The new normal

I find myself surprised at how quickly I have developed into a routine with this new normal.  Yesterday I took three baskets of wet clothes to the laundromat and this time also took hubby along to help.  We shared coffee and a treat at Panera (my free birthday sweet was on the My Panera card just waiting to be used) while the dryers did their thing.

With another set of hands to help, the folding was accomplished in half the time as last week's visit... my first time in a laundromat (except for washing sleeping bags and comforters) since one could dry a load of clothes for a quarter or two.  That long ago. 

I now know just how much cold sudsy water to have in the sink before the stock pot of boiling water goes in.  I told Stephanie that I didn't realize how many of my recipes used a lot of pots and pans until having no hot water and little light in my kitchen.  I've also adjusted by assembling tomorrow morning's coffee in the coffee pot while there is natural light in the kitchen to see water levels.

We have had a respite from the intense heat (albeit still high humidity) for the past few days.  It felt wonderful to get out to the garden early this morning and try to tackle the weeds.  We are probably overdosing on green beans if one can do such a thing.  But that which is so expensive at the store is now being enjoyed for the cost of one package of seeds.  They certainly like hot weather.  I took some pictures of the garden and hope to post them tomorrow.  The heat wave is returning in full force by tomorrow.

I didn't have to water the garden these past few days as we were fortunate to be a "hit" with "hit and miss" showers going through.  I have to get out quite early as I've found heat does not agree with the diabetes at all.  Fortunately, there have been nice surprises while giving the garden a nice drink of water.  One morning a humming bird decided to take a morning bath as the water showered the herbs.  I'd never seen this hummingbird before, it had some red coloring.   A few days ago a family of butterflies flew around the shower of water, descending on water filled plants when I had turned the hose off.  Both truly beautiful moments.

With the old Sony no longer functioning in the living room (not to mention the wiring from the antennae fried), I have been spending my evenings reading.  Last night I finished re-reading one of my all time favorite books... Goudge's Scent of Water.  I just think it is a beautiful story, a cross between Pilgrim's Inn and The Dean's Watch as it is about a house which brings joy and comfort as well as the redemption of sad and hurting people.

Some think it is a little on the dark side as the woman who inherits the house from her late aunt reads through her aunt's diary about her struggle with depression and her eventually finding peace in her faith.   I struggled with panic attacks after Christopher was born (hormone induced) so I know what it is like to feel as the rooms are actually moving in toward you and struggling to breath.  How thankful I was to have them leave after a month or two.

I hope to post some garden pictures tomorrow.  It just takes longer right now to do the everyday household "gotta do's" (as my friend, Kathy, calls them).  Now... off to do the dishes before the water turns completely cold!