Lately, I have felt like a balloon animal twisted and turned and unwound all at the same time. Last week was extremeley busy and by the end of it, I was completely drained, I didn't have anythingleft to give, I felt tight and all twisted up inside. Enter the balloon master. Out of his bag, he pulls out a greeen balloon and blew it up with his breath. I thought this odd and a bit troublesome until hestarted twisting and turning it in his hands and when he was finished, there was a beautiful balloon tree he held out to me as a gift. Surprised and pleased,I took it from his hands and started unwinding myself. I love it when he gives me exactly what I need when I need it. I feel cared for and loved.
To put this in layman's terms, I was given a housesitting job out in the country after just finishing another one that had taken place during my busy week. At first, I thought, "I've already been gone a week!" Butthen I started realizing the benefits to being out in the country for a rather unscheduled week and I took a deep breath,enjoying where I found myself. In a beautiful setting, out in the hills, what a great time to write and relax,to refill myself when that is so desperately needed.
In this endevor, I am not alone. I am surrounded by several animals and I do believe this takes second placein the amount of animals I have house sat for at one time: 4 dogs, two cats, three chickens, one rooster, threegoldfish, and a rabbit. Fifteen llamas, one dog, and three cats is hard to beat. There is actually someone who comes in the morning for the rooster, chickens, and two of the dogs and I do the rest of the day. Let me describe some of these animals for you. First we haveGhita. Think of a Tazmanian Devil Mop and you have a great picture of her. She's pretty cute and usually hassome small beloved stuffed animal in her mouth that she carries around. For her compatriot, think of a small stuffed black sheep inthe shape of a poodle and you have Peanute, the distance runner. That dog has speed. Luckily, she also listens, mostly, so I don't lose her. The bunny, I am quite sure, is possesed. Every time I reach in it's cage to put food in its bowl, it lunges for my hand. I am thinking of getting it on some kind of mental medication as it is the most frightening part of the day.
That is, is was frightening until I discovered I have been harboring killers in the household. Last night when I went into to thebathroom before going to bed, I came upon a gruesome murder scene. There was blood and guts, a severed head,and the killers I am sure were still lurking. After plucking the bloody eyeballs off the floor and the scattered feathers while managing not to retch, I fell asleep hoping I was too big for the cats to pick on me.
The house itself is on a wooded hill and there are so many stairs going from one room to the next, I feel like I am going through one of those staircase mazes all the time. A great workout. Being out there on my own could be a littlefrightening except for the fact that my friend and her husband live just up the hill. Knowing they are nearby ifI needed help is comforting. The owners also have several books by Kahil Gibran, one of my favorite poets and a hottub soI am a happy camper. Still, it will be nice to get home next week but who knows for how long. Meanwhile, I will be out herein the woods taking some time for myself and writing for the next book. Have a great week!Labels: House Sitting