May 16 - May 29, Life after Covid, almost

 May 16 - we decided since it was such a beautiful day, we would go walk a local trail.  Last fall we discovered a nice hike in nearby Sturbridge, on the Leadmine/Arbutus trail, around a couple ponds and up over a hill and back.  So we decided to go there again, and enjoyed another hike.  By the time we got there, it had started to spit rain, so we sat in the car and read for about 10 minutes, and then went on our hike with delightful weather.

May 17 - 21 --This was not a very good week for me.  On Monday, I had a root canal, which didn't go well as they discovered the tooth was cracked.  So they didn't finish the root canal and suggested I have the tooth extracted.  On Wed, I was back to my regular dentist, with an infection in my jaw.  Back on antibiotics.  On Fri, I had the tooth extracted --what fun.  It took the whole next week for the abscess to go away, and the tooth to heal, and for me to start feeling better.  Not the best week for me, but it is over.  Better while at home than to have it happen on our RV travels.

May 18 - During that week we also picked up the RV from where it was being inspected and took it back over to Tamara's to store.  (We didn't even realize that it need to have an inspection sticker, so have driven it for the last 2 years without one).  Now the RV is ready for our new travel adventures --the chassis has been tuned up, the cabin has been serviced, and the inspection sticker is now on.  We are ready and raring to go.  On the way home, we stopped at the Mt. Skinner State Park.  This has a drive up to the top of Mt Skinner, where there is an old hotel that overlooks the entire Pioneer Valley.  Beautiful views. 

May 24 - Another beautiful spring day, and we wanted to get out and about for our daily hike.  We made our annual trip over to Sawmill State Park, which has thousands of azalea and rhododendron plants.  It was a little early for most of the rhodies, but the azaleas were all in bloom.  I love the waterfalls and the lake.  The property used to be owned by a family, at an old sawmill, and I can't imagine planting all of those plants.  I certainly do appreciate it now though.

May 25 - Peter went into Boston on the train, to meet a fellow blogger for lunch.  This is the first time in an enclosed public setting, with a mask, in over a year.  I dropped him off at the train station in Worcester.  However, when he called to say he'd be arriving back at the Worcester station, he said that they had stopped the train due to forest fires closing the train tracks.  So, I he got off the train, and I picked him up at a station further east.  But, that meant by the time I got him, it was dinner time.  So, we actually went out to a restaurant, and ate indoors.  Also, the first time in a year!  Masks on until the food came, but we were indoors, at a restaurant.

May 26 - another post-Covid first -- I went shopping for clothes at Kohls.  Still wore my mask, but I bought a few items.  

May 27 - I spend the afternoon at Claire's doing gardening.  We raked her front lawn, which was completely covered in leaves.  Hard work, but what a difference.  Also, it was a really nice day --not too hot or cold, and it felt great to be working outdoors in the yard.

Arbutus Trail hike photos:

Mt Skinner State Park photos:

Sawmill State Park photos:

Some recent fun photos:

May 1 - May 15, more around home

    On Sunday, May 2nd, we explored a new-to-us trail --the Mass Central Rail Trail.  This is a very nice easy walking trail, that was converted from the old railroad tracks.  This portion of the trail followed a nice stream through the woods.  A very nice 2 mile hike, on a beautiful day.

   On May 3rd, we drove the RV from Tamara's to a nearby Campers Inn shop to have the RV cabin dewinterized and have all of the systems checked out (water, generator, the seals, the filters, the electric, the propane, the inverter, etc).  Getting it ready for the road again.  It felt good to be driving it again, even if it was for only a few miles.

   May 3rd was also Aaron's birthday, so we had a very nice birthday Zoom call, and watched him open his present from us--a set of 6 ties, since he is now wearing them on the days he goes into the office.  Happy Birthday Aaron.

   On May 6th, I FINALLY finished the 2nd jig saw puzzle Lois & Ken sent me --an underwater fish scene.  Definitely challenging and fun, but it certainly was "slow and not-so-easy wins the race".

   May 7th was a Zoom game night with Anica, Aaron, Quinn Peter and I.  We had the Zoom call on one screen, and the Board Games app on the 2nd screen.  Fun games and a fun way to spend time with the family.  Even if it is embarrassing that Quinn can beat us at some of these games.  

  May 8th was Cheyenne's birthday, so I went for a morning birthday celebration visit.  Now that I am vaccinated, I felt comfortable going in the house.  We had a morning Whole Foods yummy chocolatey birthday cake and opened presents.  Then Cheyenne had to go to gymnastics, and then to her socially distanced birthday party.  

   May 8th was also David and Lisa's 13th wedding anniversary, so they had a all afternoon Zoom call, where folks could pop in and out.  Plus, they also had the option of signing up for a 15 minute slot, where you know you would be chatting with them, and just a few others might chime in.  It was a good way to celebrate at a distance, with a lot of folks, and still be able to connect.  

