Scary Times

                                               This is my daughter Shirley                                     

         She's my sidekick and my "partner in crime"

She's had such a rough time of it lately. I was worried about her. She fell some time ago and ended up with bursitis in her leg so she has been having to have steroid shots in that leg ever so often. 

So, she went in for a shot just over a month ago and the next day there was a knot just below the shot site so she called the dr and they told her that it was a hematoma, that likely the PA who had administered the shot, likely nicked a vein. That the blood would be absorbed back in to her body.... but it would take some time. 

The knot got bigger. She was a lot of pain, got to where she was having difficulty walking and could bear no pressure on that area. And, it continued to worsen. Trips to the dr. ... tests done... etc, etc, etc and all the while she is getting worse and worse.

Well, to make a long story short.. 

Her dr. sent her to a large hospital in a nearby city to have that 'hematoma' drained on Friday. It was not  a hematoma!! It was an infection that had grown to the size of my hand on her upper thigh. In all likelihood caused by a compromised needle or medicine (steroid) that was used. 

Thank God,  she is already much better and is now able to do some chores around the house. 

It is scary that someone who is supposed to make you well can cause such painful results because of negligence but it happens. My son and I thinks she ought to sue but she's not sure. She's not a 'sueing' type of person. We'll see. 

Birds of a Feather

 My train derailed!!

And, I am having a hard time putting it back on track. I have been so busy writing that dadgum book that I seldom get anything else done. At least not anything you girls would be interested in - like laundry, grocery shopping etc, etc, etc. All that fun stuff!! 

I feel good about my book but it is such slow-going. And, I haven't even painted any in quite a while. 

and I am rambling.... 

'cause I have nothing to share. I will just leave you with a few of my favorite photos. The first one is recent. During a rain storm I saw a hawk taking shelter in a nearby pine tree so naturally I grabbed my camera. 

These next ones are oldies. 

this one I got a kick out of... A cardinal and finch sharing some food. The cardinal looks like he's either trying to feed the finch or asking 'And, just what are you doing here?'

I'll stay with the bird theme...

A robin sitting on top of a scarecrow's head. I'd decorated for Halloween and that birdie thought he'd just add to my decorations. 

This one I could not figure out for a bit. It's a bird flying directly toward my camera so all you see is this blob with eyes. I couldn't have staged that one if I had tried. 

And, so, I will leave you with that last one. Just wanted to check in to confirm that I am still alive and kicking. 

Have a great weekend!!

Time For Tea

 Shirley and I had quite an outing yesterday. It was a lovely day, a bit warm but not uncomfortable. I had made reservations at the Stillwater Tea House for an early afternoon tea. It was so nice... 

We were greeted at the door by the owner, who led us to our table. We were served Blackberry tea right away. 

Then came our salad, one of my favorites: Strawberry Feta

I don't remember what the main course was, just know that it was tomato sprinkled with bits of bacon and chives on a type of bread that was spread with 'what I do not know but it was good'... I'd say it was a bruchetta but that's not what the owner called it. This came with Ginger Peach tea. 

We ended our tea with a delicious mango custard. Now, if it had been me I would have slipped that tart out of that aluminum pan before serving but perhaps the crust was too flaky and she was afraid of a mess. But, I didn't think that aluminum fit our atmosphere. However the custard made up for it.

This was served with what she called strawberry milk shake tea but mine had only a slight taste of strawberry and there was no milk in sight!! 

We met two very enjoyable ladies at the next table, not from Suffolk but not too far away. We all decided we should get together again sometime. And, they are now my facebook friends. The whole experience was just so delightful. 

Then on to the library. I'd been wanting to go but the one time I had attempted it by myself I found that they were paving the street there, things were blocked off and I just turned back and came home. But, Shirley drove us down and we went inside. It's brand new, been open less than a month... huge, two story with lots of light and space and meeting places and little nooks to sit and read. So, yes ,I will be going back. 

I was pooped when we headed back to my apartment for her to drop me off. Guess what I did when I got home????

I plopped down in my recliner and stayed there, watching tv, 'til the 'cows came home'. That's an old Southern saying that means it was late in the day for those of you who aren't familiar with the south. 

Flip-flops

 I will be glad to get rid of this pink themed background!! I do love changing up my blog page often but usually do it on the first of the month. I am so over this pink!! Can't wait til August so I can change it!

          For today's Photo-a-day the theme is flip-flops. 

I've had lots of flip-flops, even have them on my feet as I speak!! But, to find a picture I'd taken of them! Liked to have never found one but here it finally is:

Our family went to the beach every year, for years til prices got just way too high!

I'm not a sand lover, nor a sun lover

so I'd sit on the balcony with my feet propped up on the railing listening to the ocean waves and the sound of my grandchildren and great-grands having the time of their lives. 

Good times! 

Lunch at Cafe Davina

Hope your morning is super. Right now it is looking fine for me, a bit cloudy with a thunderstorm this afternoon but that is what happens in the south, a thunderblunder (that's what my grandma called them) in the late afternoon. 

Shirley is going to join me for a 'session' today... heck, I don't know what to call it but we have a speaker coming to Centerbrooke from Senior Services. There are people here that don't drive, their families that are supposed to be helping out aren't always available. Even though I drive I don't get out in the heavy traffic so there are times I could use some transportation. Senior Services provides that for just a donation, plus a whole bunch of other services so this is going to be very informative. 

Did I tell you about my sweet little lunch out with my life coach/friend on Friday? I'd been hearing about this place called Cafe Davina that is in a huge old, old mansion downtown. They specialize in crepes and the places I go doesn't offer crepes. It's more like Southern cooking rather than French!! 

I ordered the crepe filled with ham, brie cheese and an apricot sauce then topped with greens. Oh man, it was soooo good. 

We ate inside 'cause I'd never been there and didn't know the options. But, we found out that there are the cutest little eating places scattered all around the beautiful yard. I didn't get a chance to photo most of them or do much exploring but I intend to next time. These following photos are from Cafe Davina's facebook page: 

There is a ginormous magnolia tree on site and I understand that there is a table underneath the branches of this tree where you can have lunch or just sip tea. Wouldn't that be fun!! I couldn't find a picture I could snitch of that scene but maybe there's where I will be seated next time. 

Now to participate in the Photo-a-day. The theme today is BLUE

This is a quilt I made back in 2001. Have no idea what happened to it. I gave most of my quilts to family. But, it was fun to do and is it BLUE!
 

Far-away Osprey

 I am just so inspired by what little knowledge I have gleaned from Chatgpt about basil. I told you about the tea I made. I had some left in the fridge so I added a bit of it to a glass of iced tea this morning. Very good. 

I also made some garlic-basil oil. And, I've been using it on a number of dishes. 

First I made bruchetta (never had before and it's so easy). Of course it was sprinkled with the oil. 

This morning I started thinking of how I could use some ingredients that I already had and came up with this. Is it my invention? Probably not. But, it was new to me. 

I made cheese toast out of a piece of sourdough bread. I made an omelet and placed it on top of the toast then topped with slices of avocado that I had poured some lemon juice on and some chiffonade basil. salted it and then drizzled it with the garlic-basil oil I had made. Oh yum. I'll make that again 

In keeping with Photo-a-day. Far-away is the theme for today. 

Do you see the osprey that is far-away, high in the sky?