On the Banks of Nettle Creek: Signs of change and spring

A post from Becky

It's Pete's turn to post but he's been immersed in a morass of taxes, doctor appointments, retirement issues and difficult projects at work to finish up so I'll jump in with a few photos of life at Rancho Del Mar.

Slowly, slowly we are boxing up our lives. There's a little echo in the rooms now that the walls are bare and the soft goods removed. I'm finding the job emotionally exhausting - I can pack about 6 boxes and then I have to rest. I suppose it's all the decision-making that wears a body out. Pete once read a study that said some high percentage of our lives needs to be routine or we begin to experience high levels of stress. I don't feel stress but life is definitely more tiring when the routine is gone.

We'll have the house packed in plenty of time before the move which has been our goal. We don't have the energy to leave this mountain of work until the last minute! At the same time it's so good for the soul to spend time with precious friends and keep our eyes and ears open for the beauty around us. The orange trees and jasmine are blooming, making the backyard smell so sweet it could make you drunk. The apple tree is blooming and the buds are an intense pink that one would think is fake if you didn't see it with your own eyes.