Checking In

Back in the city for a few days. Tidy garden, lunch with my son, baby sitting tomorrow and then early the next morning I have a skin doctor appointment. A friend calls them "barnacle's" whatever they are, a few have appeared. The skin that was almost flawless 10 years ago is now covered with all kinds of spots.

I enjoy checking in on my journal friends and sharing a little this Sunday.

My packing and transporting continues each trip from city to country. A few days ago I packed most of my baking items. Planned on baking once a week - guess what - I forgot my recipes!!

So a few moments ago they were placed in box to go.

I was thrilled yesterday as I saw a hummingbird at my country bedroom window. There are very few flowering plants surrounding my country cottage at this time. I smiled and felt as though a gift had been given me. A quick trip to Lowe's to purchase a feeder. It was hung yesterday and this morning before heading to the city - there were two hummingbirds at the feeder.

Plan on moving my computer sometimes in the next weeks. I am not in a hurry. It will have to take place when my soninlaw can help me. I really do not miss it in the country. Also have not missed television. I did have a landline phone installed. I have been fearful of dropping my cell phone while gardening and not being able to find it. All my time is spent outdoors but I know when the days are shorter and winter arrives I will be back online more and start reading my huge stack of books.

Thanks to so many of you who take the time to write me. You will never know how much pleasure it gives me to read your comments.

Have a great day.

Blessings and Peace sent out from One Woman this Sunday Afternoon

Peace

She woke up early this morning - aching from head to toe. Must be the buckets of grass seed spread, buckets of rocks picked up out of new yard, straw and tobacco sticks spread on areas where new drive was trying to wash (during the heavy downpour of rain). Yes, she is tired and aching but is happy. Hours spent with clippers in hand grooming the old trees and endless activity during most of day. There are hours or rather minutes spent on the deck or screen porch surveying the nature surrounding her new home. As she glances in the mirror there is the reflection of her with a working tan and she has gained 2 pounds. She repeats herself in her sharing of the wonderful sunsets and the deer that emerge out of the woods at dusk to enjoy the soybeans in the front field.

She is back in the city today - but her heart is in the country. Grooming of flowers, watering and some sealer on terrace and screen porch.

She is very aware that this city cottage has to pay for the dream that is coming true of returning to the country. She patiently waits for the buyer to arrive. She is aware that the arrival of this buyer will not be on her schedule. But then she has learned that her life has never been on her schedule. She has learned to trust as all will unfold as it is intended. Trusting has not been easy for her but now in her later years, hopefully she has learned.

She enjoys the company of a special Mexican couple who have been helping cut down a lot of small trees in the surrounding woods. The large towering trees seem to stretch their arms as she gives them more room. She welcomes the bowl of green beans, squash and tomatoes that her helpers have been sharing with her. A half a dozen packages have been put in the freezer.

Not much sits on the empty shelves - but it is a beginning.

It is so quiet, peaceful and restful (when not doing yard and work in the woods). There are still odds and ends being finished and the thought comes to mind that when there are no trucks pulling down the long drive - will she be lonesome. She does not think so and she better not be wrong!!!

So, a quick peanut butter sandwich and a coke float, pack some more boxes and load truck with the boxes and some more clothes and she will return to the country. One reason for the trip today was to pack her baking items. She has to bake something sweet weekly. Also it seems there are many items that she wants that seem to be in the city. So the transporting continues.

This weekend she will drive back to the city to take her special son to lunch before he leaves for a short trip to Thailand. She will miss his phone calls.

Enough shared on this very warm and busy day.

She might add that she misses her computer. Hopefully it will soon have a new home.

I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I intended to be. (was meant to be). Douglas Adams

Journey of 6 Months

She started to dream last fall of returning to her country property. Mornings were spent walking on the property among the old towering trees and the untamed jungle like woods. She dreamed of per suing her new interest in nature photography in this area. She dreamed of sitting and writing in the total stillness.
She bribed her son with lunch at the local soda shoppe if he would drive her to this area. Maybe he could give her some direction as she sought an answer.
He walked some of the property with her and she pointed out a spot that she would like to have some sort of retreat.
She asked him point blank "do you think it is too late for me to build again"? His answer "I think you have already made the decision". Guess he could read my heart.
She followed her heart and not her mind. The mind could give a dozen reasons for not doing this. But the heart "said go forward".
A long, exciting, 6 months. There she stands my new home. Not what I started out dreaming of but something more practical.
She loves it. Always one that could hardly sit still - she stands for hours gazing at the towering trees and fields.
From her bedroom window she views the most magnificent sunsets that she has ever witnessed.
She is at a loss for words to share her thankfulness that she was allowed to create this retreat.
At the moment she is well, at peace and weary.
So many plans go through her mind of the simple garden she wants to create. Then another part of her just wants to sit, do nothing and dream.

