Simple Woman's Daybook for November 22

FOR TODAY November 22, 2011 ...

Outside my window...
It's a cold, rainy day.



I am thinking...
This blog post needs some color, so I borrowed a picture from August.



I am thankful for...
Many things. Even on bad days I never have trouble thinking of things to be thankful for.

Today I'm especially thankful that Glory is having some good days and is dragging me out for walks in this miserable wet weather.



From the kitchen...
I made a big batch of macaroni and cheese for Glory and she's been enjoying it with a raspberry Zinger for dessert. She eats small amounts multiple times a day.

Today I bought her a pizza, which she's also been enjoying. It's hard not to give her more than a little at a time when she's so ready to eat, but I know more is not better if she barfs it. Whatever happens now, she's had a few good days and enjoyed some good food so that will be a pleasant memory. Bets are she has no intention of ever eating dog food again.

I am wearing...
Jeans, an unadorned aqua sweatshirt, and handknit socks.

I am creating...
Still working on Dave's very long socks.

I am going...
To figure out if it is possible to knit more without undoing the good the physical therapy is doing for my back, neck, and shoulders.

I am reading...
Justice by Karen Robards. Three and a half stars out of five on Amazon. That's about what it deserves. It's not awful, but I'm finding it slow moving. Maybe that's because I thought it was a mystery and it's only half a mystery. The rest of the time I'm reading the inner thoughts of the heroine as she contemplates the body of her former boyfriend who is assigned to protect her. Why does this take pages and pages?

Still Life, the first Louise Penny book, is on its way to the Oshtemo branch of the Kalamazoo Public Library for me to pick up. I hope to have it before the week is over.

I am hoping...
That the eaves troughs get cleaned out before the first real snowstorm. I know the man who is planning to do it is very busy trying to get his own house ready for winter.

I am hearing...
The heating system pipes clicking as the hot water flows through.

Around the house...
It's very quiet.

One of my favorite things...
White chocolate.

A few plans for the rest of the week:
Against my better judgement, I'm going to the grocery store tomorrow, the day before Thanksgiving, to pick up a few things I need for cooking for Glory. I'll probably be the only person there wanting to buy raspberry Zingers for Thanksgiving. Also plan to stop at the library.

Mom and I are going out for Thanksgiving dinner. It won't be the same as home cooked, but it will be something different and I need that. Friday is physical therapy. I'm not shopping on Black Friday.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...
November pictures are pretty boring when there's no snow. I like snowless, boring November pictures.



These writing prompts are available from Simple Woman's Daybook where each Tuesday we're invited to join in celebrating the beauty of everyday moments around us.

Simple Woman's Daybook for November 15

FOR TODAY November 15, 2011...
(Actually written and posted on Wednesday the 16th)

Outside my window...
A foggy morning.



I am thinking...
That I need to start watching my diet again as I've put on about five pounds eating comfort food and Klondike Bars. Not what one wants to be thinking the week before Thanksgiving.



I am thankful for...
Dr. Baker, Glory's vet since she was a puppy fifteen years ago. Glory's kidneys are failing and he spent a lot of time with me this evening explaining what is likely to happen next and how I can tell when it's time to bring her in for her final visit. We're down to the last weeks of her life now.

From the kitchen...
There will be pizza, macaroni and cheese, chicken, and other good stuff to tempt Glory's appetite as she finishes up her time on earth. This is the vet's suggestion and it sounds yummy to me.

I am wearing...
Jeans, a gray fleece top with a partial zipper, and handknit socks.

I am creating...
A new life for myself. It's barely started to form and I have no idea where it's going. Immediate plans are to hunker down for winter, exercise and get stronger, work on getting things sorted out around the house, and hope that what the future holds is more obvious by spring.

I am going...
To miss Glory.

I am reading...
Just finished Tess Gerritsen's The Silent Girl.

Almost didn't check this book out of the library as she hasn't been one of my favorite authors in the past, but I was pleasantly surprised. Her usual excess of romantic angst was missing, replaced by an interesting mystery with characters I enjoyed meeting.

I am hoping...
To find some more good reading at the library tomorrow.

I am hearing...
Gunfire around here in the mornings and evenings. It's deer season in Michigan. I don't go outside without my bright orange hat on, and at dawn and dusk I sing while we're on our dogwalk.

Around the house...
A cord of oak and cherry firewood was delivered today. I think we're ready for winter now, but there's no hurry.



A few plans for the rest of the week:
Physical therapy on Thursday and Friday. Pennfield High School Follies this weekend starring Granddaughter Kimmy. Saturday the neighbor is coming to clean out the eaves. Sunday church in the morning and a special GriefShare seminar in the afternoon on getting through the holidays.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...
Mom, I hope you're not planning to come back to bed. I really appreciate the warm spot you left.



These writing prompts are available from Simple Woman's Daybook where each Tuesday we're invited to join in celebrating the beauty of everyday moments around us.

