68 today

Today is my birthday.  I always look forward to my birthday, but when it arrives, it's a difficult day for me.  I don't know why, it seems like it's always been this way.  Do I build up the day in my mind and it doesn't "measure up"?  Is it harder cause my kids don't live close and I miss them?  Is it harder cause I'm getting older?  I dunno.  Maybe it's the "after Christmas blues".  Regardless, it's a hard day for me and I hate feeling like that.

Anyway, to look at the bright side...which in my mind makes much more sense than being any more bummed...we got together with friends last night for dinner and martinis!  I took the martini-makings and we had pistaschio martinis; they were delicious.

This is a photo of me and one of my best friends.  She's Portia and we have been friends since the kids were in elementary school.  They have 5 grown children and all of them (except one) live nearby.

And then there was dinner tonight at Texas Roadhouse with Portia and her hubby.  Sangria for me, sangria margarita for her.  Cheers!

Christmas Day 2017

Merry Christmas

Rejoice in this day and know you are blessed

Frank's poem

I have a friend, Nancy, that I met through her blog, "Blogging, Near Philadelphia".  She is a friend of my neighbor to the west and both of these women are wise beyond their years.  Nancy posted this poem and I MUST share the message.  (Link to her blog is below.)

Remembering Frank

The Birds

It's that time again.

An important part of Christmas for me since I've become a blogger is to publish my friend Frank's poem that he shared with me many years ago. I've shared it each year with my readers, and -- God willing -- I will do it again next year, and the next and the next.

THE BIRDS

IT WASN'T THAT HE DIDN'T LIKE CHRISTMAS

HE ENJOYED THE HOLIDAY FUN

ALL THE BRIGHT COLORS AND SUDDEN GOOD WILL

AND THE CHILDREN'S HAPPY SUSPENSE


BUT HE COULDN'T BELIEVE IN CHRISTMAS

IN THE INCARNATION I MEAN

GOD LIVING A MAN-LIFE LIKE HIS? WHAT FOR?

IT JUST DIDN'T MAKE SENSE TO HIM



HE SAT BY THE FIRE

WARM IN HIS HOME

ON CHRISTMAS EVE ALONE

THE FAMILY GONE OFF TO MIDNIGHT MASS



HE HEARD A THUMP AT THE WINDOW

AND THEN ANOTHER

SOME MISCHIEF BOY OUT FOR FUN HE THOUGHT

HE WENT TO THE WINDOW TO CHASE HIM WITH A GLANCE


BUT FOUND NO BOY

BUT A SPARROW FLOCK

LURED BY THE LIGHT AND SIGHT OF WARMTH

HAD TRIED TO COME THROUGH HIS WINDOW


THEY HUDDLED NOW IN THE SNOW

WITH NO PLACE TO GO

AND HE FELT COMPASSION FOR THEM

HE PUT ON HIS BOOTS AND JACKET AND SCARF

AND OUT HE WENT TO OPEN THE GARAGE

TO GIVE THEM SHELTER


BUT THEY WOULD NOT COME

SO HE TURNED ON THE LIGHT

BUT THEY WOULD NOT COME


HE WENT AND GOT BREAD

AND THREW IT MANNA LIKE UPON THE SNOW

A PATH TO FOLLOW

BUT THEY WOULD NOT COME


HE TRIED TO HERD THEM IN

SHOUTING AND WAVING HIS ARMS

BUT THEY WOULD NOT COME


I'M SCARING THEM HE THOUGHT

I'M SO BIG COMPARED TO THEM

AND DIFFERENT


IF BUT FOR A MOMENT I COULD BE A SPARROW

I COULD LEAD THEM THROUGH THE DOOR

I COULD LEAD THEM THROUGH.....THE DOOR

https://nancynearphiladelphia.blogspot.com/2017/12/remembering-frank.html

More Christmas prep

Yesterday cookies were packaged with love to give to the neighbors. 

