Goodbye, stitches

Tiny bit of stitches left, see neck

It's getting there, but it's not there yet. I keep hoping to wake up and find that all the stitches have been absorbed and my neck is back to normal, but not quite yet. I have some friends who are just beginning the Mohs surgery, while I am at the tail end. SG took this picture of me, not long ago, and I kept hoping I'd awake and find that all have come all the way back. I managed to get some dirt into the wound a few days back, and then I obsessed that it might get infected, but so far everything looks pretty good.

I didn't walk to the yoga class yesterday, since we are still in the throes of a heat wave. At least for us, with the temperatures in the low eighties but feeling more than a little awful to those of us not accustomed to it. I slept very well last night, but I have to admit that I am still not used to this unremitting sun and heat. Day after day of cloudless skies, ten degrees hotter than normal, it's been no fun at all. In another day or two, this should subside, but until then I feel like it's okay to be a little grumpy. Even though the rest of the country is suffering, I feel vindicated and allowed to look forward to some cooler days ahead. You can call me a wimp, and it's not wrong. 

I really need to find some new headers for my blogs, since this is a new time in my life, and looking at pictures of previous Trailblazer hikes makes me feel just a little sad, and I need to look forward to whatever time I have left with joy and equanimity, finding happiness and camaraderie with all the other oldsters in my life. I never expected to live this long, really. Mama died thirteen years ago, and Daddy even longer. But here I am, going on 83, still able to be active and enjoy life. I'd like that to continue into the future, until some date when I will finally find the other end of my lifespan, and I'll join my dear family and friends who have already paved the way.

What we know for sure from our work and from others' is that mice have a life span of 1,000 days, dogs have 5,000 days, and we humans have 29,000 days. Recognizing that the duration is limited, and aging is inevitable, focus the attention on enhancing the quality of the days you have. —S. Jay Olshansky

Yessiree, I am wanting to expand and explore the entire life span of one person: me! How about you?

:-) 

Five days post-op

My Frankenstein look

Well, I'm through the hardest part of the Mohs surgery. If you want to see some gross and scary pictures, they are available from my Sunday post on https://eyeontheedge.blogspot.com/2025/08/cancer-is-gone.html. Now, just five days away from those moments, I am beginning to look almost normal. And even though the surgeon did take a hunk of tissue, I am now cancer-free. 

So now I can turn my attention to other aging parts of my body, right? I walked three miles this morning, and by the time I turned onto my street, my right sacrum had seized up and made it hard for me to continue. But once I rested a bit and put on my Big Girl pants, I kept going and finally walked up the steps, happy to be home. SG was at the dentist's office all morning, beginning his adventure of getting a couple of crowns and a bridge. He says the most troubling part of the whole thing is the expense. Too bad we don't live close to the Mexican border; I know some people who have gotten this kind of dental work done for a fraction of the cost he will pay. But it's something he's committed to doing, because he will be better prepared to face whatever the future holds.

My guy looks ahead and tries to ride the waves, and I am so happy to have such a partner. He takes great care of me, and he also looks for ways to avoid the shoals and sandbars that we will need to navigate through the coming storms, virtual and actual. The really good part of all this turmoil is that we are living in the best place in the US, if you ask me. 

Pretty flowers all in a row

I hope you are having a good summer, and that it's not terribly hot for you. I feel almost guilty that we won't even make it past 70 degrees F here today. It's been a great summer season so far.

:-)

Four little words

Snagged from Linda's blog

Ah, summer fruits! There is nothing that looks more delightful to my eyes than fresh fruit and veggies from a Farmers' Market. My friend Linda, who lives in Seattle, has a lovely collection of photos she took during a recent visit to a local Farmers' Market. I enjoyed the pictures so much that I asked for permission to use this one. Fortunately for you, the pictures cannot be eaten, which would destroy the beauty, don't you think? I love the bounty we have in the Pacific Northwest during the summer.

And so far, this year, we have only had a small assortment of really hot days. We are experiencing one today, Tuesday the 12th, but tomorrow promises to bring us cool and rainy weather. It will be the last day before my cancer surgery on Thursday.

There is not much else on my mind. By mid-morning on Thursday, I should have a better idea of how much this squamous cell carcinoma has invaded my neck. It could be just a little, or it could be a lot. The way Mohs surgery works is that a slice (a "shave") of tissue is removed and sent to the lab. This will continue until there are no more signs left of the cancer, and then you're sewed up, bandaged, and sent home to recuperate.

The four little words in my title? Well, they are "how deep" and "how wide" did it all end up being? At this point, nobody knows and the doctor will use her expertise to take up as little as possible, but still trying to make sure to get it all. It is not an exact science, but it is considered to be the gold standard in treating and removing skin cancers. I am told that the procedure will take all day and to be ready for it to be long and tedious. Each tissue sample must be evaluated before moving on to the next. And there are other people going through it as well, at the same time.

The month of August always seems to have been been a significant time in my life. I was pregnant during my first August as a married woman. My first son, Chris, was born in November, but he died on August 15th, many years later. My second son, Stephen, was born on the same day. There was a time when I had two sons, both living, during their August birthdays. Now they are both gone, and have been for a long time. But a mother never forgets those birthdays, no matter how long it has been.

Now that I have lived a full life, become an octogenarian, and have finally gone through the experience of having developed cancer, I have joined the myriad others who have gone before me. It might be just a blip, gone forever, or it might be the beginning of another journey. We are all traveling the timeline of destiny, whether we want to or not.

Sorry, I didn't mean to get so maudlin. I didn't sleep well last night because it was so hot, but I suspect that tonight I'll sleep like a baby. Next week will be here before we know it!

:-)

Got the referral today!

