MAY WE?

It's May, and isn't it nice to get more thoroughly in to Spring?  I'll answer:  YES! 

Spring is starting to show up in the yard.  There are still a few of the tiniest bulb flowers; now it's mostly daffodils and tulips.  Ron purchased some pansies to brighten things up, as he does every year. 

Grape hyacinth among iris leaves

Tulips

Pansies

  Though we're still in the throes of the Pandemic, there is starting to be a familiarity to it all.  I'm fortunate to live in an area that is not experiencing a large surge in either illness or deaths, and no one I know personally has become ill or died.  That's because 1) I'm lucky and 2) STAY-AT-HOME WORKS!

That being said, I'm ready to grab some May mojo.

DONATIONS

Source:  cnbc.com

   

Like everyone else invested in the stock market, Ron and I are taking a hit.  Some caution is in order.  We are still able to increase our monthly donations, however, and when (if) we get our stimulus money, we'll donate that as well. Besides staying at home, it's what we can do.

TINY DECK CONCERTS

Source:  wallpaperflare

I have an ambitious program  of weekly concerts planned, alternating violin and flute.  Ambitious is a relative term:  they're still TINY!  I've got music for the first few concerts under my belt, and will start this coming week.  Related, I'm also thinking about what I'm calling Open Door concerts on the piano.  Open Door is literal:  I'll open the doors and windows of the piano area to let the sound out.  Once a month would be enough for that.  

JASMINE'S AGILITY TRAINING

This is NOT an example of orderly storage!

We'll be starting that any day now.  The equipment is a tangled mess, and will need to be sorted.  I had a thought about taking her to the baseball diamond in the park at the front of Kachina Village...silly me!  Parks are closed!  So it will be deck work 'til they re-open.  Jasmine has been a little under-stimulated all winter, so she'll be happy to start up.

 HIKING SEASON

Sue and I didn't know our February Sedona hike would turn out to be our last hike.  It was still too chilly and wet for hiking here in Flagstaff, then the Covid-19 thing hit, then I was training for the Duathlon.  Well, it's time now!  I know people are enjoying walks and hikes together with social distancing.  I'll have to decide my risk tolerance as far as companionship.  I've been isolating thoroughly; Ron does any shopping in town.  And here's the truth about Covid-19:  when you have contact with anyone, you're having contact with everyone they've had contact with.  We're still under Stay-At-Home orders in Arizona for a reason.

TAI CHI

Source:  wikipedia

I've been SO enjoying Tai Chi on the Deck!  It was one of the reasons I started practicing Tai Chi again.  Though I can now do the entire 108 move set, I want some polishing.  There's a very good website with a very good instructor who goes through every move of the set. He had a falling out with the main organization, though, and his videos are not sanctioned.  The Taoist Tai Chi Society I belong to is a large world-wide organization with an older style of top-down administration led by "Masters" and has an exclusive philosophy.  The only sanctioned videos on-line are ones made by the founder Master Moy.  They're old, and as the form evolves over time, there are differences between what he's doing and what we're taught now.  Additionally, they're meant to demonstrate the form, not instruct. I've used them in the past; they're difficult.  I'm going with the unsanctioned website.  Is that like not wearing a mask?  

COOKING SCHOOL

It's grilling time, and Ron is our grill master!  I've been pumping out evening meals seven nights a week since we've been staying at home.  It's more than I've ever cooked in my life!  Once a week grill meals are in the regular rotation now.   It'll give me a chance to focus more on side dishes. 

READING

Recently I watched the movie A Wrinkle in Time, a remake of a young adult book written by Madeline L'Engle in 1962.  The movie was nothing to write home about, but I was intrigued enough by the story to want to read the book.  Even though it would have been popular when I was age-appropriate, somehow I missed it.  I'm no snob when it comes to YA literature, though.   To my delight, a little research revealed that it's a 5-book series!  I'm in!  I found and ordered a MATCHED BOX SET!  Heaven!  I've started A Wrinkle in Time. YA books are written for the 12-18 year old set.  I'd consider this book on the 12 year old side.  I'll see if the character ages through the books.  Compared to recent series like Harry Potter and The Hunger Games, these are a lot less edgy.  I'm looking forward to a good long read!  

Just keep going when it’s tough. Just keep going when it’s long.

----- Maxime Lagacé