Tuesday, December 15, 2009

We're Settled and We Survived!

But barely, for me! Ugh. I think I have decided I'm going to retire here. Never move again. Just live vicariously through everyone else for anything that I am missing in my life. This move nearly killed me (okay, maybe I'm exaggerating). Even though it was twenty steps away it takes a lot packing up a whole household! Then the cleaning. Oh yea..and those stairs I mentioned earlier? I hate them! I despise them! On the last day of the move I was spitting on them. Lol! I counted the steps. Thirty-two steps to get to the top floor where the bedrooms are at. I can't tell you how sore I was at the end of the move. I was sore in places I never knew could GET sore! I gotta say, though, the cats are loving it. Quincy had one of his spaz moments and ran down the stairs so fast I was sure he would be tumbling, a big orange fur ball tumbling, towards the bottom. I don't think he realized how fast he was going. Lol!

BUT, despite the two days that I was near death....I am feeling good these days. A little different to be in a three story place....not knowing what's downstairs when I'm upstairs. Hearing more sounds at night. But my boy Quincy will protect me. Yep...my fireball of a handsome boy. Who am I kidding? He'll be the first to run under the covers. Lol! Hmm..come to think of it no different than the men I've been with in my life (but I digress). Oh yes and all of a sudden the kitties have a new fun habit. Oh it's so fun you can't even imagine. Ask mom! In the middle of the night I'll hear a faint...bang, bang, bang. I lay in bed motionless. First I'm trying to figure out what floor it's coming from. Second, trying to figure out which cupboard someone is trying to open with their sweet little paws; and third, deciding if I need to get up to traipse down the thirty steps just to scold someone. So, I choose the fourth, turn over, whip the blankets over my head and go to sleep. :)

Here are a few pictures. I warn you not much decorating yet! I'll post more later! Thank you all for your well wishes. I was a bit burned out the past few days to post. I'm now getting ready to fly home next week. I will be more active after the holidays as I've said before. It's been one crazy year-end. However, I will be by to visit you all the next few days....promise!!

My new enemy...

A few small touches in the kitchen...

Quincy: Oh mom...that was way too much work watching you go up and down those stairs. Next time can you do it where I can't see because it just exhausts me and kinda hurts my neck.

A warm fireplace for sore feet.

Let's see.....the nightstand is the same, the bed feels the same. What just happened?We're all good. The cat bed is still here.


My canopy bed. Not decorated the way I want but had to throw a few things together quickly to feel somewhat at home. I picture more and more billowy sheers all around and above me.

Hi mom!

You can't see the other side of this big room in the picture but there is a place perfect for a vintage vanity. :) I think I will go for the elegant 1940's look with that. Oh but ONLY after I get rid of at least thirty things! Two things you never realize until you move. How much junk...woops...things you have and how you failed to dust in certain places!

35 comments:

Anya said...

I now michelle move is :(
So much work i know !!!
I am happy you are moved now :-)
It looks very beautiful
I hope you will enjoy your new place....
I wish you many luck there....
hugs to allllll.........
Kareltje =^.^=
Anya :-)

debra@dustjacket said...

Oh wow, congrat's on the move. Pleased your kinda in one piece!

I love the little lamp in the kitchen and just adore the photo's of the furry kids, they are soooo cute I tell you.
xxx

CatHerder said...

Everything looks SO NICE! I just luv your kitties.....as far as the "bang bang" you hear..it took me awhile in our house to figure out where all the sounds are coming from...sometimes plumbing brackets are not on tight, causing the pipes to move and hit the ceiling (up to the floor above) and its hard to pinpoint the exact place...heating ducts too, from expansion and contraction from heat reaching temp and shutting off.....the big noise i hear at night is cats with hairballs lol...glad yo survived your move!

Kathleen said...

Amen on the stuff and the dust. Glad to hear you have finsihed the worst part of moving....getting it from here to there. The rest won't be so bad. I see the kitties have taken over your bedroom. NOw, just where will you sleep, Michelle? Hugs, Kathleen

Robin said...