Typical Mohs surgery setup

A date! Although the dermatology clinic (Frontier) only received my referral yesterday, already today I have received detailed instructions on how my own Mohs adventure will proceed. The date is in nine days, August 14, and now all of my anxiety, relief, worry, and concerns have been allayed. Along with the help of a nice person who gave me all the information and sent me a link to the entire procedure, I learned that It will take all day, since there will be many of us decked out in gowns on our own separate guerneys. The way Mohs surgery works is they shave off a bit of tissue and send it to the lab. While that is going on, the surgeon has moved to the next person and repeated it again. This goes on from three to eight hours, with each patient hoping for their cancer to be sliced, diced, finished and gone. 

And I will hopefully be one of them, however long it takes. They do this Mohs surgery on both basal cell and squamous cell cancers. If you are unlucky enough to have melanoma, they do something called "slow Mohs" surgery. It takes longer to process the tissue, I guess.

I also learned that it is all done on an outpatient basis, using a local anesthetic to numb the area. I have a virtual friend who will be having Mohs surgery around her eye area. I wonder what causes the different places for a carcinoma to form. Is it genetics? I didn't think I would be featuring this myself, but why did I think that, since skin cancer is ubiquitous in the elderly. Nobody in my family, except my uncle Joe, ever died of it; we seem to be more likely to die of a heart attack or a brain aneurysm. As I age, I do wonder what body part will wear out first. My eyes and ears are not holding up well, but one can live without those two senses. Maybe not a great existence, but still.

It's kind of comforting to realize I will be part of a community as we await another slice to be shaved off our carcinomas and examined. I am looking forward to it! 

:-)

Ran into an old friend

Terry in her happy place

Yesterday, when I went to a midday yoga class, I had time to walk over to check out the Value Village across the street from the new Senior Center. And there in the store was my dear friend Terry, who I recently learned is moving back to Canada, where she was born and raised. I've known her from the Senior Center, where she worked behind the coffee bar for years, and is now recovering from surgery just a week ago. She was pushing along a walker, but I suspect she won't be needing it much longer. She looked strong and happy to be back rummaging the aisles of Value Village. Rarely have I gone to the store and not run into her there.

Years ago, Terry wanted to join me in a skydiving adventure, so she and I drove to Skydive Snohomish and jumped out of an airplane together. She was with one of my favorite instructors, Vlad, and he treated her to a jump of a lifetime. I followed them out of the plane and took her hand in freefall. Terry was so overwhelmed by the experience that she remembered little of the dive itself, but Vlad filmed it and she was able to say, later, that she did indeed have a great time. I remember that feeling of not being able to take in what was happening in the moment, but that had changed over the years to one of familiarity. It's been more than ten years since I made my last skydive and hardly remember much of those days. I have logbooks, some of which I peruse now and then, but that's like another person did all that, not this current version of myself.

One day, I suspect that all of the years of hiking will feel the same. Each segment of our lives has its moments, but if we are able to move on when time and circumstances change, it makes for a much happier life. 

I think I told you about the squamish cell carcinoma I had removed awhile back, and I have since learned that it will be a few weeks more before the Mohs surgery that will excise the cancerous cells from my neck. I wish it could be right now, but that's not how it works. First the biopsy wound recovers, and then the surgeon digs it all out. Apparently Mohs is used whenever the cancer is on the head and/or neck and requires plenty of tissue to be excised. Today I went to the doctor's office to have the biopsy looked at, to see how it's coming along. I called them because I was having difficulty with the bandage causing it to itch. The nurse decided I don't need a bandage any more, just clean it with soap and water twice a day and cover it with vaseline. I'll be glad when the whole ordeal is done and behind me. Until then, I am in good hands with my new dermatologist. I probably won't meet the surgeon until it's time for the deed to be finished.

That's it for the week's news. See you again next Tuesday with actual dates. At least that's what I'm hoping for. I sure would appreciate some virtual hugs, if you have any to spare. 

:-)

Exiting the Trailblazers

Taken at a happier time

It's a bit hard for me to think of no more weeks hiking with the Senior Trailblazers, but that time has finally come. I've been told that unless I can bring someone to hike with me who can help me with my failing sight, that it's not fair to the others for me to ask for help all the time. And I know it's right, but since it's been a part of my life for so long (since 2008), I have been reluctant to stop, even when I have leaned on others inappropriately.

Today I was politely asked to not show up for the hikes any more. I know I cannot continue to impose on others, but I've also thought that maybe I would be better today or tomorrow. Not so. It's a progressive disease that has attacked my eyesight, and I know better: it' just hard to give up something so important to me.

But what I am actually giving up is the ability to hike with others. I know all the hikes and have enjoyed the companionship, but I can still get on the bus and ride it to my favorite trailheads and take off at my own pace. There are only a few of the hikes around town that aren't accessible by bus. With the right mindset, I can see this as a new adventure. I'm no stranger to change, and learning to cope with moving on will give me a brand new frame of reference.

But there's no pretending that I am not sad, though, and wishing this pesky macular degeneration has not affected me so profoundly. This will also give me a chance to find new ways to stay fit and active. It won't be that long before I will no longer be able to use my laptop in the ways I am using it now, and it's time to get cracking on finding new avenues for me to follow. I have so many virtual friends who have learned to adjust, even some who have gone from active lives to wheelchairs, and they have managed the transition, as will I. At least my activities are simply changing, not fading away all at once.

Just sitting here and writing this post has made me feel more and more positive. Gratitude and peace haven't left me, not by a long shot. And I am feeling my oats, even if they belong to an octogenarian! For the time being, I will be continuing to write my posts on Tuesdays and Sundays, so you can find me here on those days.

Onward and upward!

