Where Has the Time Gone?

While life often seems dull and boring, time still flies by at a record pace....whether you're having fun or not! I just returned from a few days away with a raging cold. I've awakened the last two mornings feeling sweaty and clammy, with chest congestion and no energy. Yesterday, I did nothing! It was dark and rainy most of the day, so I showered and kept my house robe on all day. Between rain showers, I put Rosie out in the backyard, with no attempt to walk her. I made up for that this morning! I feel a little bit better today and my only goal is to finish this, finish unpacking, and walk Rosie again!

Sadly, part of my time last month was spent helping this lovely couple, my neighbors Dave and Debby. On February 12, I received a call from Dave who was in the local hospital Emergency Room, expecting to be admitted to the hospital with pneumonia, blood in his lungs, and heart problems. He asked if I'd check on Debby and bring her to visit him. Debby suffers from dementia, and I had difficulty thinking of her even being home alone. Anyway, I took her to visit Dave daily, helped with grocery shopping, and things like that. It was a big learning curve for me! She had her shopping list but had no idea where to find items in the store. When we got to the checkout, she grabbed her items and said she'd check out with such authority that I thought nothing of it. So, I took my few items to the next kiosk. I looked over, and she was trying to put her credit card in the machine without having scanned anything!! Anyway, that made me more concerned about her being home alone! That Thursday, I received a call from Dave saying he was going to be released, and would I pick him up. I found it difficult to believe that he was able to go home, but I picked up Debby and his oxygen tank, and we headed to the hospital. He asked if we could stop at Walgreens on the way home to pick up his meds, which was no problem, but we got there and Walgreens could not fill the prescriptions due to insurance issues. So Dave, on oxygen and hardly able to stand up, had to go home, make phone calls, and straighten it out. Around 4 PM, he called and said the scripts should be ready, so I picked them up. I wasn't available on Friday and didn't touch base with them until Saturday when I learned that Dave had called 911 and was on his way back to the hospital. His son and Debby's daughter arrived that weekend. This past Wednesday, I received a call from Dave's son saying that Dave had passed away! He did not want a memorial service, and Debby went home with her daughter. They expect to be back down within the next few months and hope to get together with neighbors. They were such a lovely couple with such a sudden and sad ending. I will miss them both.

It's been a rough month for my little girl, too. By the middle of the month, she'd had four episodes with her back. She was prescribed a painkiller and an anti-inflammatory, which did the trick. She has a degenerative spine disease, which is common in dogs with longer spines. She's done so well for so long, and I hate to see this happening on a more regular basis.

On March 2nd, I attended the Beaufort County Democratic Convention. I hadn't really intended to do so, but I received a text from Deborah saying that she and Amy were going. Before COVID, we got together monthly and it had been such a long time since I'd seen them both; so, I signed up to go. No sooner had I done so than I received an email from Kathleen, our county chairperson, asking if I'd serve on the Executive Committee for the new precinct Belfair 2! No good deed goes unpunished! So now I have a monthly meeting, with every other one being held in some far-flung part of the county. While I have backed away from many groups, feeling that we were preaching to the choir, I hope this will be more productive. Anyway, Deborah, Amy, and I got together for lunch and a good catchup at Ruan Thai.

Robin and Me. Terry and Melodie

Needless to say, food is a constant theme. I'm going to ask Persis Indian Grill if I can get a commission on the friends I bring to their restaurant!! It's so good to have a great Indian restaurant within driving distance! Anyway, here I am with Sun City friends, but have also introduced Tippy and Chris to Persis, and Maria, Mark, and I are on a regular schedule! These ladies are a lot of fun. Two of them were Navy nurses, have moved around a lot, and have interesting stories. Have also had brunch with Tippy at First Watch and lunch at the new Benny's Coastal Kitchen with neighborhood ladies......all good food and good company!

