Hold on to your hats!

 Here is a photograph of the main area of the "new and improved" Stollenkeller.  This was, naturally, the room that sold me on this particular house when first we viewed it back in early September.  Please ignore the crazed gentleman wearing his pajamas in the mirror.  He came with the place.

Well, after several less than pleasant and extremely busy days -- and I can definitely tell that I no longer have the lower back of a 20-year old -- I am able to catch my breath and take a few impromptu shots of the interior of Totleigh-in-the-Wold.  For your viewing pleasure, then, here are two of the new Stollenkeller.  

Still lots to unpack, but at least the wargaming table has been set up, and the cats -- siblings Gunnlaug and Onyx -- gave their stamp of approval by occupying it immediately as is their wont .  Tomorrow we tour the Young Master's new school, where he'll start in January after the Christmas and New Year's break, meet his teachers, and meet the school principal during the middle part of the day, so I get a reprieve of sorts.  Once we are home, though, it's back to the salt mines unpacking his books and things and getting his bedroom squared away.  

The ground floor of the house, save pictures on the walls, is all done thanks to the apparently superhuman efforts of yours truly (we only just moved in yesterday), and the next priority is the Young Master's room.  He seems to be handling the change like a trooper without too much difficulty, but it's time to hang his solar system from the ceiling, get out most of his books and arrange them, and unpack other things that have been boxed up since mid-June.  

Probably won't really get to unpack my soldiers and things until Christmas Week, but that's ok.  At least we are together, in the house at last, and now able to spread out a little.  Ahhhh. . .  We are very, very fortunate despite whatever frustrations life throws our way.  Something that has been on my mind quite a bit in recent weeks.
 

-- Stokes

A closer in shot of the built in writing and painting desks with plenty of overhead lighting and power outlets for computers and painting lamps.  Relax!  The three boxes shown contain files and course materials.  Nothing exciting.

 

And finally, a wreath for the front door of Totleigh-in-the-Wold.  Please ignore the "who knows what it is" just above the wreath.  Yours truly has not yet had a chance to don the hazardous materials suit and see to it.