So Close

You know what I'm chasing down, don't you? I'm close, so very, very close that it's practically maddening.

But let's not discuss it. I'm so sick and tired of it that I totally don't want to talk about it. Vito always said that was the best "sign" and once I'd hit the I-can't-stand-this wall I was closing in on the elusive, best two writing words.

Anyhow, this afternoon I plan to do some mowing. No one talks about it, but after a huge round of water and flooding there are unsavory remnants of the storm. First, huge, thick grass. And--dare I say it?--snakes. That's right. Snakes. Big ones that come with the water flooding the land. BLECH!! So I'm hoping the thick grass is dry enough to mow it close, which I'm hoping will keep the snakes out of our yard. The houses near the creek really are having issues with them. Up here, not so much, but I'm not taking any chances.

What about you? What's on your agenda for this lovely Monday morning? Whatever you're doing, I hope you have a peaceful day.

We Remember

Forever in our hearts.

God Bless America.

Grateful

My gratitude list is long. Really, I'm blessed. Today? I'm very grateful for my rain boots. Really. In upstate New York they're a necessity. And I don't see that not being the trend for a while, so I'm glad these boots are so comfy.

Today, more cleanup. And squeezing in some hours for writing. Then, salvaging anything I can from the gardens--they're underwater so that makes harvesting a challenge. Hoping to get some sewing done, too.

Oh, yes. The to-do list is massive this Saturday. What about you? What's on your agenda?

Wishing you a peaceful day.

One Thousand

Yes, it's true. This is my one-thousandth blog post.

So much has happened in these past years. So many changes. I could sit here and cry over the sad days, but I'm not going to do that. It's much easier to remember the good days, and smile.

Of course, I'd love it if my wonderful husband could be sitting right here beside me as I type these words. You must know it's my greatest wish, to be with him. But I believe he's with me, and he knows what I'm doing. He somehow sees I'm still here. That I'm doing all we discussed. I'm keeping to the plans we made together. He knows these things--and so much more.

Recently an old friend reminded me that Vito hasn't left my side. He's just taken a seat with a better view. I love that!

Thank you all for making this journey with me. For sticking with me through the triumphs and sad days. For letting me know I'm not alone on this path. I am grateful.

It's with a full heart that I share this milestone with you, this one-thousandth post. I have no idea where the days to the next milestone post will take me. All I know is that today, from the farm and from my heart, I'm glad you're sharing this moment. And, from this chair and from another with a better view, we welcome you again to another day on the farm.

I wish you a peacful Friday.

Water Horror

Nerves are frayed here. Tensions run high.

I'm ready to smack someone. Really, my usually peaceful personality is being tested. Not by Mother Nature, although I'm not thrilled by the antics she's enjoying. No, I'm agitated by a comment someone made. The gist of it? "Why let that upset you. It's not your house. Not your relatives. Why do you care?"

Yeah, I'm seeing red. I'm not a door-slammer but I actually did that this morning. I pretty much slammed the door in someone's face. I couldn't deal with one more minute of the self-centered, who-cares-about-anyone-else-I'm-okay crap.

Thanks for letting me get that off my mind. I'm still annoyed but now at least I've told someone. Doesn't it feel better sometimes to share, even if it's just to vent? Thank you for listening!

Dru asked if the tornado hit here. Thankfully, it didn't, although the spot it hit on the Thruway is very close to the farm. I'm really glad that one missed us!

This is the scene here this morning. State of emergency in the county. No travel. Lots of power off. Lots of phones not working. And water everywhere. Bridges, homes, businesses...washed out. Roads crumbled by the water. Colleges and schools closed. Trees down everywhere. And, it's cool. That means homes where water has hit the furnace or load center, there's no heat. For most of us, it's not crucial. But there are lots of elderly residents who are freezing.

I heard of one 84-year-old widow who lost everything. She's got the clothes on her back. No family. Friends? Pretty much in the same boat or gone to their reward already. She's got no one. Nothing. All those years, and this?

My heart is breaking. It's no wonder I slammed a door. How can anyone just not get the magnitude of the loss? And even if it's not yours personally, it's ours. Yes, ours. The human race--we're all in this together, so the stories of loss and suffering belong to all of us. I feel it. And, I know I can't be the only one who does.

The meandering creek.

No longer meandering.

All night long, the crashing as trees, boulders, parts of buildings

and even dead animals washed through. Awful. Really, just awful.

It' s just a matter of time before those barns are gone.

Pieces have already washed away.

One has a beautiful slate roof.

It proudly proclaims the year it was built.

1887

Aren't you grateful this isn't your home? I know I am. But...
The suffering and loss this photo conveys belongs to all of us.
All of us.

I can't distance myself from the heartbreak what's going on around me is causing. I just can't.

No more photos. They're just too sad.

I hope that wherever you are, you're safe and dry.
I wish you a peaceful Thursday.

Them's Soggy Words!

It's raining; it's pouring.
The old man is snoring.
He went to bed and bumped his head,
And he couldn't get up in the morning.

I hate to be a weather reporter here, but it's a big story in Upstate New York. It's raining--hard--which is something this already flooded area definitely does not need.

