blessed

In the Mid-Atlantic, we are currently being blessed with weather reminiscent of early fall. This is unheard of in August, when we usually are drenched with sweat from the high humidity and temperatures that soar our heat indices to 100-110º that create code red air quality days.

This means that, instead of being a "good llama" and sitting at my computer to finish what I had put out to finish this month, I have been outside, reveling in the weather, playing hooky and refreshing my soul.

I finally got to the gym. I rode my bike down, did my weights, made my 3 mile run on the elliptical in 20:55...finally just under a 7 minute mile without the impact that my knee can no longer take.

La Princesita and I took a nice bicycle ride yesterday, home from a local Asian festival that occurs this time each year. Normally it is too hot and humid to really enjoy such outdoor fetes, but this year is different. On our bike trek home we saw two groundhogs, a gorgeous fawn with spots, a toad with orange spots, and numerous butterflies: cloudless sulphers, black and tiger swallowtails and cabbage were the majority. We talked. We had a great time. She is such a joy to spend time with. Although my rear end is killing me..Bony Butt needs a cushioned bike seat.

Later yesterday evening she and I went out to Boost the Local Economy. As The Young Prince's birthday is at the end of the month, she wanted to find his birthday present. The Bat-mobile was not inexpensive--but the BatMask ended up being free on some sort of unadvertised promotion. We also found Mama Llama a couple new pairs of super-comfy-but-still-stylin' shoes because my hooves have really started to hurt; Mama Llama must be gettin' old. A new baseball mit for Mama Llama, as the monitos are starting to enjoy playing catch; particularly La Princesita has an arm that is a killer if you try to catch her throws bare-handed.

From my garden I harvested a load of tomatoes, two big ones and lots of cherry tomatoes, then packed some up for our next-door neighbors. A red pepper, more yellow squash, a pumpkin and two small orange pumpkin gourds. A little early, but they are ripe and ready to come off, and I do not want any little critters getting to them and destroying my little garden. I have two more pumpkins, at least, out there turning orange. All these pumpkins were "oops" from the mulch I spread from my kitchen compost last year. The tomatoes are all from seed from tomato plants the year before. Not too shabby!

I would actually love to dedicate today to the garden. Maybe I can run down to the Depot and check out their rock to see if I can finish the mini-retaining wall around the rest of the left side of the driveway. I can probably get there and back before anyone wakes up and beat the rush!

So there you have it: my excuses for not posting. I am unsure as to how long this too-good-to-be-true weather can actually last, so along with everyone else in the region I am trying to take full advantage of it!