Catching up Farm Chores

I have spent almost six months taking care of my Step-Mom's final wishes per her written will.  We are a week away from the six month probate period mandated by the State of Alabama.  The house and farm have been sold; the personal belongings discarded, distributed or sold.  Some of the farm implements were traded in return for hauling off trash.  In all there was over six tons of trash removed from their home and tractor sheds.  The sheer volume of trash is indescribable.  The one contractual condition to selling the property was that all trash, inside and out, had to be removed.  It was a nightmare but it is done.  The closing was yesterday.

Now I'm left to try to get my small farm in order.  My Parents' farm was so filthy with rat droppings that I threw away two pairs of my work shoes.  I have my work boots left to wear out and about the farm.  I ran out early this morning to pick the garden clean, feed the chickens and gather their eggs.  We are still getting cherry tomatoes, cukes and squash, which we enjoy with our meals.  Then I  ran up to the feed & seed store for layer pellets, scratch, pine stall shavings and fall seed to plant now for pumpkins and turnips.  My garden, in spite of my absence, has done very well even though we had triple digit temperatures and a severe lack of rain. This morning we had home-grown scrambled eggs, fresh cherry tomatoes, fresh figs and blackberry compote for breakfast.  My long-time goal of raising what we eat is a reality.

I need to plant my fall garden sometime this weekend and begin to clean my own home and get rid of things no longer needed or used.  Both my husband and I have a recurring nightmare that we become like my parents and become pack-rats.  We are both culling through our possessions and getting rid of anything extraneous.

Today we also begin the process of moving  my Mother-in-Law into a nursing home.  She doesn't want to go but we are concerned about her living by herself.  Her companion care has been less that satisfactory lately and her safety and health are big concerns.  Then we begin the process of selling her home.

When I was a little girl, I thought adults had it made.  I had no idea what life as an adult comprised.  The responsibility for end of life issues is mind-numbing and never ending.  Some of my siblings live too far away to help, one refused to help and my sister has been a blessing through this last few weeks.  I couldn't have managed all I have done without her, her husband, and my husband's support.

Happy Birthday to my Oldest Daughter

My hubby and I raised two beautiful, intelligent, kind and independent daughters.  My oldest daughter celebrates her 30th birthday on July 16th in Japan.  She has lived in Japan for a little over one year now and writes about it on her blog: http://barajasjapan.blogspot.com.  She gives insightful commentary about life in Japan and how it differs from the U.S. both the good and the bad.  This is the first year I haven't sent her a gift of something on her birthday - money or a present or a card.  I have been so involved in estate business and work and trying to maintain my "farm" that I haven't stepped into a store in ages or shopped online or done anything much for myself.  I want her to know that I love her and I am so proud of her and can't wait to see her again!  Much Love to you my Dear Daughter and Happy Birthday!  I'll make up for it later - promise!

Taking care of Estate business

My sister and I with much support from our husbands have been spending almost every weekend cleaning up the parents' home and property for the estate yard sale.  Their home sold As-Is due to some very bad building decisions regarding the add-on sunroom's roof slope.  That area of the house leaks severely and the parents were too sick to care much and my brother who lived with them and was their primarily caretaker really didn't have the time or knowledge to fix it.  So now the area has mold and would not pass any FHA or traditional loan inspection.  Thank goodness that we were given a blessing from a buyer who purchased the property as it was for cash.  There is only one condition to the sale: all trash is to be removed.  And that is the nightmare my sister and I are currently trying to deal with.  The parents were married 50 years and never, ever threw anything away.  My brother lived with them for about 12 years and also never, ever threw anything away.  It is a mess trying to clean and sort and decide what is trash and what may have resale value.  My brother-in-law found a very large rattlesnake skin in the tractor shed.  Needless to say where I am not going any longer.  We were given another blessing from a family business associate who took all the canning jars, including the ones filled in 1998 and are still full.  In return my sister and I have one less thing to empty and clean.  I will be creating and posting an e-book on what I have learned about the probate process in Alabama.  I hope to upload it to either Amazon or i-Tunes.  I found the resources available to deal with this process lacking.  No one should have to pay a lawyer to know this information.