Mid-week

I mentioned pets and the virus in yesterday's blog, and last night I read of the first known case of a dog contracting coronavirus.  That is so heartbreaking, and doubly so because pets - dogs at least - know nothing about social distancing nor are they interested in it.

I've heard a lot lately about people rebelling against being confined and quarantined in their homes, or at least maintaining the prescribed distance from others.  I am pretty sick of not being able to go anywhere, but I will stay home  for as long as it takes!   I sure hope we get a break sometime during the summer -  just a few weeks would be so nice.  When you think of the size of the U.S., however, it is unlikely that there will be a period of no cases at all in any of the 50 states at the same time.  Thankfully we don't have the constant travel now, so the spread will eventually slow down.

I have some photos of Rocky in the pool.  He likes to stay on the steps, and I don't know if he ever actually swims.

 If I remember correctly, one year ago today was my first full day in my new place.  That year has gone by so quickly, and the next year will probably fly past at an even faster pace.  I hope the coming year is uneventful.

Today has been such a beautiful day - not hot like yesterday, a slight breeze blowing, and just a good overall uneventful day!  Here's to many more like it!

Where does the time go?

This morning I was wondering if it was Sunday.  I looked on my computer and found out it was Tuesday!

Jeannie came and got Rocky late yesterday afternoon and took him to her house to play with the girls.   Then she came back here and we enjoyed sharing a bottle of wine and good conversation.  Before the wine, she walked on my treadmill.  I hope she comes by every day to walk on it, especially since she is so careful to not go anywhere these days.  I'm glad she feels safe to come here and it certainly helps me to weather the loneliness of this isolation.

Speaking of the treadmill, I have been pretty faithful about using it every day,  or maybe 6 days a week.  You may recall that I recently had to buy new jeans and capris in a size larger, but since the weather became so warm I got out my summer shorts and tried a pair on - they fit!    Could it be the walking over the last 6 weeks or so has trimmed my waistline a bit?  I sure hope so and I'd rather not have to buy new summer clothes.

I have been working a bit in the garden when the sun passes over the house in the afternoon, and I've noticed many flowers on the tomato plants, plus a few tiny little tomatoes growing!  I am really looking forward to trying some new varieties that I planted, but mainly I'm anticipating the Roma and Cherry tomatoes.  I'll leave the beefsteak tomatoes to those who might like them on hamburgers, etc.  I also have a variety called Brandywine Pink, as well as one called Venus.

I finally planted some marigold seeds along the side of the planter bed, and hope they do the job of keeping unwanted insects away as they did last year.  I saved the seeds from last year's marigolds, which probably run into the hundreds of thousands!  Well, maybe almost that many.  I would like to save some of the seeds from the tomatoes this year, but am not sure how to get them, except I guess you have to take them right from the tomato.  It won't be easy and they are encased in a sort of gel that would have to be washed away to get to the seed.  Oh well, I'll worry about that in the fall.

I would like to hear how some of you are staying mentally fit during these tough times.  Living alone, it's so easy to fall into a rut and very easy to get lazy.  I guess I'm sort of in a rut and definitely lazy.  

I'm trying my best to not have to turn on the a/c, but at 12:30 it is already getting hot.  I hate to be cooped up indoors with all the windows shut and would rather suffer a bit of discomfort, but not too much discomfort!

I've just read that the CDC has announced that social distancing recommendations apply to pets as well.  I've missed the dog park from my old place, but it's just as well there are none close enough for me to walk.

I finally got out of the house!

Jeannie picked Rocky up yesterday afternoon and dropped him off at her house to play with the girls.  He enjoyed his favorite game of  basketball, and even got a  bit wet in the pool although I don't think he actually left the wide step and into water where he could swim.  I'm not sure if he knows that he can swim, and probably needs a more experienced dog to show him it's ok.  I don't go into the water at all, but I always say if I ever got to the steps down into the pool, I would push him in.  He would sink or swim, and I am sure of the latter.  Today he is   recuperating from all the play activity with the girls.  They plumb wore him out!