The only other thing different I did recently was to have a day at the Oglethorpe Mall (Macy's primarily) in Savannah. I'm sure I had not been there since before COVID! When I first arrived around 10:15 AM, there were so few people around, it was almost eerie. By the time I left, it had picked up a lot, but it makes me wonder if ours will be one of the Macy's closing soon!

I feel like it's been old-home week! I had a few days in the upstate (Greenville area) with my friend Sue, whom I hadn't seen since pre-COVID. We had a lovely visit and it was nice to get away. Rosie had the time with Miss Ann, and she seemed to do well. That's a major relief to me and may mean I can get away a little more often. The drive up was rainy and miserable. The full day we had together was sunny and glorious, allowing us to get out and about comfortably. The drive home was overcast, but easy driving. After reconnecting with Sue, as well as Deborah and Amy, it seems like there is something in the air to bring us together again as I was also scheduled to get together on Tuesday with Sharon and Steve from my Congregation Beth Yam days. When I worked there, Sharon would bring her lunch and dine with me once a month. When I left CBY, we continued our monthly lunch until COVID hit. Due to my cold, we have rescheduled, but it will be good to see them again. They sold their home and moved to the Cypress, so they have a completely new lifestyle since I last saw them! 

I do have a funny story that happened while I was away. We ate at a restaurant with a limited vegetarian menu. I ordered the Buddah Bowl and was asked how I'd like it, mild, medium, hot, etc, I ordered medium spicy. Shortly thereafter, the waitress came out and said the chef wanted to know if I wanted "to taste the spices or feel the spices"!! I got a kick out of that. I said I wanted to feel the spices a little! The chef actually served my dish, and I commented on his question. He did a great job - my nose and eyes were watering, but my mouth was not burning and numb. I had never had it put that way (taste or feel the spices), but it makes a lot of sense when you think about it.

A Busy Birthday Month!

Well, I hobbled through Christmas and New Year with no enthusiasm whatsoever, actually the worst feeling I've ever had through those holidays! Needless to say, I was happy to see January roll around and would have felt so even if my birthday wasn't involved. Little did I know how busy and fun the month would be!

January started off slowly with mundane things like mammograms and finding a new CPA to do my taxes, two tasks I am happy to have behind me. There were also the usual lunches out and gatherings with friends. Things began to pick up around my birthday, several of which just happened spontaneously.

On the 18th, I had dinner with a longtime friend from our early Drinking Liberally days. We hadn't gotten together in years, but Cher mentioned on Facebook that she and Eddy were so excited because they had just booked a vacation in San Diego. Having lived there for 15+ years, I commented that they would love it! We chatted back and forth and decided we should get together for a good catchup, which is what we did. It was a fun time and I hope we'll do it again. She also expressed interest in DL again, so when the weather improves to the point of our meeting outside again, I'll invite her to join us. I'll also want to hear all about the San Diego vacation.

Chris and Lynn invited me to join them for lunch at Lulu's on the 19th as a treat for my birthday. When I got there, they had assembled the whole gang! It was a wonderful surprise (for the second year in a row! I'll be very suspicious next year!) and great to see everyone at once. The food was also very good and the first time for most of us to have the occasion to try it since the restaurant recently reopened at Rose Hill. It was a very nice way to celebrate my birthday. Many thanks to Chris and Lynn.

Then, on my birthday (20th), I got together at Okan, a new restaurant with a noted chef) for brunch with friends from Sun City - Melodie, Robin, and Terry. We had originally planned to get together in December only to discover the day before that it was the same day as the Christmas parade, and the weather was to be iffy! Thankfully, Melodie followed up and got us together on the 20th without knowing it was by b'day. Even so, they discovered it on FB and came with celebratory spirits. It was a lot of fun and I really enjoyed it. Thank you, ladies, for a fun morning!

Then, Rayna stopped by with a lovely bouquet of roses and a very sweet card to top off the celebrations. I keep thinking that the big 7-7 has to be my lucky year if the remainder of the year lives up to its beginning! Keeping my fingers crossed! Many thanks to everyone who made it such a special birthday!

