IntrinsicTina

Today I tackled two swim aerobics classes, count them, two!  Both shallow water, which I do each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and now the deep water class as well.  Of course, the deep water aerobics class required a little specialized equipment.  First, they had to install the "lift", a hydraulic chair, that gently sets me into the water and then takes me back out.  That worked out well but the floats they snapped onto me were horrible. The idea is that the bouyancy belt keeps one bouyant while one performs floating aerobics.  Good idea, not so good to strap the floats about my waist and in the back.  It kept forcing me forward in the water and my muscles are weak thus not a fair fight.  Some folks tried to help, attempting to adjust the straps, and offering suggestions (not knowing about the degenerative muscle disorder), and finally another set of floats were attached, this time in the front.  It was better but too restrictive not allowing ...

I've been planting a garden in raingutters affixed to a sunny spot on our cedar fence.  So far I have planted Sweet Genovese Basil and Salad Bowl Lettuce back in mid May.  The lettuce is up and green! Today, due to a two day break in the rain, I managed to plant an Ed Hume gourmet herb mixture of chives, thyme, parsley, and more basil.  Additionally, I poked in a few sprouting garlic bulbs given to me by a dear friend and fellow garden enthusiast. I still have room to plant more stuff and am on the lookout for Wexler carrots.  Last but not least, I scratched in some dill below the gutters on the ground.  I sure am looking forward to results.  (Note: the attached picture is not of my garden. Just, what I am striving for.)

This weekend marked the 12th anniversary of my marriage to my husband, Rod. Actually, our anniversary date coincided with Earth Day. I'd love to tell you that we spent the day cleaning penguins or stoically and stubbornly not using fossil fuels around the home taking up the push-mower or the humble rake but that would be a lie. We started our day seated in our Subaru trekking northward participating in the annual migration of tourists to visit the tulip fields of Mt. Vernon. We love a road trip that culminates into varied photo opportunities. Vast expanses of blooming flowers on a promised sunny day guaranteed success in that regard and it did not disappoint. Additionally we got to indulge in our passion in sampling the local cuisine as well as mingle with the locals. Our first stop was at Bill's Diner in the heart of Mt. Vernon proper, across the street from the courthouse. Normally this historic establishment caters to the business crowd Monday through Friday from 7 am t...

Easter Sunday dinner was at my house. We had two new faces in our crowd. My sister, Renee' appears to have a new beau (Dan) and my brother's girlfriend brought her grown daughter (Raena). It was great. We had a new audience for all the old shtick. Mom got to tell (some) of the embarrassing stories that she loves to embellish upon year after year and I got new victims (er, friends) to cook for. This year, through the wonders of the internet, I learned to cook my ham in the crock pot. Also new to my Easter repertoire is fresh baked cherry pies with Vienna vanilla ice cream on top AND chocolate-dipped strawberries. I also took the opportunity to use some very old china formerly owned by my former-mother-in-law (which will be passed down to my daughter). Kind of an odd holiday without the presence of small children to decorate for and put together imaginative Easter baskets. I didn't put up any tacky decorations save for the Easter Lily Rod bought for me and the tulips gr...

So April showers may bring May flowers but I'm already getting some budding and blooming in my yard. Azaleas, Hyacinths, and Tulips. Oh My! Technically, the tulips have yet to bloom but I'm so tickled with the healthy growth of the sinuous green leaves popping four inches out of the ground that I'm giddy with anticipation. I was delighted to find hyacinths emerging and blooming out of an abandoned pot from last year and last but, not least, is the pink explosion of blooms that cover the dwarf azalea near my front door step. The dwarf rhody can't be far behind. I'm so so SO ready for spring and just cannot believe that we are barely into March. The onset of spring is so exhilarating for me. I've hung on each and every yellow forsythia blooming around the neighborhood and nearly burst when I get an eyeful of pink or white cherry blossoms along the public streets. Washington state remains green due to our rainfall and evergreens but compared to spring and summerti...