May 22, 2021

Countdown....

In a bit less than 48 hours, we will be (hopefully!) on the road on the way to Columbus for the first night out on our three-month-long trip across the top of the Continental United States. (Who knows? We may yet be able to go to Canada and Alaska, but at this point, it's not looking good....)

I can't wait to see Andrew and Madison in Columbus, but leaving Fleur with Matt almost gets me weepy just thinking about it. She's my shadow and always in tune with my comings and goings. Last year, when I was in excruciating pain with a kidney stone, for ten days she never left my side. I know in my head that she will be living it up with Matt, but in my heart....I will miss her "smile" and that way she has of THROWING her ball at me to get me to play with her.

It's also bittersweet, as I will miss the peak of the iris bloom and the lilacs--they are "almost" ready, but not quite. And the entirety of the lillies and the roses. They all look to be pretty healthy this year, so that's good.

I'm happy I got to see the first bloom of "my mom's iris"--from corms she gave me when we moved into this house 30 years ago!

I love columbine--these seem to come up at various volunteer locations!

I do love purples and blues....

The lilacs will probably be fully open the day we leave or the day after.

Timing is everything.

The 4 year old geraniums, after overwintering, got placed right in the ground and trimmed back. No pots for them this year. The mums we planted last year with a prayer that they were the hardy sort, came back and got a haircut too. They should be trimmed all of June for a full bloom in the fall but I think I'd be pressing my luck if I tried to explain THAT to the Parker Brothers (they are our mail picker-uppers, inside plant waterers, lawn care guys).

One of the things I like about living here is the drip of days that trickles past slowly, revealing the seasons of the woods and gardens around us. We're now in the last phase of spring before the long hot and humid summer, but there is still lots to see and appreciate. Of course, while I miss the life here at the "Leroy Ranch", we will be able to see what Mother Nature has in store all over the midwest and west and Pacific Northwest. So, lots of new sights to appreciate.

We're down to the wire, so it's now unlikely that the "happy lights" will go back up after Dan's construction of the new pergola; that will be a high priority fall project!

Today is meat loaf and chili day--cooking for the freezer so we can have easy protein on the road. (Also, I bought some bacon for that griddle! A perk of being on the road!) Tomorrow is "clean the house" day and "finish packing the trailor" day. Work, then fun!