:-)

Toastry HOT

We are in the midst of a heat wave, with an advisory for the entire area, but it's actually nothing compared to what some parts of the country are experiencing. It got to 85 degrees F here in Bellingham, the hottest temperature of the season so far. I had absolutely no desire to hike today, especially after my horrendously uncomfortable excursion last week. In fact, I almost didn't have the energy to traipse down to the basement with my week's laundry, but I did. I was quite exhausted afterwards, and it was nothing much, just the usual work of washing, drying, folding and putting it all together. I was surprised at how enervating it was, but it sure feels good to have it behind me. Tomorrow is a trip to the new Senior Center for yoga; the new place is air conditioned, so I think I'll be enjoying that. Then on Thursday is my usual volunteer work at the old place, which doesn't have A/C but it is supposed to be a few degrees cooler.

I am not a fan of hot weather, even warm and sultry weather is not fun for me. I much prefer a cool breeze and overcast skies, but then again, I am spoiled and not acclimatized to the heat. In any event, I am looking forward to some respite from the unrelentingly blue skies, which most people seem to love.

Foxglove

The flowers certainly do seem to love the weather, however, and I suppose if I spent most of the year underground, waiting for the chance to emerge and shine, I might feel differently. I love the pretty foxglove and am delighted when it shows its beauty. 

Hope you are having a wonderful summer, not too hot, not too cold. And that you are surrounded by fragrant and beautiful flowers!

(smile)

Fragrance Lake

Our hikers 

I was very lucky during our hike to have found so many new friends. We had eight women and one plucky man. The hike was led by Sandy, third from the left in this picture, taken by a passerby. It was cool when we started, but by the time we reached the lake, it was getting warm. Not terribly so, but definitely into the 70sF. We passed many other hikers on the way to (and from) the lake, and plenty of dogs, too.

Many wswimmers, both four- and two-legged

I had a hard time with the strong sunlight, with bright sun and shadow, making it hard to see my footing when we returned via the same trail. With the help of Kathy, one of the hikers, who held my arm and told me what I was seeing, I was able to make it back to the cars. I skipped the loop around the lake, but everyone else went, so I got their picture as I waited.

Sandy in front as they finished the loop

I certainly enjoyed myself, but when I got home, drank a bunch more water, I then quaffed a cold beer. I got distracted by reading the news and forgot to post this, so here it is a day late. Life is good and I'll try to be on time next week. 

:-)

Hovander and potluck

Sunshine and lilypads

Today some of the Senior Trailblazers went on a leisurely walk around Hovander Homestead Park in Ferndale, a short drive from Bellingham. 

Hovander Homestead Park preserves the rich history of pioneer farming and offers recreational opportunities for all ages in every season. The park encompasses nearly 350 acres, including over a mile of river frontage.

We broke into two groups and walked around the area, one around Tennant Lake (covered with lilypads, as you see here) and the other in Hovander Park itself. I don't know how many people we actually had, since we went in opposite directions soon after arriving at the park. We enjoyed a leisurely walk, meaning nobody was in a hurry, and the warm sun, with a delightful cool breeze, kept us from getting too hot. Here's another look at those lilypads.

Tennant Lake

There is a walkway that winds around this area, which we took (the top picture is from there), and then we went back to the homestead to join the other group. We then made our way from the park to John S's home in the Ferndale area, and enjoyed a really wonderful potluck. I managed to keep from eating too much, which wasn't easy.

Enjoying our lunch in John's backyard

It was a very laid-back sort of day, with lots of food, sunshine, company, and conversation. Around noon, we packed up and headed back to our homes. Thanks to John S and his wife (whose name I neglected to find out), we had a lovely place for our annual beginning-of-summer gathering. We have grown so large that this was the second gathering, after another one earlier at Cornwall Park. It's wonderful that there are so many Seniors not only enjoying each other's company, but also getting exercise and sharing stories and adventures with the others.

I did manage to eke out 10,000 steps for the day, which it wasn't all sitting eating. But in retrospect, that's pretty much what it felt like. Nice for a change, don't you think?

:-)

Padilla Bay

Today's hikers

Today eight hikers (all women, by the way) met at the northern entrance to Padilla Bay, which is near Anacortes. We also went through Edison, where I have on occasion stopped to buy some delicious baked treats at the Breadfarm Bakery. Today we went on through and came to a place where we could park and start our excursion along the flat four- to five-mile dike. There are two starting points, one where we started, north, and another at the southern end. It doesn't really matter where to start, the distance is the same from one end to the other. And I don't think I have ever been on any hike that is flatter than this one. We didn't have any up or down, just... well, flat, with crunchy gravel underfoot.

A short distance to the dike

Once we parked our cars and used the facility, it was just a short way to the beginning of the estuary. It was the only elevation on the entire excursion. Although it looks like waves out there, it is the exposed mudflats and low tide. I found that out on a website (WTA):

At high tide, the water will cover the whole bank. At low tide, the water will be completely gone from the bay, exposing the mudflats. The grass you see growing along the slough is eelgrass, an important native grass harboring small salmon, crab, and other invertebrates that, in turn are food for the eagles, herons, otters and seals.

We were certainly fortunate today, as the air temperature could not have been more perfect: maybe 65 deg F with a very light breeze. We walked around two-and-a-half miles to the southern entrance, stopped for a little break (there was also a porta-potty available) before we started back. Although we saw a few birds, redwing blackbirds, killdeer, plovers, and robins, as well as a few eagles high up in trees, there were no blue herons or other fancy birds like that. Nevertheless, it was a delightful walk along the dike, and I would return again without hesitation. It was pretty perfect, all things considered.

I sure am lucky to live here, especially how hot it got today in the Mideast and on the East Coast. I suppose if I were to acclimatize a little, I might not expire right away, but it would not have been much fun, either. Hope if you are in the midst of it, you are finding ways to cope.

