hollygee Goes West

Progress

I'm sewing today. Finished Stephen's jeans mending and working on the shower curtain. And I've figured out what I don't like about the hippy-dippy window shade: I don't like the broad stripes of color, only the narrow ones, so I'll be cutting those down and replacing them with more white. Then I'll only have little intense stripes of color, not blare in your face color.

On my changing eating habits and tastes. I can't emphasize enough how my cravings have changed. We had a fresh blackberry crisp with breakfast yesterday (1/2 cup ramekins) which I topped with unflavored yogurt. Last year I would have insisted on some sweetened whipped cream mixed in, but I didn't need it. Now this is whole milk yogurt -- I'm still addicted to [and remain myself] full fat. But, to me, This is Big.

It seems that I forgot to post

Yesterday, I went to Petaluma with a friend. I must have been anxious to get out of the house, because I was back home after lunch and shopping and visiting, then took a nap before starting dinner before I realized that I hadn't made anything for Steve's lunch. He said that he had some peanuts. Don't you feel sorry for him? Actually, there was food readily available in already prepared forms if he had been interested enough to find it.

This morning I took a second, shorter walk with my new walk partner. I've been researching for a job on the internet (have I mentioned how much I love the internet?). I'm procrastinating mending jeans and cleaning the bathroom -- but I fear that both will be done today.

Time for a cat story.
I was awakened by my 2 AM flash, and at the same time, Chips decided he needed a drink. While he was gone from His bed, Diego stretched out on the warm spot. I went back to bed, Chips jumped back up on the bed and lay down on my chest since His spot was occupied. Then he sat on the window sill complaining that His spot was occupied. I got out a second blanket, pushed my pillows further down toward the foot of the bed and made a place for him. He decided that it was okay. I had to get up and take a picture to prove it.

Sunday date night

    I announced to Steve that we were going out this weekend. Luckily for me, he was agreeable. My laundromat friend told me that her husband's band was having a special concert in a lovely setting with drinks and snacks. That sounded perfect for me.
    We had some errands to do before getting to the concert: picking up a new hose, having a romantic hot dog dinner in the parking lot of the Home Depot, a trip to Trader Joe's and then to find the Saint Vincent's School for Boys in Marinwood (or close to it) an hour before we needed to be there, Doh! We found a cooler breeze in the colannades and as we waited saw a turkey hen and her two chicks comfortably at home walking in the other direction.

    Okay, the property isn't kept up the way it begs to be, and that's a shame. It has been operating as a boys school since the Gold Rush. It is still a lovely venue in a lovely spot. 
    My friend's Banda Italiana di Marin is a recreation of village bands who transcribe opera's vocal and string parts to be played by horn and wind instruments. Now this isn't a really experienced group, but it was charming; a gathering of amatures for the love of the music and performing. In that setting, I could imagine that it was the village musicians doing their best on their beloved opera.

    I finally got to the sewing machine! First project is a bit more hippy dippy than I wanted it, but maybe after it's washed and ravels and fades, I'll like it better. I still have to do the curtain for the window next to this door, but this is constructed so that we can push it up when we want a window out to see if a cat needs in. So this is from the outside during the day, the inside view, and outside at night.
 
    Stephen planted my new Cape honeysuckle (Tecoma Capensis) vine. No sign of the brilliant scarlet blossoms but I think it is going to be very pretty.

And…

The sewing machine is out!

We'll see if that means anything.

Over the hill(s)

It's laundry day, but I'm going over to Vacaville to see Stephen's sister, Esther, and doing my laundry at her place -- her offer! I'm going to try coaching her in the ways of the Mac and Photoshop Elements while there. Maybe something work-like will come up tomorrow.

Oh, and I successfully avoided getting out the sewing machine yesterday, but the day looms.

Time to switch gears

I don't have any work! Ack!

The sewing machine is coming out today after all. The jeans mending/front door curtain/front window curtain/chair coverings/summer robe/ winter robe/summer dress/tablecloths/placemats/baby presents might get started.

Day shift

I usually get up first in the morning. Actually, that's not true. Diego gets up at 4 AM and begins to let me know that it is time to go outside and see what/who has visited around the place overnight. I often will open the door and go back to bed. But at some point, I bumble downstairs [carefully holding on with both hands][much of the year in the dark] to begin making coffee, pack Steve's lunch, and prep breakfast.

Editorial note Number 1: I did all this stuff for me when I was single. It is so much nicer doing for someone else. Makes me hug myself to be this lucky. 

When coffee is ready, I walk the two cups upstairs, wake Steve, and boot up the computer.

Editorial note Number 2: Stephen is rather uncomfortable being waited on. That is, with the exception of waking up to coffee in bed.

Usually he will drink his coffee, collect our cups and go downstairs to dress and take his meds/supplements and I follow once I've read enough blogs to satisfy. And I will usually make the bed before I go down.
This morning I went down before Steve had finished coffee. After breakfast and after Steve left for work, I went back upstairs to find the unmade bed already occupied.

They are arranged in a typical fashion: Chips looks for the biggest, softest pile of blankets/clothes/ towels/etc. to sleep on, while Diego wants a perfectly flat surface, preferably of a good contrasting color. Also the way they are sleeping is typical. Chips curls up tightly, often with his face mashed into his soft bed. Diego stretches out in elegant long twists with curled paws.

I'm doing more finishing up of client's work and writing a letter to my stepmom and sliding on the Nordic Track today. I hope everyone has a good day. Take a nap, it feels good.

Ugh… new commitment

Because it's good for me.
I met a new acquaintance at the library last week. Sharon and I were introduced by our librarian, Nancy. In our short chat while Sharon was checking out audio books to walk to, she asked if I wanted to meet once a week to walk.
You know she is a good person when she laughed at my curled lip of disgust and pursued the idea anyway. We met this morning. I had on my barely used Keen high-top walking shoes that I bought in Vermont (I could barely stand to relinquish my Crocs). Sharon showed at the appointed time and we took off walking and talking to get to know one another. At the half-hour mark, my hips were protesting, but she had in mind a particular beach -- not much further -- with a bench where we could rest. We rested up and headed back to the library, which was having its weekly coffee hour. She says it turned out to be about two miles. I'm glad it wasn't longer. After standing and talking to a few people, I walked the half-block home; I had stood too long and my toes were a little numb, but got home and slowly climbed the steps and got to drink water and sit down.  Ah.
My hips and my arches are a little sore, but Sharon and I now have a standing appointment for Wednesday mornings to walk. She has lived in the area for 38 years -- I believe that I will learn a lot from her.

I know that I haven't added any photos for a bit. We are having our usual gray June, so the light aren't as dynamic as I like for taking pictures. Maybe tomorrow.

Tuesday, at home

Yesterday was all errands. Laundry, meet with client, groceries, etc. I didn't get to do any workouts until afternoon. Good news, though, I am up to ten minutes from the previous five minute sessions on the Nordic Track.

Today I have a bunch of catch-up work on clients' sites and I will be doing a minimum of 2 ten-minute sessions on the Nordic Track.

Here is one of my newest projects. Not quite complete but minimal functionality now. I'll tell you more when the other part of the project is complete.

One week in

This is how the Nordic Track fits in to use it. I can't really do much more than 5 minutes at a time yet, but I try to do it 3-4 times a day, so I will be increasing duration.

I had a one month check-up at the clinic this week. My blood pressure continues to be at healthy levels, my cholesterol is grand and my glucose levels just over normal. And I'd lost four pounds. If I keep up the new routines, I should really see some progress when I return in September.

I don't have a lot of new work this week, just completing older work.