Smell testing

Today I got good news – the last bit of stress I had that might derail my plans for the next several weeks went poof. I am TRULY unleashed now.

The weather turned towards wintery yesterday so I had happy hour last evening on the patio of a friend with temp in the 40’s with a wind so gusty the fire pit wouldn’t provide heat. I was dressed in 4 layers on top and 3 on the bottom as I did not bring warm enough clothes.

Today was a bit warmer for the visit to the DC Arboretum to see lilacs and azaleas. I was carrying mimosa’s (in the large blue bag) to celebrate the good news. We were not able to find a warm enough place outside to enjoy them so we resorted to the car in between the visits to lilacs and the azaleas. The lilacs provided an opportunity for smell testing. My friends would smell them and then I would. On some of then, I could not smell anything, on some a slight floral scent but there was one that I actually think I smelled lilac. Later I had the opportunity to smell test a dead rat trapped in a ceiling. I got a “hint” but not much – not a bad thing in this case. Recovery is in process.

Tonight I will do taste retraining with some Indian food. Tomorrow I will do a chilly bike ride before taking off in the afternoon to go part way to my next destination, Hendersonville, NC. It is supposed to rain much of Saturday along the route so by starting tomorrow I will have a chance to see the beautiful Eastern Redbud Trees along I-81 again..