Neighbors at the Creek

Knowing the temperature was right at the freezing point, I didn’t expect to see other walkers on the road. The cold didn’t keep neighbor Lisa from walking Rosie. One was wearing almost enough layers, and the other was fully equipped for chilly weather. They walked to the creek with me for the second time. I can’t remember when they first went, but I forgot to take photos and kicked myself afterward. This time the camera was ready. Lisa nimbly hopped down the rocks in two places so that Rosie could take a drink.

I don’t mind walking alone, but it’s delightful to have two-footed and four-footed friends to share the joy of the morning. I didn’t tell Kacey, in case she would get jealous.

Wild Weather and a New Gate

The weather was wild across the United States last week, but we had wind and a severe thunderstorm. I’m not making light of it, because people we know were without power for hours. Neighbor Lisa said she saw huge bolts of lightning as she drove home from town. I didn’t see them, but I heard the thunder. Luckily Kacey didn’t react. You never know if a new-to-you dog will be scared of storms. I watched the wind push a plastic porch chair five feet and caught a video of ghostly chairs rocking with its force. As is so often the case, I didn’t get the most dramatic footage.

Ghostly Rockers on the Porch

Rain was about to hit full force when I ran out to catch the dance of the daffodils. In their frenzy, they didn’t seem to mind being captured by the camera. A day or so later I saw that one clump warming in the sun as I came home from walking. My eye-path was from the road to the back yard, quite a distance for these stalwart blooms.

Dozen Daffodil Dance

Neighbor D told us she had some wire for David, something she thought could have once been a bird cage. David put it across the landing of the front steps, and instantly Kacey had a big new play pen – the whole porch! Watch her exuberance as she sniffs her gate. She ran back and forth to me and David, finally leaning against him sitting on the steps. She also ran from one end of the porch to the other. I’ll say it once again, we have the greatest neighbors in the world!

Kacey Explores her New Gate

Final February Flourish

I started trimming one shrub a day on February 9. Even that was a daring thing to do, since February is a winter month and usually much colder. Yesterday I finished all the Rose of Sharon plants along the back fence. Both David and I wanted to cut the large bush next to the garage down to size. It blocked a path the dog liked to use. On the last day of the month, I went out armed with loppers and great determination. The light was not the greatest, nor was my eyesight. I trimmed almost a quarter of it when I noticed some small green branches. Uh oh! This was new growth. I should have consulted a gardening book before wildly whacking away at it. Too late. David joined me and used the loppers that are too heavy for me. He cut the largest bits and also made two trips to the burn pile. I should have gotten a photo of what looked like a small tree walking down the hill. I made three trips with the lighter branches. We had great satisfaction in seeing the road from the back porch as we ate lunch there.

For once, I took before and after photos.

Heart Art and Daffodils

I was surprised to spot a whole heart and half a heart beside the road to the stop sign. There were dried weeds waving above this scene, and I guess that’s where the hearts dropped from.

Back home, I took a photo of my entire crop of daffodils and a close-up for people who can’t see very well.

Tea Party, Trumpet, and Chess

Neighbor Joyce had a lovely baby shower with a tea party theme for her daughter. There were four of us from the neighborhood, plus relatives and friends. I did not ask for permission to publish photos of people, so I’ll show you Joyce and the lovely spread of goodies.

The choir sang a spectacular piece at the beginning of the service featuring a professional trumpeter. I was in the next room when he began to warm up. Oh! What beautiful sounds he made just playing scales and arpeggios! You can see him on the left side of the photo, and grandson David is second from the left in the choir. I was looking only at the performers and didn’t notice until I saw the picture on a big screen that special friends from New York were in it, too, sitting ahead of me. Since their faces weren’t visible, I didn’t ask permission to use it.

Neighbor Logan came over to visit. He, David, and I did the Wordle for the day on two phones. The fellows both had fast times doing Set online. I didn’t work on that until they were playing chess. You can see they were concentrating on the game. Both are used to my camera and were probably aware it was aimed at them, but they were focused on the board.

Furniture Coverings

When grandson David spotted a sofa cover in the store, I said to put it in the cart. Our living room furniture has hardly ever been used, but Kacey has taken full advantage of it. Evidently she finds it much more comfortable than humans do. The sofa gives her a good view of the street, although she can put her nose right on the low windows. We moved all the pillows off to give her plenty of room.

A single fitted sheet that we don’t use on beds was good for the chaise lounge. That’s comfortable for me, too, when I use the laptop. Kacey was so anxious when she first came to us that I stayed with her instead of writing in my room. She is not allowed in there, because I don’t want her long hair floating everywhere.

