Last Day and A Good One it Was

Friday, Oct. 19^th we greeted our last day here with everything BUT trepidation. I believe we are now feeling the excitement of our new adventure beginning. It was almost 6:30 for Bill and closer to 7 when I crawled out of bed. The Suite was temperate for sleeping, around 64F and Bill turned the Infrared thermostat up to 70F. Outside temperature was hovering around 40F at 7.

Beautiful start to this day

We enjoyed our coffee and tea, mine with honey this morning, as I’ve noticed a raspy throaty voice for a couple of days. I might have picked something up at the rv show so have been salt gargling, Vitamin C chewing and Vick’s rubbing ever since. The worst is in the morning and evenings and I’m hoping it will pass quickly so Bill doesn’t pick it up. I popped a Hall’s into my purse and we drove into the Durham laundromat for the last time, this year.

4 pancakes in the pan

No one was around so we got our choice of 4 washers. Once the machines were loaded, Bill walked up town towards the bank and the barber shop. I walked in the opposite direction, just to get my mile in. The sun was out this morning and the winds were minimal so it was lovely and refreshing. There are a few unique little streams under the streets that I love capturing with my camera. I went around the block and returned to read for a while, waiting for the loads to finish.

Bill came back looking spiffy in his new hair cut and in time to help me fold the clothes. I like that he comes with me sometimes, even if he is running around doing errands. Saves on gas and our conversations carry on from home. We were on our way home at 5 minutes before 10 and it was a good feeling to know that it was another job done and off the list.

Yummy

At home, I began making breakfast and Bill went out to bring the mailbox in (last day of mail delivery was yesterday) fold the now dried patio mat and to move the wooden steps. The steps come apart but they are in pretty rough shape and we don’t need to take them along. Next spring, Bill wants to build a small deck at the door instead, but we sure appreciated these this summer. The G.Y. pancakes were good with mini sausages and would keep us filled until supper at 5.

I sent Bill out to finish the few things he had left and I did the dishes up. We are getting critically low on our fresh water so being more cautious with water than we’ve ever had to. We know water is available if we really needed it but this is our last day and we can top up the tank at the park tomorrow. 

The clothes rack is covered

I went out to the bunky to cover the hanging clothes. Once that was done, the recycle bins, cooler and lastly, Dad’s ship could be moved in. We can’t lock it until the morning when we go in to flip the switch for electric to Off.

The ship was the last thing to go in the bunky

I didn’t see my sweetie so figured he was at the road putting a stake in the ground for the mailbox. He’d emptied the pail of rocks that held the mailbox post and brought both things up. The pail is cracked and we’ve decided not to use it next year anyway. The box is kept in the Ridge Restroom over the winter with the firepit, sawdust bin and a few other ornamental things.

A month ago, Bill snipped one of the Rose of Sharon bushes
so I stuck it in this Coke can and it is surviving

He wasn’t down there but I could tell that he’d already put the stake in place. 

I started again down the lane and spotted him coming from the corner of the back field, out from behind the bushes. I jokingly gave him heck for not having his phone on him, I was running out of places to look.

In the spring, Bill will remove the wood and place the mailbox
post in the stake

We literally had everything done by 12:30 and yet it was such a gorgeous day outside, I didn’t want to come in. We read and relaxed for the rest of the day and at 4:20 we were cleaned up and driving into Durham. By the time we’d paid the kitchen staff for our dinner at Rockwood, Mom was being escorted down the elevator for supper. We stopped and said hello to Rob who was visiting Aunt Mary and getting her settled at her own table. 

I still have a few green tomatoes and a few that will be red in a few days

We found our table for 3 near the office and settled in. The staff was very good and the meal was delicious. Mom was confused at times, her conversation drifted, but all in all it was a nice time together. 

It was a great meal

Mom and I chose the Turkey patty with mashed potatoes, sweet snap peas and a half crusted baked tomato. Bill opted for the Salmon, roasted potatoes with peas. We all had chocolate cake for dessert. Well worth the $20.

Mom and I, the last time this year

We took Mom up to her room and said goodbye. She walked us to the elevator with numerous hugs and kisses. She asked if we could sneak her down to Arizona too, she didn’t let me down. She’s too cute! From there we drove to Rob and Pat’s and had a nice hour visit with them and Sandra and Bill. This was another goodbye for the winter and we were on our way home before 8.

I'll miss the pond snapshots

I don’t know if it was this ‘cold’ or whatever it was but I felt exhausted. We watched a recorded New Amsterdam from the other night, had some Chapman's ice cream and I was on my way to bed soon after. We are moving in the morning and it seemed like a wild rainy night out there tonight. That’s okay, everything outside is done and put away. It has been a good day.

The hens and chickens in my garden are doing awesome

Thank you for catching up with us today. I love to hear from you.