Sunday, October 31, 2021

Miscellaneous Musings No. 20

Hello, my friends. Time for another musings post from yours truly. Please don't be offended by anything written here. It's just the way my little brain turns, and every now and then I need to spill through what has become a series. This is Miscellaneous Musings No. 20.

I've actually seen people write solely on the subject of decorating with branches. Well, here ya go. I even threw in a spider lift since it's so appropriate for fall and Halloween.The pin oak tree (above and below) is was on the corner of the lot of our new home, and it is was very precariously positioned over both our slate roof and the city electric wires overhead (the wires I deplore, but it's an old neighborhood). Here was the emotional state of the tree this past Tuesday:

I have plans for the corner, and hope to have them in place by next spring when the soil is amended, after the stump is gone. I also have an interim plan. More to come.....

Graphic signs are often another popular subject seen and written about as trendy. Here's one for you, in case you can't remember what this part of your house is....PORCH. (Full disclosure: upon blowing it up, it says Welcome to Our PORCH).

More Kroger math spotted in the grocery store since my last musing: 
Oh yea, I'll take Charmin for $7.00 per square foot, please. Puh-lease.

From the organization files....here's an easy way to tote clothing short distances, you know, Beverly Hillbilly style. Just fill a yard waste bag of your hanger clothing, then wrap the ties over each side of the hangers, tighten, tie and go. Then, later, you can re-use the bags for their original purpose. Hey, worked for me in moving, and later with my little landscape I'm about to take on.
This next one is both gross and funny. I am notorious for getting rocks and tiny debris in my socks/shoes as we walk, which causes me to have to pause and take my shoe off, empty it, and go on. Recently, we went to a nephew's wedding and had to walk from our parked car to an outdoor garden venue for the celebration. Thank goodness I didn't take my shoe off there! When I got home and took my shoes off, this is what I found:
My interior lining completely deteriorated on my bare foot! These are Franco Sarto shoes, and I bet I've only worn them less than a half a dozen times. Problem is, I never wore hose with them. I had to peel that stuff off over the trash can before ditching the shoes. Notice the farmer tan line at the ankle...

Here's one from the purging files....as most of my longtime readers know, we downsized two and a half years ago from a nearly 5,000 sq ft home/landscape garden to just under 2,200 in an urban condo. We got rid of ALL of our yard tools but one little tote I kept (and leaf blower that won't even touch that pin oak!). Well, we just moved into a 2,900 sq ft home with small landscape. Easy enough to manage....if one had the right tools. The best part? We gave our lawn mower to the guy who we are now paying to cut our grass. We did manage to negotiate rakes, hoses, and a few other things from the sellers we had previously purged, including those yard waste bags I mentioned earlier.

I'll leave you with views taken a couple blocks from our urban dwelling...
...and from just one block from our newest home...
...just crossing the river once again.

This is what I feel like after this past month of moving:
Thanks for your visit. Please send someone who'll clean for me. 

Rita C. at Panoply

22 comments:

  1. I feel like I got a special treat in this musing. A peek into your new home! I am both sorry and glad about the pin oak and lord do I wish power lines were buried everywhere! The only thing good about ours is they come from the back, not the front.

    I cracked up when you showed me your shoes & foot. You're so cute! I went to a black tie wedding years ago and there was more then one person dressed in black JEANS to a tuxedo wedding and you being so sweet worried about your the shoe lining...LOL

    I cannot wait to see more pics!

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  2. Rita, I have the same problem with picking up gravel and dirt in my shoes…what’s up with that?! Thanks for the laughs today. Can’t wait to see your landscape and new home!

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  3. So sorry about the Pin Oak. I would worry about it falling too. Power lines would be better off buried. What a story about your foot and shoes. LOL Your views are amazing from your condo. It must be bittersweet to leave them/ Now, you have a new home tom decorate and garden, which I know you have missed dearly. Happy transitions and Happy Halloween.

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  4. I know it has been an exhausting process! I'm sure your super organizational skills were a big help and I love the garbage bag idea for your clothes, brilliant! I can't wait to see what you are going to do with the corner where the tree was!
    Jenna

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  5. Did you notice that with the toilet paper that the top tag was for 6 rolls and the bottom was for 12 rolls? The only wrong thing was the price per square feet. I would go for the $13.99 pack, because it really is the better deal. Poo poo on the price per square foot!

    I hope your moving goes well, and you get to garden your little heart out again!

    Best wishes!

