Sep almost over

Back from a great weekend in Cairo - went to a large family reunion on Saturday - the Gainey family = Papa Bill's side of the family. The food! I had to walk around & just snap some shots of the food (coming soon). There were 80+ covered dishes on the main table.

Plus the most fabulous thin layered chocolate cake. It had 24 layers. I'd never heard of these type cakes before I met Joe & spent time in south Georgia. You bake thin layers of yellow cake (very thin) & in between each layer there's homemade cooked chocolate frosting. Every bite is perfect.

Nice to have had a break from the unpacking. Back home now & trying to knock out the last of the big boxes that are left. Carrie is in the last 2 weeks now. Waiting & excited about becoming an aunt for the first time!

Sunday 20th

The time of moving is over... A now to the setting up of a new household. I tell you: I am tired of all this. I have not sewn in weeks. My kitchen is still in complete disarray. And my vehicle needs a serious deep cleaning.

And the worst of it: my 2 year old has had 'enough Mama' = he is so bored with being indoors.

So am I! I'm ready to be outdoors & planting & creating & taking long walks (and then arrive home to perfect order!).

In a week I know I will feel better. But today I'm a little cross. The jumble of boxes & disorder is starting to take its toll on all of us. I'm ready to have my free time back.

Season of the Warrior

Magnificent Autumn! He comes not like a pilgrim, clad in russet weeds; not like a hermit, clad in gray; but like a warrior with the stain of blood on his brazen mail. His crimson scarf is rent; his scarlet banner dripping with gore; his step like a flail on the threshing floor.
-Longfellow

Pig Roast and New House Pics

Moving, moving. Almost done. 3 days to go. Not much left here at the old place - gotta pack & move the kitchen tomorrow - that's the last room to go. Tonight is our last night here. I'm sitting on the floor in the middle of an empty living room. And the guys are snoozing in the next room on a mattress on the floor.

Thought I'd share some pics from last weekend at the Neely pig roast. Getting ready - some extremely rare footage of my father mowing the grass. Putting the meat on the smoker. Eating. The kiddos playing at the roast. Angie, John, Jack, & Nesta came and camped out for the roast.

Levi picking seeds out of the watermelon so he could put them in his mouth to spit them out :)

Brothers (my Grandaddy Joe on left, Uncle Frank right)

Pics at the new house. I'm lovin the his & her's outbuilding (first pic below). Joe's mancave is on the left. Our laundry room & my future sewing studio on right. We spent a few hours on Saturday & painted the livingroom and diningroom - just an off white - fresh & bright.

Outbuilding

in the man cave

the house from the backyard - huge live oak in front - also (not pictured) on the place is the largest loblolly pine tree I've ever seen

potting shed around back of the outbuilding - we've got some sweet plans for this funky little niche - I'll have to do some before and after pics

New House Moving In

Today is day 3 of our 9 day window to move into the new house. We're making great progress. I have to say of all the moves I've made, this one feels really easy.

The two houses are about half a mile apart & we're moving about 3 loads a day. I've not really packed anything - just gather all the small stuff in rubbermaid tubs & drive it over & put back in its place - haven't even had to take anything off the hangers or empty drawers.

We paced out a garden spot today - I like to do 3' wide beds (which you do not walk on) with dedicated walkways between. We can easily fit in five beds that are 3' x 40' = 600 square feet. They'll go in the side yard = receives full sun throughout the day. They'll run east-west which is ideal. Now, I just have to put in the sweat equity. I hope to sell at the Savannah farmer's market in the spring.

Moth & New House

In preparation of our up-coming move we've been getting the backyard in tip-top shape. We were working yesterday & I lifted a paver that had been propped against the fence in the back corner to reveal this really awesome moth - very large & a unique coloration. Turns out its a Giant Leopard Moth or Ecpantheria scribonia. I don't remember seeing one before, but so easy to remember now after seeing just one.



With the clock ticking down on us (only 15 days now until we have to be out of this house), we have finally secured (well almost) 'the next place.' We sign the lease tomorrow on a 2BR/1BA that's a little over half a mile from our current home.

The more I think about this house the more excited I become (and can only keep my fingers crossed that there's no hold up tomorrow) - it's an old historic home - one of the original 'Ford homes' built by carpenters & artisans that Henry Ford commissioned in the 1930's to provide housing for local workers in his winter home of Richmond Hill. All the walls are plastered & it's got some funky woodworking details.

It's a much smaller home than we're in now = less expensive to heat/cool & a considerable savings in rent. It's a good fit for us (and I'm giddy from the thought of shedding 1/3 of our furniture). The lot is large with an established garden site. A massive live oak in the front yard. And the icing on the cake is the workshop/garage that's on the property - complete with potting shed around back. The original 1930's owner had a 'canning kitchen' set up in one side of this building - there's a vintage gas stove still there & the walls are lined with shallow shelves for canned goods - I would love to make this space into a little sewing studio.

Okay, so if you can't tell I'm quite excited at this find - as we've been searching forever & this is the jackpot for us. Keep your fingers crossed that all goes well tomorrow.