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September 09, 2006
"Yet hope remains while the company is true."
Wow! Who knew ... yesterday's post was the 1000th entry on Donner's blog. Groovy!
Ahhh, I'm freshly showered after returning from Austin this morning. While listening to 3 hours of our favorite weekend gardening radio shows, I decided to mulch the remaining spaces in our Austin butterfly garden. Some of the recent rain and less than 90 degree temperatures have definately given the garden a much needed break. I saw the biggest batch of Green Lacewing eggs on the Crossvine that I had ever seen in one spot. And as our local expert, John Dromgoole says, "The ladybug may be the poster child for beneficial insects in the garden but the green lacewing is perhaps the most useful." As I was winding down from the morning's efforts, my thoughts began to venture to some recently familar territory ...
When you sell a house .. or should I say a 'home' .. no one tells you that you will experience not only physical exhaustion but also an emotional drain.
Last weekend something figuratively tapped me on the shoulder and said 'Hey, aren't you forgetting me?' In the midst of 'cleaning up' our garden space in Austin, I took the opportunity to develop a couple of areas minimally just so that the space felt more complete - in the hopes that the house would look better and thus sell faster.
Well, it definately looks more finished ... but with it, a dam's worth of emotion broke through. I felt incredibly mournful because it wasn't going to be OUR space anymore. This is how WE envisioned the space with gravel pathways and more gardens beds.
"Would the new owners appreciate the space as much as we do? Could they see the hours of sweat, sore muscle, and compassion that went into it? Would they appreciate and honor the effort by continuing on? Would they associate milestones in their life with the space just as we have over the 7 years? Or would they just put a dollar value on it all like the rest of the square footage?"
Ouch! Who said that could tap me on the shoulder and where did it come from?
Fortunately, Donna understand completely and helped me last weekend see how an equally wonderful space could be created at our new home. She's good about that! :)
... just as I was reflecting on it all again this morning ... I saw my first green-throated hummingbird enjoying our Firebush. Wow! It think this is the same one that Donna has been seeing over the last few months hitting our garden on his daily route.
To further reinforce the positive feelings, Mother Nature left the red iris gift (shown above) in the front yard of our new home. Hope springs eternal, eh?
PS - 100 points to the person who knows where the quote in today's heading comes from!
Posted by Brian at September 9, 2006 12:29 PM
Comments
Is it Tolkien?
Posted by: Elizabeth Ross at September 9, 2006 03:12 PM
I didn't realize you were going to keep up the blog while Donna was gone, Brian. You've had wonderful posts.
I understand the emotional side of a home. Unfortunately, that is one of the reasons we are staying in our cramped home--we need more space with our growing family but I'm not ready to handle the emotional side of leaving. We are such homebodies and are soooo attached.
Posted by: Beth at September 9, 2006 03:27 PM
ahh...isn't that Galadriel (sp?) from the Lord of the Rings, Fellowship of the Ring? (the camera pans to Samwise during this line)....
Posted by: Coleen at September 9, 2006 03:35 PM
Close Ms Elizabeth! Alas, though, Ms Colleen rings the bell - DING DING DING! It's nice to see that we have such fine and admirable LOTR fans among us. :D
Yes, Ms Beth, I'm not sure why but I am finding myself a bit more chattier. Glad to hear that ya'll don't mind so much.
Posted by: Brian at September 9, 2006 04:36 PM
I understand you Brian, I have had to leave my home and country twice in the past 4 years..
Learning now that wherever I hang my hat is home and I can love it and make it pretty too..
Hey Brian, a wicked thought, can you make beads? I miss the eye candy! The conversation is great, all we need is the eye candy...ehehe..Wicked thought borne out of withdrawls for eye candy!
You are doing a great job of keeping us entertained while Donna is away, thanks!
Posted by: Adriana at September 9, 2006 09:30 PM