Random 5 for August 20, 2023 – Cooler, wellness, medical results, inertia, flowers

Gallery

Posted on by

Hello fall? – Our temperature dropped to 54 degrees (12C) last night. Brrrr. Fall sent a reminder that she’s on her way. Along with the temperature change, it brings “nesting” behaviors.  I’m baking a peach pie today and it’s just a matter of time until I start to crave pumpkin (no, not in coffee! Never in coffee!).

Good for another 10K miles! – I had my annual wellness checkup recently and had bloodwork done. In the office, the doc said I’m doing very well. (The unsaid part of that sentence included “for your age!”) Bloodwork just came back and it’s all normal. I have stuff I manage but all in all I’m good. I am blessed with good genes. Thanks to my mom and dad. Ok, maybe not from my dad who died of unknown cardiac issues at 55 but I was lucky enough to have his body type and without nasty habits, I’ve done well. (Rescuing cats is not a nasty habit!)

Speaking of medical stuff – I had my blood taken at 7:30 a.m. and by dinnertime, I started to get notices that there were results in my on-line chart. Within 24 hours I had all my results which I could access and read without my doc doing anything. I like that. I remember when it could take two weeks to get results from the doctor’s office.

Am I lazy? – It’s the middle of August and I haven’t done things I intended to do. It’s the people things like getting together with old friends that has been elusive. I developed inertia and can’t break out of it. Some old friends are more work than others but usually worth it. This week I’ll call one person on my list. Baby steps. Don’t want to fill my dance card too fast! I enjoy savoring the summer on my own terms and not on a schedule.

Finally – This is our third summer here and I feel like the front is looking pretty. It took a while to figure out what flowers work best. Part of the front is very shady (from the big trees) and part gets intensive afternoon sun. That’s a tricky combination but I found a specific petunia that doesn’t get the dreaded August droop. Next year I’ll plant a few more now that I know it works.

So how was your week?

70 thoughts on “Random 5 for August 20, 2023 – Cooler, wellness, medical results, inertia, flowers”

  2. Yay for fall coming! I’m all about pumpkin in everything, especially coffee! But to each their own – I know a lot of people don’t care for it 🙂
    Your front area is beautiful! That is a tricky combination to find plants for, but your petunias are gorgeous. So bright and beautiful!

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Is that your front entrance? It is georgeous! I let the green shrubs decorate the front and confine my flower gardening efforts to the back. It would be wonderful to have a bit of cool weather. It is so darn hot here that it is impossible to keep up with the weeds. I had my annual medical checkup as well. All tests good so far, except my doc wanted a bone density test as I’ve been breaking bones lately. When I arrived for the test, they told me Medicare only pays for it every two years, so I rescheduled as that is only a few more weeks. Seems it would be cheaper to pay for the test and put me on meds than to pay another orthopedic accident, but no point in trying to reason with the government.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Thanks. I like a little color in the front. Medicare is persnickety about scheduling. It’s like one day after the one or two year anniversary. Weird! Good luck with the density test. I’ve been on bone drugs for decades!

      Liked by 1 person

        • Hmmm…I wonder why he took you off. They kept switching me on different ones. I have a hard time with the pills taken by mouth. Screws up my GI system. Prolia has worked well for me. No bellyaches and I’ve actually increased bone density.

          Liked by 1 person

          • I think I read somewhere that you are only supposed to be on Fosamax for a certain number of years as there is some negative effect. Dr said something about the bone that develops is not normal bone, whatever that means. So far, I’ve not developed antlers. LOL

            Liked by 1 person

  5. 54 degrees! It’s going to be 100 degrees here this week, starting tomorrow. I so dread it. I’m not a summer person. The only reason it’s one teensy notch above winter is that I don’t have to put on a zillion layers to go outside and walk the dog. I’m so looking forward to fall. Good news is, it’s supposed to be 70s by the weekend. I hope. Forecasts are finicky.

    Glad your bloodwork and genes are working out well. Your front entry looks lovely.

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Can’t believe it’s been 3 years since you relocated. Your choice of flowers is lovely – it is always tricky to find what works where in a new house.
    Ah, your temps are refreshing even just to read about. Gives hope! The days are definitely getting shorter with less sunlight. Dawn is happening later – fortunately the dog is mellowing also out and sleeping a tad longer in the morning with light slower to show. Hank has been hinting he wants a pet…like a pet cat, maybe. We are still feeling odd about having a computer with no cat acting as editor! (most of my plants are struggling to survive day to day…it’s August as usual)

    Liked by 1 person

    • We’ve had a wet August so not too much watering to do except for the pots. Yes, you definitely need a friend for Hank. There are cats that love dogs. Not mine but they are out there.

