STAYCATION DAYS 6 & 7 -- FINAL

FRIDAY, JULY 29

Thursday was another hot night. I got up around midnight when it was still 80 outside and turned off the AC. I know -- some people leave the AC on 24/7, but it’s a noisy unit and I like to be able to hear. At 5:30 Friday morning, it was 65 and 80 in the house. At 6:30 I turned on the AC and we left for the walk.

Nellie was having an energetic day and I let her have some freedom. She climbed the bank and disappeared over the top, but soon I could see her again. Bess found an old tennis ball and wanted me to toss it for her. I had to convince her that we should focus on walking.

I boxed the Cinderella dress for mailing  – and I mean boxed. I wish I could create a better presentation, but presentation probably matters more to me than Emmy. By 8:15, I was on my way to town. It didn’t seem like there were so many shoppers, but when I checked out, I noticed that they were in earnest – stocking up early before it was really hot. Large orders were ahead of me and cashiers were limited. I was home by 10:30 and the thermometer hit 100 at 11:15. (I see by the local paper that the official high does not register as hot as the thermometer at my house. Never mind – it’s hot.)

Then I admit it. I took the rest of the day off. This is the last staycation day. Tomorrow afternoon Mike will arrive, so I’ll spend the morning doing things I should have done before. But today I made granny squares while I sipped my Diet Coke. I also checked out another old buffalo, determined next steps, and decided to finish it at the farm where I have a large embroidery frame.

Tonight Mike called from Burns, Oregon. He hurt his back on Monday – which I knew – and says he won’t be good for much for a while. (I certainly don’t want him to be in pain, but you know – he hasn’t been here all week. . .) He’s 350 miles from home and we both know it’s going to be a long, hot trip across barren central Oregon tomorrow.

SATURDAY, JULY 30

It was 65 when I got up and 79 in the house. As the sun rose, so did the outside temp. Last night I turned the AC off when I went to bed. It was still 83 outside.We had the usual morning walk and then two of us napped while the other one worked.

And then there was a tapping at the door, and I knew what that meant. The mailman had delivered my last – and most important – staycation gift. And here she is! -- the "My Imagination" doll by Tonner Dolls. Her very presence lends an air of the magical. Yes, she’d love a Halloween costume, she said. Could she have a fancy witch’s outfit? While this doll has a hard vinyl body, she isn’t mid-century slim. She looks like a little girl – and that’s as it should be.

 

Mike arrived at 1:45. Bess and Nellie were so happy to see him. Well, I was, too. Now for those “end of trip” tasks – unpacking, cleaning the motorcycle and equipment, putting things away, doing the laundry, etc. But Bess and Nellie think we should go to the beach. KW