A few days late, but still worth sharing. Our beautiful pool was THE place to be for granddads, dads, kids, the whole family. Photo by Shirley.
Lord, Give Me Strength!
Today Cathie shares a quick update on her journey from Texas to Woodstock. Finally, the complicated move is about to begin. But that doesn’t mean that the problems have all been solved. Far from it! Here is the latest installment.
I still have no closing date for my new home, but my soon-to-be-ex-husband and I are getting ready for the closing on the home we sold here in Texas. We need to come up with a game plan…we will both be homeless soon.
He hasn’t found a place to live so he rented a storage room, and movers are coming for his things today. This will free him up to drive the U-Haul to Illinois for me, but he has to fly back right away for the closing on our Abilene home.
As for me, movers are coming on Friday to get my things loaded. My husband and I head out for Woodstock Saturday morning. Where will I (and my three dogs) stay when I get there?
No idea!
Will I be able to hang on to the U-haul until my closing date, or will I need to off load everything to a storage room and then pack it all up again when I get a firm closing date?
No idea!
Lord, give me strength!
•••
Meanwhile, in Woodstock, Cathie’s appliances arrived and were installed today. And tomorrow the appraiser arrives for his final visit as things continue inching toward Cathie’s long-awaited closing.
And here is a final thought from Cathie:
Went through worse than this in the military. I’m good to go!
Bookin’ it, Maples style
Our Maples Book Club is not exactly what you might expect from a group of, um, shall we say, rather mature women sitting around a table talking about books. We do that, of course. We have great discussions. It’s just that during the discussions, we often take interesting little side trips.
Yesterday afternoon, for example, Sue arrived at our meeting carrying something in addition to her book. She held up a well-worn box bearing the label Sloan’s Liniment and carefully removed an ancient-looking bottle from the box. It had been her grandfather’s, she explained, as she passed it around the table for the group to inspect and sniff.
Later in our discussion, Sue said that she tries to find a nugget in each of our books, something meaningful she wants to remember. Her nugget from yesterday’s book was this quote: “Freedom is like Sloan’s Liniment, always promising more than it delivers.”
Ollie checking out the Sloan’s Liniment
Before we return to the meeting, here is a little background. The Maples book club was organized as a project of our social committee. We first met in April 2011, when five of us — all of whom still are in the club — gathered to discuss The Art of Racing in the Rain. By the next month, our attendance had doubled; we have now grown to 15 members, with more expected. Besides its appeal to readers, the club has proven a good way for new neighbors to get acquainted with older residents.
So yesterday 13 of us gathered to discuss our novel for June, A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly. It is the story of a 16-year-old girl growing up in a poor farm family in 1906. While working at a resort hotel to earn money to pursue her dream of going to college, she stumbles upon a murder mystery.
There is, of course, much more to the story, and that was the basis of our discussion. Our leader, Sylvia, who is uniquely qualified as a retired librarian, brings questions to guide our talks. In addition to answering prepared questions, we spend time considering others’ opinions of the story, characters, author’s style, and more. We also like connecting the book to our real-life experiences. By the time we wind down at least an hour later, everyone usually has participated in a lively give and take.
People come up with really good questions. Yesterday Ann began one by saying, “This is probably a dumb question, but…” Several of us couldn’t let that pass and interrupted to remind her—sincerely—that there are no dumb questions. Then she finished her question. Why is the novel called A Northern Light? Several moments of thoughtful silence followed, showing just what a good question it was.
No one knew the answer. There were some tentative guesses, but nothing jumped out as the best explanation. So Sylvia grabbed her iPhone and asked Siri the question. Siri’s answer: Sorry, I cannot help you with that.
Yes, many of us incorporate technology into our meetings—thanks in part to the Wi-Fi provided by Wilcox Communities in our clubhouse. We have members who read the novels in ebook format. A few use iPads to research questions that come up during the meeting. Others do online research before coming.
