Reflections

 Sitting here this morning thinking about the few days with Beth, here in the mountains. Well, the mountains where we live. She lives off the Puget Sound in the mountains around Tacoma and Seattle. When she is not living in her mountains, she is on her sailboat traveling the country and some of the world by sailboat. I love her adventuresome spirit. As I told her, I live vicariously through her traveling but I am more than happy to remain here, where I have found my joy. Friday, our late afternoon plans were adjusted by the weather. We were going to go to Blue Rooster for a late lunch and then go to the Blue Ridge Parkway for early evening pictures of the mountains as the sun set. We had eased into the day to get rested up. Instead we went to TJs and got some strawberries, peaches and tomatoes as well as two butterfly bushes. Then over to Ingles to pick up some supper. We went to Marshall and I am still contemplating another rocking chair.  An easy laid back day of talking and laughing. Saturday, the weather didn't quite cooperate either. Our plans were to go to Burnsville and Christy's Crafts, and take the winding mountain road through Bakersville up to Roan Mountain where the rhododendrons are in full bloom. But the rain...and fog. We did go to Vintage Lamp Post in Burnsville. Then headed over to Christy's out in the country of Pensacola. We found some very cute things. As we decided to head over to Johnson City, we got behind a truck with two lambs and a dog in the trailer. 

Beth took pictures for me. We browsed Barnes and Noble, ate lunch at Carrabbas, stopped at Academy but everyone in the tri city area must have gotten the notice to meet at Academy, so we left and went to Troyer's in Limestone. We had a scenic drive home. The fog and clouds rested on the tops of mountains. The green hue in the trees seemed especially brilliant yesterday. We went to church Sunday morning, stopped by Fresh Market and had an easy afternoon before going to a reception/choir practice with our new music director. We had to leave a little early for the airport and we were on our way. 

It is always fun and meaningful to spend time with Beth. Our lives have gone in different directions than what we might have imagined since those silly and fun days in high school. But, I think we are both in the happiest and most contented times of our lives right now. We sat around on the back porch telling our new stories and analyzing our old stories. 

Buddy is giving me the roller coaster ride. One morning she is fine, has energy and other mornings she has thrown up and she barely seems to move. Yesterday, when we returned home I didn't know if she would be dead or alive, but Buddy was sitting on the stairs when we arrived home. She slept with me most of the night but I think it was due to the fact we are experiencing cooler than normal temps. Buddy is next to me and looks to be deciding where her next nap will take place. 

I think my neighbor might have caught one of the Feral Fam kittens. Her daughter has a friend who is looking for a kitten and Beth saw them walking with carriers yesterday. I have seen three of the four this morning. Running and playing up among the rocks. All the rest of the fam seem to be doing well. Radley came around on Friday I believe, but he hasn't been back. HP and all the kiddos are hanging out in the garage or off on an adventure. They seem more drawn over toward the land across the way and not so much the gravel road behind me. 

Last night we met our new choir director and her name escapes me right now. She is truly a choir person. Memories flooded over me because the piece we worked on last night was the Crescendo music of When I Survey the Wonderous Cross, typed by Peggy Bain assisting Trev Ray. I think Gerald owned Crescendo music back in the day. Most in our choir had never sang the arrangement. In my minds eye I could see Gerald directing us with the building sound as we proclaimed the glory and goodness of God in the fourth verse. The director seems to tend toward using an orchestra type setting in the service which for me, has been most churches I've attended in a fair amount of my adult life. So, we begin again, always with hope, certainly with joy and seeing God's work using His church. 

June 13th, we will be returning to our regular Sunday School classes. I think all the ladies are looking forward to returning to their respective classes after enjoying our modified Sunday School for the past several months. 

As the need for weeding and pruning is calling me out to the yard, I will conclude this post reflecting on this. Yesterday, Newfound honored the graduates from high school. Each one gave a brief thought on what they might do or where they will be going to college. It was kind of sentimental sitting there with Beth. We were both 17 when we graduated from high school. Went to different colleges and took out for our futures almost fifty years ago. During her visit, we remembered our friends and the things we all did together. We talked about so much and it was just a reminder to me we can have lifelong friends even when we haven't experienced a lot of life together. 

Adventures With Beth

Not so early morning but it is foggy and overcast. The forecast has changed to include more rain which we need but it might put a change in our plans for today. We shall see. Buddy is on the back porch and looks to be feeling more like herself in many ways. She still isn't sleeping too much with me at night and truthfully, I think we both get more sleep that way. When we came home last night she way happy to see us. We made it home just before the heavens let go with rain. Sometimes heavy rain. Roy and I were on the phone and it suddenly dawned on me, the Chewys delivery was sitting on top of the delivery box by the gate. Quickly I went out to fetch the box with a small hand truck and when I placed the box on the hand truck, it popped up and hit me on the side of my face, knocking my glasses off. Hard rain, plus blind person, having just been knocked in the face doesn't equal strong foundation, but I found my glasses, got the box in the garage, came inside and returned to Roy's call. What a mess! 

Beth and I took off to the mountains in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. The day was perfect for the trip. The only time thing we had going, making our 4:15 reservation at The Cherokee Grill in Gatlinburg. The grill is only open for dinner. We made our way to the scenic, most popular national park and surprisingly it wasn't crowded right before a long weekend. We stopped in at the visitor center and toured some of the farm site recreated there. It was too warm for the elk to be out, so they were staying cool tucked back into the tree cover. We did some national park shopping and then hit the road for Clingmans Dome. There was a good crowd of people but the least amount I have seen while being there. License plates from so many states. We took pictures and looked around a bit. I am unable to climb up to the observation point but Roy told me his best pictures he took last year came from the view in the parking lot. One of the park employees mentioned the construction going on as you came to the TN side of the road. We made a stop at Newfound Gap and then headed toward The Cherokee Grill. Our delay due to construction wasn't too bad. Our timing was good so that we were moving just after a few minutes of waiting. Since our time hadn't been eaten up by waiting, we were able to get to the Sugarlands Visitor Center to look around. It has always been too crowded to go there. Found a few more national park shopping treasures and then we were off for a delicious meal. We were not disappointed! We both did the steak, salad and potato thing and we split a blackberry cobbler. Yummy. Our waiter was such a joy and from Iota La. He'd say bet you don't know where that is and I had to remind him that one of the ways to get to TN or NC is on I 10, through Louisiana. His name is Byron, ask for him if you eat at the grill. You will be entertained and delighted. The skies were graying up when we left to return home and by the look of the radar, everything was heading north as we headed south. We encountered rain and that dampened our plans to taking sunset pictures along the way home. High School came up in our conversation and I totally missed getting on the Smoky Mountain Expressway but with the help of Google Girl, we found our way back but we did see some scenic landscapes and for me an old bridge. Note to self, bring Roy back so he can take pictures of the bridge. 

