What a week!

Well,we have been in the new place for a week since arriving last Sunday night. We spent the first part of the week getting oriented a bit and then the movers arrived early Friday and the pace has picked up. They couldn't get the truck on to the property so had to shuttle our stuff in smaller loads from Kingston which is about 2 miles away. Took until 4:30 to get it all here. And it only took 4 hours to load us in Newark! Friday was also our anniversary (#10) so we "celebrated" by actually cooking (pasta) and opening a nice bottle of wine (all of which survived the truck ride!) We made proper dinner reservations for Saturday and enjoyed sitting outside on the waterfront in Poulsbo. We agreed that the last time we actually had dinner outside was when we were in Italy almost 2 years ago! And we have done so twice since moving here. So far, we have not experienced the rain everybody in California warned us about. It has been absolutely beautiful.

Saturday saw the arrival of some new furniture we bought earlier in the week and the installation of the satellite for TV. And unpacking! I have thought more than once this week that maybe (just maybe) we have too much "stuff". Unlike many folks our age, we have "upsized" rather than downsized our living space. And still I wonder "where will I put this" as I open yet another box. Things are still finding their own niches and I know there are untapped places to put things in this home. But I wonder how all this stuff came out of an 1100 sf house! Still, I will admit, it's a little like discovering old friends as I unpack things that I haven't seen in a while and remember the meaning they have for me, reminding me of a place, a person, or an event :-)

We took a little break from unpacking Sunday afternoon and visited a local winery on Bainbridge Island. And found the local Dairy Queen :-) John started mowing the yard yesterday. I say "started" because after an hour and a half, he was halfway. He still hasn't agreed to getting a riding mower, preferring to call this "exercise". He clips Zoe to his belt and she walks alongside as they mow up and down. She is pretty good about staying on the property. She hasn't ventured to the road and it's pretty hidden. Instead, she prefers to explore the woods. So much to smell! Both cats have decided to live on the second floor so far although Mr. Purrkins ventured out the open front door on to the porch one day. In time I'm sure they will get more comfortable with their new surroundings. Zoe will not attempt the stairs yet.

I don't know how exciting this blog will be to readers, but it allows me to journal this new life adventure once and let you decide if you want to read it. Saves getting nuisance emails from me! I have to say, that even doing the mundane work of settling in brings us moments of sheer amazement. Going to Home Depot means we see the Olympic Mountains on the way, have a spectacular view of Mount Rainier from the parking lot, and see the Cascade Mountains on the way home. Ther are birds singing songs we have never heard before and a pair of house martins have made their mud nest under an eave on the front of the house and we watch them busily gather nest materials and catch bugs on the fly. There is a woodpecker who stops daily in a "drive by pecking" to knock on our front porch. Just once. And then he's off. Wild huckleberries are growing all over, so I'd better see if I can make jam with them.

I promise to upload some photos soon. Just as soon as I find the cables for the cameras. It's time for breakfast. And John will make his way up the stairs to go to work. What a commute! And there are still some boxes awaiting my attention. Till next time...