 I loved the freedom and rode with Jeannie to various stores where she made outside pickups of her orders.  It is really great to see how the stores and customers are coping very well with social distancing and still doing business.  Of course not all of them have that option.  I get so irritated when I see or hear of people flaunting the rules, and I think many of them would complain, no matter what.  We have a deadly virus all around us, everywhere, and we can only hope to keep ourselves away from it until it runs its course.   It sounds like there will be resurgences of this virus and will come in waves throughout the year and likely into next year.  Nobody likes it.

The thermometer reached 90 yesterday and it looks like today will be about the same.  I have several bags of garden soil that Joe got for me, and I would like to add it around my tomato plants, but  I'm going to wait until the sun moves over the house and towards the west.   It would have been so much better if I had been able to do that before I set the plants into the ground, but it is what it is, and out of about 19 plants I'm pretty sure at least half will  survive and thrive, and hopefully even more than that.  I've sown some zucchini and yellow squash seeds but they haven't sprouted yet.  Something that I planted last year is starting to come up.  I'm not sure yet what it is, and I may end up having to just pull the plants up, although they look like some sort of edible greens to me.  This year's gardening could be successful or could be a disaster.  It's hard to do anything when you can't get the materials and my family are all trying to stay in and stay safe until we get the all clear whistle!  Fortunately Jeannie and Steve are able to work from home, but Joe works in a hospital and you can't treat patients from the safety of your home!

I have everything I need to recaulk the bathtubs, including removing the old caulk.  I think I need to wait until the mood strikes me, and hope it strikes soon.  I'm finding it more and more difficult to get motivated to do anything these days.

I've been thinking I'd love to get a bird feeder and hang it in my backyard so I could watch all the birds that congregate in the trees there.  I am afraid that would be an invitation to the squirrels, who normally stay out of my yard.  It is almost impossible to deal with squirrels when there is an easy source of food involved, and I hate to take a chance on it.  Rocky doesn't chase birds so I doubt if he would bother the squirrels either.

I wish you all a safe week ahead, and hope you take care to stay well.

A sweet distraction!

When events seem overwhelming and the news of the coronavirus, China, Russia, and our current U.S. political scene cause heartburn, there is a short daily youtube video that can make you laugh.  

A guy who I think is from New York state has a farm where he raises just about all kinds of birds:  chickens, roosters, guinea hens, ducks, geese, and turkeys.  He has named them all, and I would surmise he has at least 30-50 birds.  The names crack me up:  Jimmy is a turkey who definitely has a thing for the chicken hens and is always doing something funny; the names are often clever and comical:  Slate, (a gray bird), BirdieSanders, Scarlet, Pablo, Sonny & Cher etc.  He usually films first thing in the morning as he scatters feed for all of them, and he calls them by name.  After watching numerous videos I'm beginning to associate some of the names with the individual birds.

I haven't yet figured out if he just raises such a variety because he likes birds - I don't think anyone could eat a bird with a name, but I could be wrong.  After watching a lot of the videos I have become aware of individual bird personalities, and it is really an interesting 6 to 8 minutes of barnyard viewing to start the day.  Much better than the political crap you see and hear all day long.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQ3HksEh444

It is such a great way to relax, laugh, and forget all the ills of the world, and I invite you to watch a couple of the videos.

A Good Night's Sleep!

Rocky and I were falling asleep on the couch at 8:00 pm yesterday, so I decided to be more comfortable sleeping in my bed.  I woke up in the middle of the night, but eventually went back to sleep and didn't get up until 8:00 am this morning.  You would think I would be energized and raring to go, but about the only thing I did today was walk a mile on the treadmill, and take Rocky for a nice walk.  I've been using the treadmill just about every day, and notice my pains are shifting.  When I started walking my thighs really ached; now it's the calves of my legs that are feeling the exercise.  I hope it's true that "no pain, no gain", because according to that I will have immense gain!

