Monday March 15, 2010-Nancy's Present House Inspection

I didn't post on Sunday as I didn't do anything all day but read and nap.

Nancy's house was being inspected today so I cleaned our area up a bit this morning and then we took Max with us as he's not supposed to be in the house for the inspection.

It was a nice sunny day 15C (59F). We took Max to Bruce Pit which is the local dog park. It was pretty wet and muddy and still some snow and ice around but he had a good time. We then came back to Kanata and walked around the park close to the house. We were walking around without coats today it was so beautiful outside. It sure was nice! I really hate coats and boots! We dropped Max at the dog walkers for 4:30 so he could go for another walk. He should be a tired puppy dog tonight!

Walking Max at Bruce Pit

This tree is almost split in half. Must have been hit by lightning.

Beautiful old white birch tree

Max loves to roll in the snow

Grassy area for dogs to play off leash


Nancy's house passed inspection and now is officially sold. The inspection on her house that she's buying is tomorrow so I hope it goes as well. Our inspection of our house is also tomorrow. Busy, busy!

Saturday March 13, 2010-More Furniture Looking

Judy & Emma asked what a Compression Day is. I mentioned it in yesterday's blog. Nancy works longer hours for 9 days and then gets the 10th day off. The 10th day is the Compression Day or that's what they're called up here in the Government.

Last night we decided to go out to eat. Gordon was craving a pizza so we went to Zola's where we had gone for our anniversary in November. It's very close to us. I decided I'd ask if they could make me a pizza without cheese or tomato sauce and the answer was YES! So, I had my first pizza in forever with mushrooms, pepperoni, olive oil and spices. Boy was it every good! I used the gluten free crust as well. Next time, I'll try ham instead of pepperoni and the pepperoni affected my stomach a bit but not bad. They will also make me pasta without tomato sauce so I have to try that as well.

Pizza with no cheese or tomato



We also stopped at HomeSense and had a look around. I saw some lamps I like and a really big mirror for the bedroom.

The mirror



I was up bright and early this morning - before 7 a.m. I haven't done that in a long time. Gordon was out shooting early morning photos so I went for my walk and actually saw a bit of a sunrise.

This morning's sunrise above the low lying clouds



After we were breakfasted, showered and spiffed up we took off to look at furniture again. We've seen some credenzas that have a small electric fireplace in them and you put your TV on top and we found one today on sale. If I juggle my furniture buying a bit we might be able to get it. I'm thinking of buying a used dining room set. There's one I found on Kijiji that's about 1/2 the price of the one at the furniture store but doesn't have any leaves. I can live with that. Most of the time it's only two of us.

I saw this squirrel sitting on the fence this morning. He looked like he was sitting at the table ready to eat.


But we can't do anything till Tuesday when we go to the house for the inspection and while there we're measuring the walls for furniture placement. Gordon creates everything on the computer. We've always done this every time we've moved and moving goes so much more smoothly.

I also saw a sofa that I liked and was a bit cheaper than the one we saw this week. I can also have it custom ordered with my choice of fabric. It will take 10 weeks for delivery but that's ok. We can work around that.

We also looked at barbecues and outdoor furniture. I can't believe that this is the third day in a row that Gordon has gone shopping. Totally unheard of!

Friday March 12, 2010-Houses, Furniture, Busy!

We had a busy morning. First I went for my walk. Then we received the awaited phone call from our real estate agent to get together to sign off the finance condition. We had agreed to meet half way at Carleton Place so we met at the Gourmet Restaurant and had a coffee with him.

From there we checked out more furniture at The Brick in Carleton Place - didn't see anything we liked there.

We drove back to Stittsville. Nancy was looking at a house there this morning. Today was her compressed day so she didn't have to go to work. The house is beautiful from the outside and was built by a Canadian architect, Barry Hobin. I have seen the interior online and looks nice as well. We just did a drive by there.

When we arrived back in Kanata we decided to stop and look at furniture at Dufresne (formerly Colonial Furniture). The only thing we saw that we liked was a TV stand that had a built in electric fireplace but it's pretty expensive so we'll have to think about that one.

We got back to the house and had lunch. Nancy came back and her real estate agent was meeting her here to put in an offer on the Barry Hobin house.

While all that was happening, I took a nap. When I woke up I found out that she GOT the house! So, we're all moving!

Thursday March 11, 2010-Furniture Shopping

Here's a bit of trivia for you:

Smith's Falls Carnegie library, c.1905:
Stone basement with pressed brick.

