Little Chip o' Heaven: Moving Day-The Day We've Been Waiting For...

December 28, 2010 - January 1, 2011

We have been looking so forward to this weekend, enjoying New Year's with our family. Spencer and Kim and Annie agreed to come from Texas for a visit, along with Chris and Kelly. Sadly, Lauren and Adam and Noelle were not able to join us, due to the travel and heavy demands of life with a newborn. We missed them very much, but certainly understood. And as this was also a work weekend, it would have been difficult to make them all comfortable.

For several years, Sandy's been buying, collecting and storing the many things we'll need to furnish our cabin. Thanks to garage/estate sales, craigslist and thrift stores, we've gotten all of it used and most importantly, inexpensively! Obviously, this makes for an overflowing of rooms at home. So the double benefit of putting things in their rightful place at the cabin and emptying out and cleaning up rooms at home has at last begun! Once we were able to sleep upstairs, we started bringing a trailer-full at a time each weekend and literally shoving it in the basement until the flooring in various rooms was ready to accommodate it. But for the last push and all of the larger, heavier furniture, we decided on renting a 26-foot U-Haul truck. We were able to pick it up in Crystal and return it in Alexandria. The idea of getting everything transported in one shot was very appealing.

As it turns out, the Texans were able to leave home several days sooner than anticipated and arrived in Minneapolis on Sunday night, the 26th. We were still finishing out some work at the cabin, but arrived to find them at home, sharing pizza with Chris and Kelly. They drove their pick-up truck laden with a beautiful log bed that Spencer had made, which they were giving to us. What a perfect addition to the cabin!

Recognizing the error of moving furniture onto unfinished flooring, and not having another weekend to get that done first, Spencer and Sandy and Maddie left on Tuesday morning to begin installation of the main level flooring.We loaded the trailer with some of the goods and made our way.

The scene was like a winter wonderland when we arrived. Beautiful snow-tipped trees everywhere!

Then Kelly and Kim, Annie and Sidney would come on Wednesday sometime, followed by Chris and Doug in the evening. Doug spent much of Wednesday picking up and loading the U-Haul with whatever he could handle alone, then Chris joined him after work to load the two-man pieces, and off they went.

The salvaged ship-lap flooring is from a cattle barn roof in Wisconsin which we had purchased off of craigslist. We have been so anxious to see it in place after these many months of storage in our garage.

This is the living room after the sheet rock was completed and the windows covered and the walls primed.

And this is how the kitchen was left at the end of the last weekend, with enough of the wood flooring installed to set the cabinets on.


Installing the ship-lap flooring involved first laying down rosin paper, then finding pieces of the wood that were not too badly split or gouged. We agreed that we could not be too particular about the imperfections, but rather look at them as part of the character to be shared by the whole floor.

We brought air mattresses into the living room to make our beds. It was glorious waking up to the sunlight through the windows!

As the week progressed, we knew we were going to be looking at some serious winter weather. And come it certainly did. There was already several inches of snow on the driveway when the Jeep and trailer pulled in with no real trouble. But the possibility of the Maxima and U-Haul being able to make it seemed doubtful. We wondered if we would have to haul everything from the truck down the long driveway! It was more than fortunate that we saw a plow clearing the driveway of our neighbors, the Horns. Thankfully, Sandy was able to secure his services to take care of ours as well. By evening, the blizzard was in full force. The snow flew and the wind howled!

We were so thankful when everyone arrived safely that evening. We chose to postpone unloading the truck, but only removed a few couches in order to relax and enjoy a cozy movie night (with the movie being projected on the wall) as the blizzard raged outside...

Thursday, the 29th began with incredible cinnamon rolls, compliments of Kelly! Wow, they were yummy!

And in ultimate cabin fashion, the dogs rested at our feet under the table.

With breakfast over, we set out to finish the flooring in the living room in order to unload the truck and return it before we were too heavily hit with round 2 of the storm.

Once the refrigerator was moved upstairs, the girls help to get it restocked!

Kim and Kelly got the pleasure of carrying the heavy boxes of fireplace rock to the basement!

And the men brought our future closet doors downstairs.

Almost done...

All the activity was exhausting for Maddie. Though she is quite old, we fear we may be losing her. It was a bittersweet time, as we know that our days are coming to an end with our dear friend.

Once the truck was unloaded, we began the wintery journey to return the truck. It only got stuck a few times in the driveway, but made it slowly and safely to Alexandria, as there were no other vehicles venturing out that night!


We cheered as they pulled onto the county road...and thanked God when they returned back home to settle in for the evening!

Annie enjoyed the first bath in the tub...always a good time!

And she helped Daddy brush his teeth!

Annie seemed to understand Maddie's condition, and found herself drawn to her. She couldn't help but crawl up on Sidney's bed,which Maddie was making her own, to play and cuddle...

and cuddle some more...

and "cave", as we call it, with her friend, Maddie.


We brought the toy box with all of her favorites, and enjoyed the protection of her pup, Sidney. Once she was in bed, the adults enjoyed some cards and munchies!

On Friday, New Year's Eve 2010, we putzed around on more electrical work. There a lots of outlets, switches and light fixtures to install.

We had some time to play in the snow, although not for long. The wind and snow were brutal.

Even had time for Uncle Chris to read to Annie.

And we continued to get things put in their places. By evening, though we tried desperately, we could not stay awake until midnight to welcome the new year. Not surprisingly, the house was dark, quiet and cozy by 10:30 that night.

New Year's Day 2011 - it was only logical to start the new year with a hearty breakfast at Grandma Patty's restaurant in Brandon before heading home.


Annie is drawing a lovely picture on the placemat...the first grandchild drawing to hang on our cabin refrigerator! Truly a dream come true!

We learned at breakfast that Interstate 94 was closed from Alexandria north to Fargo and on to Bismarck. We would have to take back roads to Alex and jump on the highway going south from there. And with all the snow that fell over the last three days, we knew we wouldn't get the Maxima out of the driveway without getting it plowed again. Thankfully, Aaron Tasto was able to save the day with his four-wheeler and plow!

Happy and satisfied, though extremely skuzzy after 4-5 days of working and no showers...we made time for one family picture before we departed...minus Lauren, Adam and Noelle : - (

Then, tightly packed into two cars with seven people, two dogs and lots of stuff, we ventured out into the best that Minnesota could throw at us...heading home.