THE WEEKEND EDIT A NOISE IN THE NIGHT
Good morning! Happy Weekend! I am thrilled to be here this morning. We are in week 2 of our Empty Nest status! It helps to have a packed calendar and a to-do list.
It is also nice when my other half goes to the mountains to golf. I had the house to myself for two nights. It is not like my routine changes when my husband is gone for a night otw two. I have work commitments and laundry.
There is always laundry.
But there is something about having the house to myself- it is quiet. There are no Zoom calls or footsteps up and down the stairs.
Until I heard the familiar sound of our 200-pound steel garage door open at 10:40 pm.
I am alone with Elliot- our Bernese Mountain dog.
I untucked myself out of my bed and looked out the window to check the driveway.
My first thought was I won the bet that my husband would come home early.
My second thought was my middle had stopped by to grab paper products and peruse my recent Just Meats order. But he would text me at this hour.
My heart rate was on high alert.
Where was Elliott?
Before I went to bed to read the latest issue of People, I lowered the shades and double-checked the front, back, deck, and garage entry doors.
The porch lights were on.
I knew the home was secured but the steel garage door was raising. I ran down the two flights of stairs to double-check the garage entry door.
The garage door was no longer making the familiar clickety-clack sound. Which means the garage door has come to a complete stop and is open.
I did not open that door because someone is now on the opposite side of that door.
I made a split-second decision to open the front door.
My thought process was it was better to confront an intruder from the front porch where I knew the layout of our yard, the street and street and my neighbors would hear my screams.
The sky was dark with a light rain which made for a scene from a scary movie with Sandra Bullock locked in her pretend ouse with an intruder inside.
Except, I am in my house.
I am wearing a t-shirt that says “Yes I am Cold 24/7 and Costco pajama shorts.
I do not have a hair and makeup team so my neighbors will have stories to tell no matter what the outcome.
My heart continues to pound as I unlock the front door (the angle requires both feet to be on the front porch to see the garage doors.
Did Elliott get locked out of the house?
Why isn’t he barking?
I pushed those thoughts aside.
With both bare feet planted on the porch, i confirm the garage door is shut. OMG is someone locked inside the garage?
I get back inside my house and lock the front door.
And then I hear the sound of the garage door again ….
Except …
I
it is not the sound of our garage door. It is the sound of our new dryer that makes the thump, thump, thumping with intermittent pauses.
It was …
the dryer.
And Elliott?
Elliott was on the landing the entire time. I am not sure how I did not step on him.
His lack of response meant he heard the dryer more often than me.
QUESTION
What do you do when you hear a bump in the night?
READING, WATCHING + LOVING
Can I take a minute to tell you my heart is racing just sharing this story? Remember to always check the locks and to always wear a matching pajama outfit.
- I finished Shark Heart. Email me your opinions if you read it.
- I am talking to you, my favorite Preppy Empty Nester
- I just read the book Make Your Bed. Life Lessons from a Navy Seal.
- Here is a last minute 4th of July centerpiece
- This easy DIY pillow works for all holidays and seasons.
- Here was this week’s Tuesday tip if you missed it.
- Pottery Barn has a 4th of July sale this weekend.
- Every year I share this yummy dessert for the 4th of July
- Now that my heart rate has slowed down here is what happened on the blog this week!
THIS WEEK’S TUESDAY TIP!
I would love it if you subscribed to the Weekend Edit. You can sign up here for a Saturday morning easy-breezy newsletter. Thank you!
I love having a few nights to myself. It feels different! That was some story! I hate when I hear noises in the night when I’m alone. The icemaker in the freezer can send me under the covers!
Well phew. At least it was something you can laugh about later.
I don’t remember the last time I was alone alone in the house at night. When the husband is out the kids are there and vice versa.
Those heart plates are really cute!
Very glad you’re ok
When we’re having a possible terrible weather event during the night (like a tornado) I wear a “outfit” to bed with easy to slip on clogs on the floor, pocketbook on night stand. That way if I have to run out of the house, no neighbors see me in my ratty underwear 😜
Thanks for the sweaty palms, dear friend. I hate to admit that the same thing happened to me about a year ago. I just heard sounds and walked around the house with my trusty hair dryer. I don’t know why I thought that a hair dryer could protect me. The saddest part is that I don’t even remember putting the dryer on. Hope you’re having a great summer. Should I read Shark Heart?
Good Morning, Laura,
Yes, it is so different being in your home all alone. One looks forward to it until those sounds of the night intrude. I turn on my back, porch, and side lights. I make sure I don’t have my ear plug in my ear. (my husband snores and I have only one ear drum. I save on earplugs by only using one!) If my husband is gone for a meeting, which is rare, I always hope my guard cat can keep up with protecting me. I am thankful that God has my back.
I hoped your outcome was not a neighbor looking to spread gossip, haha, or an intruder. Glad that it was just that noisy appliance.
Have a good week,
Tracey
Thankyou Tracey for stopping by to read this story. I gave a little clue at the beginning about the laundry. It was 30 seconds of freaking out but I should have known by Elliott’s lack of reaction. Have a great weekend. laura