A New Place

On Sunday, we helped K move from a tiny studio apartment to a 2 bedroom condo she is renting! Yahoo!!  A nice step-up, closer to work, and actually for less money.    🙂

We had our truck FULL!!  Dresser, ironing board, bookcase, small end table, small drawer unit, wicker chair, a cooler with meat, and stuff including empty boxes flattened to revive to finish off the old place.

We all arrived at the new place within a minute of each other just after 10 a.m.  K found an easy parking place and we were in the alley next to her back door for unloading.   We each took 2 trips up the 2 flights of round & round stairs with loads.   I wish I had a picture or video of when the dresser came out the back and the sheet covering it came off.  She LOVES it!!  🙂

I had already had the idea of spraying the handles with black (or ?) so that is another project for this week. She would have to drive out of the city to buy spray paint.  Hassle!

for now, in the living room and after the picture, holding the TV. 🙂

Just as we had our things unloaded the moving company called at 10:30 — 2 1/2 hrs early and they were ready to come!  Ack!!  So we hustled back…

I want to shop here!!

…to her old place midst Sunday traffic (25 mins)…

passed Wrigley Field!

and got there just behind them.   11:15 a.m.  Not the plan as there were still some things to go into boxes (and lunch to be eaten!!) but not when the movers are there at the same time!

Phil and I hurriedly put the boxes together, filled them, and sealed them shut.  By then, there was at least room to stand.  Phil moved boxes from the closet/storage area to the main room and the workers kept working.  It was nice!  We figured at the end there were 5 of them doing an assembly line move.   Two moved from the apt to the elevator, the others were down at the bottom of the elevator and moving out to the truck.  Of course, she didn’t even fill half their truck!  One piece of furniture (her futon – bed) and boxes.  Boxes.  Boxes.  And 2 sewing tables.    😉

hot, exhausted, exasperated, stressed, excited, exhausted

At that we all headed back to the new place.  We arrived just a few minutes before the moving truck.  Barely enough time to catch our breath.  Phil & K had just gone to the alley to watch for them and let them up.

To stay out of the way, I put polish on her stainless steel appliances and then sat on the counter as they walked passed.  Phil helped with the screen door back & forth for them as it opens backwards for moving ease.   K was near the door directing them to either the bedroom, the sewing room, or the living room.

I'm in the living room looking into the kitchen from the opening above some counter top.

They were finished and left at 1 p.m.  – her original appointment time.   🙂

We were STARVED by now!!  We went back to her old parking garage, had lunch at Five Guys on the corner, and then returned to the old place to clean.  Always such fun… NOT!  But with 3 of us, it was fine.

I'm at the door... this was IT! plus a bathroom to the side

Finally the old was clean and it was time to tell it good-bye.  It was 3:00.  (We continued to be thankful for the moving company.  Phil thought at this point he would have lost his friends if we had brought them along instead of the moving company!)

Goodbye Apt 205....

Finally arriving "home".

Back up to the new apartment.  Yeah!!  Moved in!  Now for unpacking.

First, K & I stopped to have snacks and revive.  Phil sorted boxes.  The sewing room has a nice closet so winter clothes and fabric boxes got PACKED in the closet.  Nearly to the ceiling.  Phil likes the puzzle of fitting as much as possible into ____ (insert your space: closet, storage room, trunk, etc.).

bedroom

I worked at cycling laundry through HER OWN washer & dryer IN HER APT so that I could make the bed with clean bedding.  I washed off silverware and helped arrange kitchen cupboards.

Finally after 5:30,  I suggested clean clothes and dinner out!   Phil & K decided on a Italian family restaurant nearby that has a parking lot so no fighting for a place on the busy street.  Yummy!!  K & I shared a small pizza (pepperoni, spinach, & artichokes!) and Phil had a fish dinner that included a cupcake!!    🙂    We sat & cooled off.  We were  t i r e d.

Back at the new apartment, K got in a quick shower, I made the bed (my usual job for her moves as I know where it all goes and makes me feel motherly 😉  ), and Phil made sure there were plenty of TV channels.   😉    We had drain cleaner to pour down the tub and kitchen sink.  K made her lunch for Monday and found clothes to wear to work in the morning.   It was time. We headed home.  8:20 p.m.

Traffic is not an issue that late on a Sunday night and neither did we have troubles early on Sunday morning.  Just what we like!   We got home at 10:40 p.m.

K is happy & sleeping well! Her new place is so quiet and nice.   Lovely neighborhood and on one trip out a young couple with a toddler were coming in the building.  Across the street are single family homes.   Nice cars line the streets.   Her commute to work is now cut in half!   No parking garage to pay for every month.

A wonderful step-up and change!!  Congratulations on the new place!!   ♥