Welcome to my latest thread! Yippee!!!! I don't even know how many previous threads there are at this point. Too many, but I'm still alive and kicking. Well... most days, at least.
So, here's a link to my last thread. I don't think I'll do a summary this time, either. Maybe on the next one.
So, I've really been feeling pretty well for the last week, or so. My last crash was about a week ago, and I've been hanging in there since and have actually been feeling a bit better every single day this week.
I'm not saying that I haven't cried, though it's way less this week. My grief homework was difficult, emotionally, as was talking to my grief counselor about that work, but beyond that, I've been OK. NC has been a really good thing for me. I wish I'd gotten to that point sooner, instead of doing those stupid Questions for Couples. I guess that's what happens when you think you're piecing, but really your H is lying his little tail off. S, anyway, time and distance from him has given me a chance to do some healing. No news is the best news right now. NC means nothing to upset the apple cart, so to speak.
This week I've been working outside a lot, I went to an Audubon club meeting which was awesome, I visited a new state park and hiked around (also great), and I've spent a good bit of quality time with people, either on the phone or in person. All in all, a lot of good stuff. I ate both breakfast and lunch with my Mom today, too. Actually I eat breakfast at their house almost every day, which is part of the reason I sleep at the other house every night - I have guaranteed daily contact with my parents with that plan.
It's a rainy day here today, but the birds don't care a bit. I sat outside on a glider at my farm with my Mom for a while and we just enjoyed all the activity around us. The fields are full of Canada geese out grazing, bobolinks are singing their bubbly song, the Baltimore orioles have returned, red-wing black birds are everywhere, cardinals, robins, song sparrows, barn and tree swallow are swooping all over collecting bugs. The birds are everywhere. I drove my Dad's tractor on an errand today (as a favor for him) and I saw a hairy woodpecker, a bald eagle (super cool!), and lots of mallards on that trip, just from inside the cab!
Right now I can hear the oriole singing outside! I love my birds, both domestic and wild. Speaking of domestic birdies, I sold 4 dozen eggs in the last 24 hours! Go chicks! I had enough eggs to replace one dozen in my roadside honor box, but beyond that I am cleaned out! It's a nice place to be. I like being able to produce real food on my little farm. I also delivered a huge bunch of asparagus as well as a dozen eggs to my Mom.
It's rhubarb season, as well.
So my gardens are now all tilled, and my parents are going to plant some stuff here this year, too, as my ambition isn't all that high. Rescuing my perennial veggie and berry plot is enough of a project for me this year, as well as my ongoing war on invasive species. I'll help them with their garden here, instead. They also garden at their own house. We've grown some gorgeous huge tomato plants that will go out in a couple more weeks, lots of pepper plants, and cabbage starts already, so those will all have to be planted.
Speaking of invasive species, Painter, you asked about birds nesting in the roses, and my answer is that the shrubs are not yet leafed out, and I have not seen a single nest in them this year. Actually, over the last 5 years, I have only seen a single nest in the roses ever, and that was a vireo nest.
Roses do provide lots of food and cover for birds, though. I do feel slightly bad on that front, but the down side of allowing the birds to eat the rose hips is that they spread the seeds far and wide, leading to ever more multiflora roses. The plants are pretty, and smell incredible, but they are evil. Each shrub can form a thicket 15 feet around and almost as tall. Given free reign, they have taken over acres of my farm. They climb into trees, like as my gorgeous ancient apples, and make harvest a nightmare. You can't even walk in the rose areas; it's physically impossible to move once they grab you. They shred your skin and clothes.
Most disturbingly, the thickets provide a cool moist environment at their feet which is a perfect home for ticks. In the land of Lyme disease, that's not a good thing. So, I watch for bird nests, but luckily the roses here just aren't used much for nesting. The birds love the newly exposed ground, though. It makes hunting for insects much easier! Maybe they're eating those newly vulnerable ticks? Dare to dream...
I'm looking at weekend MeetUps, and there are some nice hiking opportunities. To be honest, with all the miles that I have spent on trail, I have never done so in a group. Sometimes we hiked with another couple for a few miles, but It's kind of strange to even contemplate a group hike. I just need to try it out, I guess. SO, I'm off to fill the rest of the day.
Hi to Sotto, Painter, Vanilla, Sadhub, Cherry, Blu, Focus, and anyone else that's checked in on me lately. Thank you. I love that there are other thrift store fans here, too.
Oh, that was interesting about the Somatic Experience Therapy, Painter. I suppose if I only shook now and again it wouldn't be a big deal, but every waking hour for months is getting kind of old. I will say that it has been better the last few days. YEAH!!
H: 44, Me: 45 Married: 20 y Together: 25 y no kids Walk away: 12/15 Asked for temp separation 12/25/15 PA confirmed 3/16 (apparently neither the first, nor the last PA he has had) H filed for D 5/16
