Category: Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Thoughts

1. Today was a very cool and dry day. Almost like Autumn.
2. There was even a tree top that has two branches where the leaves have changed color!
3. My garden in general, has been such a disappointment.
4. My biggest crop have been the beans. 12 pounds frozen for the winter.
5. There are tomatoes, but not many.
6. What I really need to do is clear the garden out before the winter and really fertilize it well before the snow falls.
7. I also need to figure out how to get rid of the powdery mildew in the soil.
8. Next year I will plant different types of squash and eggplants.
9. I guess sometimes gardens just have an off year.
10. The peaches will be coming in soon.
11. That means it will be time to make the Heavenly Peach Jam!
12. One of the best things in life, is a fresh plain doughnut, fresh Heavenly Jam and a hot cup of coffee!
13. I guess this means we need to go and buy that new coffee maker tomorrow.

By the numbers!

1. It was a picture perfect day here in New Hampshire. Sunny skies, moderate temperatures and clear air. Perfect!
2. A friend called and asked me out to lunch at the last minute.
3. This was perfect as it got me thinking about other things.
4. I did some additional planting in the garden. A few plants died when I put them in, so today we filled in with a few more cucumbers and summer squash.
5. I’m sure I will live to regret this additional planting. I always have too much!
6. But I share. I pack up bags of produce and deliver it around!
7. I even caught up by paying bills and getting everything mailed!
8. I was trying to figure out how to get our computers to talk to each other.
9. After a couple of hours, I finally did!!! Yay me!!!
10. Tomorrow I am going to the hospital where the first plastic surgeon operated on me.
11. I am just so upset. You see I learned that I did not need to have my forehead carved up and tomorrow I plan to make the hospital aware.
12. It’s supposed to be a good day, and I have made up two new CD’s to listen to.
13. Yes, a relaxing trip, will be a pleasant trip!

1. I went to see the plastic surgeon specialist on Wednesday.
2. Dr. P. is an extremely well educated and studied Australian.
3. He came to the USA in 1989 and began working at both Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School.
4. I loved his easy mannerisms and smiles.
5. I really felt relaxed.
6. He explained he would not have done a forehead flap to cover my nose.
7. He would have used a graft from another area.
8. Currently my skin graft has developed a lot of scar tissue.
9. So, the current plan is to slowly remove the scar tissue little by little, until a normal nose is shaped.
10. Since I also have nerve damage in my forehead, I will need surgery on that as well.
11. The nerve there will need to be buried.
12. If that does not work, then I will join the botox set as they attempt to kill the nerve ending there.
13. Tonight I feel hopeful, happy and I know, I will sleep well tonight.

1. I went to Weight Watchers and after a week of weighing and measuring and journaling, I lost three and a half pounds!
2. I was so psyched about this and was walking on air!
3. After class I drove down to see my girlfriend, Barbie.
4. Her female wire-haired dachshund, Veela just had six puppies a month ago.



5. The father for these puppies is also the Daddy of Arnie and Anneliese.



6. I climbed right in the puppy box and played with them, and felt their little puppy tongues lick my face!
7. One thing I love about dogs is that they do not look at my face and see scars. They just shower you with love!
8. After a few hours I left to come home.
9. I stopped at the grocery store and picked a few things…
10. To the tune of $125.00.
11. Okay I got three meals of meat and some fresh vegetables.
12. Oh yes, and a rotisserie chicken, so I didn’t have to cook much tonight. Just the corn on the cob!
13. I got home and my dogs did nothing but sniff me for an hour. They all knew I had been with a bunch of puppies!

Wednesday was a busy day. Here’s what I was up to.

1. I went to Weight Watchers and I have lost 2 pounds. Now I just have to keep up the momentum!
2. I brought one car in to be inspected, while picking up the first one. We have one more to go. Our seldom used winter Jeep.
3. I deposited our tax refund check, such as it was…
4. Made Hubby lunch with the luscious bread I got at the King Arthur Baking Center.
5. I also had a sandwich. Peanut-butter and banana, my favorite!
6. I watered my plants and spent some time talking to them. Finally my butternut squash seeds are sprouting!
7. I finally have my medical records from my surgeries moving toward the doctor I will see in Boston. You do not know what I had to do to get the hospital to cough them up!
8. I decided that it was time to free up my computer, download my pictures to an external drive, and then get rid of extra unused stuff and do the ultimate.
9. Yes, I defragged!
10. A couple months ago we bought these pre-seasoned baby-back ribs and they were awful. Because it was a large package we’d only cooked half, which meant we still had half a pack. I knew I needed to use them!
11. So after I thawed them out, I rinsed off the yucky rub and sauced them, put them in my dutch oven and cooked them slowly.
12. Surprisingly, they came out well.
13. I finally have relief from my allergies. Chlortrimeton and Sudefed. I finally feel human again!

