Happy Halloween

"Everyone leaves home and everyone finds a place to call home.  Exodus, it turns out, is Genesis." Mickey Pearlman- A Place Called Home - This is a great book by the way.  Short essays by twenty women authors on the concept of home.

Both the home inspections are complete and I met with my RE agent Kris yesterday morning.   The condo appears to have structural and water issues on the two sides of the building, faucets & pipes on the condo property are leaking down the outside of the foundation and into a crawl space on one corner.  On the front side is the kind of a crack you might expect at basement level but up above ground level is a larger crack that looks like the front has shifted forward towards the raised bank the condo sits on.  They had removed all the trees on that side because the roots were destabilizing the bank, uh oh.  The newer asphalt roof is damaged (wind? ice?) and is just patched with some black stuff that looks ready to go.  Nothing inside has been maintained in 20 odd years, I expected a lot of upgrading and redecorating.  I give up, as the advertisement says "it's out of my network." 

My house, better but...I have an electrician coming over today to give me an estimate.  There were several items found that were probably there when I bought my house 13 years ago but not on the original inspection, so this was a surprise.  I've done a lot of rewiring I thought I was good but I was wrong.  These have to be fixed no matter who lives here and the house cannot be sold until they are.  There are other obvious things such as replacing the shingles that recently blew off along the roof ridge.  I thought I'd have that done before anyone made an offer.  The prospective buyer also requested little picky things like moving the smoke and CO alarms to different locations as she doesn't want them in the bedrooms, which was exactly where I wanted them, to each his own - I think she needs to buy some tools.  They also wanted a lot of routine homeowner tasks done that I am not going to do.  She wants to close in three weeks.  Ha, ha!  In our small town getting a plumber inside of three weeks can sometimes be a miracle unless it's an emergency.  I will see what can be negotiated, especially the closing date which I understand, the holidays are staring us in the face.

Got the estimate for the back bumper on the van and need to call the fellow who backed into it and get it to him.  It will take two days to fix as the bumper has to painted.  My DIL's father owns the body shop and he fixed my passenger side mirror for me while the estimate was being done.  What a nice thing to do.  A new one is about $300.

I saw this quote just awhile ago after reading about Chinua Achebe after his death this March.  He was an inspired teacher and author.  It fits my mood this morning.

"When suffering knocks at your door and you say there is no seat for him, he tells you not to worry because he has brought his own stool." - Chinua Achebe

Waiting

I'm not good at waiting.  Hopefully today both house inspections will show up.  Is there a fatal flaw in one of these places?  Or simply just the normal wear of older homes?  I'm trying to keep busy, packing, packing, packing.  Keeps me from totally freaking out.   What I can carry myself and know I don't need right away I take to storage.  The heavier things my son takes to storage.  What if, what if?

My family moved at least 14 times by the time I graduated from high school.  Three school districts in the first grade.  All related to my Dad's job.  Sometimes he traveled for months and we stayed with my maternal grandmother.  We had to keep our belongings on light side.  Each move something I treasured as child was gone.  The third first grade stop was in Honolulu in 1949.  All our stuff was stuck for six months in storage on a dock during a longshoremen's strike.  Some of the furniture fell apart.  Much of our clothing, books, and toys molded and had to be thrown out.  Once in Oregon we stayed in the same place for four years, that was the only time I really had friends. I graduated from our 1-8th grade school and most of my friends went on to high school together. We moved to another city and I started as freshman knowing no one.  Repeat my Sophomore year and then again a new school my Junior year in Seattle when we stayed put.  I finally had friends by my senior year.

There are parallels, mourning losses, friends and familiarity.  I've love this house.  I lived in this neighborhood 13 years and the neighbors on either side of me are good neighbors.  My best friend lives around the corner.  I'll still see them but it is a loss.  I've watched their kids grow up.  The one to the south has three girls the ages of my younger granddaughters.  They all play together here at my house.  I will miss that.  Condo living doesn't nuture kids running through the yard.   On the other hand if the condo deal goes through there is a pool there, and grandkids are welcome.

It was dark when I got up and I went out on the deck and looked at the millions of stars in the sky.  Just beautiful.  I am trying to see this as an adventure but I was better at physical adventures than I am at emotional adventures.  Time to learn some new skills.  All our lives the changes never stop even if you ignore them.  Its no different as we age.  This move is necessary and hopefully it will mean I won't have to do this again at 80, God willing and the river don't rise. 

Blog Therapy for Moving

Lots of action here.  I do live in a really great neighborhood. It's pretty with good neighbors.  I was still surprised when several people showed up the first day the house was listed and one made an offer over the asking price because of the crowd at the door.  My offer for my chosen new place was accepted and tomorrow and Monday the inspections will happen.  My gut has been spinning ever since.  I sign my notes to my sisters "Your Crazy Sister..." 

