Tuesday, April 09, 2013

THE WEATHER GODS THANKFULLY SMILED ON US FOR A FEW HOURS THIS MORNING

DSC_0047
LOOKING FORWARD TO BLOGGING FROM OUR COMFORTABLE SUNROOM THIS SUMMER AGAIN

Checked the weather map first thing to see where the rain was. Our utility trailer is not enclosed so knew we could not afford to get caught in a rainstorm bringing Uncle Harry’s stuff home this morning.  Rain was not due until early afternoon so we had a window of opportunity.  Luckily we have a big carport to park the trailer in upon our return.   Not much storage space inside the Jeep so we decided Kelly would take our Hyundai Santa Fe to Mitchell as well. And it’s a good thing we decided to take the second vehicle because we filled them both up.

DSC_0049

MY LITTLE CORNER OF OUR LIVING ROOM

Cold, damp, & foggy sums up our early morning 2 car & trailer convoy to the Ritz Villa Care Facility. A quick check-in with staff & we were off down the hall to Harry’s room to begin our sad task. Everything was still there, except Uncle Harry. Kelly packed things up & with the aid of a 4 wheel cart I transported Harry’s belongings to our two vehicles & trailer outside. I was amazed at the amount of stuff in his room. Two & a half hours later we were done & left Harry’s room for the final time. A last look out his window at what had become Harry’s outside world for the past number of years & we were gone. For readers who have had to do this you will understand what we were thinking & how we were feeling this morning.

DSC_0048

FIGURED I HAD BETTER GET A PIC OF OUR UNCLUTTERED KITCHEN BEFORE WE UNLOAD THE RIG

It was a slower drive home using paved back roads. Had a bit of weight in the small utility trailer & the tires on it are somewhere over 10 years old. We bought that trailer used when we moved from the old Weenie Roast Ranch to our present place in Bayfield. It made many trips back & forth & has paid for itself many times over. It is now mainly used for hauling yard waste to our recycle area here in the Park. But when needed, like today, it once again came through for us & did the job it was built to do.
---
The weather Gods smiled on us & waited until we had safely returned to Bayfield & backed the utility trailer into our roofed carport. Half an hour later the rains began again & as I type this tonight it is still raining. Had us some thunder along with that rain as well.  I did have a couple tarps along with us this morning just in case.
DSC_0043

I figure it was simply the fatigue of the last 5 days that finally caught up with me this afternoon. We were only home a short time when the energy just literally drained out of me. A rare headache set in & I felt like I had been run over by a big Mac truck. Crawled into my recliner, pulled a blanket over me & remained there in a rather lethargic state for about 5 hours.   Hoping for a better day Wednesday.  But Kelly hardly stopped working today. She was literally buried in paper work, emails, faxes, & phone calls. In fact that is why I think I got so darn tired….just watching her hopping from one task to another.  A big stack of mail to sort through, Harry’s estate affairs, phone calls to a lawyers office, the funeral director, banks, insurance company, income taxes to ready, & still paper work at this end for the Sunseeker.  License tags, inspections, etc.  And much of it all has to be done pretty much this week sometime. We are still in a big jumble ourselves here from unloading the rig. Big, big, yard clean-up waiting outside & we are forecasted to have 3 or 4 more days of rain. In fact, a winter storm warning for Thursday has just been issued.  Maybe I can finally get caught up with some blog reading this week.   Now, am I complaining? No, not at all. Just stating where we’re at today.  Tomorrow we will be at somewhere else I'm sure & for today that is what makes life interesting.
---
Before leaving Congress last week I was surprised at the amount of space we had not filled in the Sunseeker. I had thought for sure we would not have enough room for everything & yet we had bin space left over. Nice not to be carrying extra weight on the road & especially nice at this end Monday when it did not take us nearly as long to empty the smaller rig. Of course we were speeded up by an incoming rain front which arrived about an hour after having all the main stuff moved into the house.
DSC_0051
IT’S FUNNY BUT I HAD NO RECOLLECTION OF ALL THAT STUFF ON THE HUTCH

When we arrived in Congress last November 1rst we were so excited to be there & just walked around looking at everything saying. ‘Wow’. We do the same thing every year arriving home here in Bayfield as well. It is always a big ‘WoW’ feeling to first walk around outside looking at everything. Tall Pine trees, all the greenery, & despite the mess old Man Winter has left, it all looks so great, so cozy. And then we unlock the door & walk in the house for the first time in five & a half months. Snow Birds may identify with this when I say, ‘double Wow’, everything just looked so great, so neat, & so trim. We see things we forgot we had, we see the house in a new light after being away from it for so long. We just walk around saying, ‘Wow’ look at this, ‘Wow’ look at that. I was so impressed I had to take some photos. These reactions several times a year are just a couple of the things we enjoy about being Snow Birds. We always look forward to the abrupt & complete changes in scenery, living space, & lifestyle. And in between those lifestyle changes & scenery we get to go on some amazing road trips as well. For me, it is a combination of all those radical changes that keep life interesting. Maybe doesn’t work for everyone but it sure works for me & I wouldn’t want it any other way:))
DSC_0046
HAVE TO MOVE ALL THESE PLANTS BACK TO THEIR SUMMER HOMES SHORTLY