   On May 11th, we had our annual  condo association meeting, which was cancelled last year due to Covid, but was in person this year.  Always interesting to see the politics and differences that go on in a meeting about finances and condo maintenance issues.  Reminds me in some ways of the old Sirius core group meetings.  I would volunteer to be on the board, but you need to be an actual owner of the condo, and, sigh, Peter is.  Oh well, I guess I will miss out on those meetings!

  On May 12th I babysat for Tamara's kids, all day, starting at 8am.  Since it is an hour and 1/4 drive there, I actually had to get up EARLY.  I did it, even though I am a retired person.  It was both great and challenging to spend the day with 3 kids.  I don't know how mothers do it.  By 3:30pm when Tamara came home, I was exhausted.  Did I really have 5 kids?  Cheyenne was home, though in remote schooling until 11am. so she really helped.  But, it was the first time I have been alone with Siena, who finally decided I was OK, and started smiling, laughing and having a good time.  Savannah really helped with that also.  

   May 15th-- THE FIRST TIME IN OVER A YEAR that I got to spend time, INSIDE, with no masks on with Anica's family and Claire.  They came for a nice walk to the neighboring pond, and dinner.  It felt almost normal again.  

   Claire had a special even to celebrate -- she "officially" graduated from UMASS with her PhD.  She actually graduated last January, but they only have one graduation ceremony in May.  Claire didn't actually go to the ceremony, but did get the cap, gown, and PhD collar.  

Mass Central Rail Trail hike photos:

Jig saw puzzle finished photo:

Cheyenne's Birthday photos:

Babysitting Day at Tamara's photos:

Home visit with Anica's family - finally, photos:

Claire graduation photos:

April 19 - April 30,

   Yesterday Peter had his 2nd Covid shot, and so far, he's doing fine.  No real side affects.  It feels good to now both be vaccinated, although it seems to not be much of a change--I still wear a mask in the stores, and we haven't gone out to dinner at a restaurant yet.  But, since the rest of the family (other than the kids) will soon be vaccinated, I do hope we can start visiting inside, in person, and hang out together again.

I planted pansies and a dianthus (perennial).  I guess it really is spring.  The colors are so vibrant.  We also have a hedge of invasive bushes lining our yard.  They spread very quickly and invade more of the yard each year.  They die back each winter, and leave all of the dead stalks.  I have requested our condo association to instruct the landscapers to cut back the ugly stalks, but, they have declined.  So, I finally went out and started removing them myself.  It actually feels good to be out in the garden again, but . . .

We drove up to Tamara's where the RV has been stored and drove it into the Mercedes dealer for a "get it ready for travel" check-up.  When we went back the next day to get it, I tried starting it, and the battery warning light came on, and it wouldn't start.  It had been on a trickle charger all winter, and started easily when we went there last week to check on it.  I guess it was fortunate that the light came on at the dealer, saying we needed a new battery, rather than at a campground.  So, we left it there again, and they put in a new battery.  While there, we found out that we also DO NEED TO HAVE AN RV INSPECTION STICKER.   We have been driving it for 2 years without one, so now we need to find where they perform inspections on RVs.  Oh well.

We had a very nice sibling/cousin monthly Zoom call.  Cousin Naomi and Marshall joined in this time, and it was so nice to chat with them, and get updated.  I really appreciate these monthly calls, as well as our weekly family Zoom calls with the kids & Scott.  Thank you ZOOM.  It helps me feel a little more connected, even with the distances and Covid.

I had a couple of Zoom calls with the Tides Foundation grants committee that I am a part of.   We also had a really informative call with the Kiss the Ground non-profit.  This is a group dedicated to Regenerative Agriculture, to help address the Carbon Sequestration issue and the soil health issue.  They just put out a documentary that is now on Netflix called Kiss the Ground.  It is a really good film to watch.  

Just an interesting side note:  on our walk, we sometimes pass by the local cemetery, which has a stone wall around it.  Imbedded in the stone are circular rings, that were used to tie up the horses, while at the cemetery.  That's how old the wall and the cemetery are.  Wow.

Finally, we did another trash pickup along our daily walk.  We did the other side of the road, and picked up yet another full trash bag worth of trash.  I really don't get it.  What, people want to keep their car clean, so they toss the trash out?  Kids don't want parents knowing the alcohol they drank, so they toss it?  Oh well, it is a much nicer walk now.

Spring flowers photo:

Before and after stalk removal photos:

Trash pickup along our walking route photos:

Cemetery wall photo:

Just for fun - young Evie and family photos:

With cousins Ron (Tiffany's Dad) and Bob Salinger, watching TV, of course.