Down to Hours ...... St Louis and the Election

Well, so much as been going on = not much sleep.

The Woodsedge Condo - sold - so that meant a final move!

The Crown Ridge Condo - it now has furniture!

The Friends had their one day booksale - and they just about cleared $13K - Great Job!

Great night at the polls - over all we signed up 97 citizens for new library cards.

My state Rep Sandy Nafis - she swept our district and I had the opportunity to visit her at the Dem headquarters for a few minutes to offer my congratulations. Glad she's going to be on the job again!

I just heard part of Pres Elect Obama acceptance speach - sad day for US - As a country we will need to stand viligent - call your Congress person ! Make your voice heard in DC! While the election is finished (thank goodness) the work has just begun. enough for now

Then the last two days - get my home in order, mail, email, set-up Paulette for work to accomplish, get additional communications equipment, run around - banking, post office to mail the stuff to Pete's ; laundry, clean out car as it will be going in for repairs while I'm away; get the carpenter Bob the materials he'll need to do the Garage shelving units; write a few thoughts in this blog; just a usual day at my place!

So in about 10 hrs I'll be boarding a plane and end up in St. Louis, Continue to watch the blog as it will be the assault of Aunt Potty in St. Louis LOL!

Sweet dreams to all!

Papers are signed!

This a.m. I went off to the attorney's office to sign the general papers to sell & release my condo to it's new owner! On Monday, G_D willing, the check will be in the bank, phew. So much to do, tonight , going to get the last of the "stuff" and will only have furniture to do on Sat a.m.!

What a push, ......... if you are reading out there.................. MAKE TIME AND VOTE ON TUESDAY.......

One week today

It's getting exciting and stressful - all in one as the day draws near to be in St. Louis. I'm clearing the decks, of course, getting more fit in so those I leave here to work can continue to work and get it done while I'm away!

My sis-in-law - bless her! - gave me the general run down for the kids. Transportation leave/arrive times for school, special events soccer and a concert and half days, camera - still and movie, House/Family rules to follow, and some general stuff like groceries etc. My brother says I should be able to hook up my laptop to their network, that will be a relief once I know I can log back to the office. He's going to get me addresses for some of the common stuff out there, like the post office, grocery, banks, library, etc places, okay a couple of other stores could be good.

The real estate closing on Woodsedge is on for Monday, movers arrive Sat a.m., garage shelving to go up Sat p.m. (the car may get in the garage yet), close up the old condo!, ship boxes to St. Louis with stuff (looks like that will be Monday?); have schedule arranged for my assistant; fixing the schedule for my neighbor for mail deliveries and UPS and FedX, etc, 0h yeah the Election and sign up folks for library cards at the polls.

okay ------- sounds like a plan?? BTW - I found two pairs of shoes, phew! I could use a "big late nighter" !

Thank you St. Joseph

Yes it will be moving day once again! My assistant, Paulette reminds me that we did the greatest part of the move on the 1st half. That's probably true. Yet with all that is on my plate, all that needs to be done, and get ready to go away soon!

I'm beginning to plan where the furniture needs to be placed. Once we are closer (after the20th) I can really begin to break down the good ole Woodsedge.

Now think of it - put on the market 8/8/08 - and contract signed 10/02/08 - less than two months. Not bad for a tight market. Thanks St. Joseph.

Oh yes - if you didn't follow - I buried the patron saint of real estate in my back yard and prayed he would bring me a buyer......... that was on a Saturday night and then the Tuesday after that, I recieved the offer! Heck - I should be selling these St. Joseph statues to the Govt - it may help the mortgage and real estate market - maybe even solve some of the bail out? Ok a bit of a tangent there. Back to reality.....

I'm going to be glad to have a couch once again and some of my 'art' work; and not to have to worry about the unit any longer.

Thanks St. Joseph!

Going once, going twice, sold to some lady

Yesterday I received an offer - very low ball - actually what I would expect as it's a buyers mart. Though it was offensive to me. So I simply put it, NO, no deal. My agent brought back my thoughts to their agent, and low and behold, they came back with a better offer. I still said NO. The last thing I was going to do was be backed into a corner by a buyer making an offer and then going to leave the country for two weeks. Interesting strategy - but it didn't work with me.

So I sent Agent Lee back to them with my NO - persistence is one thing I do have. A few hours later, they came within $1K - so we made the deal provided that they put the cash on the table and get the inspections done in the next 18 days! We will then close on election day.