After everyone is satisfied that the novel has been thoroughly discussed, we begin the task of choosing our next book. With 15 members, it is difficult to find something that everyone will probably like. Many of our books fall into the category of historical fiction with women as lead characters. But we have also read one or two mysteries, a nonfiction work, and a classic. The covers of a few of our favorite books appear below.
Yesterday, after considering and rejecting quite a few titles, we decided to read one that has been on our list for months—To Kill a Mockingbird. I have to admit, I suggested it and have been nudging the group toward it for selfish reasons. After teaching it to high school freshmen more times than I can remember, I look forward to seeing what our group will take away from the story. Their reward for humoring me will be the same I gave my students. I’ll show them the excellent film made from the book.
Will I reread a book that I have probably read 25 times? Yes. That’s the beauty of a classic. There is always something to rediscover, to reinterpret, or to notice for the first time. I can’t wait to find out what Sue will choose as her nugget.
Cathie ponders… Is it worth all the trouble?
Cathie expected to have closed, moved, and settled into her new home in Maples at the Sonatas by now. As she explained in yesterday’s post, it’s been a difficult and complicated process that isn’t complete just yet. While she waits in Texas for the final details to come together, here are her thoughts.
Is buying this house worth all the trouble I’m going through? Absolutely!
As Caryl mentioned in the first blog, I found Maples at the Sonatas while researching places to live in McHenry County. I had left Crystal Lake when I joined the Air Force in 1985. It was time to go home to be near family.
My first consideration in home buying was my shih tzus Cocoa, Candie, and Cookie. I needed a house with a fence in the backyard. I also wanted a maintenance-free patio home. It had to be a single-story detached home because I’m a disabled vet and have a bit of problem maneuvering stairs on a daily basis. My search engine brought me to “The Maples,” which is what I’ve come to call my new community.
On February 21, I started corresponding with Carol Lyons (sales rep extraordinaire). Within days, and after several e-mails with Carol daily, I felt I had found the perfect place for me. I “pinned” The Maples on Pinterest and “friended” Maples on Facebook. Facebook led me to Caryl’s blog and after responding to one of her posts, we have become friends.
Their newsletter showed me what was going on in the community, and I read through past issues. I loved the fact that they had a pooch plunge…a very dog-friendly community, and their own Groundhog Day (albeit Oliver the Yorkie). I even purchased the book club’s (then) current reading endeavor, although I must admit I’ve been far too busy to read the book yet. And, I was longing to tag along on their outing to see a play together at the Woodstock Opera House. The Maples is an active little community.
By the end of March, I could wait no longer. I had to see The Maples! It was as if I had already moved there. Carol and I greeted each other like long lost friends. She had the perfect house just sitting there waiting for me. The standard features are pretty much an upgrade in other homes I’ve seen. The Maples is in a perfect setting on the north side of town. The landscaping is beautiful! I signed the contract for my house on… April Fool’s Day! I met my new neighbors (including my friend Caryl) at a Saturday morning social and it really cinched the deal. They’re a lively group of folks, is all I’m going to say for now.
So despite all the trouble I’m going through to get there, I’m still so excited!
I’m coming home… to Maples at the Sonatas.
Cathie’s Portico is ready and waiting for her.
To close or not to close … Another Update on Cathie’s Move
When I asked Cathie last month if she would be willing to share her moving experiences for this blog, I had no idea what a saga it would become. She certainly didn’t either. Today’s post is part 3 of the story; part 4 will be coming your way in a day or two; and the final chapter has yet to be written. We both thank you for your interest in this story. If you are joining us in the middle of the saga, you will find part 1 here and part 2 here.
Today Cathie begins with a little background so you can better understand her current situation.
•••
You pay a lot of money for a house, and part of the advantage of buying new construction is getting exactly what you want in a home. I had decided to purchase appliances for my new house in Maples at the Sonatas on my own so I could get exactly what I wanted in my kitchen.
I knew I wouldn’t be able to purchase appliances before closing because my lender was adamant about no new lines of credit, no credit card charges, and no withdrawal from my savings account. In fact, they asked me to get cheaper homeowner’s insurance because my debt-income ratio was close, due to still owning a home in Texas. Got it.
