The drive took full 2 days as we could only travel at 55 mph. We also took a different route deciding to go via Carlsbad NM which is exactly half way. It meant that we did not have to travel on I10 which has become increasingly busy in recent months. Plus there is no halfway place with a good hotel.
We're all loaded up and raring to go. Fortunately the morning was bright and clear and the weather remained favorable the whole way. Driving in wet conditions would not have been easy. But there are a few disadvantages ot the sun beating in through the window. We decided to buy some window screens which should be better than trying to secure a piece of paper in the window. We joked about the old saying of the wealthy going out to India and China years ago. POSH. Port out starboard home. No AC on ships back then.
Of course we saw plenty of cotton and plenty of oil and the two seem to survive hand in hand. I didn't manage to get a wind farm with oil and cotton in the same shot but there were plenty of those especially around Big Spring. I remember reading how the early settlers were nearly driven crazy by the wind.
The cotton is no longer picked by hand but bailed ready for transportation to the gin.
My ancestors were in the cotton business but not this end. Some had cotton and bleaching mills in Lancashire where the climate was perfect for spinning. Some were spinners, some weavers, some carders and one was a designer in a calico print factory. Those that owned the mills (the part of the family that made all the money) actually came to America to source their cotton arriving in New Orleans before the civil war.
We had planned our journey to coincide with closing on the house early Wednesday morning at 8:30 am The transaction was recorded by 9:30am and by 10:30 we were meeting our realtor at the entrance to the community where they were busy setting up the seasonal decorations.
It was just by chance that we had saved the balls that decorated our agave a year ago. There were no longer any agave to decorate in the old garden but I have plenty in the new garden-at least for now! It will just be a matter of finding the box among hundreds still to come.
Reversing the trailer up the tight driveway took some doing because there is a hill and a bend and a Palo Verde tree which arches over the driveway. After several tries David succeeded.
But before we began we were given the key of the door. I joked about David carrying me over the threshold or maybe he would prefer to put me on the dolly! In the end we just opted for a photo.
I was both nervous and anxious. After all I had only been in the house one time a month before, at which time I had already crossed the house off my list for not having enough garden and for being a little dark inside. It was only when we came home that David persuaded me that we should make an offer. I relented and when we had a contract he went with our son to the inspection. It was much better seeing the house empty. I walked around and then made a beeline out to the back garden or should I say patio. For the time being I will not reveal what is there as there isn't a lot to show. Back to emptying the trailer. We needed to return it before the 5 day limit was up. We brought two large pots to put either side of the garage door. Both traveled well as did the citrus, only shedding 2 lemons. They have taken up a temporary home on the end of the driveway.
All the boxes were unloaded into the garage. By the time we had finished we counted 40 in all. We began to open them taking the plants out to the patio at the back. The patio faces east so they will get the morning sun during our absence. Then we knocked down the boxes to take back to Austin for the final move.
We had sold all our patio furniture so we asked the sellers if they were interested in selling theirs. We had some concerns that with the back log of supplies we would be left with nothing to sit on during the winter months. It was a boon because we had our morning coffee and then our lunch out there.
The patio has such a beautiful view that it was hard to get back to work. We just had two days to get all the boxes open and everything moved. And to get set up with wifi access. That took longer than anticipated as we were also trying to set up the TV in the living room which we had also purchased. We are so used to using rabbit ears for local stations that what appeared on the TV was totally alien to us. The TV is far too smart and big for us and we will welcome Nick coming down to help up out with technology. But, we had internet and that matters more to me than anything. I took the following morning off and played bridge on line.
And then it was back the 900 miles to Austin. As we pulled out of the driveway a rabbit ran right in front of us and down the side of the house! At least it wasn't a javelina, pack rat or a Gila monster. They will be round according to the neighbor. Will there be anything left when we get back I wonder. I have certainly left them some juicy things to eat. Desert life will be as much of a challenge as gardening in Austin.
Stay tuned for part 3 in which I discover all my plants, their names and look at the original landscape plans for the house. There is much to discover.