Oh my goodness - now I need to do the second half of my move! I'll finally get the balance of my furniture in my new place. ....... tic toc..... tic toc...... 18 days to go

Open House Day

Yesterday I went over to the old unit, buried St. Joseph in the back yard, wiped up the dust, brushed the leaves off the patio, made sure the air matresses were fully inflated, freebreezed the place, said several prayers to St. Joseph, took out the plants up front and went away with my fingers crossed.

Today there was a open house - nothing happened that I have heard about so far. I expect that if there was any really good news I would have had a phone call my now. More later..

the Old Unit

... not much on the real estate front. It's been quieter than a church mouse. This weekend is going to be an open house to hopefully russle up some foot traffic. Now mom sent me a statute of St. Joseph - I'm going to bury him in the back of the unit before the open house. Legend says he helps you sell or at least find you a buyer.

With the 'noise' going on with failing banks, brokerage, congress, economy, etc. geez louise, it is the best time to buy. (by the way is there an election coming up?) If you haven't taken care of your finances, shame, if you have sorta taken care of them, then look at buying at this time. You'll make out better paying a mortgage than a rent. I know all the reasons for both... but get this....

New home buyer may qualify for a new tax credit from the Uncle Sam that is like getting $7,500 interest free loan for the next 15yrs!

To find out if you qualify, then call me! and saying a prayer to St. Joseph wouldn't hurt either!

Loving the Crown

It's been about 2-1/2 months - what do I like about my new place so far.

Laundry on the sleeping level. It's kinda cool, while I wind down, the clothes are getting cleaned and just about before the days over, it's done.

The garage - cool place. I know it is for the car, but I'm still doing construction and staging stuff and need the peg board installed so I can re-arrange the tools to be in a neat & orderly manner. I love the keyless door system and the light sensor. It's cool.

Space - it is nice not to be on-top of everything. It's nice that the office is a bit farther from the balance of my living space. 2nd bedroom, while I haven't done much since my niece came to stay, I can actually plan to have friends visit and they can stay overnight. It is easy to clean - just about everything has a place to be in.

Since I still have lots of my furniture at the old place (remember the staging part), I miss my couch to go to hang out on. Tonight I dined chinese at Jules's home - it was great after dinner we retired to her living area and we got to lie back on the couches. We were sharing stories and just laughing - pretzels. That's for another blog entry.

I'm still not sure why it all happened now. There were two showings this past week at the Woodsedge unit - though I have not heard any update yet. I am thinking this unit is truly a transisitional place. That is good to. Gotta run - need a little beauty sleep.

The real estate Market

So the unit has been on the market - though I do pick the slowest two weeks to begin! There has been two actual showings. So far good feedback, they have liked it, 1st one like the privacy of the other unit and the 2nd one thought she smelled mold (must have a Peter nose).

1st rule - have a great property
2nd rule - have it priced right
3rd rule - have patience

First two rules - okey dokey

Now you are talking the 3rd rule. For a person that needs to make decisions at a snap most of the time, tic toc tic toc tic toc, this is a killer. I'll check my email way too often, how much Frebreeze can I spray around, re-set the blinds, a/c, make sure the dust isn't piled up.
Go ahead and laugh at that one. A former boyfriend used to make fun of me because I did not religiously dust each week! To make his point, he'd write his name and other messages in the dust and wait to see how long it would take for me to notice it.

Now it is just a waiting game. After this next week I should, hope, see inquries pick up.

TA DA .... It looks beautiful!

Hello all, I know it's been a while though in keeping up with business, new home, family stuff, old home, I can get bushed by the end of the day.

Friday - I signed to have the Woodsedge Unit sold, yesterday were the pictures and hopefully later today it will be live on the MLS.

When you enter my home, you are met with the Irish Claddagh. The grouping in the circle shows that they are all connected. the hands for friendship, the heart for love, and the crown for loyality all that resides within.

First - thank yous to all that have assisted in this move, Jules, the ever Helpful One who packed, cleaned, and offered advice and thought in advance; Tom, great neighbor and use of his Volvo station wagon and aero bed, Joe, thanks for the use of the aero bed and being a great neighbor - hug Normar for me; Lee, a friend and my agent; Fred, on moving day to assist with the take down of the wall; moving company, three great guys that will be back once again to move all the furniture out; Christine, the wonderful stager you'll see her work below; brother Mike, for the tools; parents for just being there; and yes I may have missed someone along the way - so tell me!



Here's some pics of the finished tour - it's so lovely - maybe I could use it as a get away? LOL!





Let folks know it is FOR SALE!!



