And Repeat...

 I can’t believe that February begins on Sunday. It seems like Christmas was just a few days ago. February can be the worst month of Winter. It’s when we often get snow, but I am hoping like mad that our luck holds and we get through what is often the coldest month of our year without any white stuff. We’ve been lucky so far.

Yesterday morning was so cold I sat at my computer with my electric blanket covering my legs. My desk is as far away from the fire as you can get in my house, and so my hand that works my mouse gets mighty cold. It was a blessing to have the blanket on me. I could easily warm my hands. Also, I got a little space heater for my en suite bathroom. During our cold spells, I can now get the room a little warmer before having my morning shower. My little bathroom is only warm during the Sunmner, so this innovation is a very welcome one.

I waited to walk Her Highness until 9:00, and then I dropped her off at home and I went into the village to go to the dentist for a cleaning. When I got home, I was time to feed the brood and then I got on the chaise to read with the electric blanket on me. I love that we had ten days of sunshine (with fog), but it always comes with cold temperatures. I’m glad to be going back to rainy weather and warmer temperatures today.

I Zoomed with Dianne mid-afternoon. We are regular chatters and it’s always fun for me as I speak rather well with her. In a couple of weeks, she’s going to Parksville to visit mutual friends, so I may go over to the big island to meet them for lunch one day.

We went to Elder Cedar for our afternoon walk and as we were nearing the car park and the end of our walk, suddenly, there in the trail ahead of us, was the friendliest, most gorgeous tail wager. Salish is a beautiful four-year old black Labrador who instantly melted my heart. And his owner loved seeing how much I loved his dog. We had a lovely chat before each of us going our own way.

Last night was, of course, the usual. I never tire of our evening routine.

This morning when I went out for wood, it was 5° and it felt almost balmy after the sub-zero morning temperatures of the past week. I go for a pneumonia shot late this morning, and the rest of the day will be walking and reading.

Not Much to Say

 Sunday, My Day, was a gentle day for the most part. We walked early in cool sunny weather, and when we got home, I lit a roarer of a fire to get the house toasty warm. I’d lit a small fire at 5:00, but the house was still cool when we got home from the walk. Hence the bonfire.

At 13:00 I went to Ron and Cheryl’s to watch their slide shows of Ecuador and Peru. They are going to invite me back to see their slides of India. They are lovely people but I’m not terribly keen on watching slide shows. I was very happy to get home and reunited with Her Highness. We went immediately for our afternoon walk.

The evening was the usual.

I go to the dentist this morning for a cleaning, and this afternoon I video chat with Dianne. Otherwise, I shall be tending the fire and reading. It was -2° when I rose, so the bonfire happened early this morning. Today should be the end of the cold, for tomorrow the rains return.

THE LOVE THAT REMAINS

Saturday dawned bright and cool. I did not rush to take Her Highness out for a walk. As I dressed, I was not looking forward to going outside, regardless of the sunshine. I hate being cold. It’s going to be much warmer come Wednesday with the arrival of clouds and rain.

On the news, I heard that fuckwad in the White House is threatening a 100% tariff on Canadian goods partly because of Carney’s speech, but largely because of Carney’s trade deal with China. And I must say that although such a tariff would be dreadful for our country, I am proud to be a citizen of a country causing that festering pusshole distress.

When we did get outside, as always happens, I thoroughly enjoy being outside in nature. I just wish I didn’t have bone spurs. The forest is full of sticks on the wayside that are extruding ice. It’s beautiful to see hair ice, as it is called, because you so rarely see bright white in the forest.

After walking, we went into the village because I had to pick up a prescription. While I was shopping, I came upon Sue, a lovely woman whom I’d often see in the 707 Park walking her dog, Monty. She told me that Monty had died and I stood there in the grocery store crying. I’m such a woos when it comes to pets. I was heartbroken to learn about Monty. He was the happiest dog that you could ever meet. He was a Lakota, and he loved me as I loved him. 