It's a lovely place. The kitties seem to have settled in quite nicely! Looks like a grand place just in time for Yule!

Blessings!

Maggi said...

I'm so glad you're in and getting settled! It's so funny you mentioned a vintage vanity, I just recently decided to do that myself! Although with the lack of space around here it will be more of a shelf in the bathroom! lol

Lisa said...

I know you are glad THAT'S over! LOL! You'll have it all fluffed up before you know it and it really will feel like home. The first few days in a new place, I always feel like I'm staying in a hotel.

MJ said...

Wow! 32 stairs to your room ... that is just crazy ... but on the upside, it will keep you in great shape! Can't wait to see when all is decorated. I'm sure the kitties will love the stairs!!! Thanks for sharing even though you have a mound of stuff to do! Have a wonderful Christmas!!!

Randi Troxell said...

beautiful.. love the fireplace and am so glad you survived, even if only barely!!!!

btw- your kitties are just so cute!!!

Jasmim said...

i'm glad you're in your new home :)

Kritter Keeper at Farm Tails said...

glad the move is over for you! i hope you had some help with all of that work! your babies are so pretty and seem very content. glad they are fine. our new house makes wierd noises. i think for us it is the reaction of the temperature fluctuations...

vanillasugarblog said...

ha ha! kitties don't know what happened! fireplace eh? lucky you. can I just say, with no judgement, I can't wait for the holidays to be over...I'm already beat.

LuLu Kellogg said...

I am so glad you are finally moved! Eeeeeeeeek at all the steps but I know the kitties will enjoy running up and down!

Happy Holidays Dear One,
LuLu~*xoxo

Heather said...

yay for moving and surviving! we have lots of stairs in our house too. we have a 3 story townhouse if you include the basement. so i have a million steps to get up to the bed room level and then a million more to get down to the basement to do laundry and everything else that's down there, lol. as much as i hate them, i do think they have helped me in not getting fatter than i already am! HA! I can't imagine what I'd look like if I didn't have stairs in my life :)

horserider1784 said...

Wow, congrats on your move sis! Finally, home sweet home, right? those steps look pretty scary, although you'll never need a treadmill now! Just running those stairs outta be plenty! I can picture Quincy running up and down those! Looks beautiful as usual:)

Elaine said...

Oh I sympathize with you. I am still recovering from last December's move.

Glad the kitties are enjoying their new digs.

Anonymous said...

LOL at Quincy!! Tell him he can always hide with me; I've got a doggie to protect me, and I'd rather snuggle with Quincy. ;)

I hope you'll have a chance to relax a bit this week. You got tons of exercise in with the move, that's for sure.

Everything looks great already!

Big hugs for you and the kitties too!

jen said...

Glad the move is over!
When we moved from so cal to northern cal it was a nightmare!!
I don't know how some people move all the time?!

Have a restfull yearend!!

xoxox,
jen

Seawashed said...

So glad you are all settled into your new home beautifully. Your new place reminds me of our townhouse in Belton, MO. We lived there for a year. It was brand new, yours looks new, and it had stairs JUST like that! Same color carpet, even the fireplace looks the same. I loved that place. We had a forest and creek in our backyard. AND those stairs kept me in shape. I was so skinny while living there. I think you are going to love it! Your bedroom looks so romantic already, but definetly more billowing white sheers will be heavenly. And I caught a glimpse of a small gift from me:) Wish I could stop by and bring you a nice home cooked meal...and help you with whatever you need help with. Have a wonderful time with your family in Southern California.

What do you do with your kitties when you leave?

Lola said...

Hi Michelle!
Just briefly stopping by with my very best wishes for Xmas and the New Year! Can’t tell you how much I’ve missed you & your terrific posts since my last visit - but hope to see you very soon back at my place where I’ve just posted my latest Christmas Lola Lifeline! All the best & see you again soon!
xxxLOL LOLA:)

Judith said...

