Day 127

Cleaned out behind the lemon trees and came out scratched and bloody and successful. Dug out an enormous calla lily plus vines. Felt good about the

overdue cleaning. More of the same today. I’m going walking and will push my exercise as the scale told me what all the isolation munching is doing. I refuse to need a larger size.  I’m enjoying my hobbit hole as it becomes more and more home. Might sort CDs to keep the good ones and rehome the old ones.

Day 126

The greenhouse didn’t take off for OZ but came close. It is shredded. Chuck is working on getting the frame back in order and it will need a new skin. The tomatoes took a hit. Broken branches full of green tomatoes. I didn’t venture out in the wind yesterday. Just too much even with lots of clothes. This morning is blessedly calm and I will get out before it starts up. We had another family steak barbecue yesterday complete with strawberry shortcake thanks to Hollie.

Day 125

The wind has damaged the greenhouse further and though it is still usable, it is flapping badly. Don’t know what to do about it. The deck plants were tossed around and some are broken. More wind today. More stuff is migrating from house to hobbit hole. I keep finding things that I want. It’s getting homey and I am enjoying the changes. I actually had 10K steps yesterday. First time in weeks.. The news keeps me tense even though we are safe on our yacht.

Day 124

Another foggy morning and it’s good. I’m going to walk to the store for green bananas and breakfast sausage and later, Hollie and I will walk to the farmers’ market. My trip to the dentist was good. She charged an extra $10 for her protective gear and that was a surprise. She gave me a visor to try as I mentioned that it would be hard to teach in a mask. Lots of outside again today to enjoy air and stay away from the news.

Day 123

Off to a flying start with furniture moving from house to hobbit hole. I wanted more storage and now I have it with sweat from us. I like the new look and am planning for how to fill the spaces. I got a ride in the car yesterday after our visit with Robert to buy CBD oil and 1to1 tincture that helps me sleep. We drove to the beach and enjoyed the white caps and breeze. Today more unwanted vine clearing under the lemon trees.

Day 122

Fog and grateful for it. When it gets overly hot in the valley, the cool marine layer is great. Hollie is doing the Brookings run alone. I missed out on an outing. Oh well, someday this will be history and I can come and go as I please. Lots more yard work for me. I climbed under the lemon trees and collected berry vines and morning glory vines. Good clean work that makes me happy. I will get out for a couple of short walks.

Day 121

Yep, walking and weeding again. Watering, watching things grow. No end in sight of the isolation. I’m worried that we will lock down again and I won’t get to teach the writing class. This morning Hollie and I will walk to the farmers’ market for our fresh goodies. I love going there and seeing people. Nearly everyone wears masks at the farm stand we use. May get a ride to Brookings later when Hollie goes shopping. May not get out as Oregon doesn’t require masks.

Day 120

Watered early and ready for a walk. It’s BOS and I’ll watch from here. I’m not ready to go to the chamber. Low energy and shaky start and I will do everything I want to do anyway. I watched the car race yesterday and will admit to tearing up at the response of ASCAR to Bubba Wallace. So much is happening  that I’m  waiting for the other shoe to drop. Hypervigilance is wearing and I don’t know how to overcome except hope, walking and weeding.

Day 119

Sunday began with a long walk with Hollie in the early calm.  Father’s Day family meal was great. We spent time outside talking and seeing Megan’s property. Hollie’s salads were scrumptious and I ate a lot. Chuck barbecues the chicken and shrimp to perfection and along with garlic butter and lemons, all good. Today, usual routine, early weeding before it gets hot and windy, and at least one walk. I want to read more of the Palmer book. I only read for about 20 minutes.

Day 118

Fathers’ Day. My father was not accessible and I really never knew him. My mother separated us for her own reasons. Today we will have a barbecue at Megan’s house and Hollie will make her wonderful pasta and potato salads. My friend Jackie issued a challenge to take a selfie to show our age. Hers was lovely. She is aging well in spite of serious health issues over the past years. Her tribe is large and involved with her care. I wish I felt energetic.