Once home, we caught up with our honeys and watched the rain. It is good we have some easing into the day this morning. We have been on the go since Beth arrived. We went to Stoney Knob for lunch on Wednesday and did the Marshall shopping trip but we came home empty handed. We took a drive toward Big Sandy Mush and stopped at Payne's Chapel for photo ops. With all the convertible riding all that fresh air makes for good sleeping. 

I'll have to wait till next week to get the results from Buddy's bloodwork. The message didn't sound urgent but more so to be informative. I am happy to see Buddy moving better and getting back into her cranky meows and way. 

 

I love listening to Beth's adventures as she sails around the country and the world. We pick up just as if no time had happened and we had just seen each other the day before. We met in sixth grade, went to different junior high schools and then met once again in high school. We seen and experienced a lot of life both together and apart but that friendship bond is forever sealed. We are still silly but we are more serious and provoked with deep thoughts and ideas. Adventures with Beth, exciting for me but probably rather calm for her. 

Beth wanted to hear Lisa P sing, so Lisa and the HFBC choir accompanied us through the park. Lisa introduced me to The Cherokee Grill and we sat just one table away from where she and I sat in 2019 before all the Covid junk. 

Well, I think I need some toast. Until a later catch up.....

Gifts

 As we get closer to closing on the house, the stress level rises just a bit. This morning, I am realizing just how much stress Roy has saved me from in the past few weeks. It feels so much longer than that, but it is really just at three weeks. Looks like the estate sale is going well and Peggy said there was a good turnout yesterday. With the forecast of rain today and tomorrow, who knows what it will look like.

The dreaded vet appointment for Buddy was this morning for her steroid shot and for a mani/pedi. Her last few visits have been tame, well tame to Buddy standards. She yowled the whole trip there so the hope was it would wear her out. They were able to get the shot into her and all nails were trimmed. She behaved well enough for a quick stop at the gas station and we returned home. For me it was a quick stop just to pick up power of attorney papers that Roy had sent me. Getting that notarized was the last thing on my list of to dos today. I went to the bank and the notary was tied up with a client until 4:00. They told me the UPS store had one, so across the street I went. Got that thing notarized, signed and ready to roll. A fun encounter came about because of the tshirt I have on today. It is a drawing of an old general store from the Pensacola area of the mountains near Burnsville. The young man helping me asked if I lived in that area cause his family has been there for generations. No, bought it at Christi's Crafts...she happens to be his cousin. I have to tell you I was not happy that I had to go over to the UPS store but it worked out because it saved me a stop at the Post Office....well, I did stop at the Post Office to pick up mail. You have to love this, our Post Office is closed 11:30-1:30 for lunch. But I am getting ahead in the story. Sometimes when I am feeling a little stressed, whether real or imagined, something cool, something fruity seems to be a thing to assuaged that irritable rustle inside of me. Since Publix is right there close by UPS and because they have their cut up watermelon on sale, it seemed to be the thing to do. Also got some of their pinwheel sandwiches that I have just discovered. Oh, and carbonated cranberry juice. It was busy, but just not Insta Cart busy, just people getting ready for the weekend. I was on my way to the express lane, ten items or less, and a woman, with a full cart maneuvers her way in front of me and for a little second, I was not happy...just another thing to a morning that has been emotionally stressful with Buddy and with the whole notary thing. There was that part of me that wanted to be such a jerk and count out loud every time she put something on the conveyer belt but, thank the Lord, He got my attention and I didn't act out on feeling. Again, this is such trivial stuff but irritation seemed be just below the surface on the stuff that had to be done. On the way home I stopped in at the Post Office. It had been a while since I had picked up mail. A tower of mail almost touching the top of the box welcomed me. I got it all out and onto the table to sort through it and get it into a manageable mess. In all the advertisements and offers a blue envelope caught my eye...could it be personal mail or just another ad trying to get attention. No! Oh Happy Day! It was personal mail from my friend Betty R. A thick blue envelope. Usually, I wait to get home to open up a letter but the joy couldn't wait. What a treasure Betty is and what a treasure she sent, beautiful post cards of art that her friend from east TN had painted. Marion Cook. Old barns and houses from the Goodlettsville TN area. They are beautiful! A letter from a friend and post cards! What a gift, yes from Betty, but from the Lord. On the day I needed to be reminded that the small irritations of life should not cloud my vision, the timing was perfect for this encouragement. The tone was set for the rest of the day, thankfully. When I was talking with Roy last night and telling him this story, he said, I must be a bad husband because I didn't sense you were upset or mad. Well, I wasn't mad but maybe whiny and immature and thank you Roy for overlooking that. 

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I am realizing that a year of pandemic social distancing and just doing the necessary cleaning around the house, dust builds up where you least expect it or forgot about expecting it. Today I will dust all around the door frames, If anyone collects dust I have a goodly amount to donate to you, for free. I have never been a neat-nic nor a perfectionist. My thoughts have leaned toward having fun and let the housework be danged. I know a lot of people who have spotless homes and that is fabulous. Maybe they have help, both hired and family, who knows? But I know when a book gets my attention, I'd rather be reading than waxing the floors. Why have botanical prints when one can grow things like that in dust....okay I kid, that has never happened but it makes me laugh. When the weather is beautiful and it is a delight to be outside, well, that's where I'd rather be than cleaning out crumbs from under the toaster. 

Roy heard from Bill and the sale went well, with just a few things left that nobody wants, well except for maybe me at one time. Happy trip to Goodwill!  Also, all the clothes that are too big for Roy will find a home at Goodwill or Katy Christian Ministries. I don't think this is attributed to godly wisdom but more so just getting old. The amount of stuff one acquires in life is ridiculous. 

