Saturday, June 25, 2016

Life doesn't necessarily occur in sequence

New digs for Emily, Laura and me.
We're moving one road north, to a trailer community, not too euphemistically called Hudson Estates.
Laura remains in the Hudson school district; I remain the township fiscal officer.
"We've signed the lease," as Laura tells the world.
Our "Estate" passes muster for one granddaughter away in college and another who scored the master with the walk in closet. She cannot wait to furnish and cook in "her kitchen" either.


We have the keys, and have been in and out a few times. The interior needs a final clean, the accessory building is not yet on site, and the drive way has the frame laid, and probably will be poured next week.

Meanwhile, back in my other world, we had a long anticipated visit from Yamani.


She landed in the midst of the first week of the house on the market, and proved a very adaptable guest. Yam can sit out a house showing in the national park, soothing an irritated cat while learning more strategy for hearts, the card game. We shopped in Indian markets, and Laura added more culinary skills to her repertoire.


To her great delight, Yam arrived in the midst of the seventeen year cicada invasion, as they emerged mercilessly, cut the oak tree's bark to lay eggs, then flew off everywhere to die. We swept the walk and drive often, to lessen the impact on potential house buyers. 



Cicadas are more than the incessant, deafening screech of a million rasping wings. They damage mature trees and kill young trees. All those brown tips on the oak tree in June indicate severe damage to its capillary systems.


In better news, the pink and white mandevillas are doing beautifully.


The red mandevilla went on strike for a better spot, so it's been relocated to the porch for a go at reclamation.


Now I am going out to buy a statue of St. Joseph to bury in the front yard--upside down. 

43 comments:

  1. I do hope everything goes smoothly for you Joanne. Always a bit of a stressful time. but you sound well in charge of things.

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  2. Well, Joanne, you are a font of information today. I buried St. Joseph too, but someone said the other day he had to be buried in the direction you wanted to go which I didn't know. It worked and I dug him up when we left. I can't think of anything worse than moving, but somehow, I think it'll be a piece of cake for you.

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  3. St. Joe worked for us too! We sold the house in three days.

    Moving is such stress but it sounds like it will be a good move for you. Best of luck!

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  4. Ooooh, big changes for you all. You are so organized that all seems to go smoothly and I hope it continues. I didn't know about St. Joseph. I'll have to look that one up. I like the lay out of the new 'digs'.

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  5. I heard a story once about someone burying St Joe the wrong way and the neighbor's house sold. ...... Sounds like you have a plan... and that's most important. wishing you the best!

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  6. It is stressful not having sold one home when you've already signed the lease on another. The good news is that it makes it easier to move, bit by bit. I hope St. Joseph works his magic for you.

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  7. I wish you good luck Joanne.

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  8. How lovely that in the middle of the chaos and upheaval you had a blog visit. And fun.
    Good luck.

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  9. Joanne -- I find your move very exciting. You still will be among friends, have a new manageable place to live, and keep your job. I look forward to photos and words from you about your new place! -- barbara

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  10. Can you explain the whole St. Joseph thing, please? I have no idea what you are talking about and now I am curious. I've been reading your blog for quite a while now and can only imagine how unsettling this move must be. I hope it is the right decision for all and that you are content with where you are going. All the best for you and your wonderful granddaughters. -Jenn

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    Replies
    1. My Catholic family on my father's side explained Joseph was a carpenter, and the protector of homes and family. Buried, he tries to leave to find a new home. Upside down, he leaves faster, I understand. Why bury him in the first place, I don't know. It's a harmless little ritual, like "bless you," when someone sneezes, so their soul doesn't fly out through the mouth.

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    2. Ah. Thanks. Ignore my question further down. I'll have to find a small (tiny) St Joseph to bury when I feel like moving again. In the meantime, he can protect my current home.

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  11. Sounds like a good adventure and a new beginning for this phase of your life! It all does come together in the end, but I hope the move goes smoothly.

