Back to Reality…Slowly

So today brought me back to reality...though I plan to reenter reality slowly! Today I just a little of this and a little of that around the house. I put a few things away, rehung towels in the upstairs bathroom that Cheryl used, did a little planting, etc. I did porch sit in the early morning with my cup of tea and a couple of cameras. I managed to get a few little birdies to pose for me. Tonight's photo is one of the ones I took. I did turn on the TV today and watched the Olympics off and on. I sat back and rested whie watching...probably dozed a bit, too. I really haven't had much energy today. I got rid of another bag of trash...the bag that didn't fit into our outside garbage can...so in process of filling the garbage can...again. Well, my eyes won't stay open at the moment...this may not make a lot of sense tonight! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

All Good Things Must Come to an End!

We had our last porch sitting times today. Melany joined us this afternoon. Melany came a little before noon. We visited and had lunch and looked at the plants and porch sat for a bit before they left for the airport. Melany is now back home safely and Cheryl is winging her way towards Arizona. And, I am here bouncing around in an empty house...have to get used to that all over again! This morning Cheryl and I made one more run to donate more things that I sorted through. Before she left, Cheryl got her towels into the washer and then the dryer. So I have folded those, but haven't gotten them upstairs yet. I have another load of wash in the dryer now. I decided to turn on the TV a little while ago and am watching the Olympics. I texted with Cheryl up until she had to go into airplane mode...they were starting to taxi down the runway. When I looked at the photos for tonight's blog, I had to look twice at me...realized what it was...no glasses! I can see very well...except for reading and other up close things. I had trouble telling if the photos that I took this afternoon were in focus or not...again something that needs close vision. Guess I must be getting better as it is starting to bother me not to see certain things well. I am wearing a pair of Woody's reading glasses as I write this. They do help, but don't fit me the best. But things continue to progress very well with my eyes. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Things Are Hopping Around Here!

First thing hopping is my new bunny lamp. I think that some in the family are wondering about my choice...but I really like this new touch on my end table in my bedroom. Just a fun, whimisical touch! He hopped here via FedEx today. So, after lunch, Cheryl and I enjoyed opening up his box and freeing him. Our majoy accomplishment of the day was getting the car title transferred over to me. That went easy peasy. We got registration papers to put in the glove compartment and the new title will come in the mail in a few days. While we were in Manchester and in the shopping center that houses most of our county offices, we dropped into the registrar of deeds to see if I have to do anything with our house and the lot behind of that we own jointly. We were told that I don't have to do anything with that...but then the girl said that, "at least she didn't think I did." So I will check into that further. We continue to go through things. The garbage can is pretty full for this week's pick up! I will be glad when it is picked up so I can put what won't fit in now, in it after it is empty again! Nathan, Kathy, and all the grandkids showed up late this afternoon to say good by to Auntie Cheryl. We decided to get pizza and feed the crew, as they have been without electricity for a good part of the afternoon. All but Nathan, Elijah, Isaac, and Joseph have left. The ones still here are watching the Olympics. Woody had quite a collection of 3-D puzzles...enough to give to the grands, who want one. So they had fun all spread out on the family room floor trying to solve them. I know that several left with a puzzle in their hand...I am wondering if there will be any left when the last leave! Cheryl is all packed. Her flight leaves Nashville tomorrow evening. Melany is going to see that she gets to the airport in time to check in. She has gotten her boarding pass. So I guess the inevitable leaving is going to happen. It will be pretty quiet around here when she is gone! Once again, I can say that my eye sight continues to improve. My new left eye is seeing very well now...and, I am not missing wearing glasses...except when I attempt to try to read...and this print that I am following while writing the blog isn't all that clear...readers in my future! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Sunday Frustration

We have had a quiet day for the most part. The one frustrating part was finding the car title. Cheryl and I are planning to go tomorrow to get the process going to change the car title over to my name. I knew where Woody stored such papers, but I could not find it. I looked through that lock box three times before I found it and in the process went through papers in three other drawers...guess you could say it was a "good thing" since I cleaned out some more messes of unnecessary papers to hold on to anymore. But I was pretty disgusted that I couldn't put my hands on the one item that I wanted. On that third time, I found the title just three items down from the top! (insert rolling eyes!!!!!) I made a new recipe for a cake that turned out to be quite good. We had our "Uber Eats" delivered meal...this one delivered by Melany more than a month ago to have when Cheryl was here...so it had been in the freezer. It was her yummy stuffed shells. We had the garlic cheese bread from yesterday with it along with a small square of cake. Cheryl's time here is running out all too fast! Tomorrow she will have to gather her things together and pack. (insert sad face!) A quick report on my eyes. The newest eye continues to improve. I can see out of it very well now. It just isn't "quite right" yet, I'm sure because of swelling. I continue with the drops in that eye and also am using lubricating drops since I have a problem with dry eyes...not due to surgery, but for years. At this point I no longer want to reach for glasses to see far away...now up close is another thing. I will be glad when they are healed and the way they will be so the doctor and I can figure out what strength reading glasses I will need. To be continued! Be well! Be safe! Be cautious!

