below normal

I know that I celebrated summer with my last post (was that actually a week ago?), however, after only a day or two, and only 1 day of swimming, summer ended and we are well into late October weather. We've been setting records - but not in a good way! Yesterday we were 11 degrees below normal temps. BOO HISS! Most of our plants have been hoisted outside (except a few that are less hardy), and are struggling in the cold rain. Carm has planted the garden and I’ve done most of the herbs when we could get out between raindrops. We need some heat units!

It's been a pretty quiet week with only a few outings. Yesterday we met up with Kirsten to meet the dog that she's fostering (and will maybe keep!). After we left her, we dropped into the greasy spoon restaurant that we used to frequent for ‘all day breakfast’, which is basically just 2 eggs, 3 slices of bacon, 2 pieces of regular sliced bread toast, and a tiny cup of average coffee - all for over $50!!!!! What the actual F! I'm still in shock.

We've been to the nursery a few times, so many herbs and vegetables! Carm planted tomatoes, zucchini, cucumber, and butternut squash in the lower garden, while the herbs, cherry tomatoes, etc. are all on the deck or patio.

Yesterday, we visited the pet store with Lupa to try out harnesses - I made a mess of the store as we tried every variation but in the end, nothing fit very well so we left disappointed. She's weirdly short in the body and shoulder… Maybe Lupa wasn't too upset though - she HATES her harnesses. Spike was the same which was the reason I retired him as a service dog, he loved coming to work with me but hated the uniform... 

We'll be at the Titanium rally in a few weeks so I'd hoped for something a little more comfortable for Lupa than what she currently wears. I want to be prepared for the chaos of being in a new place 😱 

On another more personal note, my moods seem to be leveling out with only minor blips. My energy levels are up - I'm getting lots done around the house. I'd spent months letting Carm pick up the slack so he was a bit surprised when I started getting things done myself. I just hope it lasts for at least a while…

I've been slowly going through my closet to sort out all the clothes that don't fit me anymore and have a giant bin overflowing already - I'll save them ‘just in case’ but gosh! That also means replenishing my wardrobe with things that fit - that's the fun part!

Carm got his 10th COVID vaccine today - I plan on waiting till the fall for mine.

We've been researching all inclusive resorts!

 

Awesome!

“increasing reps to 14”

“Cranberry cake made with rhubarb“

“lilacs blooming outside the living room window”

polar express

Hurrah! Today was my first swim of the year! I had to channel a polar bear to give me the courage to get in using the ladder but I managed to even dunk my head in the end. The water was a sparkling 66.5F/19.5C! I went in twice! The weather is meant to be raining tomorrow but I'm counting the days till the first outdoor shower after my morning workout - that will be absolute bliss 😊 

I'm enveloped in my favorite music while Carm and Pat watch Reacher… it's a bit too violent for me but they are sure to alert me to the shower scenes ;-)

Speaking of music, I tend to listen to the same stuff all the time while Carm gets tired of music quickly. For me a familiar song is like changing into my fluffiest pyjamas and curling up with a hot tea and buttered toast with honey - it really is that level of comfort.

Thank goodness for earphones! I love the earbuds that came with my phone. They have a noise reduction setting that blocks 99% of the sound. I only hear a faint mumble when Pat and Carm talk. He has to physically touch me to get my attention! 

Oh, so as you can guess with the swim, summer has blessed us for a few days. Sunday (Mother's Day) was gorgeous. We met up with Carm's siblings at the funeral home his parents are in and then went to Mom's for a visit. I was having a bad day and should have taken my emergency meds but for some stupid reason didn't think to 🤔 But it was a lovely day anyway.

Monday we danced and sweated the morning away at zumba. We scoped out the plant situation in the village and I browsed a local dress shop (I might have to go back someday not directly after zumba!) on our way home. The moment we arrived home there was a call from Trudie asking for some help. I won't get into details except to say that in the end everything worked out okay.

Tuesday the dogs had their jabs and then we took Trudie to the hospital to visit Leo - by the time we got home the day was done! It was another gorgeous day :-) Wednesday we got caught up around the house which left us time to clip Lupa on Thursday… and here we are! Time flashing by.

Carm skipped cutting the grass this morning so that we could hit up the nurseries before the long weekend, this time with money in hand… I got a few hanging plants and some herbs. Carm got some tomatoes, zucchini, and cucumbers! We aren't sure when we'll stick all this in the ground… Sunday night is forecast to be 4C which is too close to freezing to be comfortable!

Awesome!

“first swim!!!”

“pink flowers”

“did I mention first swim?”

driving miss Daisy

Spring is still teasing us with the occasional warm day interspersed with lots of cold days with and without rain. The ground is waterlogged in places… but the trees have thrown out leaves and some are starting flower buds - I figure we are a good week behind!

Has it really been almost 2 weeks since I last put my fingers to the keyboard? Time flies even when I'm dragging myself through life! I had several days of complete fatigue but slowly I've been getting my strength back… I figure it was the fallout of so many months of mood struggles, but every day has been better - both strength and most happily, mood! I've had several days in a row of feeling pretty much normal! Hurrah!!!

Last Friday I drove myself to Kirsten's to spend a few nights - we were signed up for a horse driving clinic! I almost turned the car around as I was so exhausted that day but I kept on driving… and I'm SO GLAD that I did! We had a fantastic time Saturday learning how to harness and then hitch. After that we got to ground drive the single horse that we were assigned to, and also a pair of huge percherons. The lines seemed to go every which way but I eventually figured out the steering…

They served us box lunches in a covered arena. It was good to be out of the wind… I froze all day even though I was wearing a t-shirt, sweatshirt, fleece jacket, all topped with a wind-breaker jacket! But it didn't ruin the day at all :-) I was however, very happy to get into a warm car at the end!

After lunch we got to drive! It was pretty cool and brought to mind my first time in the cart with Pat Wolfe, behind his two Fjord geldings - I was hooked on Fjords after being behind those lovely horse haunches!

Have you read anything by Ann Patchett? I checked ‘Truth and Beauty’ out of the library the other day and am enjoying it immensely… there are so many quotable passages that I find myself reading over and over, and sure enough, when I looked her up on GoodReads, there are hundreds gleaned from her many books. She reminds me a bit of Alice Munroe but much less depressing!

I'm hoping that she'll rub off on me a tiny bit!

Writing is a job, a talent, but it's also the place to go in your head. It is the imaginary friend you drink your tea with in the afternoon.

Ann Patchett, Truth & Beauty

Awesome!

“ground driving a massive team of percherons”

“driving an actual cart pulled by an actual horse!”

“going back to liquidation to find a second pair of the jeans that I bought last week and finding a pair”

“rose-breasted grosbeak at the feeder”

“Carm getting the garden dug and the pool open… although we are likely ages away from swimming”