I watched a
Netflix called The Discovery that was thought provoking. I may watch it again.
I missed some dialogue from the young lady character. It’s worth the time.
Hollie and I were at Freddies’ at 7:15, out at 8, then Grocery Outlet next, out
at 8:45 plus she bought gas. That was an efficient and productive visit to Brookings.
Now I’m settled back to covid routine and will get out and walk in the warm
wind. I enjoyed the change and the drive too.
Same old Sunday
without church. I don’t want to go to Gayle’s house as it was too hard to hear.
I’ll hope we get back in the building soon. Just walking, watering, and
puttering in the yard today following laundry and straightening up the house.
Both minor accomplishments but it will have
to do for now. I am not motivated to sort or purge drawers yet. That will
happen when it rains. Not reading, not writing. Way too much television and reruns.
I have Netlix.
Two hour
lunch with Michele. The spot we wanted on Pebble Beach was closed for a film
crew making a Nissan commercial so we found a tree at the park and had our huge
sandwiches. Then we walked to the plaque about the land gift from the Sauce
brothers. She is interested in old time lumbering for her story. Today is kind
of blah and foggy. The usual routine is in place so walking and weeding are the agenda again. The
season change is obvious.
Three good
strong walks yesterday and one trip to the store this morning. Feeling better.
I have to pay attention when walking or I slip into slow and wobbly. It’s up to
me to do it right. Michele and I are going to get a wrap at Art’s Barbecue and go
to the beach for lunch. We are planning togethers frequently as both of us are
social beings who need our connections. Walking and weeding are great but don’t
replace conversation. It’s what is now.
The last
class was full and meaningful. They learned a lot and enjoyed writing. Two of
them said they didn’t know they could write until the class. What more could a
teacher want to hear! They validated the visual prompt and the museum research.
I feel better on this cool morning and hope to be productive like maybe clean
house. For sure, I’ll get out and walk. I need a couple off grocery items too.
Lots of house and yard things I could be doing.
I enjoyed a
long conversation with Eileen yesterday. Caught up on heer news and she heard mine.
I miss friendly socializing a lot. I know I could be connecting more than I have
by e-mail, messaging, facebook eetc. Lot of tcch choices. I’m low energy and shaky
and not in the mood to push. I may not go out and walk. Still get steps on the rebounder.
Last writing class. Boo Hoo. We will listen to stories and evaluate the time
together. Maybe next winter…
My half-birthday!
The first two weeks were normal and then isolation began. So most of my year
has been in place where integration of households still goes on. I have been
weeding and walking, finding ways to be okay in spite of the world going mad.
The best part has been writing class and tomorrow will end it. I need
discipline for reading and writing and staying away from mindless TV. The rest
of my 85th year begins and I want it to be productive .
We planted
seeds in the new bed: onions, beets, and carrots to add to the kale babies. It’s
late but oh well, they either grow or not. The closet project is working out
and I have a bit of folding to do to fit everything in. I like the way it
works. Today I’ll go for a walk. Yesterday all my steps were on the rebounder.
I didn’t want to leave the house. It was warm and humid. The roses are
delightful. I enjoy them.
Peaches,
nectarines, plums, cauliflower, broccoli and green beans. Yes! Refrigerator
full of fresh produce feels like wealth. I had a minor meltdown yesterday about
the closet and sorting and severely purging the items that I know I won’t use.
This covid exhaustion is about loss and grief. Add that to the move and lifestyle
change and I was in tears. Today is much better. I can cope with the closet as
a symbol of adapting to the new normal. My choices, my consequences, my life.
The gas
company tech says it cannot lower the flame. I need to position pots and pans
astride the stove top to have less heat. He did fix the thermostat on the heater
I went the post office early with my health care check as they are slow with
the bad changes going on. I don’t want another late notice when I have sent it
in plenty of time. Hollie and I will go to the farmers’ market later looking
for peaches and Bosc pears.