Saturday Doings

Cheryl ws the hardest worker today. She got busy and planted the last of the plants that we bought at Lowe's. I think that she got six plants out of the three that were left. We have done some watering. This evening once it got a little cooler (a bit humid today), she got on to one of her last projects for her stay...the dirty inside of our car. It looks so much better! I did a little cleaning of the edges around the insides where it gets dirty and washing the car doesn't get to those spots. So...a much cleaner car! We had our special meal of her visit...a very good steak dinner with baked potatoes with the works, and cheesy garlic bread. We're still very full and we ate mid afternoon. I did take a rather long snooze after the meal and Cheryl a bit shorter one! My eyes continue to see better. The newest one still isn't quite there yet...but getting much better each day and I feel no evidence of Wednesday's eye injury. I continue with my drops and hopefully my eye continues to heal...figure that since I can see out of it is good evidence that it is healing! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

The Eye is Miraculous!

Can you believe it...but my cornea surface had healed by this morning and the doctor removed the contact bandaid. We are still not sure what caused "my problem." I did move involuntarily once during the start of the laser part of the surgery which might have caused the abrasion. But I also have very dry eyes and they I frequently have an occurance of my eyelids sticking to my eyeball which really hurts and I have always wondered if that didn't injure the surface of my eye...so it might be a combination. But I guess that the upper layer of the cornea got messed up pretty badly. But the doctor did whatever he needed to do...then popped a contact on the eye to act as a bandaid and today when he took it off the surface had healed. I'm glad that eyes heal so quickly. My first eye that was operated on (right eye) could see 20/30 today...so better than 20/20. The newly operated on eye has a ways to go, but I can see more clearly all the time...still blurry, but a lot less blurry than last night or this morning. He was pleased with how well I healed and I will go back to see him in a week. I will be finished with drops in the right eye after tonight's drops. Then I will concentrate just on the left eye. I am to add in a couple of extra steroid drops during the day to help get the swelling down. The swelling is also much better today than yesterday or the day before. So major progress. The right eye is compensating for the left and I can see very well when looking off at a distance. I am doing very little activity with my eyes t the moment...not much on the iPad, not much reading, not any stitching. He told me today that he will help me figure out what strength reading glasses I will need once my eyes have healed. Cheryl and I ran errands after my appointment. We went to the Credit Union. I turned in a little over $20 in change that I had accumulated in containers on my dresser...first time that I had used the machine to count change. I also transferred Alex's birthday present to his account. I forgot last night to wish Alex a happy birthday! Happy late birthday, Alex! We went to Hobby Lobby to buy each other our Fall decorative gifts...this way we won't have to mail them to each other! By this time it was lunch time so we came home, ate lunch, and regrouped. Nathan, Kathy, Joy, Esther, Elijah, Isaac, and Joseph stopped by for a short visit. Nathan did a couple of sonny-dos. Later in the afternoon, we went to WalMart to get a few things needed to feed the birds and a few things for ourselves...including the flag in this photo. We stopped at Kroger to get one item for our supper either tomorrow or Sunday. We are now home and settling in for the night. We did get bird feeders filled. And, the birds were having quite a feast as the evening drew to a close. The birds have discovered that our dining area is once again open and they seem very happy...of course so do the squirrels! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Things are a Little Clearer

I can see out of the original eye that was operated on almost as well as I could before the tweek...but the new one is still "to be determined!" There is very little pain today...just a bit uncomfortable...and bothersome. Having my eye not feeling the greatest sort of makes me feel not the greatest. I just sort of want to sit with both eyes closed. Not a lot has been accomplished around here today...lots of sitting. The accomplishments of the afternoon were...we both took a nap and Cheryl's phone fell out of her back pocket into the toilet...oh, no!!! But it seems to be none the worse for wear. The surgery center called to check on me. I don't think they expect to be told that things are just going "so-so!" I go back to see the surgeon in the morning. We'll see what he says and does in the morning. I know that he will take out the contact then. I thought that it was floating away this afternoon, but think that it finally settled back into place. I can't see well enough to know if the contact is where it is supposed to be or not! Plus my left eye is still rather swollen...so hard to tell much. I am faithfully putting in the antibiotic and steroid drops in both eyes. I will stop the drops on the right eye (original eye done) after tomorrow as long as all is going well. I did have a new "thing" done in my left eye. He implanted near the tear duct in that eye something containing steroids that continuously put steroids into the eye for a couple of months. I will get to stop the steroid drops sooner this time due to that implant...unless what has happened to my eye makes me continue longer. Time will tell. I'm glad that eyes heal quickly...at this point...bot quickly enoiygh!!! I am so thankful that this happened at this surgery rather than the first one...fist due to me wanting to go back to have second one done and secondly at the point we were with Woody's declining health! I was back at the hospital the day after my first surgery staying with Woody...the way things are going this time would have made that very difficult! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious! Tonight's photo was taken just a few minutes ago while we sat on the front porch...little hummingbird coming in for last feedings before sleep!

