Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Moving right along

Our plans to move from the southernmost apartment in this complex to this one, the northernmost unit, are coming along. The previous tenant is moving his couches and furniture (he has three couches, one on the porch and two in the living room) and will be out by the end of August. He said he hopes it will be by the 27th, which is next Monday. But the manager said he needs to get in there and check it all out before he can give me a date. That's all right, as I've been taking the time to get things cleaned up around here.
This is a picture of our front porch, taken last winter when I was feeding the birds in earnest. As you can see, five feeders hang by hooks for the birds to enjoy a steady food source during the lean months, when it's cold and the pickings are very slim. I tried last summer to stop feeding them, but I was unable to let myself think of them not coming to visit me. The very best time to stop feeding birds is after they've had their babies and there is an abundance of food sources. So, this summer the move has forced me to finally do it. I'll miss seeing scenes like this:
The picture was taken in the summer; you can tell by the brilliant colors of the male goldfinch (the top one in front, for example). I've learned many things during these years of birdwatching. I managed to establish a place that many goldfinch congregate. They are still around, although not on my porch in such abundance. Other tenants also feed the birds, so I will still see them. The chickadees and nuthatches are attracted to the suet feeders, and I'll continue to keep those on my new front porch.

The one thing I won't miss at all are the squirrels. They wouldn't stay away, always hoping to get a handout from the stuff dropped on the porch by the birds. They couldn't get to the feeders, although they were absolutely ingenious in their attempts. The overhang of the porch made it very difficult, so they spent their time going around to find what had dropped to the floor.
Cleaning bird droppings from the past four years has not been a lot of fun, but it's a necessary part of my duties as a tenant. It's been days and I'm now almost finished with the porch. We've got another week or ten days before we can actually move, and I'm hoping to have the majority of the cleaning done. Everything else will be in boxes and moved across thirteen apartments to our new abode.

Probably the very best part of the move has been getting rid of what I've accumulated in the last four-plus years. The clothes I brought from Boulder that have not been worn, books I won't read again, and various other parts of my past that don't need to come into the future: they've all been passed along. It's amazing how much more mobile I feel. And! The next very best part: I'm getting to keep the garden I tended all summer long!
:-)

31 comments:

  1. I hate moving! However, each time that I did, I was forced to go through our things, organize and lighten our load. It is quite freeing. And then, it's fun to start again and find new places for your things. Good luck on your happy move.

    ReplyDelete
  2. i'm glad the timing has worked well to take down the feeders now while you pack up everything else. no fun, but i hope you will like your new location!

    ReplyDelete
  3. the garden was the first thing I thought of!
    glad you keep it

    I'd rather move than paint
    enjoy

    I had a great laugh at your comment about the poem :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Sending happy thoughts and warm smiles to you as you make your move.
    I'm so glad that you are keeping your garden space. :))
    Hugs,
    J.

    ReplyDelete
  5. So there's some good and some bad but mostly good. I'm sure your bird friends will find you on the other end of the building. Cleanings a bummer but maybe it was time too clean. Hope everything goes well for you.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I wasn't aware you were moving. We've been here 8 years & badly need new carpet & paint, but to get that we have to move to another unit. Neither of us can bear the thought of it plus the location of this apartment is so perfect. We're trying to hang on until the dog is gone & we have no pets. Good luck on this new adventure.

    ReplyDelete
  7. i did not know you were moving either...must have missed that...so its not a far move? what does the new view look like?

    ReplyDelete
  8. I hope the move goes smoothly. I'm sure it will because you are doing such great important prep work. I'm happy you won't be leaving the garden.

    ReplyDelete
  9. This move will be great for you and smart guy, a shifting of energy, and you'll have new birds to watch. New mysteries that will unfold. Happy packing!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I loathe and detest moving, and am so impressed at the preparation you are doing. I am unable to decide which books I will never read again so they breed in the bookshelves.
    I so hope your move goes well - and am really happy that you can keep that garden.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I'm so glad you are staying where your garden is. I know you have been happy in your current location.
    We had to stop feeding the birds because of the cat, but we do still have lots of birds in our yard. a hummingbird pipped at me this evening as I sat on the patio, then headed to some red flowers I had planed just for her.
    The renovation has been a lot like moving, packing everything up in boxes and moving furniture and all into the garage. Wow, do I have a lot of stuff. It may be time for me to shed some too.

    ReplyDelete
  12. A move is always interesting and gives us something to look forward to. A new perspective is exciting. I assume you get more space in the new location. It would take me three years to prepare for a move. It takes a long time to pull up roots.