Leo Cullum Cartoon

Processing this move previously in my own "special" way, I am certain it is time to leave the house, and I actually look forward to the new place.  But, for whatever reason, a personal flaw, having to rely on others, or feeling physically not up to all the work, yada, yada, my sleep has become elusive.  My eyes pop open at 1am and then 3am, and then I wake about 5:30am, early for me, but I give up and get up.  Last night I couldn't lay back down and got up and made some herbal tea and began packing boxes.  I packed five boxes and filled three large trash bags with things for charity, all the time wondering "where did all this crap come from?"  So driven by anxiety and sleeplessness things are getting packed and I am compulsively cleaning, yes, ewhh, you could drink out of my toilet.

At 7:30am I called my DIL the angel on earth and said "Omigod, how am I going to do this?" She replied, "Did you forget, you're not, just pack, Dave (my son) and I are doing it and we have it all planned out.  Quit worrying about it."  And like a whoopee cushion someone has sat on all my stress leaked out into the ozone.  

Then I sat down and thought, is it my age?  My move from Seattle to Walla Walla, I sold my house without fuss, moved everything over here and stored it, bought a house from a distance, and left the final move to my sons while I left with a suitcase for Portland to go help care for my Dad who we thought was dying at the time.  He didn't thankfully; he lived another five years in relatively good shape.  I think most of the whole world has nerves buying a home or selling one, and moving.  I remember following Ronni Bennett at Time Goes By when she sold her condo and moved from Portland, Maine to Portland, Oregon with her cat.  I was amazed how she completed this great venture, selling, hunting for a home from a distance; I am just moving two miles away.

I'm getting a grip. I am planning meals; I've been forgetting to eat but I'm well enough padded I won't starve soon but I'm sure I could use the energy.  Maybe then I can cut back the coffee which doesn't help the jitters.  I've been doing some yoga for 15 minutes at a time today between boxes, and went for a short walk. I hope that causes the worm to turn for me.  Meanwhile its lovely outside, sunny and cool, and the leaves are in blazing color.  My camera is packed and stored so not much in the way of pictures right now.  Back to the boxes. 

For Sale

After two restless nights I visited my friendly realtor and listed my house for sale.  And I made a contingent offer on a condo.  I am still painting some woodwork but the bathrooms are finished.  The little blue cottage looks pretty good.

I'm not good with the mysteries of life and not knowing how things will go is very uncomfortable.   Several potential buyers have been here today and the For Sale sign is not up nor is the listing on the web.  Is that a good sign?  Or am I not asking enough?  Or what exactly? TBD.  Or is it just an initial rush that will peter out?  The economy is so peculiar now but the interest rates are still good.  So I've joined those who are hoping their house will sell for a decent price.  I can hold out since I don't have to move. 

I've been soul searching, trying to decide what kind of place would be good to make my home for the next 20 years, my last stand so to speak.  I loved this little blue house and I blithely thought I care for it all on my own.  Oops, not quite so, time to let go if it's doable.  So I found a condo all on one floor and someone else does the yard work and the snow shoveling and so forth.  The new choice is an end unit that has only one common wall with another unit and no one overhead or underneath.  And a pool.  It gets hot here in the summer.  It would make my life easier - except for right now.   If all goes well, if it does it closes before Christmas.  Deck the halls!  I still have my tiny pre-lit tree so no problem right? 

It's been chilly here, about 10° below normal for fall in our area so I have started early on soup making.  I still had half a red cabbage from the cole slaw.  Waste not etc.  I am trying to eat more vegetables and didn't want the cabbage to go to waste.  A USNEWS article says that American families toss out  25% of all the food and drinks they purchase.  NPR says we waste 33 millions of tons of food each year representing about $165 billion   See NPR Food Waste.  I am guilty too.  Cooking for one can create a lot waste if I'm not careful. 

But I wandered off a little here.  The soup was delicious and I froze half of it.  Until last week's maiden voyage into slaw, I have avoided all cabbages all my life and I'd never made coleslaw before.  I didn't realize how tasty cabbage could be.  I've been checking freezer recipes online, almost anything is freezable.  I already cook and freeze big batches of meat sauces and also kidney beans in 1 and 2 person portions.  I realize this isn't new but it's new to me.   Woo, woo.  Much easier. 

When I had family at home I used to cook up the next day's meal day after dinner and before the dishes.  The only flaw in that was when the hungry teen boys beat me home from work they sometimes devoured much of dinner.  I started fixing snacks the night before too, although it didn't always protect dinner.  Sigh, if it had been frozen they'd have had a much harder time gobbling down as pre-dinner snack.  Never too late to learn.  Still, as I recall, they used to eat frozen peas right out of the bag.  Here's my new favorite recipe.  I added a cup of chopped red peppers I had in the fridge.

