For the family at home, here is a play by play of what happens when we get coastal flooding. 

The alarm went off at 7:30am this morning.

8:00am I took a walk outside to see the puddling in the street and the crashing waves that were just about at the sea wall.  High tide was at 9:30 am.  Full moon today. Winter solstice and a rain storm coming up the coast.

We have lived here since June of this year and this has happened a few times since we moved in, but normally the water takes its sweet time to flood.  This one hit fast. Real fast.  By 8:39am, our whole street was flooded.  We rushed to get the vehicles moved and then had to walk through the water back to our house.

8:46 am this morning, this video shows the water now just peaking over both sides of the sea wall.

9:11 am this morning from my porch... we're not going anywhere at this point.

This is what my backyard looks like and wow it is doing some strange bubbling... no idea what that is all about...

10:52 am - Here are some photos from my front porch. I see a propane tank floating and my neighbors mailboxes are just about covered.

2:00 pm -The water seems to be receding a bit - you can see the water line on my backyard fence where it hit the highest point.  It is still raining out though and now the flood warning is extended until Sunday so I'm not sure what to think...

My mailbox flag was up for 2 days before I took the mail out and drove it to the post office.

I am honestly giving it a full 100% effort to remain positive about our relocation to Connecticut, but some days it really does feel like an impossible feat.

Back in Central New York, my mail person was the sweetest man who would leave treats for my dogs every day and was happy to knock on my door, bring my packages and say hello. I knew him by name and we gave him gifts every Christmas.

I have lived in Connecticut for over 4 months and have no idea who brings my mail or what their delivery schedule is... AND I work from home, which was not the case in New York.

Today, I drove to the local post office to hand deliver the mail that had been sitting in my box for 2 days.  I asked the postal worker at the desk if he could tell me who my mail person was and what the delivery schedule is.  He said I would need to call before 9am to get the schedule and delivery person for that day.  He also noted that mail delivery people do not stop at every house every day.  I was in complete shock to hear that. 

Don't my taxes pay for the postal workers?  Don't my taxes pay for them to bring me my mail - every day?

Why do I feel like every time I have a Connecticut complaint, taxes come into the conversation...

Negativity is never something I prefer to promote but I need to put the truth out there because this is just down right frustrating. I think the only people who can really love Connecticut are those who have history here... otherwise, I'm wondering what there is to love about living here?

The bottom line is that if I want to mail something, I guess I drive it to the post office.  The post office that is 1.9 miles away but will take 9 minutes to drive there and involves a right, a left, another right, and another left and then a left into the post office parking lot. #newengland

On Sunday, October 28, 2018 we were headed home from a week long trip at Allegany State Park.  During the 7 1/2 hour drive we received a text from our neighbors across the street, asking if we knew that a storm had come through and there was a flood in our hood.  Our vacation was 'unplugged' so we were completely unaware that a nor'easter had hit the east coast.  With this storm came intense coastal flooding.

I didn't realize how serious this flood was until the neighbors sent a photo of our recycle bin floating in front of their door, which was consistently alarming their RING app.

We have resided in Connecticut now for over 4 months and have been curious about this 'flood' situation ever since we moved in.  What will happen?  How bad will it be?  How often will we get flooding?

Our house is built on 15' stilts and our realtor was adamant that if we purchase a house in this area, it needed to be a 'lifted' house.  We now know that having anything in the garage that isn't 'at least' 4-5' off the ground, will end up taking a swim at some point.

Another neighbor who sent us the first picture in this blog post, said that the street alarms went off and everyone in my neighborhood was evacuated.  I wished we were here to have been able to move the vehicle from the garage and protect my lawn mower and other items... 

Interestingly, less than 48 hours later you wouldn't even know there was a flood.  The water went back where it belongs, the neighbors all squeegeed out their garages and the town came and picked up trash while cleaning the streets.  It all happened so fast.  We will be trading in our push broom for a squeegee.

Many of our friends and family back home have asked what happened, so I thought this post would help answer some of their questions.

#lifeonthecoast

July 21 2018

During one of our long waits at the DMV, a nice woman recommended we go to the Milford Farmers Market. So we were finally able to get there last weekend.

It was a perfect day, there was a band playing, there were a couple vegetable stands, a few jewelry stands, mixed with some random vendors and I believe there was one food truck.

So although this is a very nice weekly event, It would be difficult for me to rave about this Farmer's Market to someone else - only because I just moved to town less than 2 months ago and the Farmer's Market in my hometown of Syracuse, NY - is incomparable. It has been around for more than 80 years.

While I can't 'rave' about the event, I will certainly recommend that you stop by this farmer's market.  Your visit will keep it alive and growing!  Every Saturday from 9-1, behind the train station.

June 21 2018

Checklist of responsibilities for your move to a new state.

There are so many responsibilities and costs that come with a move to another state. Here are a few that have drained my pockets this past month.