:-)

Chuckanut Falls

Tiny little trickle

Today 11 Senior Trailblazers, led by Chris, went off to visit the Chuckanut Falls, starting from the Fairhaven Park area and meandering through the Hundred Acre Woods, crossing the Arroyo Bridge, and up the trail to the cutoff to the Falls. Since it has been incredibly dry for us in Bellingham, you would be hard pressed to find the tiny little stream that greeted us at the Falls.

We had a great time, even without much water; it was cool to start but got up into the mid-sixties by the time we started back. We retraced our steps and arrived back at the Fairhaven Park around 1:00pm. It was a pretty hard hike for me, since I hadn't done anything quite as challenging since I hurt myself in February. We climbed almost 1,000 feet of elevation (and descended as well), and depending on whose device you believed, we went somewhere around six miles, maybe closer to seven, but the light breeze and mostly shaded terrain made it quite do-able. I admit I was dragging at the end, but once I got home and nestled into my favorite chair, I feel just fine. My lower back complained a little, but not enough to even think about taking any Advil. Well, I thought it but managed to avoid any medication at all.

Our happy hikers

A picture was taken of our group by a park employee, and I was so happy to meet three hikers who were new to me. Sometimes the name tags feel a little overkill, but today it was wonderful to have them to remind me, more than once, of their names. Once again, I was almost the oldest hiker there, but not by much. One of these days I'll write a post about all the octogenarians in our groups. I'm so glad I have gotten back to joining the "happy trails" once again.

:-)

Toasty but beautiful

Gang of Eight

 Today I joined the Senior Trailblazers for a around-town walk. We didn't get iner any cars but headed off to Whatcom Falls Park from the Senior Center's parking lot. Another group was headed up to Horseshoe Bend in the Mt. Baker Wilderness, but none of us felt like getting in a car and driving for an hour each way. Instead, we walked around five miles round trip to enjoy the somewhat cooler weather for today. It is about ten degrees cooler than I endured on Sunday's walk.

One mistake I made on Sunday was waiting until after noon to go for a walk, when I discovered that there was no shade anywhere, and the temperature climbed to more than eighty degrees Fahrenheit. That might not sound all that hot for those of you more accustomed to hot weather, but I simply wilted. And I had also forgotten that the buses run on an hourly, rather than a quarter-hour, schedule on that day. So, even though I hoped to catch a bus back home, I missed the two times I tried to catch it. I eventually poured water over my head and managed to make it home in one piece. Today seemed quite moderate in comparison.

Today we started our hike out around 8:30, and even walking at a moderate pace, we were back at the Senior Center before noon. There was also a lovely brisk breeze keeping us cool as we walked, so it was really rather delightful. I met a new member, Yolanda, and enjoyed conversation with the other people I knew from other hikes.  For most of the way, my right hip and leg never began to hurt, so I think I can safely try some harder hikes without too much worry. It's been a long time since that icy fall in February, and I am much, much better now. For awhile I feared I would not be able to walk fast enough (or long enough) to join them any more. I will continue to take it easy and not force myself to take on anything too strenuous. 

Whatcom Falls is just a trickle

Our beautiful waterfall is a bit on the meager side today, since we've had so much warm weather and no rain. And we are now starting the really dry part of our summer, which often doesn't even get started until the 4th of July. This year is different, and I truly hope we can escape the really hot weather. I just don't do all that well in the heat, so I won't be going on long hikes in full sun. Not my favorite time of the year.

Now that I am home and enjoying the cool air inside, with the help of a fan, and moderate temperatures. I just enjoyed a nice sandwich and cold drink and am now ready for maybe a quick catnap. Feeling happy and well exercised.

:-)

Lazy day but lovely nevertheless

My favorite fern

I took this picture a few years ago, on a hike to Lost Lake from Gates Overlook, down the Rock trail, and down to the lake. I saw this stand of beautiful Maidenhair ferns and couldn't resist a shot. Today I toyed with the idea of hiking from the Two Dollar trail to Fragrance Lake and back, which was enjoyed (according to Joe's summary) by sixteen Senior Trailblazers. I made my first foray back into hiking last week, but I am having a bit of a sore knee that kept me from going far from home today.

Instead, I caught the bus to the coffee shop and hoped to see John, but he wasn't there, so I did my puzzles and then took the bus home. I got off a little early in order to have a bit of a longer route, but the one I initially considered would have given me a hike about the same length as the one that the Trailblazers did, but I decided against it. Instead, I was happy with a shorter three-mile hike, which we was plenty for today.

 The weather could not be more perfect. I woke this morning after having gotten nine good hours of sleep, but I just don't have the same impetus to hike alone as I do when I am out with friends. I listened to a podcast once I was on the trail, and I enjoyed being out in the gentle breeze and felt exercised and content when I got home.

Today was one of those days when I didn't have great luck with my puzzles and lost my long streak with Wordle, and I ended up cheating on the Strands puzzle (looking up the anwer after a long time trying to figure out the correct word), so those didn't help me feel all that accomplished. I did, however, come home to a good visit with SG, and now I am writing my Tuesday post without too much enthusiasm, but feeling glad to be alive and in good enough shape to walk in the sunshine.

Anyway, tomorrow I have a yoga class, and Thursday is my usual volunteer work at the Senior Center. And then Friday I am scheduled for a massage, so life is actually pretty good. Feeling happy and looking forward to a quiet day at home. Hope you are doing well, dear virtual friends.

:-)

Hello, old friend

Lake Padden, overcast skies

It's been awhile since I've been back to Lake Padden, although Melanie and I managed to hike here a few times every month. I've been unable to hike much, but I noticed that one of the Tuesday hikes today would be back in my old environs, so I decided to join the group. Most of the hikers went off to catch a ferry to Guemes Island, but three of us joined our leader Joe to take about a four- to five-mile hike at the lake. We started at the dog park and walked around 500 feet of elevation before finishing up with a moderately challenging up and down on the hills behind the lake.

