Another Outdoor Adventure

As I said in my last blog, when the heat index is 107 degrees, you feel like you are living in the Congo.  To that end, I don't like to be outside in weather like this.  I don't like to sweat, I don't like to have frizzy hair and I don't like to take 3 showers a day.  I'm not an outdoors person.  I don't like to garden, I don't care how much our trees have grown since last year and I don't go hiking. 

So what did Tony, Dixie and I do earlier this week?  We went to Waccamaw National Park.  

Yeah, it was another 90+ degree day and we were out there walking around.  I think the sun has affected my brain.  Dixie was pretty smart about the whole thing.  She found shade made by the wooden bridges we were on and took every opportunity to stay in the shade and lay down and rest her paws.

Like the Covid virus, I am tired of the little box that this kind of heat puts us in.  I want to walk among the roses in the backyard with a cool breeze fanning my face. Ah, winter where are you?

Here are some pictures from the park:

A view from the covered bridge.....

Dixie taking a rest

Tony

Dixie laying under the air conditioning vent; glad to be home

Heat Index

When I was growing up, summers in Cleveland with no air conditioning was ugly.  My parents had large fans strategically placed around the living and dining rooms but all they did was blow hot air around.  

Sitting on the front porch in the evening just invited mosquitoes to abuse your skin and buzz your ears.  Personally, I preferred fall.  Yes, it was back to school time in the fall, but to me, summer was really overrated.  Who needs temperatures in the '80's and high humidity.

And so, here I am in sunny North Carolina.  We moved to get away from the snow, but I think I forgot about summer time. 

Oh Lord, is it hot down here.  I'm talking extended periods of time when the average temperature is in the mid '90's and there isn't a hint of breeze anywhere.  The humidity is high and you get heat advisories on your phone and computer, telling you to stay inside.  

But, it's the heat index that makes me shake my head.  Today, the weather advisory said that we could expect temperatures in the mid to high '90's with a heat index of 107.

107?    Did we  move to the Congo?  This is the kind of heat that makes it hard to breathe when you go out.  I find myself looking forward to fall once again.

In other news, we've been seeing a family of wild turkeys in our yard on a regular basis now.  The babies are getting bigger and they seem pretty comfortable just walking around the backyard.  As always, Dixie barks and wants to get out into the backyard to investigate them.  She's graduated from bunnies to turkeys.  The problem is, I think if one of them got a hold of her, she would regret it!

Dixie has been walking on grass lately instead of the sidewalk.  Tony says the pads on her feet can take the heat, but I don't think so.  She's having her spa day today so hopefully, getting a shorter hair cut will help her cope with the temperatures.

We went to the beach the other day and that helped.  It was a bit cooler and there was a nice breeze but the sun was unforgiving.

We saw lots of tourists on the beach with really white skin, I'm betting they were hurting after spending hours out there.

We will go back, hopefully soon.  I love the beach.  

A beautiful day...

Unforgiving sun

  

Our turkey family--I call them the Trumps!

Dixie's blunt cut!

Side view--she really got a haircut!

Writing

I think it's funny how things happen sometimes.  How something you do, or some place you go is the same for 1,000 times and then on that 1,001 time, something is different and that difference affects you.

That happened to me last week.  Tony and I went to Bridgewater,  the wine store we go to and buy the majority of our wine.    I was wandering around and I saw a small, newspaper on the counter.  It was called Cape Fear Voices and appeared to be a new publication.   I picked one up and stuffed it in my purse.

I found that Cape Fear Voices is associated with Teen Scene Magazine, which encourages young people to write articles for publication. Cape Fear Voices was full of diverse stories from people in the community sharing their life experiences and points of view.  On the last page was a "Help Wanted" ad soliciting for new writers.  

I sent in an article I wrote about the snake in our lanai and sent it to the Editor.  I got an email from  him today saying that they were going to publish it.  

That pleases so me so much!  I am writing again and this time, people will be reading what I write. 

Circular Motion

I think that 2020 is moving in a circular motion.  Happy New Years, all is well.  Oops, here comes the virus.  People are sick, people are dying.  Stay in.  Take care, take out, social distance. Wear a mask.   Cases decrease, people react, people relax, people party.  People lose the masks.   Oops, here comes the virus again.  People are sick, people are dying.  Stay in.  Take care, take out, social distance.  Wear a mask. 

Over and over again.

My motivation seems to match the year.  I identify a goal, I focus on it, I lose interest, my motivation stops.  My world seems to be getting smaller and smaller and I feel trapped inside of it.  Depression leads to inactivity.  Inactivity leads to depression.  

Over and over again. 

Like the world, I welcome the few, small bright spots that come and go.  We portal with David and Tony and their families.  We watch the children grow long distance. 

We heard from Jenna's kids for Father's Day and marveled at how they've changed.   Dixie keeps us entertained.  She runs after rabbits in the yard and leaps up trying to get to geccos on the down spout.  She wants to play--they want to hide.  She is content to be where we are unless she sees an intruder violating her space.  

Fritz and Joe have cancelled their trip to see us later this month.  Fritz just got back from Las Vegas with Steve and she is concerned that her travels might impact my auto immune system.  We will be in Cleveland in August and will see her then.  

We are looking forward to our Cleveland trip and reconnecting with people.  Facebook has brought me back to my 4th grade friend, Debbie and Tony heard from a few people that he used to work with many years ago  Hopefully, August will be better in terms of the virus so we can visit them.  

Here's what makes us smile in the midst of all this mess:

Dixie, laying on newly washed clothes

The Charlotte Swegle's; Tony, Marie, Anthony, Owen and Coleton

Bob, Donna and Emma

Going to our favorite wine places

The Lakeland Swegle's; David, Brenda, Alex

Frog on the door!

Alex, our baby shark

Going to the beach

Wild turkey's in the backyard!

Anthony and Dixie watching for squirrels

Dixie, our  happy dog!!