Blissful Bounty

Another Month

2009-01-29T15:17:00.003-05:00

It's been a month since Randy posted last.
We are mostly unpacked and settled in.
Dial up internet service is s - l - o - w.
I am just now getting online more.

On another subject . . . movies!!!
We have both a VHS/DVD collection.
Many Randy got second hand - on sale.
We are replacing some VHS with DVDs.

I am anxious to expand some genres.
Currently focusing on the classics ...
and even more specifically musicals.
Check out Bliss Movie Mania for more info.

WE'RE BACK!!!

2008-12-29T10:40:00.003-05:00

We've now been here in our new home for Thanksgiving and Christmas (and the ice storm and the snowstorm that dumped 16" on us). And now we're finally reconnected to the internet (via dial-up). So we'll start posting more updates real soon.

Farewell Topsham

2008-11-20T04:55:00.003-05:00

This is the last day to wake up at the apartment.
Tomorrow morning I shall wake up at "our house".
On my to do list is making tunafish for lunch,
selecting cleaning supplies to take up, and
unplugging internet connection to pack up.
That latter means we will not be blogging
or responding to email for a little while.

The Move is On

2008-11-19T16:26:00.000-05:00

Randy headed up to "our house" with a full truck load of stuff.
It was primarly kitchenware including pantry food items.
Today I am finishing up the kitchen packing after baking.
I also just packed away most of the desktop PC connections.
All that is left to pack is the last minute bedroom and bath stuff.

We Own a House

2008-11-18T15:07:00.000-05:00

We now officially own a house as of about 11 AM.
According to Google Maps we will be moving ...
71 miles which is about 1 hour and 18 minutes away.
It is a totally new community for both of us.
We are anxious to get settled, get to know our neighbors
and check out the Nazarene church just down the road.

Randy headed up today with our new dining room set.
Tomorrow he will make king size platform bed at the house.
Thursday my dad is heading up with us for assistance.
The guys will change out the toilets and get mailbox post in.
I will start unpacking the kitchen and our master bedroom.
Scheduled Thursday is the mattress delivery and phone service.

We will start living up there Thursday since the bed will be there.
John from Columbus is coming next week to help finish the move.
I want to get some of the house set up before company arrives.
Next week we need to get the rest of our stuff from the apartment.
The guys will use a rental truck to get the furniture, boxes and bins.
Besides the apartment we have stuff in a storage facility to get too.

Chair Possibilites

2008-11-17T15:22:00.000-05:00

In an email read about the special deals at Target.
15% off orders over $125 plus free shipping.

Still looking for chairs for the living room space.
We do have a country/mission style going on.
Window Pane Occasional Chair - 259.99
Milano Expresso and Mocha Chair - 179.99
Milano Open Arm Chair - Mocha - 199.99
Lattice Arm Chair - 209.99
Thinking the Open Arm Chair will be best.

Thinking of Curves Button Back Chair (219.99)
to be used in our bedroom for my vanity.

Living Room Possibilities

2008-11-17T13:14:00.003-05:00

I bought my loveseat at least 15 years ago.
It is still in good condition - very sturdy.
I cared more about function than design.
I am not sure how it will work in our
country style living room.

Some possible furnishings for the space:
Sorrento Floral Decorative Pillow
Sorrento Striped Decorative Pillow
Stately Floral Pillows and Throw
Chenille fringed amethyst pillows (2)
Chenille fringed moss pillows (2)
Chenille knife-edged blue pillows (2)

Still not sure which way to go.
While the loveseat has a design ...
the future chairs will be in a solid neutral ...
and there is possibility of window bench also.

A Year in Maine

2008-11-16T15:22:00.001-05:00

It is hard to believe it has been a year already since I moved to Maine! Of course it's still amazing that I'm married too!!! Plus in a few days we'll be moving into our new home. The year has been truly amazing!

Store Links

2008-11-14T20:44:00.003-05:00

We are doing a lot of window shopping online.
It may be for artwork, pilows, furniture or rugs.
Wanted a place for store links (for easy access).

Walmart
Target
Bed, Bath and Beyond

Big Lots
TJ Maxx
Christmas Tree Shop

Kohl's
Kmart
JCPenney

Closing Set

2008-11-13T15:45:00.002-05:00

Our loan officer, Chris, called today.
In order to get the closing costs ...
we needed to set a closing date.
So we decided on Tuesday the 18th.

It's set up for 10 AM here locally.
The seller will have to do the traveling.
Finally heard that the A/C wiring is fixed.
Randy will go up tomorrow for final walk thru.

Randy is at Home Depot at this very moment
ordering for delivery the refrigerator and range.
Later we will decide on the washer and dryer.
Tomorrow we will order the our new (king) bed.

Final Touches

2008-11-12T18:16:00.003-05:00

We put out two calls first thing in the morning.
One to our loan officer, Chris - just back from vacation.
He was not in the office yet so I left a message.
We were looking for the closing costs and date.
He called back in the afternoon and was
going to contact the mortgage company.

The other call was to Arthur, our DW representative.
Arthur said they were over at the house ...
addressing the items we brought to their attention.
However, they were NOT going to fix the A/C wiring.
He said that would be done after we were in there.
I explained we do NOT close without everything complete.

Arthur said he was going to call the A/C person right away.
However, by the end of the day it still was not done.
Also during the day we contacted the fuel company.
They said they could deliver 100 gallons tomorrow.
So Randy will have to go back for a final walkthrough.
At that time he can test the furnace and the A/C.

Clarion Shower

2008-11-11T16:42:00.001-05:00

I was pleased to see inside the home Monday.
My first stop was the master bathroom.
I desired to check out our ADA shower.
We were given the spec sheet for model 6036BF34.
Pleasantly suprising the seat we got is NOT a fold down,
it is a solid seat built in and sits decently high enough.
The threshhold is very low - about 3/4 inch. YEAH!!!
Also included is a built-in soap dish and grab bars.
The shower head fixture is very adjustable.

My First Visit

2008-11-10T16:54:00.001-05:00

Randy and I headed up to our home.
Okay, we have not closed yet, but close!
I took a bunch of pictures from many views.
Check out Cathy's First Walkthrough slideshow.
I will be adding comments later in the week.

Week Ahead

2008-11-09T15:08:00.003-05:00

Monday we are going up for a final walk thru.
I have not been in the place at all, Randy has.
We hope to close by the end of the week ...
just waiting on appraisal report results.

