Why-oh-Why Wayzata?

It was a fair bit alarming to be told 3 months ago that we had to move out. As the credit crunch had hit people quite severely, it meant that people were selling low (in the case of the house in Minnetonka) and renting high (ie everything else). It seemed pretty unlikely we were going to find anything like that which we had at the time. I saw 15 places in one week - overpriced, not nice neighbourhood, odd layouts or, surprisingly, filthy.

Luckily bridgjo came through and we were able to score a jolly nice place outside of Wayzata. The only down-side is that it is pretty close to the rail-way line which isn't too noisy (they move all the freight at night, as the length of the trains (up to 90 wagons) can block off all the crossings in the area for about a mile), but the bed actually does hop slightly around the room. As it is also built next to a swamp I can only guess that the foundations must be pretty rock-solid.

We had an army of little men over three days who packed, moved and unpacked. I like this as otherwise I know that any unpacked boxes would remain just that for the next 12 months.

It's smaller on the ground-floor than our place in Minnetonka, lacking the huge back-room which we never used. But it does have a fully converted basement ("Play-room!), completed with two sets of hooks in the ceiling to hang off swings (as it's too cold for small possums to play outside in the winter, of course). The kitchen is great with two ovens, dish-washer and wine-fridge, although the fridge itself and freezer are a little bit English in size.

The biggest down-size to everything is that because the ceilings are so high (we'll have to get somebody in to change bulbs), and the counter tops in the kitchen and bathrooms non-standard (about 10cm higher than usual), I feel about 8. I have to use a stool to cook, and do my prep on the table.

T loves the jacuzzi, although we haven't tried the steam shower yet. The jacuzzi even has a setting to keep the water warm. She's not so keen on the fact that in trying to find our bed-room during the night she keeps ending up in the linen-press.

I am very definitely going to get a sewing machine and run up the curtains, They need to be about 8 feet long, and am not sure Ikea does cheap voile ready-mades in that size.

So we have space if you fancy a visit.

Moving House...

No, not us - but here's a link which is distinctly Minnesotan:

http://www.startribune.com/local/38530692.html

We are expecting some snow tonight, so won't be going skating after school with T. Instead, I will be battening down the hatches, and baking (siege mentality starts to set in once in a while, when I see the weather forecast.

Although born with gingerish hair, T sometimes says things which perfectly demonstrate her genes (ie she is just like her dad).

She was watching me put on some face-cream this morning and in a very serious 'I am going to impart great wisdom here' look on her face said "Why do you bother buying that stuff, Mummy? It doesn't work, you know".

Do they talk together about me? Does he prime her in advance?

Admittedly, face-creams are my one big down-fall. Yes! I DO want 400x lashes! YES! I WANT to apply blue whale sperm and look 40 years younger! (now that just sounds weird) . YES, YES!! Please let me purchase a nail varnish that not only does not chip (GUARANTEED!!!!), but also can be used to highlight brows, and whisk away unwanted bikini-line.

No more. New Year's Resolution #536 (in progress) - I am going to use up ALL of the face-creams currently secreted away in various parts of the bathroom (expense looks less like that - this is very much a sly woman's trick). Although I won't be using the ones which give me spots, although I may persuade bridgjo to use them by suggestively leaving them in the vicinity of his toothbrush. Except maybe the foundation, as it is a bugger to get off the pillow-cases.

Not only will this save money, but also free-up about two drawers. No idea what I will keep there, mind. I'm running out of space in the kitchen, so maybe items not used that often like the cheese-grater, turkey baster and the collection of doilies. As the bathroom is the en-suite, this might be one thing to explain to the cleaner, should we ever get one.