Random Observations…

I’ve discovered that life goes on in the aftermath of a hurricane.  Now that everyone in the community has had their power restored, life is pretty much back to normal.  I believe the last of our community had their power restored by last Wednesday. The students have all returned to school, and clean up is in progress almost everywhere I look.  Life goes on.

After being able to actually tour the area we live in, and see much of the damage caused by hurricane Matthew, I now realize, more than ever, how blessed most of us really are!  There are many, many trees down, with a lot of them within just a few feet of people’s homes.  Fortunately, most of the trees fell away from most people’s houses–or in between them.  But for the Grace of God, all those homes could have been damaged, including the former home of Ed’s parents.

I’m observing that our little flock of chickens hasn’t been quite the same since hurricane Matthew.  Their chicken coop is located at the edge of our yard, where several tall pines surround it.  The noise from the storm was LOUD from inside our house, so I can only imagine how it must have sounded to the chickens from their coop outside!  Whenever I let the hens out of their pen, the following morning, the poor things pretty much stayed hidden for the first day after the storm.  The fact that some of our hens are in the middle of molting season hasn’t helped matters, either.  Some of the poor things look like they’ve been plucked, so they’re still looking naked and afraid:)  Egg production is now at a standstill.

Have you ever noticed how one project always seems to lead to another one?  During the hurricane, we were forced to move two freezers from the former home of Ed’s parents.  One freezer we put inside of our storage house, the other we placed under our carport, temporarily.  Because there are no windows for ventilation in our storage house, we had to purchase a screened door for the house.  Ed’s in the process of installing the screened door as I write.

Yesterday, I observed, again, how God will help us triumph over whatever stumbling blocks Satan throws in our path.  Yesterday morning, I woke up with a headache, that persisted all day, and threatened to keep me from attending worship.  I determinedly  made it to the first service, but by the end of the day, I came close to giving in to the headache, which had worsened. I was really struggling because our son was guest speaking at a little church, in town, and I really wanted to hear him preach again.  Finally, at the last minute, I got off the couch, put on my clothes and went to church–headache and all.  And do you know what?  Once I got into church and began the worship service my headache almost went away!  Praise the Lord!

You know, good worship services can take place anytime, anywhere.  What could be sweeter than gathering with four elderly Alzheimer patients, in an assisted living home, singing Jesus Loves Me, and hearing their sweet voices all chiming in?  That experience was priceless, and one I’ll always treasure.

There’s nothing quite like decorating for autumn…twice!  I’d just finished putting up the last of our fall decor, when the weatherman began warning us about hurricane Matthew.  Finally, on the day before the storm, I decided I should bring the outside decorations inside.  I’m so glad I did!  Last Friday, Ed and I  finished decorating–for the second time.  Unfortunately, my blow up jack-o-lantern decided to stop working last night.  What’s a girl to do?

My back is feeling much better, these days.  Although I’m still cautious, I can bend without discomfort, once again.  I still feel some minor nerve involvement in my left leg, but I can live with it, and hope, in time, that will continue to improve, as well.  The surgical site on my ‘backside’ is also doing well.  One of these days I might actually get rid of my padded toilet seat 🙂

I don’t know why, but I’ve really been struggling with this ‘blogging thing’, lately.  What once came so easily, is now so difficult.  I’m lacking in both motivation and energy.  I hope the situation will improve, with time, and that my blogging friends will not forsake me during this difficult time.  Thank you to those who still come by and comment!  I love and appreciate you.  Thank goodness for The Wednesday Hodgepodge, which guarantees I’ll blog and visit at least once a week, but I’m going to try and to better.  With that thought in mind, I’m outta’ here…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The “Welcome Fall” Wednesday Hodgepodge…

I’m running a bit behind with posting this Hodgepodge, today.  This morning, our internet decided to be difficult, but it’s back on now, and all is well.  Once the internet began working,  I could actually see ‘the linky’ for the Hodgepodge, this morning!  Yay!  It’s the little things that mean so much, folks.  As always, I’m grateful for our hostess, Joyce, and the wonderful job she does with The Hodgepodge 🙂  Here are today’s questions:

1. Thursday (September 22) is the first official day of autumn in this part of the world…how will you welcome the season? I know some of you have been celebrating way too early, but it’s official now so permission granted. House Beautiful recently listed ten ways to make your home smell like fall (you can read the list here) What’s a scent you love this time of year and how will you add it to your home?

I’d like to say I’ll be welcoming the season by sitting on our front porch, enjoying a cool autumn breeze, but that won’t be happening.  Why?  Because it’s still hot here, and huge swarms of ‘love bugs’ have recently taken over our porch!