Monday we are stopping by insurance company
to get binder to satisfy mortgage requirement.
We will need to get bank check for closing costs.
Hoping to have fuel in tank so we can heat place.

We will order for delivery appliances and new bed.
Need to plan with dad use of his truck for moving.
Also will reserve moving truck for all the big stuff.
Still looking for extra seating for the living room.

Needless to say we will not be blogging as often.
May not have a connection right after the move.
We will focus on unpacking and Thanksgiving ...
and our first year anniversary of wedded bliss!!!!

House Update

2008-11-08T20:30:00.003-05:00

The occupancy permit has been obtained.
Finishing touches completed and house cleaned.
Mortgage company notified to send appraiser.
Still hoping to close the end of next week.

Randy headed up to Augusta today.
First went by mom and dad's for the truck.
It was the last day of the Big Lots weekly sale.
Saved 100 dollars on a chaise lounge (normally 299).

Capital Trip

2008-11-06T20:54:00.000-05:00

Wednesday we headed to the capital area.
I had a follow up mammogram and ultrasound.
Then it turned into a shopping trip for our new home.
Randy went out himself in the late afternoon.
In the evening we checked out Big Lots together.
We found a couple of chaise lounges for around $200.
Problem is we did not have a vehicle to make purchase.
Thursday morning we went to Christmas Tree store.
We found a mission style coffee table for just $40 ...
it especially attracted us because of the rounded edges.

Walmart Home

2008-11-04T21:55:00.002-05:00

We spent an hour and a half at Walmart this morning.
Our focus was the living room and decor in general.
We picked up two Mainstays Tall End Tables and
two BHG Twist Buffet Lamps to be used on them.
The tables are 29 inches and the lamps are 28 inches.
Also picked up matching door mats for each door.

We found some 6.5 x 8.5 plaques that intrigued us.
The first set of two we selected for the guest bath.
They have a light blue background, sand and a shell.
One says "calm" while the other says "breathe".
The second set of four have different flowers on them.
Their words are "Hope", "Faith", "Peace" and "Love".

Lamp Options

2008-11-04T06:30:00.002-05:00

Here are some reasonably priced lamp options:

Black Finish Wood Table Lamp (H=27.5) - 29.99
Vine Table Lamp (H=28.5) - 39.99 (looks musical)
Mission Table Lamp (H=26) - 49.99

Textured Bronze Finish Table Lamp (H=23) - 39.99
Handcrafted Mission Style Glass (H=20.5) - 49.99

Note: Above are all from Target.

Mission Furniture

2008-11-02T10:14:00.004-05:00

I like mission style furniture.
Considering it for the living room.

Mission End Table - 79.99
* I think they are too low at 22 inches
Mission Coffee table - 119.99

Mission Wall Hook associated with ...
Mission 3-drawer Bench for entryway (159.99)
Walmart option has more length but less seat depth

Note: most of these are from Target

Home Purchases

2008-11-01T19:28:00.003-04:00

This morning was Early Bird Sales in Bath.
Randy spent time at Roger's Ace Hardware.
He picked up a number of home items ...
mailbox, roof rake, and Formby's Face Lift.
The kit is for an heirloom hutch unit made
by my paternal grandmother's grandfather.

We got power!

2008-10-31T22:58:00.000-04:00

Our house is much closer to being ours!!!
CMP was able to hook up the electricity.
A bit of fuel was put in to test the furnace.
Also all the water fixtures could be tested.

The final items are to be worked on this weekend.
We expect the occupancy permit Wednesday.
Then final appraisal is needed by mortage company.
After that comes C-L-O-S-I-N-G !!!!!!!!!

Closer to completion

2008-10-29T19:58:00.001-04:00

Randy went up to the house lot yet again.
We needed to approve the low rise steps.
He picked up the keys to get inside again.
His main task was to take measurements.
We wanted to better plan furniture layout.
Here is the Closer to Completion slideshow.

Landlady Letter

2008-10-28T17:16:00.002-04:00

Today we sent the official notification to our landlady.
I wrote November is the last month we will rent.
Enclosed our last monthly rent check
and address for security deposit refund.

We did get word today about our modified steps.
One set is down and ready for approval.
If we go up during the day to check them out ...
I'll also be able to check out the inside of the DW.

Closing Date at Risk

2008-10-24T20:06:00.001-04:00

I was concerned that things would not be ready
so I called our mortgage guy, Chris, the other day.
Our DW representative, Arthur, finally admitted ...
that the house may not be ready for the closing.
There were too many delays along the way.

Tuesday or Wednesday of next week
CMP (electric) should do initial site visit.
Then they need to schedule actual hookup.
Then the water test can happen which
is needed for occupancy permit.

Arthur asked if we can get 15 day extension.
Chris told me the other day sometimes they do
extensions but I am not sure about 15 days.
I will not call until after CMP visit next week.
Hopefully at the point we have a better time frame.

Our current interest rate expires November 3rd.
And that was a 60 day hold rather than 45 days.
We also need to send official notice to landlord.
Luckily most of our belongings are in storage.
Once we close we can move relatively quickly.

Found It

2008-10-23T20:22:00.004-04:00

The day started with my annual physical.
Then we headed up to our house site.
Both halves of our double wide were there.
They were working on shingling and skirting.
They will be back tomorrow to continue the job.
Here is the TWOgether On Slab slideshow.
The pictures are both outside and inside shots.

Where is our house?

2008-10-22T23:00:00.004-04:00

Mid morning they were stopped in Concord NH due to weather.
Late afternoon things got more interesting and disturbing ...
One half of the double wide was at Ames Home Center.
The other half was stuck ten miles away at an Irving gas station.
It had a broken axle that they need to have fixed in order to move.
Apparently axles do tend to break with the longer mobile homes.
Needless to say our house was not getting to the lot today.

Randy headed out to take pictures of the two halves.
He went by the manufactured home dealership first.
It was after hours and he could not find the back half.
He did manage to find the front half at the Irving station.
Check out the Front Half of the Wrapped Home slide show.
The front door is open while the screen door is shut.
We also see there are some siding pieces torn off.

Vehicle and Weather Delay

2008-10-21T17:12:00.007-04:00

We were expecting to hear in the AM that our home was in Maine.
Mid morning Randy spoke to Arthur to hear about another delay.
Apparently one of the escort vehicles was broken down ...
so they had NOT left the plant in Pennsylvania yet.

