Better Living Through Literature
Words + Projects + Stuff I Like
Dr. Toby was on the case Saturday while I recovered from my covid/flu shots (get vaccinated, y’all!) but I was all better Sunday and we went out to 70-degree temps and peak fall colors.
I’m not sure who left two jack-o-lanterns at the trailhead (probably a group getting pictures?) but I can only hope some little creature recreates Mousekin’s Golden House.
For our last hurrah of summer, I had the idea to take the new pack up to the same trail that nearly killed us and do it again, this time prepared for every eventuality. It started out so well–look at that pack stuffed full of gear!
But there is no such thing as lightning gear. We made it to the first lake and then the clouds started coming in fast and the thunder started getting louder. We were above the treeline in a thunderstorm the last time we tried this hike; the trail was about to climb; and we looked at each other and said, “NOPE.”
But before the clouds rolled in, the first lake was doing its best Bob Ross impression. (There’s about 10 minutes between the last pic and this one, that’s how fast things changed.)
We got off the trail of doom, the weather changed again, and we went over to Mirror Lake to eat our lunch:
And then we hit Provo Falls on the way home, even though it was cloudy again. Things are looking a little autumnal up at altitude–that willow is turning and there were one or two maples on the mountainsides going orange.
But the water was still pretty warm so we Got In. It was a good adventure.
I had a hard time being alone again Saturday while Doc was at work–where was our little outing? what about the spontaneous trips to the mountains?? why is it getting dark so early now?! Then I found that Adrienne Rich poem and it helped snap me back to what is versus what was.
What the present looked like over the weekend: Birthday pies for my dad, time with family, late summer sewing, and poems that hit just right.
I could get used to these four-day weeks (and I’m sure Doc could get used to not working at all). We didn’t do any one big thing, just a lot of little fun things: going to lunch, getting a short hike in, visiting a new pool, organizing the gear, and always finding a little treat.
I ended up taking Friday off, too, so I had four! whole! days! to just f*ck around and do things like organize magazines, start little projects, finish sewing, and enjoy being outside.
This is exactly how I want to spend my retirement… Guess I need to figure out a way to retire that won’t take another 20 years.
It was a weekend of a few minor firsts: First time seeing a clear trail and some green in the lower canyon (!), first time taking a crochet class (!!), first time trying to sew jeans (!!!). Plus, I made cookies and did NOT forget the flour this time.
There’s snow coming tonight so yesterday was “the warm before the storm” and it was lovely–60 degrees, blue skies, yellow evening light.
As Hemingway said, “When spring came, even the false spring, there were no problems except where to be happiest.”
My family came over for belated birthday pear-almond tart; Toby was so brave when they were here and then he passed out. I finally got some sewing in, we went for a walk, and the paperwhites are starting to bloom–a lovely January weekend.
This midpoint of December is always the busiest–my sister-in-law and Doc have birthdays four days apart, I’m usually sewing things for birthdays and Christmas, clients want things done by the end of the year, there are decorations to put up, seasonal foods to make, so many things.
That’s all true this year, too, but I’m doing it: I made a cake for Altair and jam for Doc’s parents over the weekend and the Christmas lights twinkled. I even found old Millennium of Music playlists to listen to. (In my youth orchestra days, I’d listen to that with just the tree lights on and think deep thoughts about music; I think this played a part in a music history degree later.)
Anyway, it was a productive weekend. And if people end up getting parts of clothes in a box versus the actual sewn item, well, so be it.
I spent Friday afternoon and the first half of Saturday grouting and sealing and cleaning up, and now that project is put to bed. It rained here all weekend so the light was terrible (plus the light in the kitchen in general isn’t great) so I’m not sure when I’ll get better shots, but hooray for a little remodeling.
We socialized (!) on Sunday (no hike because of the rain/snow) and I pretty much spent the rest of the weekend panic-prepping all the projects I need to get done for December that I pushed because I was doing the kitchen.