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Monday, May 2, 2022

Lots of this and lots of that.

 

As spring seems to refuse to assert herself, I doggedly keep starting seeds and accumulating plants.  My lemon tree looks longingly out of the window, wondering if she'll ever feel the soft breezes through her leaves (me, too).  All my window sills are full.  My dining room table is carpeted in green sprouts.  I've turned off the furnace and added a few dozen fleece blankets to the dog beds.  I refuse to turn the heat on past April 30.

After last October, when I discovered a tick a week for four weeks attached to various parts of my body.  I find myself hesitating when having to venture off the deck.  It's amazing that something so small can strike fear into something so large (damn pandemic pounds...)

My favorite farm store has opened.  My sister is experiencing an open schedule and freedom to do what she wants, when she wants, for the first time in seven years.  We are beginning to organize the parental home, although we can't get further in than the garage.  It doesn't seem right.  This is not too much of a problem, as the garage is full of 35+ years of flotsam - Dad saved everything.  We are starting at the bottom and then moving up.

Meanwhile, I am still finding myself getting the wellies on to go out and shut the chicken coop.  Of all the crew, I miss the chickens the most.  I do get to go and visit them and they are living the chicken dream, bless their hearts.

I am wading into the territory of estate lawyers.  I am the executor of my parents' will, so...hi ho.  Luckily, the house was deeded to my sisters and me, so it should (fingers crossed) be less involved.

Connie and I made our way to the Peace Pagoda, one of 3 (or 4?) in the United States.  Sunday was the Flower Festival, celebrating the birth of Buddha.  It was a glorious day and just what we needed.


P.S.  It finally happened.  I overheard a conversation where the ratio of words to "like" was, like, 1:1.  I was so fascinated and mesmerized by hearing "like" every other word, that I couldn't really tell you what was being said.  Like.  You know?

16 comments:

tpals said...

I either missed or forgot you rehomed your flock (could be either with my leaky brain). Now I'm stuck without words because I can't process that; I think I need to hug one of the cats.

Ed said...

Take your time sorting through everything. I’m still working on boxes nearly four years later.

Steve Reed said...

The Peace Pagoda looks very cool! This seems to be a delayed spring in many parts of the northern hemisphere. We've finally been able to put out most of our plants but it's colder than normal here too.

Retired Knitter said...

Yes, summing up the lives of our parents after their passing is sometimes (always) daunting. Every action I took during the last year of my mom’s life felt like I was erasing that life in little small bites. I remember being in tears at donating a George Forman grill of hers. She was in a nursing home, dying from dementia and would never cook again - and I didn’t need it. Every check I wrote for her care was money she work so hard to save. And at her passing the removal of her name from remaining assets was just more of the same. It is hard to be the one responsible for officially closing down the remains of a life. One of my kids will do that deed for me. Life goes on, but it marks you in ways that only you can see and feel.

Mama Pea said...

Good to hear from you! So glad you have your sister(s) to work with you in going through your parents' home and making the thousand and one decisions that will involve. And not having the two and four-legged creatures (except the dogs, of course) on your little homestead really will make this period easier for you. I do believe spring is being even slower to arrive here than in your territory. We still have snow in spots and frozen ground. Good thing I decided to NOT put a single seed or transplant outside this year until June 1st. I'm just hoping I don't have to change that date until July 1st. Hugs to you!

Miss Kim said...

What a lot of work you have ahead of you but you can do it!

Debra She Who Seeks said...

Sounds like you will have a busy summer ahead, what with gardening, culling & sorting, and estate matters. Good luck!

www.self-sufficientsam.blogspot.com said...

You are so brave to turn off the heat! I have mine on this morning and it's 64 outside....but I'm old and my RA can't take the cold for very long. It's not good for your joints, you know. I have been Swedish Death Cleaning while I am still alive as I don't want to leave my daughter with all this junk. I live in my parents house and I still have their stuff in here too! It's hard to get rid of things down here because we are all trying to downsize. Good luck with your clearing and cleaning...at least you have some help. I know when Jim died, I got a lot of work done because it kept me from sitting around and crying all day....hard work has always helped me deal with the tragedies of life. So, then why isn't my house immaculate? Like, you know?
Hugs ~ Sam

Marcia LaRue said...

So glad you and your sisters are trying to get on with living while clearing out past family accumulations!
People who cannot carry on a conversation without throwing in "like" every other word or so drives me up the wall!

Michelle said...

I feel like I will be following closely on your heels; you should probably write a detailed journal along the way to leave for me! Glad you still have the cat and dogs – and sisters, of course!

Joanne Noragon said...

My heat is still on. It's not spring yet in NE Ohio.

Pioneer Woman at Heart said...

My Mom passed away back in Feb. We are just now at the state of the last hearing for approval to put her house on the market. I have a feeling it will sell quickly, but that was a ton of work to clean out the house. Her wish was that absolutely nothing goes to goodwill, nor an estate sale. It was a lot of work for sure finding donation places. I hope selling your parents home will go smoothly.

ellen abbott said...

I didn't realize you got rid of the chickens too. Spring was late here, plants confused but summer is looking to get here early. We used to not turn on the AC til May 1st. It went on a couple of times in April and is now on for the duration.

Nancy In Boise said...

So you got rid of all your chickens? The Pagoda looks really cool? I had a millennial I worked next to that used to drive me nuts with the "like" word. I need an avocado like oh, it was like, what she like I threw it out, like I bought another one Etc. Omg!!!!

Polly said...

I'm sorry to hear about the passing of your mother. She was beautiful. The Peace Pagoda looks lovely. I'm glad your chickens are happy.

Joy said...

Hooboy. I’m so sorry for the loss of your mother. I, also, was the Executor and am the Trustee of our family farm. Not sure about you, but I’m anxious for that time travel machine to arrive so that I can go back to childhood. Glad you have your Sis with you.