Almost First and Definitely Last Today

I had an appointment with the eye doctor this morning...third to sign in...everything seemed fine at that appointment. Came home and didn't do much as I still couldn't see all that well. I went upstairs around noon to do my eye drops and decided to close my eyes for a few minutes. I think I may have dozed a bit. But when I woke up my eye that had cataract surgery yesterday was really hurting...like something was in the eye. I used eye libricating drops on it hoping to solve the problem. We ate lunch and it was still hurting. So I called the eye doctor's office. They told me to put in a lot of the lubricating drops and to put a cold compress on my eyes and promised that it would feel better. Well, two hours later with lots more lubricating drops and lying with the cold compress on my eyes for most of that time, their promise was not fulfilled! At this point tears were running down my face on that side and if I opened the other eye it hurt the eye that I was trying to keep closed. I called again and they said to come in since we lived close. When I got there, I was met with the tech telling me that the doctor said that I probably just needed to do more steroid drops, but since I was there, that they wanted to see me. Well, in the end, good that I went in as I had some abrasion...or something on my cornea which he sceaped off and has put a contact lens over to protect it for the moment. I am to keep putting in the drops...just in the corner and let them roll in to not dislocate the contact. My eye is quite swollen. He said that this would set back my healing some, and that it was good that I had come in...for their last appointment of the day! Already my eye feels much better...of course, the numbing drops may have not worn off. But I can finally see better...though neither eye sees all that great...yet! Patience! I will go back to see him on Friday morning. Looks like the last week of Cheryl's visit is going to be spent going back and forth to the eye doctor...eye surgery yesterday, eye check today, eye fix this afternoon. Hopefully no eye appointments tomorrow! Cheryl finished one of our projects while I rested my eyes this afternoon. She got the wheelchair, etc. stored in the upstairs hall closet. Big job done. It has rained off and on today so no outdoor jobs accomplished today. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

The First shall be Last

Surgery went well, except doctor was running late. first surgery i was first patient. this surgery i was last patient. we didnt get home till 4pm! Long day. he had some difficult surgeries today which put him behind. I wont say much tonight, as my eyes arent seeing the best, yet. plus feel scratchy. I had work done on both eyes so not seeing well out of either. We go back in morning for a check on eye pressure, etc. As far as i can tell to this point all is fine! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious

Can You Find Me?!?

I decided that I wanted to clean out one end of the closet in the upstairs hall. I had various and sundry items stored in it...most of which were dispensable. We spent a while last night pulling out things...like boxes to use to mail things in, wrapping paper, tissue, gift bags, ribbons. We chose what to save, what to recycle, what to throw, what to give to a charity. The reason for cleaning out this end of the closet is to find a place to store things like, a wheelchair, two kinds of walkers, a cane, etc. In other words a place to store items that I might need on down the road! Oh, boy! But I want to find a place to have them out of plain sight. We also cleaned out three drawers that I had ribbon, gift paper, gift cards, etc. stored. And, we just kept the paper that was big enough to use to wrap things in. Today we dropped off some items at a thrift store...so got rid of some of it. Now if only our garbage can was bigger! It is already pretty full of gardening things that we threw away as we worked on the two gardens. Garbage runs on Wednesday...so after that we will get rid of the bags that won't fit in. Late this morning, Cheryl and I headed off first to get gas and then to go over to Linda H's house to visit and have lunch. We had a very nice afternoon eating and visiting. Came home and porch sat for a while. Cheryl planted a little plant that we got from Linda. I did get a call from the surgery center with a time for my cataract surgery tomorrow...a bit later in the morning than I would like...but at least it is scheduled which I wasn't sure of earlier today! So a big day tomorrow. Hopefully I will be able to see to blog tomorrow night! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Good Sunday Evening!

Mabel Says, "It Rained!"

Mabel, her parents (Alex and Brooke), her grandparents (Melany and Wade), and her aunt (Erin) paid us a visit today. We had lunch together and a nice visit. Mabel wasn't too excited about the rain and getting to try on her new (to her) raincoat. This was a hand-me-down from Her grandparents' dog. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

E I E I O

We have had another busy day...a little porch sitting, a little gardening, a little cooking, a little visiting, a little napping. And, absolutely delightful weather. Our high was 77°! We had light rain off and on. We finished up one gardening task in the rain...got a little wet! We're almost finished with the patio-herb garden and Cheryl planted several of the plants we bought at Lowe's yesterday. We still have a couple of those to plant. I baked the cookies that I made the dough for last night. After the cookies were done, I baked a ham for the meal with the Proctors tomorrow. We still have a salad to put together this evening. We both sat down after lunch and dozed off in our chairs for a while. I guess getting ready for our dinner engagement this evening. We went to Nathan, Kathy and family's farm for supper and a visit. Everyone was there except for Graham. He was working. We had a good supper, sat around visiting for a while, watched Payton and Abigail open a few more gifts, and then went out and looked around the farm at the animals and saw the current-temporary abode for Payton and Abigail while they are awaiting time to move into their own home. We had a good time. Now home and the next thing is to make the salad for tomorrow...chop! chop! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Can’t Remember What I Was Going to Title This!