Welcome - entering the unit, and entering the kitchen - great one to work in




This kitchen has been a dream, then a goal, and now is present. An absolute joy to work in. It was all the details that made it special - let's see what the 'showings' say!


When I had it done - professionally installed yet I was the GC on the job. Attention to all the details so that it was exactly to plan and by goodness it was just that.

I had won a take home chef meal. He was impressed with it and made me such a wonderful meal. I guess I'll had to have him for a farwell dinner.

I took lots of these pics, though I'll spare you. If you want to buy it, CONTACT ME!!

The stained glass windows were hand made for this kitchen - by CRP. make note - need a better picture

After you prepare a great meal , you can dine in a lovely area and then there is also the al fresco space

This is lovely place where I spent lots of time enjoying reading and visits by my human and feathred friends; the bird feeder is missing as the stager didn't want to have it messy out there. Uncle Bob - yes those are those patio chairs!

Moving back inside....

The area rug that you can see is the one I made (note another better picture needed)

That back wall had my entertainment center on it. So someone with a "big tv" has no problem to put it there!

My little "spa", arched shower curtain rod, plenty of counter space, amazing size of cabinet and drawers and storage for a little 5 x 8 space, and those lights are on a dimmer to make it just so :)

I'll miss this space as my new place has two and a half baths with no style at all.

After freshing up - you may retire to either of the two bedrooms.

The first one had been my office. A great space with lots of light. It looks enormous without the office in it!

Great light, great views into the woods

That rhody outside the window is just lovely when it blooms!

Now the second, I used as my master bedroom it was a cozy room with a great feature - read on......

So what's behind that door # 1?

Remember - storage should be pleasurable - not that I had lots of stuff - I'm not a stuff person... so to make it all pretty and there is somthing to be said for 'a place for everything and everything in its place'.... if the kitchen or the bath didn't do it for you........so for door @#1.....

Its the walk-in closet--

Its the cedar lined walk-in closet--

Its the built in, cedar lined, walk in closet-

I'm proud of this one - I built it myself, and has laminate flooring installed by yours truly!

Thanks for stopping by - leave me a note! Tell your Friends Family and assorted other Folks in your life............... It's for SALE!!!

The Unit awaits the Stager

Wow.. with thanks to Tom, we moved out the balance of the stuff from whenever. I fixed little items, removed parts of the old security system, threw out more little bits and pieces. I probably have one more vacuum, a floor wash, a touch up or so. Christine, the stager, is coming back next week to do a once over and final touches.

of course what I bring back from the old condo to the new condo needs to be then put away. I continue to make and remake spaces to store items to make them accessible and effective and efficient to use.

Now do I try to sell it myself or do I sell it myself? What ever leads I did have , have not panned out. So hiring my realator is one way. I guess I a little too tired today to think about this. a good night sleep would we nice right now.

pictures

Ok - have I've heard it again and again. 'Just plug in the camera into the laptop and the computer will know what to do',,,,,,,,, so I find the cable, software disks (jic), instruction book and assorted stuff. I plug in the cable to the camera and to the laptop ....... voila... it found the hardward, started my adobe photoshop software and pulled up the pictures off the camera. This was way too easy!!!

so here is a few of my place at Woodsedge.

To the left, is my lovely dining room. I served quite a few nice meals here for friends and family.

Once dinner is served and enjoyed, then we can retire to the living room

Behind the screens at the end of the room is the TV and stero equipment. The baskets contain current crochet projects and the yarn on the table is a prayer shawl I have since finished for a girlfriend of mine who is undergoing chemo now.

Now I will get more batteries and start taking some pictures of my new and former residence.

Stay tuned for more pictures!

It looks great

Wow - what a lovely place - so nice - maybe I shouldn't have moved?

I painted again today - the ceiling again and finished the wall. I was a lucky duck in that I had Julie help me. We started at 9am and with a short break for lunch, we returned back to the Crown veing very successful. She began to clean, I painted, and then we both cleaned. It didn't take too long - and voila. The office is now back to a bedroom, new shades, curtains up, woodwork washed and furniture placed. The two aero beds I borrowed - made both bedrooms look great!

Then So off to the store again to get some curtain rods, curtain for the silder, assorted stuff. A little more fussing - need to meet with the stager again. Then maybe I can get it sold.

When I left today - I felt a bit overwhelmed. A sense of sadness, that place was where so many chapters of my life ocurred. I'll feel a bit better here when I can take the balance of my stuff back to my new place. It's a change, change is very good. In time I'll write a little travel log through those chapters.