Day 117

Gray morning and I’m feeling kind of gray too. It was so refreshing to have conversation time yesterday. Michele brought me a bouquet from her garden and the colors are wonderful. We talked about Rosalie’s book and I loaned Michel the new Stephen King. Michele will sign up for the writing class and I will be grateful for a friendly face to get stated. With so much anxiety about gatherings, I hope enough people sign up. I need the stimulation. Teaching does that for me.

Day 116

Rosalie and Michele are coming at 2 for a visit. House is clean and neat. I pondered on refreshments and decided on ice cream bars as they can reach in the box and take out a wrapped item. Trying to learn the new rules. I put hand sanitizer and paper towels in the bathroom. Meanwhile I’m going to walk before  the wind starts again. It has been strong in the afternoon and not fun to be outside. Watered and enjoyed the peppers, tomatoes and zucchinis.

Day 115

Another beautiful morning and I’m ready for a walk before the wind blows. A solid sleep makes the mood positive and I feel good all over. More repotting of  the gift plants. Yesterday our farmer promised starts for chard and kale to be ready soon. I’m ready with both greenhouse and outside planters. The plants will last all winter and it’s fun to cut a couple of fresh leaves. I wrote more on the cautious fatigue. These new mental health experiences need to be documented

Day 114

Beautiful morning and I’m up with energy for a nice change. House clean, laundry done. Lots of journal time yesterday as I wrote about isolation fatigue and the universal symptoms. It has been an uncomfortable adaptation The new plants are happy and more will go into bigger pots. Farmers’ Market morning and I’m going to take on a load of produce. I enjoyed the small zucchinis and baby broccoli so much and want more.  I feel well and I know nutrition counts. Protein and vegetables.

Day 113

I had a couple short walks between showers and it felt good. Today is damp and probably be a replay.  I need connections. The visitors’ center will reopen next Monday but I won’t be there. That is too risky. People from all over the world show up and are one foot distance across the counter. I need to write. I blame my shaky handwriting for the bare journal and the tremor from using the computer. I have words stacked up that need to be explored.

Day 112

Damp so I don’t have to water the outside plants. I repotted seven of the new plants from David. Won’t do any today and my back will be glad for the rest. I came close to overdoing yesterday. Lots of thoughts about teaching the class again. Part of me is hoping it won’t fill and part is already making lesson plans. It feels like a confidence thing and my goodness, I know I could do it without any plans at all. Inside day to contemplate.

Day 111

Exploring the yard with David and Rosalie and collecting a ton of plants made my day. I planted two rose bushes and today I’ll repot several of the smaller plants for the deck. We were invited back to take more. Megan finally has the kitchen table from here. She is fully furnished now. Hollie is waiting to get her table from storage and sorting out what she wants here. I’m going for a walk to enjoy the quiet. Everything is working out well for us.

Day 110

Poor sleep. I’m feeling woozy and tired. My body ached and my mind wouldn’t shut up. I was doubting my decision to lead the class again and wondering if I can do it. Now, awake, I’m wondering where that came from. I am entirely comfortable with my choice. Hollie and I are going to Rosalie’s garden today to collect plants for my deck. She says David will be glad to get plants moved on. I looked for rose bushes and didn’t find what I want. 

Day 109

There I was, walking along enjoying the morning when the phone rings. It was the director of the Arts for Veterans’ program asking me to teach creative writing again. First reaction was to say NO and then I realized that the timing was perfect for my restlessness. If people sign up quickly, I’ll start on July 8^th. Talked with Rosalie about our conscious aging program and how it probably won’t be funded because we have no product to show at the end. She was disappointed

Day 108

Gray day and it’s welcome after too warm and humid. We don’t do heat well especially at night. No agenda of course. Walk and weed is the way of life we have now. I wish I could concentrate and read. It’s more like looking at the page than knowing what I read. It’s just one more symptom of isolation. House is clean, dogs are taken care of, family is close. The visit with Megan last evening was welcome. We haven’t seen her for two long weeks.

