I have a few things to share with you but I haven’t had the time to sit down and write about them. Whenever I kick back and relax, I read your blogs, catch up on emails and tour the few social media sites I’m a member of to see what everyone is up to. So I’ll be dropping in to say hi whether I’m blogging or not. Well, for as long as I can.
The house is starting to look emptier and emptier as more and more boxes get packed. It’s kind of a sad sight, really. Without all the personal touches, a home looks and feels unloved and neglected. Even a little eerie. An empty shell. It’s like the very soul that’s been lovingly shaped over the years in this space is being removed. In each room there is a ghostly presence of memories.
This chapter in our lives will soon be coming to an end. It's time to start a new one.
You know what I’m really curious about? How our two cats will react to the move. This is the only home both of them have ever known since we adopted them at the age of four months from the local humane society way back in 2010. It’ll be interesting to see their reaction and how long it will take them to settle in to a new place. I’ve never moved with cats before, so it’ll be a new experience for all of us.
Well, that’s about it. I do have some more stuff to share, which I’ll work on for next week. Until then, I wish you all a beautiful weekend!
Moving is like an adventure...new horizons and new memories. But it is also bittersweet. I always felt when we moved, that I was leaving my home behind. Then after a few months or so...home was where my family were and all was well again.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter recently moved with a dog and three cats. Her dog took awhile to adjust. The cats, after some investigating for great places to hide, adjusted very well.
Your feelings about an empty home were beautifully written. You'll be fine Martha. After all...you are taking with you the greatest hubby on earth~
Right on, Jan! I'm taking the best hubby on earth with me, so it's all good :)
DeleteI only moved with a dog, not cats. Every new house we took him into (four in total) I immediately took him out to the backyard to take care of business, so maybe have the cats' litter box ready to go when you move them?
ReplyDeletePacking is never fun. Unpacking can be fun, especially if you don't remember some of the stuff you had and its like Christmas morning when you unpack it :)
Take some time away from packing this weekend and do something fun!
betty
You are so right, Betty! I do enjoy the unpacking. Even though I label my boxes, I don't remember exactly what's in them, so when I open one up it's "SURPRISE"..."I forget all about that!" :)
DeleteWhen I divorced and had to leave my dream home, I realized that I had the wrong focus. The memories are still here. I can still recall the times, the smells and the feelings. I will cherish but keep moving and build new memories...new smells. When I drive by that house now, I don't cry or pity myself...I just remember and smile.
ReplyDeleteAll the best to you on your new adventure. Exciting stuff ahead!!!
No matter where we go, the memories go with us. And that's what really counts. I feel a tug at my heart whenever I move but I easily move along.
DeleteThere is a distinct echo in those empty rooms, isn't there? It would make me melancholy, too.
ReplyDeleteMoving With Cats 101: Have one room in the old house and one room in the new place designated just for them on the day of the move, a room you won't need to go into and out of. Keep their cages, food and water, and litter boxes there. Move the cats last. And don't let them outside (if they are outside cats) for a few days at least. Cats have a way of disappearing to avoid the noise and extra people, and can end up in suitcases, boxes, bureau drawers, couches, and even holes in the wall!! (We had one cat who found a small but big-enough hole in our bathroom cupboard to get into the wall ... fortunately it was NOT while we were moving, but it could have been :)) Good luck with the remaining chores. I always found the cleaning AFTER the packing was what did me in :)
That is great advice, Jenny! And we are planning to do all that. I am confident that it will be a smooth transition. They'll be a little bit confused at first but I'm sure they'll settle in nicely after they sniff everything up and down!
DeleteThat moving graphic made me pee my pants! Oh oh, now I've got Trump on the line.
ReplyDeleteBAHAHAHAHAHA! This made me almost spit out the tea I'm drinking. Because I know exactly what you mean! BAHAHAHAHA!
DeleteGood luck, Martha! When is your move out date?
ReplyDeleteThanks, Birdie! Our house closes on the 27th of February but we'll have moved out most of our stuff a few days prior to that.
DeleteMy dog hated our new house even though she had ironically a lot more room. She was so used to the old one, it's where she spent the vast vast majority of her life. She cried and whined for at least 2 weeks. I had to put on headphones to drown out the noise. She was used to it for a few months and then she we had to put her down for health issues .