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The update this morning is, Buddy. I don't know if she is succumbing to old age or if she has had an adverse reaction to her steroid shot. She was lethargic and listless all day. Toward evening she chose odd places to sit and rest. I was on the phone with Roy and looked over at her, and her positioning made her to appear lifeless. Whew, she hadn't passed on. She didn't hang around me like usual last night but did come in and do a check in from time to time. When I went to bed, I put her in it and she crawled next to me, nestling in on my right arm as per usual. I could feel the soft purring and the small twitches as her muscles relaxed. Then I felt it, a complete release of her body. I jumped, yes really, jumped out of bed, put on my glasses and turned on the light. She was there all curled up with glazed over eyes. It didn't look as if she was breathing. I put my hand on her side, with thoughts racing through my mind of what to do next. I had Googled symptoms and the things to do. I figured to call the emergency vet clinic that I took Strawyer to, so they would cremate her. Buddy stirred, she came out of her stupor...so thus began the night watch with Buddy. We went downstairs and back upstairs and finally settled in the bonus room. I watched her breath. I began writing about Buddy and the gift she has been. About 3:30 am she got off the comfy blanket and headed downstairs. I had already shut the doors to two bedrooms because if she went in them to pass away alone, I would have a difficult time getting her out from under the beds. Of course I had been praying for her and when she went downstairs I decided to return to bed and leave it all in God's hands. Buddy clearly doesn't like to be stalked. About twenty minutes later, this weak meow came from the hall. She entered and sat by the bed and I put her in it and we slept till around 5:00 am. She left around 6:00 am to go to her favorite chair downstairs. That is where I found her, waiting on me, not so much for treats like always but for our morning ritual of me drinking coffee and Buddy in my lap. Right now she is in the upstairs front room with the huge window, sleeping in her bed that is right there by the window and all the sunshine pouring in. In the past few years Buddy has had several bouts of near death, but this one was the closest ever. If cats truly have nine lives, she is down to her last one or two. 

It was a later time than usual to feed the Feral Fam and while Buddy slept, I quietly went about the business of getting them fed and ready for the day. Saw something rather cute this morning when I looked out the bonus room window. The planter chairs that they love have been moved to a shady spot in the yard. Boodos and Junioretta were sitting there, taking in the cool of the day. HP wasn't around for breakfast but she was looking through the fence when I came back into the house. So, quietly I opened the back porch door and let her in for morning treats. Then quietly let her back out as not to arouse Buddy and her dislike of the Feral Fam. 

A little rustling and Buddy is in the hall. We shall see where she goes next. I did open up the bedroom that has her favorite perch on the bed, of course looking out the window. It's like a friend said, it is cat TV.

The gifts I have received in the past few days, in the ordinary and the difficult are duly noted by this sometimes irritated, hopefully won't act out on thoughts with the desire that the thoughts of counting or saying something stupid at the bank won't even come into my head. Guess I need to Romans 12:1-2 it more. 

Feral Fam and Billy

 Baffling, that there is tons of dog food but cat food is on a short supply. I order from Chewy but even they have backordered items. I supplement the order by checking the grocery store shelves and pick up a few cans now and then. The Feral Fam is just like every other cat, they like something so I buy it and then they turn their nose up at it and find another favorite. With the Feral Fam in the garage so much of the time, it provides a close up look at interactions and hissing fits and pure or should that be purr love. This group is made up more by being cousins than siblings. Boodos, still has a limp and isn't as agile. Yesterday, HP went over to him, laid beside him and licked his head for a solid five minutes. Junior cuddles up with him during the day and that is something because Junior has been out and about looking for his territory. Junioretta is nice to Boodos but she's rather a self centered cat, so at least she has some compassion. Mama Cat and Punky seem to be mortal enemies again. There had been some kind of cat truce, but that is over. Camo showed up yesterday and while I tried to get a bowl of food to her, Punky and Mama Cat joined forces trying to make that an impossible task to feed Camo, then they defaulted back to war...what is it good for? HP and Punky have a good bond which in now including Biggio. Watching these dynamics play out, they are top cat for just a while and then, even at the young age of four years, are deemed the old and useless by other cats. Camo used to take control of it all but now she cowers at the presence of Punky and Mama Cat.  It is sad that Radley and Bobbsey haven't been around lately. Come to think of it Boo and Bootrey aren't hanging around as much. Bootrey has been here this week though. 

It feels like maybe the gasoline situation might be settling down some. Several stations I passed looked to have gas and not huge long lines. I wasn't out to get a fill up but to go to the grocery stores and then to TJs for strawberries and plants. It was a good day. Going with my plans of every other day doing all the heavy lifting and work, today was a non outside kind of day. Been working inside though getting ready for my friend Beth's visit. 

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Saw Bootrey last night in the garage, so that is good news. As for Punky's kittens, I haven't a clue where they are. She brought them down on that rainy day and moved them once the skies cleared. 

It feels like we might be moving back to our regular classes for Sunday School. No confirmation but it just feels that way. I've been praying and thinking about that day and if we will use the quarterly options or teach from a book or on a subject. Seriously considering Women of the Bible. Reading a couple of books that have spiked my interest into more study. 

Last night I watched American Experience again on PBS. We get like four or five PBS stations from the NC area. Billy Graham was the subject and whether he started the religious right and nationalism. Lots of scholars on the program but I read an article this morning by the reporter that covered Billy Graham for the Charlotte newspaper, back in the day. He felt it was a good analysis of the good and the mistakes, i.e. Nixon, Billy made but he added the documentary should have included more interviews of people, everyday people, that Billy's life and ministry touched. I agree. It had never occurred to me that there was an underlying ambition to influence politicians by him. It felt like it was just a part of the territory. The day Billy Grahams death was announced, I happened to be in a local diner having breakfast. The background music was a hard rock station but when they announced his passing on that station and people from all facets of life were eating together in that diner, the station announcers and us as just people eating breakfast gave such respect for this man of God. 

Just heard some kind of ruckus in the garage, so I better go check on everyone. Probably Mama Cat and Punky got into it again. 

Cool Days in the Mountains

 The strangest thing last night. I had finished up writing my blog post and when I tried to copy the address for FB, a message came up that I was trying to phish. What? Guess I was in Google jail. I was trying to figure out what I said that made them think that. So, I filled out the form telling them why I wasn't a dangerous site. This morning, they must have agreed cause they allowed me access to Monablog and we are all happy together once again. 

That gorilla yard cart was one really good purchase! I took another load of two bags of potting soil mixed with compost down to the container garden and bada bing bada boom, it was ready for zinnias. Got those planted and watered. It was a good stopping point, so that's what I did. With the heavy lifting and moving of dirt, I think the smart thing to do is, work on that every other day as to not hurt my back. Believe me, there is enough other stuff to keep me occupied. 