Day 107

The night was too warm for comfort so I tossed looking for a cool spot. Today I will close up the house with the morning air and hope to keep it comfortable.  Hollie and I will walk to the downtown farmers’ market and get our fresh produce. Yesterday Chuck barbecued steak and made baked potatoes, corn on the cob for a delicious dinner. I have left-overs so I don’t have to make a meal. I watered early and rained in the greenhouse for the day.

Day 106

Big event already today! We went to the store for groceries and dog food store too. It is an almost giddy experience and worth the mask and watching the arrows on the floors. Hollie has done nearly all the shopping and errands and now we get to go once in a while. Nice morning and I’ll get out for yard and walking. A restful sleep helps with the attitude. So much of my nights are broken and my mind doesn’t shut up. New normal begins.

Day 105

Big event yesterday: I binge watched Council of Dads. Hollie recommended it and it was worth watching. I like ensemble casts and new people. Today is cloudy after another cold night. It’s June! Not November. No agenda, of course. Just another day of isolation. We are all in the same storm but our boat is a yacht. We have a warm home, food, money, we take care of each other. Can’t say that about a lot of others. Gratitude keeps our yacht afloat and moving.

Day 104

Damp. I got out between showers for a few minutes yesterday and it was welcome. Today I feel like cocooning and letting it be okay not to have something to show for a day of my life.  Maybe watch Morning Prayer on Utube. I’m still not on Zoom. I’d like to read my Parker Palmer book but I’m not concentrating well . Karen Rath may go to Arizona to care for her step-mother. She has deeply isolated and is fearful of going out in public.

Day 103

Cold night! I took the down off too soon. Didn’t expect 40 degree nights extending into June. I had pleasant dreams and woke up when I was looking for a cup of coffee. So starts another day in isolation with the same routine. I watched news and  now I know the covid numbers. It will go up after all the crowds. It’s mildly damp out and I will walk. I must walk. So much of my well-being depends on activity. Did better with nutrition too.

Day 102

I have been using Facebook so much as a way to stay tuned in that my phone battery is low so I use the tablet for everything except texting. It is a lifeline for my extrovert self. It keeps the TV news viewing down. I recognize that a lot of things I tossed out in the move were remnants of relationships that are gone. I threw out old cards and letters, plus about 13 pounds of old writings such as Senior News and history columns.

Day 101

Cool morning and good walking weather. My leg and hip are ready to get moving again. Later, Hollie and I are going to the nursery and see if they have any baby kale and chard. Haven’t found any yet. The protest news is jarring and going on and on. I hope for the movement to actually result in change. Houses is clean, laundry done. I want something new in this isolation time. Harrd to figure out what can ease the restless need for social connections..

Day 100

Yesterday started with a beautiful walk with Hollie. We walked to the beachfront, passed the lighthouse, and started up toward home when my right leg decided not to play well.  It hurt and wouldn’t hold my weight. Hollie had to support me all the way home.  She made an appointment with Dr. Cole and it made a difference. I am sore but mobile. I will take short walks and stay away from shoveling rocks.. I may go to farmers’ market and see how it’s going.

Day 99

Beautiful morning. Warm and sunny. Oh boy, good weather for walking and weeding as those are the items on the  agenda. The news is horrifying again and now my church has raised its outrage at the orange thing. I will focus on what I can change and that is the yard and my muscles. I  had a food tantrum yesterday that scored ice cream and chips. That has to stop as my pants are getting tight and I don’t want to go up a size.

Day 98

Up with energy and sunshine. Restless night but good morning. Maybe it’s peanut butter cookies for breakfast.  Already cleaned house, weeded, watered and ready for anything. I can’t watch any more news. It’s too horrifying. It’s repetitious even when it’s new. How long can this go on? One friend said it’s like living Revelations with new plagues and wars every day. My job is to find grounding and to feel productive. Great walk with Hollie yesterday. Physical exercise helps the mood. First day of June.