Well Hung... For Starters

Our grandfather clock has been re-assembled and is running beautifully.  (Like clockwork?)  Our antique cabinet has been bolted to the wall and filled with glassware — antique and contemporary.  We've begun decorating the walls.  Two large, antique mirrors are up.  And Jerry's great-great-grandfather, John Fairfield Lowell, has pride of place.  We'll now start lightening the mood with some (well-hung) art and sconces.  I can't wait to start buying plants.  Jerry hasn't relinquished his control of the power drill (no hammering nails into the concrete walls).  I think he's afraid I'll get drill-happy and leave seven holes behind each item I hang.  He's probably right.  I like to "eyeball" — something else I inherited from my father.  The major difference: I eyeball, hang, eyeball, move, eyeball, move... until I'm satisfied.  My father would eyeball, hang, and that was that.  (But, I do sometimes measure.)

VIOLA'S HUSBAND, JOHN FAIRFIELD LOWELL.
THE GRANDFATHER CLOCK.  THE FIRST PIECE WE BOUGHT TOGETHER.
PAINE FURNITURE CO., BOSTON, 1981.

It makes me so happy to be getting settled and to be enjoying all the memories these personal items revive.  We have easily less than 5 percent of what we used to have.  I know we could live without these remaining things, but not without the memories.

NOT FINISHED, BUT AT LEAST MORE SETTLED.
WE FOUND THE ANTIQUE CABINET IN ESSEX, MASSACHUSETTS, 1982.

No land line yet.  No television (although we can at least use the DVD player).  But, we've got a lightning-quick internet connection (much faster than what we had in Irvine), large computer monitors instead of our puny laptop screens, and we got to eat breakfast with real silverware this morning (no more plastic spoons).  So mature.