2020 Life Logs, Day 126: Day Off to Rest Ye Old Back
Date: Wednesday, May 6, 2020
Weather: Cloudy and Cooler; High 54 degrees, Low 38 degrees F
Location: At Home in The Cottage, East Falmouth, MA
I took today off to give ye old back a rest. I walked with Shadow three times today, instead of our usual two long walks hoping the walking will help with my back. And then I just did a little of this and little of that. Justin called during the afternoon. Their pony Hopi, who had baby Barnaby in March has been sick from some sort of infection, so the vet was visiting today. Justin was running errands while we talked and when he went into the post office, he got the little box of seeds I sent to Jo last week. Hearing that motivated me to do some planting after our call. I planted some sunflowers and luffa gourd seeds in the indoor planters. I have another package of seeds to send to Jo which includes the luffa seeds. I ordered two packs so I could try to grow some here just for fun. There’s a place at the back of Heather and Jed’s new house that has a trellis. Since the luffa vines can climb to 30 feet, I’m hoping we can grow the luffa in that spot and pick our own sponges. It can be a science experiment of sorts. Do luffa plants produce more gourds in Puerto Rico or Massachusetts?
Wednesday has become science day for me. On Wednesday afternoons, the Woods Hole Research Center webinar that Heather hosts is online from 2:30 to 3:30 pm. This afternoon I watched their Zoom presentation on how climate change is affecting the Arctic. Then tonight at 7:30 pm I watched the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution’s now weekly webinar. Tonight the topic was shipwrecks. Both very interesting webinars.
Phil and Margaret are my daughter-in-law Jo’s parents who live in England. We keep in touch via email, but we seem to be corresponding a bit more often during this coronavirus time. Among other things, we compare the response of our national leaders to this pandemic and the work we are doing in our gardens. Their garden is their backyard surrounded by beautiful flowering plants. It is in full bloom right now and the photos they sent today are stunning. Usually their garden is a source of peace and beauty, but in today’s email they shared that last week they had a bit of garden drama. 
Their 120 year-old American oak tree made a very loud noise as it fell into their garden and partially into their neighbor’s garden at 4:15 am. Miraculously, it didn’t fall on the house or on their two garden sheds. No one was hurt, but it did break their treasured magnolia tree and the fence in a couple of places. Other than that, they are surviving these challenging times just fine. They do not get to see any of their children, but they are keeping in touch via Zoom and FaceTime.
Shadow is no less rambunctious after his day at the kennel yesterday, but I sure am happy to have him back. I was amazed at how much I missed him for the few hours he was away. The trainer, Melissa, sent me a text this morning reminding me that I have to rise to his level of excitement, directing my intensity at curbing his behaviors like I am doing karate. Wish me luck!
