Hello Spring!

Well, it's been a long rough winter, 

and Spring has finally sprung!
The buds on my beautiful giant Norwegian Maple 

are a welcome sight!

Joe Walsh, my housemate and best friend 
has started on his trip back home 

from the California desert

today and should arrive home tomorrow.
I'm baking a rack of ribs and a loaf of sourdough

to welcome him home.
It will be good to have company again!

We are chatting about a solo trip to the Camino.
We'll see how that pans out.
He's worried about the war.
I reminded him we traveled there 

during the Iraq war.

The news on Joe Barry, 

my childrens' father, is sad. 

He still has not passed, 

but today I was told he is talking to people

who are not there, in the room.

I believe our ancestors and dead relatives

come back to help us cross over

and I believe this is what is happening. 
The nurse has told us he most likely has

less than two weeks left.
He sleeps much of the time now.

My son, Rob, and his girlfriend,

are exhausted. 
It takes a LOT 

to care for a dying person at home.

I know . . . 
I cared for my stepfather, my brother, 

and my mother.
Then I took the trip to Georgia 

to set up hospice for my ex.

Sometimes I wonder if I should change my name

to the "Death Doula!"

I hope this is the last of that job.
It's rewarding, but sad, and emotionally draining.

On another note, 

I've started my garden plants!
The tiny tomatoes are doing great,

but the bell peppers are slow to start.

I spent several hours yesterday doing cleanup outside,

and transplanting my sweet potato slips into water.
I have spinach and collards coming up

in the garden.

I tore out the last of the giant kale 

and will be planting new seed this week. 

My strawberries did fine overwintering.

My garlic and onions are doing great!

The golden raspberries are putting on leaves and buds.

The peas are up and happy!

The flowers are all blooming!

Even the rosemary is blooming.

One branch of my grafted pear tree is blooming. 
I wonder which pears these will be?
I have 5 varieties on this tree.

And about Vanlife:

I'm planning a trip to Breitenbush next week.
I need a break after the stress of this past winter.

I'm talking to Vern, a van friend,

about putting a solar panel on the roof of my van.
I'm pretty excited about that!
I don't use a lot of electricity but it will mean 

no longer having to carry a heavy folding solar suitcase.

My friend Carol is sewing a cover for my

Luggable Loo. 
I'm going to make it into a usable stool.
It's good to have multi-use objects 

in such a small space.

I bought a catalytic heater to replace my Buddy Heater.
It is safer and uses less propane. 

I also have replaced my little Butane one burner stove

with a stove that takes both butane and propane. 
I'm dropping the Coleman 2-burner stove.
It is just extra weight and I never use two burners.
Also, since the influx of homeless and druggie van people,

you can no longer leave your propane or stove set up outside

without worrying about someone stealing it.
So the small one-burner makes more sense.

Once I get all set up, I will do a video of my van.
I had a tripcheck done this past week 

and it's in great shape.
I'm looking forward to more trips this summer

to the coast,

and spending the winter in Quartzsite. 

What else?
Well, today I'm getting ready for Joe's return.
I started the morning off by breaking a glass

in the living room,

so I have to clean up that mess.
Then I'm baking a loaf of sourdough

After that, 
I need to think about where I'll plant

the three artichoke plants I picked up this week.

Life continues to be GREAT!
More later.

Love,

Annie