It has been cool today and I'm dressed for it.  Right now I have my small Lasko heater aimed towards me and feel toasty warm.

Jeannie knows I love jigsaw puzzles and gave me one to work on - I used to do 1000 pc puzzles but am down to those with about 300 pieces now.  This one that I've been working on today has very small pieces which make it more difficult to see color variations, so I probably won't finish it.  But I'm going to order a couple of new ones with 300 large pieces.  It is so frustrating to notice my eyesight worsening by the week.  I am sure I need to have an eye exam and a new prescription for glasses, but of course not right now until the virus slows down.

I hope you are all social distancing and staying safe.  I am beginning to hate the phrase "social distancing"!  I just hope it works.

 

The going is still rough!

Sometimes I feel like I'm ready to explode!  I can't go on like this for the rest of the year, or whatever it takes.  And to top that off, I've been seeing articles on how the virus will keep coming back just when we think we're finished with it.

But on a more mundane note, I've decided to replace the old caulking around the bathtubs.  I can't remember when I last did anything like that, but I know it's more difficult than it looks.  I never could handle a caulking gun, so I'm going to look for the type you squeeze directly out of the tube.  It won't look worse than what is currently there.  I guess I should start on the spare bathroom and get some experience before trying the one I use every day.

After saying that I found a box of stuff that came from my old place, including two unused tubes of caulk - the only hitch is that I'll need to use the caulking gun.  I may take a "before" and
"after" photo, but I may or may not show them to anyone :-)

After walking a mile on the treadmill this morning, I took Rocky for about a 20 minute walk.  Twenty minutes for him is at a slow pace so he can sniff everything along the way, but I don't mind.  He's a good boy and he can't understand what all the current drama is about.  I'm pretty much worn out and will try to take it easy for the rest of the day. 

I hope your days are more exciting than mine are!  See you again soon.

Am I the only one?

Am I the only one who is having a really hard time of this?  I did ok for the first few weeks but now I think I've just had it!  

I desperately need several things for my garden, such as topsoil, fertilizer and the like.  Things I would need to have delivered because it's about a mile and a half to Ace Hardware and I can only carry back the items that are lighter in weight - not big bags of fertilizer!  Today I just lost it and decided the heck with the whole garden.  I didn't even water my little tomato plants today.   I've raised those plants from seed and nurtured them to this point, and it just breaks my heart.  

It is no one's fault so I blame myself!  I may just put Rocky in the crate and walk there tomorrow and shop.  I need to walk the aisles and find the products I need, or I will surely forget some of them.  Then I can have them delivered.

And poor Rocky just doesn't understand what is going on, but he knows something is wrong.  I've been walking him in the morning, and this afternoon I took him for a short walk.    I also like to throw the ball to him out in the yard, but I don't have much strength in my arm.  I'm to the point where I don't care about myself, but I do worry about Rocky.

So far I have been very faithful to walking on my treadmill at least 5 days a week, for a mile each.  The mile combined with Rocky's walks should be good for me, although to tell the truth, I don't notice any difference.  I know my legs hurt when I walk on the treadmill and they also ache when I'm walking outdoors.

I get a little irritated with my kids because I don't think they understand how much this is affecting me.  They have families around them so they aren't lonely all the time.  It certainly isn't their fault, and I know that - I'm just unhappy with my situation!
  
I am grateful for the way our governor is handling this situation so far, and my hope is that we will notice an upward curve soon. 
Of course, then I read that there will be another attack of the virus, and maybe even a third.  Will it ever end?  It is really difficult from the standpoint of being so alone - I would never want to go back to the mobile home park, although I had much more contact with other people there.

I'm really not looking for pity, but it sure sounds like I am!  So many of us are in the same boat, and there is no land in sight! 