To add more excitement to the month, I was able to see Gov Gavin Newsom, who was in Sun City campaigning for President Biden in our First in the Nation Democratic Primary. Once I learned that it was happening, I wasted no time in contacting Pamela, who works tirelessly for Sun City Indivisible and who provided me with a gate pass. Once I arrived and found her, she had also secured front-row seats for us - me, herself, and her friend Jody (Pamela is the one in the middle in the photos of all three of us!). There were about 300 people there and it was a rousing event. Governor Newsom was a great surrogate for President Biden and will no doubt be running for President in 2028, so it was good to see him in person. As with more of these events, I ran into lots of other liberal/progressive friends, which is always exhilarating. As an aside, Gov. Newsom was introduced by SC State Senator Margie Bright Matthews, who was one of the five SC state female senators (of both parties) who were awarded the Profiles in Courage Award for defending a woman's right to abortion without government interference. Keep in mind that a body of mostly men totally disregarded the advice of their female counterparts who actually have experience in female health issues! Nor would they allow the women to exhibit their awards in the state house! How's that for male fragility!

To end the month on a very positive and happy note, Melodee visited. She arrived late afternoon on the 29th and we had a chatty evening, bouncing from topic to topic until the wee hours. The following day, we joined Tippy and Chris for lunch at Olive and Fig. Again, it was non-stop chatter, so much so that I forgot to take a photo, which I fully intended to do! From there Melodee and I went to another First in the Nation event, this time with former governor Mitch Landrieu, who is currently a Senior Advisor to the President for Infrastructure Coordination. It was very obvious that he was well-informed with facts and figures at instant recall. It was also obvious that he is a people person! He was informative, entertaining, and motivational. I'm glad we were able to go.

The following day we did a leisurely walking tour of old town Bluffton, which has changed a lot over the years. It was relaxing and gave us a chance to check out some of the newer shops. Just as the weather was changing, we headed to Chow Daddy's for a late lunch. Melodee insisted on treating for my birthday, which was unnecessary but thoughtful and delicious. We had a delightful waitress and lingered a while to enjoy it. Each day around 3 PM we returned home to give Rosie a good walk. You can imagine how she enjoyed having a captive audience!

It was great to see Melodee and I'm so glad she visited. The next morning as I was going for my coffee, I noticed a big box by my door! She had sent a goodie basket as a thank you, which was very thoughtful but not necessary, especially after treating me to lunch the day before! I'm trying to pace myself with all of the goodies, but everything looks so tasty! Melodee, thank you so much, and I hope to see you again soon.

It has truly been a busy and memorable month, and I'm so appreciative of it all. It reminds me of how fortunate I am on so many levels.

Just Another Day in the States!

It's 10 AM and I'm sitting here in the near-dark awaiting a stormy afternoon. If that isn't bleak enough, I'm listening to trump's immunity appeal to determine whether or not he will stand trial for attempting a coup on January 6, 2020! I hope to live long enough to see him get his just rewards (or die!) but I'm afraid that by that time, my body will be worn to shreds and my mind soup! Just another day in the States!

Well, they're over! I made it through Christmas and New Year's with little enthusiasm. My blah-ness was broken by two enjoyable events. Chris had Lynn, Tom, and myself over for a tasty brunch on Christmas Eve. Maria and Mark invited me for lunch on Christmas Day. Both were totally delightful and relaxed. I finally got in the mood and decided to have folks over after New Year's (Jan. 2). I made it as easy as possible, ordering a sandwich ring, as well as veggie and fruit trays from Publix. To that, I added two salads, spanatopika, and stuffed mini-peppers. It was all stuff I could make ahead and not have to rush around as guests were arriving. I was glad I did it and I think everyone enjoyed it. After that, all of the decorations came down and went back into the garage!

Kudos to my neighbors again! This lovely bundle contains a delicious rum cake, which my neighbor has given me for several years in a row! I shared it at all three holiday gatherings, but only those at the first one got to see the lovely presentation! 

