Pizza

It's Lori's fault. 

Her Naan Pizza always looks good enough to grab it off the computer screen.

The other day I saw Naan Bread at ALDI.

I grabbed it, and ta-da...

My toaster oven has an air fryer mode. 

The pizza had a delightfully crispy crust. 

Thanks for the inspiration, Lori. 

 

I thought I Heard Santa's Elves

 I was exercising at Lowes. 

i.e. I was trying to find which aisle was hiding my husband! 

I kept hearing tapping, so I wandered on until I came to a table with moms, dads, and kids working on a project together. 

This warmed my heart! 

I love the expressions on all of the faces as this family explored the contents of their kit. 

I had to wander on, but my steps were a little lighter. 

Mistake? Maybe?

Time will tell!

The town where I now live has a Newcomer's Club for the surrounding communities.  Last spring I kept reading things about the group, with pictures showing women doing all kinds of things in the area.  

I decided to join the group. I've never done anything like this before....and I'm not sure it's my 'style'.  However, I figured I would never know unless I tried it. 

Almost daily I get an email listing some activity or another that I can participate in: duck-pin bowling, a bus trip to a theater production, a knitting/crochet get together, lunch with "The Lunch Bunch", dinner theater trips, ornament making, and even a trip to Italy. The opportunities go on and on.  

This week I went to a Christmas Card making activity. It was OK. I enjoyed listening to the chatter around me as I made a few cards. The hostess had everything very organized and there were all kinds of pretty papers and embellishments for the cards. 

About 20 minutes before the activity was set to finish I discovered that the two women sitting nearest to me lived in my neighborhood. I enjoyed discovering that connection. They are very involved in the club, and roped me into attending an upcoming luncheon. Next, I was told, they have a small group that offers more activities in my 'hood': cards, lunch groups, and Mahjong, for example. And, would I like to go out to lunch with their group next week?

I may have just tripped and fallen into the deep end of the pool without a life jacket!

Time will tell!

Freeze Your Buns

This picture came up on my FaceBook memories from 2014. 

We were living in Parker, CO. 

Cold weather is the norm at this time of year

....everywhere. 

I guess it just seems to come earlier each year, even though it doesn't. 

 

Record Cold

A record cold was predicted for Florida, even down to the Keys. At one point our hourly forecast for Tuesday morning was as follows:

The predicted low temps actually went up a few degrees. 

(OK...I know I can't really complain too loudly when so many of my friends are already experiencing snow and ice...and dreary, cold grey days.)

Regardless, many plants we have are true southern belles. They prefer tropical temps.

We brought 'portable' plants inside, huddled others together, and covered as many as we could. 

It turned out that the low was only 34.

Still cold for us...especially for November. 

Hope you all are warm. 

Sheeps: They ARE in our Blood

Our mom came back from a place called Ireland with one of these sheeps. 

She didn't let us play with a sheeps. 

But, last night a sheeps leapt to the floor to visit. 

 We had a good time.

I pounced on it, and tossed it away so I could turn and jump on it again. 

I grabbed the sheeps from Kaitlyn and dashed under the coffee table with it.

We played 'catch me if you can' with it. 

I shook it mightily in my jaws.

I snatched it and ran. 

I rolled on it. It smelled just like stinky sheeps.

It was fun being a sheeps dog last night.  

When Mom got up the wee sheeps was here:

And there:

We were all tuckered out after a night of playing with a sheeps!

Mom was a little sad. But she had to admit that if something is on the floor...it is fair game (or sheeps).

She also had to admit that it smelled very sheepy! 

The Irish crafter apparently saved some time by skipping the washing step.

We thought it smelled just fine!

 

Come Sit a Spell

We have a small front porch.  It's perfect for the two of us. On occasion we sit out there with a cup of coffee, or later in the day, a glass of wine. 

It 's very quiet. There's little action. Occasionally a neighbor will jog by - too far away to engage in a chat. A few cars go by. Sometimes someone pedals by. Garbage trucks from three companies come by on three different days - what's with that?!

We do enjoy the quiet...

but you are welcome anytime.

We'll pour another cuppa...

or a glass.

We have a smidge of fall color, if you hunt for it.

My Hibiscus, above,

and leaves nearing their end,

being shown up by Live Oaks all around. 

Happy fall, y'all!

