Home and getting settled...

Greetings from Fairbanks, AK.

Sorry for the lack of posts, but tiredness from traveling 4100+ miles, getting the car unloaded, getting settled in as much as one can with no furniture and trying to figure out where everything is going to go in this new place has occupied my time thus far.

First, the trip was uneventful.  Until the final day, we had lovely weather.  Sometimes it was a bit gray with misty fog, but it usually burned off to nice, sunny weather.  The last day it rained.  I enjoyed having Rob with me and that we shared driving or else I might still be driving.  He lugged suitcases in and out, so that was nice.  And it was nice to have someone to share a meal with on the road.  He was relieved when we had gone through the border crossings.  When he drove this journey 18 years ago, the area between the borders was evidently quite rustic, with no real pavement and many large potholes.  It has since been paved and was not a problem for any car that decided to make that journey.  Whew, that was a relief for all of us.

The boys did very well.  They are the perfect travelers.  Once they are buckled in (yes, they have seat restraints) and the car begins to move, they get comfy in their spaces and sleep.  They wake up when we stop and pee upon command when they are on their leashes.  Winston did have an anxiety meltdown in the car one day.  So we dug out his Thundershirt and gave him some Benedryl and all was well.  He still has his shirt on but has not had any issues since.

We arrived at the house on September 20th (Friday) around 12:30 PM.  Kate had been waiting for us and had gone out to get falafels for everyone.  They were quite good, but I was almost too tired to eat.  The falafel shack is closing soon, heading for warmer climates.

We unloaded the car in the rain.  Yes, there is a garage, but the car had a car top carrier and extra rails, so we had to get those off first in order to move it into the garage.  It was a light rain, so it was just uncomfortable and not drenching.

The house is better looking in person.  Compared to my little house on Route 10, it is huge.  But I am sure, as all of my stuff arrives (no time line on that yet) it will get smaller fast.  The house was built in the 1980s and she shows her age in places.  The upstairs bath and kitchen have not been redone in quite a while, so I am sure they will make the list to get done first.  But the rooms are large and will do everything we want for many years.

From inside, I do not hear a sound.  When I look out the front window, all I see is my yard and some beautiful mature trees.. some varieties of spruce and many birch trees,  Looking out on the deck side, I can sometimes see cars driving on the street, but not many and they make no noise.  I have neighbors, but unless I look out specific windows or turn a certain way while gazing out, I do not see them.  I occupy a corner lot and the way the house is situated, It is almost as private as the Route 10 house was and yet, I have a neighborhood that, when I am less tired, I might even be able to walk the dogs and none of us will be run over by tractor trailers.  How novel is that idea?

Rob and Kate finally left on Friday afternoon and I began the task of sorting through what Rob had brought inside.  I was madly making a list for Walmart.  Since I may be here for anywhere from 4 to 6 more weeks without my stuff, I had to get some basic things so I could sleep and eat.  Yes, Rob and Kate had suggested that I go to their house, but the idea of my dogs in their space and the 45 minute drive to get there, did not sit well.  Besides, It was time we all have our spaces.

I had trouble getting on the internet as Rob had failed to give me all of the correct characters in the password.  I got the dogs settled and fed, then headed off to Walmart.  It is less than 5 miles from me and a straight shot on the closest main road.  I had to check out twice as my cart filled up quickly with inflatable bed, bedding, towels, etc.  So I checked out, put that stuff in the car and went back in for food staples.  Then I had to unload and sort through it all.  The steps are proving to be a challenge as I am not used to them, but I am sure in the next couple of weeks or months I will have retrained my legs to do them better.

It was after 11:30 PM that night before I curled up on my new bed, under new sheets, watching the little TV I had packed in the car top carrier and falling asleep.  I did wake once, being a tad chilly (it is getting below freezing here most nights) so grabbed some covers from the car, kicked up the heat a tad and went back to sleep.

Rob came over yesterday afternoon.  We went shopping for dining room furniture.  We saw a couple of things we liked,  Kate will have to chime in before we buy anything.  The upper level of the house is a joint venture in the common rooms.  It has to work of all of us and any company that we might invite over.  They have a very nice bed arriving Wednesday, along with my electric recliner.  So I will finally have a comfy chair to sit in starting that day.  We also went to Costco.  I had left my biggest TV behind for Marji and Danny.  They came and shopped the House of Jane the morning I left.  So we found a really good deal on a TCL Roku TV Series 6 55" which would fit in the back of Miss Gaddy, now that she has been returned to her original state without bars to keep the dogs where they belong while traveling.  I also got a soundbar so there will be excellent sound without many speakers and wires going everywhere.  We brought it back and have it set up in the craft room, which will serve as craft, sewing, quilting and TV room for me,  It is a 4K TV and the picture is stunning.  Everything is going along well.  There was one more trip to Walmart for cleaning stuff and odds and ends that I found I was missing from the previous trip.  It is hard... and costly, to start up housekeeping from scratch.

Today is a trip to Fred Meyers, another local department/grocery store.  Not looking for anything specific, just getting the lay of the land.

Please know that I am safe and sound.  I will be digging out my camera and taking some detailed pictures of the house in the next couple of days.  I will be posting the now pictures and then after my stuff gets here pictures.  I think of you often and miss you alot.  But I am excited about this new chapter and hope that some of you will be coming to visit in the next few years.  Love to you all and Lava you to the ones who understand that one!!!