We keep Checking things off!

Although throughout this process of getting the house ready for the market, Craig has been resistant to having a "to do" list, we finally have a working one that we have been listing things and checking things off. We wrote it together one day, and have been adding to it as we think of things that need to be done. I must admit the additions seem to outstrip the check offs at this point, but I feel the tide will turn soon.

In addition to a bit of repair work, Craig checked off "box and ship his books" and "pennies." Pennies? For forty-six years Craig has tossed his pennies into a cup on top of his dresser each day. When the cup got full they were transferred to a large container in the back of our closet. One container, two containers, five containers have moved with us and gathered dust over the years. Since they are a bit heavy, they can't go with us in the Alfa. I hauled out the containers several weeks ago and we both rolled pennies. I know we could have taken them to a coin sorting machine, but Craig wanted to roll them.

He took them to the bank on Friday. All 231 rolls. Grand total $115.50. I'm sure glad we have other retirement savings!





The books? It took him most of Thursday to pack them into nineteen 1.5 cubic foot boxes. Each weighed slightly less than 40 pounds. 

He sent them via Media mail so the postage cost wasn't too bad. It was a little less than $350 for all. Craig is happy they are going to someone who wants them. I'm wondering what his nephew's wife is going to say when those all those boxes are delivered.

This week is going to be very busy. We met with the realtor again this afternoon, are having the carpeting put in tomorrow, having a septic system inspection on Wednesday, and a termite inspection on Friday. Plus we will be doing as many smaller jobs as we can. 

If all goes well, we plan on taking a day off Thursday and going up to San Francisco to see an America's cup race. Sweden, New Zealand, and Italy are vying for the challenger position. The boats this time around are huge catamarans. I hope we can get a good view of them from the land. We are not sailors, but we have always had an interest in the America's Cup. We have seen the boats in San Diego and Auckland, and are looking forward to seeing them in San Francisco.

UPDATE: Thursday's race has only 1 boat in it! We don't know when we'll go!

A day away from all this work will be very welcome!

Although the house is not yet "on the market" we did sign a listing agreement today. A very important part of the marketing strategy is getting photographs done and doing a virtual tour for the web listing. By signing the listing agreement we are getting the ball rolling in that direction. Our goal is to have the house ready before we leave on our trip August 10th. If it is not, we may delay, but I think we can do it!

Book Review and Alfa is home

If you enjoy a nice story written from the perspective of a dog, you will enjoy A Dog's Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron. We all know dogs don't write books, but this one tempts you to suspend rationality and enjoy reading the thoughts and experiences of a Good Dog.


I got it from our local library, but It is also available from Amazon. 

 In some ways it reminded me of The Art of Racing in The Rain, by Garth Stein.  I know several of you have enjoyed that one.  


Funny, how similar the cover art is!  Anyway, it's a good, non-stressful read. I finished it in two evenings.











The Alfa is finally home!


 After our little mishap last month, we drove it over to a repair place in San Jose called Leale's. They did the fiberglass repair and painting during the first week or so, but  have been waiting for  the replacement back decal to come in. 


 During that time we have picked it up and took it to get Blue Ox installed, and also took it off to Dublin (30 miles away) to have the windshield reset. Given that we weren't going anywhere, it was easiest to leave it in their storage yard.


Friday morning  we were told it would be at least another week until they got the decal. Since we are planning on leaving for our trip before that, we decided to pick her up and drive her home so we can do a bit of cleaning and loading. 


As you may recall, driving down our road and parking on our land is a challenge. But we are happy to report the task went very smoothly.  Craig drove it to our driveway and then we switched places and I drove while he gave directions. We have learned how to work together quite well on this.


It really is nice to see the Alfa on her parking pad again.  It will be fun packing and arranging our things for the trip. 

I have decided that having the Alfa is somewhat like having a very expensive play house, or perhaps a cottage.  


It will only be our real home when we actually go full time. 

Good Read

I just finished reading "Water For Elephants" by Sara Gruen.

The Kindle edition was $4.19.

It was a quick read.  A good story.

I recommend it to anyone.

I have also read Jean Auel's new book "Land of the Painted Caves " this month.  I enjoyed her earlier books more than this one.  It seemed very repetitious and lacked an interesting plot line.

I feel like the $12.00 I spent for the Kindle edition was a waste of money.

I use the Kindle Application on my MacBook Pro, but we also have a Kindle. I have gotten several free Kindle books,  and  e-books from the library.

Have you read any books that you really enjoyed lately?
 Any Recommendations?

Downloaded "How to Buy a Used RV"

I downloaded  How to Buy a Used RV today.  I think it will be helpful and does seem to put many suggestions in one place.  Hopefully it is worth the $27.00.  It also came with a link to some videos on buying and maintenance tips.  It all seems so elementary, but having something in hand before starting to look is reassuring.

I feel I am learning a lot of what to look for by reading the blogs and the forum comments.  This is a great community of independent helpful people.

Daily countdown:

546  days, or 1 year, 5 months, 27 days to go.  

Exercise Goal:        

1000 miles on the treadmill     2 miles   today.    

Total walked = 109.5 miles   

         Someday I will be hiking in National Parks!

(Gotta go hunting and fill the garbage cans for pick up tomorrow!)

Bikes and MY Books

Last week I took our bikes in for a good cleaning and tune up.  They have been sitting unused in the garage for several years.  We had a good routine a few years back where I would meet Craig after work on Wednesdays with the bikes in my van.  We would go for a ride and then have dinner out.  We did this for a couple of years, but after we stopped because daylight savings time ended, and winter came, we simply never got it together to do it again the following years.

 Well, they are all set now, and although we won't go out this week (Rain predicted.) I hope we can get back into riding from time to time.   (Part of my get fit for the future plan!)  But it is fun too!

This morning I went thru three shelves of books in my studio.  Ugh! They were covered with dust. Over the years I have collected reference books about wildlife, both for the information and for the pictures.  In creating my art  animalhead.com I like to look at photos of the animal I am making, and like to learn about them.

 The books have been very useful over the years, but I know that for the last few years I have just gone to Google Images for my visual resources.  I like to use the pictures from the computer because I can print them out and hang them on the wall in from of my work table.  This is easier than using a book.

So I dusted the books off, boxed most of them up, and will be taking them to Goodwill next time.

I also have several binders of pictures I have collected over the years.  These I will keep until it is time to do the last clean out.

I also have a nice binder of all of the newspaper articles about my work over the years.  I have them laminated, and will give the binder to my daughter to keep for my Grandchildren.  It may seem a bit egocentric, but I'd love to see newspaper articles about my Grandmother!  I hope she will put them in her attic for them.

582  days, or 1 year, 7 months, 2 days to go.  

Exercise Goal:        1000 miles on the treadmill            2 miles today  970 to go

                                        Someday I will be hiking in National Parks!