Hot Saturday Afternoon

6:30PM

Another down-sizing and packing Saturday.  Today I spent more time stowing things in my RV.  I think I'll 'move in' tomorrow after the crew - my son, jeff,  son-in-law, David and granddaughter's boyfriend, Landon - moves my furniture and heavy boxes to my storage unit.  I met with the renters this afternoon to go over the Rental Agreement in detail; we're all set.  After tomorrow's hardest part of the move is finished, I'll have about 12 days to continue with the down-sizing, stowing, storing, giving away, etc; and, I'll give the house a good cleaning so Jennifer, Jason, Joshua and Justin can move into their 'new home.'

I haven't mentioned, I don't think, but I've really enjoyed being home for this couple of months; I've finally been meeting my neighbors.  When I originally moved in I was still very much participating in the working world and, although my commute was short, my hours were long.  So I didn't really get to know any of my neighbors other than to say 'hi' and 'how are you?'  Since I've been home from my Mexican adventure, I've thoroughly enjoyed meeting and greeting some of the nicest people - my neighbors.  Of course, having Miss Flair sitting in front of the house is cause for friendly banter, as is walking Lacy; and oh how she loves visiting with everybody on the street.

A couple of the neighbors have asked if I'd give them info about my blog so they can follow our adventures, so this afternoon I made up some new calling cards [are they still called that]?  I made about a hundred so I'll have them when asked along my way......

Such interesting things come up since I have the time to chat with people.  I'd noticed a neighbor who lives across the street for some time, even before I left for Mexico.  We never had any conversation other than saying, "What a nice dog!" when we were both out walking our pets.  In the last couple of weeks, Kim and I have started having short little blips of conversation; today I happened to mention this blog and she asked if I'd give her the name so she can follow my adventures.  And, while we were talking she mentioned that she'd written a book that was published in 2009.  Wow, an author!  I said I'd love to read it so she gave me a copy; I know what I'll be doing this evening.  Everybody is interesting. I just have to participate ....

I've also met the new owners of the house next door, Marty and Susan, who bought it as an investment property; they're there often doing lots of yard work, etc.  Then there's Bobbi, the neighbor two doors away,  a widow who moved here a year or so ago from Arizona after her husband passed away; her kids and their families wanted her to be closer.  What a beautiful, and very lovely, lady.  

I have to say that some of the friendliness I'm encountering probably has to do with the fact that I'm more 'present.'  I had a little reminder on my desk at work ...... "When I get all tied up in myself, life becomes a very small package."  How true that was - now my life is a much larger package.

Back to the down-size tossing!  Happy week-end!


8:50PM

Thought I'd add a couple of photos ....

Bed's made - that's all that matters - almost!

We'll being saying "Bye bye" to our Toyota Camry for quite a while

 I've had the same license plate since 1981!

Lincoln packs light - and he's ready to go!

 Of course, Eleanor is waiting in the safety of the bedroom in the house.  She'll be transported to the RV and probably won't go outside during the entire adventure.

Moonrise over Roseville 

Thanks to Kevin and Ruth for the idea

Because the moon is such a tiny speck between the redwood and magnolia trees, I took another just to prove that it's really there.  My moon looks a lot like Kevin and Ruth's in Saskatchewan! 

Good night.

Remember, Mary-Pat, Butterflies are Free!!!!

Friday, July 12th - 3PM

I did it! I actually starting work in the  garage about 7:30 AM this morning - in the cool, cool, cool of the morning.  I've headed out there innumerable times in the last two weeks; but I can scarcely get started and then it's too darn hot!

 There are several special-interest areas in which only I can sort through, make decisions and piles and save, toss, give away, donate or sell the results.  Let's see, there was my personal clothing, dishes, knick-knacks, art work, furniture, rugs, household equipment (who really needs five vacuum cleaners?), sporting equipment, books (I've already mentioned the number of cookbooks), cooking equipment - Cuisinarts, blenders, ice cream makers, slow cookers, fast cookers, baking pans, casserole dishes, pie weights, rolling pins, bowls, spoons, toasters, raclette party cooker, tagine, frying, stewing, boiling pans, Ebelskiver pan, yogurt maker, cherry pitter, coffee pots (3 large), coffee serving pots (3), boxes and boxes of family photo albums and loose photos, etc.  You name it - if it's an interest, a hobby or a need-to-know that I have, I have every conceivable accoutrement imaginable.  Once again, it's all just STUFF!

