One step closer.

Got notification in the mail yesterday that the Dept of Environmental Conservation has approved the permit for DG. I think that was the last hurdle. I should be getting a closing date very soon.

That means I have a lot to do in a little bit of time, but not having the exact target date, I don't know how long. I will try to be patient while I wait to hear from the powers that be.

This was my view on my walk yesterday. The lake was gorgeous! Just look at the reflections. Would have been a perfect day to be out there on the water.  My kayak didn't arrive until later and I don't have it set up yet, so it was a miss for me. Besides, I think the water might still be a bit chilly. There were kayakers out there tho. More experienced kayakers.

Once I get the money from the sale of the property, I will have a lot to do before I will be ready to leave. I need to buy seven new tires for Ody, have her brakes checked and possibly repaired, get her unwinterized and inspected and tested out. I need to get a tow bar on the jeep, and so much more. All waiting for an influx of funds. I also need a backup camera and a solar setup. There will be a flurry of online ordering when I get some cash. In the meantime, I am getting a few inexpensive things here and there. 

I was hoping to spend the month of July in Maine, and then head for Wisconsin in August and spend a little time there. But we will see how it all plays out. 

I do have to say that I am nervous, apprehensive, scared, for a better word. My world is changing in a big way, and it is all based on reading and research, not actual experience. Plus, I have barely left home in the last four plus years, and in a few weeks, I will no longer have a home. What is going to happen? What if I don't like it? I know I don't like to drive in or near cities. There are a lot of strange people out in the world, lots of danger. But other people - single women - have been doing this for years and do it every day. It is reassuring to know there are others out there. What I DO know is that I can't stay here. I'm not happy here without Jake. He is the reason I moved here. I have no family here and very few friends, and I don't want to spend my last years alone and lonely. I can see myself becoming the crazy cat lady if I stay. It is just too depressing to think about not leaving.

The first leg of the journey will be ok. It is all territory that I have driven many times in the past. It is familiar. But once I set off for Wisconsin, it is a crap shoot. I have to drive northwest to spend some time with my brother before I head southwest for the winter. If he hadn't just moved from AZ to WI, I wouldn't be heading north at all, would just head directly southwest. Will be a lot of extra driving. I should be pretty good at it by the time I reach Texas.

Today I am going to try not to think about this too much. Not much I can do until I have more information. I will finish up last week's jewelry challenge piece and start this week's piece. I have several pieces to make for Susan, and I need to start clearing off the chrome shelving because I have all six sold. Three of them are still in use and need to be cleared off, separated and reconfigured for easier moving.

It is supposed to be partly sunny, chance of showers and near 70 today. Not the best weather, but much, much better than it was a couple of weeks ago. I'll take it!

The craft fair on Saturday was quite disappointing. It was more of a social day than a profitable one. A lot of vendors didn't even make a sale. I sold less than $50, and between the cost of the table, food, and the tomato plant I bought, $8 was my profit. This was my third year doing this craft fair. Seems that the people get fewer and fewer each year. I really think it is the location. It is miles away from anywhere on a dirt road, and definitely out of the way. People have to make a special effort to get there. I believe a different location would do a lot better.

My table was a quick and easy setup and an even quicker breakdown. The black display boxes seemed to work well. It worked out that my table was two sided which was even better. If I choose to do any sort of fair on the road, I have an established and tried setup now. That was my main goal and it was a success.

Things are finally starting to turn green and bloom. My jonquils are starting and the bluebells have been going for almost a week now. The snowdrops are just about going by. This morning I noticed the leaves on my lilac have popped over night.

Was an absolutely gorgeous day yesterday. The second in a row that I got to wear shorts and sandals. I'm going to try to wear them again today, but it isn't supposed to be as nice. I would be very happy to put the jeans away for another season.

One of yesterday's many projects was to fix the bottom of Ody's door where it was coming apart. It got slammed in the wind last week and it was just too much for it. Some self tapping screws and some heavy duty duct tape did the trick. Should be good for a while now. Although, I may put a coat of paint on the duct tape.

I wrapped up the day by planting some seed in my singer planter. I planted spinach, collards, bok choy, mustard greens, swiss chard and italian dandelion greens. I need to set up a pot for some radishes and another for lettuce. I don't know how long I am going to be here, and it is greens season. I'm sure I can find a home for them if I have to leave before they are ready.

And last but not least, I got my fountain going yesterday. :) A sure sign of warmer weather. It is about time.

Finally a few minutes to write

I have been trying to find the time for the last three or four days to update. I finally have the amount of time it takes for the washing machine to wash a load of laundry. I am doing my Saturday chores today because tomorrow I have a craft fair that I am doing, and Sunday is Mother's Day and company from Maine.

My tattoo is finally healing up. I lost a lot of it with the infection and haven't decided if I am going to have it repaired or not yet. I am a little needle shy at this point. Again, it was my own fault, I didn't have the proper after care cream to keep it from getting infected and worked with what I had. I will make that decision when it is healed up and see how much is left.