    Betty

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  12. Yam is a lovely lady, I met her when she was in Sydney last, but my she does get around.
    Moving is alway fun starting again but I vowed after the last time never to do it again.
    Merle.........

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  13. Congratulations. You and the girls have an adventure in the works. I wish for you to be very happy in your new home.

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  14. Nothing like new digs! If only the actual moving part wasn't so much work. Still, I see fun ahead.

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  15. Downsizing is a great idea. Good luck with everything! Looks like you have a good handle on it all - as usual. And a visit from YAM - how nice!

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  16. Why does St Joseph get buried upside down. I've heard this before but never known why.
    Will you be taking any of the garden with you? Hanging baskets? Or will you take cuttings and start over?
    I love unpacking and arranging things in a new residence, even while being sad at leaving the old.

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    1. Yes, the hanging baskets, our favorite garden art, the tools, the front deck benches. The real garden may wait until next year, and all the cuttings will come from the plants we've shared around.

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  17. Guess I read your blog today and wondered what I missed. So I went back and read a few old ones, but only the comments made me realize that you were selling your place and moving. What brought this on? Did you say at some point and we/I missed it?
    As for the St. Joseph thing, I'm familiar with that. People in N.O. do that too.

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  18. I have a feeling that all this sudden upheaval has been stressful for you and the girls, but if anyone can make it go smoothly, it would be you, Joanne. I wish you the best in your new abode.

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  19. Hari om
    Sending some 'getitsold-dust' towards Joseph... a little extra can't do any harm! Love your new estate and wish you many cheerful days there!!! YAM xx

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  20. I was reading about the cicada invasion on another blog. We don't get cicadas here in Northern Ireland so I didn't know they were so damaging to trees. I guess there's not much you can do to stop them in their tracks.

    Good luck with the move. Moving is always a stressful business, even if it's only one road north!

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  21. Life moves to the next chapter. Good luck with everything.

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  22. here I am thinking and talking about moving and you've already done it, grass doesn't grow under your feet, did you sell you home ?

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    1. Still on the market. It has a beautiful studio. Interested?

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  23. Well, this is surprising. I did not know you were contemplating a move. Moving is always stressful, but I know you will cope beautifully. Good luck and best wishes. Aloha from Hawaii.

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  24. Selling a house is always stressful. Fingers crossed that you have good luck.

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  25. New homes are always exciting. And yay for the granddaughter who scored the master closet:)
    Toes crossed (fingers firmly on the keyboard) that you sell quickly.

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  26. We will be moving also, end of July, to be closer to our daughter. Our gr-daughters will bbsit us to make sure we don't wander off or fall or something. Seriously, it is time.

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  27. Those cicades sound horrible, Joan - if they destroy trees! I hope you sell your house well - just as your garden was coming so well!

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    1. Thanks, Brigitta. There will be another garden.

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  28. wishing you well and a quick adjustment to the new digs.

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  29. I too missed the news that you are moving ! I hope it all goes well & stress free x

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  30. Since she claims the kitchen, does the granddaughter do the cooking?

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  31. What a noble grandmother you are Joanne.

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  32. I read a good line the other day in a book about middle age reinvention by Claire Cook. There are no straight lines in nature". Somehow, it seems to apply here. Good luck with the move, Joanne, and thanks for visiting my blog. One question. How do you pronouce "Cicada" and is it the same thing as a "katydid"? I guess that's two questions, technically.

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  33. so you've told us you are moving, shown the for sale sign, and shared the floor plan for your new digs but you haven't mentioned why the house is for sale and what precipitated it. I'm just nosey enough to want to know but if you'd rather not go there, I understand.

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  34. I hope you will blog some more about this soon....
    I'm so interested that you live near me (I'm in Bath) and I found your blog from following links from Weaver of Grass....I hope your moving is going well!

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  35. This is a surprise. I hope it all works out well for you, though. You sound positive!

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