Also, I don’t own the new home so I can’t put anything in there yet.
Now, back to the final inspection….
Apparently this is (was) a drastically bad idea. The VA will not guarantee a loan for a home without appliances. Why no one in the process was aware of this requirement is still a mystery to me, but it was an expensive lesson learned.
So, I received another call from the lender telling me to hurry up and buy appliances and get them in the house. I explained I would have to charge them, and they gave me the go-ahead and told me to buy all the appliances…fridge and washer/dryer too…so there would be no question during the next inspection.
The other problem is, since I don’t own the property yet, I had to coordinate with Wilcox Communities to get the appliances installed. Carol Lyons said I just needed to sign a release of liability. So, it’s off to market I go; luckily, I got a good deal on an appliance package.
So, when is my closing date?
The appliances can’t be delivered/installed until June 17. Then I need another “final” final inspection by the VA. The lender needs a week after they get the final inspection report to process paperwork.
And then comes the next zinger. I have to pay another $1500 to lock in my loan rate for another 30 days. Are you kidding me?!
They did give me some good news, though. My attorney is approved as my Power of Attorney to close on my house….whenever we get to that point!
•••
That ends today’s installment, but Cathie would like to leave you on a positive note. Here is how she will begin her next update.
Is buying this house worth all the trouble I’m going through? Absolutely!
Unofficial Census Results
When I moved to Maples at the Sonatas two and a half years ago, there were 21 residents.
As of today, I count 80 people living here.
Wow!
It’s a Beautiful Day to…
…be alive and be outdoors. The sun is bright, the air is a comfortable 69 degrees, the breeze is very gentle.
It’s a beautiful day to cruise the neighborhood in a golf cart, like Dee and Carol did.
It’s a beautiful day to read a good book by the pool, like Sue did.
It’s a beautiful day to swim in Grandma’s pool, like Sue’s grandchildren and their friends did.
It’s a beautiful day to lie in the shade, like Bandit did.
It’s much too beautiful a day to take for granted.
‘Not Even Close to Being Done’ — Cathie’s Update on Her Move
Earlier this week, I introduced you to Cathie, my soon-to-be neighbor. She shared the complicated story of her preparations to move from Abilene, Texas, to Woodstock. You can find that post here. Today, Cathie updates us on her walk through of her new Portico home and upcoming closing. Again, I’ll let her tell the story herself.
•••
Well, I have some great news and some horrible news.
First, the good news. On Memorial Day my husband and I accepted an offer on our home. One less worry. But as our realtor said, “It’s not done until we’re done. So plan on being out of the house by 30 June, but until closing anything can happen. You’ve got to be flexible.”
Now for the bad news. As planned, I traveled to Illinois the following day for my walk through and closing this week. I was “greeted” at O’Hare with a message from my lender. “Please call…very urgent we speak with you.” Oh no! After convincing myself they probably just needed some additional information from me, I finally gave them a call. “I’m sorry but you will not be closing on Friday.” I couldn’t believe it.
Let me just say… I think it should be a LAW you must receive notice of all closing costs at least one week before you close. That way you know this is a done deal before you get to this point of switching utilities into your name, and you set up TV services, and you’ve confirmed with the movers, etc. Not to mention, you have to get a cashier’s check.
So now what happens?
Well, the lender mentioned something about putting me up in a hotel until closing and something about a storage room. But my mind was back in Abilene, thinking about the fact that we could no longer alter plans in place. My husband has to get back after helping me move to find a place to live and make his own packing out arrangements. I told the lender I had to gather my thoughts and call them back. I spent the rest of the day notifying my husband, realtor, sales rep, and lawyer of the glitch in process.
I went to my walk through on my house. I know I’m biased, but it’s absolutely beautiful. I’m so happy I chose the Maples as my community.
As of now, I’m waiting on the lender to approve one of two plans proposed by my attorney: I sign the loan documents early next week and they overnight them to the title company for eventually closing, or I grant power of attorney to my lawyer and she’ll execute all closing paperwork.