She is back in the city cleaning a garden and must water the wilting plants.

She has a smile on her face and wonders at times - has she lost her mind - what has happened that she does not think like she did months ago. It is almost like she has been reborn. Could it be the nonstop activity and mind decisions of months just totally depleted her thought process and energy. She smiles as she recalls reading somewhere "that most creative people are slightly mad" hopefully this is not me. Then if it is - she has such a deep sense of peace - that is really does not matter!!!

Does this even make sense!!!!

Let Me Grow Lovely

Let me grow lovely, growing old - So many fine things do.
Lace, ivory, and gold, and silks need not be new.
There is healing in old trees, old streets a glamour hold.
Why may not I, as well as these.
Grow lovely, growing old.

Karle Baker - The Best Loved Poems of the American People 1939

The Beginning

I am back in the city this morning and will return on Monday morning to the country with my little granddaughter.

I probably will keep repeating myself "I am pleased with all that has transpired and look forward to the continuing creation of my nature home." My gardens and the earth on my hands will truly makes this my home.

I like the sparseness of this home. A card table is my kitchen table. I have just enough in the pantry to be comfortable. This home will fill up soon enough when this city home sells. How in the world did it take all day and a large truck to move what is in this home. Upstairs is totally furnished and the garage is full and I am not showing a lot of area's. Enough pictures posted to give an idea of this home. Pictures in the future will be nature shots. Hopefully there are some critters and birds out there. I am beginning to hear them. I was looking forward to opening my bedroom window early in the morning - and they sent the wrong size screen!!!!

I know a cat must have wandered here last night. There were feathers on my walk and straw hanging out of my birdhouse - made me sad.

Since many have traveled this journey with me, I am going to post a few pictures. One Woman moved limited items one week ago today. I want to add that I do not miss having a television and may not have one in this home. Like just having my cell phone but looking forward to having computer installed.

I never have problems with my teeth - but I think I have cracked a crown. I am on an antibiotic since I have had a toothache for two nights.

Thanks again for all of your encouraging words and thoughts you sent forward to me.

This is a simple home but larger then I intended. A lot of my beginning plans changed as the reality of this progressed. One Woman has children and grandchildren and for its future it was made a little larger. I chose Hardy Board over Western Cedar for the upkeep. Pine floors (which finished beautifully) Bead board cabinets. Middle of the line products and for the first time of building a number of homes, I was off on the cost. Guess it was because I added more square footage and a garage. Cost 30% more then I planned. I have not vacationed in years and this home will be like a vacation in my last years!!! One Woman likes to stay busy and I see years of clipping, clearing, planting, photographing and sitting on the porch and deck viewing the trees and the birds.

Memories being made by One Woman

Miraculous First Evening Sunset In The Country

I drove back to the city late yesterday. Some of my children visited me on Sunday and my daughter Beth expressed it perfectly "mama you do not want to go back to the city - do you"? My answer "no I do not". So I am in the city for the day and night. I need to go over this sparsely furnished home, tend this city garden and watch my 7 year old granddaughter for the day. I will head back to the country this late afternoon.

I keep trying to come up with words to describe my first nights in the country. I am having difficulty finding them. How do you express such Thankfulness that the Lord has allowed me to have this blessing. What are the words for a peace so deep that all I can say is "I am so very thankfull".

As I looked out my windows, sat on the porch, walked surrounding area and viewed the countryside, the awesome sunsets, witnessed the deer, wild turkey, raccoon on my driveway, aware of the many types of birds going from tree to tree and the owl I spotted - all I can say is I have the deepest sense of peace that I think I have ever experienced in my 3 score and 10 years. The total quiet except for nature sounds is such a contrast with the sounds I have heard for over two years in this city cottage.

I Am Home!!!!. I wandered for a few years and now have returned. Maybe I needed to leave to really appreciate my last years surrounded by nature. So many things I do not know. A number of things to complete on this journey until I can stop making weekly trips from city to country. At least they will be limited.

