Postcards from the Lake -- Getting a New Routine

I have decided that it takes a good week to begin to get a new routine going, to look at time differently than I do at home. There is no schedule -- a Zoom doc appointment was the closest I'll probably come to one. It's caused me to ponder the question of time a good deal. But that's for another day! Meanwhile, here's a look at the week!

Day Four -- July 4

You'd never have known it was the Fourth of July here. I think everyone was worn out from the activities of the weekend and lots of the long weekend people left for home. The temps were warm -- in the 90s, I think -- but it feels rather comfortable here. It wasn't windy but a nice breeze off the lake now and then. It was a good day to paint, read, puzzle and swim. 

Alas. Good Neighbor Jim finally has a for sale sign by his house. He has the best site on the lake, I think -- and .8 acres. Am I selfish in wanting no one to purchase it right away? Other Good Neighbor David is hoping to talk his family into buying it as a joint effort just to protect the lake but who knows. My neighbors on the north side are great. I don't know if it is a good or bad thing that it will probably have a very high asking price!

Because we aren't going to England in the fall as I'd hoped, I'm doing this puzzle. Shoot me now. 

Day 5 -- July 5

I find myself having to reprogram myself for lake life with a new routine. It's quieter. No particular schedule. I still haven't found a radio station I particularly like, so I'm streaming a bit more. I've come on to Radio Garden, which gets stations from all over the world and am having fun sampling many of them. (Oddly enough, no matter where they are from, for the most part the music is much the same -- classical, pop-rock, folk, the usual genres.) Most of the time I listen to Scala radio from London.

I also hit the movies, something I seem to do rarely. It was a private screening -- I guess no one else was interested in "Asteroid City," Wes Anderson's newest. But I love his quirky work so I thoroughly enjoyed this! His color palette was one I love and was consistent throughout the film -- aqua, peach, earthy colors. I loved the art direction! (When you go to the movie and you're the only one there, you can take a photo!)

Mornings tend to be computer time and NYT puzzles (Wordle and Spelling Bee) -- much as at home. Swimming is later in the afternoon and I'll be adding morning walk as my back and hip appear to be doing a little better here.

And I have been painting a bit. A friend posted a photo of this house in a lavender field on Facebook and said I should paint it -- I'm not sure I am wild about the results but it was a good one to kick off summer painting!

I'm more fond of this one, perhaps because it reminds me of a wonderful day in London. (Can you tell I'm really having trouble dealing with the postponement of our trip?)

Day 6 -- July 6

The rain really cooled things off but the breeze kept coming. It was a good day to stay in and work on the dreaded puzzle and finish "Devil in the White City." I think everyone's read this book except me but I've finished and I can see why it appeals. It's about the Chicago World's Fair and it was fascinating.  Look for it in the upcoming July book review post. I took a short walk -- about all the back could handle and to be honest, not anything new much to see.

Day 7 -- July 7

The morning started early with a Zoom appointment with the back doc at UofM. I had decided to have the neurotomy (also called Radio Frequency Ablation) this fall. But he was pleased with my progress at PT and wants to delay a decision for another month or two. That's fine with me -- the later in the year we do this, the longer into the new year it should last. He said keep walking so off I went. A mile this time. He said not to ramp it up too fast (as if I could!). I was ready to rest my back and stretch when I got home. I must admit, I liked seeing this array of tiger lilies -- seemingly just growing in a wild clump but I suspect long ago someone put them there. 

Later I went to lunch with Neighbor Jim's wife Kathy. I don't know her all that well because she isn't here as often -- and it's a pity because I like her very much. I'm so sad they will be leaving. I understand -- they need something smaller. But she is such a delight and someone with whom I have much in common. I wish she'd spent more time here in the past and that I knew her better. When we came home we looked for leftover signs of the trailing arbutus that comes out in April and is short-lived. We aren't sure we found that but we did discover this interesting bloom and thanks to Facebook, it is from the wintergreen family.

Day 8 -- July 8

Much of the day was rainy but it cleared up just long enough for me to get to the farmer's market, my first visit of the season.

The early July market isn't much to write home about. One of my favorite veggie vendors retired last year and no one has really replaced him, though it is a little early in the season for the kind of produce he would bring in. But I scored some northern Michigan black cherries and some gorgeous strawberries.

And yes, it's all more expensive than last year.

More rain, more puzzle at the lake, and then another walk. I noted this weed or wildflower by the swamp -- the fragrance was so powerful I had to find out which plant was its source. I don't know the name of this one but boy, it smells terrific.

Meanwhile, the swamp has really filled in. You have to stand in a certain spot to even see the water! 

I'm not the only one getting into a new sense of lake-time/lake-routine. Lizzie has found her various spots and is a happy camper in all of them!

 And so I leave you with another sunset. 

They rarely disappoint.

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