BIG NEWS

We are moving!

Ever since daughter Sarah moved away from here last summer I have raised the issue of moving closer to either one of the two daughters.

With the forced isolation of the pandemic that distance has become greater.  Dan came around to feeling as I did and we made the decision.

We considered the two states: New York and New Hampshire and the latter won out as being friendlier for retirees.

We've given our 90 days notice to Vantage Point and will be moving to an apartment at the end of July in Lebanon, NH close to daughter Emily and family who lives 20 minutes south of there.

It's a one year lease as we decide whether to purchase a house or return to living in a retirement community but with NH as our new home state.

This list is long of what we have to do before July 31st but no downsizing to speak of so that's a relief.

It's amazing to think we've done this all online: finding an apartment, touring apartment, leasing apartment, and even getting a moving estimate by providing a video of our rooms.

Scene above is from our balcony yesterday on a rare blue sky day.  Other photos are of a peony blooming across the street in the garden of a church.  The peony had the fragrance of a rose.

I'll keep you posted on the unraveling of our life here in Maryland.  We've been here since 1974 and have lived in 5 different places.  Moving, not unfamiliar to us, but New Hampshire will be a new adventure. Fortunately we have been traveling to that area since 1999 when we took Emily to Dartmouth to start her freshman year. She never came back to Maryland and has made her life there.  Sarah also attended Dartmouth, but she was our world traveler who came back, made a home in the Washington area for a time but now Buffalo is home. 

We have been making the trip up to NH for 21 years! It will be good to go there to stay.

Thursday Already!

Last day of April. Will May be any better?

Wednesday we had a nice day to go out into the woods.  Didn't pass any other walkers the entire time we were out.  This was a good thing because walking closer to home on the paved paths are lots of others with the same intent to get fresh air. One gets a crowded uncomfortable feeling and social distancing is not happening.  We gave up that day but yesterday was good.

A few photos only because got the low battery message and turned off the phone.

This is the patch of woods we've walked in now three times.  The parking lot is closed but there's parking on the road.

Redbuds are done and dogwood have taken on the show.

Jack in the Pulpit were prolific.

We wore rain jackets because the weather map showed showers moving through.  It got too warm to have them on in the sun.

Skunk cabbage looks like tobacco growing now.

Last photo: another Jack in the pulpit.

*****

Last Sunday I finished this puzzle.  9 pieces missing from it and one piece from another puzzle. No more puzzles for a while.  I've done all the interesting ones in the cabinet drawers in the lobby.

Checking In

I'm still here.  Healthy, safe, hibernating of sorts.

The weeks seem to pass fairly fast but I look back and wonder what I have to show for it?

Dan and I went out for lunch on Thursday.  We went to a drive through Checkers for fast food that we then ate in the car.  Checkers doesn't have a dining room, its all drive through so I don't think their business has been hurting.  We then took a drive.  When we came home we noticed the new sign, finally, in front of our home.  We took a closer look after parking the car.

See the expanse of wood being Dan on the right? Another sign is to go on there.  It's been a long time coming because the awning roof when first installed leaked water down on the wood.  Twice it had to be repaired. 

Finished another puzzle and started another.

Talking more with granddaughters.  Made these pigs and wolf to tell them the Three Little Pigs story.

Youngest granddaughter in Buffalo has the biggest laugh when her Papa pretends to eat the pigs.

Wish I could be with them in person.  This was the weekend of the ballet recital that had to be postponed.   We were combining the trip to NH with an overnight in Boston. Canceled that too of course.

Finished a book in one day yesterday: Skinwalker by Tony Hillerman.  A good mystery.  The next book to read is on the Churchhills during the Blitz.  It's a bit thicker and will take me longer if it holds my interest.

It's another gray day here after a rainy one yesterday.  Doesn't help one's mood, does it?

Bleeding Hearts

I have half a raised-bed garden plot in the garden downstairs where perennials are growing transplanted from daughter Sarah's house in Greenbelt, MD awaiting planting at their new house in Buffalo, NY.  Dan and I checked them out yesterday.

I had forgotten that the bleeding heart was a white variety.

Everything doing well.

Sarah and William settle on their new home in early June.  I don't know when we'll get to visit them there.