Another Crazy Day

Today will prove to be another crazy day. Last night my husband resigned from work and is now retired! I know we will both feel so much better. Money may be a little tight for a while, but we will adjust. We will also get more packing accomplished.

Today we meet with the Realtors who will be listing our place. I didn't sleep much last night worrying about this meeting. I really don't know why, I've been in the business and I know nothing to fear about it. I couldn't fall asleep long enough to rest well. This will change today. I feel confident about our Realtors. They are honest people. The surveyor will meet with also about dividing the farm in lots. There are so many beautiful building spots and we want to make the best choice for buyers.

We are keeping a couple of acres with the best building spot and the most wonderful view. The children have talked about a vacation home, which would be nice to have a little shack on top of the hill to look at the mountains each day.

Finally, I feel confident about my book. I had been discouraged lately. One year editing three chapters is a little much. My new editor is very encouraging and we have my voice back in it. Callie becomes the sweet, stubborn, determined girl she was in the beginning. I want to do more to chapter two today.

It's rainy here. A good day to get some work done with the packing and the book. I'm excited. Did I say that yesterday?

Change

This morning as I sit at my desk I hear a train in the distance. Most of my life, I have lived close to a railroad track. Growing up I have memories of watching the train twice a day. In my very early years, I can remember a coach car. People would ride to town and back and I can still remember it stopping to let people off.

As time went on our little train station started it's demise. We first lost the turn around. The engine would head into it and mules would turn it around where it would be heading out. I have a faint memory of my grandfather taking me to see that event.

I guess I have always loved trains, the noise of the rumble of the wheels on the tracks, the whistle to remind anyone on the tracks to step off and the sound in a distance of a soothing sound.

This is one sound I will miss. It has put me to sleep many a night and sometimes kept me up. When our daughter passed away, the engineer did not blow the whistle in front of the house to show respect. I doubt if I will ever forget that.

I also remember a night spent in Arizona where the track was right behind the motel. Each time the train went through, the beds shook. I felt like I was in the Lucy segment where she, Desi. Fred and Ethel were being shaken across the floor when the train came through. I don't think we slept much that night, but the air conditioner was so loud that it drowned out the noise of the train. After a while, the shaking put you to sleep.

Change is what makes up our life. Whether it is moving, or living where you are. There is always change. You can do two things with change. You can never forget what happened and live in remorse all of your life or you can accept it as an adventure and enjoy it to the fullest.

News

This should be writing news, but it isn't. It is more on the personal side.

We found a house with four acres last week. Made an offer and the sellers agreed on the price. We hope to be living in Benton, Kentucky before Thanksgiving.

We love the house. Four bedrooms, three baths, large living room, kitchen, family room and a mud room. There is a large pantry with shelves on all four sides. I found more closets than I have ever seen. We're about seven miles from our son and his family. The whole four acres are level. My husband is excited about that. No hills to worry about.

We are very pleased to be close to family. Our daughter is a two hour drive away, so we will be seeing more of them. I'm more excited about becoming a real grandmother. We can have tea parties all the time. It is exciting.

Now the problem is selling our place. We told one of our renter's this morning. I hated to tell them we were leaving. They are good renters. They cried and I cried. They are a sweet couple and I feel like they are part of our family. That will be the hardest part.

Yesterday, my husband made the announcement at church. We had told our closest friends before we left for Kentucky last week. Between Bible Study and Worship, one lady came up to me with tears in her eyes. Another young lady I had taught, couldn't talk to me without crying. I know we will miss these good people, but this is what we need to do.

I'm going to miss the mountains. I have such a beautiful view of hills and fog rising from the river. That is the highlight of my morning. I love to look at the hills and mountains.

Needless to say, I have much to do today. The realtor will be here today to list our place. My house is a mess, but that's all right. It will probably be a mess for a long time. I can't express what this move means to me. I am excited to spoil my grandchildren.

Having problems

This is weird. Since I crashed my computer about a month ago, I can't save Blogspot to my favorites. I try each time I do a blog and it just won't work. Modern technology? Probably is and then it could be me.

I'm very excited the way my book is going. We call it a WIP, Work In Progress. That poor book has been in more progress than the sailing of the Mayflower. I have written and re-written until I am blue in the face. I think it will be working out now. My editor wants me to finish it and I do too. Thanks, Sandi.

We think we have found some property we like. Our wonderful daughter-in-law looked at it yesterday and took pictures. Her pictures are a lot better than the realtor's. It has storage which is important. She said a "huge" pantry. I've never had a huge pantry.

I'm going to look at more on the internet today and tomorrow. There may be something I have overlooked.

I'm still cleaning out drawers. I many pack away some books today. I hate to start packing right now, but it will probably work out best. Plenty to do today and tomorrow. Have a wonderful day.

I've Been Slack

There are several who read this blog daily. I'm afraid my mind has been on other things lately, but I am trying to get back on track.

