Capable. If I had to describe Judy Miller in one word, that would be the one.

Picture this: It’s late February, and Judy’s friends are helping her move a few heavy pieces into her new home. They range in age from 65 to 82, and they’re carrying a loveseat, chair, and rolltop desk from a trailer over muddy terrain.

Jeremy Statler, 53, the home’s builder, stops by to see how things are going. When he tries to lend a hand, one of Judy’s friends says, “How come you’re helping? You need to leave if you’re not over 65.”

Or how about this: Judy’s 5-acre property is edged in timber, and her mechanic/handman husband Lee, who passed away in 2022, is no longer around to manage it. Undaunted, Judy DIYs it.

“I never used a chainsaw until three years ago,” she says as we chat in her new great room. “Now I’m on my second. At first I was only comfortable with smaller stuff, but Lee had an electric EGO brand, and it has a 14-inch bar. So I started using that a little bit. It’s not so bad, so now I use both of them.”

The woods, to some extent, shaped the house Judy commissioned Statler Construction to build for her on the property once owned by her parents-in-law. She wanted windows in her home to frame views of those beautiful trees, and she wanted to be able to burn wood – she had enough downed timber on the property to keep her warm for quite some time.

We have a look at “Statler’s wish book,” as Judy calls the catalog of home designs, and she explains how she liked features of two different models. Statler was able to integrate the best of both into a house that looked and felt the way Judy wanted: fantastic views from the great room and sunroom, wood burning stove on the walk-out lower level, and a porch and bathroom just for Ruby.

That’s right, it was important that her goldendoodle feel at home too.

“Everybody in town knows Ruby,” Judy says. “She goes down to Yotty’s and cleans up all the little gummy bears and stuff that kids drop. She thinks that’s her job in life. She’d go there every day if her mama would let her.”

For now her mama lets her catch a few Z’s on the loveseat as we tour the house, which feels open and spacious with its high ceilings and open layout. Picture windows provide plenty of natural light; Judy is on the fence about whether she should put up window treatments. “I’m not a home designer type of person,” she admits.

We poke our heads into the kitchen pantry, which is huge and well-lit – another feature Judy really wanted. It’s just one of many closets and storage spaces throughout the home we note as we walk through the office, guestroom, bathrooms, and lower level.

Exemplifying a transitional style that blends the best of both modern and traditional elements, the house is both clean and warm. Even though she remarks about a countertop, “I don’t remember if that’s quartz or granite,” Judy enjoyed the process of selecting the materials and finishes, as well as working with Statler and his team.

“He usually has three to five houses going at a time, so he doesn’t really like to spend a lot of time fixing stuff,” she says. He suggested companies he trusts for aspects like plumbing and electrical, “but the decisions are left for you,” she adds.

The house was finished at the end of 2025, and Judy started moving in, surprised by how much she liked her new home.

But that’s a process: even though she’s only moving 10 blocks, having lived in the same place for 40-some years means a lot has accumulated, and she must decide what to do with her daughters’ childhood memorabilia, Lee’s special edition tool stockpile, and her own Mickey Mouse collection.

“As for having burly friends to move stuff, it’s just me and my Gator,” Judy says. “We bring four or five boxes a day: go pack them, bring them over, unload them, bring them back.”

At least that’s how it was until several friends planned a Silver Saturday and got a lot accomplished. Now she’s looking forward to adding landscaping, mowing the lawn, and letting Ruby outside without having to worry about muddy paws.

Until then, the floors are sealed and Ruby has her own shower with a paw-print shower curtain, so “I can clean up my messes,” Judy assures.

That’s what we call capable.