    ReplyDelete
  13. The moving thing I do not like, although it does give me good reason to be rid of accumulation, for I do take the time to go through things that I haven't used, will not use and would like to give away or pass on. The load does feel a lot lighter as you said and its a nice feeling to pass things on. Your new Apt. looks inviting - love your deck. I really like the photo of the birds feeding and the squirrels I could do without. I used to be a major feeding fan till the chipmunks came and greedy little buggers they are - and then somehow the pigeons found us and really do not like them, so put a stop to it all. Now, I only feed the birthing birds, with feeders hidden high in the tree, just for nesties and only feed till food is plentiful, then stop totally. Nice post DJan and good luck with the move.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Good luck with your move. Hope you are better than I am about sorting through things. I always manage to throw away things that I need shortly after I've disposed of them. Enjoy your new home.

    ReplyDelete
  15. DJan, I am confused about your concern with the garden. Was your participation connected to your old place in some way?

    Of the top 10 stress inducers in life, moving is about a 5 on my list. Take care and enjoy.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Suzanne, I was concerned that if we moved to another place within the same town, I would no longer have my community garden with this complex. Since we were able to move within the complex, I don't have to lose my garden. I hope this helps... I wrote on my other blog in detail for the last two Sundays as to why we are moving.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Dear DJan, that garden is surely the golden medal of your "Olympian" move! And yes, I know that feeling that comes with decluttering. You feel light and airy and free. I'm so impressed with the dimensions of the porch. It's really big. I hope I can find something like that when I move back to Minnesota. Peace.

    ReplyDelete
  18. What a hassle moving is. Glad you get to keep your garden. And let's hope your new neighbors are nicer than the ones you are leaving behind.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Sounds like it all is working out just fine....and you get to keep the garden. Good trade offs. Glad to hear things are moving right along.

    ReplyDelete
  20. I am not sure why you needed to move but am glad all is going smoothly so far. I hate the idea of moving now because I just am to overwhelmed with the stuff my girls have left behind. They need to remove what they want or one day it will be gone!
    That's when I'll be moving and cutting back on the baggage.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I didn't realize you were moving either. Now I see that you said you've discussed in on your other blog.. which I've not been reading so off I go to see that.

    I'm wondering why squirrels are an issue to you if they're not able to get to the feeders. They clean up a lot of overflow here.. and they're darn cute. ;)

    Good luck on the move. I'm glad you're able to continue with your garden.

    ReplyDelete
  22. DJan, thanks for clearing that up for me. I had not read your other blog so I went over there to catch up.

    I cried about your sons and wondered how you could bear it, and then I cried some more (happy tears) for the whole person who emerged from the fire when you could just have easily have been consumed by it. I always sensed something special at your core. Now I know why. It explains a lot.





    ReplyDelete
  23. Moving is not my favorite activity but it is a great time to get things cleaned out and given away. I'm glad it worked out so you can keep your garden.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Good luck with the move and good for you for being the birds' winter helper. It does enrich our lives, too.

    ReplyDelete
  25. You probably save a lot of lives by providing water all the time. I know that around here we have cement water bowls that have water in them all the time, as they are emptied each day. In the winter we use a plastic bowl with a built in heater that keeps the water from freezing.

    ReplyDelete
  26. It sure sounds like everything is humming along well with your anticipated move. I am so glad you will continue to reap the goodness from your garden!

    ReplyDelete
  27. Poop or no poop, I know I'd be feeding the squirrels, too--LOL! ;)

    You sound like the purging has been really wonderful and you are ready for the move. So glad you will keep your garden and the birds will find you in no time. :)

    ReplyDelete
  28. You sound excited and positive about the move. Having this time to rid yourself of excess and prepare for the move is the best way to move. Glad for you that an apartment is becoming available just when you need it.

    ReplyDelete
  29. I think your new move will be a good one. Keeping your garden and the birds (and squirrels) will make it easier (and it seems like it will be a quieter place too).

    We feed the birds... and the squirrels, raccoons, possums, feral cats, etc. If it shows up in our yard, it gets fed.

    ReplyDelete
  30. I'm so glad you're getting to keep the garden. Be happy in your new home and I hope the move goes well!

    ReplyDelete

I really appreciate your comments! If you see a word verification box here, just ignore it. I don't use the darn thing and Blogger is trying to get us to use it, I guess. Ignore it and your comment will still appear.