After a gift from Andrew Carnegie was received for the sum of $11,000 on 23 January 1902, Smith's Falls proceeded to erect a handsome Beaux Arts style library which was completed in 1903. Andrew Carnegie personally visited the library on 28 April 1906. Three prominent citizens--Francis, Charles, and William Frost--pledged money to operate the library for the following twenty years.

It is a beautiful old building with two fireplaces on each floor.

We went looking for furniture today. Here's what we found that we like.

For the bedroom. This will take up almost the whole wall.

For the dining room - this is one of those raised tables. They're actually quite comfortable and probably easier to sit and get up and down.

Our stackable washer and dryer - on sale!

A condominium sized couch-we haven't decided if we're going with a love seat and a chair or two occasional chairs.

Coffee table and end tables each have a small drawer


TV stand

The TV Gordon likes is a 50 inch plasma which is also on sale. I think we'd be fine with the 42 inch which is also on sale. We'll decide when we measure the walls.

It sure was fun looking at new furniture! I've been checking out used but haven't found a lot that I liked from the photos posted on Craigslist or Kijiji.

We have an appointment to meet the inspector at the house on Tuesday afternoon. Our insurance agent will also show up then to do his measurements.

Wednesday March 10, 2010-Things Are Coming Together

I had a really nice walk this morning in the bright sunshine listening to the birds singing. The snow is going away quickly! We're supposed to have about 3 days of rain this week so that should take it away.

I needed to get some financial stuff for the mortgage company so we went to the RV this morning and while I was searching through paper, Gordon went to the river to take photos. I found part of what she wanted but the other part I ordered yesterday from Canada Revenue just in case. It doesn't hinder getting our mortgage though.

While there I stopped at the local State Farm agent and got insurance set up. Since I worked for State Farm for 26 years I decided to stay with them.

We also stopped at the Chamber of Commerce and picked up a Welcome package. Smiths Falls is quite a historic town. There's a walking tour that we'll have to do this summer that looks interesting. There is also the Rideau Trail. It runs from Kingston to Ottawa and goes through Smiths Falls. I doubt we will ever hike that distance but we can do a part of it. There are also a couple of other trails in the area that we'll look into.

We drove by the house again just to be sure that it was still there. LOL. We also stopped at the little convenience store that's just down the way but they didn't have much that would interest us. I had hoped for lactose free milk but NADA!

From there we drove back to Ottawa via a different route. We dropped Gordon at the house and I took off to pick up some groceries and a few items from Walmart.

I still have to book the inspector and then I think all conditions are met. There's a chance that we might not close until May 15th as the sellers may not be able to get into their apartment by April 30th so we said that was fine.

Things are moving right along1

Tuesday March 9, 2010-Getting Things Done

Our real estate agent came in to Ottawa from Smiths Falls this morning so we could initial the selling agreement and I could hand over a cheque.

This afternoon we headed over to our financial adviser to arrange the down payment for the house. Our closing date is April 30th.

Things are falling into place.

Monday March 8, 2010-We Have a House!

Thanks to Anonymous for the comment about Rideau Heights Campsite here in the city. We know it well and have stayed there often but that wouldn't solve our problem.

Anyway, today was a busy day. We met with the mortgage broker, got that taken care of, saw the house, made the offer, signed the paperwork and are I just received the phone call from the realtor that our offer was accepted! So, subject to various conditions, we are homeowners again.

Here are some interior photos that Gordon took today. Some of the wallpaper is pretty scary but that's an easy fix.

Bathroom

Dining Room

Kitchen - this is probably what sold me on the house

Living Room

Bedroom - this is where the scary wallpaper comes in

Sunday March 7, 2010-Trip to West Quebec

I did go for my walk this morning and heard a lot of cardinals singing. I just love their sound!

We had to be out by 11 for 2 showings so we left about 10:30 a.m. to head to West Quebec. Here are some photos.

It was really spring like today as you can see by this jogger out in his shorts. People had the tops down on their convertibles too and I saw one young girl with a short sleeve top on and no coat.

Some pretty photos of the Ottawa River from the Quebec side and the Gatineau Hills.

Saturday March 6, 2010-House Shopping

After thinking long and hard we've decided to stop fulltiming. The Immigration issue has a lot to do with it but while we don't have any critical health issues at this point we just feel the time is right to quit. We've really enjoyed our five years on the road and it's going to be hard to give up traveling and selling our 5er but we're hoping to still do a bit of traveling now and then. Thanks for all the Facebook comments.

We saw a really nice little house (and I do mean little) in a town about an hour southwest of Ottawa that would suit us nicely.

We had driven by this house early last month and made arrangements to go and see it today.

