tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81049511177189661732024-02-20T19:18:38.984-05:00B.I. ReduxSecret Agent Womanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07564690116156754219noreply@blogger.comBlogger573125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8104951117718966173.post-51537901238538102942022-05-20T17:12:00.000-04:002022-05-20T17:12:31.381-04:00Bathrooms<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPSSFTxc36h_9xdIj1NQUV-bwbkwnKC7b_zY9SziVqLg9cD50PQPTRAcZTWUnA5BqntMs87x2YtkEMH9zu_D5ZajkhV9pqdroxbSMje2rt2LdKyq9Nt6ekq-OkxSgTq1O6Hz2OI7ZYOb9Er-v90LdblGg6KnzLmJiCxkcRWrdG-zFwe6MoPmPvBFx0/s4032/9E901D6B-E8E8-4DC2-9419-B86C213B4E94_1_201_a.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPSSFTxc36h_9xdIj1NQUV-bwbkwnKC7b_zY9SziVqLg9cD50PQPTRAcZTWUnA5BqntMs87x2YtkEMH9zu_D5ZajkhV9pqdroxbSMje2rt2LdKyq9Nt6ekq-OkxSgTq1O6Hz2OI7ZYOb9Er-v90LdblGg6KnzLmJiCxkcRWrdG-zFwe6MoPmPvBFx0/w400-h300/9E901D6B-E8E8-4DC2-9419-B86C213B4E94_1_201_a.heic" width="400" /></a></div>Where was I on the new house? How about the bathrooms? The main bathroom is the one with the shower, and is the bathroom that guests use. It all started with the mirror we found at a salvage place and just loved. We got a cool stone basin and bought a mango wood desk to turn into a bathroom vanity. I put up photos printed on metal of places we stayed in Ireland and Iceland because they make me happy every time I look at them.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh7Ou487qXIL5JWq9GIEt524Nt10YJe_59T3S9Flpr5cvPzSO1WZNL4bq6C_a_f5VX8WMAh6uJZybWbyuMbFTKw9u694K7y2eoI0VQAoSaSJJwNoMwvrIPMFDSLbozrskyZdUY1Z5gJuKLvokt4g7moFYQ4Wn4GbuHO01DAO_T3H1Gd6F_X0Wf2auq/s4032/51CFE00A-6413-46CC-950F-C3BF2B02FF75.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh7Ou487qXIL5JWq9GIEt524Nt10YJe_59T3S9Flpr5cvPzSO1WZNL4bq6C_a_f5VX8WMAh6uJZybWbyuMbFTKw9u694K7y2eoI0VQAoSaSJJwNoMwvrIPMFDSLbozrskyZdUY1Z5gJuKLvokt4g7moFYQ4Wn4GbuHO01DAO_T3H1Gd6F_X0Wf2auq/w400-h300/51CFE00A-6413-46CC-950F-C3BF2B02FF75.heic" width="400" /></a></div><div>To make the desk work with the plumbing, my husband cut an opening and put in little boards so the drawer is still functional.<br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIEIROCJQ49of5nuVODJSxSPQAb0f5NAAP9eq8jLAd_otwUKiCeJV4YwOubdqha9Ailw3G60wov9k25PzjbRq16Eu6Ma9AlKfX1raxtLHHh5eziwAftfrIVXmN3wdfG72ogZPbVVXrlxeAoVqS2q4CihJaKgDTOLFew2lpgAJ3DRAJ6w19_sfSTCXF/s4032/E2DB18A1-8365-4C39-AC56-749DDC28C86C.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIEIROCJQ49of5nuVODJSxSPQAb0f5NAAP9eq8jLAd_otwUKiCeJV4YwOubdqha9Ailw3G60wov9k25PzjbRq16Eu6Ma9AlKfX1raxtLHHh5eziwAftfrIVXmN3wdfG72ogZPbVVXrlxeAoVqS2q4CihJaKgDTOLFew2lpgAJ3DRAJ6w19_sfSTCXF/w300-h400/E2DB18A1-8365-4C39-AC56-749DDC28C86C.heic" width="300" /></a></div><div>My sons complained when they visited that the sink faucet made the water "flat."<br /><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK2kAud2mwe19rR6npZnQBcm_JfQfdJ5uPlat3sDoOCOKOzMjWxGuj-ggZl1rniMkplCuGLH-9ulloDRd2ARKEMVZ8-C571wydYsyo4nGPCTBTDmB2yrBrOvIC2iHkG-oHGMXnPTMmVLlTM2UXYA_0m0RaeeuXeXxkrcdNjrUKvczjs6e9XXZCBynU/s4032/69906AAC-5F6A-4F20-A378-BDADBDAC114E.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK2kAud2mwe19rR6npZnQBcm_JfQfdJ5uPlat3sDoOCOKOzMjWxGuj-ggZl1rniMkplCuGLH-9ulloDRd2ARKEMVZ8-C571wydYsyo4nGPCTBTDmB2yrBrOvIC2iHkG-oHGMXnPTMmVLlTM2UXYA_0m0RaeeuXeXxkrcdNjrUKvczjs6e9XXZCBynU/w400-h300/69906AAC-5F6A-4F20-A378-BDADBDAC114E.heic" width="400" /></a></div>Again, we were considering aging as we planned the house, and had a walk-in shower installed, with a bench seat. It is a joy to take a shower in it.<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmODa7UKbTVsiuSaZHyiFffeHDuUxjXQHq0OrINyitxLnVSdlteBNwzDJ1Kehm5ozmK4z8T48mIUbeoykZ1NyHiVMGL6UoUcGJ_7_YRhNv_zf76V80d6ba906PRZFvKtPu5at_v3NtrBzRNm1kZHBrfbo1aWAyP8OqVuzxJIUDnWoNNA_e18WY3_7y/s4032/CA555321-A7E5-492D-BB4B-AEE1B9FCCD8C.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmODa7UKbTVsiuSaZHyiFffeHDuUxjXQHq0OrINyitxLnVSdlteBNwzDJ1Kehm5ozmK4z8T48mIUbeoykZ1NyHiVMGL6UoUcGJ_7_YRhNv_zf76V80d6ba906PRZFvKtPu5at_v3NtrBzRNm1kZHBrfbo1aWAyP8OqVuzxJIUDnWoNNA_e18WY3_7y/w400-h300/CA555321-A7E5-492D-BB4B-AEE1B9FCCD8C.heic" width="400" /></a></div>The floor tile is pebbles, so no slipping! </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAEQUUSouGaRcrUqd58nQYxFjWt6QBXvgVoJYY3xTfZVJvYmBijG9h3w9o9SPRy8HmOyKAmNPypeXVePS5Rm8l5eDFfzUZqsmisX7ByVbLFYHd8nmzYfvEAlqwluarO_P2cRmmKBfFNwfjitHyc9gig09UbtdkFfaVw2K8kL2f3YSI6eeVqTOU4BFm/s4032/7C1DBA9D-897E-4679-80E2-86A5B912A0C3.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAEQUUSouGaRcrUqd58nQYxFjWt6QBXvgVoJYY3xTfZVJvYmBijG9h3w9o9SPRy8HmOyKAmNPypeXVePS5Rm8l5eDFfzUZqsmisX7ByVbLFYHd8nmzYfvEAlqwluarO_P2cRmmKBfFNwfjitHyc9gig09UbtdkFfaVw2K8kL2f3YSI6eeVqTOU4BFm/w300-h400/7C1DBA9D-897E-4679-80E2-86A5B912A0C3.heic" width="300" /></a></div>The master bathroom is, of course, off the master bedroom. We found another cool vessel sink and a little shaker cabinet to convert into a vanity. We actually came in under the builder's budget on everything we picked out for the bathrooms.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSrjyD_kJAkGOw3Z-m2kGRmZD4WUVoxX_H2MKx2iLbqI2n5ou17eogz1hZmGVH2HArb1Sd2rwvxDNZLdD8vOP5sX66x4yyiWZucd6pbI3ZX5ISxZ79O1OowvL5h3-8A8qT02WbexT-suM-NEB_2lX_lJQygA12N6hYurohCo6rV4ihnPjN188KaU9Q/s4032/93271D4B-3F1E-40B5-9AE6-12DE1DC78416.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSrjyD_kJAkGOw3Z-m2kGRmZD4WUVoxX_H2MKx2iLbqI2n5ou17eogz1hZmGVH2HArb1Sd2rwvxDNZLdD8vOP5sX66x4yyiWZucd6pbI3ZX5ISxZ79O1OowvL5h3-8A8qT02WbexT-suM-NEB_2lX_lJQygA12N6hYurohCo6rV4ihnPjN188KaU9Q/w400-h300/93271D4B-3F1E-40B5-9AE6-12DE1DC78416.heic" width="400" /></a></div>My husband and I are both big fans of a long, hot bath and we decided it would be nice not to have one of us having to have the faucet up against our back. We asked to have the faucet installed in the middle, and the faucet itself swivels out of the way.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Ww6NvOeyAjwP5mZCwRf0ufmsWjYLBTHDeNkBMKYSySLt1LkrDAq0ouyAZAgH63oke0mzbARFkp8DkRtD2dIzqg3ZNHNNNRdtgr_quI2Ipe9V5TltIyAVYAen0DfiwomTRNrf3mW7JaLnzRwsQbedV_j95_-78_4pcbLHkfksKy76N21aRA4IbGc2/s4032/5E6B2D33-99F4-4330-9A71-8942F89B082F.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Ww6NvOeyAjwP5mZCwRf0ufmsWjYLBTHDeNkBMKYSySLt1LkrDAq0ouyAZAgH63oke0mzbARFkp8DkRtD2dIzqg3ZNHNNNRdtgr_quI2Ipe9V5TltIyAVYAen0DfiwomTRNrf3mW7JaLnzRwsQbedV_j95_-78_4pcbLHkfksKy76N21aRA4IbGc2/w300-h400/5E6B2D33-99F4-4330-9A71-8942F89B082F.heic" width="300" /></a></div>I found a salt light bulb to put in the light fixture overhead, so it is a warm pinkish glow with just that light on. As you can see, the cliff immediately outside the back window is solid rock and mud. The builders had to grade down to a solid level to build, leaving the cliff. I am planting climbing vines on it (one of the things I've been spending my time on), but for the moment it is pretty barren.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpeDstmisplXwqkAZEioj6xbQ-EfHzKpNye8jnIPwCcVm7teQyrY5iZKLbDN4QLbCGn3OxvfvKqu4dIhNOIVlC4rcV7zdkon40KG3ImHcfvULPueKu1GgiAPoYKSx1NLdJk_G8cgpD9Sazgxr3A-VO4uU12M9akSGfhLgEvoraO5CYbuZvOfpi-9t2/s3264/D670A9ED-F5B7-402E-9F39-F59EDDB577B3.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpeDstmisplXwqkAZEioj6xbQ-EfHzKpNye8jnIPwCcVm7teQyrY5iZKLbDN4QLbCGn3OxvfvKqu4dIhNOIVlC4rcV7zdkon40KG3ImHcfvULPueKu1GgiAPoYKSx1NLdJk_G8cgpD9Sazgxr3A-VO4uU12M9akSGfhLgEvoraO5CYbuZvOfpi-9t2/w400-h300/D670A9ED-F5B7-402E-9F39-F59EDDB577B3.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>Fortunately, when you are actually in the bathtub, you can see the forest up above. Eventually, there should be green covering the cliff as well.</div></div></div></div></div>Secret Agent Womanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07564690116156754219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8104951117718966173.post-14235282744878359122022-05-17T16:11:00.000-04:002022-05-17T16:11:09.684-04:00Where does the time go?<p>I have been spending every spare minute working on either the house or the outside, when I'm not working at my job. I'm going to try to catch up here soon.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3z5j6tfGzFsb9E8v78rkbi4-LfQFYeIhms7KkCdwQlEqzcSHWKXmbUSpY-gIOMqlyPDVx7T8dd4E_VcIeZ9jsEV028elS5Te97V7QCwaS4aNpp0_vdIBtG8L3LNB5DN7mxq3_ePfSkjOiM80dlC0Mx295_zSo5T0ky950buqAnve_0QH8_ZN-vvuK/s4032/07527ACB-39F7-43F9-AFFE-65E9A1E93C83.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3z5j6tfGzFsb9E8v78rkbi4-LfQFYeIhms7KkCdwQlEqzcSHWKXmbUSpY-gIOMqlyPDVx7T8dd4E_VcIeZ9jsEV028elS5Te97V7QCwaS4aNpp0_vdIBtG8L3LNB5DN7mxq3_ePfSkjOiM80dlC0Mx295_zSo5T0ky950buqAnve_0QH8_ZN-vvuK/w400-h300/07527ACB-39F7-43F9-AFFE-65E9A1E93C83.heic" width="400" /></a></div>In the meantime, we got our final invoice from our builder. I'd been paying it one invoice at a time from proceeds from the house we sold, and money we were earning during the long build process. Unlike buying a house that's already built, we discovered you never really know how much a new house will cost until all is said and done. There were some unpleasant surprises (my God, who knew it cost so much to dig a well?!) and the usual pandemic cost over-runs and supply chain issues and we were both holding our breaths the whole time. It was a relief to send the last check off and know that we fully own the house now. We pulled out the bottle of Dom Perignon we bought a couple of years ago and my husband made us seared scallops, pasta, and roasted broccoli and cauliflower. I am so very grateful for this house and land and that I am still here to enjoy it. <br /><p><br /></p>Secret Agent Womanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07564690116156754219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8104951117718966173.post-64250014964505752332022-04-26T17:06:00.001-04:002022-04-28T22:02:53.766-04:00Starting with the heart of the home.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfOHQktF9xBdI6GvrmdnyEvzCOdQKiRaNRoLtLtNfz_ITab9YuxO4R89pP3Frp2C8PVMmtukm2dAGxQ7-YYOKxF24H34vY6_slnbrew_6ZoFb4sSZt4sFEJPYm21IuqWhdMtr5PzU4W-oBmt_iCvJLv4shNhHMG-Xyp6PRLUVpxNHTsKu7QChWsUBg/s3186/048B950C-B298-4C2D-B505-CBB0FBB88906_1_201_a.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3186" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfOHQktF9xBdI6GvrmdnyEvzCOdQKiRaNRoLtLtNfz_ITab9YuxO4R89pP3Frp2C8PVMmtukm2dAGxQ7-YYOKxF24H34vY6_slnbrew_6ZoFb4sSZt4sFEJPYm21IuqWhdMtr5PzU4W-oBmt_iCvJLv4shNhHMG-Xyp6PRLUVpxNHTsKu7QChWsUBg/w380-h400/048B950C-B298-4C2D-B505-CBB0FBB88906_1_201_a.heic" width="380" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Since I love cooking so much, I spent a lot of time thinking about how to arrange a 10x10 foot kitchen to make it maximally enjoyable for cooking.Within a budget, of course. I must have watched a couple dozen videos n kitchen design, We met with a couple of people about cabinets, and ended up with a local business that gets custom cabinetry from an Amish company. Once those got installed, the granite we'd ordered arrived and was put in.</div><p></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdIRnW1mPPLWU_jTXCI_uqPK1p5Pp5cbhndXRhFtGt0ek7cnWr4f_25mn6aHaJpeOUBRPuH4VJ26NpKgurgML2UloutiOG8OKylTl3aXPfh-N1v6xHGDPfSZifm6ueuyCAeOOKPIFA_bmTXvBq83Mvc5eUUE8BMZBSXoc5V8CFkRW4vrWNXz7M-am9/s4032/9467DD24-0030-44BA-A6E2-B8B5AB774EE2.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdIRnW1mPPLWU_jTXCI_uqPK1p5Pp5cbhndXRhFtGt0ek7cnWr4f_25mn6aHaJpeOUBRPuH4VJ26NpKgurgML2UloutiOG8OKylTl3aXPfh-N1v6xHGDPfSZifm6ueuyCAeOOKPIFA_bmTXvBq83Mvc5eUUE8BMZBSXoc5V8CFkRW4vrWNXz7M-am9/w300-h400/9467DD24-0030-44BA-A6E2-B8B5AB774EE2.heic" width="300" /></a></div>And then, after much delay, the kitchen appliances finally arrived. They had a hard time getting the big truck up the driveway, so the two guys hand-carried the dishwasher, stove, and refrigerator up the driveway. I don't even understand how that is possible. My husband and I had some initial disagreement about appliance color - he preferred stainless steel and I preferred black. Did you know there is a thing now called black stainless steel? Lucky for us, because it was the perfect compromise.<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1uF5pSGtwy0xtrVb_01pRVxRtTOBqyWe60HCZmWaQZHbZGc-XHJ3Lmd-TrtgGKYQ1n1vACV3DLVuhdEKAPmoI-AbJTut9LSeT-S7L1KBON8gusnWocbTYaYyyPWDkSKYsVpQvw-NY5aDK2e0IkLuiRxNNJsrzVZbs0SX525O0tICH4kqd4xciSczD/s4032/250C5892-0704-47D2-8CC3-6F3951995319.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1uF5pSGtwy0xtrVb_01pRVxRtTOBqyWe60HCZmWaQZHbZGc-XHJ3Lmd-TrtgGKYQ1n1vACV3DLVuhdEKAPmoI-AbJTut9LSeT-S7L1KBON8gusnWocbTYaYyyPWDkSKYsVpQvw-NY5aDK2e0IkLuiRxNNJsrzVZbs0SX525O0tICH4kqd4xciSczD/w400-h300/250C5892-0704-47D2-8CC3-6F3951995319.heic" width="400" /></a></div>We decided to forgo upper cabinets for aging-in-place reasons. I don't want to be up on a ladder reaching for things. But we didn't want the appliances taking up too much counter space, so we built a corner shelf to hold the toaster over the microwave.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiVIF_cJbvqVZUlq8jtqbYd7bZLsV9t30mWkKBY85l6vi_dAc0N4fJQo848WrYrgszHJ8o2X7HXSprRIgoANSXhKDp3ms2oZP-WWrpq34AhS1FsEZ1ZnXHG56dGjb5H07kTWH3oNkIarpWKTvHPbbYPkFbUNpJ2W6OfmewzwCu3-ie594BgdWw89kR/s4032/B2717619-6630-41C8-9C06-7472ACDCE4AA.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiVIF_cJbvqVZUlq8jtqbYd7bZLsV9t30mWkKBY85l6vi_dAc0N4fJQo848WrYrgszHJ8o2X7HXSprRIgoANSXhKDp3ms2oZP-WWrpq34AhS1FsEZ1ZnXHG56dGjb5H07kTWH3oNkIarpWKTvHPbbYPkFbUNpJ2W6OfmewzwCu3-ie594BgdWw89kR/w400-h300/B2717619-6630-41C8-9C06-7472ACDCE4AA.heic" width="400" /></a></div>We also put in a pair of live edge shelves to hold our dishes, glassware and coffee mugs. We decided on a counter depth fridge so it wouldn't intrude into the kitchen space. </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKEkqtpIFa8K6vsWPNzsuMVh_b98bLDw0qWSyCq31hHBnRCR0t1olGUEY5N6EhYZ8qaC9i_FN62YyD15ZjfpwKMeyqYAQNslvQK9ZE0izVPC_ep4OIyDs7bYXQRiVR_ovhL6WJ-YBezRDK2zk9qSNuq2tX-sAn99flsJ1plVHwkCGV6XNyuy0W_Z2X/s4032/91DE2FFD-AE1E-4BC4-B8C5-66991F9809B5.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKEkqtpIFa8K6vsWPNzsuMVh_b98bLDw0qWSyCq31hHBnRCR0t1olGUEY5N6EhYZ8qaC9i_FN62YyD15ZjfpwKMeyqYAQNslvQK9ZE0izVPC_ep4OIyDs7bYXQRiVR_ovhL6WJ-YBezRDK2zk9qSNuq2tX-sAn99flsJ1plVHwkCGV6XNyuy0W_Z2X/w300-h400/91DE2FFD-AE1E-4BC4-B8C5-66991F9809B5.heic" width="300" /></a></div>All the cabinets are either drawers or cabinets with pullout shelves, including one with a pull-out trash can at the peninsula. I used one of the shallow drawers next to the stove for spices. They are in alphabetical order except that I always put parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme together. Because Scarborough Fair.</div><div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6kQ3IPKYHtRcgTL6vo7D4brkVWio2ghK8WgXHkRuSQiodw0MiMxRiHqQ0_hOgWv5czlYXcJSRXj3lq70b38ggfa2u5fnPZKApWZE1lRp5fYkoQPJjKnvFCx5_p9hplfFp5knWv9ujGa3W5DZN6PwHUtxLdGDBoa852kCZLZ-yW6mAjaQvn_agRXbE/s4032/C5D1DD9A-2E4D-40F2-BAA3-DD068F5A4479.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6kQ3IPKYHtRcgTL6vo7D4brkVWio2ghK8WgXHkRuSQiodw0MiMxRiHqQ0_hOgWv5czlYXcJSRXj3lq70b38ggfa2u5fnPZKApWZE1lRp5fYkoQPJjKnvFCx5_p9hplfFp5knWv9ujGa3W5DZN6PwHUtxLdGDBoa852kCZLZ-yW6mAjaQvn_agRXbE/w400-h300/C5D1DD9A-2E4D-40F2-BAA3-DD068F5A4479.heic" width="400" /></a></div>There is actually nothing I don't like about this kitchen. It's really easy to work in and feels much bigger than it is. Plenty of light, plenty of counter space, and we don't even have all the cabinets filled. Nothing is nested in anything else, so everything is easy to grab and put back. Our very first night in the house I made seafood risotto and the extended period of time I spent at the stove stirring it was just a joy. <br /></div>Secret Agent Womanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07564690116156754219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8104951117718966173.post-16478250065175819892022-04-17T06:48:00.002-04:002022-04-17T07:25:33.690-04:00They call the thing rodeo.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeLGHZWk7baEWp5OKzFYJsmKch93wcf58HiDM-bsIW_e7KOeyeSldb-fQaa7QYyvBteWFGCqAkmuyeQrcE03TCNRtVbnXHItJBdOcKVAh2rf6RSKR4tBY0BDCXe2id_IGwryb_0jV7dGw1Zo2dsYv9T3I83DDaYlVKa7tOniO3rRBxtthvhWAsTP5k/s3739/98D83DE5-22DC-4B12-B6FC-A61D69A2A66D_1_201_a.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2804" data-original-width="3739" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeLGHZWk7baEWp5OKzFYJsmKch93wcf58HiDM-bsIW_e7KOeyeSldb-fQaa7QYyvBteWFGCqAkmuyeQrcE03TCNRtVbnXHItJBdOcKVAh2rf6RSKR4tBY0BDCXe2id_IGwryb_0jV7dGw1Zo2dsYv9T3I83DDaYlVKa7tOniO3rRBxtthvhWAsTP5k/w400-h300/98D83DE5-22DC-4B12-B6FC-A61D69A2A66D_1_201_a.heic" width="400" /></a></div>So now that we're locals, we decided we had to take in the rodeo when it came to town. This was a first for both of us. The line to get in backed up well along the highway.<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZLqy6vK0VrbNX2R_52_Hf6_bOx7SnwCfr_ZbF32W1GTNxqEQF7IS1VlIWGa2ebPnYoFQJ3Attfsucqu6hsHpNoXpSye1M72yupK-930SYA6ozr8O5xGK9Ab8JDukh_FkLc3zq8jDHlNGEqkYBBacIlpu-U1XAA-OSBuO22dbNZ0LY6qwAav8bk7J1/s4032/AB40F851-D92D-4CBB-8228-77BAF93DE66E.