Home: Under Construction

You probably didn't notice in this picture I took of the outside of our house, but there was a gift waiting on our porch:

A Welcome Home! balloon was attached to a lovely houseplant (which is still alive! and has to be a record for me). Next to both was a card from one Marijke Sutter. The tears which had welled up at our homecoming received the addition of tears from the love, the gratitude, and the twinge of homesickness for every soul I left behind on the east coast. 

This was so touching. I'm so grateful for Marijke. She has always known how to be a friend to me, from the moment we met in a tent in the Adirondacks.
The plant is still alive, more's the miracle. She says she deliberately ordered a hardy one.

The day after we arrived we spent in unloading the truck into the garage, getting groceries and supplies, and trying to find the most essential boxes for survival. It was a bit of indoor camping, at first.

Wednesday the 15th, the kids were willing to give Ascension Episcopal (our new home church)'s VBS a try-- provided I stayed with them the first day. I obliged.

It was blazingly hot! I resolved to get some sunscreen forthwith.

The outdoor water games were a big hit. We got to experience the joy of water play in the desert, where you never feel cold for an instant and your clothes dry in minutes. 

The women who taught the music classes really sealed the deal on the kids' enjoyment and approval of the program. They're still wandering around singing the whole VBS soundtrack in broad voices.

Isn't she amazing??

The kids were so dazed and jetlagged! But they participated as much as their little headaches would allow, and were very happy to go back for the rest of the week- without me along. 

Meanwhile, our frantic search for furniture has been underway. We bought a washer and dryer and a living room set new, and a desk, two dressers and chair used.

Look at this glorious desk! I've wanted one like this my whole life.

I might write letters now! And I will certainly write my thesis in elegance and comfort.

Meanwhile, this is the weather we've been experiencing....

It's really not as bad as it looks. In the shade, it's downright comfortable! I am officially a fan of dry heat.

We got to have another dinner at the vicarage with our new friends, the priests-in-charge of Ascension Church. Alas that they're moving out just as we arrive! We hope good things for their replacement. 

We found a home quickly for the whittled man Anne gave us:

...to let our neighbors know exactly what kind of weirdos live here. 

Slowly, the house is starting to come together, with furnishings, organization, and here and there, some art and decoration is emerging.

My kitchen is cool and comfortable. 

We've spent a lot of time on the front porch. I just love the trees and birds. I'm so grateful for the tall trees in our neighborhood, unnatural as they are in this climate. They make me feel at home.

We had to try this. It's not bad!

Wednesday morning after our move in, we had to call our first plumber! That's right, it didn't take two full days for yucky water to start filling the bathtub and pooling around the powder room toilet at every flush. The plumber was NOT impressed with the inspector's negligence as he snaked the main line. Fortunately, it wasn't devastatingly expensive or destructive. And we now have a favorite plumber!

And we have a new book:

And Jon has a new skill: fixing sinks!

That strainer basket was leaking, too. C'mon, it's our first week!!

Even the kids got into the spirit of home improvement. Here, they help paint their new (used) dresser!

Desert nights are so magical. Our backyard (which is about to become more pleasant still- our lawnmower arrived today!) is nearly bug-free and the summer night air is dry and pleasant.

Sunday marked our first visit to Ascension Church in Pueblo! It was a promising first visit. Their motto is: "A haven for all and a blessing to our community." And this really does seem to be the direction of their efforts. 

That Sunday happened to be the sending-off service for Pastors John and Rachel, so we got a chance to see how the congregation loves their community. And we got a bit of their sense of humor, in the musical review they performed for their departing priests, and in their decor at the reception:

Monday, we did something that made me feel like an official Puebloan:

Our local library, only a 10 minute brisk walk from our house, is a treasure! Can't wait to see the big downtown branch. We've already been to a cool kids' event and checked out stacks of materials.

See those puppets? You can check them out!!

Living room furniture arrived yesterday...

A quick word on home ownership: When we were shopping for a home, I saw each house as a set of positive and negative characteristics. I felt fairly balanced and unsentimental about this house, recognizing simply that this was the best house for us. We put in our offer.

During that six weeks when there was so much doubt that we'd even be granted a mortgage, this house became a castle in my imagination.

