Here, There, and Everywhere!

The days are flying by right now.  How did it already become Saturday again?  We've been busy sorting through treasures and trash, realizing at times one becomes the other.  With our next trip to the Lone Star State, ownership of a home there will become reality.  Decisions about things worth taking and other things better left behind are constant.  Friendships are recognized as particularly valuable and as much of every day as possible is spent enjoying the people that make living here so wonderful.  We will keep this house and plan several return trips to the mountain each year.  Still, it's a bit disconcerting to envision a footprint in each state.

Ol' Abner has been gathering all the parts and pieces of his projects so they can be moved en mass for future completion.  I've been furiously working to complete several things in progress. Planned projects are being stored in totes for another time.  Insurance agents in each state must be maintained.  Household maintenance must be arranged in advance instead of attending when necessary.  Plants will have to be the kind of independent sprouts that require little care, and furniture will thinned to provide comfort in two homes instead of one.

Worked into the migration schedule are Ol' Abner's medical needs.  Tests are scheduled, completion of his dental work, cardiology follow-up, and repeat attempt of the Intra-trachial oxygen port will be part of the travel for the next few months.

Special birthdays must be celebrated and important reunions will be attended.  Decisions for traveling with the dog or letting her enjoy her busy social life on the mountain will be considered with each journey.

The prospect of all that's on my plate seems overwhelming at times, but life goes on and we'll just live through the transition day by day.

Not Just Any Hill Will Do!

Last week we made another journey to the Texas Hill Country to resume our search for a home in the Lone Star State.  Timing for wildflower views could not have been better.  As we left our home on the Ozark "hill", I stressed about leaving with the dogwoods in full bloom.  Since we had to stop in the Arkansas capitol for a visit with one of Ol' Abner's doctors, it was dark thirty when we crossed into Texas.  Awakening the following morning and exiting the hotel parking lot brought a a breathless gasp, the kind that makes Ol' Abner think he needs to swerve or slam on his brakes. Sorry about that, but I was overwhelmed by the beauty of the bluebonnets draping the side of the freeway.  After a prolonged drought, blooming wildflowers are a welcome sight in Texas.  Traveling down the interstate highway revealed roadside vistas of colorful bluebonnets, buttercups, Indian paintbrush, Indian blanket and bits of lovely yellow flowers of unknown name.  It was a joyful ride for me.

Our realtor was waiting to assist us in our quest for a place to live in this hill country.  If you haven't heard the recent history, let me update you quickly.  Two home offers accepted, and two contracts revoked when additional information was disclosed.  Our plan had been to be settled into our "second" home by this time.  I am a believer that a higher power intercedes at times when we are on the path not proper for us...and always pray for guidance when making major decisions.  Several homes in three different communities were slated for tours.  We wrote another offer, it was accepted, inspection completed, returned to the Ozarks in the space of five days.  I won't talk too much about this house...but it does have a beautiful view from the hilltop.

Returning to the Ozarks, we were delighted that the blooms we left behind were still evident in the landscape.  The oaks had finished dropping all the little brown squiggles that are so offensive and our home again seems ever so private.  Dogwoods still display perky white flowers beneath the oaks and the redbuds have delicate buds among the leaves beginning to mingle with them.  Oh yes!  This is a lovely hill, but we may have found another equally satisfying.

Orphaned?

A custody battle rages in Dogpatch.  Fightin' over younguns tends to bring out the wickedness as well as maternal (or lack thereof) instincts of the female species.  A few weeks ago Flower Girl's mother innocently brought a very old baby doll to Gabriele's shop in order to better display the tiny knitted baby clothes and hats being generated by the "Dam Knitters".  Woodcarver (touting her lack of maternal longing) made a point of moving the baby around the shop to startle Flower Girl frequently.  A few days of this, and Flower Girl found sweet retribution.

A small baby doll was adorned with a tattoo, scars from recent battles on her scalp and eye, and evidence of "open heart surgery".  She was delivered by messenger without a return address to Woodcarver at her shop.  Baby was "bedded" in a small box with a noose on her neck and mousetrap on her little hand.  I should mention that Woodcarver teaches knitting classes at Gabriele's Flowers and Fibers.  The day of the baby's delivery resulted in a note sent to the shop that future knitting classes must be cancelled.  Woodcarver asserted the weighty responsibility of her new baby's need for ongoing time consuming care as cause for her inability to continue teaching anxious knitters.  Only days later, the baby doll appeared at the flower shop wearing a multicolored mohawk hairdo and missing the arm previously waving with the mousetrap.

Sometime in the ensuing passing around of the baby, she was named "Chuckie" and acquired a new stroller, a scepter, later adorned with a serpent, as additional injuries became apparent. She turned up perched in a large Easter wreath being admired by visitors to the flower shop with a note stating "I'm back".  If I failed to mention Flower Girls aversion, or downright fear, of clowns; it would have been clearly apparent when "Chuckie" appeared sitting in her office chair one day last week.

Strange happenings are attributed to Chuckie now.  When Woodcarver's just finished sweater seemed to disappear at the end of a knitting class, we were certain this wicked child had something to do with the mischief.  Tiny dolls stalked Flower girl from the windshield of her car to the water in the cooler with flowers. When the clownface version of the baby was discovered in her office, Flower Girl capitulated.  She declared Woodcarver the winner and promised no more sending the little demon back.

I've been away for a week or so now, and can  hardly wait to see if Chuckie the clown has truly found a permanent home among the blooms and fibers...or if her destiny is to be orphaned again!