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZLqy6vK0VrbNX2R_52_Hf6_bOx7SnwCfr_ZbF32W1GTNxqEQF7IS1VlIWGa2ebPnYoFQJ3Attfsucqu6hsHpNoXpSye1M72yupK-930SYA6ozr8O5xGK9Ab8JDukh_FkLc3zq8jDHlNGEqkYBBacIlpu-U1XAA-OSBuO22dbNZ0LY6qwAav8bk7J1/w300-h400/AB40F851-D92D-4CBB-8228-77BAF93DE66E.heic" width="300" /></a></div>It was sort of a county fair atmosphere - a petting zoo, one of those mechanical bulls, food trucks, and live country music. I'm not sure I've ever seen so many cowboy hats in one place in my life.<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpBKYWRXoE38FSLeJfT4O0NgGkJBtM7KPHWp5Ir21wVh7PLtBpeJq73q6Iz2r8ZnhC92CxIRL-kZ63rM7ASieWgAq_RGrQ_juZk9fn4ZX_9JzL2uvpyeFIu-K9-W9BQw520MyT9MfHRHamJaNDcTjb2dfnSqpxprIyP-Jy-utEAEXgXcDuxNzeXcu7/s4032/D65E530A-5EB5-4E3B-9D6A-2385DD2FA70E.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpBKYWRXoE38FSLeJfT4O0NgGkJBtM7KPHWp5Ir21wVh7PLtBpeJq73q6Iz2r8ZnhC92CxIRL-kZ63rM7ASieWgAq_RGrQ_juZk9fn4ZX_9JzL2uvpyeFIu-K9-W9BQw520MyT9MfHRHamJaNDcTjb2dfnSqpxprIyP-Jy-utEAEXgXcDuxNzeXcu7/s320/D65E530A-5EB5-4E3B-9D6A-2385DD2FA70E.heic" width="320" /></a></div>After we'd gotten our dinner, we found seats in the arena. It was packed and we had to climb up into the bleachers. The South is a deeply flawed place, to be sure, and there were political jokes and long, long prayers we just had to tolerate. But, when I started making my way up into the bleachers, instantly half a dozen hands reached out to help me along. The same thing happened when we had to climb back down. To a person, everyone was friendly and helpful.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX4EB3BEMmJlxtK0vhcdkPUaaKBBl3bgOKeybt4qwOYyEjVRk1NNwRhih5fWGZy5RXRhvZoZ43S-S00WTlIN-y-cLSzcDtlkrsaPACSuyH9a7RRCE9l-fXjdfCohPNGPxBNABB91EKmFbP1xSICpkfBxCNJWSTwKD4rHvsHn2YIZZJ5l5WUjzQsXiE/s4032/377029C6-B3AD-44DC-ADB5-5B7A63E196CA.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX4EB3BEMmJlxtK0vhcdkPUaaKBBl3bgOKeybt4qwOYyEjVRk1NNwRhih5fWGZy5RXRhvZoZ43S-S00WTlIN-y-cLSzcDtlkrsaPACSuyH9a7RRCE9l-fXjdfCohPNGPxBNABB91EKmFbP1xSICpkfBxCNJWSTwKD4rHvsHn2YIZZJ5l5WUjzQsXiE/s320/377029C6-B3AD-44DC-ADB5-5B7A63E196CA.heic" width="320" /></a></div><div>While they got the bulls loaded into their chutes, the announcer and the rodeo clown kept up a show to entertain folks. This included an audience sing-along, with one song including the instructions to hold up our phones in flashlight mode like lighters. We sang along (and my husband laughed when I didn't miss a beat when the song was "Friends in Low Places") and cheered when the rodeo started.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWXc2UmPwxg0Y06RpZfnG6btHxp6wjhw3qVR1-gvzOpsXYlSgSW4bYuLGl2FmqkibEDA7OGh8k6NCwyY93mMdvaBAXiPO5AqOYMbbORKvn80bJkAmv78_yOp1wzNuOBL4zsBpByrAUjM_hYpjYVVRTu_3YqVYs1nn8TqIaXujYJ_p1vO70hZEswYPy/s4032/470F32DC-BBDA-4BFF-8E16-0B0A21BB179B.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWXc2UmPwxg0Y06RpZfnG6btHxp6wjhw3qVR1-gvzOpsXYlSgSW4bYuLGl2FmqkibEDA7OGh8k6NCwyY93mMdvaBAXiPO5AqOYMbbORKvn80bJkAmv78_yOp1wzNuOBL4zsBpByrAUjM_hYpjYVVRTu_3YqVYs1nn8TqIaXujYJ_p1vO70hZEswYPy/s320/470F32DC-BBDA-4BFF-8E16-0B0A21BB179B.heic" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The riders waited their turn. The announcer commented that the most dangerous part was probably when the rider was on the bull in the chute, because they were trapped in an enclosed space with an angry bull.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_cPO3cpi6cA" width="320" youtube-src-id="_cPO3cpi6cA"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">First up were the bucking bulls. Those were some big, scary animals. One even crashed through the gate and rampaged around the arena before they got him corralled back into a chute. The cowboy hopes to be able to stay on the bull for 8 seconds, holding on with only one hand. Some were tossed off almost immediately, and then rolled (or limped) to safety while the two pick up men on horseback and the rodeo clown diverted the bull. Only a few of the riders wore helmets.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-y7-3DMrC7M" width="320" youtube-src-id="-y7-3DMrC7M"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Next, the broncs. The bareback riders were required to come out of the chute laying back with their legs at the horse's ears. There were also riders who used a pommel-less western saddle. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-QjolZkZ04I" width="320" youtube-src-id="-QjolZkZ04I"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Last before intermission was the mutton-busting event. This is when small children are placed on the back of a sheep and hold on as long as they can. In this clip, it's a four-year-old girl. I'm not going to lie, this was adorable. And while it might seem abusive, there was one young fellow who started crying as soon as he was put on the back of a sheep and his dad whisked him off and hugged him and the crowd cheered for him, too, so there was clearly no pressure for the kids to do anything they weren't comfortable with. We got a funnel cake before we left, and I popped back in to watch a little of the barrel racing. I didn't expect to enjoy it as much as I did, but we will definitely go back next year.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvPQ3o9fxqHu7CqP12FHhHIzsm3lpFbokj6OQ4Vup26_-0WlT9aMriGivxI8nkwsFZxuAeNbYwpeFM4KGq9Hd2rzJ7Pr-ENKZFp7u6o0hNXTQ6EVj26t8w5Sm6lhtpL7LA63DVqSDu7_JVyPhhRjWH1V_Tv6_4yFIJwiRxviBaY1GI4xbblM9ZEfde/s4032/4BFE3959-893B-4F77-8CC7-1589FB8FE4AC.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvPQ3o9fxqHu7CqP12FHhHIzsm3lpFbokj6OQ4Vup26_-0WlT9aMriGivxI8nkwsFZxuAeNbYwpeFM4KGq9Hd2rzJ7Pr-ENKZFp7u6o0hNXTQ6EVj26t8w5Sm6lhtpL7LA63DVqSDu7_JVyPhhRjWH1V_Tv6_4yFIJwiRxviBaY1GI4xbblM9ZEfde/s320/4BFE3959-893B-4F77-8CC7-1589FB8FE4AC.heic" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><i>Well, it's bulls and blood, it's dust and mud,</i></div><div><i>It's the roar of a Sunday crowd.</i></div><div><i>It's the white in his knuckles, the gold in the buckle</i></div><div><i>He'll win the next go 'round.</i></div><div><i>It's boots and chaps, it's cowboy hats, </i></div><div><i>It's spurs and latigo.</i></div><div><i>It's the ropes and the reins, and the joy and the pain,</i></div><div><i>And they call the thing rodeo.</i></div><div><i>It's the broncs and the blood, it's the steers and the mud,</i></div><div><i>And they call the thing rodeo.</i></div><div> -Garth Brooks</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div></div>Secret Agent Womanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07564690116156754219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8104951117718966173.post-25840735352981344792022-04-10T10:14:00.000-04:002022-04-10T10:14:07.524-04:00Okay, here we go.<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJMv62GmvXqmavuKYH6otfI8dfgaMHmBGTze5CPrp-xPrly8XKsgnief-FTkwP-urQo6YnSRvigQb93VsjkuzHiUaKNKz84sEbGbfhgRaKkaZmY__McPwR--ymS9ghrJNszXlDh5EvTAlV3qMW-Wr9APVsVOyIkLw2EUdBHJ7PkM4Pe8NZfwP8jKtX/s4032/B487A307-25D0-4615-8A46-9CAF5EEF4001.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJMv62GmvXqmavuKYH6otfI8dfgaMHmBGTze5CPrp-xPrly8XKsgnief-FTkwP-urQo6YnSRvigQb93VsjkuzHiUaKNKz84sEbGbfhgRaKkaZmY__McPwR--ymS9ghrJNszXlDh5EvTAlV3qMW-Wr9APVsVOyIkLw2EUdBHJ7PkM4Pe8NZfwP8jKtX/w400-h300/B487A307-25D0-4615-8A46-9CAF5EEF4001.heic" width="400" /></a></div>We moved into the new house a couple of weeks ago, before it was entirely finished. Actually, it's still not entirely finished, but it's quite livable. And I lam thrilled with everything about it. This house looks and feels bigger than it actually is. It's just a hair over 1200SF, which is small by today's standards. But plenty of room for us even with family visiting (as we found out a week after we moved in when my older son unexpectedly visited and we hosted him, my younger son, and my younger son's girlfriend). I have loads of work to do outside and we are also working on getting things sorted out inside, and I will be putting together posts about all of that. In the meantime, I want to catch up with everyone here.<p></p>Secret Agent Womanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07564690116156754219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8104951117718966173.post-46902948174457846492022-01-15T10:42:00.001-05:002022-01-15T10:42:29.345-05:00In the midst of a brief hiatus.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh8RwzYqa0tTyGdXj8ZwY9ZLUIXwJxmZ5-gy_PaIUgUXhuex8xtR9MFC9FqvWZXd1zjKWXWE2T8t-l7yngLbV9qSym4jJx0758hl4lMV2ImBsh5KfqSulSUs-N6gTP3wbuKvdjJIG-5laVhiwRMTio2eJ3_aGbZwvEUyNWcn-GE1sCYLBGRjswtLtvA=s3804" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2853" data-original-width="3804" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh8RwzYqa0tTyGdXj8ZwY9ZLUIXwJxmZ5-gy_PaIUgUXhuex8xtR9MFC9FqvWZXd1zjKWXWE2T8t-l7yngLbV9qSym4jJx0758hl4lMV2ImBsh5KfqSulSUs-N6gTP3wbuKvdjJIG-5laVhiwRMTio2eJ3_aGbZwvEUyNWcn-GE1sCYLBGRjswtLtvA=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><br />I'm not dead, just completely overwhelmed. I am working long hours, having to travel back and forth to the property to feed the cats and check on things, and not enjoying the cold or the dark. Don't get me wrong, there have been good things. Both my boys were in for Christmas and we have Christmas Eve dinner with them and my stepdaughter here at the rental house. My older son has gotten engaged and my younger son has re-connected with a girl he has known since he was 13 and they've decided to be together long-term. I'm very happy about all of that. But the house build continues to go painfully slowly. Just this week our builder fired the masons because they were only willing to come out one day a week, do a little work on the fireplace and then turn their attention to foundation work they weren't even supposed to be doing, and leave again. The problem with that is the roof can't be finished until the chimney is finished. Which means there is now water damage to the drywall in two rooms. I could go on, but I won't. Suffice it to say, I am taking a little time to focus on work and build problems and will be back to you lovely folks as soon as I can.<p></p>Secret Agent Womanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07564690116156754219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8104951117718966173.post-81455969133519691542021-11-20T16:36:00.000-05:002021-11-20T16:36:24.237-05:00Another build update.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsUD9s0IOVdgF8MEtftANSKvQ0nYXLECBZa5WQwkQ6t8FXHxIR-pFb65ztWftnDoHnENZc1CDVxnXielDpA1epIIb7DnOdOBEWrtmbQy1rAhgoycrqpPEtqNjUnU9-u1ZOLof_TA7fP_g/s2048/695875F3-980B-4173-86C2-96CC83D138BA.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsUD9s0IOVdgF8MEtftANSKvQ0nYXLECBZa5WQwkQ6t8FXHxIR-pFb65ztWftnDoHnENZc1CDVxnXielDpA1epIIb7DnOdOBEWrtmbQy1rAhgoycrqpPEtqNjUnU9-u1ZOLof_TA7fP_g/w300-h400/695875F3-980B-4173-86C2-96CC83D138BA.heic" width="300" /></a></div>Every time I go up to the house, the cats follow and do some exploring of their own. Today while I was there, a rufous-sided towhee flew in, got discombobulated, and crashed into a window. I was sure it was dead. I left to grieve, and when I went back, it had come to its senses and was on the sill, trying desperately to get out. Something that did not go unnoticed by Tumbleweed, who bolted in for the kill. I scooped her up and ran her down to the tiny house, then grabbed a towel out of the back of my car and sprinted back. I was able to capture the little bird in the towel and release it outside, where it flew off into the woods. Tumbles stalked around for a while after that giving me the stinkeye.<div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxje68HIIi4EyCMtg5e_hxh7H4p0XSI8m8y9Fjfh74CZFFbpSFr4IYhokECJNTdDMHQlIEm59cwLRR-0tRPnsUS8gdIJt3Krp4_cIz4ICewwK_n9tczcQB3OtCW5Z1lvCfUK8SIVZ7WEA/s2048/07FB060F-E05D-4A18-BB6E-8A97795F1071.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxje68HIIi4EyCMtg5e_hxh7H4p0XSI8m8y9Fjfh74CZFFbpSFr4IYhokECJNTdDMHQlIEm59cwLRR-0tRPnsUS8gdIJt3Krp4_cIz4ICewwK_n9tczcQB3OtCW5Z1lvCfUK8SIVZ7WEA/s320/07FB060F-E05D-4A18-BB6E-8A97795F1071.heic" width="240" /></a></div>The exterior doors are in now. This is the back door. The windows on the doors still have a protective film so they can be stained.<br /><p></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUp_1xykFRMo-SIIXqy5eIy2VkoC_zswkH8vpZo1pXMCHeNYuvccyV6_HQ784oZ7vkcCgfHkOIbDXkKFdJa9Vk4XbXPllnTG4dOkuNKlSO4IRAgm4s_yRjjrnu_FIHNyYr9BauCQOLPDw/s2048/4AA6D318-C8E8-4068-8804-A185028D1BA9.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUp_1xykFRMo-SIIXqy5eIy2VkoC_zswkH8vpZo1pXMCHeNYuvccyV6_HQ784oZ7vkcCgfHkOIbDXkKFdJa9Vk4XbXPllnTG4dOkuNKlSO4IRAgm4s_yRjjrnu_FIHNyYr9BauCQOLPDw/w400-h300/4AA6D318-C8E8-4068-8804-A185028D1BA9.heic" width="400" /></a></div><div>And the back of the house. This is board and batten siding, which has a nice rustic feel to it. It will be stained the gray of old barns.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiRvmO36mXwXQ4U5EgJhkZt32u4XTKrwBfKbYNeESmCEZDxvX3ptS6ZbaDPNLORBBxXcTbXKKBYzm8aB9lxM8CTAYNTD4r3SswXQZcu_yGsdRtdV_iDOLpCWpKxj2nmPHzoDn_ZPZhQfg/s2048/5A9B39AD-84D3-452A-BA57-115183A5C2B6.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiRvmO36mXwXQ4U5EgJhkZt32u4XTKrwBfKbYNeESmCEZDxvX3ptS6ZbaDPNLORBBxXcTbXKKBYzm8aB9lxM8CTAYNTD4r3SswXQZcu_yGsdRtdV_iDOLpCWpKxj2nmPHzoDn_ZPZhQfg/w400-h300/5A9B39AD-84D3-452A-BA57-115183A5C2B6.heic" width="400" /></a></div><div>Living room windows (and various parts for the heating and air system.)</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUhKNkb7RVsGfD-WYkXtArR4mFL6kUFL1C-WgxD_qoSSYdyHpRj6MGeF5CfEtU3Hze1iGtFndW9WxpwIQoBhw-zY9jcm4rBOx2J1FZujM2PLXDe4fi8wvUd3Z0eigY2kQ4Jvg948J4h3Y/s2048/F2B892E5-0488-4C46-8FCA-4BBD65344D51.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUhKNkb7RVsGfD-WYkXtArR4mFL6kUFL1C-WgxD_qoSSYdyHpRj6MGeF5CfEtU3Hze1iGtFndW9WxpwIQoBhw-zY9jcm4rBOx2J1FZujM2PLXDe4fi8wvUd3Z0eigY2kQ4Jvg948J4h3Y/w400-h300/F2B892E5-0488-4C46-8FCA-4BBD65344D51.heic" width="400" /></a></div>And the front door, from the dining room. It's a fixed door French door - so only one side opens and the other functions as a window. There is an identical one in the master bedroom all the way in the back.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCfVMGarK0IzLqs8k2nqyIkkKtj6SALHm71NGSUEBlPmTlsoKImLEah1brplSb1OJkrLYROLiubKngemSxYbr4B4rC8px9jtwJC0Qlmcbr0DLhYMSPrxTG-DHwBIymvWk4_3OLAPoBji8/s2048/1BD72ED0-DA0B-40A6-B9AB-9EF2B8754990.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCfVMGarK0IzLqs8k2nqyIkkKtj6SALHm71NGSUEBlPmTlsoKImLEah1brplSb1OJkrLYROLiubKngemSxYbr4B4rC8px9jtwJC0Qlmcbr0DLhYMSPrxTG-DHwBIymvWk4_3OLAPoBji8/w400-h300/1BD72ED0-DA0B-40A6-B9AB-9EF2B8754990.heic" width="400" /></a></div><div>And the front of the house. The battens haven't been installed yet on the two ends. Those first two widows are in the garage and there will be a covered porch over the front door, and a little screened-in porch off the master bedroom. Weather permitting, that's where I plan to drink coffee in the mornings.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitB0tDVCrOi0TMXDiCta1_rgSxxYRJXO5387YLAeGlvJw_wjIz-dDoJRv6tjJX11ACiOj4ES2E8DmRKKCVOM-LegnMhVuZwUE2BGIy1cIUFCSvLm5ETKbhUugm3OeI8XiqQkxgPtgsWHM/s2048/9B5EDFB3-0D3B-48C3-9315-9970FE73BA49_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2023" data-original-width="2048" height="395" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitB0tDVCrOi0TMXDiCta1_rgSxxYRJXO5387YLAeGlvJw_wjIz-dDoJRv6tjJX11ACiOj4ES2E8DmRKKCVOM-LegnMhVuZwUE2BGIy1cIUFCSvLm5ETKbhUugm3OeI8XiqQkxgPtgsWHM/w400-h395/9B5EDFB3-0D3B-48C3-9315-9970FE73BA49_1_201_a.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>Tumbleweed is as good a climber as she is a hunter, so she has discovered the roof. It's a little unsettling to look up and see her staring down at me. The inner structure for the fireplace got delivered this morning, so that should be going in soon. And all the inspections have passed, so next step is insulation and drywall. A little closer!</div>Secret Agent Womanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07564690116156754219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8104951117718966173.post-29283392893635275182021-11-07T15:02:00.001-05:002021-11-07T15:02:23.240-05:00Obligatory fall photos in the neighborhood.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi3JB0NG2Y_4cbsS1TbKVv3WRrBf27hcjK4998oNOOkDLa0SEjJ3N05wKzpkYTQ2wg5GG0LmMNfAyqVdZzgmQ947ILUpJCrSJ8nHmPXtzDSSZyVTPeK_KbLAZyRwqv00iK3gnTANXsXvU/s2048/E83A07AA-D598-4C1F-9A86-92F9DC928D21_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi3JB0NG2Y_4cbsS1TbKVv3WRrBf27hcjK4998oNOOkDLa0SEjJ3N05wKzpkYTQ2wg5GG0LmMNfAyqVdZzgmQ947ILUpJCrSJ8nHmPXtzDSSZyVTPeK_KbLAZyRwqv00iK3gnTANXsXvU/w400-h300/E83A07AA-D598-4C1F-9A86-92F9DC928D21_1_201_a.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>Driving out to our property, we pass a "Century Farm," which means the family has been running a farm there for at least one hundred years. You can't see it, but our place will be the next ridge over.<div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1l5kux-Yh3VDtS7jdP3LkAZLkdCoBPjDlFGgQcTUXjscmmcdXCaxt058hDH-_i_WLFjv4qNk4hDsCXNuG1R4QqHMBgimiaRVyRrJ30it6fo3RhP_2e_f4vUM6EcvNOP6Wz_jUAdz30P4/s2048/26BF4356-05AB-47A4-B45F-0AF44BD07B0D.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1l5kux-Yh3VDtS7jdP3LkAZLkdCoBPjDlFGgQcTUXjscmmcdXCaxt058hDH-_i_WLFjv4qNk4hDsCXNuG1R4QqHMBgimiaRVyRrJ30it6fo3RhP_2e_f4vUM6EcvNOP6Wz_jUAdz30P4/w400-h300/26BF4356-05AB-47A4-B45F-0AF44BD07B0D.heic" width="400" /></a></div>This is an abandoned house on that farm. I'm assuming it was the original farmhouse.<div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFqIB1bPEVCi5VtFlETSph0IfSKPW0osX1BCRV0zZsve-rpg3AEllmLPgZuXTKbsHOpLVFby5vBv9i8Z-rajzmg357OxS8dMoAOjUBurRK9q7o7S9g4nB3h29N8ul85xgMyvkoU7es3EY/s2048/804B36F1-E9FB-4A75-A1B6-FFA754A90FD3_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1842" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFqIB1bPEVCi5VtFlETSph0IfSKPW0osX1BCRV0zZsve-rpg3AEllmLPgZuXTKbsHOpLVFby5vBv9i8Z-rajzmg357OxS8dMoAOjUBurRK9q7o7S9g4nB3h29N8ul85xgMyvkoU7es3EY/w400-h360/804B36F1-E9FB-4A75-A1B6-FFA754A90FD3_1_201_a.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>Another farm. This one is on our road, getting close to our land.<p></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKkoP3JLRn_TIvZHapzfgI3G6xSjhNgu9HkAEANse_5gURlf60ZhtjwG3r85rAhU6PL9tBAeYRlrhXtrPbeiIQgestB8NEpP63i6NFMgojt4aa2PiXWDxbIt1s5My1PxkWo8JBdd3YimM/s2048/3C8DB9A1-9214-48F7-B0DB-C7402B7DCB19_1_201_a.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1508" data-original-width="2048" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKkoP3JLRn_TIvZHapzfgI3G6xSjhNgu9HkAEANse_5gURlf60ZhtjwG3r85rAhU6PL9tBAeYRlrhXtrPbeiIQgestB8NEpP63i6NFMgojt4aa2PiXWDxbIt1s5My1PxkWo8JBdd3YimM/w400-h295/3C8DB9A1-9214-48F7-B0DB-C7402B7DCB19_1_201_a.heic" width="400" /></a></div><div>Our driveway is at that bend ahead, and the ridge behind is the western boundary of the property.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnikIin_ZctHknoCA89KsAhqbZsE-qpTK3gUwbL6sZke8NWclm2sCiiqzhzRpAEqBw1PqoheRAHYIC3gSIjxzpnvoQBSTDnQKkjse5HeHotox5Db2HhqntJ9l_OG4qqJn_KaFAtwN72sQ/s2048/01CB24DC-7D83-4537-A2EB-7AD647CD233A.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnikIin_ZctHknoCA89KsAhqbZsE-qpTK3gUwbL6sZke8NWclm2sCiiqzhzRpAEqBw1PqoheRAHYIC3gSIjxzpnvoQBSTDnQKkjse5HeHotox5Db2HhqntJ9l_OG4qqJn_KaFAtwN72sQ/w400-h300/01CB24DC-7D83-4537-A2EB-7AD647CD233A.heic" width="400" /></a></div>