Later in the day after the escort vehicle was fixed ...
we learned they were waiting on Vermont weather conditions.
At the end of the work day for Arthur (our rep)
we were told they were awaiting permission to enter Vermont.

Apparently Vermont does not allow certain vehicles to travel
when the weather is bad - I guess to avoid potential problems.
To me it seems weird as to why they even need ...
to go thru Vermont - seems it would add 3 extra hours.

Flagstone Walkway

2008-10-20T19:40:00.000-04:00

I was watching a home improvement show
which was using flagstone for the front walkway.
They mentioned it was cheaper than other options.

Not this year but next (I suspect) ...
we will probably focus on landscaping our new place.
Need a path so it is easy for me to walk our property.

How to Lay a Flagstone Walkway

Ready for Home

2008-10-18T22:01:00.004-04:00

Randy headed up to our house lot today.
Check out the Ready for Home slideshow.
The well is drilled and septic system in place.
Most of the brush has been cleared from lot.
There are mounds left probably for leveling.
We are expecting 25 feet level around home.

Necessary Purchases

2008-10-18T10:40:00.000-04:00

Last of the necessary purchases for the house:

1) two ADA toilets for height - probably Eljer
The DW comes with standard and I need 19 inch.
Prices at the Eljer site start at over $500 a piece.

2) king size mattress for master bedroom
We are going to attempt to build platform ourself.
We are expected the price to be around $1000.

3) matching kitchen and laundry appliances
Both refrigerator and range and washer and dryer.
We priced kitchen appliances at about $1500.
We are still pricing laundry appliances starting at $500.

Dining Room Table

2008-10-17T22:02:00.002-04:00

We found a great dining room table in Uncle Henry's.
It is an oak table with double pedestal - Amish-like.
Dimensions: 42 by 60 with two foot-long extensions.
It comes with 6 etched chairs but will seat 10 (open).

It had been bought within the last year for 1299.
It did not fit in their new home so sold it for 500.
Randy and dad picked it up and storing at my parents.
It's the last of the big purchases before moving day.

Fog Delay

2008-10-16T16:08:00.002-04:00

Earlier in the week we were told our house would be
enroute Wednesday and be here Thursday (today).
This morning we heard due to fog it had been delayed.
Now it should leave PA on Monday and be here Tuesday.

Also the last couple of days I have used to contact CMP.
Central Maine Power is the local electricity company.
The site visit is scheduled for October 23rd.
Luckily the house should be in place by then.

Caught in IRS glitch

2008-10-15T08:22:00.002-04:00

I am not alone - actually I am one of 260,000!

IRS promises fix to stimilus check problem

"The Internal Revenue Service says overdue economic stimulus checks will soon be mailed to about a quarter of a million married couples who had been denied the money because a spouse's married name and Social Security number didn't match."

I got a form a little bit ago stating the problem.
I returned it with a copy of our marriage certificate.
Our next concern is where the check will be mailed to.
Hopefully it comes when we are still in the apartment.

Columbus Day

2008-10-13T09:55:00.002-04:00

Happy Columbus Day!
So great to have a day to celebrate ...
the city both Randy and I have lived in.

Black Friday

2008-10-08T13:18:00.002-04:00

This is the first post in the new category of "deals".
This morning I googled "Thanksgiving 2008" and
was surprised and intrigued to find "Black Friday Ads".
Black Friday is the Friday after Thanksgiving.

Here are some of the sites, in no particular order:
Black-Friday.Net
Black Friday.Info
The Black Friday.Com

Articles/Blogs about Black Friday 2008:
What to Expect at 15 Retailers
Black Friday online sales and deals

Cold Update

2008-10-05T12:21:00.003-04:00

Randy did go to Kittery Thursday.
But overnight he had a relapse.
I too seem to be in a relapse.
I've had such a time trying to swallow.
This morning I seemed to be better.
We are BOTH tired of this illness.

Still Battling Illness

2008-10-02T09:00:00.001-04:00

I am still battling a really bad cold/allergies ...
which means a LOT of coughing and hacking.
I've had Randy sleep in the living room.
Unfortunately he does not sleep well there.
Monday and Tuesday night I kicked him out.
I sent him to my parents (15 miles away)
so he could get some better sleep in a real bed.
He did move back into the bedroom last night ...
but sending him off today for the Kittery Excursion.
After nearly three weeks I WANT to be better.

Shower Arrived

2008-10-01T19:38:00.003-04:00

Our master suite special ordered shower is at the factory!
So they can now begin building our new home.

They expect it will be completed by October 15th ...
and shipped here shortly thereafter!

We were told the drilling of the well is
scheduled to happen in the next few days.

We got our 911 street address today!!!

Pouring Cement Pad

2008-09-29T11:30:00.003-04:00

We got a call at 7:30 AM this morning letting us know ...
they are pouring the cement pad for the DW this morning.
Randy headed out to watch the progress first hand.

Hubby called at 11 AM to say they are starting to pour.
We are expecting it will take a few hours to finish it up.
He was told it will likely take 4 cement truck fulls.

During the process a guy showed up to do the soil testing.
In addition to the rectangular pad for the DW ...
they also did a small square for the propane tank.

Here's the Laying the Foundation slide show.

Combining Trips

2008-09-27T10:15:00.001-04:00

Started wondering if we should combine the two trips.

Day 1 - Head to Kittery - 1 and a half hours
Do shopping more leisurely - about 3 hours
Stay overnight at Coachman Inn.

Day 2 - Head home via alternate route
First stop - Scarborough (Walmart) - 45 minutes
for potty break, if needed at this time - half hour
Second stop - Lynchville - one and a half hour
for leaf peeping and sight seeing - one hour (?)
Third stop - Welchville via Oxford - 45 minutes
for potty break, if needed at this time - half hour
Fourth stop - Auburn - 30 minutes
for potty break and minimal shopping - one hour
Fifth stop - home - 37 minutes
Just travel time - 4 hours 7 minutes
Add on two and a half totaling 6 and a half hours.

Alternate plan is to reverse the days:
Day one - go to Welchville and Lynchville
Day two - do Kittery shopping before heading home

Trips Planning by Time

2008-09-27T09:43:00.001-04:00

Trip one is for leaf peeping plus sight seeing:
Heading to Welchville via Poland Springs
Up to Lynchville to find World Traveler sign
Back home via Mechanic Falls and Auburn
Welchville is where my grandfather grew up.

