Enjoy this post that was originally written on November 2, 2024

Lowe’s called us last night with TWO delivery windows for two different deliveries, the first of which was for 7 am to noon for the washer and dryer. Oh boy. We asked Morgan if he would prefer to go down the night before and camp out or wake up at 5 am to go down in the morning and he chose the early wake up. Ugh. So we did that and it was early.

We packed the car with the stuff to go down, did the drive (easy, no traffic), stopped at McDonald’s to grab breakfast when we were almost there (the Apple House doesn’t open until 7 so no donuts) and made it to the house by 7. Then of course they revised the delivery time. It was fine. Morgan swept the laundry room and I mopped it and tried to get more of the tile clean and did the best I could without grout cleaner.

I had bought curtains but they were almost all the wrong size for what I bought them for. Annoying. Revised curtain plan. Ordered more curtains based on the ONE curtain that fit something.

Then it was like 10 and I said I was going to the Winchester ReStore – Blue Ridge Habitat for Humanity because they had advertised yesterday that they had a Lane Cedar chest for $75 and I wanted it. I got there, pulled the sticker, and made it my own. I also met some cool people while looking for other stuff. I never seem to be there when they have bar stools but I got back to Reston and now it looks like they have some. Darn it. Next time for sure.

Between my pulling the sticker and my buying the chest, 7 other people asked about the chest. No. It’s mine mine mine mine mine and you can’t have it.

Then I went to get some more cleaning supplies. We had to test the washer and dryer in 24 hours and it came with a tide pod which I know has a smell that would make me sick so I went and got our regular free and clear stuff at the local store. Plus some floor cleaner and wood cleaner. Then I got back and everyone was hungry. Morgan and Kyle had been taking down some trees that were going to hit some power lines so they were super hungry. There is a small Jamaican place nearby and I got back in the car and did the 5 minute drive to pick up some food. Omg. So good. I might be in trouble with this place so close. I picked up some jerk chicken and some curry chicken and rice and beans and vegetables and everything was amazing. Plus I met some more cool local neighbors.

When we got back we ate and everyone was happy with the food. Morgan decided to do some reading and Kyle had to go up on the roof to repair some shingles that had fallen off. This made me nervous. Maybe not as nervous as it made him. Oh yeah the 2nd delivery came while I was out: it was the super long ladder. Anyway while we had the ladder out Kyle cleaned the gutters on the garage and part of the house and it was dismaying. So many pinecones.

I think at some point Kyle realized it was almost 5 and we were all getting tired. So we headed out and we tried to stop at the Apple House for donuts but the line was filled with leaf watchers and was so long I knew it wasn’t going to work. We gave up and came home. Long day. Termite people are coming on Monday and Kyle will go back but I’ll be home working.

Morgan told me that going to the farm was like taking a shower: he thinks it’s going to be terrible and doesn’t want to do it but once he’s in the middle of it he remembers that he really likes it.