eclipse globe, clearing cupboards, an accidental murder-stale stuff

Dennis was first in line to receive this  gift, from the astronomical observer folks. It came yesterday. Every solar eclipse from long ago up to the year 3000  mapped  and dated. Dennis went to  Germany to observe eclipse in 1999, he was gone for ten days, during which time I spent my Dad's gift of  inheritance $$ removing carpet, replacing it with Pergo ( which was only supposed to last for ten years 23 years ago) made the kitchen less of a postage stamp size, increased cupboard space, carpeted the stairs and the basement. That last idea was not brilliant as  another flood flooded,  all of the carpet went  to landfill. I bought the "BIG DOG" art story rug from Dale Gottleib, I bought "Twins and  String" painting for one wall. Erik and Dale's son skateboarded through the empty raw house.Ten days is never long enough to make better a shite kitchen ,to remove  shite 70's carpet and to paint the interior with a two inch brush! I hauled all of the furniture out to the deck including Timmy , our lovely  egg laying turtle- too much chaos  for this one person to remember to water her and feed her fresh earthworms from the garden. That is a sadness that will follow me to the end of days. I murdered Timmy,  but I got the  house job done . Dennis came home, furniture still on Deck , walls drying , didn't cost him a dime or effort so how could he object, really. (he could...  he did)

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Sorting out the shelves beneath a cabinet yesterday I came across so - much- stuff!! A  huge stack of "happy Birth" cards from when Erik was born- into paper recycling they went- no sentimentality there, besides I could not even remember most of the well wishers.  Records of paid bills, clips from the local news paper from the beginning of time- into the bin. Still the cupboard seems to be quite full. I saved all of the kid art and art from our friend , David. When Parkinson's compromised his movement and gave him the quivers, he made art by blowing through a straw,

 

and using his thumb. His art is delightful at this stage in his illness.

From the pile - this very bad paper camera photo, early 80's when Dennis and I barely knew each other - Dennis in his round butt dockers helping me carry harvested apples to my  tiny  two room  cabin. I was at university, sorely needed free food- Pop corn, apples and plums for breakfast and dinner - scheduled a class at lunch time to avoid thinking about how I might be a little bit hungry, sometimes  smoked a Camel Straight , nothing like a Camel to quell hunger, a trick I learned while living in  Poverty London, but there it was Old Holborn roll your own. 

 I bought the VW bug from a friend for one hundred $, rarely used it , walked everywhere. It only went 40 MPH but danged if I did not get a speeding ticket going 40MPH in a 35 zone. Like I could afford a ticket. Went to court and  got slapped with a twenty dollar fine.  A  substantial amount for me with seven dollars in my account, still needing to buy Uni text books, time to call Dad. (again)

So many more cupboards to go through, to decide Yay or Nay.  In the meantime I will put that job on hold, take Cubby out for long walks until his humans come back in another ten days.

This is where they are now. Mont-St. Michel, France. Then on to Paris.

A much needed get-out -of-town jaunt. So jealous!