And the Beet Goes On... in Everyday Ramblings

Remember the big cone from the cedar? The one as big as my hand? A couple of days ago Kes asked me during a Zoom call how it was doing. I went to pick it up off the windowsill…There were seeds everywhere!

We are still trying to nail down the pollination cycle but are getting more info every day. These seeds have been pollinated.

Now fully vaccinated (well, technically in 11 days, counting her two weeks past the second shot) Kes drove up today and we spent a few hours together. It was so exciting, I got in a car and fully masked was able to sit in the front seat and we went down to the local hardware store that also has extensive garden “stuff”.

There was a lovely young woman that was so cheerful. She has had a plot in the sister community garden to mine for many many years. That is the garden I wanted to get into because I would not have to cross a busy street, but I am happy with mine. Kes got this beautiful organic catnip plant to replace her tired one.

I got beet, chard and carrot starts. And marigold and nasturtium seeds. And a lovely ergonomic trowel, a bright green watering can. Kes brought up a small shovel and a claw thing. I think I am good to go. I took the beets down this afternoon and peeled back a corner of the burlap and oak leaf mulch and in the next few days when there is a break in the rain, will get down there and get them planted.

Then we went to the grocery where I used a bunch of accumulated coupons. I can use electronic coupons and get rewards points by having my groceries delivered but not the targeted coupons they mail me every now and then.

We got prepared sandwiches. I have had take-out twice in the last year. Something as simple as a prepared wrap sandwich seems pretty exotic. I am having trouble imagining eating in a restaurant.

It was warm enough to open the window for a few hours! It is so nice to get the air moving around through here.

A few years back I shared with you a secret ambition I had to get strong enough to push up slowly into a free from the wall handstand. With the pushups I was doing, and the Body Pump classes we were having so much fun in I thought I was making some progress. I have structurally weak wrists but was able to get into a handstand at the wall before Mr. Finch got sick all those years ago, so I know I can at least do the upside-down bit.

All these ambitions stalled with the pandemic and getting my classes online and all the teaching adjustments and living adjustments. I’ve kept my cardio up throughout. Every-darn-day. For my heart.

So now I have signed up for a Handstand Club. I have a video to practice for the next three weeks before it starts and then two live 45-minute classes a week. I am fond of this teacher. We also get a .pdf with a log for our progress. I am a log person; logs are in my wheelhouse. If I was asked to make up a spreadsheet I would. :) I have a rainfall spreadsheet. It’s true.

This teacher is strong and healthy and a normal weight. She follows the intuitive eating program I am learning.

Two of my students got married today! They are so happy. They have been together for many years. It was a very small wedding, six people including the minister and photographer, but they did get married at the church I used to teach in.

It is a small joyous moment and I wish them all the best.

So many little positives in such a difficult news landscape. I cannot even begin to imagine the suffering all these victims’ families are going through. There is something so wrenching in knowing that these deaths (and all the injuries too) were not random freak accidents but violent deliberate acts by profoundly disaffected young men.

This morning we had a two-hour discussion in my League of Women Voters study unit about Climate Change. It was led by an oceanographer, but we also had a woman actively working at FEMA and a couple of other scientists. It was good.

Next month we tackle Police Accountability. There are lots of good ideas on how to get involved and push to make change happen on all these issues.

For now though I think I will watch an episode of Gardeners’ World and think happy thought about “my” beets. I love beet greens.

Last updated March 23, 2021