I’m exhausted and we’re not even close to being done, but nothing can stop the US Air Force (or their people…even if they’re retired)!
More to come….
Cathie’s Portico is ready and waiting for her.
Construction as a Spectator Sport
Thank you, Wilcox Communities, for the free entertainment today! It’s always fun watching the construction process, but there is no better day than the one when the crane comes in to set trusses for the roof of a new home. And that’s what is happening this afternoon. A lot of action, a little danger, some drama — many of us homeowners drop what we are doing to watch the show.
When I began taking pictures, one of the workers asked if I was shooting a video for U-Tube. That would have been fun if I knew how to edit video, but I don’t. For today, I stayed with photography. So here is my layperson’s view of the process of setting roof trusses.
You begin with the trusses in piles on the ground.
Then you use a forklift to move them where the crane can reach them.
Next you attach the crane’s cable to them. Be careful so they are balanced and don’t go swinging around and hit something.
Here’s the guy who operates the crane. He needs to be really, really good at his job.
The crane hoists the truss into the air…
…way high into the air.
Be careful. Don’t hit Tim and Dee’s home.
Then the crane lowers the truss until workers can guide it into place.
Ah, success! Go ahead and smile!
You nailed it!
The Key to a Move Is…
It was looking like Cathie had made it through the hardest part of the home buying process without a hitch. Using online research, she had chosen Maples at the Sonatas as her new community. Also online, she had decided on a Portico home, which was available here, and had communicated with our sales consultant, Carol.
In early April, Cathie flew in from Abilene, Texas, where she and her husband are currently living, to look at her Portico and complete the deal. Her lender assured her all was going well with the financing. She selected her options and finishes. She met a number of her new neighbors at our Spring Brunch. There wasn’t much left to do but go back to Texas and pack up for the move.
You would think that the actual move should have been the easiest part of the process. After all, Cathie had served in the military for 24 years and lived around the world, moving seven times in all. Compared to most of us, she is a professional mover. However—
At this point, I’m going to step back and let Cathie tell her story in her own words.
•••
As the saying goes, “The best laid plans of mice and men often go astray.” In the Air Force, we say, Flexibility is the key to Air Power… I say, Flexibility is the key to Moving.
To begin with, my (soon to be ex-) husband and I decide we’re going to pack and move me ourselves. But we’re not as young as we once were, and packing becomes overwhelming, so we decide to hire movers to off-load when we get to Woodstock.
The original game plan
My walk through is scheduled for 29 May, and closing is on the 31st. I drive back home to Crystal Lake every year and usually take three days to get there. I plan on leaving the 25th so I can arrive on the 28th. The U-Haul is reserved, and movers are coordinated. Best laid plan, right?
Changes 1, 2, &3
My (soon to be ex-) husband wants to drive the 1,110 miles from Abilene to Woodstock in two days. I can’t do that on a good day, not to mention I will be traveling with three Shih Tzus… enough said. So I decide to leave a day ahead of him, and I think the whole thing is worked out, until he says, “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure the packers get everything.” Now, it’s an amicable divorce, but I am divorcing him for a reason. I need another plan.
How it turned out… sort of
I decide to fly back to Illinois by myself, close on the house, and return to Texas to finish packing out. I make reservations and re-coordinate with the movers. I’ll fly back from the closing on the 2nd, and we’ll pack out on the 4th. I’m homeward bound!
My husband is happy because he got one of the newer U-Hauls for the long drive. He’s also figured out that a fully loaded, 26-foot truck is not going to move all that fast. He decides we need to take three days after all.
The one thing that would make him happier, though, is having movers to load the truck too. So he coordinates with local movers. The only problem is they have to pack out on Monday, June 3, but it’s worth it to him to save his back. I’m not happy about flying back and packing out the next day, but I’m at a point where I just want to have a plan. It’s settled… almost.
U-Haul changes the reservations, but now he’s getting one of the older trucks so he’s not happy. Moral of the story: You can please some of the people some of the time, but not all of the people all of the time.
So that’s where I’m at, but I suppose there could be more changes to come. After all, flexibility is the key to a move.