Looking up the road from our driveway...<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0_3mrURNg54zPD_rWfG2erijcVnrY38ulP5wCQ-gfnns-PVv7BQBCquakIfxX5vtwaYfbvyZokIGVNYpZOHRTOfCyMqS1EP_Bb8vgYZU9yCOUQ3HEO4U7Lq9XLZnCofT_FmLqKUiWq3g/s2048/AB6BB255-0064-4136-8E9A-B719AE3C45F7.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0_3mrURNg54zPD_rWfG2erijcVnrY38ulP5wCQ-gfnns-PVv7BQBCquakIfxX5vtwaYfbvyZokIGVNYpZOHRTOfCyMqS1EP_Bb8vgYZU9yCOUQ3HEO4U7Lq9XLZnCofT_FmLqKUiWq3g/w400-h300/AB6BB255-0064-4136-8E9A-B719AE3C45F7.heic" width="400" /></a></div><div>and down the road from the driveway. The property ends just around that bend.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXjwWuyH3Ty_MUEE9vRxzFVi-wj_8kSraGfeK0AKxIbozA8fOSdtPBWyKG3xaKBY69fQqiqs3dhJ6fKknr8EOBe-YhY7EA5mvMM1MIbE2QnMPGvzc07KmswioHP5V_0UnL2_Qpv2T84NU/s2048/AE343129-B3A1-474C-B138-FEDFB12A0AD4_1_201_a.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXjwWuyH3Ty_MUEE9vRxzFVi-wj_8kSraGfeK0AKxIbozA8fOSdtPBWyKG3xaKBY69fQqiqs3dhJ6fKknr8EOBe-YhY7EA5mvMM1MIbE2QnMPGvzc07KmswioHP5V_0UnL2_Qpv2T84NU/w300-h400/AE343129-B3A1-474C-B138-FEDFB12A0AD4_1_201_a.heic" width="300" /></a></div>Looking up the driveway at the newly-wrapped house.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEido492qOfcQS0B2FwKTv9kd5mX6VC7bryhpXiHhAoO73tJ1QAEHE5YG21aGH7W6NL8l3kSA3x-EaKjsaQlDJbv92Oj6Jb6tJF4yo2iFTdwmTEZ_Yt_RHtl0eYf94jVZyToIo-lyXR2Irc/s2048/D9DC94C2-B343-4C89-BB46-205B27987EDD.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEido492qOfcQS0B2FwKTv9kd5mX6VC7bryhpXiHhAoO73tJ1QAEHE5YG21aGH7W6NL8l3kSA3x-EaKjsaQlDJbv92Oj6Jb6tJF4yo2iFTdwmTEZ_Yt_RHtl0eYf94jVZyToIo-lyXR2Irc/w400-h300/D9DC94C2-B343-4C89-BB46-205B27987EDD.heic" width="400" /></a></div>The view from what will be the front door.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXcg2saKONfwSmsF6uBPAK37eNE-7qJuI7iWWpqIa7FLqaTQUip_dYIRYqvhuzI_Rp9JqHTqR4d1gs6MyW2Ru7k8FKjadX62E8m4hxgaLrvrAnPhVOU-5WNew6yPhyphenhyphenqq3wKYdkYcVvqcU/s2048/23F70CEC-007F-4AD6-B31F-94B27BF16D92.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXcg2saKONfwSmsF6uBPAK37eNE-7qJuI7iWWpqIa7FLqaTQUip_dYIRYqvhuzI_Rp9JqHTqR4d1gs6MyW2Ru7k8FKjadX62E8m4hxgaLrvrAnPhVOU-5WNew6yPhyphenhyphenqq3wKYdkYcVvqcU/w400-h300/23F70CEC-007F-4AD6-B31F-94B27BF16D92.heic" width="400" /></a></div><div>And the view from what will be the living room windows. I am so looking forward to sitting in here and watching the seasons change.</div></div></div></div></div></div>Secret Agent Womanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07564690116156754219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8104951117718966173.post-2658267429902664502021-10-31T17:01:00.007-04:002021-10-31T20:19:48.336-04:00These are a few of my unfavorite things.Two blog friends, <a href="http://musingsfromtheburbs.blogspot.com/2021/10/lets-talk-tuesday-crappy-corner-2021.html" target="_blank">Bijoux</a> and <a href="http://www.triloquist.net/2021/10/things-that-annoy-me-to-no-end.html#more" target="_blank">Ron</a>, did recent posts on things that annoy them. I decided I had to join in the crabbery. I tell you, I am rapidly edging my way toward shaking a cane in the air and yelling at kids to get off my lawn.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjra-tw9Sbj_PNPfWXV2GjoiglTo_s0Ymms3g7AnMyzXHHsjA4ybKwrBNextYRvf7D6GJ-scqkxao32t0qiwgfHE5SBN8NJS2ThsUpjA9ZoY8FRWqUBR28rCmurG1cZ7xUFoZrNMPfm3-s/s302/A0C3BE22-240C-46A8-AE73-F7A7E57ED250_4_5005_c.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="261" data-original-width="302" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjra-tw9Sbj_PNPfWXV2GjoiglTo_s0Ymms3g7AnMyzXHHsjA4ybKwrBNextYRvf7D6GJ-scqkxao32t0qiwgfHE5SBN8NJS2ThsUpjA9ZoY8FRWqUBR28rCmurG1cZ7xUFoZrNMPfm3-s/s0/A0C3BE22-240C-46A8-AE73-F7A7E57ED250_4_5005_c.jpeg" width="302" /></a></div>1. Since Bijoux started with Billy Eilish, I am starting with silly eyelash. The other day we went into a granite store and when the saleswoman turned around, I'm afraid I visibly recoiled. She had such long fake eyelashes and colored-in fierce brows that she looked startled and maybe a little frightened. Which stands to reason, I suppose, when you have dozens of tarantula legs glued to your eyelids. All I knew was that I could not take her seriously enough to work with her. But I don't get it. I'm fine with eye makeup, but not to such a clownish extent that it no longer bears a resemblance to anything natural. And on a related note, "influencers." People who are famous, or believe they are famous, because they have a lot of followers for their self-absorption on Instagram or TikTok. The writhing, the vocal fry, the rising inflection - I hate it all. And when I see someone endlessly mugging for selfies in public I just cringe. Why are people not embarrassed by their own behavior when they do that? <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir6Fe5sbpLns04gA6U9DUMrkl31Kwo3P8s83P4cBwFC6JGs_4hpkgPvhyphenhyphen0bCfoKA_2AmHNidIimpvoYO1WvnE3EDpHzKfQuHY_P_VgZfOGabyE2SmiwEIlhFS9AoyVgexFQZn7ErIesjg/s220/58A9DEE3-33BB-4562-B088-1E351202BDA9_4_5005_c.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="206" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir6Fe5sbpLns04gA6U9DUMrkl31Kwo3P8s83P4cBwFC6JGs_4hpkgPvhyphenhyphen0bCfoKA_2AmHNidIimpvoYO1WvnE3EDpHzKfQuHY_P_VgZfOGabyE2SmiwEIlhFS9AoyVgexFQZn7ErIesjg/s0/58A9DEE3-33BB-4562-B088-1E351202BDA9_4_5005_c.jpeg" width="206" /></a></div><div>2. Group texts. I do NOT want to be included in group texts. My baby sister recently had her 40th birthday and her husband asked family and friends to send video greetings. Which I reluctantly agreed to because I do love her. Then she sent out a group text after 9 PM to me and 17 other people. This old person was already asleep when the first ping woke me. After several more alerts from various responders, I turned my phone to silent but the vibrations continued to wake me. I finally got up and put my phone in another room, where the volley of texts continued until almost 11 PM. The only legtimate use for group texting that I can think of is when you and more than one other person are coordinating a get-together. And related to this one, zoom get-togethers. I don't mind one-on-one video things. Hell, I do that all day long for work. But the ones where you and a bunch of other people are awkwardly trying to have a social conversation where it is impossible to tell when it is reasonable to talk? That's not remotely enjoyable to me. And business zoom meetings are bad for another reason - I don't want to have to watch people listening to a speaker or be on camera myself as an audience member. Not long ago I was attending a professional meeting and one woman was in workout gear and walking on a treadmill the whole time. I don't need to see that - exercise on your own damned time.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimaPxSufca6vsO-frRyRwRZIJ0-cxb5El-lrwRvGfEkiXgPd1qReoxMf9XdcMX6lzMkNPxvHt8XR9tdyviunYvFpm2O6cJRAPuPKLt8_vxnDjnjK-td_-Setaos0CCUFi8C36Dskmtn3g/s436/C0BC4992-E6D8-469F-9885-6687000BD8D2_4_5005_c.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="334" data-original-width="436" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimaPxSufca6vsO-frRyRwRZIJ0-cxb5El-lrwRvGfEkiXgPd1qReoxMf9XdcMX6lzMkNPxvHt8XR9tdyviunYvFpm2O6cJRAPuPKLt8_vxnDjnjK-td_-Setaos0CCUFi8C36Dskmtn3g/s320/C0BC4992-E6D8-469F-9885-6687000BD8D2_4_5005_c.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>3. Pinktober. For a whole host of reasons, I find it offensive. Look, we don't need "awareness," we need a cure for metastatic breast cancer. Every single woman who is treated for early stage invasive breast cancer spends the rest of her life at risk for distant recurrence. And when it comes back as metastases, it WILL kill you. At that point, you move into treatment until you die. There is nothing cutesy about cancer, and all the celebratory, pink, "fight like a girl" bullshit makes me livid. First of all, girls don't get breast cancer, women do. And men. Adults. Secondly, going into remission isn't a sign that you are a particularly good fighter, any more than having it return means you aren't strong enough. It's fucking cancer. So no, when October rolls around each year, I won't be wearing a pink boa and entering races whose primary goal is to enrich the folks who run the organizations rather than going to research for ways to treat and cure MBC. "Save the TaTas?" Hell no, save the <i>lives </i>of women and men who are suffering and dying. THAT would be worth celebrating. </p>Secret Agent Womanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07564690116156754219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8104951117718966173.post-71922844091213307892021-10-24T16:59:00.000-04:002021-10-24T16:59:22.770-04:00Build Update<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOepUXrloFX5lFjNK2IgbuC_fmwb-ezV3vUnspjrCwPxY8biT0yvzLhnnY9NpuHRqibcU4By9s1UukUEriAhuhP_jliKAvcUWRw1YE2xQc2FCCPMVhVV8Lh4TfTE8CAV82lgOu9UyTstw/s2048/AAC46E76-8E2A-430F-8A18-0D749FB9D8B4.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOepUXrloFX5lFjNK2IgbuC_fmwb-ezV3vUnspjrCwPxY8biT0yvzLhnnY9NpuHRqibcU4By9s1UukUEriAhuhP_jliKAvcUWRw1YE2xQc2FCCPMVhVV8Lh4TfTE8CAV82lgOu9UyTstw/w300-h400/AAC46E76-8E2A-430F-8A18-0D749FB9D8B4.heic" width="300" /></a></div>After the footers had been poured, it rained and rained. But finally, a little over a week ago, we went up to find the foundation was built. <br /><p></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYXiHCIDW7EBI8pWIIuI8Z-OzYhRgWXFOkxldn86LwbIylE5aecOzbbebx6ZX4HUu0IVROdgaPiF9lgvufNt3FM44vkuiMTpPJp_I1z2ql0ennIlgq0QRtIDq_k-zYPEmwd5LQgPBuhi0/s2048/DB4547AF-B9A4-4537-BB1A-977C266804DC.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYXiHCIDW7EBI8pWIIuI8Z-OzYhRgWXFOkxldn86LwbIylE5aecOzbbebx6ZX4HUu0IVROdgaPiF9lgvufNt3FM44vkuiMTpPJp_I1z2ql0ennIlgq0QRtIDq_k-zYPEmwd5LQgPBuhi0/w400-h300/DB4547AF-B9A4-4537-BB1A-977C266804DC.heic" width="400" /></a></div>That lit a fire under us to start collecting up some of the remaining things we need. We had already had our builder pick up the bamboo flooring because we had nowhere to store it, but we did buy the tile for the two bathrooms and the laundry room and stashed them in the storage unit. I say "we" but I can't actually lift them.<div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYsL0Cpc28gUqgJicy1R9wyZENVbvOIBH4z6vBlbwkIScdMZu-uF64ZzOz_mVrshZTiHLouRj538-0Cu2Ar-foiw14FZJAjckqiA47zd_fwQ4DNFCoUOBXC7Ze7-C9gIEuGpFDxi4RIbs/s2048/BE0DAC6A-4255-48CA-BA68-5258A7525366.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYsL0Cpc28gUqgJicy1R9wyZENVbvOIBH4z6vBlbwkIScdMZu-uF64ZzOz_mVrshZTiHLouRj538-0Cu2Ar-foiw14FZJAjckqiA47zd_fwQ4DNFCoUOBXC7Ze7-C9gIEuGpFDxi4RIbs/w400-h300/BE0DAC6A-4255-48CA-BA68-5258A7525366.heic" width="400" /></a></div><div>On Wednesday, we were thrilled to see the framing had started!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgAZOIbevlCP5RMqfVipp2sptrAMf6Y2zLp2G14T0uDrJvoGIdf688yp8XkJBCA8A9rqNrLmugk-yqxEJPZ2H3NNV8BcZebFcWi1lfOCN3W2OxyRBE-83VPdQYQI81DdXsqQCpf8OwBlA/s2048/894D413F-36DB-4A71-A8C5-60D3183B5D5B.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgAZOIbevlCP5RMqfVipp2sptrAMf6Y2zLp2G14T0uDrJvoGIdf688yp8XkJBCA8A9rqNrLmugk-yqxEJPZ2H3NNV8BcZebFcWi1lfOCN3W2OxyRBE-83VPdQYQI81DdXsqQCpf8OwBlA/w400-h300/894D413F-36DB-4A71-A8C5-60D3183B5D5B.heic" width="400" /></a></div><div>We came back the next day with a bottle of champagne from the local winery and toasted this new step. By that day they had started framing in the rooms, so we had to go stand in each one and imagine what it would look like. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZYncQrU8PBP8RQv47jrA_G9-j03Yu9PyAnJYcwWP-Q6l1hVv5A8h1akLVsTAmbkfZQI7JNOuedV0w2Dg5nSPO9U2okV3YcvcoKVvnE0ms8QmET4UlYfna3sJvgg2sijDJl2wHF5uLZlA/s2048/54DE2D70-4191-4FDB-82E9-5E82BBCEF0B7.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZYncQrU8PBP8RQv47jrA_G9-j03Yu9PyAnJYcwWP-Q6l1hVv5A8h1akLVsTAmbkfZQI7JNOuedV0w2Dg5nSPO9U2okV3YcvcoKVvnE0ms8QmET4UlYfna3sJvgg2sijDJl2wHF5uLZlA/w400-h300/54DE2D70-4191-4FDB-82E9-5E82BBCEF0B7.heic" width="400" /></a></div><div>We went up again yesterday and the crew was working on the ceiling trusses. Those are the house plans on the hood of one of the worker's truck.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpDG_klqFJcw-iCmlcyu5aF4E3h4H9eI-gSpD3wSXX4fAei_ddBHDV5bmT3q8kv62IGWZbpTbzdpgtPWX7cBY3JulCFfyKWa9cL1E9_h6psSCXJSpEZd8PmKqkfcYY1MuJIceHUJyGMMM/s2048/073FED14-D9A3-49D2-A3F3-A4E439537177.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpDG_klqFJcw-iCmlcyu5aF4E3h4H9eI-gSpD3wSXX4fAei_ddBHDV5bmT3q8kv62IGWZbpTbzdpgtPWX7cBY3JulCFfyKWa9cL1E9_h6psSCXJSpEZd8PmKqkfcYY1MuJIceHUJyGMMM/w400-h300/073FED14-D9A3-49D2-A3F3-A4E439537177.heic" width="400" /></a></div>One little concern is that the kitchen is a good 5 inches shorter in width than on the plans. Which wouldn't be a problem at all except the cabinets are already built and waiting for us. I'm just trusting that somehow it will all be okay.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk6WcgQMDEUVDS5_fGv3sTAth8ZkJVVwtBcMsYQPxC2nVMkddEz3FSkVCNiZFPdHrTYykrrYJqrJtFwak3akjhDKIhE7SSkMbtxTob6QtdS_fauNYOTVFIdGyfVVUCMOzieYkPDt4f8Vk/s1472/D9F2E086-6D9B-415F-8935-D482577676CD_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1148" data-original-width="1472" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk6WcgQMDEUVDS5_fGv3sTAth8ZkJVVwtBcMsYQPxC2nVMkddEz3FSkVCNiZFPdHrTYykrrYJqrJtFwak3akjhDKIhE7SSkMbtxTob6QtdS_fauNYOTVFIdGyfVVUCMOzieYkPDt4f8Vk/w400-h313/D9F2E086-6D9B-415F-8935-D482577676CD_1_201_a.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>By the way, since I was asked - yes, Ranger does let us pet him now. He even climbed up on my leg when I was kneeling on the cement pad so that I could scratch his head. Picking him up is still a no-go though.<br /><div><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjda0vrZ_5zMl3_qsRWI7Z9uYyhd-kGn-yd0fV9HKKgZCQ2Zqdobe_zYhY6cCjZnRB4MjJcXXuTcAdvut7y6oNPnOIc3PAFn897dIHK6YNdgBJ0UCbUZvMjFRDFDoL6RA-8Hk7ZJy_UkvU/s2048/5EC37937-BC1A-4C03-A0B3-600D76D5D342.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjda0vrZ_5zMl3_qsRWI7Z9uYyhd-kGn-yd0fV9HKKgZCQ2Zqdobe_zYhY6cCjZnRB4MjJcXXuTcAdvut7y6oNPnOIc3PAFn897dIHK6YNdgBJ0UCbUZvMjFRDFDoL6RA-8Hk7ZJy_UkvU/w400-h300/5EC37937-BC1A-4C03-A0B3-600D76D5D342.heic" width="400" /></a></div>There's a lot of rain again in the forecast next week, so I know there will be another slow-down, but I'm starting to feel like this is really happening.Secret Agent Womanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07564690116156754219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8104951117718966173.post-14110273231692023582021-10-11T10:53:00.000-04:002021-10-11T10:53:52.270-04:00A tale of two kitties.It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.
