Recently

My view from the bench that I like to have a few, meditative minutes on during the middle of my walks. 

While walking, listened to the Sandra Cisneros episode of Death, Sex and Money and found it very touching. Also recently listened to two very sweet episodes of Feet in 2 Worlds: A Better Life? : "Call Your Elders and The Home Clock -- one about a Haitian family and the other about a family originally from Pakistan. Both episodes were recorded in 2020 at the height of the pandemic. Will probably listen to them all again and I also want to dust off The House on Mango Street.

Decided to cancel my Apple TV service but before it ended watched Ted Lasso again. Also watched Coda and got in a few episodes of Gutsy. Might revisit Apple TV but I've been, primarily, watching Hulu and don't want to waste money.

Finished my Virtual Mission birthday gift challenge. About 40 of the miles were bicycling -- the rest walking. It's hard to believe that I've gotten in over 300 exercise miles in two-ish months. My body did that... 😊

A Break

One of my aunts gave me a break from caregiving yesterday so that I could go bicycling. The weather was great (70-ish degrees) and, now that it's 35 degrees, I really appreciate that I had the opportunity to get out and go on an adventure. Needless to say: it was also wild that it was so warm in November.

I am such a casual bicyclist. Love to stop an eat an orange and listen to the Mississippi River... 

I'm doing a plank challenge and I'm pretty sure that it's the reason that I was able to make it up the hills. Still walked my bike up one but, overall, was pleased with my outing.

After returning home and sitting for awhile, I could feel the soreness in my body so I took the time to do yoga and focused on hip-openers. While doing frog pose, I totally said, "Ribbit."

Down-ish

Felt so isolated and lonely today and, in retrospect, my sleepless night surely amplified those feelings. 

Many people took advantage of the mild weather to get out leaf blowers and I wanted to smack each and every one of them.

In addition to twisting my right foot on a bur acorn and then a gumball, I also stepped on a branch that boomeranged and smacked my leg. Who knew that fall could be so ruthless?

As I walked and listened to Family Secrets, I was so angry that I reverted to early pandemic behavior of stepping into the bike lane or crossing the street when I saw other people.

On the last portion of my walk, I saw two people on the sidewalk and so I stepped off and, because I didn't feel like engaging, my head was down-ish and I had no intention of speaking. 

This woman looked at me, smiled and said so warmly, "Hello, Love, How are you?"

Pardon my obsession with zinnias...

When I think about it, I don't think that I tried to start any from seed last year. It's a good thing that I decided to start growing a batch inside because the seedlings are the only ones that seem to be doing well and this little batch of pink, purple and red makes me smile...

Went to see the sunflowers at the Columbia Bottom Conservation Area. 

What is it about a field of sunflowers that is so nice? The conservation area is very peaceful too and I was stunned to see a blue bird in the fields. How did I get to be "this many years old" and never see a Indigo Bunting bird?

Learned that the sunflowers are used to attract mourning doves in September as part of hunting season and that's really something that I wish that I could unlearn. 

Surprise Zinnia

Took a short walk this morning,,, then crossed the river to see family. 

Had a "late for me" cup of coffee and read a bit. Also continued to watch "Little Fires Everywhere."

Did 50 minutes of yin yoga.

Went back and forth about whether to cut the grass or not and finally decided to cut it instead of going for another walk, especially in light of the weather heating up later on this week.

As I pushed the lawnmower to the back of the house, checked on my zinnias. A puny one emerged earlier in the week but the first "real" one has emerged. Also saw zinnias where I had not planted any seeds.

Surprise Zinnia

Before I  came in the house, saw a house finch and my neighbor's cat chilling out on top of one of their cars.

Took a shower and also washed my hair.

Washed another round of dishes.  

It's been a full day...

Underwater

Since the pandemic, walking has been my main exercise and while I really enjoy it and enjoy listening to podcasts as I walk, I just feel a bit landlocked.

Even thought I felt fatigued and as if I didn't have enough time, I did get an opportunity to go swimming today. Couldn't find my good goggles and one of my flip flops is missing but I have back-up goggles and back-up flip flops. Not ideal but as the 'Fugee likes to say now -- good enough.

Unbelievably, It's been two years... Tried to do freestyle on my first trip down the lane and couldn't do it so I did the backstroke for awhile and then told myself to calm down and breathe and I was able to feel comfortable with my head underwater. Swimming was definitely relaxing...

During my morning walk the other day, saw four goldfinches emerge from this area by the sidewalk with coneflowers and some other puffy, purple flowers.

Further along I saw a hummingbird, several cardinals, a robin and who knows what else. A few delightful moments during this wild ass time in the world and in my life. 

It's hard to believe that it's 2022 with all this fascism and misogyny. 

Wanderlust

My family and I are still exchanging photos from May's trip. My aunt was looking for a picture and I was like, "Hey, send me that one."

At the Kingsley Plantation

Also spent more time thinking about how our itinerary could have been better and, now, I'm dreaming about being near a beach again -- as if I'm the only one with beach dreams...

Right now, I'm enjoying watching my zinnias grow. I've been watering them daily since the heat wave hit. Saw a friend post of picture of her garden and she had blooming zinnias. How did she do that? We're in the same region. Called myself planting right after the last frost. 

Comparison really is the thief of joy, isn't it?

Got to do a whole hour of yin yoga today. Now, that was relaxing and enjoyable.