Sad and Sappy Goodbye (and tons of pictures)

Here is the scene of the last load to be taken out.

 Wait, I'm getting ahead of myself.  (That is a funny word-picture, but again, I digress.)  The last week we have been sitting in our lawn chairs as we slowly and methodically pack our belongings into the trailers.

 We have thankfully sold our bed, so we splurged and bought some firm foam to add to our soft foam pads to form our bed for here and for the road.  No, Mom, I still don't make my bed.  Never will.  Time to give up.

 Our closets have long been empty with only the worst hangers left to the new occupants.  Nice, I know, but isn't a bad hanger better than none at all?

 Pat has been so awesome getting Dad's bunk ready in the trailer.  He's a little desirous of trying it out himself.  I told him that would likely be possible.  In anticipation of the much warmer weather, we have installed more vents and a battery-powered fan.  Hopefully the nights won't be too hot!

Pat, like most of the male gender, has the desire to express himself in visual ways.  Note the skull and cross-torches that now stand guard over our spare tire.  Beware, indeed.

The garage looks so barren without all it's intended tools.  This was a shop built just for Pat, and it will cease to fully fulfill its purpose from this day forward.  A sad day, truly.  It was an invaluable blessing for us as we (as in Pat) secured our belongings, not only in the large trailer, but securely in the small trailer as well.

As we played with various configurations of totes in the back of the truck, I took some time to walk around and say goodbye to all my babies.  Yes, I'm attached.  I've spent so much time nurturing them and watching them grow to their full potential.  These were investments that I never regret or outgrow.

Oh how I will miss the fragrant walk beside the petunias and the views across our expanse of green to the lake.

My greenhouse brought me so much joy and warmth!  I hope the new owners appreciate Pat's work half as much as I did.

Rowdy discovered the healthy deliciousness of squash leaves and blossoms.  The cherry tomatoes were just beginning to ripen, so I know we will both miss those!

Truly the most beautiful place I have ever, and likely will ever have, lived.  It was so much more than we needed, gave us a place to grow and mature (OK, not really), and we will miss it.

I never thought living on water would be so beautiful.  Even this lily-pad infested bog of a pond was incredible.  The life it contained was both visually and audibly mesmerizing.

I feel like I understand why God placed Adam and Eve in a Garden.  There is so much richness and diversity, seasonal growth and decay, constant care and attention given to one.

So now I move on to say goodbye to the home we possessed for a time.  What a gift it was.

It seemed even Rowdy knew the changes were indicative of goodbye.  We will miss this view from our picture window, but instead of dwelling on the sadness of leaving we reflect on the amazing opportunity that we were able to enjoy it at all.

Gardening!

As requested, I am showing the progress of my garden this year! The peppers are growing quite tall! I have one large pepper setting, and many more on the way! My tomato is a dwarf/bush size with cherry tomatoes. It is also setting on many babies! I can't wait to eat 'em! I am sneaking many snacks from the plants at work! The plants on our porch are doing well as well. The fuschia is in the middle, and it's surrounded by my broccoli/lettuce hanging baskets, and on the right is my New Guinea Impatiens with Canary Bird Vines. There are some wave petunias on the porch as well. I don't think they get quite enough sun, but they seem okay! It is so nice to see flowers out our window! There are lots of wildflowers, too, which make it very lovely!

It's not easy being ... brown

Okay, here is where our climate leaves us! There are a few little buds starting to show, and some green beginning to grow! Pat's surprise that he made for me is this great mini-greenhouse! I love it! It's just big enough to hold a tomato or two, some peppers, and my little seedlings!! I have to get a heater for it before I put those little plants into their new home! Isn't my hubby wonderful!! He's already making plans for next years' model!