This 'Christmas' cactus has it's calendar mixed up

I'm starting to get the hang of the camera on the iPad, finally. No expert, certainly, but at least I've learned how to zoom and focus. My Christmas cactus is starting to bloom again, and tonight the light was hitting the first bloom nicely. A little beauty for a stressed world.

Hope all are still well. So far, so good, here. Stay well.

A damp bike ride and yummy Keto tacos

I really itched to get out for a ride today, but it was overcast and misty and a 30% chance of rain. But rain wasn't due until around 1pm. So I dressed for the occasion (excepting my rain pants, which I won't forget again) and headed out in the mist, tail light flashing. A short ride on the riverfront bike path took me to a lightly used road that goes through neighborhoods (beautiful neighborhoods, million $$ homes) to another lightly used road which took me to the road to the sweet little town of Coburg, where I lived briefly before moving in here. That road is normally busy, but today it was practically empty. I had better sense than to try to ride to Coburg -- yet! -- so I took the normally-busy road back towards home, then on another normally-busy road back to the bike path, and home. Just over one hour. Wish it had been longer, though the mist turned to light rain for awhile, and it didn't bother me. Still -- a good ride. Any day on the bike is a good day.

Then it was lunch time, so after changing into dry clothes, I hit the kitchen for today's Keto Tacos. I choose my own foods on the app -- nothing is scheduled for me -- and this is one of my favorites.

'Tortillas' are big, sturdy cabbage leaves from my garden. They never fall apart, split, develop holes, etc. as other greens I have tried for this do. Slathered with a mix of mayonnaise and sriracha sauce, gobs of fresh guacamole, a tad over 5 ounces of organic grass-fed ground beef cooked in a patty then divided into 4 thick pieces.  Topped with cabbage and chard leaves from the garden mixed with the last of my home-fermented kimchi (there'll be another batch ready early next week).

Soooooo good. Years ago out in this part of the world there was an ad for a hamburger chain that always featured people biting into a juicy, drippy burger (and they really were good). The tag line was "if it doesn't get all over the place, it doesn't belong in your face". These tacos are indeed messy to eat, but that's part of what makes them good. I don't know what happened to the burger chain over the 4 years I was in Georgia, but they're no longer good. I only tried one since my return, and it was a horrible disappointment.

I've made some really fun and tasty foods while on this diet, and often wish afterward that I'd taken a photo. Happens often on what I call 'clean out the fridge day', wherein I do just that -- using bits and pieces of mostly veggies that are about on their last useful days.

Other than that -- life goes along well. So far!

Rain again.....

Yesterday I dredged up the nerve to take that new bicycle of mine out for a real ride, around 8am when few people were out and about to get in the way or mess up the sounds of nature. Total of about 18 miles, which is basically a loop of the river trail system. I've done that ride often in the very distant past, but haven't done it all the way in recent years/months/weeks. Weather was cool, but sunny. Scenery lovely -- the river running full alongside, greenery,  Autzen Stadium, geese in the pond at Alton Baker Park, the usual.

I started out still feeling a bit shaky on the bike, unaccustomed to the new center of gravity compared to past bikes. But somewhere along the way, seems like it was about halfway, where I crossed a bridge from one side of the river to the other, I suddenly realized that things were feeling natural, that I was becoming one with the bike. Shifting (as in turning the wheel the right way) was becoming automatic. In places I found myself using 5th and even 6th gear, moving rapidly and enjoying every minute of it. Took me 1 hour and 32 minutes, door to door, non-stop. And it was wonderful.

Then yesterday afternoon a neighbor suggested climbing Skinner's Butte near downtown Eugene this morning. And she doesn't just climb it, she knows the network of trails and we go up, and down, and around, and up, and finally down again, so it takes awhile and is a good workout, including some stairs.

Being a glutton for punishment, I thought this would be a good idea. My body and mind resisted this morning, but I knew I'd enjoy it so off we went. Again, we were early and there were few people out, but the hillsides we walked through were peppered with large swaths of beautiful, large, fully-opened white Trillium popping against the greenery. Really a spectacular display, and wonderful to see. My Fitbit called it at 86 minutes and over 8000 footsteps, measured from when we got off the bus a few blocks away to when we returned to another bus stop another few blocks away. We got home just in time -- the wind was picking up and cooling off, and the rain wasn't far behind. So glad we went!

No telling what tomorrow will bring. I'll see how my body reacts to these two days, and then decide.