I delivered cookies to the  Edgewood neighbors, I'll finish delivery today.  The one Willow Street neighbor I delivered to yesterday was Jim.  He's 86 and I've known him almost all my life.  He was one of my math teachers when I was in junior high school.  He has an eye disease and is no longer able to drive.  He's at the point in his life where he is no longer "in charge" the way he used to be.  Time marches on for all of us.  He doesn't drive anymore and has gotten rid of his car.  I've given him our phone number(s) so that if he needs something and his children aren't able to help when he needs, we are here to help him.

Jim walks to the store often.  One day I saw him coming home with a reusable shopping bag from the local grocery store.  It looked a little worn and I had an idea...Make Jim a new shopping bag!!  I perused patterns online. (This Great Big Tote is from Sewing to Sell by Virginia Lindsay.)  When I went to visit Jim to make my delivery, he was tickled to get the cookies, but he actually broke down and cried when I showed him the bag.  It's dark blue denim with a gold S which is the first letter of his last name.  He hugged me and held on tight for a while.  He was so touched and grateful.  Made my heart so happy, yet a little sad.  We need to spend a little more time with Jim; he's a good man with a huge heart who is coming to the end of his earthly time.  Maybe not real soon, but soon enough that we need him to know how much we treasure him.

The basket is a gift for my husband's (and my) friend, Pete.  Rick and Pete have been friends for at least 40 or so years.  Pete owns a bar and Rick goes every Friday to shoot pool for about an hour and keep in touch with Pete.  Each year we put together a basket for him and his family.  The last few years we have gotten together with them for dinner and conversation.  Pete loves Sophie and even Sophie is invited to dinner.  It was a nice evening, no special food, just takeout, but time spent with friends is such a wonderful thing.

WHEW! Pooped out!

I couldn't even post last night, I was so tired.  Yesterday was a busy day, but we got it all done.

Sophie had a grooming appointment at 9 am and I drove her to that, then picked up a socket at Lowe's because the one in the basement came apart.  Who would have guessed...it was original to the house and our family moved here when I was 5 in 1955.  Hope the new socket lasts as long.

After that, I stopped at Walmart to return a toy that wasn't the right toy!  Off to Petco to find a new collar for Sophie.  I got a leather one this time. I wanted one with some bling, but when I looked at them (and the high price) I decided a plain one could be dressed up when I wanted that.

Hope with breakfast for Rick and me from McDonald's.  Once in a while we really enjoy a sausage mcmuffin with egg.  This one was really good!

Decluttered the kitchen so we could make cookies and sang a little song to post on FB.  Hope it will post here for prosperity!!!  Oh...I don't think this video plays here, but if you check me out on FB, you can hear me singin'!!


When I went to pick Sophie up from the groomer, I went to Duma's Meat to pick up ground beef and ground pork.  I'm making meatballs to take for Christmas dinner at Kelly and Scott's house.  I was going to make lasagna, but the kids can be a little picky and having spaghetti and meatballs leaves more choices for them.  You know, plain meatballs, meatballs with sauce, spaghetti noodles with sauce OR butter OR butter and Parmesan cheese!   I'm going to make some cabbage rolls to put in the freezer.

Cookies!  Cookies!  Cookies!  Now I took the easy road and bought cookie mixes and ready-to-bake dough from the refrigerated section at the grocery store!  (I know, it was a lazy thing to do, but we need to choose our priorities, right?)  Truly, no one cares if you make your cookies from scratch or not, unless there is one favorite cookie that you remember your mama making when you were a child.  These cookies are gifts for the neighbors.  We are taking either 8 or 9 plates of cookies to some of our neighbors.  They appreciate the gesture and we like giving them a treat.  We have two neighbors who are elderly (lost the 3rd elder this year).  Jim is 86 and GB is 90.  Love taking them treats.  GB seems to really enjoy the cookies and she has family that comes to visit, so I try to give her a larger plate.  Jim doesn't eat much anymore, so I don't go overboard.  The rest of the neighbors we give to are able-bodied folks, so it's just fun to share with them and no extra worries for them.  We will plate and wrap those today and we will deliver later this afternoon or tomorrow...maybe even as late as Saturday, depending on our schedule.