Roy is at the Toyota dealership getting a light on his car fixed but he is looking through their offerings and he likes the Tacoma truck. We had heard there wasn't much headroom, but he says its a good fit. 

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It's Tuesday and the plans are to stick around the house and finish up a couple of projects. My dentist appointment went well yesterday morning and soon I will have another implant completed with a crowning. He found a fixable right then and there problem with the tooth that is next to the implant crown, had the impression and I was on my way. 

After the dentist, I did something I have not done since last year, I went into a Target. Not really a stop I wanted to make but dang, they carry a product that I find difficult to find elsewhere with as good as quality as Target. Funny thing, my usual habit pre-Covid had been meandering around the store, looking in all my favorite departments...I pretty much shopped what I came for, got a few other necessities and headed out the door. At least they did away with the pre-line to be in to be assigned a checkout lane. I hated that and never understood its relevance. Well, outside of a need to control. 

Stopped at Ingles for a few groceries and saw that they had a couple of their pumps open for gasoline. Not in dire straights needing gas but I considered getting in line. Looked at Gas Buddy and saw that maybe the Exxon station I like had gas. Y'all, I approached the station and there were cars but there was an open pump. No line, nothing. Filled up Mustang Sam and by the time I finished, there was a line and a little confusion in the lot. Wow! I was pretty dang excited to go that without a long wait or see people getting into fights over the lines and gasoline. 

Over the weekend I had been putting stuff for the yard sale at church in the truck and once I returned home, it was off to church. Here is the surprising thing, I was the first to bring stuff and it was Monday afternoon, after 2:00. I probably have a few more things to take over later this week. 

Sunday afternoon and evening for background noise, The Titans of the 20th Century played on. While my attention span is limited for some reason, well more so than usual, I would pick up key points here and there. They looked at the time after WWI and went through the years profiling world leaders and placing the events that began the rumblings and sure journey to WWII. I had never seen anything like this. This history buff found it so interesting. This afternoon with my late lunch I watched a PBS thing on Elizebeth Smith Friedman, The Code Breaker. Fascinating. 

Today, I planted flowers, pulled the never ending supply of weeds and weed like vines, and watered. No rain for the foreseeable future. I have to take water to the plum trees because they are out of hose distance. We lost both of the plum trees that were here when we bought the house and I felt it to be a good thing to plant two more, mainly in memory of my Grandma B. She had plum trees and I helped her make plum jelly in the summers. I need to get the dahlias in the ground and do another round of sunflowers. I also worked on the dead hydrangea but I think I am going to have to call in the professionals to get it out of the ground. 

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Well, I didn't finish this up like I had planned but will do so this morning. Buddy has been treated and she is napping. The Feral Fam is eating breakfast and that sounds like a good idea for me. I am using the last container of Bailey's Irish Creamer and since they don't make it anymore....I'll have to resort to the real thing...no not really...well???? No, but I did see a recipe to make it. Another challenge in the kitchen. So for now, my post is done. The sun is out and grocery shopping awaits. 

Planting, Clarifying and Moonstruck

 Excitement has ruled the morning and it isn't even 8:30 am. It seems like the temps didn't dip as low as forecasted but if I hadn't gone out there and covered up and moved plants, it would have. The first thing I did once arriving downstairs, sleepy eyed is feed the Feral Fam. Even though it didn't get as cold as they said, I gave them extra food last night to keep them warm. Radley was in attendance after a three day absence and he quickly made his way to his special spot where I give him a dish of food just for his highness. He wolfed that down while I was preparing the dishes for the other cats...well, I fixed HP her dish, then the other cats. Radley let me pet him this morning before he made his fateful move. He wanted more food and he climbed up to where the bowls are and as he climbed his fur attached itself to the sticky fly trap. There was a whole lot of shaking going on! I tried to calm him but a wild cat goes with its instinct as he ran out of the garage. He did get that thing off of him in a second but now he equates the sticky fly trap with me, so he kept his distance. Hopefully, he will come around to letting me pet his head again. Saw the newbies out playing in the back under the close watch of Punky. They have a lot of pent up kitten energy from being rather docile yesterday because of the rain and the cold. 

Roy called this morning and Peggy had texted him that he left some of his diplomas at the house. He is going that way this evening with several things he has reconsidered keeping and to pick up the previously mentioned diplomas and he realized he left the attachments for the vacuum cleaner behind. I think he is coming to understand all the pre-work I did before each of our moves and a deeper appreciation of all the prep work that needs to be done. 

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I finished the gorilla cart but went to Ace to get longer screws for the dumping mechanism. I also made one more stop at Reems Creek for another flat of zinnias and two shrubs to take the place of the dead hydrangea. While in the neighborhood, I looked at galvanized fire rings to use as a container garden. Still thinking about it but have enough work to do to keep me busy for quite sometime. Right now that seems to be the key to keeping me off the roads not only to help Covid, but now because of the shutdown of the Colonial Pipeline. It went back online Wednesday evening but they are saying it might take a week or two to return to normal. Also, I am trying to conserve in case it is not back to normal because my long time friend, Beth, is coming to spend some time with me. She lives such an adventuresome life, always has, and she is on a sailing trip and will be docked at Charleston. So she is coming up this way for several days. 

Recently, I wrote about culling out possessions and that mainly the things going out to be enjoyed by someone else were things I bought in anticipation of guests here at the house. In hindsight I wasn't very clear in writing about that. Years ago, I read an essay by a woman who contemplated how she packed for trips. She said she brought clothes, like lounging pajamas, because she thought she would be someone different on her trip. She never wore these things cause she did her default, of just wearing what she had on till it was time for her to get dressed to go out or whatever. So even though there was a time I entertained and had people over, it was over forty years ago, when we moved me up here, I didn't become the hostess with the mostest, because that's not me. Like I was thinking that we would have so many come visit, I bought extra everyday stuff to accommodate the crowds. With the exception of silverware and dishes, everything else has gone to new homes. And the truth still is, one has to be pretty self reliant if one is staying with me more than one or two nights... 

Once the rain stopped the other day, Punky took the kitties up to the gravel road. She sure was keeping an eye on me and she had them run to the cleft of the rock when I came too near for her comfort level. Mike the Mower Man mowed yesterday with his last bit of gasoline. He did our yard and Mary Joyce's. I emailed him last night cause I found a wasp nest in the ground and usually the cure is gasoline...which...is in short supply. For now my plan is to stay away cause wasps are in a continual bad mood, even when they might seem happy. 

