Six Year Waitsburg Anniversary

Six years and counting. I think I’m a bit of an outlier; I am not a big Wicked fan. But a lyric keeps playing in my head, “Who can say if I’ve been changed for the better? But because I knew you, I have been changed for good.” And that is how I feel about my move here. I happily say, “I have no regrets.”

That being said, I recently drove to Tri-cities to have heels put on two pairs of shoes. When I lived in Los Angeles, this was a five-minute walk to my neighborhood shoemaker. I never paid more than $10 per pair in Los Angeles; the bill was $35 per pair in the Tri-cities. The cost of gas and repairs was probably more than the shoes were worth. At least the no-traffic drive and Costco trip were reasonable compensation.

The mice have returned to the house, even though it’s not yet that cold. They seem to be scouting out warm locations for the winter, and I’ve been relentless; my new middle name is “rodent trapper.”

My garden has the winter blues. There are dead daylily leaves, cherry tomatoes left in the planters, and sage and rosemary hanging on by a thread. This week, we finally had to buy tomatoes, though we still have parsley, thyme, and oregano from our garden and a “field” of arugula on the side patio. All in all, it was pretty impressive for a December in the PNW.

My car has snow tires, and I am ready for winter driving. So far, other than a few foggy days, my drives to Walla Walla have been easy. At some point, I may need to miss a tennis game or two to avoid black ice or icy fog.

Luckily, if I am temporarily housebound, I have my Mirror so I can work out at home with Mugsy to cheer me on. And in a pinch, I’m sure I’ll find some binge-worthy shows on our various streaming apps. My knitting is also calling me.

I did a successful trial run of Albertson’s delivery service and annual subscription app, so now, at the first sign of bad roads, I will be ready. Hopefully, grocery shopping online will lessen impulse buys. I usually shop after playing a few hours of tennis, and we know what happens when we shop hungry. Everything looks good, and it winds up in my cart. Restraint is not my MO.

My thermal underwear is unpacked, my warm fluffy socks are handy, and although not his favorite look, Mugsy’s warm coat is hanging by his leash.

Meanwhile, the holidays here in Waitsburg include parties, such as Thanksgiving dinner with friends and open holiday houses. We hosted a Christmas and Chanukah dinner; with Daniel working long hours delivering packages, I did more of the cooking. And I managed not to accidentally poison anyone or burn the house down in the process.

Living in Waitsburg continues to be an adventure. It continues to bring new challenges and achievements—last year’s challenge: a sinkhole developed in our backyard. Qualified people have looked at it, and right now, it will be sidelined, along with my seeds, gardening tools, sun dresses, and hats, until spring. We will wait to see what transpires and hope Mugsy or I don’t fall in before it is resolved. A snow-filled sinkhole rescue for either of us is not something I want to add to my Waitsburg adventures.

Happy and healthy New Year to all, and stay safe!