Last week I learned i do indeed have Lyme disease. Not too surprising, given all the outdoor work i've been doing. So i'm entering the 2nd of my 3-week antibiotic regimen. The only symptom i have had is pretty much constant headaches that never really go away. Once i started the meds, they went away, but now they're back, so i think this thing is still very much in my system.

I just feel discouraged as i am very much aware of the high risk of Lyme in my area. When doing yardwork, i tuck my pants into my nearly knee-high boots and when i'm doing lots of heavy duty yardwork, i also spray the boots with Deet (Off). I also put my hair back in a pony tail and when i've done for the day, soak in the tub. And still, i got Lyme.

Been here 13 years and this is the first time for Lyme, 2nd time for a tick-borne disease. (I had erlichiosis 2 years ago.)

I never saw a tick on me or the rash....

Today was a quiet Mother's Day. Had my sister and mother over my place for lunch. Pasta shells with celery, green pepper and sun dried tomatoes with olive oil and a little mayo. Sis brought a salad fresh from her garden. I also made DELICIOUS cheddar Bisquick bisquits.

I was going to take my mom over to the farm ice cream stand but it was just a little cool for that.

Didn't get quite as much done this weekend as i normally would, and even today i came in the house around 6 pm, which is so unlike me. Usually i spend every spare minute outdoors, but i just don't feel energetic. Saturday i did a fair amount, a dump run with some rusty old barbed wire i cut from the property line between me and my neighbor. It's been there for year's, my neighbor's, and i just decided to cut up what i could see and bring it to the "Metal" section at the dump. Also brought another pile of sticks and branches with the usual trash.

Filled up the gas tank at about $3.89 and bought $85 worth of Stop N Shop groceries, a lot for me, but i stocked up on Lean Cuisines, which are half price this week and very convenient for my workday lunches. Also got 3 loaves of Pepperidge Farm German dark wheat bread, also 1/3 off.

My sister gave me some pepper, broccoli and lettuce seedlings, so i planted all those after they left this afternoon.

I spotted a woodchuck in my backyard this weekend, which was very upsetting becus i had believed them to be gone this year and they are terribly destructive, more so than deer. They willl decimate an entire garden in an evening. My small 6 x 6 veggie garden is fenced, but with the flimsy netting and posts that i think will deter deer, but i am sure the woodchuck could dig under it. My only hope is that there is so much ELSE to eat in my yard that he won't be particularly attracted to the garden, but i really don't know. I've put so much work and hope into it already. I'm considering digging a trench around the entire garden and laying plastic fencing vertically, then horizontally, so that he cannot dig under. But that's a lot of work.

Did a focus group one night last week. Went there right after work; it made for a long evening, but it was $100 cash so i felt it was worth it.

I have some freelance work to do, meant to do it this weekend but once i got into the document i realized i needed more info from the client, so will have to wait for a response back before i can begin. Doing it on a weekend is vastly more preferable to me than being tired and forced to work on it after my regular job.

Still waiting to get a price from the contractor about enclosing my screened porch with windows. His daughter was graduating from college last week. I should hear this week.

The yard is beauitful. My neighbor complimented me on it. He even shut off his rider mower to walk over and tell me as i worked in the side yard. He's the guy who loos like Norman Rockwell, tall, thin and usually with a pipe in his mouth.

The dogwoods are in bloom. I have about 4 white ones and only 1 pink one left. The azaelas, fuscia and salmon colored, are in bloom while the big white ones in back are about ready to burst open.

In the coming weeks i'll see the rhododendrons and mountain laurel.

Bluebirds still seem to be occupying the next box. If you keep from walking in the front yard and perhaps just sit on the front stoop, you can see the male hang out, first on the lower branch of the birch, then on the metal pole/support for the clematis, and at times on top of the box itself.

the hummingbird has also returned for the season and has already settled into the routine of sugar water visits about every 10 minutes or so. Also saw a rose-breasted grosbeak at the feeder, so it's certainly worth it to continue feeding them in the summer. You never know what you'll see. One year, it was a blue indigo bunting, even more spectacular than a bluebird, IMO.

As far as i know, i haven't gotten my IRS refund yet. My sister said the IRS site will indicate what week checks are mailing for certain SS numbers, so i will have to check that out.

The personal challenge i have set myself is to make only ONE car trip per weekend. Yes, I can consolidate errandsd as much as i want, but ONLY ONE trip. So that trip was Saturday, and it was on the way back from grocery shopping that i realized i'd meant to stop at the bait shop for meal worms for the bluebirds, but with frozen Lean Cuisines in the car, i was reluctant to stop, so i didn't.

After unloading the groceries at home, i decided what the heck, let's be adventurous, and i got my unused bike from the basement, filled the tires with air and pedaled down to the bait shop, about a 15 minute pedal each way. Not bad at all and i was feeling very satisfied that i saved the gas. Even surprised that the back tire held, cus there was a patch that looked scraped up and i should really replace it when i can.