Me, Bill, Joe and Mike

The cute dog belongs to the photographer; I asked if she would take a picture of us, and she was very willing, as was her poodle, looking very spiffy amongst those old hikers. It was quite pleasant, the temperatures in the high fifties and low sixties (F), and although we had high clouds, they did disappear before we finished our leisurely hike. It was, however, the farthest I've gone since my ice-capade in February. I was happy to find that I never had any pain in my hip or right leg. We did have some exciting downhill sections where I noticed that my left knee has not been used much lately. But nothing kept us from enjoying ourselves or our lively discussions.

Now that I've broken the ice, so to speak, I think I will feel okay about joining some longer hikes in the near future. I was afraid that I might be done with hiking, but today gave me the impetus to do some easier hikes with the Trailblazers this summer and see how capable I am. Or not. 

I wasn't sure at all whether it was a good idea to try this but it turned out just fine. Tomorrow I'll have another yoga class, and then Thursday will be my favorite day of the week: volunteering in the lunchroom. And just like that, another week and month will be behind us. I see that some areas will be very hot, and others very wet, but we are having our Goldilocks period, it seems. Just right!

:-)

Tri, tri, trillium

Trillium grandiflorum

I've been photographing these beautiful trillium flowers ever since I first started hiking in these woods more than a decade ago. They are so pretty and different from any wildflower I had seen before in Colorado, or other places I used to hike. Then I learned a lot of stories and information about these beauties from my hiking companions. 

First of all, I didn't realize that they take around seven years from when they are planted before they get big enough to produce a flower, and that only one emerges out of each three-leafed whorl, once a year. Here's some information:

Trillium grandiflorum is most common in rich, mixed upland forests. It is easily recognized by its attractive three-petalled white flowers, opening from late spring to early summer, that rise above a whorl of three leaf-like bracts. It is an example of a spring ephemeral, a plant whose life-cycle is synchronized with that of the deciduous woodland which it favours. (Wikipedia)

Melanie and I would be out in the woods every spring, looking for these flowers. They are also called "wakerobin" because they come out at the same time that the first robins return for the new season.  I took so many pictures, and my newest version of the photo albums on my Mac can now search for such things as "trillium" and give me a whole lot of options for pictures. I especially like this one because it shows the stamens (which there are six of, twice the number of the petals and the leaves) very large and prominent. Apparently this means they are fruiting. I know so little about plant taxonomy, but I sure do love my pretty trilliums I see in the forests.

A very happy crop of lush trilliums

I also learned there are a few different varieties of trillium, but these are the ones that grow wild in this area. There is a red variety, which apparently smells a little like rotted meat, or like (it says) a wet dog. Mostly the trillium I see, when they get a pinkish cast to them, are past their peak and on their way out.

This is the first year I actually haven't seen any, because since I fell and injured my right hip, I still cannot go very far without pain. It is gradually getting better, though. I had my first yoga class in the new Senior Center building yesterday, and other than the room being huge, almost cavernous, it was a very good class. I had to take a second bus to get there, but one of the other attendees gave me a ride home. It's been raining for days now, so I was glad I didn't have to walk home in the rain. Today it started out raining but has now been sunny and bright for awhile.

Tomorrow I will have the three-month checkup and cleaning for my hearing aids. If it's not one thing, it's another. And I won't even venture into the political world, it's so depressing. I'm doing fine, hubby is doing fine, and that's all that matter, right? As they say in Canada, elbows up!

:-)

Fully leafed out

Favorite tree in Cornwall Park

I walked by this tree many times a month, and I've seen it go from leafless to fully covered within a few weeks. It is a maple, with gorgeous colors in the fall, and delicate spiked leaves that never fail to look impressive when I walk by. Today I noticed that it's finally finished adding more leaves, at least that what it looks like. One day all those leaves will turn into bright colors and then fall off.

November 2023

I recently discovered that the search feature on my laptop can search for this particular tree (or any other scene I capture regularly) by looking for ones taken in Cornwall Park. I have been enchanted with the colors of the myriad flora I visit almost daily. Since I still haven't felt quite ready to join the Senior Trailblazers on walks yet, I spend more of my walks solo. I always look with pleasure at the writeups about the walks, and sometimes I wish I had joined them. But the truth is, I've done all of them so many times that I don't actually have the same feeling of excitement when I think about joining them. I'm still getting some exercise, not at the level of earlier days, but I'm not sure I can do much more than the four or five miles I cover by myself. My damaged right hip and right leg remind me that I should be grateful for all I've been able to do up to now. I'm not feeling any need to hurry myself back into backcountry trails.

We have been very fortunate with the weather, too. Although it looks like we have some precipitation expected mid-week, it's not much these days and just helps to keep our world looking green and lush, with flowers still burstiI'ng out everywhere.

And I am truly enjoying the life I share with my dear sweet guy, who is hanging in there with his chemo treatments and continuing to keep up his own routine. Nothing feels like it's missing from my daily life, so I'm happy to keep on keepin' on for as long as I can. Hope you're doing the same, dear friends.

:-)

Here come the iris and rhodies

This iris just bloomed this morning

I've been watching the flowers across the neighborhood begin to bloom, and it's the only time of the year when so many are in bloom at once. I can't remember a time, however, when so many are emerging while earlier ones are still going strong. The lilacs (which I wrote about here last week) are STILL beautiful and luxuriant. Usually the lilacs only last a few days, but as I walked by last week's lilacs, they are all out there, with their fragrance continuing to waft into the air. I wish I could smell them, but the memory of their fragrance is strong, even in my weakened nostrils. Odor is such a funny thing: I am not sure whether I can smell certain flowers, or whether my recollection of that smell is strong enough to fill my imagination.