To Welchville (in Oxford) is about 1 hour.
Walmart in Oxford is need potty break.
To Lynchville is about 45 minutes.
Expect will take fall foliage pictures.
Enroute home stop at Auburn Walmart.

Trip one travel time is 3 and a half hours.
Add in an hour in Oxford/Welchville.
A half hour in Lynchville and photo taking.
And possibly another hour in Auburn ...
Total trip time probably about 6 hours.

Trip two is the Kittery Shopping Excursion.
It'll take about one and a half hours each way.
Adding in 3 hours for shopping total is 6 hours.
So both trips will take about the same time.
Although I think trip two may be slightly quicker.

Second Hand Finds

2008-09-27T06:02:00.000-04:00

Hubby and I both like saving money.
We regularly check out Uncle Henry's.
Thus far we have purchased a couple great finds.
Also checking out thrift stores and the like.

The first was a mission style two shelf solid wood unit.
The top will work great for housing the stereo system.
Looks great! Expecting to put this in living room.
Definate wow factor for style and color for only $20!

The second was a white stand w/a drawer and 3 shelves.
So many possible uses for this $15 amazing looking item ...
Maybe in the guest room as night stand or general storage ...
Maybe in the sunroom/craft room for scrap book organization.

Just yesterday we purchased some items at Bookland.
It was sadly their last day in business so got super deals.
Picked up for $10 a cushioned bench to be used as a window seat.
And two cafe tables for $20 each to be used in kitchen nook.

Kittery Excursion

2008-09-26T09:53:00.001-04:00

We are planning a trip to the Kittery Outlet Stores.
Our focus is on kitchen/entertaining items for our new home.

Corningware-Corelle-Pyrex collections at World Kitchen.
Replace casserole dishes with Simply Lite
From Country Cottage design:
second set of pasta dishes,
full set of 28 oz soup/cereal bowls,
full set of matching 16 oz glasses,
Accessory pieces: trays, counter mats, spoon rest

And so many different things at Kitchen Collection.
Looking for long oven mitts, large covered mixing bowl.
Second OXO serving spoon, different size batter bowl(s).
Will likely add more later to this list.

Evening trip to site

2008-09-25T22:00:00.005-04:00

In the very late afternoon Arthur called.
He said the driveway was in place ...
and the cement pad was marked for pouring.
They needed us to okay the placement on lot.
Since it's suppose to rain the next three days ...
we took a quick trip up to the lot before sunset.
By the time we got there it was indeed dusk.
We picked up cheese bread sticks for supper ...
and went back to the lot site to eat them.
It was the first time we were there after dark.
It's a nice, quiet road. It will be great to relax outside.
Mainly just heard nature sounds. Can't wait to move!!!
Check out the House Site Clearing Slide Show.

Meet with Brad

2008-09-24T16:40:00.000-04:00

We met Brad, the site manager, at our house lot at 10 AM.
We thought we were meeting him BEFORE any site work.
To our surprise he had already started clearing the lot.
A bulk of the lot was already treeless and shrubless.

We talked about where we wanted the double wide ...
with the expectation of a future garage to be added.
The suggestion is to slant it due to the trapezoid shape.
We are okay with it not being parallel to the road.
Besides that may work better with the corner sunroom.

We'll go back after he clears some more and ...
gets the brush and the other debris removed.
At that point the driveway should also be in place.
I'll be better able to envision where the DW should go.

Update

2008-09-23T06:04:00.003-04:00

For well over a week now ...
Randy and I have both been battling a cold/flu.
We've had trouble sleeping at night due to coughing.
Sometimes it's almost daylight before we get rest.
I was finally able to get some decent sleep last night.
And I am mostly over my laryngitis.

Today is my parent's wedding anniversary.
They've been happily married since 1961.
That's 47 years. Congratulations!!!

New Delivery Date

2008-09-17T09:56:00.003-04:00

Just got off the phone with Arthur, DW sales rep.
He had emailed a new delivery date of mid-October.
My handicapped shower had to be special ordered.

I asked again about our new address other than "lot 11".
The 911 people are waiting for a driveway to determine it.
Other people are ahead of us with site prep work needed.

Arthur said MAYBE next week he will call us ...
to set up appointment with Brad aka site supervisor.
After land cleared he will need CMP acct number.

Special Interest Stores

2008-09-16T10:05:00.003-04:00

Our special interests include:
movies, crafts and computing.

Movies:
Movie Gallery - Skowhegan
Movie Guys - Madison
Bart and Greg's DVD Explosion - Brunswick

Crafts:
JoAnn's - JFK Plaza, Waterville
Michael's - Marketplace at Augusta
A.C. Moore - Augusta (Crossing Way)

Electronics/Misc:
Best Buy - Augusta (Crossing Way)
Circuit City - Marketplace at Augusta
Staples - Marketplace at Augusta

Book Stores:
Mr Paperback - Skowhegan
Barnes and Noble - Augusta

Legend:
Skowhegan/Madison - mostly within 2 miles
Waterville - about 20 to 25 miles
Augusta - just over 40 miles

House Site

2008-09-16T06:46:00.003-04:00

Two weeks ago we had lunch in front of our lot.
Randy took pictures he then uploaded to Picasa.
Check out the whole house site slide show.

Update 9:14 AM - Just heard from Arthur.
He's the guy who sold us the double wide.
He just spoke with code enforcement officer.
Needs us to meet with Brad to stake out driveway.
We are anxious to do this to get the work started!

Future Road Trip

2008-09-15T22:59:00.000-04:00

We have family and friends in the midwest we want to visit.
The biggest problem is I can only travel about 6 hours a day.
Total round trip miles is 2242 - 1 day 13 hours of driving time.

