What I’ve Been Up To…

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Hello, my friends. I have been missing my blog, my blogging friends, and the act of telling stories and sharing my reading! So I thought I’d stop in on this lovely Sunday afternoon and say Hi, and let you know that I’m (mostly) okay and what I’ve been up to recently.

I’m still here, and reading a little more than I was in March, but I’m actually spending more of my time outdoors with the return of sunshine to the Pacific Northwest. The yard and garden were in a terrible state of neglect from the Covid/Cancer years, so trying to “tame” it all again is a daunting job. One step at a time is my mantra. When I had the tall dangerous oak tree removed from the back corner of the yard last November, it opened up sunshine to that previously shady corner.  This spring I’ve created what I call my new “Sunshine Garden,” in that corner, and it has been a joyful project!  I planted some tomatoes, peas, beans, carrots and beets which are all happy with that sunny spot.

I’ve also been going through our many (thousands!) of old photos, scanning old slides, organizing photo files on my computer. It’s a massive project that I am enjoying very much. Sometimes, the tears flow freely while working on that project, and sometimes  laughter and joy arrive, as well. The 54 years Byron and I spent together are well-documented with priceless photos. I just completed an eight-week bereavement class, called “Living After Loss,” run by our incredible hospice group that helped ease Byron’s end of life. We were all invited to participate in the class at about 6 months since our special person died. It was an amazing learning experience about grief, very emotional and very helpful in so many ways. The culminating project was to create a Memory Project for the final day of class. For my “Memory Project,” I created a slideshow of photos of Byron and me over those 54 years, all put together with the song, “Through the Eyes of Love.” That project, too, is a treasure now.

And as for my reading… Yes, I am able to finish some books now after a period of time when I couldn’t focus enough to read much. In April, I read What Happened to the Corbetts, by Nevil Shute, one of my favorite authors. And in May, I read Victoria Connelly’s new book, The Way to the Sea. I always enjoy her heartwarming books.

 

Once again, I want you to know how much I appreciate all of you and your kind support during this time of bereavement. I hope you are all well and happy and enjoying your summer reading!

11 thoughts on “What I’ve Been Up To…”

  1. Claire 'Word by Word'

    What wonderful creative projects to enter into, the earthy planting of a vege garden in your new sunshine corner and the compilation of a memory book for your beloved. Both will keep on giving and sustaining you in the days and months to come.

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  2. Book of Secrets

    So glad that the grief class was a helpful experience. Your memory project sounds wonderful. It’s good to hear that something positive came from having to cut down a tree. Sunshine! Enjoy the fruits (vegetables) of the new garden!

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    1. Robin Post author

      Thanks, Diana. I felt bad to have to take down that old oak, but it was very dangerous and I’ve watched several of these old trees in our neighborhood fall down in storms. The one across the street hit their house a few years ago. So the neighbors in the house most at risk from this tree we’re very happy, and I’m happy now with the Sunshine Garden.

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  4. Nan

    I KNEW the Shute book sounded familiar, but not the title. I couldn’t find it on my blog so I went to my email where I wrote about books before I had a blog. This from Nov 2003! I had to share it with you. haha

    “Ordeal 1939
    By Nevil Shute
    Recorded Books read by Ian Stuart
    5 cassettes/6.5 hours
    Fiction A-/B+

    Again, Nevil Shute writes of good people. What a wonderful outlook he had
    on the world. I felt that in this book his characters took second place to
    the world events that were happening. What is astounding is the book is
    about war beginning – in 1939 – before the real war started. Shute writes
    of attacks on Southhampton, England; houses destroyed, people killed, lives
    disrupted. Cholera and typhoid develop because of the poor hygienic
    conditions in the aftermath. I had never heard of this. I wonder if these
    diseases occurred during the war. The family in this book leaves their
    partially bombed out home to live on their “yacht”. The book chronicals the
    hardships of dealing with the day to day needs of a baby, a 3 year old, and
    a 6 year old. Excellent writing and descriptions.”

    I am always hearing how very helpful gardening can be in the hardest of situations. I think you are doing wonderful work. I’m grateful the grief class has been so good for you, as well. I love that you wrote.

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    1. Robin Post author

      Nan, thanks for sharing your old notes with me. It was a moving story, and I learned a lot from it. I do love Nevil Shute’s storytelling. I’ve got three more of his books to read to complete my Nevil Shute project. I don’t want it to end!

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  5. iliana

    Robin it’s so good to see how you are doing and that’s really good that your class has been so helpful. I can only imagine how hard it must be to go through pictures but at the same time how wonderful. And, your spot of sunshine garden is lovely! I hope it brings you a lot of joy throughout the summer and beyond!

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