Started the
day with a red potato harvest. Out under
the lemon tree, digging and scooping up potatoes. I enjoy the process and had a
fresh potato in my breakfast along with sausage and eggs. The gas company tec
is coming later to fix my cook top as it doesn’t go low enough to simmer and as
Megan pointed out, “It burns the heck out of everything” She didn’t tell me until she moved. I can’t
fix things that I don’t know need are brokent.
Writing class
was productive. I conferenced with each of them and felt very teacherly. Two of
them will not be finished by nest week and I hope they will use the first hour
to complete enough to present to the director. I enjoy guiding the process. Today
we will move furniture from Hollie’s room to my closet. She has been wanting
her antique secretary and I can use my chest of drawers. It’s taking time to
get everything integrated and we don’t have to hurry.
Day 177
Cool and damp..
Refreshing. No news about the dog. I left of message of interest at the shelter
and hope to hear something. Maybe he is already rehomed. Farmers’ market this morning. I want green
beans and broccoli. Chuck has the garden box set up and we can plant today,
Later, session seven for writing class. It is rereading, editing, rereading,
editing. Hard work. I enjoy this so much and maybe I will get asked again in
the winter. New LED bulbs brighten my house.
Cool day so I
can get back to weed pulling. More berry vines coming out on the north side.
They come under the fence and I can’t do anything about it. Chuck is building a
garden box that we will plant as soon aas it’s ready. We have onion sets,
carrot, beet, turnip and cabbage seeds for a winter crop. I saw a cute little dog
on the humane society page. May have to find out more about him. We have room
for another dog.
Monday. Cool and
gray. I’ll take it. Don’t like heat! Woke up feeling good after a couple of low
days. Cleaned up and now I’m ready for a busy day in the yard. Chuck is getting
the garden box ready and we have seeds to get our winter garden going. I like
being productive within the limits of activity. We’re getting used to the covid
routine. Hollie and I are planning more integration of our households. She is bringing
boxes from storage. Long range plans.
It will still
be too warm for us coast dwellers but better than 78. I decided not to attend
the morning prayer service at Gayle’s. We could be back in church in a couple
of weeks and I can wait for that. Our congregation is small and we sit apart anyway so let us meet
there. I miss singing the most. All my plants both flowers and vegetables are wet
and doing well. I wish I was. Poor sleep and shakes don’t make me happy.
The massage
knocked me out. Came home and went to sleep. Karen spends time on my neck and
shoulders as those are my tense spots. Later, family talk about the yard
changes and agreements about what needs to be done. Hollie had an emotional day
as she brought home boxes from storage . She realizes that her old life is gone
and settling here is permanent. I’m glad our changes are benefiting all of us.
It’s another hot day. Windows are open for the cool.
Big deal of the
day: massage with Karen. She does deep work and adds her special skills. We are
planning a gettogether with Rosalie and Michele for birthday celebrations
within the covid limitations. It’s already warm outside and calm. Chuck and
Hollie went to Freddie’s early and plan to do some poking around in their storage
unit. There are items that Hollie would like to live with here. I encouraged
her to make this house her home as I am doing in the little house.
Writing class
was great. I sat with each one and listened to their stories and their plans.
They are interesting women and I’m especially pleased that the research day at
the museum influenced their writing. Two will have Tolowas stories, one about
the films made here, and one about early doctors and medicines. Being with them
is stimulating and gives me a chance to use my brain too. A routine day is starting
with a warm and calm morning. There is
always weeding and watering.
Wednesday and
that means writing class. It is the high point of the week. Today they will
write the bones of their stories and write, write, write. Three of them are
ready to go for it without further instruction. The others need guidance to get
going. Yesterday was more vigorous weeding and good walking. That’s the best
kind of isolation day. Five months now and no end in sight. Just grateful for the way we are living. Staying
away from the news is helpful too.
Yesterday I
balanced a vigorous yard cleaning with a food tantrum. I enjoyed filling the
green bin with weeds and will admit that there is not much nutrition in ice
cream and potato chips. Sometimes the anxiety comes out in weird ways. Minnie
is failing fast and I have noticed less presence. Even at cookie time in the evening, she seems vague.
She is my sweet girl and it hurts to see her struggle with seeing and hearing.
It’s damp with fog so no smoke.
