Paddle Boats

You can tell when it is officially summer when the paddleboats appear on Lake Ralphine. We got out early this morning for a walk with Spike as it was supposed to be quite hot later. We toiled up a steep rocky slope on the other side of the lake and  then spent quite a bit of time looking for a better way back down. The only one of us who wasn't having trouble with the terrain was Spike! The path we took back down decanted us very close to Trail House so we walked over there for a coffee.

It has taken four days, but I have finished my closet purge. I've lost count of the bags of clothes in the garage which will go to charity. There are a few other bags in the guest bedroom closet which I saved out for friends and family to check out, because they are quite nice. I saved a few special things just in case I ever need to get really dressed up again. They're in the closet with the three outfits I wore to my children's weddings...truly sentimental as I know I will never wear them again.

I even went through the jewelry. I decided there was no better place than hanging on the special picture frame/wire mesh article John made for me years ago where they have been hanging for years. It looks a lot better now that I have cleared out about 75% of the things that were hanging there.I have a shoebox of things stashed under the bed, also for sentimental reasons, and another one to go to the charity shop.

It's almost like going shopping. I've found several things I had forgotten about that were buried in the back of the jammed closet. The trick, of course, as with all purges is keeping it this way. Stuff has a way of mysteriously multiplying again ....until it has reached its angle of repose.

Reading an article from the New York Times today on the reaction to Trump's conviction, I was struck by the fact that both sides were saying the exact same thing...if (the other guy) wins, it will be the end of democracy as we know it..... Go figure.

Today is grandson Peter's birthday and we'll be celebrating over salmon cooked by Jim.