A December to Remember...

Stephanie and I loaded up her moving pod after my arrival in St Paul. The last of the preparation and packing took a wee bit longer than planned, so we left Friday at 3:00 PM. We had planned Thursday morning departure so we were 30 hours later than planned.

The pod fully loaded and ready to travel to Los Gatos. 

If the weather stays in our favor, we have a good shot of reaching Los Gatos by Monday. We are gonna try. 

Of course, Stephanie's last morning in Minnesota was the traditional December greeting!  We'll be back in the spring for an extended visit and do more dress up. 

What is a Mnnesota December morning without snow?

We did successfully button up our St Paul condo. We still have much to do, but these pictures give you an idea of the place. 

The view towards the kitchen and dining room from the living room. The plaid chair is Stephanie's, the area rug and small stool are from Los Gatos.  We purchased the dining room table and chairs and counter chairs together a month or so ago. 

The new kitchen, tile floor, appliances and dining room furniture.  

The living room with Brazillian hardwood flooring. The carpet and light stools came from Los Gatos.  The end tables, lamps, two chairs and ottoman were Stephanie's.  We purchased the sofa recently. 

Both the Humette (2003 Honda Element) and Cruiser (1992 Oldsmobile Cutlass Cruiser 'Woodie' station wagon) are safely parked indoors in the condo complex. 

35,000 miles on the 1992 Olds Cutlass Cruiser now safely stored in the heated garage at our condo. 

And Humette is safely stored in the heated garage.  

They should be fine until our return in the spring. 

Lastly, I talked with my contractor yesterday for the Los Gatos place. We passed inspection, virtually everything is done. He has the baseboards being installed today (Saturday) and the cleaning crew working the place today as well. 

If you read my previous posts, you know I was hoping Steve would be Santa Claus for Stephanie and me. Well, sounds like he is!  

A December to Remember. Well, it could be because I did a round trip driving from San Francisco to Duluth and back (with Stephanie and Robbie) in 12 days in December.  It could be because we packed Stephanie's moving pod in cold, cold weather (mid-teens) and I probably made a couple of hundred trips carrying boxes and household items out to the pod. It could be because we are traveling cross country with a 12.5 year old, blind, diabetic dog with IBS requiring a special diet. It could be that our Los Gatos townhouse completed on schedule and is is ready for move in. It could be any of those things, but it's not. 

It is A December to Remember because Stephanie is pulling up her lifetime stakes in St Paul to live with me in California. That is truly special and I am so glad she has agreed to this move. I, for one, am looking forward with great anticipation to our future together. 

Yes, Virginia, there really is a Santa Claus.