To be continued.
The Sweet Smell of Progress
This was a big morning for my soon-to-be neighbor, Jan, and her husband, Steve. The lumber for their new Promenade was delivered. They must have been watching from the home they are renting down the street because they were outside moments later, cameras in hand.
In the picture below, Jan is asking framing contractor Mike Carr exactly when the home will be framed.
And here Jan enjoys a sniff of the sweet smell of fresh lumber.
I wish I could bottle that aroma and attach it to this post for you to enjoy too!
Those Versatile Abbey Bedrooms
As I showed visitors around my Abbey during our Spring Tour of Homes, I heard the same comment again and again. Guests would step into my second bedroom and say, “This is so big. It almost looks bigger than the master.”
“You’re right. It IS bigger,” I would reply. My visitors had discovered one of the ways the Abbey is unique among the Epcon floor plans. It is the only model with a second bedroom large enough to be used in a variety of ways. A really observant visitor also notices that only the Abbey has walk-in closets in both bedrooms.
So two decisions await new Abbey owners—which bedroom to use as their master and what to do with the other one. An informal poll of my neighbors shows about a 50-50 split between those who use the owner’s suite with the attached bath as their master and those who use the guest suite with the bathroom just outside the door as their master. The actual difference in dimensions is 14’ x 15’ vs. 16’ x 15’.
If you’re finding it difficult to visualize all this, don’t worry. I have lots of pictures to guide you. Let’s start with a quick review of the floor plan of the Abbey.
Now for some comparisons and contrasts. My neighbors and fellow Abbey owners, Bob and Maureen, agreed to help me with this post because they use the two bedrooms in the opposite way that I do. Here they are in their Abbey.
Bob and Maureen
I chose to set up my bedrooms up the traditional way. My bedroom furniture is not very large, so I had more than enough space in the smaller room. And I love having my bath and walk-in closet all attached.
My second bedroom does double duty as office and guest room. Since I’m a writer, I spend a lot of time in this room. I want a spacious office with my desk placed where I can look out at the room rather than a wall. I also have a sofa bed in there for the one or two times a year I have house guests.
Bob and Maureen have chosen the opposite plan for their bedrooms. They felt that their king-size bed worked better in the larger bedroom, so that is their master. They have other bedroom furniture as well as two armchairs in there, with plenty of space left over.
They made the smaller bedroom a library. They also have a sofa bed in there for guests, who appreciate the privacy of having their bath attached to the room where they sleep.
Now let’s take a look. Here is the smaller bedroom as my master.
And here is the same room as Bob and Maureen’s library.
Then here is the larger bedroom as my office/guestroom.
And here it is as Maureen and Bob’s master bedroom.
A final consideration is the placement of the smaller bedroom. It is located directly off the living room. In both of our homes, people sitting on the couch look into the room. Bob and Maureen like the way their living room flows into their library. Here is what you see.
My visitors look into my bedroom, but I decided I could live with that as long as my bed is made.
Of course, there is no right or wrong way to use the two versatile Abbey bedrooms. There also is no reason that an owner couldn’t change his or her mind and switch them around in the future.
Sunshine and Flowers and Peace and Love…oh, my!
It was a far out, groovy morning at Maples at the Sonatas as we gathered for our third annual Flower Power event. It’s no secret that we love a reason to share a cup of coffee and socialize. And if there’s one thing we love even more, it’s getting something free. Yesterday, that was flowers.
It was our sales consultant, Carol Lyons, who started this event and nicknamed it Flower Power. The name is catchy and fitting for a town called Woodstock and a community mostly populated by people who spent their youth in the Age of Aquarius.
So when we arrived yesterday, here is what we found in the area near our swimming pool. Actually, this is only part of the beautiful array of flowers there. And best of all, they were a gift for us, annuals to take home and plant.
Some of the happy homeowners posed for a pictorial thank you to those who made Flower Power possible.
Thank you to Wilcox Communities for giving the owners of each home a free flat of annuals. With many of us planting this weekend, our neighborhood soon will bloom with Flower Power.
