Can it be Fall already?

I can't believe the time has passed so quickly. My husband's surgery was just over 2 months ago and it's been about that long since I've written a blog. Whatever have I been doing these past weeks and where does the time go? Does anyone else ever feel that way?

Probably the biggest thing that's been going on is that I started a class up at the gym that meets 3 evenings a week - from 6 - 7 p.m. Leaving the house after 5 p.m. for anything is very unusual for me so the timing of this class was a challenge. Another challenge was just how hard it was to get my body back into some kind of shape after almost 6 months of little daily exercise. That started about February with one of the worst winters I can remember. We had more snow than we've had in years - and of course, the year the darn snow blower broke. So there was a lot of shoveling to be done, especially in the back yard so my dear Daisy would have places to do her business because the snow was taller than she is. Then my husband's long illness started mid-April.

So back to the class. It's been challenging, it takes a whole lot out of me, but it has done what I needed it to do. I am regaining my endurance and strength but I'm beginning to wonder at what price. I am also experiences a lot of pain in my real knee which is beginning to worry me. I had committed to myself that I would stay in the class for at least 3 months which would take me to mid-October. This weekend I thought a lot about quitting now because our workout on Thursday was so intense that I could barely move on Friday. But I have decided to have a talk with my trainer who leads our group of 4 - 6 women so she can provide some modifications for me.

We always start on the treadmills, or another form of cardio. Then we do strength exercises, most days with a kettlebell or barbells. Next a repeat of the cardio with another set of strength exercises. It is working. I am stronger and feel better on most days. I understand the point is to push ourselves beyond what we would typically do on our own but I think I need to remember that this body of mine has served me well for almost 70 years but it needs a bit more time for recovery when I push it so hard.

Today we have a plumber here installing a new laundry tub. He had to take out the old one, you know, those heavy concrete tubs of the 50's. It is costing a lot to have this done but the old one was just falling apart and starting to leak. It's funny how when you don't have something (he had to turn off the water) that's the very thing you think you need.

Back to fall - it is dark in the mornings now when I get up and I have to remember to get outside with Daisy right after dinner because it gets dark so much earlier at night. We've had rain for several days with one day of reprieve yesterday. Today it has been raining all day and about once an hour things get really dark, we get heavy rain for about 5 minutes, then it lightens up again. I do love fall. It always feels like a time to think about what's ahead. I have been cutting back my summer flowers and waiting for all the fall flowers to bloom. It's time to wash the windows and get the house ready for winter. I hear it's going to be another long one!

I hope today brings lots of joy and happiness to each and every one of you!