Tuesday, June 26 - Massachusetts

Good evening, intrepid followers. So much has happened the past few months! My little house is being painted inside, as you know, which has been disruptive. I do not like disruptive in my life but am handling it well :) It also has me rearranging things, which in turn led to more purging items I no longer want or need. So, good on that!

Spring - such as it was - came and left on the whisper of few days this year. Cold/warm/cold/warm, then a late storm with hail. Confused my flowers, for sure! I did not get the full effect of my tulips this year. Although they were very lovely for the few days they were in bloom.

Tulips

Tulip full bloom

Alas I was unable to capture pictures of the irises. Mine are early bloomers, and it got so hot so quickly they faded within a few days. Air conditioner ensued quickly. I had a feeling we would not get a real Spring this year and unfortunately was correct.

A few weeks ago my wonderful sister proposed a "sibling outing" for the three of us. We visited La Belle Winery in New Hampshire. What an excellent day! The weather could not have been better if ordered. It is a small-ish winery, not far, but very well run and kept. The wines are really outstanding.

We arrived in the morning, and treated ourselves to the tasting first :) Each of us chose a flight of 5 types of wine to try. Our server was extremely knowledgeable about not only the wines, but how the grapes were chosen and cultivated. I did not get a picture, unfortunately, as I was busily involved in sniffing and tasting my favored reds. I did purchase two bottles at the end, however, from the on-site shop.

Lunch was in order after that! We scored a table on the patio under an umbrella and ordered several small plates to share among us. Burger sliders and marinated chicken thighs. Perfectly right!

Burger sliders

Chicken thighs

My siblings took a short tour of the vineyard after lunch. It was quite a hill to the vines. Downhill is not an issue. The uphill is a no-go for me, unfortunately, although I got some good pictures!

Vineyard

Vineyard

Vineyard

Vineyard

Vineyard

We wound up the afternoon at my sister's, where she and her Significant Other had prepared a delicious BBQ for dinner. Pork spare ribs, baked beans and broccoli cole slaw. I do not care for baked beans - love the way they smell when they are cooking, but have never been a fan of the taste. She made the broccoli slaw for me! (And I enjoyed every bit of it I took home with me!) She made rhubarb pie for dessert :)

All of us had such a great day sharing time together doing something we all thoroughly enjoyed on such a gorgeous day.

Life really cannot get much better than that :) :)

Sunday, June 17 - Massachusetts

I realize it has been well over a month since my last post, and I am so very overdue. Not much to offer for an excuse - a lot has happened and things have been a bit crazy here - but still. I have not fallen off the face of the planet, and am alive and well :) More than.

This first part has no pix; more apologies for that. 

Last winter I had planned to be in Canada at this time making a return trip. Obviously things did not turn out that way. I decided what I wanted more this year was to make this place really mine. Get the inside painted, replace the "short person" commode in the bathroom for one more suited to my height (hey - that thing was like 14" tall), replace the outside light that did not work most of the time for a real one. Finally get the spice shelf hung. Stuff like that.

And of course, not without a great deal of help of my most awesome brother :)

I could not do both this year - visit Canada and get my house right - so I chose to remain home and make it exactly right for me here. I am so happy at how things are coming along and turning out here!

There was another reason I chose not to travel, but it is personal and really only matters to me. It was the "tipping" factor. I have zero regrets for making that choice.

It has been a little over a year since I was unpacking unknown boxes, ordering furniture, pining over books, etc.

I have come a very long way, and am making my little yellow house truly mine :)

In the meantime me and my kittles are settled. I have found a part-time Admin job I can do from home (happy dance!!), and things are good.

More later - and with pics, I promise!

Tuesday, May 8 - Massachusetts

Solitude is extremely under-rated. I have an excellent grasp on this. A bit of insight tonight (whether you want it or not!).

I have spent many years sharing my time and space with others. Many years not. Those in between years, I was comfortable and confident in my own skin. Not everyone is comfortable being alone. I always have been.

I have slain all my dragons. And thus I treasure my solitude.

As awesome as my brother is, he does not really understand my deep need for it. My sister gets it, on a different level, but I am not sure she truly understands the total peace I get from alone. (I see you shaking your head, Sis!)

Hard to describe, but I shall try as it is a big part of who I am. My inner core. It is a deep need inside for quiet, peace, and introspection. I have been this way since I was a child. Activities were horseback riding, skiing, painting, writing, hiking, archery. Sense a theme? Team sports not so much.

I loved all of it, and would not have missed a minute it for the world. Day hikes for hours through the rocky hills and cool green forests of New England. Gallops and jumps across meadows, hearing only Goldie's hoofbeats underneath. Schuss so fast and furiously down mountains where all I saw and felt were waves of snow. For years. Many years.

Now? I know if I was able to do even half what I used to - I would do so without compunction or fear.

I had no fear with skis strapped to my feet or my beloved Palomino thundering across the fields or precisely performing jumps.

Alone conquering the mountain's snows. Alone trekking through the forest. Alone - flying! - with Goldie.

I am no longer physically able to do these things. I do, however, have the memories (and pictures).

And I have retained my precious solitude :)

I believe solitude is an inbred need. Thinking; downtime. Teachers today actually have classes for kids for this. They call it "mindfullness". There is yoga and all sorts of activities geared towards adults to get one to loosen up and open one's mind to be calm.

And I guess... whatever gets one to stop and think. Otherwise I think one's thoughts will get tangled and become too restles and fraught.

After all is said and done... if you cannot be comfortable and content with yourself, alone, how can you possibly be at ease with the rest of the world?