Cool May Evening. I just had a series of sneezing fits. This picture was taken two nights ago when I took a Quabbin walk with the dogs. I went in at Gate 21, the sad sad gauntlet down to the water, and took a left I’d never taken. It took me up a trail that seemed to run along a bit of a ridge until the trail just ended. The place it ended looked like a trumpet mushroom swamp to check out later in the summer. I followed the hill down down along this river. We had to cross it where it got narrow, and Pumpkin jumped over a wide space between the rocks that looked down over rushing water. It would have swept her down had she fallen, and she seemed to know it. But she bravely jumped the divide and then seemed so proud of herself. She started grabbing sticks and shaking them like she knew she was tough stuff.
The next day, yesterday was heavy, cold and rainy. I had planned to get a lot of work done, but my brain was also heavy and tired. Then I got worried about the new house and slept rather poorly. Today, however, I was better. I got more done, felt more inspired. It was still raining in the morning, but then it cleared, so I went off to ride Jasper, who was just great. He’s so fun. The water
everywhere is high. The streams along the trail and the one through the field. I had Jasper walk through the stream and then let him eat. He’s doing better keeping to a walk down steep hills. I talked to Jen at the barn about the new house. She was there with Isabel. Meg was there when I arrived but then left straight away.
Last night I had a fit about buying this place and called Zoe in the morning to tell her Nepal may not work. She was fine with that. But maybe not really. I would love to go there with her. We’ll see.
I talked over the house with Mom and then with Danielle and felt better. It’s good. It’s good for me to do this eve
n though I can’t really say why. It’s just a good step. It will nourish me in ways I can’t quite predict.
Then I did get work done today, getting the books together for my students. I’ve just about finished Gui Zhi Tang