Spring-Like in Oregon and Moving Forward on House

Happy March!  We are enjoying spring like weather (most of the time) here in Oregon and today it is in the mid fifties, and we have sunshine, crocus blooming, daffodils coming up and other signs of Spring.  It is supposed to hit sixty degrees this week for the first time since November 2011, so Oregonians are looking forward to warmth as much as we are.

Dining Room Looking Towards Kitchen

We have spent the last several weeks working on house paperwork for the loan, getting the home inspection done and other house related things.  We were able to get a good inspection and identified some things that needed to be fixed, but nothing that was a deal breaker for the purchase of the house.  The current owner just put on a roof in the last six months, so that is a really good thing.

We also attended another Portland Home and Garden Show and got some ideas for the house and plan to have several rooms painted and the air ducts cleaned before we move in furniture.  There will also be the flurry of installation of garage shelves, a new work bench, closet organizers, and probably at least one trip to Ikea for some furniture items.  We hope to close on the house the last week of March, so this is the calm before the storm.

The Front Room has a Bay Window and Vaulted Ceiling

Pamela is both working on deciding what furniture will go where (the lighthouse lens coffee table will go into the space above), but also working on some items for the American Primrose Society national show that will be at the Portland Expo Center on April 7 and 8.  We will be living in our new house by then, so she won't have so far to go to help out and attend the show, and Neil will have lots to keep him busy unpacking while she is away.

The Living Room Looks Out onto a Large Outdoor Deck
We Are Planning on Putting Our TV over the Gas Fireplace

Neil is spending time arranging utilities and trying to make sure that we have things ready when we get possession of the house (internet, phone, gas, water, DirecTV, etc) so that we can move in as fast as we can.  We may ask for a "split move" where the movers deliver all the items late in the week and come back the next week to unpack everything and take all the packing materials away.

There is a Well Established Backyard--Including Gazebo

Our biggest challenge will be the phasing of things to do at the new home; we could  run ourselves ragged putting in a garden, greenhouse, replacing decks, and other stuff.  We want to be able to do some travels in the Pacific Northwest this summer and so will postpone some projects for other years.  

We will probably go to the RV show this week to try look at choices for our next RV, which will be smaller and more cost effective to travel in, but we will really miss the size and convenience of this big "Fiver" when we do downsize.  We plan to take the Fiver to Packwood, Washington over Memorial Day for one of the two annual Finney camp outs, so it will be good to visit Pamela's relatives and friends over that holiday.

We also plan to return to Juneau from May 17-23 so Neil can get some boat time in with friends, and Pamela can teach at a Creative Memories event on the ferry to Sitka and return that weekend.  We decided to burn some Alaska Airlines miles and  are looking forward to visiting friends for our brief visit back to Juneau.  Who knows, Neil may go back in August for the coho run as well.

Thanks for visiting.  We know that it is tough to leave notes on this blog sometimes, but you can always drop us a note at hagafinn@gmail.com as well.  Just click this link and it should make it easy for you.

Fair Winds and Calm Seas,

Neil Hagadorn and Pamela Finney