Our Newest Toy

Do you know how expensive it is to move?  Let me tell you.  The first estimate to move our stuff from Zionsville to Dickinson was over $14,000!!!   I told them not to bother following up because there was no possible way we were going to spend that much to move.  I think he believed me, too, because I never heard from him again.  As soon as he left, I walked around the house and took pictures of everything that I didn't love to post for sale on craigslist. I found a freight company that would haul our stuff for a fraction of the cost. They estimated our load and sent what they thought was the appropriately sized trailer. Despite immediate concerns about the size, we optimistically loaded that baby up.  I really thought we had a reasonable chance of getting our whole house in a 26' trailer.

I was wrong.

As the movers filled the trailer, it became obvious that it was not all going to fit.  So we had to choose.  I had to walk the house and make instantaneous decisions about what would make the cut and what wouldn't.  What didn't make the cut?  Our lawnmower, the ping pong table, bookshelves, filing cabinets, our king size bed, the kid-sized locker unit, the grill, and more things than I can even remember now.  It all had to go.  After round two of craigslist, multiple trips to Goodwill and our storage unit (AKA Mom's basement), the house was empty.  It was a rather bittersweet feeling.  Yes, I had purged a lot and had a wad of cash to show for it, but it also felt like I was leaving so much behind.

Fast forward a few months and it turns out I can make pretty good snap decisions.

Lawnmower?  We have a new construction house and the grass is just starting to grow.  We won't need to replace it until the spring/summer.

King size bed?  It was lumpy and uncomfortable anyway.  And there is no way it would fit in our new, cozy master bedroom.  After 18 years of king-size sleeping, we are now the proud owners of a queen size bed.  Can I tell you how much difference that 16" makes?  People are becoming concerned about the black eyes and bruises from elbows thrown in the middle of the night.  Joking, people!  Well, about the injuries....there have actually been a few dream time elbow incidents.

Ping pong table, filing cabinet, lockers, etc.  We downsized 1500 sq. feet. There is no room for those things anyway.

The grill?  I haven't given that Weber propane thing a second thought.  And here is why~

My friends, I have replaced it with one of the greatest creations on God's green earth.

A Big Green Egg

I don't even have the words to explain to you how much I love this thing.  I really think it might be bordering on some sort of unhealthy attachment on my part.

It uses natural charcoal.

It smokes.

It sears.

It bakes.

It rolls itself into the house and cleans the kitchen after dinner.  Ok, that may be a bit of an exaggeration,  but you get the point.

I wish you could taste some of the food I have been able to make on this thing. Burgers, steaks, pork chops, tuna steaks, chicken, ribs, corn, praline peaches, pineapple, potatoes.

Oh, and I have NEVER had marshmallows roasted to such perfection.  I would love to have a picture, but they never last long enough!

I enjoy planning meals again.

I look forward to cooking dinner.

Mark wants to cook.  He gets irritated if I beat him to it.

The neighbors are begging for invitations to dinner.

The kids brag to their friends about how good the food is at our house.

No one wants to go out to eat anymore.

I am not even kidding.  It is that good.

It makes sleeping in a queen size bed worth it.