It started with a walk in the back 40 – and then off to the market, which has moved to Woodbank School at the end of my street.

My gosh, this market has grown in size – it’s huge. And, of course, delightful. I bought lots of organic produce and, best of all, a couple of loaves of bread from Bodhi Bakery. Bodhi is, in a word, sensational. So lunch was fresh apple cider rye with organic greens. More of the same for dinner but this time I plan on adding radishes, baby cukes, organic tomatoes – yeah – I love the market.

Organic blueberries for breakfast tomorrow.

After lunch and chores, a flying visit from Annette (and family). How lucky am I to get a huge Annette hug and kiss a week after arriving back? I mean – really!

I feel blessed.

And then Abby and I took a walk in Hemer Park for an hour and a half. Of course, Abby jumped into the muddiest part of the lake (29 degrees today) – and I’m not talking about any mud. I am talking about deep black pitch-like substances. And she sank into it – deep. Yes, I had a magically transformed dog – yellow lab to black lab.

Thankfully, she jumped into the lake and wallowed twice more in relatively clean water. I did the best I could to clean her up, which is to say, not perfectly clean at all but relatively acceptable.

And I wonder why I am vacuuming and mopping the floor almost every day.

I had a good time with the camera today as I edge my way up the learning curve. Thanks to tips from Scott, I am gaining a lot of confidence and taking better and better pictures.

I’m also still in my emotions – still brought up short every now and then during the day by the ache in my chest. And it’s okay. What I really miss: that Simon called me “Love.” I miss that specialness.