Sunshine in the Garden

It's another beautiful, sunny spring day here, and it's impossible for most of us to stay inside. Fortunately, there is plenty of room in the garden for people to enjoy the sun or the shade, and not be close together. I went out a bit earlier to read in the sun. My internet (iPad) even works out there, as my apartment faces the garden.

This was my view from the chair I sat in. Not a lot happening here yet, but a few things are blooming and bulbs are rampant, and a few young veggies here and there. It'll be a riot of color soon.

This is my garden box, opened for the day's fresh air and sunshine. The frost-gard 'tent' was there all winter, and provides a great growing environment for various things. Weather was fairly mild this winter, for a change, so mostly it kept the cats and squirrels out. But now, everything in there is taking off like crazy. The Swiss chard (red stems) is ready to harvest again. I've been using the big, darker green cabbage leaves for taco shells. They actually work pretty well for that. They're sturdy and tough, and tend to 'cup' just the right way. The garlic in the center is just to repel bugs, and it does a good job of that. No pests like garlic!  There's also young romaine lettuce, but you can't see it here.

I could remove the 'tent', but then the cats would get in and dig and poop in it. That bit of white netting is only large enough to cover one side. Eventually, I'll get a larger piece to cover the whole frame, then remove the fabric. But there's no rush. They're happy for now.

A little closer look inside. I do love growing as much of my own food as will fit in this small box.

I've been walking a lot lately, around the river paths and such, and have observed that in the early mornings the paths are almost empty. A person or a bike here and there. In the afternoon, more of them. So this morning I went for a hour's walk at 8am, and saw only a few people the entire time. It's chillier then -- I think it was around 37F -- but not bad once the body warms up from exercise, and with the sun. So hopefully tomorrow morning I'll get up the nerve to try it on the bike when it's that cold. I think it'll be OK, and I'm itching to get out there!

Stay safe, all.

Walking in Sunshine

Another day, less staying inside.

I didn't get out around people, mind you, other than one here and there. I took two 45 minute walks from here looping along the river, one in the morning (not many folks out) and one after lunch on a different loop trail along a different stretch of the river (nice and sunny, a few more folks out). Got my 10,000 steps in, which I haven't done for awhile.

I'm so fortunate to live out of the populous downtown area, and to be so near so many wonderful options for biking/walking trails. Eugene has 18 miles of paved path along both sides of the river, with 5 bike/walking bridges scattered end to end. And that's just the beginning.

Streets are eerily empty of cars. The bike path this morning eerily empty of bikes as well as walkers. The afternoon sun brought folks out, but keeping a safe distance was easy for the most part.

Our first case of Coronavirus was announced today. A 69-year-old man living in a private residence in the Eugene/Springfield area. Hasn't traveled, had to have picked it up locally. Bad news, his symptoms began March 1, and he wasn't tested until March 13, so he had a few weeks to spread it around town, if the reports are correct and someone can be contagious for a week or more before onset of symptoms. And, if he got it locally, there's at least one more person out there who's been spreading it around even longer. Plus others that this unknown person encountered. It's not unrealistic to assume that the numbers can exponentially explode in the coming days or weeks. And this is happening in communities all over the country.

I didn't feel so confined today, with the two outings. Tomorrow, I want to try and get onto the river trail with my bike and ride to the south end and back. Weather should be good, but may be breezy and that might keep me off the bike. I'm not ready to tackle a stiff headwind yet for any distance, while I'm still getting used to the new bike. But my feet will still work.

Stay safe everyone.

Hibernation

As some of you know, I live in HUD-owned senior housing. Apartments, not assisted living or any type of care. Many people here are health-challenged (lupus, emphysema, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, you name it). Other than having lungs that have never seen a bronchitis possibility they didn't like, I'm healthy, but still old.

I'm not a germ-phobe at all. Quite the opposite, in fact. But this CoronaVirus doesn't fool around so I started being more careful a couple of weeks ago partly to protect myself, but mostly to keep from bringing it into this building. Used the provided sprays to clean anything I used at the gym before and after using it, using disinfectant wipes provided at the entrance to some grocery stores. Washing my hands and face carefully when I get home from being out and about.

And really, I don't get out into places where there are crowds. I go to the grocery story, and to WalMart when I need to, but am careful about touching things and they generally aren't very crowded. When I go out, it's generally cycling or walking or hiking, places that are still relatively safe.  It doesn't hurt that I've had an odd little cough for a couple of weeks and a raspy voice, but these things are not unusual, either. And I suppose that if I'd had the virus that long I'd know it by now. Plus, as of yesterday there still were no suspected or confirmed cases in this entire, quite large, county.

