Last Days

The frost finally hit my garden 2 nights ago, much later than usual, but since it was only a spotty frost there are still loads of flowers in bloom, all looking very pretty and bright. Makes it a bit hard to leave this lovely garden I have created over the years. Most of the vegies have been harvested and eaten up, the surplus given away to friends, and the remains added to the compost pile. Our friendly neighborhood black bear and its younger cousin have been visiting recently and trashing the fruit trees, and this morning I saw a deer eating from the apple tree right outside our bedroom window. I admit it, this is the kind of thing I will miss.

We turned the furnace on 2 nights ago; it was quite chilly that night! Since then, the days have been mostly showery, but with sunshine coming through at times and warming us eventually. The weather has definitely turned to Autumn temps, and we feel we are leaving just in time. If only the rain holds off while we're loading the UHaul tomorrow...

Boxes, bins, the coolers, file-boxes are all packed up, taped up, labeled and ready to be loaded up. That's the next step. Our last chance for internet connection will be Sunday morning, before we move the office to the shop where Chris will be running things for Hubbell's Heating. Then we'll be offline until our new hookup comes through on the island; I think the wait is about a week, after our arrival on the 27th. I'm not sure I can wait that long... I may end up taking advantage of the internet cafe in Pahoa-town.

We've all been taking turns with the melt-down process, when the whole situation becomes overwhelming. (Nice of us to take turns, don't you think?) My turn was this morning. At the same time, there's not a doubt in our minds that this is the right move for each of us at this time. It's just that when we've been in the same place for such a long, long time, the deep roots we've put down are difficult to loosen up for transplanting. It really helps to know we'll be back in May for wedding preparations!

Okay, so we're off on Monday night to start the next phase of the journey. After closing down the house, we'll spend the night at Grandpa's house in town, then leave at the crack of dawn for Spokane. Kerry's flying to San Jose to visit family & friends there (lucky girl!) while Mike & I drive on to Tacoma and stay with Tom & Lynrae. Next day, it's up early again to unload our cargo and drop off the car at the freight company in Seattle before noon. Eventually, we'll end up at a hotel near the airport and fly out the next day. The whole process will take a few days, but sooner or later, we'll get to our new home in Hawaii!

Two Weeks To Go!

Time flies. It zips, zooms, and whizzes right on by. With only 2 weeks left, we are busier than usual this harvest season, but for the first time in many, many years it's not with putting up the harvest and preparing for Winter. Instead of closing down the garden, I am also closing down the house, and Mike is closing down the business. Well, his part of it anyway; Chris will keep going under the new name of 'Hubbell's Heating'.

I have sold or given away all my houseplants and the house seems naked without them. I keep hearing purring outside my window but Cleo is the only cat left on the farm. She'll be moving to her new home soon, maybe this afternoon if she comes 'round in time. (I think the others are letting me know they're doing well and are happy to have a safe home in our absence.) Kim & Joe are going to adopt my chickens too, bless them. As soon as Joe gets the coop finished, we'll figure out a way to wrangle and deliver 'the girls'. Oh, and Mogley bought our boat so it's almost still in the family!

My last big yard sale of the season was last week and it was a huge success. Thank you to Grandpa for the use of his carport and yard in town for my sale :-) So now that the boxes and bins of yard sale stuff are out of the way, there is a growing pile of boxes and bins ready for our move. We're packing light but it still adds up. And I've just started in on the kitchen.

My friend Karen is throwing a good-bye party for us this evening, before things get too hectic around here. And I have a tea date with a sweet sister-friend, Helewise, tomorrow. I'll sure miss my close friends here. I hope to eventually create a new network on the island, and to keep in touch with those still here on the mainland. In reality, I know that time and distance take their toll, but I appreciate knowing and having this circle of support while I do have it... and then releasing these angels as they drift away. It's okay... it's all good.