1. I returned to Weight Watchers today. I have not been since this whole cancer problem started. The weigh in was not as bad as it could have been.
2. I came home and Hubby and I talked and I’ve decided to get another opinion on my face. I do not like how my nose is healing. The graft looks like someone stuck a chicklet (candy) under the skin on my nose!)
3. I have a good friend who has had plastic work done on her face after cancer removal and she looks beautiful!
4. So we will drive to Boston and see her doctor, and get another opinion.
5. If I like this doctor and feel confident then I will have him finish the surgeries.
6. I went out today for a girlie luncheon! I had a wonderful mushroom quiche and salad. It was perfect and I did not break my WW eating plan.
7. I came home and watched the end of the Jodie Arias murder trial. Thank goodness she was found guilty. I watched quite a bit of the trial, and it really sickened me.
8. I stopped at our local farm stand. Can we say “Asparagus Season”? Yay!!!
9. The friend who gave me the Boston Plastic Surgeon’s name and phone asked me to lunch next week. I’m excited because we are taking a road trip to the King Arthur Flour Museum and Cafe in Vermont!
10. We take Mr. Fritz in to the Vet today. I hope it will all be good news.
11. I’ll be going to see Mandy, Matt and Savannah on Saturday to celebrate Mother’s Day a little early. Matt’s parent’s will be there and it will be great to see them.
12. Do you all realize that Savannah will be one year old in two weeks?
13. I still have hope!

I’m actually feeling positive today about my upcoming surgery.

1. Lucky for us, we found a house sitter/dog sitter, so Hubby will be with me every step of the way.
2. We got a hotel reservation with a hospital discount. Woo-hoo!
3. Not only do they include breakfast in the price of the room, but dinner with wine or beer as well.
4. That’s a good thing because after my first procedure I may not feel like going out.
5. The reviews for the hotel give it 5 stars out of 5.
6. One reviewer said the beds were very comfortable! Yay beds!
7. I got all my pre-registration done on the phone last night.
8. All my paperwork is in order!
9. I went out with my girlfriend for lunch today to catch up.
10. I went to Weight Watchers in the morning and lost half a pound!
11. The Dackels go in to the Vets for their yearly exam tomorrow.
12. Friday I am off to see Savannah and Mandy for lunch.
13. Then it is packing, cleaning, and preparing over the weekend!

Congratulations to all my Catholic friends. The new Pope seems like a lovely man. I will pray that he cares well for the Church.

Here is a brief fill in of yesterdays visit with my Dermatologist/Mohs Surgeon.

1. I went alone to the appointment as Hubby was busy with some business.
2. The drive was long, both over and back, but it gave me time to think.
3. I met Dr. S. and i really liked him and his nursing staff.
4. Apparently, because this is a recurrence, I will need more work done than I expected.
5. Dr. S. believes having a Plastic Surgeon on call is my best bet.
6. Then I can have him close the incision one time with whatever procedure necessary.
7. At first I was reluctant, because it means I have to line up both doctors for one day.
8. Now that will be tricky! We all know how busy they are!
9. Then I decided that my poor nose needs tender loving care.
10. After all, I don’t want it to fall off my face like Michael Jackson’s nose!
11. I will meet the Plastic Surgeon next Wednesday.
12. Then we will plan and synch it all up.
13. After that, I will get this cancer taken off my face and get a new nose!

1. My new cordless Mouse arrived on Wednesday! I am so happy to have a mouse again.
2. We watched one of the funniest segments of Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations. He was in Greece trying the real food of the Greeks and got an introduction to both Ouzo and Raki!
3. Personally, I love Greek food, but some of this real Greek food, well I am not sure I could eat it.
4. In the last few days I have been in a cooking mood. So, the dinner meals have come out pretty well.
5. Tomorrow I am making Julia Childs Boeuf Bourguignon. I like to use a lot of vegetables, and I enjoy the savory smells.
6. In the next few days I need to catch up on laundry and some cleaning. So making the Boeuf Bourguignon will be nice for a couple of meals.
7. I also want to try to eat more fish meals, but I was so disappointed to learn that my favorite source of Haddock is no longer carrying the Norwegian Haddock.
8. That was simply the best Haddock!
9. Rumor has it we are going to get another 6 inches of snow this weekend. You know, I am really ready for spring!
10. My niece is getting married in just a few weeks. I am so excited! She is a sweetie and her fiancee is wonderful!
11. My sister has had so much fun helping Jinny plan the big event!
12. I’ll be going down for a bridal shower next month!
13. My sister’s oldest son and his wife are expecting twin boys! So much to be happy about!