Being At Large

It has been seven months since I retired from walking other people's dogs.  When people ask, "what do you do?" the answer used to be easy.  "I am a dog walker."  Now, the answer is less clear.  I've taken to declaring that I am "at large".

Still, though at large, I've not been idle.  Most of the walls in the house have been washed.  Alas, the previous owners smoked, so it's going to take at least one more go around to create a palette upon which all those pretty paint colors that have been chosen can adhere.

Garden planning is revving up.  An area of the yard was prepped last fall.  The seeds I ordered have arrived, some can be started soon.  This is my first try at starting seeds indoors under lights.  Happily, Malcom has a stash of light bulbs he will share, for he loves tomatoes. 

There are, of course,  some wonderful advantages to being at large here at the new homestead.  This winter, that unused pair of snowshoes that had been stowed among my belongings for over thirty years have been dusted off and put to use in my own backyard.

New vocabulary word!  Sasturga, a noun, plural sasturgi.  It means ridges of snow formed by the action of the wind.  I have tread upon the sasturgi.

Cool, huh?