Day 168
The morning prayer
service was lovely in the forest setting. I miss singing. Zack’s sermon was on finding
purpose in everyday living. Appropriate at this time of new normal. It was a
productive field trip. They have something, flowers or vegetables, in every square
inch of their property. It gave us ideas for developing the backyard now that
the rocks are gone. Then we went on a trip to the ocean and the many tourists
without masks. We picked up dinner at the Chart Room.
Going to
church at Gayle’s lovely garden. She has
been hosting for a couple of weeks but this is the first time I’m joining. No
singing. No fellowship but lessons and being together. Yesterday was okay. No
thrills or falls. The roses continue to delight me. All the growing things are
happy. Later Chuck and I are going to see Ellen and Art’s garden for ideas to develop
our backyard. They grow a lot of vegetables in raised beds and greenhouses in a
small area.
Poor sleep.
The dogs were restless too. Must have been a full moon. Jake chewed bones and
dragged his bedding around. Minnie dumped my laundry basket and threw the
clothes around. Who knows what was going on for them? I was up a couple of
times and had trouble going back to sleep. No agenda today. Not going to the farmers’
market. I put a Cornish game hen in my little crockpot. Worked well. I added green
pepper, tomatoes, onion, and greens from our own garden.
The hedge is
back to normal size and shape. It is a relief to have it taken care of. I let
things bother me too long. Another example is how long the bird of paradise was
a problem and then, shazam, it’s gone. It’s been a year since to close call
with the truck. I wish I could say that I was fully recovered but in truth I am
not. Antoher example of letting things stick in my mind before I do something about
it.
At the
hospital at 8 for blood testing. Home for coffee and food! I wake up hungry. It’s
damp and cool, good walking weather. The
guy I found is taming the overgrown hedge. It has bothered me waiting for the
lawn guy to do something. It is obvious that they aren’t going to . I’m hoping
Chuck will do the overseeing as I don’t know how to direct the work. Writing
class was wonderful again. They wrote lots and were very tired at 6 PM.
Doctor visit wasn’t informative but I will get bloodwork soon. It’s needs to be fasting and I had a banana. The brain disorder can’t be fixed only helped by keeping myself well and moving. Use Claratin and netti pot etc. All things that I already do. So, I’m off for a walk and will do my best to keep moving and doing what needs to be done. I have no pressing activities until I go to writing class. Today’s processes are character profiles and dialogue.
Wet and cold.
I will walk later after the laundry etc. Best thing yesterday was hot berry crumble
complete with ice cream. Hollie made it with blueberries, raspberries and strawberries.
Yummy. Not much else to say. I’m feeling flat and unrested after another anxious
night. I don’t know how to cope with the constant hypervigilance. Avoiding news
helps as does exercise but I need connections with my people. Today I’ll e-mail,
text, message, and facebook to fill the need. Maybe even a social distance
visit.
Art and Ellen
brought a bag of yellow and patty pan squash for us.. We had a brief visit in
the driveway. Megan stopped to pick up her dogs. She isn’t well and has no health
insurance so I offered her a couple of checks. This place is a medical desert
and we put up with less than substantial care.
Today is another Monday. I might
vacuum. I will walk and find some yard to water and weed. My breakfast included
produce from our garden.
Delicious surprise
yesterday. My Yurok friend Tenayah brought us fresh caught salmon! What a
treat. Chuck barbecued it while Hollie made a luscious salad. I did the yard chores that I set for myself
plus watering and weeding among the roses. Today I’m not going to the outdoor
church service at Gayle’s house. The fog
is on the ground and dripping. I don’t want to sit and get a chill. Next time I
will try it. I walked to Safeway early and it was cold.
Picked a zucchini
and curly kale leaves to add to my eggs and ham. Yummy breakfast. I enjoyed Roz’
first blog. It was about relics on your property. Chuck has been digging up old
barn parts in my backyard. I have lived here 44 years and they barn must have been here in the early 1900’s. I have
neglected a weeding promise to clear the day lilies. I will do it. Berry vines
have infiltrated from across the fence. August begins and it’s the same.
