Up at dark o'clock, and why I won't take people walking. Again.

Now and then I wake up way before dawn, ready to start the day. Today, for instance. Up at five and having coffee, reading, enjoying watching dawn break.

Of course by nine I was sleeping on the sofa. In fact most of the day, with intervals of texting, blogging and spouting. Also making lentil squash soup. Not really a morning person.

The soup was a bit low-key despite umami mixture, garlic, onions, smoked paprika, all that. Then I added cumin and tomatoes and suddenly it cheered up. I blended it then added a drop of coconut milk. Now it's really good. 

It used up some leftover red lentil croquette things in the freezer, and a butternut  squash.  It's a beautiful color, always a good point with food. And the texture works. I can't remember the ingredients of the lentil things, but they're sure to be what my mom used to call "all good ingredients" when something wasn't as good as hoped.

And I had a chat with Gary. The chocolate cake I took over the other day, enough for two, vanished fast, evidently, his guest helping. You can't go far wrong with chocolate cake.

He's at it again to get me to haul our neighbor out walking, and I said firmly fitness is something you have to do for yourself. I suggested they walk together, taking his dog. At which point he said, but I don't do that myself, don't like the cold! I guess he's happy to send his friends out though, too funny. 

And I got a walk a bit more like the usual distance, figuring if Helen doesn't get worse, okay to push a bit.  Then home to a heat pack, well, a heated rice-filled sock. I certainly feel a lot more cheerful and hopeful for doing it. Walking, not heating socks.

I need to get potting soil soon, as the longer days make it feasible to repot a couple of small plants outgrowing and exhausting their pots. One of them is Gary's tiny anthurium, which has put out a new leaf, so I'd like to encourage her.

And, hearing local friends' stories about their retirement communities and politics, reminds me that I'll do whatever it takes to stay here!

Happy day everyone. I guess soup would be a good idea for Florida friends, not just the frozen northern wastes just now.