Spring Time

This morning I walked down to the Calvary Parish Episcopal Church and the Old Town Cemetery. It was such a wonderful gloomy day! It made me want to dwell with the dead for an hour or so. Ever since I was a child and much to the chagrin of my parents, I would spend quality time with the dead. I would spend hours laying in the cemetery. Anyhow, the weather is gone cool again, but the flowers and trees are blooming. I got some great images.

The Calvary Parish grounds are amazing. The design of the churchyard and its original plantings are the work of Joseph Blount Cheshire, rector of Calvary from 1842 until 1889, who collected plants from all over the world to create an arboretum here on the church grounds.

Some of the greenery featured is Saucer Magnolia, China Fir, American Holly, Carolina Cherry Laurel, False Holly, Bald Cyprus, Sweet Bay, Willow Oak, English Yew, Yaupon Holly, Incense Cedar and Eastern Redbud. There is much more!

The Old Town Cemetery, by contrast is disappointing. I am not sure as to what happened, but most of the gravestones are missing. There are a few Confederate markers as well as some rather well worn stones.

Here are a few images. If you wish to see more click on the Tarboro Cemetery link.

I’m Here

I made it to Tarboro this Monday past. I left a day later the expected so I had very little help unloading the truck. So I moved everything all myself except at the very end when Miss Betty (aka StillMa or Destin and Emma’s mother) graciously offered to help with boxes and the beastly bedstead, which ways about the same as a Smart Car. She also provided constant pep talks. ☺

The next day I could barely move about, but I did my best. I did lose 3.6 lbs though! The house I am staying in while working in the loft is rather nice. So I have been trying to make it comfortable for a temporary stay without going overboard. Today I am still unpacking some items and searching for other items. It’s weird how things disappear when you move even though everything was clearly marked.

Last night I received an invitation from Robert Whitehead to attended a social function at the Blount-Bridgers House, a historic home directly across the street from where I am staying. Mr. Whitehead has some of his personal collection of African, Caribbean and African American art and memorabilia on display.

I met a few people and handed out my business card. It was quick little event, but I didn’t get to see much of the house. I will have to visit it some time later.

As far as Internet access goes I don’t have it at the house where I am staying, but there’s Internet access at the Main Street Café where I am currently writing this. Also I will be setting up a wireless system at the building where I will be living in soon.

You know it’s funny being new to such a small town. The people here are just so intrigued as to you who you are and where you come from. I mean just walking down the street people just stare. It’s a little unsettling, but amusing at the same time. I guess this is the closest thing to how a celebrity must feel like when out and about in daily life?

Moving Day

The day finally has arrived! I was supposed to have left yesterday, but it turned out I could not fit everything into the truck so I had to pull stuff, rearrange and decide what could be left behind for me to pick up at another time. This was an all day affair.

Now here it is almost noon and I'm still not ready. Ugh! It's time to adopt the Doris Day attitude. Ka Sera Sera, what will be, will be. The truck doesn't have to be turned in until 1:25 PM tomorrow so I have decided not to worry about it.

I am exhausted. I was up at 2:30 AM, 3:15AM, 4:40 AM and then I finally go out of bed at 5:00 AM. Now it's time for a 5 1/2 hour journey.

Well I must dash. I have a few more things to gather up and then I need to round up the cats. Oh, joy!

Last Minute Stuff

Wow, the moving day is fast approaching. I have plenty of last minute stuff to take care of and everyone seems to want to do something with me before I leave so trying to squeeze everything in is a bit daunting.

I was able to pay for two extra days for storage and this has pushed the moving day back to this Saturday. If I did not do this then I would be loading the truck myself. Now I have several friends who have offered to help. Yay!

However, I have so much to do in such little time, ahhhh!

The Tarboro Chronicles

This morning I could not get out of bed, as my back would not cooperate. I have a back issue, which I never have bothered to have fully checked out. Apparently it’s a slipped disc. Anyhow I wanted to get up and out of bed, but my body would not cooperate so I stayed in bed ‘till I couldn’t any longer.

It was pathetic I had to roll myself off the air mattress and then get on my knees. I then proceeded with some Yoga exercises. With the aid of a wall and fireplace mantle I managed to stand up. I took a nice long shower and then proceeded to shave. That was an interesting experience! I had to spread eagle, slightly bend forward, prop myself up with one arm while using the other to wet my face!

I then made breakfast and hurried on out the door. I went to a hardware store to pick up a few items and then headed to the hellhole. When I got up to my level those two pigeons where hanging out in the area I just cleaned. You can imagine my distress.