I have worked outside planting flowers and trying to tear out the dead hydrangea. Worked in the garage and did laundry. I have been busy all day and keeping an eye on the gas situation. Seems like more stations are getting a supply more than previously this week. 

And it seems to be a good time to stop and post. Moonstruck is on and it is one of my favorites. 

 

Just Another March Type Day in May

 Yesterday, a banner day for Roy. He bought a TV after work, I ordered his dishes, floor lamp, and two sets of sheets. He said the sheets on the double bed, the fitted sheet had lost its elasticity. He went through a few more boxes as he slowly gets his condo in order. From the look of things, it is coming along quite nicely. He is enjoying the shorter commute, that's for sure. Today, they hook up the Wifi. 

I spent the better part of yesterday morning attending to the gate and its wayward ways. It wouldn't close all the way and it wouldn't open all the way. I Googled the problem, tried to watch You Tube videos but when you cannot even figure out how to open the box with the controls, the videos are useless, I tells ya. After pondering said problem over a vitamin water, I decided to try one last attempt and it worked. Once that problem was tackled, it was onto shepherd hooks that had bent with the gusty wind. Fixed and while being on the fixit role, I put galvanized edging around the new trees. Since it was so sunny and a pleasure to be outdoors, I planted marigolds and some border plants. To end the outdoors kind of day, I got out the Irish Spring and placed it around the garage because squirrels, raccoons and their ilk, don't like the fragrance of Irish Spring. Happy to report that it worked because I didn't see any evidence of raccoons this morning. The Feral Fam just looked so contented in their corner and didn't have the heart to make them go out for the night, which they probably did after it got really dark. 

Looking back at last year and how I approached what everyone said would be the norm, concerning groceries, I would approach it differently today. I hate to admit it, but there was some panic buying. As I rearranged the pantry, I have enough soup to endure several winters, but can't because most of the expiration dates are 2022. There is an abundance of pinto beans in the pantry but that is due to the fact I was making a lot of taco soup and I still make taco soup, so those will be used before any expiration happens. Hmmm...soup seems to be a theme. The timing of the Colonial Pipeline due to a cyberattack with the opening up of the state just seems sad. People are wanting to get out, restaurants are full, but now you cannot find gasoline to get you to any of the places you want to be. It's reminding me of those long ago Bugs Bunny cartoons made during WWII, and the question asked, "is this trip necessary?" That's what I am thinking as I debate errands. Should I wait until I can do them all in one day? Bur really, it feels like the same amount of gasoline would be consumed whether it is an all day or a two day thing. 

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A rainy morning here. I decided yesterday to get out and run errands. First stop, Lowe's for a gorilla yard cart. Then Reems Creek cause I figured they would have zinnias. Yes and I also bought a flat of cosmos. Big Lots, next stop to get a new trash can for the garage, it locks...to deter the raccoons who haven't been back since everything they might be interested in is inaccessible. Irish Spring is the wonderful fragrance of the garage. Publix for groceries and Ingles for some of their Chinese food which is surprisingly good. I started working on putting the gorilla cart together in the late afternoon. It has been relatively easy but cumbersome to get the nuts and bolts tightened. All that is left to do is attaching the handle and the mechanism to be able to dump the contents of the cart in one spot. Meanwhile back at the ranch, Roy couldn't get the WiFi to work on his computer. TV and phone worked. So he figured his computer might be in a dead spot and he was right. So he rearranged the furniture and got his computer working on WiFi. He is a happy camper. His floor lamp was delivered yesterday and his dishes should be there today. 

It feels somewhat strange letting so much go since selling the house. In some ways it is a blessing not to have to deal with everything because one of us has to go to assisted living. No doubt we still have plenty of stuff here and I do a lot of work culling out things that no longer seem relevant or like the book says, brings joy. When we first moved here I bought a lot of things in anticipation of having guests and I still have some of that stuff, but most of it has moved on. The reality of the matter is, it is kind of like traveling for me. I don't like to travel much but I like the accessories that go along with travel. 

This morning Punky introduced her babies to the backyard. She has four of them which considering her last two litters of six and seven, this is small. Two black and whites, one white and black and one orange and white. It has been a year since any kittens have been born. The rest of the Feral Fam are in the garage, napping in the corner. Yesterday, Bootrey was looking after Boodos. Boodos suffered a several months ago hip injury and has been slowly but surely recovering. He spends a lot of time in the garage and Bootrey came up to him and began licking his back legs, cleaning him up. It brought a tear to my eye watching these two and having to do so from a distance. 

I cannot believe that I have to cover up flowers and such tonight because of a frost advisory. For sure I will get the blackberries covered up and a few other things. I'll move some into the front porch as well. My poor hydrangea this will be the fourth time trying to come back from frost and freeze. The one on the end sure looks dead and I will get it cleared out to put in something else, but don't know yet what I'll get. It feels like March in May today. I'm glad I didn't take the electric blanket off the bed. 

From There to Here While Gardening

 Today is a big day on the journey, adventure, quest, sojourn, odyssey, pilgrimage and expedition of getting Roy from there to here... He has sorted through and made his decisions on what to keep, thank goodness the tables are staying, as the movers move him to the condo. Even this morning he made his final decision on which mirror was going to accompany him and happily, I think he made the best choice based on movability, weight and the final decision long length mirror will fit in here perfectly. It is always about the big picture, even with mirrors. 

I don't think the Feral Fam use the garage at night unless it is raining and I do believe with their absence at night, a raccoon has come in, knocked over the garbage can and my goodness, created an opening in a hard plastic container with treats. I hate to do this, but the garage door is coming all the way down beginning tonight. It is also coyote season, but if the cats are wandering about all night and not using the garage, they know the hidey holes and places around here. Radley was back this morning and he was starving. 

The movers are in Katy and Roy says there are moving fast. He had it really organized, so I know that helps. Our new screen door for here, was delivered but the installer didn't like how the door looked, so he is taking it back and having a new one ordered. I had just gotten home from filling up the truck. He had called Roy, Roy calls me to let me know that Ron was at the gate. So the morning has been eventful and cool. It is still pretty cool out for a May morning. There is more work to be done but I need a little warmth to help me along the way. 

Colonial Pipeline is shutdown and that means gasoline here on the east coast will be at a premium. Got word out to friends here, go fill up those cars and trucks. Roy said this morning, it could be a while before the pipeline flows again. Emergency action for trucking the liquid gold from Houston refineries has been enacted. Oh Colonial, you make life so interesting and not in a good way. 

