The End Of A Chapter titled Castle Yonder 1984-2011

     As of this morning, Castle Yonder is no longer my property. I signed over the title at what is called in real-estate jargon, a "closing." Thanks to the generosity of the new owner, I can continue to live here until the end of October; however, I have scheduled my move to Abingdon the end of September.

     I am excited about my new-to-me charming American cottage that I'll be moving into, but am so very sad about leaving Castle Yonder which Rocky put so much of himself into. He was an amazing woodworker and stone mason and did the giant fireplace that opened onto two levels on opposite sides. He built the bathroom vanities, laid the hardwood floors, and built bookcases and china cabinets. He built the log ceiling beams and the ceiling in between. He built two decks and a small and a large balcony. He used field stone to terrace planter beds so there would be no lawn to mow. He maintained and oversaw all this for close to 25 years, until 2004 when he got sick. What joy we had until then.

     Unfortunately, after he died I could not manage and was way too lonely to spend winter wonderlands here in the silence. Now Castle Yonder is no longer mine, but I have about five weeks to breathe in the air and the memories. I have loads of photos and would like to show you below a few of my favorite ones.

          

My New Journey Begins

     Today is June 1, and I opened my copy of Rich With Years, Daily Meditations on Growing Older and discovered June 1 was turned down with a dog ear. Evidently, I had been impressed with it last year and wanted to note it and had no pencil available. Here's part of what it says: "I want to keep trying, take risks, keep going, experiment with life, undertake new ventures, and find fresh challenges."


     Well, that doesn't seem to be the PROPER thing to do while mourning! But I put PROPER aside way back in the '60's. Rocky made the observation about me once that I like challenges. Oh, not sky diving or getting a medical degree, but problem-solving or organizing or producing a new group, a new venue, a new story. Some fresh interest; some fresh insight; a new friendship. I think he was right.


     But I do have a background in social work so I realize that taking care of myself now involves expressing all the emotions I currently have and not allowing new challenges to distract me. I am choosing no time table and making no big decisions. And no obligations other than feed my pets and pay my bills. I want to have plenty of time available to deal with the grief that I feel and will continue to feel for awhile. 


     Writing in the Caring Bridge journal was very therapeutic for me, but I am finished there for now. This Blog and my own personal Journal (the one on my word processor that no one else sees) become my current writing outlets. 


     However, I feel there are some loose ends to be tied up before this Blog will feel complete for me. And those loose ends involve some pictures, so let's see if I can upload them into the blog and not have to put them in a side-bar. 


     Of course, Rocky's illness and death account for much of the time away from this Blog, but during that time and especially in May after his death, Castle Yonder and I had several visitors. The first was my niece, Rosalie from Ohio, and her daughter, my Great-Niece Annette from Michigan who came to visit the last weekend of April. 

Rosalie and Annette

April 25, 2010

     On May 5, Rocky's son, Geoffrey, arrived from Georgia and stayed through May 23. Here he is with his son, our grandson, Christopher who is all dressed up due to a concert in Lynchburg, VA that Geoff and I took time out to attend.

Geoff and Christopher

May 21, 2010

Our grandaughter, Jessica, was there also sitting next to me and in my thoughtless state of mind I didn't turn and snap a pic of her!

     Of course, the Celebration Of Rocky's Life (in lieu of a funeral) brought several of our family members from Ohio, North Carolina, South Carolina, Boston and Philadelphia. I don't have a lot of pictures yet as I took very few that day. Here are my two sons, Alan and Eric, flanking my nephew-in-law, Leslie.

From left, Alan from Philadelphia;

Leslie from near Toledo; and

Eric from Boston

May 23, 2010

Me with my nephew, Marv, who is from North Carolina.

Marv had a stroke about 3 years ago which has 

very much altered his life as a successful businessman.

My son-in-law, Armas, and son, Alan. 

May 23, 2010

     I just realized that these photos that I did take are all of males! Hmmmmm!

There were a lot of female worker bees keeping the hors d'ouvres and punch flowing from the kitchen out to the carport where the tables were set up. They also prettied Castle Yonder up by supplying their own garden flowers for flower arrangements. My best friends, Jean and Molly, and my niece, Rosalie,

did most of the work. Molly also constructed a Power Point presentation of Rocky's life in old photographs that could be viewed in the carport. Her husband, Wayne, transported guests from the parking lot of the church one mile away from us back and forth on our one-lane curvy road leading to CY.

     There's no picture here of my grandaughter, Jessica, although I did see some that were taken by Alan on his Flip video camera. He left them for me on my computer's desktop but I haven't taken the time to import them into my photo software so I can access them singly.

     My VASA friend, Norris, from Virginia Beach drove over for the Celebration and then stayed on with me for a week. Here she is:

Norris at Castle Yonder, May 26, 2010

Norris is wonderfully easy to have as a house guest. One of my other friends calls her an "angel," since she goes where needed and is always ready to help. All of my friends, both male and female, have been angels for me and Geoff through these past two months. They are:

Jean, Molly, Rudy, Leigh Ann, Jack, Rosalie, Diana, Paul, 

Organizations that fall into the "angel" category are first and foremost,

Wellmont Hospice House staff and Don McGregor, Bereavement Counselor

Susan Early, Social Worker, Bristol Regional Medical Center

J. R. Gilmer, Elder, Beulah Land Baptist Church

David Wilson, Director, Goosepimple Junction Adventure Camp

Pitching in to be part of the Celebration Of Rocky's Life Memorial service was

Leon Overbay, Isaac Freeman, Pat Musselman, Molly Catron, Paul Conco, 

Bill Marburg, Tineke Labrie

And then, how interesting LIFE works out. My best friend from Garrett, IN high school, Sue and her husband, Wayne, were attending a conference in Knoxville and drove two hours north to Bristol to spend just about two hours visiting me on May 25 and then they drove two hours back to Knoxville. How sweet it is, and here they are:

Sue and Wayne at Castle Yonder

May 25, 2010

Attendees at the Celebration said they felt like Rocky's spirit was all around  Castle Yonder during the day.  I think he visited us the next day, too!

Rainbow Over Castle Yonder, May 24, 2010

"Until we meet again, Rocky!"

Mimi

          

In Like A Lion, Out Like A Lamb

     This is our "castle", our home in the woods, in late winter. Every day this week, we've had snow on the ground in the mornings but by afternoon it's melted off.
     Do you remember the old saying about March? "In like a lion, out like a lamb"? Since childhood I've hoped that March would begin windy and wild, because that would mean April would begin softly. Since my birthday is only one day into April, then I would have a pleasant day--at least weather-wise.
     That hope has only intensified as an adult since we often get a hard freeze the end of March, first of April, that kills blueberry and azalea blossoms which makes me grit my teeth. It will even set back peony, iris, and daylily growth, not kill it but the plant will have to start over again.
     Now this year confuses me. The first couple days of March haven't been windy, but they have been cold with snow on the ground every morning so far. Does that mean the lamb of April will bring warm temperatures with gusts of wind? 
     Well, I'm sure you remember what Mark Twain said about the weather, "Everyone talks about it but nobody does anything about it." (Sort of like our national economy!)
     Since that's the case, then I'll just keep on hibernatin' until it's time to exchange my wool cap for a head scarf!

Moon Over Castle Yonder

There was a full moon last night and I stood on our deck and shot this. The dull circles are not UFO's, but spots on the camera lens.
(Obviously, I need to clean it.)

MimiRock at Castle Yonder