Peaceful

 It’s early morning and I’m up alone having coffee and reading the newspapers, checking emails, doing crossword puzzles. It’s so still and cozy in the house. We moved in here to this house about a year ago. If money was unlimited there are a few things I’d change but overall I’m happy with how cozy it is and the amount of windows and light. It’s very comfortable and practical for our needs. 

Today is supposed to be chillier than yesterday. We’re rolling back to winter for a couple days then several pre-spring days after that. I have been buying flower seeds now and then all winter. I’m ready for spring to arrive. Tomorrow is March 1 so we’re making progress. I need to make out my to do lists for today, tomorrow, next week, next month, this spring, this summer, this year. I need to mentally see what’s coming up ahead. I need goals to move toward. Being retired can sometimes feel like a deep abyss. I do better with some structure. Yesterday I managed to at least accomplish a few things so the whole day wasn’t a waste of time.

It’s later in the afternoon now. I’m now tying on my little iPad keyboard that I rarely use so it’s a little rough until I get used to it again. I bought a new portable thermal ink less printer so took an hour or so trying to get it working. I think I have it now. We shall see how it serves us. I just got so sick of that stupid old one that seemed to always be out of ink. Gash

We’re going over to Walmart shortly. After the printer stuff I was sitting in the sunroom crocheting, using up the rest of my green yarn. 

Tuesday morning

 I finished my big crazy crocheted blanket yesterday. It’s actually a bit too long and too narrow but whatever. Until the weather warms up and I can wash it and hang it outside on the patio to dry I won’t get a real idea of how it lays. I did stick it in the drier a bit yesterday which helped the yarn stitches even out a bit. Besides sitting around crocheting yesterday, reading the newspapers, doing my crossword puzzle and a short dog walk I did nothing but sleep yesterday. I did wake up several times in the night signaling I’d finally gotten enough sleep. I just ate a half toasted peanut butter and banana sandwich and had a cup of coffee and washed off really well, used deodorant, put on fresh clothes and brushed my hair back into a bun. I am returning to human again after being a slug for a couple days. 

I need to remember to wear a mask more often out in public and carry my hand sanitizer. My immune system is obviously not going to improve. Suck it up buttercup. I’m lucky to be here at all. Shit happens. Get a helmet or give up. 

 Mabel and new bunny Petunia

                                                          Me 2015-16

Oliver

Recovery

 Saturday night I started feeling sick at my stomach. By morning I was throwing up awful bitter sour stuff with painful stomach cramps and running to the bathroom a lot. By afternoon that stuff had pretty much stopped but my stomach was still hurting. I slept most all of the day and did nothing else but get up and walk to the bathroom. About 1 am this morning I woke up and was super thirsty. I’m doing better now and took the dog for a short walk. It’s bitterly cold outside so that was unpleasant. Today I’ll take it easy and crochet. 

Black coffee

 I’m drinking black coffee out of the cute little heart-shaped mug I got at the December Christkindle Market at Daley Plaza in Chicago. When I use this mug it makes me smile. I’m going to go throw my clothes and hiking boots on and take Bitzi for a walk. We walked nearly four miles yesterday. Today won’t be as long of a walk. After that I’m going to the garden club meeting and rejoining the club. I’ve been out a couple years and now I feel like going again. 

SBS

 I like the peace and stillness of early morning when I’m up alone and Mike is still in bed. I like how I can hear every little noise- the tick of the wall clock, the gentle wind against the house siding, a bird chirp. I like the peace of sipping my coffee, opening the blinds, reading my social media, Apple News stories, my mostly all spam emails. In general I’ve always been a morning person. It probably comes from years of farm chores and hard work. I see that as a good thing. 

I’m still not done with the big bright multicolored crocheted blanket I’m making. I have part of a colored yarn skein and another whole one to use then I’m going to edge and fill with my plain base army green. I hope it doesn’t end up looking like a crazy nightmare. I like sitting in the comfie chair in the sunroom crocheting with Bitzi on my lap watching all the squirrels and birds at the feeder on the edge of the patio. I have a feeder tray with seeds and nuts on a hanging chain with extension hooks that puts it fairly low to the ground. The squirrels easily jump in, swing a few times, gather up food and jump out and return in a couple minutes to repeat. 

The weather has been warmer the last few days so all of the snow has melted. The walking trails back by the forest preserve wetlands are now safe and free from ice. Bitzi and I dearly love our walking trails. 

My brother-in-law Pete had his kidney transplant last week and is doing well. He had been waiting and preparing for years to get it. My sister is scheduled to have surgery to install a pacemaker in a few weeks. They have had so much medical stuff the last few years! 

Today I’m going to walk, clean up the front porch and back patio, go to Aldi for supplies, scrub my bathroom and crochet. 

My Echo heart test last week turned out okay (for me). It was a low normal and unchanged from a couple years ago. I had a heart attack three years ago, so need to check on things every year or so. 

Heart

I have an echocardiogram this morning in a little while. I’m hoping it comes out okay.

I just took Bitzi for a little walk. It’s a bit warmer today. I slept pretty well. Mike got up before I did but has been slumped on the couch snoring away to the morning news blaring on the TV. I need to start getting up earlier. I like my nice calm silent mornings alone in peace. Now that we’re both retired we’re together most of the time. Alone time is good too. My blanket I’m crocheting is turning into a big colorful freestyle creature. I just like crocheting along and deciding what it will be.

Good day

 Today has been a cold, windy, overcast day. I took Bitzi for another walk around the lake this morning but today was unpleasantly harsh. I picked Bitzi up and carried her part of the way because the wind was so uncomfortable.

I’m going to finish crocheting, watch some Winter Olympics and watch some Super Bowl. In a few minutes Mike and I are going to the grocery store to get some needed items and some Super Bowl snacks. 

I just finished the audiobook We Are Water  by Wally Lamb