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It was a foggy overcast morning...in May, so this fog doesn't count for snow in the winter. I think we got rain last night. I let the Feral Fam stay in the garage but put up everything in containers that would be tempting to a raccoon. Rocky came last night, but found nothing to eat. In protest, he knocked a few spray paint cans off the shelf. Everyone was in attendance for breakfast with HP being a late comer this morning. Mama Cat and Punky are sitting on rocks in the backyard right now. I mentioned to a friend it has been a year without kittens and she said, oh Nancy, you shouldn't have said that. With Punky and Mama Cat camping out in the back this morning, me thinks there might be kittens in the future as they are there staking out territory and they don't get along and begin hissing fights at the dinner table. We shall see. If there are kittens, Punky's would be almost 5-6 weeks and as a rule she has brought them into the backyard around 4 weeks old. So, we shall see. 

Saturday I did a lot of planting and working in of soil. My neighbors gave me a pile of....compost and I said it was my Mother's Day gift. That horse manure works wonders in the garden. I did a little weed eating as well. By Saturday night I was pooped...wasn't that a great reference to compost. I also went to TJs as a new shipment of plants had arrived. Beautiful day for a drive, so I took the Mustang. Let's just say I improvised getting everything home. I have no shame, cause I drove down one of the wealthiest streets in Houston in a convertible, with two big rolls of area rugs sticking up out of the backseat. Cue Beverly Hillbillies music. The saying here is when one becomes a good improviser, one is truly Appalachian and one crusty, mountain woman said to me as we loaded up Mustang Sam, that's some good improvisation and to me that makes me officially an Appalachian (by choice.) 

While Saturday was for gardening here, Saturday was for moving in Houston. The movers gave Roy a great compliment by asking if he was military, due to his organizational skills. Once Roy had settled in to begin the task of setting up his new abode, he Google Duo called to show me how he had arranged the furniture. No one should fear that Roy will go into the designer business once he retires. So we rearranged the living room by phone. He had his sunroom set up rather nicely and we did a rearrange of some small things in the bedroom. Technology has been so helpful. Even with the task of putting things away, setting up new routines and the like, he sounds so relieved not to do the commute from Katy anymore. At one point as he sorted and we talked he decided he would get rid of a couple of emergency items for power outages. I reminded him, you have no generator now, so you might want to keep a couple of things. The good thing is, BW is on the grid with an assisted living high rise and will get power back quicker than when we lived on Post Oak Lane. 

I really thought Roy would opt on Post Oak Lane living. He was looking at first floor condos, knows the ins and outs after we lived there nearly 18 years. But then I think he needed a different mindset to finish out living in Houston. He also has a direct entrance to the freeway and can come home the scenic way through the park. 

These past two weeks have been jammed packed and at times overwhelming. Yesterday, in Sunday School, we were studying The Lord's Prayer and getting ready to go into the parable after it. Such a good lesson, but in the midst of hearing about prayer, the thought came to mind how we had been praying asking the Lord for wisdom in all of this. A random phone call from a Keller Williams agent while Roy was here and I was kind of upset that he answered an unknown number. That call got us to thinking and moving so to speak. We contacted Ryan and as they say, the rest is history. That small irritating and interrupting call was what God used. I try to mindful of the everyday ordinary that are really miracles and wonderment from and to the Lord. God used Keller Williams, and what is so funny is the agent was more interested in what we were going to do for a living place if we decided to sell our home. 

The wind really gusted in the early evening hours last night and one of the shepherd hooks is leaning with the bougainvillea, so I better get out there and take care of that. Buddy is asleep in her window and I'm getting ready to don my gardening togs.  

Working Day and Night

 Oh the joy that can't be beat, but a dead blue jay on the steps for my feet. I thought it was one of many toys, but I'm glad I looked, oh the joy. Feathers strewn about the floor so before serving breakfast I did the chore. Mr. Blue Jay is hidden deep in decorative grass by the trees, but I bet soon enough he'll find his way back on the steps, no, please! 

Talked with Roy this morning briefly as he is loading the car to make a trip to the condo. He is working hard, but still hasn't found his wedding ring. Told him, if we don't find it, we will have to get another one soon enough, because he can't be moving into a condo without a ring, so to speak. His ring didn't fit anymore because of the weight he lost. We feel like it fell off and we are hopeful it fell someplace where we will find it.

Roy arrived at the condo, got his PO Box key, his key to the gate to be able to walk to church and he does have a storage unit...but we will see on how that progresses. He made the huge decision and sacrifice to sell his Trek three wheeler bike. I am proud of him and not so miffed about his vacillating table decisions. When we talked last night I reminded him it is the memories of researching and buying, outfitting the bike and his long rides along the lakes and trail in Rancho De Five. I think that way with certain things we have bought especially in the last ten years. The fun was the pursuit and design and then the joy that they brought. I am leaving behind all the roses I planted right after my mom passed away. They are thriving but it wasn't the roses, it was the thought of honoring her. Now, here in the mountains, I honor her every time I plant something or map out a flowerbed and design. I read the other day that formal gardens are out now which is good for me cause I kind of throw caution to the wind when planting different things.  

It was a grocery shopping day and then I finished out the afternoon planting a plum tree and then putting together a raised garden deal. Have one more to put together and hopefully I will get that done tomorrow and it will go faster since I have put one together. 

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This morning the greeting of the Feral Fam, knocked over garbage can. It only prolonged their not getting served breakfast. Tumped can is better than dead bird on the steps of the back door. Think everyone but Radley was in attendance. He must be on another one of his benders. Just a few little showers this morning, this cool morning. After I get back from the post office, I will begin working once again getting things planted and sorted. The temps will be cooler today, so that is always helpful. I was looking back at FB memories and noticed I called either Nathan or Mike to plant things in years past. Then last year, staying home to flatten the curve or straighten the line or whatever it was called, I discovered I could dig holes and plant things. Also, due to the fact I was having extensive and expensive dental work, the budget had to be modified someplace and landscaping labor was the obvious choice for me. Now, when I read books about hard scrabble living in Appalachia, I can identify with all the rocks in the dirt that have to be sorted and moved. 

Well, the other plum tree has been planted, set out some phlox, planted snap dragons, moved the raised container bed, planted some shade loving flowers and weed eated. I'm pooped. 

