R.I.P David

Thursday was a gorgeous sunny day. Our morning walk was almost a good one except the trail we were on (Ricki Ave.) begins with a long uphill stretch and going up hill causes my Achillies tendons to be stretched and that is painful for my left foot. It also gets my right hip going. But once we arrived at the top of the hill where the trail flattens out, I was fine.

We came home and fussed about while Sheba rested, and then we had an early lunch, after which, I took some sun on the recliner to warm up. It stays very cool in the house, so the spa and the recliner are my way to warm up. Once warm again, I came indoors to finish reading Behind the Scenes at the Museum. I’m sad it’s over. I’m a major Kate Atkinson fan. In the evening, I began reading Virginia Evans’ book, The Correspondent.

And then came work. I watered nearly all the garden beds. I’ve just a wee bit of watering to do this morning to finish the job. I’ve also to vacuum everywhere. There’s as much forest inside as out, thanks to my lack of vacuuming for several days.

There were some plants really suffering from a lack of water. I’d left watering too long, but all is well now and I’m back on my feet, so I’ll be able to stay on top of things again. I’ve a lot of work to do in the yard, but no deadline and oodles of time to do it.

I had a long chat with Steve. He’s made his airline reservations for his visit. Although I have had some issues with his visits because he is so intense, I am exceptionally grateful for his friendshihp and loyalty. We’ve made a reservation at Mahle House for dinner already for when he is here. It’s a tradition.

Last night, I was incredibly tired and so I went to bed at 8:30. I read for a while, but not for very long at all, and then went to sleep. 

Today, I shall water, vacuum, and then I will begin the huge job of raking the entire yard and toting all the detritus to the organic dump behind the fence. On Wednesday, we had a sudden and short violent windstorm that caused billions of growth caps to descend from the trees. At one point, I looked out the window, and it looked exactly like a vicious inter blizzard, but it was caps falling, not snow.

At noon, I shall go to visit Stacy because our plans for a wee visit yesterday went south. I’ll be having a light lunch with Stace and Bryce, then Her Highness and I will walk at Drumbeg Park before coming home to work in the yard some more before dinner.

My big thrill of the day was realizing that the insect bite on my forehead was starting to heal. I don’t know what bit or stung me, but whatever it was produced a very nasty reaction. My aching foot, my infected eye and the bite/sting had me totally out of order for several days. I am very glad to be operational again.

Today began on a very sad note. I was crushed to read that David Hockney had died. What a loss for the world. He was a brilliant, curious, brave, gay artist who didn’t give a fig for the big bucks. He didn’t sell most of his work, and he didn’t despair when a painting that he sold to a gallery for $17,000 sold for forty million!

Visitor

This guy (above) came flying directly toward the window I face when I am at my computer, which is where I was when it flew, seemingly on a crash course for my window, yesterday afternoon. I was so glad to be here when he did it. At the last second, he veered up. I’ll bet there was a small bird in the Virginia Creeper growing on the wall.

I went outside to see if I could see it in the yard. I searched but couldn’t see it. Then, again while I was at the computer, he flew onto my fence, and that’s when I grabbed my camera and took the photo. It stayed for quite a while and then flew off, and when it flies its large wingspan makes it a magnificent sight—as is watching it turn its head.

Another wonderful thing about yesterday was walking the entire way with our friends and then, in the afternoon, the Elder Cedar trail later in the day. My foot hurts, and I can’t stretch my Achillies tendon, but I can walk in a way that is bearable that doesn’t affect my right hip. The best part: I don’t dread having to walk Her Highness.

I did not work at all yesterday. I read, I napped and I did little domestic chores. It was a wonderful day. There was, however, one disappointment: my speech is suddenly much more difficult. I must work hard to get things out with friends with whom I’m normally fluent. But there’s even good news here. I just don’t care anymore. My capacity changes frequently. I’m used to it.

I had two spas yesterday. I nearly always have one at around 6:00. And it was so lovely late in the afternoon, I had another lovely soak before dinner. Hot weather is coming. I’m soon going to be spending a lot of time with a hose in my hand. I now have two dozen clipped two-litre plastic pop containers. The flat end is cut off, and I screw on a spike that sticks into the ground. I fill the bottle with water, and it slowly drips out to feed individual plants.

I’m going to have a huge harvest of raspberries and apples. I’ll have only a modest crop of blueberries this year, and this season is the first fruiting of the Plum tree, so the crop is tiny. But it’s enough to delight.

Last night poor Ethel had her annual epileptic seizure. It’s exceptionally hard on her. She thrashes about and races into things. She is at the mercy of a devil, but she is fully recovered this morning and I’m spoiling her with love and affection.

