Working the "Before I can Leave LIST"

Well, not leave permanently, although I have a pretty good set of instruction for that too.  Want to spare my son too many decisions when I kick the bucket. 

But for now I'm just getting ready to go to Port Townsend for the summer.  The LIST is about 45 items long but I'm working my way through.  Amazing all the preparation it takes to go live somewhere else for 3 months.  My friend Sandy calls it Summer Camp and she is right on with that description.

3 months of no schedules, no responsibilities, lots and lots of free time to write and read and wander.  Actually, I used to think that described retirement!  But no, retirement is filled with "must do's"....schedules, responsibilities, and surprisingly little time to do nothing.  At least that is how my retirement has rolled out.  So 3 months of "summer camp" sounds and is wonderful.

I'm returning to the place I spent last summer when I completely fell in love with Port Townsend, Washington.  This year I have some additional fun stuff to do.  A Hawaiian style wedding in July, a get together with some friends from High School...the ones I really like.  A week "apt. sitting" in a luxury, downtown Seattle apartment....and hopefully some visits from family and friends. 

So now it is on with the LIST and only good things ahead........5 days until lift off!

Say Goodby to the Palm Tree

This huge palm tree sat in the middle of my front yard and completely blocked the view from my front window, plus blocked the light.  Then I found out critters were living in it along with bugs.  It is hard to hate a tree but let's say the Palm and I have never bonded over the five years I've been living with it.

So, when I got the mailing from a company that buys Palm Trees I jumped at the chance.  Last year Troy, the owner came to inspect the tree.  He said at that moment it had been trimmed too far up and needed to have some time to regenerate so it would survive transplant.  Troy said he would see me next Spring.....and happily, "Spring is Here" and so was Troy.  Today the tree is on a truck heading to Texas and I have a clear front yard and a little money in the bank.  The following pictures of the process will give you an idea of how big a deal it was to get this tree out of the ground and on the truck.  Most of my neighbors were out with there cameras....loving the entertainment.  I should have charged admission!

Just the beginning
 

Now the work begins
 



"Chain saw cutting a square around the tree to get the root ball out
 

Can you see how big the chain saw is???
 

 

This was like a huge chain saw that cut through everything and down about 4+ feet

Just part of the equipment..."Tonka Toy Time"  on steroids
 

Big scarey swinging hook...way to close to my house
 

That crane was swinging that big metal hook so close to my house, for a while I thought I might be getting a skylight
 



Here is comes

It coming out of the ground , pulled by that huge crane
 

Now that is what I cal a "root ball" even if it is square
 

Joining the other palms on the truck

Swinging from the giant crane
 

On the truck and heading for Texas
 

The yard is now a clean slate....I'm thinking it will have something low growing and beautiful by next Spring.

St. Augustine, Florida Visit

Dancing the night away

Girl's Just Got to have fun!

St. Augustine Cross
 

The Lion on the Lions Gate Bridge

Pelicans in mating season all dressed up with yellow hats.

Enjoying the Ecco Cruise

In February I flew to Jacksonville, Florida and met Sandy and we drove south to St. Augustine so I could see her new home and spend some relaxation time.  Turns out I love St. Augustine.  Sandy has a nice condo that was very comfortable and close to everything we wanted to see.  We went to a great Unitarian Church, went on an Ecco-Cruise where we learned a lot about the birds and fish and dolphins.  Ate wonderful seafood, toured historic places and went out (after dark) with some of Sandy's new friends and even ended up dancing.  It was a great trip and a great visit....If you haven't been to St. Augustine, Florida, go!  It is actually the oldest town in the United States....lots of great history and buildings to see.  So here are the pictures:

Sandy at the Hydroponic strawberry farm

Local musicians at the Farmer's Market
 

On  the Beach at the Atlantic Ocean

 We really had a great time.  I'm looking forward to going back for another visit.  Sandy actually lives on an Island across a couple of bridges from St. Augustine.  It is just the right place to be, close enough to all the attractions of St. Augustine but out of the tourist crush....I think she will be there a long, long time.


THE GARAGE SALE FROM HEAVEN

KLUTTER BUSTERS....Remember that name if you are ever in my area and need someone to organize a garage or an estate sale for you.  Sharon is the next "wonder of the world"!  When I came back from my summer in Washington (or as Sandy calls it "Summer Camp") I was determined to get real about downsizing.  I knew I needed help and the Universe brought me to Klutter-Busters.  Sharon came over and in 2 days had my garage looking like a boutique,bookstore and hardware store.  She was amazing.  All I had to do was get everything I wanted to sell into the garage and stay out of the way.  Here is what the garage looked like on the night before the sale.