Sweet dreams

Home stretch

I've been going back and forth between the two units. It's kinda sad when I go back there. So many memories, yet it is just that. It is my past, not my tomorrow. Tomorrow is exciting, something new, an adventure.

This weekend I will have to paint the ceiling and walls and woodwork in the old office. I'll measure the rug and get a new one, and then the furniture will be placed around and should be ready to sell!

Last time I do that!

Making a move no matter how large or small, means lots of changes to the regular routines of life. If you haven't noticed or not yet admitted to it, yes you have a routine.

Now there will be new routines - the old ways won't be changed - they will fade into history; new ones will be tried on for size, massaged, and lo and behold become old hat in short time.

I've noticed that I find myself saying this will be the last time I do this .... and in the same breath .. hmmm how will it happen in the new place?

Last time - cheers! I won't ....
- have to drive over spring/summer/fall speed bumps
- have to trod in groceries from across the lot in the driving rain, snow, sleet or dark of night.
- have to scrape the snow and ice from my car or answer the bell when it's time to move the cars for the plow truck
- bring laundry to the basement
- unpack a portion of the closet to get out the extra TP
- unpack any of my neatly-too-organized-packed-I-live-in-a-small-place closets!
- repack the closets from light weight clothes to winter clothes
- sweep off my patio from the bits n pieces that fall from the neighbor upstairs
- moving my lace pillows around so that I don't trip over them
- listen to the neighbor upstairs, running, jumping, dropping all sorts of stuff, and assorted bathroom activities at what ever hours
- have to go to UPS central office to get my packages as they are not deliverable here
- worry that my neighbor upstairs water heater will leak
- have my trunk packed with car & picnic stuff as it's the only place for me to keep it - but yes my condo shovel comes in handy at the strangest places
- have to go to the car wash when it needs to be vacuumed
- have to get quarters to do laundry
- miss picking up my neighbors trash left in the foyer
- have to pick up my crochet projects and hide them away so my 'public' space looks picked up
- have to keep bars on all my windows or sleep with them closed


I will miss...
- feeding the squirrels, birds, chipmunks, turkeys, red fox, raccoons, and assorted other wild life that comes to my patio - I'll need to leave forwarding trail of food
- getting to see Nomar - Joe's cat
- seeing Joe in the a.m. and seeing Tom - two great neighbors
- my inside foyer mail box - and post lady Susan, she's the best. I'm trying to see if I can get her back on the Crown Ridge route!
- my two commercial washing machines and dryers
- the common hallway where us neighbors would meet to get the "news" about what was going on in our building
- my neighbors, some who are new and some who have lived here almost as long as I have
- the swimming pool and tennis courts - not really a big deal for me
- the use of the clubhouse to hold my parties
- the plow truck driver - I'll make coffee and fill his mug and then get all my neighbors to come out and move their cars - occasionally a snow ball fight!