Stop 1 - Albany NY - 362 miles - 5 hours 58 mins
Stop 2 - Erie PA - 377 miles - 6 hours 5 mins
Stop 3 - Jackson MI - 303 miles - 4 hours 58 mins
... visit with Randy's mother
Stop 4 - Columbus OH - 224 miles - 3 hours 49 mins
... multiple days to visit with friends of both of ours
Stop 5 - Harrisburg PA - 368 miles - 6 hours 1 mins
... Randy wants to visit Hershey before heading home
Stop 6 - Danbury CT - 254 miles - 4 hours 19 mins
... maybe visit with my mother's brother
Stop 7 - Skowhegan ME - 353 miles - 5 hours 57 mins

View Larger Map

Shopping Malls

2008-09-14T12:20:00.001-04:00

Midcoast:
Topsham Fair Mall - 1 hr 14 minutes
Tontine Mall (Brunswick) - 1 hr 18 minutes
Cook's Corner (Brunswick) - 1 hr 21 minutes

Augusta:
Marketplace (by Civic Center) - 43 minutes
Capital (Western Avenue) - 47 minutes
Turnpike (Whitten) - 47 minutes
Augusta Crossing - 47 minutes

Waterville:
Main Street/Rt 104 - 27 minutes
Kennedy Memorial Drive - 30 minutes

Other:
Bangor Mall - 1 hr 6 minutes
Auburn Mall - 1 hr 30 minutes
Maine Mall (So Portland) - 1 hr 45 minutes

Outlets:
Freeport - 1 hr 22 minutes
Kittery - 2 hr 29 minutes

Eating Establishments

2008-09-14T11:40:00.003-04:00

National Chains only (in this post)

Mostly Breakfast Fare:
Dunkin Donuts - Skowhegan
Tim Horton's - Skowhegan

Fast Food:
McDonald's - Skowhegan
Burger King - Skowhegan
Arby's - Waterville
Wendy's - Waterville
KFC/Taco Bell - Skowhegan

Sit Downs:
Pizza Hut - Skowhegan

Legend:
Skowhegan/Madison - mostly within 2 miles
Waterville - about 20 to 25 miles
Augusta - just over 40 miles

Home Speciality Stores

2008-09-14T10:40:00.005-04:00

Home Improvement:
Home Depot - Waterville
Lowe's - Augusta

Home Decor:
Bed, Bath and Beyond - Augusta
Christmas Tree Store - Augusta

Hardware:
Aubuchon - Skowhegan
True Value - Skowhegan

Lumber:
Hammond Lumber -Skowhegan
Ware-Butler Inc - Madison

Legend:
Skowhegan/Madison - mostly within 2 miles
Waterville - about 20 to 25 miles
Augusta - just over 40 miles

Department Stores

2008-09-14T10:35:00.002-04:00

Department Stores:
Walmart - Skowhegan
Target - Augusta
Kmart - Waterville
Kohl's - Augusta

Odd Lot Types:
Big Lots - Augusta
Reny's - Madison
Marden's - Waterville

Dollar Stores:
Family Dollar Store - Skowhegan
The Dollar Tree - Madison

Legend:
Skowhegan/Madison - mostly within 2 miles
Waterville - about 20 to 25 miles
Augusta - just over 40 miles

Groceries and Pharmacies

2008-09-14T10:30:00.003-04:00

Grocery Stores:
Hannaford - Skowhegan
Shaws - Wateville

Drugstore/Pharmacy:
Rite Aid - Skowhegan
CVS - Waterville
Walgreen - Augusta

Combo Stores:
Walmart - Skowhegan

Legend:
Skowhegan/Madison - mostly within 2 miles
Waterville - about 20 to 25 miles
Augusta - just over 40 miles

Movie Week

2008-09-09T10:35:00.004-04:00

This week will be a little crazy just waiting ...
for them to start work on our house lot.
So we are thinking of making it a movie week.
Will post more over on Bliss Movie Mania blog.

Househunt for DW

2008-09-08T19:52:00.004-04:00

DW stands for a pre-fab double wide trailer.
When we first started our house hunt I avoided them.
I had rented my aunt's single wide not that long ago ...
but was still apprehensive about their reputation.
What we learned is they have come a long way.

Funny thing is the first property we looked at was a DW.
I was keeping myself open to anything even DW's.
The Spruce Pond DW had a ramp so I could easily get in.
It had a lot of space and we liked the neighborhood set up.
The DW was on its own land with protective covenant.

During our hunt we checked out a couple of trailer parks.
But the trailers were way too close and the parks not so nice.
A traditional trailer park just would NOT do.

July 9th we bid on a 2003 double wide on its own land.
Unfortunately the seller was not really ready to sell.
It was on a nice quiet, out of the way road which we liked.
We could see there appeared to be other lots available
but there where no signs saying who owned it.

July 30th we visited Ralph's Homes in Waldoboro.
It was an exploratory trip to find out more about DWs.
What we learned is that they are certainly affordable
even considering the modifications for my health issues.
We looked at some land but hesitant to go that route.

August 2nd we bid on a double wide on leased land.
Although it was in a park it was on a double lot.
After the inspection we had to pass on the property.

August 29th we started down a New Direction.
We visited Ames Home Center outside of Skowhegan.
Found out they developed the land the 2003 DW was on.
We were thrilled to hear there was three more lots available.
September 6th we Done Did It - officially ordered OUR "home".

God knew where we would end up.
God knew how to prepare both of us for it.
We absolutely did get tired of househunting.
Praise God that He guided us to this decision.
We both believe this is the best option for us.

Househunt Summary

2008-09-08T10:37:00.001-04:00

April - we started "window shopping"
We primarly looked in the Brunswick area.
But there really was not anything available.
We did a walk thru of a doublewide with a ramp.

May 13th - met with Sprague and Curtis realtor
Our search moved north to the Augusta area with Ann.
- May 17th - Trueworthy, by major shopping area
- May 24th - 6th Avenue in Mayfair neighborhood
- June 7th - Windy Street - not far from Trueworthy

Without Ann (Bangor and Lewiston area)
Mid June - checked out Hampden handicapped property.
June 22nd - doing drivebys in the Lewiston area.
Dove Street was most interesting of those we entered.

Back with Ann in the greater Waterville-Winslow area
July 4th - bid on Smiley - instead of Johnson Heights
July 9th - bid on 2003 doublewide in Madison
August 2nd - bid on Punky Lane pre-fab on leased land
August 23rd - passed on Punky after inspection results

We looked at so many stick built houses.
But they would all need modifications.
A double wide seemed to be right for us.
September 5th - ordered "our" double wide

Other Considerations

2008-09-07T10:12:00.000-04:00

Five Telephone Jacks:
- Master Bedroom - outer wall - by bathroom
- Master Retreat - inner wall opposite living room
- Living Room - inner short wall by kitchen
- Kitchen Nook - wall unit - shared by family room
- Bedroom #2 aka sunroom - outer side wall

Cable (in case we want later):
- Family Room - inner wall - opposite window
- Living Room - outer wall - by front door

Toilets:
- must be at least 1 1/2 feet from walls/closet
I like it spacious for ease of getting up ...
and also makes it easier to clean around them.

