Sun. Shade. Sidewalks. Serendipity.

As I walked across the street to head to the corner, I made a conscious decision to walk in the shade, if I could manage to not have to rub against the originator of the shade, that giant hedge. I quickly realized that wasn't going to happen, and, at the same time, I noticed that my left arm felt cooler air on it than my right arm. On my iPhone the temp registered 90 degrees, so I was surprised that the shade made a noticeable difference as I stopped and stood there to take this photo. I love paying attention to what's going on around me, but this, this was wonderful. Serendipity today, being in the moment, aware, experiencing. Yea!



Before continuing around the corner, I turned to look north towards NE Sandy and took this photo, just to document the hedge, the shade, the sunshine, the sidewalk. Wonderful to live in a neighborhood with such sidewalks.

Flickr and Blogger continue to drive me crazy. I really wish I knew more about what's happening and understood if there's something I need to do to stop it from happening. Whew. Anyway, the photos are so small right now that I'm sad, but at least they are on the post. I thought for a few minutes that I'd never get it done today!

Walking this morning before the predicted rains

My lower legs, ankles, feet, shoes, and socks carried the rest of me two blocks east, one block south, two blocks west, around Albertina Kerr, and back across the street to home.



My first stop, Providore Fine Foods, where I bought two chicken breasts, never frozen, and a container of medley tomatoes--several sorts of cherries and other small tomatoes. I do not intend to have to go to Fred Meyer this weekend. By the way, I had to enter through this partially open door since I arrived right at 9:30 a.m. and no one had yet unlocked the door. This is a photo I took a few weeks ago when we had brilliant blue skies which I wish we had today. Alas, it is May in Portland and lately our weather has been spectacular which makes anything at all bearable.



On that block south, I noticed these lovely flamingos advertising Pie Spot where one finds fabulously-crusted-and-filled delights, sweet and savory. So happy they weren't open yet because the brown sugar pecan pie tempts the hell outta me.



Across the parking lot, here's more exciting art--a mural I know nothing about other than I like it! Next to 24th and Meatballs, a place I've only eaten at once back four years ago when they opened. I didn't care for it, at all, so I've not spent any more money there.



See what I mean by exciting art! Here's a close up for y'all to enjoy!



I sat at a picnic table on the sidewalk at the end of the block and took this photo looking west along the rest of the micro-restaurant pod known as The Ocean. I have no idea why. I've only eaten at the last restaurant in the row, Slow Burger. It's pretty good but doesn't call my name very often.



Across the corner, a shop I've never been in--I don't drink wine--but I like their windows a whole lot!



Around the corner as I headed back west, I noticed some lovely roses on a shrub/tree beside the steps up to an apartment building. Well, it might be condos for all I know. It has a locked wrought iron gate on a wrought iron fence which keeps folks who don't belong out of the courtyard. I'm still learning how to use my Olympus E-M5II that I got last October, and it took me several tries to get a photo I could live with. What do you think? Is it OK?



The peonies look heavy-headed alongside one of the driveways to the Albertina Kerr parking lot.



For perspective on our spring, the peonies on March 27.



And the peonies on April 16.

Now for random roses at Albertina Kerr. I'm blessed to have these across the street!













And the crow who joined me for a few seconds.

UPDATE and seen in the neighborhood

UPDATE: Stayed awake better today after sleeping well during the night. Portland's weather has been cooperative with my not having to run the window unit, so the fresh air in the apartment has been great. It is predicted to be much warmer tomorrow, so I'm going to turn it on before I go to work tomorrow. Thanks to everyone for your continued prayers, love and concern.



Naturally, this is an eye-catching vehicle. I have no idea what it is, other than pretty. I took this photo from the south sidewalk along NE Sandy Blvd. That's the credit union during the remodel, there on the north side of the street, in the trees.



Naturally, this is an eye-catching color of hair. The TriMet bus is stopped at the bus stop on the north side of NE Sandy Blvd. This is the one where I catch westbound buses when I go to work or into downtown. The fence is still up from the credit union remodel days. The colorful shrubs are still in the planter, too. I miss them!

UPDATE - And today's reason I went back outside

UPDATE:

I woke up feeling less energy than yesterday but knew that I needed to go out for a walk. I made it OK and came back to the apartment. I've been out for one more walk, a shorter walk.

I still don't feel like I want to feel today--no fever, no particular aches and pains, just don't feel very well.



I like to walk up and down this street which is on the south of my building. There's lots to look at, and, even though this photo doesn't show it, most of the sidewalk is shaded by trees. Yesterday I noticed that one of the trees in front of this building was gone, replaced by a tiny thing that looks to be some sort of shrub. Since a woman had come out to put her trash in the bin and we'd said hello as she passed, I commented, "Oh, y'all have lost a tree." She let me know that a repair person who came to work on something in the building had hit it, and and that was that. We talked for a moment about how sad that was, to lose a tree. She headed toward the entrance sidewalk and I went on my way, turning to look at the building. I've always enjoyed it architectural details.



I looked up and noticed immediately that we had company. I asked the woman if she had a dog on the second floor, looking out the window. She smiled, and without even looking up, said no, that that was Zoe who was a really sweet dog. This is the first photo that I took when I went back outside today, to see if I could get a chance to photograph Zoe.



Here's the second one, not a whole lot better. I didn't want to spook her with my iPhone, so I turned towards my building and walked on home.

UPDATE and why I went outside again this morning.

UPDATE:

Yesterday evening the outer dressings came off my two incisions without any trouble. Hooray! Woke up at 1:45 a.m. and finally got back to sleep around 2:30 a.m. Slept until 6:15 a.m. which means I got some rest. I ate breakfast after I woke up the second time. Still no nausea or taste alterations. The peripheral neuropathy continues to get better--thank goodness. When it does happen, it's mostly in my feet. Since I need to build up my stamina before Chemo Round Two, I walked outside in the shade yesterday for a total of 4583 steps, according to the Health app on my iPhone 6 Plus. That's four times my daily average. Hooray! This morning when I went outside, the skies were overcast, so I was able to walk in my neighborhood and made it 1194 steps in about 20 minutes. I'll be back outside in the shade until much later today because the sun has come out. I am blessed to live where I do, to have the opportunities during my recovery. Thank you for your continued prayers, love and concern.



Yesterday when I walked outside on the south side of the building in the shade, I made it to the corner of my building and saw the beautiful sunshine in the banana tree in the southern end of the front yard. The two-story Albertina Kerr building across the street makes great early morning shade.



I continued toward the front steps and took this photo at a different angle from all the others I've taken of our front sidewalk and entrance.



Here's the sunshine that I needed to avoid. Isn't it beautiful?



To me, the proximity of these roses and the difference in the age of their blooms makes for a great photo. What do you think, please?

A few more neighborhood sights seen on recent walks, more recent ones followed by older ones.

Poppy.



Succulents.



Daisy.



Roses.



Dumpsters.



The Blue Diamond.



Albertina Kerr's front steps.



Motorcyclists.



Bicyclist.



Bicyclist.



Albertina Kerr's front yard.