Spontaneous Me

This garter was digesting a meal in the back yard a few days ago. Hopefully
it was a rodent.

Thursday started off with a bike ride on the Helderberg trail with SueEllen, Charlene and Ernie. We got rained on a little bit, and decided to stop at Brewtus Coffee shop for a cup and a chat. It was so decadent to be enjoying such a day with friends. 

Our little coffee break tablescape.

 After the ride, an errand to buy spa supplies just happened to bring me past the Pine Bush where I hiked Tuesday so I couldn't resist going in for a quick ( half hour, at most) look at those wildflowers. I thought I could do a run/walk precisely to the patch. After a mile of that, my knee reminded me why I gave up running ten years ago. I eventually found them at the 2 mile mark and they are Lady Slippers!



On my way back to the car, at 2:30 pm, my stomach reminded me that I hadn't eaten anything since breakfast. I stash energy bars in my car, but hadn't thought to bring them with me - or water for that matter. The woods were so intriguing, (I dallied about following some off trails and looking at all the wildlife) that my quick jot into the woods turned into a 5 mile hike. And I had a lawn to mow before the next rain.

The towhee posed for me, but I only had my phone, so a bit blurry.

The unfurling ferns are about to dwarf the skunk cabbage.

False Milkwort spotted in the woods. I like how it came up through a hole in a leaf.


I ended up skipping lunch altogether and just had my spekenzola pizza (fig jam, proscuitto, blue cheese) for dinner between mowings.

After another 24 hours of rain yesterday, I'm seeing the 7 day rain total was 5" here! My yard is now swampy and I'm so glad I mowed Thursday because I won't be able to for at least another week. Dale and I went to the Berkshire Botanical Plant sale yesterday as the fearless gardeners that we are. They had to close the parking lot in a field because the cars were getting stuck in the mud. We picked up some specimen plants we were looking for and I can't wait to plant mine and see how they do. Afterwards we had lunch in Stockbridge and a nice long chat. 

My body was telling me that all the activity the day before exhausted me, so I lay down on the couch and slept for 3 hours. Perfect set up for insomnia! And insomnia didn't disappoint - I didn't fall asleep again until 4am, then slept so late I missed my hair appointment. Which I would have missed anyway as I accidentally left the car door open all night so the battery was dead. I have a portable car charge, but that was drained. In any case I'm spending the day gardening while I wait for the car charger to charge. Honestly, how I once managed to work full time, raise a child, and care for a home single handedly is a bit of a mystery to me.

Comments

  1. MargaretMay 10, 2025 at 3:26 PM

    I think about taking up running again too, but I'm sure my knees would also protest. I agree with you about how we used to manage our lives although I do remember feeling stressed and rushed all the time. Now I'm too lazy sometimes which is the opposite problem. Sorry for all the rain--we need some here!

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