What a Day

Hello, Mostly, I forgot that it was May 1. Someone talked about may baskets. I had forgotten about them too. I washed clothes which we hung out in the cool, but tolerable temperature. There was a breeze so drying was expected. After that, we packed the car with a shovel, a number of large buckets, a large old piece of cloth that we cover plants when it gets cold, potting soil, and garden gloves for both of us. At church, we spread out the cloth on the sidewalk. Leroy set to work shoveling up the top layer of soil. The soil along this eight-yard-long wall is not very good. It looked better than I remembered. Some of it went into buckets. Leroy used a wheel barrow to take the rest around the building to dump it. I worked the lower soil to make it pliable. I also picked up any debris or rocks that were here. We found a rock so large that we could not get to the bottom of it. It is still there. We found some additional soil in the church garage. Leroy put some of both types on the cleaned-up place. He added back some of the best of the top soil. We kept repeating this process. Until we had prepared the entire strip and used up all of the added soil. The plants went in the ground next. That was followed by watering. We dashed home for a quick lunch as well as getting the clothes off the line and in the house. The AI program at the library was quite interesting. It told us some things we did not know before. After that we spent some time visiting with some other people there who were members at the church. Back to church for a ribbon cutting ceremony for the redo of the building. We finally came home about five. That was a long day for us. We decided not to go to a concert. Just being home called too loudly. Paula

Life Changes

Hello, I learned yesterday that I have a balder infection. Could that be true even though the symptoms were not at all typical? Anyway, I am taking antibiotics and I seem to feel better after just two pills. Can that be true as well that it matters so quickly? Certainly, seems an easy cure to my pain, discomfort. On a totally different subject: we have lost/misplaced a two-inch hitch plug. We have both done some serious searching. Nothing has turned up. Today we drove to the place where we took our bike ride on Sunday. No luck there either. We found a relatively cheap replacement at a store in town. As Leroy says, “We can afford it.” Leory likes to tell me how to park when I back into a parking spot. I groused at him for that and accused him of “back seat driving”. He insisted he does not do that, just for parking. However, on this little road trip, he learned forward, blocking my view to tell me a car was coming from the right. I was upset and almost yelled at him, saying, “You can look too, but do not block my view.” That hurt his feelings. It is not the best to solve such things when driving down the road. We managed and it is settled now. It seems that after almost 55 years together we should be past all of that irritation. Life still has its moments. This morning I went to qigong an hour late. I participated in just the last things. I can go in person now and I somehow thought that meant I could go an hour later since I did not have the meeting afterwards. It was just slightly mixed up in my mind. Paula

A Tree gone, Plus and Minus

Hello, I am happy to have the tree gone, because now I do not have to think about it falling on my stuff or me. The tremendous weight would have caused a lot of damage. However, I miss it and it has only been a number of hours. Leroy and I were gone first to tai chi and then to volunteer at the church so we did not get to see this great transition. It was almost shocking to come home and look over the yard and not see branches. I wonder about the squirrels who were living in it. Birds were on it a lot, but I was not aware of any nesting there. The birds seemed to enjoy the bugs that had their home there. Leroy and I just liked looking at the activity in the tree every day. The center of the tree was quite dead. It is amazing how the outside held it up. Our friend figures it was well over 100 years old. What history it has seen with people coming and going. Already I notice the lack of shade that it graciously provided. Since it was somewhat over the clothes line, I suspect there will not be any bird poop on the clothes. So, it is all a bit of plus and minus. Paula

