Good morning,lovely cohabitants of this planet! So good to be here, virtually with you. It’s been some busy couple weeks here for me. So busy even I had to take a nap or two to recoupe.
First off, mechanical success! The brake booster finally made it and was pretty simple to put back in. The clip for the sensor was my hiccup there, but Andy expertly removed the little flange lip and rearranged it to be in proper place. The lift pump! *le hmpf! It also took a couple days to get that back on proper. Andy tried to attach the tricky fuel line to the unattached pump and then bolt it, which caused the thread to cross and the bolt hole needed to be rethreaded which Andy did hisself before getting it attached right. I just had to tighten it up! No more fuel pump leak! AND my BRAKES are applicable with a toe again! Matilda is my workout regimen! couple years ago she worked my arms with the powersteering pump out. Guess she decided it was legwork time for the last year 😬😬
If you’re not on my facebook page, you should know there’s a post to thank the Biggs’ for their help with Matilda. Besides giving us a place to be and work, Andy’s help mechanically, Brittany driving me to pick up all the things needed, Andy cooking, the kids playing and distracting each other, being welcomed to the place with a “this your place too!” Andy claiming my kids as his. I’m so grateful for this lovely people!
I’m unsure if I described the property, so for roughness love sake: It sits halfway down a bumpy dirt road with much vegetation. So we’re on a hillside with a creek at the bottom about a quarter mile from the road. On the slope is also a little spring tapped outta the ground running clear. The garden and chickens have been started and are waiting for expansion. @FriggRig for any help to get some chicken wire. Brittany is working McDonalds to finance this venture of property with 3 kids and house spouse.
The mountains are made of rocks, in case you didn’t know…. and clay. So whilst Andy was digging a deep hole, I was marveling at the clay. “Can we build an oven?” I asked. The answer was enthusiastic. So I participated until we needed more material (sculpting the top hump we decided for chicken wire which finances still kept at a distance)
My big reason for leaving a couple days ago was the impending five day storm on the freshly grated road. I didn’t want to fight the mud. And I must make the income happen, considering we can’t stay in Matilda forever.
Did I discuss the flexplate? Flywheel= flexplate= in transmission. 4x work on transmission in 7 years and I’m at my end. yeah, I feel I’ve talked about my thoughts on this last time and my wishes. I’ve certainly put it on facebook… and wrote an outline script for a tikytoky…. And the oil cooler is barely leaking, so I put that lower on the priority….
We drove to Pocahontas, AR for the night. The Walmart had another beautiful bus visiting. I followed their Tiktok, but didn’t manage to connect more… yet. The morning there was quiet but filled with kind folks. This lovely fella and his son decided to put some fuel in our tank, unfortunately not realizing she’s a diesel, he pumped $25 gasoline. I dumped some oil in after and some more diesel, but Matilda doesn’t seem to appreciate it when trying to start. Both times she was having hard starts as if she wasn’t getting the right spark or amount of fuel? Keep your fingers crossed that this problem is temporary and not wrecking my motor!
Also two lovely ladies, separately made for good visits. Joan, the art teacher, brought the dogs some kibbles, kids’ reading books and beautiful smiles. Also the lady with the granddaughter names Laney (bad I slipped her name!) was so full of smiles and connection. Now I definitely feel like we left too early…
We did laundry and played at the riverside park. I guess my big reason for leaving that town was my deep want/ need for a shower. That’s why we drove to Jonesboro. The loves truckstop showers are generally my favorite. The kids called themselves squeaky clean afterwards, my hair feels less like a problem too.
I gotta confess I’m feeling a bit lost. Not unpleasantly so, but I definitely feel like I’m looking for something and can’t quite grasp. Is it company? A companion? A goal? The dude that tried telling me yesterday that I can’t do this forever sounded like my mom in an unpleasant distant past way. Like “that’s not his business, how presumptive of him and what’s he want with that statement?” struck a chord of icky. probably more through delivery than intent. What if I want to continue forever? What if landscape property responsibility scares me? What if I idolize it as much as I fear it? Lots of “nope” feelings about the interaction and it”s residual thoughts.
Oh! I had a visit from my dad and step mom whilst in Hardy! They drove around the US visiting family (fortune, I included in family despite being so wishy washy) Visits as such, I really wish I had a bigger space to accommodate visitors. I also had a phone chat with my brother. I guess the months broke down in Montana made me realize the opposition of what my austrian aunt had told me almost 10 years ago “That’s why we have friends” to be with us in the hard times. Friends generally don’t partake in my hard times. Might be a mix of my hardship of communicating, or really knowing when my time is actually more depressive than I realize. It’s definitely felt like an off year. Almost two years, if we’re being real. Since the discovery of bedbugs in Asheville. I remember having such a joy of spring having sprung and connections we were having. The bug climbing up my sleeve as all my happiness just drained and left a superficial film of “being ok.”
I want to show that I’m happy. I want people to see us as being OK. I know we’re all surviving in this society, try thriving. Maybe I’m too in the midst to really see where I’m at. The kids are learning and growing and happy, doesn’t that mean and require me to consider thriving. Do I just condemn all of the last two years despite there having been much connection and joy made within that time. My losses miniscule to the amount I’ve “won” whatever is to be considered winning…
Both the children are awake. Both are now in size 8 clothes. Galixy may have a milimeter of height on Atreyu, but his waist actually fits the * yo size and doesn’t need to be tied up like Galixy’s pants. The animals are all good and happy, cuddling the kiddos concurrently.
What’s on our next agenda? Awfully close to Tennessee, so that seems the place to go through. It’s unseasonably cold for the area, rivaling Montana temps. I know I need to rewrite our wants and needs list. I feel all of this is unorganized…. So unorganized that my dreams are making me apologize to previous offers I never got back to.
Galixy promised me she’s do our dishes today. Eda the owllady (Owlhouse on Disney+) has captivated her attention and she’s determined to see every episode. On an adult viewing pleasure, “Working mom’s” on Netflix just tied it’s final season up and is beyond wothy of a peep by my estimations. I laughed. I cried. I felt.
I better put on a documentary before these kids decide to get up out of bed….
On that note, I must reitterate that we do run mainly on your kind donations and I greatly appreciate your contributions. Every little bit helps and gets us to explore just a little more of this exciting world. I accept donations via CashApp: $MatildaBugus and paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/matildabugus
If you’d like to peek at our Amazon wishlist follow the link below. We really appreciate those special wants/wishes/deferred needs finding their way to us possibly via your help! https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3LUAOP5L0M5FY?ref_=wl_share
We now have merchandise ready for you to order! Represent and support at the same time! We love these shirts and we love you! Check it out!
https://matildabugus.bigcartel.com
CashApp: $Matilda.Bugus
Venmo: available upon request.
Feel more than free to Contact me. You can establish such via the Contact Me page here on the blog, OOOOOOOORRR! get on your facebooks and join the group “Spotting Bugus” or like the Matilda Bugus Page. Also availble on Instagram, Youtube, and the TikToks.
Thanks y’all for your consistencies and supports. Thanks for reading and thanks for liking. Thanks for being.
Hope you’re grateful andhave a smile to share.
Matilda the Bugus 