A Mistake--Corrected

When we first moved in to our Gold Canyon house, we decided the washer and dryer should be located in the small shop we had added to the building.  That allowed us to use the closet in the house which was designed and plumbed for the washer and dryer to be used to store other things.

Mistake!

We didn't think about how much dust we would produce.  If you look closely at the lower right corner of the photo below, you can see our wood lathe.  That really makes a mess.  That meant that any clothing we happened to drop on the floor--or even wipe across the size of the washer--picked up dust.

In January we got rid of the old Frigidaire washer and dryer and replaced it with these stackable GE appliances.  When the units were delivered, they went to install them in the designated closet but saw there was no  dryer vent installed, they said all they could do was install them back in the same place in the shop.  That was not what we wanted.

We found a handyman to do the work for us. Michael came and gave us an estimate for the work. We said, "go ahead and do it." Then we had to postpone our appointment so we could return to Colorado for Kendal's funeral. Next, Michael caught the flu. Finally he came, put in the duct work, and moved the washer and dryer. This tool cabinet takes the place where the washer has been. The belt sander sitting on it's top is another reason the shop is so dirty.

And here is our newly installed washer and dryer.  They both operate very quietly, but now I can watch and see when a load is done without having to go back out to the shop several times to check.  And the floor in front of the appliances is a lot cleaner than in the shop.  Yea!  We corrected our mistake.

An Exciting Time

Look what was delivered today!

What is it?

The fellows from Lowe's moved it into our workshop. Can you tell yet what it is?

Yea, it is a washer-dryer combination.

We have even done two loads of wash today. For nearly 7 years, we have done the laundry exclusively in laundromats. I haven't minded. That way, I can get everything for the week washed and dried in about 2 hours. But where we are now, once the park is full in February and March, the laundry room isn't large enough to accommodate everyone. We had to work around others, make sure we were there by 7 or 7:30 in the morning or wait till afternoon. You could never be a little late to move clothes from the washer to the dryer or to fold the dry loads. Someone was always waiting to use the machine.

So it is great to have our own equipment and be able to wash whenever we want. I am amazed at how large the wash tub and dryer drum are. I was afraid they would be as small as a stackable apartment size washer and dryer we had in one condominium we rented. This is going to be a good deal.

And notice the water softener next to the washer? That was delivered this week, as well. No more mineral-filled, bad-tasting water. The water in Arizona is really awful.

Settling In in Arizona

We've now been in our winter home in Arizona since Saturday. We were so glad to get here, but it certainly hasn't been a relaxing few days. When we left at the end of April, the construction of our addition wasn't quite complete. It is so good to see everything finished and the new paint job.

The workshop is on the back side of the carport you can see in this photo.

We love the new brown color (John really didn't like the original pink sandstone color).

It has been years since we ended our summer travels by moving out of the RV and into a house. Last winter when this house was ready, we slowly moved over all we needed from the RV. Today, we think we have almost totally moved into the house for the next six months or so. It is a lot of work! Saturday and Sunday, we were up and down the four steps to the RV, moving food and clothing from one place to the other.

Monday, we started equipping our empty work shop. That included ordering a stack-able washer-dryer, a water softener and a utility sink. The local Lowe's was glad when we came through their front door. We were also looking for some outdoor furniture. I think in years past, they have had lots on display. This year, the Christmas decorations are already on display in Lowe's, Home Depot, Costco and Wal-Mart, so we had very little to choose from--and bought nothing.

In addition to those purchases, I went on-line and ordered a scroll saw and small wood lathe. Next, we have to find a workbench and storage cabinet. Snowbirds like us certainly are good for the local Arizona economy. And we are having a lot of fun getting the workshop and laundry ready to use.