<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiErx4UKLzkwYX4eRMDGnU2IoH6E72t7XMw9Ten8AXO-erwgoaBb6Xp-gAWbnl5ea8fF51lyhO83ruo_77lEuE-34W_oM4-gJqpJkeuYsdPkyG0AixI4GrUw6YrG5IOMkTlXtFzTY5YiQ0/s2048/C4C5F655-CC53-4AAA-886F-68DB64AB127A.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiErx4UKLzkwYX4eRMDGnU2IoH6E72t7XMw9Ten8AXO-erwgoaBb6Xp-gAWbnl5ea8fF51lyhO83ruo_77lEuE-34W_oM4-gJqpJkeuYsdPkyG0AixI4GrUw6YrG5IOMkTlXtFzTY5YiQ0/w300-h400/C4C5F655-CC53-4AAA-886F-68DB64AB127A.heic" width="300" /></a></div>A little ginger feral cat joined us at the Ridge. I named him Ranger to stay with the Texas theme. The two cats seemed to have an uneasy truce.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilIsXLYoUOwnMoGKkm_eCpOngQQTm4KuC-VCPga_NgkCIBvk1NUmjVEsPJgFh4FG9JDb9EKpjw8SfBUrVCBaEky1a-e0eNypP2Y0vweCrWJ9JU85YSoscUBER7HnvBEw5kWVUrQ1MjXJI/s2048/458DAFD8-00E6-4335-A26B-4AA6037AABFA.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilIsXLYoUOwnMoGKkm_eCpOngQQTm4KuC-VCPga_NgkCIBvk1NUmjVEsPJgFh4FG9JDb9EKpjw8SfBUrVCBaEky1a-e0eNypP2Y0vweCrWJ9JU85YSoscUBER7HnvBEw5kWVUrQ1MjXJI/w300-h400/458DAFD8-00E6-4335-A26B-4AA6037AABFA.heic" width="300" /></a></div>And then, shortly before my son moved away, Tumbleweed disappeared. Week after week we'd go up and call for her, hoping she'd reappear. Finally, we had to resign ourselves to the idea that she was no longer alive. I won't lie, I was heartbroken. She just had the biggest personality of any cat I'd ever known.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZyMTLWB6nsuubahw4IV3UiL7Z3NebHKdoco4weAyg562gQ-dDZNvp-9_ZpRyylh1gVw9tQ5Bel2ultzcDhYaMR1c_d3w4BmLKXoMa5I3ueTCWhlsLNNbPLdD-Ghln4JEU2yMTvmFuGA/s2048/DA0B73FB-B434-4870-AF30-2692DFC292D2.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZyMTLWB6nsuubahw4IV3UiL7Z3NebHKdoco4weAyg562gQ-dDZNvp-9_ZpRyylh1gVw9tQ5Bel2ultzcDhYaMR1c_d3w4BmLKXoMa5I3ueTCWhlsLNNbPLdD-Ghln4JEU2yMTvmFuGA/w300-h400/DA0B73FB-B434-4870-AF30-2692DFC292D2.heic" width="300" /></a></div>Ranger came around frequently but usually kept his distance. I would put food in the bowl in the shed and walk away leaving the door open. He'd skirt well around me and dart into the shed to eat. If I got too close, he'd bolt. I was glad to have him around, but he was definitely not a friendly cat. And I missed Tumbles.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJT9S9QfKHlXlSaHhc0-SWJeTVwQ8gnhLxBUr1DGNtBy6aVO-SpyZRNJ4C_ytCzWx9slc64Eh9rwsvGYkFepboLBAngTvrLw4OlBRuGE8FLvxSYBaKzpK7KEbZfpHpAknrlCIMU1efYlk/s2048/644B13F5-DC51-468E-A331-1398492C0D40_1_201_a.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1620" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJT9S9QfKHlXlSaHhc0-SWJeTVwQ8gnhLxBUr1DGNtBy6aVO-SpyZRNJ4C_ytCzWx9slc64Eh9rwsvGYkFepboLBAngTvrLw4OlBRuGE8FLvxSYBaKzpK7KEbZfpHpAknrlCIMU1efYlk/w316-h400/644B13F5-DC51-468E-A331-1398492C0D40_1_201_a.heic" width="316" /></a></div>And then she reappeared! Acting like she hadn't been gone on a three-month walkabout. And I don't know how they worked it out, but the relationship between the two had changed.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggGKui-4v1JrkTqcvOxGS8VSNsfhycCefnIHwT6OSYzFHMWOrARQe1VwOl3Jry0kI8zDiz6-R-XUc-UxCyOTOyUN6eYj8H_h-I3pfKVLVMbpl9okF171l7xFbLW3SiCQ42_epfRatv1OE/s2048/EB14C17F-1664-417A-BF9B-152928C40697.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggGKui-4v1JrkTqcvOxGS8VSNsfhycCefnIHwT6OSYzFHMWOrARQe1VwOl3Jry0kI8zDiz6-R-XUc-UxCyOTOyUN6eYj8H_h-I3pfKVLVMbpl9okF171l7xFbLW3SiCQ42_epfRatv1OE/w300-h400/EB14C17F-1664-417A-BF9B-152928C40697.heic" width="300" /></a></div>No more truce, it was full-on love.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXwhMyNQN-zpxoRzHET3TpH_HL4NBsiEyIDawf46dULoKZr67SrAgnlHeyglSOzjAJ3rzJZ2OxEfXKqxIYE1TmFnQoPV2WaD_7Ddz5DuQmZStGSAO4ihkU9iDP-3gppRrvE4PyerwyXYo/s2048/FC395A86-699B-45E7-9628-008CB0B727CC.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXwhMyNQN-zpxoRzHET3TpH_HL4NBsiEyIDawf46dULoKZr67SrAgnlHeyglSOzjAJ3rzJZ2OxEfXKqxIYE1TmFnQoPV2WaD_7Ddz5DuQmZStGSAO4ihkU9iDP-3gppRrvE4PyerwyXYo/w300-h400/FC395A86-699B-45E7-9628-008CB0B727CC.heic" width="300" /></a></div>Mostly on Ranger's part. He just can't get enough of Tumbleweed. He stays pressed to her side like they are conjoined twins.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiL81Bop8I6Rw0dOnAOMD9bs1x_R1LnsbrAA3gSzickaMKFlkC1KChCpx9vOeFjWHUeoY935mi7GXrAhu5Mb4GxIGUZYScd7zJtuplvxb8qydkwn81xS4gdyXoL3YGi-yLVi180-UGM90/s2048/16EA286F-50F7-4817-BD5B-42EF29C92F59.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiL81Bop8I6Rw0dOnAOMD9bs1x_R1LnsbrAA3gSzickaMKFlkC1KChCpx9vOeFjWHUeoY935mi7GXrAhu5Mb4GxIGUZYScd7zJtuplvxb8qydkwn81xS4gdyXoL3YGi-yLVi180-UGM90/w300-h400/16EA286F-50F7-4817-BD5B-42EF29C92F59.heic" width="300" /></a></div>And she seems to be okay with that. They eat together without argument.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0XrO6lK0qAZhy9Aqfflvp5qJ-TEWeiSNoRmt4gD1hWrScLuRgxCPQA6FOOhwG6S3-TUMi6w53rA6O1XdY_IJGdEI4Kja2Z0nfItGhwaxyAsxUtRzebA9ZSWcXlRrI4fESqdknqpPz374/s2048/33C64126-4612-496C-9B54-400A2096CA55.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0XrO6lK0qAZhy9Aqfflvp5qJ-TEWeiSNoRmt4gD1hWrScLuRgxCPQA6FOOhwG6S3-TUMi6w53rA6O1XdY_IJGdEI4Kja2Z0nfItGhwaxyAsxUtRzebA9ZSWcXlRrI4fESqdknqpPz374/w300-h400/33C64126-4612-496C-9B54-400A2096CA55.heic" width="300" /></a></div>There are times when she appears to be tolerating him.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPP5sJdtNYK-3KZT4zox184M2-N1f57860Xq1-C9-uJyUk5N6Biwm4oRJYQ0TZQEBdIGXwwKrvkYnUjActFC2Ps7eCEgZDWs923OZ5BOTfz0unZ4dAWnvIhUOn97JhMVMGtu72FqeRONs/s2048/670AFD53-F2D6-436F-B693-43AB76ECB120.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPP5sJdtNYK-3KZT4zox184M2-N1f57860Xq1-C9-uJyUk5N6Biwm4oRJYQ0TZQEBdIGXwwKrvkYnUjActFC2Ps7eCEgZDWs923OZ5BOTfz0unZ4dAWnvIhUOn97JhMVMGtu72FqeRONs/w300-h400/670AFD53-F2D6-436F-B693-43AB76ECB120.heic" width="300" /></a></div>But then she will lick his head. I have a theory - when she first appeared, my son said there was a tiny kitten with her. And she had clearly had been pregnant previously when we took her to be spayed, even though she was barely old enough to have had them. The little kitten that had been following her never came around again, and we figured it hadn't survived. But maybe it did. Maybe this is that kitten, now grown. Maybe Tumbleweed in Ranger's mother.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitFdoD6FXpSZO1dQ4vWw6ZqVkyKRAz8EeZ8lp_BwWyAKqIxaqBCgsdaYOsx3sk22FrjjsUufaPl8asA1Vfxr2uaT445PRo9h2YT-3vweWF98I8F8Ib9Rf6te-_Zz6-fuvTSEeu683lpro/s2048/3138E84C-1D8C-444C-96E6-B8F45908B231.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitFdoD6FXpSZO1dQ4vWw6ZqVkyKRAz8EeZ8lp_BwWyAKqIxaqBCgsdaYOsx3sk22FrjjsUufaPl8asA1Vfxr2uaT445PRo9h2YT-3vweWF98I8F8Ib9Rf6te-_Zz6-fuvTSEeu683lpro/w300-h400/3138E84C-1D8C-444C-96E6-B8F45908B231.heic" width="300" /></a></div>He meekly accepts it when she gets rough with him, <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7UX_MUOxWnqEnCUcP9NZi4axDCimBAGIQMrgR2P5ppfMBSmK3bdasV-P_WFACVaMW75RfUVS6vZTgip6TDoxbdNpJINwomJkBja9Kknd7xyXC8AhZHxz9Mj8UjVsdAn4QKDcsQ_IvpmM/s2048/4FBD1726-3CA5-43A5-B7FB-51769D7CA5EC.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7UX_MUOxWnqEnCUcP9NZi4axDCimBAGIQMrgR2P5ppfMBSmK3bdasV-P_WFACVaMW75RfUVS6vZTgip6TDoxbdNpJINwomJkBja9Kknd7xyXC8AhZHxz9Mj8UjVsdAn4QKDcsQ_IvpmM/w300-h400/4FBD1726-3CA5-43A5-B7FB-51769D7CA5EC.heic" width="300" /></a></div>and goes right back to cuddling up with her. Whether that's what she wants or not.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEOzQZFjcVIwrKGEAQ_tpW-XgGkpk2mgX5LnJFSr5ei4geVBCMujJS3zSAGjJoRRH1jRkG1VVRHZfUvAin_gxCKTbmSxBd69JcX-4oQuEkFsEYwpkXDsL_HHxEcyL8tNRdDGcg3ylBNtE/s2048/5831DEA2-8041-4657-B9B5-8F2F67ADCD55.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEOzQZFjcVIwrKGEAQ_tpW-XgGkpk2mgX5LnJFSr5ei4geVBCMujJS3zSAGjJoRRH1jRkG1VVRHZfUvAin_gxCKTbmSxBd69JcX-4oQuEkFsEYwpkXDsL_HHxEcyL8tNRdDGcg3ylBNtE/w300-h400/5831DEA2-8041-4657-B9B5-8F2F67ADCD55.heic" width="300" /></a></div>And clearly, she loves him back. So yeah, we have two cats now.<p></p>Secret Agent Womanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07564690116156754219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8104951117718966173.post-21684837868124455912021-10-06T18:15:00.000-04:002021-10-06T18:15:44.823-04:00A little art project.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo6gKflhivMjrama-tyMrpfptEk_QNFqRk4tfpcZLg4LXq9iMQAlxRJgNR_xXP_dMjjmZbp-wKJ5meTTWVjREZyV4QSp16o-chlfjWM6GJV6VSSZ25w-SF1QMF6IJN24Juk_BH1g2HKxs/s2048/C9DFD387-CDAC-4A37-9CD8-B42465073ADB.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo6gKflhivMjrama-tyMrpfptEk_QNFqRk4tfpcZLg4LXq9iMQAlxRJgNR_xXP_dMjjmZbp-wKJ5meTTWVjREZyV4QSp16o-chlfjWM6GJV6VSSZ25w-SF1QMF6IJN24Juk_BH1g2HKxs/w300-h400/C9DFD387-CDAC-4A37-9CD8-B42465073ADB.heic" width="300" /></a></div>Many months ago, a friend sent us some samples of wool from his angora goat, one unprocessed, one carded into mohair. I set them aside, feeling like there was an art project there, but I just wasn't sure what it would be.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5YakjcNaj9XFVGfkH5W_yoaAHzuZBkXQhVTXQdaZNMNQ2tQ8zhsatQYf5J7LgtENuOjUUN2Aro-6A_gvUq7m6HoSaQ_LE3fh55SqEvJBq2KwTCqnjv68gul-cYOt3nm92p5JuDo6n1j8/s2048/39E3AF61-A990-42CB-8D18-AB54C5F09D6D.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5YakjcNaj9XFVGfkH5W_yoaAHzuZBkXQhVTXQdaZNMNQ2tQ8zhsatQYf5J7LgtENuOjUUN2Aro-6A_gvUq7m6HoSaQ_LE3fh55SqEvJBq2KwTCqnjv68gul-cYOt3nm92p5JuDo6n1j8/w300-h400/39E3AF61-A990-42CB-8D18-AB54C5F09D6D.heic" width="300" /></a></div>In the meantime, the idea for a wall hanging had started to crystalize in my mind. I bought an oak-framed mirror at Goodwill for $4.99 and took the mirror out. (It's actually a nice beveled mirror, so I'll use it in the house.)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIJ8yZ-ca7rPH5TP7ih85zlvp-TS54eSynFg4T76C55Gwc_m1xQ0FodjG4Onw4aC4QGbb25o_9J39khyphenhyphenfaRdUYTTUcvSJcyvvh-7ywY6XcAHfz7ydgA7Zhdi79hie6chveY6y_kfuos-c/s2048/40B94284-CB2B-470C-86AD-3EB076AC1BCA.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIJ8yZ-ca7rPH5TP7ih85zlvp-TS54eSynFg4T76C55Gwc_m1xQ0FodjG4Onw4aC4QGbb25o_9J39khyphenhyphenfaRdUYTTUcvSJcyvvh-7ywY6XcAHfz7ydgA7Zhdi79hie6chveY6y_kfuos-c/w300-h400/40B94284-CB2B-470C-86AD-3EB076AC1BCA.heic" width="300" /></a></div>I had found a big piece of electrical wiring and peeled off the plastic to get to the cool thin copper strands inside. Then I ordered wool from places I'd been - Quebec, Iceland, Argentina, Ireland, Australia. All of it in undyed natural earth tones of sheep and alpacas.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBwDCelmc5woLsAoY1Y9PEwgkHKLRsRBKvQoqgoLDUFkix37GDNx9ZQGgfW240ZEq5cGL_py7ieUFFzLkaq4S2lxoHQdbILPTonkKPLenzn9XFFq6TuJjJIyZVp-Gdhbmsb0dbaJiJaYo/s2048/4A12A51A-7EDB-4046-953F-49F08FB600BE_1_201_a.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBwDCelmc5woLsAoY1Y9PEwgkHKLRsRBKvQoqgoLDUFkix37GDNx9ZQGgfW240ZEq5cGL_py7ieUFFzLkaq4S2lxoHQdbILPTonkKPLenzn9XFFq6TuJjJIyZVp-Gdhbmsb0dbaJiJaYo/w400-h300/4A12A51A-7EDB-4046-953F-49F08FB600BE_1_201_a.heic" width="400" /></a></div>Then I started building the loom. I made a template and then I hammered in little carpet tacks along the top and bottom of the back of the frame. (Incidentally, not my rug - it came with the rental. I'm more a neutrals person.)<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2E45bWBBUdVcwVMAg2mOnkXzNBuEV_TAl5VrBeCuah_6R5EfG0VqKuLqLN_1_UxNMpy63j9-pENvEmIFncmop-ssZigcAsTKVr0zDNF4smlrSn4F7RcqDD3H4hl8Y4iX6Rvfe1fzbPak/s2048/1C137BA8-EBEC-4839-934A-4F1247F85DCF_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1729" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2E45bWBBUdVcwVMAg2mOnkXzNBuEV_TAl5VrBeCuah_6R5EfG0VqKuLqLN_1_UxNMpy63j9-pENvEmIFncmop-ssZigcAsTKVr0zDNF4smlrSn4F7RcqDD3H4hl8Y4iX6Rvfe1fzbPak/w338-h400/1C137BA8-EBEC-4839-934A-4F1247F85DCF_1_201_a.jpeg" width="338" /></a></div>I strung copper wires from one end to the other, then finished hammering the tacks down to hold the wires in place. I watched a YouTube video on making a loom from a picture frame with yarn, so this was a variant on that.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGgXYlNNi9sB-IWoX6fpcXsFbSjjj2pUNxA2pfojdnk8XzjDlEDrc0rlxWxZEAt1AjbDe1XG9a0aaVnu4DTDnnW7r8wcp3VtjFSATnztB27bP24z-yCQulcrwqy4Yymo-bj5kmLoUmG4w/s2048/DD280568-E5E8-4187-957A-4C128CEBE2DA.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGgXYlNNi9sB-IWoX6fpcXsFbSjjj2pUNxA2pfojdnk8XzjDlEDrc0rlxWxZEAt1AjbDe1XG9a0aaVnu4DTDnnW7r8wcp3VtjFSATnztB27bP24z-yCQulcrwqy4Yymo-bj5kmLoUmG4w/w400-h300/DD280568-E5E8-4187-957A-4C128CEBE2DA.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>Then started weaving. I had absolutely no idea what I was doing, so there was some trial and error as I figured out how to work with the various fibers.<div><p></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs_DWVXJRnw8UNq6mNs5SwQ4BrO5y9GRTwk3Ntce7foN3m_5EjRKrS3gB_NnbvR-mWo9eCepQjFDWAjFkjIxjWqLl_XBZrBfCTQeh9YXMXfH5szMA9aGbxCL4UtPvTgl67LFJUhdZcs4M/s2048/2532AEFA-2DF2-46E7-BE7F-41EE6AC47E96.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs_DWVXJRnw8UNq6mNs5SwQ4BrO5y9GRTwk3Ntce7foN3m_5EjRKrS3gB_NnbvR-mWo9eCepQjFDWAjFkjIxjWqLl_XBZrBfCTQeh9YXMXfH5szMA9aGbxCL4UtPvTgl67LFJUhdZcs4M/w300-h400/2532AEFA-2DF2-46E7-BE7F-41EE6AC47E96.heic" width="300" /></a></div>The finished wall hanging, with the frame painted black. I tried to make the lines a little curved to mimic the granite we chose.<br />
</div></div>Secret Agent Womanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07564690116156754219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8104951117718966173.post-68285647053692334372021-09-30T07:15:00.001-04:002021-10-01T15:39:07.642-04:00You know you're old when you are excited about spending your birthday making a road trip to pick out granite.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjSuuESPOxxGU4WDfTn0YoRXv_vXFJYxzINr-99zihAYVUl4RNIQ5ij5Rr_MfcdzySCwY_wB6BJgDAIguTrvPchdkFz8gpmQePPbLIa7aEIYWBMoXMCXOc343zSAuNhPaKHQRmCfJdIf8/s2048/E0F7C29C-7FB6-499B-BDC4-77EF69AF16FB.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjSuuESPOxxGU4WDfTn0YoRXv_vXFJYxzINr-99zihAYVUl4RNIQ5ij5Rr_MfcdzySCwY_wB6BJgDAIguTrvPchdkFz8gpmQePPbLIa7aEIYWBMoXMCXOc343zSAuNhPaKHQRmCfJdIf8/w400-h300/E0F7C29C-7FB6-499B-BDC4-77EF69AF16FB.heic" width="400" /></a></div>
Even though the housebuilding has been at a near-standstill as we wait for supplies, our builder wants us getting everything lined up and ready to go. Cabinets have been ordered, bamboo flooring is waiting for us to pick up, and we needed to make a decision about kitchen counter tops. I know granite is no longer "in" but you know what? I don't care. I love it. I have used it in both kitchen remodels and it is just indestructible. You can set a hot pan right on it without damaging it. You can even cut on it and only risk dulling your knife. So it was really just a matter of finding a granite we both liked and that would go with the cabinets we'd already ordered. We looked at a LOT of granite, at 8 different places. Some we went back to more than once, getting quotes on different styles. There are so many options. As with many things, probably too many options. Some we liked and then discovered they were just out of our budget.We even drove the two hours to a company's main warehouse, only to find there was only the owner there on Saturdays and so we couldn't have slabs moved to look at.
