Takin' On Winter

Yesterday I earned an "Atta Girl" badge.  With the cold weather lurking about, I needed to take care of some outside duties.  Some things were a "no-brainer", such as trimming back the roses and clematis plants.  I took apart the hammock and tucked it away until next spring, but the worst was moving my two-ton outdoor potted plants inside before the frost landed.  The boys are so busy, and I did so want to not bother anyone else.  I figured that if the Egyptians could move huge stones for their pyramids, I could somehow manage to tackle the plant problem.  Thinking outside the box was needed.  I made an incline into the house by using my five-foot plastic-coated craft table and shoved and maneuvered the monsters on the incline and sorta dropped them onto their rollered plant stands.  It worked!  Out of four plants, only one tipped over, which I thought was great.  Today, I tackle the acorn-loaded front gutters.  Wish me luck!

The Big "Send-Off"

Yesterday, Sunday the 13th we laid Larry to rest.  It was a beautiful fall day, a perfect day to hike in the woods.  No official individual invitations were sent, just an announcement on Facebook and my blog.  Yet, they came in large numbers--family and friends to pay their respects to a fine, loving man.  Flowers were passed out and so were Larry's remaining stash of cigars.  Ironically, there remained one cigar left, not intentionally and we all knew that one was meant for Larry.  Beneath the shade of the old cypress tree on the hill, amid the other century-old gravesites, we buried my beloved.  Included in his grave we placed the multitude of cards and messages that were sent, as well as his comical football hat and the lone cigar.  Daffodil bulbs were planted, and hopefully next spring we shall see a beautiful bloom surrounding the spot. This was the ideal resting place for my Larry, and I know he was smiling and enjoying himself totally immersed in the love and friendship of those gathered around on that perfect fall day.

Day-by-Day

It has been nearly six weeks since Larry's death, and time seems to pass with the business of day-to-day living.  The multitude of paperwork did dwindle somewhat--things are getting tackled and accomplished. Questions daily pop-up with "What to do's?" attached, but for the most part they are answered somehow.  Presently, we are finalizing the plans for Larry's 1:00 p.m. "Send-off" on Sunday, the 13th at the Vandalia hunting cabin.  Family and friends shall toast his life as he had wanted. Chili and hotdogs on the outdoor fire, maybe even toasted marshmallows as well are on the agenda.  Any and all are welcome!