Personal | Moving Day!

Rainbow over horse pasture at Chef Kat's House in Virginia

Today is the day.

We are out of here. On to our next adventure. 

We are turning the page to the next chapter. 

Within the last 2 years, there has been the greatest changes. From moving across the country to a town and state we knew little about, tackling a huge rebuilding and renovation project of our mid century modern home to creating memories, staying home A LOT, working for new clients, navigating new schools and soccer teams. And finally learning how to take care of 5 acres, becoming a chicken farmer, building the largest garden possible, adopting horses and exploring our Nation’s Capital.  

So many memories.

We expanded our family with the best dog ever, Milo (minus when he swims in gross muddy water and eats feces). The girls experienced Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade. They played hours and hours of soccer, made the travel team and went to countless tournaments. They learned to swim, how to take care of chickens, vet visits and even deaths. 

My Personal Chef business grew and I developed my recipes and launched a new website and blog. We started a tradition of Sunday family dinners at our house with a Uncle and cousins along with soccer games, pool dips and countless games of UNO. 

The renovations didn't seem to stop.

And we continued to make this place ours. The pool and barn had lots of work done to them. Our deck was rebuild, garden was in constant weed prevention mode and the grass never stopped growing.

We did all of this so we could truly enjoy our time here and take it all in. 

Not all renovations are related to this home, though. I did a major renovation in my mind – I cleared out the clutter, swept out the cobwebs and rebuild what is important to me and set goals and plans for the future me.

But this only started after we decided to leave. I know, not what I expected either. 

Living here was great but it was hard. I felt alone so much of the time. That brought a deep sadness. When I tried all that I could to dig myself out of it, I reached the bottom. But the only way out of the bottom is to reach high for the top. 

When we made the decision as a family to move back to the west. Back to where our hearts are and where we thrive – I could breathe again.

It’s almost hard to describe. I could just breathe. Although it has brought stress with moving again – I can breathe and look to the future. 

What we are taking with us.

We take with us all the happy and sad moments. The moments were we struggled big time, moments were laughed hard and cried harder. Memories with family and new friends, holidays and so much ‘farm’ life. 

Physically, we aren’t filling a huge truck full of our belongings, like we did when we arrived here. We have sold more than half of our “stuff” – we don’t have a dining table or chairs, beds, dressers or a couch. We aren’t bringing my favorite chair to sit and drink coffee in. Or the foot rest, I used everyday. We are leaving all of these things.

But what is the stuff that you do need or what matters the most?  Packed in the boxes are books, photos, clothes and our junk drawer. Baby books, camping gear, bikes and a dog crate. All my Personal Chef and Catering equipment, food photography props and all my stained kitchen towels.  It’s the basics. 

Of course I will miss...

Our property. I never dreamed we would own a slice of this heaven. I will miss the friends we just started to form a bond with and the adventures we talked about taking. 

The future is bright and holds all the possibilities; if we are open.

Chef Kat's Rusty Road before she moved

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