Monday, August 02, 2010

Hell year OVER.

Last Friday we went over to the apartment and picked up the last of our stuff; some shelving, a table, some of the Goob's toys, like that. We were in and out in two hours. Then we turned in our keys and shut off the utilities.

It is over. Done. All of the moving. Our things are officially gathered under one roof again. Better, for the first time in twenty years, I don't have a deadline. There's no "we'll only be here five years" hanging over my head. I can put down roots, paint walls, decorate, and otherwise nest. Life is very good. Oh - another first in twenty years: Not having to give a shit about hurricane season (except of course concern for my friends living on the coast).

One of the first things I've done is quit watering the plants. Next spring I intend to plant medicinal and dye plants, and to do that well, the easiest way is to make room in the flower beds we've already got. My method of choosing what goes? Yup. The high-maintenance stuff is bye-bye. Everything that croaks by fall will be ripped out. In the spring I'll replace it, either with useful things or native plants that won't need babied along. The beds are looking a bit ratty already, but I'm good with that. Heehee. Gotta at least pull stuff out, though, or the neighbors will be appalled.

Otherwise, I'm getting my work space organized, the Goober is playing in the back yard daily, and we intend to do a whole lot of nothing for the rest of the summer. Well. Next week at the local park is the annual re-enactment of our only local battle (from 1760something). I think we'll check that out. And I've got to hit the county fair in August, to see what the competition is like for when I enter next year. Plus I want to try finding a local wool supplier.

It's very nice to be back in a small town.

22 comments:

Terby said...

Welcome home, Julie.

jeaniebabb said...

It is wonderful to have a nest that you can keep and make yours. No more apartment living...yeah!!
I know once you each get your own space set up, you will all relax a bit and start to enjoy your new home.

Tesha said...

I can only imagine what not having an expiration date for where you're living can feel like. The garden sounds like it will be pretty cool! Welcome home hun! =)

Emily said...

Happy, happy nesting! Now that you can finally call it HOME!

roxie said...

How will you know it's summer without the hurricanes?

Blessings on the new home. May happiness fill it wall to wall so you can wade through it knee-deep!

roxie said...

How will you know it's summer without the hurricanes?

Blessings on the new home. May happiness fill it wall to wall so you can wade through it knee-deep!

choperena said...

I love your gardening methodology!

You're in Pittsburgh, right? If you know any SCAdians, you should find a way to drive 30 minutes up to Slippery Rock, and sneak in one day to Pennsic. I am beyond pissed I can't go this year, but there are always several fiber vendors there, some of them local.

Louiz said...

Hey, congratulations! I like your way of deciding on the plants that stay.

Enjoy the settling in.

ellen in indy said...

having moved from my raising-the-kids-solo house last year to my all-to-myself cozy condo last year, i so join you in celebrating your roots -- metaphorical and the ones attached to those dye sources you'll be planting.

and being able to set up a craft/music area was probably the most special part of the move for me, though the surprise of being able to garden on a north-facing balcony comes a close second.

here's wishing you, the husbeast and the goober many years of happiness and enjoyment in your home-at-last digs. may you have good neighbors, schools that nourish bright kids like the goober, and for both adults, work that doesn't really feel like work because it meshes with your skills and interests. oh -- and while i'm playing good fairy, the health to enjoy it all to the max.

JelliDonut said...

Enjoy your new home. May you and your family have many happy years there.

Leonie said...

Hooray! That must be such a relief for you. Putting down roots is such a lovely feeling and being able to plan for the future just rocks. Congratulations.

Leonie said...

Hooray! That must be such a relief for you. Putting down roots is such a lovely feeling and being able to plan for the future just rocks. Congratulations.

Amy Lane said...

*whew* I'm heaving a great big sigh of happy for you. May this house be your mama bird nest for many many happy happy years.

Barbara said...

Welcome home to all the Samurais! I wish I could watch the Goober playing in her new yard. Such luxury to have your own spaces. Ahhh.

Katie K said...

Welcome to the future! And since you're in mushroom hunting country, yo can forage for mushrooms to dye your wool with.

Meg said...

You caught my eye over at Ravelry with a comment about moving from Hawaii. It's very possible that I'm at the beginning of the journey you've just completed -- my boyfriend works for the Air Force and is currently stationed on Maui. If the research he's working on continues to go well -- and there's every indication that it will -- I may be looking at a rather substantial move, myself. Not only that, but the cycle of ongoing moves for the next few decades...Hmm.

At least there's a knitter who's been there and done that! Best of luck in the new home! I'm loving the blog! Wow, lots of exclamation points...

Alwen said...

Are we doing a yin and yang thing now? You're finally settling after being blown around like a dandelion seed, and after years of putting down deep roots, the military is blowing me around the country!

Unknown said...

Congratulations. How are the shingles.

My Mom was appalled when we moved in our house and we pulled out all the plantings and such. Ours was the issue that my DH is very allergic to most everything. We do have raised bed gardens for the vegetable and I do have potted annual plants. As long as he doesn't have to cut around them, he is good. And we plants lots of trees because in this part of the world where we don't have to worry about hurricanes, it is a beautiful thing to have wonderful shade trees and open windows!

GeekKnitter said...

Congratulations on getting through Hell Year.

David St. Louis said...

congratuFREAKINGlations!

Cindy said...

Enjoy your home, it seems like you all earned it!

PandaLark said...

I just finished reading the archives. I thought they were very interesting and I learned quite a bit. Thanks for putting all the stuff out there, and I hope you have a wonderful time in your new home.

I recollect you asking something about composting, and if you use saw dust as a base, it goes much faster and more efficiently. Smells marginally better too.