It has been a while since the last blog post. I can use the excuse we have been busy, and we have. Here is what has happened since mid-March.
Home Improvement 1
We had lived in the AZ park model since the fall of 2008. All the appliances were original when we sold our tiny home on February 24, 2025. The microwave died the first week of March. Two neighbors helped Hubby remove the dead unit and another friend helped install a new one, chosen by the new homeowner. Removing it was not a simple task and installing the new one was no easy feat. But we were happy to have a working microwave the last few weeks before we moved out.
Home Improvement 2
We had not had rain all winter UNTIL after we signed the papers to sell the house. That was when we noticed a leak from the roof and a water spot on the deck carpet. Again, a friend to the rescue. He and Hubby climbed the roof to see if they could determine the cause. They thought they had fixed it with some caulk on some of the shingles. Luckily, it rained again. Their caulk job did not solve the issue. The new owner called a roofing company. He came the next day, found the issue and had a crew on the job in two days. Luckily, it rained again. The roofing crew solved the issue. No more wet carpet spots. A happy new homeowner and two relieved former owners!
Packing
We spent 20 winters in Arizona; 17 of them in the park model. We found out just how much stuff you can store in a 300-square-foot home! The new owner chose what she wanted. We donated a lot of stuff. And we packed the rest. Hubby reserved a 5' by 8' U-Haul trailer to bring our treasures back to SD. We put the 8' ladder and the fire pit in the trailer and realized it would NEVER hold all the stuff we planned to bring back. Luckily he was able to switch the little trailer to a 6' by 12' trailer. Between the trailer, the truck box, and the back seat, EVERYTHING made it to SD.
Geocaching
On March 20th I hosted my last AZ geocaching event. I hosted my first AZ event on November 6, 2013. The 2025 event was my 53rd-hosted event in Arizona. (I have hosted a total of 78 geocaching events.) We will miss our AZ geocaching family, especially LifeIsGuud, Sherry & Jon.
There was one more geocaching event we attended before we left AZ. Those attending were encouraged to create their own geocache container using some salvaged tins. We enjoyed carrot cake for breakfast and final goodbyes on Saturday morning. We had MORE packing and sorting to do before our Monday morning (March 24th) departure.
We arrived home around 6 PM on March 26th. We took the suitcases and the cooler out of the truck and waited until the next morning to unload the trailer. We had that job done by noon, including moving the recliner we brought back from AZ to the basement and moving the older brown recliner to the garage to be donated to a thrift shop. We turned the trailer into one of the several U-Haul locations, grabbed lunch, and unloaded the truck box. There was enough room in the garage to park the car, barely.
Finding places for all the stuff is the hard part. Over the last two weeks, I realized when we moved into the Sioux Falls home, I put stuff away not knowing if I would use it or not, but since we had the space, it found a home. Now there was more stuff needing a home. Some are things I plan to use and some are items I brought back from AZ because I always buy the items in AZ and have used them in both places. Now I have extras. We have made two trips to the thrift store donating dishes, silverware, decor, bedding, and clothes. There will be more trips.
Grand Activities
We were able to see McBe's first show choir performance the second night we were home. Inventions is the 30-40 member Edison Middle School seventh and eighth graders who auditioned and were selected for the group. They perform at several senior care centers in Sioux Falls between March 27th and May 9th.
More Storage
I whined about needing more storage space for kitchen items. The pantry is small and holds food items and that is about it. I have items I use only a couple times a year, but want to keep them because now we are in one place year-round, and expect to have more family meals and gatherings at the house. Thus the need for storage. We found cabinets from Walmart, delivered in two days but needing to be assembled. One cabinet was not enough, so we ordered a second one. They are assembled, in the storage room and perfect for what I wanted. No more whining.
Another Grand Activity
McBe had his final piano recital Sunday afternoon. He does not like performing in front of people (like his father) and has convinced his parents that he should quit the piano lessons. He may regret that someday.
We have attended three geocaching events since we have been back. We have worked at organizing cupboards and will need to work on closets next. Most of the boxes are emptied and in the recycling container. Hubby has gone through all his clothes and determined what fits, what stays, and what goes. I have yet to tackle that job. We have more dressers/closets to go through, especially the ones storing games and toys the grandkids have outgrown. Time to share them (the toys and games, not the grands!) with someone else. For some of the things, it will be a summer project.
