Day 217

Last day of volunteering at the museum for the season. I may show up on an occasional Saturday as the museum is open all year round. I enjoy Rick’s company and we have meaningful conversations while waiting for guests to show up for tours. Yesterday I sorted out one file in the drawer. Many more to do. I like to keep the papers current and store the old ones in boxes on top of the sauna. Good for extra insulation.

day 216

The straw-bales are coming apart. Their work is done. I will move the remains to other parts of the yard that can use the mulch to improve. Lots of the dirt is poor and the nutrients will make them fertile. This is pick-up-trash day. I usually bring home three grocery bags full from my regular walking route. If I want to walk in a clean place, then I will clean it. The dogs will get exercise too. Happy Tuesday morning. 

Day 215

I watched the moon from total eclipse back to white. It was beautiful. Yesterday I was the only congregant at church. The other six people were part of the service. I’m afraid my church is going to end. As much as I enjoyed the Pope, I don’t want to convert. The Pope said it isn’t necessary to be religious to be spiritual. It was also a day for house work, attention to the orchids, walking and walking with the dogs.

Day 214

I’m quite taken with the Pope. I admit watching him on TV and feeling Spirit. I hope he makes an impact and he is probably preaching to the choir. Today the orchids get first attention, then the walk followed by church. That’s the end of the agenda. I want to find something new to do with the rest of the day. I could reach around inside myself and find the part that wants to write. Full blood moon and eclipse.

day 213

Yesterday I felt slow and physically tired. I had to own my 80 years. Usually I don’t need to do that but the long day and the standing for hours made it clear. Today I’m back in shape and ready for the farmers’ market and visiting with Hollie and everybody else. Karen left for Arizona so I can move rocks again. My plan is to clear one area at a time and plant grass as I go. Long term goal.

Day 212

I woke up achy. It’s OK. Standing for over three hours for the prep and serving dinner was tiring. I’m already stretching out and feeling good again. Today is for errands and necessary shopping. Later I will go to the police department and meet with Elizabeth to write an article on volunteering for the facebook site and maybe for the newspaper. I may start out with trash collecting. Not sure yet if I want to do all the bending required.

Day 211

Yesterday was great: picked up three bags of trash on my walk, had meaningful conversations at the museum, prepped for the community dinner at church. I love days with parts. Today will begin with the usual walk about and senior center duty. I’m looking forward to Charlie’s pizza. He makes a delicious variety of pizzas. One for every taste. Then I will serve at the community dinner at church. My energy is staying high and I am enjoying every minute.

day 210

Now autumn begins. OK, I made a mistake. I’ve made a lot of them and lived. No big deal to err. It’s fixing it that matters. Yesterday was another good one. Walked in the almost rain and it felt good. Pulled up the tomatoes and hung them upside down on the fence. The theory is they will still ripen. One plant is so huge that I had trouble moving it. The bales are coming apart fast. New ones next season.

Day 209

Monday was another good day. I felt comfortable and engaged at the senior center. Lots of chatting and hugs. I like a day when I acknowledge belonging and right from the morning walk with the buddy waves and honks of recognition, I know I belong in this community. Today is board of sups meeting and I belong there too. Karen is staying in the little house for a few days. I like knowing I have a safe haven for her.

Day 208

Autumnal Equinox. Now the days shorten by minutes. I’m not excited about that and it is time to plan for the long nights. Time to get the candles out and schedule the day to take advantage of light. Last winter was so mild that I was outside nearly every day. Now I have two raincoats and motivation to walk and keep the seasonal depression to a minimum. Two walks yesterday and progress moving rocks. That may be a winter project. 

Day 207

I did redistribute lots of rocks and there are still lots of rocks. It will take a while and I will do it. I need help to pry up the crossbeams and put them where I can pile rocks behind them. The farmers’ market was wonderful, as usual. I bought green chilies and made green tomato salsa verde. Overcooked a bit but very good and I will make it again. Great use of the green tomatoes. Another good day coming.

Day 206

The energy lasted and I used it to move rocks in the little yard. My plan is to pile the rocks on the edges of the building and the fence and move some to the north side where there are rocks already. It will take time and then new dirt and grass. It will make it easier to maintain. I felt like Sisyphus when I started but as soon as I spotted dirt, I was hooked on getting it done.

Day 205

I want another day that I can mark as GOOD. It was wonderful yesterday to be busy and interactive without a headache or dearth of physical energy. The rain was making the blonde lawn do a happy dance. Today I want to pick up trash while I walk the regular route. Later the dogs will get a walk probably at the harbor. I want a home day enjoying the yard and pulling weeds. The bales need to be weeded too.

Day 204

Damp again. I did get to wear my lime green raincoat yesterday. Drivers can see me coming! I’ve had my fitbit for a year and have tracked 3,231,000 steps. It is motivating. At first I was happy to reach 5K steps a day and now I regularly hit at least 10K. I like the data and do check it often during the day. The museum was busy and it was interesting. I went up and down the stairs a lot.

Day 203

Rain is forecast. It will be welcome. I can wear my new raincoat to the museum! I’m still not 100% but surely better each day. I had a few energetic hours yesterday and was grateful for them. The soup was delicious and there are leftovers for today. Hollie is going to her annual girls’ fun time in Paso Robles. She will be gone for a week. Megan is healing from her dental extractions. The bales are still producing. I’m happy.

Day 202

And I did get a long walk and pick up three bags of trash. The senior center was busy and lots of conversations and laughing. My favorite combination. Today I need to focus on the housework and errands. When I begin to notice the dust I know I’m on the way to feeling well again. It was cool enough to turn on the heater for the orchids. I have soup bubbling with vegetables and freshly dug red potatoes. It’s fall. 

