Escape To The Coast

For so long now we have been the picture book example of the quarantined couple, going nowhere except doctors appointments. Family and friends coming together to take care of any needs that would require exposure. We are fortunate to have Menagerie Manor to keep us busy filling our days with necessary chores and the joys of nature all around us. But MeMa has been through so much not only with Covid but especially the cancer. We were sitting having our morning coffee and chat about nothing too important and I brought up her approaching birthday and the fact that we usually spend it at the beach. So on a whim I called our favorite Motel just to see if "our" room was available. It was, so I booked it. We having been staying at the Ester Lee for years now and always book the "Crows Nest" for several reasons. It is one of the few dog friendly rooms, no smoking, it's the largest room and it is the only upper level room with its ocean view that gives one the most stunning sunsets.

When we arrived the staff had posted a birthday wish for MeMa.

 

We were so excited to see how Roxy would react to the ocean. In typical terrier style as soon as her feet hit the sand, excitement filled her little body and she pulled at the leash heading for the surf. She did oblige us a quick photo op.

But that done she headed for the surf.

The incoming waves just totally fascinated the little stinker and she pulled MeMa trying catch each one only to have it disappear before her.

Then it happened, she caught one or one of them caught her before MeMa could snatch her up. Roxy got a soaking and her excitement turned to panic. Not what we wanted to happen but the wave came in strong and quicker than MeMa could react.

The rest of our stay Roxy preferred the beach from this vantage point, in the comfort of our room.

The ocean side of our room is floor to ceiling windows that give one the most stunning views.

.....and the most beautiful sunsets

We had a wonderful time quarantined at the beach. It involved extra work on my part wiping down all surfaces with disinfecting wipes even though the staff took extra care in cleaning according to new rules placed on all establishments because of Covid. 

This coastal respite was just what we needed, but for some reason we were both happy to be home once again. MeMa was rewarded with a handful of raspberries off my plants. 

October and still picking berries in Oregon no less.

Home

 

After four hours in surgery and four days in hospital recovering, my lovely wife is home and doing good. This time I was allowed to stay with her day and night, helping her, feeding her, just being there for all her needs. 
 In another two weeks she will resume the chemo, but for now she is home and slowly getting back to a regular routine.

Quarantined Again and Again

Yesterday I drove MeMa over to the hospital to get her pre-surgery Covid test which went off with out a care. She was in and out in record time, then it was back home for the two of us so that we could both quarantine until she had surgery. At 9:45 PM we received a phone call telling her that the Covid test was contaminated and that she would have to go in first thing this morning and have another test. It was all very frustrating because when we got there ten minutes early there was already a line. Forty-five minutes later we were heading back home. We are now quarantined until surgery day, the 28th. 

We went out into the garden where life is just the two of us, my love and I. She went with clippers in hand into her picking garden as I surveyed the debris that last nights heavy rain knocked out of the redwood tree and covered all the gravel pathways which I had just cleaned after the big wind event. I was just about to feed the Koi when I noticed all the redwood floating so I cleaned that out before feeding Athena and her little companions. By time I had finished MeMa came down the steps from picking garden struggling with a large pale of fresh picked flowers for the house. I left the pathways untouched, the redwood will keep till another day.

MeMa's latest "Porch Post" for the dog walkers and passer-by's

 

Preparing

 With the news of upcoming heavy rain my first concern of the day was to clean all of the rain gutters, they are full of debris from our giant redwood. MeMe came out and joined me when I got to the second story gutters, she insisted on holding the ladder. Next door the “Crazy Cat Lady hissed a loud ,“What are you doing?” that caused me to grab the ladder and give a shudder of fear. MeMa talked to her while holding the ladder, I on the other hand finished the job and carefully got down to solid ground. The next thing I found out was “we” have volunteered to clean C.C.L.’s gutters as well......hisssss!                                            

Hibiscus bloom lasted two days.

I am trying to get some of the big jobs done and mostly outdoors jobs completed before this Monday when MeMa has her surgery to remove the cancer. I don't want anything left undone that will take me away from her side as she makes her recovery in hospital and at home. They estimate around six weeks of recovery and then three more rounds of chemotherapy to follow. She has a very good attitude towards everything coming and has endless energy that makes me tired.

The neighbor said she will come over and take care of the greenhouse which is one duty that won't survive uncared for.

During surgery which will last four hours I will have to wait in the car, thank you Covid. Her Doctor will call my cell phone as soon as she is in recovery. Our eldest son Nathan will be with me keeping close watch on the mental state of this old gardener.

Lucky for this old gardener the rain will take care of most of the watering.

The "Yuma Garden" will have been moved back into its winter quarters in the greenhouse.

Once MeMa is in her hospital room I will be allowed to spend day and night with her if that is what she wants. But I have heard her worrying about our sweet Roxy having to sleep alone for the first time so that whole situation is still a debate.

Rain At Last

So while our Roxy snoozed in her favorite chair with her best blankie.

This old gardener took advantage of the little break in the glorious rainfall that we have desperately needed and did some cleanup out in the gardens. The horrific wind storm that is the cause of most of the forest fires that are destroying our beautiful green state also created a mess in the normally tidy gardens here. 

My banana trees were a tangled mess so I started there, unfortunately almost all the beautiful green leaves had to be cut off leaving just the large stock. But after removing the mess I was surprised to find a flower for the second year in a row. 

I spent about an hour cleaning up debris before it started pouring down rain again. While putting my tools back in the garden house I noticed my Kiwi berries looked ripe so I picked the entire crop and brought them in for us to enjoy. They are about the size of a grape and are completely edible, no fuzzy skin to remove.