Daily Archives: August 5, 2014

Colorado, Friends, The Move

Progress

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Lughnasa                                                                Lughnasa Moon

I’ve made substantial progress on the garden study. Two bookshelves empty, the other sorted and now awaiting only a new round of boxes from G-will Liquors. One file cabinet liquor boxesis empty, too, as are most of the other pieces of furniture in the room. What remains are two full drawers of a four drawer horizontal file cabinet and part of the third, though the files in that drawer will go in the trash, so no decisions to be made.

It’s the decisions that slow me down. And the memories. And sometimes the memories make the decisions hard. Sometimes not. I found a young picture of Jon from a camping trip he and I took about ten years ago. Bridget, Emma’s sister, and given to Jon as a companion when he lived alone, stood there healthy and alert, a beauty. The pictures all stayed, of course. In other cases I found old copies of colonoscopy prep instructions. Out. Ah, the memories those invoked.

Tomorrow I have to review my Latin for a Friday session with Greg. On Thursday I have lunch with Margaret and Justin from the Sierra Club. On Friday, breakfast with Mark before my time with Greg.

This means I probably won’t finish the study until the weekend. Later than I wanted, but not by much. After that, a rest and then I’ll tackle the main event. Editing my life’s ambitions down to a size befitting the time and energy that remains. Believe it or not, I look forward to it.

Colorado, Faith and Spirituality, Garden, Our Land and Home, The Move

Shorter, More Intense

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Lughnasa                                                          Lughnasa Moon

Did some climatological research yesterday about the Idaho Springs area. This is life a 7,500 feet +. It’s cooler when Minnesota is hotter and warmer when Minnesota is colder. So far, perfect. Still winter, but not so brutal. The gardening zone, based on winter low temps is 5a. That’s roughly what Andover is said to be these days though I find it more like 4b. Still, let’s call it equivalent.

The big differences are in rainfall, about half of Andover’s in Idaho Springs, and growing season. The first frost in Idaho Springs is between September 1st and September 10 over against October 5-10 for Andover. The last frost was the big surprise to me-between June 21 and June 31. An early last frost would come on the Summer Solstice!

So. This will be a far different gardening environment from Andover, one requiring either starting of plants  or protecting plants planted outside or both. One factor I haven’t researched because I’m not sure how to is the strength of the sun. Elevation both thins the air and puts the garden closer physically to the sun. This results in a higher UV index overall and I imagine (and stepson Jon says it’s so) this will result in accelerated plant growth. If I can prevent the sun from burning the plants.

This will all require a lot of new learning, but it will be that learning that will eventually marry me to a new spot on the planet. I’m looking forward to it.

General

This Old Body

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Lughnasa                                                              Lughnasa Moon

This Old Body. Wouldn’t that be the perfect name for a boomer aging show on PBS? Bob Villa could come on with Deepak Chopra and help us develop renovation plans. Hips aching? Consider hip replacement surgery with titanium and ceramic parts. Be sure to sure to use quicksetting glue. How about that hand that just doesn’t grip like it used to? Do we have a surgery for you. In and out in under a day, cast on for a couple of months and you’ll feel better than you’ve felt for years.

(this is the show’s tag line from old friend Ralph Emerson)

Prospect of imminent death depressing? Let’s talk reincarnation. Or just plain old acceptance. Chakras and auras out of whack? We have a tune-up special we’ll talk about later in the program.

Come back next week when we talk knees, elbows and those sudden lapses in memory on This Old Body. Cue the end.