September

 

September! The month when sometimes we get temps in the upper 90s-low 100s. Sometimes the overnight lows drop into the low 80s-upper 70s. We've had the strangest summer, I don't know what to expect from September this year. We had several weeks of temps in the 90s... very rare. We had several weeks with a chance of rain each day and we actually received rain multiple days in a row. We haven't had a monsoon like this for years. It was awesome.

September brings the start of grandkids' sports events. Hopefully it will bring some progress on our new house. And hopefully our current house will sell... again.

Whatever September brings I'm always filled with anticipation this month. The anticipation of the Fall/Winter holidays. Of cooler weather. Of being able to open up the windows at night (maybe). 

Bring it on September, I'm ready!

Why is it so hard...

 I'm sure you must feel as if you've been hearing about our new house for months... you're right, you have. Yesterday marked the 17th month since we signed the contract to build our home. I can't hardly believe it's taken this long. And the end is not in sight yet. I don't think it's going to be completed this year. There's not a thing I can do about it. I work mightily at not giving in to disappointment.

But, the good thing is that this time as given me the opportunity to purge, downsize, declutter, face the reality that I'm never going to get to some of the craft projects I thought I'd like to do. Haha

But, why is it so hard to let that stuff go? One reason is because I spent money on it in the first place. I choose to counteract that procrastination by realizing that giving those supplies to someone who will use them is a good use of that money. Another reason is that I keep holding out hope that I'll actually try that craft one day. The reality is that one day hasn't come for years, so why would I keep hoping it will! 

I've been giving my 6-year-old granddaughter a lot of craft supplies. So many, evidently, that she told me this summer to please not give her any for awhile! She uses the supplies she receives and does crafts alot, but even she's wise enough to know when enough is enough. I need to be like her!

I have an aversion to moving stuff that I know I'm not going to need/use. It's a waste of time, money and effort. Now that our house has been extended so many more months I'm seriously going to sort through the craft boxes in storage and be brutal in facing my truth. I am 66 years old and I'm only going to keep the crafts that I actually do. The rest can go to someone who will use and enjoy them. In the past I've donated needleart supplies to the local high school. I may see if the art department wants some of my other supplies.

Either way, I woke up this morning serious about really purging. Hope I keep my intention! 

Christmas Time's a'Comin'

 Four months from today is Christmas Eve. I am so conflicted about the upcoming Christmas season. On the one hand I'm excited for the joy of the season. On the other my life is so topsy-turvey right now that I sometimes dive into anxiety.

We put our current house on the market at the end of May. We sold it at the end of June. The CASH buyer dropped out this past Sunday. That's right, 20 days into escrow, long after the inspection period, they just changed their mind. Ugh.

We had already contacted the utilities, canceled the pool service, signed a contract on an apartment, and paid for renter's insurance. Sigh.

Now we start all over. 

And to top it all off, it now looks like our new house may not be done until January 2023. Really big sigh.

What does this have to do with Christmas you may wonder?

I have grandkids already clamoring about what are we going to do for Family Christmas? Where will we be for Family Christmas? We are going to have Family Christmas, aren't we?

It gives me joy to know that they really enjoy that tradition. It gives me pause to think about how I'm going to pull it off. My tentative plan right now (other than praying for a miracle that we'll SOMEHOW be in our new home) is to have Family Christmas at one of my girls' homes. They can provide the location, but I'll still plan the event.

To that end I'm continuing on my usual path towards a stress-free holiday. I've been shopping, wrapping, and storing gifts. I'm completely finished with gifts for three Grands and two adult kids. I'm disappointed that I won't be decorating this year, but oh well, that's life.

My oldest granddaughter, Sunny was over the other day and, out of the blue, asked if she could plan the Family Christmas menu. I said of course! And she did. So I texted my daughters with the menu and their food assignments. They laughed. I'm thrilled that the 13 year old is showing that kind of interest! haha

Four months from today my Family Christmas will be behind me. Christmas Eve is typically hosted by my SIL. Christmas Day is typically just Dan and I. To be honest, I ususally start taking Christmas decor down on Christmas Day (surreptitiously, as it irritates Dan!) 

Maybe I'll be in my new home (probably not), maybe I'll be in a tiny apartment (probably) but either way I'll be with my family and that's the joy for me.

This year's gift stash

August

Wow, it's August. 

Two of my Grands started school today. Three of them start tomorrow. One starts in two weeks.

Our house saga is ongoing. The good news is that we sold our current house! The challenge is that we need to find a short-term rental to live in until the new house is done. The projected date for the new house is 11/9/2022. Yes, I put the year in. The way things have been going it's not a sure bet that it will be completed in 2022. I do have good news on the new house though. We have a frame walk through tomorrow morning. We're hoping that we will get more information about the timeline moving forward. 

So we're busy getting ready to vacate this house for a 600 sf. one bedroom rental. It'll be tight quarters, especially since we have to set up Dan's office in the space. But on the positive side, it'll make what was to be a transition from a 2613 sf house to an 1851 sf house much easier. That 1851 sf will feel like a mansion after 600 sf. See, there's always a bright side!

Enjoy your August!

Happy Independence Day!

 

July

 

July! The year is half over. Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments are released. Hallmark Channel is showing Christmas movies 24/7. The monsoon has arrived. School starts in 30 days.

What's not to love about July? 

(BTW, if you're into Christmas in July, check out my Christmas Blog.)

June

 

Hello June!

May was dedicated to getting my folks moved into their new apartment. It has been exhausting to say the least. Jessica and I worked on helping them choose what items were making the move with them. It was very hard. My mom had so many decor items it's ridiculous. Since it's hard for her to make any kind of decision now, this was doubly difficult. We unpacked all of their stuff at the new place and Jessica made labels for all the cabinets hoping it would help them get used to where everything is. 

Mom is fighting this move tooth and nail. And since part of her cognitive decline manifests itself in being mean, my dad is just exhausted. She's already fallen once, requiring the EMTs to come pick her up. I'm not sure how long they're going to last in the independent living apartment/hotel we found for them.

Once they were moved in my brother and I held a garage sale to get rid of the rest of their stuff. Now that's done he and my SIL will move into my folks house to be closer to them. 

I was foolishly hoping that this move would be a huge improvement for them, but I think I was being hopelessly naïve. It's only been two weeks, so maybe they will start to adjust.

I can't remember what I wrote about our new house in May and I'm too lazy to look back so... 

I think I told you our windows are in. The scaffolding is up around the structure which means they will lathe next. We're hoping to have our frame inspection by mid June. The next step would be stucco and then interior drywall. We're currently looking at mid September for move in. I'm kinda past the point of caring when we'll move in. It changes weekly. I'm more concerned about when to sell this house and how that works in the overall timeline.

The grands are on Summer Break. This will be the first year of no Grammy Summer Camp. Instead I'm planning Grammy's Field Trips on Wednesdays. Looking forward to fun with the kids!

The forecast is for a wet monsoon this year so I have my fingers crossed that we'll see some rain! We're heading into the 100s this week, maybe up to the 105 range. Here in the Phoenix area that is called warm. Hot starts at 110 degrees. Last year we had 22 days of 110+, so really we only had 22 hot days last summer! Haha

I hope to post more in June, but am not promising anything. Enjoy the first month of Summer!