Roy just called and he found his wedding band in the bathroom on the rug by his sink. Praise the Lord! We hadn't forgotten to ask the Lord to show him where it was. Roy thought it might have slipped off his finger when he had to get out of the car and adjust some empty boxes he was bringing home. Whew, he found it! Praise the Lord! 

Wednesday Night Wonders

 An overcast sky with a bit of fog greets us this morning. The chance of rain hangs in the air with the only surprise being, when will it actually begin to rain? With this very type of afternoon setting yesterday, I was able to get the service berry tree planted, along with two driftwood rose bushes. I began a cleaning project in the garage and finally, sound the trumpets, I got the winter blankets laundered and folded and put away until the fall. 

Roy's progress is just that, progress. He is getting things sorted and ready for the movers. We keep having this recurring conversation about the two chests/nightstands in our bedroom. He has said they go, no they stay, no really they should go, and then a version of stay...as he discussed his plans for them in the condo. What? I thought we had this settled, not to take them. Today, our status is not to take them, but that could change by the afternoon. And then I will have to make sure they go back to the stay category. 

This morning most of the Feral Fam were around for breakfast. Boodos is getting braver by coming near me. Of course the allure is food, but I'll take it. Punky was here this morning and she seems friendlier with the fam, well except for when Mama Cat is around. She still doesn't tolerate Junioretta well, but she has stopped "jawing" with Biggio and Baby. It is interesting to watch HP with the group. What her role is developing into. Biggio and Baby love her and she loves them. She really is Hector Protector looking after them. Those cats were sound asleep and HP, was leaning over, licking and cleaning their heads as they slept. 

The rain is here and it has been here for about an hour accompanied by some thunder and lightning. Rain, good, don't like the thunder and lightning. Ugh! Right now it is not too close. With stuff to be done, the rain makes me want to sit and read and nap. Started a good book on Sunday, The Kitchen Front. 

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Looks like a great day to work in the yard and flowerbeds. Just got off the phone with Roy. We Zoomed last night going over the bookcases in his study. We both let books go that we have moved about with us for some time. We also found a couple of books that I thought for sure would be in the guest bedroom, so that makes me happy. My friend S said on FB that the thought of doing everything concerning a move is overwhelming. Yes, it is and she also said it is probably easier work with a hubby helping. That's true but if Roy and I have another conversation about the tables by the bed or the ones in the living room, I might just scream. Just when I think he has that settled in his mind, we discuss the pros and cons again...again...again...again. There is a reference in the Bible that God becomes the husband of the widow, which S is. God wouldn't be double minded on those tables. He'd have it written down on tablets, here is the following things that will be moved. World without end, Amen. 

Looks like another Zoom night with Roy as we look through some décor. It is a lot less dizzy with Zoom. 

Today, I have worked outside mostly. Mike the Mower Man was here and he got all the spent tulips cut back and also got the backyard with the weed eater. Before he arrived, I dug two holes while the temps were cool and the ground wet for the plum trees. I haven't planted them yet but have compost and fresh soil in both of the holes. Ducketts had some flowers that are a hybrid of zinnias and daisies and their names escapes me right now, but got some of those transplanted. I pulled weeds and then put out some perennial wildflower seeds. While doing all of this, I nearly dropped trou several times wearing my camo capris.I found a clip and used that at the waist to help keep those babies up. Once they are washed, they are going to Goodwill.   

Just got off our Zoom and Google calls. Pray for Roy. He has his hands full and in the midst of all this, he has lost his wedding ring. 

Move, Moving...Getting Close to Moved

 For just a week of time, this past week has felt like one of the longest weeks ever. We were waiting on the house inspection results, Roy finding a condo and the process involved with it, deciding on what comes with us and what is left behind for the estate sale and all the details in and out of the selling and moving process. They sent the inspection report and what they found is so minor. Roy offered a $1000.00 and a ten foot ladder. 😊 They countered with $1500.00 and no mention of the ladder, so Roy is all...no ladder for you... (Seinfeld reference) He was also going to leave the TVs for them, but those are off the table so to speak... They even sent a second AC inspector and Roy being the detailed person that he is, has kept everything maintained and serviced. That's why some of the inspection report seemed a little picky. No matter, we said fine and moved on. 

Roy began taking things over to his condo on Saturday, in all the rain. He has met a couple of the neighbors and we or I know a few people that live there. Roy did the Google Duo tour for me and while it is a one bedroom one bath condo, it is rather spacious. Oh, I just sounded like someone on House Hunters. The balcony is enclosed and sliding doors on barn door hardware. That will make a nice area for his recumbent bike.  My moving recommendations for him have been, use the dining room area for his desk, printer and file cabinet because his kitchen table and chairs are really small and could go anywhere in the living room area. He is not taking couches but just a recliner and two wing back chairs. Also the bookcases we had made from the Amish Craftsman store, I think. Also, this just in, I think Roy has had the come to Jesus moment over some of the furniture, yahoo and it will make for an easier move for him. This is so difficult doing this long distance...but we are coming to the right decisions. He and I make a good team, he is a plan man and detail oriented. Whereas, I am a big picture person, with a lot of common sense and in the big picture, make the tough decisions now and not later. We are parting with things and it is just that, things, that have good memories associated with them. The process of buying and furnishing our Katy home was so fun and enjoyable but those things don't translate well now. Roy was surprised about our china, cause I said let it go...we have used it maybe twice...it looks like china a 22 year old picked out, cause a 22 year old did, and we have not used it since we lived in the townhouse and when we moved from the condo, we gave away the china hutch. So these dishes have been sitting in the island cabinet for ten years now, not seeing the light of day. 

The thought occurred that we have almost come full circle. Our married life began in a small, dark, one bedroom apartment. When you're young you can find friends that will help you move for the promise of pizza and Dr Pepper. We moved around apartments like it was nothing, cause we had nothing. You know we bought used furniture from a friend for the living room, the dinette set and wicker chairs from college days. As we matured...haha... we added to the menagerie of rejects and discards from others, then we gave away those early days possessions. Now, we have all the things we desired and how we wanted to furnish a home and we are moving on from those things, really desiring to have less and less cause it just encumbers life. We always joked that Roy had brought to our marriage, a broken down TV set, one good knife, and a bar stool. He lived in an apartment that was furnished. He also bought a car that nearly broke us from nothing to less than nothing cause it was being repaired constantly. Ah the lovely Toranado that the mechanic called a tornado cause it disrupted life something fierce. Now, though, the one bedroom condo is light and bright and we are furnishing it with our leftovers. The double bed that Roy has decided to use is the last piece of bedroom furniture in that early American style that my parents bought for their first owned home. The twin beds, nightstand and dresser have gone on to their reward, so just this piece. We didn't want it, didn't have room for it when my father brought it over to our home and left it saying, it's yours now. So we lugged that head and foot board around all these years, just to be used in the guest room. What my father had meant for evil back then, we had paid the price for selling a dresser and mirror he gave us, had been learned. But that evil has been turned to good and for such a time as this. Now how we will fit in a double bed these days? Roy said, heck, we'll get a room at the hotel next to the condos when you come to town. I like his way of thinking. 

