by Valynne | Nov 16, 2009 | Friends of Caretaking Couple |
Laura and I at the Silver Lounge
Laura lives in Connecticut, (one of) my old stomping grounds. We met several years ago while working for a mental health facility. I remember her first day there and thinking then that we would surely be friends. Maybe it was her Longaberger Basket purse. I love Longaberger Baskets! She sold them at the time. They are pretty pricey, but these baskets are so sturdy and durable! They made it through many a farmers’ market…but enough about baskets.
The two of us are living a couple of hours (give or take) away from each other now, and Laura drove out to visit me on Saturday. We did a couple of fun things around the area (lunch is always fun!) but mostly stayed home with the dogs. The time went by way too fast. I still struggle with time – seems like I am still making time for time, even in my deliberate quest to simplify. I had a Mountain Girl Organics (my business) meeting that I really could not reschedule, and some family drove over to visit with the dogs (Ty is doing better but still needs lots of encouragement). Laura has two kids at home and more jobs than one person should be allowed, so her schedule is very tight…tricky.
Regardless of all that, it is always good to see her. One day soon, we will visit with few outside distractions and an actual budget. Maybe a spa weekend, or a retreat of some sort. Maybe we could go on a cruise; a creative type cruise! You know, where you listen to motivational speakers or something along those lines that feels relaxing and inspiring (in between ports, of course). Laura is a Spanish teacher; perhaps we could go on a Western Mediterranean cruise! I could polish up (ie relearn) my Spanish while we are there. Here I go again with the distractions. Maybe we could simply turn off the computers and phones and just hang out next time. What do you think, Laura? What do you think, everyone else?
PS Thanks, Frank for suggesting the Silver Lounge in Falmouth – we really enjoyed it! Plus there is a really sweet country store attached…always looking for new homes for my natural bath and body products line : )
by Valynne | Nov 13, 2009 | Caretaking / House and Pet Sitting, Friends of Caretaking Couple |
Linda teaches Judy and Valynne the Art of Texas Hold 'Em
I have heard it asked from a few of you…what exactly is it that you do with your time now, Valynne? Allow me to enlighten. A caretaker typically does whatever it is that the absentee property owner(s) would be doing had they not left the premises. Each job is going to be a little bit, if not a lot, different than the last.
Currently, we maintain a large home and property and care for two dogs. Since Paul has been in Colorado tying up loose ends with the house sale, my focus has been nearly 100% on the dogs. They are used to constant companionship, and one is not feeling so well lately, so my number one goal is to get him to his appointments and be sure I am doing everything I can in keeping him comfortable and helping him to get to feeling better.
Other priorities include cleaning the house, keeping up on the yard work, forwarding any phone messages/mail, giving regular status updates on the dogs, watering the plants, starting the engines of idle cars, keeping appointments for any maintenance/repair work that needs doing; that kind of stuff.
It is very important for a house to look lived in from a security standpoint, so even an empty house that has no pets or plants to care for would benefit from having the newspapers taken in and the lights turned on each night. Also, occasionally, things come up and need attending to. For example, an inconvenient event like frozen water pipes or a broken window can quickly reach disaster status with no one to discover and tend to said event in a timely manner.
What else am I doing with my time? I am blogging : ) and studying computer stuff. I am researching other natural bath and body products companies online (info on founders, case studies, business models, new products, etc) . I am gearing up for an important meeting regarding the future of Mountain Girl Organics (thank you for your questions and encouragement while we figure out what the next step looks like and how to take it). I am discovering more and more what it means (for me) to simplify and enjoy.
The “enjoy” category currently includes learning how to really play Texas Hold ‘Em! I’ve played a few times before and have always had so much fun, but my plans for a weekly poker night never made the calendar in Colorado. I blamed this on a fledgling business, various part-time jobs, a house on the market, Paul’s new role at his job (not to mention his lack of enthusiasm when it comes to card games), and so on and so forth. Now, here I am, making new friends while pursuing a new hobby.
But enough about me. Let’s talk about you; specifically things that interest you. What hobby would you pursue if you found yourself with more time on your hands? Would this be a brand new hobby for you or something you have enjoyed in the past and would like to rekindle? And, as always, if you have any caretaking questions/comments that you would like me to tackle/touch upon, I am all ears.
by Valynne | Nov 5, 2009 | Friends of Caretaking Couple, Paul speaks, Travel |
The Pond
Well, I hate to leave Valynne and Cape Cod, but when you need to see your drinking buddies then what can you do.
The reality is I need to come back in order to complete the closing sale of the house, which I will certainly celebrate with a few pints. It’s been a long time coming. Then I will be looking forward to getting back to Valynne and our new life.
In my experience change is always rewarding and should be embraced rather than feared. Yes, you miss the familiar things and all the friendships you have made, but real friendships cut across all boundaries so I’m sure they will endure. I’ve always wanted to live by the water and now my wish has come true, so I’m not complaining.
I’m looking to get a flight early next week and be around for a week to 10 days and here’s the punch line…….I need your help. I still have a number of things to move out of the house. If you can help the beer’s on me…if you can’t…the beer’s still on me. And the pizza. Ken, can you organize an evening at my place?
