Monday

Before I say another word, let me just note that my heart and thoughts are with a friend who has been thrown the worst sour pickle juice you could possibly imagine this week. She is going through rough days and I am not really with her, because she doesn't live nearby, and yet I am with her because she needs even distant support. You know who you are. I'm at your side, always. (As you have been for me.)

(still blooming!)

Me, I continue to coast. So far, none of the potentially Covid exposed persons have shown any signs of illness. Please may that last. And I feel good! So good that I dared test myself once again and though I'm positive, I know that I will remain thus for a while and it should not bother me because even if there's that extra line on my home test, everything is receding. My load is lessening. 

In the morning, I'm with the chickens. And one of the cats. The usual rigamarole. No, cat, you stay in the shed. Yes you! And you? Come with me to the farmhouse. Clap clap clap! That's the signal. You know what you're supposed to do! 

Breakfast, alone. I decided that I need some human content in the post, even if I am isolating, so you get me today! Want others? Sorry, can't help you there...

And then I do a lot of internet work because I have a festering to do list and, too, I have some travel adjustments that require work. Click click, tap tap. All morning long.

But in the afternoon, Ed and I head out. The plan is to bike to the park and then walk, but we get sidetracked. He wants me to identify some of the stuff that's growing out back where he has been tending newly planted saplings. Most of them are weeds, but still, it's good to get information so you can plan accordingly (to mow? to let it be? to dig out?).

We walk the farmette lands up and down, and we take a look at the new orchard, and Ed even finds a leftover pear way up high... and another!

(...in our bike helmets!)

The hens come out to see what the excitement is all about...

And did I tell you? It's such a beautiful day! Sunny and cool. Your perfect October afternoon.

Okay, let's get on those bikes!

To the park!

Where the turtles are once again warming their backs in the sweet rays of an autumnal sun.

It's sad not to go back to the farmhouse together, but honestly, I have had a very easy isolation. On beautiful days, it hardly feels real that I am infected with something as bad as Covid. I feel that fine!

Evening: I cook up farro, with tomatoes and cheese. Another one of those meals that will last at least three nights. Toss a salad, throw on a poached egg and you're golden.

These unexpectedly strange days are spinning by quickly. Out of broken routines, there emerge new ones. We think we don't handle change well, but in fact we do. We're experts at it, adjusting constantly to a new set of imperatives. Such small challenges we have here, at the farmette, compared to those faced by others. Tiny beads of nothing. Lucky. Just insanely lucky. I wish luck were universally on the side of all those who need it right now...

with so much love...