2 Nights in Extended Stay now

I keep forgetting my stop and smell the roses reflections.  I see a pattern here!  But I am not actually forgetting day to day too much, I forget to write it down.  I did not even worry about walking or yoga this week so far - I have plenty on my plate already.  I have even had take out meals for lunch and dinner to help save time/effort there.  Mainly, I have tried to 1)  enjoy the moments, as I leave a house that I love...that DH and I bought together after we got married...wow, that is a emotional though.  And 2)  to reflect to DH how grateful I am for him and to reassure him and make him feel loved and not be short and impatient.  I really am grateful that I am on this journey with him, and we have each other because we make a great team.  Have a great day!
Update, 2nd night in hotel was better...more on that later.  I think going to hot yoga on Thurs night really helped me sleep.  DH and the dogs were all exhausted too.  Is going to be a long 3 months in extended stay, but we can do this.  Have a great weekend!

Lists

Last night was last night in our city house.  This is list we are moving to hotel for 3 months we will be there.  We moved half last night, other have after work today.  I will finish up tonight by final cleaning of the bathroom counters, kitchen counters and floors after we are out.  I also have list of optional stuff, we will keep in suburban to be accessed if we need it.  We will take the last list of stuff on home to RH in 2 weeks, next time we drive down.  We are staying in town next 2 weekends to 1)  get a break from the driving, 2) spend some time with friends and 3) to be able to work as many hours as I can, because my work is closed tues at noon and the 4th, next week.  So, I will work all day Friday and relax in city that weekend after as well.
Storage
  Collapsible wire shelving
  door racks
Food prep/storage
   Utensils/tools/can opener
   Tupperware
   Strainer/steamer
   Pot and lid
   Pan and lid
   Knives/Cutting boards
   Mugs/cups/water bottles
   Towels/dish tags
   Ziplock/foil
Dogs
   Bowls
   Food
   Leashes
   Bag roll
   Beds/crate
Toiletries
Medicine/supplements
Smoothie stuff
 Blender
Coffee maker
Coffee supplies
Snacks
Spices and condiments
Fan
lamps
Radio
Laptop
clothes/shoe
Optional
Clothes rack
2 trays
Dish rack
Shopping bags
Laundry detergent
Iron
Drying rack
Books
camp chairs
extra clothes
extra dog beds/food
Stuff for next trip home
floor lamp
vacuum
mops/brooms
bucket
cleaning supplies
bedding
towels/mat
extra paper towels/tissue
mirror/bedside table glass

Lighting

I think I mentioned this earlier, but since I have discovered LED bulbs, I am digging them!  As my eyesight ages, the more light I need.  Retirement house has sev of the smaller celing fans with the small blades and the single light, well the entrance through the garage through "utility room" we call it, had a very dim light.  So, this weekend I finally put my 100 watt equivalent LED bulb in - so nice!  We have done DH workshop inside and out, the garage and we are also going to change out master bath and attic.  I really hate overhead lights burning all the time, but when I need to see to clean or move something, etc I like the option of turning them on.  I mostly enjoy softer lamp light all over my house though day to day.  As soon as we move, I am going to hire electrician to do some lighting in the kitchen.  it has very poor lighting and I use the kitchen a lot, so I am going to have under cabinet lights, a better light at our eat in nook (with a dimmer) and lights over the bar.  I am also going to have the under sink cabinet and the pantry fitted with lights that go on and off with the opening of the cabinet.  I am excited!  I found pendant lights that will hold the 100 watt equivalent for the LED bulbs.  The house was build in 1997 and at the time, brass was evidently in.  So, all my lighting and door nobs/hinges are brass.  I don't care if it is not "in", I like it.  Actually it sort of is "in" now and it is pretty easy to find brass lighting to match.  the pendants are just a single hanging brass socket with gold cords and a simple round globe.  Since I painted our entire house gray inside and all the wood work was already white, the brass looks nice with the cool tones.  When people ask if I am going to upgrade I say hell no. 
Do you guys like something that is out of style or not on trend that you keep?
Here is a picture of our solar light for the flag pole. 