See you all soon.
PS If you have claimed or would like to claim anything on the Estate Sale list (Scroll down towards the bottom of the blog to see what is left) now is the time! Call my cell at 303-478-6058. Be sure to ask for your free bonus gift (from the garage) with purchase! That was Valynne’s idea.
by Valynne | Nov 4, 2009 | Caretaking / House and Pet Sitting, Friends of Caretaking Couple, Simple Living, Social Media Experiments, Writers and Readers |
Today, I am researching all things caretaking. There is so much more info out there now! When I was caretaking in my early twenties, it was word of mouth alone…no forums or links to articles or websites (that I knew of, anyway). Still, I managed to keep myself busy; oftentimes I would go from sit to sit.
Now it is easier to find quality caretaking jobs/caretakers than ever. And no, I am not getting paid by anyone in the industry to say this – I am just a big fan of living simply and within one’s means (better late than never). Anyway, here is the link to the interesting NYT article…
www.nytimes.com/2009/05/15/greathomesanddestinations/15caretaker.html?_r=1
Pretty cool, eh? If you have any great pieces of information on this subject please let me know. My goal is to have this site be an interactive point of reference for anyone interested in caretaking as well as a great way to keep in touch with everyone while on our caretaking adventures…
by Valynne | Oct 18, 2009 | Caretaking / House and Pet Sitting, Friends of Caretaking Couple, Mountain Girl Organics |
It has been almost two weeks since we left Evergreen. Today is our first official “lazy day”. Paul has built a fire and is watching an old Cary Grant film while I catch up on my correspondence. It is pouring down rain – the perfect day for hunkering. The dogs are tucked in (yes, we tuck them in, Greyhounds don’t have a lot of meat on their bones, you know…nothing to do with being spoiled…). Paul ran out this morning and picked up three big Sunday Papers (The New York Times, The Cape Cod Times, and the Boston Sunday Globe) which we haven’t even opened yet. I love lazy Sunday afternoons.
A few observations:
I feel very comfortable being back on the East Coast. It is almost as though I never left. That is not to say we don’t miss our Colorado friends and local haunts. Today, our friend Gary e-mailed from Java Groove. It is beginning to sink in (now that we are sitting here relaxing) that I can’t run and meet a friend or two for a quick cuppa at the Ice House or Java Groove. No Bloodies with Maria at Bear Creek or Sesame Tofu with Em at Saigon Landing. No more manufacturing fests with Laurie. No more Bear Mountain walks, no more views of Mt. Evans from the back deck. Frank won’t be coming over any minute for movie night. No more bartending on Fridays – no more listening to John and Lisa on a Thursday evening. No more happy hour with friends at Rio Del Sol…or Rocky Mountain Markets and Music Fests. Still, I am comfortable here. It just feels right. Paul and I are already enjoying this next chapter in the story of our lives. Corny, but true.
Tomorrow, Paul will get to work at his new “desk” (see pics below). I will set up opposite him. Mountain Girl Organics continues to grow, even while I am away. Things are evolving in mysterious and exciting ways. MGO is ready for bigger and better things, but still I find it all a little discombobulating. My ingredients and products are all in Colorado, and I am here. All of the Holiday shows are coming up…and I am here. Believe it or not, there is still much work to be done, even from 2,000 miles away. I just don’t know how to not to constantly think about this business I have lived and breathed these past three years! So, during this transition phase, I have been researching. Jotting down ideas. Brainstorming with people, catching up with others. And breathing. Really breathing. Being at sea level again seems to agree with me.
Paul will be coming back to Colorado to sign the official closing paperwork any day now. We sold a lot of stuff before leaving, however there is still a lot to be sold. You can see a list of what is left by scrolling down a few blogs. I am suffering just a little from separation anxiety over my books and photos. I keep thinking I could reference this or that so easily if I only had this or that soapmaking or herbal book. And while I TRY to embrace this online photo phenomenon, I really do…it just is NOT the same as looking through an old album. Or putting a new one together. Oh, and even though I rarely read old cards and letters, I do find great comfort in knowing the boxes that hold them are just a room or two away. The beauty is this issue will resolve itself in a matter of weeks, if not days…just feeling a bit sentimental, is all : )
Speaking of sentimental, I know people are reading this blog (thanks to analytics) which is pretty cool since I am not advertising it at all (I want this to be about our personal journey without intruding on the homeowner’s privacy). So, if you happen to be reading this and have anything you would like to share, please do! I am still getting the hang of this blogging thing, so if you aren’t feeling it, no pressure. I understand all too well. However, if you are cyber savvy and want to post a comment, we would love to hear from you! In the meantime, thank you for spending time with me on this lazy Sunday afternoon…
V
by Valynne | Oct 13, 2009 | Caretaking / House and Pet Sitting, Friends of Caretaking Couple, Travel |
For some reason, these pictures just POOF disappeared. I am putting off uploading them again as it is a lengthy process. So, unless someone actually notices that they are gone and decides to call me on it, I am going to pretend not to notice…