Thank you to Joe Langton of Langton Group for ordering and delivering the 60 flats of flowers and for joining us yesterday morning.
Thank you to Carol for hosting the event and making the arrangements with Joe.
Young and old alike enjoyed themselves.
Everything about the day appealed to my inner hippie. The sunshine and flowers and the peaceful, easy feeling took me back to my youth. The next thing I knew, I was looking through old pictures to find one of myself taken back in the day. And just for company, I asked a couple of friends for pictures too. Neighbors, do you recognize us? We haven’t changed a bit!
Flower Power—Still Alive and Well in Woodstock
photo by Sylvia & Diana
Details and more photos coming tomorrow…
A Tour of the Corporate Canterbury
The Chicago headquarters of Wilcox Communities blends so seamlessly into its surroundings that you would never suspect it was there. But don’t look for it in Chicago; it is actually located in Plainfield in the Wilcox community of Villas at Fox Run. There, tucked into a Canterbury home that from the outside looks just like every other Canterbury in the community, is the office of one of the fastest growing builders in the Midwest.
In 2009, company president Jamie Wilcox moved his staff from traditional office space in Burr Ridge to the Canterbury in Villas at Fox Run. It made sense, after all, to be in a community he was building, close to the residents and potential buyers.
Jamie’s office director and employee of 10 years, Sharon Erickson, remembers going to the empty Canterbury to take measurements and plan out the space. At the time, fitting six employees into the 1800-plus square-foot home was manageable. But now, with the company expanding rapidly, the number of workspaces has increased to 13, and things have gotten quite interesting.
I’ve been curious about this one-of-a-kind office since I heard about it last year. Finally, a few days ago, I grabbed my camera and went to see the Corporate Canterbury for myself.
Wilcox marketing manager Ember Ferrantino offered to meet me at the clubhouse and walk me over to “Corporate,” as the staff refers to it. I was happy for her help. Without her, it would have been hard to find the right Canterbury. With no signage to identify it, the only hint would have been the extra cars parked in the vicinity. The entrance, at the back of the building, looks like this.
When you open the door and walk in, here is what you see. I found it disorienting because it was so different from the Canterbury homes my friends live in.
The living room is partitioned into a number of office spaces, many of them quite cozy. Here, for example, is Julie Murphy, an accounting assistant, at work at her desk.
Continuing down a hallway formed by dividers, you turn left to enter Sharon’s office. Here she is at her well-organized desk. If you’re trying to get your bearings, Sharon’s portion of the living room contains the fireplace.
Jamie’s office is in the master bedroom. Here he is at his desk, conferring with Ember.
The Canterbury’s den serves as the office for George Bullard, purchasing manager. Chief Financial Officer John Connelly, one of several Connellys on the staff, is located in the guest bedroom. Here he is.
There are two shared spaces in the office. One, the sunroom, makes a good conference room. The other is the kitchen, which is a multi-purpose combination of kitchen, break room, and office workroom.
Not an inch of space is wasted. One office space was even created from a converted closet. Then, after the Canterbury was filled to capacity, the office overflowed into the garage. It was divided in half by a temporary wall and was modified to make it more comfortable. Half of the garage is additional work spaces, and the remaining half is for storage. Here is Ember’s garage office.
This wraps up the tour, but there is still more I would like you to know. First, I didn’t photograph all of the staff members present at the time of my visit. This post doesn’t give a true picture of how many people work in close proximity and of their comings and goings. Yet they all looked cheerful and unstressed. In fact, I think their setup would be conducive to collaboration and camaraderie.
The big question for me is how long this Corporate Canterbury can accommodate the growing staff. And what happens when the community is finished? Fox Run is already 70 percent built out. Does the office stay? Probably not, I would guess.
Wherever the Wilcox staff lands in the future—be it traditional office space or another unique home—I’m sure they will have fond memories of the good old days in the Corporate Canterbury.
A Maple at the Sonatas
Our namesake tree paired with our signature Epcon architecture. Springtime is lovely in Woodstock.
