here comes the sun....

today was sunny and warm in el paso...80 degrees as opposed to the frigid weather of a few weeks ago.  while i am not a fan of oppressive heat--the summers in the southwest get scorching hot--i love this 'winter' weather. the backyard has been calling my name since i arrived in january. i have been missing in action for almost a year and a half and while my roommate, gary, does an acceptable level of yard maintenance the backyard is not his passion. he waters the grapes and the honeysuckle vine and the trumpet vines. and i still have one lavender plant living, after 3 years. he deserves kudos for his dedication. but i have a loving relationship with my plants. i worry about them. and i am happiest when weeding and trimming back growth and watering and....just sitting on the patio, listening to the birds and inhaling the smell of earth and green growth.

i try to split my time between vermont and texas. i travel back and forth quite a bit. as i said earlier, i haven't been in el paso for quite awhile so there have been changes. the dogs seem older and annabelle doesn't move quite as quickly as she once did. but the 3 of them immediately waited expectantly by the bag of dog biscuits...they remembered that i spoil them with biscuits. the 2 cats are gary's...they spend most of the time sleeping in his room. the only thing i noticed is that lily is hellbent on escaping out the door. and she's fast. frustratingly fast.

today i finally spent hours in the yard. my balance has deteriorated since i was here last. i can't maneuver the path on my own anymore. i can't use the garden hose as easily as i once did. i finally had to drag out my rolling walker for balance. i did it reluctantly. admitting that this ataxia is invasive and progressive is sometimes difficult to do.  but it turns out the rolling walker fit well in the yard...i cleared out leaves and branches, i reattached homemade supports made from pecan branches. i watered the garden. mostly, i enjoyed myself. and that seems to be the secret to a happy life, at least for me.