Day 158

It’s dark in the morning already. Today the old fence in the little yard is coming down, then the trees will come down, and then new fences. I’m looking forward to landscaping instead of only a dog yard. I found the plot map and know the dimensions of my property, 120 feet long and 72 feet wide, plus a few inches. My little piece of the Earth. I’m excited about the potential use of it. Mine, all mine.

Senior News column

Most of us are no longer connected to the educational system however the opening of school in September brings changes to daily routines. Back to school means the days are shorter and nights are cooler, and there is a structure that we don’t have in the summer. August is our last chance to enjoy summer.

Remember last winter on a long wet dark cold day, an agenda formed for next summer. The list included both recreational goals and house and yard chores. It’s time to take a look at that list as summer is coming to an end. I have the best intentions when it comes to using my time and energy. I have walked most days, changed to vegan eating, pulled a ton of weeds, enjoyed visiting, written a few cards and notes. However my list has unfinished projects that I will take care of right now, or later. The garden shed needs to be emptied and reassembled. It is a handy place to stuff items while deciding about keeping them, reusing, or deleting them from the inventory. Garden shed means tools and products. It doesn’t mean old shelving, “good” boxes that might be useful some day or nearly empty paint cans that I know I won’t need. I still need to paint the trim around the new windows that were installed last winter. There are windows that need washing inside and out. Of course, those overgrown shrubs need the clippers to bring them down to size. Better get busy as time goes by way too fast.

I haven’t taken a long walk on the beach or in the redwoods. I haven’t walked 10,000 steps in one day. I haven’t made a picnic lunch to share with a friend. I haven’t made a recreational shopping trip. I haven’t tried new recipes with my fresh farm vegetables. I haven’t visited a museum in another town. When visitors come to our museum, I enjoy their stories about other places they have seen. I’m proud to say that our museum compares favorably. Those two junk drawers that were actually on my winter list of things to do are still waiting. I know I can get delete and relocate enough stuff to reduce my junk to one drawer.

I intend to use August days to check off the recreational items. If I get to the house and yard ones, good for me. If not, well, there’s always next summer.

Most of us are no longer connected to the educational system however the opening of school in September brings changes to daily routines. Back to school means the days are shorter and nights are cooler, and there is a structure that we don’t have in the summer. August is our last chance to enjoy summer.