Simple Woman's Daybook for November 8

FOR TODAY November 8...

Outside my window...
It's a sleepy, rainy day.




I am thinking...
About last night's GriefShare meeting. We learned something we already knew but needed to hear put bluntly – our marriage vows were “til death do us part”, and we are single people now. As the Lord heals us, we need to learn to live for Him and ourselves.

Three months into widowhood after 36 years of marriage, this is not intuitive.

I am thankful for...
The estrogen that is keeping Glory from leaking urine when she sleeps and the daily half Baytril that keeps her chronic bladder infection in check. This is truly medical magic.

From the kitchen...
My favorite herbal tea. So many of them smell better than they taste, but this one tastes better than it smells. At least to me.



I am wearing...
Navy sweatshirt and sweatpants. Even less classy than my usual jeans.

I am creating...
A stronger body with the exercises I've learned in physical therapy. I'm hoping someday they don't make me hurt so much.

I am going...
To have to think about Thanksgiving soon. And then Christmas.

I can pretend they're not going to be difficult, but I know they are.

I am reading...
13 Steps Down by Ruth Rendell.

I am hoping...
My laptop holds out a few more months because I don't feel up to updating or replacing it right now. The display screen has some gray spots along the edge, the hard drive is making noise, and Google is not happy that I'm running a five year old version of Internet Explorer. I have no reason to want to upgrade except that Google doesn't like it and I need my Google aps, especially Blogger and Reader.



I am hearing...
As usual on a Tuesday when I do this, Sunny is softly snoring on my left and Pappy is softly sleeping on my right. Glory is under the kitchen table not making any noise. Occasionally I hear a car go by, otherwise it's very peaceful.

Around the house...
There is much that needs to be done.

One of my favorite things...
My friends and family members who understand and support me during this transition by the little things they do.

I've come to appreciate how little things mean a lot. I don't want any big things right now.

A few plans for the rest of the week:
Physical therapy on Wednesday and Friday. Grocery shopping, library, and exercising five times a day.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...
November can be beautiful in its own bleak way.




These writing prompts are available from Simple Woman's Daybook where each Tuesday we're invited to join in celebrating the beauty of everyday moments around us.

Simple Woman's Daybook for November 1

FOR TODAY November 1, 2011...

Outside my window...
The mornings are frosty now.



I am thinking...
An October snow storm with the leaves still on the trees resulting in multi-day power outages could easily have happened here.

I have to find someone to deliver firewood for my wood burner. It can't wait any longer.

I am thankful for...
A beautiful autumn season with no snow yet. That's all frost in the picture. We're on borrowed time now.



From the kitchen...
White Bean Turkey Chili once again from Taste of Home's Cooking for One or Two.

Instead of a half pound of turkey tenderloin which needed to be cooked, cooled, and cut into pieces, I used a half pack of ground turkey and fried it up with the onions, garlic, and butter before adding the rest of the ingredients in the same pan. I like my chili with ground meat and it made the preparation much easier.


As you can see, I used the optional sour cream and shredded cheese on top which made the recipe exceptional. The recipe made two generous meals and I'll be making it again for sure.

I am wearing...
An orange turtleneck, navy sweatpants, and orange hand knit socks. It's been a lazy morning. I need to shower and change into something fresher and less Halloweeny now that Halloween is over.

I am creating...
Slowly making progress on Dave's humongous socks. About half way down the foot headed for the toe on each sock.

I am going...
To get up and do some of my physical therapy exercises. I have five different types of exercise that I'm supposed to do by themselves, so seems like it's always time to do a set.

I am reading...
Grasshopper by Barbara Vine. Just started it but have read enough of her (actually Ruth Rendell) books to know it's going to be interesting and good.

I am hoping...
That the estrogen Glory just started taking will stop her urine from leaking when she sleeps. So far it's looking good and she is acting perkier as well.

I am hearing...
The dogs just had their favorite treat, Happy Hips, and are settled in for a nap. Sunny is snoring on my left, Pappy is working on getting comfortable on my right, and Glory is under the kitchen table all stretched out and hopefully not leaking.

Around the house...
There are many sticks and leaves that need to be picked up in the yard.

One of my favorite things...
Sunday Pappy and I went to the doggy school Halloween party to see some old friends and meet some new friends.

Olivia, an old friend, won first place in the costume contest with an ensemble crocheted by her mom, Marcia.




A few plans for the rest of the week:
I'm sore and achy from the physical therapy, so haven't planned anything for this week except to do my exercises, get through two more sessions on Wednesday and Friday, and hopefully feel better on the other side of it.

Grocery store and library have to happen one day. There are other chores that should but probably aren't going to happen.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...
At the doggy school party Jack wheeled himself around with his service dog Reebok to say hello and tell me, "I'm here as Jack-O-Lantern."



These writing prompts are available from Simple Woman's Daybook where each Tuesday we're invited to join in celebrating the beauty of everyday moments around us.