Every day, I thank my lucky stars for the great neighbors I have, not just on holidays, but every day!

The holidays also marked Tippy's decision to venture out. I picked her up one day for lunch at Jane Bistro, and she was kind enough to treat me to a lovely lunch! She's still using a walker, but I helped her out at the curb and all went well. Since then, she has also started driving again, once obtaining Kieran's OK. On her first outing, we planned to meet up at - you guessed it - Olive and Fig, only to find that they are closed until January 22. So, we moved on to Ruan! It seemed like old times, and we really enjoyed it.

Yes, my baby had a good Christmas, too! If truth be known, every day is Christmas for Rosie, but she really lucked out over this holiday. Lynn and Tom give her one of her favorite types of squeaky toys. Melodee sent a lovely ornament with her name, and Maria and Mark gave her a lovely animal print sweater - in her colors, no less! Thank you, one and all, for thinking of her. Rosie loves it and you know it makes me happy, too!

I managed to do my Christmas shopping without entering a shop! I found these cute holiday wine glasses on Etsy, and they struck my fancy. I used the first initial of the name, which worked well until I got to Maria and Mark. Luckily, one M sported a red Santa hat, and the other a green one! Everyone has everything they want or need, but this is just a little something they can enjoy at Christmastime. 

Between the holidays and the cold weather, I've neglected my walking over the last two weeks. I started again yesterday when I waited until it warmed up to 54 degrees in the afternoon! We have had more nights in the mid-to-low 30s than I can remember, and our houses are not built for that.....and today certainly is not conducive to being outside! I keep trying and I think I actually miss it!

As I close, it is almost 1 PM. It has lightened up a bit, but the wind has also picked up, and we've received a tornado warning! Between showers, I've gotten Rosie out in the backyard, and I've stowed my outside furniture, so now we wait. I've heard from a friend in the Columbia area that their transformer blew and the storm hasn't even moved through yet! Needless to say, I'll be glad when it's over and I hope it's all hype!

Farewell 2023. Welcome 2024!

This dark, rainy weekend is a perfect time for a final 2023 entry to wish you a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, or Happy Holidays, whatever you may or may not be celebrating! Whichever it is, I hope you are more into it than I am! My best description is that I'm in a "wait it out" mode! This, too, shall pass!

I usually put the tree up and decorate the weekend of Thanksgiving, but this year I was well over a week late, not having much enthusiasm for it. I was really dreading dealing with the tree. It's heavy, time-consuming, and messy. As luck would have it, I ran into a neighbor who told me about her wrought-iron tree, which was the answer to my problem. I ordered one, and while it was time-consuming this year (taking plastic covers off all branches), it will be quick and easy from here on out......and I get to see and use my ornaments without all the hassle! I also made a few other changes - lights and bell collection on the mantel, Margaret Furlong white porcelain ornaments on the coffee table, etc. So overall, it feels a bit different, which is not a bad thing after all these years.

In addition to dreading the holidays, what have I been doing? I joined Liberal Ladies for the Holiday Cocktail Party, which was very pleasant and festive, and it's always great to run into ladies whom I don't see often. The program was even more enticing - it was about the DAYLO  program (Diversity Awareness Youth Literary Assoc.) which is a student book club that formed after the book bans here in the county by none other than Moms for Liberty! Once MFL challenged 97 books in the school district, I was pleasantly surprised to see a strong, positive response. Some volunteered to be on the review committees, others organized and informed everyone, like FABB (Families Against Book Bans), and more! People mobilized quickly and remained involved. At the end of the day, all books were returned to the shelves except for about 5 (one book was challenged that wasn't even in the system!). What I got the biggest kick out of was that one of the books (by Colleen Hoover) that was removed is going to be made into a movie!! You gotta laugh! 

What else has been happening? I got the leaking windows and damaged flooring repaired. That was a biggie! Chris and I celebrated her birthday at Olive and Fig, which is always good. I continue my daily walking routine except for Sundays and rainy days. Even on cold days, I manage to do it in the morning though I know it will be warmer in the afternoon. I also know I will talk myself out of it if I put it off until later in the day!

