A small bouquet of zinnias that Don gave me when I returned home last Sunday. He got them at the Farmer’s Market. Since we will have no zinnia blooms this year (thanks, bunnies) these are a lovely addition to the den.
It’s actually chilly this morning. I had to don a sweater. We’ve had such high temperatures for so long that we almost don’t know what cooler temperatures feel like. And for all of you in California, I’m so sorry that you’re dealing with another heat wave.
Both Don and I are glad to turn the page on the calendar and anticipate autumn. I don’t think the fall colors will be great this year – we’re in a drought – and some of our leaves started to turn brown a few weeks ago. In fact, when I drove up the driveway after my trip to Rochester, I noticed that 2 or 3 of the trees in the woods have already turned golden brown.
I’m going to say it: what a sucky summer it’s been.
I felt out of it most of the day yesterday and briefly worried about Covid, but then I realized that we’d had a major weather change, so my sinuses were in outrage mode. I started a new puzzle, which kept me occupied, but didn’t do any of the other things I had on my list. Thankfully, I’m feeling better today, so I’ll run a few errands and do some cleaning.
And then, on Sunday, I’ll head back to Rochester.
The sunlight is lovely today. I certainly see the change in the quality of the light as we head into September.
For once, I’m more than ready to leave summer behind and embrace fall.
Stay safe.
Happy Friday.
beautiful flowers. beautiful photo. beautiful love that you and don have for each other. :)
glad you are feeling better and can enjoy being home. and that you have plans that will make this next trip to/from rochester easier for you.
i am in no rush for winter, but this summer’s many days of 90+ degrees and drought can leave and let fall’s cooler weather, rain and colors come on in here, too. prayers for everyone dealing with droughts, other water troubles (jackson).
hope everyone has a good day and everything you need, plus some treats. stay safe.
kathy
I’m never in a rush for winter, but at least this year, you won’t have to drive to work in bad weather, Kathy.
Stay safe.
Oh, the vibrancy of those pinks; love zinnias; haven’t seen any for awhile.
How lucky are you to feel the hints of autumn and to be cooler; enjoy! Feel better!
So, like a complete idiot, I’ve just been walking my neighborhood in 100-degree HOT weather trying to find my two packages which got delivered to some other neighbor and not ME. Wasn’t too bad; found them on the people’s porch about four doors down. But wasn’t wise for me to just jump up and go out there in that blistering heat at 2pm PST, and then carry something heavy back to my house.
I’m cranky because I feel like I spent the whole morning making medical appointments for my husband and myself; it’s ‘depressing’ when the calendar is too full of this sort of thing for both of us, but I know I must be grateful for the accessibility to good care/good doctors and that we can afford the medical insurance we have the privilege of having; just also didn’t want to be scheduling things so far into November (so as to avoid being out; cold/flu season and of course Covid always, me and my weak immune system for any of it); but, gosh, I’m in a big county of nearly a million in population so you wouldn’t think the doctors and clinics are so booked out but I did have a technician tell me that they all lost a lot of medical workers at the start of the pandemic, many of which didn’t come back and I guess recruiting new staff isn’t all that easy. The scarier thing is how we don’t have nearly enough specialists; a real lack, in my opinion, of doctors like dermatologists, urologists, gastroenterologists, oncologists and endocrinologists. For that, increasingly, we’re having to face the prospect of driving into Los Angeles which is something we’d rather avoid. Such a diff from relatives I have who live in major-major cities across the U.S., with any kind of healthcare/specialist or hospital they could need (and a choice between several!).
Well, got in another load of laundry in the hot/uninsulated garage where the laundry equipment is located in this old 1950s tract house; was already 93 degrees at 10am here in my coastal Southern Calif. Now, to get in something to eat before we go into shutdown mode for the Calif flex alert starting at 4pm (so that hopefully we can all voluntarily help out the power grid enough to prevent rolling blackouts, because having no a/c as the afternoon wears on would be pretty awful for me and my breathing [better to crank up the thermostat and be a little too warm than to have no a/c at all; and of course I’m so grateful to even HAVE a/c, thank God]). At least, fingers crossed, we have no Santa Ana winds along with this heat (this time around anyway; we’ll get plenty of that in September-Oct).
I’m especially anxious and I don’t know exactly why but it’s the threat of wildfire I guess, the excessive heat and trying to work with it (all that time on the phone trying to line up too much medical stuff) … of course frustrated we can’t get much done in a too-warm house and outside is impossible; I was hand-watering my potted plants outside last night with a flashlight at 9pm … but it’s also what’s going on with our rescue dog, having had his first big lookover-exam under anesthesia last Tuesday and suffering ever since with what is looking like infection (hope not) from one minor procedure that was done. The vet is trying to see what product/med we can be using (tried one already and it didn’t work; just made it worse) for some inflammation (a lot of inflammation and irritation actually) but this is all by phone and talking in person sans dog, since the dog can’t be examined or handled unless we put him back under anesthesia again, which isn’t great for him nor is it good for our pocketbook, considering the huge amount of money we just spent on him on Tuesday.