Glasses, Rick is sick, Pickleball and Christmas lights

Goodness, it's been a while since I've posted.

Busy trying to get ready for the holiday and all the other stuff that happens in life.

I'm healed from the cataract surgery but still need a laser procedure to get rid of
the crinkle in my right eye.  I don't see well with the right one, even with the new glasses.  I picked up my glasses yesterday and am trying to acclimate to them.  Not easy.  I find myself taking them off like I used to do with reading glasses cause my distance vision is strange.  I think it hinges on the right eye.  Doc said the earliest he could do the laser procedure was March unless it was driving me nuts.  I'm going to give it a while, but I might just call and tell him that I AM nuts (of course the nuttiness is caused by the wrinkle/crinkle!).

Rick has not been feeling tip top for a few days and last night he came down with a good dose of a stomach bug.  He was nauseous but didn't vomit.  He ran to the bathroom all through the night and all morning.  I doctored him with Imodium (which we use with care, since it can be a difficult medicine to recover from for us) and it seemed to do the trick.  He's been a good patient and has been drinking as much as possible to keep from becoming dehydrated.

Pickleball is doing well!  We had a little Christmas/holiday party on Friday to celebrate and I came in 2nd place for the costume/dress up!  Christine came in first place and she really worked hard on her "get up"!  She's a competitive gal (on many levels) and she's fun, but she is seriously after me!  LOL

Starting with the top photo on the left and moving right:  Chris Lee & Me, Chris Lee, Me,
2nd row:  Rhonda Kerzie & Me, Cris Belknap & Rhonda Kerzie, Mary Elizabeth Kennedy

3rd row:  Joyce & Kelly Brannon, Boyd (manager of the tennis club)
4th row:  Jane Warner & Chris Lee, Rhonda Kerzie & Jane Warner


We got the outside of the house decorated with Star Shower lights and Star Shower Slideshow lights.  We like them a lot and have had a lot of people tell us how much they like them!

Telling on myself

This event happened on Sunday night.  Thought I'd blog about it so I can remember that even though I'm very experienced and usually know what I'm doing, that's not always true!

I'm working on a project for some of the grand kids.  Not going to say what it was now, cause if my daughters read this entry there is a chance the kids might see the post.

Anyway, I went upstairs to sew.  As always, Rick says as I'm heading up the stairs, "Be careful, honey" and I respond "I will, thanks honey.  Love you" and I go upstairs.  I had part of my project done and as I started working on those pieces, I was unhappy with them.  I decided that chucking that part of the item would be the best option.  Ok...not a big deal, I just put those pieces in the trash and went about re-creating them.

I was doing appliques.  I was adhering Wonder Under to several pieces of fabric and several times I didn't adhere the Wonder Under to a large-enough piece of fabric.  SIGH.  Oh well, keep "plugging away, Helen"!

Then...yep, I did IT.  I adhered a piece of Wonder Under to my ironing board cover!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Oh, no!!  I worked to get it off while it was still slightly warm and pliable.  Got some of it off, but a lot remains.  Now, I'm really annoyed with myself.  I swallow my annoyance and trudge one.  (I'm

working on a large gold lame star.)  I try it again and yep, I've got it this time.  BIG HAPPY FACE!

I cut out my star (I'm so pleased with myself) and go to layer it with my other part.  OH MY GOSH, it's perfect EXCEPT one point is ON THE SELVEGE!!!!  How on earth can I be so dense?  Really!  I've been sewing for over 60 years!  Ok, now I'm pissed mildly angry/defeated/annoyed/etc.  That's it!  I toss my beautiful gold star into a pile of scraps that might be used for future projects and turn everything off and go downstairs.