Today I really laid in to the collections of STUFF previously relegated to the garage and unseen by these two eyes for at least two years.   I retired at the end of August, one year and eleven months ago, left for Guatemala a week or so later, and have essentially been 'on the road' ever since.  Not seeing all of it for all that time and I didn't die or even get sick missing THINGS!

So, the BIG project for today was going through about a million skeins [balls] of yarn, partially finished knit and crochet projects, pattern books and knit/crochet magazines, needles (circular, straight, long, short, single and double-pointed, hooks, special scissors, measuring instruments, row
counters .... the list goes on.  [I actually learned how to knit and crochet as a small child.  I remember carrying crocheted booties projects in my lunchbox to grammar school.  We lived on a little ranch and I had several cats who, of course, needed booties and bonnets.  I made lots of "interesting" things back in those days; one project was a pair of knitted argyle socks for my dad.  I knitted the first sock in navy blue with pink, white and baby blue in the argyle pattern; then I got tired of that color scheme so knitted the second sock in light blue with navy blue, pink and white in the argyle pattern!  My retired Army Colonel Dad actually wore those socks - proudly - I think mainly when he mowed the lawn!]

Well, I sat on a foot stool amongst umpteen plastic bins of yarn and made decisions as to what stays / gets tossed / is given away or goes with me on my adventure.  As it stands right now, I'm taking about four projects to work on along the way; three large plastic bins of very valuable yarn will go into storage; I gave a large Hefty bag of yarn to my neighbor, Bobbi, who's daughter is teaching her granddaughter to crochet; and, I gave two Hefty bags of yarn to Goodwill Industries.

Kari showed up about an hour ago with Avery, Tate (girls of the triplets), Malia and Samantha (twins of my son, Jeff); we all loaded Kari's SUV with donations that we delivered to Goodwill Industries.  I feel so much lighter and freer!  Maybe a little like this Blue Morpho Butterfly .....

                             
Tomorrow morning - again early - I'll venture out to the garage again to tackle dining entertainment, cooking and baking equipment.  Does anybody need pie or cake pans?  Tablecloths?  Giant glass salad bowls?  50 - 75 buffet plates and goblets?  Oh, I need another bowl of ice cream!

Finally getting to the garage .... "Freedom" is just a couple of weeks away ...

Butterflies are free .....  Check out these beautiful creatures

http://www.google.com/search?q=butterflies&client=safari&rls=en&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=UKjfUYz3DMvriQKlt4FY&ved=0CLoBEIke&biw=1365&bih=777




As I've gone through the house, separating wanted, needed, maybe, maybe not, this stays in the house, this goes into storage, that goes into Miss Flair, I've moved stuff around and about and relegated mainly to the garage for triaging (emergency medical terminology - once a nurse, always a nurse!)  Consequently, as the house becomes bare, the garage has become cluttered.

Today I started on the job of getting through lots of stuff, in the garage, for dispersement.  I can't say it looks clean and neat at this point because that wouldn't be truthful; but it does look like I'm making a dent.  And, I have to admit I'm tired and hot and ready to get this part of the adventure over with!  Also, my energy level goes down so rapidly in the heat; I'll bet I drink two gallons of liquids during and afternoon of packing and sorting work.  I'd love to be able to get a couple of hours done in the early AMs but here I am at almost midnight and it's just starting to cool down enough to turn off the AC in the house to sleep in peace (and natural air) - so it's hard to get up at about 5 when it's really pleasant outside and I have so much more energy.

The new bike rack was delivered UPS - it's actually a scooter rack with a ramp; but to attach it to the hitch, I need to remove the RV portion of the Blue Ox dinghy hitch - and I don't have a key for the lock.  I checked with the previous owner and she thinks the key might have gone with their tow vehicle they sold a couple of years ago.  This afternoon I dropped by my local locksmith to see if they'd come to help me out without having to drive the rig to their location.  No, they'd rather work on it there; so, I'll batten down the hatches (put stuff away) and drive it there tomorrow to have the lock re-keyed so I can then mount the new rack. I bought this rack to accommodate my Schwinn electric bike as it's too heavy for a regular bike rack.  I'm hoping that the electric bike will be sufficient for a little exercise and going to the grocery store when I'm parked somewhere  for any length of time.  We'll see how it works out.

