by Judy Handley | Mar 22, 2025 | Cape Cod, USA |
2025 Life Logs, Day 81: Opening Birthday Presents and Planting Peas
Date: Saturday March 22, 2025
Weather: Sunny and Windy; High Temp 49, Low 31 degrees F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue with My Shadow, Falmouth, MA
Spring officially arrived on Wednesday, but I was so busy I didn’t even think about spring until today. On Thursday there was no sunshine and yesterday it rained all day. But today the sun was shining, and the temperature was much more spring-like. I went over to Heather and Jed’s at noon to watch Ollie open his birthday presents from family, followed by more chocolate birthday cake. Ollie’s presents were all on the practical side this year, but he seemed truly excited. He got the Intro to Welding class, money, a gizmo to hold things when he is soldering, a much-needed bike helmet, a fabulous organizer that can be hung on the wall, and a new pair of Vans sneakers that he didn’t need, but that he loves.
Afterwards, since it felt like spring, I asked Ollie to come over and help me plant snap peas. I needed him to get up on a ladder to hammer a bean/pea tower into the ground and then move some heavy bags of soil. We were successful and have peas in the ground. Now, we’ll have to see if it stays warm enough for them to grow.
Tonight, I went back to the Goldstones to spend the evening with Sam and Ollie. Heather and Jed were off the Falmouth Education Foundation (FEF) Gala. Sam helped me cook dinner and we had a quiet, but nice evening together.
by Judy Handley | Feb 7, 2025 | 2025 Sailing Logs, Cape Cod, USA |
2025 Life Logs, Day 38: The Octopus
Date: Friday, February 7, 2025
Weather: Partly Cloudy, Windy; Temp 42, Low 24 degrees F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue with My Shadow, Falmouth, MA
Today, worked on my Voyage of Windbird presentation for next Wednesday, completed the seashell puzzle I have been working on, and tonight, with friend Judy Fenwick, I attended the Falmouth Forum at the Marine Biological Lab (MBL) in Woods Hole. The speaker was Roger Hanlon, one of MBL’s own Senior Scientists. The topic was about one of my very favorite creatures on this earth. The title of the presentation was, “The Octopus as Tech: Exploring the Science, Art, and Technological Potential of Nature’s Most Spectacular Color Change Artist” and it was a fascinating talk.
My only up-close and personal encounter with an octopus was a snorkeling afternoon in Madagascar. Mark and I had been snorkeling for well over an hour when we spotted a crimson-colored octopus just hanging out. But as soon as she sensed our presence, she started her color changing act. We watched as she climbed up the coral, disappeared into a hole, reappeared on the other side, constantly changing color and texture, and finally climbing down into the sand where we could hardly see her as she seemed to melt into the sand. Since that afternoon, I have been fascinated with the octopus and tonight I learned so much about this brilliant creature.
by Judy Handley | Sep 23, 2024 | Cape Cod, USA |
2024 Life Logs, Day 267: Less Than 100 Days to 2025
Date: Monday, September 23, 2024
Weather: Mostly Cloudy; High Temp 63, Low 54 degrees F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue, Falmouth, MA
Some things never change. I did not do what I planned for today. I never got to doing what I stated in yesterday’s log of getting some healthy salads and a soup made, and so I would have heathy lunch and dinner choices for the rest of the week. I wanted to make a broccoli and cauliflower salad, my favorite edamame salad, and my mainstay vegetable soup. Maybe tomorrow? I doubt it as it is Early Release Day, and I will be at the Goldstones in case I am needed. Heather heads to New York City for Climate Week tomorrow morning, so I offered to be on ‘duty’ and to fix dinner for Jed and the boys. Today I just had a laid-back day planning for the Octoberfest I will be hosting for my wine group on Saturday, doing a little house cleaning, and dealing with some of my sister’s needs. She is really putting forth great effort now that she can stand on both legs again. All good news for now.
Just a reminder. Yesterday was day 266 of this leap year which has 366 days. That means we are now in the 100-day countdown to Day 366. So, if you still have things you want to get done in 2024, you’d better get busy.
by Judy Handley | Aug 10, 2024 | Cape Cod, USA |
2024 Life Logs, Day 223: Love Watching the Olympics
Date: Saturday, August 10, 2024
Weather: A Little Rain Overnight, Partly Sunny; High Temp 80, Low 64 degrees F
Location: At Home on Lakeview, Falmouth, MA
I love watching the Olympics. Today was mostly spent watching the US women’s soccer team win the gold medal and then watching the US men’s basketball team do the same. I watched the whole soccer game from start to finish, but I have to admit that I am not as fond of basketball, so I got through that stack of old mail and accumulated personal paperwork that needed to be filed during the basketball game. My goal for tomorrow is to get my Encore notebook set up for 2024-2025. Somehow, I have let all of the Encore paperwork from June and July stack up as well. I’ll be so happy if I get that done tomorrow.
In between watching the Olympics and getting through stacks of paper, I swept the floors and Swifter mopped the kitchen. The house was spotless when I got home on Monday because Lynne cleaned the whole place before she left. But with the damp weather this week, Shadow and I have managed to track in a lot of sandy soil.
I heard from Heather this morning that they have no electricity in Boothbay, and it is not expected to be back on anytime soon. Today Jed’s mother and his Uncle Johnny and Aunt Becky were hosting a Celebration of Life for Jed’s uncle who died during the past year. But the lack of electricity was causing some problems with hosting 40 people. I sure hope they either got the electricity back on or found creative ways to make do to enjoy the celebration of John Reed’s life.
by Judy Handley | Jun 9, 2024 | Cape Cod, USA |
2024 Life Logs, Day 161: Last Day of JJZ&C’s Visit
Date: Sunday, June 9, 2024
Weather: Rainy, Clearing Late Afternoon; Temp 67, Low 56 degrees F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue, Falmouth, MA
For the last nine days, Justin, Jo, Ziggy, and Coco have been visiting from Puerto Rico. The time has flown by, but in the early Monday morning hours, they fly on to England to visit with Jo’s family. Fifteen years ago, when there were just three grandchildren, we did our first family photo shoot on the beach in Quissett Harbor.
Since then, we have lost Mark and added Ollie and Coco. Today we got the fifteen-year update photo on Falmouth Heights Beach while having family fun. We are f-a-m-i-l-y!
The ‘fabulous five’ have certainly grown up.
by Judy Handley | May 31, 2024 | Cape Cod, USA |
2024 Life Logs, Day 152: Waiting for Justin and Family to Arrive
Date: Friday, May 31, 2024
Weather: Sunny and Warm; Temp 71, Low 53 degrees F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue, Falmouth, MA
Today was a day of getting ready for Justin, Jo, Ziggy, and Coco to visit. With the help of Sam and Jonah, I am now moved into the studio apartment that is attached to the house. Until JJZ&C are Covid negative, I will stay here, and we will visit outside. Once they are Covid free, we can just open the panty doors and walk back and forth. It couldn’t be more convenient, and I am so grateful that Lynda is letting me stay here. Getting my things moved in was more of a hassle than it would have been normally as I had to move the ice machine for my knee, all of the containers of ice from the freezer that are used in the machine, ice packs, and my recumbent exercise bike. But Shadow and I are now all settled in.
Heather invited me over to dinner. We had poke bowls with salmon. Jed got home from his conference in Nantes, France last night, so I got to hear a little about Nantes. It was delicious and very much appreciated. And Justin just sent a text saying they are still an hour out. Can’t wait!