When I walked to the bus this morning, I considered whether or not to join the Senior Trailblazers in their excursion to Abbotsford, Canada, since the hike is not a long one or with much elevation gain. I decided against it, though, since my right hip is still sore from Saturday's walk. And I had a great yoga class yesterday that loosened things up, but  these days I no longer feel a need to push myself. That might reassert itself during the summer, but for now I am happy to get my three-mile walk from the bus into my local neighborhood. I might go out and take a walk to the boardwalk at Squalicum Beach, but I probably won't. I've got another great yoga class tomorrow, and who knows what I might feel like after that? On Thursday I have my volunteer work at the Senior Center, where I almost always acquire a ten-thousand step workout. 

And, hopefully, I will be able to get my haircut on Friday, delayed a week because my stylist ended up sidelined with measles. She's originally from Vietnam, and has two college-aged kids who might have brought the disease to her. I am okay because I had it when I was a pre-teenager, along with my dad. We were both quarantined for two weeks in the same bedroom, so I remember it well. I also had the vaccination (I think) and was not terribly sick, but sick enough to remember the time.

Beautiful rhododendron bush

I will eventually write about something other than the gorgeous flowers, but for now it's just the most delightful thing to see all these incredibly beautiful flowers on my daily walks. Hope the world is lovely (and not too hot or cold) in your neck of the woods.

:-)

It is the lilac's turn

Burgeoning buds

I noticed these lilac buds last week, taken from the driveway. That sure happened quickly, in my mind at least. Today I went out to the back yard to check out the perfect lilacs, all in bloom and looking as beautiful as I've ever seen them.

Lilacs in full bloom

You know, my favorite springtime blooms are short lived, but that just makes them seem more impressive when they are at their peak. I've noticed around here that the white ones come out first, then the light-colored lavender ones, and lastly, the dark purple varieties. 

When I was a teenager living in Puerto Rico, we had to order our school clothes from a catalog, and I was the proud recipient of a cotton shirtwaist dress made with a pattern of bouquets of lilacs and their green leaves. I can't look at lilacs today without being reminded of that dress. Today that would be a vintage look and unavailable from any store. My memories, however, are just as vivid as ever.

Deep purpIe

I spent some time online looking for an image that would remind me of that shirtwaist, but for one thing it was so long ago that I found myself looking at vintage stuff, and it reminded me also that I don't trust my memory that much, either. Did it button down the front? (no idea) I remember it was sleeveless, and I perused a bunch of old Simplicity patterns that I might have actually used long ago. I have forgotten all those habits that were once part of my everyday life. You can trust me, though, that it was cherished and well used by the time it disappeared from my wardrobe.

:-)

Cool weather but sun returns

Grey skies and wind, but tulips everywhere

When Lily and I visited the tulips last weekend, the day before was sunny and warm, but when we got there, it had turned cold and the wind made it seem even colder. We enjoyed ourselves very much, but it wasn't the sort of day for hanging out and strolling among the gardens. Even if they were beautiful, we were both a little bit underdressed for the cold. So, we didn't stay for long, although we enjoyed the display, after about an hour we decided to call it done. We drove to Mt. Vernon and spent some time in the Skagit Valley Food Co-op. I wrote about it on my Sunday blog, but here it is Tuesday again, and time for my weekly post on this blog.

I am writing this post before heading to the Retina Specialists' office for my next eye jab. I don't seem to be as anxious this time as I have felt before, but that might be due to me knowing that they will now give me a pill for anxiety beforehand. I am not sure what the tiny pill they provide is (they have told me numerous times, but I just cannot remember the name). It definitely makes a difference, but having the injection is not my favorite activity, that's for sure.

I have been hopeful that as time passes after that February fall on the ice, my right hip would get better, so that I might be able to rejoin the Tuesday hikes once again. But frankly, right now I can feel that the time has not yet arrived. Although I can go for around three miles without too much pain, it's definitely not getting better enough for a five-mile hike. I know that as the days go by, I will be losing more fitness, but there really isn't anything to be done to hurry the process. 

Saturday's excursion, photo by Lily

I am really hopeful that by this time next year, I will still be able to see well enough to take pictures like these. But just in case I can't, I'll have my dear friend to help with it all. And we get to travel in her wonderful comfy car as well! So, even if things are not the way I would prefer, I still have so very much to be grateful for.

:-)

Sunshine everywhere

 

More than 1,200-foot-long pier

The Little Squalicum Park has just opened this pier to the public. I went out myself to see what it's like, and this picture gives you an idea of what it looks like at low tide. It was a sunny weekend day, so lots of people were out and about. It's pretty neat to see what they've done to make it accessible.

The 1,248-foot-long stretch of industrial pier was built more than a century ago to carry railcars delivering cement products to barges moored in Bellingham Bay. It was donated to the city by Heidelberg Materials (previously known as Lehigh Northwest Cement Company) in November 2021, and pier improvements totaling $1.6 million were funded by the city’s Greenways Levy (Cascadia Daily News).

It's a wonderful addition to the Little Squalicum Park, and I suspect it will be well used during the spring and summer months. It was certainly well attended on a sunny weekend day when I took the picture. I'll be back many times, I suspect. The area has been part of one of my weekend walks for years now.

Tomorrow will mark seventeen years since left Colorado and moved into this apartment complex. SG had been here a few months, looking for a place to live, and we are still here, although in a different apartment. There are 26 different one- and two-bedroom dwellings, and the place has been home for us since we moved here in 2008. I saw this tree in bloom as we emptied our U-Haul van. We had downsized a great deal and managed to get all our furniture into the vehicle. 

Flowering cherry tree

It was a sunny day like this one, on the day we moved in. Neither of us would have believed we would still be here after all this time, but here we are. To access our apartment, we walk up the steps on the right (16 of them) to access the second floor. Over the years, it had changed somewhat, with a new roof and driveway repavement, but mostly it's just the same. The only thing that has truly changed is the amount of money we pay to live here. But it's really a nice place to have ended up. 