Sunset, Balmorhea State Park, Texas - April 27, 2013

"Change of Life - Style" ... Update

Thursday morning ....  These last few days have literally flown by.  I've had help with packing and regardless of how much STUFF I'm giving away to friends, family and Goodwill Industries, etc., there are still boxes and boxes that are now, or will be going, into the storage unit.  My wonderful friend, Judy, was here all day yesterday; she packed boxes and boxes of breakable things and we delivered about 15 boxes of books, dishes and knick-knacks to the climate-controlled storage unit that's located about four miles from the house.  We were exhausted, hot and maybe a little smelly by the end of the day, but I love her for her enthusiastic help.  And, we had several ginger ale and coke breaks; as well as a nice big hamburger break at Mel's Diner in Roseville.

My daughter, Kari, newly returned from their vacation in Cancún, advises, "Just give away all those cookbooks.  You'll never miss them"  I just cannot do that.  As I continue publishing this blog I like to gradually jot down self-relavations as they come to me.  One I'll share now is that I read cookbooks i much the same fashion as most people read a good novel.  I love recipes and, in some ways feel gratitude, in that I can simply read a recipe and know whether or not I'd actually like the taste of the dish!  I count that as a developed talent, after having read umpteen trillion recipes and actually cooked / baked up about half umpteen trillion!

My cookbooks, for me, are like that special novel you read thirty years ago and still think about it today.  Or maybe it's the special book that some people like to re-read over and over throughout the years.  I don't very often re-read a novel, but I certainly do cookbooks.  Additionally I do love to cook and bake and am forever trying new and interesting concoctions as I wander through those books and the World.

Back to the project at hand - moving.  Yesterday some of the new kitchen appliances arrived; they've hanging out in the garage until the mini-remodel of the kitchen commences later this week, I hope.  I've decided that I'm going to move into Miss Flair this weekend, it'll become quite uncomfortable in the house with no cooking / eating utensils and dishes, and very little in the rest of the house too.  I have four guys lined up for Sunday, along with a U-Haul truck and a pick-up.  They'll move my bedroom set, dining room set, large entertainment console and the rest of the boxes to the storage facility.  Then I'll have almost two weeks to clean, with the help of a fantastic daughter, daughter-in-law and friend, Judy.

Today I'm here solo, tasked with separating and packing clothing and all my knitting and crocheting inventory and supplies.  These are tasks I can't delegate as I need to make the decisions.  I also need to do a few errands, a couple of merchandise returns, renting the truck, having my new bike rack installed on the rig, etc......

Here she is, in the heat of the day, waiting patiently for the commencement of our adventure

Most of the family has seen her now - they're very happy for me and are already coming up with suggestions regarding meeting up with us at some point(s) during our adventure

Mimi and Addison, age 18, Oaxaca, Mexico, 2010

Addison is my granddaughter who recently graduated from Loyola Marymount University this year. she's currently setting up her first "on-her-own" household in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where she's begun her contract with "Teach For America" after having received her teaching credential in a whirlwind 6 week course at Arizona State University in Tempe.  I'm so proud of this young woman.

Am I Doing the "Right Thing?"

Even the well-thought-out ideas for new things, endeavors, experiences in one's life conjure up a few moments of DOUBT, right?

I'm, so far, very happy with the decision to rent my house, buy a new RV and get ready to head out for all the adventures and experiences that are OUT THERE.  Each time I go online, my Safari browser flashes some recent headlines from the New York Times.  Thought all you full-time RVers might enjoy this article....

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/09/nyregion/amid-housing-scarcity-many-buyers-are-going-home-empty-handed.html?src=se

YIKES - New York City

Fleetwood Flair Names .....

Monday PM:

My young friend, Danielle, came this morning and packed about 8 or 9 boxes of dishes, knick-knacks, wall decor, etc.  She's coming back tomorrow for more of the same; it's starting to look pretty sparse in here - bare cupboards, walls, closets, etc.

I'm taking a moment to start thinking about possible names for "Miss Flair," the interim name I've been using.  My good and long-time friend, Dee, who I caught up with in Sayulita, Nayarit, Mexico earlier this year, has suggested the name, "Floribunda."  In his email this morning, he said ....

"Got to do better than 'Miss Flair' for a name.  That's like naming your cow 'Bossy' or your dog 'Pal'.   A rig for outrageous travels needs an outrageous name."

So I've been sitting here thinking about 'flower' names and their meanings; here are a few I've come up with in addition to Dee's "Floribunda" - referring to 'many flowering roses' ....