One evening (12/3), Maria, Mark, and I went onto the island to see the lights in Mitchelville. They had a drive-thru display with lights covering everything that wasn't nailed down. It was pretty and festive. We followed recommendations to arrive early and line up to drive through. We were probably the 5th or 6th car in line, with a short wait until opening time. When we drove out, cars were lined up as far as the eye could see with a second road trying to merge! We were thankful for our short wait. From there we went to Shelter Cove, which was quiet but well-decorated, including some of the boats in the marina. We walked all along the waterfront and wound up at Ela's for a light dinner. It was such a warm evening that we ate outside on their deck with a nice view of the marina. It really was a lovely, relaxing evening.

I mentioned last month that Lynn hosted the November birthday folks (Tom, Chris, and Tippy) for dinner, but that wasn't enough for Tippy! She decided she wanted a parade AND to be addressed as Her Majesty for the day. So, she put out the summons and the usual suspects showed up. We were instructed to wear crazy hats and bring a musical instrument. Somewhere among the photos, you can see my meager attempt to do so. Once the group was "organized", we paraded around the cul-de-sac making celebratory noises and singing (?) Happy Birthday! We then retired to the house for birthday cake. It was lots of fun as only Tippy and willing accomplices can generate and I hope it was a Happy Birthday for Her Majesty!

To update you on Tippy, she will be having surgery on cervical vertebrae 2-5, though that will not happen until after the holidays. Her doctors want to approach the surgery from the front of her throat, which is complicated by her previous throat cancer and radiation. Even so, she seems to have two wonderful surgeons on the case and feels confident in moving forward. Tippy did one thing that I thought was brilliant and I would not have thought of doing. She recorded her meeting with her doctors on her phone (then transcribed to text and shared with friends). Knowing that I always walk away from important meetings like that thinking that I didn't hear it all, didn't ask questions, etc. How nice to be able to go back and hear it all when in a less tense mode! I thought that was a very good move and I hope I remember it should I need it.

I must mention a few of my "glimmers" for the week. The photo on the left is a gift bag from a neighbor to Rosie. To be honest, I don't really know their names, but they have Floyd, whom I refer to as their time-share doggie. Floyd actually belongs to one of their children but spends months at a time with them. They conscientiously walk Floyd and take him for drives.....and our paths just cross in the process of that. One afternoon when the house was in total disarray (Xmas decorating), the doorbell rang. It was Floyd and his mistress with a little goodie bag for Rosie! I thought that was so sweet and a total surprise. It contained some treats for Rosie and a roll of poop bags (with a weenie dog on it) for her servant. It was such a delightful surprise.

On another day, I received a message in the evening that my Amazon orders had been delivered. I opened the door to get them and there were three packages rather than the two expected. My first thought was, "Oh, no, another thing to deal with, a wrongly directed package!" When I checked it out, it was addressed to me and was a lovely, delicious box of dried/candied fruit from Jim and Anthony! How thoughtful and what a perfect gift for a vegetarian! I never even thought of candied kiwi, which is delicious! I sent them a thank-you e-card but it hasn't been picked up yet, so I will thank them again here AND say that we need to get together in 2024! It has been far too long. It is so good to hear from them and it didn't have to be a gift.....it could be a visit! Thank you for thinking of me in such a nice way and I hope to see you soon.

I awakened this morning to the sound of a steady rain, which must have started hours earlier. This is how my yard looks at  9:30 AM and it's supposed to rain until 11 PM! Needless to say, it's dark and dreary, and the only thing to perk it up is to turn on the ornament tree and any other holiday features with lights.

I'll close by wishing you a very Happy Holiday season and peace, joy, prosperity, and good health in the coming year. May 2024 be kinder to us all.

End of Year Denial!

