Another Ending

Today another chapter ended.  The retail produce cooler is ready for a new home.  This hinged on reducing the poultry population to a manageable size – and reducing egg production.  I have stopped selling pots and produce – except eggs – since May.  Time to clear it out!         So, where do I put the surplus eggs?  Thanks to Charlie and Karen we have a little “beer fridge” in the basement.  I …

Continue reading

An Admission, an Embarrassing One

Odd.   In the midst of loss there is an opening of possibilities – do I stay here?  Do I garden?  Do I keep tractors or sell them?  Do I learn things Ken did?  Do I hire them out?  My life has changed.  I have many decisions to make.       I have started by sorting through stuff.  Mine first. This was the rags a couple weeks ago.  I am down to a few coats. …

Continue reading

The Plant I Can Grow!

When I met Ken I had LOTS of house plants.  And some came with me to Turtle Lake.  Ken took over the houseplant tasks.  And he had great success with all the plants I brought EXCEPT the peace lily or spathiphyllum I brought.  It likes filtered light and Ken was of a more light the better philosophy.  That spath fried and died.         When Ken died, his aunts and an uncle on …

Continue reading

Ragging Out!

After posts of my progress on clearing the main floor – some IS getting pitched; some is getting sorted, labeled and moved out to a shed – I am seeing that proverbial light at the end of the tunnel!  I am down to two boxes of garments and two boxes of knits on the main floor ( there may be more lurking upstairs ).     Currently I am trimming off seams and disassembling by …

Continue reading

From Anna

Years ago, Ken’s sister Anna gave us this cactus.            And when it blooms it has beautiful flowers for a very short time.  Ken LOVED it.               And so, now, as it blooms I think of him and with deep gratitude I say thank you, Anna!

Continue reading

Why?

There are few people who understand my priorities at present.  Instead of spending my summer outside weeding and planting and growing, I am inside clearing the main floor.  I am making myself a refuge, a home instead of a retail space I live in.  First I am sorting through things that are mostly mine, mostly rags for rugs.  I never stored them outside because I did not have  rodent proof containers.  Since there are no …

Continue reading

Pleasant Surprises

Today I walked down the drive to open the gate for someone.  First, among the rye I saw hollyhocks!         And then on the west side of the drive, I saw a greyish lump and thought something had killed a turkey.  No.  As I approached she lifted her head and moved off some babies.  Hope she is a good mom!

Continue reading

Getting By with a Little Help from…

As I have worked clearing the main floor I have saved the “three handed” jobs as Ken and I called them – more than one person can handle or those tasks that go so much easier with two people.  Yesterday I had help and we went through all the tasks I wanted to do in beastly hot weather.  There are some cool weather ones that remain.  First we moved the shelving components out of the …

Continue reading

Progress!

I am moving through piles of my stuff.  From this             to this.  and I have been working along that east wall .  the boards and tiles Ken intended for the floor remain.         There are still three boxes of rags to take off seams and buttons.         and four boxes of brewing and beading supplies to sort.           Then …

Continue reading

Local Lunch

No, the rice isn‘t local.  but the beef came from a neighbor, and the vegetables came from the St Croix Falls Farmers market – broccoli, carrots, radishes, snap peas, and the last of our onions. Please support your local farmers.  Bon apetit.

Continue reading