There are times when I think about renting a car for the weekend, and driving to all the places I have been wanting to go.  I'd go to the hardware store, the grocery, the post office and the library!  I'm not even sure the libraries are open, but that would be one of the places on my list.  Dream on, Gypsy!

I need the fan today!

This has happened in a hurry as a couple of weeks ago I was running a small heater when I sat down to rest.  I put the heater away just now and turned on my floor fan.  It feels good!

I went outside to water my tomato plants and check to see if anything is sprouting where I planted seeds, and it was just too warm to stay out.  

Jeannie came over late yesterday and we sat out on the deck in the cool evening air.  It was so nice to have company and I miss seeing her more often.  I wonder if we will ever get back to normal, or at least the "new normal".  I miss my kids dropping by now and then, and haven't seen Joe & Erica's "new" baby since the morning they brought him home from the hospital.  I've been digging through some of my old photos - Joren looks so much like Joe as a baby, as well as my grandson in NY, Justin (Mike's son).  I start to thinking about how I can organize and identify all the photos, as well as how to display them.  To put them all in photo books would be impossible.  I'm starting to give my kids their 1st photos (taken in the hospital shortly after their birth.  I thought their children might like seeing them, and comparing them with their own photos at birth.  I can't find Mike's!

Rocky and I went for a walk this morning and he's napping on the couch - his favorite place after a walk!  I notice he's overweight because I give him too many treats.  He has his own cabinet in the kitchen with various bags of treats, and he goes right to it whenever I bring him back from a walk, or when I tell him he's such a good boy!  That dog plays me like violin!

As I mentioned yesterday, my stimulus payment was deposited into my bank account and I wrote my congressional reps to thank them, although I don't know if they had anything to do with it.  I am grateful for the money, but in the back of my mind is a nagging worry:  "What is the current national debt".  I remember when that used to be tracked and publicized quite often, but I don't think I've heard anything about it for the past 3-1/2 years.  It must be staggering by now, and you know it will never be brought down by any sort of frugality measures.  What a thing to leave to our grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

On my walks with Rocky I keep wanting to stop and gaze at the most beautiful sky.  If this is what a lack of pollution can do, then I truly think there should be an effort made to permanently do away with a big percentage of air pollution.  It costs too much to fix it?  Just add it to the national debt! 

Have a good day and enjoy the rest of the week!

 

Highs and Lows

Things just seem to swing wildly from one extreme to another.  I have tried to adjust my attitude to just go along for the ride and not care so much about the little things.  I'm taking Rocky for at least one walk a day, and might increase it to twice a day if everything goes ok.  There aren't many people out, although this morning I met another woman walking her dog - we were on opposite sides of a fence along the school property line, and I think we maintained a decent and safe distance.   I'm beyond worrying about it any more - I think I'd rather live my life right now than wait to die!

It is going to be a beautiful, gorgeous day!  The rest of the week will be in the 70's and sunny, so I'm hoping to see my tomato plants take off.  My son, Steve, sent me a photo of some tiny little shoots coming up in his garden.  They are such beautiful little miracles at that stage of growth.  I have a garden plot that needs tilling before I can use it.  I think I have a rototiller in my shed but can't get the shed door open!  I also don't think I could handle the tiller, so I sent out an S.O.S. to Donald and Steve.

I was totally surprised this morning when I checked my bank account online and found an extra $1200!  I really didn't think I'd get it because I'm a retired Civil Service employee, and I stayed under the old Civil Service Retirement.  I've always been glad I stayed with CSRS - they certainly tried their best to get everyone to switch over to the current system which is part Social Security.   I remember they were sending out thick, bound booklets just about every week to those who hadn't switched from Civil Svc retirement.  That eventually did it for me - I figured they weren't going to all that trouble and expense to benefit me!

Steve and I have been messaging back and forth for a while trying to figure out what I need for my garden (stakes, tomato cages, etc.).  He doesn't want me to go into the store, so I'm attempting to estimate what I need.  Darn it, I know if I could just look at the stock I would find something I didn't know I would need until seeing it in the store!

