Category: Friday Five

As the leaves begin to fall, I am looking ahead and planning the next couple of months. Here’s what’s going on.

1. Since I am waiting for the date of my surgery, I decided to prepare my home for the big event. Fortunately, my cousin Janet has had a knee replacement, and she was a fountain of information.
2. Today, a friend came over and placed all the air conditioners in storage. Now the house is snug as a bug in a rug.
3. Next, he moved my loveseat recliner to the far left, and the table to the right. We also placed my computer table on the left side of the loveseat.
4. The puppy stairs have been removed, and now Heidi is cut off from sitting with me…for now. Most of you know that Heidi loves to sit between my knees. I’ve got to break her out of this habit for a while, until I recover. So far, she is not amused.
5. Lastly, a friend of mine drove me to Hannaford to get my senior flu shot. Mission accomplished!

Have a great Columbus Day Weekend!

This week was my busiest in a while. And now, as I sit here at the end of the week, I must say I’m a bit happier than I was last week.

1. I finally had my MRI. There were six problems that were rated “Severe” in the report. I read along, and I felt like crying. Finally, validation for all the pain I have been in! I discovered that I could make an appointment with an orthopedic doctor myself. I did not need a referral. So I did a lot of reading and found a doctor I felt comfortable with. Then I called for an appointment.
2. After waiting three-plus weeks for the MRI, I felt sure it would be a long wait for the doctor. I was wrong. They fit me in the next day. The doctor thoroughly examined my knee, and after going through the X-rays and MRI, said he would like to have me try some physical therapy. The Physical Therapist will be a good person to evaluate the knee and report back to the doctor if it continues to worsen.
3. My only problem now is that the earliest Physical Therapy appointment is in one month. I am on a cancellation list, and I hope I will get in earlier.
4. Heidi woke me on Thursday with the classic signs of a doggy ear infection. I called, and they squeezed us in.Sure enough, she has an infection in one ear. She got the “One and Done” treatment and is much happier. She is also out of the cone of shame (which she is also happy about).
5. We are due for a major storm this weekend. I filled up my car with gas; I am moving my patio furniture inside and battening down the hatches.

I wish you all a good weekend!

I have just a few more days until my MRI. Call me frustrated. To be in this much pain and to have to wait for three weeks to get in for the MRI is ludicrous! Aside from my wait, here is what’s been happening in my corner of the world.

1. The pathology report is back on Heidi’s tumor. The lymph node is not involved, and they were able to get all the cancer with wide margins! She goes in today to get her stitches out.
2. For the last 6 days, since Heidi stopped the medication to keep her quiet, she has been running around doing her zoomies! Both inside the house and outside. I will forever be grateful to the spider that bit her and caused us to pay attention to her backside. It’s why we found the tumor and got it out!
3. Well, last weekend I missed my grandnephew’s wedding to a beautiful woman who is the love of his life. I was looking forward to that!
4. This weekend I am missing my 50th High School Reunion. I’ve been looking forward to this for months. Since my painful knee is my right one, there goes a long drive.
5. Well, I will end this with a cute story. Heidi’s littermate sister sent her a cute Pupsickle chew ball.She loves the treat inside and playing fetch with me.  Yes, my little girl is feeling better.

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone, and to my Falmouth High School classmates, enjoy the party and have a champagne for me.

September has begun. Some kids are back in school, and as I drove home from the doctor’s yesterday, I noticed that the leaves at the tips of the trees are starting to turn. Autumn is upon us. Here is what’s happening for me this week.

1. 1. My knee remains very painful. I went to the Orthopedist yesterday. I am set for the MRI on September 21st. Then we can plan out the treatment. Meanwhile, I am in an immobilizing brace. This makes life challenging. But at least it helps keep my knee from buckling and hopefully prevents another fall.
   2. Here is my confession of the week. Ugh! I have ordered a walker to help me get around.The cane just isn’t cutting it when the knee gives out. I also wanted one that would keep me walking normally, not step-stop-step-stop. It is arriving today. With wheels on all four points.
   3. Today is also surgery #2 for Heidi. I plan a very quiet weekend for the “Walking Wounded”. Naps, movies, and good nutrition.
   4. Yesterday, I was able to set up the kitchen sink so I could give Heidi a half bath. Take it from me, the girl smelled bad. So I washed her from the belly button up. Then I put on a temporary cone while I washed the good cone (Is there such a thing as a good cone?). At the end, she was smelling sweet with a nice, clean cone and collar.
   5. Lastly, the skies are clearing, and it looks like the sun will be shining down soon. A great way to start the holiday weekend. Happy Labor Day!