I truly thought about my debacle like this...It was a horrible night to sew.  I got absolutely nothing accomplished, but all in all, the world remains the same.  I came downstairs because I truly felt it was time to stop before I did something that would result in injury to me.

Monday morning, I got up and had my coffee.  When I headed upstairs to work on said project, all went well!!  A clear head is such a blessing.

However, there was a glitch on Monday, too.  I was pinning my project for the next segment and my pincushion fell behind my ironing board.  As I went to retrieve it, I see my small Rowenta iron was on the floor.  I have no idea when it fell to the floor (it is plugged in) but there was a "scorch" on the linoleum and it was very hot.  I unplugged the iron, got a paper towel and folded it so it was very thick and drenched it in water.  I put that on the floor to cool it so I did"n't set the house on fire.  I looked my iron over and it is broken.  However, when it fell and broke, I believe it overheated and it took over 30 minutes to cool.  I will throw it away today so I don't risk forgetting it's broken.

All in all, it was a topsy-turvy time.  All turned out ok, but it's worth writing about.

Creation can be a messy, frustrating and rewarding experience!!

"Love yourself, it's one of the most important things you can do"

50+ on December 3???

What a beautiful day!!  The sun is shining and the temperature is warm.  What a delightful day.  This day, 52 years ago, my sweetie and I went out on our first date.  We went to my high school basketball team game then to a movie.  I guess it was "meant to be"!!!  We will go out on another date tonight for dinner...just as soon as we can figure out what we would like to eat!!

I ran a few errands and was working in my sewing room.  I kept making stupid mistake after stupid mistake, so I thought I should stop before I did something even more stupid like cutting myself with my rotary blade or running over my finger with my sewing machine.  I don't know what my problem is/was, but I'm done for today.  Hopefully tomorrow my head will be clearer than today.

Jennifer got her wall hanging.  I gave Kelly hers on Thanksgiving.

I was so tickled that they both like them.  It was a difficult project as I was making the first one, but once I did that one, I learned enough to make doing the second one SO much easier.  

60F+ on November 28th!!

What a beautiful day!

It was so beautiful that we worked outdoors nearly all day!  Leaves collected, lawn mowed to collect even more leaves, outdoor Christmas lights are up and we are tired!!

Rick took his Pontiac to the shop to have the guy work on whatever is wrong with the clutch.  The guy is so busy he can't get to Rick's car until Monday.  Business is good for him and that's a wonderful thing!

I rode my trike (for the last time until spring) to Walmart to get a gift that was ready pickup.  I put stabilizer in my gas tank and filled up the tank, hooked up my trickle charger and brought in my helmet, papers, etc. into the house for safer keeping.  She's all tucked in the garage for the winter months!  It was super nice to be able to get out this late in the year for a little ride.

Busy hands

Yesterday was a doctor appointment for Rick as a follow-up to his pneumonia this summer.  He's doing well, thank goodness.  I'm so proud of him for taking care of himself...I know it's not easy sometimes.

After the doctor, I had to - NEEDED to - get more yarn!!  I spend so much time on the computer playing games and reading articles that I get upset with myself.  I'm finding that if I have a project I can keep my hands busy with, I won't fall asleep while we watch television in the evenings.  I've got a small hand-sewing project to finish, then I will make baby hats to donate to Akron Children's Hospital for an event they are sponsoring in February.  I went to Hobby Lobby which is the closest craft store near me and they didn't have a similar yarn to what I had success with.  Sigh...on to Chapel Hill to go to Michaels.  SCORE!  I got these two yarns.  They are so soft and cuddly...just great for newborn babies.  Hmmm...thought this photo was of the two I bought.  Oh, well, this is one of the yarns!

