Fatigue Sets In

Sometimes, I wish I had anaesthetic in a spray so that I could spray some at Fred and Sheba at 4:00 in the morning. I cannot sleep in. Fred howls and Sheba whimpers and I feel obligated to get up. Most of my walking buddies rise at 8:00. We meet to walk at 9:30. When we meet, I’ve already been up for over five hours.

I did dishes, vacuumed the house, and put things away after three days of focusing on nothing but the wood and other duties. Then I had a leisurely spa followed by some watering of the garden beds before heading out with Her Highness to meet our friends.

It was a stunning morning. It was a cool 13° but sunny and bright. It’s rather cool in the shade and toasty warm in the sunshine. I love this weather. I’m dreading the arrival of hot weather. These cool nights and mornings are ideal.  

As soon as we got home, we had lunch. Lunch at 10:30 makes sense when you rise at 4:00. And then came watering. I took two hours. Next up was cleaning, folding and storing the enormous tarpaulin I use to protect the driveway from all the shite that has come with the wood in the past. But this year, Bob sent very clean wood so cleaning the tarp and putting it away was a breeze.

Compared to toting and stacking wood, watering is a breeze. I’m grateful for the work and for the pleasure and pride I feel when the work is done. When the weather is as pleasant as it is, everything brings joy. I feel like a responsible ‘dad’ to my floral friends. It’s particularly important for me to be attentive to the needs of the fruit trees and edible garden beds. I love eating food that I have cultivated.

I put the tarp into the shed and I was ready to rake, but it was just too hot and I was too tired. I wanted to rest, but my break lasted mere minutes because my hammock arrived and I got busy setting it up. Once up, I regretted buying it (it’s too small for my 1.8-meter body). But I can use it and my shorter friends may love it.

Just before 15:00, we went into the village to shop. It was 23° and I found it too hot even though 23° isn’t that warm. My days of naps in the sunshine are over, dappled or not. I’m a shade committed person now. After shopping, Her Highness and I went for an afternoon walk. It was short and shaded. Then we came home to assume the positions.

All evening, I was dragging. I was behaving as though I’d stacked 40 barrows of wood, but I’d done nothing requiring exertion. Perhaps I had accumulated fatigue from all the stacking. I was a walking zombie last night.

Today, I’ll spot water, and I may get some reading time for a change; it’s been two weeks since I read anything. Sheba goes to the groomer this morning and thank goodness because her long hair is bringing a lot of crap into the house. I must vacuum every day.

And I will stop at the vet’s office. Her diarrhea is not entirely gone, so I will be collecting another stool sample. Sigh.