ReplyDeleteOh, poor thing. A move can be very confusing for animals.
DeleteThis is such an exciting time for you, hard work however.
ReplyDeleteIt is exciting, Christine! And the hard work will pay off in the end.
DeleteMoving is such a mix of emotions ...
ReplyDeleteYour blogging friends are behind you and wishing you, your amazing man and your cats every success and every happiness
Enjoy the weekend
All the best Jan
It is a mix of emotions! Thank you for your kind words and support!
DeleteGood luck on the packing. Don't forget to throw a lot of stuff out.
ReplyDeleteYou bet! I am excited about getting rid of things. This is a great opportunity to do so!
DeleteI'm very excited for you. I am also wondering when your moving date is. We moved with two cats, but it was so long ago, I can't really remember if it was an issue. It must have been fine, or I would remember if it was traumatic for them. I do like the idea of a commenter above who suggested you designate a room for them away from the hustle and bustle. Good luck with everything, Martha! -Jenn
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jenn! Officially, we are done with this house on the 27th of February. But we will be moving our stuff out a few days before on a day where the weather will be reasonable. We'll be watching the forecast!
DeleteI think your cats will be fine once you unpack and they find all their belongings.
ReplyDeleteI think so, too!
DeleteI totally relate to the empty house thing. It was so hard to go back the next day after everything was out and do the finishing touches on the cleaning etc. we were there 29 years - raised all our boys there - had grandkids there - it was a big place ..to this day i laugh when I remember we had three weddings and a funeral there - and several showers. Just writing this makes me miss it.
ReplyDelete29 years has so many memories attached to it! I can certainly understand why it would tug at your heartstrings like that!
DeleteYour cats will need time to adjust and you may want to mention the move to their vet. Good luck with the packing...
ReplyDeleteI feel confident that they will do great. They'll be a little confused at first and somewhat stressed, but slowly they'll come around. And with us being there, it'll make the transition easier.
DeleteI don't know about you, but when we move I'm interested to open the boxes I've had in the closet/storage areas just sitting there for so long I've forgotten what's in them. Should be interesting!
ReplyDeleteGood pictures. Funny and true. Best of luck with the moving, I'm sure the cats will enjoy the new adventures :o)
That's always fun, Hannah. Each box is a surprise!
DeleteIt's been a while since we moved, Martha, but all this sounding familiar in a way.
ReplyDeleteA lot of living goes on inside those 4 walls and it is difficult to see it dosappear materially in front of you.
Can't wait to hear the new news!!
It is difficult, Jim. It's not the house but the memories that have been built inside it that get to you!
DeleteWill be curious to see how the cats feel about it, for sure.
ReplyDeleteIt'll be a little confusing for them but I think they'll be okay.
DeleteOur pups too, for when we get land.
DeleteHave you decided what you're going to do? That'll be really cool to have some land.
DeleteI always find it difficult to leave a home I love. I cry buckets, so I understand the feelings you expressed in this post. I hope your kitties handle the move well. I'm sure that you'll cushion the blow with lots of TLC and love. Don't work too hard!
ReplyDeleteIt's all the memories we build. I guess we're not really leaving them behind but somehow it almost feels that way. We'll create new ones in our new home in no time!
DeleteMy cats were never happy about moving. One of them got out and went back to our home we were moving from (a good distance away). We found him under a shrub there. You will need to be very careful with them when you are opening doors at your new place. Also this same kitty was mad and he showed it by doing a "bodily function" (if you know what I mean!) on our bed at our new house! Hopefully yours can adjust more easily!
ReplyDeleteNancy, I'm going to watch them like a hawk. They are indoor cats but with the confusion, I wouldn't put it past them to run out if a door is left open. When we first arrive there, we are going to keep them in one room with their food and water bowls full, and litter boxes nearby. Once they calm down from the initial shock of the traveling, we will set them free to explore their new surroundings. Fingers crossed that all goes well!
DeleteI know about 'bodily function'. Our black cat does that once in awhile if she's upset about something and I wouldn't be surprised if she did it when we move. Thankfully it's a rare occurrence. I guess we don't upset her all that much. LOL...