Color Selections

2008-09-07T10:02:00.001-04:00

Exterior:
Siding: clay (looks tan in person)
Shutters: blue (stunning against tan)
Shingles: black (for ease of matching later)

Interior:
Bathrooms, Kitchen and Utility - Monterey Bisque
Master Bedroom - Rushmore Crimson
Master Retreat (office) - Crackle Pewter
Family Room (tv lounge) - Lancaster Mink
Living Room and Dining Room - Tribeca Shadow
Bedroom #2 (sunroom) - Orient Wheat
Bedrooms #3 and #4 (guest) - Sundance Haze

Misc:
Countertop: Sunstone
Backsplash: Mushroom
Lino thru out: 9263 (looks like wood)

We'd seen (in DW) and wanted a blue counter top,

but that option (smoky topaz) is no longer available.

Apparently they change their selections year to year.

Note: Here is the Redman Homes color charts.

Done Did It

2008-09-06T06:54:00.000-04:00

Officially ordered our double wide yesterday.
It's a Redman, model A202 with 2,026 sq ft.

There are 4 bedrooms, 2 baths and a family room.
The master suite has a "retreat" - we will use as a den.
When you walk in the front door there is a living room
which extends into a dining room next to the kitchen.
The kitchen is wide and also includes a breakfast nook.
Just past the nook is the family room aka tv lounge.

The master suite with private bath is off of the family room.
On the opposite side of the house is the guest bathroom.
Down that hallway are the three other bedroom spaces.
Front left bedroom will be sunroom aka craft/hobby area.
Bedroom directly behind it will be double bed guest room.
Back bedroom will be VHS room and single bed guest room.

We met the site supervisor on our lot after ordering.
It's a country lot with a great view of some mountains.
There is 200 feet road frontage on the 1 acre parcel.
We talked about placement of home with future garage.
He expects it will be another week before they can start.
They need to clear the space, drill well and do septic system.

Tim said once it gets started it will go pretty quick.
The plan is for Randy to take pictures of the progress.
We could be into our new home mid to late October.
After over 5 months of househunting - it is over!!!!

A Roaring Practice

2008-09-05T09:26:00.004-04:00

I got to see a little bit of The Blue Angels practicing yesterday when I went to Big Lots to pick up the recliner. It was pretty cool to watch what I could see. Most of the manuevers I saw were low and loud, including their tight 6 plane triangle configuration.

I'm still undecided whether to go see the big air show on Saturday. Maybe I'll let the weather decide...

Appliances

2008-09-04T09:41:00.001-04:00

We were not thrilled with the specific GE models in the DW.
We like General Electric Appliances fine - good reputation.
The refrigerator was 18 cu ft with freezer above or side by side.
And the range did not have the more modern ceramic cooktop.

So the other day we checked out other models at Home Depot.
We are not set on using Home Depot - will check Lowe's too.
We do like they will deliver and do the setup/installation and
we know when you buy multiple items you can often get discount.

GE Energy Star® 23.2 Cu. Ft. Bottom Freezer Refrigerator
Model GBSC3HBXWW - HD quote of 999.00 - Lowe's link
GE 30 In. Free-Standing CleanDesign Electric Range
Model JBP62DMWW - HD quote of 499.00 - Lowe's link

We currently have mismatched used laundry appliances.
We are looking to purchase a matching GE washer and dryer.
Like eco-friendly Energy Star is reasonably priced ... maybe
Washer model WSSH300GWW and Dryer model DWXR463EGWW.

Getting Closer ...

2008-09-03T10:18:00.001-04:00

... to home ownership.

We went back to Ames Home Center yesterday.
We picked lot number 11 since it seemed the most level.
We picked our exterior colors: blue shutters on clay siding.
Decided on simple white-ish for counter tops and backsplash.
While we selected wall coverings for all the rooms ...
I am rethinking some of the choices.

While in the Skowhegan area we checked out
Evelyn's Furniture which has both new and old items.
We did not find anything that appealed to us at this time.
Found some great throw pillows on sale at Walmart.
We picked up two purple ones for double bed guest room,
a yellow one for the sunroom and blue for single bed room.

Today we are going to our lender with the specs and price.
We were pre-approved and have a good sized down payment.
The initial appraisal will be based on spec sheet and then
it will have to be revisited once the house is put on the land.

The double wide is not officially ordered without 5,000 dollars.
We plan to return to Ames on Friday to accomplish this task
along with any spec modifications so we have no surprises later.
Then it will be basically a waiting game plus packing, of course.

August 31st items

2008-08-31T23:05:00.001-04:00

Time to check out Uncle Henry's again.
Categories I check out this time follow:
Household Items, Miscellaneous,
and Home Entertainement.

Iron Floor Lamp
Plum/Burgundy Wing Back Chairs
Real Cedar Chest - needs outside refinishing

Black Entertainment Center
Two Shelf Solid Wood Table
Pine Dining Table (36x36) - needs work

Linens and Towels

2008-08-31T20:21:00.000-04:00

We've decided on colors for the bedrooms ...
Blue for the single bed guest room,
Purple for the double bed guest room,
Burgundy and green for master bedroom.
We went shopping at Big Lots and Walmart.

Our first focus was the "blue" guest room.
The Springmaid quilted comforter was ten dollars.
It's a slight plaid with blue, brown and a tad green.
Randy liked a blue microplush blanket to use as throw.
To finish it off found a plain blue flannel sheet set.

The "purple" guest room we have yet to finish.
Looking at lavendar comforter from JCPenney.
We did purchase purple towels for guest bathroom.
In addition we got blue ones to go with "blue" room.
Pretty much the guest areas are decided upon.

There was no need for new master bath towels.
We did need new bedding for upgrade to king size.
The MainStays complete bedding set was only 21 dollars.
Includes comforter, sheet set, pillow shams and bedskirt.
The design has some floral, some stripes and solids.

New Direction

2008-08-29T01:56:00.001-04:00

Wednesday we went to Ames Home Center in Canaan.
We discussed purchasing a Redman double wide.
In our house hunt we had already bid on one.

Buying new we can have it built to our needs and wants.
Needs include wider doors and low lip walk in shower.
Wants include space for many interests of ours.