What a Morning

Hello, I have had some bowel issues so I needed to collect four samples. I was not excited about doing it, but instructions were clear. I soon had two vials filled to the proper line and in the refrigerator. There were little jars and in bags so nothing was exposed, but it felt a bit vile anyway. Oh, the new learning that can happen. The next little bottle had a stubborn cap that popped open all at once. Oh no, it had liquid in it that I had not noticed. On the floor a bit of it went. Should I continue? Would it matter. I suspected it mattered since instructions were so dictatorial. But I put in the required amount anyway and moved on to the last thing. Those two vials were to be stored at room temperature. The splitting tree is still standing and taunting us with its vigor. Someone is to come today to look at it, but the rain was coming down quit strongly now. How much weight does that add to a tree? The lab opens early so I aimed to get there around 7:30. The front desk opened the door. When I got to the lab, I found the lights to be off and no one there. Back to the desk where I learned they were to be open at 7:30. She called around to find them. They came a bit later. I turned the collection in, confessing my goof. They did not know if the spill would be usable as the amount of liquid was required, but would call to check. They sent me home with more correction materials, but said they would call if it was needed. They did not call back so hoping I am good. Later we learned that the tree had moved a little bit more. The tree guy said that the position of the split holds it for a while longer. He is looking for a crane high enough to be safe taking the tree down. On the plus side. I have felt better today than I have for days. Although, I still want to know what is causing my discomfort. Paula

Exciting Times

Hello, Just when I think everything is the same stuff, something happens. Leroy and I went for a bike ride this afternoon because we are going on a CROP bike ride tomorrow. It is only a little over three miles so we should be able to handle that. Leroy finds that if it is too hilly, he is bothered and might have to walk up the hill. There is only one short hill tomorrow. There was a bit of hill today and he managed. I have only ridden my bike one other time this spring, but I think I too can make it just fine. After we got home from the ride, I was getting a snack and looked out the kitchen window. I noticed a light-colored streak in the neighbor’s large old maple tree. Leroy came to take a look too and he agreed the tree is splitting. It was not like that before we went on the ride. I ran downstairs, and out on the deck for a closer look. It was indeed split. I pounded on our downstairs friends’ door. I was wondering if they had the neighbor’s phone number. They did not come quickly, in a panic remembering when a branch had come down from this tree in the past, I ran to the front of the house and rang the doorbell. Again, they did not come quickly enough for me so I ran to the neighbor’s and rang their doorbell. This time I waited long enough for them to come to the door. I think they thought I was a bit excited when I told them about it. They did go out and look. As of now they are trying to locate a tree service. It does not help that this is a weekend. We moved our cars out of the garage and put them on the street. Then we moved the bikes onto the back porch. We also took pictures of the things we have in the garage. Hopefully, the tree will not hit the garage if it comes down before it can be removed. It looks very possible now. I like those big old trees but they are a bit of a risk. The picture is to give you an idea of the size. The split is almost between the two large branches or trunks.

Paula

Trying to Remember

Hello, I heard a master garden speak. She talked about cutting back the fall sedum so it would regrow and remain upright in the fall. I remember those words, but cannot remember how low to cut it or when to cut it exactly. Today I decided it was tall enough so I cut off a good bit of height. We are getting rain now. Seemed to me that should help it recover. It looks a bit short and pale. Then I have been trying to remember how long I have been taking one of my meds. Previously I had written it down. I am glad to have that record, but have not added to it since we have been here. I took it for a while and then stopped for a while before starting it again at the urging of my primary care giver. I am not sure how to “wade” though the electronic records that I find. When I go to the office again I will have to ask how to navigate on that web site. I learned of the death of one of my high school classmates. It shocked me a bit. We are not that old. Paula

Mirrors Everywhere

Hello, Usually, I spent little time looking in mirrors. After all I do not care to see how much older I look by the minute. I can pretend it is not true. It was nice when I had cataracts and could not see my face clearly in the mirror. Blurry was a fine illusion. Today I was in a room that had mirrors on one wall. I did not notice my age, but my posture. I was slumped over a bit. Shoulders up and back improved my look considerably. Maybe I should be surrounded by mirrors. Would that help my posture? Certain more regular moves for strengthening the core would make a difference. I usually get my steps, but not the stretching or strength work. Strange that I used to do moves with great regularity and Leroy would do almost nothing. Now we have switched roles. He does them when he gets up, but breakfast takes my attention and then so does the rest of the day. Only later do I realize that I have not worked out. Mirrors would remind me to get at it if nothing else to move my shoulders into the proper spot. Paula