Red Cabbage and Kidney Bean Soup
Number of Servings: 10

Ingredients:

2 Tbsp olive oil
1 1/2 cups chopped onion

1 cup chopped celery

1 1/2 cup chopped carrots

3 garlic cloves, mashed

4 cups shredded red cabbage

1 28oz can whole tomatoes, squished

1/3 cup long grain brown rice

4 cups chicken broth

1 15 oz. can red beans, drained

1 Bay leaf

1/2 tsp crushed dried thyme

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Warm olive oil in a large dutch oven. Add chopped vegetables and garlic and saute 'til soft. Pour in tomatoes, chicken broth and rice and bring to a boil. Simmer about 20-30 min, until rice is cooked. Stir in red beans.

 

Number of Servings: 10 - 1 1/2 cups each

Calories: 148

Total Fat: 4.3 g

Cholesterol: 1.0 mg

Sodium: 931.7

Total Carbs: 20g

Dietary Fiber: 6.1g

Protein: 9.0g

Salad Day

Tonight we are having a new kind of family dinner.  The family tradition has been taken on by the younger members with a few changes.  It's at my youngest son's house and is now a potluck.  Today I'm making salads, coleslaw and Waldorf salad.  There's 16 more or less of us and it's good to share the cooking.  We have some who are allergic to fruit and nuts, therefore the two selections tonight, my choice as I wanted the Waldorf.  The main dish is shared by two people, someone is bringing dessert, and one more is bringing the side dish.  The eight kids get to set and clear the tables and do the dishes.  One advantage is the babies are at home and can be plunked in their own beds on time when their day is over.

It's also the day I teach art to my homeschoolers and I'm not quite prepared again.  I napped a lot this weekend trying to kick one of those fall colds that appear from nowhere.  It worked but I got nothing done Monday either. We are going to mimic those wine and art bars, I'm thinking Vine Gogh in Portland, Oregon, only we''ll be having hot chocolate or lemonade.  I haven't made an art selection yet.  Better get with it.  Making coleslaw to Dave Mathews "Live at Red Rocks" album.  I hope my blogger friends have a good day today.

Quiet Friday

I'm listening to Dave Mathews CDs and cooking and cleaning.  I love how music makes my go easier and I can dance around with the vacuum.  Hoover is not a talented dancer but never steps on my feet.  I baked a butternut squash yesterday to make soup out of, today I added the rest of the ingredients and pureed it in my ancient faithful blender.  I am going to freeze most of it.  More yard cleanup, sawing and picking up more Sycamore branches that fell out of my backyard tree.  There's a "widow maker" up there, a large limb stuck in the tree about 30' up from the ground.  I've put feelers out to get that taken care of soon. 

Laundry.  The vent hose on the dryer came off and when I went back out to the laundry it was a steam bath, water running down the walls.  I mopped it up and opened all the windows back there.  Then I frosted the cupcakes for my eldest son's birthday party tonight.    His car is in the garage awaiting repair since Wednesday and Thursday he lost his job.  Some birthday.   Maybe dinner, cupcakes, and birthdays wishes from family including eight adoring nieces and nephews will give him some cheer.  Saturday night the whole ensemble is going to the YMCA Gym see the Walla Walla Sweets Rollergirls last competition for the year, except the babies.  Here they are performing to Michael Jackson's Thriller at their 2012 Season Finale.

I slept well last night, and if I dreamed I remember nothing today.  Funny after the previous vividly detailed dreams.  I am disinclined to be introspective today anyway so who cares?  Opened Facebook and found out my cousin is in Washington DC since early this week.  I hope she did what she wanted to before the doors shut.  She said the garbage is piling up in the streets there.

Hope my son's car is done today, he's using mine and I am trapped at home.  All this forced domesticity and cooking is going to put a few more pounds on me I fear, unless I dance harder.

Dreaming

A particularly vivid dream woke me early this morning.  In it I am trying to drive home in a tiny electric powered wheelchair on the Seattle Freeway with a friend standing on it behind and a toddler granddaughter in my lap.  I am actually keeping up with the traffic when something clicks and I realize what a crazy thing this is and take the first exit I can find which puts me in an older section of downtown Seattle that exists only in my memory but had many transient hotels, hole in the wall restaurants, and small shops.  It looks like the spot near Pike Street where 45 years ago, I used to transfer buses on my way to work from Queen Anne to South Seattle.

Then my dream turns nightmarish, my chair loses power and just barely makes it into a small, nearly empty diner.  I begin having an asthma attack.  I ask them to call a cab for me.  Being a dream I have my cell phone on me in this early 60's scene, and my asthma meds which didn't exist then either.  The waitress hands me a card holder with the personal business cards of dozens of cabbies but she calls the first one for me, he wants to know if the chair is small and will go in the trunk, it will.  She leaves the cards just in case. 