When I get all the garden stuff together and in place, I'll take a photo and include it in a future blog.  For now, take care and have a good day.

Still alive and well

Yesterday was such a nice day as my daughter finally came to visit me.  I think neither one of us has been out of our houses for 3 weeks (or maybe 4--I've lost count).  At least I walk out to the mailbox every day, but I'm sure she doesn't even do that.  We split a bottle of wine and just enjoyed catching up.  Rocky was so happy to see someone other than me. 

Speaking of Rocky, I finally gave in and took him for a very short walk late in the day.  There was no one out walking although a kid on a bike passed us.  I wore my dorky mask which fogs up my glasses!  Rocky's attitude and demeanor when we returned were back to his old self, and I realize how devastating this thing has been on him, and he doesn't understand why.  I was also at just about rock bottom when Jeannie came over, as the loneliness to see and talk to another human has just about done me in.  So now, I'm torn between taking Rocky for a short walk every day and worrying about my coming down with the virus, or watching his attitude go south!  It's a tough decision, because I know if I catch the virus there is no way I will recover.  

It would certainly help if the country had a leader who actually cared about all the people, and took strict and immediate measures to curb the spread of the virus.  Everyone could see this coming, and yet we had no call to get ready, nor a game plan to protect the people, and we wasted valuable weeks and months.  Even now we have no real direction except for a few governors.  What in the hell has happened to my country?  It makes me absolutely sick to see what we are coming to.  Sorry for the rant.  I was born into a world that was at war,  but the people were united in purpose;  I hate to think I will leave a world that is at war with itself, at war with common sense, and at war with determination of all the people to work together to fight the common enemy.  It could and should be so different.

Dropping Easter Plans

Jeannie, Steve, and I were plannng on our families getting together at my house for Easter.  On second and third thoughts, we decided it's too soon to do that.  Each of us has stayed in isolation with our families (for me that is my dog, Rocky), for three weeks.  That's just about enough time to say that we are all safe, but we decided it's still too early to take chances.  So we will plan a blow-out get-together for a later time.  It makes sense to me - I've spent 3 agonizing weeks alone up to now and don't want to go back to zero and take a chance.

I took a letter out to my mailbox a bit earlier, and wore a mask!  I looked and felt pretty dorky, and hoped no one saw me.  Wouldn't you know a car pulled up across the street, and the occupants just sat in it.  I left to come back to my house, although Rocky wanted to investigate!  Now I'll have to put that mask back on when I check on the mail delivery in a couple of hours.

This has been a dreary sort of day - some sun, but mostly overcast.  I should go out and pull some more weeds & grass from the next plot I want to finish and plant more veggies in.

I'm faithfully walking on my treadmill - a mile and a third each day for 6 days.  Rocky is so curious but won't step up on it.  I'll increase the walk by 1/3 a mile each week for at least the next 2 weeks.  Don't know where I'll go from there.

So that's it from me today - stay safe and well.

Corona Blues!

I've about had all I can take, but there is no end in sight for a long time.  I should count my blessings and hope the virus stays away from me.  I am probably not as careful as I should be, but when a package is delivered to my door I just want to open it asap.  Same with going to the mailbox, but I guess I should wear disposable gloves at least.

I've been spending a lot of time on my 3rd garden box.  The grass and weeds are so tall and thick, and I work for a while pulling them out and then have to come in for a break.  I started yesterday and probably have 2/3 of it finished now.  The outlook for food prices is so dire that I think I should try to grow more than tomatoes and squash.  I have seeds for carrots, lettuce, and mustard that I might try to plant a row of each.  I have other seeds as well, and a 4th garden plot if I decide to use it, but I don't want to overwhelm myself with gardening as the weather improves and things start really growing.  I wish I could get to the hardware store for more garden soil and supplies, but I understand they won't deliver the soil unless it is paid for at the store.  It evidently comes from a separate company and not through their regular ordering system.  At least that was my take on it, and I could certainly be getting it wrong and all mixed up.  But they don't deliver soil unless you come to the store and pay for it first.

