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.