Pretty in Pink
This magnolia tree proves that landscaping doesn’t have to be mature to be beautiful. Wouldn’t you love to open your front door to this view?
The Serendipity of My Abbey
Would it surprise you to learn that I am in love with words?
I didn’t think so. Retired English teacher, lifelong reader, writer, blogger— it’s totally predictable. Please excuse me if this post sounds like a vocabulary lesson. I freely confess that it is, at least in the beginning.
And so, class, the word for the day is serendipity.
I first encountered the word in the name of a ‘60s group, the Serendipity Singers. Although I can’t for the life of me remember anything they sang, I have never forgotten their name. My dictionary tells me that serendipity comes from a Persian fairy tale, and defines it as “a gift for making accidental, fortunate discoveries.”
I love the concept of serendipity, but I also love the way the word’s sound illustrates its meaning. The first half of it, seren-, sounds soothing and dignified, like the beginning of serenity. But the ending of the word, –dipity, sounds silly and playful. The fact that the syllables come together at all is a surprise, and that, of course, is the key to its meaning.
Serendipity certainly would be a gift worth possessing. Those who have this talent must greet each morning eagerly, confident that something wonderful will happen but never quite sure what form their next “fortunate discovery” will take. Even the smallest discoveries will be all the sweeter because they are unexpected.
So where am I heading with this vocabulary lesson? Right back to my Abbey, of course, but I’m taking the long way to get there.
The home buying process is filled with decisions that require careful consideration, logic, analysis, organization. To be honest, I found it quite stressful at times. But as with most difficult things in life, the payoff comes at the end.
Only after I had begun living in my new home did I start to notice the small things that give me so much joy. These are the serendipitous pleasures that you will not find on a floor plan or a list of upgrades or the deed to the property.
Here are some examples of the serendipity of my home. I love:
• the smell of fresh lumber that lingered for months. It is similar to the new car aroma, but it lasts longer.
• lying in my bed at night, looking through the half-moon window, and seeing the constellation Orion. He hunts while I sleep.
• my dishwasher. I’ve never had one before, and waiting 63 years has made me really, really appreciate it.
• my drawers. They glide closed with the lightest touch of a finger.
• my cabinet and drawer pulls. They were the only detail that I selected because my home was finished when I bought it. Silly as it sounds, I look forward to opening a cabinet or drawer.
• an original piece of artwork, the lead crystal sun catcher hanging in the half round window in my sun room. The rainbows that it flashes around the room are magical.
There is one more thing I’ve learned about serendipity. It is completely individual. And so, if you live in an Epcon home, I’d love to know if you also have made any “accidental, fortunate discoveries.” If you would be willing to share a detail that you love about your home, please pass it on to me. You may click below and add a comment. You do not have to use your full name. Or if you prefer, comment on my Facebook or Twitter accounts or send me an email, and I’ll post your thoughts here.
If You Build Them, They Will Come
Home Sweet Abbey is ready for guests.
It’s hard to say who enjoyed yesterday’s Maples at the Sonatas Spring Tour of Homes more. Was it (a) the visitors who toured the five private homes and four models? Or maybe (b) the sales staff who created another successful event? Or possibly (c) the owners who opened their homes?
Carol and Kathy, our sales staff, were certainly happy. An estimated 120 people walked though the homes, resulting in a number of good prospects and a long list of contacts for the future.
Carol and Kathy dressed for success–and alike!
Judging by their favorable comments, our visitors also enjoyed the tour. The majority of them thanked me for opening my home. They seemed to like having access to owners who have lived in the community for a while. And like us, they enjoyed seeing just how different three Canterbury homes can be when decorated by three different owners.
While some visitors treated the tour as good entertainment on a beautiful spring afternoon, others were more intense. They were trying to make comparisons and contrasts, to narrow down the choice of five models to the one that would be best for their personal situations.
We also welcomed a few future owners whose homes are in the construction process. They were looking at furniture layouts and decorating ideas, everything from window coverings to TV hookups to where to put the litter box.
