We saw this styrofoam on our walk. This is on the other side of the road from where we cleaned up last week.
As I wrote last week, we decided to have a quiet weekend without cooking, cleaning and entertaining.
It was lovely. We’ve been entertaining and going out with friends more than introvert me prefers. I don’t know why our neighborhood is so darn social. Maybe it’s the years of being shut down. The newcomers — like us — who moved during the pandemic were looking to end isolation and make new friends.
Anyhow, a weekend alone was much needed and appreciated.
Some of the highlights were our morning and afternoon walks. We decided to double up on walking and although my feet and knees hurt, I think it may be good for me?
Last week, we noticed trash on the side of the road and sidewalk. We picked up several bags and felt good about our good deed. I wrote about that HERE. After this weekend, we are up to eight bags of trash. The side of the road we started on looks wonderful. But then one day we ventured to the other side of the road — and it’s a mess!
As we were headed back to our garbage cans at our house with our stuffed bags and my husband holding random pieces of styrofoam too big for the bags, we ran into neighbors. They said they thought about doing the same thing. The wife asked her husband to take a photo of us holding our trash! She said, “You can put it in the newsletter and maybe it will encourage others to do the same.”
“That’s a great idea,” the husband said snapping our picture. “We’ll put you guys in the newsletter.”
I laughed along with the wife. He obviously didn’t know that I’m the one who writes and lays out the newsletter.
After they left my husband said, “Over my dead body.”
He explained that he likes to pick up trash because it makes the desert cleaner and it gives him a sense of satisfaction. He doesn’t want any recognition or attaboys for it. Thankfully, he doesn’t read my blog!
Another highlight of our afternoon walks, besides listening to the birds, who I can now identify by their calls and songs — thanks to Bird Buddy — was when a neighbor drove up the road and unrolled her window.
“Down across the street is a big bobcat,” she said.
We thanked her and I wanted to turn around. My husband pushed on. “They are afraid of us,” he said.
We walked to the end of the block and a few feet from us was a bobcat — who is much stockier and filled out than the skinny one we see in our yard. He walked nonchalantly across the road. He was in no rush and didn’t give us a glance. My husband tried to snap his picture — for the newsletter of course — but he quickly disappeared in the brush on the other side of the road.
This is our skinny bobcat on our patio. She passes through for a bird snack from time to time.
Saturday night we watched football. But in two different rooms. I’m a big Utah Utes fan. My husband is rooting for USC and both games were on Saturday night.
USC is already headed to the PAC 12 champs, regardless of what happened Saturday.
Utah had a few hurdles:
They had to beat CO — done 63-21
Oregon State had to beat Oregon — done 38-34
UCLA had to beat CAL — done 35 – 28
Washington had to beat Washington State — done 51 – 33
All the dominoes fell into place. Can you believe it? Our next game is Utah vs. USC for the conference title. I have a feeling we’ll be watching in separate rooms again.
What are some of the simple pleasures you enjoyed this past weekend?
You’re doing a great job cleaning up the neighborhood. But who is littering?
What we believe is workers with pick up trucks. The trash may blow out the back.
Not cool.
I think they put the trash in the open beds not knowing it will blow away. But when we find beer bottles, they have to be thrown out the windows.
Of course it’s deliberate.
Unfortunately 😡
😳
This was a very bust weekend for me, as is when my daughter is home. Even though she spent a lot of time with friends, I felt like we were go go go…I could use a quiet day
I’m jealous of your time with your daughter. I find them so rare now that my kids are in their careers. Enjoy all the busy times!
I’m taking advantage of it while I can
👍🏼
I think it’s great that you and others are helping to pick up trash. Does the city or county have any sort of program for cleaning bigger public roads? Do you have to pay to put out all those extra bags at garbage pickup time?
We are using grocery size bags and filled eight of them in one week. They all fit in our trash bin. It was full! I don’t know about any county programs. I will look at their website.
Your bobcat is looking a little thin. We have a momma and her kittens(?) meandering the neighborhood. We used to also have coyotes but I havent seen one in a while. Kudos with keeping up with the trash.
Thanks! We do have a skinny bobcat. The one we saw on our walk was much heavier. I saw a coyote twice last week. I’d love to see bobcat kittens.
The kittens have grown up. When they were young they looked exactly like momma but only half the height. So cute, I’m sure I would lose a finger or two if I got too close.
That is a think bobcat. I would keep my eye on that one. “Over my dead body…” I gather your husband doesn’t like to draw attention to himself.
Yes, my husband is a private person. I took that photo of the skinny bobcat after she ate three birds she scooped out of the air. Then she fell sound to sleep.
Oh……
The bobcat is not afraid of drama!
👍🏼
Sorry…..thin…..
Got it!
I would be like your husband – don’t put me in the newsletter! But good for you guys picking up trash. Just a quiet weekend at home and a nice mountain bike ride one afternoon.
That sounds lovely 😊