Hi, remember me? I haven't pestered you lately. Maybe you noticed the little Caboose was out of commission for the last six months. Did you miss me??? (That's a rhetorical question, no need to write comments on this blog.)
I don't presume so, but I missed the creative pleasure of coordinating chatter with photos in my online journal. So I'm back.
I wrote this post four months ago in July 2023, but was too busy to finish it and press the Publish button to send the story speeding down the train tracks.
I had good reasons for the long sabbatical: an international bicycle tour, hosting 37 family members at our home in honour of my mom, two fairly high-stress real estate deals, a new grandchild to visit, an enormous amount of packing and purging, and then finally settling into life in a new city.
Here's my real estate post from last July, a bit stale but still consumable.
GREAT 1955 BUNGALOW FOR SALE in beautiful southwest Saskatchewan. It's solid and spacious and sits on a lovely leafy yard in the centre of the city. Cheap (compared to Vancouver or even Saskatoon), unique and wonderful.
Tell your friends who may want to move to Swift Current "Where Life Makes Sense". That really is our motto. I wouldn't have chosen it but what can you do. Did someone really think that life doesn't make sense if you're not lucky enough to live in this town?
The structure is authentic Mid-Century Modern, or MCM as they say in the decorating world, no updated kitchen, no stainless steel appliances, just a well-built home with original windows and practical kitchen cupboards that reach to the ceiling.
A retractable light over the table and a sneaky pull-out cutting board beside the stove. Pure 1950's. It suited us.
Rounded plaster corners, a natural fireplace, wood floors, metal pipe dividers, and tons of storage in the generous 1556 sq ft. A time-warp clothes chute is a bonus, the speediest way ever to make dirty clothes disappear.
Well-loved by us for the last 25 years and now tidier than it's ever been.
We did our best at purging the personal clutter and tried to "stage" just as the agents recommended.
But sadly, and surprisingly to us, after 10 showings there were no offers. Didn't people like our beloved home? What's going on?
Seems they preferred renovated kitchens with granite countertops. They wanted a double car garage. They demanded updated windows.
We dropped the price.
It didn't help that there were lots of houses for sale in this city where life makes sense.
Then our luck turned.
After seven weeks on the market a young couple from Saskatoon fell in love with every aspect of our vintage home. Their offer included a love-letter to the colourful interior, the amazing natural light, the built-in bookshelves and nifty pull-out cutting board.
They loved the courtyard and the She-Shed.
Inspections were done and the deal was made. We were in full packing mode - what to take, what to leave, what to donate or sell or toss. What knick-knacks do I love, which ones have had their day.
Decades of travel souvenirs, seashells, vintage plates and tablecloths and chairs lovingly collected from a thousand garage sales. Eiffel Towers, antique cameras, my own artwork, and 40 photo albums. So many decisions.
Goodbye little black typewriter, old Singer sewing machine, my childhood piano, our 41 year-old frozen wedding cake, which still tasted fine when we cracked it open.
Some treasures found new homes, but most were packed and loaded, including every photo album.
Yes it was a great house for 25 years.
Now on to a new chapter - exciting, energizing, stressful, an adventure!
Next post, a look at our new house in beautiful Saskatoon, a city that has been called "the Paris of the Prairies".
It must be the river and the bridges and the black-gabled Bessborough Hotel.
One Eiffel Tower made the cut and a good flock of ceramic birds just landed in our Saskatoon den. We're settling in!