Poor Rocky just can't get used to isolation.  I take him with me (on a leash) to get the mail, and yesterday he wanted to pull me across the street so I followed him.  He was all excited thinking we were going on our normal walk, finally, but I only  went a couple of houses up the street, crossed over and came back.  I had a very unhappy dog on my hands, and I was smacking my head wondering what in the world made me go outside of my invisible fence!  I woke up several times during the night thinking "What if I inhaled the virus while walking?"  I understand it can stay in the air for up to 3 hours, so it wouldn't be impossible for it to spread that way. 

I'm getting the most I can out of my treadmill.  I started off easy - about a mile a day for 6 days.  This week I'm aiming for about 1.3 miles and will up it accordingly each week.  Having the treadmill in my own house is terrific, and I can walk for a while, stop, and then get back to it later.  I definitely noticed a difference in how I feel almost immediately.  I still haven't put the floor exercise mat down because I'm not ready to deal with a nosy dog.

See the Humor!
Here are some funny’s to get through your day...

Thoughts for the Day. . .
Half of us are going to come out of this quarantine as amazing cooks.l The other half will come out with a drinking problem.
I used to spin that toilet paper like I was on Wheel of Fortune. Now I turn it like I'm cracking a safe.

I need to practice social-distancing from the refrigerator.

Still haven't decided where to go for Easter ----- The Living Room or The Bedroom

PSA: every few days try your jeans on just to make sure they fit. Pajamas will have you believe all is well in the kingdom.

Homeschooling is going well. 2 students suspended for fighting and 1 teacher fired for drinking on the job.

I don't think anyone expected that when we changed the clocks we'd go from Standard Time to the Twilight Zone.

This morning I saw a neighbor talking to her cat. It was obvious she thought her cat understood her. I came into my house, told my dog..... we laughed a lot.

So, after this quarantine.....will the producers of My 600 Pound Life just find me or do I find them?

Quarantine Day 5: Went to this restaurant called THE KITCHEN. You have to gather all the ingredients and make your own meal. I have no clue how this place is still in business.

My body has absorbed so much soap and disinfectant lately that when I pee it cleans the toilet.

Day 5 of Homeschooling: One of these little monsters called in a bomb threat.

I'm so excited --- it's time to take out the garbage. What should I wear?

I hope the weather is good tomorrow for my trip to Puerto Backyarda. I'm getting tired of Los Livingroom.

Classified Ad: Single man with toilet paper seeks woman with hand sanitizer for good clean fun.

Day 6 of Homeschooling: My child just said "I hope I don't have the same teacher next year".... I'm offended.

Better 6 feet apart than 6 feet under”

Welcome rain!

It is supposed to rain today and tomorrow with temps in the 50's.  I'm glad my tomatoes are in the ground, and I doubt if I will re-space them.  I just hope they don't crush each other fighting for the same space as they grow.  I wish I had someone around who could help me with trellising them, but that isn't going to happen, especially now with the quarantine in effect.

 After the rain it will be clear and in the 70's for a while - my favorite Sacramento weather.

Jeannie and I are combining our orders for Costco as well as Raley's grocery, which will be a lot easier for both stores to manage with limited personnel.  Almost everything takes longer than usual to be delivered these days, except the vacuum cleaner I ordered was delivered the next day (Best Buy).  It doesn't look complicated but I would prefer to have someone help me put the parts together and hook it up. 

Poor Rocky just doesn't understand why we don't go for walks these days.  I try to play with him in the back yard more often, and my arm is sore from throwing a ball.  I've attempted to get him to step up on the treadmill - I think he wants to but is afraid.  I am glad to take a day off from any kind of exercise.  I enjoy it though - helps me keep my sanity.