Day 201

No walk. No trash. No church. Sunday was another flat day. Here’s hoping for Monday and a regular active and happy day. I am sad on lost days. Time is important to fill with progress and positive intentions. I begin well and maybe I can push a bit at least. Today is senior center duty and I will show up. I will dress for this cool damp morning and get outside. Might be a short walk and I will walk.

Day 200

The market was a social occasion and I like that a lot. And the fruits and vegs are wonderful too. The crockpot full of beef, red potatoes, turnips, onions, garlic, and cabbage made the house smell delicious. The food will last a few days and I’m in favor of leftovers. Today I’m hoping for a walk before church. Maybe I’ll pick up trash. Haven’t decided yet if my head will allow for bending down. The orchids water therapy comes first.

Day 199

Not a good day again. Headache and generally still feeling unwell. I will walk to the farmers’ market later for fruit and vegetables. I want my zip back. Where does it go? If I had a clue what triggers the low spells, I would surely avoid it. Seems to me that I live a good life complete with exercise, nutrition, service and positive attitude. Sometimes it is not enough. So, I will do what I can and love life anyway.

Day 198

Only half my walk happened. Just no go-power. And I showed up for duty at the senior center. The air is smoky and stale. I can’t get enough breath. Hope for better today. I have shopping and errands to complete. The tomatoes are ripening. The nights are chilly but there is heating during the day and that’s good for them. There are do many. Next year I will not plant tomatoes. Two of the bales are falling apart. It’s fall.

Day 197

I had a great morning yesterday. Didn’t last and that’s OK. I did what I said I would do and that counts. Just showing up counts. I collected two bags of trash. Today I plan on stopping at PT for the upper body exes. No promise. I’ll see when I get there on my walk. Senior Center duty will come next. I invited the board of sups and hope one or two of them come during the month. Want more.

Day 196

The four leggers are relentless alarm clocks. 5 AM plus or minus five minutes and I am wide awake. It’s their stomachs that mark morning. Today I’m hoping for a surge of positive energy. I did all my activities yesterday but without zing. After the massage, I wanted to go to bed. Maybe I’ll pick up trash this morning or maybe not. Not planning on PT exercises. There are only four more museum duties until the end of the season.

Day 195

I did improve my mood yesterday and I’m thankful for it. Did negative sorting and am very clear on what I don’t want to do/be/have. So now I just have to fill in the blanks and then find a place where I can use myself productively and with fun people. Today will start as usual with exercise and walking. Later I’ll attend the board of sups meeting and the best part of the day will be a massage with Karen. 

Day 194

Today I will find something new to do/know/enjoy. Distraction will be set aside for a dark rainy day and this bright warm day will be well spent.  I can use my eyes, ears, and feelings to find people and activities that fit my abilities and go forward from there. Might be a simple accidental meeting or I might initiate new ideas. Time to make things happen instead of waiting for a stroke of brilliance that may not land as requested. 

PS
Walked a different direction. Listened to the sea lions sing along with the fog horn and remembered why I love living here. Came home and picked spinach, tomatoes, and onions and made eggs with garlic cheddar. Already a better day.

Day 193

I enjoyed the picnic. There were interesting and relevant conversations and catch-ups with friends. The progress for unions was told by our assemblyman and everyone was happy to hear it. Today will probably have the usual activities. The orchids will get attention, I’ll walk, pick up trash, attend church, and watch a Giants game. Aside from those things, I’m open to new plans. Maybe clean up the yard and the strawbale garden. It’s time to finish up the summer list.

Day 192

Thankfully yesterday improved by late afternoon and I did get to walk to the store. Today I’ll get to the farmers’ market and then to Beachfront Park for the Democrats’ Labor Day picnic. Looking forward to connecting with friends there. I am increasingly interested in politics and will participate with registering voters and whatever else fits my abilities. Lots of conversations yesterday: Cillay called with news about Joyce and Pat. I’m glad we keep in touch with our longtime friends.

Day 191

No dog walk yesterday. It was blowing a gale too strong for fun. Not well this morning with migraine and sinus stuff. Hope to improve. The tomatoes are ripening and I’m happy with them. Two people have asked for green ones that I supplied, one eats them green, the other makes a green tomato cake similar to an applesauce cake. I like to eat the red ones right off the vine. Almost turned on the heater this morning. Fall chill.

Day 190

I did it all yesterday! Walked the papers in town before the museum duty and drove the rest of them afterward. Glad to do it. Ran into an old friend and had a catch-up talk. It was early to bed so I didn’t watch the Giants game. Sleep was more important. Today the sky is clear.  Relief after the six weeks of smoke. Bless the rain. The dogs will get a walk when I get home from the senior center.

Day 189

Senior News finally arrived by UPS at 6:20 PM. Now I have to distribute before and after museum today and center tomorrow. I liked having last Fridays to do it all at once. Oh well, nothing lasts forever. I admit to irritation that the editor didn’t take care of finding a new delivery person since Josey gave her three months notice. Today is damp outside. Love it. I still have smoke symptoms in my sinuses but my chest doesn’t ache.

Day 188

September. There I go again wondering about the speed of time. Changes seem more difficult to internalize as I age. I know I waved goodbye to Jon and Chris and yet I look over the fence to see if they are there. I’m waiting for Josey to deliver senior news and I know she’s gone. My routine is stuck and I need to make room for whatever comes next. I keep my body flexible. Need the same for my mind.

Minnies' tenth birthday