Wilsonville, Oregon: Dave and I were at the house from 9a-9p yesterday. We didn’t think we had twelve hours of packing to do… but one thing led to another… we open another cupboard… forgotten drawer… and we basically were walking zombies by 6 o’clock, but just kept going – so close to the end – until we finished packing every dang thang we think we will need in our new life in our new house/life/condo… wherever this house/life/condo will be.
It has been a very long time since we have left our home at 9p to get something to eat. Being a bit rural, and heading into “civilization” for food, we actually had to phone the closest pub to see if their kitchen still closed at nine. Yep, times have changed. Our closest pub is open until midnight! Good thing too, we were so hungry, it was possible we were going to eat until then. We were thinking there has never been a time we have ever (both) been so sore and so tired and so achy.
Moving is not for wimps.
The worst part about being so tired/achy last night, was having to be back to the house to greet a moving crew at 8 o’clock this morning. Happily, the moving crew were incredibly professional, yet still so friendly and personable. They had our treasures out of the house by 2p. We used the same company that moved us from Portland to New Hampshire to Manila to Portland to Taipei to Portland. They may not be the least economical option, but we have a very long (39 year) history with this company and know they will treat us (and our treasures) well. Dave and I have no idea at this time when/where we will ask them to deliver our shipment. It all depends upon if our house sells in one month, one year, two months, or two years…
We have gathered many unique furniture pieces from Asia in our years of travel.
This interesting “sofa” is called an elephant chair. A real wooden elephant chair actually sits on the back of an (Asian) elephant, allowing a passenger to sit on the back of an elephant. The chairs are richly carved and a work of art. Back in the day (circa 1990) it was popular for expats living in Thailand to order these intricate chairs… except stretched-out to a sofa size. We never lived in Thailand, but had a friend who did. Our friend brought this beautiful “chair” back to us when he returned to Portland from Bangkok. Filled with enough pillows along the back, an elephant chair is very comfortable and doubles as a guest bed in a pinch. (In another pinch, the bed can be turned around – with the front opening facing a wall – the sofa serves as a toddler bed.)
The four wooden carvings above the Thai elephant chair are carved panels from a Chinese wedding bed. Still not exactly 100% sure why a Chinese bed is called a wedding bed, except maybe the bed is presented to a couple on their wedding night? Carved panels enclose the bed along the head of the bed and for several feet along the sides, making for quite a bit of privacy. Now Chinese families are selling-off their ancient beautifully carved panels to suckers like us. (We’ve owned these panels for over 20 years.)
One constant “argument” DT and I have when discussing our move and my three sets of dishes, is where in the world will we find a smaller house with a massive dining room? Our dining table seats ten comfortably. It is eight feet long.
I keep telling my Devoted Husband the dining table has two leaves. However, since purchasing this rosewood dining table in Taiwan in 1985, the leaves have always been in-use. He thinks we have an 8-foot long dining table. After the two 20-inch (each) leaves were removed this morning, it was easy to see this table could fit into a very small dining space. (For comparison, a six-foot-long buffet cabinet is wrapped-up behind the dining table.) 34 years of good service. Still looks brand new.
Today, Dave told our moving crew the story of when this table was moved from our house in Taipei. In this particular home, the living space was below the street-level floor. One man – DT figures him to be 5’4″ tall, and approximately 60 years old – crawled under the (leaves already removed) table, lifted the table up on his back, and walked the 200+ pound piece of furniture up the stairs unassisted.
So our dining room looks the same as it did the day we moved in (though now with a much subtler color of yellow). The sconces and chandelier are severely out-dated, but the chandelier is a true candelabra – using actual candles – giving off the most magical lighting, making everyone seated around the table absolutely wondrously radiant, wrinkle-fee, and beautiful.
We returned to our campsite tonight in time for a home-cooked meal, USC v Utah on TV, and an early night. We will return to the house this weekend to tie-up more loose ends.
Until my next update, I remain, your “breathing easier” correspondent.
RV PARK: Pheasant Ridge RV Park – I-5/Exit 286 in Oregon. Full service sites. Back-in and pull-throughs. Pool, spa, laundry, bath house, cable. Everything, but lots of trees, so satellite connection not guaranteed (we lucked out). We are paying $366 per week for a premium site.