First 5 days. . .

Its been 5 days since I touched down in my new hometown, Anchorage. I've spent so much time here that it has become very comfortable for me, but it doesn't feel like home just yet. Its always been a pit stop for me though on my way home to Nome. It hasn't quite sunk in yet that I'm not going home. . . rather, that this is my new home. I've never moved to a place that I've known so well. Usually when I've moved its been to go somewhere completely new and different. So, the fact that this is familiar is really different for me too. I do think it makes the transition a little easier though.

Although I was going to do an "early occupancy" in my new home, my realtor advised against it and suggested I wait until a few more pieces of paperwork are finalized. So, I took her advice and have been staying with Mike. He's far from an animal person though, so me and my furry kiddos are definitely imposing. . . although he would never say so.

Henry is by my side all the time and is the only one who gets to sleep in the house. The cats are outside all day, but sleep in the garage. I thought Duke would be outside day and night, just like he was in Nome, but he opts to sleep in the garage too. He actually cried to come inside the first night, which was so strange, because for a long time now, he's had zero interest to come inside and actually whimpers to go back out when I make him come in. Its a nice change to see that he wants to be indoors because I've missed him. He spends the day on a long tie-out on the lawn, but come night fall, he wants to cozy up with the cats in the garage.

I've been able to spend a lot of time with all of them though, so that has been really nice for all of us. Duke and Henry have definitely found a new favorite place. . . the University Lake Dog Park, which is just a few miles from my new house. We've gone everyday and its been so fun. Its like a big playground for them and its one of just a few places in town that they can be free from their leashes.

Duke has had some behavior issues for a while now that got worst during this past year when I was gone so much and was so much less active than usual. I was a little worried about how he would be with so many other dogs around, but he has surprised me and been just great.

On Friday, I picked up Mike's little sister, Bink, to go for a walk in the dog park and get a smoothie. She instantly fell in love with Henry and told me that she could babysit him for me sometime. I just might have to take her up on that offer.



Mike's brother, Tim, gave me a hand with his pick-up truck and helped me transport my new sofa from Costco. I looked a few places, but liked this one best. Its now sitting in my new garage, patiently waiting to be moved in. Tim and his dog Hannah joined Bink and I at the dog park too.

Other than the above, I've just been running some errands and trying to move things along with my house stuff so that I can get moved in. We are potentially closing tomorrow, but I won't find out until the morning. If not tomorrow though, it should be within the next day or two. My loan is funded, title paperwork is out and ready for signatures, and I've got a boat load of cash (thanks to my dad), ready to sign over to my lender. My dad was able to give me the money from his home equity line to cover my down payment until my home in Nome sells. . . which is hopefully happening on the 15th of August. . . fingers crossed.

I stopped by the house today to take some pictures of at least the outside. I'm planning to re-paint before the summer is up, but this is what its like right now.



View from across the street

The upstairs windows are in the living and dining room and the downstairs windows, under the deck, are in the BIG family room (my future movie room and personal yoga studio).



Standing in the driveway, looking toward the front door.

This covered porch also has a door into the garage. Also this summer, I hope to enclose this area and re-locate the front door, as to create a small arctic entryway and provide indoor access from the garage. This will be nice for me, but my main motivation is to enclose it so that I can put in doggy doors that will give everyone access to the house, garage, and backyard. It will be so nice for all of them to be able to come in and out as they please. I think we'll all be happier. There are so many projects I want to do though that I'm not sure if this one will fit in this year or not. We'll see?



My new greenhouse in the backyard.



My beautiful, but overgrown, garden.



The back of the house while standing about in the middle of the backyard.

The door is coming from the garage, the upper window is my bedroom, and the two lower windows are the future guest room and office. (hint hint. . . there is a guest room, so I hope you'll come and visit!)

I'll post pictures of the inside hopefully in a couple of days.

I posted some new pictures on the previous two posts as well. . .