Actually, I’ll probably just get dressed, on Thursday, and go to a nearby Tractor Supply to purchase some chicken feed.  I may even pick and shell a few more peas, too.  Aren’t you in awe of my exciting life?

As for autumn scents, I like pumpkin, cinnamon, or anything that smells like a fireplace burning. I recently bought some wax melts from Better Homes, called Autumn Afternoon Stroll, that smell nice.  I use wall flowers from Bath and Body Works, or wax melting pots to scent our home.  Once it gets cold enough, I’ll burn a candle, too, sometimes.

2. Apple pie or pumpkin pie? Apple cake or pumpkin bread? Warm apple cider or a pumpkin spice latte?

I prefer apple pie over pumpkin pie.  I don’t care for apple cider, and I’ve never tried any of the other things.

3. Do you suffer from what is sometimes referred to as an afternoon slump? What helps ward it off before it hits and/or tell us what helps you shake it off once it’s here?

Boy do I ever suffer from “afternoon slump”!  It hits me everyday about 2 p.m.  I don’t fight it, I just head for the couch and take an afternoon nap.  It’s one of the perks of being retired!

4. Ladies-how have your friendships with women inspired you or made you a better person? For the men here today- how have your friendships with men inspired you or made you a better person?

Two of my newest women friends are both in their 80’s, and they have inspired me to embrace aging with a better attitude.  Both are wonderful Christian ladies, who are still very active in their church (or they were until they recently became ‘displaced’) and both are still very active in life, as well.  One still mows her own grass, the other goes to the gym three times a week.  One of the ladies recently broke her arm, but she just smiles and has the best attitude about it, saying, “It could always have been worse.”

5. Are you a people pleaser? If you said yes, do you think that’s a good or bad thing? If you said no, do you wish you were more of a people pleaser?

In younger years, I was more of a people pleaser.  These days, not so much.  I wish I felt like doing more for others, but life is what it is, and it’s not always what I wish it was.  Sometimes, the spirit is willing, but the body just won’t cooperate.

6. The seasons are a-changin’…share a favorite song relating in some way to change (not necessarily seasonal change, it could be change of any kind).

I couldn’t really think of a personal favorite, but this is a good song…

7. What do you wish would never change?

Loving and trusting relationships.

Random:

I’m scheduled to have office surgery, next Tuesday, to have a rather large cyst removed from my right buttock.  As you can imagine, I’m a bit embarrassed, and not really looking forward to having this surgery done, but it’s necessary.  I sure would appreciate your prayers.  Thanks.

 

Autumn Adventures…

Lately, we’ve been so busy living life, there’s been no time to blog about it.  Days like that are the best ones, in my humble opinion.  However, I figured I’d better take a little time to write a few blog notes in case I need them for future reference.  Does anyone else use their blog as a type of diary, or am I the only one?

It’s been almost 15 years since we bought our last new car, the PT Cruiser, so Ed and I finally figured it was getting about that time again.  “Classy”, the Cruiser, is still in good shape, and I still love her dearly, but, more and more I’ve found myself wondering if we’re going to make it to our destination and back without another incident.  Like the one, two years ago, when her timing belt broke and she left us left stranded beside the road on the way home from St. Simon’s Island.

Ed and I have been looking around, on and off, for a while, but last week found Ed and me on the last leg of our long journey of looking for “just the right vehicle”.  Now I remember why we waited so long to swap vehicles!  I hate shopping for a new car, and we both hate dealing with car salesmen.  On Wednesday, we found “just the right vehicle”, as well as “just the right salesman”, but that’s a story for another day.  I will tell you this, though– it was quite an adventure!

The day after our “vehicle buying adventure”, which involved riding/driving 200 miles, I had to go back to the neurologist for my post-op checkup.  The trip to the doctor’s office involved traveling another 120 miles.  Let’s just say, we did more than our share of riding/driving last week!  Anyway, I got a good report from the doctor’s assistant, and was released, with orders to call them if anything happens and I need them again.  She told me I still need to take things easy for another two to three weeks, though.

The strange ‘sensations’ I’ve been having in my leg, since my surgery, have all disappeared now.  I have only a slight bit of numbness, occasionally.  The doctor’s assistant told me the numbness is always the last thing to go away.  She also told me the reason I had the ‘three day relapse’, three weeks after surgery, was probably because the steroids [injected into my spine during surgery]  were wearing off.  She explained how they injected steroids into the spine [during surgery] to calm the irritated sciatic nerve, and help keep pain levels lower after surgery.  It made perfect sense to me, I just had no idea they did this.

