Good. Random. Fun {Weeks 20 & 21}

These last few weeks have centered around two things:

Finishing up some of the last unpacking minutia

and

beginning to explore the area.

I have two old printer's trays...one for nick-nacks and one for jewelry.

I could unpack two whole rooms in the time it took me to

hang, unwrap, clean off and re-fill these two "antiques" ...

good thing I love the end result so much!

We've also begun to buy a few house plants ~ the 'finishing touch' for this otherwise empty corner of the main room.

The peach hibiscus we bought has NOT disappointed!

So many blooms already!

One of the funniest, most random and unexpected thing we've discovered at our place

is the nightly frog serenade!

I will try and get a recording that I can upload - I mean they are SO LOUD we can hear them

with the windows closed and the television on...ribbit!

I have had tons of fun beginning to explore my area.

The history is rich and I look forward to many new discoveries!

This past weekend we had our first official {non-family} dinner guests.

My boss and his wife...friends for more years than we'd like to admit...hung out Saturday night.

When the realtor first asked me to describe what I wanted in a house,

I told her that I was hoping we'd find a gathering place.

A place where family and friends are always welcome.

I so loved fixing dinner and getting everything ready for our friends...

This place is made for parties!!

Linking up with The Good. The Random. The Fun. and Life Through the Lens

Good. Random. Fun. {week 14}

For any of my friends who follow me on instagram

{@scrapbookmom17}

you know this has been a crazy week!

We. Have. Moved.

It's real.

It's official!!

On Wednesday, the night before we signed all the mortgage papers,

I went to "my" pond with my big girl camera for a wander.

To breathe...and to see the mama swan on her nest.

A beautiful, peaceful sight.

Papa swan was swimming nearby ~ he never strays to far from the nest.

The golden light added magic to the scene!

I stayed at the water's edge until the setting sun painted the sky...just for me.

I lingered with my favorite, arched branches...
the leaves were just beginning to sprout and I drank in the simple silhouette.
Just the moments of peace and quiet I needed before the craziness of the next days began!
This was good. Very, very good.

Over the next three days we signed papers, got keys and moved countless carloads of little stuff to our new digs.
And then came Sunday.
Our "rent-the-big-truck" day.
We woke up in our new home to a snow covered back yard.
Thanks, spring, for the random weather!
Snow. Winds. Extremely chilly temps.
Oh well, you can plan and plan...then you just have to roll with it!

So, what's a little snow?

We're New Englanders, after all.

HOWEVER,

when you arrive at the U-Haul facility to pick up your truck

AND THEY DO NOT HAVE ONE for you,

you start to loose your marbles!!!

Thanks, U-Haul, for the random delay.

Alas.

In spite of these glitches,

a truck was found, the sky cleared and our move was completed.

Whew!

Either our old house is really small, or the truck was really big...crazy, right!?!

Thanks to one husband, one son, one son-in-law, three young friends, one boss
and my darling daughter, we got all the stuff from one place to the next!
Thanks one and all.
{also, few things look more random that lots of furniture trying to find a new place to call home!}

Through it all,

the most fun I had was standing on the 2nd floor deck directing traffic.

As everything came off the truck,

my job was to tell people where to take it.

So. Fun.

And this guy.
We had our little mascot with us all day.
May I just say,
he makes every party just a little more fun!!

Here's to a great week everyone!!




Joining Tamar for
The Good. The Random. The Fun.

Good Random Fun {Weeks 11 & 12}

Here's a quick glimpse of the non-packing related things that have been going on in my neck of the woods.

I am no longer leaving work in the dark.

This is good. Very, very good!

I held my last scrapbooking workshop at my old house.

So. Many. Emotions.

I texted my daughter and told her I felt like I was in a Series Ending episode,

and that the lights were going to go off just as I set my keys on the counter.

In her wisdom she encouraged me with the words:

Not Series Ending....Season Ending.

Right she is!

I'm embracing the endings,

and the new beginnings!

This, too, is good.

Spring is such a great time to move because that sense of new beginnings is all around us!

Speaking of spring...
This week begins with a random, mid-march snow storm!
Just in time to confuse the buds and blooms!

One of the most fun bits about sorting and packing is all the random treasures I discover.
This week I found a report my husband wrote copyrighted in 1974
and one of my daughters favorite reads from her childhood days in France.

It's also nice to note that amidst all the stress and work of moving,
we are surrounded by good friends who've drug us out of the house and insisted we have some fun!

And yesterday my sweet Max
{aka best grandpuppy ever}
came over to see me.
Because I needed one last cuddle with him in this house.
And he {apparently} needed one last look at all the goings on outside grandma's house.


We're getting there folks.
I'm about 80% packed with 10 days left before we sign.
Keep sending all your prayers, good thoughts and positive vibes out into the universe for us!
If you follow me on instagram
{@scrapbookmom17}
you'll know the moment we've got those keys in our hands!!



Joining Tamar for
Good Random Fun
and
Judith for
Mosaic Monday

{Good Random Fun} Weeks 6-8

Well....it's been a few weeks.

