First Night at Blackberry Homestead and a Busy Next Day

October 19, 2024

On October 17th, I watched the moon come up through the trees from the patio. It was beautiful. The picture didn’t come out that great.

I got ready for bed (shower and poison ivy treatment) and let Nox join me in the new bed for a while.

Bruce called and we talked for a while.

After I got Nox settled in Nox bed, I went to sleep in the new bed, I drifted right off. I love the new mattress.

I slept well. Nox woke me up in the morning. I could hear her nails clicking on the wooden floor outside the bedroom.

I got up to see if Nox needed to go outside. She made it very clear that outside was not her goal.

I picked her up and let her join me in the bed. I went back to sleep until the alarm for Nox’s pills went off. I got up, gave Nox her pills, took her outside and brought her back in after she started heading my way.

I got a shower, put Benadryl cream on my poison ivy rash then topped it with calamine lotion. I am a very pink lady in spots!

After I got dressed, in my stock feet, I decided I should push the bed closer to the window. I forgot wood floors are slippery and socks are made for sliding. When I pushed on the bed, Newton’s third law came into play and I slipped. I fell at an angle onto my right side. My right knee and hip hit the floor. My hip looks ok, but my right knee is bruised and swollen, as it took the brunt of my fall.

I decided to just sit for a while afterwards.

When I felt better, I decided to do some simple yard cleanup I could do sitting down.

I carried the plastic bag around front to the driveway and started picking up the broken glass.

Nox joined me. She laid down in the sun on the grass. At one point I saw her rolling around on her back looking blissful.

I could see the glass easily with the sun making it glint. I picked up all the glass I saw and then tossed the garbage bag into the trash can. I walked back to Nox and saw a lot more pieces of glass glinting.

I carried Nox inside and got washed up.

I put the sheets I planned to use as curtains into the rental car, the plastic grocery bags, and Nox into the car (she was ready to go with me). We headed over to the RV.

You know you live in a different place when signs like this are displayed along the way.

After arriving at the RV, I put Nox on the theater seating so she’d be out of my way.

For 30 minutes, I did a grab and stuff. I grabbed my laundry from the dryer. I grabbed my meds from the bathroom. Then came the kitchen. I grabbed the flatware, toaster, soda stream, snap lid food storage items, spices and food from the fridge. I filled up the back of the car, the passenger seat of the car and the back seat of the car.

I headed back to the RV and got the car unloaded. Nox was unloaded first and she watched me from her bed in the kitchen while I carried everything in.

I got everything put away, just before I received a text at 3:03 PM letting me know my new range was two stops away. Great timing! At 3:38 PM, I received a call from the delivery guys that they were 5 minutes away. When they arrived, they backed the Ryder truck up our driveway.

I showed them where to put the range. While holding Nox, I watched as they unboxed it. They put all the trash into the truck. They had to attach the electric cord to the range.

They maneuvered it inside. To get it to fit, they had to adjust the feet. The glass top extends over the counter top so no food will fall between the stove and counter. Once in place, they turned on the oven and I got out my Le Creuset pan, added water, put it on the stove top and boiled water. It was super fast!

The delivery men left and I realized the feet needed some adjustment. The back is higher than the front and there are some trim pieces that need to installed.

I pulled off the tape from the warming drawer, removed the warning label and texted a picture to Bruce. At his next stop, he called, super excited about the stove.

Here are some pictures.

I got out my spice jar kit and started labeling spice jars. I poured spices, herbs and blends into the jars.

I now have a beautifully organized spice drawer.

Here’s my flatware drawer.

I am pleased with how easy it is to use the red cups to organize items. Here I have clips, soy and fast food packets and wine bottle stoppers for the vacuum seal system. The white pump in the lower left pulls the air out of the wine bottle.

Here’s another drawer. I probably won’t leave the skinny space. I saw this towel storage method video and it saves space!

Here’s another drawer.

I am thinking of this as my baking and stick blender drawer. The little bowls will be moved out, as well as the ice cream scoop. I am not sure what to do with the cheese cloth yet. The mandolin will need to be moved as well.

Since I currently have only one wall outlet, I got my flat extension cord for my computer (no longer needed) and plugged it in. I organized my small appliances on the counter top and got them plugged in.

It was an incredible busy and productive day. I was reading my range manual in bed when my phone rang. Bruce was home and he wanted me to let him in. We current only have one key to the front door and only one garage door opener.

I was so excited to see him!

He woke up this morning because Nox came to our door and did some talking. (Her funny little whines that sound like she is trying to talk.)

Bruce put Nox in bed with us. He told me he really likes the bed, the pillow and the sheets. Everything is very comfortable and he’s gone back to sleep. I am glad he likes the bed.

We will be unloading the truck later this morning and taking the rental car back.