These homeowners opened their homes
But I believe no one enjoyed the tour more than the homeowners who participated. I loved the afternoon. It was gratifying to hear compliments about my Abbey. I also liked talking with people in all stages of the buying process. It was especially fun to welcome folks that I know personally. During the afternoon, I had visits from four former teaching colleagues, two former students, four parents of former students, and other friends from Woodstock.
Several couples were so enthusiastic about my home that I was sure I had convinced them to buy an Abbey. After the tour ended and we homeowners gathered in our clubhouse, I mentioned a couple who had loved my Abbey. My neighbor Ollie, who owns a Canterbury, looked at me and said, No, I remember them, and they want a Canterbury. We slipped into a friendly round of They liked mine better—no they liked mine better—until Carol settled it for us. They actually want a Promenade with a bonus room.
Of course, the tour was not a competition among our homes. But if it had been, I would have had a secret weapon—my cat Angie. She is a very social cat who wanted to be a one-cat welcome committee. A few visitors with allergies stayed outside on my patio, but most of the others said, Oh, look at the cute cat, and gave her the attention she was seeking. Sometimes she walked from room to room with us, jumping up on furniture so she wouldn’t be overlooked on the floor.
One of my visitors was in a wheelchair. Her face lit up when she saw Angie. When she reached down to pet her, she couldn’t reach low enough. So I held Angie up, and this cat, who usually hates being picked up, was very patient and sweet.
My cat Angie welcomes Diana, a future neighbor
From noon to four, there were just a few short breaks without visitors in our home. Around three, Angie hopped up on top of her cat tree in the sunroom and fell sound asleep. She was exhausted, and I wasn’t too far behind her.
It felt great to get to the clubhouse at five, kick off my shoes, and enjoy the wine and cheese that Kathy and Carol served us as a thank you. In typical Maples fashion, the party lasted into the evening. While I was walking home, the answer to my question of who enjoyed the tour more came to me. As you have probably guessed, the correct answer is (d) all of the above.
Dog Day Afternoon
It was mid-afternoon of a beautiful, 70-degree day. But I was inside yesterday, on the phone with my brother and sister-in-law, talking long distance, as we used to call it. As we chatted, I glanced out a window and saw four neighbors and three dogs gathered near my patio. I rather abruptly ended the phone call, telling my family I needed to go outside and talk with some neighbors.
Needed might seem like too strong a word, but it was accurate. That morning I had taken my elderly mother and her terminally ill cat to the vet; the cat did not come home. It had been a long, painful, stressful week. So I literally needed the sympathy I knew I would receive from my friends. And I needed to watch the dogs romp in the sunshine, to feel their fur and pet their healthy, wriggling bodies.
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Maples at the Sonatas is indeed a dog friendly—make that, pet friendly—community. Many of us share our homes with four-legged family members. We know and greet our neighbor dogs when they are out walking with their owners. And our dogs even have friendships with each other, much as their people do.
Our Epcon homes are well suited for pets. With the attached models, there is an option for a fence that encloses the patio and allows dogs to enjoy the outside without being leashed. The unattached homes, of course, come with a courtyard that is a great outdoor space for pets. When one of my neighbors purchased her Portico, she requested that the courtyard be secured for her cat. Now Fruitti spends many happy hours in the safety of her courtyard.
Our love for our pets is never more evident than at our annual Pooch Plunge. Each September, we come together to celebrate the last day of the swimming season by opening the pool to our dogs. Our sales team of Carol and Kathy came up with the concept two years ago and continue to organize the event, which is one of our most popular social gatherings. Our builder, Jamie Wilcox, and staff members who work here bring their families and dogs too.
But I am not going to tell you any more about the Pooch Plunge right now. I’m looking forward to blogging about it in the fall.
Instead, let me share pictures of some of my four-legged neighbors. A few of the photos are from last year’s Pooch Plunge, while the others were taken as recently as yesterday. I hope you will enjoy our Maples Menagerie.
Note: To my neighbors whose dogs are not included, let me assure you that your pet is just as cute and loveable as these. It’s only that I don’t have a picture yet.
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- Kelly
Home Sweet Abbey 