The Dust is Settling

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For a whole month I had family with me – daughter Lise for three weeks, and John $ for one. They overlapped, so it wasn’t a full 30 days. It felt like several months of talking, laughing, and going places. Kacey was in dog heaven, lapping up the attention of two dog lovers. They helped me by taking her outside, and she took turns sleeping on their beds at night. I could adjust quickly, knowing when they were leaving, but she grieved for several days.

Thankfully, the weather was a bit cold while they were here, so I couldn’t hear the garden calling. I have now cleaned old leaves from the the back porch area. Checking the pools for the waterfall will be next. Many things will need attention until November chills us.

The house is in good shape. Both Lise and $ washed their sheets and towels before leaving. I know this is the second time I’ve written that, but I am impressed. It has absolutely nothing to do with childhood training and everything to do with consideration of their mother. I wouldn’t have minded changing the linens, being thrilled that they were here. I used the time to order a new shower head to replace the one that exploded. $ picked out one, got Lise’s approval, and I ordered it. It needs to be installed before the next visitors come a few weeks from now. He reminded me that special tape should be used. He found it in the garage and put it in the bathroom.

There isn’t time to be lonely. Neighbors (Joyce) walk with me and come over to sit on the porch (Holly). The others always wave as they go about their busy lives. We chat when we are outside at the same time, and we keep up with text messages. It’s marvelous to live among the world’s best neighbors.

I saw a Mallard duck walking on my driveway when I had Kacey outside. I ran through the house onto the front porch and took photos of the pair in Joyce’s yard. They strolled in Holly’s yard and walked to the pond behind Shawn and Bob’s house. The photos show Holly’s yard. Even wildlife draws us together!

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Published by Anne Mehrling

I'm a retiree who loves to write about life in the mountains of North Carolina.

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22 thoughts on “The Dust is Settling”

  1. It’s so nice that they come to visit from time to time since they live so far away. Ad you are lucky to have such wonderful neighbours. I’m sure Kacey misses them. So sweet.

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  4. Beautiful Mallard duck Joyce’s yard. Nice you shoot that. I like. You are so lucky they come to visit from time to time but they live so far away. Very helpful your’s neighbour. Tack care Anne ☺️

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    1. Lise can work from home, so she has been coming three times a year. John doesn’t get much time off. Kate is the closest and comes once or twice a year. It’s always wonderful to be with my children.

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  6. Again, it’s so wonderful that you have great neighbors and fantastic family so you never get lonely. Chores, blogs, and walks keep you busy too! Church is also still an important part and is another sort of family you can depend on. You are so blessed!

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  8. You have a busy life with family and friends and now with gardening. I hope the Mallards make a nest nearby and you have some ducklings to wow us with and we can all ooh and aah over, bus I suspect Kacey might have something to say about that.

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    1. The ducks wouldn’t like Kacey. I must ask Shawn if ducks have nested on their property before. Bob made the pond years ago by piping water from the stream. An overflow returns the water to the stream.

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      1. We had a Mallard a few years ago that nested in a planter’s box at Dingell Park. It was a raised planter’s box too, maybe five feet off the ground. I was amazed they would nest in such a public area, but look at that goose at Heritage Park, that has been there for the third year in a row (that I’ve seen her), right in the pile of boulders near the bridge.

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          1. That could be Anne – this mother duck was fearless. People brought it treats from the restaurant next door, then the ducklings hatched and she was gone, without a trace. I often wondered how the babies got down to ground level. Mom could have flown down, but not the ducklings.

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      1. Like you! I make myself do a few flower beds because we enjoy the outcome, but I’m not a fan of digging in the dirt😅. Next summer, I plan to plant vegetables – again, the reaping will be fun, likely not the sowing!🌱

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  10. I continue to be grateful that you have not only visits from your family but also attentive neighbors. Together they will keep loneliness from your door.

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