It’s a beautiful morning! We’ll walk and I’ll water and this afternoon we’ll go to visit Stacy to look at photos of her new puppy—a Great Dane!

Healing

Tuesday began dark and very wet. It wasn’t raining at all, but there had been a good soaking during the night. I was glad for my garden beds and the forest. We were up at 4:30, and I busied myself with chores. I hadn’t done dishes in days, and cattery needed cleaning, and the recycling had to be sorted and stored for pick up. I was happy that I didn’t need to water the beds. I could read and relax all day.

We walked and it went okay. Every time I go for a walk, I must figure out how to walk so that my right hip doesn’t hurt. The morning walk went pretty well, but I had to stop and rest often. I don’t have to rest for long. A short break and I am good to go again.

When we got home, we had lunch, then I read more of the book I’m loving, and then for over an hour, I prepped for cooking the pork tenderloin I bought. I’m making it in a Thai sauce. I loved the video I saw of cooking the dish. Once the prep was done, Her Highness and I went shopping and then for a walk, and my afternoon walk went very well. 

I was happy, the pain was very, very mild, and my pace was more human and less elderly. I felt very good about the walk, even though it was not a long one, and then we came home and I got busy cooking the tenderloin. It’s a complex recipe and a lot of fragrant ingredients. I enjoyed cooking it very much, and I anticipated a great evening of a movie and the dinner.

By mid-afternoon, the sky had cleared and it became bright and sunny, but it remained rather cool for June. The temperature only rose to 16°, which is wonderfully comfortable. While the pork cooked, I returned to reading until it was dinnertime for the brood.

The tenderloin was delicious, but what a lot of work it was to cook. I have enough for three more dinners, however, so that’s a bonus. I watched a heartbreaking movie called Indignation. It’s a film adaptation of a Phillip Roth story, and I don’t remember being so affected by a film in a long time. I was a mess at its end. Such a powerful story of regret and loss. It broke my heart, but that happens when great stories are very well told.

Today will be mixed weather as was yesterday, but tomorrow the eternal sunshine returns and temperatures by the weekend are predicted to be closer to 30°. Yuck! Too hot by far.

Recovery

Monday began with a walk with our friends. I walked for an hour at a more satisfactory pace. I had pain, but it was bearable, and it was only my foot, not both my foot and my hip. I could walk more naturally yesterday morning. It still hurts, and it’s still swells, but there’s not near as much swelling now.

Then we went shopping. Then we went back to the village because I did not read the recipe fully, and it calls for lemongrass sauce. I’ll just add rind to the recipe. And then we went for our second walk. A woman came by as Her Highness was pooping and I was intently watching her poop. I looked at her for a millisecond and returned to H.H. I felt rude, but I’ve been trying to decide if I need to have another stool sample taken. Based on what I saw today, I feel that we are in the clear for Sheba.

When we got home, it started to rain. It was light but had drops bigger than mist. I’ve become a rain connoisseur. It got satisfyingly wet yesterday through the early evening. I was delighted and celebrated with a fire. Soon we were all in the living room. Fred and Ethel were each on a chair, close to the fire. I was on the chaise, and Sheba was on the floor beside me. We are all keen on heat.

Light rain, a fire, Diet Coke, and Kate Atkinson with a family that loves me (and can’t talk back).

This is what I see through the door jus to my left as I sit at my desk. That’s my Climbing Hydrangea growing on the trellis I had built on the right. Above, the red are rose blossoms. The entire lower tear of the fountain has been eaten by Ivy. I love it because it makes the fountain look old and connected to the earth. And the dark purple leaves of the Japanese Maples, one in the courtyard behind the fountain, and a beauty just at the end of the deck. Fuchsias in the planters.

All of this began as baby plants, but it was all created eight years ago. If I go outside, I feel good. I love what I see. I love my playground. It still thrills me to be l living in a very comfortable home, with guest rooms and a hot tub, on an island, disengaged from the continent and all the craziness that goes on amongst people over there.

And with a huge garden, nice neighbours, stores close by, no parking problems, no parking fees, no traffic lights at all, and infrequent stop signs. Beaches and a trail network to die for in a thousand-acre natural park of untouched forest (except for the trails and some trail signs): this is paradise.

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We had real rain late yesterday and during the night. My rain barrels are full again. It’s predicted to clear today—it’s overcast with thick clouds this morning—and get quite warm. Endless sunshine is returning and hot temperatures (30°)!

We’ll walk this morning together, and I shall read until the sun returns and then there is plenty of yard work to be done. We must walk early this morning and then I must stay home all the time until my Tezspire arrives because it has to go into the fridge, I must sign for it, and I must return the packaging from last month.