I'm happy about the change, a bit nostalgic for the way I enjoyed myself. I really like/liked living here at Woodsedge. So a new day dawns, and like most days for me, a new adventure awaits.

~~~~ To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist - that is all. ~~~~

Begin the Packing - Successful Move 101

It's a new day - June 1st! I can't believe it at times, we have finished the first five months of the year - time does fly.

How do you do the most successful move - easy prepare for it. Talk, Walk, Think, and Plan it out. I've been going through each area, each corner, each shelf, whether it be in my mnds eye, or actually going through it. All items in their place, and more importantly, what will it destination be in my new place.

My goal, first to have the office up and running, kitchen, and bedroom the same day as of the move. I'll pack my 'home' on Sunday, it will be ready to go, no questions, no if and or buts. The office will be shut down on Tuesday night, the balance of it will be packed. Wednesday - the movers arrive at 7:30am. I truly expect them to pack the truck and and be on the road by 10:00 am. Their biggest challenge, I think, will be the desk in the office. It is a monster - L shaped - 8ft by 7ft footprint. The 8ft side has a hutch on it. It is heavier than all heck.

We should arrive at my new place at 10:15am (LOL!). Then it will be to re-assemble the desk again and place it in the space. I've been playing with my space organizing grid sheet. How do I set up the office is a bit irrating at the moment. I like my current set up, yet it was built for the room. There is a real sense on effeciency built in that I truly enjoy. I trust it will all comes together before 10am that day.

Pre-Packing arrangement of my few belongings has seemed to be falling in order. This has some relief, the living area and kitchen are left to do. The biggest of them all is the office. Yet with continued focus - that too will be in in order very soon. It's like some kind of accomplishment.

What is truly amazing, how I've packed, organized everything in a neat & orderly fashion. The Stager was surprized at my level of organization. A place for everything and everything in its place. Now all the stuff will need new places. I just laugh, such a change up, shake up. One of her suggestions was to get a clear plastic shoe organizer that you hang over the door. (one at BB&B as they have the best). So I took my 20% coupon from L&T, headed over and found this organizational tool. This is not for my shoes - I don't even own 24 pairs - it is for the bits & pieces that were in the bath cabinet/drawers and the linen closet.

Any way, it is off to another closet - I think those are just about complete!

Stage the Place

.... Staging is an interesting process! Christine arrived to give my place the once over. It's a bit of a personal process - she is going to go through every nook and cranny of your space, all the little dark messy places. Our goal for last night is to determine what furniture should stay (for staging) and what furniture can be moved initially.

So great news, she said, while I have a bit much in the furniture area, I'm pretty well organized! Phew - so the run down is as such. Bedroom - leave some clothes in the closet / shelves / drawers; maybe look for matching side table lamps; leave the bed and side tables - all else - out of here. Bath, fine, leave a few items in the cabinet & drawers. Office - all goes, and will pull items from the other rooms to make this a bit of a sitting room; need to get Joe's (neighbor) blow up twin bed, and paint the room a very very light blue. Living room, take out one of the bookshelves, take off the top of another one so that it can show that you can have a big TV in the room, and the rest of the room can be reshuffeled. Move some of my art work around. Need to purchase some type of different window treatment for the patio door. Patio - buy a hanging plant, leave the chairs, bird feeding stuff - out of here. Dining room - move out the plants, two chairs, - done. Kitchen - empty most, though leave enough stuff to allow the buyer to see what / how it is all stored. Actually that is the secret to the 'staging'.

I feel a bit better, settled, allowing for "the plan" to begin to come together. The move will be pretty tight. The office is the toughest part as I wish to move furniture, files, and equipment and getting it all up and running in a about a 24 hours.

Besides stuff to change around she gave me hints to prepare for the listing! This will help as my unit has been upgraded quite a bit. Christine's feelings - this place will show really well!

Consultants Coming

Selling and buying a residence has been raised to an art form. If you've taken in the various shows on HGTV, then you'll be more aware. Now I'll remind you that I was renting my place first, went out one day as a tenant and came back as the owner. It was easy, none of this stuff to deal with.

Agent Lee has been a my right hand lady in all of this. She arranged that later today, the Inspector is coming. I'll get to watch, ask a zillion questions, and find out all I'll need to do to manage this new place. Heating, air conditioning, plugs, appliances, lights, mold, radon, and the list goes on.

Later on, the Stager will be coming to look at my current place to see what I need to do to prepare it for selling. It will be a busy day.

Moving In

.. It was so long ago, I do remember the night after work when my college roommate Laurie and I went to look at this place. The night was cold and snowy - the first part of January, I was 25, my birthday was a few days away. It was empty, only pull-down shades on windows, empty, good location to downtown Hartford and all highways, central air conditioning and great water pressure in the shower. The kitchen was new, upgraded since the conversion from apartments to condominiums in 1980. Located on the ground floor, we had a patio and yard and there was shared washers and dryers in our basement. No more treking off to the laundry mat on Monday nights. That sold both of us - we signed the rental contract on the spot. That night we went out to dinner, flipped for the bedroom with the walk-in closet, I won and still use it today. A few days later we moved in from separate apartments. It was an easy move, though it was snowing that day, neither of us owned much. We had our bedroom furniture, some kitchen stuff, a couple beach chairs, we had two TVs, one clock radio and I reunited us with Ma Hawk's old wing back chair that I rescued from College West. The rent was $500/month plus utilities. This was truly a deal - we even splurged and purchased cable TV service.

In the next couple of months, we would go furniture shopping. Being accounting majors and both now working in the field, she in private and me in public, we agreed it would be great that we would purchase pieces individually, so we would not need to anty up when we got married and had to move out. She purchased the sofa and coffee table; I purchased the bookcases and the dining room set with chairs. Of course we shopped for a few window treatments, additional kitchen appliances and gadgets. Before the end of tax season, the place was all set up. For both of us it was pretty much our first home since college days. We were looking forward to the spring, to have parties with our friends, like at College West, then swimming in the pool and playing tennis. This place was like living in a resort!