Since Anders still can’t go to daycare, but Younger Daughter has to work (or she loses her job AND her medical insurance), I’m helping out with him, even if that means giving undeserving dad a break for a few hours. The positive is that I’m getting lots of grandma time! YD doesn’t like to ask for help which has caused major problems in her life on many fronts. I always re-frame my offers with the truth: I want to be very involved in my grandsons’ lives and be present as much as possible. Plus, I have 0 plans for this week except for my dreaded annual medical check up–no longer a physical or really much of anything. I quail at the thought of the blood work though; how will my A1C be? My cholesterol? And those pesky other numbers that could indicate health issues Eek! There’s usually something off; I’m 69 years old after all, no spring chicken. I’m neither a health food nut nor a rabid exerciser although I try to stay active and eat decently. Some days I fail.
Mari did NOT like it when I brought the highchair into the house. She knows what that means!
Cheese! We played, read a few stories, went outside to blow bubbles in the back yard, and planned to go the Tot Lot. Anders told me he wanted to swing in the bucket swing, but once we started walking (he refused the stroller or the wagon), he preferred to find out which rocks he could pick up that weren’t embedded in the asphalt. He touched the leaves. He admired the cars, exclaiming over their colors and bending down to look underneath them. (?) He waved at my neighbor and her dog who stopped to chat. We never made it even close to the Tot Lot. At first, I felt like we’d failed in some sort of mission. I’m way too goal oriented. But sometimes, meandering is the best way. I don’t always have to accomplish something or make it somewhere. That’s what little ones can teach you. They are a gift.
Since the orange trees change color later than the red, they’re currently the pre-dominant color on my road.
One of my neighbors has this brilliantly red tree though–anyone know what it is? As a Washingtonian, I should be able to better identify trees! I love walking by it; is that enough? 🙂
My cyclamens are thriving for the moment, and I admire them frequently. I hope they last for a while! I discovered several years ago that I need color in the winter, even if that’s just ornamental kale/cabbage. The colder it gets, the brighter the purples and pinks become. There’s a message in there somewhere about finding the light and color in the midst of what we call “The Big Dark.”
Reading: I’m still engrossed in “The Rose Field.” I would be surprised if it doesn’t end up being banned. It’s a very thinly veiled critique of our current government and religious leaders. I’m enjoying it very much…but others might not.
Watching: I’m keeping up on “Brilliant Minds,” while catching up on “Matlock” (with Kathy Bates) and starting “St. Denis Medical.” Sometime this month Ted Danson’s second season of “A Man on the Inside” will debut. And if all else fails, I have three more seasons of the old British Baking Show on Roku with Mel and Sue as hosts and Paul and Mary Berry as judges. This time of year involves too much TV watching from me since yard work is now out.
That said, I’m off for a walk before I end up getting rained on!
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