Another Long Day

 Another night in the cold bed of the RV. Today I taped plastic trash bags around those windows. I have at the very least 4 more nights to spend in there. The washer and dryer are on marketplace and someone is coming to see them. My new house has a stackable unit in place. The fridge will be out the door tomorrow.

I have been loading the RV all day. The two bedrooms here have been vacuumed and the doors closed to keep the heat in the living area. The kitchen cabinets are all empty as I have been carrying loads out to the camper all day. HeWho decided not to take his old people recliner and he has been holding it down all day unless he has found an errand to run. Fine with me, he tends to get in my way, like a toddler underfoot. He helps me carry stuff out and then rests while I put it all away. 

Still lots of odds and ends on the counters waiting to be tucked away. My car will hold all the canned goods we have yet to eat. Tomorrow I will start loading it and help load the flatbed trailer, lest HeWho decides to "forget" some of my gardening stuff. Meantime we wait to hear a closing time.

Some long time used to be campers took us out last night. They have moved, but it was fun to get together with them. Friends will remain friends, you know. The world is a smaller place with all the ways to communicate. I hope they will visit.

With only one bedroom, we have the RV for guests. Just not in the winter! I am anxious to see if my plastic holds the chill back. The warmest "room" in the camper is the bathroom. I toyed with thoughts of bedding down in the floor. Although I am a short person, I would not be able to stretch completely out, but I can't do that in the bed, either. The doxies prefer to have my body curled protectively around them. I don't mind so much because they are so warm.

Last night, though, Cujo snored. He insisted on having his head on my pillow next to my head. The breed can be quite stubborn. Eddie was under the covers right next to my chest and abdomen. I turned away from Cujo and was delighted to have Eddie warming my back. It was like when you turn over and your cold side is in the warm spot in the bed.

It was so nice until suddenly he was gone! I turned back over and saw that HeWho was cold, too, had stolen my back warmer! "PUT HIM BACK!" I said in my most no-nonsense tone. He whined that he was cold and I told him to invite his own dog to warm him.

Toni Louise had decided to sleep on the floor next to a heater vent and Bo was under the covers at my feet. Cujo was never a candidate. HeWho could pull him over to him, but he wouldn't stay. He would lie, waiting for an opportunity to escape and come back to me.  It is not my fault that all the animals love me the most, is it?

So much left to do, and here I sit. Binge reading my favorite blogs and waiting for my back to un-spasm. It is a shame I can't cook tonight .....

I Am Being Punished!

 We have the RV parked right in front of the door to the office. Plugged in to just a 20 amp service, but easy to get into the building. Last night we just carried the canines to bed. I carried Eddie and Mr. BoJangles together, knowing Cujo would be hot on heels. I don't know that there is a temptation that would lure him away from me. I am his safety.

Last night was COLD. I left my leggings and socks on when I got into bed. I made the mistake of sticking my hand under my pillow and came back with frosty fingers. The air was warm, but it did not penetrate the surfaces closest to windows. HeWho hates multiple pillows on chairs and sofas, wants at least two pillows on his side of the bed. We have lots of bed pillows, king sized pillows. I ended up putting the extra pillows in front of the two tiny windows at the head of the bed to block the cold air.

When I went to sleep, my toes thawed and it got too hot. I toed my socks off and eventually ditched the leggings under the covers. This morning when Bo snuffled my neck with his cold nose, I lay very still as I planned how to locate my socks and leggings without leaving the warm covers, then I would slip out and into my shoes and walked the 10 feet into the building.

Once again, my plan did not go so well. I had to brave the cold to find my clothes. Toni and Bo were into their usual morning routine of growling and play fighting while the doxies whined to be lifted down from the bed. I didn't bother to ask for help. I just picked up Toni Louise, the escape artist, and told the remaining three to stay close. I had to unlock the door and the doxies were so close I would have tripped had I turned around. Bo took the opportunity to water the post and then they all ran gleefully into the building and headed to the back door and their yard.