I told Cheryl what would be a good title for tonight's blog and we both laughed...but...can neither of us think what I said...so...Anyway, it may have been something about being alert to spotting tonight's photo's subject matter crossing the road...at least awake enough to see it, run into the house and grab a camera and get back in time to catch a photo before it disappeared. This critter was in our neighbor's front yard...not mine! So one good photo capture from the front porch. After our armadillo sighting, we watered. We did more porch sitting this afternoon as it turned out to be a very nice day...good porch sitting weather. We filled bird feeders...so our squittels are happy once again! Our delivery of Brown Bread arrived...making for a complete New England Baked Bean Dinner. Before we had our late supper, I pulled out with a rake the rest of the leaves that had piled up around the pots on the patio...it is looking better and ready for the next step in getting the herb garden pots and beds looking better...a little more work to be done. After I did that clean up job, Cheryl and I went to Lowe's to return something and to get suet for the birds and "maybe" look at plants. Well, did the return, looked at plants, bought plants, but forgot the suet for the birds (we can make our 2nd run to WalMart and get the suet!). There was the nicest Lowe's helper and he suggested that we be sure to go check out the clearance. My comment to him that recently when I had checked they had all been dead. He said that we needed to check this time...and plants we found...and several plants followed us home...rescue plants that were really still in good shape..

We came home with what we thought was a good array and plan to plant them tomorrow...as long as we can dig the holes! We came home for a late supper...kitchen is cleaned...maybe we will finish the movie that we started to watch last night. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Busy Day…I Think!

My sister is up to her usual shinanagans with that silly camera of hers (by the way her camera doesn't take the best photos...my excuse and I'm sticking to it!!!). She thought I should post this tonight...and to think it is really "only" day one of her two week stay!!!! What will I feel like when she leaves!?!? Today we started the morning on the front porch...Cheryl with her coffee and I with my tea...but wait not long into the morning, my tea turned into coffee-tea when she picked up the wrong cup! (Insert eye roll!) We have made our first required WalMart trip. We both needed some toiletry items and then we headed for the deli meat...for sub sandwiches which I bought small sub rolls and fixin's for yesterday. Yummy sandwiches especially with Melany and Wades home grown tomatoes...so a good lunch. My main job in the kitchen today was to make Mother's recipe for Boston Baked Beans. We will have that meal tomorrow...after my mail comes...I ordered Boston Brown Bread...can't find it in our stores here and that bread was a tradition when Mother made Baked Beans...for those who don't know about this bread it is a sweet bread that comes in a can. Mmmmm. Thank you, Amazon, for having this treat to make our meal complete!!! We have taste tested the beans and they are just right...just the right softness, just the right sweetness...just right! We have decided that our comfort food is food that our mother made...not usually traditional foods that are thought of as comfort food by many. The next kitchen task was to begin preparation to make a 24-Hour layered salad...again, a recipe Mother shared with me years ago...which is now a family favorite...today I cooked and peeled the hard cooked eggs. I'm trying to not get buried in the kitchen! So far I am succeeding. The photo came this afternoon when I had a sinking spell...dozed for a few minutes. This evening we went out to water, but decided that the little thunder storm we had today had wet the ground enough and we would wait till in the morning to water...Alexa just told me it may rain off and on tomorrow...so might not have to water tomorrow...we will see. We also started clearing off the patio that holds my herb garden...it hadn't gotten any attention this year so we dragged pots around and threw away some old pots...a start has been made to make it look better. Now we are inside...deciding what our end of the day meal will be...maybe a bowl of ice cream!?! Our lunch was pretty late and we haven't been hungry yet for supper...we are thinking a snacky supper...or a dessert supper...or...To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

She Has Arrived!

Having fun...so far! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Busy Getting Ready

I have chased a million rabbits and met myself coming and going many times today. I "think" that I have accomplished a lot, but don't think that it shows...yet. Hoping that it all comes together soon! My sister may be here tomorrow at this time...so her visit may be starting in less than 24 hours! Looking forward to her visit. Looking forward to stopping getting ready for her visit! I'm one of those people who isn't finished getting ready till company comes...once company arrives, I'm ready to stop preparations and just enjoy the time we have together. I think that this is the first time that I have made no lists to get ready...well, a grocery list. But the scary thing about said grocery list...there is no "what we are going to have to eat" list. We are going to do more winging it than we have in the past. I have bought general things, but I figure we will be heading to the grocery store a day or so after she gets here...we tend to do more shopping than I normally do when Cheryl is here. WE have vowed that we have to make two WalMart visits this time as we missed going to WalMart when she was here last time! We will be gadding about more than I am used to doing! As soon as I post this I will head down and attempt to finally get around to making the fresh tomato enchilada sauce. Yesterday I got the spices out for that recipe. Today I have peeled and chopped the fresh tomatoes...now to get the ingredients put together and the sauce simmering! I have done quite a bit of cleaning...those jobs that needed to be done last minute so I wouldn't have to repeat them! My problem is that I do a job that takes me someplace else and then I do a job there and then that leads me in another direction and I do...or at least start that job...and I get to the point of pretty much spinning wheels! I have relocated items (hope I can find them at a later time!). I have dusted...found some very dirty areas...lots of dust...at least when those dusting jobs are done, I know that I have done something. I am hoping not to kick up so much dust that it starts up my allergies! I have been using my allergy nasal spray hoping to stave off sneezes and nose blowing! I have been known to get sick when I get into some cleaning sprees...don't want that! I went to prayer meeting tonight and am now home settling in for the night...but not heading to my comfy chair quite as soon as I might like! Enchilada sauce first! Of course, that will mean cleaning the kitchen...again! Tomorrow the vacuum will be dragged around the house...hopefully when the vacuuming is done, the house will pretty much be ready. It has been another hot day. Cheryl should feel right at home when she steps out into the Nashville air...oh, wait...AZ heat is a dry heat...well, maybe she won't be ready for it. Humidity, as well as, heat has been up a bit more today. But I have pretty much stayed in and kept fairly cool. Not sure about porch sitting in this weather...maybe first thing in the morning! Nathan brought a coffee pot over this morning...let the party begin...but no coffee for me...no, thank you! Cheryl can have all the coffee to herself! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Getting Ready

