Update on things: The BEST NEWS OF ALL TIME: the credit company finally got the court to admit the debt is satisfied. They've been hounding them for days, and we are so glad to have that gone from our lives.
The unexpected turn was we got a call from our realtor, who had talked to the lawyer's office and been told they'd not yet been given the all clear to close. This was around 3pm I think. So we waited until after we finished our late lunch and called mortgage guy again. He said that everything we had to do is done. Now it's getting sent to the housing office that handles the program we're in for First Time Buyer's and one other related office, both government based. Mortgage guy seemed concerned that with the weather reported for today (now they're forecasting 13-19", with an inch per hour and 25mph gusts), he's not confident that they will get it done in time for a Friday closing. I, of course, later made jokes about how this was New England, and wouldn't they just laugh at only a foot or so of snow? Spouse just shook his head and rolled his eyes at me.
He'll be working out of another PO northeast of here today, but the Post Master there is big on the "Don't be a hero if the truck starts sliding. Just bring the mail back" mindset, so I've no idea when spouse might get home because maybe it won't be so bad though now it seems like they're making it out to be a Snowpacalypse. I told him if worse comes to worse, stop at a budget hotel or even a church if the roads are really bad, but he says it's mostly highway home, so he doesn't foresee an issue, and it's not like he's going to one of the really far away POs. I can't help but worry because of living in snow belts for many years, so I can remember some storms where even a half hour drive is treacherous and
never takes only a half hour. So I'm just hoping for the best but expecting exactly what they're now predicting. I think he really wants to be home no matter what since his birthday is Friday, even if we really won't close then.
Spouse currently has some days next week that aren't officially scheduled yet, so he's going to try to keep them open until we get the firm day/time. I'm worried that they'll keep pushing off, but our realtor thinks if not Friday, possibly Monday. At least that way spouse won't lose much work for his other "floater" days. Since it looks like we'll be paying at least partial rent for March plus our first mortgage, things will be tight enough in March without him losing too much pay. I did recall that our insurance lady had said something about Wednesday if not Friday. So who knows anymore?
I was totally under the weather yesterday, so today's going to be catch up plus shoveling because I'm fairly certain landlady is still on vacation, which means none of the snow will get cleared except the shared driveway. When you're married to a mail carrier, you tend to want to make sure the walk to the box(es) is clear. Thank goodness the next door live in owner runs a plow himself. He always does as much as he can of both sides so we're not dragging the snow/ice/etc. onto their side.
On one hand, if it's not Friday, I'm glad because spouse can relax on his birthday. On the other hand...it's another delay. We originally were thinking of moving over the "not immediately necessary" stuff first, then the clothes, bed, desks, etc. Now we're thinking that as soon as the internet is hooked up over there, we'll move the necessaries sooner rather than later. Part of this is because the house sat for so long. We want everyone to see us living there so any ner-do wells won't get funny ideas about trying to break in and see what they can score. They'd be sadly disappointed anyhoo. Aside from my tools, our computers and some things that are only worth something if you know where to sell it sorts of things, our stuff is just stuff.
Diane, I promise there will be many, many, many pictures over time.
I'm actually itching now to start removing the upholstery on the chair I got recently to see if they really did just cover over, or only a few spots still have an older fabric. There are a lot of other things I should focus on, but I'm just so curious now.
EC, We knew our realtor would be there from the beginning, and I think because of that I'd just assumed that their side would show as well. Mortgage guy will be there too, and it will be our first time meeting him in person.
One thing I forgot to mention is they did put in new smoke detectors. I found it a bit hilarious, actually, because both of the realtors were extolling the virtues of this particular type. I'd never heard anyone have that sort of enthusiasm over smoke detectors, and I have firemen in my family.
I love the hardware, don't get me wrong on that! It's actually used on most of the doors. As with the sconces in the bathrooms, there are the few art deco leaning bits in the home, which makes sense for the build year.
Yes, we are trying to have the rekey done ASAP. I've been talking to a locksmith, but it's frustrating not knowing when we're closing because you can't really book someone in a "Hey, we finally closed. You got time today?" sort of way. He's been very understanding about it, though. He apparently does lots of closing lock changes. Oh! That reminds me, we still hadn't seen a skeleton key anywhere in the house. I'm going to take the one from our apartment to see if it works after we close, and if it does, I'm hoping I can find someone who can copy it before we move out of here. I didn't even think to ask the smith, so I'm not sure if he also can help with that sort of lock as well.
What cracked me up, actually, regarding the locks, is we realized whenever they bought the current ones, they didn't even try to match the hardware. They're all shiny brass instead of the brushed. I knew we'd eventually order something nice, and after realizing that yesterday, it's definitely happening. The front door looks downright silly. The side and basement doors are newer, and the handle as well as the deadbolt at least match on those.
Seed libraries as I know them tend to have whatever on hand, always welcome something new, and when you get some, the idea is you'll seed some of whatever you're taking and bring them back and the end of season so they can keep their stock at a somewhat even level. Some of them only handle heirloom varieties, and they get pretty fussy because they don't want anything that's been altered like the Burpee type seeds. I've done plant swaps in the past too. I was actually surprised in that I have not been able to find a local garden club. There's one quite a bit to the west I stumbled upon so far, but not one in Gardner proper.
I haven't joined the Freecycle here yet because I've just been so busy. It is on the ToDo list, though. CL so far, I've seen next to no plants. The Google Street View showed Hostas back when at the bungalow, but the listing photos, things were changed and I think they've all been pulled out. They even moved the Japanese maple (too close to the front walk), and I think the transplant didn't take because it looks deader than dead to me. I'm hoping it's not, but we won't know until spring.
Spouse may have restricted me on working on the inside stuff that isn't immediate need based, but he did know I'd want to at least get the front lawn area spruced up this year and has said he won't fuss about that or he knows I'll go bananas not doing near anything. Nothing drastic, just looking nice again. We'll also be moving the hollies in the fall. Whomever planted them didn't do so thinking of their mature growth spread, and they're already too close to the porch and stairs. (They look fairly newly planted in the Street View--so I'm hoping they're as young as I think, less roots to content with in transplanting.)
Truth is, when we started moving a lot, most of my houseplants bit the dust due to the distance and being in a big hot truck. So a few moves ago, I just gave away what I had left. I have a stash of tubers and seeds I kept as well as I could since leaving Jersey, but I won't know until I try to plant them how they've fared. Most of what I put out front this year came from the Farmer's Market. I actually cursed myself for not remembering to pull the perennials before the deep frost hit. Not sure if I'll be able to get even my daylilies out when we move if the ground is still frozen/snow covered. I think the pineapple lily died outright. I was hoping it might winter ok, but the last time I could see the ground there, it seemed long past hope. So if I get one again this summer from those folks, I won't plant it outdoors.
Spouse did say that we still will definitely get it done before summer hits. I certainly don't want to be installing Roxsul in the attic in August! Just getting it up there is going to be some hilarious pictures, I'm sure. Someone suggested at some point that maybe we should just carve a space out to build proper stairs going up because we don't really fancy the drop down attic style, and I don't even know if we take the end windows/vents out if we'll be able to fit a full bat through them, though I'm pretty sure we could. No way we can squeeze it through the attic portal in the linen closet. 
Aaannndd I just realized that if we tried to hire out for this, I don't know if any company might have enough workers that can fit through the portal being so narrow anyhoo!
One thing I've been doing research on is how to start and run a tool library, and I had thought if we could start one in town, it would make sense to also do a seed library in companion to that. So maybe when things settle down, I might actually try to take that on in earnest since Gardner has neither.
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You have sure had more than your share of rows to hoe with this purchase.