When I got home, I did some reading before lunch, cozy warm on the chaise. And soon thereafter it was time to feed the brood. I’m feeding Fred more often as I try to fatten him up. Ethel is chunky compared to Fred.

Aidan has told me that my salary for the work I’m doing with SPACE on a grant we got to address accessibility issues for non-verbal people in ten agencies that have caused problems for us, will be about two grand. I am thrilled because this opportunity lessens the impact of the scam on me. I’ll be earning half of what was stolen from me and that is very good news.

I read through the early afternoon, and then we went to Drumbeg to walk. Drumbeg is the prettiest place on the island, but it’s way down at the south end so we don’t go there often. But on a sunny day in Winter, it’s a lovely place to be. I could see the enormous mountains in Washington State, including the volcano, Mount Baker, and the sound of waves breaking on the shore is a treat. It’s truly a lovely soundtrack to walking in the warm sunshine.

Then we came home. I read some more before dinner, and then all our regular routines began. I do love our evenings. Often, I have Fred or Ethel beside me, and Sheba under at my feet that dangle over the end of the chaise so that my spurs don’t hurt.

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It’s another sunny and cold morning. We’ll walk a couple of times and this afternoon, my neighbours invited me over to see a slide show of their trip to Equator. I couldn’t decide which would be more fun, going or staying home and sticking needles in my eyes. But they are nice people, and they have kindly invited me so I will go. I’d rather be home all day on My Day with my beloveds and my book.

Numbers

 Our walk, yesterday morning, was a long one. It was cold and damp, but it wasn’t raining, so we were happy, and it felt good to be giving Her Highness so long a morning walk. When we were done, we came home and soon thereafter had lunch, after which I got on the couch to read and fell asleep. But not for long. I had to fetch some wood for the fire when I woke up.

In the early afternoon, the fog burned off and the day was filled with brilliant sunshine, and the temperature warmed to 6°, so Her Highness and I headed out for our second walk of the day, and we made it another long one. My foot was killing me when we got home, but I was happy that Sheba had two long walks. When the rains return, we tend to take short walks.

Towards the end of our walk, I felt very odd. I ran out of energy, and I was a little worried about making it back to the car. I slowed my pace and forced myself to keep going. I opened my coat and took off my hood and gloves because I felt hot. When I did make it to the car, I collapsed into the seat and just rested there with my eyes closed for quite a while.

When we got back, I changed my t-shirt because the one that I was wearing was soaking wet. I was very happy to be back home. I collapsed onto the chaise and turned on the TV and fell asleep. Sheba, too, lay down to nap. I was happy when it was dinner time. I fed everyone and then took my dinner to the table beside the chaise and started searching for a movie.

This morning began with good news. I weighed myself and, as usual, I feared the worst, but instead, I was rewarded with excellent news. I weighed 71.6 kilos (158 lbs.) and that’s what I’ve weighed for the past month. I’ve been eating as much as I want and not gaining or losing any weight. I reckon I’ve found my natural body weight. Hooray!

And while we’re dealing with numbers, my phone may have given me insight into why I ran out of steam yesterday afternoon when I was walking with Her Highness. I walked 12,000 steps on our two walks yesterday. Sheba, my bone spurs and I covered a lot of ground and that may have been too much for me. But I was chuffed by how far we’d walked.

And more good numeric news this morning comes from the temperature. It was 3° at 5:00 am. It stayed above zero last night and that thrills me because my fuchsias are all still blooming and outside without any anti-freeze. I have straw to protect them with but so far this season, I haven’t used it. Our walks today will be a little less cold because not only is it slightly warmer this morning there’s no wind.

We’ll go into the village today, I’ll read, we’ll walk and tonight will be the usual dinner and a movie. I’ve no SPACE homework to do, so I may work on my collection of essays. It doesn’t matter what I do; every day is a great day at Pinecone Park because I love life again thanks to Tezspire, and I have three devoted friends that make every day spectacular.