weekend report

I have very few pictures for my time off but a lot happened, not all of it great: I stained the deck but didn’t get new outdoor cushions made (or a trip swimsuit); I saw a lot of friends but also had to log in to work to write an “emergency” email and manage a “crisis” about a tradeshow booth; I did my quick trip to Lava Hot Springs but worried about Toby for most of it, since we heard from the vet about his second blood test and he does indeed have feline diabetes.

So I also added “read all about treatment, schedule a vet tech appointment to learn how to do the injections, and visit a compounding pharmacy to pick up a cat-sized vial of insulin” to the list for my time off. The appointment and first injection is tomorrow and I’m hopeful that he’ll start improving really soon.

Anyway, here’s a picture of a waffle from a place in Lava Hot Springs called “Lava Waffle,” which has been repeating itself in my head since yesterday. “Lavawaffle… lavawaffle… lavawaffle…” 

It rained most of the weekend here, which meant that outside chores were off the agenda (aw shucks) and inside relaxing was on it.

I didn’t even go to the gym (!)–the biggest outing of the weekend was a trip to JoAnn for some zippers and some supplies for new outdoor cushions, which Toby graciously tested out for us.

What a nice weekend, though. A lot of the time I forget to really rest, but it’s wonderful.

I got stir-crazy in January but heading out of town to somewhere warm just didn’t feel doable yet. Good thing I remembered our favorite hot springs are open year-round and make their own warmth.

Doc has Tuesdays off so we headed up yesterday and it was pretty perfect: Snow falling gently, steam rising, swans going by down the river.

Of course, now that I’m all about feats of strength, I had to try the cold plunge…in the river. Which isn’t warm even in the summer.

That’s me yeeting myself right back out but I did it–twice! Up to my neck! I think the Scandinavians might be on to something.

The weather has been lovely in the valley–sunny, with the trees still pretty colorful. We went to the local arboretum yesterday to enjoy the sun and the trees…and to see an orchid show that their calendar of events promised. There were no orchids anywhere (we never did find out when it was actually supposed to be) but we saw grasses and autumn crocus and a very Bob Ross waterfall. Definitely not a wasted trip.

David Leibovitz’s “moelleux of summer fruits,” more underwear (still trying to find that perfect pattern; these are not it but they used up some lace scraps), Smitten Kitchen’s summer squash pizza. It cooled down enough to use the oven!

We’ve been taking outings to local parks lately, which offer the excitement of LEAVING THE HOUSE but make spreading out a lot easier than on a hiking trail.

I’ve never really spent much time in parks–we don’t have kids or a dog to play in them, and I always (snobbishly) thought, “Parks aren’t really nature; just go on a hike instead.”

But you know what? City parks are kind of a miracle: There’s open space, there’s something for everyone (Fairmont Park has a skate park! Murray Park has an outdoor fitness circuit, complete with bros!), and they’re just…there…waiting to be enjoyed. For free!

Spending time in places that embody civilization has been really soothing, an antidote to fears of the end of it. Find some local parks and start your own tour this week.