Monday, March 31, 2014

In Search of a New Routine

I've been a spotty blogger of late, and have good reasons, but still it is not my preferred way of life. I want to be a regular blogger, regular artist, regular everything. It helps me focus on what the day will be, and what needs to get done. Of late I have been living whim to whim, and while that can be fun, what do I have to show for it? And having something to show for my day gives me satisfaction and purpose for the next day, etc.
Since we have moved, we have been continually moving, or Dave has, and we are nearly there. Only a few items remain in the old garage, some flower pots that I insist on keeping, and a 'few art supplies' which is a joke since they multiply on their own and never seem to end. This week we really must get them all here, and then find new homes for them somewhere in the house. That will help in securing the new regime.
When we had Dave's sister and husband here last weekend, (which was WONDERFUL) we played the whole time and had a nice break from moving, and of course the house sale happened while they were here. Perfect! Then they left and Dave went back to moving and I went back to....oops. I got sick. After all the fun, thankfully, I had a miserable bout of fever blisters and just felt lousy. Now I am recovering and it is Monday, the last day of March and I feel like starting something new in the house, my studio, my garden, my life!
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We moved Dave's bedroom to the front room of the house so I could hear him better during the night, in case he needs me, so he was flitting from the Master bedroom closet where his clothes were, and using two bathrooms (twice the stuff, twice the mess) so we moved his closet yesterday, and now that is working better. This front bedroom faces the street, is bright and cheerful and will be getting blinds on the three windows soon, she says. The closet had been full of my quilts, so those went to the bigger master walk-in, making them easier to find, since I am putting many on Etsy, and need to know where they are at any moment.

 
Now the master is empty of most of Dave's stuff, the vast empty will soon be filled with the overflow in the garage, so that is plan #1. Out of the garage and easily findable. Note: that hanging collection is only the large quilts, upstairs I have bins of medium and small works...way too many quilts to keep.
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It is Spring here, sooner than usual for us, since it comes later on the mountain, and I want to be gardening NOW. I have dozens pots to fill and decisions to make on where they will go. No digging is my new mantra. All the pots will have to do for this year, and that will tell me what I actually need, and what I can grow in a yard with no trees and very little in the way of shade. After becoming an expert of sorts on shade plants, I am like a wild woman at the thought that the sun is my new partner. Last year when my cousin Celeste visited, we experimented with growing a tomato in a pot. It was dismal, because we had so much shade, but now...I am convinced to try it again. O Boy!

In searching for this photo, I got a knot in my stomach at seeing and leaving my old garden. Eek. But I must focus on what I have now, and it's a whole new ballgame! I am reminding myself that I had to travel once a week for knitting and then I would stop at Lowe's to see what they had on sale in their garden shop, and now I am five minutes away, and can visit daily if I feel the urge. So there is that.
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Up in the studio, it is bright, clean and organized and I have a plan for the next piece, so let's get started!
No more dilly dally. Take a shower, get dressed, empty the dishwasher and walk the dogs, and vroom, I am ready to start the day, the week, and the new quilt.


14 comments:

  1. I'm so glad you're feeling better. I'm sure your body was just reacting to the constant stress you've been under for the last month or two, even though you were actually enjoying a lot of it!
    When I lived in a townhouse in MN I had huge pots of wonderful, large tomatoes on my deck. They were in full sun so I had to water them twice a day but it was worth it! One of my very favorites was named Yellow Boy. So good and lemon-ey. Have fun!

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  2. It took several seasons of trying, but eventually I began to harvest tomatoes grown in pots. Each year I try, I experiment doing it a little differently. Depending on the type tomato plant, however, my plants sometimes still get spindly even in full sun.

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  3. So glad to see a post today! You're going through a "major life event" so I've tried to be patient..HOWEVER ...I love a dose of the news from Tennessee in the morning! Can't wait to see how you bloom where you're planted!

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  4. Check out EarthBoxes. You will never dig again. They are great for tomatoes and just about everything else. I grow six foot basil in cold and wet Nova Scotia.

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  5. Your blog has been my #1 read for years. You're always so upbeat and positive. I love your attitude. It must have been hard to decide to leave your paradise on the mountain, but I'm sure the new house will feel like home soon, especially with all the sunny yard to play in. I hope Dave thrives in the new locale.

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  6. Glad you're feeling better. Once you get the last of your things moved to your new home and the sale of the old one completed, you'll really start to settle in to the new house. Glad to hear you won't be giving up your daily posts - I look forward to hearing from you everyday. Can't wait to see how you put your lovely and unique stamp on the new house!

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  7. Sharon5:09 PM

    Glad you're back and feeling better. I know when we don't hear from you for a few days that something's happening in your household. Thanks for letting us into your life...we love seeing and hearing what mischief you, Dave and the dawgs are getting into ...and miss you when you aren't able to post. It's wonderful to know that spring is right around the corner. I've always had problems growing my veggies in pots (we also have a very shady yard) so I've given up and will just hit the farmers market.

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  8. Yes, yes, you can do veggies and tomatoes in pots! I had good luck with eggplant and peppers and tomatoes. The tomatoes were in especially large pots, and I put them on those wheeled chipboard saucer things they have at the garden centers. Then I could move them around to follow the sun as it moved from June to September. The tomatoes were happiest when they ended up in the blacktop parking lot behind my apartment. I guess they liked that hot sun. I think they liked being started in a big pot with a fair amount of water, and then needed less water later (although more than they would in a bed, I'm sure). Now I have mostly shade, and happy ferns.

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  9. Anonymous9:50 PM

    i am just curious as to why you have the back of the sofa to the beautiful fireplace. I would think it would be cosy to be able to face the fire.

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  10. Glad to see you back Mel. I missed you, but guessed things were topsy-turvy for you. No wonder your body said it needed time out, you'd had a pretty stressful couple of months. I don't grow tomatoes (i'm allergic to them - Darn!) but a good friend grows wonderful ones straight out of a bag of potting mix! She puts a few pieces of wood on the ground so the bag isn't directly on the earth, puts a few holes in the bottom and then slashes two Xs for the two plants, and she's away. I swear they grow like triffids!

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  11. Sorry you were under the weather, but I'm looking forward to seeing what you do to your new garden! I know you will miss the old one, but I'm sure you and Dave will turn the new one into a growing paradise before you know it! Enjoy...

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  12. Just a thought if you are concerned about hearing Dave, you could pick up a baby monitor then he could call out for you if he needed you.

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  13. It makes sense that you are still adjusting to the new place. Sounds like it’s a good choice based on your description. That little garden is lovely, and the closet seems spacious enough for your large quilts. I hope you’ll have a wonderful time in your new home. Susan @ Ballarat Apartments

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  14. It sounds like you have been extremely busy, and I would not be too hard on yourself for not being able to work on your blog as much as you would like. Moving is a process that can last for months. I like what you are doing with your house. Your garden sounds like it will be a fun project.

    Naomi Walters @ Chicora Real Estate

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Hello,
So nice of you to drop by. I love your comments, and if you would really like a reply, please email me at fibermania at g mail dot com