Wednesday

Well, when even the cat abandons you for breakfast, there's nothing left but to bring the laptop to the table.

It was in many ways a celebratory meal. I'd done my morning chicken chores...

(hey, you're sure you're going the right way??)

And I scrubbed the house up and down and all around, running loads of laundry, vacuuming, you name it, I did it. (No, not a thorough job. Give me a break. A sufficient job.) Why the fuss? Well I got a "for sure negative" Covid test result. If it repeats tomorrow, I can reenter society. Isolation ostensibly ended yesterday, but I find that to be an empty victory, because if I see people, I still need a mask. By tomorrow's negative, that requirement goes away, so Ed can come back to the farmhouse.

We time our bike ride to fit the weather pattern for the day. For sure, the best is slated to be with us in the morning and so we do our loop then. My challenge? To photograph from the big camera slung around my neck without braking pace! Pedal, focus and snap!

And again!

In our little corner of the world, you can't go far these days without spotting a crane. Or two. Or more. Today, cranes in flight. And I'm in flight too, except they're faster than I am, electric assist notwithstanding!

And home again.

I'm thinking how the suddenness of certain events (say a Covid diagnosis) really messes with your sense of time and place. It is hard to believe that I came back from France exactly a week ago. It feels at once more distant in time, but also, since I've stayed put, canceling all my dinners, doctors, grandkid pickups, and everything in between for the week, my return seems like it happened just a day or two ago. I came back, I had a normal day and then there is this void. Not an unpleasant void, mind you. I had such a mild case! And for the most part, good weather has given us the gift of many outings, rides, hikes. I've put the house in order -- something that I always have to do upon a return, but can't quite accomplish in one fell swoop, ever, because there isn't the time for it. I've beat the deadline for Christmas cards! Under the wire, to get that coveted discount that only comes if you put your order in before October 15th. I haven't yet planted the spring bulbs, but I have done some gardening. And I caught up on sleep. So -- not bad for a void!

In the evening, I promised myself, and you, that I would cook something new. Smitten Kitchen posted a recipe for chicken tortilla soup and I suddenly wanted that very chicken tortilla soup. With a tomato base, black beans, and a reach for my frozen corn kernes, oh, and importantly -- some fried up tortilla strips, it really is good!

Now all that has to happen is for me not to get a rebound case of Covid and I will consider myself very lucky indeed. 

with love...