by Judy Handley | May 21, 2017 | 2017 Life Logs |
2017 Life Logs, Days 141: Gardening, Soccer, Dinghy Purchase, and Great Dinner
Date: Sunday, May 21, 2017
Weather: Partly Cloudy; High Temp of 66, Low 48 F
Location: At Home in The Studio, Falmouth, MA
This was a day filled with all sorts of fun. I went to Heather and Jed’s this morning to help plant their garden. I love gardening and we made progress, but there is more to do this week. Planting had to halt in the afternoon as we all headed to Sam’s soccer game. And after the game, Jed and I went to look at a dinghy that he saw the ad for on Friday. Heather thinks we are crazy because we don’t ‘need’ a dinghy, but the boys and myself miss messing about in boats. This is an Achilles dinghy in good shape and it comes with a trailer and a 7.5 Honda 4-stroke engine. We bought it and I’m looking forward to dinghy rides this summer with those Goldpebbles! When we all got home, it was almost time for dinner. Jed had picked up some salmon on the way home from the dinghy purchase and invited me to stay for dinner. With salmon and fresh asparagus from the garden, how could I refuse. Dinner was great. Thank you, Goldstones.
by Judy Handley | May 20, 2017 | 2017 Life Logs |
2017 Life Logs, Days 140: Fun with Ollie
Date: Saturday, May 20, 2017
Weather: Still Sunny, but Much Cooler; High Temp of 66, Low 45 F
Location: At Home in The Studio, Falmouth, MA
My day started at the gym with a Zumba class, but immediately after I headed to Heather and Jed’s to see if any of the boys wanted to come to my place to plant seeds for the Mother’s Day hummingbird feeders. Ollie had said yesterday that he wanted to do this, but I thought I would extend the invitation to all. Sam and Jonah had other plans, so Ollie and I took off on our Saturday adventure. We had lunch at my house, planted the seeds, 
and then got a call from the realtor to come see another house just down the street from the one I have been looking at next to the fire department. Ollie wanted to come with me, so off we went. This house is just far enough away from the fire department that I don’t think the noise would be a problem, but it is the exact same house without many of the additions and the price is much higher. Decisions, decisions. But Ollie and I didn’t let those decisions keep us from our planned agenda. We left the house showing and went straight to the beach. It was only in the 60’s today, and windy, but it was sunny, and we lucked out. It was delightful and we really enjoyed our beach time.
After that, I took Ollie home, but we didn’t stay long. Mollie and Joey from next door were going bike riding at the elementary school and Ollie wanted to join them. So we were off once again for a biking adventure. I didn’t get home until after 6 pm, but since the sun sets directly in front of my deck, it was warm and sunny and I decided to sit on the deck and enjoy a glass of wine. I hate spending the money to rent, but I love living here. And I continued to indulge myself this evening by watching a movie, The Martian. I saw the movie last summer with Mark and just recently finished reading the book. That made me want to see the movie again, and I’m glad I did. The movie is great, but the book is better. If you haven’t read The Martian, I highly recommend it. But now I am back from Mars and need to make some ‘earthly’ decisions about housing. In the end, I think I am just going to end up staying here for another year while the housing market settles down. Right now it is definitely a seller’s market, so I think I’ll just wait and see what happens.
by Judy Handley | May 19, 2017 | 2017 Life Logs |
2017 Life Logs, Days 139: Busy, Busy
Date: Friday, May 19, 2017
Weather: Mostly Sunny with a High Temp of 74, Low 52 F
Location: At Home in The Studio, Falmouth, MA
Even when I don’t feel like I’m getting much done, my life seems to be busy, busy. I spent my morning finalizing details for the Martin family gathering in West Virginia in June. I did get it finalized on paper, but there are still many phone calls and lots of arranging yet to do. But I did make great progress on that front. I then changed gears and cleaned and filled planting boxes with compost and organic potting soil. I didn’t plant the seeds as I want to let the Goldpebbles do that, as these planting boxes are for starting seeds for hummingbird gardens that were a Mother’s Day present. Then I had to change gears again and head out to meet my realtor at the house I have been seriously considering. I invited friends Jane and Bruce Woodin to come, as well as Heather, Jed, and boys. I wanted to input from all of them and I really appreciate that they took the time to come. At the end of the day, I’m less inclined to buy this place after this second visit because of its proximity to the local fire department and the noise that comes with that. Other than that one negative, I love the place. So I have more thinking to do on this. Then it was back to the Goldstones to spend time with Ollie while Heather was off with Jonah for a soccer game about an hour from here and Jed and Sam were off for a soccer game in town. Ollie wanted to go bike riding to get more practice without his training wheels. We first rode on a nearby street and then we went to the elementary school so he could ride on the track. He rode more than two miles by circling the track 10 times—each circle being a quarter of a mile. We didn’t get home until 6:30 and then I had to quickly get dinner ready for us. Ollie helped and by 7:15 pm we had eaten. That’s an hour later than usual, but everything tonight was just a little late. Jed and Sam got home at 7:30 pm to invite us to go to Smitty’s for ice cream with Sam’s soccer team. They lost the game tonight and needed a little ‘pick-me-up’. So we did. Thankfully tomorrow is Saturday and there is no school because the Smitty’s gang didn’t head home until after 8 pm and Heather and Jonah were still on the road, headed home, but not there yet. I headed home and found myself exhausted. Since I did nothing today that was physically challenging, I’m not sure why I am so tired. But I am, so it is off to bed for me.
