SPACE Work and Watering

Friday was a very slow day. We walked of course, and the only work that I did was to water most of the garden beds. I did all those I didn’t do on Friday on Saturday morning after our morning walk. It was cloudy on both days, and rain is in the forecast for the coming week. THANK GOD!!!

I read and did work for SPACE. I’m perhaps at my best with SPACE doing writing and editing, and there were lots of both to do on Friday. And although I love reading, I was sad to be rapidly approaching the end of my last Kate Atkinson book about P.I. Jackson Brodie. However, I have her book, Behind the Scenes at the Museum, to read.

I shopped a little on both days, but little was accomplished in the way of work in the yard and gardens on Friday. It’s become rather chilly again. It was 11° when we went out for our morning walk on both mornings, and it’s the sunshine that gets me into high gear for yard and garden work.

Saturday, after I finished watering all the garden beds, I went to Sandy’s place. She’s my neighbour and she’s becoming a regular lunch date for me. We go to the Surf. On Saturday, she had a plant sale, so off I went and I came home with some good plants to help fill the blank spaces in my beds. I like chaotic beds, chock full of plants. Sandy likes space between plants and order. 

The sun came out in the afternoon, but did I do work? No. I did not, and I have over twenty plants to put into the garden. Perhaps today, my mojo will return and I’ll get at least some of them into the beds. Yesterday, I’ve no idea why, but I just couldn’t muster the drive to work. Sigh. But we had great walks and I finished my book.

Late in the afternoon, my mojo returned, but it was too late in the day to get much done. However, the front yard is whacked. The weeds were thirty centimetres tall or more, so Pinecone Park looks far more cared for now when it is viewed from the street. I have plans for more work today.

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Sadly, the rain predicted for the coming week is gone from the forecast. Damn! The good news in the weather is that it’s going to be sunny but not hot. The highs will be in the high teens or 20°, and that’s a lovely and comfortable temperature zone.

My plan is to get some of the very many plants that I’ve purchased recently into the garden today. It’s cloudy this morning, and 10°. It’s chilly in the house, and because it’s My Day, I’m going to light the fire to warm things up a little after I post this morning. My Day is for self-indulgence.

I don’t see Dr. S. this week, but I do next week, and I plan to go back to once a month again. I feel stable now, but speech is very definitely much harder now than in was prior to the end of March. But I am not complaining because I rarely have seizures during these heavenly endless days alone.

But Beth is coming this Summer, and Steve, and Dwight has been ruminating on coming to visit. And in August, I go do Di’s for Ashlee’s wedding. I’m looking forward to all my visits with friends.

Day of Rest

Thursday dawned cloudy, but blue sky in the west said that it was going to be a brighter day today than it was yesterday. But it’s cool, and I’m fine with that. 

I began my day with a spa, and then I unloaded all the plants I bought at Walmart, and the groceries and pet supplies. Then I took Her Highness for a short walk. It’s all I could sustain with my aching foot. Then we came home for my Zoom session with my fellow neurogenic stutterers in the UK. When we were done, it was time for lunch.

Judging by the weather, I may not have to water again until Sunday, so I have lots of time before then to plant, so I decided to read and relax after lunch to have some down time. After my recent bout with muteness and the partial recovery that came from getting lots of rest, I chose to give myself time yesterday afternoon to recharge.

I napped and I plodded through two afternoon walks. I had zero energy all day. I kept thinking about my days before going to Nanaimo when I was stoned on the joy of working in the yard. That energy, that desire was dead in me yesterday, so I just lazed my way through the day. 

Seeing Dr. S. more often means having to think about myself. We talk about what I am experiencing today. Sometimes, of course, my infamous past is referenced but only in passing. It’s the present that is my curse: living with the knowledge of my past. The madman’s diary grows.

Last night I felt a certain envy for work today. We’ll walk with our friends and then hopefully I’ll feel inclined to take some little steps in the yard and garden. I’ve never let the yard go before. I’ve always whacked the weeds down because leaving it made the yard look ‘rough’ to me. But this year, I’m not yet inclined to whack any of it yet. However, the trees have fruited, the front yard may get partially whacked soon.

It’s overcast this morning, but it will likely clear later in the morning, and it remains on the cool side. It’s 12° this morning. Another day in paradise.

A Day in Nanaimo

Tuesday evening was the usual except for one thing. It began with dinner on the chaise watching a movie and ended with me waking up on the chaise at 1:23. I have no idea what time I fell asleep, and I have never in my life fallen asleep for so long while watching the TV. The TV was on, but muted, so no noise disturbed me as I slept.

Yesterday morning, I slept in until 6:00. I had a lot to do before I left. I wanted to ensure I had all I needed packed into the car for me and for Sheba, and I had a lot of watering to do in the backyard beds before we left the house to catch the ferry at 10:00 on another glorious morning. It had cooled down; the high for the day was predicted to be 17°. No more temperatures in the twenties.

Once the watering was done, it was time to take Sheba on her first walk of the day, and then we headed for the ferry as the clouds rolled in. I was happy to see the clouds and I hoped for rain. All went as planned with the ferry. Once on the big island, I fetched sushi at Thrifty’s Foods and then we went to Bowen Park where we both had lunch and a nice long walk. Wildflowers were blooming everywhere (see below)! Then, we were off to the hospital. Her Highness, I hope, slept in the car.

It was quick at the hospital. Once the tests were done, we were off to Walmart to shop for kitty litter, dog food, and a lot of plants. Then we left for Westwood Lake Park, a favourite place where we went for a long leisurely walk on a great trail around a beautiful lake. It’s just the most beautiful place to chill, but it would have been nicer in sunshine and with a little more heat. After that, we headed for Mahle House.

Kris, Steve and Nancy were already there when I arrived for my sixth time there to enjoy their tasting dinner menu. My friends had never been there, so I was very excited to introduce them to such a fabulous place and such delicious food. The restaurant is in a historical home, and they grow much of the food they serve. Fabulous! We all had an incredibly good time!

Then we raced to the ferry, only to wait an hour for it to load. I got home just before 22:00. I was exhausted. We all went directly to bed.

It’s still cloudy this morning. I lit a fire because I’m tired of being cold. Today is going to be a slow, slow, easy day. Yesterday exhausted me and my foot was killing me all day. I walked 15,000 steps yesterday. Today: Chaise time. But I have lots of plants to install in the garden. 

Sea Blush was blooming everywhere!

And there were billions of Camas and Grand Camas blooming as well.

Grand Camas.

Salmonberry.

No idea.

Honeysuckle grows wild throughout the forest and parks.

Wee Daisies.

No Idea, but a beautiful fragrant tree.

No idea.

Thimbleberry.

No idea.

No idea.

Horsetails.

No idea.

Horse Chestunuts.

Bluebells.

Click to enlarge. Westwood Lake Park.

Westwood Lake Park

And then, at the end of the afternoon.... Mahle House.