I do not remember a previous April without tons of rain, and nothing but. These last 10 days or so have been incredible, and while I’ve loved it (and it’s been LOVELY!) I have to wonder if it portends a cooking/fiery summer, because this is very unusual. 80+ degrees for several of those days, or at the least, upper 70s. It’s too easy to feel spoiled, like THIS is how it will be from now on through summer. But, rain and dreariness are on the horizon (like, tomorrow). Oh my. It has been—LOVELY!!
Nate has returned from his “underway!” He left the first part of March and has been out to sea for six weeks, conducting exercises and tests of the ship’s new technologies. I know he’s been in touch with Sandra and Quinn, and I also know (from brief Facebook posts, plus Sandra let me know ahead of time) that they docked in San Diego for a short while. (And he hit buds up for good eats!) But he came home earlier this week and he and Sandra surprised Quinn at daycare. “DADDY!!!”
Helen came to visit Monday and Tuesday of this week and oh man did we have a great time. (Again: awesome weather!) We went plant/flower shopping in Olympia (after having lunch in a RESTAURANT! Being fully vaccinated is AWESOME!)
Helen had a lot of beach time and found several agates! We ate well, snacked well, drank well, and talked well. Lots of all of the above. It was a great time. It always goes so fast! I have to say, being fully vaccinated is wonderful!
This morning (into the afternoon) I planted my flowers into my deck pots. It had cooled down quite a bit today, although still dry and not breezy, so it was very comfortable to work out there. As usual, the pots look good and colorful and I know that I will blink my eyes and they will be exploding. This time, John emptied out the hanging baskets and kept them, so I filled them up with potting soil and planted them up with (hopefully) draping flowers. They look RIDICULOUS right now (even PATHETIC), but we’re really hoping that they will puff up and hang loose in short order! I’m considering it an experiment!
And here’s a short video of Nikki the “Jungle Cat” helping me out. Snort.
Throughout much of this, John is dealing with his mother being hospitalized, needing rehab care, having difficulties finding rehab care, finely finding rehab care where Nurse Ratched resides and the “care” is oh-so-sub-par (she CANNOT GET HERSELF TO THE BATHROOM. But, the television in her room requires getting up and walking to the TV to change the channel. NO REMOTES. And this is for people who are pretty much bed-bound!). No visitors are allowed, plus, she saw only one nurse all day long for maybe five minutes and that is all. She called John: “I want to go home!” I don’t blame her, but she really can’t. She can’t get herself to the BATHROOM. What a nightmare.
