Yes, we made our move safely from the town home we sold in Apple Valley to Tom's parents' house in Lakeville. It was a chaotic time, and we closed on the home on Tom's 28th birthday. I think Ian is still getting "accustomed" to having both Mom AND Grandma at a mere 24 hour availability. Hmmm... this arrangement could spoil him a bit! Now that we're settled on Lake Marion, construction has begun to repair the home's foundation and drainage system. This includes removing the deck, which is mostly gone already. There is also a monstrous tree that has to be removed, as you can see from the photo. The guy climbing the tree is nicknamed "Monkey," and gets paid $45 per hour to risk his life at crazy heights. It is very orderly work: as he climbs, he uses his chain saw to sever each branch (leaving enough to serve as a step), until he sways at the top of a bare trunk. Then he cuts 5 feet pieces of the main trunk as he climbs down. Quite fascinating! We are loving the additional time with family that living here affords. It is an arrangement that seems to be serving all involved very well.