1)  Floribunda Rose - Latin for "many flowering" 
http://www.google.com/search?q=floribunda+rose&client=safari&rls=en&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=UmTbUaicMKqcigKs0IC4Dg&ved=0CGwQsAQ&biw=1370&bih=761

2)  Flora's Bell - or Flora-belle - without pretentiousness
http://gansfamilyfive.blogspot.com/2012/08/flora-bell.html

3)  Edelweiss - noble purity, courage, daring
http://www.google.com/search?q=edelweiss&client=safari&rls=en&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=I2XbUdzNFuGfiQKJrICYCw&ved=0CHYQsAQ&biw=1370&bih=761

4)  Forsythia -  expectation, anticipation
http://www.google.com/search?q=forsythia&client=safari&rls=en&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=52PbUZefLcHKiAL28oCQDA&ved=0CMsBEIke&biw=1370&bih=761

5)  Camellia - perfection, gratitude
http://www.google.com/search?q=Camellia&client=safari&rls=en&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=wmXbUdPFBeaXiAK33oDYAg&ved=0CLYBEIke&biw=1370&bih=761

6)  Dahlia - elegance, dignity; "forever thine"
http://www.google.com/search?q=dahlia&client=safari&rls=en&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=GmbbUeOZKIGpigKUw4CoBg&ved=0CMMBEIke&biw=1370&bih=761

7)  Iris - wisdom and valor
http://www.google.com/search?q=iris+plant&client=safari&sa=X&rls=en&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAAGOovnz8BQMDAw8HixKHfq6-QVZhVkFdjqzxjeQ3ap-O5NdwCJ0PtLEs5gEA6nuzSSkAAAA&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&ei=lWbbUaz-JqrCigLws4CYBg&ved=0CF4QsAQ&biw=1370&bih=761

8)  Jasmine - yellow- elegance, grace, modesty
http://www.google.com/search?q=jasmine+flowers&client=safari&sa=X&rls=en&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&ei=QmfbUdSDLIa4igKLtYCwBw&ved=0CEgQsAQ&biw=1370&bih=761

9)  Orchid - mature charm 
http://www.google.com/search?q=orchid+pictures&client=safari&sa=X&rls=en&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&ei=o2fbUZqHOcG1iwL3-YBQ&ved=0CCoQsAQ&biw=1370&bih=761

10)  Magnolia Flair

11)  Adeona - Roman goddess of travelers and journeys

12)  Ms. Flair (different than Miss Flair)

I have a couple I particularly like, but I thought I'd ask for opinions.  I'm also open to more suggestions.  I'd thought of giving a butterfly name - after the name of my blog - but haven't found one that's just right...

First "Issue" with Miss Flair and Packing Underway .....

Monday AM
Yesterday I started packing in earnest.  Quinn and Landon relieved me of a car-load of mostly kitchen and dining room things; that is, after they treated me to a delicious lunch at The Yard House restaurant. I mainly packed cook books in small boxes; but they're still so heavy!

This morning I've hired a young woman to come and pack for three hours or so - she'll be carefully packing all my travel mementos from a long travel career!  I'm hoping that, within this next week, I can whittle down to only the things I'll be taking with me in my RV.  The new range, oven, hood and sink will be delivered Wednesday and the kitchen remodeling will be underway.  I've promised the renters I'll be completely out by the 26th - whew!  I'm glad I've programmed in only a 160 mile jaunt to my son's house where I'll park for a few days or so to get used to my new RV lifestyle.

Oh, speaking of Miss Flair, when I drove her home from Camping World I left the headlights on when I parked - first learning issue.  There's no warning that the lights haven't been turned off - so yesterday, no battery, not even a sound when I turned the ignition key!  I waited until this AM to call AAA for a jump-start and they should be here any time now!  I'm so happy this happened in my own front yard and not in some wilderness area of National Forest!

The next big decision-making and packing or disposing of 'stuff' will be my knitting and crochet cache, my clothes, and my office stuff.  I like to function as electronically as possible; but, I know there are some paper records I need to have at my disposal; and, I'll need a few things to make a little office in the RV.  Suggestions for things to take in the RV are welcomed.

10:30 AM - AAA showed up in just over 30 minutes and charged the battery.  I left the motor running for about 45 minutes as the battery had been completely dead; then turned it off, waited about a minute and turned it back on - Yippee!  All better!