Garden preparations times two

/ Roadtirementvintage / 16 Comments

Today I rented a rototiller from the local tool rental business. Sher and I had decided that we wanted a flower garden in the backyard. Our son also has a small vegetable plot out back, and we decided to greatly expand that garden as well.

Yes, that’s Maj tilling ground soon to be a flower garden

For the vegetable garden, we laid out a space about 14′ X 25′.  We figured that would give us plenty of room for a variety of goodies. The tiller was a powerful rear tine unit that worked very well. Our soil conditions were a tad bit too moist, but all in all a lot of good rich soil was turned. This ground has been under sod for decades, and will produce a plentiful harvest.

The vegetable plot, just tilled.

We have some starts already, soon to be planted in the vegetable plot. As things progress, we’ll share more photos showing the progress as things grow. We’re hoping that the flower garden and the vegetable garden will provide lots of enjoyment as well as some home grown food.

The State of Indiana is just beginning the Back On Track Indiana reopening process. Even with the so called back to normal date of July 4th, us senior citizens and those with health issues are still warned to be careful in public. We are yet to decide when and where circumstances will allow us to get out and travel.

 

River view and Indiana opening again

/ Roadtirementvintage / 20 Comments

On one of our drives we came upon a pretty little river. The current was fairly fast flowing, and we did see some ducks on the river, and some folks in kayaks enjoying a nice day.

People in Indiana are slowly trying to get used to the “Back On Track Indiana” procedures. This is the first full weekend of the Stage 2 of the “reopening”. Restaurants are back at 50% capacity, travel restrictions are gone, and everybody is to wear masks anytime you are outside your residence, among other changes. If you are interested, you can see Indiana’s plan at this website.

My Mother’s Day poem for Sher

/ Roadtirementvintage / 25 Comments

You were there every day
And no that is not a cliche

Your love is so strong
The kids knew all along
That Mom will never fail
For any trouble she’ll prevail

Our children, like most all
Would occasionally take a fall
Kids in crisis, occasional trouble
Solved by Mom on the double

Our children grown with kids of their own
Most far away, some close to home
Her strength is true every day
She helps us all through work and play

Mother’s Day’s a time to show
My love for my wife and our family you know
Precious to me and the kids alike
We love you Mom, day and night

You’re still there every day
And that is still not a cliche

Saw a goose on a drive around town

/ Roadtirementvintage / 15 Comments

Sher and I took advantage of our son again and had him drive us around town. There were lots of people out, mostly driving as it was rather chilly and windy. Not the best conditions for a walk.

I spotted this goose on a traffic island in a store parking lot. The goose just sat there when our car pulled up be side it, which allowed me to take these shots.  The goose’s mate saw us from across the lot and was walking (or should I say waddling) towards us as we pulled away.

Full Flower Moon

/ Roadtirementvintage / 10 Comments

The coronavirus seems to be ushering in a new normal, a new world for all of us.  Does this mean we need a fresh start, or rather, being forced to make a new start?  May 7th is a full moon, it is also called the Full Flower Moon or Full Blessing Moon.  It means new beginnings as the flowers and trees blossom.

Perhaps the Full moon this May will bring new beginnings for us.  A time to change.  We should be using this time of isolation to have self reflection.  Take what we’ve learned and set some blossoming goals to achieve them.

A different 10th anniversary for Roadtirement

/ Roadtirementvintage / 18 Comments

Our comfortable site near Austin

Right to the point, today is the tenth week anniversary of the beginning of our self- imposed isolation which began on February 25th.

Sher and I were on our Winter Texan living when the coronavirus thing was starting to heat up big time. We got out of Seattle in the end of January after visiting our daughter and her family, just before that Nursing home COVID-19 outbreak was reported. We were in our RV Resort in the Hill Country west of Austin. We’d planned on finishing February in Austin, and then heading to the Rio Grande Valley for March.

As the media brought more and more accounts of an upcoming pandemic, regardless of source, we decided that we would be better off in our home base in Indiana. As it turned out, that was a good decision because as things got worse most RV parks and campgrounds closed. So we got back to our house on February 25th.

Nearly empty lot at Cracker Barrel: carry out only

That began what is now our tenth week in “isolation”. We are both over 65, and I have more than one of those pesky underlying health issues that make for a scary scenario if the coronavirus infects us. So for the past 10 weeks we have been basically stuck at home. We’ve been out just a few times, with our son driving. He has been going to the grocery and pharmacy for us.  The only retail place that Sher and I have visited was a farm store for some flowers. We stayed outside and way away from other customers and store staff.

The State of Indiana is now going through a series of stages getting back to “normal”. By July 4th any restrictions will almost be gone. There will still be warnings for us old folks with underlying health issues. We are supposed to “adhere to social distancing guidelines and remain cautious at work and in (sic) our communities” so states the Back On Track Indiana recommendations in Stage 5.

Roadtirement has had 70 days of isolation. We will have to decide what activities will be safe for us. I don’t think either of us can afford to catch this damned virus, and so far there is no treatment or vaccine.  Sigh…

Spring washing other than hands

/ Roadtirementvintage / 5 Comments

Before cleaning

During the cleaning

 

 

 

 

Spring is the time for some cleaning chores around the property. Today our son got out the pressure washer and went to town on the siding on our garage. The pressure washer does a great job, as you can see, in removing the discoloration on the siding, probably a green mold of some kind.