~~~
But on another, and more positive note, you have all not had to share the annoying whining from me about:
- my computer troubles (Trojans, viruses, and worms, Oh My... all gone now) and of course my ongoing non available photos depository (which hopefully will be functional to me by the end of next month) My overloaded hard drive and my attempts to remove all my photos to memory sticks... See how lucky you've been?!
- our current benign house guest (Friend who used to own our dog Balou, and is in Corfu to deal with some business issues etc.)
- our HUGE and annoying search for the perfect house and animal sitter during our trip (yes everyone SAYS they want to do it, but usually not when we need them!!) and we found the perfect person. He also knows how to fix things if they break so we are doubly blessed!!
- my upcoming departure (in ten days!) for the US (and all my clever whinging on THAT issue)
- the latest in the continuing sa-aga of "what broke next" in our little house of dreams here in Corfu (but hey, the good news is the pool is full and I swam in it yesterday tho I am still marginally blue from the cold water...)
- my new ultra short hair cut. (which I actually really like.)
~~~
We ended up with more bottles that we expected! (T's late harvest attempt is not included in these photos as it was murky and we felt that perhaps it needed a bit more "resting time")
We are pleased with the color and the clarity - and just in case it's not so nice this fall...- it WILL make beautiful vinegar for Christmas and go perfectly with our new olive oil that will be harvested this autumn. (we KNOW that always turns out!)
It makes us a little sad but we are not planting a vegetable garden this year as we will not be here for the most important stage of growing.
T leaves on the 20 May and we both get back home, in the middle of June.
Amazingly we will be flying home together. We haven't traveled either to or from the States together for years!
Slowly slowly we are getting ourselves psyched for the "great move" of my mother from New Mexico to Chicago. Doing much of this by telephone is VERY stressful. (It's also stressful for my mother who has VERY mixed feelings about leaving her hometown for the past 35 years.)
Her 3 grandson's and 2 great grandsons on the other had are really happy she will be closer and more available to visit and relate to. Her great granddaughter will even take a shot at visiting her more frequently now that she's on the same side of the country (although South Carolina and Illinois are NOT actually close, they are still closer than South Carolina and New Mexico!)
I have arranged to take the Southwest Chief (train) from Santa Fe/Lamy to Chicago with my mother.
She and I will share a room and see the country pass by the window for 27 hours! My mother always wanted to take that trip, but never got around to it. I figured we'd do it while T supervised the packers at the house.
She's picked out a lovely two bedroom apartment and when T arrives he will start with the help of his sons (and a great friend who has tools!) to turn the second bedroom into a library for all my mother's beloved books.
We'll settle her in and then on the 13 of June have a birthday party in the community's private dining room - my mother turns 85!
We're hoping that all will come together with the fewest problems ever.
I am sure we are optimists, but Oh Well!