Moving along

This has been a very busy couple of weeks.  We returned from our short holiday On Saturday and spent the next two days cleaning and shifting boxes.

And now we have done it!  We are sleeping in our own bed for the first time in over 3 years!  It's amazing how wonderful a mattress can feel.  And to be honest, there is nothing like good sheets.  At the end of the day, it is a pleasure to sink into bed.  It really is the little things that matter the most. I wake up in the morning with no back pain and even my hips are not hurting as much.  And the room is just nice.  It's open and bright.  I loved our room in the castle.  Especially the view of the old church through the window, but this is ours.  We made it together.  George has installed a projector so we can watch our nightly movie in greater comfort.  I think he's in heaven now.

Yes, those are bananas hanging from the bedside. There is also a small refrigerator filled with my iced coffee and his orange juice.  The kitchen is 2 floors down and he's gotten used to breakfast in bed.  This makes it easier for me.  

Sadly, our Turkish sauna isn't finished yet because the man doing the pavers decided they didn't need to be sloped or installed properly so the floor cut our feet, and the water didn't drain.  We are now getting it redone using the same marble we have on the seat in there.  Sadly though, we have used all the existing Carrara marble in the local area and are waiting for a new batch to be brought in.  Until then, we shower in the room next door.  

Speaking of marble, we are doing a little upgrade to all of the windows.  Each of the sills here in the Palace are made of a local red stone that can never come clean and flakes if you put anything on it.  We have decided to cover them with the same marble used in the sauna.  A beautiful continuity throughout our home.  So far we have finished the kitchen and our bedroom suite.  I can't wait to get the other 30 (!wow! I just counted) windows done.  It will look beautiful. And yes, that is a monkey you see resting there.

The designer of the three rooms (I've mentioned how much I don't like his work in the past) has yet to send us the design for the steps to the bathroom so I've cancelled the order that was placed at least 6 months ago and am taking matters into my own hands.  We shall see how well my idea works.  Stay tuned.

The kitchen is finally unboxed.  Mostly.  I'm sure another box or two will show up as I can see I'm missing a few pans and quite a lot of cast iron.  For now, I can cook and am very happy.  At some point I will have to have a carpenter come in and do something with the heavy sliding doors that were installed.  If I can't move them at 50-something, how will I be able to move them at 80?  

Daniel did an amazing job on the pantry and I have almost finished moving everything over.  In another day or two I should be finished. Everything is labeled and I can see what we have.  No more wasting food because I had it in a cupboard down low that needed to have everything pulled out to see.

On Monday I got an itch and George and I installed "the flower" in the second floor entrance. It looks as though it were made purposefully for this spot.   Again we are very pleased.  The view at night is amazing.

The Puzzle Palace mosaic was installed by the masons who did the work in the kitchen.  Tell me why I don't like it....

And Tuesday morning I finally used the gym for the first time since we bought the castle in 2021.  I have great legs from walking all of the stairs, but not so much on the arms.  

Each day we do a little bit more.  The green room is almost finished.  The scaffolding has arrived and the Great Wall of China will soon be erected.  The billiards room is set up waiting for a table.  The breakfast bar is in place as is the wine and beer bar.  The rods have been purchased to install the Lovers in their new home. We've had a wonderful lunch in the biergarten

and have played a game or two of Eurorails on our game tables.  Our plan is to be done by October.  It looks like we just might be.