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.

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!

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.

Fridays with Cris

I've read the book "Tuesdays with Morrie", but I could write a book called "Fridays with Cris".

Every Friday, my sister and I go out and about.  We leave by taking turns driving, the driver picking up the other one about 10 am and we decide just what we want to do.  This summer we started playing Pickle Ball on Friday afternoons, so we have a focus.  By 12:50, we need to be at the tennis club ready to hit the ball around with some wonderful new friends.

Today I picked her up and wanted to go to World Market to pick up some Nyakers (probably the richest-tasting ginger snaps ever) that were on sale.  I thought they would make a delicious Christmas gift for a couple of the neighbors.

We popped into Beiler's Market to see what produce items we might need, but for the first time, we didn't get a thing.

Cris was on a quest to find maraschino cherry juice.  Maraschino cherries are packed in the juice, but my brother-in-law needs more than that small amount!  After stopping at a couple of places to find it, calling to see if other stores might have it, we found it in the Lakemore Plaza at a little wine and liquor store.  Hurrah!

We had lunch at Perkins.  The food was filling, but the experience was just ok.

Pickle ball was fun...it always is.  I was just exhausted, though.  It was the first time I played since my cataract surgery and evidently my body is still recovering from that.  I get to play Monday, then it's off for a while as I'm having my 2nd cataract surgery (on the left eye this time).