My back is better. No more shooting pain. That was three days on the heating pad in the recliner. The down time was due. But I would have enjoyed it more if I could have been able to move. But I am up and about and have been quite productive the last few days. Kali Cat liked all the extra lap time.

I got all the left over yard sale stuff packed up and the shelving disassembled the other day. It is all ready to go. Just need to find a buyer(s).

The shelving is sold already. I had way more buyers than shelving units. Hoping to get some decent money for the grid wall and all it's shelves and hooks and accessories. Don't have a buyer for the rest of the stuff yet tho, but I have it all listed on craigslist. Here are the links..

http://burlington.craigslist.org/jwl/4458464264.html

http://burlington.craigslist.org/grd/4458465243.html

http://burlington.craigslist.org/atq/4458465640.html

http://burlington.craigslist.org/atq/4458466928.html

http://burlington.craigslist.org/gms/4458475557.html

Hoping to have this stuff gone soon. I would like to make enough to buy a kayak. I have been wanting one for several years now and haven't spent the money. But I think this is the year. If I can get this stuff sold.

After I wrapped that up, it was so nice out that I decided to see if I could get the awning open on Ody. After watching a you tube video, I decided it was just stuck and got out the step ladder and got the thing open. It is in pretty good shape, very dirty, and needs some reinforcement on the back side, but is usable. I have awning cleaner ordered and on the way. I also got the grille for the door spray painted and installed. Just a little screen reinforcement. I am hard on door screens and this is a little extra insurance to keep the cat in too.

 

Yesterday was an absolutely beautiful day. Sunny, warm...we have been waiting for that for a long time. I spent as much of the day outside that I could. I got the courtyard cleaned up and rearranged for however long I will be here. And this morning I bought some pansies and got them potted up before it started raining.

I am happy to be able to walk the pathway again. I got some awesome loon shots the other day. I still don't have that one great shot, but am happy with some of these. I want to get back out and try again. Maybe if I get a kayak, I will feel brave enough to take my camera with me. I have a waterproof sack that I can keep it in.

Today's walk was a last minute decision as I reached the end of the driveway. I hadn't done the steps since last fall, and since the weather was so iffy, I figured I would go for the effort instead of the view. :) The complete walk is just under a mile, but includes a lot of stairs.

I stopped at the thrift store on my way back. Found two pair of shorts for a grand total of $6. Can't beat the price. I know I shouldn't be buying anything right now, but I was down to one very threadbare pair of shorts to start the season with. I actually only stopped in to say hi to Toni.

The wash is just about done. Once I get it switched over to the dryer, I need to do a dry run for my craft fair table. (I have limited space and need the kitchen to do this). After that, I am trying a new method of etching. It uses a 9 volt battery. That will be my piece for this week's jewelry challenge.

I was hoping to be able to grill my dinner tonight, but it isn't looking promising with the rain. Oh well, maybe Sunday.

As for the status of the sale and if and when I finally get out of here. The application has been submitted to the Vermont Department of Conservation. They have 30 days to determine what to do with the ground contamination next door. Their requirements will determine if DG still wants to go forward with this project or scuttle it due to the cost. I'm hoping it all goes thru and I get a closing date within a few more weeks. I am tired of waiting. It has been over six months since this started. Time for it to happen!

Another week down

Another week has gone by and I still have nothing new to report. No news is no news. Limbo continues.

I had another weekend of yard sales, this one was pretty disappointing, I don't think I did $150 all weekend. It is time to wrap it up. See if I can sell the rest in a lot.

Walked the path yesterday and again today. Still ice on the pond, but it is going to be out very soon. Would be interesting if it made it thru to May, but I doubt it.

My beautiful tattoo is infected. I am loosing all the light green. Getting it cleaned up and healed up and going back to get it repaired. Wasn't the fault of the artist, completely my fault,  my ignorance with the healing process. Will be good the next time. If only I had figured it out sooner, might have been able to save more of it. I lost all of the lime green and some of the darker green.

On top of that, I hurt my back this morning when I was raking up the dead sunflower seed around the feeders. It built up all winter and had to be cleaned away. I was good until I started loading it into the wheelbarrow and I did something. Having a hard time getting up and down. Have taken my Aleve. Will be off to my recliner shortly.

The weather is still cold and windy. Not nice at all. Cloudy, etc. But at least I have started walking again.

Better day than expected

Turned out to be a much nicer day than expected. The rain is just now starting, and the temps made it up into the lower 70's with what little sun we did have. I got a lot done.

I got Ody moved over to her assigned parking spot making it so the Jeep could go back to it's own spot. It also frees up the end of the driveway where I can just back into my spot instead of having to back into the driveway. It is still pretty mushy out there, but I think it will be good. I can always move Ody over a foot or so if she sinks.

