Tammy and I chose dinner at home tonight, a small part of a larger plan to spend less money on eating out. We had leftover port filets from the night before so that became the base of a fantastic pasta dish. Thepork had been grilled and wrapped with bacon so a carbonara was a perfect choice. To save a pit scrubbing, I used a single skillet, starting with the pasta. I cooked it until just under done then reused it for growing butter and making a white sauce. Not to rush the story here, but since it’s time for bed, everything was added to a cassarole dish and put under the broiler. Poof! A great dinner for pennies!

This is the last weblog post I’ll write from the comfy confines of 853 S. Kickapoo.  I’ve enjoyed my time here, and while looking around at the nearly empty house, I know I’ll miss it.  It’s a house of a little over 1000 square feet and that makes for an intimate experience, but most of all, the house had very different environments.  The kitchen was filled with windows and curtainless, so during the summer, it was like a screened-in porch.  The den was just right for the two of us to watch TV and feel completely isolated from the rest of the house.  It’s also the warmest and coolest in the appropriate seasons, making it Tammy’s favorite room.

There’s not much to say here except “Goodbye old friend.”

Goodbye Kickapoo…

We’re in the home stretch of the move. The appraiser took their time to return the list of items to fix, and while none are major, it’s obvious that she took the inspection and copied it word-for-word. That said, the items can easily be fixed in the next few days, but I would have loved doing it without the extra drama.

Today is painting the parts of the house that I scraped and primed and then patching the chimney mortar on the cap. Both are really easy to do but the chimney has me nervous because I’ll be climbing up the ladder and on to the roof. It’s not the height, it’s the transition from ladder to roof and the risk of falling.

What’s life without a little risk, eh?

When I look around at the mess that our old house becomes, I try not to be sad.  It’s odd to think that six months ago, we had no idea that we’d be moving.  I didn’t know that last Christmas was the last one with the aluminum tree centered in the front window. That was also the first Christmas that we did large light outlining the front of the house and it looked great.

I’m crying now.

This house has meant so much to me.  It’s been the place where Tammy and I “grew up” together.  We got better jobs and weather good times and bad while learning to be a real married couple.  This house held the first “wine tasting” party, a nearly epic event with friends and family.

I can’t hold on to everything in my life forever.  This house has been a physical and mental stabilizer for me for so long that leaving it sometimes scares me.  I know that it’s the right thing to do and I know I’ll love the other house, but for now, this old friend doesn’t want to leave my heart.