California

We decided to go on our planned trip to visit Mary even though she and Bella had been sick with A H3 influenza, and Remi was coming down with it. Mary developed pneumonia and was exhausted.  Crossing our fingers that the germs would be gone by the time we arrived.

Fortunately, everyone seems on the mend. They all still coughing, and Mary is frustrated that she has no energy and is very short of breath. I have resisted (somewhat) telling her, “I told you that pneumonia takes a long time to recover from.” Mostly I try to reinforce that she should give her self a break, literally and figuratively. She is being pretty good about resting. Of course, her impulse to do too much (genetic or environmental?) comes up. Shortness of breath tamps it down. 

Ash on the car

To add insult to illness, the Border Fire is raging away about 10 miles east, and ash is raining down at their house. I think we are safe, but we encouraged Mary to put important papers in a suitcase, have some cash, and fill her tank up with gas. After seeing the devastation in the Los Angeles fires, it is a scary situation.

Even with all this, we were able to help a lot. Two trips to a thrift store off loaded a rocking chair and odds and ends. The Christmas lights, ornaments, and tree were taken down and packed, then uploaded to their garage shelves. We planted the wildflowers out front and got the water fountain started. That was really reinforcing because 1) finches, sparrows, and yellow rump warblers have already begun to take drinks, 2) the solar powered pump lights up after dark with all sorts of patterns. After buying a file, Grant sharpened the loppers so we could cut back the plant by the front window.

Big success: we hauled the non-functional crib and more to the curb for bulk pickup which meant a living room wall cleared. We opened the massage table and  determined it was more bulk pickup. Sadly, I think the IKEA shelves are too since no one responded to our Buy Nothing posting. I am hauling them to the curb this morning and putting a “free” sign on them.* In any case, out of the garage. Also out are all the bags of cans and plastic bottles. Grant pulled them down off the shelves, and Mary and I drove them to the recycling center. Result: $50 + empty shelves. Determined cans of paint can be dropped off at Sherman Williams.

Fun stuff: Bella and I are painting watercolor every day. She has a little sketchbook and is following a lady on YouTube who has a new page suggestions every few days. We can Zoom and compare notes. I’m painting 4 note cards. We determined the plastic paint smocks were too small and only good for standing at an easel, not painting at a table. Packed to go to the art teacher they know.

Mary and I painted signs for her post out front. (The previous ones were for Halloween. See background of hummingbird picture above.) Now we have painted them bright pastels to last through to summer.

Plus, it was Remi’s 5th birthday. Streamers in halls, balloons, cake, presents wrapped, and a trip to the donut shop.

Whew! Mary feels better, and it began the process of perhaps moving. Ryan has oral orders to Pendleton for the next 2-3 years. That means a new house further north by mid-June.

*No rain for months. The day we haul stuff to the curb, it rains. All good: the firefighters need all the help they can get. We put plastic over the shelves and table in case someone would still like to pick them up. It rained the next day.