Welcoming 2023

Where to begin? It's been so long since mouse thought or considered updating, yet a few days ago there was an invisible pull to return to this precious space. So many changes over the course the last part of year. Guess that bullet points are the way to go so here's a list of changes. Some might be expanded upon later in this post, or in future posts (hey, we are planning on posting again). 

• Everyone is FINE! 
• We moved to the country -- Big change
• We left Twitter! 
• Master retired (like for real)

We had an opportunity we really couldn't refuse but it took a long time to even think about moving, getting the new digs the way we needed it to be and a whole lot of sweat equity. We hired contractors to do the really heavy stuff, but all the cosmetic work was done by us. We're proud of our hard work. It's been a big change. We still have too much stuff, so the plan is to only keep what we really want/need or is too sentimental to consider letting go. Master is very handy to have around. He's been patiently mudding and taping the walls that still require that. It's been difficult, living surrounded by a cloud of dust, evoking memories of "Pigpen" from the Peanuts gang. Recently, while knitting by the fire, Master was doing His sanding, when He got a text message, then mouse's phone alerted her that He was texting. It simply read, "Jeff Beck passed." instead of replying, mouse yelled "NOOOOOOO" Then quickly head to Google hoping for a mistake or error, but no, it was long confirmed. It still leaves mouse feeling a bit unnerved. But that might be best served with another post at some point. 

We're surviving winter (though it's been a lot harder than we expected, including a record snow fall that 'locals' claim never happens (almost, because it happened last year too, albeit later). The California girl is adapting -- slowly. Autumn was wonderful and we had so much fun (we were moving in) getting ready for the coming winter, which meant mouse learning new skills. Of course, Master is on hand to help her better arrange her days. Odd, but we're not so far out, it's not like the lake where we an hour or more from the nearest town. Here, we're probably about 15-25 minutes from nice grocery stores, big box warehouse, and Target. Oh! And the ever important Dom Depot is probably around 35 minutes from us. 

Master is finding new ways to torture His slave. Since retiring the house projects thankfully have been keeping Him occupied but the terrible weather stalled the work plans, so it's a bit like the lockdown. We're all together -- all the time. Again, mouse has tried to knit and managed to make Him a scarf that will someday be completed when she figures out how to end it. It's true, she doesn't know how to stop. Don't worry, it's not too long...Yet! 

One morning, mouse emerged from the bedroom in search of coffee, Master had been up for hours already (He had issues slowing down immediately following His retirement) and announced, "I have deactivated our Twitter accounts and deleted the app from our devices." Then He added, "I removed the passwords, so we will not be tempted to return." He was rather glaring at mouse when He said the last bit, which instantly made her feel guilty. Somewhere in the middle of the second cup of coffee mouse finally said, "Did you say something about Twitter?" A friend always called it 'Pre-coffee Brain' and mouse finds that an apt term. 

To be clear, He decided it was time to leave it and determined that if He wasn't going to be on Twitter, neither could mouse. It made sense but she felt bad not being able to say goodbye. 

Blogging hasn't been something mouse has been thinking a lot about, maybe in part because we've been very busy -- obviously there's been a lot going on. Also, mouse worries that there isn't a lot to say. Our relationship is idyllic, in fact it's been better than ever. Well maybe that's an overstatement, but we seem to moving more as an unit, rather than mouse feeling like she's always got to scramble to keep up or be what He needs her to be. He's still the scary Dom He's always been, but He just wants things the way He wants them and refuses to compromise His lofty ideals.