Community Garden Again

Hello,

 

One of our walks today was to go to the community garden. I feel sad because I think no one else is going there to get the last of the season greens. Admittedly there are not so many things to harvest. I was able to pick some cilantro that I can use immediately. The stems were quite short which probably protected it from the cold as it snuggled in the leaves. I also got a nice amount of arugula that will add a nice touch to a salad. It is quite tall. I did bring one of the plants home. The taller parts look as if they are struggling. Leroy picked the last of the celery which was only a few short stalks. Then he picked a bag of Red Russian Kale. Someday I will have to go back and just pick a lot of that. I am hoping that my friend who does meals for homeless shelters would be able to use it if she mixes it into some dish or other. There wouldn’t be enough for a dish by itself for the large number of people she feeds. She is quite clever at using what is at hand in new ways and feeding many with the loaves and fishes.

 

Guess I have been a bit daunted when I think about cleaning the kale. I believe in putting it through three waters, one of which has white vinegar in it to kill bacteria.  That cleaning all takes quite a bit of time and energy. Right now, I have quite a bit of time, but I just search out the energy for this task.

 

We have called friends from our past live in the last few days. It is nice to visit with these people who were once more a part of our daily lives. What a blessing all of these cheap/rich phone calls are.

 

Paula

Serious Wind

Hello,

 

Because we don’t walk to church any longer, we take long walks other places. I just happened to hear that it was to get quite windy. We quickly ate our meal of left over ravioli from Thanksgiving and zipped outside to be met with the wind already in the neighborhood. We reversed our planned route to have the wind at our backs at least some of the time. It worked, but it was still a bit cool. No dilly dallying on this walk. We managed to get over 12,000 total steps for the day. We had taken a short walk in the early morning.

 

One thing it was not scary to go through the park as most of the loose branches were on the ground and not threatening. We went a different way thought a side street and saw a light pole that had not yet been righted. We were quite surprised to see that. I have not seen it anywhere else. Not sure if they just missed this one or what happened.

 

In the early part of the walk we only saw one other person. On the later part we met a bicyclist who then passed us on his return trip. We did see a girl on a bike with training wheels. She was doing quite well against the wind. Her dad was walking behind her. After that we probably saw about five to ten other walkers. I was glad to see that the weather is not stopping people from getting outside. Tomorrow might be a different time as it is supposed to get much colder with the wind bringing change.

 

Leroy and I will still go out, but perhaps the walk will be two or three shorter ones so we can warm up. I intend to go to the community garden and harvest more Red Russian Kale. That is only about half a mile away so it will not be the only walk of the day.

 

Paula

Out and About

Hello,

 

We hung out two loads of clothes when the temperature got up to 33 degrees F. There was a bit of a breeze later and the temperature rose to 49 so the clothes dried very well. It was a bit hard to know if they were dry or cold so when we bought them in we spread them out. For most of them cold was the diagnosis. A few thicker parts were a bit damp. It did not take long for them to dry. That activity gave us quite a few steps.

 

In the afternoon we went to a dam spillway that has been flooded a few times and exposed much ancient history compete with fossils. We did take our masks and were glad that we did. There were quite a few people there. We did not get really close to others except when meeting someone on the trail. We were pleased that many of the rest of the people also were wearing masks. It was good to walk in the trees and see the fungi. Fortunate Leroy spotted an eagle. I saw the bird, but could not see the head at that point. We took the long way home on a delightfully curvy road that was a bit like being on a roller coaster, but not so fast. I was driving and had no desire to plunge into a ditch.

 

Leroy has been working on his stamps. Today all the mail but one piece had something to do with stamps. He had bought from two different places and then the post office sent a catalogue just to entice Leroy.

 

Today he seems to be organizing stamps from Poland. He mostly collects USA stamps, but he seems to get more and more from other countries.

 

Paula

Yoga for Thanksgiving

Hello,

 

Last Thursday my two regulars for online yoga asked if I was going to have it on Thanksgiving. Was this a “tongue in cheek” question? It could have been, but I told them I would plan to be there at the usual time. If they came fine and if not that was also fine with me. I was a bit surprised to see them tune at the usual time. We had a nice session and I did not work them very hard. At the end one of them commented that it was so good to be stretched out and flexible before their holiday meal. Rather an unusual occurrence. I have never had yoga on Thanksgiving because we used to always have it in the library and this made a new thing possible. I too felt good and ready for the day. They also were eating with just the two of them and would have online connections with others in the afternoon.

