Category: Front Porch Musings

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Afterward

The day after the good news dawned clear…

…and beautiful!

It looked to be sunny!

Although we had a good night, I was in that “afterward” state of exhaustion. The weather said rain and I had driven down in the rain. Although all went well, it was more tiring than driving in clear weather.

I had a late morning meeting.

I decided to stay a second day and relax over breakfast, coffee… a slow start.

And then it snowed.

It REALLY snowed!

So, I felt I made a VERY good call to stay :) !!

Yesterday afternoon, as Bear and I were headed back to Auggie and Wild Thing…after the good news and after being too warm (Bear and I), and not having enough water through the day (me) and not having had a whole lot to eat either (me) and despite having good food on board, I decided that I really wanted a freezer pizza that I could just stick in the oven while I drank a gallon of water and maybe a glass of wine…

This is what happens when I go to the grocery store hungry…after an intense day.

And don’t forget the ice cream!

I did add some roast broccoli from home to today’s junk food lunch!

I haven’t bought this kind of “food” in a long, long time. I enjoyed it. I don’t need to do it again for awhile, but it really hit the spot!

I did manage to work half a day today and I think we all feel better. The Jeep is hooked up and we will head for home tomorrow morning pending clear roads – hopefully mid-morning to get home by noon or shortly after.

And the capper…a beautiful waxing crescent in a clear night sky.

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Ready to roll

Just to clarify…Bear is not seeming to be ill. I did have the feeling that he did not seem 100% comfortable and so when we went for his 6 month Senior Wellness exam, I asked for a full blood test even though all other parts of the exam indicated healthy dog. The one number is VERY high and has been increasing over the last 8 months and it indicates something… Still, as of today, Bear is Mr. Happy Boy: eating well, maintaining weight, playing, etc. … mostly normal…just that niggling feeling on my part that he is not 100%. Based on some other history I made the decision to jump directly to a specialist.

But, today we enjoyed a very springlike day – that is Bear digging on Beardog Hill.

So much fun!

Meanwhile, after considerable dithering, I de-winterized Wild Thing. She is full of water which allows us to live with “normal plumbing”, i.e. shower, hot water – all running water enjoyment! This is versus kind of camping in her using bottled water and the rv park showers. I am unclear why I was on the fence about this because it does not take all that much time to winterize OR de-winterize, but at this point, I am VERY glad that I decided to de-winterize and we roll tomorrow with a normal rolling house!

And I am calm about all. I have little control over any of it so it is 1 step/1 thing at a time and I am focusing on just enjoying each day whatever it brings. Worrying is not going to change a thing and although it has taken a significant part of my almost 60 years to get to this point, I am grateful to be here.

Auggie was in and out of Wild Thing as I did the de-winterizing and a bit of loading.

I think, like me…and like Bear…He is Ready to Roll!

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I’m beginning to feel like a broken record…

Sunshine.

Spring temperatures: 62F today!

Bear and Auggie (and me!) enjoying the sun…

Really. It is very nice, here.

Bear is loving the last bits of snow…I hope it lasts another several weeks!

Auggie…a bath in the sun.

The chairs celebrate both the sun and the shade – go chairs!

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Sunday Morning

As I was making coffee this morning, I looked out and saw the rising sun reflected in Wild Thing’s windshield. It just looked like such a happy promise for a beautiful day…

And it was!

The rising sun hit not only the windshield, but a few clouds …

… and the vapor trail from a morning jet.

After breakfast, Bear and I took a ride in the Jeep – East on our road to Echo Lake.

The lake is still frozen and the scene was far more wintry than the valley. The sun was warm, the sky was clear and blue and we had a nice walk along the northern shoreline.

Sunday Morning.

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Yet another lesson on perspective

March arrived in the same way that February left: Full of sunshine!

…in more ways than just the weather.

Last Sunday, I had a stomach bug. You know the thing…24 hours of misery during which I considered pre-writing my obituary. At about the 24 hour mark, the fever spiked, I broke out in a sweat and then…done. I took a shower and felt like I’d never been sick. I googled “24 hour stomach bug” and it says that it does not exist. Huh.

Anyway, onward. But, it kind of set the tone for the week and between this, that and the other I was feeling frustrated and annoyed and completely out of sorts.

Then I read the news.

And thought about my life.

And counted my blessings: BIG TIME! I live in a place where I do not have to worry about walking out in my yard and being shot or bombed or kidnapped, i.e. I am safe. I am warm. I have plenty of food. I have Bear and Auggie and good work. I have a loving family and wonderful neighbors.

There is more, but the point is that Life is Good for me and mine.

And there is sunshine.

I am grateful for everything. Mostly I am grateful that I have peace and safety. I seriously cannot imagine what it must be like in some parts of the world and I found myself praying this week for those that do not have peace and safety.

Perspective is interesting.

Mine shifted yet again.

It was a wonderful week and weekend.