Still no word on the cat, though we continue to check the shelter’s website everyday, hoping to see her photo in the ‘Recent Arrivals’ section.  While we were treated to more of the same monsoonal rains that caused damage and minor flash flooding in the area, it seems that the rain is finally letting up a bit.   Our mornings are predictably cool, clear and beautiful, and we’re still experiencing those ominous clouds to the west every afternoon, but lately, they’ve passed to the south with just a sprinkle to keep us on our toes.  Some of our bigger puddles and the muddy spots on our driveway have been drying up, so getting around is a little more pleasant.

Unloading the U-haul turned out to be incredibly easy, thanks to a website address we found on a sticker in the truck.  We were heading across Utah, or some other, equally desolate stretch of highway, when we began kicking around a plan to get the truck unloaded, get our belongings stacked and stored, and get the truck returned within the time we had available.  We both agreed that the effort and labor involved was not something either of us was looking forward to.  Fortunately, U-haul has a network of companies all over the country that will come to your house and either help you load or unload for a pretty reasonable fee.  We signed up on-line and followed it up with a phone call.  The next morning, on Monday, two very enthusiastic guys arrived about 9:30.  I had backed up to the barn, opened the doors and stepped out of the way.  The truck was empty after just an hour and a half and we were able to return it by noon; a day early. Our backs didn’t hurt, nothing was broken, and we were only out $140.

I had been thinking that our electrician and the furnace installer would be here on Tuesday, so I’d have Monday afternoon to get some last minute things done.  I guess I wrote the dates down wrong because the furnace and the rest of the duct work was finished by the end of the day on Monday.  The electrician got most of his work done on Tuesday and we actually have power to a few of the outlets and lights in the house now.  That piece of the puzzle should be complete by the end of this week.

For those keeping score, that means we have a working well, a hot water heater, a furnace, and a new power pole, meter, and electrical panel.  All of our doors and windows have arrived, we’ve ordered our kitchen cabinets, and our chimney is supposed to be inspected and cleaned later this week.  So, what’s still missing?  We still don’t have a working septic system.  Digger Guy told me before I left for Seattle that he’d have it done while I was gone.  According to the email he sent me the other day, he didn’t feel comfortable putting his equipment on our hill with all the rain and wet ground, so he’s hoping to get to us “soon”.  Maybe this drier weather means we can soon put a check mark next to that project as well.

We had to spend two days last week running back and forth to Colorado Springs to pick up doors, windows, and appliances, so we haven’t made a lot of actual progress on the house, but this is a new week!  Only one new door is installed, but the rest of the doors and windows should be in by the end of the week if the weather holds and we don’t run in to any new problems.

I don’t have any photos for this post, and really don’t have anything interesting or fun to share, but this should bring us up to date.