Here's a photo of the front of the house

We toured three other houses but this one was the one we liked, of course, the most expensive one. We have a 'view' of the river from it.

We had a look around town, checked out the supermarket that I hadn't been in before, looked at a couple of bulk stores that have some gluten free foods and that was about it.

We've decided to go back and see it again on Monday if the realtor can arrange it.

Nancy's house is conditionally sold. She looked at another one today and plans to put in an offer so we're all getting ready for new to us homes.

We've enjoyed meeting everyone on the road but now if you want to see us, Smiths Falls it is! There's a little RV park right in town on the Rideau canal.

Friday March 5, 2010-More Showings & An Offer

It was another bright, sunny day. We certainly can't complain about the weather. It's been above freezing every day. I had another nice walk and saw another bird that I think might have been a female cardinal but it was in shadow. I also heard lots of sounds that might have been another woodpecker but didn't see it.

We lounged around all day again. There were two showings tonight, one a second showing and Nancy had an offer that she plans to counter on. So things are progressing!

Thursday March 4, 2010-Lots of Showings, Where's the Sales?

I had a nice morning walk, saw a cardinal and a downy woodpecker. It was bright and sunny and a bit chilly but warmed up nicely to about 6C (43F).

Unfortunately this is the only photo I got of the woodpecker.

The snow is going away quickly


We didn't do much all day as we had a showing at 4:30 p.m. so had to make arrangements with the dog walker to come at a different time. I've asked Nancy's realtor not to book us between 5 and 6 so we don't have to juggle the dog walker any more. We had two more showings between 6 and 7. Hopefully something will come out of all these very soon.

While the showings were going on, Nancy took us out for dinner at Swiss Chalet. It was a nice way to spend the hour.

I took these photos yesterday when we drove out to see the RV.

Really pretty old log barns with the horses in front.

Another interesting old barn


And the two horses - pale horse and dark horse

Wednesday March 3, 2010-More Showings

Today's post will be a short one. We went to the RV this morning to exchange two winter coats for a spring coat and a raincoat.

Tonight we had four showings so it's been a long night!

Tuesday March 2, 2010-Morning Walk

It was bright and sunny this morning and therefore a bit colder at -2C (28F). I waited till after breakfast to go for my walk as yesterday I had seen a cardinal but didn't have my camera. It was also cloudy yesterday. So today I took my camera and saw the cardinal again. It's been ages since I've seen one. He was singing away. They have such a cheery song.


I took the path that runs through Dog Bone Park this morning.


The road to the right is wrong (it doesn't take me home). The one to the left is right (it does take me home). (From a song by Conway Twitty.)

I didn't do anything but read and watch TV for the rest of the day. We don't have any showings today. A night off! Yay!

Monday March 1, 2010-More Showings/A Cancelled Sale

Well, yesterday was fast and furious for the house sale. Nancy got an offer around 8 p.m. and the negotiating started. However, today the people that were buying backed out just as they had reached a deal. Apparently the male counterpart was having commitment issues. Whether the issues were house related or partner related we'll never know. So we had two more showings tonight. Pray for a fast sale!

Other than that it was a quiet day. I went for my walk as the sidewalks were dry.

This is the meandering Jock River.

We had a bit of a sunset tonight.

Sunday February 28, 2010-Showings & Canada Wins Hockey Gold!

Where has February gone? It's already heading into March. Spring is coming and the last few days it's certainly felt like it here. We shouldn't get too excited though. March can be a snowy month!

Well, the For Sale sign is up. The realtor put Nancy's house up yesterday but right now only realtors can see it. It won't go live till sometime tomorrow however three showings were booked for today - 10:30 a.m.; 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. (the 4:30 p.m. canceled because of the hockey game). Then we got a call saying that the people that were here this morning wanted to come back at 7:30 p.m. So we went out to Wendy's for dinner.

Showings means we have to leave. So this morning we went for a drive.

More barns


I loved the gingerbread on this house in the town of Manotick.


When we got back the realtor that was showing the house had locked the garage door so we couldn't get in. I called Nancy's realtor to see if he could give us the combination to the lock box but it's not that easy any more. It's unlocked with some radio controlled waves or something as well as a key. Nancy arrived and she didn't have a key either so her realtor had to come over and let us in. He went out and made more keys so now we have a key to the front door so we can't get locked out.

We were already scheduled to meet my sister and her husband at Jack Pine Trail for 1 p.m. Our niece came along too. We still didn't see any deer but we did see a pileated woodpecker.

The pileated woodpecker
And of course, the cute little red squirrel


And this old tree full of holes

A smorgasborg for the birds



We watched then end of the hockey game. Yay Canada! Way to go!!