We are hoping that our Social Security checks will continue and give us a chance to stay here, but nothing in our current environment feels very stable. Uncertainty is the word that defines our country today. Hopefully it will all work out. In any event we are happy to be doing as well as we are, in our early eighties and still truckin'!

:-)

You win some, you lose some

First tulip of the season

I was more than a little surprised to see this lone tulip from someone's last-year planting, I suspect. There are few, if any, flowers in this garden, but I was so pleased to see that some are indeed getting there this year. Pretty, alone, and quite happily showing off its beauty right here.

I saw this yesterday, walking through the park on my three-mile walk home from the coffee shop. Actually, it was John who drove me to Cornwall Park after our coffee, and I ran into three old friends on the trail from prior Senior Trailblazer hikes from earlier years. We chatted for awhile, and then I came home, pleased that I wasn't in terrible pain and that the dreaded right leg/hip didn't seize up on me. Baby steps.

And today I went to the retina specialist's office for my every-other-month eye jab. I got dilated and processed quickly, and then escorted into the exam room. They had taken (as usual) images once the eyes are dilated, and there on the screen in the exam room I could see that image, along with two previous ones. Surreptitiously I examined them and looked and could not really tell what I was looking at. And then the doctor came in the room, looked at the images and shined a bright light into my eyes and declared that my eyes seem to be stable right now, and that I would have a choice: skip the shot today, or pay $400 for it. Apparently they receive several discounted injections that are sent to their office on a regular basis, and they had just run out of them, so I would need me to pay full price if I wanted to receive the shot today. He gave me an appointment for two weeks from now, and he said to call beforehand to see if they have any available. If they don't, I guess I'll bite the bullet and pay, but for now I am extremely happy to have dodged the needle for a couple of weeks anyway.

Since my eyes were dilated and I couldn't see anything, as usual, my dear sweet husband drove me home and now I am sittting here in my recliner as my eyes gradually return to normal. If I had received the injection, my eye would be sore and teary right now, but I am spared that for today. I suspect that with the way our health care system is changing right now, I might be forced to come up with that amount every other month. We'll see. I am just glad I am seeing as well as I am these days, and who knows what the future holds? In any event, I am sure happy to be home safe and sound and not needed to go anywhere else today.

Baby steps, right?

:-)

Flowering into spring

Magnolia blossoms

Walking home from my trip to the coffee shop this morning, I caught these magnolia blossoms looking quite lovely. There is another plant in bloom in the foreground, but I'm not sure at all what it is. At first I thought it was Oregon grape, but there are no open flowers to help me identify it. I know about the magnolia blossoms, though. They are out all over town, and I looked for a better picture, but realized that this will do well enough. Everywhere around town, there are flowers coming out to greet the longer days.

I also wondered the other day where the song sparrows were, since I hadn't yet heard their unique song. And then they were everywhere, serenading me while I am out and about. So, not only there are massive amounts of flowers to enjoy, the sound of various birds thrills me, too. I can no longer pretend spring isn't here!

I spent my time at the coffee shop enjoying my double Americano and a nice marion-berry scone. After playing the usual games on my laptop, and reading the news of the day, I briefly thought about joining the easier of the two walks with the Senior Trailblazers, but when I walked out to head to the Senior Center, it was raining. Again. Instead, I caught the bus home and took that picture in order to have something to liven up my post. I've got very little to write about, but after struggling to get going, you'll just have to be happy with a low-key, rather humdrum chronicle of my Tuesday. Tomorrow I've got a yoga class, and Thursday I'll be back at my usual volunteer lunchroom duties, and then I've got a massage scheduled for Friday. So it's not anything much, but it's all I've got today.

And then next Tuesday will be taken up with the scheduled eye jab. I can't help but think about it when it gets this close, and then I have to wait for hours after the injection before eyesight returns to what passes for "normal" these days. At least I still have my left eye's central vision and pray that remains for a while longer. It's still there, for now. Fingers crossed.

:-)

Happy birthday, sister

Stewart and PJ

I wondered what I might write about today, and thought about the date, and suddenly realized that it would have been my sister PJ's seventy-fifth birthday, had she not died of heart disease when she was 63. Here she is with her husband, Stewart, not long after her birthday in 2011.

PJ (her name is Patricia June) was born when I was seven. I still remember the day she joined the family, because when I learned that I had a second sister, I went into our backyard and climbed a favorite tree, spending some time trying to fathom how my life might change because of her birth. It didn't seem all that much, partly because I was always playing with Norma Jean, my sister who was two-and-a-half years younger than me. I suppose I must have had to babysit sometimes, but all that is lost in the mists of time. PJ, though, was a constant presence in my life from the time she was born until I left home at 18.

PJ was someone who read almost as many books as our mother. She always had at least one, but usually more, books open and being read. She was a true seeker of knowledge and spent much of her life taking care of others, raising two boys to adulthood, and volunteered much of her time to those less fortunate. She ended up with four grandchildren (I might have been a little jealous) and was always making her own jewelry and small pictures to give away. I still have some things she made for me; I can't really throw them away because she made them and they are all I have that still exists of her, but they are stuck in a drawer somewhere. That, and lots of pictures taken over the years. When I gathered to be with my siblings to celebrate her life, I wrote my own personal celebration of her life. Just now, I re-read it and remembered who she was to me and to all those whose lives she touched.

When someone has died, do we still mark the day as a birthday? Or is it simply a reminder that twelve years ago, she left this earth to start the next adventure? I wonder. There will probably not be a resolution to that question for me, but maybe once I am finally lying on my own deathbed and gazing at the faces of those sending me off to my next adventure, she might be there, peeking mischievously out from behind the others.

   Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened. —Dr. Seuss

Two more sleeps

Jeff Barclay photo

I was wondering whether the Skagit Valley daffodils are coming up yet, and I found this picture on the Seeing Bellingham Group on Facebook. Jeff is a constant contributor to the site, and I have always enjoyed seeing his delightful pictures. The dark skies and brightly lit daffodils are incredible, don't you think? I know this spot because I always see it when I visit the tulips in April. This was taken three days ago, and I am so happy to see this scene. I am already looking forward to this year's Tulip Festival in the Skagit Valley. I suspect it will be a moderately average time for the blooms to show up. It's still too early for tulips.com to venture a guess.

It's just two more days before we experience the first day of spring. And I also suspect we won't have much more cold weather, although that's definitely not a given. I remember one year after we moved here when we had a foot of snow right here in town in April. It was almost like I hadn't left Colorado behind! That said, I don't think we will have a repeat performance of lowland snow this year. We already had a month of below-normal temperatures, but next week the forecast is for above average temperatures.

I am trying not to get too freaked out over the Social Security fiasco that is apparently emerging from Washington, DC. We are completely dependent on getting our checks deposited into our accounts each month, something that has happened without a hitch since we retired almost two decades ago. But now, who knows what will happen? They are cutting staff and closing offices all across the country. And I know we are not alone in needing our SS to keep on coming regularly. I am hoping that saner heads will prevail before it's too late to fix it. Sorry to bring this up, but I am puzzled and mystified by this and wonder if anything is safe anymore.

:-(

Spring is coming soon

Never takes long for these to show up

The wonderful spring flowers are coming along, some even showing their blooms. Not many, but it's only mid-March and we are still a few days away from the spring equinox. Timeanddate.com, one of my favorite sites to visit, tells me:

When is the first day of spring 2025? Thursday, March 20, the date of the spring equinox, marks the first day of spring in the United States. The spring equinox lands at 5:01 a.m., the precise moment the sun's rays shine directly on the equator.

We did, however, already go through the rite of spring that is known as Daylight Saving Time this past Sunday. It was the first time I needed to use my sleep mask that blocks the light and is also very comfortable to wear. By the middle of summer, I will be using it every night, but for now it's only needed when I decide to go to bed earlier than most people would imagine. But I really like going to bed early and getting up early. I seem to be needing more rest these days. I don't know whether it's permanently going to be like that or not. I almost always am in bed before my night owl partner, but there have been a few times lately when he's falling asleep before I have headed to bed. He's just now finishing his first month with his chemo treatment for low grade b-cell lymphoma. 

I didn't realize how many forms of lymphoma there are. He was diagnosed with it a few years ago, and having been fortunate not to grow any tumors, he hasn't needed any treatment for it at all, just frequent monitoring of his blood levels. A few months ago his oncologist said he would need to start some sort of treatment, as some of his blood levels had fallen low enough that he would be required to do something to keep him healthy. After lots of discussion about what is available, he decided to start taking a once-a-day regimen of pills. We both read about all the side effects, and although there are some scary things that can be expected, he didn't develop any of them. He is still the same guy, with the same sense of humor.

What's growing out of my ears?

He didn't want to eat these bananas unless he knew they were safe. After ascertaining that they were not toxic, we shared these guys and found them to be fine. (smile) There are many different things he needs to do to keep me from being exposed to the toxicity of the chemo: for one thing, he needs to put down the toilet seat before flushing to keep the fumes from becoming airborne and possibly affecting me. And I have to say that the packaging is scary enough, with warnings about the hazardous contents. But if these pills do the trick, he won't need to have infusions, which are the next best treatment, according to his doctor.

I wish there was some fancy drugs I could take that would clear up my eye problems, but there isn't. Nothing is going to keep me from going blind, but at least the injections I get every eight weeks are slowing the geographic atrophy of my degenerating macula. This getting old business is certainly challenging, but it sure helps to have a partner who is going through these days, weeks, and years of old age progression with me. 

I am also incredibly grateful for my virtual family, those of you who follow my life through my posts, and who share your own journeys with those of us who feel like family. I have been following some of you for decades and have gone through your ups and downs in life, just as you have been doing with me. Having grown familiar with the internet that connects us, I can hardly remember what life was like in the Before Times. 

I hope you will have a wonderful week before we meet here again next Tuesday. I also will be writing something on my other blog on Sunday, but it's a much smaller electronic world for me these days, and it suits me fine. Sending virtual hugs to everyone!

A new beginning

Lily and me at Evolve Restaurant

It seemed like ages since I had spent any time with my dear friend Lily, so we made plans to visit on Sunday. She is having some back issues, and I am still dealing with my own recalcitrant body, so instead of a walk, we ended up eating at the Evolve Restaurant and each having a beer. I like IPAs, and she likes lagers, so we were both very happy with our choices, along with our meals. I had avocado toast and she had a salad. Those two poached eggs on top of the toast were quite tasty and felt almost like an indulgence. It doesn't really matter where you eat out these days; it's getting pricey everywhere.

Today marks the beginning of a new era for me. I'm thinking it's time to stop hiking every week with the Senior Trailblazers. My eyesight is deteriorating and now, so is my body. After the fall a month ago, it has been like I've moved into another place, and it's becoming more of a challenge to go on anything very long or steep. I might be better after more time passes, but it feels really different. I'm going to find other activities that make me feel whole again. I know that it's possible, with some experimentation and by surrounding myself with good people whom I love.

It's also wonderful to have a community of people like me to hang out with. My time at the Senior Center is always gratifying, and I think I'll find new ways to volunteer, since I find it fulfilling and worthwhile. If my eyes were better, I'd again take up reading books, but I can always listen to them instead. I've been learning how to get  more information via the spoken word rather than reading. I'm ready for a new beginning!