this email about how her neighborhood came together to sing:

"Our little neighborhood gathered in the alley (Zoomie the dog included), and sang Mr. Roger’s “It’s a wonderful day in the neighborhood.” That was Friday at 8 pm. It was very nice. We were able to keep six feet apart and enjoy the dusk and stars coming out."

Then there are the parents coping with having the kids home all day, every day.

 This next one is probably my favorite. Ben writes, "It is not going good. My moms getting stressed out. My mom is really getting confused. We took a break so my mom can figure this stuff out. and I'm telling you it is not going good."

And then there's me. I just baked my second batch of chocolate espresso cookies in as many weeks and I've been having lasagne for dinner and egg and cheese breakfast sandwiches. And no yoga class.

Stay safe

Spring and still packing

"Mom, Guardian of the House," by Sherrie Spangler

Happy Spring!

The first day of spring here started out a little foggy, but it promises to burn off soon and hit a high of 58 today. 

That's me in the little quilt. At the time I made it I was in protective mom mode, but now it could stand for guarding against the coronavirus. 

I can't wait to get to the new home in Tucson for long-term hunkering down. (But I'm still waiting on that loan approval. Last I heard was that they were awaiting revisions in the appraisal, whatever that could mean. I'm trying to stop worrying.)

Packing is still in full swing, with 106 boxes done so far and probably at least 30 more to go. It's sort of a Swedish Death Cleaning in addition to packing. I'm being ruthless in tossing and donating. I just don't want to have to deal with so much stuff at the end of the move.

Most of my quilts are rolled up five or six deep on pool noodles and stored on this wire rack. The moving company said the best way to pack them would be to protect them in plastic and stand them upright in a tall wardrobe box. In the past, we've always pulled a U-Haul with the quilts and other valuables, but this time we're planning just to take my car with the sewing machines, important papers and anything I'll need to survive for a couple of weeks.

We've moved around the country many times and the movers have never lost anything, so I'm just going to trust in the universe that the quilts will make it to their new home. I'll take a few of my favorites in the car.

Maybe I should also pack my toilet paper in the car with other valuables!

Have a colorful day

Packing and worrying

How are you all faring during this unprecedented national emergency? If I didn't have to keep packing for my move I'd be spending my days sewing while social distancing. So far I've packed over 70 boxes and still have a ways to go. I'm actually glad for the physical exercise, because yoga classes have been canceled.

My main stress is waiting to hear if my loan for the house in Tucson is approved. Here is just some of the paperwork, to say nothing of all the emails. I should get the word any day now, but I'm super stressed worrying that the deal will fall through for some unforeseen reason. 

In the past my husband did all of the work for our home loans, but now I'm doing it myself and being careful to read every single word of every single document. The bank is in Texas and the title company is in Arizona, so I have to do everything online. I remember on other loans just sitting down in an office and having them walk us through everything. That was more comforting.

And then there's the normal amount of worrying about the coronavirus. I've hardly gone anywhere in weeks because I've been so busy packing and waiting around for calls about the loan, but when I do go out I'm super careful not to touch my face until I've come home and thoroughly scrubbed my hands with soap and water. I carry Clorox wipes to wipe down everything I touch in the car after I've run my errands. And no hugs, handshakes or standing close to anyone!

Fortunately, I have enough toilet paper. I read an interesting article about the psychology behind the toilet paper panic buying that said when humans are afraid we want to tend to our basic needs first to help us feel secure, and I guess having enough toilet paper is a basic need.

To calm down, I look at this painting that I bought years ago. It reminds me of the desert home that awaits me -- as long as the loan goes through. I'm going to have big pots brimming with flowers at the front door and the back patio.

Have a colorful day

Upside to the coronavirus

So I was starving myself Thursday to prepare for Friday's screening colonoscopy. I was so hungry that even the yellow jello included in my prep kit tasted good. The clock was ticking down the minutes until I had to take two tablets and then start drinking that nasty stuff, which would be a point of no return.

Then, in the nick of time, I got a call from my doctor's office telling me they were canceling all colonoscopies because of the coronavirus! Oh happy day! They aren't rescheduling until May, and by then I'll be living in Tucson.

So I had spaghetti and meatballs for dinner

and ice cream with Kahlua for dessert!

The Y has canceled all of its classes because of the virus, so no yoga for awhile. I've been skipping the classes anyway this week because I'm so busy packing. I just saw this sweatshirt on Facebook and it describes my typical day, except instead of wine I have chocolate.

I'm also using my social distancing time to start listing furniture to sell or give away because the new house will be smaller. I hate to have to give up this comfy leather set, but there's just no room at the Tucson house. It has served my family well over the years and still looks and feels brand new. Just put it on Craigslist, along with the rug and a free dresser. Tomorrow I'll list more items, but now I'm calling it a night.

Have a colorful day

The new house, packing and my son

Some of you asked for pictures of the house that I'm buying in Tucson, so here you go! My yoga friend Cheryl was visiting Tucson right after I left, so she posed in the back yard. Doesn't she look right at home? 

Here is the living room, which opens into the back yard. A gas fireplace was a must for those chilly winter nights. That's my super real estate agent, Nick, in the kitchen. The kitchen opens into the living room and the light flows beautifully through the whole area.

Since I have more than a month to pack, I've been thoroughly going through everything to get rid of what I don't want to pay to ship, and it's been a trip down memory lane. My little recipe box was a trove of memories, starting with this fortune cookie message underneath the recipes. It's coming true!

This Chocolate Chip Cake recipe from the '60s is what a childhood friend's mother often made for us when we had sleepovers at her house. It's covered with a topping of sugar and milk chocolate chips, and I remember getting so excited every time she made it. I've been a chocoholic all of my life.

I keep this photo of my kids and their new puppy in the box. Every time I come across it I smile. That's when we lived in El Paso in the '90s.

I also keep these kids' recipes in the back of the box to remember those fun days when we made play dough and gingerbread houses. Julia mixed beautiful colors of play dough, but Keith couldn't contain himself and always used so many colors that it turned brown or grey.

And speaking of Keith, today is his 34th birthday. 

Happy Birthday, Keith!

Here he is with his wife, Rachel, and their "Velcro dog," Penny.

And speaking of pets, I found a good home for my two parakeets, who I don't want to take with me because I'm afraid the stress of that long drive might be too much for them. A sweet grandmother and her two young granddaughters adopted them. The girls were so excited that they couldn't stop smiling and cooing at the birds. 

I'm holding this thought as I wait for the loan to go through (they keep asking for more paperwork).

Have a colorful day

Moving prep is under way!

Moving preparations are under way! Today I sold my huge sewing cabinet to my friend Carolynn. She brought three husky guys and a truck to get the beast out of the house. I have a smaller cabinet that I'll use at my new house. 

With a projected closing date on the house in Tucson of March 30 and needing to get out of this house by the end of April, I've started packing ...

... setting aside things for friends ...

... and stuffing bags with

stuff to donate to thrift stores.

I hope to sell a lot of big furniture to cut down on moving costs. This whole leather set and Pier 1 rug are going to get listed tomorrow. Plus a china cabinet, desk, and tons of bookcases.

And I am NOT taking this grey fabric. I bought it a few years ago, hoping to learn to like grey since it's grey here half the year.

Now that I'm moving to the sun, I can forget about grey! Instead, I bought this sunny Arizona fabric when I visited. I think I'll make a pillow and pot holders with it.

And I found a tote bag made with the same print on sturdy canvas.

 Tucson, here I come!