This is the second dark, dreary day following a string of beautiful ones. We were expecting some rain, which we needed, but it only spit enough to keep Rosie inside! She alerted me when Mark took Felix and Henry out and I used that as motivation to get her moving. It worked like a charm! While our temperatures are falling, we will still be in the mid-70s next week, minus the humidity of the summer, which makes it wonderful.

Photographs are a great way to remind myself whom I've been with and what we've done. These are photos from October that were misplaced and not included in the last entry. Chris's family (the Girls' Week!) was down for a week and invited us over for Sunday brunch. We knew to expect abundant and delicious food, but this year they were right on the beach with a gorgeous, bright view of the ocean. It was a delightful morning with a heavy Jimmy Buffet theme, as you can see. It was lots of fun and we came away full and happy!

Speaking of Chris, she was up to her phantom treats again for Halloween. Being a former teacher, Halloween is one of my least favorite holidays, but this goodie bag did get it off to a good start. Somehow, I also received an invitation to my (Conservative) neighbor's Halloween party. It was actually held at the home of one of Rosie's favorite people (Who isn't her favorite person?); so, if he's out working in the yard, we stop for a chat in the morning. It was to be in their driveway/garage and he invited me. I dreaded it for a week! It turned out to be a bigger bash than I expected and I chatted a bit with various neighbors, some of whom were surprised to see me there! My plan was to arrive early and depart early, which I did. Thus, Halloween was over!

Now that the carpet in the bedroom is complete, I've tackled the window leak and floor damage in the den. It takes a while to get estimates and try to determine the best person/company for the job. I have one last (I hope!) guy coming tomorrow and I hope to move forward from there. There is actually only one who seems to really have found the source of the leak with a reasonable plan of action, but before moving ahead, I'll get some input from neighbors who know more about this type of thing than I do. Wish me luck!

I shouldn't complain because I do have wonderful neighbors whom I feel I could call on in need, and I'm very appreciative of that. Recently, I had a bush that was enveloping my mailbox cut back. In doing so, the cap of the mailbox post had rotted away, and I added that to my list of jobs to get done. A couple of days later, I arrive home from my walk, and my mailbox has been capped and gussied up! My neighbors across the street, Maria and Mark, repaired it for me! How nice was that? It really made my week!

On Oct. 26th in the late afternoon, Rosie began shivering and panting violently for no apparent reason. I quickly called the vet and was happy when they could see us on such short notice and that late in the day. Rosie has intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) and the vet thought it was a flare-up. We were sent home with two medications for pain and inflammation, which along with the gabapentin that she already gets twice a day, meant that I was giving her medications 5 times per day!! No easy task. One was a liquid, which I could disguise with treats, chicken, or cheese, but the other was a hard, nasty-tasting pill. As you can see from the middle photo, I wound up pulverizing the pill, putting it in a pill pocket, and rolling it in cheese! To make it seem more like a treat, I put it in her puzzle. I'm not sure she was fooled by any of it and there was one day when she would have none of it. It took about 4 days for her to act herself again, and I'm hoping that it lasts. It is really difficult when something is wrong and she can't tell me what is happening. 

And, yes, there has been the usual socializing over food. The periodic trip for Indian food, this time finding a cupcake shop for dessert! Asian food with three other like-minded, single ladies from the hood. Lynn hosted a lunch for three November birthday people - Tom, Chris, and Tippy! It was the first time we'd been together in a while and was good to catch up. Rhonda C. and I got together for a long overdue chat and political rant, which I always enjoy! Liberal Ladies also had a nice brunch where it was good to see longtime friends and acquaintances, as well as Jewish friends who are experiencing much angst related to current international issues, some having relatives in Israel. It's hard to imagine how they must feel. Equally, I can't imagine what the innocent (non-HAMAS) people of Gaza must be going through. It certainly makes one feel helpless and at the whim of crazy men.

To the topic of the day, Thanksgiving is around the corner and I wish I looked more forward to it. I'm lucky to be sharing it with friends, but I feel like I just want to get it over with!  And I can't even think about Christmas! I guess things will fall into place as the holidays approach, but at this point, I remain in denial!