I’m now able to walk a mile a day again (1/2 mile in the morning and 1/2 mile in the afternoon) without any leg pain.  Hooray!  Occasionally, I still have some back pain, and I’ll always have to be careful what I do because of those two bad discs, but, overall, things are SO MUCH BETTER!  I can live with a little back ache, as long as I can walk without discomfort.

On the day of my doctor’s appointment, my daughter had an appointment with her dermatologist in the same city as me.  Ed and I met up with her and her family for lunch, which was a nice treat sandwiched in between both of our appointments.  We ate at Old Time Country Buffet, and I’m sure glad I didn’t have to weigh in at the doctor’s office, afterward 🙂

On Friday night, our daughter-in-law, Christina, invited all of the family down to their house.  She made ‘Chicken Spaghetti’ using the Pioneer Woman’s recipe, and it was delicious!  She also had salad, bread, and she made a delicious cake using a recipe she borrowed from her sister.  Everyone enjoyed the food and fellowship very much, plus I enjoyed going to somebody else’s house for a change!  Sadly, our youngest son, Brad, and his family weren’t able to make it because of illness.  They’ve been passing around a cold between them for over a week.

We’ve been enjoying these cool, fall-like mornings here in Georgia.  The mornings and evenings are cool, but the days warm up nicely.  This is my kind of weather!  I just wish we had some pretty foliage to look at.  We’re surrounded by only pine trees, which stay green all of the time!

Speaking of “being surrounded”, we are also surrounded by several fields of cotton.  The plants are ready for harvest, so every field is as white as snow.  It’s a beautiful sight to see, in autumn.  People often go out into the fields and take pictures, which is what I wanted to do.  Ed and I had planned to do this on Saturday afternoon, immediately after we returned from our weekend shopping trip.  Unfortunately, when we arrived home, we discovered this:

photo via Google

We’d arrived too late!  The farmer was already busy harvesting his fields of cotton!  Oh well, maybe next year…

That’s pretty much what’s been going on around here.  What kind of ‘autumn adventures’ have you been having?

 

 

Miscellaneous Monday…

Today makes four weeks since I had my back surgery.  Each day has gotten better, with the exception of three days [a little over a week ago] when things seemed to take a giant step backward.  I don’t know what happened, but I could barely walk for those three days. Once again, the pain became excruciating. Thankfully, by the end of the day, the pain would subside, but it would return the following morning. Now, that pain has disappeared, as mysteriously as it appeared.

Fortunately, I seem to be back on track, and headed in the right direction with my recovery, at the moment 🙂  I’m able to walk short distances (nearly 1/2 mile) without discomfort!  Yay for being able to walk again without pain!  I’ve also been able to resume taking care of my chickens.  Yay for being able to bend over again without pain!  It’s still a bit of a chore to stand up straight, especially after sitting for very long, and sometimes a backache wakes me up at night, but, overall, things are a lot better than before I had the surgery.

I haven’t gotten my ‘blogging mojo’ back, yet.  In fact, most days I’m running on empty by the end of the day, just doing the bare necessities around the house.  I baked a cake, on Thursday morning, and was exhausted by the time I got it frosted!  My brain even feels tired on some days.  Sometimes, I think some of my brain cells are still asleep from the anesthesia!

My brother and his wife came for a quick visit, last week.  In fact they’re the reason I baked a German Chocolate cake on Thursday.  We hadn’t seen each other in eight months, and I don’t know when I’ve enjoyed a visit more.  Speaking of my brother and his wife, they are celebrating their 52nd wedding anniversary today!

Happy Anniversary, guys!

In addition to our fall decorations, Ed and I put out some Halloween decorations, last week.  We live in the country and don’t have any trick-or-treaters, other than our grandchildren, but I like to decorate for the grandchildren.  Has anyone else noticed that it’s getting more difficult to find Halloween decorations that aren’t very ghoulish and scary?

Ed and I have also begun visiting a few local car lots, lately.  We’ve done a couple of test drives, but can’t quite make up our minds if the time is right to purchase another vehicle.  I think we’ve almost decided what kind of vehicle we want, we’re just not sure if we’re ready to make the move yet.  There’s no hurry.  Although all of our vehicles would be considered “senior citizens” of the automotive world, they’re all still good vehicles.

Meanwhile, the autumn days are passing quickly.  Last week went by in a blur, as we watched the leaves continue to fall from the trees.  The nights have become cooler, and I love that.  I’m envious of the folks who are traveling through the mountains enjoying the rich colors of the fall foliage, at this time.  Their Facebook photos are beautiful!  How I’d love to pick a basket of fresh apples in an orchard somewhere…

I’m never going to get my bed made or the laundry done if I keep sitting here day dreaming about traveling through the mountains, so I’d better wrap this blog post up for today.  Have a happy Monday, everyone!