I'm pooped too. I cannot wait until I get to "just" garden as my weekend activity. I'm also really ready to have clothes that are ironed. Oh to wear makeup every day again. I just cannot wait until I can move at the pace I choose. You know, this morning I was thinking about my life a year ago. It really was so overwhelming. It felt so crushing. Yes, sure I survived Ed leaving, my last semester of school (and I'm crying right now how heavy it all was), Keegan dying, and a house that he left in shambles. It was so so hard. As of a couple of weeks ago, I realized I could coast now. I really am. Such a weight is lifted. Not even close to how it felt to finish classes after decades, that was the biggest part of it. I still feel that joy if I think about how great it was to accomplish that one. Now it's a day here, a day there, and I would be done. But I am taking it more like last night, one thing per day. I got home and watered the herbs I planted Sunday. Just one thing. I looked at the ladder in the office and thought, one quick sanding... nope. Not gonna. It can wait and it won't mattter. I can't finish any faster than the end of October because of money issues, so I am slowing down. And it feels da-n good. I am so so happy I don't have that weight any more. My time is finally arriving. Who knows what it'll feel like to look back in another year. Wow. That's gonna be awesome.

OMG, I love all of these responses! Rox - too funny about the hummingbird trying to get your hat hibiscus!!! They are VERY territorial, but understandably so - they have to eat about every 10-15 minutes during the day so a food source can be the difference between life and death, and very worth protecting. HAHA! Mike, that's exactly what I mean - I can be staring RIGHT AT THEM and then stick my face right in their face! I love seeing them out there on patrol, well, after I regain my composure anyway. I have started to like many of the insects more now that I know what they do, and have even declared a truce with the wasps on my plants now that I know they are good guys. Lynn, I bet as your garden develops you will have more encounters. The more hiding places, water and food sources the more will come - so I bet with more foliage you will see more. I have a hummingbird feeder so that's why they come but I can't do regular bird feeders due to the cats. K! OMG, I am so glad to see the kitty so happy and healthy! I didn't know you were keeping her, that's awesome :) That is truly a magical moment for you to have found her (and saved such a tiny one!) before it was too late. Love the name - one of my dogs is named Charlotte!

I met a woman in a door way couldn't have been a moment you see did I just stop breathing does anyone else notice the quiet in the room a stranger you've known for years just crossed your path and this moment just lasts and lasts Every curve of her chest the flutter in her dress she came so close with her head turned away she did this before came knocking at my door but I turned her away and thirty years have passed away. so here at last it comes to pass another moment in a doorway That lasts and lasts and on her is written where no words can be I love you can't you see

breezy, my cabinetmaker said I could do whatever I wanted. (How nice is that attitidue compared to "I don't like that", geez. I did just go and look at your kitchen again. I think that does look nicer. I will ask him what he plans on doing. If he thinks it will look ok, I'll trust him. Otherwise I'll switch. I remember KD1 offering me 2 different styles to choose from for those doors. Honestly, I had no idea what he was talking about. Marcolo--those are cool. Yes, willtv, the doors will be recessed, unless he has some sort of ingenious plan. He is awesome. Beaglesdoitbetter broke him in for me. That's what I keep telling him! thanks