beluga

beluga

Saturday, October 23, 2021

And....we're home!

 We spent the first two nights back in Wickenburg at Desert Cypress RV Park so we could slowly ease our way into the house.    All our things were already there, but we needed to dump Beluga's black tanks, rinse out the fresh water tank and gather our wits about us in order to transition from living in a motorhome to living in a real house.   I try to have duplicates of most everything so there wouldn't be too much to take from Beluga once we arrived, but still.....what was the hurry?

Since we were only a few miles away, I followed Beluga down our washed out, rocky road to the house.



We put Lewis in the house and then worked on backing Beluga into her new winter home.   The building was large enough so it would be easy peasy for Dave.


Beluga's coming generated a bit of interest from the horses across the street....It's a boring life for a pipe corral bound horse after all....


So....we backed in, right to the rear wall of the building but part of Beluga was still sticking outside, the door would definitely NOT close, uh oh.    Dave readjusted, tried backing in a little to the left, a little to the right, kitty corner to the door, etc., but in no way would the door close.   One of the reasons we bought this property was because Beluga would have a building to live in while we were in the house.

Long, long story short, he was able to carefully back Beluga so that her ladder fit between two of the studs in the back wall.   With a 1/2 clearance on either side.    I stood with my nose to the studs, walkie talkie keyed in my hand, guiding him slowly back (and forth) - inch by inch until the ladder was as tight as it could be to the back wall.  

back as far as she could go....

Then we moved to the front and cautiously brought the door down, hoping it could clear Beluga's windshield wipers and close to the ground.   We held our breaths.

just made it

Success!  by inches.   What an exhausting and nerve wracking first few hours.    


We closed up Beluga, walked up to the house,  poured a good stiff gin and laughed at our almost catastrophic failure.   Mother nature gave us a beautiful welcome but later,  when we went to use the master bathroom toilet we found it was leaking.   Ugh.


Another long story short, Dave worked on the toilet and ended up cracking the tank....luckily we have another bathroom to use so we gave up and went to bed.     The next day we drove into Sun City and bought another toilet.

yes, he knows it's upside down....

Lewis continues to enjoy our movement in and out of the house.   He knows where his toys are and where the best places to use his new ball and get our attention.....   Sometimes he loses it under things but he knows we'll come to the rescue, eventually.

got a minute to kick that ball?

   

 
it's under there, I know it's under there......

stopped it just in time!


Sometimes he tires of playing and just wants pets...If we're busy he lets us know what he needs.

I need pets, can't you just stop for one minute, can't you?  I'm right here - see me?


He's not a "dog bed" sort of dog, has never been.   Since this house is all tile flooring I tried to place soft beds everywhere so he wouldn't have to drop his old bones down on the hard floor.    He studiously avoids all help.   He plops down next to a bed and only gets on it if I bribe him.     But...we bought a really nice, thick and luxurious velvet bed for him to use our bedroom at night and that one he seems to use regularly, but he'd still rather sleep in the carpeted master closet.   Go figure.


One day (Saturday I think) we decided to take the day off and go to the Wickenburg Airport to attend  Fly-In Classic Car Show.    We hoped we'd be back from our Spokane trip in time to get to this show - it combines two of Dave's loves.     Steve and MonaLiza were planning to be there also so it would be a fun outing.    Until.....we got into the Jeep, ready to go and - click click click.   The battery was dead.  Grrr    Do we call AAA and wait all day for them to bring a new battery and miss the car show?     Once again, good friends came to the rescue.   Steve and Mona Liza were in the area and they responded to Dave's call.    They came right over, agreed with Dave's diagnosis and wasted no time taking him to the local Napa store for a new battery.

We managed to make it to the Fly-In Classic Car show before all the exhibitors flew or drove away.   Thanks again Steve and MonaLiza!


Lots of the planes were beginning to fly away but we enjoyed watching them taxi and take off as we walked through the remaining cars.    It was a very good show and next year we'll make sure we arrive a bit earlier!





So, back to the house and getting settled.   We're using our Beluga outdoor chairs in the livingroom - our new furniture won't arrive til near Thanksgiving (ordered mid May).     Here are a few pictures, in no particular order, my brain is fried with  too many details.....The FedEx man knows us so well he brings a biscuit for Lewis each time he comes.

out with the old




in with the new


Dave uses CAD to help me visualize a fireplace (cardboard aided design)

new license plates


tv antenna works great - now.....


my new Mexican Agave (it's metal!)


