Summer

Summer finally began for me mentally and emotionally in July.  It took a bit for my brain not to worry when leaving the house.  For someone who rarely hesitates to fly off somewhere, hadn't expected to feel so much paranoia.

Due to the insurance claim process, I was a month late with moving out to our forested getaway.  Since settling in there, it had been a different type of challenge with all those gypsy moth caterpillars and their poop everywhere.  Lots of daily sweeping and removal.  

Am currently back home recovering as the extended rain we have gotten the last month had meant a crazy mosquito and deer fly season.  I have been eaten up by them despite being mostly covered up along with copious amounts of bug spraying.  And I react to bites so welts all over along with feeling irritable and tired. 

After a few days of taking antihistamines, I usually start to feel better.  Happy to be home and great to have access to a bathtub and central air again.  Plus it is easier to cook and bake here and order another bug zapper before heading back out.

Speaking of AC, it has been very recently replaced.  The previous one was just over 25 years old, so it didn't owe anyone anything.  It just decided to quietly stop working.  The new model is 16 seer and ended up costing just under 5K installed.  Unfortunately no government rebates this time around.

Almost forgot -- Canoeing is going well.  Been out a couple dozen times already.  The canoe courses paid for themselves when we got caught in wind and rain -- Much more to it than kayaking.  The on and off the roof of the car process has gotten streamlined as well.