Sunday
– the final day of staycation, and now I have things I must do. I was up at
5:40. As soon as it was light, I loaded recycling into the Jeep and headed to
Walmart for a battery to rectify the chirping smoke alarm. First, I shopped for
a few groceries, and then headed to self-check. I was about to start scanning
when I realized I had failed to pick up the battery. Duh! At least I remembered
before I left the store. My mother used to say that she would buy everything but that for which she made the trip.
Replacing
smoke alarm batteries is Mike’s job, but I was not going to listen to that
chirp any longer. The smoke alarm in question was the one in the living /
kitchen area at the highest point of the ceiling above the hutch. I got the
ladder from the garage and inched along with the process. While I was up there,
I dusted the top of the hutch.
The
rest of the day was pretty much devoted to putting my sewing machine and
supplies away. The cutting table is once again the kitchen counter.
About
3:30, Mike and Bess arrived. Bess noticed the swathed cypress trees before she
was out of the car and sounded the alarm. “Bark-bark-bark-bark-bark,” she said.
Later, she gathered her courage and examined them, discovering that they were cypress
trees in disguise.
When
Mike opened the slider, Bess bounded in, leaping over boxes of machine
embroidery thread to greet me. “I’m home,” she said, “and I missed you.” I had
no idea she cared so much. Her tail wagged for half an hour. We took
her for a walk, and she happily strutted along the familiar route. As I cooked (yes, cooking once again), she begged for plates and bowls to lick. She was so happy
to be home!
And
that’s it. Staycation has drawn to a close. And frankly, I’m glad to get back
to normal. KW
Since
I was staycating, not traveling, I don’t have to unpack and settle into routine,
but nevertheless, there’s an adjustment. I had to put away my messes, and I’m
still at it, but the outstanding staycation gifts have buoyed me through the
process. 
And
today, the one-liter holiday thermal carafe was delivered. It isn’t new but
appears unused. I admit a “like new” condition was important to me, at least
that it hadn’t been used for coffee. They do become stained with use. My own
stain is okay, but someone else’s? – not so much. 