I did some rearranging inside Ody as Anthony was coming over to cut the legs on the shelving for the cargo area. We got that done and the shelves are in place, just need to be secured.

From there, I went back to raking, trying to clean up some of the road sand. I did a first pass, it will probably have to be done again when the next layer down dries out a little. But it is already looking better.

Before raking, but after sweeping the walk way.

After. The narcissus are up, and the day lilies are showing some green. Am hoping that means spring is really here this time. Although it is supposed to get cold again. Each cycle, it gets a little warmer.

Monica stopped by just as I was finishing up putting the rain gutter back up and closing the back gate. So we enjoyed a cup of coffee in the courtyard before the rain started. 

I'm pleased with what I got done today. Now that the shelving is cut and in place in Ody, I can work on the cargo nets. That will just about finish up the cargo area except for loading it up. I'm getting closer and closer each day to getting out of here. Now all I need is a closing date for a target.

Ink

I won a free tattoo back in February from Don's Tats in Brownington. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dons-Tats-Tattoos/192684429211 This is something I have thought about for a number of years, but never did it for a multitude of reasons. One, I could never decide what I wanted, and another, where to place it. Well, winning a free tat finally forced me to make the decision and today I had it done. My appointment was smack dab in the middle of the day, so it kind of ate the whole day. I did get a few other things done before and after, but it really didn't feel like a productive day.

I decided on a dragonfly. Somewhat abstract, a lot different than most. It didn't hurt as much as I thought it would. It is on my left forearm, close to my heart, and in a couple different colors of green. Jake always said the color of love was green. I adopted the dragonfly because of it's meanings when Jake died. Here it is on the first day.

I couldn't find the A&D Cream that was recommended in Island Pond. So I am using coconut oil to keep it soft. I have read good things about it, lets hope it works. I have had a little bit of peeling already. I am hoping that is normal.

It is really kind of strange seeing this ink on my arm. But I am assuming I will get used to it. As for the location, I figured why have a tattoo if you can't see it? I keep looking at it. It is still quite tender. I was pretty proud of myself. Never flinched once and wasn't nearly as scary as I thought it was going to be.

Sunday's yard sale was pretty disappointing. I did all of $58. The whole day. Friday was the best day of the three, and I am thinking I will do the same thing this weekend, but shorten the Sunday hours. Sunday will also be the last day. Will donate some stuff to the rummage sale the following weekend, and will try to find someone to come and take the rest off my hands. I will keep some of the more expensive items, shelving and grid wall to sell individually and at my final sale, but the rest has to go. I'm tired of it, and I think people are loosing interest. I want to move on to other things. It is time to wrap it up.

I ordered a gallon of Protect All today. Research indicates this is the best product with the least amount of work to get the job done. The cleaning and polishing of Ody. Planning on doing it in sections since she is much larger than my car, and polishing the car takes way too long. I guess I am not in any hurry, still no closing date.

Well, I guess I should try to get a little more sleep. These interrupted nights are for the birds. I'm hoping some day to be able to sleep thru the night again. It has been a long time since that has happened.

A whole week

It has been a whole week since I wrote last. The weather has done that crazy seesaw thing that the northeast is known for. Monday we were in the 70's, sunny and beautiful. By the end of day on Tuesday it was raining, sleeting and finally snowing, to wake up to temps in the teens Wednesday morning and three inches of fresh snow.

I took advantage of the good weather on Monday. I finally got the grill out of the iceberg that was keeping me from using it. Went to Teds and got a little steak and cooked dinner outside for the first time this season.

I also gave Ody her first bath. I already had a couple of inches of water in the driveway and figured a little extra wouldn't hurt. She looks so much better! The difference is visible.

This was basically a first pass. I need to do it again with a little more detail before I seal/wax the finish. 

I also drove her for the first time on Monday. After I got done washing her, I took her for a spin around the lake. It wasn't too bad! Keeping in mind that the tires and the brakes need some attention.

Which brings me to another point for Monday. The guy from DG called and says there is some ground contamination next door and they have submitted the info to the State of VT and now have to wait and see what the state wants them to do about it, or who has to do what, etc. So more waiting. I don't know any more than I did before the phone call. It could close in 60 days, six months, or not at all.  But I am out of here in the fall whether the building sells or not. I have my new home and am not spending another winter here. If I have to sell my car to be able to afford the trip southwest, that is what I will do. But I am hoping it won't come to that and we will have a closing before it gets cold here again.

I have been sorting and hauling stuff next door every day. All the stuff I brought down from upstairs and put on the porch has been moved next door. I re-sorted the bins that were on the porch and reduced that by half. And today I spent several hours over there unpacking bins and arranging stuff for the sale that starts tomorrow. I'm hoping I sell most everything and I can stop with the yard sales for a while. 

I was very good and only brought a few small things back with me. Although, I will have to reduce even more when moving time comes. But I will deal with that when it happens.