Thank you to everyone who offered well wishes this past week! I'm feeling much better, although I'm finding that it takes very little to tire me. I'm drinking coffee again this morning, which is a sure sign that I'm on the mend. Whenever I'm sick, coffee is the first thing to go. The whole experience is an exercise in humility and the frailty of the human body, to be sure.
Speaking of exercise, the treadmill we ordered a month ago arrived. Here in no-man's land, things don't get delivered to our door and they certainly don't arrive already assembled. The Frenchman, bless his heart, wrestled the 150 lb. monster into the house single-handedly and then put it together as though it was a Swedish dining room set. Neither of us has had an opportunity to use it yet, although I'm hoping that I'll have the energy to take it for a walk in the next couple of days.
I immediately feel like I'm standing on the bridge of a space ship when I'm on it and I've dubbed it "Spock", in acknowledgement of what I anticipate will be a total lack of empathy and compassion while I'm sweating my way through a workout.
I took Willow for a longer walk in the field yesterday morning during heavy fog. The field is a vast ocean of hard-packed snowdrifts now and the fog coated everything with a thick layer of hoarfrost. I love the effect it has on the most ordinary things like the tree branch in the photo above.
A little less than 2 weeks after we took possession of our house, our hot tub stopped working. Wouldn't you know it? Fortunately, The Frenchman was on it in a flash and we had one of the nicest repairmen come out to fix it, as well as a pump that was also leaking. I may never live down the fact that when The Frenchman first described the house to me from afar, I made it known that I felt the hot tub was an expensive luxury that we did not need. Now, it's one of the things I love most about our house. It's like having a warm bath ready and waiting for you whenever you feel the need to relax or warm up. I rarely use the jets because they stir up the chlorine and irritate my lungs, but I do so enjoy the pure bliss of floating weightless in a vat of warm water. *sigh*
The Frenchman is in the midst of his 15 day work week and I pray for his safety every time he leaves our driveway. His is a dangerous job. He nearly had a head-on collision with another vehicle yesterday that was passing on a corner - at night - in the fog - with his highbeams on. Today, he's driving a fully loaded semi-trailer to an oil rig drill site and part of his trip will take him on a temporary road across a frozen lake. God bless his angels.
My makeover project on the two upstairs rooms has been sidelined, due to my recent bout with the flu and I confess to having lost some momentum. I'm sure I'll recover some of my initial excitement again when I take up my paintbrush in the next couple of days.
Happy Friday, everyone!
16 comments:
I think I have a crush on the Frenchman. There's nothing sexier than watching a man fix things. So glad you're on the road to recovery. Take your time.
Oh Carolynn that picture is just so amazingly beautiful!! I wondered what it was, before reading it's just a tree branch. Just astounding that something so ordinary is turned into a unique and unimaginably beautiful work of art by our Creator and mother nature. I love it!
So glad to hear you're on the mend. Interesting way of looking at life, and our bodies, but so very true. It's been a long time since I've truly been sick, but you're right about our bodies, and life in general, as being so fragile. We take so much for granted every day, and really should be so much more thankful for all that we are, all the blessings we have, and all the beauty that we see and enjoy every single day. So, thank you for that nice reminder about humility and thankfulness. :)
We must be of like-mind about the exercise thing...what I'd really like is an eliptical, but they're outrageously expensive, unless I can find a killer deal, I'm just going to walk. A hot tub is a dream of ours...when we built our deck, we reinforced a corner with that in mind. Someday, we'll have one. I can envision using it a lot, as I feel like warm water heals whatever ails a person.
Thanks for the advice, I got lots of good tips and will give it my best. I've just never had much success with losing weight before. And, no I didn't do that collage...found it on the internet somewhere. I like it too! Take care and don't overdue. :)
Will keep your frenchman in my prayers.
Karin: Lol...you would have swooned if you'd seen him in action when our dishwasher started leaking. He's nothing if he's not tenacious and he loves a challenge, God bless him.
C-ingspots: I love that, even in freezing cold temperatures, there's beauty to be found. You and I can encourage each other in our fitness goals, shall we? I know we can do it - one drop of sweat, at a time.
Glad you're feeling better! Congratulations on your new walking partner...may it remain a walking partner and not become a clothes hanger!!! Just think of all that flu inoculation for future years you've just created!!! You're good for another 10 or so!!!
Chieftess: Gawd, I sincerely hope you're right about the inoculation! As for the many uses we may find for "Spock", I refuse to comment on the grounds that I may incriminate myself. Let's just say, he remains unclothed, at present.
Wow the Frenchman has entered the elite world of ice road trucking? That's definitely a badge of honor. And he will be kept safe--by your prayers and the unseen angels.
Your description of the treadmill is perfect! When we got ours a while back I couldn't put my finger on what it felt like but you've nailed it!
I'm so happy you're on the mend. Soon you'll have more energy and the painting can resume. For now, just float in your hot tub and heal.
Glad you are feeling better and that does sound like a dangerous job. I am glad your new home though is working out so well for you both. With better weather maybe his job will be less risky.
Glad you're feeling better...
Cindy: The Frenchman played down the entire experience today. I'm not sure if he was doing it to make me feel better, or it really was anti-climatic. As for the floating...it's definitely on my agenda for today!
Rain: Warmer weather brings with it mud and around here I'm told it's like quicksand. At least he won't have to thaw everything before he can unload the water he hauls. Once summer arrives, it's better, although we do get some pretty terrific storms.
Neora: Thank you! I'm pretty happy for the change, too.
I love that you named your treadmill "Spock". Cracked me up! Your ice crystal branch photo is so beautiful. I bet your snow bound wilderness is lovely. Stay warm. Heal your body and soul. Enjoy your hot tub. I miss the one I used to have.
Oh my goodness...when I am sick coffee is the first thing I quit too. I love coffee...so if I can't drink it, I know I am sick! So is your hubby an ice trucker? Holy cow...this is some crazy scary work. Hope you are feeling much better!
Captains log 2095...once again I am clothed in garments.....
OK, I will admit that I didn't watch StarTrek, so I can't make fun of Spock.
Oh by the way, Frankie says hi! and please don't make him jealous by putting Spock through his paces too much...
That flu seems to knock everyone out, you must have the colder weather version, hope that you feel better soon.
And the Frenchman, he sounds like such a perfect guy for you....
Jen
A hot tub is a a truely lovely thing to have...a treadmill, not so much.
Get to feeling better and safe travels for The Frenchman.
Gee, it all sounds like Little House on the Prairie up there!
Husband wanted a hot tub for a long time, but I think he's stopped pining for it. It'd be another Thing To Take Care Of.
Farmer Jen: I'm embarrassed by how much I missed our hot tub and we were only without it for 2 days! In my defense, it is winter & very cold. *smile*
Caroline: Turns out the portion of driving The Frenchman had to do over a frozen lake was highly exaggerated by his boss. I'm told it was nothing to write home about - although he could just be making me feel better.
Jen: It's really been so long since I've suffered from the flu or a cold that I'm thinking I must have caught a different sort of virus than my body is used to encountering. Spock put me through my paces this morning...then I realized it had been preset to "demo" mode. Holy Embarrassing, Batman - to mix my metaphors.
Christina: I'm already feeling so much better, thank you.
June: The care & feeding of the hot tub was a bit of a mystery at first, I have to admit. Now, it's part of my regular routine and the pleasure we enjoy with it more than makes up for the extra work.
Attention to my treadmill, which I've not named yet, was lacking during my cold. I find that when I start using it regularly I like it a lot more, forming a habit and all that. Never thought of naming it.... The Frenchman has become quite the savvy driver.
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