Oh please.... I've moved 17 times in the last 30 years! moving is good for you!

Laura said...

I just came upon your blog and love it! Enjoy your new home and have a wonderful holiday season!

Tulip Bliss said...

Hey girlfriend!
Glad to hear that the hard part is over! Now the fun part starts - decorating! I bet after you're done, it will look fabulous!
I told you about stairs thing - not fun! Especially when hauling the laundry... up and down. Lucky for you - you don't have kid stuff to deal with. They make lots of laundry.
But, I can imagine that once you've settled, it won't be so bad. You'll adapt a be a pro in no time and won't notice it so much! You'll be in tip top shape.
So, I guess I won't see you during Christmas? Its funny how the last time you came to Laguna, I flew up to Idaho and same thing this time for Christmas.
If you can peel away for a short time, I will still be around up to Christmas day. We fly out on the 26th.
If not, its okay. I'm sure we will hook up someday.
I have to say, your kitties really have a fancy bed. I'm afraid to buy one - I'm sure Truffles would mistake it for something else... if you know what I mean. Lol.

Creations by Marie Antoinette and Edie Marie said...

WOW!!! Those stairs look amazing.The kitties will love them. I could not even go up them once without loosing breath, so you are amazing.I love your new home. Its got alot going on.I know the move itself was mine blowing for sure,but at the end of the day...Its going to be gorgeous.
Merry Christmas to you Michelle, and May God bless you your kiddies and new home,
XXOO Marie Antionette

The Blonde Duck said...

It looks wonderful!

Dawn Marie Howard said...

You're gonna have buns of steel with those stairs! haha welcome back love!

Patti said...

Yay for you! The new place sounds (and looks) wonderful and how much fun (and work; but fun reaults) to set it all up! You need to find some time to relax now. Take care!!!

Rue said...

Looks like the 'kids' are perfectly settled in their new abode. Those stairs would be a racetrack for my two as well!

Love the fireplace!

Wishing you many blessings and lots of love and peace in your new home!

Allison said...

Yay you're in! Good for you. Now you can B.R.E.A.T.H.E.!!! Love your canopy bed, BTW. Enjoy the holidays, and give those kitties some good rubs for me!

Joy said...

Congrats on your new place, Michelle. I know you'll have it darling in no time a'tall. I know what you mean about 'never moving again'... husband and I said the next time we move, it's in a coffin, but now we're ready to move for a last time to a one level floor plan. I'm thinking our stairs actually help keep me and the old knees in shape--so blessing in disguise. Your place looks very pretty and maybe will the extra floor you'll feel like you have more room?? That vintage dressing table is awesome!! Go for it! I have one very similar, got mine for $30, but it's the dark wood. Still, I keep thinking, 'someday if I move', maybe I'll have room for the dressing table and I'll glam it up. Can't wait to see what you do with your new place, it will be fun to start anew in the new year! Glad you survived!

prashant said...

I know the kitties will enjoy running up and down!

Work from home India

Sweet Sage said...

Hoping you will feel settled and peaceful again very soon, Michelle. The kitties are just soooo precious! .. Can you even imagine life without them?!
Thanks so much for sharing from your heart. And I sooooooo appreciate your visits and kind comments. I have been a very lazy commenter in recent months, but please know that I stop in often and thoroughly enjoy my visits here .. LoVe your sweet blog.
Happiness Always ~
kim and the kitties
xo
p.s. Love the new place!

Aunt Spicy said...

I am so with you on feeling like you never want to move again! And wondering how in the world you accumulated so much! But it looks like thinks are working out for the best! Good luck!

Anya said...

Have a very happy New Year
and a wonderful and happy 2010 :-)

Hugs to all......

(@^.^@)

Cat with a Garden said...

Oh my Cod! We didn't realise you moved. And just before Christmas! Wow! The new three storey place sounds very cool. When is the house warming party for us cats?
Many concats on the new home.
And purrs. Siena & Chilli