But back to being HUD-owned. Yesterday the word came down from above that all community common areas (computer room, exercise room, large community event room, etc) would be closed for the duration. I'd already been avoiding those anyway, so no big deal. They've also put signs on the doors and told all residents that only necessary people from outside are allowed to enter the building. Caregivers (numerous people have those), contractors, delivery, etc.  Also not an issue for me, as I don't have anybody who'd be visiting anyway, now that Adam's gone. Residents, of course, are still allowed to come and go as we please.

But it feels weird, somehow, to be in this strange shell, rarely seeing another person.  It seems unrealistic to think that nobody in this place will end up with the virus. There are almost 100 people living here, and it's impossible to know if everyone is following recommendations around hand-washing, etc.  Yesterday afternoon I saw a man walk in the front door with two kids in tow -- nothing against kids, but they are nothing if not little germ-spreading machines, and should not be in the building at this time. The man probably shouldn't be, either.

And if it gets into the building, as much as I avoid common areas, I'm likely to get it, and I doubt that it'll be a good outcome, with my lungs. I've always felt that my lungs would kill me, but somehow I hope this isn't the time. No point in worrying about it, of course.  So I won't.

Another new toy......

Life goes on after emotional losses, which is a good thing. Adam will always be a part of my heart,  and there is no one else to fill the empty hole he left behind. But rather than let myself slip into a depression, I used my Buddhist training to let go, to not hold on to the past, or to current emotions. I still miss him -- especially right now when the Ducks have both the men and women in March Madness with the women likely to win the whole shebang. I can't help but think 'Adam would have loved this', and I allow myself that moment, then move on. Such things happen all the time, but are lessening.

Last week, after a bunch of nice days when I wanted to get out on the bike but didn't feel safe on my old one any longer (bike was sound, this old body less sound, and getting on and off it was so difficult that I was in danger of falling during both processes). So I took it to the local bike shop and traded it in on a model I've been wanting since November or December. It had to be ordered, but was ready on Saturday and I took the bus downtown Sunday morning (brrrrrrr, the warm sunny days had hightailed it elsewhere) to pick it up and ride it home. It's quite a lot different from other bikes I've had in my life, so I was a little teetery at times getting used to it, but the streets were quiet and the bike path not too far away. I made it home after a rather nice 40 minute ride along the river, getting used to my new toy.

This is where it lives in my house, so not the best place to get a photo. Nicest thing is that it has smaller wheels (not as small as they look in this photo, only slightly smaller than my old bike) and a forward crank, designed so the rider can easily and safely put their foot on the ground while sitting in the saddle. That takes away one bit of unsteadiness for me, in starting and stopping. The frame is low, so is easy to step through getting on and off, which takes away the rest of the unsteadiness. The forward crank is different, uses slightly different muscle sets. And the handlebars are higher than I've ever had. But again, my body no longer liked the lower handlebars, so this was another reason to choose this bike. The steering feels quite different, probably because of the higher handlebars, maybe because of the smaller wheels. I don't know the dynamics of such things. I like the forward crank because a good push forward on the pedal gets the bike moving nicely from a stop, while I sit comfortably on the seat. Seven gears, all of which are smooth and cover my needs (though I opted not to try to cross any of the bike bridges that require going up a ramp, until I get used to it).

One important factor in choosing the color was that it blend into my living room, since it has to live there. I think that worked out fairly well. I kind of wanted a bright yellow one, but that would not have blended into anything.

Naturally, the weather has turned foggy and chilly in the mornings and by afternoons I haven't had the energy to get out there. So it sits. But there is plenty of good weather coming and I'll be ready when it arrives.

I seem to have been bitten by an insect on my neck/throat sometime before yesterday, which is when I first noticed it. And, on Monday I had zero energy, took three naps during the day and felt like I've felt in the past when some major infection was about to take hold of my body. I connected the two yesterday, rightly or wrongly. I suspect that whatever bit me injected something into my body (it bit right on a little vein, according to a neighbor who's a nurse) and that fatigue was caused by my immune system fighting off this unfamiliar intruder. At least, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

I've hardly been out of the house, so not sure where I could have picked up a critter to bite me, unless it was on the bike trip home. Something blown in the breeze. I am feeling better daily, so I suspect that by the time the weather improves I'll feel like riding again.

Be well and safe out there, everybody. Take precautions.