How can I express such deep heartfelt feelings. I cannot.

S0 - dear online friends - just know that I am HAPPY and at PEACE. The Peace is so deep that I am at a loss for words to describe how I feel.

There is still a lot of detail work going on. My driveway needs to be graveled and on and on.

But my country cottage is 98% finished.

I also will share that I truly like the emptiness of both cottages. My mind is busy thinking of what else I can get rid of.

The Saturday move took the whole day. My son kept commenting "take everything you can" his thoughts this home looked roomier with less in it. I have to say now that I have returned that I totally agree with him. I did not think it would take as long as it did. The final move will not take as long. Every trip I make to the city I will return with some items for the country. Maybe this will be good for me the way it is unfolding.

I continue to plan my garden in the country and do not want as much to take care of as I have in the past.

But I also know that is not my personality.

I have thoroughly enjoyed no landline phone, computer and television. They have not been missed.

Will post some pictures soon. I am surprised I can even write this entry as my mind is still not functioning normal. I question - what is normal?. Maybe this is normal and I have not been normal for 2 years. lol I need to rest. Probably more then ever in my lifetime. I am physically tired.

Thanks to everyone that remembered me and has been cheering me on.

Now city home tell that buyer to come soon.

Blessings to all of you who have taken an interest in this One Woman's project.

Memories being made by One Woman

It's Happening

I clicked on emails early this morning and it put a smile on my face to see some uplifting "cheering on".

Last night decided - I needed more help both physically and emotionally. Guess who came to the rescue ---- I wonder what would this mom do without him. My special son!!

Last night he loaded his vehicle with a number of things I did not want on the moving truck and this morning will bring a cooler to transport groceries to put in my new refrigerator.

I truly needed someone with me. This independent One Woman who for years has always been able to coast on her own has tears in her eyes as she admits her weakness. Guess it is the time of my life and age. I must also add that this is a dream that is becoming a reality. There are all kinds of mixed emotions taking place.

The moving people will arrive in two hours and then I am on my way for my first nights in the country. Where in the world does the "stuff" come from? Especially when I have been continually downscaling for a number of years. This home looks great and I will not miss one single thing that is being taken out of it.

Why am I so emotional? Is this normal? I guess normal for One Woman. A dream coming true and I have the thoughts of - how long will I be able to enjoy the life I am headed for.

Painfully aware that I am in the gift years. The bible says we are granted 70 years and anything after that is a gift. Enough of this melancholy sharing.

On a happy note is the fact that my 7 year old granddaughter wants to go with me for the day and night. She will be truly welcome.

My daughter and husband will be in that old home place area tomorrow and will pick her up.

So my first night will be with my little one.

Thank you so much for the continued encouraging.

To think I questioned having a journal and revealing myself so openly. Revealing the past, present and what is to come. This journey has been a learning experience and a joy that came with many new friendships.


Will be back on line the end of week. Imagine no television, land line phone and computer - I think it will be great!!!


One Woman's big day

All Is Well

All is well - just busy. The finishing touches on my country home are continuing. Screen to go on screen porch and deck being finished. Screen door onto deck and full glass door to front porch - then touch up. Appliances were delivered today and Saturday morning bright and early 1/3 of what is in the city home will be moved to the country.

Every day my truck is filled to the brim with items I am moving. Wednesday a helper arrived and took a lot of items out of my garden and emptied my garage.

My landscaping looked so beautiful on Tuesday and then a storm came through and my yard is filled with about 3 pick up loads of branches and the top of a "probably 100 foot Poplar tree".
So thankful it fell in the yard and not on my cottage.
Oh I might mention that I still have major "mud". I have a feeling that when the rain stops it will have truly stopped.

So my online friends I just wanted you to know what was happening in One Woman's world.

I plan on spending 3 or 4 nights a week starting Saturday.

I am excited to hear the night sounds and see what there is to see in the black of night and the early dawn. One of my little granddaughters might join me.

I am in the process of taking a number of items from my kitchen. I know (smiling) that there will be times at both homes that I need something and it is at the other home. City home - please sell soon - so One Woman can get on with her life.

Thank you for checking on me.

You are all special to me.

Might mention with all this I had a major problem with my car. It was just returned from the shop. Oh well!!!

One Woman getting ready to make some more memories!!!