I've been correcting my manuscript, which is a slow process. I like the way it is going. I should have an interview with Callie and Jacob before long. They are such a sweet and funny couple. Maybe if I start one in the beginning of the book and introduce everyone to them and then one later on in about the middle of the book. Never one at the ending. I don't want to spoil anyone who will not buy the book when it is published.

We have three watermelons in our front yard this year. They are big. They come up every year and we don't plant them. Last year we had one that weighed fifty pounds. This year I think they will each be more. The rain we are having is helping them grow bigger.

I've been looking on the internet for houses in Benton, Kentucky. There are two that interests us. Both are neat. One has a garage behind the house and is on four lots in a subdivision. The other is four acres with a pond, machinery shed and workshop. The price is right on both of them. They are both in the same area and not far from my son's house.

We're waiting on our realtor to get back with us about our property. We have also been throwing away, shredding and cleaning up. I'm making a notebook for the buyer. We have kept all of our manuals with our appliances. That makes it easier for them. It's getting exciting.

I have no doubt that this is the best decision for us. Being close to both of our children is important to us.

Change

Change is always good, or so I think. We grow with changes and I sure hope I start growing.

The change in my writing is the change of editors. I have hired a new editor and I love her so much. She has finaled in the Genesis at ACFW. I have read some of her work and I am impressed. Sandi Rog is a friend and a sister in Christ. We are rooming together at conference. I think I have said that before.

Lately, I have been very discouraged with my writing. I have been very busy on the home front also. We have been blessed with a wonderful garden and I have canned and frozen food almost continually. Today we are eating out of the garden with green beans, okra and corn. Sounds like a wonderful lunch.

I've said before, I think, that we are taking a big step in our lives as well. As much as I love Tennessee and the area where I live, it is time to take a step forward. Our children live in Nashville and the Western Kentucky area and that is from four to seven hours away from us. We are not getting any younger and I am having a lot of joint problems. We are not big city people, therefore we decided not to move to Nashville. We are planning to move to Benton, KY, probably in the next year.

This is a big change for me. I have lived on this farm most of my life. I am the sixth generation to own it. That is a big step, but this is land and my memories go with me. I am anxious to be close to my grandchildren. Even Nashville is closer than where we are now, so we should see our daughter and granddaughter more often. We can always drive to Nashville and they live on the east side, which is good.

We had a realtor come out and look yesterday. They seem optimistic about the sell of our property. We have a lot to do getting ready for the sale. My parents left me a lot of junk to get rid of. Some of it will sell and some of it will not.

I am definitely writing today. I am finally excited to write and I think I have played with this book long enough. It needs to have final stamped on it.

Finding time to write

It is so hard to find time to write each day. With summer and all the extra chores, it is even worse. So I have a plan.

When I have to sit down to rest, I write. I get a little in each day. The only problem is when I sit down to write, I get sleepy. My sleep apnea test is in two weeks. I could have had it earlier, but I was in Nashville when they called. I would love for them to call today and I could get some help sooner. My son-in-law tells me I will feel so much better.

I'm waiting right now on the editor I hired to get some chapters back to me. I have tried to do what she was doing in the following chapters, but I don't think I am a success. I do not wait well. I am not a patient person.

At this rate, I will be working on the same book for ten years and I don't want that. On top of all this, we have decided to move closer to our children. The realtor comes tomorrow to look at the property. This is stressing me some.

It is hard to leave where you grew up. My family has lived on this property for over 150 years. That's a long time. I know we need to do what we feel is best. Property is not that important to me and I am willing to do it.

The exciting part is making new friends. Almost like starting over. Our son has offered us a house he and his wife have as a rental. We are trying to decide whether we want our own house or rent. It is a hard decision, but we do have time to think about it.

That's all my woes for today. I'm ready to get busy and have a wonderful day.

Maybe Finally

Yesterday I tried to write three times. Each time I hit something and my blog was gone. Trying to get it right today.

Friday night I had a rough night. I think I slept three hours. I'm looking forward to the sleep apnea test in a couple of weeks. Maybe they can help me sleep.

During this sleepless night, I started thinking about a book I have had in my head since we were in Scotland. I wondered how hard it would be to write in first person. I tried it Saturday morning and it was much better than I thought. This novel will be in first person, a real change for me.

We have guests this week. My son-in-law and his dog are here to work on the room. The dog is entertaining our dog, so that's okay. We bought flooring yesterday and it is beautiful. I would never go back to carpet. I love the hardwood. My allergies are so much better with it. Everything is coming along fine. I am anxious to get my clothes and my husband's clothes moved in.

I think I may be able to write today. I do need to clean up my house, but I have someone helping me tomorrow, so that will help me. If I can straighten up today, she won't have much to do tomorrow.

I'd better get busy. It seems like it is going to be warm here.