Escape from Suburbia update

Well, hello there. We're back. 

My unexpected hiatus from this place began with an event that suddenly forced us to spend a lot of time in Cleveland: the property management company found a tenant for our house there.

That meant we really had to move, finally.  All the careful staging and stuff just resting there until we could find a place for it had to be cleared out.

We did it. Sold a lot of unneeded furniture and stuff via Craigslist and a three-day moving sale. Donated tons more to Goodwill, Easter Seals, and the Salvation Army. Even placed a few items on the front lawn with a "FREE" sign and they disappeared as they were supposed to.

A plant-loving neighbor took in "Gorgo," my so-huge-it-has-its-own-zipcode tree philodendron which has occupied front and center in the 12-foot bow window for about 15 years. Gorgo was like family, but she practically needs a room of her own, and I could use a couple more of those myself in this little house. So she needed to be rehomed. I know she will be well cared for.

The tenant was okay with us leaving the dining room set and piano (two items too large to rehome on such short notice)  in the house for him to use for the next 24 months. And voila! Our home of 23 years is now a rental property. It feels weird, but the monthly income is appealing.

We picked the hottest days of the year for moving (heat index was 110 as we loaded up the last of the boxes and mopped the floors and wrung ourselves out), but we survived. Now, our garage here is chock full and the thinning out process continues...but at a more leisurely pace. Our house is still too small, but this photo of a skinny house in Warsaw, designed as a writer's straitjacket retreat,  made me feel like I'm living large by comparison.

In the midst of the chaos, we had visits from both of our kids, which was crazy fun.  Our new outdoor living space was very much appreciated. I was craving that "dinners on the patio" ambience, and we made it reality.

We finally got to do some of the things with our grandson that we've been wanting to do--picnics and the beach and his first boat ride and kite flying and a trip to Peterson's candy store.

My garden is getting daily attention again. I have a new blank canvas (pile of dirt) in front of the garden shed, and Mike's nursery has 25% off on all trees, shrubs, and perennials, and $10 roses this week! Since I have so much color in the front garden, I'm considering an all-white border in this space. We'll see.

Looks like another rainy day today. It's very welcome, after the extended hot and dry spell. I'll be unpacking some boxes and rearranging my space. This is home now.