I've been thinking about how I could organize all my years of photographs so that they could be looked at easily.  It would take way too many albums, and no, I don't want to copy them to my computer.  I never look at all the photographs I have on my computer as it is.  I like to hold the picture in my hand.

Not much happening - not much to write about!
Until next time, stay safe!

Is anyone else bored?

I am bored some of the time, but I know it is going to get much worse.  I try to throw a ball to Rocky several times a day so that he gets some exercise, but my throwing arm is getting a little sore!

My tomato plants are looking good - some even have flowers on them - but I'm sure they are too close togther.  It's not like I could take one out of each row and plant it somewhere else - I'd have to re-space all of them in the row.  I think I can get the metal tomato cages in place for each one, but it will be a close fit.  I don't know but it doesn't look right.  If someone comments that I should re-space them then I will do it!  It is going to bug me the whole summer if I don't take care of it now.  DARN!

I can't believe how much better I'm doing since walking a mile on the treadmill every day this week.  I will walk a mile tomorrow, which will make 6 miles for the week, skip Sunday as a day of rest, and then try to up the mileage a bit next week and every week thereafter until I get to a good workout.

My exercise floor mat  came today and I wanted to set it out and see how comfortable it is.  Rocky got in the way and wanted to get on it at the same time.  I suppose it will do fine.  It is very thick but very firm at the same time.  I have to figure out a way to keep him off it.

I had to get a new vacuum cleaner as the old one was never very good.  I looked on line for one made in the USA, and darned if I didn't find one.  It's made by the company in the US that used to be Electrolux, and now looks to be affiliated with Hoover.  (I'm not quite sure about that, but it is made in the US, and I'm happy to note that Hoover still is. )  That isn't to say the parts aren't from all over the world but at least someone here has a job putting it all together.

I have a lot of projects in the planning stages (meaning I think about them as I am going to sleep at night!).  I have to do something about the deck and handrail, which is full of splinters.  I have a really deep splinter in the palm of my hand that I haven't been able to get out.  I guess I will try to sand the wood and then stain it.  That's a job that will probably take me all summer just doing the sanding!  If this quarantine is going to last much longer then it's a good thing I have several projects to work on.

Have as good a weekend as you can.  I'd like to know what everyone else is doing to pass the time (if you are under quarantine).  I cherish the comments I get on the blog, as it is the next best thing to a face-to-face conversation during these times. 

Walking

I am loving my treadmill and so glad I decided to buy one, and especially one designed for seniors.  I feel safe on it and it isn't cluttered with displays that I wouldn't look at anyway.  I know it's too much to believe that I can see a difference already, but I have had more energy the past couple of days and have accomplished a lot.

I'm waiting on a padded mat which should arrive on Saturday, and then I will add some more exercises to  my day.  I have a few sore muscles that I hope go away soon, but they aren't bad enough to affect what I can do.

My garden is all planted except for a few more squash plants.  I've already planted zucchini and want some yellow squash as well.  I may stop there or I may clear another garden plot and grow other things.  I enjoy working in the garden but I'm taking it just a little at a time.  I work for a bit and then have to take time out to throw the ball to Rocky a few times.  Poor thing misses his walks in the neighborhood.

And speaking of dog walks, I don't know how people can get their dog to walk at a good pace and ignore everything else.  Rocky has to stop to sniff everything!  Sometimes I wish he would just move on, but I figure it's his walk and he should do what gives him pleasure, and if that is sniffing everything, then ok.  It tries my patience though.  Right now I would love to be able to take him for a good walk and let him try my patience!

Can you believe we've just about passed the mid-point of another week?  They are going by too fast for me, and to think we are wasting what could be nice social time because of this damned virus!  And I don't know why it was virtually ignored for a while, giving it time to gain a good foothold in the U.S. 

Take care, and I'll be back soon.