Since discovering Google Duo I have also discovered after all these years of never getting motion sick or sick on rides, that maybe now, it could be possible. Roy moves that camera around so quickly I was feeling a little ill and told him I needed to get Dramamine for our next video call. He had decided to Zoom call cause the screen will be stabilized. We went though a bookcase of books that I knew would be the ones I want to keep. Gail Godwin, Ann Rivers Siddons, and Ellen Gilchrist books holding up the space. I'd like to reread some of them before turning them loose into the world. 

A note on the Feral Fam. Junioretta is back in heat again. Third time, hasn't been pregnant. Maybe she is sterile from all the inbreeding or maybe these male cats aren't getting the job done. They like to follow her around, of course. Biggio is friendly to me once again. We went through a hissing week. Hector Protector is helping me garden and usually comes to greet me. Bobbsey was here this week, so it is always nice for a visit. Radley has been catting around, so he is here about every other day. He is looking for food and then he sleeps for twenty four hours or so. Junior is out looking for his place in the world. He spends time in the tulips hiding to be able to get birds, but there isn't anything he can climb to be near them and of course that was done on purpose. 

Today, in the chaos of helping Roy and being at a distance, watching for a FedEx delivery that I have to sign for and cleaning out the garage, the calming image of those two deer on the gravel road above us is such a gift. What a lovely sight this morning. These are the first two deer I have seen near the house. Oh, I have seen a bobcat, a coyote, wood chucks, and the like, never deer. Our neighbor says they have seen a bear on their cameras but I am content with a Baylor Bear t-shirt and not seeing one in real life. 

Roy has movers coming on Saturday. Yay! I am breathing easier on that one. 

 

 

Outdoors is Calling And I Must Go

 I went to bed last night at 9:00 pm, not as an old person but as a person who is a little frazzled by things here and there. Hopefully, a little more gets settled down today. I've noticed since getting this mouth guard to wear at night, I do a lot of clenching of my jaw when I am awake. It is probably from having to find a different way than before to deal with things other than the way I did before 2008. My anger and smart alec mouth got me into deep waters, with the Lord and with others. Lot of apologizing and repenting going on back in the day. Being raised and taught that anger was the only good emotion to emote isn't an excuse but it did make working through these issues a little tougher. It feels like I have gone from anger to apathy. There are a lot of things I used to fight with and fight for, but now instead of the call to rally or fight, I'm more inclined to react with, well, if that is how you want it, so be it. Not talking about the good fight of faith, here. For example years ago I tried to keep up with friends from high school and college and really work to keep the friendship established and not let it be lost to distance and time and space for such things. Now, it is easier to keep in contact because of social media. That has become Pablum and it masks the need for relationship...you know cause we are Facebook friends now.  Facebook does provide good memories. Also, I had more time to devote to such efforts and maybe back then not so much by friends because of family and work. 

Maybe I am thinking this way in these days because we are in the process of deciding what to keep and what to pass along as we sell the house. Hopefully, I won't have tons of regret over some long loved furniture and accessories going on their merry way. Really, my thinking leans toward if I haven't missed it the last six years, then it shouldn't be difficult to let go, but in the back of my mind, I knew it was in Katy. 

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In this age of social and phone communication, Roy and I are using Google Duo. Roy has an Android phone so facetime is out. For a man who knows the ins and outs of computer programs, math and such beyond things for me, he could not figure out how to turn the screen toward things. Finally, when we got that figured out for him we began in earnest going through kitchen stuff and deciding what stays and what goes. It mainly is going which is good but oh those sentimental memories over some of those things. Like the first set of dishes and glasses I bought when I was in college and these clear bowls made out of glass like they make test tubes from. Beautiful presentation of any kind of soup. Roy has accumulated quite the collection of food storage containers. We have more mugs than I ever thought possible for two people and the amount of dishes designed for entertaining, wow, got used maybe once. 

Roy picks up the key to his condo he's renting at Bayou Woods this morning. He is really happy with his choice. At first he was leaning toward Post Oak Lane, but this condo has a view and he said the living room and bedroom are huge. I think we both feel good about getting that done and now he needs to be looking for movers. 

While Roy was recovering from the semi-mess the AC inspectors left at the house and Roy debated since they turned off the house surge protection, if he could just turn it back on, I was out mostly in Madison County buying plants. I have driven by The Farm Connection many times and being in the truck, with room for plants, I stopped. They had plants that everyone else has run out of, like phlox, blackberry bushes, service berry trees, plum trees...well, that is what I bought. I am truly excited over the service berry tree and the history it has in this area. They are a beautiful spring blooming tree and vibrant color in the fall. The one I bought is little but planting to hopefully see it to maturity but if not, it will be a joy for others. I also added to the flame azaleas we have already and two gardenia bushes. When I got home late afternoon, I went ahead and dug the hole for the gardenias and azaleas since it was cool and breezy. Had a fun conversation with a lady, about my age or so, as we looked over bedding plants. Had a great time talking about our planting plans. She was going to plants some veggies, but I have decided I am not responsible enough to plant veggies. The attention span gets me once again. When leaving the parking lot, she was two cars ahead of me and had ample opportunities to pull out onto the road. She did not and it was then I was glad we weren't really friends, cause her lack of spunk to get out onto the road would drive me up the wall.  

Just talked with Roy. He has loaded the car and is getting ready to head over to the condo to pick up the key, etc...  You can hear the relief in his voice. I wonder if he regrets not wanting me to try and get there to help him. We pray about it all and I do background work for him, like locating bubble wrap at Lowe's instead of making a trip into Costco and then over to Lowe's, and he is doing the leg work and packing so far. 

Well the outdoors is calling and I must go. Stopped in at Leicester Supply yesterday for more potting soil. At some point the inside of the house needs attention, but it is supposed to rain on Monday.