My writing mojo has been blunted of late. I think that my meltdown in September and our change of plans was affecting me in ways I didn’t even understand. Sleep was needed and a reset of my brain, and expectations of life.
October was wonderful!
We stayed in Cloverdale Indiana for the month and experienced another beautiful Indiana fall, no regrets. Nixing our plans to go east and reconnect with friends and family, brought an immense amount of peace and allowed us to rest. We explored more of the area and are fairly convinced that it will be the place we retire to, when we’re done with our travels. It’s an underrated state in my opinion, conservative without being loud. For balance there’s always Bloomington. Though winters are still rough, the spring and summer seasons are a bit longer than northern midwest seasons.
And about those taxes…
Indiana is far more favorable to retirees, it’s a no-brainer to choose it as a future home. Property taxes are almost non existent compared to Illinois. Greencastle in particular charmed us. De Pauw university is there, the downtown area is quaint if small, there is also natural beauty. And it’s artistic! Painted silos grace the entrance to the city.
Our current plan is to find a couple of acres and build a home. Bruce is attracted to the prefab ones with architectural interest. I simply want a home, a permanent address and a place to return to every year. Next spring is our target to start this project.
Carolyn came to visit for a couple of days and we tried going to Nashville, but the crowds were exhausting. Benji was overstimulated, too many “He’s so cute” people. We detoured to Spencer IN and my favorite quilt store, where I’m known by name and dog. I made my goodbyes to Lisa (the owner) and told her I’d be back next year. We’re planning to stay there for a few weeks in the spring.
Speaking of plans…I had a call from a friend in the DC area yesterday, checking to see where we were, and if we were okay. He suggested making a website, with a map, so people could see where we’re going to be. I would love to do that, but since we’ve been changing plans so often, I’m afraid of jinxing the ones we do have. I recently changed them for Tennessee. We’re currently outside of Nashville in Goodlettesville, and only planned to be here a week. But with the demands of Bruce’s work, I juggled things so we’ll be here 13 days. Lord willing and the crik don’t rise (you can say that in TN), we’ll travel 2 days starting the 14th, to Tybee Island GA for a week of vacation. After that it’s Gainsville FL for 2 months. Bruce’s advice to all, is to scout the places where the weather will be in the 70’s cuz,
That’s where he’ll be!
Tennessee is a beautiful state, the hills and trees are fabulous and the weather is warming up this week. In TN reclaimed style, I scored a sewing table on marketplace yesterday! It was delivered this afternoon.
I’ve been looking for a new table for about a year. The one I brought with me wobbles, the leg shifts off the floor so I constantly have to adjust it for stability. We recently updated my ironing station (the old one broke) and I updated my plastic storage drawers, to a cubby system. I’m cramped for cutting space and hoping the new table helps. Not only does it have a cast iron antique sewing table base (doesn’t wobble), it has a top that adjusts to standing desk height. If it matches the ironing station it will give me greater cutting space.
The joys of sewing small!
Speaking of sewing, October gave me opportunity to wrap up some fall items and another cat quilt that I think I’ll keep for myself.
I made a quilt wall in my room from the backing of an inexpensive tablecloth. It’s smaller than needed but helps with organizing squares. This one is currently at the long arm quilter in Terre Haute, they’ll ship it to me when it’s done. I also left them a Christmas quilt that sent me into a piecing stupor. It had a square that used 84 small/tiny pieces, and I had to make it 13 times…
Can you say cross your eyes crazy?
It started out as a scrap quilt. The floral fabric was left over from a previous Christmas quilt. However – I needed more of the polka dot fabric, and a yard of red and a yard of green, then 5 yards of backing fabric… It’s now a stash/cash quilt. It’s going to be a gift.
I never want to see those squares again!
Bruce is diligently managing his last software project EVER! He was captured into this one, and even though it’s been calmer than past ones, he still wrestles with the anxiety of managing it. November 7th is when it’s suppose to go-live (IYKYK) and he’s praying that he can go back to IT maintenance after that, life was simpler then.
That brings us up to date. It felt wonderful to move the house to a new location. We’re praying that we can recover some of the joy in wandering that we had our first year. Tybee Island should be a fun escape. It’s near 2 of our favorite cities, Charleston SC and Savannah GA. We’re hoping to do the tourist thing here in Nashville on the 8th. Hop on/hop off trolleys are awesome. There’s the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Ryman Theater and some open air music places on Broadway that may, or may not call our names.
Finding joy in travel is our theme for the year – praying it happens in real time too!
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