When we arrived, it was a lovely little house, with a few minor flaws and a carpet that smelled vaguely like dogs. But a week later, after the plumbing repairs and the work of unpacking and arranging and the plans and the sweat, I now love this house. It is mine. I look at the flaws and feel only slight fondness and determination to improve them. I look at the features and glow with gratitude. This really is our Mushroom Castle. Thank you to all readers who helped us get into this house and prayed us through that last few months.

Look all around! Nothing but blue skies!

Extreme West: Journey to Pueblo

These landscapes were just.... huge.

Arkansas was a bit more familiar; generally flat, very green, lots of trees and rivers. There was a dramatic thunderstorm, but nothing out of the ordinary for summer. But when we hit Oklahoma, things started to look a bit more... unfamiliar.

Oklahoma

God's country. See God's laser eyes?

Loved seeing this rainbow in Oklahoma the day after the Orlando attack.

Love wins. Or it will, eventually.

Caught a glimpse of Oklahoma City.

The wildflowers were my favorite thing about Oklahoma, but my second was this sunset. 

We slept in Elk City, Oklahoma that night, in a pet-friendly Clarion Inn. By the way, the cats would like to put in that they are really glad we're no longer traveling.

I was all curiosity for Texas, which I've never seen before (if you don't count the inside of the Houston airport, once).

It did not disappoint!

We listened to Bey's Daddy Lessons while driving through Texas, which seemed appropriate. Give it a listen if you haven't heard it (and if you haven't watched Lemonade yet, I mean... why?? Get going!!).

Just when we were getting tired of the endless plains, suddenly...

Slowly we began to climb. At one point in New Mexico, our elevation was over 7000 feet. The land began to sprout mesas and scrubby cacti. Astonishing, for an east coaster like me.

At the end of our time in New Mexico, we hit a tornado warning and a really vicious storm. There was no where, nothing, in which we could take shelter. We just prayed, and kept driving. And at the other end of the lightening and hail and wind and rain and green light, we suddenly were plunged back into sunshine.. and we saw the Rockies for the first time.  

We saw some majestic (and greener) landscapes as we descended to the mere 4,692 feet above sea level of Pueblo.

As we approached Pueblo, Miles had a moment to recognize we were almost at journey's end. 

And seemingly the moment after we entered Pueblo..

We were home.

Corey and Tim helped us empty the truck and get ourselves started, before they headed off on their own vacation. And then, it was time to make ourselves at home.

I can tell you at nearly a week in, we're off to a good start in that department. 

The Journey West: East of the Mississippi

We drove to Pueblo by way of People We Knew On The Way.

First, the trip west gave us a chance to see my brother,  Buddy, and my nephew, Aiden, in Louisville.

It was a gorgeous, if hot, day in Kentucky

Buddy has the family cradle at his house, since he had the first grandchild. Grandpa Albert, my father's father, made this when they were expecting me. He made it huge; Adele, at 4.5, can almost be contained in it. 

We had a pleasant evening! The kids played WiiU with almost no restrictions, and we had a fire in the pit after they were down. It was good to get caught up. 

Miles and Aiden get along beautifully, assisted by their mutual love of video games. 

One of too few pictures of me and Buddy:

The whole crew

After a lazy morning, we got into the car and continued into Tennessee. We had an appointment with some hot chicken in Tennessee. 

The folk singer Dom Flemons, who was at Steppin' Out last year, sings a song about hot chicken. The kids only know about the existence of Nashville, TN because of this song. So, we had a bit of a quest to find us some hot chicken while passing through.

Prince's was what Dom recommended, but it was, alas, closed until 2.

We made do with Hattie's:

Nashville afforded us some pretty views and very fun spontaneous live music in the park where we ate our hot chicken. Next, we travelled to Memphis, where we spent the night with our beloved friends, Josh and Melissa. We enjoyed catching up with August, who is four, and finally meeting, for the first time, baby Madeleine! What good fortune that our move gave us a visit with the Hatchers. 

We finally had to leave the familiar half of the country behind.

Crossing the Mississippi into Arkansas, I felt like Samwise Gamgee:

We watched with big eyes (ok, sometimes mine were closed) the two long days of travel in unfamiliar landscapes. Next up: west of the Mississippi.