We had dinner with Cris and Jerry at Applebees and I went to Walmart to TRY to pick up an order I placed online.  It wasn't ready (and that was my own fault because I didn't wait for the email that told me it was ready, but the original email said it would be ready the same day).  Well, it took forever to get the news that it wasn't ready and that was a little annoying.  I finally got notification at 6:30 this morning that my package was ready.  In my book that is NOT "same day" pickup.  Oh, well, it's ready today and since it's such a nice day, maybe I'll ride my motorcycle to pick it up and that will most likely be my last ride of this year.

Rambling about my Thanksgiving weekend

Wow!  What a Thanksgiving!

I'll start this post talking about Wednesday before Thanksgiving.  I made desserts to take to Kelly's family in Pennsylvania.  I made a beautiful pumpkin roll and Rick made his world-famous pumpkin pie.  I got everything laid out to take along with us as we left on Thursday morning and would be spending the night to return home on Friday.  Lots of stuff to take even though it was just one night!

Thursday morning we piled in the car...Rick, me and Sophie and we were going to stop by McDonald's to grab a breakfast sandwich as we drove.  Nope!  McDonald's was closed!!  I didn't think they ever closed.  Even the location by the interstate was closed!!  Oh well, we got on the turnpike and the rest area had a Panera.  I got a bagel and Rick got a sweet roll and Sophie got to get out and go to the pet exercise area to sniff around and squat for a piddle.

We got to Kelly's about 12:30.  It was great to see everybody, that's for sure.  The only sad thing about our time together was the fact that Jennifer and her family weren't with us.  I just adore seeing all the grand children together.  The love each other SO much that it makes my heart sing.

We had a delicious and stress free meal - turkey and all the trimmings!  Lots of desserts, that's for sure.  Evelyn's friend brought an apple pie (and it was sooo delicious, even though it was not homemade but store bought), Diane brought brownies and cupcakes,  we brought pumpkin pie and pumpkin roll and Kelly made a pumpkin bread.  Add an array of flavors of ice cream and you have our dessert table!

Friday morning Kelly and I went Black Friday shopping.  I haven't done that in years!  We left the house about 5:45 (we both slept in our clothes so that getting up and out wasn't disruptive to those still sleeping) with a coffee.  We went to the outlet mall (it was pretty desolate by that time because they had been open all night) then to several other stores.  We were back home by 11 and grabbed a bite to eat.  Rick and I got the car packed up and we left for home.

The rest of Friday was pretty much a rest day!  Saturday I got up and put a turkey in for us. I can't believe I had an 11 pound turkey in the oven by 7:30 am!!!  I don't have a clue why!!!  It was done by 10:00!!!  Hahaha!!  Oh, well, I just carved it up and put it into containers and we had it for dinner!!  I offered it to Rick for breakfast, and we had a good laugh.

I went shopping to try to find an item that Kelly said the girls would like.  Nope...couldn't find it/them.  I checked a few stores to no avail and can't find it online, either.  I picked up a few things at Walmart and then back home.  I worked on some red baby hats to donate to the hospital for an event they are having in February.  Red hats for all babies born during the month of February to support something for heart awareness.  I am using my knitting loom and it's not easy for me to get the hang of it.  Anyway, I made 2 hats, so now I have 4 made!  I need to get more yarn to make some more.

Today...well, today is Sunday.  I threw in some laundry and got my shower.  I decided to sew for a bit and got all the "channels" sewn in the wall hanging I'm currently making.  I got our Christmas tree down while Rick was walking Sophie and put it t
ogether.  While I was sewing, he made all the adjustments to the branches and put on most of the ornaments.  I finished up the remaining ornaments and he put on the garland.  We both commented that it was the easiest tree trimming in our history!

Tonight was turkey, dressing, sweet potatoes and gravy -- all leftovers.  I love turkey!  Tomorrow morning I'll have a turkey sandwich for breakfast and then I think I'll freeze the remaining turkey.  I have broth made, so maybe I'll add turkey, wild rice and veggies to it and we'll have soup later in the week.