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  6. Rita,Love the musings! The last pic cracked me up! �� I felt like that last week. Hopefully, inflation won't get so high that Charmin will really cost that much per square! Gotta love the new math! The views are gorgeous from both the condo and your new home. Your sweet granddaughter will enjoy the swing while you enjoy the porch. We know you must be exhausted from the move but hopefully the worst is over. Enjoy your day sweet friend. Clara ❤️

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  7. We've been trying to get tree people out to take care of our big unruly trees here since before Covid. Workers have dried up and it's like pulling teeth to get anything done. I know you're probably running on adrenaline during this move. Can't wait to see more! Gorgeous views all around. Have fun, friend!!

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  8. Bittersweet on the Pin Oak. Wish it did not have to come down but it was a big issue waiting to happen so you did the right thing. OMG you go girl with this move. xoxo Kris

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  9. You’re so funny with your pic at the end! I get stuff in my shoes, too, Rita. Just the other day, I had to clean my feet and shoes over the trash. I like your tips on the garbage bags and clothes on hangers. Your new view is much prettier in my opinion. Did the condo sell? 🙏🏻

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  10. I look forward to your musings, life in a day of reality! So sorry about the Pin Oak, it's always sad to have to take a living tree out but safety first. I appreciate your honesty about your shoe drama, truly that had to be miserable. Thanks for the tip for moving clothing, one that will come in handy for travel as well. Pretty views from your neighborhood, I know you must be having mixed emotions. I think you will love having a garden to putter in again. Look forward to seeing what you do in the empty corner. Get some rest, you must be exhausted...........

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  11. Rita, I laughed out loud at your foot and shoe!
    I enjoyed your musings. Great idea about moving your hanging clothes.
    It is amazing to watch trees being cut. Sounds like you made the right decision about taking the tree down. I have some I am hoping to have done this month.
    Thinking of you as you finish your move. It is very tiring.I'm still trying to purge. The only thing I've gotten done is make piles that are driving me crazy.

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  12. Oh my goodness Rita - those poor feet, never mind the shoes! But a good chuckle nonetheless. Glad to hear that you are moved in as moving is always such a stressor. Also glad you are able to keep your humor with you. Love your musings and looking forward to what you decide to do in place of the pin oak!

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  13. Always sad to have to take down a tree. We had to remove 3 after our epic freeze last winter. Trying to decide what I want to plant to replace. Glad you are in the new house. The shoe issue reminds me of a new pair of Tom's "leather" lined loafer type shoe that I bought. Lining complete peeled off. I should have sent them back.

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  14. Lots of trees had to come down here in Oregon early this year due to horrible and unusual ice storms. Left many without power for several days too. Sad losses in nature.

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  15. We have the same issue in the mountains with above ground power lines. We've had to take out a couple of trees to protect our lines, but we live in a forest so we don't have a big hole where they were. Fall color is coming in, and it is looking pretty around here now.

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  16. That is WAY too weird about your shoe disintegrating but as to the gravel, dirt and stones, it's my summer nemesis -- and I'm never quite sure how it gets inside the ones that tie! Our power company did a big number on trees after our 2013 ice storm. Some, they just made big, ugly "V" shapes to accommodate the power lines. The tall pines in my back yard they cut. Normally, I hate to see a tree come down that isn't dying but in this case, it gave me a bit more light back there. Your clothes-moving tip is a good one. There's lots of good and fun here, too. But you must both be exhausted!

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  17. Great post, Rita. I totally enjoyed your musings! What a gorgeous view near your new home. Wishing you much happiness in your new abode!

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  18. Rita,
    I so enjoyed your post this morning!!!! Your words totally resonated with me and of course you know why. It's so ironic we have followed similiar life paths in the past few years. I feel your pain and angst in your words. Today as I write this message to you, I can finally see the "light at the end of the tunnel." My thoughts and prayers are with you as you move forward in your new chapter. I wait with with such anticipation for the unveiling of your beautiful new home, landscape and that gorgeous view. Best of luck! Kathleen

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  19. Moving is not for sissies!!! The least your lawn guy could do is give you a discount! Congrats on your new chapter, Rita. xx

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  20. Hi Rita, You are an amazing soul. The thought of a move turns me inside out. We are in an old neighborhood as well, fully equipped with over head power lines. YUCK!! So I know how you feel. Trees can be so dangerous as they become fully matured. Our neighbor has a huge sycamore tree that is leaning over our tile roof. I always hold my breath during a storm. Wishing you luck as you finish your move. I will be anxious for photos - I know they will be great!

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  21. I don't mean to laugh, but this was the best chuckle I will probably have all day! Congrats on your next chapter, and I give you a LOT of credit my dear friend.

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  22. Rita, I got a chuckle out of the expression and face on your tree! Poor tree… it knew what was coming. I can only imagine how much it cost to take down. We’re still looking at our sad lightning struck-tree by the water and praying for a miracle. It will totally change our landscape and we’ll lose the only shade we have. Hope you’re recovering and resting some from your move and glad you could negotiate some of your gardening tools back. ♥

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