There's no whipped cream AND you want a tip??

 Saturday morning was beautiful. I suggested that we go out for breakfast. I have gotten to the point where I can almost split an English Muffin without cutting the bandages and cast on my hand. Buttering it single-handed is bit more of a challenge. I really don't want to wear butter for the next few weeks. (I tried to make some of our dinner last night. I don't think my shirt will ever get clean...I have all kinds of food stuffs smeared across the front!)

The Mister has been very good about meal prep, but a break would be nice, and he was agreeable. Off we went to one of the local breakfast spots. There were a few people sitting outside - the Mister just kept on driving. He was hungry and didn't want to wait. 

I recalled that there was a Panera just down the road.  We commented that we hadn't been in a Panera for years. 

It wasn't crowded...there were 2 other parties, and a third came in after us. 

It looks like a shrunken version of the Panera we recalled from days of yore. 

However, here's something different. As you enter there were a few computer stations for ordering!

(Yes, there was a nice counter person who would also take orders.)

Here's a new one for me; place your order for a beverage, get a cup at the counter and go fill your drink.

Oh, and while you are there, grab a buzzer/light thingie (in the box) and when it buzzes and the light flashes, you can come up to the counter to get your order! How handy!

We ordered at the counter: a pastry, a breakfast sandwich, and two Crème Brûlée lattes. 

What? You don't have any whipped cream?

Can't you go next door and buy a can?

Oh, you aren't allowed to do that. 

We should get a discount. (Didn't happen!) 

We paid.

Took the buzzer/light thingie proffered to us,

and proceeded to one of the empty tables - no problem there!

Our buzzer/light thingie went off. 

We proceeded to the pick-up counter.

The breakfast sandwich was there. 

The lattes would be another minute or so.

Why, thought I? 

They didn't need to allot time for the unavailable whipped cream!

Oh...and the pastry?

With a barely discernible eye-roll and eyes "cutting" to the counter gal,

this girl stepped from behind the food prep area to go get the pastry and slap it on a plate. 

Was that a sotto voce 'harumph' I detected?

I inquired as to whether it could be heated. 

A nod of the head pointed me towards the microwave. 

They aren't allowed to heat the pastries, I was told, 

because it would be their fault if a customer was burned. 

I may have rolled my eyes at that point.

I proceeded to the area where said microwave was to be found, and operated by me. 

Do you see it?

I didn't. 

I had to ask if they meant that I should take it home to heat it in my microwave?

(OK, I was being a little snarky.)

No, it's over there...

(It is obvious, by their reactions, that I am being a PITA.)

Oh, there it is.

IN the cabinet.

OK - it is labeled indicating it is a microwave shelf. 

Looks like a cabinet to me.

My bad!

I guess I'm not in the habit of opening cabinets at eateries.

So, now I have a heated pastry. 

It didn't get hot enough to burn me because they use melamine plates. 

Melamine isn't supposed to be used in a microwave.

The plate heats to a higher temperature than the item on the plate.

So, I could burn my hand instead of my mouth?

Putting melamine in a microwave can cause the melamine to overheat and leach chemicals into the food.

So, you don't want me to blame you if I get burned,

but ingesting chemicals is OK?

Had you been there you might have heard a deep sigh, or noticed a shake of my head. 

But, I have a slightly warm pastry.

It's sticky. 

I could use a knife, oh, and butter would be welcome.

Back to the counter. 

Another head nod.

Over there:

Do you see it?

I didn't. 

Ahem, where did you say to look?

Oh, there they are!

The plastic cutlery is in clearly marked (not at all)

containers tucked on the shelves. 

Oh, and might I ask about butter?

Oh, it's up on the left (perhaps out of the range of the picture).

I was shown the butter packets that were in a stainless steel bin.

Should I have known to help myself?

Maybe next time I go I should walk behind the counter,

put the pastry I want on a plate,

grab a knife,

and some butter,

(now that I know where they are)

oh, and grab my cup,

and go heat the pastry and fill my own beverage.

I'm so glad I went out for breakfast. 

I really didn't feel like making it.

AND...a tip screen pops up when your order is rung up!

For what?????

I wasn't really irritated or disappointed with Panera or my food.

Some of my attitude was brought on by the staff's lack of recognition of their role in helping customers. 

