Mr. FixIt and I were talking about this yesterday. Whenever you have a project going…you have to make umpteen trips to the hardware store. This fitting was the wrong size. This lag bolt was too short. “I tried to tell the sales guy that this shutoff valve wouldn’t fit, but I let him talk me into it!” It never fails. It’s not all that big of a deal when you live in town and the hardware store is a mile or two away, like when I fixed up my mom’s house to sell. But, when you live twenty “West Virginia Miles” away…it’s a whole different ballgame.
Man, did we have some crazy weather yesterday. I mean like, Wrath of God thunder and lightning and rain, rain, rain! We even had a tornado warning. I was going through some papers in a box when I heard Mr. FixIt’s phone make some sort of weird noise…just like the one that comes over the television when there’s an activation of the Emergency Broadcast System. I picked up the phone and was met with bright red letters and exclamation points saying there was a tornado warning for my area and we should go to the basement immediately.
We have a security light out at the end of the house…the side we painted and put a new door on this spring. We’ve also been doing a lot of work outside on the front porch because it’s covered and Mr. FixIt can work out there when it’s raining. Sometimes a bird nests on top of that security light, but I hadn’t seen one, nor had I heard any babies chirping…but there WAS what I assumed to be and old nest up there.
I grilled burgers last night for supper. We’ve been working hard, and I though it would be nice to enjoy a meal on the deck. A reward, as it were. When we finished eating, we sat back and looked around at our handiwork in the yard. It was a lovely evening. The neighbor’s rooster was crowing. He crows a LOT. And every single time, it makes me smile and reminds me…we really DO live in the country.
I remember when the first “memory” with Mr. Virgo showed up on Facebook after he died. It slayed me. I couldn’t breathe and the only thing I could think of was, “Now and forever, Facebook will torture me with these. Maybe I won’t be thinking about him dying for like…five minutes…then, BAM! Right in the face!”
It turns out, they were really painful for quite a while, then slowly, slowly, slowly…I could look at them and they’d make me smile like most of the warm memories the FB algorithms deem appropriate to share with me. I don’t get as many Mr. Virgo memories these days. Not sure why. Just the nature of the beast. Sometimes I don’t even look at them. Maybe that’s why. Anyway, the one that showed up last night really brought back a fun, fun memory!
The mowing never stops. We are still mowing out at the farm as it hasn’t changed hands yet…but mainly, because I love it. I love how it looks when it’s mowed. We stopped on the way out and got some lunch and a drink to take with us. We sat on that front porch after the mowing was finished and just admired how lovely it all is. I love how there’s always a new flower to replace something that’s spent.
Our son-in-law showing off a turn-of-the-century bathtub!
Yesterday was clear and bright and sunny. While it was hot in the direct sun, there was a lovely breeze and the temperature stayed comfortably in the mid 70’s. Our WV son-in-law came and helped Mr. FixIt with some long overdue work around the house. Land’s sake…they pushed and pushed and I couldn’t believe how nice it all looked when it was done.
In just over a week, Daughter #1 will be pulling into our driveway toting Big and Little. Big is really big now...seventeen and preparing to visit colleges with her mom the following week. And Little isn’t so little anymore. She was only five years old when Mr. Virgo died. She’s fourteen now. It doesn’t seem possible...especially since I haven’t seen any of them since August 2019 when Daughter #2 got married.
So, 68 years and 1 day. I don’t feel a bit different on the inside. I’m still younger on the inside, but I’d have to say...overall, I’m crushing this aging thing. I’m always doing something because there’s always something to do. That keeps you young! There is truth in the old adage “Use it or lose it.” I’m so happy to see Mr. FixIt feeling like getting up and moving and working hard. And, if he’s working...I’m working. That’s just how it works.
When you live in the country, you have to take what comes and deal with it in the moment. Sundays. Holidays. Birthdays. When something needs your attention, you deal with it. I told you earlier in the week that we ran the snake down the back storm drain and got it running smoothly. Then, for some reason, it clogged back up on Saturday. We set up the sump pumps but...we couldn’t get any of the three pumps to work reliably and the hoses kept clogging. I know we need to do some major repair to that drain to make a more permanent fix, but until then, we jury-rig it to get along.