Our Last Sunday Evening in City House

Yesterday we got back to the city house and I helped my friend load an armoire I gave her, then we took a good 4 mile walk.  It was humid, but not terribly hot (upper 80's).  Friday we took, unloaded and organized last load until we move excess personal effects/clothes/sheets/towels/cleaning tools - literally what can't fit in hotel.  That won't be until July 13.  We are staying in the city the next 2 weekends.  We will keep 3rd vehicle (suburban) in city parked at hotel, which will be handy because it will act as our rolling storage unit for few more weeks.  Then we will move it south and park it in DH workshop - we already made the room for it.  For Aug and Sept, we will just have our personal commuter cars in the city.  But anyway, back to Friday in the country...it wasn't the biggest load, nor the hottest day we have worked in, but I got dizzy and nauseous and about passed out.  So DH made me sit in AC house and drink some water.  It only lasted a short time and I was fine.  I think I just did not drink enough water Friday.
Ate a small dinner Friday down at retirement country and got to visit with BIL.  He had been working a job keeping him away afternoons till 11pm, well, he ended up leaving there and thinks he has another corp gig lined up late july or early aug.  He and SIL had sold their 3rd veh and are considering selling their cattle (usu keep about 15 - 20 to let them focus on their downsize).  He will spend few weeks attacking jobs at his late mother's residence to be able to finish that house and get the prop on the market.  His sister and her husband drives 6 hours one way each weekend, versus BIL 3 hours one way to work on this property. 
When DH and I got back to city and walked into CH Sunday, we could see that the woman we hired to clean had done a great job and my friends who came and got sev pieces of furniture had not left a trace of dirt or dust, so we were pleased.  I cleaned out laundry cabinet, kitchen drawers and weekend the area behind my house/patio area.  I weeked front area last week.  We had a large brunch on the way home for DH birthday, so we just sat in our lawn chairs in our living room and drank our healthy smoothies for dinner!  It was sort of fun.  Our 2 dogs are like what is going on?!  Where is our furniture?!
Today is the last Monday we will commute from our CH.  The picture is of a rain shower we enjoyed from our view last week.  Tonight I will finish packing my clothes and wipe out master bath vanity and do one more load of laundry.  I will take one more walk if weather permits on my lovely route i will miss so much.  DH brother coming over to get a gifted briefcase and our FSBO house sign for when he sells his house later this month or next.  DH sister and his brother are all about same age as DH and all working toward downsizing and getting more nimble for retirement.  I have inspired sev friends and family members to purge.  I will never stop purging after seeing people deal with estates after the fact.  I have no children to help me.  Have a wonderful day!  Here in the Midwest, we are enjoying some mild overcast weather today.

DH Birthday

Friday and yesterday, after unloading suburban we put things away, hung more stuff, organized more...retirement house is coming along great. I got my spice storage and pantry area ready.  We also moved a large metal panel from In Laws to our house where we will plant something to help shade DH workshop.  I know they were glad to have it out of their small yard.  We also went out to eat with them for DH bday and went to a new park in our little town right next to a lovely spring.  DH likes his gift from me, a solar flag light that goes on the pole.  It was a cool and beautiful weekend.  This morning a nice soaking rain that all our plants needed.  Home to an almost empty house for 3 more nights!  So excited.

Friday Finally

To stop and smell the roses this week, I went to bed early every night (except last night), went to yoga twice and visited my DGM.  Yoga last night was just my friend T and I with our instructor.  He has been teaching us since 2012.  Last night he told us how well we  are doing.  I was shocked, he is not a talker  I replied that I felt and saw changes in myself that I know are from yoga and that is all I need.  It was good doing yoga twice this week, I want to walk 4 -5 times a week and do yoga 2-3 times when we retire.  I told DH that while I was on break yesterday I went through and did a draft of our new post retirement budget.  This week we both changed our addresses most places we could think off - banks, investment, professional licenses (4), utilities, work, insurance...I also put in the mail forwarding order for post office.  So, now all we have to do is turn in his paperwork, finish our 3 months work (pay off NYC trip off my credit card) and then next week our house will be paid off from the equity in our city house we are selling.  I have been really aware of getting rest and eating right, so physically I am doing well, but dang I am weary.  P.S.  I am well today, but yesterday i had a flare of epic proportions.  I had forgotten just how sick i can get, I had been feeling so well for so long.  Then BAM - out of nowhere...I know DH is tired and weary too.  But this weekend, we essentially unload the pantry/misc stuff (clocks, step ladder, other kitchen stuff) and plants go to MIL house and we are pretty much free to relax Saturday in our new space.  We will just have to try to ignore the ruined, partially torn up hardwood floor in the kitchen.  My pantry is in the utility room, so I can work in there and not worry about the torn up floor.  Oh, and I do have to move a shelf that is currently in utility room to garage so they can install flooring in there too.  But those two things are pretty minor compared to some of our recent work weekends of the past 3 years..  Sunday we will come back and clean where some furniture has been moved while we were gone and coordinate giving away few more things (another briefcase - this time to BIL, a sturdy for-sale sign for their yard, large TV, Armoire) and some stuff to purge (radio that does not work well, exercise ball that is going flat some more clothes and some old sheets) and then we just have to move stuff to extended stay hotel Tues and Wed night (and work a full week).  The buyer of our CH came over last night to measure a few places, she said she is really excited and we are excited for her to take it over and off our plates!

Summer Solstice

Last night, the clouds came from the north and moved south, in 15 min it was dark and pouring rain.  It cooled down an already pretty nice day.  Good thing I was outside visiting with the neighbors...I ran and walked the dogs first!  They hate rain.  This is the last Wed we will be in CH.  Next week we will move stuff to extended stay hotel Tues and Wed and stay Wed night there.  Can't believe it.  Just wish I would hear something confirming/telling us what time closing is.  I have emailed 3 times and left 3 messages.  What is it about not returning someone's request for information?!  Uggggghhhhh.