I haven't updated on Mondays because, well, honestly I've been exhausted as I've begun each of the last few weeks. I'm pretty tired today too. To keep it real, today began with a mini-melt down. But, I'm getting ahead of myself!

In the midst of all the house hunting, the last few weeks have been full of some very, very fun things!

There was a formal dinner, a hotel stay, a few unplanned lunches with some good friends and a wine tasting party! My 'baby' boy turned 26 - whew! And some of our dearest friends came in from out of town for a visit. Throw house hunting into the mix and we've been much busier than we normally are! So... lots of fun.

In the random department, I still feel like the fact that we seriously considered buying an antique house with a 6500 square foot barn on the property one of the more random events of recent years! Here's one last photo of said property....it's kind of like "say yes to the dress" - it's fun to show you the pictures of the house we DIDN'T choose! Builds up the suspense for the grand {eventual} unveiling of the house that will become our home.

Also in the random department, one of the things I will miss about our current house, is the window at the top of the stairs that greets me each chilly morning with the most lovely frost patterns on her panes...I have loved every feathery moment of this artistry!

As far as good things? Well...the lean and mean organization purge continues. I am seriously enjoying cleaning out EVERY nook and cranny of our current abode as we prepare to move forward.

Yesterday I finished sorting/filing/paring down my photos. Felt just great to have this tedious, time consuming project completed!

With all that said - back to my mini-melt-down. We're putting an offer in on a house today. It's a first step, and who knows if this is the real "IT" ... but this is all starting to get real, and the emotions of leaving one chapter and beginning another are starting to really hit me. So...this morning was a loopy roller coaster ride in my heart and brain! Not, I feel certain, the last before this is all said and done.
Winter has sent us some beautiful, snowy days, and some unseasonably warm, sunny ones.... hmmm....the weather seems to be a bit like my emotions ~ all over the place!!

In spite of all of this craziness, the sun continues to rise and set. Family and friends are well.
And for the abundance of it all, I must say, I am oh so very grateful.

Joining Tamar for Good Random Fun

and

Judith for Mosaic Monday

Swoooooon....

The place was lovely.

Filled with that happiness buzz

that comes when friends, both old and new, gather.

It was celebration time!

We came to 

rejoice with two friends who've loved, 

lost 

and tenderly loved again.

They remind us that struggle and heartache

can soften us.

Prepare us.

Provide for us in ways that are unforeseen.

Almost unimaginable.

We ate and chatted and hugged and toasted.

They exchanged vows

in front of the fire, amidst the sunflowers and

surrounded friends and family.

Friends and family whose faithfulness

has surmounted obstacles,

forgiven hurts,

held on during the storms

and

cherished the countless blessings that fill the in-betweens.

There was music.

Lots of it.

And laughter.

And then,

when all was almost said and done,

the groom took the mike

and sang to his bride...

Another crooner took over

and there was holding. And twirling.

Swoon worthy.

Yes indeed.

Congratulations, dear friends.

"Some day, when I'm awfully low

When the world is cold

I will feel a glow just thinking of you

And the way you look tonight

Yes, you're lovely

With your smile so warm

And your cheeks so soft

There is nothing for me but to love you

And the way you look tonight"

Joining Kathy for

Song-ography

Six Word Fridays ~ Gold

{Wisconsin Wedding, July, Keely Joy Photography}

Make new friends, keep the old.

One is silver...the other gold.



Link up here and share your stories ~
six words at a time!

Black & White Wednesday ~ Wedding Magic

Take one sweet bride and one overjoyed groom,

 Add several heaping tablespoons of good friends,

 And one closely knit family.

 Mix all this together with one old barn,

 A perfectly glorious summer day,

 And a pinch of frolicking children.

 Stir in one new party dress, one handsome date,

 Strands of twinkle lights and the setting sun.

Blend well and dance until your feet can't dance anymore!

When all these ingredients are combined with love,
One very magical wedding appears!

We're home from our first summer trip ~ a wonderful few days with some of our closest friends. These are some of my iPhone favorites from the day...I've got thousands of photos to go through...and can't wait to share more about our Kansas City to Texas adventure! The wedding was, of course, the highlight ~ such a beautiful celebration...we feel very blessed to have been a part of this special day!

Join the fun here and share your

black & white photos.

I'm also linking up with

Wednesdays Around the World

Ah, the weekend...

This weekend there was a bunch of GOOD,

{this puppy and this little girl love each other!}

RANDOM,

{kinda creepy dead tree with a black bird}

{cute little chipmunk...one of many I caught running around the pond this weekend}

                        FUN!!!!

{loved getting to see these two kids reunited}

It was a full weekend.

Spent LOTS of hours at the pond ~

several on a long walk with a dear friend.

Enjoyed time at a Greek festival,

catching up with friends we haven't seen in a while

and watching two little girls from opposite coasts

play side by side.

Sunday was a scrapbooking workshop day ~

more friends and lots of long over due paper sorting and organizing for me!

Happy Monday folks!

Joining Tamar for

The Good, The Random, The Fun