And, to top it all off, we've just purchased the empty property next door to assure the privacy we're so enjoying here.   



So....we're here and happy until next summer's travels.   We look forward to being able to welcome friends and relatives, celebrate the holidays with a real Christmas tree, and just generally enjoy our own little slice of Arizona! 







19 comments:

  1. Man oh man that would have soooooo sucked if Beluga hadn't fit in the garage!! I'm not surprised the two of you were able to make it happen. It's the one thing we really wish we had at our place. Nice of the toilet to remind you about house ownership - we had to replace ten feet of sewer pipe under the house our first week here! Lewis is too adorable with his ball. Glad he has a comfy to closet to relax in :-)) It's lovely that Dave finally has his Arizona home!

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  2. The joys of home ownership, sticks and bricks, or mobile! Yes, Dave is happy with his western home, even though it took 50 years! See you soon...

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  3. As Jodee said, that would have been awful if the motorhome didn't fit! Love the photos of Lewis asking to be petted--we too have one of those needy pooches. And I love your metal agave--it fooled me! May your furniture come soon! And good for you purchasing the adjoining property, we have been doing that around our Arizona house too. I hope we can meet up this winter!

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    1. It never entered our mind that it wouldn't! Dave would "make it work", as he always does..... I think we'll be in the Tucson area for a week or so sometime the end of January, beginning of February so I'll stay in touch...we'd love to meet in person!

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  4. Lewis is so cute ! So happy he has favorite places and space to roam. And just like Lew, we all need pets from time to time ! Congrats on the new addition of property...what a view ! Sounds like you are off and running on projects to make your new house your new home.

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  5. Who knew that the stud distance had to be wide enough to fit a RV ladder...haha! So very glad Beluga got a new home, as well. Love, love all the Lew photos!!!

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    1. The distance between studs wasn't the same, Dave measured them all to find one that would work! The Lew pictures were mostly for you!

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  6. Welcome home!!! It sounds a bit traumatic, but so glad that you managed to squeeze Beluga into her winter shelter. We can't fit our trailer in the carport we have here (it was made for a smaller trailer and a boat). Sigh. So it's on our list of things to replace now that we're home and in project mode again.

    A house is SO NEEDY. But it's also wonderful to have a peaceful place to call home in between travel adventures. Lew is so adorable with his games. Magnolia found her green felt ball yesterday and got stuck under the sofa trying to retrieve it, LOL. So glad you're happy with your slice of Arizona, and now it's a double slice! :-)

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    1. You're home too! Yes, houses are needy, although we could simply live in them the way we found them....but that wouldn't be any fun now would it?

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  7. Wow - you guys have been busy! I'm glad to hear things worked out - especially with the garage, but also with ML and Steve coming to the rescue (they do seem to be VERY good at that), and your being able to snag the property next door. That is a huge win and removes so much uncertainty from the home ownership equation. Fingers crossed you get your furniture soon. Welcome home!!

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  8. I'm sorry for your rough landing, but it does give me strange comfort to know that it's not just RVs that require constant attention. What a score to get the adjacent property! Lew is the cutest excuse to not do chores! Your new ceiling fan looks like an airplane propeller -- airshow purchase? 😉

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    1. Homes require constant attention, no matter if they have wheels or foundations! Dave picked out the fan and I thought the same thing - propeller! He is a pilot so I suppose it was a natural affection!

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  9. Good on you for buying the property next door. So happy two studs could fit the ladder between them. Love the CAD package Dave's using for the fireplace. Welcome home!

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    1. thanks Allison! It's nice to be here and we're beginning to get our arms around things so it's feeling a bit more like "home".

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  10. Oh my, does Beluga need a bigger bedroom ?? Welcome home!
    Dave did an excellent visual with his Amazon CAD visual :)

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    1. No, she fits just fine right now, all though she does complain about not being able to see very much with the door so darn close to her nose! I'm a very visual person, and Dave knows how to show me what he's talking about. I'm a lucky lady!

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  11. I'll bet Dave already has a plan to modify those studs at the rear of the garage to make Beluga fit in easier. :)

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