Postcards from the Lake: Home Alone

I saw Rick off for home on Sunday, taking him halfway so the bike ride home wouldn't have to involve an overnight. As we said goodbye, I was reminded again of how lovely our weekend was.

I told you about our day in Traverse, but my "real" birthday was good too. I attended quite a lovely art fair and even got a good handle on Christmas shopping. Perfect peaches from the farmer's market. All good!

Now I'm "home alone." Nice, actually. Today I saw my neighbor with the big blue thing who made our beach so lovely working on his own. I don't think he was weeding -- just moving sand around. Jim loves his toys -- whether it's the mower or blower or tractor or power washer, he's always busy.

This is a good thing. His area is spotless and beautiful. But I'd feel guilty! His wife, Cathy, often stays in Detroit-area. Cathy's idea of fun at the lake is a really good book. I quite agree. Jim moves sand! (They are wonderfully compatible, not unlike Rick and me, I might add!)

I fear Rick's next visit. He started scraping paint off the shutters last weekend and realized the windows needed reglazing and all painted. No book next time I'm here with him! We'll be working dogs!

It's a warm day -- in the mid-80s -- but the breeze is strong so it feels quite comfortable. I haven't been able to walk, which is a little frustrating. About a week ago my foot went into super-pain. I thought it was plantar fascitis and it may be but the woman who makes my orthotics, aka The Foot Goddess, thinks it has to do with a bone related to my flat feet. This is what happens when you forsake your orthotics for bare feet and regular sandals in the summer. Either way, searing pain on the foot and up the achilles. I see the doc next week.

She adjusted my orthotics, told me to more or less stay off it (which I did not do on asylum day and I paid the price), ice it and do several foot exercises. Which I am, faithfully.

I can swim, though, and swim I do. Today I did the equivalent of 35 pool lengths. One length short of a quarter mile. The water is warmish but still cool enough to feel good on the feet and back (out of whack because of walking funny).

Painting? Yes indeed!

Sweet Jemma (did you see her on "Making It?" I was so proud of her!) sent me a couple of her projects to capture in paint. Here's one of them. It's a bird feeder made from a cup and saucer on a grapevine heart.

And here's another.

This one will be going to someone I know and love, thanking him for his wonderful birthday celebrations.

Of course I'm reading, too. I finsihed the wonderful and deeply thought-provoking "Annie's Ghost,"

Then I started (and can't put down) "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society." How did I not know about this book? It ticks all my boxes. England. Writing. World War II. Wonderful characters. Books. Now I want to see the movie!

And writing in my bullet journal. I haven't journaled in a long while. This tiny book is the perfect size to start again!

Tomorrow will be housecleaning day -- I've been lax. Whistle while you work.

And soon home for a few days. Appointments and Cork Poppers. We'll feature Michigan wines from the Grand Traverse area where we went for my birthday. Needless to say I found one. I won't say it's good. Most Michigan reds leave much to be desired. But it's unique!

Soon Sweet Lizzie will get her act together and realize it's time for dinner. Serious cat nagging expected. She's good company. As for me, I am so overloaded, eating all the wonderful fruit of the season that it is probably a good thing that I am home alone.

One can only eat so many cherries without side effects.

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