August I 2023 Island Trip – Day 5

We picked up compost for the perennial garden this morning, starting at the quarry just minutes from the property. No one was there. The office was unlocked with a key in the door. I knocked, opened the door and said, “Hello?”. Welcome to the Island! We marveled at the place. They dig rock right out of the cliffs on-site. We then moved on to the next supplier, where they dumped a yard of the beautiful steaming soil into the truck. After tea in town, we headed back. The guys got going on the compost, and I got up to other things:

• I took additional individual pictures of some of the more interesting items in the estate sale for both social media and local newspaper marketing.
• All (12) of the hand lettered estate sale signs are done. I had a hard time getting going on these, and have learned to pay attention when it’s difficult to get out of the gate, so to speak. While it’s time to hold this sale, and I feel emotionally ready, writing the signs, planning them (there are the ones for the roads, and then the ones that guide buyers to and through the property) was harder than all the rest somehow. Once settling on a ‘design’ it went much easier, almost soothing!
• After the truck’s load was emptied (by others!), I drove it right up to the wood shed and carefully, mindfully tossed 30 pieces of firewood in. I texted my DH asking if this was enough. He replied that I shouldn’t over do it (💕). I responded that I was trying to be mindful of his time and efforts before we head back here next week 😏. “Oh that!” He reposnded, and asked for 30 more pieces!
• As the fire wood supply is slowly transferred to our mainland property, an antique wood chipper is being re-revealed. I was able to get to its hopper today and found an oval stainless steel sink full of fishing net! The sink is identical to the one that’s in the house bathroom, and the fishing net is left over from what dad used to deer proof parts of the garden. I kinda love how the property keeps giving up its secrets (with the exception of the dead rodent on a sticky trap in dad’s darkroom sink cabinet yesterday 😜…)
• Next I went after the lower barn overhang, extracting an extension ladder that looks like it’s serviceable, made sure all the metal barn siding actually fit the barns (it does), moved some rather good looking 3” metal pipe to the south side of the building (where all unallocated cylindrical things live), placed the items remaining in purposeful places, and then raked the detritus, and now homeless and large spiders, out from the side of the building. The space looks so much better. This felt like gravy.
• Next was a 40-minute nap!
• As always, part of the pre-departure day afternoon was spent fast forwarding tomorrows tasks. It’ll be an easy exit. I love being here, and I’m ready to go home. By the time the estate sale trip is over I will have spent over 55% of my time away from our Mainland home in a two month stretch of time. I am missing purple bush beans!
• My tenants invited me down for a burger for dinner. I had a salad with some Trader Joe’s seasoned prawns to add to the meal. We felt quite gourmet! We had our usual entertaining, and serious conversations. I was awarded The Rural Plumbing Award for, so far, solving the plumbing shenanigans (only done with my AN!), and got to fly their drone, under supervision! I could easily get hooked into drone flying… They were happy with how I easily I took to it. I grinned and said, “Old pilot!”

Stella, at 11PM, is cooled off to 71º. This is a gift after such a hot week. Everything is done that I can do tonight. Buenos noches.