This morning was smoky. I tried to cool the house by opening the windows, but I closed them before the AC started on its own to block out the smoke smell. I took my iron pill and then watered some of my trees. The smaller established trees seem to be doing fine despite the heat, but the newly planted one needs regular water this first season, and the three big ones were starting to shed yellow leaves from being too dry so I’m going to be watering those most days.
I found another thistle growing. It was a tiny plant on a thick root that I hadn’t gotten the last time. I dug it out as much as I could, but I’ll continue to keep an eye out for thistles and knapweed. I know there’s going to be knapweed regrowth coming, and I plan to dig them out rather than mowing once I can identify them. I should do some more mowing, start my second loop.
Work wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be. I had several meetings, planned and spontaneous. I reviewed most of the email from my vacation, and I’ve got plenty of work to do. It is draining, but doable. I wish I could take the next three weeks off. Spend days in the woods, camping and backpacking. I’d love to go do the Queens River Loop. Spend some time at Big Creek. Instead, I’m here. Stuck staring at calendars and clocks, counting down to the day when it will have been two years since Ambrose died.
I might go to Big Creek this weekend. I’d just have to figure out the timing on the family zoom at noon. I’d either have to stay at Big Creek until after the zoom or go home early enough to get home by noon. Or at least to signal… I wonder if the McCall public library is open on Sundays? It is not. It wouldn’t be terrible to get home late from Big Creek. If I wait for the next week, then I’ll be in the thick of Harmonica Festival traffic, and I’d really rather not.
Neither the Blackhawks nor the Wolves are playing hockey games on 12/28 this year. I don’t know what I’m going to do for his birthday. I have time to think about it, but I wish I didn’t have to.
