Sheba Doesn't Like to Walk

Tuesday began bright and sunny, but soon clouds came in, leaving large patches of blue sky, but we had a mostly cloudy day. 

I took Her Highness to the Ricki Ave. trail to walk, but she refused to join me. SO, off we went to shop for supplies with which to make another curried rice salad, this time adding lots of small scallops and shrimp that I fried up in lots of my new yellow curry. Dwight eats seafood, but not meat or poultry, so the salad will serve us well for lunch when he is here.

On the way home, I picked up some soil with which to surround the new heather plants I added to the front bed, and then we went to Rollo Park where Sheba was willing—almost enthusiastic—to walk on the grass. Then we came home, her to chill in the yard until lunchtime, and me to make the salad.

When I was done, I decided to chaise myself and read instead of watering as rain is predicted while we are in Nanaimo. I’ve got an early afternoon appointment at the pacemaker clinic today, and a date with the sushi master at Quality Foods for lunch. 

I read some more in the afternoon because Sheba refused to walk on a trail she is always very willing to explore. It’s a popular dog walking path that’s rich in foreign urine, so I was surprised at her balking. However, reading more of Angle of Repose was extremely delightful.

The bird frenzy on the fountain was spectacular today. As I stood still beside it, at one point there were thirteen birds on the fountain edges and om the stick I’ve jammed into the bowl for them to perch upon. They move me because they are so trusting and I am so happy to be providing so many birds with water. 

In three months, I shall be entering my eightieth year. I turn seventy-nine in early December. I’m rather chuffed about becoming eighty, so I shall start thinking of myself as that age immediately after this year’s birthday. Most of my life I have lied about my age. I only stopped a decade ago. I picked up the habit in elementary school. I wanted to be the same age as the rest of the kids, so I added one year to my age and the habit stuck.

It’s overcast. I should water, but I will spot water before we leave, then late this morning Her Highness and I will go to Nanaimo to do some shopping and to go to the pacemaker clinic. We’ll be ruching home immediately after the appointment.

Sheba Walks!

Oh, joy of joys! Sheba walked like her usual self at Rollo Park yesterday morning, and that left me keen to try walking the Elder Cedar trail with her later in the day. When she feels better, I feel much better. It was beautiful in the early morning at Rollo Park. There are so many signs of the end of Summer; it’s always emotional when the seasons are in transition.

And the birds were back on the fountain yesterday—scores of them at a time. Everything was moving b ack to normal. When we returned from Rollo Park, I got busy watering the garden beds. Although it had been two days since I watered last, no plants were wilting. Another signal of the changing seasons. However, I love this time of year. The air is fresh and temperatures are comfortable. I love lying in the sun again. It’s cool enough that I don’t overheat; neither do I burn.

I was very tired yesterday. I had a nap early in the morning and another at noon after I’d done half of the watering. When I got up, I finished the watering and then Her Highness and I walked the Elder Cedar trail. It felt so, so good to be back to normal walking together.

Last night was the usual, except the TV is huge and I love watching movies more now than I have for a long time. 

Today has dawned bright and sunny but the house is chilly now in the morning. I was tempted to light a fire this morning, but I didn’t. But I likely will tonight for a treat. So, without heat from the fire to warm me, I had a morning soak in the tub.

The yellow curry I ordered from Amazon arrived yesterday, so I’ll be making another batch of curried rice salad. It was incredibly popular at the brunch with Pete and Ali. Everyone wanted some of the salad left at the end of the lunch to take home. The batch I make today will be even better with the yellow curry. Dwight is a vegetarian, so he’ll have this salad to snack on.

My Excellent Day

Sunday was divine. I had the greatest day, and all I did was read, clean and tidy. I was full of energy when I got up. The overcast sky and the dullness of the day inspired me to clean up and tidy up the house. I loved bringing order back to our home. It makes me feel relaxed and comfortable to see everything in its place and looking good.

As I sat on the chaise reading, I revelled in the privilege of retirement. I felt sublime knowing I could do whatever I wanted, and because it was My Day, I could not do whatever I didn’t want to do.

Early in the morning, I lit a fire. I love a fire on a dull day. I thought to go to Silva Bay for fish tacos, but I knew Sheba wanted to be home and resting all day. She is, however, showing signs of improvement. I have her two front feet bandaged; the bandages help her walk. What gave me hope, was taking her out in the afternoon and seeing her interested in smells and in her friend, Sosa’s, yard.

I’m loving Angle of Repose as much as I did the first time. Wallace Stegman is a masterful writer; he makes characters shine and I can feel the dryness of New Almaden, the mining town where the novel is set. What I did not know when I first read the book, is that the letters, reportedly written by Susan Ward, the novel’s central figure, were actual letters written by Mary Hallock Foote, so now I’m learning about her—and what a woman she is!

Mid-afternoon, I had a lovely long soak, and while quietly floating in the wonderfully warm water, I listened to birds I don’t remember hearing before. Their song was delightful. There were two of these birds making music together, and I loved it.

And then there were none. Suddenly, there was no bird song and no birds on my fountain. All day, there had been five-to-ten of them bathing and drinking, but when I came back to my desk after drying myself and dressing after the spa, nada. There was nothing. Well, there was one: a Cooper’s Hawk. He was walking around the yard and then sitting on the fence awaiting dinner, but no birds came to the fountain. 

What a majestic beastie he is. Birds of prey are truly beautiful creatures. He has a grey coat and stunning long striated tail feathers, and he is sleek like a bullet. His chest and the feathers on the inside of his wings are also striated. He is truly a work of art—a deadly work of art for small birds.

Last night, on Pete and Ali’s recommendation, I watched a bio pic of Robbie Williams in which Robbie’s character is played by a CGI chimpanzee. I was surprised to find myself really enjoying it. It’s called Better Man.

Today, we’re back to sunshine. I shall be watering, and I hope to find Sheba willing to go for a modest walk today.

A Fabulous Brunch with Friends

I reckon that the parents of children who die of measles should be charged with murder for they ignored science and caused the death of their child.

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Saturday, I was outside at 6:30 watering. It felt good to know that all my floral children were well fed. I wanted to get the watering done early because I had a Zoom call with John and Bunny booked for 8:30. (John chose the time!) 

We talked for an hour and a half, and when I was done I had a spa and missed a call from Dwight, so I called him when I was changed. He’s coming to visit on Thursday, staying until Saturday. I’m terribly excited! By the time we finished talking, there wasn’t time to go to the farmers’ market, so I just idled here until it was time to go to Pete and Ali’s to join them and some other neighbours for a pot-luck brunch in their garden gazebo. Sheba came with me.

It was a wonderful brunch! I felt blessed to have such fabulous neighbours, and it was terrific to be together in the shade of Pete and Ali’s gazebo eating delicious food. Nancy, Ron, Pete, Ali, Wendy and me. What a great afternoon!

When I got home, it was mid-afternoon and so Sheba, and I went to Rollo Park where she could walk on the soft grass. It’s her favourite place to walk, and she did okay. When we came home, she slept and I read until dinnertime. We all ate and I watched things on YouTube rather than watch a movie. I couldn’t get into a film last night.

Today dawned overcast. It felt gloomy and unlike Summer. I lit a small fire to warm up the house and to help dry laundry that I hang in my curtain rails to dry. (I never use my dryer except for sheets in during the cold and wet months.) It will be a lovely slow day at Pinecone Park today.