Harrison and Chihuly

Last Sunday we spent father's day at the house going through things and packing up.  We are discovering what many other full timers have learned.  A lot of what we own is just "stuff".  While we were packing, Jonathan and Laura dropped off Harrison for a few hours while they went to see a movie.

Of course Grandma would never turn down an opportunity to hold her newest grandchild. 

On Tuesday, two guys and a small truck arrived to help move a few special pieces of furniture and some boxes into storage.  They were fast, efficient, and careful and in less than 4 hours had everything re-situated in two different storage places. 

Wednesday morning the estate sale people arrived to price everything for the big weekend sale.  It was nice because they have a much better idea than we do of what things should sell for.  Besides it was time for a little diversion from all the condo selling craziness.

You may remember that when we were in the Detroit area a few weeks ago visiting our daughter Melissa and her family we also met a really nice couple, Randy and Pam Warner.  We had offered to show them around Grand Rapids if they wanted to make the drive over here.  Wednesday was the perfect day.  Although the day started out with thunderstorms, by the time they arrived we had sunny skies.  We met them at the Fredrick Meijer Gardens.  After enjoying the Chihuly glass exhibits, we wandered  through the sculpture gardens enjoying the art, the nice weather and good company.

It was soon time for lunch, so we headed to one of our favorite spots "The Electric Cheetah".  Although it was a little noisy, the food was good.

We then headed downtown to the Gerald Ford Presidental Museum.

It's always fun to see what is so familiar to you, through others eyes.  The day ended too quickly with Randy and Pam heading back to Haas Lake.  We are looking forward to the next time our paths cross.  If you would like to see more pictures of their visit, Randy has 2 blog entries with lots of pictures.   It was a needed break for Judy and me.
THANKS RANDY AND PAM!!!

Last night we had a pre-sale at the house for friends and relatives and Judy and I were in charge of handling that.  Today the real sale started this morning at 9am.  At 8:15 there were already 12 cars lined up.  Fortunately today the experts ran the sale and they will again tomorrow.  By Monday evening everything will be gone and after our closing on Tuesday we will officially be homeless.  We met the new owners last night at the pre-sale and it made us feel good that they are really excited to get our place.  They seem to appreciate all the extra things we had done to the house and I'm sure they will take good care of it.

Until later.

GOING...GOING....

Two years ago we put our condo on the market.  Nine months later with only one showing we took it off the market.  If you have been following the real estate scene you know how bad it is.  And as bad as it is nation wide, Michigan has to be at the bottom.

When we left Michigan last October Stan and Kathleen, our business partners, were getting ready to build a new house, and having sold their house, needed a place to stay.  We offered our condo since we were going to be gone, and the heat has to be on anyway.  It was reassuring having someone looking after the place and keeping an eye on things.  When we came back in April, to be here when Harrison was born, we decided to put the condo back on the market.  After meeting with a realtor and gritting our teeth over how much we have already lost, we listed it.

While we were at Haas Lake we got a call saying we were going to have two showings.   Stan and Kathleen have kept the place in ready to show.  Kathleen had even gone out and bought hanging baskets and replanted the window boxes.  Last Tuesday we had not two but three showings.  John was scheduled to go the Indianapolis for business, and of course while he was gone we received an offer.  Several phone calls, pdf's and faxes insued and by Friday we had a full cash offer, no contingencies, no inspections.  We are both in a bit of a daze.  We now need to sell furniture, and decide if we are going to remain Michigan residents.  Closing is to be no later than the first week of July.  But you know what they say.  The job's not finished till the paperwork is done.  But so far everything looks good.

On Saturday we drove down to Kokomo, Indiana to attend our nieces graduation open house. I remember when her mom, Shannon was in our wedding.  She was three at the time.  Yes I am feeling old.

We followed John's brother Mark home on the back roads and stopped in Shipshewana to have dinner at the Blue Gate restaurant with Mark and family, and John's sister Diane and her husband Bud.  It was a busy but memorable week.

Until later.