And on it goes...

Finding his way to the basement

Let the exploration begin

The weather is "warming up" just enough to cause the moisture to freeze which made today's task of checking out from the hotel and settling into the house a good idea! Wesley was introduced to his new abode, the fifth in his twelve years, and he seems to have settle into his surrounding without too much effort.

The unpacking continues

We continued to unpack today, taking a brief break to get some paperwork filed with the Freeborn County Assessor's office. There was much rejoicing when we uncovered the kettle and were able to enjoy our first cup of tea in our new home!

Unloading day

The study/den "before"

The living room "before"

The bedroom "before"

Looking towards the dinning room

Thanks to the tireless efforts of the two-man crew from Middleman Movers, our U-Haul truck was unloaded to include taking items to Charles' new office.

Tomorrow, the unpacking begins!

On the road to Minnesota, part two

Leaving Grand Island, Nebraska on a frosty December morning, we set out for Minnesota! Stopping outside of Des Moines, Iowa for lunch at a Cracker Barrell, we were fortified for the final leg of our trip from Colorado. 

Tomorrow morning, we will have help unloading the U-Haul truck and begin to settle into our new home.

The NOAA forecast for Albert Lea on Wednesday (when we will be unloading the U-Haul truck): Mostly sunny, high of 11°F, with a temperature falling to around 4°F by 5pm. Wind chill values as low as -15°F. Blustery, with a northwest wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

On the road to Minnesota, part one

A last glimpse of the Flatirons

A road-weary Wesley ponders the day's events

After picking up the U-Haul at the parsonage this morning, we left Boulder for the final time, bound for our new home in Minnesota. We made it to Grand Island, Nebraska which is about 1/2 way to Albert Lea, and decided to rest for the night before tomorrow's final push through Iowa into southern Minnesota.

And that's a wrap

A final visit from Sammy

A memory of our time in Colorado

Lylah holds the Raggedy Ann & Randy
dolls made by Charles' mom

Thus ends another chapter

Our last Sunday at St. Paul's was an emotional one as we said goodby to these wonderful people and our 5 1/2  years in Boulder came to an end.

Cleaning and other tasks

We finished cleaning the parsonage today and also made another house visit as our time in Boulder draws to a close. Wesley has been exhausted by all of the activity and we are sure is looking to the relative calm of our new home in Albert Lea.

Loading day!

College H.U.N.K.S. are on the job

First up is Charles' office

Charles' books find a safe place

Everything in its place

The buttons are readied for transport

It was loading day at the parsonage! Thanks to Andrew, Daniel, and Jose from "College H.U.N.K.S.," the job of loading our household was completed in four hours. A bit of tidying up on Saturday and a final worship service (and potluck) on Sunday is all that remains of our time in Boulder.

A farewell gift

L-R: "Austin, The Colorado Snowman," Belinda Alkula, Joan Cooper

At today's Ladies Lunch Bunch, Belinda received a snowman from the collection of Joan Cooper. A nice reminder of our time in Colorado ahead of next week's move to Minnesota!

Getting close

Getting in a power nap

Circuit meeting farewell

Farewell buttons!

We're getting closer to moving day and there are still things that need to be done. Today was Charles' last clergy circuit meeting and Belinda's last P.E.O. gathering.

Chapter JI is on the job!!

Thank you, Kathie Burson, for loaning us a big cooler that will be outside the parsonage front door this week -- ready to accept the delicious food that P.E.O. Chapter JI sisters will be delivering to Charles and me -- to fuel us as we complete the packing before our move to Minnesota on December 9th! 

We appreciative Kathie's thoughtfulness and gracious generosity in setting up a meal train for us! First thing this morning, Kathie delivered an amazing assortment of breakfast food items -- enough to fuel us for breakfasts all this week!  Her kitty Joey gifted our kitty Wesley with some delicious treats, too! Wow! 

Indeed, blessings abound! Charles and I really appreciate the loving care demonstrated by the Just Incredible sisters in P.E.O. Chapter JI.

The work never ends!

Wesley has been doing his best to hold things together as the house continues to be packed up.

Last Colorado snow?

7.5" of fresh snow!

An outing to Cracker Barrel

We woke this morning with a steady snow falling which gave Gillaspie Drive a lovely blanket of white ahead of the opening of the holiday season. Looking at the forecast, this could well be the last time it snows before we move to Minnesota next month!

27 years and counting

Today marks our 27th anniversary. Or in other words/numbers:

27 years

324 months

9,861 days

236,664 hours

14,199,840 minutes

851,990,400 seconds

A glimpse of winter to come?

It has been a blustery, snowy couple of days for Charles in Albert Lea as the picture from last night can attest. The snow really wasn't that much in terms of accumulation, but the ice made driving a tricky affair which caused Charles to do some quick reactions!

We're home owners!

Our first Minnesota snow, albeit a dusting

Items left behind, bound for the transfer station

Charles made the drive from Boulder to Albert Lea, stopping in Grand Island, Nebraska last night due to the lengthy rain he had to drive through.

Today, he began to unload items brought in a U-Haul trailer and in the pickup. He also emptied out some items left behind, taking them to the local transfer station (dump) this afternoon.

Of course, the primary reason for being here this week was to close on the house that we are buying! A lot of paperwork was completed this afternoon, and we are now the proud dwellers of our very own home!!!

Move to Albert Lea, Minnesota -- A Momentous Week This Week!

 

Truck hooked to U-Haul Trailer (6'x12')

This morning, Charles departed the parsonage -- headed for Minnesota! He plans to overnight in Nebraska, and arrive in Albert Lea, Minnesota, tomorrow afternoon. Wednesday, he will close on our new home we are buying (that is directly across the street from where we will be working). He will fly back Friday morning. And in two weeks, all of us will be moving together -- he will drive a BIG U-Haul truck and Wesley the indoor kitty and Belinda will drive in the Toyota. God is good -- All the time!!! 

Next step

Our move to Minnesota took another step today as we loaded a 6x12 U-Haul trailer 

with the contents of our sheds and Charles' studio. 

On Monday, Charles sets out for Albert Lea and our new home.

More snow

While we didn't get anywhere near the amount of snow that was called for, it was still enjoyable to have an early taste of winter. 

The white stuff returns

We woke this morning with a faint trace of snow on Gillaspie Dr. and a coat of snow atop the Front Range to our west.

Steady progress

The packing and sorting continues apace with more decisions being made every day about what to take and where we might imagine our posessions finding a place in our new home in Minnesota.
 

An unusual museum

On the way back to the Twin Cities, Charles made a brief detour to Austin (about 18 miles east of Albert Lea) to visit the SPAM Museum! What fun to see the history and lore surrounding this famous food that was created in Austin!!