Bats

pink petunias spilling out all over

a winery we visited yesterday and its mascot A sandhill crane sanctuary is nearby which used to be the only place one could see them. We went there and didn't find them as they come there only in the evening. These birds are no longer rare. I hear them on my runs most of the time

Maya outside of her school for picture day. The hand off between her parents went smoothly as far as I can tell

It is a warm late summer evening. The sun is setting lighting up the sky with pinks and oranges. I have Maya yet again. As the drugs wear off for her ADHD, she becomes more and more restless. Riding the bike sucks off some of her considerable energy. I am out watching for cars. The bats are out circling for bugs flying much more erratically than the swallows who are now gone to parts south. There has been a huge decline in the brown bat population due to some virus but perhaps we have an isolated colony. One of the best features of our 'new' house is the sky. Before we were hemmed in by trees and other houses. Yes I loved the huge stand of sugar maples but we could never see sunsets or sunrises.

Steve is feeling better. The drug specific for neuropathic pain helps though he is restless  at night. When he drives, one hand is pulling the shoulder belt away from his body as any pressure causes immense pain. Yes I have offered to drive so he could sit beltless in back and we wouldn't have to deal with his forgetfulness caused by the drug. Missing wallet? Yep though found after a frantic search at 3 places. Credit card left at the counter..etc But I was the only one who drank at the winery. We sat on a shaded porch overlooking rows and rows of grapes. Very quiet there. They also have good food. A woman that I worked with now deals with the little  tests associated with wine making: sugar titers, alcohol titers. She has a doctorate in chemistry and now does work a good student in high school chemistry can handle. Afterwards we drove through state lands that I used to bicycle through. Very pretty. Some of the trees have changed colors. We avoided the freeway on the way back as the one heading north is all backed up due to construction and Friday traffic heading north.

I am back to my usual exercise routine. New tact: running for a specific distance versus a specific time tends to make Lazy Sue a bit faster. Lifting weights is becoming easier.

Steve's brother is here until Monday. He gets up late so I am all done with exercising by then. We have gone out quite a bit (or us) this week. I did go to my cooking class the other day whose theme was including as many colors as possible in salads and main dishes. 3 kinds of kale: yeck. I cooked up my huge spaghetti squash serving half of it with pesto. Good and easy to make.

Again Maya's insurance was cancelled. This time: no proof of citizenship even though her birth certificate had been sent several times. It was sent again. She did get a scholarship for childcare so Naomi can now work the hours her new boss specified. He was not going to use the school's schedule as they had permitted in the past.