I made the coffee, I drank the coffee. Now the scattered mess from the movers awaits my attention. Then there is the fridge and freezer to deal with, but unless we get a last minute call from the bank, we won't close until Monday. This means several more nights of "camping". So I have time aplenty to achieve my goals. 

The movers will be at our new home Wednesday. I am not sure what might be involved in correcting the mistake on the deed. The underwriters at the bank are "working on it". The bank involved is right here in the county seat, so how difficult can it be? Am I being punished? For what? Who knows?

Moving Truck

 When last we spoke ..... things were somewhat stressful, but my last minute reprieve had me grateful for one more night in my bed before they took it away. I was sipping a second cup of coffee after my shower and putting on leggings, topped with pants and a long sleeve shirt topped with a sweat shirt. I was gearing up to go into the cold, cold store/office to pack a few more boxes. Then I planned to bake a cake while cleaning out the fridge. Cleaning out the fridge would reveal tonight's supper. Tomorrow I was hoping to wash the bed sheets and covers so I could arrive at my new home with as little dirty laundry as possible.

You know what is said about the best laid plans, don't you? The phone rang. Maybe I should stop answering it altogether. But it was the phone of HeWho was dealing with the moving company. He answered and burst my bubble of relative contentment saying, "The truck will be here in 30 minutes."

I was dumbfounded. Doesn't happen often as I am a quick thinker and usually have a come-back for everything. I stepped into action and started stuffing boxes and taping them closed. The driver of the truck was the caller and HeWho told me he had an attitude. Maybe he did, maybe he didn't, but I can guarantee that his attitude would be no match for mine!

They arrived and I introduced them to Cujo, telling the three men that Cujo hated men and to steer clear of him. I also told them he would be more apt to bite if they chose to annoy Cujo's mistress. The other three dogs clamored for attention and pats on the head, Cujo stayed in my arms until they left his area.

I had made their job all the more easy by stacking bins and boxes in the store for a quick route to the truck. They were moving fast and I was trying to get everything I could out to them for loading. HeWho was kept busy grabbing the tape gun and finishing my boxes as soon as they were full.

I still made that cake! I found some leftover grilled steak in the fridge. I dumped the remaining Barley from a box in the pantry into my Instant pot along with all the beef broth on hand and some water. I added the last half of an onion, a stalk of celery and some chopped carrots and pressure cooked the mixture. Enough soup for two meals. I stripped my bed and started washing everything. I had started the day with dog and cat beds and all their blankets.

I shook the huge detergent bottle every time I started a load, hoping to use it all so I didn't have to load the big container. I would have emptied the meager contents into a smaller container in that event. I hate waste, you know. The best thing that happened all day was that the very last load was my bedspread and the detergent was at it's end. I filled the jug with hot water and got every little bit out and into the washer. Perfect!!

I would always cringe when I cleaned the laundry facilities. So many bottles with product left in them in the trash can. My children will hate it, but I confess that I would gather the brands I liked and use them to do my laundry! My daughters will be appalled that I shared this insight into my life, but my son will be proud of his Mom! We are very much alike, my son and I. Funny, since the older he gets the more he resembles my Daddy, the man who taught me how to be frugal!

With age comes wisdom. When I was young, I might have argued this fact, but the older I get, the more I see how very true it is. I never realized all the life lessons I absorbed from Daddy until I lost him. My Mother had lessons for me as well, but most of hers taught me what NOT to do. She was a troubled soul and I have forgiven her for all the times she hurt me, but I learned from those times. 

So, here I sit at the table in the only empty chair, a cool breeze at my back, making me wonder if I left the back door open. I didn't, it is just that cold. 10 degrees right now, the wind chill making it feel like 1 degree. 

The heater is on in the RV and I am so happy I decided to dress the bed a few days ago. When I get ready, a warm bed awaits me. Not a big bed when we all get in. Martha, the boy cat will be staying in the house here tonight, along with Dora, the turtle under her heat lamp. No sense in stressing them out until the day we pull out. Cujo tends to over salivate when he is feeling stressed and he is slobbering as much as my St. Bernard ever did right now. He needs a bib!