My weekend was great.  I'm blessed.  I'm loved and I'm happy.

Sleep is good!

I find it interesting that after I had the cataract surgery(s) that my sleep was "off".  I've been really tired lately, but last night I got LOTS of sleep and I feel great today!  Here's a photo of my Fitbit sleep report!  Pretty great!

I've been pretty busy today, finished this snowman panel into a chenille wall hanging.  I found the concept interesting.  Sew Very Easy had a YouTube video of it and it looked so easy!  Lots more work than I was prepared for and it's not very large, but it sure is cute!!

I got the trash emptied from the sewing room and the rest of the house and took out recycling and trash to the curb for tomorrow's pick up.  I vacuumed and tidied the house a bit.

Dinner tonight (and to Hard Rock Casino) with Portia and Arnett.  Not too excited about going there, but it's ok.  

The EYES have it!

Yesterday was Friday.  Lots of things happened yesterday...

Cris and I went out to hit up the thrift stores to hopefully find some baskets for giving her Christmas nut rolls.  They are absolutely delicious and if we're lucky, maybe we'll get one.  We met in Hartville and while we were at Hartville Thrift and Goodwill, I found 2 stuffed toys for Sophie. (Which, by the way, she LOVES!)  After the shopping, we went to Hartville Kitchen and had a wonderful Cobb salad for lunch.  Their salads are delicious and I often forget about that place.  After lunch, I headed home and she headed to Pickleball. When I got home, Rick was working on raking leaves.  I shouldn't do too much because of my eye surgeries, but I put on my protective eyewear and helped.  Didn't take too long, as we didn't do the whole yard, but it looks so much nicer.  I mowed the hostas and the peonies and mulched the leaves in that area of the yard with the mower.  Rick was so sweet and thanked me sincerely for my help.


Rick and I got to Dr. Ripkin's office and we were called in RIGHT ON TIME!  Now that's surprising, to say the least, as it doesn't happen very often.  The nurse/technician checked what she was supposed to, then we went to the "smaller" waiting room for what we thought was a short wait.  Nope!  All in all, we were there for 2 hours!!!  Oh, well, he's a wonderful doctor and an emergency set appointments back.  As much as I wish we hadn't been there that long, if I had an emergency and needed him, I'm sure he would have taken care of me.  That's worth being his patient.

Anyway, in checking my post surgery status of my eyes, things aren't bad, but things aren't perfect.  Right cataract was removed Oct. 24 and there is a "wrinkle" "fold" in the eye.  My vision is not as good as it needs to be in that eye and I most likely will need a laser procedure.  (sigh)  The left eye was done Nov 7.  The vision is quite good in that eye.  This is the eye that has the black eye.  He explained how it happened...the anesthetist, when he inserted the needle, missed a little and it bled.  I have a couple of lumps in that area that the doc explained were blood and they would go away.  My eyelid itches and the entire eye socket is very tender. I'm supposed to "up" my steroid drops for the next week and he thinks that might help; if not, call him after that week.

After leaving the ophthalmologist, we went to visit Rick's friend Pete.  We drove to Cuyahoga Falls and went to Pete's.  Sophie loves Pete and the feeling is mutual!  We stayed there for 15 or 20 minutes, then decided to have dinner out at Dontino's.  It was so good!

Then we came home and relaxed.  Toys were played with, treats were given to the good dog and cat.

Blow by blow description of my Friday!

Vessels

Aren't these really pretty for using as planters?  I have one succulent planter that I made when I took a workshop at Graf Growers in Bath with Cris.  I love it and when I brought it in from outdoors this fall I had a couple of "leaves" that had broken off and were on the soil.  One had some little sprouts forming and I thought I might like to plant more of the succulents for next summer. I've joined a Facebook group that discusses and ooohs and ahhhs over succulents.  