 

While I was doing yoga Leroy was in the kitchen boiling ravioli. Ravioli is his family’s special holiday meal treat. We had made the dough and the filling the day before and froze them. Together we made the sauce before I started yoga. Leroy had never boiled it by himself. He did just fine. He mostly remembered the process since he has helped with that in the past. I thought he cut the boiling time a little short, but we just turned the crock pot on high instead of low so it was all good at noon.

 

Mid morning we had a zoom get together with our children. We played a game. Leroy and I were the low scoring people in that game. I think they should have given us a boost since we were only two and the others had four people to pool answers. It was fun anyway. In the middle of the night I could not sleep so I was coming up with a number of answers at great speed. Surely we would have placed much better had the game occurred then.

 

Paula

Busy Day Yesterday, Early

Hello,

 

Leroy was to have blood work done in the morning. I had thought he might drive, but when he told me he was going to walk, I went too. It was somewhat misty out. I took the backpack with an umbrella for each of us as well as a mask for me even though I did not intend to go in the building. We had breakfast first before setting off at a more rapid pace than usual. The prediction of rain and the mist in the air were a definite prod. It was otherwise quite nice out. When we got to the building, I did go in because there was a little more moisture in the air and almost no one else around. There were only about three cars in the lot. I stayed in the long entrance hall, seeing one other person and we had plenty of room to social distance. I turned the corner to see if Leroy was coming. There was the desk with the questions, temperature taker and hand sanitizer. I explained that I was just waiting. I still answered the questions, had a temperature check and used some hand sanitizer. Since I was not really going into the building they did not give me a sticker indicating that I had been checked.

 

On the walk home, even more moisture was in the air, but we just walked faster without umbrellas. We stopped at the grocery store to get some cottage cheese that was less altered than what we had seen in the other store. There were almost no customers at that early hour so that was good. All were wearing masks.

 

We often walk through the park in our area. I took some pictures last week and will share those with you. I have the feeling that even with pictures you cannot get a complete feeling of what it is like to see this once beautiful tree filled place. I guess you could say it is stripped of its assets.

 

Paula

That Leroy

Hello,

 

Our insurance Medicare supplement provider sent a package that had 2 masks and various other things to me and others we know have the same company. Leroy never got one; you know, after you reach a certain age you are not on a family plan, but seen as individuals. He called and was informed that they would send one out November first. He waited patiently, but nothing. He called again. Just last night he got his box. I am jealous because he got three masks. We like these adjustable masks. Also we seem to use a lot of masks. I had already given him one of mine so he generously let me have one of the new ones. I was given three travel size toothpaste packs. Leroy got one of a larger size that is more than my three put together. We share the toothpaste, so it is not really an issue, but I just wanted you to know how favored this guy is. He also got a weekly pill caddy. I had given him the one I received since he now takes many more pills than I do. He was quite pleased with the new one because the days of the week are more visible. So mine came back to me or just the storage area. I decided I could use it for my calcium pills. There was an antiseptic wash and his was larger. The only thing I got that he did not was a gentle bandage. Ironic because of his hairy arms, he would be the one that would appreciate this item. It is ok because I will share if he ever needs it.

 

We are now supplied with Bandages, sunscreen, hand sanitizer and masks. Got a cut? Let us know we can come to the rescue.

 

Paula

Ordinary Day?

Hello,

 

Today was tai chi online. The library has an account so I am responsible for opening the meeting even though someone else leads it. This morning I was reading a book and Leroy alerted me that it was only three minutes left before the starting time. Usually I set a timer when I am wandering around doing other things ahead of time. All of the others must have been waiting because as soon as I logged on the waiting room was full of people. Sort of full: there were three others to admit. They cannot start without me. How is that for important? Certainly it is a responsibility.  There are actually seven of us who attend with three of the units having two people in attendance.

 

I had to leave early because I had an appointment to get a health clearance to open a life insurance policy. Leroy took care of closing the meeting. I had felt quite a bit on edge because of my blood pressure possibly being high. Instead she pronounced it perfect. Maybe I just worry and fuss too much when it is taken. I have been checking at home and it seems to be all over the place. I can often lower it 20 degrees or more just by meditating and deep breathing for a few minutes. Agitation is not good for the soul or body. I will have to go back to daily meditation.

 

Even though there is a light rain/mist, Leroy and I walked once in the snow in the morning and in the afternoon in higher temps to get me to 9550 steps. I plan to get to 10000 before bed. It should be easy.

 

It was easy, Leroy came in and said, “I am going to walk again, I need about 2000 more steps.”

 

I joined him. It was so nice out because the rain had stopped with almost no wind. We walked some blocks in the neighborhood. Even though I think it is much too early for Christmas decorations, it was fun to see what was out there.

 

Paula