I shooed them away and managed to get them out an open window. I then proceeded to close all the windows so they could not return. I feel a little sad for having to evict them from the building. They were paired together and I believe pigeons, like love birds mate for life. I don’t think they built a true nest nor did they lay any eggs yet because it is winter. However I am keeping my ears out for any peeping sounds. If I hear them the windows are going to be opened again. My love of animals and nature runs strong. I’m extremely empathetic. Yes, this means I am a sap.

However, I know it is for the best because I just can’t live with all the shit. Literally!

Today I managed do some repair work on the ceiling in the temporary living room / kitchenette. I patched several holes in the drywall. I hope it will all be dry tomorrow because I would like to get both rooms painted.

Working on a ceiling patch.

I managed to butcher a door, but I did get it hung. What can I say? The jig saw went right when it should have gone left! I also caulked the windows and added some weather stripping though I think it’s not going to be too effective. The windows are old iron industrial windows.

I also need to replace each pane of glass because they are currently opaque, which is to say you cannot see through them. There is one window that has a few panes of glass, which are clear, but I would like them all to be the same. I also think it’s important for the cats to be able to see outside.

Having this view has been keeping me going.

My plan was to head home tomorrow, but it looks like that’s not happening. I have way too much to do so I will stay until Saturday if I must. Like I mentioned before I still need to paint.

The weather has been progressively getting colder since I’ve been here. Tonight it’s supposed to go down to 22F and tomorrows high is only going to be 35F. This should prove interesting since the paint can states you should not paint below 50F. I have to paint anyway because this all needs to be completed before I leave.

I miss Nora-Grace and Tabitha. ☹

The Tarboro Chronicles

Today was my first day working on the space. The loft, the studio, the HELLHOLE! What the bloody hell am I doing? Why am I here? WTF?

No, no. I know why I am here. I know what I have to do. It’s just not sitting right with me. Perhaps it’s all the work I must do to get this place habitable. Perhaps it’s because I am in the middle of nowhere. Perhaps it’s because it’s all unfamiliar. I think it’s all of these things. Though when I was younger I would not have thought twice about it.

The face of trepidation, anxiety & exhaustion.

Okay, let me take a sip of my bourbon and water. Ah… that’s good. When I got up this morning I had to return the U-Haul trailer. The return place was in what more or less I would describe as “The Hood”. It is a storage place and there are a few U-Haul trailers outside in the parking lot. There was no sign of an office. I had to enquire in a fuel station where a rather large, pregnant looking teenager with stringy greasy hair and acne greeted me.

“You’re not from around here”. I replied; “No mam, I’m from Georgia.” Georgia? What you doin’ here?” I finally get a word in … “Yes, Savannah, Georgia and I am relocating here.

“Why you moving here? No one moves here. Everyone leaves.” She starts to cackle, “Get out while you can!” I finally get to inquire as to where the U-Haul office is located and she points across the street. This “office” is located in the rear of a house and it had no signs. Anyhow I returned the damned thing late, but the smoking lady with the no smoking signs did not charge me extra. However I did have to drive back across the street and unhook the trailer myself.

So today I began working on the space, but I did spend about an hour freaking out about why I am here. Seeing the space now for the second time I discovered some more “issues” that are going to make it more of a challenge. I started to think about actually moving to Florida instead! Y’all know my opinion on Florida.

There are two pigeons flying about on my level. Now how do I get them out? At one time there were quite a few pigeons and so there is quite a bit of pigeon shit EVERYWHERE!

I spent a fair part of my day cleaning up pigeon shit and tomorrow I shall do the same and probably the next day too. Don’t worry I am wearing a mask. Those nasty droppings have particles that can cause blindness and I don’t want that. Who ever heard of a blind interior decorator?

Insulating the windows is going to be a bit of an issue too. Temporarily I intend on using that stick on plastic, which you shrink with a hair dryer, but I am not sure it will stick to the iron frame of the windows because there is very little frame to begin with.

My intention is to build storm windows out of wood and Plexiglas, but this is too expensive for me now. I may have to figure out away to do it anyway.

Ah, satisfaction!

I did manage to cut an entrance between the two rooms I will be living in. It was quite rewarding using a reciprocating saw. I actually lost myself in it and didn’t think about my insane life for about 30 minutes. I also was able to vacuum years of dirt, dust and cobwebs.

This will be the temporary living room/kitchenette.

It turns out I don’t have to stay in the building while I am working on it. My friends’ mother has a sister who purchased a house next to hers. It is a renovation project as they live in Florida. You see, I just can’t get away from Florida people! Anyway I am staying in this home. It is a wonderful house. It has a fabulous wrap around porch with Corinthian columns. The original house was built in 1895 and there was an addition added in 1915. It has been completely renovated with new wiring, windows and kitchen. The hardwood floors have been refinished too and there is an instant hot water shower, but most importantly there is HEAT!

Well, I’m off to bed. I believe tomorrow should prove equally interesting.