Healing

So here we are, end of September and the healing continues.  The surgery was successful, very little discomfort and now I am going to weekly hand physio with Tony Dao of Edmonds Hand Therapy.  He is the best and will have me rehabbed in no time.

After surgery splint

Removable splint

It is so great having a removable splint now... I can KNIT!  I think that was one of my first concerns as I lay on the rocks with my broken bone.  Then I came to my senses and realized that I needed to get myself back to the trailhead before I could do anything else.  But knitting was on my mind as I trudged back.  Sheesh.

So, on to a new month.  October is coming in with a bang here...we had over 5 inches of rain in September; the usual amount is less than 2 inches.  More rain, lightening and thunder predicted for tonight and into tomorrow.

I think I'll go knit now.

OUCH! I'll make this brief...

Broken right distal radius with displacement of that other bunch of bones at my wrist...happened Sunday...on a hike, 3.5 miles from the car on some rocks along the Stillaguamish River.  Had to hike back out with my friend's hunting knife as a splint...it was sheathed, lol...kind strangers gave me advil, tape and words of worry and encouragement...I thanked them all very very much.
Update...too unstable to cast, needs plate and pins, so surgery on Friday.  Gah!

Lesson learned...

I should have known better than to have started a lace pattern at midnight after 2 glasses of wine and and 2 episodes of Breaking Bad.

"Oh Melissa!"

Best summer ever...

If you have lived in the PNW for any length of time, and we've been here for 25 years now, most would agree that we have had the warmest, sunniest, driest summer in like forever!  July went all month without rain...August has started out fabulous as well.  We've had fun visiting friends and family, driving out to Lake Joy outside of Granite Falls WA for the day and up to Whistler for a week. We hiked, some biked and we did a lot of outdoor eating and drinking.  I don't think the temperatures dipped below 75 degrees at all.  And for us, 75 is a heat wave!

Lake Joy

Lake Joy

Rigmore and Helen making Strawberry Daiquiri's

Getting ready for lunch

Alta Lake, Whistler

Intrepid golf ball retriever

Lost Lake, Nana's tree

Lost Lake, swimming platform

Protecting the little wildlife

Dinner at Citta's in the village

Glacial Fitzsimmons Creek

Happiness is....

...walking around my garden when it is in full bloom.  I noticed when I reviewed these photos that we have lots of hydrangeas in our yard.  In fact 6 of them in the back yard.  It is kind of damp back there and I think they like it like that since they are all thriving better than ever this year.  So, put your garden shoes on and take a little walk around the yard.

Nasturtiums on the front porch

Pretty orange plant,  I don't know it's name

A field of Shasta Daisies in the front yard

Begonia in a pot on the porch

On of 6 hydrangeas in the back yard.  This one is a lace cap, my favorite!

Roses, they are my favorite kind that require little to no care...just prune in the early spring

Miss Black Eyed Susan

One of many many astilbe in the back,  I love them too.

A very hardy Butterfly Bush

Bee balm. The bees do love it.

Carpet Flower Roses, again little to no care, just a good pruning to keep them under control.

Lavatera, in a big pot out back

Oh yes, last but not least, Lavender.  Another favorite of the bees and me.

Today is all about the rose...

We visited Portland OR for the first time a few weeks ago after living in the PNW for 25 years!  I know...why did we wait so long?  Well, I guess timing is everything.  Anyway, one of our stops was at the famed Rose Garden up on the hill overlooking the city.  We were able to walk around the garden between rain showers and let me just say that as beautiful as it was to see, it was equally beautiful to smell!! I think the rain just brought out more of the rosy scents.  So, enjoy this little walk around the gardens with me and imagine how wonderful it smelled...

Having a great summer...

A few highlights of the summer so far...having fun traveling the west coast, visiting friends, eating good food and enjoying life.

Stopping to smell the roses at the Rose Gardens in Portland, OR

Experiencing a little zen in Portland

Ashland, OR...very hot weather after we left Portland

A wonderful visit with good friends in Sacramento

Ate the best veggie burger ever somewhere along the way...can't remember where now!

Restful sojourn along the Umpqua River in Oregon

Stopped at Crater Lake and yes the water is that blue!

More fun times to come too...I love summer!