Dupont:

What a difference a home makes! We are both more relaxed as we love our new home, mostly free of clutter and two of us determined it not get that way.

This am, after BF an hour earlier than usual, R was cheerfully heading for the city; He paused to wonder over the tulips. I realized that he has not seen them open; will take pic. He is also delighting in the other upcoming perennials. We each look forward to what the blooms will be.

A viewing for the other house tonight. The big project is still in process with big meetings almost daily; very challenging. But he still wants to get back to writing a "rebuttal" regarding the erroneous info being promulgated by someone regarding the proposed gravel pits near Beaver.

Then there are trees to be planted and the yard still cluttered with the aftermath of the cellar cleaning which is not quite completed. These are the things that give R pleasure and relaxation and a sense of accomplishment; not struggling with realtors doing a poor job and looking for the big commission.

This new home gives him a place to unwind his addled brain, enjoy the few hours he is here; instead of staying in bed as long as possible as he did before, he is getting up and enjoying the trees, yard, house. the chickens next door, and getting in his vehicle and driving along the beautiful river and through the Reserve before hitting the chaos of his work life in the city. Balm for the brain.

This am we talked about divesting ourselves of the non-functional dish washer - which I would not use anyway - and making the space useful. The pantry and cupboards we have are not full and I am running a nicely functional K, as I learn the vagaries of the Jennair stove, and occasionally move something to a more efficient spot.

I looked up from computer, still in LR, and realized we have no "coffee table". A work in progress!

Yesterday, the nearby thrift shop yielded a "garden sheet"(for collected debris) for $1 and a set of heavy, light grey/white drapes for one of the spare rooms $8. I asked the nice young man at the produce store to give me a large quantity of fiddle heads in a bag rather than buy 8 styrofoam packages. He agreed nicely with my wish to reduce the use. R took about half to bro at the office.

This is a great move. I still need to sort myself out re wanting to be with friends at Beaver and the life I have there and not wanting to make the 5 hour trip, leaving R to fend for self. It is important that we are doing this house together, enjoying making it into our home. The city house was too awful to ever feel like a home.

I see a future with fewer trips... to a time when I can longer do that. Letting go... Drawing in... Building a new sort of life. I have made a stab at it in several places over the years but Beaver/the area has been most like home. I will go back next Tuesday after English class (tutoring one student) for a few days - tend the gardens, consult with Dan re a wood shed.