Category: My Life

I am really happy these days. What is contributing to my happiness? Well, this year I decided to take on two projects. These projects are for my daughter, Mandy, and for Gail, who has been my best friend since I was 13 years old. This year, I am crocheting them both afghans.

It all started out last fall when I decided to make Savannah an afghan for her Christmas gift. While I worked each day I found that the arthritis in my hands disappeared. As did the cramping I got in my fingers. The more I crocheted, the better my hands felt.

So at Christmas I mentioned this to Mandy and she said she would love an afghan from me. So I had her select the yarn and I started to work on it once the yarn arrived. It is beautiful!

Each afternoon and then in the evening, while watching the TV, I crochet. I’m happily loving this!

Something else came to light too. Because I am working on these afghans, I am not on my computer as much. And that feels really good. My mindless internet browsing is limited to the morning to answer my email from overnight, and then at about 8 PM when I check my email for the last time. Oh yes, and at 5 PM I sit and write to you all. Some could say that was mindless, but really I do try to engage my brain when I write. Although at times I go back and read what I’ve written and wonder if I’ve had too much wine while writing! Which is funny because I haven’t been drinking while I’ve been sick!

Mandy’s afghan is made from the softest, sort of bulky yarn. I’m using a chunky stitch and a large hook and so it’s also a little on the lacy side. Not too much, so it will hold up in her kid friendly home. It is so very pretty.

The one I am going to make for Gail is a ripple afghan with her favorite colors. Both beautiful, but both different. That will be so much fun.

After that, well I have a few things in mind. One thing is I would like to learn a variety of stitches. I am amazed at the number of stitches there are in crocheting. So, I want to learn more.

It’s kind of funny how I fell into a hobby I gave up a long time ago, and how very much I am enjoying it after all these years.

In an attempt to spread only happiness and positive things in the world, I have not wanted to write too much about Jack and I and the cold from hell. And yet, after suffering with this thing for over two weeks, I decided that it was best if I explained where we have been and why when I’ve posted, they have been very short.

The thing is, we’ve been amazingly sick. There have been days we didn’t even get dressed, but rather stayed in our jammies. And one day that I quite literally did not get up out of bed. I just didn’t have the strength. A 102.3 temperature just knocked me out. I tried to keep drinking, but food was the last thing on my mind.

Jack and I sat in our recliners with our blankets and when the dogs barked to go out I would say to Jack, I’ll let them out, if you let them in, of I’ll flip ya for it.

Today I woke and my fever had broken, so I actually got into the shower and scrubbed down and then got dressed! In clothes! I still have no voice, but I can honestly say I am better. Once Jack was up, I made a full breakfast for the both of us, complete with Florida Sunshine (grapefruit from my friend, Candy) and after finishing that, we both reclined in our chairs and fell asleep.

We woke in time to eat lunch and now the sofa is calling my name, so I think I will do the next smartest thing and take another nap. It seems the only way we will kick this cold is with plenty of rest and good food.

I’ve got my fingers crossed that we are on the right road now.

I raced around on Monday, as I had two appointments, both incredibly important and yet very close together. The first was with my hair stylist. What can I say? Almost any women will tell you that their monthly meetings with the hair stylist is at the top of their list of important things to do. And so it was with me. High noon!

My stylist worked feverishly fast, but some things take time, and I was out the door at 1:30 PM, headed to my next appointment, which was with my Primary Care Doctor. I raced to that, through the rain and fog, and was only 5 minutes late. Good thing he was running late too!

Since recovering from the flu, (and yes, he said it was the flu) I have one ear that is totally stopped up. Not infected, but the Eustachian Tube in my left ear is blocked. Giving me poor hearing and an altered state of understanding what people are saying to me. After all the probing, I now have an ear ache, which is just thrilling, (Not!).

So for now I am on two different nasal sprays, and if I am not better by Friday and appointment will be made with the Ear, Nose and Throat Doctors.

Meanwhile, as promised I went into the formal living room, and removed 4 boxes and actually threw out three things, and set aside a large bag of clothes to go to the charity shop! A great start!

I had an spooky thing happen to me today.

I’d ordered a small wallet/purse last week, in hopes I could lighten the load on my shoulders/neck and spine. It was so pretty, and even though it was a little pricey, I felt it was worth saving myself the discomfort of carrying a larger bag.

Well, I opened the box and sat down to transfer my stuff from my old purse to this new one. I started to take out the paper stuffing and I unzipped the inner pocket.

That’s when I found a bunch of personal papers from a woman named Ruth. She is 75 and lives in Charlotte, NC. The papers were her email and passwords, her eye glass prescription, and her United Healthcare Card. I tried to call her on the phone, but a recording announced that the number was no longer in service.

I stared at the papers and Jack and I talked. Did we think she had passed away? Had her family returned the pocketbook, without checking the pockets? The purse appeared to be in good shape, no nicks, scuff marks or any indication it had been used. But there were these papers…

I felt very unsettled. This was not a cheap bag. Did I really want to use a bag that possibly had been returned and maybe was the bag of a deceased woman?

Maybe it’s because today is Halloween, but I decided to return the bag to Amazon for a refund. After all, Christmas is coming, and I can use the money when I order Christmas gifts.

What would you have done? Am I being silly? Let me know what you think!

Well, I’m alive. I think when you get sick with the flu, and boy have I been sick, the very best you can say after being this sick is that you are alive!

I’m now on season 3 of “Parenthood”. While I huddled down under piles of blankets, I watched the series, that was my Christmas gift from Mandy. What a great series. How could I have missed this?

I’m pretty sure I have lost weight, as I have not eaten a normal meal since last Saturday. This will be good for all those clothes that were just a little snug!

I finally cooked a meal for us last night, and the only problem there is, I couldn’t eat it! Jack says, it was very good, so score one for the sick girl in the blue bathrobe!

I’m hoping you all have noticed some of the new work on Dackel Princess. The old green skin was getting me down and my Web Maven, Megan, took my ideas and made the page changes while I was down and out. I got up this morning and found that it’s complete. I love it! Finally I have my three dackels and the white one (who thinks she is a dachshund!) in the header and warm creams and chocolate browns. Thank you so much, Megan!