Stress and Happiness, Getting Out and About, Neighbourly

The Ridge, Priceville, On

Waking up on the Ridge, on Sunday, Mar. 22^nd, I knew that I hadn’t slept as well as I’d expected to. We were trying to get the most heat for our ‘buck’, in the most economical way possible. Therefore, even though toasty downstairs, I went to bed chilled, cold feet and the bedroom was quite cool. I wore socks (I never wear socks!), I wore jammy bottoms (I never do) and I still couldn’t get warm enough to stay asleep for long. My sweetie and I snuggled together more through the night than we ever have and that was certainly nice!

Good morning Ridge!

When I woke up at 4, after glancing at the clock I know I went back to sleep for another hour and a half and soon after that Bill got up. I remained snuggled in bed as I wanted more time in the off chance I’d drop off again. I didn’t so got up just before 7 and joined Bill downstairs. It was nice and warm downstairs by this time so we opened the inside blinds to see out. Oh yes! The Ridge!

Our infrared heater, purchased a couple of years ago
at an RV show in Toronto

It doesn’t take much to make me happy. Usually I’m easy to please but also easily disappointed. When a change needs to happen, within my realm of acceptance, I will make the adjustment without a lot of kicking and screaming. If it is a logical change. Coming up to the Ridge yesterday, was my idea, my suggestion as I knew that I would be happier up here and it made sense to me. Bill helped to make it happen. Happy wife, happy life.

Water was one thing we needed sooner than later

From the living room window, the bladder was full

 In quarantine, if we’d had to stay at CanAm for a couple of days, I wouldn’t have been miserable, just discontent in some ways. The outdoors would not be as welcoming with no place to wander freely, comfortably. I believe that remaining happy/content is a big deal for my body system. I’ve believed that it makes a difference in the number of outbreaks of shingles I get. At least that is what I thought. Now, I’m not so sure. Bear with me, I’m going somewhere with this one.

Almost empty

March 4th was my last shingles appearance, after about 4 in Jan. and Feb. Since Saturday, Mar. 14^th we have had a few upsets. Upsets that would normally trigger a breakout. I was very stressed and worried in the fire lane at Kaibab National Forest. The idea of getting stuck as Bill backed our rig up, had me frantic. That kind of stress could be a trigger. Maybe because it was short lived, it didn’t affect my system.

The little cherry tree right outside our door
had a fight with the winter winds
We will need to take care of that and hope the tree survives

Sunday, Mar. 15^th leaving Williams fuel station, our turbo hose blew off. More stress. This was something that I, personally, had no control over and had to rely on Bill, Keith and Ken to resolve. With a temporary fix, we moved a very short distance until it blew once more. This was all very difficult for me (us) to remain calm and the drive from there until Gallup, NM and on Monday, Mar. 16^th to Albuquerque, NM was an ‘edgy’ one afraid it would happen again. I’d expected to wake up with the shingles any of those mornings but didn’t.

Garden and those blue spruce trees are prospering!

 We took care of the turbo hose on Monday in Albuquerque and things settled down. Battling with the indecision of whether to return home or stay put, once more I expected some ‘body feedback’. Nothing. So, is it stress, anxiety? Is it excitement? Who knows, I’m totally baffled now. The excitement of coming to the Ridge is the flip side of the coin and I guess we’ll see tomorrow morning if that affects me. Time will tell. Today, I feel very peaceful to be here even self-quarantined. 

West side of the lane towards the roadway

Last night, after supper, the thought crossed my mind a few times ‘we have no obligations to anyone or anything for the next few days’. That includes no travel, no packing up and moving. It was indeed a very serene feeling. The sun rose just as it should to a clear blue sky this morning and even though it is only -10C/17F. I heard a nice sound as I was drinking my tea that made me smile. Geese! And looking out the window, a red-winged blackbird flew into our tree. 😊 

East side of the laneway across the pond

 We caught up on most of our friends’ recent blog posts and see that everyone is making their own choices. That is what we all should be doing. Everyone is healthy and doing what they can to stay that way. Bill went out to secure the water bladder in our truck bed. Remember that we don’t have a tailgate to hold it in now so he had to get creative. Then he called Rob to see if we could get some water from their home in Durham. He told him to stay in the house after getting the expected generous reply “Of course!”. He left at 9:30.