by Judy Handley | May 18, 2017 | 2017 Life Logs |
2017 Life Logs, Days 138: Lunch with Jane
Date: Thursday, May 18, 2017
Weather: Mostly Sunny with a High Temp in the 80’s, Low in the 50’s F
Location: At Home in The Studio, Falmouth, MA
The earlier part of my day was spent getting for and having lunch with good friend, Jane Woodin. She arrived in a short sleeve shirt and shorts while I had on jeans and long-sleeved shirt. The high temp here today was in the 80’s, but here on the water, it was too cool for us to sit on out on the deck. Away from the water, however, it felt much warmer. The wind that seems to constantly barrel down the harbor here makes it feel much cooler than it really is. Later in the summer when the water warms up a bit, it is much more comfortable, but not right now. Anyway, Jane and I ate and talked and talked and talked. It was a great visit. When Jane left, I spent some time reading directions for planting seeds in the hummingbird garden bags that will hang over the deck railing that I got for Mother’s Day from Heather, Jed, and gang, and the windowsill herb garden bags I got from Justin, Jo, and kids for Christmas. Both were a little more complicated than I had anticipated. Once I read the details, I found that I need to start the seeds in flats and then transplant into the hummingbird garden bags and burlap herb garden bags. So, I decided to head to Heather and Jed’s to gather up some planting boxes. Just before I got there, I received a call from Heather telling me to come directly to Patricia (the street where the boys ride their bikes) where Ollie had a special surprise for me. When I got there I found Ollie on his bicycle with no training wheels!
He got his big boy bicycle for Christmas and this afternoon he was flying around without those training wheels. Way to go, Ollie! I then gathered up the planting boxes and headed to Waquoit Feed and Grain to get organic potting soil and some ‘hot’ bird seed for Heather. Evidently, if you add hot spices to bird feed, unwanted mammals won’t come seeking the spilled seeds and grace your property with their unwanted presence. This includes rats, skunks, and raccoon. So, the Goldstones will still feed the birds, but with this ‘hot’ mix that won’t invite the unwanted critters.
When I got home, I had a long phone conversation with my friend Lynne in Nyack, New York. She brought me up-to-date on how Ed is progressing with his therapy as follow-up to his broken hip. He is moving forward, but having a little more pain than anticipated. And later tonight I talked to my sister to check up on my brother-in-law Joe who had a recent knee replacement. Joe is also making progress, moving from a walker to a cane. So it sounds like both Ed and Joe are on the road to recovery. I also got a text from Heather with a photo of Ollie with a new big boy haircut. I wasn’t prepared for that, but then she wrote that Sam and Jonah also got haircuts tonight to match the warmer weather. Jonah has an unbelievable head of curly hair that I love. Evidently most of that is gone. I haven’t even seen them, but it makes me sad. I love their long, curly locks. But, as Heather reminded me, hair grows back. So I’ll survive the temporary change. Just wish I had taken “before” photos.
by Judy Handley | May 17, 2017 | 2017 Life Logs |
2017 Life Logs, Days 137: Making Decisions
Date: Wednesday, May 17, 2017
Weather: Mostly Sunny with a High Temp in the 70’s, Low in the 50’s F
Location: At Home in The Studio, Falmouth, MA
I spent my day talking to people who can help me in making decisions about my life. Am I going to buy a house or am I going to continue renting? Am I going to get serious about writing a book? Those were the big questions for today. At the suggestion of my friend, Jane Woodin, weeks ago I made an appointment to meet with an elder law specialist and that appointment was today. Once a month, various lawyers donate their time to the Senior Center to meet with people free of charge. I was not here to meet in April, so today was my day. The woman I met with was very knowledgeable about the law, but was also acting in a role as a counselor. I almost felt like she was reading my mind, and I very much appreciated her advice on finances, real estate prospects, and life in general. Fantastic service for seniors! After that meeting, I rushed home for a phone call with my son to talk about the nuts and bolts of writing a book. He and Jo have given this a lot of thought and they had great recommendations, and Justin is willing to give me technical support throughout the process. Ziggy and Coco were home from school today and I also got to do a Skype video call with them. They tried to teach me to sing the ABC song in Spanish, but I’m afraid I am language-challenged. But it was so much fun to see and talk with them.
By the time I got off the phone/computer with Justin, it was time for lunch and after that I spent time sending emails to people in my family about our gathering in West Virginia in June. I’m organizing that and it is a bigger job than I anticipated. Then it was time to head to the grocery store to get a few items for dinner for the Goldpebbles. I delivered the food to Heather and Jed’s and then took off for Woods Hole to pick up Ollie. The Goldstone schedule this afternoon was unbelievably complicated and it took the three adults in three different cars to deliver everyone to the right destination. But by 6:00 pm, I was at Heather and Jed’s with the three boys and Heather and Jed were at an MIT Club of Cape Cod dinner where Heather was the speaker. The boys played while I got dinner ready and we had a great evening together.
So that was today. Tomorrow Jane Woodin is coming over for lunch and I’m just looking forward to some laid back time with a good friend.
by Judy Handley | May 16, 2017 | 2017 Life Logs |
2017 Life Logs, Days 136: Finally . . . More Like Spring Than Winter
Date: Tuesday, May 16, 2017
Weather: Mostly Sunny with a High Temp in the 70’s F
Location: At Home in The Studio, Falmouth, MA
Finally . . . we had a bright, sunny, warm day that was more like spring than winter. Tomorrow is forecast to be 10 degrees cooler, but still sunny. So, I can live with that. I spent a lot of my day editing and naming photos from the Bahamas. I attended a meeting with Heather and Jed with their/my lawyer to get some legal advice regarding joint expenditures on housing. Now we just have to decide if I am buying a home just for me OR whether at some point we might buy a home together OR whether I am just going to continue to rent. The jury is still out, but I’ll keep you posted on any decisions. I went to vote in Falmouth’s town election, and otherwise, it was an unremarkable day. And that’s a good thing.
