It’s mid-April, and I offer this R-E-P-O-R-T.
At mid-month I’m . . .
R . . . enewing.
We’ve had some surprisingly lovely weather (for the most part), so we got out the patio furniture and the grill so we could renew our evenings-on-the-patio ritual. Of course, then it rained for 30 hours straight and got super windy, but still. It’s always lovely to spend more time outside.
E . . . yeing.
My eye is completely healed, and I am all set with a new pair of eyeglasses. I like these a lot better than my previous pair (my “backup” glasses) (which are fine and do the job . . . but I just don’t like ’em). My new glasses are comfortable, and just seem to suit me better. So far, I’m not missing my contacts at all.
P . . . reparing.
Healthy meals packed with protein. Like the couscous and chick pea combo above. (Recipe here if you’re interested; gift link.)
O . . . bserving.
Oof. We had a huge windstorm over the weekend . . . and it knocked down a section of our back fence! I watched it happen from my upstairs window. . . which was impressive to say the least. It’s an old fence (put in when the house was built 36 years ago), and the wood in that section has been “punky” for several years. (Living on borrowed time, so to speak. . . ) Tom has rigged a temporary fencing “situation” to keep JoJo in and (cross your fingers) the deer out. And we’ve already got the repair work lined up for next week. But, sheesh. It’s always something!
R . . . elishing.
It’s been a month now since my trip to California to visit Erin and Keith. In all the hub-bub of getting back and settling in and then . . . my eye . . . well, I never reported back. Here’s the scoop: I had a great trip, and I am still relishing my memories! It was a total whirlwind . . . with a trip to a very posh San Jose day spa with Erin, a comprehensive tour of the Google campus in Mountain View, a sampling of excellent food options at Bay Area restaurants, a successful “escape” from the coolest escape room I’ve seen yet (and I have seen many of them), and wines from California wine country. (No wonder I was so exhausted when I got back home.) It was so much fun – and a great adventure. (And the Google campus? It is kind of like tech-Disneyland . . . ) (The photo at the top of this post is a very cool sculpture on the main Google campus. And the one at the bottom is me on a Google bike. The ones directly above are Erin’s building and Erin in one of the MANY on-site cafeterias.)
T . . . idying.
Work continues apace in the garden. I really can’t believe how far ahead of “normal” we are, garden-wise, this year. Often, I am still waiting for snow to melt at this point. And here I am, already clearing garden beds and laying down mulch! It was like we didn’t have winter this year. (We really didn’t . . . ) So I’m trying to just roll with it — enjoying what’s emerging and not letting myself get too worked up about getting everything “done.” Or, of course, the climate.
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That’s it for me. How about you?
What’s going on for you . . . at mid-month?
Happy mid-month! I love your new glasses and haircut! Very bold and modern looking. I’m very sorry about your fence. The same thing has been happening in my part of the south after the series of cold front storms we’ve had this spring.
My mid-month is focused on the remaining three weeks til Graduation and all the grading I need to get through by then. I try to use the dog’s walks to get a bit of the gorgeous weather we are having between the storms.
Sitting outside the hospital waiting on Doug’s rotator cuff surgery and anticipating all my time ahead in the garden! And we’ve started too…no winter here to speak of other.
That sculpture is quite intriguing! I love your new glasses and am glad your eye healed successfully. I used to wear contacts when I was in my 30s but after I had the kids, glasses were much easier to deal with, and especially now that I wear bifocals. I scrubbed my outdoor furniture and got it ready, but our patio is much nicer when there are leaves on the trees and some shade. Another couple of weeks!
Sounds like you had a great time out in California.
Love your new glasses. They look very nice on you. I’m going for a new brand this September (when insurance kicks in again). I’ve worn Lindbergs for over 30 years. Time for a change I’m thinking.
Have a great spring and the fun garden time.
Happy middle! And thanks for the catch up news – I’ll join others in complimenting the new specs — really cute! I switched back to glasses when I couldn’t adjust to bifocal contacts. Mostly I’m happier, or my eyes are. I’m not the gardener at our house, but things are off to the races here. The dogwoods are blooming and we’ll miss part of it, as we’re off for a short visit to the kids in Montgomery tomorrow. Love seeing the pictures from the trip to visit Erin and Keith – we got a tour of our daughter-in-law’s work at Thanksgiving (Pfizer Groton) — it’s so nice to get a glimpse into that part of their world.
I am loving your new glasses as well! (AND your hair! I got mine cut last weekend but still have not found comfort with it… sigh.) We have had rains… for it seems like eons… oy. My back yard is one giant squishy mess, which is a slight improvement from the Backyard as Pond Theme we had going… (Yes, it is always something!) Anyways, great mid-month check in! I am nearing the end of my 100 day project… just two pages to go!!
So happy your eye is healed and that you love your new glasses! I am having the opposite experience. I love my old glasses better. And keep seeing glasses on other people that would look good on me…but just can’t find them. Sounds like you had a fabulous time in Cali with Erin. California is like another country and I am always exhilarated by my trips visiting family there (of course I get exhilarated just going downtown…I’m easy to please. And we won’t even talk about going cross town to a new yarn store). Other than that just trying to tackle one junk pile of old magazines, out-of-date clothing, and extraneous paperwork per day. My version of spring cleaning.
So many good things (other than the fence, of course, but it sounds like that wasn’t totally unexpected)! I’m so glad your eye is all healed up and you’ve found some glasses you’re happy with.
I couldn’t figure out what that first picture was and I was happy that your report told us. What a cool place to work! I might have liked my job better if we’d had all that available! Especially the food! Your trip sounds packed with fun places to explore. Erin is a good guide!
Happy Mid-April. I so thankful that your eye has healed. Your visit to California sounds like it was wonderful. Garden-wise we are about three weeks ahead of usual. I also have cleaned out beds and weeded. Like you, I’m just trying to go with the spring time flow.