Settling Into Sweetside

Welcome to Sweetside as the new place is now to be known.... so named as it sits on the north side of Sweetser Park.

First I want to say a HUGE muchas gracias to all the people who helped us move down here! Pic 1 is most of the crew who helped up that misty night and Pic 2 shows a few of the gang who helped us unload that rainy AM. It all happened so quickly! Not that we don't still have plenty of stuff to clean out up in Shute-Ho but the bulk of everything found its way to Amherst in an extemely efficient fashion. Ever since then, we have been doing lots of work on the new house, with the help of Aaron, Ben, Jess, Brett, Glen and others.




Second, I want to say...keep praying fiercesome powerful prayers that the Shutesbury house sells soon. There has been quite a bit of interest but buyers are taking their sweet time in this calmer market.

Next...well...let me see...

I had a very nice BD on June 8.... nope not 50 yet!!

Jess graduated from her master's program in May and finished up her clinical teaching year this month. Last Friday evening we celebrated the grand finale here at the new house with a bunch of family and friends. We did our best to neaten up and clean the house but it is not yet finished so... it had it's limits. The yard looks pretty good these days but it rained, hence her party was held inside. Here truly exciting news was that just that day she was hired to teach 8th grade science in West Springfield, beginning in September. For the summer she will work for an outdoor adventure camp here in Amherst.



The next day, June 24, Baird and I went to NoHo for the afternoon with Brooks & Mindy and returned home to find about 50 people at our house for an awesome BBQ to celebrate our 25th Anniversary (which was June 20). WOW!!!! Jess, Ben and Aaron had put together this incredible event! Many local friends were here as well as two couples from our Ipswich Days and my friend since age 6, Nancy, came from the Buffalo area as well. My Mom even made it here from the Berkshires, thanks to my sister Linda and her fiance Jim for picking her up and taking her back home (see Pics 4&5).



One big part of the anniversary surprise was that Ben and friends, Josh and Brett, built us a 10 X 12 stage -- the "Sweetside Main Stage" during events and our picnic platform on non-event days. Brooks christened the stage for us that night! I will get some pics of the stage/platform up here soon!

Well, that's it for this update. I have much more to say after all this time but I will leave it for another day.

Too Much Happening!

Phew!

Too long since I was last on line. I just went thru 192 new emails...have been without internet access for a week. Rao's is a nice place to connect tho..and only a 3 minute walk from the new abode. I have just been too busy to do it until tonight.

Yup...it is true.... thx to about 15 VERY helpful friends we got the bulk of our things moved from Shutesbury to Amherst last weekend without any major hassles (well...except the ridiculous suddenly missing truck scenario at U-Haul). Anywhooo... THX GUYS, your help was indispensible and indescribably awesome!

Status report on 38 Lessey: Hmmm...well...not much is unpacked at this point as virtually every room in the new house has something waiting to be completed. The kitchen is the most incomplete room..no counters yet, no sink, no stove, no microwave...yada, yada, yada. Hopefully it will be largely complete by next weekend.

The pets have made the transition quite well...even our hermit cat Seal seems OK. They do seem to like seeing more of us...and of the rest of the family too. Chloe likes the back yard and her new run. The multitude of squirrels is a fascination for all of them.

Unfortunately there is nothing new on the Shutesbury house sale...still a point for much prayer (and some loss of sleep as well).

Well, that's the brief update. Pics have to wait until next time. I have to locate my camera download cables first!