Blood Pressure

Friday began with a walk with my friends and our dogs on a glorious morning. When I got home, I went into the village to do some shopping and then I came home, had lunch, and then seeded the former Wasteland. It felt very, very good to finally get that done. It took most of the afternoon.

In the late afternoon, I made a plan for next weekend when I go to the big smoke to attend the wedding of my high school friend, Don. The wedding meal is at night, so I will drive to Dwight’s and sleep in the van at his house so that we can go do coffee together Sunday morning before I catch the ferry for home.

Late in the afternoon, I felt trembly and my hands were red, so I took my blood pressure. It was 192. That’s mighty high, so I’m monitoring myself until Monday when I plan to consult my doctor about it.

In the evening I decided to try to watch The Morning Show even though Jennifer Aniston was one of the leads. It ain’t great, but there are no commercials. 

Today I’ll finish the last small section of the former wasteland and re-seed some of the front lawn. It’s another gorgeous day but eternal rain is coming as of tomorrow, so my timing is perfect. One good thing is that my sads are gone. Thank goodness. I credit the recent stretch of fine weather for my recovery. 

Two FND Friends!

 

One of Eoin’s and François’ pigs just had five babies!

I’m deeply in love but can’t visit them until next week.

Wow! My meeting with the Stamma group of adult-onset stutterers was wonderful. Two participants, like me, developed their stutter and were diagnosed with FND; they are the first people I have ever met who also have FND. For all three of us, it was wonderful to meet another FND person. Our session was only an hour, but it was fabulous, and we’ll be meeting every month henceforth. Hurray!! 

As a result of my experience with the Stamma group, I have written to the Canadian Stuttering Association (CSA) to propose a workshop for late-onset stutterers. I’m not keen to lead a workshop, but I believe it will help any other late-onset stutterers as magnificently as this morning’s Stamma group did for me. Also, the CSA may offer to find a host other than me,

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I did more yard work yesterday. My lawns are shite but in time they may slightly recover, and I will get used to mangy lawns. I also secured an appointment for a spa technician to come here to do a tune-up of my spa’s engine. It is making worrisome noises.

And a childhood friend whom I haven’t had any contact with since high school recently contacted me. He is getting married on October 2^nd, so I have agreed to attend his wedding and have a quick visit to the city.

Today I plan to seed the former Wasteland and to putter at more yard work. It’s another glorious day but tomorrow is predicted to be day one of a long stretch of rainy, dark days.

I'm Old!

Sound familiar?

 

I spent Wednesday cleaning up the yard. It was a glorious day. Besides raking up all the dead grass and forest detritus, I read up on how to manage my Ginger through the Winter.

The lawn is looking dreadful, and I am not keen on the work and expense of re-seeding the entire half-acre. I’m going to see how much of the lawn revives (but it’s not looking at all promising) and I’ll decide on what to do come Springtime. 

In the meantime, I am raking it thoroughly, getting rid of all the needles, cones, little branches, dead grass and twigs. It’s a lot of work maintaining Pinecone Park, but on a sunny day with lovely warm temperatures, it’s wonderful to have soft chores to do. They pull me outdoors. I work at a senior’s pace.

I may hire a landscape person to advise me on what to do come Springtime. It seems pointless to re-seed, only to have to keep doing it as Summer droughts worsen due to climate change. Right now, I’m thinking I may just leave it to nature to see what happens.

Mid-afternoon, I took Her Highness on a favourite walk where there is lots of light. It was a lovely, lovely day for walking! And when I got home, I noticed scattered signs of life in the front yard. 

This lawn situation has become a crisis of inadequacy. I’ve always been independent, self-reliant. I’ve been so all my life. But now, all I want to do is read, lie around and to watch movies. But the yard makes demands, and that yard feels too big lately.

The drought made for a lot of work. Keeping things alive meant daily watering, and for some areas, twice a day when daily temperatures were in the forties. Most new growth died this Summer, leaving lots of dead twigs and small branches to fall in the storm several days ago. And barrows full of needles have fallen. It’s been raining needles since the winds started after the drought.

When Dwight called last night, I could barely speak with him. It hits me like it’s the first time. I’ve been doing so well, then poof. Gone. Barely speaking. One day at a time.

On the plus side, the yard work is my exercise. I reckon it’s very good for my wellbeing, so I rebooted yesterday, and it’s whetted my appetite for more because the next two days are going to be more beautiful days.

 

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Yesterday I also took on some technical challenges. I hate dealing with computer and Internet issues, but I upgraded my computer operating system and Safari, and I learned how to stop my pay television subscriptions. Thank God that’s done!

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Today is my first Zoom call with adult-onset stutterers. I’m excited and I’m nervous. My Zoom group of BC Stutterers is a kind of family to me, so I’m going in with a positive attitude.  

Sunshine Revival

Tuesday was a perfect antidote to ‘the sads.’ The morning was bright and sunny; it was lovely and warm. My walk with Her Highness was a spectacular sensual delight, and afterwards we went to Doug’s and Gisela’s to pick Apples. Even better: When I got home, I did the deer proofing I wanted to do on a front garden and lots of domestic errands. After days of lethargy, it was good to find myself motivated to do chores.

The afternoon was overcast with slight clouds, but it stayed deliciously warm and so my afternoon spa was truly lovely. I went to the nursery and got six large Garlic bulbs to plant. I may even get more because Garlic is my favourite thing to grow. The evening was spent on the couch watching Pale Horse (Agatha Christy and starring Rufus Sewell, whom I’ve always admired as an actor) on CBC Gem.

I awoke this morning to torrential rain, but by the time I left for our dog walk the sky was clear and lovely warm sunshine shone golden on the trees. My mood soared. Now, however, it is overcast and not looking nearly so promising as an outside day. 

I finally broke down and joined Apple+ TV so that I could watch the second season of Ted Lasso. I love Hanna Waddingham, and I adore many of the actors/characters in the series.

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The buzz on our walk this morning concerned our local bakery. The baker sold his home-based business for 1.2 million dollars, gave 150 grand to his former wife, and has moved into the home of a local wealthy woman. His bread was fabulous, so we’re all waiting to see what the new owner bakes (and if his ex goes after him for more money).

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I’m excited about tomorrow. At 10:30, I will be part of a Zoom call for adult-onset stutterers and I’m very keen to meet my fellows.