Maybe I was just hungry? (hangry?)

Perhaps my hand was the irritant. 

Perhaps clear expectations for service have not been communicated by management. 

Maybe it's the sad fact that our food service industry historically has not paid workers a decent wage, and tipping is simply part of what we are expected to pay...regardless of the level of service.  

I was somewhat amused by the suggestion that a tip was expected for minimum effort. 

Lonely Days

 It won't be long until all of our projects are complete. Mornings will be so very quiet without workers showing up. We will be able to lounge about in our PJ's and relax, well, that's not exactly our style. 

Today the roofing crew came to complete the metal roof on our garage. 

Our contractor has surprised us with his attention to detail.

He has always made sure that our build site and yard are picked up. 

I noticed that he came by with a new trailer for hauling building debris. 

Perhaps we paid for that with all of our projects?! 

We contracted for solar power installation months ago.

That crew showed up this morning as well. 

We had to wait a period of time before the install,

as one needs a roof for the solar panels....

so we had to wait for the RV barn to be completed!

It will be a happy day when we begin producing our own power!

Post-surgical Day #2

There's not much I can do yet...at least nothing comes to mind that is blog worthy. 

I am spending the prescribed 5-minutes/hour moving my fingers, thumb and arm around.  It's surprising that it doesn't really hurt more than it did before the surgery (at this point in time).  Well, except when I move too fast or forget and try to grip something, or if I bump it, or...

I'm taking Arthritis Strength Tylenol (so what's new?) balanced with Advil. When either drug is wearing down I can tell. The physician's practice suggests alternating the two drugs, saying that in this case 1 + 1 = 3, as far as pain relief goes. Interesting Math!

After the surgery a plaster splint was made going from my palm, and around my thumb a bit, almost to my elbow. My arm is wrapped in cotton and a loose ace bandage. My guess is this allows for swelling without pressure until my body adjusts from the assault it endured. Two more weeks of this...and then a cast.

There are far worse things. Life is good 😃

Alien Arm

Who tied a bag of potatoes to my shoulder?

image from Freepik

The surgical center performed a brachial plexus nerve block before my surgery.  Anesthesia was injected around the nerves in my shoulder and it numbed the entire arm, from shoulder to fingertips. 

It is the most bizarre feeling - uh, non-feeling!

I can't feel anything, but I'm aware of a heavy, dead weight 'there'....somewhere!  If the sling isn't on correctly the dead weight of my arm (I guess in the range of 8-10 lbs) falls. My brain tells me to catch my arm and support it from underneath....that computer in my head cannot grasp the fact that there is nothing there that it can control. When the arm is out of sight, I don't know where it is! I have to haul the arm up by grabbing the sling with my working hand to raise it up. I guess this is like phantom limbs amputees report experiencing. 

As awkward as it is, I'm not looking forward to the nerve block wearing off! The dead numb feeling I am experiencing will yield to pins and needles...then the brain will register pain. (At least that's what I have read.) I'm already experiencing sensations in different areas. I can wiggle fingers a smidge. Again, the brain is whacked out. It thinks I'm moving them inches, any inkling of sensation I think I am feeling is located near my palm, and in reality the fingers might twitch < 1/8"!

After 10 hours the block was wearing out faster. We decided to play Rumikub, so I plopped my arm on a pillow on the table to keep my arm elevated. I began giggling as I had the distinct sensation that my arm was sinking 3-4" into a very springy foam pillow, when in fact the little pillow has almost no give! If I lifted (attempted) my arm, the brain was convinced the arm had gone up in the air, and likewise asking my arm to go forward, like shaking hands with someone, resulted in the brain making things up again.  My body's 'Fake News?' 😝

Obviously the drugs were being metabolized. My body is already taking steps to fix me! Now I can move forward with healing and PT. 

Men in my Life

 I found this on the Internet...and chuckled. Have you noticed that the more things describe your situation, the more you chuckle?! 

I'm never lonely because, I have four men in my life.

I get up with CHARLIE HORSE.

I spend the day with ARTHUR ITIS.

I dine with WILL POWER. and I go to bed with BEN GAY.

A few months ago my PCP (Primary Care Provider) referred me to a Rheumatologist. The outcome of that visit was a trip to the Center for Bone and Joint Disease, to meet with... are you ready for this?!

Dr. Kardashian! 

