$35 from the neighbor’s tree lot. $100 for new LED lights. Kittens asleep on the snowy tree skirt: priceless. The children chose this 17-footer for the first official Christmas in our new house. Aged 9 and 11, they debated what Santa Claus would do without a chimney.
Arrangement by Nicholas. Left to right: Pengie, Little Pengie, Fire Dog, Snake, Yellow Bear, Fluffy, Mr. Awesome, Peng Ball.
The bus drivers know we’ve moved South by one driveway. One loooong driveway. Chris drives Nicholas to catch his bus at 7 am and Lily to catch her bus at 8 am. When it’s warmer, and maybe they are a little older, we’ll make them walk for some healthful fresh air, as Nanny McPhee advises.
We transferred the flag from the grandparent’s house where we’ve been squatting to take up legal residence in the new house as of Saturday, March 16, 2013. Suddenly we needed to celebrate, so we called a few nearby friends and family members to come over for cake and champagne.
Lily selected Amelia Island Green. Nicholas picked Carrot Stick. They devoted hours to painting, reaching all but the highest spots with gallons of Benjamin Moore Aura. Throughout the build when adults have asked, “What color are you going to paint your room?” they have always answered “turquoise” and “orange”. They meant it.
Robin Guthridge usually paints landscapes like the view from Olana but here she is painting our master bedroom, walk-in closet AND the laundry room. A big “thank you” to Susan’s sister for hours and hours of perfect work in Ivory Tusk.
The drywall finishing was finished on December 24th.
We discovered that Nick Ford, our builder, signs his work.
After testing many colors, we let the Shakers decide. The main room matches the round stone barn’s cupola and stables at nearby Hancock Shaker Village. The historic preservationist there said the color is closest to Cork by Benjamin Moore. It is full-strength on the beams and a step lighter on the walls. The exterior siding is also Cork.
Chris has been painting from dawn past dusk.
It was -2 degrees this morning outside and 68 degrees inside. No drafts. Very cozy. Conditions will only improve once we turn on the HRV, but we’ll wait until the dust of construction settles.
Alpacas will eat this hay harvested from our front yard (which is also a 30-acre hayfield). Chris helped Ted load 275 bales for a top-heavy truckload headed for Connecticut. Meanwhile, back at the computer keyboard, Susan juggled editorial rush jobs regarding projects in Niger and Madagascar, funding from Norway and a website for green technology in East Africa.