After hours of rain, the sun came out. I knew from walking Kacey that it was much colder than previous days. Still, I’m going to run out of February days to trim bushes if I don’t do my quota of one a day. The dog dug holes near her stake, so I let her stay on the screened porch. It was discouraging to spend more time filling her holes than pruning shrubs. It was 40F (4.44C). I wore my New York coat and kept moving. I don’t think I’ll be pruning if it gets closer to freezing. Do any of you have personal limits for doing yard work?

Daffodils and Driveway Art

Neighbor Joyce pointed out the green shoots of her daffodils days ago. The buds must have been swelling, but I didn’t notice them again until they burst open. Perhaps I needed a drum roll for drama, but that is not the nature of early spring flowers.

Dampness brought out a design on a driveway I pass each morning. I can see a couple of fun things there. A goofy owl was the first I saw and then two roadrunners on a branch. I’ll bet you can see other fanciful things.

I thought it was quite unusual that I ate lunch on the porch twice before the middle of February. Today it was even warmer — 68F (20C)! No sweater needed!

Rain — Beating the Odds

I’m not a betting person, but weather apps force you to think about winning. This morning there was a 15% chance of rain during the time I would be walking to the creek. That sounded low enough to me. I noticed nothing unusual until I walked parallel to the mountains on the way home. There was a whiteness hanging on the ridges that seemed much thicker than mist. I was about a mile from home at that point, with the steep hill just ahead. I needed about 30 to 45 minutes to get home. My pace was quicker than normal, but would it be fast enough?

Half way up the steep hill I saw half the road was quite damp. The more level road at the top was suspiciously wet, with a puddle in the middle. That’s when I met a walker I’ve never seen before going the other way.

She said, “I admire you so much for getting out to walk on terribly cold mornings. I just can’t do that.”

She recognized me, and I hadn’t a clue who she was or where she lived. I changed the subject to imminent rain. I said, “I think it has rained here since I came this way earlier. I’m sure that puddle wasn’t here before. Did you notice rain?”

“Yes,” she replied, “I saw half the driveway was wet, so it has rained recently.”

“Will you stay dry?” I wanted to know.

She said, “Oh, yes. This coat protects me from rain.”

She laughed when I flapped the lapels of my heavy sweater and said, “I’m wearing a sponge.”

“You’d better keep walking, then,” she said, as we wished each other a good day.

Did I get home before it rained? Yes. I had breakfast with David, then took Kacey outside with me while I trimmed three Rose of Sharon bushes near the pasture. Although it has been very gray, the weather app predicts the chance of rain will remain 15% until it dips lower at 5 pm.

Valentine’s Day 2023

I had no expectations for the day, good or bad. It unfolded with lovely surprises at every turn. I enjoyed special Valentine greetings via text and email, and they can all be read and savored many times. For days we displayed and appreciated a hand-made card from former neighbor Connie.

Neighbor Cindy took me out to lunch, and what a lovely time it was! We talked non-stop about all kinds of things. I picked her brains about dog issues, since she has had much more experience than I have. After we left the restaurant, I realized I had not taken a photo. You’ll just have to imagine a beautiful friend wearing an elegant white blouse and a lovely smile.

Daughter Lise called from Denmark after working in Italy for three weeks. She just finished polishing a Power Point presentation that the head of the Italian division will present to the CEO in Paris. Heady stuff! We were just beginning our conversation when neighbor Shawn brought over Valentine balloons and a card. I asked her to hold the phone, showing that Lise was with us.

I had a lower key conversation with son John $, mostly about weather. He thinks the seasons vary more from year to year in Washington state than they do in New York or North Carolina. He has lived there a year now and heard natives talk about the weather. One season I’ve never experienced is Smoke Season, a time in autumn when wild fires fill the air with smoke that makes it hard to breathe.

Daughter Kate, with recurring bronchitis, talked to us the night before. She probably couldn’t be heard today.

This was one of the loveliest Valentine Days of my life, and I appreciate all who were part of it.

Kacey Steals a Valentine Snack

Before I went out for lunch, I walked Kacey and visually checked the kitchen for food that might be in the dog’s reach. She is taller than I thought. After taking photos of the crime scene, I scolded her, and she slunk down on the floor. She had eaten banana nut bread, which would have been David’s breakfast the next day. She dined in style. Along with the bread, she took a red cleaning cloth for her Valentine napkin.