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTHubCUlm6M-cAjpwCXM3QxNtFgYZNEBg2NraE41NughnWv0hT_wB0xTmsGw7sbnTldZu1Nt8A3yqYpsmklaMzRb37FgD5OSFeshaV9Fxe4UkE52vvgsaUhQCBGC9XSFSjOOlw4_B1Img/s2048/D7201D2C-6C91-4F45-88AA-4CF01034B35C.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTHubCUlm6M-cAjpwCXM3QxNtFgYZNEBg2NraE41NughnWv0hT_wB0xTmsGw7sbnTldZu1Nt8A3yqYpsmklaMzRb37FgD5OSFeshaV9Fxe4UkE52vvgsaUhQCBGC9XSFSjOOlw4_B1Img/w300-h400/D7201D2C-6C91-4F45-88AA-4CF01034B35C.heic" width="300" /></a></div>As we kept looking, we altered what we were looking for from lighter to darker. We knew we wanted something with lots of variation, that would look good with cherry wood cabinets. We got a quote on one we both liked and made plans to go pick out the actual slab.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzVOLi3GAnABve8VdGEOGcOBMRSNES-_vv8hwDrO7OboRhGVaf6KCw2K6lE4JcN9jql-PGT_n58XzweIA1aEyl_iYgAWpSSz6QgHPDDOJXOQ7i33ZWhA8r7xySSVNvKwJmTUtlbIY8Qn4/s2048/23C914E9-6318-4A03-87E1-AB41B9ACE460.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzVOLi3GAnABve8VdGEOGcOBMRSNES-_vv8hwDrO7OboRhGVaf6KCw2K6lE4JcN9jql-PGT_n58XzweIA1aEyl_iYgAWpSSz6QgHPDDOJXOQ7i33ZWhA8r7xySSVNvKwJmTUtlbIY8Qn4/w400-h300/23C914E9-6318-4A03-87E1-AB41B9ACE460.heic" width="400" /></a></div>So yesterday, we went back to Baxter (home of the Upperman Bees), this time when we knew there would be someone to move slabs for us.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiYmg0cz12M0paEoeGp1GqZRBXtnqVcsOLtoT6kMCp4CN48XXLWDo5nk_bnRbfuwtP9FjelpiZZ9uJ-BU-15nZyYKUV-Cyg6TLoMCk9_K8fkgsx4H3XIgxiJHjMG02f5gmQKOfBS4vyAY/s2048/0FB29A5E-1C5D-4EFA-A023-D65105CD0866.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiYmg0cz12M0paEoeGp1GqZRBXtnqVcsOLtoT6kMCp4CN48XXLWDo5nk_bnRbfuwtP9FjelpiZZ9uJ-BU-15nZyYKUV-Cyg6TLoMCk9_K8fkgsx4H3XIgxiJHjMG02f5gmQKOfBS4vyAY/w300-h400/0FB29A5E-1C5D-4EFA-A023-D65105CD0866.heic" width="300" /></a></div>It's a two person job, and we were told to stand back behind the line. Temel, the owner of the company, drove that stone-lifting machine.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjGGju_M7zDf1VQugB_UI8NFk8nGXbNoKJOqjfICkBcbBGieHNxmvUAnTi3Si0OMf3cueOReBGvGIiUqrRL_vRY8aO8GdHFNB8Tqm0YcXHBKpNCWAteWM9bbIogHtu2nBrROojsSbAty8/s2048/634E3BFF-F17E-40CB-BFEE-130F67C2FE5D.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjGGju_M7zDf1VQugB_UI8NFk8nGXbNoKJOqjfICkBcbBGieHNxmvUAnTi3Si0OMf3cueOReBGvGIiUqrRL_vRY8aO8GdHFNB8Tqm0YcXHBKpNCWAteWM9bbIogHtu2nBrROojsSbAty8/w400-h300/634E3BFF-F17E-40CB-BFEE-130F67C2FE5D.heic" width="400" /></a></div>This is what we settled on. It's called Galaxus and is from Brazil.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBQbupLEw9WmxkWHXpm_jDtUbfYez-pr0Mp6q01K9Y-sLQKJH9oOhHX-F6kMP1SWgqB-Zz5r284GgztSq4Z592Dqx2ckQ-bIBhqiqp40JgX4zv070C0vswh-LIscy5JOSkD3bQLYIvhRM/s2048/E6FBEEB8-278B-46AD-AEAC-49EE20147464.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBQbupLEw9WmxkWHXpm_jDtUbfYez-pr0Mp6q01K9Y-sLQKJH9oOhHX-F6kMP1SWgqB-Zz5r284GgztSq4Z592Dqx2ckQ-bIBhqiqp40JgX4zv070C0vswh-LIscy5JOSkD3bQLYIvhRM/w300-h400/E6FBEEB8-278B-46AD-AEAC-49EE20147464.heic" width="300" /></a></div>And a close up, to see the color variation. I don't think I'll get tired of looking at that. We signed a contract and they are holding it until the kitchen is ready to have it installed. And at this point in my life, this felt like a pretty good a way to spend my birthday.Secret Agent Womanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07564690116156754219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8104951117718966173.post-1770316847180219302021-09-26T06:12:00.005-04:002021-09-26T07:48:34.340-04:00Our temporary digs. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSUXUHNH7npm-PPg5dbXy-L-iWC9eO-oApSf26EeaT6kWlij2yajaNZiQbu_qhIL8-ova-I7mGK4pVNpCTxXotdp8F4Huazu6sJ-f6nxhzpxTuiXN7tRKYVh2Il1fUI_EXtIpX2fr2MBY/s2048/F1EA5F92-2E1E-42F8-BDC4-372B02061679.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSUXUHNH7npm-PPg5dbXy-L-iWC9eO-oApSf26EeaT6kWlij2yajaNZiQbu_qhIL8-ova-I7mGK4pVNpCTxXotdp8F4Huazu6sJ-f6nxhzpxTuiXN7tRKYVh2Il1fUI_EXtIpX2fr2MBY/w400-h300/F1EA5F92-2E1E-42F8-BDC4-372B02061679.heic" width="400" /></a>
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When we decided to put our house on the market so we could build, our realtor warned us that rentals were in short supply and to line that up first. She wasn't kidding. Most places I enquired about wouldn't even respond. Others were such dives we had to pass them up. So when this little house showed up, I did a quick drive by and then my husband met the owners with a check for the first 9 months. It was built in 1940 and is in a quiet neighborhood that's a bit of a drive but not terrible.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4nftbtyxkx7YKBq0oFN-rQ9zSKbBK1WdeW2zSUI1vTH5Idaw4TKw2r1IyXMuUG1ySlmgSI_Hn7XrfdIFOI4i2uYjV1exObEIEpPg1yyRYZTSf9kfjCanXaRXCbotrQxghysO4fwVmzgE/s2048/30A1B6E7-1BC8-4B58-BA08-F6E853C42DEF.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4nftbtyxkx7YKBq0oFN-rQ9zSKbBK1WdeW2zSUI1vTH5Idaw4TKw2r1IyXMuUG1ySlmgSI_Hn7XrfdIFOI4i2uYjV1exObEIEpPg1yyRYZTSf9kfjCanXaRXCbotrQxghysO4fwVmzgE/w400-h300/30A1B6E7-1BC8-4B58-BA08-F6E853C42DEF.heic" width="400" /></a>
</div>There are mature dogwoods in the front and a cute firepit area out back with swings. (That's our cornhole board, which we have yet to use here.)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBeYvz7WNkGOKfR_aWRzg78hAbKTn3tdjQ_twG6hMKK5KbB1PuToIAHjLHj7bYUbrV3YSv9BjLGxGt1uJ9llSe0oSEn4LfOn2hPJ949s6vl9Xdw9w3fZylmTVSIMezwOegX0ebE-gb4gs/s1352/6D8584AB-C8D7-4BA1-812E-989FC93FC875_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="937" data-original-width="1352" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBeYvz7WNkGOKfR_aWRzg78hAbKTn3tdjQ_twG6hMKK5KbB1PuToIAHjLHj7bYUbrV3YSv9BjLGxGt1uJ9llSe0oSEn4LfOn2hPJ949s6vl9Xdw9w3fZylmTVSIMezwOegX0ebE-gb4gs/w400-h278/6D8584AB-C8D7-4BA1-812E-989FC93FC875_1_201_a.jpeg" width="400" /></a>
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But it's a small house. 700 SF, to be exact. This is a realtor photo, with a wide angle lens that makes it look far more spacious than it is. It was furnished except for the bedrooms. But that cafe table and chairs took up half the small kitchen so we stuck them in the basement for the time being. Along with a television that didn't work. I also took down those dreadful curtains.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOt88EFpM1hql1Z9FYx-Hbbwph0xYfy1fDG2g4mDkmveFuUzVnYWYrKQOxIjkoIv6syKV90cIS8zy-XfH-Fov-X-Z18j7l1Hn1pv2HnhwceYzcAjYZmfdtXFxeC35sVsEEpsH-LsYdOps/s2048/97231BC1-1001-4A93-8387-851D7E08827B.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOt88EFpM1hql1Z9FYx-Hbbwph0xYfy1fDG2g4mDkmveFuUzVnYWYrKQOxIjkoIv6syKV90cIS8zy-XfH-Fov-X-Z18j7l1Hn1pv2HnhwceYzcAjYZmfdtXFxeC35sVsEEpsH-LsYdOps/w300-h400/97231BC1-1001-4A93-8387-851D7E08827B.heic" width="300" /></a>
</div>Turns out the old farmhouse didn't originally have an indoor bathroom and one was added later. To do that, they had to make the door to the smaller bedroom less that two feet wide. And that meant that the desk I planned to put in there so I could use it as my office would not fit through the door. So it's in the corner of our bedroom.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoST6-ZsLYdbOkC_bF5teetcwMOXfIPdL8Subo94c7su8SgFz7niF-OzGO6EStlyBqYYdOVlUIZ-ZHlfg1cKb3oI6Pbhl1ovP6mkMu_unAvxr4SslfMX2FQ5WfmsWWj9fUNLF24TsoPl8/s2048/35A4B54E-95AB-434D-B79C-D66BB3AC738F.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoST6-ZsLYdbOkC_bF5teetcwMOXfIPdL8Subo94c7su8SgFz7niF-OzGO6EStlyBqYYdOVlUIZ-ZHlfg1cKb3oI6Pbhl1ovP6mkMu_unAvxr4SslfMX2FQ5WfmsWWj9fUNLF24TsoPl8/w300-h400/35A4B54E-95AB-434D-B79C-D66BB3AC738F.heic" width="300" /></a></div>First, I have no idea what that weird protrusion is. But see that window?<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg-phSU1-AH98mtuy607AXVvhyphenhyphenJbuEb54kAOFTCeUwunfnE_LadfeHYpIG6kTBZ34wI2NYIjvxIB207ve4W4DC5bF6mjaOlBZw3RU6l8kNJpBKq6eSLld5LomB8HQgRS1D5Awx0fhCUfs/s2048/E65580AC-B804-44C4-8698-3910CDC2D065.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg-phSU1-AH98mtuy607AXVvhyphenhyphenJbuEb54kAOFTCeUwunfnE_LadfeHYpIG6kTBZ34wI2NYIjvxIB207ve4W4DC5bF6mjaOlBZw3RU6l8kNJpBKq6eSLld5LomB8HQgRS1D5Awx0fhCUfs/w300-h400/E65580AC-B804-44C4-8698-3910CDC2D065.heic" width="300" /></a></div><div>This is what's on the other side of it. They just tiled right on over the window. I call this the midget tub. Just the other side of it is a tiny space for a stackable washer and dryer, which we weren't willing to invest in for such a short period of time. My husband has taken on laundromat duty until the new house is built and our washer and dryer are in storage along with much of our furniture.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzTxt4pCD0T_hnl3J0fhJuuG76E9WZuJ3Vna_DEYzkcep_5aMrEULm3-feJ4gsMKeHQ9eClK9bmHn4m8O2efJlM5ASe6WzTtWiKD569eQd7uN2P79PWty1vxI7bVsFdV7vnUdTIKvPq4k/s2048/D6FFD921-9352-48D2-B82D-E6C9888C7FC8.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzTxt4pCD0T_hnl3J0fhJuuG76E9WZuJ3Vna_DEYzkcep_5aMrEULm3-feJ4gsMKeHQ9eClK9bmHn4m8O2efJlM5ASe6WzTtWiKD569eQd7uN2P79PWty1vxI7bVsFdV7vnUdTIKvPq4k/w300-h400/D6FFD921-9352-48D2-B82D-E6C9888C7FC8.heic" width="300" /></a>
</div>There is another tiled-over window on the other side of this stove. There is virtually no counter space and I've also discovered that I hate over-the-stove microwaves. I don't like lifting hot things down from above my line of vision. The stove didn't work when we moved in and we discovered that not only was it not plugged in, there wasn't even a electric cord attached to it. Whoever remodeled made some hasty decisions.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglZMVpEOytRfbLfShEruo6_gJv-lFOXSmJI7DyWz0K72lY5a8USuMM_Rm7NfPIAQac0JAyHgqcg_iJHCjjBUoe12hN8T6kShBxgdz1Xf5tLhYqYxluI2C2QeWUrtjOKuDjnoc6LMRq2HU/s2048/DF67C7C0-E5DC-4371-8CDF-0F7893C79CDD.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglZMVpEOytRfbLfShEruo6_gJv-lFOXSmJI7DyWz0K72lY5a8USuMM_Rm7NfPIAQac0JAyHgqcg_iJHCjjBUoe12hN8T6kShBxgdz1Xf5tLhYqYxluI2C2QeWUrtjOKuDjnoc6LMRq2HU/w400-h300/DF67C7C0-E5DC-4371-8CDF-0F7893C79CDD.heic" width="400" /></a>
</div>But it's a fine place to stay for now, so I'm not really complaining. I would have loved to have seen it back when it was surrounded by farmland and still using the coal that would have gone down this chute into the basement. Turns out, it used to be owned by the couple across the street, Bud and Joanne. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEeknNMNaYrgH1Q7IMVUY9WKOumMYnocxQRpTSyt79FIuGj5oZcy5Buq-R7PtjBiExLLLNU5fvJUEm09fX_7isXKu8nzz0RRhw7jtMErUVktLiTPea7BzPqe4NGKfjbLk9wH78MV0xEX4/s2048/52E56F02-2B83-43E4-B23D-88D82A5086EF.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEeknNMNaYrgH1Q7IMVUY9WKOumMYnocxQRpTSyt79FIuGj5oZcy5Buq-R7PtjBiExLLLNU5fvJUEm09fX_7isXKu8nzz0RRhw7jtMErUVktLiTPea7BzPqe4NGKfjbLk9wH78MV0xEX4/w400-h300/52E56F02-2B83-43E4-B23D-88D82A5086EF.heic" width="400" /></a></div>That's Bud, working in his garden. He's out there every day. Joanne seems to spend a lot of time on the riding lawnmower or walking around spraying weeds. They are both 90. I'm in awe.<br /><div><br /></div>Secret Agent Womanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07564690116156754219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8104951117718966173.post-43207028772071811072021-09-12T09:50:00.001-04:002021-09-12T17:18:38.732-04:00And then this happened.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYMfPcKUCH4IpYJCthFaGJkvEnpSETWcU4xF6SMbtbTS5jC4zodSU0EeDPMdT3riZH0HMpthhdJSz8nkjmw-RNuUKAogbMS1UqWprzfmt85Az0sRdZjZWSO_7mj-c9o6iMNroHyVhlynY/s2048/E9842E77-465D-422D-9670-24E5F2D5FCB0.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYMfPcKUCH4IpYJCthFaGJkvEnpSETWcU4xF6SMbtbTS5jC4zodSU0EeDPMdT3riZH0HMpthhdJSz8nkjmw-RNuUKAogbMS1UqWprzfmt85Az0sRdZjZWSO_7mj-c9o6iMNroHyVhlynY/w300-h400/E9842E77-465D-422D-9670-24E5F2D5FCB0.heic" width="300" /></a></div>Did you even know there was such a thing as grass fleas? I didn't. But now I do. The front beds at this rental house were pretty overgrown with all the rain we've gotten and so I waded in to get them back to semi-reasonable. In sandals and yoga pants. Big mistake. Those little freakers ate me alive and I din't know it until that night when suddenly my legs were on fire. Apparently they love tall vegetation and wet conditions. It's been more than a week now and I look about the same with barely any reduction in itching. And that is even after a cortisone shot and benedryl. The weeds can take over this house for all I care, I will NOT be doing more weeding.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNNJdy5XWHwLske0hFjrQCzJiqa4bA18ODUJpX2GdiNmndUH_S7s8N89AwnmJoj-XUNOtJSWeydUHMYBNYj7T682mwH_yOBFjjIlU6Zu9ldDhVxTSMucVVE9vAq0Rs0l6TMHLIM_IMXq0/s2048/E913C3AF-2002-4B1F-BBCB-2FC3E31BDD27.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNNJdy5XWHwLske0hFjrQCzJiqa4bA18ODUJpX2GdiNmndUH_S7s8N89AwnmJoj-XUNOtJSWeydUHMYBNYj7T682mwH_yOBFjjIlU6Zu9ldDhVxTSMucVVE9vAq0Rs0l6TMHLIM_IMXq0/w400-h300/E913C3AF-2002-4B1F-BBCB-2FC3E31BDD27.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>Up at the Ridge, the footers got poured and then nothing this past week as our builder waits for supplies to be delivered. With disruptions to the supply chain just standard now, I think we will be doing a lot of waiting.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihY_wdgm9Z2KERNRE1ieN9gezQAbgKzkjIFZ7m1Uw8OCMctNTpgYaTvN6Bl2Q-XnlscRvy1xdE1zNX_r-sUQZHRD0LgFJIkvxgvrnamDhDcFD6Tfm3vV6NApx2DpK-No8_BNpo5f9sTtE/s2048/B9BD6CE7-182C-4FA4-B6B9-040042A54A99_1_201_a.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1814" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihY_wdgm9Z2KERNRE1ieN9gezQAbgKzkjIFZ7m1Uw8OCMctNTpgYaTvN6Bl2Q-XnlscRvy1xdE1zNX_r-sUQZHRD0LgFJIkvxgvrnamDhDcFD6Tfm3vV6NApx2DpK-No8_BNpo5f9sTtE/w354-h400/B9BD6CE7-182C-4FA4-B6B9-040042A54A99_1_201_a.heic" width="354" /></a></div>In the meantime, the big raccoon continues to sponge off us, coming by every night to eat the cat's food in the shed. Look at his footprint compared to the little kitty paw next to it.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFZmu7gWn96jVou98cJE6ItLtvuaiGQ_GNCeZChYGl8bd9r79xQz5aNvZfgkaGw1zlc7HkvIF7EKONUBlsP15qRuifLcQ6YfZCnJy_3Csd3pi3XbI_UvUiqZ6PP9mOSzTweaHXEaV-Yxo/s1838/2B511827-6680-4761-826E-09571AB1A332_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1483" data-original-width="1838" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFZmu7gWn96jVou98cJE6ItLtvuaiGQ_GNCeZChYGl8bd9r79xQz5aNvZfgkaGw1zlc7HkvIF7EKONUBlsP15qRuifLcQ6YfZCnJy_3Csd3pi3XbI_UvUiqZ6PP9mOSzTweaHXEaV-Yxo/w400-h323/2B511827-6680-4761-826E-09571AB1A332_1_201_a.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div>He doesn't seem to bother the cats, so we tolerate him. Sometimes if it has been a couple of days and the food runs out, he gets angry and tosses things around in the shed. But otherwise, no real damage done. I enjoy checking the trail cam we have set up to see when he visits.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghoNaksmNcprbw065yXJCfHOzBP6ziX8v_J9tGSLJAj3uHKYDrzszgUMouwFcFhI-akXTY4DVTGOWuulDz01ecmY3vFWoBYjPQjCrA-jXeTBtY51wCSBjUfCe_9PRKH0dDTgwYXCRS01M/s2048/946A478C-00D9-49C1-A673-380FFAEADB74_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1433" data-original-width="2048" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghoNaksmNcprbw065yXJCfHOzBP6ziX8v_J9tGSLJAj3uHKYDrzszgUMouwFcFhI-akXTY4DVTGOWuulDz01ecmY3vFWoBYjPQjCrA-jXeTBtY51wCSBjUfCe_9PRKH0dDTgwYXCRS01M/w400-h280/946A478C-00D9-49C1-A673-380FFAEADB74_1_201_a.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>The trail cam also notes when we arrive, of course. I usually turn it off if we are there for a while, but first things first - there are cats demanding affection.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB4BLGewpZUnlmxxGLGnRFlv5LZUWVECvT4_J7kihXHg5YKMbCviGVCkNQVThJhATYoM9DMf0YL0RK0TJMyb1y7RduWw4LV4aRFM6rWl_uE58BajDqhqLqTBORZmMklA01dllaAokVlxc/s2048/C527AF4F-3BFF-42EE-8458-565FB1FDB624_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1095" data-original-width="2048" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB4BLGewpZUnlmxxGLGnRFlv5LZUWVECvT4_J7kihXHg5YKMbCviGVCkNQVThJhATYoM9DMf0YL0RK0TJMyb1y7RduWw4LV4aRFM6rWl_uE58BajDqhqLqTBORZmMklA01dllaAokVlxc/w400-h214/C527AF4F-3BFF-42EE-8458-565FB1FDB624_1_201_a.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>And then on Tuesday, there was this. Two people poking around near the shed and tiny house. Incidentally, the only way onto the property is through or around a padlocked gate with a 'no trespassing' sign on it. So this was no innocent "we just happened to be wandering by" event. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRAKDdAFsZsH80uX-Ruc6n5pkdaiNunCk2a6omg7-z4VhJQXovd93GtRsPCRYpzehADClpFX78Xi_yQ6MLqlDhS0KOymQya84K7_uT3Q7ICu19p6K0XVBUbeWMH03h8CS-5EURbTMLCdg/s2048/48E5C2EA-80F3-4586-AFD9-8346A7A8F351_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1091" data-original-width="2048" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRAKDdAFsZsH80uX-Ruc6n5pkdaiNunCk2a6omg7-z4VhJQXovd93GtRsPCRYpzehADClpFX78Xi_yQ6MLqlDhS0KOymQya84K7_uT3Q7ICu19p6K0XVBUbeWMH03h8CS-5EURbTMLCdg/w400-h213/48E5C2EA-80F3-4586-AFD9-8346A7A8F351_1_201_a.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>One of the two stayed mostly off camera. And how they didn't notice the trail cam, which isn't hidden at all, I couldn't say. Too busy looking at everything else, I guess. I sent the photos to the Sheriff's department and then spoke with a deputy who said they'd do occasional drive-bys. But hell, in a place this small everybody is kin to everybody and these people could be family of the Sheriff for all we know. Whoever they are, they've figured out that we aren't there during the weekdays. I'm hoping once building gets going, the more constant presence will deter these folks. Because man, I don't want to end up in one of those redneck scenarios where I'm shooting a methhead who is trespassing.