I'll leave you with this little blurb about glimmers. I really think glimmers are my superpower as I am always aware and appreciative of small things that happen solely because someone did something nice for no reason other than to make someone's day brighter - like repairing my mailbox, which I consider a big glimmer! Like friends who leave goodie bags at your door. Like a neighbor who saw Rosie and me scrambling home in the rain and pulled his car over, rolled down the window, handed me an umbrella, and kept going. Like the Black Magic Woman Tippy and I ran into in Cape Town. Like the young man at Callawassee service station who asked if everything was okay when I had car trouble. Too many to count. Sometimes the world seems too overwhelming and out of control, but it's nice to know there are good people out there willing to make someone's day. Here's wishing lots of "glimmers" in your future.

Another Month Gone!

 It's a dark, rainy day, with promises of more of the same over the next few days, so it seemed a good time to update the blog. It will also give me a reprieve from my walking routine and the opportunity to get some things done around the house. Rosie is taking advantage of it, too, as she is still in bed with no signs of coming out!

I looked back to see when I last posted, and another full month had passed, flying by at record speed! As I look back, I have gotten a lot done with the installation of new bedroom carpet being at the top of the list. I'm so glad to have it done, and the installers (three young men) were amazing. I couldn't imagine how they would move all of the furniture, but somehow they got most of it in my bathroom!! Only the desk was in the hallway. I was amazed, and they did it in no time at all. 

In preparation for the carpet installation, I removed everything from the countertops and all of the drawers from the bedroom furniture. I resolved not to return anything until I had gone through it and pared down. That became quite a project, but I stuck with it. Now I have a bedroom full of things to donate, which will be my project for the weekend - to box it all and take it to thrift shops early next week. I'm glad I was motivated to do this and hope it will last until I go through my closet, too!

Needless to say, I was surprised at some of the things I discovered as I went through the drawers, like my baby bonnet, which would now be an antique! It had a pink ribbon tie, which was missing, and I don't remember who made it. I also found rare correspondence from my father to me while I was in college. I had to laugh as a PS stated that he usually got $4/page for his writing, but for me it was free! I think I can truthfully say that I get my quirky sense of humor from my Dad!! 

While I was waiting for the carpet to be completed, I tackled another project. I use the app Paprika to clip online recipes, and I have thousands! Even so, I wanted to add those favorites from my recipe notebook so that they could be accessed on my tablet. In some cases that meant finding them again online, and for others, taking a photo, etc. So far, all of them are included with the exception of about 10 or 12 that I'll finish in the evenings; then, everything can be found in one place!

My cousin's house with loads of flowers!

September 26 - 28, I went up to NC to visit cousins. This was prompted by learning that one of them had recently gone into a nursing home, and I knew if I didn't make the effort, I would likely never see them again - I called it my farewell tour! I stayed in a motel as the cousin I usually stay with is having ongoing health issues, but that gave me more flexibility in the use of my time. In the short time I was there, I saw 5 cousins and their spouses, as well as a second cousin. I was warmly welcomed and immediately caught up on all of the family drama! At times I felt like a visiting psychiatrist! Even so, it was good to see everyone and catch up. The most difficult part was visiting my cousin in the nursing home. She seemed distraught and looked like she could jump out of her skin. Her twin sister seemed to think that once she was strong enough to go home, she would be more herself, but I'm not so sure. She suffered a sudden memory loss (as well as a back injury) which was determined not be to from a stroke, so I don't know what could have caused it. Anyway, it was difficult to see her, and I do hope she can go home soon and that she will improve. So sad.

