Update #5:
Painting is almost complete

I thought I'd be showing you the lovely ivory walls today (whose color actually looks more the color of butter), but the tape and protective papering isn't off yet, so lets wait till next week for the full effect. Even though we're still in a drought, it actually rained and drizzled, disrupting the schedule. Good news, bad news.

Meanwhile, we've settled into a comfortable routine and found other ways to occupy ourselves  that are a part of the grand relocation plan.

Even though the Coastal Bend area isn't terribly dense, we're finding a small but steady stream of advertised educational employment opportunities for Ray, so we spend part of each week drafting letters and resumes, and looking for that next posting.

Life inside our cozy living space had only one area larger than a narrow walkway, so -- why not -- we took on the task of ordering, constructing, and placing in that space a chair that we ordered online. One of our previous living room chairs died (we will not speak of that horror), so we decided to replace it for use now and for staging purposes.  

See other photos.

I realize my need to take certain cherished plants with me from state to state isn't logical, but it comforts me and gives me a pleasure much akin to taking along pets or children. Over the weekend, I dug up and potted an array of red and pink-purple-orange lantana, caesalpinia pulcherrima youngsters I just planted spring of 2011 (aka Pride of Barbados to us Austinites), cast iron plants that need shade that I'll have little of, a segment of a stately variegated ginger that was just a baby when the sellers stuck it into a corner, and ajuga that's been my companion all the way from Massachusetts in '91. I predict circumstances will make it impractical to see them all safely transported and eventually planted on Mustang Island, but it felt wonderful to be doing what felt like a step of preparation for our new lives. And nothing is better than digging in dirt and potting plants on a perfect 85 degree, breezy, clear Texas fall day. 

A noticeable challenge is is keeping the floor clear of mud, wet Cedar Elm leaves and seeds, and crumbs, which are hard to clean with a broom that hardly fits around the table legs and boxes. Ray, learning from his son Derek's success, purchased a robot vacuum that helps lend a hand with the mess. Jetson fans will understand we really had no other option than to name her Rosie.

Next week is to a big week for Luckenbach Lane. Upstairs carpet, kitchen and bathroom counters, and -- so the contractor claims -- even the downstairs flooring is due to go in. That's a mighty big plan, fellas. We'll be hopeful and patient.