      Like

  8. The front yard looks gorgeous…..I had to experiment a bit too with what to plant on our deck which gets a great deal of sun – there are some petunias that seem to “enjoy” that kind of heat and light – YAY! Congrats on good reports from your latest checkup. I am grateful that I have a great primary care doc – so important as we get older.

    Hugs, Pam

    Liked by 2 people

    • The first summer on the deck was a disaster. It’s full hot sun for most of the day too. It turned out that the rail planters that were there an filled with soil lacked drainage holes and with my watering they drowned! I got rid of those and bought ones that fit the new railing with draining holes.

      Like

  9. Your front yard looks great! I like all the gorgeous pinkish shades along with the blueish ones. What are those lovely white-dusted green plants?

    We complain a lot about all our computer annoyances. But, you’re right, there have been lots of improvements. I love getting lab results back so quickly.

    Liked by 1 person

  10. I like your front yard Kate – it has definite curb appeal! I like it even better than the prior house which I liked with its red door and beautiful flowers – I only remember seeing the door/porch on that house. You’ve done a great job with the flowers and paver bricks. We are having a heat wave today/tomorrow, then two days cooling off, then back to near 90, maybe tying an old record Thursday. The Dog Days of Summer ended a few weeks ago – perhaps these are the Cat Days … cats demanding equal time?

    Liked by 2 people

  11. Beautiful front garden and planters. Glad your blood work was good. It cooled down here for a few days and was actually thinking of pumpkin pie when I was at the grocery store. That’s one thing I love about Fall. No luck though. Every kind of pie except pumpkin:)

    Liked by 1 person

  13. Lovely front entry! The dragonfly knocker is smile worthy.
    I complain about the heat but I don’t want to do 54*. It’s great at night but I wouldn’t want it in the day time. Makes me chilly just thinking about it. But those chilly temps bring the beauty of Fall!
    I’d like a slice of your peach pie with heavy cream please!

    Liked by 1 person

  15. How wonderful to have a good medical report and to have all the diagnostics behind you for a year. I have all mine beginning in November, and I can already feel myself tensing just thinking about fitting them in. I’m hanging on to the last of summer, too. For as long as possible. 😉

    Liked by 1 person

  18. Glad your blood work came back good. I like those portals too because it does take doctor a long time to get back to patients otherwise. I love this hint of fall weather.

    Liked by 1 person

    • It used to take my doc 2 weeks to mail out status and all it would say was ‘bloodwork normal.’ I wondered if it wasn’t whether the message would say “get your ass back in here!”

      Like

  22. We had an unusually cool week here, but the tempts are predicted to get into the upper 90s next week. I want to nest, but no such luck. I, too, have been amazed by how quickly blood work results show up now. Kind of freaks me out, though.

    Liked by 1 person

    • You are just west of us so your weather is similar. Even when it gets hot at this time, it usually cools off enough in the evening so it’s not too oppressive. I can’t stand waking up to 75 degree temps!

      Liked by 1 person

  25. Your front entrance is so inviting. I would love to live across the street from you . . . except for 54 degrees in August. No. Just No. 😀

    I’m doing all my annual health checks this month too. Two down and 3 to go.

    Liked by 1 person

    • I have eyes this week and ears and teeth in September. Then I’m done for a while! The house across the street is just gorgeous. They have a huge flower border along the driveway and curb. It’s wonderful to see from my house.

      Like

  26. The front of your house validates how much you enjoy growing greenery; it’s very beautiful and welcoming! And I’ve been having more ‘conscious’ thoughts about beginning to nest in terms of stocking the pantry with items needed for comfort meals over the weather. The lab where my bloodwork is done sends me an email to let me know my report is ready and, like you, it’s great to have access to the information in a timely manner.

    Enjoy the windows open at times weather. Grass and ragweed pollen is in the air, but I need the fresh air, so it’s a game to figure out how much is too much is too much outside air.

    Liked by 1 person

  28. The front entry is quite lovely and very welcoming. Well done.

    I know what you mean about not ticking off everything (and everyone) on our lists. I think it’s normal to experience ebb and flow with human relationships. At least that’s what I tell myself. Good luck re-establishing them. I’m sure your friends will enjoy an engaged contact over one based in obligation.

    Liked by 2 people

  29. Rescuing cats is definitely NOT a nasty habit – it is a most excellent one. And I’m loving some cooler weather too, not to mention the dogs. But 90 predicted for today and tomorrow and then back down again. Ready for fall temps consistently.

    Liked by 2 people

Comments are closed.