We are looking at model A202 with some modifications ...
Redesigned master bath for placement of 60 x 36.5 shower.
Turning a bedroom into a sunroom by adding extra windows.

We will use "master retreat" for computer/office.
Family room will be tv lounge with DVD collection.
Bedroom #4 will house VHS collection and single bed.

Bedroom #3 will be the guest bedroom with double bed.
Bedroom #2 aka "sunroom" will be for hobbies ...
like scrapbooking and other crafts and music area.

The dining room may double as a library ...
by placing bookshelves on the length of the wall.
And will include a sliding door for eventual back deck.

The kitchen nook is an eat-in kitchen feature.
I will use it also to sit down to do my cooking.
We will exclude island to give me SPACE.

Even the utility room placement works for us.
Eventually we want to have a garage on that side.
We would be able to put second ramp system inside.

Passed on House 3

2008-08-23T12:28:00.004-04:00

The third house we bid on was NOT a charm after all.
It was touted as being in "Mint, mint, mint condition".
Then we had an inspection done on this 11 year old home.
It was only average and the roof was below average.
There were some major items that needed work.

Besides IMMEDIATE repair of a dozen shingles ...
it needed a complete reroofing job in the first few years.
There were also numerous electrical concerns (safety).
It was in a nice location with great possibilities but
it was NOT a good deal so we decided to pass on it.

I think Randy has been a bit more upset about it than me.
We would like to get moved and settled before winter.
Also our new upstairs neighbor has a 2 year old ...
which is making a lot of noise causing me headaches.
I appreciate Randy's concern for my well-being.

I do not want to buy the wrong house out of desperation.
It has been difficult finding many viable options because
of my need for level space and entry and walkin shower.
We are trusting on God to meet our needs specifically
and we know it is possible for Him to far exceed them.

Inspection Complete

2008-08-07T19:10:00.001-04:00

Went to the inspection yesterday.
Found out it is NOT a trailer BUT ...
a modular home from Maple Leaf Homes.
Owners wanted to make that very clear.

I did confirm it thru the original seller.
It is odd that they put it in a trailer park.
It is definately wood construction with drywall.
And has a walkable attic space with storage shelves.

We like that it is a modular home with better construction.
Our goal was to move just this once and have it last.
We do have necessary modifications (for my needs) to make ...
as well as some niceties like replacing carpets with wood floors.

Third Time a Charm

2008-08-02T05:37:00.006-04:00

Thursday we made an offer on a third property.
It was accepted Friday late afternoon. Yeah!
We did go back in forth a couple of times on price.
No squabbling over closing though - set for Sept 15th.

It is a double wide with 1888 useable square feet.
It has four bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms.
As well as a living room, dining room and kitchen.
There is a deck out back thru the dining room.

July 31st items

2008-07-31T08:35:00.001-04:00

I haven't looked at Uncle Henry's for a month!
Now that we are closer to our new home ...
thought it was worth looking again.

Iron Floor Lamp - could be used in guest room
Chaise Lounge - like what I want for relaxing
CD/DVD storage cabinet - for some of our collection
Rustic Entertainment Cabinet has many purposes

Pine Dining Table with leaf
Tall Kitchen Table with four chairs
Dinette Set includes China Cabinet
Dining Room Set with 6 chairs and leaf

Busy Househunting

2008-07-30T06:03:00.006-04:00

We've been SO busy househunting. And tired!!!
We were disappointed with the trip I mentioned.
So much so we started considering doublewides.
Which then means finding land at a good price.

Yesterday we just got back from yet another trip.
We looked at everything from ranches to farm houses,
to land with nothing set up to land with well and septic,
And a doublewide on leased land with protective covenant.

We may be coming close to a decision as to which way to go.
Option 1 - buy land and get new doublewide to our specs.
Option 2 - purchase used doublewide on leased land.
Option 3 - move a new doublewide to leased land.

A doublewide seems to be a good fit for us.
It gives us one floor living and plenty of space.
Building one new lessens the cost of modifications.
We were happily surprised at price quote for our specs.

More searching

2008-07-12T17:27:00.002-04:00

Two weeks - two offers. But no house to call home!!!
The search continues as we prepare for more drivebys.
The new batch spans from Augusta-Waterville-Winslow
and all the way up to Skowhegan-Madison-Norridgewock.

Another Bid Made

2008-07-09T06:44:00.009-04:00

We saw some more properties yesterday.
We made a bid and are awaiting response.
We expect we have some room to negotiate.
We asked for their newer washer and dryer
and for their riding lawn mower in garage.

The property is a 2003 double wide trailer.
It has 4 bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms.
In additional to living room is a family room.
There is a detached two car garage and a deck.

The location is 20 miles outside of Waterville.
It seems to be a nice quiet community, Madison.
Mom told me we do have relatives in the area.

Update: Home owner was totally unreasonable!!!
He was not ready for an offer - had no place to move.
Wanted contract contigent on him finding new home ...
otherwise in two weeks he would back out of the deal.

Second update: Two weeks later we learned ...
he still had not been looking for a new home.
We are glad we continued to look ourselves.
In the end we ended up with more space ...
in an area with more job prospects for Randy.

Third update (September):
The home owner had a heart attack and is
finally getting serious about finding new home.
We said NO when asked if we were still interested.

Plea to Realtors

2008-07-05T05:13:00.003-04:00

We like searching for houses ourselves online.
Some are disqualified for lack of information available.
Here are some things we would like to share with realtors:

1) Take plenty of inside pictures and share them online
BUT only show photos that are not blurry or double exposed.

2) If the property description promotes an item
have pictures of that room or feature to show off.
This includes decks, sunrooms, updated bathrooms,
family room in basement, and large, spacious rooms.

3) Include square footage of main above ground living space.
For those handicapped first floor may be only space they can use.

4) Have measurements for rooms especially bedrooms.
If you have a floor plan diagram available that would be great.

5) If there are handicap accessible items share that
BUT do not put "other accessibilities" when there are none.
Handicap accessibilities to promote include wide door(ways),
walk in/roll in shower, ramped entrance(s), first floor laundry.
Because space is an issue show pics of the accessibility areas.

6) As seasons change please update photos both inside and out.
I just looked at listings with snow and one with the fall foilage.
It's July!!!! I do not want to think about snow and leaves falling.

