Change is in the air

Lots of changes at the moment:

 

I quit my part time job at the for-profit firm last month 

after several months of realizing it was not a good fit for me,

and now I feel like there is a big weight off my shoulders.

Phew!

At the non-profit where I work part time, 

we've welcomed a new executive director
and said farewell to our interim: 

we loved our interim, but she was just that - 

came the rescue until the permanent replacement arrived,

and she was fabulous.

It's a new dynamic now, and still a very good one, 

and our interim made it an easy transition for the staff.

This will soon be my former home.
Yesterday the movers came and took away the furniture,
and tonight, after days of help
from family and friends to wrap and pack boxes,
I finished cleaning the empty house,
locked the door for the last time,
and said a prayer of thanksgiving
for the home this house was to me for more than 27 years.

Now on to the next chapter...

Birthday Boy

Oscar's birthday is today.

Ten!

We adopted him 5 years ago, 

when he was a shy and chubby 5-year-old

with a very short haircut.

He wouldn't leave Gerrit's side that first day.

Later he got bolder and would hang out with me, too.

Now that he lives with my parents, he follows them around.

Until I show up.

(Hmmm.  Note to self: Must. Get. Selfie.)

Calendar says...

The calendar says

"Spring."  But outside...

Buried

False indigo

Nearly two hours of shoveling this afternoon, 

which included lots of pauses to rest.

Wood aster and sedum

Just as I finished, the sun appeared low in the western sky.

Siberian iris and Japanese windflower

With my breath back, and my back beginning to relax, 

I looked around and thought: 

I'm overdue for some picture taking.

Azalea

Northern Sea Oats

Solomon's Seal

  

 Driveway

 More driveway

  Wind sculpture

Thank God for a clear sky!

My constant companions:

snow boots and snow shovel

It may be February, but it looks like Christmas.

Faith in Place

I wrote in March about a door opening - a part time job with a non-profit that gave me a way to begin rebuilding my life after so many years taking care of Gerrit.

We are working on fundraising to continue our good work and had this video made to help explain what we do.



Wondering where to donate some of your end of the year charitable money?  Faith in Place.

Pictures, please

We - correction - I (still getting used to I instead of we) have two wonderful people who advise me on financial stuff.  The broker and his assistant are lovely, lovely people - not just great at their jobs, but really nice human beings.

I wrote about them almost six years ago when they sent us a calendar, and again last spring when I finally met them face to face (we live far away from each other).

And now it's time for a little update.  You need to read the six-year-old post to understand this one.

Here's what was in my mailbox this week:

Don't you love these people?

Early Winter

 First snow, swirling through the dusk.

Evergreen branches turn to feathers.

Dusky light leaves an Impressionist patina.

Wind-tossed branches evade my camera's focus. 

Iconic frosted berries.