Sorry…
Jim came home on Friday (yippee!) and we have had our heads together hashing out the next little adventure in our life. Over the next few months, Jim will be phasing out of his contract here in Russellville AR, and phasing into a new one in New Orleans, LA. Same company, different nuclear plant.
Since the duration will be roughly two years, and we’ll likely (but who ever knows for certain?) be coming back here afterwards, we’ll be keeping the house for the time being, hauling the RV to New Orleans, and living back and forth between the two. It’ll be a bit grueling, since our place isn’t really set up so that we could simply hire the yard/orchard work out. One or both of us will be driving back every weekend to take care of the house. I’m sure at times that will be a bit overwhelming and I’ll need a break, (or I’ll miss my sewing room too much!) so I may occasionally stay at the house a week or two.
I’m obviously not going to have much sewing time, nor do I intend to try and lug all my equipment with me this time. I’ll probably take the Bernina 630 along, since there is a Bernina dealer in that area and I might actually be able to finally take some classes… or maybe even get a part time job!
My “Created by CJ” site is on hold at the moment… I haven’t decided if I’ll have time to work this in now or not.
Meanwhile, we’ve still got to haul the RV back to Missouri to have the rip in the side seam repaired… hopefully next weekend we can take care of that.
My goodness CJ, no-one could ever say you lived a boring life. I can’t imagine though, how I would like living in a RV after your lovely house. And without the 830!!! I would like to offer to look after it but New Zealand is just a tad far. lol
Cheers
Robyn Kirk
New Zealand
Wow – never a dull moment for you two, CJ. Having had 2 houses 300 miles apart for 2 years, I know what you’ll be going through (although one of yours will be an RV)!! Good luck in this new venture – make sure you have a good security system for the house while you’re away!
Cheers!
Whoa….and after thinking you would be staying for several more years. How long is the drive between the Big Easy and Russelville? We bought a home in the San Diego area (sold the boat) and we travel 6 hours just for a weekend. I just spent a week(Fall Break) there. We are not ready to move permanently and after 30 years in the same house, the thought of packing and selling is overwhelming. Spending a week or so at a time will be the way to do it. You can’t leave your new baby and who will quilt your quilts? And you’ll need to bake some loaves to take with you.
A constantly changing life, for sure! I was wondering why you hadn’t been writing and now we know. How many miles is it between New Orleans and your home?
jnet
Now WHEN am I ever going to get to meet you??????? N-O??? It’s hot there…and there are gators and swamps. I know there are no Bernina dealerships there……too humid.
However, since you are fully adaptable, I expect you to be blogging about traditional cajun cooking in about 2 weeks…..complete with drawl.
Seriously, I hope all goes well and just know that we are sending you good wishes for a smooth transition.
Wow!! Talk about making a person’s head spin!!! I’m not sure I would be able to do all that. I would miss the sewing room and kitchen too much!!! lol
My sister is an HR rep who worked in Luling, lived in Bayou Gaush, and her mail delivered to Des Allemonds, It’s been a few years so I probably spelled half of that wrong. But it was the best time of our lives. I know your first two loves are gardening and quilting. But….you love food. I’m not a sophisticated gourmet but if I were searching for the best food in my country, I would start with NOL.
I was born and raised in the Houston area. But if I could move to Southern Louisiana, I would do it in a heartbeat.
I know this is not easy but Good Luck and most importantly, Enjoy.
No CJ, you and Jim do not live boring or predictable lives.
My husband is a paramedic for Pope County so if you ever cannot get back to Russellville and need him to drive by your place, email and let us know. He usually works 24 hours on and 48 off so he is down there (we live in Paris) every few days.
Have fun in your new adventures.
Isn’t life busy sometimes?? But, you and Jim have the wherewithal to just up and go and good for you! Keep us all posted on what you are doing, CJ.
Thanks everyone! I appreciate all the support!
I’m not sure of the miles, it’s about an 8 hour drive, maybe a bit longer.
The heat and humidity will be dreadful. Arkansas is almost more than I can take, LA will be worse I’m sure… however ALL that fabulous food will surely make up for much!
Vivian, you are too kind! But I will likely be here on and off so much it won’t really matter. Jim has to work, so it seems unfair for him to make that drive every weekend, leaving him only a single day off (3 day weekends are the norm there), but I can do it.
I don’t think we’ll be leaving until after the first of the year sometime.
Oh my! I thought your RV days were over. LOL!!! I was so afraid that you were going to have to sell your place that you worked so hard at making a home to start all over.
As long as Jim is a contractor, we will always be periodically be in an RV. Being in a HOUSE is the rarity for us.
We will sell this place eventually anyway, we don’t consider it our “forever” home… and we do this type of stuff on every property we buy.
Oh my CJ — that’s quite a change. I’m sure you guys are up to the task though. Good luck — hope you keep us posted.
Well, you will just have to look me up one of those weekends you are in NO. I live only 45 minutes north of Kenner (where the airport is located in NO area). You will actually LOVE it down there….and the food – oh my gosh! You have to hit Central Grocery for a jar of the Muffalata olive spread to make your own or buy a Muffalata there. There is a wonderful fabric store that carries beautiful fashion fabric (I know you quilt but this place is worth a trip) called Promenade Fabrics and it is on St. Charles Ave, the street with the street cars. I could go on and on… I hope you enjoy your time there.
I know it looks like a lot but I see you reveling in this and can’t wait to see the inspiration for sewing and creating you will get and use in your designs. You are an amazing woman and will excel in this time frame. I’m sure Jim would back us all up on that! Good luck and have fun with it, can’t wait to hear about all your fun. Will the dogs stay in AR or LA? I can already see you traveling during the week so you can spend Jims time off with him enjoying LA!
CJ, well, well, well! never a dull moment for you and Jim, is there? Best of luck on the transition and safe travels.
We’ll be looking forward to hearing about your adventures!
You and Jim always make it work – no matter what cards you’re dealt.
Hey, the 630 works as a traveler..LOL
Being born and raised 60 miles from NO, I promise you the summers ARE worse in LA. My husband worked in the oilfield and we have lived in southern Arkansas, too. Just make sure the RV a/c works really, really well and you will be okay. Lots of wonderful food and lots of historical places to visit not to mention Mardi Gras! It will be a bummer having to leave your lovely house though.
We definitely know we have to find RV parking that is shaded, or the a/c units will not keep up. We have 2 large units, but even in AR with no shade, we can’t cool it below 80.
There’s always changes in your life aren’t there? All I can say is it’s a good thing you hung on to the 5er when you bought the house.
Yep Linda, much as we’d like to be “RV-less”… we really need one around.
Oh CJ — we must have some fun once you all get here — I can be your little tour guide and quilt shop hop guide too!
Sounds like a plan Rick!