Taking a break

In addition to a full work schedule there have been some snafus that required me to run about town MUCH more than normal and finally after a very early start this morning, I hit the wall midafternoon. All was mostly resolved, work mostly on track, it was cold and rainy…

…so followed Bear’s example…

And took a nap!

I feel much better.

Tomorrow is a new day so onward we go.

Also, re Bear: it is 3 weeks since our trip to the internist. Based on my reading (holistic veterinary sites), I changed Bear to a high protein/low carb diet and also added a Chinese herb blend: Si Miao San (Four Marvels). He started seeming more comfortable the first week and it continues. The main thing I’d noticed was that he often seemed too warm, to the point of panting. He sought cool spots on the floor instead of his usual spot in the chairs or on the bed. That has mostly gone away and I can just see in his eyes that he feels better. YEA!

End of the week

Tax day cometh and with it so much to do in addition to the usual, so it was a FULL week.

BUT, the weather…the WEATHER!! – it was beautiful and in defiance of the forecast it was mostly sunny and warm.

Friday afternoon with a forecast of a stormy weekend, I stopped work early and enjoyed the outdoors with Bear and Auggie. I am fortunate to have flexibility in my work schedule and decided I’d rather enjoy the sun and work over the weekend in the rain/snow if the weekend forecast was to be believed.

In addition to tax day etc., I saw my local herbalist this week and came away with a regimen that included 7 nights of hot baths.

My little house has a LARGE walk in shower, but no bathtub.

Huh.

The herbalist folks suggested a kiddie pool. That led me to my local “home and ranch supply” place and lo and behold that place had a SALE on a 100 gallon stock tank (Rubbermaid) … as in a watering trough for stock: horses, cows, etc.

I bought one.

Ya… Montana hot tub…I can hear neighbors Mike and Nancy laughing!! (THEY have a REAL hot tub :)! )

But, it worked and it was wonderful and I wish I’d thought of it sooner. My instructions were to soak for 30 minutes in as hot of water as I could stand.

So I did.

On the front porch.

And it felt SO good! Afterward, I took a quick rinse off shower, went to bed and slept wonderfully.

I can’t wait until tonight, to repeat.

This afternoon – Saturday – it is blustery and cool and feels more like Fall, than Spring. The gusts are causing the pine trees to rain pine cones which sent Bear and Auggie inside…

… to nap.

End of the week.

In the spirit of the season: New life

A little over 2 weeks ago, I set the Greek Oregano seeds in the “orange” jar…

Weekend before last, I set the remaining jars: Parsley (yellow), Basil (blue) and Cilantro (red-pink).

So.

Honestly…I didn’t have much hope that the few seeds in the packet would ever do anything… the limited sun, the low temperatures…

BUT! – I monitored and spritzed water and spoke lovingly to the seedlings….

And THEN….AND THEN!!!

A SPROUT in the Greek Oregano!

New Life!

In the spirit of the Easter season…NEW Life!

Easter Sunday morning

There is light in the sky, i.e. dawn at just after 6:15 a.m. with sunrise just after 7:00 a.m.

This morning, Bear and I were out for our first walk about 6:30. There was a bit of fog but the sky above the mountains was clear. As we strolled around I noticed the moon low in the sky to the west. The moon was full yesterday so although technically it is now waning, it still looked full. And it looked like it would be close to setting in another 30-45 minutes… so at 7:00, Bear and I got in the Jeep and headed down the road home to see what things looked like on an Easter Sunday morning with a nearly full moon and some fog on the ground with clear skies overhead … and…it was 27F so it was freezing fog…

To the west as we headed down the road home…

The road home.

May the Lord bless you and keep you.

May the Lord make his face to shine upon you,
and be gracious unto you.

May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you,
and give you His peace.

A prayer from Numbers 6:24-26 and the Benediction that I grew up with

Happy Easter Sunday morning.

A mixed bag

Spring in Montana is always a mixed bag … weather-wise.

Snow this morning.

And it felt cold after the few warm days.

The chairs said: “Really ???!!??”

Auggie came in for a nap…

Bear, too.

And then the sun came out … and a bit of blue sky!

Jumping for joy … or maybe a bug…

“Are you laughing at me ???”

Lilac buds

It happens every year.

One moment all looks dry and brown and dead, then seemingly in an instant, new growth begins and the woods starts greening up. The lilac buds are the first things I watch for. I love their shape and silhouettes.

Lilac buds.