The Clock is Ticking

 

 

Things are moving right along on the sale of the farm.  The hardest part is the cleanup.  There is junk and more junk that has sat here for over 60 years.  That junk needs to be hauled away, and looks like the chore is mine, all mine.

As far as packing up my own things, I've done quite well.  I am saying good bye to all the stuff I have not used in a year, or that is Country related.  The Farmgirl has left the building, and the only memorabilia I am taking with me is the farm sign, which I will hang on my back porch, and the show banner I used at all of the Alpaca Events we attended.

At this rate, it looks like it will all fit into a U-Haul truck, and my boys and the neighbors will all help with that job.  I'm aiming for December 8th.

 

I also found about 5 quilt tops I had made back in the quilting days prior to Alan's death.  I haven't had time for any of that since then.  I knew I would not finish them, so I gave them to my church.  Two times a year, the ladies get together and make small quilts for the children who go to the local women's shelter with their moms.  Most of them have been abused and are in crises.   As they arrive, they are each given a quilt.  These quilts are all worked on by many women.  Some buy the fabric, some cut.  Others sew the pieces together, others iron the seams.  More do the quilting, and then finally the binding.  The quilts were dedicated last Sunday, and I am proud and honored to say that 4 of mine are now in the hands of some children who need a bright place in their lives.

 

I will be homeless for awhile and living in my brother's basement.  I have put an offer on a cute little condo in Seattle, at the base of Magnolia, and right across the ship canal from my kids and Cadel!  Wonderful walking zone.  I am going to become the Walking Queen.

The condo is a short sale, and is in quite a state.  The former owners seemed to be "Big Ship" afficianados, and attempted to decorate their living room to resemble the Captains Quarters on the Bounty.  They put in a false ceiling that is sagging and about to fall, resurfaced the houseing of the fireplace, and put in these god awful moldings all over.  These things will have to be dealt with immediately after I take possession, IF I actually get it.

 

Funny how a SHORT sale talks so long.  It's called a short sale because the sellers are short funds to pay off their bank.  The bank takes offers and decides which one they will lose the least amount of money on.  Well, I don't think they will have to think on this one too long.  I am paying cash, I'm the only offer they have had, and they are accruing costs evey day they keep this on their inventory.

 

One of the best things about this condo is that it has a HUGE back deck, as big as one of the bedrooms.  It only gets morning light, but I can have a nice shade garden out there with plenty of fushias and begonias.  But, I wont have to mow a lawn!!!

 

I've also got an application in to work at my favorite funky clothing store on a part time, flexible schedule.

 

Then, my big goal is to be in the Weekly Freemont Street Fair.  I've been told by several vendors there that my yarns will do really well.  No one has anything like it there.  I'm really looking forward to that.

 

As for Thanksgiving, I'm heading down on Monday to spend another week with my brother.  My allergies to mold just begin to subside as I am ready to return here, but I just can't stay here long, since I get so sick.  My boys and I will be celebrating Thanksgiving on Friday at a Natural, Vegetarian Restaurant.  I'm really looking forward to some great quality time with all my boys and Adrienne.

A MOST WONDERFUL DAY

My son came to get me this afternoon so I could spend some time with Cadel.

My other son, Chad, and his partner, Harry, took turns with me holding the babe.  Chad is just beside himself with delight at being an Uncle.

We stayed for a couple of hours, and then decided to go to the Freemont Street Fair.

We walked for over a mile along the Burke Gilman Trail.

Formerly a rail road right of way, the trail runs for miles.  Here it runs along the Ship Canal.  About 35 years ago, I did the Title research on the property that became this trail.  Eeweeee, what a job.

I love this tree.  Think I will have to find out what it is.  I need plants that provide color year round so I can always have my bouquets in the house.

I would love to live in this apartment.  Is this Artsy Fartsy, or what?  And such a view. 

Chad and Harry kept getting ahead of me and having to wait as I took pictures.  They are so patient with me.

I love this nude hanging on the fence at the Canal Coffee Company.

Finally, we arrived at the Street Fair.  This is an exceptionally eclectic event that is held every Sunday, year round.  You never know what you are going to find.  The only thing I was interested in was a rest room.

After looking at all the vendors, we went to catch the bus to downtown Seattle.

If you click on this picture to enlarge it, you will see that the people waiting at the bus stop across the street are actually statues.  Residents of the area dress them to celebrate different events.  I'm sure tomorrow there will be an Abe Lincoln.

The boys accompanied me to the underground bus tunnel to catch my bus back to Mercer Island.  By this time, my feet hurt so bad.  I have walked the trail through the woods to the shopping center every day for the past week, and today's walk resulted in blisters.  I was dreading the walk back up the hill when I remembered that I had met a friend of my brother's who had told me to call her if I needed ANYTHING.  Hallelujah, she was just coming home and was five minutes away.  I walked to the Starbucks and arrived there just as she was driving in.  When I got home I had to soak my poor feet.

This is a view from my brother's kitchen, showing the woods I walk through each day.  Bald Eagles live in the tops of these trees, and I hear them calling in the mornings before the sun comes up.

It's nice being here, but I'm missing my little place.