 This is what was left after 2 days of selling.......and this is me and Sharon the Wonder Women

 

 

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New Year 2013

Looks like I skipped through Christmas and New Years and am now into January.  Facebook has kept me distracted from writing my Blog.  So I have to do these catch up entries from time to time.  January has been a long, cold month so far.  I got home after Christmas and spent New Years as I usually do, at home.  This year I at least toasted the New Year with a friend.  Progress!

The flu hit me on January 3rd and hung around for a couple weeks.  Not very pleasant but now I'm nearly back to normal and getting on with things.  During "flu time" AZ. went into deep freeze and we had temps down in the 20's and 30's.  Landscaping took a beating but I think I can save the majority of my plants.  Weather is get weirder and weirder....climate change is upon us.  This past summer in WA. I spent 4 months with only a couple rainy days....wonderful, but strange.

I've got a busy time ahead for the rest of this month.  Garage sale time.  I found a women who does garage sales as her Business....Klutter Busters.  Heaven sent for me.  Again I have filled my garage with my thrifting and garage sale finds.  Collecting  has been my hobby for years but this year I am in a state of overwhelm with all the stuff I have.  Decided to put on the shopping brakes and get as much as I can out of my house and garage.  Hopefully, in the future, I will be less inclined to drag stuff home.  I'm going to move my focus to "projects"  and do one at a time.  Easier once I can actually find my workbench in the garage.  Hurry Klutter Busters!

My work with the League of Women Voters is off to a good start.  I have organized a public presentation on Immigration reform.  It happens on January 24th and I am hoping for a good turnout.  I've managed to get my news releases sent out (flu infected, no doubt) and as a result we have received a good deal of publicity.  The panel discussion will be led by representatives from a new initiative in AZ. called the S.A.N.E. approach to immigration reform.  If you are interested in more information on this group they have a website  www.therealarizona.org

At the end of the month I am flying to St. Augustine, Florida to spend a week with my friend Sandy and check out her new digs.  She finally was able to move away from Mexico Beach, Florida and is now in a much more enjoyable and supportive environment.  I haven't heard her this happy in decades.  Does my heart good! 

My most exciting news is the publication of my first poem.  I submitted to a new art and literature magazine published in Port Townsend, WA.  They accepted and published one poem.   The magazine is called "IS TOO" and is available through www.writersworkshoppe.com   The poem is called:

Beach Walking

My foot falls on wet sand
And I sink just a little
I'm not the first to walk here
But the impressions
Of previous intrusions
Have been whispered away
By the steady ripples
Of salt water coming to shore
And retreating, leaving no sign
Of who or what came before
I hear the whisper
Of my own presence
Being washed away
And I am in wonder
At the unceasing, inevitable
Movement of the water
Moment by moment
Cleansing away the
History of this sandy shore
It makes me ask
Does our being here really matter?

Thanksgiving

The day before I was to leave for San Diego, I woke up a very sick gal.  I have no idea what sort of bug attacked me but it created a pretty violent day for me.  Based on what was going on with me physically I called my family and said it didn't look like I would make it to Thanksgiving dinner.  Naturally, they were worried and told me not to even try to make the 400 miles drive.  That night I slept well and in the morning awoke feeling quite good.  I decided I didn't want to sit home and have a "pity party" being all alone on Thanksgiving Day so I pulled myself together and hit the road.  6 hours later I arrived before the turkey was done.  In fact, I had time for a nap before we all sat down to celebrate the Holiday.  As usual, the food was wonderful.  I tried little bits of everything but my appetite was not very robust.  What I did enjoy was our gathering of family and friends and the blessing of being together.  I only stayed a couple days and made the trip home with an overnight stop in Yuma.  It was probably not the wisest choice for me physically but life is short and I don't want to miss a thing!  The picture is of our gathering at the Thanksgiving table.

Dan at the head of the table, Onay on his right....as it should be.

Arts and Crafts

This was the frame I found in a junk shop

 I've been building a screen door to use as a garden gate.  I saw this done this summer while I was in Port Townsend and decided to "steal" the idea. 

I stapled on the screen and added two cross pieces

Almost finished, added embelishments and painted

Now completed just waiting for the hinges.  Nice entry to my patio

Putting this all together was quite a process but it is now complete and only waiting for me to hang it.  I like it....silly as it may be.