Move In: 24-hours and Counting

Many wonderful surprises have been uncovered in our lovely New England Cape since we took ownership last week. The birds and deer love the creek that trickles down the north side of our property, the neighbors across the street are from Australia, we have a hidden china cabinet in the dining room, there's a walk up storage attic above the garage! Of course there have been other surprises as well: no cable has ever been run to the house for tv or dsl. The only room without hardwood had cork floors under teal carpet. A beehive as big as a soccer ball was hanging just outside Sofie's window, none of the rooms has ceiling lights. So we have a crew of eight or so contractors who have descended on the house and are spiffing it up before the moving truck arrives on Monday. Unpackers arrive Tuesday. I hope to be back to work on Wednesday!
My search for a new kitchen table ended at the workshop of an Irish carpenter, Patrick, in Norwalk who handcrafts furniture from reclaimed wood. I am in love with my kitchen table.  Many of you remember our old beloved pine table (the first piece of furniture Barry and I bought when we got married) which will be moving to the screened-in porch.  When Patrick delivered the table he and Barry immediately began measuring out where the pub table and bar will fit nicely in the great room (this was formally the formal living room which will be anything but formal in our house). I had to remind them, this is a "family" room not a man cave. 
Since Siena arrived a week ago, the girls have toggled between beach days and city days. Friday they went into the city with Cindy and spent the night at the Millennium Hotel on Times Square. They went to see In The Heights and they all LOVED it! Sofie's friend, Lauren, was in town so she met up for some sightseeing with them, while Siena and Alexa went shopping--Cindy was busy with her daughter.  I didn't think I would get to this point so soon: my girls navigating their way around New York City on their own. They had a great time even though it was a stiffling 98-degrees. They discovered Peanut Butter and Company (recommendation: the Fluffenutter shake) and you can't have too many shakes in one day so they hit Shake Shack too.  Barry and I drove into the city and had dinner with Lauren's family and Cindy too.  It was such a surreal feeling to be sitting in a NYC restaurant with Danville friends. I didn't want to leave and we shut the restaurant down at 11!  So much fun! We have already made plans for their next trip: Cooperstown and the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Barry and I were walking down memory lane and realized in 20 years of marriage this is our sixth move. We have never moved to a house that was older than we are and that was filled with so many "surprises."  It's definitely adding to the adventure.