Wonder what atrocities tomorrow holds ...

Stalker?

 I woke to a balmy 7 degrees today. The movers have been delayed and won't be here until tomorrow after 3 pm. I think weather is the issue. Just as well, since tomorrow should be warmer. The high today is predicted to be 18. I would feel bad for the movers having to load in extreme temps. 

The closing is still up in the air. Late yesterday they discovered that when we purchased the property the wrong county had been entered. I have no idea how that could have happened, since the closing lasted for hours and every single word was read! Should be a simple fix, but what do I know?

Since I have an extra day, I noticed a cake mix in my pantry and think I should whip it up to avoid packing it. I also found a disposable lasagna pan that will make a nice vessel for this cake. Not that it will be around for the trip! I will spend the day in the kitchen cooking up enough food for the weekend since the closing will not happen until next week. 

We will be staying in the RV. Under normal circumstance I wouldn't mind so much. It is hard to stay warm in an RV that is not meant for winter. Added discomfort of all the stuff I have packed in it, leaving very little square footage to move around in.

To add to my aggravation a commenter decided to share a story that was not entirely true. This particular commenter is the reason I changed my settings to my approval for the comment to be published. For the life of me I cannot understand why this person even reads my blog. The previous relationship with this person has been severed completely and will never be repaired. I have zero interest in this person's life, but the former close friend seems to hold a fascination for me and my family. Too bad, as I finally recognized that this person has no intentions of admitting any faults and never will. 

I will never post my new address. If you want my address, I will be happy to email it to you!

Stressed

 Still no news from the bank about the time of the closing. Yesterday we got the message that the appraisal had been recieved and that today they would set the time of the closing.

I continued with my efforts in packing and stacking, as well as loading the RV. My closet is empty now, everything is in the RV that will might need to dress ourselves. Only thing left is drawers that are going on the moving truck. The bathroom is bare except for the essentials that will easily move to the RV. The kitchen only has the food in the pantry and 4 plates, utensils and pots and pan. One pan. Laundry room is looking equally empty.

This place is not big, but it is starting to echo!! HeWho loves to run errands went to the post office to change our address. But, exactly when shall we change it. Still no time for the closing. For all we know it could be next week. 

Yesterday we had the last call from the moving company to see if we had forgotten to include anything. I didn't, but the man I have been nagging for several months now to get it together and let me know what he planned to take in tools and equipment. Every day that was warm, I would remind him of this chore and suggest that he do it before weather would be an issue. Now that the weather is very unfriendly, he will go out to "the barn" to get his "stuff together". Never stays long because it is too cold. 

After talking to the moving company, I was told that he changed the date to the 21st, since the closing is supposed to be the 20th. It was like a sudden reprieve, giving me another 24 hours to organize. We can then leave on the 22nd. I was happy with that. I must admit here that I am a bit fanatical about controlling major events. I was blissfully going through my pantry, tossing stuff and combining stuff when the phone rang.

The movers were already heading our way and will be here between 1:00 and 3:00 pm TOMORROW. I am torn now between total panic and wanting to go hide in my bed. This means my bed will be on a truck tomorrow night and I will be sleeping on a short queen bed in my RV tomorrow night with 4 dogs and a cat, with a turtle in the kitchen sink. And I still don't know when this closing is scheduled for! This is so very stressful!!

I Am The Master Of Improvising!!

 Only four days left until the moving truck arrives. We are scheduled to close the same day. The movers are coming and loading. Still know nothing about the results of the appraisal. Must be a secret.

In any event, we are getting down to a bare living situation here. I made soup yesterday. Soup and snow go well together. HeWho was helping serve up the grub looked toward the cabinet that used to hold bowls. Yes, I packed them. We ate out of serving bowls. I ate my cereal out of a coffee mug.