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqqNUbdaHyeLf4zMhNIWUuddQKAIfrTksu9kdI_-NJVyXCGHk5CscRBKI41_y0y5Hsbtz57cDA3rNyBjWPG2UhcjTL8RZLrlGTkhzVIa9rAfrLuu2pa4wG_tqDf8XU64-1u6CECh8TL0E/s969/A431EE87-19F3-48FA-9262-5E14177F07EF_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="965" data-original-width="969" height="399" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqqNUbdaHyeLf4zMhNIWUuddQKAIfrTksu9kdI_-NJVyXCGHk5CscRBKI41_y0y5Hsbtz57cDA3rNyBjWPG2UhcjTL8RZLrlGTkhzVIa9rAfrLuu2pa4wG_tqDf8XU64-1u6CECh8TL0E/w400-h399/A431EE87-19F3-48FA-9262-5E14177F07EF_1_201_a.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>Deep breath. And your moment of Zen with this little hummingbird who triggered the trailcam one evening.Secret Agent Womanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07564690116156754219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8104951117718966173.post-64747071911471449792021-08-24T19:31:00.021-04:002021-08-24T19:42:14.013-04:00Out and about in Appalachia.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwOJKPzU4Ji7EfDlYHsOT1EN2KF5lvz4qoZoCWH1CUmEIbSAYbgPiDPR4eQL9tg8981vZSdW_AVD1dF-ZGx9W5vw-2NcxiMRlv5zNKO5zHzuqJvv_j7U3cMH_t9rA49Xffno1K6fzNJ1w/s2048/685D9BE7-8ACB-4530-A7C0-9E885C6F7060.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwOJKPzU4Ji7EfDlYHsOT1EN2KF5lvz4qoZoCWH1CUmEIbSAYbgPiDPR4eQL9tg8981vZSdW_AVD1dF-ZGx9W5vw-2NcxiMRlv5zNKO5zHzuqJvv_j7U3cMH_t9rA49Xffno1K6fzNJ1w/w400-h300/685D9BE7-8ACB-4530-A7C0-9E885C6F7060.heic" width="400" /></a></div><br />Saturday we had a morning appointment to look at kitchen cabinets, but by 9 or so, we had a whole empty day ahead of us. After a quick check at the Ridge (which has come to a standstill with the rain), we decided to do a little exploring in the area. We first drove over to Lake Norris, to see if any of the marinas had restaurants. At one place, the guy in the little store recommended Jimmy's Place but could not remember where that was. We drove around the shoreline until we finally saw a sign, and found this little floating restaurant, where we sat outside in the shade and had a beer and some fried catfish.<p></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFEczhBD4fK7R_Uuugbrt3810ka7xWBjaXSHuRWDTUqLP-ccUBNS6mp94hcBPb38GBcUPyxW9eLgoa-TkvQ7FJLdpYl17ioBO713C8jla2SUmeeTetYQsbkfp8uTB0C8orGlB4Cgu-8p0/s2048/77973A56-2698-4DFA-91EA-8AC2594088EE_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1537" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFEczhBD4fK7R_Uuugbrt3810ka7xWBjaXSHuRWDTUqLP-ccUBNS6mp94hcBPb38GBcUPyxW9eLgoa-TkvQ7FJLdpYl17ioBO713C8jla2SUmeeTetYQsbkfp8uTB0C8orGlB4Cgu-8p0/w400-h300/77973A56-2698-4DFA-91EA-8AC2594088EE_1_201_a.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>After lunch we kept driving, all the way up to a little town called Sneedville, near the Kentucky border. It's such a contrast of stunning natural beauty and deep, deep poverty.</div><div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqhTwCtw7Qd3oDh5Q2Zi8HzN_SZGpj9E6SrCZv7i9-iafLB5UD2HUQmdLlW8tObuzZHgQ8-Cin4QHUUoI22Ko4doGUb8kDlRqjLsYd0XFq8w0Kw3ymY04j_nVQZbVccPkIrpPg83QBHi0/s2048/C02670AC-2909-4CBF-BF5D-88CA43E3593C.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqhTwCtw7Qd3oDh5Q2Zi8HzN_SZGpj9E6SrCZv7i9-iafLB5UD2HUQmdLlW8tObuzZHgQ8-Cin4QHUUoI22Ko4doGUb8kDlRqjLsYd0XFq8w0Kw3ymY04j_nVQZbVccPkIrpPg83QBHi0/w400-h300/C02670AC-2909-4CBF-BF5D-88CA43E3593C.heic" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>As we were winding our way toward home, we passed a small sign that said "Elrod Falls." This called for a U-turn. The signs lead us down a tiny backroad. When we got to the little park, there were a handful of people there by a creek. But no actual falls in sight. Then we saw some kids walking up a little path and decided to check that out. </div><div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ12P5uaDeWzPa-fmdNOUuvF0Y3PQlqUYyUPuBz3qcLVWP2s378Lm0AbqbEIedieETCffqLplvRRadgHyCw9uNRh-d-Yp7gyOd1KaLP65h3jXsgeQ3GAkteo-gzdsBfV5-V07WIcDt8Do/s2048/F238A522-AFC3-43C8-892C-AC936F383DCD.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ12P5uaDeWzPa-fmdNOUuvF0Y3PQlqUYyUPuBz3qcLVWP2s378Lm0AbqbEIedieETCffqLplvRRadgHyCw9uNRh-d-Yp7gyOd1KaLP65h3jXsgeQ3GAkteo-gzdsBfV5-V07WIcDt8Do/w300-h400/F238A522-AFC3-43C8-892C-AC936F383DCD.heic" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The falls were as pretty as anything in The Smokies, and there were less than a dozen people there, hanging out on the rocks and watching a kid swim in the pool at the base of the falls. And then a woman asked us if we'd been up to the falls above. What? So off we went.</div><div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNYwxn3adkbjsWLuLABcfhyTEEki6fIZZBLnp8M6fpZ7_RTp7tWR97ITqkXcV8kun1GaC-HNucOBx-n8MvV465bTZ9RAP0MsCctCvjSzMEcZmYVY73saSTLlqiGYrhy0XV_5yHm0jkuxI/s2048/54F09723-FB82-4F03-A27E-898555D2314C.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNYwxn3adkbjsWLuLABcfhyTEEki6fIZZBLnp8M6fpZ7_RTp7tWR97ITqkXcV8kun1GaC-HNucOBx-n8MvV465bTZ9RAP0MsCctCvjSzMEcZmYVY73saSTLlqiGYrhy0XV_5yHm0jkuxI/w300-h400/54F09723-FB82-4F03-A27E-898555D2314C.heic" width="300" /></a></div><div><div><br /></div><div>It was steep and slippery on the climb up. But it was so beautiful and we were the only two there.<br /></div>Well, the only two not counting this water snake, sunning himself on a rock and watching the waterfall.</div><div><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeCyApU1SngeiKRfsiNpJyKMBdwYdc5gSrdUIIRSYztj_X2MtBmbdTBj__C-fHx1sGvv1705BjtNYIaZTIp_3ToBlXwa_K2pHVq8PNUUzElNwY9o7ovwXDUyLD2SxK6uekIXurwlWS1ts/s2048/EB267507-C409-4BC8-8865-CA644FF7F696.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeCyApU1SngeiKRfsiNpJyKMBdwYdc5gSrdUIIRSYztj_X2MtBmbdTBj__C-fHx1sGvv1705BjtNYIaZTIp_3ToBlXwa_K2pHVq8PNUUzElNwY9o7ovwXDUyLD2SxK6uekIXurwlWS1ts/w300-h400/EB267507-C409-4BC8-8865-CA644FF7F696.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div></div>The climb down was even more treacherous, and as you can see I did not have the appropriate shoes. We read later that there is a third waterfall higher up, and I'd like to go back to see that. In hiking boots this time. All in all, a pretty great day and the detours were well worth it.<div><br /></div>Secret Agent Womanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07564690116156754219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8104951117718966173.post-66670706794137665662021-08-17T10:38:00.000-04:002021-08-17T10:38:09.087-04:00Computer issues.I'm having to take my over-heating computer into the Apple store, so I've been using it sparingly. Just a couple of quick things from recently.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg75bdZceU4ONqcstoHYV_aXz7GoXD_qKNojsDC4CEovCZDdbdAbZ5D2DVcdX__UmsyO8MfZIT3Kz6TDe8pG-OKhh5qH9jWJQytByM5Mm3cAf5ReJvunuGTL-mY1sLzB_O5n3-AHKI8a5E/s2048/5314C19D-4F4C-4C83-9A55-6BFE5B16A14E.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg75bdZceU4ONqcstoHYV_aXz7GoXD_qKNojsDC4CEovCZDdbdAbZ5D2DVcdX__UmsyO8MfZIT3Kz6TDe8pG-OKhh5qH9jWJQytByM5Mm3cAf5ReJvunuGTL-mY1sLzB_O5n3-AHKI8a5E/w300-h400/5314C19D-4F4C-4C83-9A55-6BFE5B16A14E.heic" width="300" /></a></div>One was a trip up to Louisville to visit my older son. He is extremely private so no photos. He is now with an optometry group and wanted to show us around the office. As we left, the office manager called to him, <i>"Bye Doctor!" </i>He seemed confidant in his new role. His girlfriend, also an optometrist, joined us for dinner and then we went to their apartment to meet their dog, a sweet furry Old English Sheepdog/Poodle mix. It's really nice having them just 250 miles away and I am already planning our next visit. While we were in town we also met up with my sister-in-law for lunch. She is a sweetheart who was a rock thorugh my cancer and I treasure that relationship.<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwbES3PVDO4UUWLPreku3vN_QoEFXfus9W0FGBxs1cIW-md4QqRVaRyuHzAfHYKIpyzD5ATt_-nsV85df5-B5OsmsdT9wNdAH5PdL5F8yBHj_UoBB73OqyRT9J8UMGgk1xhJ0n8b5JNRs/s2048/E153D2C9-9A89-4455-B9D9-F14A7ACC7431.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwbES3PVDO4UUWLPreku3vN_QoEFXfus9W0FGBxs1cIW-md4QqRVaRyuHzAfHYKIpyzD5ATt_-nsV85df5-B5OsmsdT9wNdAH5PdL5F8yBHj_UoBB73OqyRT9J8UMGgk1xhJ0n8b5JNRs/w400-h300/E153D2C9-9A89-4455-B9D9-F14A7ACC7431.heic" width="400" /></a></div>The next morning on our way home we stopped in Lexington to visit my Dad's grave and do our traditional bourbon toast, pouring one on his grave. It's really a beautiful, peaceful cemetery.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSCUkivVzN0CE4UmYots-cSfpRqgcwFihYnwkGFZuZol-rfWdye9PDCocYsO9t_2yHrMTXsBD7hYwvlzuoAgiBbutDOb29_WonWCmNqR_4o4k2hKueaJ3N1WjUDoSWcBucHfBZlohFen0/s2048/143B3044-34C5-4A73-A691-25E8AEFE4A5B_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1937" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSCUkivVzN0CE4UmYots-cSfpRqgcwFihYnwkGFZuZol-rfWdye9PDCocYsO9t_2yHrMTXsBD7hYwvlzuoAgiBbutDOb29_WonWCmNqR_4o4k2hKueaJ3N1WjUDoSWcBucHfBZlohFen0/w379-h400/143B3044-34C5-4A73-A691-25E8AEFE4A5B_1_201_a.jpeg" width="379" /></a></div>The family has a long history in Lexington so there are relatives buried there from a couple hundred years ago, including government figures like former Vice President Breckinridge. And loads of family whose gravestones bear military insignia. I know my father would love being here.<br /><p></p>
<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHY0dH0TwbyHnN72TPCEuJH3av53HyO8STMVS3w3FTozIv4y2oypcXGpxmjw3y8jWoEGRHgLWJQQbLfr8a_OzUy2CJUdgMlzg-yFn7np8iSQNqv8f6oB__NVINwyof6BUONOdlz2JfvyE/s2048/70C5BF6B-42B5-4F05-9B8E-ECBD8C735878.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHY0dH0TwbyHnN72TPCEuJH3av53HyO8STMVS3w3FTozIv4y2oypcXGpxmjw3y8jWoEGRHgLWJQQbLfr8a_OzUy2CJUdgMlzg-yFn7np8iSQNqv8f6oB__NVINwyof6BUONOdlz2JfvyE/w300-h400/70C5BF6B-42B5-4F05-9B8E-ECBD8C735878.heic" width="300" /></a></div>
This past weekend more of my in-laws (sister, brother, his wife and the kids) rented a cabin in the Smokies and we went down for the day. It was nice hanging out on the deck and catching up in our first visit since the pandemic started. As we drove home that night, I texted my younger son to see how he was doing with the heatwave in Portland. When he moved to work with the tree service company his dream was to make it his career and become a climber. He started as ground crew but has advanced to climbing and told me in our last phone call that he loved it. He texted me back that evening to say he had foremanned his first job on Friday. I don't know what it was about that, but an unescapable truth just walloped me as we drove - my baby boys are well and truly men now. The fact that they have both landed in good spots in their lives brings me so much peace.</div>Secret Agent Womanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07564690116156754219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8104951117718966173.post-4874828105293859842021-08-08T19:20:00.000-04:002021-08-08T19:20:46.242-04:00And just like that, we're off!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx5CAPRyFjTQcZQ88hV0AMa0aVX8d6s1QyHLU7KmzLsEsAefwEXk6-OZErofTpIXfQhqthPZHiVpm-6SpZ-LvhF54rmJIbpmWdM0GTYVzJCTyPZdzmCr0wFaXKSPBka1lyKup2uhgG7Pw/s2048/FEA74E10-0B33-4B7B-8054-1536C06560A2.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx5CAPRyFjTQcZQ88hV0AMa0aVX8d6s1QyHLU7KmzLsEsAefwEXk6-OZErofTpIXfQhqthPZHiVpm-6SpZ-LvhF54rmJIbpmWdM0GTYVzJCTyPZdzmCr0wFaXKSPBka1lyKup2uhgG7Pw/w400-h300/FEA74E10-0B33-4B7B-8054-1536C06560A2.heic" width="400" /></a></div>We broke ground on Friday, which was actually a surprise to us. We were scheduled to start on Monday. Even though I'm excited about the build, it still hurt to see the land cleared. I don't know what I thought would happen - maybe a house would be built and magically nestled into the forest with very little destruction. But even though it's small house, they have to clear off enough space to work. Which included the place I had earmarked fro a chicken coop. I am working on just shrugging and trusting that it will all work out.<br /><p></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjci285lZSv_BzCbTtwy5ItNoE20dvzH9xsFfdHyD6wCc7hItEfywy2EjZYKcXkHq_Wt-ZyRgaOjlFZiNVvuHK8pMToCKGQwkpt2OIMXxuR9wxTsljQdqDRf_zCnJnpNRYNIIQxSFEVMsI/s2048/7E036A57-4DE6-4DAD-8082-DD0BBA44CB8B.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjci285lZSv_BzCbTtwy5ItNoE20dvzH9xsFfdHyD6wCc7hItEfywy2EjZYKcXkHq_Wt-ZyRgaOjlFZiNVvuHK8pMToCKGQwkpt2OIMXxuR9wxTsljQdqDRf_zCnJnpNRYNIIQxSFEVMsI/w300-h400/7E036A57-4DE6-4DAD-8082-DD0BBA44CB8B.heic" width="300" /></a></div>
In the meantime, we've been amassing things required for the build that we'd prefer to pick out ourselves - light fixtures, fans, sinks, and so on. We have things stored in the tiny house, in a storage unit and some in our rental house.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDMDZeiTXV-swdfNrVZ65c4kZuHEF1loSex4EH4sVQE5aooGRUAwGGtVSrQzvTNr5qY9-U54HBqSdWveWoJHT2yol0O1dXza8KxFWPyRcbSOXBrw8wH-_0q1uaYhLFO9B9tjU8VEFpUkU/s2048/ECEFD69B-2454-480F-94D3-C6031B0C5709.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDMDZeiTXV-swdfNrVZ65c4kZuHEF1loSex4EH4sVQE5aooGRUAwGGtVSrQzvTNr5qY9-U54HBqSdWveWoJHT2yol0O1dXza8KxFWPyRcbSOXBrw8wH-_0q1uaYhLFO9B9tjU8VEFpUkU/w300-h400/ECEFD69B-2454-480F-94D3-C6031B0C5709.heic" width="300" /></a></div>
We met with the builder and signed a contract a few days after we closed on our house. He gave us a long itemized list of estimates and we are trying to decide exactly what we want and also where we can economize. I'm making room layouts on graph paper spending ridiculous amounts of time online researching various aspects. Like flooring - wood or bamboo? What bathtub options are available but still reasonable? And so on ad naseum.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5fWlnjqK9GovlJHSD-AIjQoMkJ7MAVbuWvDPszXVKMNPTD9eQIUZLyobQCprS3TmmRZYysGO5mWK8pfSBpcSggguWaIEWppMu6eNuZ4thPOC2nISN8Mou6c2qX4U2bviWh_DWAKcFdPo/s2048/E939E11D-C353-48F5-973E-2CA943426950.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5fWlnjqK9GovlJHSD-AIjQoMkJ7MAVbuWvDPszXVKMNPTD9eQIUZLyobQCprS3TmmRZYysGO5mWK8pfSBpcSggguWaIEWppMu6eNuZ4thPOC2nISN8Mou6c2qX4U2bviWh_DWAKcFdPo/w300-h400/E939E11D-C353-48F5-973E-2CA943426950.heic" width="300" /></a></div>
<p>Our builder sent us on missions to particular supply stores he likes to work with to pick out tile and what not. And then we comparison shopped until we were glassy-eyed. You know, there really are too many choices out there. And you can only look at so many samples of anything before it starts blurring together. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRdP2pUjIjpfYrP5Tl9nMTv7b5qHKtRPoImBaQRn1iYz8YNHU0W3bL-vylEzgucVPZiltddBXEwgTYu4ucFln82eIaSpR8Of7Dc2NNRuOn_9hwLsPjZEHteg8asFPxaPgehIvmcc6QUdY/s2048/FA497998-95FA-40B8-AFBB-E24AF83E6D96_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1840" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRdP2pUjIjpfYrP5Tl9nMTv7b5qHKtRPoImBaQRn1iYz8YNHU0W3bL-vylEzgucVPZiltddBXEwgTYu4ucFln82eIaSpR8Of7Dc2NNRuOn_9hwLsPjZEHteg8asFPxaPgehIvmcc6QUdY/w360-h400/FA497998-95FA-40B8-AFBB-E24AF83E6D96_1_201_a.jpeg" width="360" /></a></div>
We went back up to the property today to stash a few things in the tiny house and saw this truck, wrecked on our property. My husband called the Sheriff's office and the dispatcher assured him it wasn't wrecked, the truck had just broken down and the owner would be back to get it Monday. Uh huh. Because when my vehicle breaks down, I leave skid marks on the pavement and crumble off the edge of the road and then smash into the bank and crush one corner of my car. And leave it "parked" in the drainage ditch. Nope. This had drunk driver written all over it. We took pictures and called back with more details and the dispatcher allowed as how that was different than the story they'd been given and they'd send an officer out. When we went back to check, they were towing it away. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCLnlhNTRHSLnoSncU8ouCmY9Z6yymDI6oCKnX4Sv3rhc4vgarfgUX6YqJ_dIOx3twn9v9XwWtuH6sTo5G40uL3xXvUjXLhth5WEkZfTJH7cU4kJc8vOaYOlCUHcJ-_jWWDqTxneDs1Fk/s2048/25A20520-88FA-47AC-ADE0-1A2809F95117.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCLnlhNTRHSLnoSncU8ouCmY9Z6yymDI6oCKnX4Sv3rhc4vgarfgUX6YqJ_dIOx3twn9v9XwWtuH6sTo5G40uL3xXvUjXLhth5WEkZfTJH7cU4kJc8vOaYOlCUHcJ-_jWWDqTxneDs1Fk/w300-h400/25A20520-88FA-47AC-ADE0-1A2809F95117.heic" width="300" /></a></div>I suspect we're in for many more interesting sights in our new hometown.<br /><div><br /></div>Secret Agent Womanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07564690116156754219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8104951117718966173.post-59482806447124288942021-07-23T15:53:00.003-04:002021-07-23T15:53:53.139-04:00I know, it's been a minute.<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQm0tywi55bd2Pk4ZuI6vSR3N1c2QNfXkhOI5x6kbq0ljCg6fVHqbXH3oiGCox-aDIgDSgtHnYA49CGjpa3EgeaCCdb-JUDXtbWmUWiXda3ohFyQBCVA5VZplqeY7T7wWgbGG49sUmDD8/s1024/A62C3C8D-16F8-4443-8DC6-AE0D547CD6B7.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="627" data-original-width="1024" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQm0tywi55bd2Pk4ZuI6vSR3N1c2QNfXkhOI5x6kbq0ljCg6fVHqbXH3oiGCox-aDIgDSgtHnYA49CGjpa3EgeaCCdb-JUDXtbWmUWiXda3ohFyQBCVA5VZplqeY7T7wWgbGG49sUmDD8/w400-h245/A62C3C8D-16F8-4443-8DC6-AE0D547CD6B7.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>But y'all. I have been completely pre-occupied with a somewhat sudden decision to sell our house. The more time I spent at the Ridge, the more I wanted to be there full time. And it's a seller's market right now that can't possibly last. So we called a realtor friend, signed a lease on a rental house, moved, and listed ours a little over a month ago. And on that weekend, 6 offers came in. One early offer well below our listed price, which we turned down instantly. They re-thought and re-offered. Their new offer and all remaining offers were above our asking price. Interestingly, I was drawn toward one particular offer, but our realtor suggested accepting another due to their loan requiring a lower appraisal cut-off. Those folks backed out, though, and the offer I had wanted to go with in the first place was back in play. I can't even explain it, but I felt strongly that that person was the right one for our house. So - inspection, appraisal, underwriting... and today we met at closing. Before I went to the closing, I swung by the house one last time to leave her a note with information about the house and neighborhood, a vase of flowers, a chocolate bar, and a bottle of champagne. The seller was a young woman buying her first home who had fallen in love with the house the same way I did. She said that when she walked in, she instantly felt like it was a happy place. She said she'd been looking at houses and expected it to be a long, difficult search, but somehow everything had just aligned for her. And that she has continued to look at new listings and each time she thinks, "My new house is better than that one." Tonight, she is having some friends over to see it and celebrate with her and I could not be happier for her. Seriously, could it have gone any better than that?