The dog’s got the big cone/Elizabethan collar on his head now, so the poor dear thing is miserable and constantly whimpering and howling. Obviously we’re on edge. Feeling for him, but having been at a loss what to do even though we’re under the veterinarian’s guidance; and, well, this eardrum-piercing howling gets to you after a point! (He’s a VERY vocal dog anyway! Claudia, you mentioned this, how the Aussie Sheps are big talkers; amen.) My husband finally took to his own remedy after trying to fact-find online and although we’re still waiting for the vet to call (last call on Friday before a holiday weekend; love the timing [hint ‘big worry’]), my husband and I are now taking turns at sitting with the dog for hours at a stretch so he can’t try to get at the sore spots and the topical ointment my husband decided to try, since he (the dog) … naturally, because he’s so darned smart … found a way around the Elizabeth collar in a nanosecond. He’d rather be a sweetie, but he’s a big, 65-lb beast when it comes to trying to poke around on him; my husband got bit (again) this morning. I’m talk’in bloody-bit on arm and hand, but my husband obviously doesn’t blame the animal; the poor dog is just terrified; he knows something is wrong; this latest problem is causing the dog much consternation; he has no ability to understand. But I’m tell’in ya, trying to rehab this dog for the past six months has been one of the biggest challenges of our married life!
Small problems in the bigger scheme of things, though. “First-world” problems just needing a resolution. Calm down, Vicki. Just.calm.down. (I just feel that for two old retired people, we always have ‘way too much going on!! I’d like to escape to one of those lake cabins or beach cottages we’ve all been discussing; just disappear for two weeks, no phones, no TV, no problems!!)
Prayers for your baby, Vicki. It’s so hard when pets are sick and they can’t tell you what’s going on!
xo
Tele-med just wasn’t working, so the dog went back in to the vet’s this morning withOUT anesthesia (nightmare again as he turns into the vicious monster) but vet was able to diagnose the inflammation and he gave the dog a mega dose of prednisone/steroid injection such that tonight is the first time we can take OFF the Elizabethan collar and our poor boy is finally calmer; the injection should last for three weeks and allow the inflamed area of 6-inch circumference a chance to heal; it’s been a time, what can I say; again, it wasn’t even invasive surgery so it took us off guard but maybe now all three of us, dad-mom-dog can try to relax a little in this godawful heat over the next three days; we were 106 degrees at my house this afternoon (Saturday now) although there’s a wee chance we could get rain (really???!!!) next week in the heat as Burbank did, which was just wild, to be clocking in at 112 degrees one day for them, and then downpours the next, albeit brief rain; but, shoot, we thirsty Southern Californians will take ANYthing!
I feel better today, Vicki. Thank you.
Stay safe.
I love your photo of your zinnias….and a nice contrast against the aqua background of the stand!
I wore a pullover for my early morning walk, just had a t-shirt now with another walk…..and that’ll be it for the day before the heat comes. Sunday through Tuesday is expected to be in the 100s. Just heard some of the local parks are closing…too many people go out unprepared and get heat exhaustion…or worse! So looking forward to fall!
Glad you’re feeling better…and that it wasn’t Covid…..
Take care of yourself, Barrie. We’ve been through a small stretch of 100+ days. Very dangerous to be out and about.
Stay safe.
Well I am back. I want to thank all of my friends on this wonderful blog for all their prayers and well wishes. The surgery actually went better than expected which pleased me and my doctor. Now I have to rest for a few days, so I hope to get some reading done. Thank all of you again! It meant a lot to me to read your messages!
Deb, you have wonderful news: I’m so glad for you! Happy reading and resting! All best healing wishes to you.
Thank you Vicki. All the prayers were answered. I will be resting for the next few days. Everyone has been so helpful to me. Take care!
oops … didn’t get my reply in the right spot. scroll down, if you like.
again, really happy for you and am praising God!
xo,
kathy
What wonderful news, Deb! You must be breathing a huge sigh of relief. Rest up. xoxoxo
Yes Claudia you bet I am relieved. Thank you again for rounding up all the wonderful friends on your blog to keep me in their prayers. It did work!
Sending a big hug, Deb. xo
what wonderful news to hear! i am so happy for you, deb …and i am thanking God!!!
hope you can relax and feel better. please do take it easy and enjoy plenty of rest. hope you have some good books and treats at hand. if des moines was closer to phoenix, i’d set some at your door.
thanks for letting us know (and so quickly).
hope you have a nice weekend. stay safe.
hugs (if okay).
kathy
Thank you so much Kathy. I am going to treat myself to some sweet rewards.
Such good news. Now follow Dr orders and get rest to build up your strength. So happy to hear your news!!!
Thank you so much Chris. I am just following doctors orders and getting lots of rest. Just glad it is behind me.
Prayers answered Deb