Yesterday I looked at the creek across the street. It's calmed down some but isn't back into its banks yet. There's still water in yards, garages and even flowing straight through a family's barn. Straight through. As in it's made a river through their building.

Now, more rain. Heavy. And we're already very splishy and splashy here. Sheesh.

You know what I'll be doing today, don't you? That's right. It's all about the book here this week. Yesterday I did manage to can tomatoes and make some applesauce (mostly because I'd filled one sink with tomatoes and apples!) but otherwise I kept my behind in the chair and my fingers on the keyboard. Today, more of the same.

Maria asked if I have a deadline in my head for finishing. I always do. And this book is about two weeks ahead of schedule because I've been so determined to make it work. I've just been single-minded about finishing it. I know I've got to do this, for so many reasons.

Maybe it's the old get back on the horse thing, I don't know. I'm just sure that my getting through what's going on in my life includes my successfully completing this book. Actually, I usually work much more quickly. I've given myself permission to meander a bit on this, recognizing I'm grieving so the added pressure of the "normal" deadline shouldn't apply. This book is longer than any other I've written, too, so I've added a bit for that. Still, I hoped to be done by October 1st but plan to be writing "The End" by this time next week. Fingers crossed!

I hope I'm not boring the heck out of you with all this book talk. I don't mean to. It's front and center in my head now and, thankfully, pushes even the sound of heavy falling rain to the background.

What's new in your world? Whatever you're doing, I hope you're staying dry. Have a peaceful day!

Crazy Writing Week

Every writer has them, the crazy writing weeks where the end of the book is in sight and the huge motivating factor is finishing the book. That's right, all I can think about is finishing the book.

Finishing.

The.

Book.

So close, so very close...yet, thousands of words away. Scenes to write. Tangles to unsnarl. Arguements to solve. Love to make. Oh, yes, the end is close.

That's my week. What about you?

From the Farm

Just going to enjoy Labor Day quietly here on the farm. Some sewing. Probably canning tomatoes and applesauce. Making eggplant for dinner and the freezer. Working on the book. Staying out of the garden because it's raining here again.

All in all, a leisurely day. What about you? Any plans?

Do You See...

what I see?

Brr!

Just a short note this morning. It's early, but I'm already on the go. Here on the farm, it's going to be a very busy day. Harvesting. Canning. Eggplant parm for dinner, as well as a few servings for the freezer. Trimming and weeding in the vineyard. Housekeeping...oh, washing floors and chasing dust bunnies.

And the book. Working on the book. Our heroine has herself truly tangled--in more ways than one!--in the current chapter. Poor thing; her already upside-down life is about to get even more harried. Me? I'm loving giving her a healthy dose of aggravation right about now. Life has bumps, so she's busy bumping along.

First, to dig out a sweatshirt. Not for her. For me. Because you know what? There's a definite chill in the air this morning. Brr!

Wishing you a peaceful day.

Friday's This and That

What a week.

According to the local news there are still in excess of ten thousand homes without power. What a nightmare. I've seen crews from many states (thank you Illinois, Wisconsin and Florida--you guys are like a small electrical army!) and everyone's working hard to clean up.

The experience really is an attention-grabber, on so many levels. One of the barns leaked, big time, but there's no way I can wring my hands and moan over it. Other people lost their entire homes. Still others, their lives. What's a barn by comparison? Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

I've been busy cleaning up the grounds. The gardens were underwater but are beginning to dry out. Trees went down. Some siding from one of the buildings flew off but I've got it on the to-do fixit list. Windows are repaired already, so I'm making progress.

Yesterday? Oh. My. Goodness. Let's just say I won't buy canned tomatoes for a long, long, long time.

And amidst it all, I've managed to get a good amount of writing done. The book is probably two-thirds done, which really makes me feel good. It's been a great leap of faith for me to sit down and write this book. The sweet angel on my shoulder motivates me to finish. I know the end will be bittersweet. I'm still keeping it in sight, though.

What about you? How was your week? And do you have any plans for the long weekend?

Thanks for stopping by. Wishing you a peaceful day!

PS I'm over at The Lark Journals today. Sharing a secret and something beautiful!

Gifted

Yesterday I received a wonderful gift. It warmed my heart. Soothed my soul. Brought peace. Laughter. Contentment.

Hmm? What did I get? Something that is so important.

Friendship. That's right. I was blessed by the gift of friendship.

A friend spent the day with me. We took care of some business. She supported me during a trying experience. She listened. We laughed. We cried. We spent time together, and it was exactly what I needed. Her kindness, attention and compassion lifted me high.

I think we sometimes forget how precious the gift of friendship can be. We take our friends for granted, assume they somehow know what we think and how we feel. To a point, it's true that a dear friend knows the connection is always in place. But, it never hurts to bring the gift of friendship front and center.

I am grateful for this wonderful woman and the day we spent together. The sweetness of the afternoon will linger in my mind and heart for a long, long time.

And, did I tell you she fed me cake for lunch? Now that's a true friend!

What's new in your world? Thanks for spending a few minutes with me today. I'm wishing you a peaceful day!