<p></p><p>So, that nail-biter is over and we talk with our builder tonight about getting started on construction. I plan to get back to blogging and will make the rounds. I missed you guys, but just couldn't bring myself to do anything until we got finished and I could see the money wired to my account. I've got a lot of catching up to do!</p>Secret Agent Womanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07564690116156754219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8104951117718966173.post-65231343405195214022021-05-06T17:15:00.001-04:002021-05-06T20:27:40.428-04:00Proud mama.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh44cBHNe7dL2RLFv7Ujcp8k_106AwPcevdc6qU2iP4rMkqqdOIo9t0RI1i6b7wXIJI8FbthBUrljiEfUAjszF8IDf0oHKw0AQWZO64lnM793R2r-TZi8hJ8YSLkJdVeYsQ1XILUBOGx5E/s2048/ABA9B2DE-C934-4068-B272-3D192D96B32A.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh44cBHNe7dL2RLFv7Ujcp8k_106AwPcevdc6qU2iP4rMkqqdOIo9t0RI1i6b7wXIJI8FbthBUrljiEfUAjszF8IDf0oHKw0AQWZO64lnM793R2r-TZi8hJ8YSLkJdVeYsQ1XILUBOGx5E/w400-h300/ABA9B2DE-C934-4068-B272-3D192D96B32A.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>On Monday morning, my husband and I picked up a rental car and made the long trek to Memphis. We've done a fair amount of traveling globally, but have seen very little of the U.S. together, so when we get a chance to detour into other states, we do. First up was crossing the Mississippi River to Arkansas. There wasn't much to see, other than this greyhound racing facility. No dogs in sight, however.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9gWIm-kXYUPspKLmCcNGuqzQIVIZXQSGY7G3X5ApwdC_eXphqk1d7Vmhr_LR1ZCED6e87ZAhXNfum8iT3rqCy-dXiwxjjQP1ug_FGLhnYd8TkdIcUWcIDDvCM0q1meBY-HNNk42kTTDc/s2048/76EB98C3-88BD-4E84-A282-E512779F844E.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9gWIm-kXYUPspKLmCcNGuqzQIVIZXQSGY7G3X5ApwdC_eXphqk1d7Vmhr_LR1ZCED6e87ZAhXNfum8iT3rqCy-dXiwxjjQP1ug_FGLhnYd8TkdIcUWcIDDvCM0q1meBY-HNNk42kTTDc/w300-h400/76EB98C3-88BD-4E84-A282-E512779F844E.heic" width="300" /></a></div>On our way to our hotel, we stopped by IKEA, because I had never been in one. What an odd place. They have all these strange vignettes set up to show their items being lived with. Somehow it all just made me twitchy. That night we met up with my older son and his girlfriend, and all 7 parents (4 parents, 3 stepparents). This is the first time I've eaten inside a restaurant since the pandemic began. The wouldn't let us push our tables together, so we got two close to each other and my son and his girlfriend kept switching back and forth. I really enjoyed getting to know her parents, who are all very friendly and funny. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguJSYZuJ6odUcQ5cTGmsrwxTO2utvQwdAaeE5FKWwPa731aTkq9DJJ9cwe46Hp8XGKaoAlv1Skz4iNgL4F6yUwsrZf3rSQ1amAml7CF0OX9TvaFcq7D4F9gwHI5EWLJuXvDh1SKNbkWQM/s2048/372A0B08-D34F-477A-94CE-B9FA6496744F.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguJSYZuJ6odUcQ5cTGmsrwxTO2utvQwdAaeE5FKWwPa731aTkq9DJJ9cwe46Hp8XGKaoAlv1Skz4iNgL4F6yUwsrZf3rSQ1amAml7CF0OX9TvaFcq7D4F9gwHI5EWLJuXvDh1SKNbkWQM/w300-h400/372A0B08-D34F-477A-94CE-B9FA6496744F.heic" width="300" /></a></div>The next morning we drove down to Olive Branch, Mississippi to add another state. This one had a lovely park, so it was more worth the trip.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJFPOyZvROET3s9hxFMb3gQiYNtih_oTDpIYmlgDf0hensiJMz-3YeVEgBvPrmStU62ld1M1MPv4tGiesBQ1-AIfCTNZ6dcmDGOXHOxOtMd0dNsc-HHAqjgDdRLxdYS_7AFPTNmd2HXGU/s2048/8953C6A3-2C2B-4C2A-95BE-ED750A323FB7.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJFPOyZvROET3s9hxFMb3gQiYNtih_oTDpIYmlgDf0hensiJMz-3YeVEgBvPrmStU62ld1M1MPv4tGiesBQ1-AIfCTNZ6dcmDGOXHOxOtMd0dNsc-HHAqjgDdRLxdYS_7AFPTNmd2HXGU/w300-h400/8953C6A3-2C2B-4C2A-95BE-ED750A323FB7.heic" width="300" /></a></div>We walked on the trail for a little while before heading back to town.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiInOV0yT3g8RW4v30RjpdiK81sV650-UwyFaMJfXmnPHDsSkA7F_MdohziehdraBjjIYNFjkGGrUs-5ncrwWU3WoM71kHa6A7VqleKCyTWKIKr1hqCP9nwODtLr9AWkyt-vGNHAiYddfs/s2048/9FD053C1-0CBD-4D2E-BAE4-D6ABDFBB207B.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiInOV0yT3g8RW4v30RjpdiK81sV650-UwyFaMJfXmnPHDsSkA7F_MdohziehdraBjjIYNFjkGGrUs-5ncrwWU3WoM71kHa6A7VqleKCyTWKIKr1hqCP9nwODtLr9AWkyt-vGNHAiYddfs/w300-h400/9FD053C1-0CBD-4D2E-BAE4-D6ABDFBB207B.heic" width="300" /></a></div>Mask up y'all! Memphis is doing a MUCH better job of insisting everyone continue to mask than our hometown is.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiOrZ72NHvBXiX7cxPzBNP7uWYEQRvFe221Xd88bt0F_n0pcOtiXukxneyXnFDdNYwqfVAh7WoKVPoo07C6jAf0WXCb_Pnd6OzMyXMhzR2qrM2iUnC1Bd1Y7-9d4SEH1EuxjbbCziZGKI/s2048/AB6938E2-DA86-455B-90B4-05926E172C69.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiOrZ72NHvBXiX7cxPzBNP7uWYEQRvFe221Xd88bt0F_n0pcOtiXukxneyXnFDdNYwqfVAh7WoKVPoo07C6jAf0WXCb_Pnd6OzMyXMhzR2qrM2iUnC1Bd1Y7-9d4SEH1EuxjbbCziZGKI/w400-h300/AB6938E2-DA86-455B-90B4-05926E172C69.heic" width="400" /></a></div>We walked around Beale Street for a little while, although it was too early for music. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD0h8YsOms7uSkxk2pyaCh9LOX11_6015v8XhfOmAE5dkkBZ9uOn7Ut-KnrMDl5jZWRWhuQ0IWhmfx95VOyb8nVG4B4BO9bELXV26m6tQmhxgfKwPaSqgotkTT3K8Z7LLPzytitaVYHAo/s2048/BC739BA7-1F1C-4C81-87B3-55624D5E5F0D.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD0h8YsOms7uSkxk2pyaCh9LOX11_6015v8XhfOmAE5dkkBZ9uOn7Ut-KnrMDl5jZWRWhuQ0IWhmfx95VOyb8nVG4B4BO9bELXV26m6tQmhxgfKwPaSqgotkTT3K8Z7LLPzytitaVYHAo/w300-h400/BC739BA7-1F1C-4C81-87B3-55624D5E5F0D.heic" width="300" /></a></div>However, you could buy pretty much anything with a music theme. If, say, for some insane reason you felt like you needed a guitar toilet seat they had you covered. Still, none of all that was why we were there.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-pdyDkbn_XsthGtsl3PfWilq0aHrUrSvH5wEGhBK8wR4ruu2GIq4-DvmT3gUt2CsKKqvkUai2FZXWoT3TJLDMT5FYS2wtS69G-wzZuHPO8tyGc52Ip3rFfwCV1oXZy65jvxc-oW6aoOY/s2048/90CB135C-A068-4D25-8EC2-291EAC68FAFC.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-pdyDkbn_XsthGtsl3PfWilq0aHrUrSvH5wEGhBK8wR4ruu2GIq4-DvmT3gUt2CsKKqvkUai2FZXWoT3TJLDMT5FYS2wtS69G-wzZuHPO8tyGc52Ip3rFfwCV1oXZy65jvxc-oW6aoOY/w400-h300/90CB135C-A068-4D25-8EC2-291EAC68FAFC.heic" width="400" /></a></div>We were there for this - the graduation ceremony for the 2021 class of new optometrists.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfqOqeL-hJsjX7YkehXralBufMioljzMPlJppZpWGaQf_9em-IDt8PiAwe8-GALvJnzsy156cVjmYhDGA6ORizNFDNwq6IzLWZ1K0ORNPyh_H_PBRaTHuioak-490_BlUlusm2sP9HGoI/s2048/F64BF287-DB61-436F-AAE9-6410B94F5A9A.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfqOqeL-hJsjX7YkehXralBufMioljzMPlJppZpWGaQf_9em-IDt8PiAwe8-GALvJnzsy156cVjmYhDGA6ORizNFDNwq6IzLWZ1K0ORNPyh_H_PBRaTHuioak-490_BlUlusm2sP9HGoI/w400-h300/F64BF287-DB61-436F-AAE9-6410B94F5A9A.heic" width="400" /></a></div>The graduates were in chairs at a distance and all wore matching masks, and families were spread out through the big arena. But that did not stop me from crying. Several times.<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDQMlU8YK0BnHby3CzAnrOi9OF7GQAifi4Qvo3rjfhMsfg2Zk_24yJ0zsRv_2e1pz136MDzxCYYVA7tQQuD9ws7fbxXujxUMShwS1fehe2Sj64Pf4cfu6pMiO34s4DOzsYJZBRZt3jXpA/s2048/EEDD6181-C000-4718-B1B1-4B10160D0825_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDQMlU8YK0BnHby3CzAnrOi9OF7GQAifi4Qvo3rjfhMsfg2Zk_24yJ0zsRv_2e1pz136MDzxCYYVA7tQQuD9ws7fbxXujxUMShwS1fehe2Sj64Pf4cfu6pMiO34s4DOzsYJZBRZt3jXpA/w400-h300/EEDD6181-C000-4718-B1B1-4B10160D0825_1_201_a.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>I fully admit, it was a thrill to hear my son announced as a doctor.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjJ6fc4-xABCbqx5LEzkChzJFDB_Ba4ZhDoDIOonoNRuRN4CMY3nfCamachhwk_tb2alc-gKNexot6drwojm9gd3elwgDOcuX284atfXBVN6tO_OCIaNz-TLyVGC3jJSaoy6PR03YbN_w/s2048/6804CA3E-8C8F-4AED-9B6C-7595E1A647CC.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjJ6fc4-xABCbqx5LEzkChzJFDB_Ba4ZhDoDIOonoNRuRN4CMY3nfCamachhwk_tb2alc-gKNexot6drwojm9gd3elwgDOcuX284atfXBVN6tO_OCIaNz-TLyVGC3jJSaoy6PR03YbN_w/w400-h300/6804CA3E-8C8F-4AED-9B6C-7595E1A647CC.heic" width="400" /></a></div>And I cried again when his girlfriend was. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB8XsXyGIsxIOECsM-4HfPd2zhmeWVh9Ii522Mq0Kjt54yBnQ7NMXLIv_MJS2uqzEaxXr57_tPDVEsHWQZiRbLmBH8draiyOknHk5r6gt-Zca5-gEjNMIJUN5f8KCkTSpIUblJLByhXkE/s2048/0A2E3C4E-1714-405C-BEBF-C60449893941.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB8XsXyGIsxIOECsM-4HfPd2zhmeWVh9Ii522Mq0Kjt54yBnQ7NMXLIv_MJS2uqzEaxXr57_tPDVEsHWQZiRbLmBH8draiyOknHk5r6gt-Zca5-gEjNMIJUN5f8KCkTSpIUblJLByhXkE/w400-h300/0A2E3C4E-1714-405C-BEBF-C60449893941.heic" width="400" /></a></div>Afterwards, there was the usual round of picture taking, including this one with my son and his best buddies. I know they will miss each other.<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4mZrWMZSPcjJmpxBj22NLC6M8oZCY82gxlCI-2mjnYDsW3WpGLoGBl5vEwspApS3hr6FPUP4zyQEOz1XPu7pQGQgey9Z2vaq3uC7oT34rXB-jH2flZo-CQHR9-OA5upFosc5FDfys27k/s2048/3D0C1298-01DF-47C6-8CBF-51291196DA55.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4mZrWMZSPcjJmpxBj22NLC6M8oZCY82gxlCI-2mjnYDsW3WpGLoGBl5vEwspApS3hr6FPUP4zyQEOz1XPu7pQGQgey9Z2vaq3uC7oT34rXB-jH2flZo-CQHR9-OA5upFosc5FDfys27k/w300-h400/3D0C1298-01DF-47C6-8CBF-51291196DA55.heic" width="300" /></a></div>I was able to grab my son for a quick photo before he went off for a celebratory drink with his friends.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg9KuB2WA2pReazmDAeI4YaGk8lzZDII4JjlpbZdmvjmX5xJ-eqo0gTdXi-h-OrTkExMb6m_TaFhWsbytd2LG3dQiDSmjGfEIXWxDT5hgdB-AChr-eeejWpKSjLYTba79EP2DJpZFy1rA/s2048/2E319E06-0936-43B6-80F6-BC15A84048E3.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg9KuB2WA2pReazmDAeI4YaGk8lzZDII4JjlpbZdmvjmX5xJ-eqo0gTdXi-h-OrTkExMb6m_TaFhWsbytd2LG3dQiDSmjGfEIXWxDT5hgdB-AChr-eeejWpKSjLYTba79EP2DJpZFy1rA/w400-h300/2E319E06-0936-43B6-80F6-BC15A84048E3.heic" width="400" /></a></div>My husband and I walked back down Beale Street to a bar behind a preserved facade from an old railway station.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguIGdBD-aMQ2DQcZNI8YxHVclAf9nLfvZisIMiju1Kd2JGczCgcidrQuWGUYw3EegWCZc8kLdO62gttdBmcTKtiZDFKUb86Zx7_XdMhZwmXn-6RDD9Og5dYLW5wjVodVwQvwBYXsfIjCg/s2048/8310B341-5C04-4364-BAD0-AA0801789849.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguIGdBD-aMQ2DQcZNI8YxHVclAf9nLfvZisIMiju1Kd2JGczCgcidrQuWGUYw3EegWCZc8kLdO62gttdBmcTKtiZDFKUb86Zx7_XdMhZwmXn-6RDD9Og5dYLW5wjVodVwQvwBYXsfIjCg/w400-h300/8310B341-5C04-4364-BAD0-AA0801789849.heic" width="400" /></a></div><div>This place is famous for its goats. Apparently people used to feed them beer until PETA stepped in and made sure they were being treated better. Now they live in a little fenced in area, protected from drunken idiots.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiruIl4N4YMO3Ayw1a35P0E0PUZCRTk3Y40NPn2wSUrQm3BJhmtaWh60qNO6_YXe5bSH0kxmrLNBTQeeVtapdyQtFcFJomzibvDkUTiZwWuzkTPti1XgKMCZ1H-05aZ76h6d3f15zUJ-4M/s2048/D93611F1-388C-4F1F-AA6D-94BE6FFCFA75.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiruIl4N4YMO3Ayw1a35P0E0PUZCRTk3Y40NPn2wSUrQm3BJhmtaWh60qNO6_YXe5bSH0kxmrLNBTQeeVtapdyQtFcFJomzibvDkUTiZwWuzkTPti1XgKMCZ1H-05aZ76h6d3f15zUJ-4M/w400-h300/D93611F1-388C-4F1F-AA6D-94BE6FFCFA75.heic" width="400" /></a></div>We sat in the outdoor area and had a pint while we waited for that evening's party. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy4jD2h236yUb5ZwirtweiWadJEasaG98ypp2NOizln5YuHMMr9vpqMmdIQMRgcQ45WvfFn-xEctH8_TI9IM189bgmRhDoXXweNEbfFJOiVMoUYtScfbyJAj4gEbwkz0mzCe_Z7ez1eTs/s2048/42A05F73-38A7-4824-B3D8-6F68EAA19EEC.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy4jD2h236yUb5ZwirtweiWadJEasaG98ypp2NOizln5YuHMMr9vpqMmdIQMRgcQ45WvfFn-xEctH8_TI9IM189bgmRhDoXXweNEbfFJOiVMoUYtScfbyJAj4gEbwkz0mzCe_Z7ez1eTs/w300-h400/42A05F73-38A7-4824-B3D8-6F68EAA19EEC.heic" width="300" /></a></div>On the way back to the car, I ran across the street while my law-abiding husband waited for the light to change. We headed over to a house rented by the parents of one of my son's girlfriend's roommates. Between parents, a couple of siblings, and the four graduates there were 20 people in attendance. All, thankfully, fully vaccinated. It was a little surreal to be socializing inside and without masks.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUS_Yi5b7S9SE1-c1KS-MX1aePxXzoK44-8zttcurTtPE-NTvaWrhu0fGldmbn-p2Ef6orZ58UdEgp9OxJ3e7GK5gVSlboM-Y_X9sU6alJTwpKtpt6YoFz4cnit7p3lVsHI3Gs28rCEWw/s2048/3E114659-FDB8-41A2-A78F-A8A5594E5A0B.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUS_Yi5b7S9SE1-c1KS-MX1aePxXzoK44-8zttcurTtPE-NTvaWrhu0fGldmbn-p2Ef6orZ58UdEgp9OxJ3e7GK5gVSlboM-Y_X9sU6alJTwpKtpt6YoFz4cnit7p3lVsHI3Gs28rCEWw/w400-h300/3E114659-FDB8-41A2-A78F-A8A5594E5A0B.heic" width="400" /></a></div>I'm grateful the vaccines were available in time for this to happen. Finally, hugs all around and we headed home. I'm so proud of my son and his girlfriend - it's been a long four years and a lot of hard work. But they did it, and now they can turn their attention to the next phase of their lives. <p></p></div></div>Secret Agent Womanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07564690116156754219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8104951117718966173.post-67140285343664747792021-04-27T09:05:00.003-04:002021-04-27T09:05:57.965-04:00And meanwhile at home.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqLO5zlMHfIC6gntIdI8RyyCmfsowdaardctoDuptWCHSnEicOJ8OV1LplmY8cL_UdSQzFNFmo8wU04YqDCc-_culijE0O_8jAfSJYG-VDDYxqtMj0QhRzdNV2iG4nDd5fMISkmfWDoiY/s2048/F3A9B344-E90B-446E-8D22-C0697FF1667C_1_201_a.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqLO5zlMHfIC6gntIdI8RyyCmfsowdaardctoDuptWCHSnEicOJ8OV1LplmY8cL_UdSQzFNFmo8wU04YqDCc-_culijE0O_8jAfSJYG-VDDYxqtMj0QhRzdNV2iG4nDd5fMISkmfWDoiY/w400-h300/F3A9B344-E90B-446E-8D22-C0697FF1667C_1_201_a.heic" width="400" /></a></div>I haven't posted much about our current home lately, but its awash in spring color right now. I have some weeding and pruning to do here but can't work up much enthusiasm for it. I have a lot to do here in general if we hope to sell this house in a year.<br /><p></p>
<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnWhgZ2-LTc58i3GS0QTkVGyg7Q0tos9rE3Q86gXHIShYf7Wjb5wSiBrpcn3eBqlH0K4bsmTfwUsqHHUvJPB_sQEpyQoAmJqJYqPPIi3v8RpSFw_3hQytG7jfFKvRKYO97Gky8eXqR4kc/s2048/3EC663BA-9208-4E29-8770-B340A09E47E8.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnWhgZ2-LTc58i3GS0QTkVGyg7Q0tos9rE3Q86gXHIShYf7Wjb5wSiBrpcn3eBqlH0K4bsmTfwUsqHHUvJPB_sQEpyQoAmJqJYqPPIi3v8RpSFw_3hQytG7jfFKvRKYO97Gky8eXqR4kc/w400-h300/3EC663BA-9208-4E29-8770-B340A09E47E8.heic" width="400" /></a></div><div>Like clean the fence. It is so humid here that the white painted fence quickly becomes green. We also have a roof leak we need repaired and loads of painting to do, among other tasks. It's hard for me to want to carve out time to work here.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZkJrCbxQoH9bJIUHfMY2BCgn5J-QgP7k2AFramV_KATCC-GMPresAHatQU31C17eRKs006pqkHtuy_EcQ8gxqTD6SB3CjMG92zzNu3ZMJH1QxU3LpRwmFl-XndH_VBuScwgPDucFP2b8/s2048/D27C4536-3027-4D8E-9B54-A1339500D317.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZkJrCbxQoH9bJIUHfMY2BCgn5J-QgP7k2AFramV_KATCC-GMPresAHatQU31C17eRKs006pqkHtuy_EcQ8gxqTD6SB3CjMG92zzNu3ZMJH1QxU3LpRwmFl-XndH_VBuScwgPDucFP2b8/w300-h400/D27C4536-3027-4D8E-9B54-A1339500D317.heic" width="300" /></a></div>A tree from our neighbor's yard snapped and fell over the fence into our yard. Scared me when it crashed down outside my bedroom window! Technically it's the neighbor's responsibility, but it's not worth straining that relationship. So now we own a chainsaw. I sent a photo of the chainsaw (a Husqvarna) and my tree service son approved of our choice. And then told us to get safety gear beyond the boots and protective eyewear my husband had on.<br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYp_lOm7TUb6Wg-M1c0RzgVoHbfDf3fPTDz5HF8y0fEM93tpPfYAMNVcK7-SUd1mfhDfKVYK5MLoK0QnIL5uOkYyXJCySVZzkSramP91GI2Qc109X6lu9MLiMwYz_t5cKCHKYWVWPR234/s2048/546462A6-792F-41FF-A082-646DF7DC487E.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYp_lOm7TUb6Wg-M1c0RzgVoHbfDf3fPTDz5HF8y0fEM93tpPfYAMNVcK7-SUd1mfhDfKVYK5MLoK0QnIL5uOkYyXJCySVZzkSramP91GI2Qc109X6lu9MLiMwYz_t5cKCHKYWVWPR234/w300-h400/546462A6-792F-41FF-A082-646DF7DC487E.heic" width="300" /></a></div>I always hate losing a tree, but as long as this gorgeous old oak next to us keeps standing, I'm good. And in spite of all the work, I'm thoroughly enjoying the warmed up weather.Secret Agent Womanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07564690116156754219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8104951117718966173.post-83889196369520903702021-04-18T17:19:00.001-04:002021-04-18T17:19:14.857-04:00Meanwhile, up at the Ridge...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZQdlFATx7uH1NjWcswB0nNZFf8rEIjpbOF0J_0nreLufrE-O-5nIRwxchIqNganIFJmHdx9ldOq6-04Vckmmg35ZdT7AGFxxR9rAdLbK7OjzOdo2vxzYxvo-RJzbMjxPeA7LPv4_-PEM/s2048/2D7D3669-DC03-44C7-ABE1-39650FBBF8BF.