Winslow Property

2008-07-04T14:01:00.001-04:00

We decided to bid on the Winslow property.
After reviewing comparative house sales ...
the realtor agreed with us to offer 20,000 below.
Factors: hardly anything has been selling and
this property has been on the market over 300 days.

The seller's realtor starts the conversation with our realtor
saying he should have mentioned that he already had a
verbal agreement with someone to purchase at full price
but it was continguent on someone buying his house.
Then said our offer was too low but countered 5,000 below.

None of this makes any sense with the contradictions.
My response was NO WAY to his offer ...
but will counter after the weekend 5,000 above our offer.
It comes down to whether he really wants to sell it and
whether he really has a full price offer worth waiting for.

We did visit our lender yesterday to update our pre-approval.
We had been pre-approved back on May 23rd for one month.
So we are good again for another month of house hunting.
After reviewing properties we have driven by we have a
new list of "want to see" properties in the Waterville area.

Either Or

2008-07-01T06:51:00.003-04:00

We are headed back up to the Waterville-Winslow area.
Our house selection seems to be down to two possibilities.
The photos are a sneak peek of the front view of both.
For the record one has a nice deck and the other ...
has a double deck with a sunroom in the middle.

Living Room Furniture

2008-07-01T04:12:00.003-04:00

While checking out Big Lots sales circular ...
saw some things that may work in our new home.

Check Plush Mocha Chair and a Half
Check Plush Mocha Storage Ottoman (matches)
Check Plush Mocha Sofa (also matching)

Cuddler Recliner (sized like chair and a half)
Ashley Durapella Cocoa Chaise

Photo shows similar set:
Chickasaw Tan Sofa
Chickasaw Tan Chair and a Half
Chickasaw Tan Storage Ottoman

June 29th items

2008-06-29T10:19:00.002-04:00

I plan to post ads of interest from Uncle Henry's.
Just to show what types of things are available.
May find items for our new home!!!

Lots of dvds and vhs tapes - informative for hubby
CD racks - not sure what hubby has for his collection

Corelle "Country Cottage" dishes
7 drawer desk - cherry wood
Harvest table with 6 chairs and cushions

Solid Pine Hutch
Pine Dining Table
Dinette set - dining table and china cabinet

King Sized bedroom set
one piece shower/tub unit

Story and Clark upright piano
Baldwin upright piano
Wurlitzer upright piano

Waterville trip

2008-06-28T16:59:00.001-04:00

Friday we were scheduled to see six houses.
Randy went into four while I went into two.
One the agent could not find the key to open.

We stayed over to do some more drivebys.
There were ten in the "closer" Waterville area.
That included Waterville, Winslow and Oakland.

The other eight were in the area a little further out.
That included Fairfield, Norridgewock and Madison ...
Even one in Skowhegan which is the next big city area.

One is a very good fit for us - both for myself and for Randy.
There is one more we want to get to see sometime this week.
Looks like we may be moving to the Waterville-Winslow area.

Pizza Hut Tuscani Pastas

2008-06-25T09:06:00.000-04:00

"Delicious pasta dinners in Meaty Marinara or Creamy Chicken Alfredo.
Finally, restaurant quality pasta delivered right to your door!
Feeds 4 and comes with 5 breadsticks for only $11.99. Dinner's done!"

That's the menu description on the Pizza Hut website.
I was skeptic at how good they would be able to make it.
And if there really was enough to feed 4 hungry adults.

Monday night I was not feeling up to cooking.
Randy picked up the Creamy Chicken Alfredo.
It was really good with leftovers for another night.

The chicken pieces in the pasta where large.
Of course the breadsticks are delicious!
We finished it up last night. YUMMY

I would definately recommend it to others.
Understand I love pasta and chicken.
So it was a natural fit for me.

To see picture click Pizza Hut Tuscani Pasta.

House Search

2008-06-24T08:05:00.001-04:00

If you are looking for a house and do not want to rely on an agent ...
there are MANY sites online to assist you in your search.

Realtor.com is the major site refreshed every few minutes.
We like the BETA version (to replace other) for a few reasons ...
you can specify price range without relying on preset ranges
and you can add mile radius to town you are searching in.
And it also shows the house images larger when you save it.

Real Estate Book is associated with publication of same name.
What I like about this site is you can search by "new listings".
It also gives you a list of the neighboring communities.

Hotpads is a fun way to search for houses.
It shows monopoly style houses on map for you to click on.
It does help you find other houses in same vicinity more easily.
The downside we have found is it tends to be outdated at times.
We'll find an interesting house but it is no longer available.

Trulia presents data from other real estate sources.
I do not use it that much but nice as a change.
They do have website tools and stat guides by town.

For Mainers you have an invaluable tool:
The Official MLS Listing Search for Maine MLS numbers
A better link is an example by MLS number: 898777
Change the last part of the URL to any MLS to get details.
The website's Advance Search allows you to search by county.

Previous Blogs

2008-06-23T01:00:00.001-04:00

I/we had a previous set of blogs ...
Blissful Days - from courtship thru marriage
Cathy's Hearth - menu planning and possible recipes to try
Cathy's Meowings - my hodge podge of thoughts and links.
Video Pairings - only accessible to certain people

Brunch Pies

2008-06-22T11:39:00.006-04:00

These may be better known as Impossible Pies.
There are many variations at Betty Crocker site.
I've broken it down to a very simple skeleton recipe:

Into baking dish place meat and cheese:
Approx one pound of prepared meat
And one cup of shredded cheese

Separately mix up to pour over mixture:
3/4 cup Bisquick mix
1 1/2 cups of milk
and 3 eggs

Bake at 400 for 35-40 minutes.

For the meat option I have used many things:
hamburger, sausage, bacon, left over chicken
even canned ham and tuna fish (two small cans)

For the cheese use your preference.
And feel free to add more if you like.
Sometimes I mix the cheeses.

The Search Is On

2008-06-22T06:18:00.000-04:00

Hubby and I are looking for our first house together.
I did previously own a house for nearly ten years.
My dear husband has lived in apartments only.

This blog will be focused on our house ...
and ultimately turning it into OUR home.
We are anxious to show hospitality to others.

Yesterday we were out doing drive bys.
We are not too familiar with the area.
We like taking in the whole neighborhood.

We started with 21 possiblities in Lewiston.
After the drive bys we are down to 13.
Level of interest cut it in half to 6 or 7.

We happened upon an open house.
Randy went in and met the broker.
She will likely be the one we end up using.