(I need a ROTFL emoji here!)

The outcome of that visit was an appointment at the Florida Springs Surgery Center. 

The arthritis in the carpal-metacarpal joint of my hand has eaten away all of the cartilage in the joint. 

The mobility of that joint has been impacted by contracting ligaments. 

My thumb joint has become dislocated in an attempt to keep doing what it needs to do. 

Oh, and I have carpal tunnel issues

that have caused some muscles to atrophy.

I didn't even realize I had that problem!

I needed surgical intervention.

Not looking forward to it. 

But time marches inexorably on and the appointed hour came yesterday.

We arrived at the surgery center. I had the usual pre-op prep. 

The anesthesiologist came and wished me sweet dreams. 

Then I became aware that I was still on the gurney, 

and still in the curtained cubicle,

and the nurse told me the surgery was finished.

What?

Ah, good drugs!

 

So Long, Farewell

 Good bye California! 

I did the dishes after our brunchie breakfast/lunch. 

I washed the sheets and towels...and remade the bed. It's ready for me to fall into on my next trip!

I was packed. Everything was taken care of. It was time to call LYFT to take me to the airport. 

It was growing dark. I stood on the street opposite our gate, feeling a bit of melancholy. 

If I could, I'd cross the street and run back through

the white gate into "the Shire".  

It would be so sweet to escape back into this magical world.

But alas, I need to move on.

There are things that need to be done.

Neighborhood School

I ran out of time to post all of my CA adventures while I was there...here's one last post about my trip:

When I am in town one of my favorite things to do is to walk the kids to and from school. They are fortunate to have an excellent elementary school only 3 blocks from their home. It energizes me to see the kids, sometimes with parents or grandparents, sometimes accompanied by the family dog, walking to and from school. 

The school, like so many others, outgrew its original buildings and over the years portable classrooms were added here and there. The buildings surround a courtyard, mostly paved, but some areas left as gardens for classes to work in, or to sit outside on particularly nice days. There are a number of nooks and crannies among the buildings and portables for more outside learning opportunities. 

As soon as we arrive in the courtyard, my granddaughter heads towards one of the fifth grade portables. You can see her, in her purple cape,  heading on her way with a friend. 

Classes line up outside of the classrooms, and enter when the bell sounds. 

Apparently this class began the day with an outdoor activity.

The buildings are decorated with a lot of student art.

Both inside the courtyard....

 

....and outside.

Mother Nature has also added her bit of color to scene.

It looks like a very cheerful place to learn, 

and a throwback to simpler, safer times.

Halloween and Home

 Halloween was a busy blast! 

We had some last minute costume prep. My son did an amazing job of creating costumes of some video game characters. My granddaughter is helping him craft a piece of the costume. 

We carved a pumpkin.

My grandson made his with the other grandmother.

I failed to get a picture of the end results - bad me! 

The elementary school (more about it tomorrow) 

has a Halloween parade around the block.

Here comes the parade!

From the littles....

To the adults...

Fun is had by all! 

Then, back to my neighborhood.

It truly is a special haven.

Everybody knows everybody else,

and everyone mostly gets along. 

I am always greeted with a 

"Welcome Home" by more than one resident.

After the costume fun we had a pot luck supper,

Then we took turns going through a haunted house

created by one couple. It was mostly for the enjoyment of the little kids 

but everyone went through and we were all in awe of 

how they transformed their living room into a maze 

formed by huge sheets of black plastic hanging floor to ceiling, 

with narrow spaces and tunnels,  

glowing colors, creepy noises and music, and a smoke machine! 

Following the celebrations I began making 

cinnamon French toast casserole for the next morning, 

I made a special trip to Trader Joes to get a loaf of cinnamon bread.

Yum! 

I was so excited when I came out of TJ's....

I saw Kevin!

I had heard about Kevin, who resides on the street 

near TJ's, but I had never made his acquaintance before.

He didn't have much to say!

(From what I've been told, his voice is less than melodious!)

Morning came.

The family came.

We ate.

I cleaned up, washed the sheets and towels, cleaned out the fridge,

threw out the trash, and packed.

I hung up the new carbon monoxide detector...

(This way I might remember to put it up when I get back the next time!)

As I write this, I am at the airport ready to board the plane and head home.

By the time this posts, I'll be there.