Saturday Ramblings About the Slow-Country

So, D.’s parents are moving in to the house they finally found here in town (but not “on the island,” ha, ha - that sounds so weird, it sounds like we live near the LOST survivors or something, speaking of which, by the way, I enjoyed the season premiere and I'm hoping there will be some answers to a few of the mysteries......) this weekend after living temporarily in the next town over since September. We’re glad to have them close – because we love them, of course, but also because they offer FREE BABYSITTING! We went over this morning to help with some of the unloading of stuff, but I had to bring Boo home for a nap. Now D. and the boys are over there, and the boys are on “Pinecone Duty.” D. has told them Gram and Granddad will pay them a penny per pinecone they gather from the yard. There are A LOT of pinecones in the yard! You would think that would be great incentive for two boys who have Legos and StarWars action figures on the brain. In fact, these boys will carry around one of those little advertisement paper things that are in EVERY Lego set or Hasbro/Fisher Price, etc. type of toy until it is just falling apart, and proceed to tell us exactly which item(s) they desire from said advertisement every time they think of it until I feel like pulling out my hair and banging my head against the wall just to not have to hear it ONE MORE TIME.

The house the in-laws found to rent at a very good price (for the area, anyway) is right on the marsh. The boys love it, of course, and are already planning how they can start trapping crabs. Fun for all, I’m sure. But my poor mother-in-law is beginning to see some of the same inconveniences I’ve noticed about the slow-country living here. The house has horrendous peach (no, more like dark salmon) colored walls, and aqua countertops. The management company said, “No-go,” on the owner painting the walls a neutral color, so, she’s either going to have to live with it or paint it herself. And, they were told it was a no-smoking house with good renters, but we smell that distinct odor AND the water company is asking for a hefty (but returnable) deposit due to the fact that the prior tenant failed to pay and had their water turned off. And none of the sinks have stoppers and the walls have holes in them where they were not fixed when prior tenants left and took down pictures or shelves or something, and one of the contractors who came the other day to fix up some of the things that had to be repaired was just a real snot to her - just a rude and arrogant and disrespectful twenty-something year old guy who probably felt he had better things to do than to touch up that ugly paint (yes, owner will touch up, but not re-do, go figure). But, all in all, it’s still a pretty nice house, and they are happy with it for a year until they can find something better.

Ah, the joys of “island” life in the slow-country. But we’re glad they are here, and I hope they will be, too.