Bill's Hangar and cargo trailer survived the winter
nicely

We would like to have showers and even though 13 gallons would be enough to do that, we want to top the tank up to get us through a few days. The bladder holds 45 gallons. Thanks Rob and Pat for your help. Bill was happy to see you both, from a distance. So, the day is basically ours to putter inside or outside. The winds are gusty 10  – 20 mph and we know that is pretty normal up here. But the temperature needs to rise!

You've seen plenty of sunrise pictures across this view
of the pond
Here is a snow covered one for you

 I made myself a coffee at 10 and turned the Veito Infrared heater down a notch as it was quite toasty in here. Bill got it out last night, figuring to use some electric power as well as our blue flame heater vs furnace. We know how to bundle up in slippers and warm sweaters to keep ourselves warm enough. When I finished my coffee, I bundled in my winter coat and scarf and went for a wander out and about, then down the laneway. When I got back, Bill had finished emptying the water bladder so I made us each an omelette.

Home and happy

After dishes, I sat with my book and just enjoyed the time. It was darn cold outside with that wind but I did enjoy the fresh air, all bundled up with just my face bare to the elements. Inside it was cozy warm and after Bill had the satellite dish set up, he joined me in our chairs. He snoozed and I read my book. This Tripwire is such a page turner and by the end of the afternoon, 6 pm, I had finished it.

First robin here  this spring for me!

Looking from the road up to the Ridge
Can you see the Suite up there?
Just under the middle wind turbine

Bill is working quickly through Burning Echo, also by Lee Child and will likely be finished tonight too. Around 2:30 there was a knock on the door. Oh-oh. We hadn’t heard a vehicle so Bill was a bit wary (only because of our isolation) when he opened the door. It was our neighbor to the east, Tammy, and her pooch. She walked over to give us a card, offering assistance if we needed something from town.

The front field is in good shape with this one low spot
the only laying water
If you could see over the fence, Don's field is a pond
where it shouldn't be

I’ve seen them and waved at her almost on a daily basis through our time here as they both work and pass me while I'm walking. I don’t believe I’ve ever met her but Bill has once. This made my heart grow – you know like the Grinch? Not that I’m at all Grinch-like. 😊 We were so touched by this gesture and I’m sure before the two weeks are up, we will be taking her up on her offer for some food items. I had to take a picture of their card to share.

A card from our neighbours

They included both his and her cell phone #'s to call

At 6, I plugged Madame IP in and placed the pot with leftover dressing, veggies and pork in with a cup of water. I set it on Steam for 10 minutes and she did her work, reheating supper. On the stove, I heated up a can of creamed corn. It all tasted very good. With a minor adjustment in the recipe, Bill reminded me to copy it down in my Word documentsas. I'd mentioned it yesterday, but I quickly forgot about doing it.

See the turtles log out there in the middle?
It will be a while before they can reclaim it

We took care of dishes and I sat at my laptop to finish this post. Then it was time to get back at my sweater. I have the front panel done and the back panel close so need to see what comes next. 

We were happy to hear and see our mailbox post still standing!

This has been a truly quiet day, one of many. I’ve made a list of things that I want to work on while sequestered and will plug away at those over the coming week. I must remember to bring in my kitchen compost bin as we can start doing that and recycling again. That will feel good. The U.S. doesn’t recycle nearly enough in our opinion.

A nice hot leftover supper on a cold day
Good night y'all!
Stay warm and healthy!

Thank you for taking the time to see what we’re up to.