March 29

 2025 self - another one for you.

I had planned to do my cocoon time, stay in my pajamas, drink at any time of day, just nap and maybe read.  But somehow, I'm reasonably OK.  Yesterday I started making the new swing seat.  I goofed up a bit and had to pick some out and resew, and of course things always take longer than I think they should (but if I admitted that I would never start anything).  But I got it all done but the one seam I had to sew by hand, and I did that after breakfast this morning.  It might have gone a little faster if I hadn't had help.

A couple of days ago I started to take the swing frame apart in case I had problems and had to do some soaking in WD-40 (which I did).  At which point serious swearing happened.  When I was doing the Great Barn Cleanout I dumped a *lot* of tools (I also kept a *lot* of tools).  One thing that I rehomed was a couple of sets of socket wrenches.  I don't think I've ever used one in my life, and couldn't think of a circumstance where I might ever use one.

Guess what I needed to take the swing apart.  Fortunately, rather than the donation site, I had give two sets of wrenches to Rik.  He kindly gave me one of them back.

Would it have been easier to take the swing apart and put it back together again with some assistance?  Hell, yeah.  Was I able to do it on my own.  Also hell, yeah.  And now I have my swing back.  I had my lunch sitting on it, and even took a short nap.

I had written about getting my new chicks.  They are very cute.

When I was at the feed store recovering my socket wrenches from Rik, Christie gave me a little bantam hen (she had just gotten a half-dozen).  It's nice for my remaining hen Rock to finally have company.  Ebaida has named her Djali, after the little white goat in Hunchback of Notre Dame.

It was quite pretty outside this afternoon, so I spent some time hacking down some feral bamboo.  Last post I had mentioned finding a new blog by a woman that I have followed for years.  I had sent her a comment with condolences, because she, like me, is a March widow.  How the loss is so contrasted with all the bursting of new growth, green leaves, spring peepers, baby chicks.  She liked the term "March widow" and said that this year she was trying to enjoy spring again, rather than be affronted by it.

I'm doing better this year than I have in previous years.  Maybe the Great Barn Clean out helped me with some letting go.  I've been able, for the first time, been able to sleep in the bed instead of the couch (possibly partly because the Great Barn Clean out has really done a number on my hip and it hurts to sleep on the couch).  I'm just somehow calmer than I expected to be.  I'm still functioning far better than I have the previous four Marches.

Jeff will be in town briefly tomorrow and is coming to see me.  I would have said no to anyone else, because I don't want to act as if I'm OK.  But this is Jeff, friend of over 20 years, and the one who drove to Gainesville (with Rob) to bring me home.  Heck - he probably wouldn't care if I stay in my pajamas.

I'm even going to end this with another cute picture.   Suzie, for some reason, has always wanted a beaver for the museum.  And an orphan has now found its way to us.  I have to admit that he's quite adorable.  Life continues.