I'm 10 Again!

  

Last evening, I was ten years old. I got all excited when this ice cream truck came along my street playing music. It stopped at the foot of my driveway because some young people from somewhere arrived with their coins for an ice cream treat. Next time, I’m going out there to buy myself something!

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Busy, busy, busy. Friday was non-stop activity starting from 4:46 precisely. I did laundry, vacuumed the whole house, sorted recycling, did a lot of dishes, and I put many things away that I had left out because my foot has been so sore. Plus, I watered the beds that I didn’t water on Thursday. I did all that work before going to meet our friends to walk in the 707 Park.

I was walking quite well, but three-quarters of our way along the trail, I turned and headed back to the car with Her Highness. My foot was aching. Walking back was modest torture, but oh it felt good to sit down when I reached the car. We came home, I did some leaf blowing to clear the courtyard of the growth caps—mountains of them—and then after feeding the brood their lunch, I went to Stacey’s to see photos of her incoming puppy, and to visit and see how magnificently she has spruced her place up for her daughter’s wedding on July 20^th.

When we left Stacey’s, we went into the village so that I could order two new puffers, and so that I could pick up some groceries. Once back home, more leaf blowing and some raking before Her Highness and I went for our afternoon walk. It did not go well. She disappeared for a bit and when I called her, she arrived with a stinking mouth. She’d found human poop and ate it, so we came home because I was so pissed. 

When we got home, I would not let her indoors. It pains me to be angry with her, but I can’t help it. However, I soon melt at the sight of her. She’s my beloved partner, so we carry on. But I gave her a spartan dinner. I’d barely been seated all day, so it felt very, very good, once we were back home, to get into the spa and relax after a busy day and lots of work done around Pinecone Park.

Today, I must water everything, and I’ll spend the rest of the day chillin’ and raking up the growth caps, cones and twigs that fell in abundance all over the yard during the recent windstorm. I feel so wonderfully relaxed because nothing is pressing and I have all day every day to myself. I have no idea why my speech has tanked, but one day it’ll be better and I have no problem waiting. When I keep to myself, the only speaking is to my beloveds and I am nearly always fluent with four-legged allies.

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.