My trip to NC was the first time I've been anywhere since before Covid, so it was unsettling to leave Rosie behind. Luckily, I have a neighbor/friend who doggie sits in her home and she was able to keep Rosie. I knew everything would be okay, but I still had separation anxiety! Ann kept me updated with these photos. I learned that when Ann walked Rosie, she (Rosie) wanted to go home and Ann had difficulty turning her around! Another neighbor and doggie duo came along and enticed Rosie back in the right direction. It was funny because once I got back, I got reports from various neighbors of Rosie sightings while I was away. One neighbor welcomed me home, and another and his doggie walked up Ann's street on the off chance they might see Rosie and offer encouragement! Maria and Mark across the street had also invited Ann and Rosie to drop by and visit Felix and Henry if needed. Obviously, I had no need to worry about Rosie's care. The whole neighborhood was looking out for her!

On September 17th, Tippy, Kieran, Chris, and I went to Charleston for a Michelangelo Sistine Chapel exhibit. It was smaller than the Van Gogh but equally impressive. We went up on a Sunday so it was a bit quieter than usual and an easy drive. The museum opened at 11:30 and it took a little over an hour to view the exhibit. Each picture was explained by a board next to it, but you could also download an app to your phone that allowed one to listen via earbuds to an explanation of each. piece. I love that kind of stuff. You may get more information HERE or download the app (Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel Exhibit) and see the whole exhibit, even though it won't compare to the real thing. From the exhibit, we adjourned to Saffron for lunch, then a leisurely drive home.

On Labor Day weekend, my TV in the den died. It had been acting strangely for a while but eventually, it got to the point that the picture froze. I chatted with someone online who suggested I see a repair person, though I knew that would probably cost as much as a new TV. So, I got online and Best Buy (right next door!) was having a sale, so I ordered online and picked it up an hour later. The hardest part was dealing with the size and weight of the box, and then attaching the feet/legs, which was a fiddly job. After that, it was just a matter of plugging it in and setting it up.

I'm sad to report that more friends have been plagued with falls. Lynn's husband Tom fell while walking Bogey. He had a nasty cut on his head and facial bruising. Lynn called 911 and he was taken to an urgent care facility. They cleaned and bandaged the wound and sent him home. Around mid-afternoon, they were back due to continued bleeding. This time they stitched it. Then, around 2 AM, they were back for the third time due to the bleeding. Needless to say, Tom is on blood thinners that contributed to the problem, but what an ordeal! More recently, Tippy has fallen. We were to get together for lunch last Friday when she texted to ask for a rain check. They were on their way to the ER after a fall in the kitchen. She was told nothing was broken, just a serious bruise. By the next morning, she was in pain and not able to walk without assistance. So, back again to the doctor. This time he ordered a CT Scan, which did not indicate a break of any kind. But, the pain and lack of mobility continued until an MRI was done. It showed that nerves at the base of her spine were compromised and the cause of the pain. Not a lot can be done except for steroids to deal with the pain and encourage healing. She was encouraged to move as much as possible to prevent the development of other problems, and she will be seeing her favorite physical therapist. Here's hoping they both will be 100% soon.

And of course, the entire world has lost its mind and it looks like we will not stop until we kill each other. I don't even know what to say about it all, but I'm sure you're hearing it all and feeling the same incredulity and sadness I feel. To make things worse, 1/3 of our government is virtually non-functional, nor do we have an Ambassador to Israel! I think they are accomplishing their goals as they really do not want government to work. I don't even know what to say!

On a lighter note, my neighbor is at it again this year and I thought UK friends would appreciate this one! And don't ask about the Prince of Whales! I have no idea whether that was intentional or just ill-informed! The neighbors who celebrate Halloween (not me) have had stuff out since September. That's a bit much for me.

This must be the year of the turtle as this is the second large turtle we've seen this year. This
one was on our afternoon walk and it just seemed to be resting in the shade. That was as close as Rosie wanted to get, though she was curious.

I'll close with this photo of Rosie, who was taking advantage of a spot of sunshine. It was only after I took it that I noticed the reflection of her face and the splash of sunlight on the wall behind her. Quite nice. 

Here's hoping this finds everyone doing well and enjoying the seasonal change. I'm sending good wishes your way!