When I went to the grocery store yesterday, I stopped by the Goodwill store.  I found these and decided they would be fun to use.  The two small ones are actually soup mugs and the one in the middle is a planter.  

I won't be using them until spring, as it's best to work on  your succulents then. 

The Pharting Phrog and his demise

LOL!  See the exploded dog toy in two piles?  See one tired pup pressed up against the draperies by the window?

Sophie has had a toy frog.  She plays REALLY hard with her toys and this toy needed some repair.  I did a "skin" transplant on his belly and his back.  I really did a great job fixing him up, truly I did.  She was given this toy about 6 pm tonight.  This photo was taken about 7:45.  In the realm of things, this toy lasted quite a while!!!  This girl LOVES her toys -- to death!!!

I have to laugh.  She loves to play, she loves her toys.  She waited while I did surgery on this poor guy...her nose pressed against him as I held him in my lap and hand stitched his "graft".  When she got him back, she was just thrilled.  She pranced around the house, showing him to Rick and tossing him in the air.  However, when "Pharting Phrog's" time was up, it was up!!

I'm tired today.  I went to JoAnn Fabrics and it was like they were giving away things for free.  I had to wait about 30 minutes to have my 2 fabrics cut (actually, got them both for remnant prices cause I'm such a savvy shopper) and then had to wait at least 30 minutes to pay.  This does not count the time it took to find fabric that is close to what I wanted to match.

Then I went to WalMart in Stow, Ohio to get the wine that I enjoy.  Our local (Kent and Brimfield) WalMart stores no longer carry it.  Our local Marc's store has it, but I bought the last of what they had. I'm not a big drinker, but this wine (Sangria) is so good and I enjoy having a glass of it at night a few times a week.  I got 2 bottles, some whipped cream in a can for my coffee drinks.  Not a lot of shopping, thankfully.

There were people EVERYWHERE, I guess it's because of Veteran's Day sales.  I don't enjoy being out and about when stores are so crowded.

Hmmm...it's 8:15.  Might be time to have a glass of sangria!!

Friday this and that...

It's Friday!  I don't have a lot to chat about, but here's the day's doings.

Cris came to get me about 10 this morning and we set off on our day.  We went to purchase some tart cherry juice at Fresh Thyme (near Belden Village) and then we went Marshalls to look around.  Guess what I bought???  Yep a couple of toys for Sophie!  After that, we went to International House of Pancakes for lunch.  I was drooling at the selection of pancakes available, but ultimately went for the avocado turkey wrap.  It was good, but I think the ranch dressing actually "made" the sandwich!  Haha!

After that, we went to play pickle ball.  Well, to be specific, Cris played and I cheered and chatted with everyone.  Not allowed to play for while due to the eye surgery.

I got home about 4 and did a few things around the house.  I was going to go and buy a turkey to donate to Kent Social Services, but I reminded myself that driving is not in the cards for me just yet.

Tonight we were invited to Laurie and Mike's home for dinner.  They made kielbasa, steamed cauliflower, macaroni and cheese and squash...acorn and butternut.  It was really nice to get together and share a meal.

I putzed around with some of my plants today, so thought I'd post a photo of my succulent planter that I made this spring at Graf Growers.  It's going to need some cleanup and pruning, but from what I've read, it would be best to wait until spring.

Bad eye makeup?

         

Well, here I am in all my BLACKened-eye glory.  I guess the anesthesiologist evidently did something to cause this, but the bruise doesn't hurt and should not impede my healing.                                                                                                                                                                       The eye is definitely tired and aches, but no sharp pains or anything to worry about.  Last night, between 2 eye guards to protect each eye and my c-pap, I didn't sleep restfully.  Tonight I have had a nice glass of sangria and am unwinding, so hopefully a better night's sleep is ahead of me.

I posted on Facebook that instead of telling folks who stare that I had eye surgery, I'm going to say I was in a bar fight.  

Sleep tight.