More phone calls, less confusion, and a feeling that the dam is about to burst. This week, we need to find a Title Company to help us secure the last bit of the loan. With luck, we’ll be in the new place before our motorcycle trip to Sturgis in August.

In the meantime, we have a mountain of work to do before the new house can be delivered and set in place. First, the damaged infrastructure needs to be repaired. We’ll need to replace the piping from the septic system to the house. The cistern needs a new outlet valve, then we need to test for leaks. Finally (I think), we need a well expert to check the control panel for our wellhead.

All that doesn’t include the tree cleanup we still need to take care of. The fire took almost ninety-five percent of the trees on the property. While the grasses came back in brilliant greens and purples last summer, I can’t say the same for the trees. They are still blackened matchsticks standing to remind us of the fire. So, in addition to Project Manager Penny and Betty Builder, the two of us get to learn how to be Lumber Jill and Forester Fran. Yay us. Here’s to Safety First.

Now, if we can just get the weather to cooperate.