The dream coffee I ordered arrives in tiny blue and white painted china cups.  A few more customers come in; one sits down next to me and lights up a cigarette and I ask him with difficulty not to smoke. I am so breathless I can hardly talk.  (I hate dreams like this)  He complies but in this dream other people begins smoking and I have to get up and struggle near them to make my whispered request.  Each time I return to my seat I find someone has drunk my coffee and also my water.  The waitress keeps bringing more and each time I take my eyes off it, it's gone.  Something wakeful in my brain enters into the dream and I realize I must be having trouble breathing.  I wake up.  I use a c-Pap machine and my nose is plugged and the nasal pillows are just blowing air into the room, my mouth is horribly dry, I'm thirsty, and I really am wheezing. 

I've always had an active dream life.  Sometimes in my dreams the action is easy to understand, asthma during sleep always gives me dreams about chest pains, gasping, and the like and I wake up to take care of it.  Driving especially in something peculiar or a car that won't go no matter how you press the gas pedal is usually anxiety I've been shoving down.  What about the smoking but responsive people and disappearing coffee mean?  I will think about it today. 

Sometime in the 70's I took a dream class to learn what was called active dreaming.  The idea was that often what happened during your day supplied material for dreams and you could use that productively by thinking and acting on things you wanted or needed solutions for.  You kept a dream journal by your bed to jot notes so you didn't forget.  I was searching for ideas for my art.  It worked.  And later I found as a programmer, thinking and puzzling over a nasty logic snag in code right before bed often produced the answer for me at daylight.  The brain is a wonderful thing.  It also taught a kind of self analysis by taking an item, say last night's little blue and white dream cup the coffee came in and saying "I am a blue and white cup of coffee."  Then you explain to yourself how that feels.  I think things like "I'm utilitarian and attractive."  "I'm sturdy, solidly made but I can be broken."  And, this just came to me, "I am constantly filled up but my contents keep going to somewhere other than where they are needed."  I think I haven't filled my own needs lately.  Think I will dig deeper through this today, after I get a real cup of coffee. 

Fall Juggling.

There's a lot more going at one time than I like.  I used to be quite the juggler of tasks and now I enjoy not having a little less to juggle.  After Esther's death things in the family began to re-sort themselves.  On the surface it may seem trivial but what is to happen to her once a week dinner?  Eight young children have grown up with it.  Their mother did too before them.  I have a tiny house so it won't be here unless its a stand up buffet.  It could happen once in awhile but I am sort of shirt tail in-law here so my voice is tiny or nonexistent.  Some want to end it.  I suggested it become a potluck as did some others so no one is tasked with the whole thing.  I used to think my own grandmothers had whole dinners hidden in the cupboards they way the fed 8-25 seemingly on little notice, magical thinking is big in little kids.  My friends had the same experience with their grandmothers.  I think that generation of women is disappearing.

 

My sisters and I turned our gatherings including Thanksgivings into potlucks as soon as we could.  I think DIL will pick it up though, and potluck it.  Then we'll see who comes.  And so it goes for Rockwell or the Simpsons or us.
 

 

My niece's father Scott, he of the clots in his lungs, went from ICU, to a regular bed on blood thinners and lots of observation and has made it back home this week.  What a relief. He has an underlying, non-cancerous condition that causes his gut to bleed and that's what produced the clots.  Probably TMI but that needs to be corrected to end this.  Still its amazing that he's recovered this much.  Modern medicine can be amazing.

My oldest son's car pooped out on him and since he works in another city he has my van while his car is being fixed so I am home today sans car.  I await the furnace guy to do their annual check on my heating and a/c.  It's kind of surprisingly nice to "stuck" at home.  I am getting a lot done that I've put off, like finishing the trim in the bathroom, and chopping wind downed branches into a size to go in the trash for tomorrow.  I'm also working on my art lessons for the grand-girls.  Four of them are homeschooled and the 2nd grader arrives home from school in time to participate.  The last three weeks were we did pastels, these next three weeks are watercolors.  I'm trying to get my creative juices going to get ideas to interest the two of the five who think art is no fun.  Blows me away that kids would think art was no fun.

Lake Bennington - this photo would make a nice watercolor.

Our biggest park with water right next to Walla Walla is Bennington Lake and it's closed down and the gates locked due to the shutdown; it's a Corps of Engineers project.  It's a flood reservoir and controls the flow of water through Mill Creek that historically used to flood Walla Walla.  Rooks Park with its gravel and paved paths along Mill Creek and its picnic areas with bathrooms is also gated and locked.  You can still park along the street and hike in the park and even up to Bennington if you've the time and energy, just go potty first.  I can live without the park but the Corps people are now furloughed sans pay, a huge impact on their families, and eventually the country as this is re-enacted all over.  I'm angry and I hold the Republicans responsible.  They're greedy  and as long as the oil companies get their subsidies, all is well in their little world, the elderly, women and children without food? they don't care.