The summer is coming to a close. In some places, the kids have already gone back to school. Life is going on.

1. Just a little over two weeks ago, I fell. It was a stupid, careless fall, and thankfully there were no broken bones. I did, however, twist my knee, and instead of getting better with time, it has gotten worse.
2. My Nurse Practitioner ordered X-rays and some blood work. So I drove the eight miles to our local hospital, arriving at 3:15. I went straight to X-ray and learned that, as of the end of July, they will close the X-ray department at 3:00. I stood talking to the receptionist and explained that there was no one to drive me tomorrow. She went back to plead my case and returned just as the last walk-in X-ray person was leaving. She asked him as he stood in the doorway, and he looked at me and said, “NO.”
3. Ordinarily, I would not care, but driving anywhere right now is painful as the knee I hurt is my right one.
4. I drove home and curled up with Heidi in my recliner, where I could prop up my right leg. Come tomorrow morning, I will return to the hospital and get the blasted X-ray.
5. Heidi is doing well. I have not gotten the pathology report yet. Hopefully soon!

The weeks are slipping by, and with them the sunny days and heat of the summer. I grew up in the tourist destination of Cape Cod. Each summer, our bridges and our roads were packed.

Now I live in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire, and since more people are taking staycations, our roads are packed!

So, as I watch the sun set, these are my thoughts.

1. I am doing searches for replacement windows for the house. I know it must be done, but I am shocked by the prices. I want nice airtight windows. Simple windows. But for the prices I have been quoted, you would think they are lined with gold!
2. Miss Heidi is going in for surgery next week. She has developed a tumor that is walnut-sized. I’d hoped it was a simple cyst, but it is hard. Poor baby.
3. My sister, brother-in-law, niece, and grandniece are coming next week. I have a list of all the fun things to do around here. And I discovered an Asian Fusion restaurant and a fabulous ice cream place for a treat after! Pictures to come.
4. They’re continuing to do testing to determine the best course of treatment for my own health problems. Ah, the joy of the golden years!
5. I was thinking how very lucky I am. A year ago, I had lost the vision in my left eye. There were many long days spent wondering if my vision would ever return. From July until October, I was in limbo. Then one day I woke and had bits of vision coming back. By Christmas, it had all returned. I am so fortunate!

Have a happy and joyous weekend, everyone!

Here we are. The last day in July of 2026! Now, how did that happen? It’s been a good summer, and this year I decided to make small improvements around the house. Here’s the list.

1. I had an overgrown area bushhogged and the broken birch trees removed. The poor trees simply cannot take heavy snow or ice. It looks a bit barren now, but I know it will fill in with ferns and other fauna.
2. I purchased insulated blackout curtains for the family room and my bedroom. During the really hot days we had, closing these helped keep the heat out. Somehow putting these up makes my home look a lot more cozy!
3. In “The Madison”, Stacey tells her daughter, “I am 65 years old, I don’t have a whole life ahead of me. I have a very small window to be reckless…and that’s what I’m going to do.” I’m not being reckless, but at 67, I see that as far as time goes, my days on this earth are numbered. So my plan is to enjoy the time I have left.
4. I called Sunsetter Shade. I have an awning of theirs that we put in back in 2000. It’s old, cracked, and I need a new one. The salesman came by in the middle of a power outage. I was unable to open it; however, for the size we have, there is only one that would fit width-wise, so I selected the fabric and made the deal. It should be here in about three weeks.
5. I got the cutest sunbed for Heidi. It will help to keep her off the patio and away from spiders.

   Her bites still have not healed. She goes back today for a recheck.

   Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

This week I am doing a short list of the TV shows/movies I am enjoying. Here goes!

1. 1. 1. 1. The Madison:
            
            In The Madison, the Clyburns uproot their comfortable New York City lives for the wild, untamed beauty of Montana’s Madison River Valley in a search for connection. In my opinion, this is truly a fabulous series.
         2. Why Women Kill:
            Why Women Kill is a dark comedy (created by Marc Cherry, Desperate Housewives) that follows the lives of women across different eras—each grappling with betrayal and infidelity. As the series unfolds across decades, it explores the shifting roles of women in society while highlighting the timeless nature of heartbreak, revenge, and resilience. My opinion: It has that Desperate Housewives feel to it.
         3. Remarkably Bright Creatures:
            follows Tova Sullivan, a grieving widow who cleans a local aquarium, and her unlikely friendship with Marcellus, a curmudgeonly giant Pacific octopus who pieces together the mystery of her son’s disappearance. Sally Field is truly one of our best actresses.
         4. Hamnet: follows William Shakespeare and his wife, Agnes, as they celebrate the birth of their son, Hamnet.However, when tragedy strikes and Hamnet dies young, it inspires Shakespeare to write his timeless masterpiece “Hamlet.” In my opinion, this is so well done on many levels. Writing, acting, and costuming.
         5. Outlander: After serving as a British Army nurse in World War II, Claire Randall is enjoying a second honeymoon in Scotland with husband Frank, an MI6 officer looking forward to a new career as an Oxford historian.Suddenly, Claire is transported to 1743 and into a mysterious world where her freedom and life are threatened. To survive, she marries Jamie Fraser, a strapping Scots warrior with a complicated past and a disarming sense of humor. I think this is probably one of the best shows that have come onto the streaming services.

So there are a few things to watch if we find ourselves inundated with rain. Have a great weekend, everyone.

It’s July! Wow! How did that happen? Not only is it July, but we are in the midst of a terrible heatwave.

1. Yesterday our heat index peaked at 105! And of course, at 1:30 pm, give or take a few minutes, the electricity first browned out and then went out completely. I watched the inside temperature go from 74 degrees to 82 degrees. And there I was stuck in my electric recliner!
2. When the electricity returned, I attempted to cool the house off, but it was a challenge.
3. My project today is to hang the thermal curtains I bought a few months ago to help block out the sun and heat.
4. I needed a drill bit to hang the drapery hardware, and when I got to the stairs to the basement, the lights would not come on. I could not easily find the tripped breaker, and that is next on my list. If I cannot find it, I will need to call an electrician.
5. It’s hot again today. It’s already 80 degrees. The air conditioners are on, and I hope there is not another power outage today. I simply have too much to do!

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and can find some way to stay cool!

It’s been a week of motorcycle drones as the yearly Motorcycle Week goes on. They have reported that the crowds are lighter this year due to high energy costs. That’s too bad, as local businesses benefit from this event each year.

So, without further ado, here is this week’s Friday Five.

1. Yesterday we had a frontal system move through. For about an hour, we had torrential rains and winds. In the distance, I could hear thunder, but it never got too close.
2. My landline phone went out during the storm. The wires for this phone are all underground. I’ve kept this phone for many reasons, but I think I will probably get rid of it.
3. Miss Heidi was at the Vet this week. She weighed in at 23 pounds (holding steady) and had her eyes checked. Conjuctivitis. Probably allergic, but she needed new drops and salve.

   I must add that she was very happy to go for a ride in the car! She loves her car seat. I use a harness with the safety belt.

4. I’ve been enjoying the Beatles channel on YouTube. The music brings back so many good memories. Also, watching them play together, I recall when they enjoyed performing together and making some of the best music the world has known. It’s sad that two of them are gone, and the two remaining are in their 80s. It’s what I have been saying about time. It rushes by us.
5. I’d planned to go out today to run errands; alas, my plans were thwarted by the June 19th federal holiday. Ah well. If I don’t go out tomorrow, it’ll all have to wait until Monday.

Have a wonderful weekend and enjoy the warmth of the summertime!