• Get a new drivers license - $112 in CT **
• Register vehicles, get new plates, $127 per vehicle, plus tax in CT
• Register camper, get new plates, $127, plus tax in CT
• Register pets, $8 each in CT - if spayed/neutered
• Change address at post office, $1 online **
• Upfront cost of new gas and electric service
• Upfront cost of new cable/phone/internet service - Est $300
• Data usage on your phone to use map app to get anywhere in your new unfamiliar location **
• Groceries. Expect to leave everything in the fridge and freezer behind. They don't travel well.
  

** POST OFFICE: Be careful when changing your address at the US Post office online, when you give them your cell phone number, (required) they add you to a list of sales calls and I have now repeatedly and daily, received sales text messages since my move.
** DATA: For 2 months now I have gone over my data usage allowance on my cell phone because I have needed directions everywhere I go.
** DMV: Scroll down for your checklist of what to bring to the DMV if you have moved to Connecticut.  Sadly, I had to make the trip 2x and each visit was over 6 hours.

I have moved several times in my life prior to this but usually it was within the same County. These are things I didn't think about when we moved 5 hours away from home...

• Find a new grocery store to shop at
• Find a new family doctor
  
• Find a new hairdresser
  
• Find a new Vet
  
• Find a new pet groomer
  

Connecticut DMV packing list:

- Breakfast
- Gallon of water
- Essential oils for relaxation
- Camping chair
- Sleeping bag
- Lunch
- Book (s)
- Credit card with large limit
- Cash for the cash only cafe
- Patience
- Prozak
- Anti-bacterial wipes
- Redbull
- Oh, and your pre-filled out, pre-printed paperwork and supporting documents.

July 19 2018

DIY Beach themed nautical rustic Q-tip holder

Is it beach themed or nautical or maybe rustic because it's in a mason jar?  I don't know... but I like it.

I made this Q-tip holder for my guest bathroom and it cost less than $2!

$0.83 - 4 oz Ball Glass Jelly Jar - 12 pack for under $10 (found for $9.11 at Midland Hardware)
$0.50 - Jute Rope - 1 lb spool (4 ply) $6.00 at Walmart
$0.10 - Q-tips (we'll just estimate any figure for the Qtips...I stole them from my bathroom)

July 19 2018

Seashell vase for $1.50

My beach themed guest bedroom is coming along... slowly but surely. I could head on over to Birch Lane and spend thousands of dollars on perfectly matched beach decor but what is the fun in that?  I prefer to DIY everything (at my own pace) for as inexpensively as possible!

My DIY Seashell Vase cost just over a buck!

Glass vase - Dollar Tree $1.00 plus tax
Jute Rope - 1 lb spool (4 ply) $6.00 at Walmart
Sand - free down at my beach (or you can get a bag of it at Dollar Tree for $1)
Seashells - free down at my beach!

You will use less than 2' of the jute rope for this project and if you've got a beach themed room, you will be glad to have the rest of that spool on hand for all your next projects! This rope has become a common theme in my guest bed and bath.

Check out the DIY Q-tip holder using more jute rope --> HERE.

June 16 2018

Being newly relocated to unfamiliar territory is tough when you are looking for your favorite restaurants and know you need to find some new hot spots. 

We ventured out to The Plate today because it came recommended by someone we met in line at the DMV. 

There is no doubt that the Creme Brulee French Toast was really good - but it was a bit pricey. $14 for 3 pieces... 

The restaurant was very clean with modern decor, looked new or newly remodeled - and the service was fine, although Lucia's eggs were supposed to be over hard and they were runny - no one came back to check on us, so she just didn't eat them.

Overall, I would give it a good recommendation - but I would warn of the high prices.

The Plate
Milford, CT

July 14 2018

We had family visiting this weekend from Upstate NY.  Without time to research fun things to do in Connecticut so I could entertain my guests, I headed to a fabulous Milford Facebook group for some help from the locals.

After hundreds of comments, we all decided to head to the 2018 New London Sailfest.

Traffic was a bit heavy on the way up but not bad on the return trip.  It took us a little over an hour to get there.  We got to the festival early and beat the crowds - and we headed out by 3pm. This landed us a good parking spot - paid $15.

There were a few craft vendors and a handful of food options with a band playing.  Seemed as though it was more of an atmosphere for children as there were plenty of rides and games. I hear it gets full of sailboats by sunset and there are some decent fireworks. I had wished to see more than 3 sailboats while there today but we didn't make plans to stay for the night events.

We did pick up a vintage bedroom trunk for the military room from an antique store - so that's a bonus.

June 13 2018

I have family coming into town this weekend to visit us and see our new home.  As I was getting the guest room ready, I realized I was missing fresh flowers. 

I don't have the time - or the money - to go buy cut flowers for a guest bedroom so I had to use what I have on hand.  The previous owners left me a yard full of weeds that I have been slowly chipping away at.  So - I used what I have - weeds.

I got the painted glass vase at Hobby Lobby last weekend - it was on clearance - Originally $19.99 but was 70% off so I got it for $6!  It matches perfectly with the Iron and Board Holder that I made for $5 that now hangs in this beach themed room.

My weed vase really does give the room that something extra.