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZQdlFATx7uH1NjWcswB0nNZFf8rEIjpbOF0J_0nreLufrE-O-5nIRwxchIqNganIFJmHdx9ldOq6-04Vckmmg35ZdT7AGFxxR9rAdLbK7OjzOdo2vxzYxvo-RJzbMjxPeA7LPv4_-PEM/w400-h300/2D7D3669-DC03-44C7-ABE1-39650FBBF8BF.heic" width="400" /></a></div>Working hard at the new property has been helpful as a distraction for me. One of our projects has been fencing in the little orchard. We decided to stain the board along the top to make it less noticeable. I'm planting various vining things on it to provide both food and privacy (mostly grapes and maypops).<p></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLDBLv2JF9ByBkCq6ppfAlFop1hwxlmqiqkwaKCpYeGbbcYhcNkcN4loOYYC-F4vhMkWwCvWV5VvoUyYpTMUgv6StRL6k9RdkCg8KAeYqdIZ-onGHGGczzb9EAMzkHQd_GDX-t9zo_CHI/s2048/897C8139-9AB3-44F0-80F2-B2145329FB6C.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLDBLv2JF9ByBkCq6ppfAlFop1hwxlmqiqkwaKCpYeGbbcYhcNkcN4loOYYC-F4vhMkWwCvWV5VvoUyYpTMUgv6StRL6k9RdkCg8KAeYqdIZ-onGHGGczzb9EAMzkHQd_GDX-t9zo_CHI/w400-h300/897C8139-9AB3-44F0-80F2-B2145329FB6C.heic" width="400" /></a></div>My husband built three gates - one to the hiking path, one to the back of the cement pad behind the shed, and one in front. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTSauqq6_xPWBdvZAYM58DaGdZQn7VQMTwMF_DPpAWVcs3LfgCPPA5l7lSVAXEODmzaDSR_cKAVFTaS7RXT43yJznM8wDGzE7uGGkobVOaRnJfUvPiEOJgY28-oiZ-53r4Gg013J_0aIQ/s2048/29DBD467-48B1-42DB-AE63-43CE56144237.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTSauqq6_xPWBdvZAYM58DaGdZQn7VQMTwMF_DPpAWVcs3LfgCPPA5l7lSVAXEODmzaDSR_cKAVFTaS7RXT43yJznM8wDGzE7uGGkobVOaRnJfUvPiEOJgY28-oiZ-53r4Gg013J_0aIQ/w400-h300/29DBD467-48B1-42DB-AE63-43CE56144237.heic" width="400" /></a></div>We finally got all three sides fenced in so I will be able to work in the orchard without worrying about roaming dogs. Eventually, I will also be able to let the chickens free-range a bit there. I've planted some evergreens on the outside of the fence for screening when they get bigger.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyTte_y57CzqtpuThMMuZEnS15hbSyIiuopEIOGEYwPsOkip_KiSFewJpH3BcfjPR2xUeHl8Suor3GeZCynXK7b_vpnttAJGNc158XNE8lo_l4M19SDfOuFL7F22X5dz65QRT2TQLCKFs/s2048/E10B7F3A-EC78-46E1-B58E-BF420D36FBB3.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyTte_y57CzqtpuThMMuZEnS15hbSyIiuopEIOGEYwPsOkip_KiSFewJpH3BcfjPR2xUeHl8Suor3GeZCynXK7b_vpnttAJGNc158XNE8lo_l4M19SDfOuFL7F22X5dz65QRT2TQLCKFs/w400-h300/E10B7F3A-EC78-46E1-B58E-BF420D36FBB3.heic" width="400" /></a></div>Speaking of chickens, the area we cleared for the chickens has basically become a poison ivy field. We're still waiting on plans from our builder so we are holding off on any construction of the coop but I can't just leave the poison ivy to take over. So this weekeend I covered up and started pulling out the vines.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOGuTKfJnOKv4fmMBuTutiERNEMdka-RlC2eijHE2HjsO_LBqx67UUU9h4I9sIcmmaZ6i5J7Y5NR7gWHkvHGo-fYJon3cHWpqxJoFmgZvXml15E0v7osZb1N8aSbEgPXY8M_fYSwnSA6c/s2048/43567284-C092-44D6-B3B1-B8D27A504CBD.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOGuTKfJnOKv4fmMBuTutiERNEMdka-RlC2eijHE2HjsO_LBqx67UUU9h4I9sIcmmaZ6i5J7Y5NR7gWHkvHGo-fYJon3cHWpqxJoFmgZvXml15E0v7osZb1N8aSbEgPXY8M_fYSwnSA6c/w400-h300/43567284-C092-44D6-B3B1-B8D27A504CBD.heic" width="400" /></a></div>Three big garbage bags full so far. I want to get it out while it's still relatively young and the other weeds aren't covering it up. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGHva4HJzL8HxytAXGSoJRXjqPBqiy92bA7npTd_Hg3Eyd93UMxKRlwbJf3u-pYMdEeVVLw1FvzPL8UPKKFzaTacHbnFq-DpyxnPqmgzp9d_AwI0dvvTewxvjuPYAyOPP9ERWAhHzBykE/s2048/5502AD7A-D3CF-4971-8967-0FA61CDA149D.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGHva4HJzL8HxytAXGSoJRXjqPBqiy92bA7npTd_Hg3Eyd93UMxKRlwbJf3u-pYMdEeVVLw1FvzPL8UPKKFzaTacHbnFq-DpyxnPqmgzp9d_AwI0dvvTewxvjuPYAyOPP9ERWAhHzBykE/w300-h400/5502AD7A-D3CF-4971-8967-0FA61CDA149D.heic" width="300" /></a></div>Fortunately, there are plants I like a whole lot more making an appearance. Like this rue anemone, which is just everywhere.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYdbZMq__LKzr5uGnWLFEL3-1fsYa45sY1nUrPDoM7w5zs0zjJkBx63wEAuu7Fc7O8WdAz4HfM-FksaNExLTjMpcEnHsOhmGSGGeTNj4ef0KeYAT24sXhpowjKj-eGTj9vjyi5rs7sWnY/s2048/ABF42D99-C3CD-45D5-95EE-231B88A90FF0.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYdbZMq__LKzr5uGnWLFEL3-1fsYa45sY1nUrPDoM7w5zs0zjJkBx63wEAuu7Fc7O8WdAz4HfM-FksaNExLTjMpcEnHsOhmGSGGeTNj4ef0KeYAT24sXhpowjKj-eGTj9vjyi5rs7sWnY/w400-h300/ABF42D99-C3CD-45D5-95EE-231B88A90FF0.heic" width="400" /></a></div>I also keep stumbling on little patches of heuchera (aka coral bells). They will flower later in the season, but the variegated leaves stay year-round.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfYh_72PTPTVtVw6XKCI_0VDDLBmYFNDodQq8pMC1nxpbnjKBHGtbN41MASPdldBEG04z4fU1aM0uAJgTxvIFDhFV-G6HJDyMdwBjFTr48UvfoirIyeMAeoRTOoiZRHgvSXTyoA0yAVXc/s2048/3550B987-C984-4702-930C-26B637B87EAC.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfYh_72PTPTVtVw6XKCI_0VDDLBmYFNDodQq8pMC1nxpbnjKBHGtbN41MASPdldBEG04z4fU1aM0uAJgTxvIFDhFV-G6HJDyMdwBjFTr48UvfoirIyeMAeoRTOoiZRHgvSXTyoA0yAVXc/w300-h400/3550B987-C984-4702-930C-26B637B87EAC.heic" width="300" /></a></div>While I was transplanting some coneflowers along the road, I found this patch of tiny blue flag irises at the base of a tree.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcvyOxnUx4ORx3siSy0r9BfKQV9SezURLmjO4lFv_cnk1ue0qZ8HjU_OocWrzmnMUrZkCKsoW0zed-0gkhWHDJLRw_eDSo-BtqU6f-iRlDWlHf_2L1Ht8x9fiSOLJj9h4CzUQmgOE8aw8/s2048/008557B0-4284-4535-8C25-60A1213AD538.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcvyOxnUx4ORx3siSy0r9BfKQV9SezURLmjO4lFv_cnk1ue0qZ8HjU_OocWrzmnMUrZkCKsoW0zed-0gkhWHDJLRw_eDSo-BtqU6f-iRlDWlHf_2L1Ht8x9fiSOLJj9h4CzUQmgOE8aw8/w300-h400/008557B0-4284-4535-8C25-60A1213AD538.heic" width="300" /></a></div>And possibly may favorite, trillium. I remember being thrilled to see them when we first found the property, a year ago last week. We've now seen it through a whole year, which is hard to believe. I'm really eager to get to be there full-time.<br />
Secret Agent Womanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07564690116156754219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8104951117718966173.post-42749025721997115962021-04-13T12:13:00.000-04:002021-04-13T12:13:14.947-04:00Life never fails to catch me off-guard.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid9z-3CMgKkiQisIpH5sA2qe_VgtNP7bPoXJ3l3dKlh1GKrhVQmts1u4NQRIve6GlRmROA9grFZBdZq4nX6_CJkA-1Bz42WIYJvKcB6NF_cT_RMTeW-FniPzTfn9b-KYz17MvbzZKnFVY/s2048/IMG_0219.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid9z-3CMgKkiQisIpH5sA2qe_VgtNP7bPoXJ3l3dKlh1GKrhVQmts1u4NQRIve6GlRmROA9grFZBdZq4nX6_CJkA-1Bz42WIYJvKcB6NF_cT_RMTeW-FniPzTfn9b-KYz17MvbzZKnFVY/w400-h300/IMG_0219.HEIC" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">So my younger son decided he was feeling a little stuck in life, working as a FedEx driver. This is not a career he wanted and he has been casting around for a way to work outdoors and specifically in a forestry-related field. He called to tell me he was applying for jobs and planned to move. To Portland, Oregon. 2500 miles away. The thought of him leaving broke my heart but I also knew it was what was best for him, so I threw myself into helping him with that. We taped off a section of the garage and he started culling and packing his belongings, taking only what was most important to him.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkEx5C3rtAUyPlKDxJAxAYBrfTlGizEujNFWmqV2_lIWSc9kFnYTTJgDuhx1LaNdcruPyS4kOMoXoowcdPK0tR2e6wNZC5L18hSdwYw1hfoOTzGEHH9Y6JV6JA-D_JHuCDQa6u8gdD7BU/s2048/IMG_0194.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkEx5C3rtAUyPlKDxJAxAYBrfTlGizEujNFWmqV2_lIWSc9kFnYTTJgDuhx1LaNdcruPyS4kOMoXoowcdPK0tR2e6wNZC5L18hSdwYw1hfoOTzGEHH9Y6JV6JA-D_JHuCDQa6u8gdD7BU/w400-h300/IMG_0194.HEIC" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">He moved back in with us temporarily so he could have internet access and started applying for jobs and apartments. Within a week he had a trial work day scheduled with a tree service and a back-up job offer from a FedEx company. I spent as much time with him as I could while he was still here, including a trip out to the lake near where he grew up. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgarj2Zm4LsqSYb4q6AWj84TQlzzrULE-Dt0ASntCRpSQkupytf9iHV4vup_qTwhpyurWFDooNydnGnzPyD92DGfdUSWRzqD3bdr7joIYf2yGsoiSPeYXo6ro0aL4rSz3V7TV5XkCV5BcI/s2048/IMG_0261.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgarj2Zm4LsqSYb4q6AWj84TQlzzrULE-Dt0ASntCRpSQkupytf9iHV4vup_qTwhpyurWFDooNydnGnzPyD92DGfdUSWRzqD3bdr7joIYf2yGsoiSPeYXo6ro0aL4rSz3V7TV5XkCV5BcI/w300-h400/IMG_0261.HEIC" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">And feeding him. The age-old mom thing of making sure your child is nourished, I guess. At one breakfast I asked him to smile and along with a wicked grin, I got this.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhudYfJ8Hii_y6N09J52geUtpR0b_QkTntmSv6sXjBWGkRXIc07_qRiNXWKrnzGR9PlDAxMMY1NZLdpbCFj-QnqUP3XTiaQula505JTo1Wcx2oYjioRcYRb7A4EGm6KYvmTIcTGUpbs-os/s2048/IMG_0262.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhudYfJ8Hii_y6N09J52geUtpR0b_QkTntmSv6sXjBWGkRXIc07_qRiNXWKrnzGR9PlDAxMMY1NZLdpbCFj-QnqUP3XTiaQula505JTo1Wcx2oYjioRcYRb7A4EGm6KYvmTIcTGUpbs-os/w300-h400/IMG_0262.HEIC" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">He's 24, I completely understand him needing to strike out on his own. It's kind of a rite of passage. But all the way to the Pacific Northwest! I'm not going to lie, I was on the verge of tears much of those last couple of weeks. We have a really good relationship and I will miss him terribly. And I know he will miss me. </div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8508l_Vr4BCly-pFgE3LiHUIvpZh42twrThgKac040amcxwXRR2hNT62RH2v3edoy31GJhbaw_i16EygdBClo2Wa0b0MrW8zbfvX4hQnw-KFzeCnPsWZUdfIYT5vgHF3X9GnoDao35zE/s2048/IMG_0256.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8508l_Vr4BCly-pFgE3LiHUIvpZh42twrThgKac040amcxwXRR2hNT62RH2v3edoy31GJhbaw_i16EygdBClo2Wa0b0MrW8zbfvX4hQnw-KFzeCnPsWZUdfIYT5vgHF3X9GnoDao35zE/w300-h400/IMG_0256.HEIC" width="300" /></a></div>Easter Sunday he loaded up the U-Haul trailer and headed out. I waited until he was gone, and then cried a LOT. At my suggestion, he detoured to Memphis to get a day with his brother, then drove to North Platt, Nebraska the next day, Boise, Idaho the next, and then finally landed in Portland on Wednesday. I would stay awake each night until he texted to let me know he was safely at each destination. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSxg9byOeDr6NHGkF_0aZgQgtwL1yIuMRcS3JHJgbn1ns8uwBp2gqtAbDjwk_xdES6Ktsou2jeqfGiKpMsmbNW5d9bZ_k-I_ny7fLV-gBbx9AHEOXmPNlwQtxQAm3Sqel1dRdc8yUhXCs/s960/IMG_4933.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSxg9byOeDr6NHGkF_0aZgQgtwL1yIuMRcS3JHJgbn1ns8uwBp2gqtAbDjwk_xdES6Ktsou2jeqfGiKpMsmbNW5d9bZ_k-I_ny7fLV-gBbx9AHEOXmPNlwQtxQAm3Sqel1dRdc8yUhXCs/w300-h400/IMG_4933.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;">He has called a few times to give me updates. Trips to IKEA to furnish his apartment, hiking near Mt. Hood, and getting out to the coast to see the Pacific again for the first time since he was a little kid. Yesterday was his trial work day with the tree company and it went well. He was hired and they are paying him more than what the ad stated. He is on the ground crew to start and his goal is to get trained as a climber and become a certified arborist. A big piece of my heart is now in Oregon, but I'm so proud of him for taking a risk and following a dream.</span></div>Secret Agent Womanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07564690116156754219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8104951117718966173.post-55738305229474106812021-03-05T19:29:00.002-05:002021-06-01T02:38:30.608-04:00Road work.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF3pqmsYA6VbUawBzDt4Fysgs_az1WOODedWD9znwUan5wG9glAZ3pIoXfofe5a7iNQ5T5yPBM8gdPcjQBSKjagrCd0PvB6v4EOtepvxIsLiYv2VR5OIUzor3QxwgDqDVn1ao1zNTiRB4/s2048/IMG_0032.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF3pqmsYA6VbUawBzDt4Fysgs_az1WOODedWD9znwUan5wG9glAZ3pIoXfofe5a7iNQ5T5yPBM8gdPcjQBSKjagrCd0PvB6v4EOtepvxIsLiYv2VR5OIUzor3QxwgDqDVn1ao1zNTiRB4/w300-h400/IMG_0032.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div>One of the many projects we are working on is clearing out the area where the driveway will go. One of the things we had to do was take care of all this leftover cement block pieces from the old logging office. We started to use them to fill in the little ravines in the logging road, but that was clearly going to take forever. So one pickup truck load at a time, my husband has been hauling them to a recycling center that agreed to take it for a project that they are doing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7n0gS4xkzOLYoSp11aD_zhnfVPAJ9IiUF93pnsVLhC-8DYeDEvGs5nYXup-fm-h_sFGRw5D7C5whow7U2xReuzc8_AxHv_RZIsWLR1UlJcd1tmjZxcBRsYTmJXq1frm3V9kU3Cqz3YPw/s2048/IMG_0012.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7n0gS4xkzOLYoSp11aD_zhnfVPAJ9IiUF93pnsVLhC-8DYeDEvGs5nYXup-fm-h_sFGRw5D7C5whow7U2xReuzc8_AxHv_RZIsWLR1UlJcd1tmjZxcBRsYTmJXq1frm3V9kU3Cqz3YPw/w400-h300/IMG_0012.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>I've been keeping my eyes peeled for any plants I might want to re-locate. I saw these leaves and thought they just had to be something interesting. When I looked them up, I discovered they are a strange little wildflower called Little Brown Jug. I dug up the three sets I found and moved them to a safe place where I can keep an eye on them. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSh9gvdbHTLN8hqUmURgDuNXuybseqXvOxgvB76Rh2BIr1AknrSYYMLN1R8YOcdz2wtQ4zxHiMRG37s5Jta91rIZl70DFzDRaoEDylc0ihELWbEtnD0Q8g_61dmVVmKAJ9lH3O-yEgQDs/s2048/IMG_0011.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSh9gvdbHTLN8hqUmURgDuNXuybseqXvOxgvB76Rh2BIr1AknrSYYMLN1R8YOcdz2wtQ4zxHiMRG37s5Jta91rIZl70DFzDRaoEDylc0ihELWbEtnD0Q8g_61dmVVmKAJ9lH3O-yEgQDs/w300-h400/IMG_0011.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>The other thing we are doing is piling up and rocks to be used for a chimney and/or foundation. There are a LOT of rocks in these mountains, many large and flat.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdc6B5AUnTXtNr3Q1Oghhc7taFrmzln4ggxKiUg5eEq5Qkkz7v5aiq6ZD7_xxW3kFJSYtDHLcVs26FiuhkruhuDRTtJPM0ge7rQKSSrzbv68KHfmAVinlC2aTpxsG4ahbNIEOk8muJP3Y/s2048/IMG_0015.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdc6B5AUnTXtNr3Q1Oghhc7taFrmzln4ggxKiUg5eEq5Qkkz7v5aiq6ZD7_xxW3kFJSYtDHLcVs26FiuhkruhuDRTtJPM0ge7rQKSSrzbv68KHfmAVinlC2aTpxsG4ahbNIEOk8muJP3Y/w400-h300/IMG_0015.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>We have a made a bunch of piles of them so they'll be available to the builder next year.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPned5hK-g2_OZUNH5pZ2maebEGHm8JVG539UIg1o4LBiDvCAGzddI3aH9zpbVP1duBrCnenaFTvjrdBniATY21eCwqM-WoUckNRka3Ls-IL15hJjR3bvLiKPA87Xj5DcZ9q1NSENr1gc/s2048/IMG_5792.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPned5hK-g2_OZUNH5pZ2maebEGHm8JVG539UIg1o4LBiDvCAGzddI3aH9zpbVP1duBrCnenaFTvjrdBniATY21eCwqM-WoUckNRka3Ls-IL15hJjR3bvLiKPA87Xj5DcZ9q1NSENr1gc/w400-h300/IMG_5792.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Tumbleweed likes to drape herself over any available perch and watch us. Here she is on one of the many piles of cut firewood.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8VXvavxo44v6uwPiEKN9-QICjtj3LcRIn_PQNylofsKvlSMe-cVPKfFM9swS4sJAOZslbh82gUAnPBtOefovFX4JuNuAOUEZCELoeMRnUMGeJowabdNqwXTrS4L4Mtfjoi50s4OYoDw4/s2048/IMG_0048.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1848" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8VXvavxo44v6uwPiEKN9-QICjtj3LcRIn_PQNylofsKvlSMe-cVPKfFM9swS4sJAOZslbh82gUAnPBtOefovFX4JuNuAOUEZCELoeMRnUMGeJowabdNqwXTrS4L4Mtfjoi50s4OYoDw4/w361-h400/IMG_0048.JPG" width="361" /></a></div>She supervises my work much of the time, except when she is expressing her love by purring loudly while she tries to devour my hand.<p></p>Secret Agent Womanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07564690116156754219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8104951117718966173.post-50573914949370578562021-03-01T15:49:00.002-05:002021-06-01T03:45:41.285-04:00Man, I hate poison ivy.<p>So I was working on an update post but got temporarily waylaid. I took off last Wednesday because I'd been advised to not plan anything the day after my second COVID vaccine dose. I had a headache Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning, but then basically felt fine. Likely because I have a slacker-ass immune system. My husband had taken the day off, too, so we went up to the Ridge and while he was setting poles for fencing, I tended a brush pile that we were burning. It was a gorgeous day and I was working in a short-sleeved t-shirt. Unfortunately, there were poison ivy vines included in the brush. Which, apparently, can get to you through the smoke. Within a day, I had poison ivy rash on my arms, neck and face. Even my eyelid! Most unpleasant. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC0gs4NeuwTwxZfSduyEzNpVD8aBjnCyjRYQiPkUAX32r__frKPCoJCyo1HnwNK6SszVQ8VgX0wjC72Z16xKmdQRceExmFGel6hp3MrkWxcVAJCMGxyuKMk9uK-DbNMoSZifJ6CjtzfWY/s2048/IMG_0091.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC0gs4NeuwTwxZfSduyEzNpVD8aBjnCyjRYQiPkUAX32r__frKPCoJCyo1HnwNK6SszVQ8VgX0wjC72Z16xKmdQRceExmFGel6hp3MrkWxcVAJCMGxyuKMk9uK-DbNMoSZifJ6CjtzfWY/w400-h300/IMG_0091.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Because of that, I hadn't felt motivated to do much of anything until recently, and in the evenings we've been lying around watching a global cooking competition show called "The Final Table." The Spain episode stirred up a craving for Paella Valenciana, and I made it this weekend. We made ours with chicken, shrimp, clams, and spicy chicken sausage. I also roasted some peppers and tomatoes to add it. It was pretty good. I even got the browned layer on the bottom, called the socorrat, to come out right. My poison ivy is fading a tiny bit, so I will start working on the update post now.</p><p><br /></p>Secret Agent Womanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07564690116156754219noreply@blogger.com0