I've spent most of the day doing a little of this and a little of that getting ready for Cheryl's upcoming visit. I watered plants first thing, as another hot day was predicted. I came in and wrote more funeral notes thanking friends for their kindnesses shown during this time in our lives. Marie called to say that she was going to take a meal to one of our class members who recently got out of the hospital. I told her I would make something to go with what she was making. I worked on getting the guest room ready for Cheryl's arrival on Tuesday. Her bed is made except for the bedspread, which is in the drier...so getting closer to being ready. I didn't do any cooking for "company" today. I plan to "perhaps" make Fresh Tomato Enchilada Sauce tomorrow afternoon. I still have a little clean up to do in the kitchen. But mostly I am through with "doing" more for today. I did stop for a while this afternoon and took a refreshing nap. Nathan stopped by and took my car for an oil change (a message showed up that it was time to change oil soon)...so that sonny-do job is done. Marie picked me up and we delivered the meal. So it is back to the kitchen to clean up and then perhaps the bedspread may be dry and I can put it back on the bed...once that is done...Cheryl's room will be ready except for a "last-minute" vacuuming. Things are shaping up...and what doesn't get done...won't get done!!! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Friday…All Day

Today's first task was to get a grocery list together so I could do some Friday shopping...goal to get 4X fuel points. I saw several friends and also some acquainteances...who I didn't recognize as they were out of place from where I met them! Rarely do I go to the grocery store and not see someone who I know...now when we lived in California...the opposite was true. The entire two years that we lived there, I think that I only one time I ran into someone I knew and that was at the pharmacy...one of our neighbors. I never saw anyone in the grocery store that I knew in that time. Here I never think twice about seeing folk I know...whereas the thing that stands out in my mind when living in Sunnyvale is actually seeing someone one time. Tonight's photo is a memory from 13 years ago. It appeared on my Facebook feed today. I decided to share it with you. We were on the interstate in Virginia on our way back home from The National Institutes of Health where Woody was having a periodic check in with his medical team. I thought that this was an interesting sight tooling down the interstate next to us. I did some cooking after I got back from the store and got the groceries put away...some for things for me to eat and some preparation for food to make while Cheryl is here. I have also done some cleaning...trying to get Cheryl's room and bathroom ready...then if the rest of the house isn't "ready" it's okay since she will have her spot cleaned. I will go finish cleaning the shower when I finish with this. I seem to do a lot of spinning of wheels and not a lot of forward movement in getting ready. This morning I planted some green onions in my herb garden. This year my patio garden has been rather neglected. I have a really healthy basil plant that I got from Melany. I also have some lemon thyme, some volunteer dill, oregano that made it through the winter, and some rosemary. I used the rosemary in the rub that I put on the pork roast that I cooked today. I made gravy that I need for enchiladas and also for the meatballs that I made and froze...so items that I need to finish what I started a while back...so we will have something to eat. I haven't planned the way I usually do. I'm sure that we won't starve!!!! I also made a gelatin salad for me to eat over the next few days. Food and cooking isn't real high on my list of what I am enjoying at the moment...though I did enjoy spending some time in the kitchen today. I thought that I was going to have a sewing job to do for a friend this evening, but in the end she didn't need me to do the task. Well, on to do a couple more things this evening and then am going to call it quits and head to my comfy chair and either stitch or read. I am nearing the end of a book and I only have a couple of days left to complete it before it is whisked back into cyberspace...so I will probably read. I read this afternoon when I took a couple of breaks from my cooking...and when I discovered that I no longer was facing a sewing task! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Thursday Happenings

