#then I got Swampy. Swampy lives in the big pot by my window.

[anipgarden]

Catch me out here making posts on how to collect milkweed seeds because I'm hoping at least SOMEONE out there has good luck

*collapses to the ground* my fuckin swamp milkweeds got Heat Waved and barely even flowered, let alone got pollinated.... I'll have to see if my root stock ones or Swampy even come back next year, but this year definitely isn't the Year of the Ani Swamp Milkweed Success

[julietookoff]

We’re Still Alive!

Since the last entry, almost a year ago...

We stayed in Las Vegas longer than we should've.  I knew Vegas in the summer was  a stoopid idea.  Once I left my credit card on the dashboard and it melted and wouldn't work.  We soon discovered that when temps got into the 100s, the RV A/C would shut down.  Then we would all cram onto the van bed and vegetate for hours.  This was more laziness than even I could endure.  My desk diary goes blank for a few weeks here.  I do remember toward the end of our stay they were working on the water line nearby and the water was undrinkable for the last week or two.  We were schlepping it home in gallon jugs from water dispensers at grocery stores, etc.

I made numerous geocaching escapes (see next post) and we got a few things done - a new  RV passenger window which had turned cloudy from the nitrogen.  We replaced it with single pane glass.  We got 5 new Jeep tires, with sensors, for $300 on Craig's List.  We got addicted to Smith's grocery store's $6 pizzas.  Although storage auctions were cancelled, we still had a lot of crap to sell.  We sold both our bikes.  Get while the gettin's good.  Corny had  bought a folding bike and I was ready for a new one.  Mine was just sad, being outdoors for 8 years and getting soooo many dings from traveling on back of the RV.

Luckily the KOA in Las Vegas, NM would take us during the China virus.  It was so nice to be able to walk around outside without melting, and sleep without the A/C.  We soon missed Cane’s, Del Taco and In & Out.  We made a few trips to Santa Fe for Sam’s Club and Panda.

Finally, to Florida October 25.  It was soooo gooood to see Shorty again.  I was a bit worried - had he lost weight?  Yes, he had.  Commence the pie-making.

We found some live auctions to attend and have bought a few small units.  We're waiting until we have a 2-car garage for sorting and an enclosed cargo trailer to get serious and go big.

Thanksgiving Shorty came over for crock-pot turkey breast and fixin’s.  Christmas was homemade red & green pizzas.

Starting a week after we arrived, spent months riding a roller coaster, uncomfortably scouring the area for a place to settle down.  Our search radius got bigger and bigger.  Nothing was on the market during the pandemic.  When a house (usually in Spring Hill) hit the market, there were lines at the open house and a bidding war.  20 year old houses were going for more than new construction.  We decided to find a lot (hahaha) and build.   I wanted to be surrounded by a forest; Corny wanted to be "close to stuff".  It was a lot of driving and not a fun time.

My understanding of Florida septic rules:   In July of 2018 a statewide rule went into effect.  Any property less than 1 acre had to install a $12,000 septic system that requires $300 annual service.  We narrowed our search to 1+ acre lots to be able to use a good old fashioned $2000 septic system.  We found several.  Unfortunately they were leftover, tough to build on, swampy or sinkhole ridden.  One had a ditch going through it and next to a crap house with a pack of big loud dogs.  Several sloped downhill toward a sinkhole.

Thank God, we wandered into the office of a small independent builder who had a lot available 3 miles east of Weeki Wachee.  He was in the process of building a 1600 sq. ft. "starter" house on it.   It was roofed in and the studs were up.  We took a look at it and made an appointment to sit down with the builder.   I wanted a bigger patio and Corny wanted bigger bedrooms.   I told Corny to cancel our appointment with Shiloh Builders, but he was willing to see them in person one more time.  We were planning to tell them "Thanx but no thanx" then go to Maronda Homes for their 4 bedroom "The Maple" plan.  It had crap for a patio and they were very inflexible about most things.   Surprise!  Eugene "Chick" of Shiloh Builders pulled a floor plan out of his desk drawer.  He had "pulled it for re-pricing."  Our jaws dropped!  A huge 30x8' covered patio!  He'll do French doors instead of a window or sliders!  Steel studs-yes!  Shower instead of a tub-yes!  All tile-yes!  Foamed-in attic-yes!  PECS plumbing-yes!  Oh Thank God.  All that plus hard-to-find city water and sewer!  We signed the papers March 12th. We hope to move in September 2021.

Although Corny is dieting, we're both in such better moods.  I'm looking forward to having a big closet, big kitchen cabinets, and a two-car garage to work in, a doggy door and NO STEPS.  We'll have our own bathrooms!  We'll have a table to eat at together and recliners in the living room to hang out together.  Corny will get a fiberglass pool next year, and maybe a workshop/garage for his van.  Yay!