GROANER’S CORNER:(( A man traveling down a country road was forced to stop before a giant puddle covering the entire road. Looking to the side of the road, the man noticed a farmer leaning on a fence.
"Think it's safe to cross?" the man asked.
"I reckon so," replied the farmer.
The car was immediately swallowed by the puddle as the man drove in. In fact, it was so deep that he had to roll his window down to swim out of his car back to the surface. As his head broke the surface the man said to the farmer, "I thought you said I could safely drive through this puddle!"
"Well, shoot!" said the farmer, scratching his head. "It only come up chest-high on my ducks!"

-------------------------------------------------------------
- Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.
- Home is where your pet is:))
- "If having a soul means being able to feel
love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals
are better off than a lot of humans."
(James Herriot)
- The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails -William Arthur Ward
- The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...AL.
- It is not so much having nothing to do as it is not having the interest to do something....AL.

19 comments:

  1. Now you are back in Ontario ,things will just fall in place. Get caught up on your sleep and will wil be fine!

    ReplyDelete
  2. A poignant task indeed, cleaning out Uncle Harry's room. You must have so many wonderful memories of him. Hope you get some rest this week, with all that needs to be done.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Kelly and Al, my heart goes out to you both during this time. As an only child, I did all things when my mom passed that you guys are having to take care of for Uncle Harry. I read your blog daily but don't comment often. By the way, love your sunroom! Gentle hugs to you both . . .

    ReplyDelete
  4. Al, I see you have a lot of Southwest stuff in your Ontario home! I LOVE your sunroom, too! I know how hard it is for you to have your uncle's things...I cried and cried when I helped clean out my own uncle's things. I miss him so!
    ~~Cheryl Ann~~

    ReplyDelete
  5. Your Bayfield home is so pretty! I so understand why you want to spend the summer in your sunroom!

    ReplyDelete
  6. According to the weather radar the rain we had here in Nebr. last night was moving quickly in your direction. We've progressed to cold, ice, wind, more rain, sleet, and thundersnow...hope you get spared some of that. Ah, Spring!!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Al, I do not know if you remember how I had to take each day when John was fighting for his life. I dopted the saying "how do you eat an elephant?......ONE BITE AT A TIME" ..... this is what I encourage you to do. Just take one bite, chew it and be done with it. Hugs to you both...you cn rest assured that John and I are praying for your steps, decisions and emotional well being... J&N

    ReplyDelete
  8. My brother, sister, and I cleaned out my Dad's room when he died. We laughed and we cried a lot and had some wonderful, fun, and sad memories to share. It hurts but does get better.

    ReplyDelete
  9. One year ago tomorrow, my sister and I did this for our mom. My heart goes out to you. Glad you took that five hours or so to just crawl in your shell and rest.
    I love the beauty of your Canada home inside and out.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Yes, I remember vividly cleaning out my Dad's room in Dec. We had put all his Christmas decorations the first of the month and he died on Dec 19th. So we had to take it all down, was just so sad. You are probably worn out emotionally too. You have a lovely home, I can see why you are glad to be back.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Almost two years since Mom died and although I emptied her house, still haven't gone through most of the stuff in boxes. Just not ready. But time will come for that.

    I love your sunroom and look forward to Pheebs walks in the woods.

    ReplyDelete
  12. nice to be home and getting settled back into somewhat of a routine...an emotional day today for you both, I am sure..lots of memories in Uncle Harry's room.
    take care of yourselves, sure sounds like you have a few busy days ahead.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Glad you made it back to Bayfield and hope the rest of this week goes smoothly. There's a ton of stuff for you to go through (both materials and on the emotional side), but hope it's not too painful for you!
    Nina & Paul (wheelingit)

    ReplyDelete
  14. You have a lovely home..both homes, in fact...Sooo much to do...We are still trying to get our Aunt and Uncle to go to some assisted living place..They should NOT be in their own home..but we are not their kids..and have no say so..All we can do is help them when needed.

    ReplyDelete
  15. So glad to hear you and Kelly are safe and sound back in Bayfield!!
    Now get some rest after that LONG haul! :)
    Kathy, Grant & Molly

    PS Molly sends nose taps to Pheebs!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Glad you had a smooth ride back to Bayfield. Thinking of you during this difficult time.

    ReplyDelete
  17. No wonder you are tired after your long, fast drive home and then the mental and emotional stress of seeing Uncle Harry's room without him, and packing up his belongings.
    I'm sure he is watching over you and thinking of all you meant to each other.

    ReplyDelete
  18. I still love to take out my mother's stationary box and smell the inside...and I have a few other special items from my sister and my father. They will always go with me as special reminders. It does get easier...and the time spent grieving and working through the clean up is always well spent and helps in saying good-bye. I think it makes us so much stronger. Blessing to you two...P.S. your Northern home is so COZY! Thumbs up to the decorator.

    ReplyDelete