We have had some strange combinatons for meals as I am trying to deplete the comtents of the freezer and pantry. This is why I poured a generous dollop of coconut vodka in my orange juice! No need to move that bottle!! I just happen to have not packed my pyrex pie plate, so we will be having a pie tonight. I had milk, pudding, coolwhip and grahams. I used up two of the puddings, pistachio and chocolate. Made a good dent in that milk, too! One little problem arose when I opened the drawer for the rolling pin and discovered that I had packed it as well. I dumped those crackers in a ziplock and grabbed the meat tenderizer and pounded them to crumbs. Good thing I can improvise! I suppose I could have layered the crackers and the pudding ....

Spent some time in the shower combining two shampoo bottles into one. Went through my spices and tossed all the expired ones and those I didn't remember using. Then I repacked all my Christmas stuff and condensed it somewhat.

Out of those "magic" bags, I tried some trash bags and the vacuum. I put fabric in them and then loosely tied the end and poked the hose inside and sucked all the air out and tied the end and taped it down. Worked better on some than others. HeWho helped and we quickly put the lid on each full bin and taped it down. In my mind's eye I picture all these bins on the back of the truck with the lids exploding. If they stack things all nice and tight, it won't happen!

Soon as that snow melts I will finish loading the RV and then my car. I am ready to go!!

Generic VS Brand

 I had an epiphany! It was this morning as I was beginning my day and moving about trying to figure out where I should start. Yesterday I found one of those space saving garment bags as I was down to my last purge. I hung a few dresses in it, as I rarely wear a dress and was thinking I would suck the air out today and hang it in the RV.

I was carrying it out to a table in the store to use the vacuum and it struck me!! Space bags, I need more space bags! If I repack my meager allotment of fabric (only about 6 bins) and suck the air out it will look so much smaller. Then I thought, why not suck it out of the off season clothes I had packed in plastic drawers? The mover are charging by the cubic foot, not weight. Sure they will be heavier, but they are unloading the stuff.

Why had I not thought of this before? I could kick myself! Online I researched to find the best deal. Walmart has them in stock and for order. It says 2 day delivery, shipping is free, so I should order them and save myself a trip. I did and when I got to check out, the estimated date of arrival was February 3rd. What a fine how-do-you-do! 

Of course, He-Who was already going that way, so I had him pick up two boxes. Large, so they would fit right back in the drawers and bins. No need to go crazy with a jumbo size that would be awkward to load. I was specific in my search for the bags. I wanted to simply use the vacuum option. Perhaps I should have looked more closely .....

The bags were smaller than I had thought they would be. Magic bags they were called. I read the instructions. It was printed right on the bag. I was to open the bag, fill to the fill-line and then using the patented thumb pressured closer, I was to pull it along the doulble ziplock line three times to insure proper closure.

I filled the first bag and then grabbed the white thing to close the bag. It wouldn't budge, so I took it off and put it back on to try again. The amount of pressure needed from my old arthritic thumb to close the ziplock just wasn't gong to happen. I finally pushed the end of the bag flat on the table and using my forefinger pressed it closed.

Next I was to start rolling the bag up from the closure end of the bag. The instructions stated there was an airlock where all the air would be released, but no air could get back in. I pressed down and could not hear any of the air escaping. I did not want to burst the bag, so I released the pressure and rolled it from the opposite end. Same thing happened. No air escaped. I hunted down HeWho has more strength in his hands than I do and he gave it a shot. Same result.

I had pictured myself merrily repacking and sucking air all day, ending up with some empty containers. Finally I grabbed the wand from the super sucking wet/dry vac and opened the bag enought to slip the end inside and hit the on button and sucked that air out until the bag was rock hard, then I quickly yanked the wand out and closed the bag. It worked. I managed to get 3 drawers into 2. I had hoped for a better result, as the box proclaimed I would have twice the space and this method was new and improved.

Nothing magic about these bags and I wonder what about the new method is "improved". Moral of the story? Buy a brand name in this particular item.