This feels like a particularly peculiar moment to come back to weekly blog posts. With Covid-19 keeping me close to home, aside from the slow and subtle shift in seasons my life week to week changes very little. Then again, it seems that now more than ever I'll be thankful to have a record of the subtle shifts in my life through this pandemic. It’s also a reassuring reminder that, while so much remains unpredictable in the world right now, nothing will last forever. It may feel slow at times, but seasons change, and life goes on. Last week's heat wave broke, and over the course of this week, I found myself happily digging out more than one sweater I'd stashed in the back of my closet. We had a few delightfully rainy days, enough that I had the chance to do some Saturday morning weeding in a warm rain. The weeding was long overdue - our backyard has rapidly become a broad sea of yellow, and it feels as though I wouldn’t grow dandelions more effectively if I were to actively try!
Read moreLife: Week 31
True to my nature, only a few days into August, and I’m already longing for the cooler, rainy weather of fall. Days of temperatures in the high 80s to 90s have led to many sleepless nights followed by lazy, unproductive days. To anyone not living in the blessedly moderate climate of PNW, 90° may not seem terribly hot, but years of living here have conditioned me to wilt in temperatures much over 70°.
Read moreLife: Week 30
Among the many things I’ve missed during this pandemic, trails are top of the list. While there hasn't really been any point over all the various closures and stay-home orders that I haven’t had at least some option for hiking, I just haven't felt comfortable with the risk of being around the large numbers of other people likely to be out on my favorite trails. Thankfully, as time as passed and we've learned more about how Covid-19 is and isn't spread, the growing consensus seems to be that the risk of spreading the virus is reduced outdoors. Armed with that knowledge - and not one but two options for face coverings! - I finally felt comfortable joining a small group of my Alpine Trails Book Club friends for an absolutely glorious hike. We met up at Ebey's Landing, a trail I've hiked many times. After so much time away, it felt like I was seeing the trail with new eyes and the combination of sun, ocean breezes, flowers, and the company of some of my favorite people was just what I needed.
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