Watering was one of the first things that I did this morning. It continues to be rather warm here so no more rain than we have gotten lately, watering is necessary. So far all the new plants are doing well. I came in and took on the task of clearing the guest bed. I put clean quilts and throws on that bed until I could get the shelf in the closet ready to put them on. I had Nathan move the step stool into the guest room yesterday when he was here. He used it and then I asked him to put it in there so it would be there when I got around to putting the quilts, etc. away. I found zoppered bags on that shelf that I was able to put all the quilts and thows in so they won't be gathering dust on that shelf. Now they will be on that shelf when it gets cold enough to need amy of them...certainly they are not needed currently! It did get to 90 today and supposed to be inching toward 100 over the weekend. I think that the rising temperatures are getting ready to greet my sister, when she arrives from AZ next week! She's pretty used to high temperatures...but...if our humiditiy rises, too, then those temperatures will seem even hotter to her. These last few days, our humidity hasn't been all that bad. I did a few other cleaning jobs before it was time for lunch. Then after lunch, I headed to the church library, as Donna and I switched days since I was busy on Tuesday. We got the next step done of the books we are processing. Next time we will put contact paper on them, as they are all paperbacks, and they will be ready to shelve with the new books. As always, Donna and I enjoyed catching up with each other. On my way home, I stopped to see if I could find a storage container to hold some wayward pieces of fabric that have been gathering after projects. They currently haven't found their way back to the place from whence they came and I just don't have time to sort through them right now so I will plop them in this storage container, a linen rectangle with handles, and I will put it on the floor in the sewing closet. That way they will all be in one place and I can get to them to look through them when I am looking for fabric for one thing or another...lately I have been seeking fabric to go on the back of the small pillows, I have been making. I had planned to come home and utilize this "storage basket," but...I guess I sat down to relax and relaxed a little too much, as I just came to a few minutes ago after a nap. I will probably go down and have a bite of supper and then come back up and accomplish that task later this evening. Well, that about sums up my day, now to do a little more and then settle in for the night. I did finish my three small pillows, one for Fall and two for Spring last night. This morning I got out the 2024 charm and a pin and attached the year to the back of each. Now, I can't decide whether to attach a 2024 charm to the backs of the five smalls that I finished the other day...as they were only made into a pillow in 2024, but were actually stitched 40+ years ago...so haven't decided if I will put a year pin on the back of them or not...still thinking on that! To be continued. Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Midweek

It has been a very pleasant day, weatherwise. I went outside first thing to carry out the recycle items and was surprised by how pleasant it was...good porch sitting weather. I hope that it is good porch sitting weather when my sister gets here. One of her favorite things to do while here is sit on the front porch. Nathan stopped by this morning...changed the light bulb in my bathroom. He finished up a project that Woody had started a few months back and then never felt well enough to get back to it. Nathan got Woody's desk cleared of that. I did a little more emptying of drawers. Worked some more on thank you notes. After lunch I headed off to get my hair cut. I hadn't planned to run an errand after my haircut, but decided that I would stop at WalMart after and pick up a couple of things and check out storage shelving that might fit at the end of the sewing room closet. It is a strange closet as it is fairly wide, but it only has folding doors at one end of the closet due to the sloped ceiling in that room. So...there is a good expanse that doesn't have the best access and the rod doesn't go the whole width of the closet...so there is dead space. I'm thinking that I can put some narrow shelving at the end...maybe rolling storage? Just checking out options I might be able to get here in town and will check online, too. Last night I did cut out the last three cross stitch pieces and the backing so I think that I will sew them this evening before I settle in to comfortably in my recliner and then I can stuff them after I do settle into my chair! Here is a photo of a summer display that I made with four of the little pillows that I made:

To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Beryl Paid Us a Little Visit

The blog website is being cantankerous once again. It took me forever to convince it to post a photo and I just chose one at random. I think that it is my coral bell plant...which WAS so pretty...but some critter...probably a deer...has eaten it all but the stems. It has been a nice day. I got up and did some sewing first thing...sewing up the little pillows and then stuffed them. My last task is to sew the bottom opening, though which I stuffed them, closed. I have been deciding how to use them. I headed off a little after 9am and went to the Credit Union to deposit a check and get some cash. I made a quick run to Kroger to get one item...toilet paper...not that I was out, but that there were a couple of coupons to be used which expired today. I was in and out and then headed to the church to meet Jo and Carolyn. We headed off to Manchester to check out two gift shops and then had lunch. We had, as always, a good time together. On our way home, we did run into some rain that was associated with Beryl and also most of the day has been quite breezy. I took a movie of my new spinner in my new garden at the head of the driveway. It was really spinning away. I had planned to use that movie clip for tonight's blog photo...but whatever form the video was in, my iPad didn't recognize it when I attempted to transfer it...so instead you just get a random photo tonight. We did get some rain here at the house...so I chose not to water tonight. I will water again in the morning...again...attempting to take advantage of the rain having wet the ground better than the hose can. I was pretty tired when I got home...so a nap was in store for me and when I had rested, I got back to work on my little cross stitch pillows. Of the ones that I have sewn and stuffed, I only have one more to stitch up the bottom opening. With that one I will have my summer smalls finished and ready to be put into my decorations in the living room. If I am satisfied with my efforts, tomorrow I will try to capture my efforts in a photo or two. I still have three more smalls to finish...one for Fall and two for Spring. I am tempted to put them away for another time...but...since I am on a roll doing these, it would probably be better if I just continue so they will be all ready when their season approaches. I have a piece that I want to mount on the top of a wooden box...I should continue to do that too. That would clear off my cutting table of projects. We'll see! Cheryl arrives a week from tonight...so probably should be doing something to get ready for her visit! Another...we'll see! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Monday

