24 February 2024
It’s not been a good day. It started around 3:30 when I couldn’t get back to sleep. I finally got out of bed around 5. It’s funny how I can tell after a few minutes out of bed if I am going to have a fatigue day. Today I do. The neuropathy is back. It’s not painful for the most part but the toes are giving me what for today.
Saturday is wash clothes, change linen and clean house day. I got the first two done and cleaned most of what I usually do. Afterwards, I even managed to take a shower without falling out of the tub.
There’s nothing like the feel of clean sheets on a bed. As a kid, I remember mom hanging sheets out on the line and they had a crispness to them that you just can’t get with dryers. They also had that outdoor smell. I tried drying clothes on a line when I first bought this house but I’m too close to Fort Lauderdale International Airport and the clothes would have tiny particulates all over them from the takeoffs. I’m south of the airport and the wind direction is frequently from the south.
I did not make enchiladas last night. Instead I had the pulled pork and finished that off. If I feel up to it, I’ll make enchiladas tonight. Even if I do, I’ll probably do a canned enchilada sauce instead of making homemade.
We got two rainstorms this morning. The first was around 2 am and the second was around 7 am. As usual, the lawn sprinklers came on like clockwork at 5 am so my lawn got three waterings today. The lawn sprinklers are on well water with high iron content. For years, ecologists have been predicting salt water intrusion into our area but so far, my well water has not been contaminated.
I rented Hidden Figures last night. I had seen the movie a few years ago and enjoyed it. For $3.99 it was much cheaper than going out to the movies. I haven’t done that since before the pandemic. It’s a stellar cast and shows the problems of segregation while working for NASA. I enjoyed it as much the second time around as I did the first.
My Phalaenopsis orchid is getting ready to bloom which is kind of hard to believe with all the “cold” weather we’ve been having. When I checked on it this afternoon, I noticed the second smaller plant was getting ready to bloom also.
Notice the aerial roots of the orchid that attach to the pygmy date palm. There’s a gray covering over the roots called a velamen and it’s like a sponge that absorbs water. One of the leaves of the smaller orchid has been fed on by an iguana.
Most Phalaenopsis sold in stores have a white bloom and are clones. I forget what color mine is but it isn’t white. I think it’s more purple in coloration. I’ll soon be reminded if the drop in temperature tonight doesn’t kill it. Orchids can generally withstand 50°F but anything lower can damage or kill them. One forecast predicts 49°F tonight.
I used to cover up all my plants during cold spells but gave that up years ago. My back yard seems to be fairly sheltered and I haven’t lost plants to cold weather for years.
Next week is not as busy as this week. Monday I have a 11:50 am physical therapy and Wednesday I have an appointment with my endocrinologist at 2:30 pm.
Stay tuned!