Pretty much a normal day for my new normal. I got up and went outside fairly early to water the gardens. First I shook slow-release plant food beads over the plants in the flower gardens and then watered. Our newly planted plants continue to do well despite the rather hot tempertures. Today it got to 93°...rather warm...though humidity didn't seem as oppresive as it sometimes does. I had a little helper. The little boy, who lives in the house where Nathan, Kathy, and family used to live, likes to come over and walk around with me...sometimes holding the hose. Today instead of holding the hose, he decided to roll over the hose with his little tractor or go under the hose when I made a bridge with the hose over his head. After I watered, I ate some breakfast and then gathered things to write a few more thank you notes. I got those out to the mailbox before the mail carrier came today. After lunch I decided that it was time to rest as I was really tired and had a headache...so I had peace and quiet for a while in my recliner with the fan blowing a cool breeze on me. I came a little closer to actually being ready to make the small pillows out of the cross stitch pieces that I have spread out on the cutting table. I decided to add one more to the group and found some fabric for the backing for it. Now to just go ahead and cut out the pieces to the size for the little pillows that I am going to make out of them. I "might" make one this evening after I blog. I just need a little motivation...not a lot of "get up and go" these days! I went to prayer meeting this evening. We have chosen to meet a little earlier on Monday evenings. We'll see if that helps or not...we did have one more than last week, but out group was once again scattered so several couldn't come. I came home and ate some supper and got the kitchen cleaned up and have come upstairs. Today I have just been so tired and felt a little "off," so I am ready to settle in a bit earlier than usual, though I may do a few more things up here. I did clear another of Woody's dresser drawers out yesterday. So have been shifting a few things of mine around. I'm still working on organizing the sewing closet in my sewing room. I have some ideas...now to find what I want to get the most storage use out of that closet. Tomorrow I plan to do a bit of galavanting with Jo and Carolyn...to be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Happy 15th, Elijah!

Summer Saturday

I actually went outside this morning with camera in hand with the intension of taking a picture for tonight's blog...and here it is. After taking a couple of photos, I put my camera away and pulled out the hose and watered the gardens. We did get a little rain yesterday...with emphasis on "little!" I chose not to water yesterday, but decided that I would go out first thing this morning and water before all the moisture that fell yesterday had dried up. So far all the new plants look like they are doing well. The rain actually greened up the grass in our neighborhood yards. AFter I watered, I got ready to run errands. I stopped at the pharmacy and picked up two prescriptions...started to say "for me," but I guess these days that is obvious! Then I headed on to Lowe's. I needed to get some flame shaped light bulbs for the light over the sink in the master bathroom. I also wanted to replace the kitchen wastebasket...thought that I found one just like what I have...but...no such luck...will have to take it back as it is too tall for the space alloted for it in the kitchen cabinets. I also got some caulk to put around the bathroom sinks...handyman such as I am...not! I got to be pretty good with caulk around the tub/shower inserts...so maybe! At least I don't have to reach over my head to do this caulking job! I have done a little of this and a little of that the rest of the day. I have started hanging fabric in the sewing room closet...changed plans a bit. I had thought to bring the fabric that is hanging in the closet in the guest room, but I decided to instead put in more newly purchased fabric that I have stored in my bedroom. I also did the next step to make several small pillows with some of my finished cross stitch pieces. I ironed interfacing on to the backs of the stitched pieces to give them more stability and anchor any loose threads. Several of the pieces that I will be making into these small pillows, I stitched waaaaaaay back in my early cross stitch days. They had been languishing in a box for years. At last, I have found just the perfect thing to do with them. It took me long enough!!!! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

House’s House Paid a Visit to My House!

Nathan and Abigail paid me a visit in the camper that Abigail and Payton are living in presently. Nathan told me yesterday that he might stop by and help go through some of Woody's things. He brought Abigail along. We attacked his closet that is in my sewing room and got it all cleared out. Went through and sorted into throw out, donate, and keep piles. And, just before lunch the closet was emptied and vacuumed. Now I can move my fabric stash, that hangs in Nathan/guest room closet, can now be moved to the sewing room. One of the things found was many, many, many years of checkbook registers. And, I have discovered that it is true that what is important to you can be found out by looking at your checkbook. I have had fun looking through them and notating when we purchased certain things. I will not hold onto these...just enjoyng the many memories that were brought back when looking through them. I have a few more to look through and then that task will be complete...till we uncover the next pile...newer registers that are in his dresser drawers. The ones we found today are more intersting as they were the ones that dated way back to the 80s and 90s. My sewing and needlework interests show through these registers all the way back then as did Woody's hobbies of coin collecting, the Cardinals, etc. Nathan, Isaac and Joseph came back with their truck this afternoon and hauled off the donated items to The Attic Outlet. So a job well done...more to filter through, but that was a big job. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Fourth of July, 2024

Melany, Wade, Alex, Brooke, Mabel (puppy), and I headed over to Nathan and Kathy's late afternoon. We had a fun time with Mabel being the center of attention! We had good eats and good family time together. We came home and Wade and Melany quickly planted the flowers that they brought with them for my new flower beds at the head of the driveway. They headed home and I watered everything really good. By the time I got inside, I was VERY hot and a shower felt really good. I am settled in for the night after another full day of socializing!!!! Mabel is really cute. Everyone loved her! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Social Butterfly?

About the first thing that I did this morning after getting dressed was go outside and water. We are once again under a heat advisory until tomorrow at 7pm. Poor flower gardens are very thirsty. I came back in and showered and dressed for my busy day of socializing! Winda called yesterday and asked if she could stop by this morning. We had a really nice visit and she brought me all sorts of yummy fruit and...donuts...and sunflowers...and...Jo had asked me out for lunch a couple of days ago so I met her at McAlister's deli. We had a delicious lunch and a great visit. I came home and headed to the kitchen to make potato salad for tomorrow's cookout at Nathan and Kathy's. Our favorite potato salad is a recipe that I got from Jo many years ago. When I offered "Jo's potato salad" for tomorrow's lunch it met with resounding yeses. I just finished putting it together a few minutes ago...in refrigertor in plenty of time to get good and chilled. I will say that I missed my taste tester! Woody prefered tasting potato salad after it was cold, but he always took a taste after I got it all mixed together. It may not be as good this year without his aproval! This evening I am feeling pretty tired. I got the dishwasher going before I came up to blog, but I still need to wash a few dishes by hand...but the blog gave me a reason to sit for a few minutes and rest. Melany, Wade, Alex, Brooke, and Mabel will be coming tomorrow to go to the farm for 4th of July eats. I think that Melany and Wade are coming in the morning and we may work on the new flowerbeds...if...it isn't too hot. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Tuesday

I decided that it was time to find a barn picture to post...had to go back in my "barn archives!" I don't think that I have ever posted this one, but even if I have, probably you don't remember, if I don't! I continue to keep on keeping on...doing a little of this and a little of that. This morning I started doing preliminary work on the last book order that I made for the church library, as Donna and I planned to work our "usual" Tuesday afternoon. Of course, here of late, "usual" Tuesday afternoons have had to be put off due to one thing or another. I made the book order a month or so back...so it took a while to get time to work on these new books. A little later in the morning, Ruth called and asked if she could stop by. We had a nice visit and ended it with her helping me get my gardens watered. After lunch, I did manage to head to the library for the first time in a while. Donna and I got to work on the new books. She entered them in the computer and I turned in the bill to the church and then replaced books in empty slots in our window display and straightened books on the shelves and moved books from the new shelf to the regular shelving in order to make more room for newer books. It will still be a couple of weeks till these books are ready for the shelves, but we made a good start on processing them. I ran off the labels for the new books so they will have time for the ink to dry before we start putting them on the books and their cards and book pockets, etc. So the first steps have been done, just waiting for our next work session. Donna and I had a good time catching up with each other along with getting library work done. I was pretty tired by the time I got home so just sat for a while and probably dozed a bit before I got up and got something to eat for supper. I, also, keep hearing from friends via phone, cards, emails, texts, etc. Some I hear from regularly and others I haven't heard from in a long time...always good to hear from friends and catch up. Tomorrow promises to be a busy day, too...several things planned along with making potato salad for our family 4th of July cookout at Nathan, Kathy, and family's. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

This and That as July Begins!

Today didn't have the best start as I had a rough night with bad leg cramps in both legs...they would go away and then come back. I ate a banana and will eat another one tonight before I go to bed! I tried several things in the middle of the night hoping to have them go away...from drinking some pickle juice, drinking some coke, using a heating pad...all things that have been suggested to me at other times...tried them all out...hoping! They finally went away when I got up and walked around and just stayed up. I have dozed a couple of times this afternoon, but never for long. I'm just hoping that they will stay away tonight! Cheryl suggested that maybe I had worn a different shoe and I had yesterday...a very flat shoe...so maybe? I wore my padded sandles today...which my feet are used to. Fingers crossed for a better night tonight! My goal today was to do some more notifying and getting "things" in my name. My first venture was to the Credit Union. The process is started. They now know that he has died, but I have not removed his name from the account yet since there may be checks that might come in his name. So once there is no more possibility of anything coming in h is name, then I will have them take his name off the account. The process is at least started there. After I did that and it didn't take too long, I decided to go on to the utility company and have the account put in my name. Once again, a very easy process...only took a few minutes and that task was completed. My two accomplishments for today! This evening I went to Monday Night Furnace Room Prayer Meeting. I am home and settled in for the night. I have already gotten the kitchen cleaned up. So I think that it is time to head to my recliner and relax and hopefully either stitch or read befoe I fall asleep. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious! Oh, I did miss a call from Alive Hospice, checking on us and told me to call if any of us need to talk with anyone.