Being Thankful

 I'm just being thankful this morning for yet another wonderful day! Hope you have a blessed Sunday, too.

All By Myself

 You ever get tired of eating the same old, same old? 

It may be hard with a family but, boy, when there is just one of you.... well, your cooking creativity just flies out the window. 

I'm so tempted to just eat whatever is handy, leftovers, frozen entrees, a sandwich. 

So... I decided the other day to look at one of my Pinterest Boards? The one titled "Foods To Try". 

I had the ingredients: a sweet potato, brown sugar, marshmallows and walnuts. 

I baked my sweet potato, slit it open, sprinkled it with the brown sugar. Didn't have the little marshmallows so I took my kitchen shears and whacked some bigger ones into pieces. Put that on top and placed some chopped walnuts last.

Well, I was supposed to then place it under the broiler but the heat from the potato had already melted the marshmallows so I said, 'Not gonna do it'. 

The thought came to mind that it's such a 'freeing moment' when you know you don't have to follow the rules. You can do whatever any way you want to. You are in charge. 

I scarfed down that yummy potato and had myself a grand ole time,                        

                                     all by myself.                                        

A Deerful Saturday

 Yesterday Shirley spent some time with me, us gals just chatting, filling in calendar dates so we don't miss anything coming up. She'd brought Chic-fil-a (our favorite) and we'd enjoyed that. Eventually (around 3 p.m. or so) I walked out on to the balcony then called for her to come see....

It was way earlier than I usually see deer out feeding but there they were. Five adult deer and three young ones. We had the best time taking pictures of them and a few other things around my little world. We had the best time. I hope you have moments like this with your loved ones. It's so important. 

Twins getting some late lunch!

Posing for the camera

First buck I'd seen here at the Commons

We all gotta eat!

Cattails by the pond

The crepe myrtle blossoms are about gone but managed to catch these against the sky. 

The osprey sitting high on his perch, the cell tower

and, I leave you with this thought!

Just When Things Were Going Well

 Well, well, well....What a week. 

I had no idea of what to expect following my first Herceptin injection. I drove myself to the clinic... it was only 3 blocks... but it was raining so it wasn't all easy-peasy. 

Got my shot... came home. I am loving this. Nothing to worry about.

And, then the bottom fell out....  

I had nearly 3 hours of heavy chills and throwing up.. was restless the rest of the night

But. What you know.. I woke up feeling completely normal. Shirley came by and we gals went for mani-pedis. Had lunch out, too. 

However, I found out today that I will be having blood drawn every week for 6 weeks! Nobody told me about that!! My shots are every 3 weeks... At least I'm happy that they are keeping a close watch on me. I think!

All kidding aside, I feel so very blessed. It could have been so much worse.

So, no complaints! 

This is a picture of a prayer plant my grandson gave me. And, the mimosa I had to go with it! 😊

I celebrate every moment I have each and every day!

Having 2nd Helpings of Fun, Friends and Food

                       Okay, if I explode during making this post I apologize! 

         We had our monthly picnic here at the Commons this afternoon. 

It was hot and we had occasional showers so we all tucked into the activity room and had a fabulous time.

There were so many of us that we ran out of table room so another table was dragged into place and it still was not enough seating.

I have never seen so much food... it was like being at a family reunion, and I guess it sort of was that. We all are family in a way. 

We had hot dogs and hamburgers. I chose a hotdog and then proceeded to pile so much other food on top of it that the bun got all soggy. I finally ate it with a fork. I am going to show you my plate.... don't laugh. I ate every bite of it. That is why I may explode! 

See the hotdog.... and that's an empanada on top of it along and a huge fried green tomato. Underneath was pasta salad. The cucumbers were so good... and the baked beans. I ought to be ashamed of myself for eating so much but I am not. 

The place was buzzing with conversation... so loud that you could hardly think but what a wonderful way to spend a Sunday afternoon. I  met a new resident and enjoyed her company, I enjoyed being with the ones I know and I even saw some I didn't know but come to find out, they have been here awhile. I am so horrible with remembering people's names and putting names with faces. 

As we cleaned up in prep to head back to our apartments there was still a ton of food left. Many of us took things to eat later on.

My last post was about being a neighbor...

Well, Today just goes to show you I've got great neighbors. 

Let Me Be Your Neighbor

 

'Ain't that the truth'

I've lived in apartment buildings before but everyone was young  then... had kids banging on doors.... had couples fighting. a radio blaring, a car horn tooting.  

So, no, I was not prepared to move into an apartment complex for us old folks.  Isn't that ridiculous. 50 and 60s are not old!! And, I'm finding out that neither is 75 or 85! I am not OLD. Just had some wear and tear, that's all. hehe And, by golly gumdrops... it's all about your attitude. If you have a bad attitude you might be 9 years old and act like you are a 100. 

Here we have people still in the work force (we seldom see them). 

We have couples who have been married a long, long time and some newlyweds.

We have widows, one or two widowers.

There's single gals, single men. Whatever category we fall in we are all so different, so unique. Like they say, 'There's only one of you'. 

So many can't get around so good anymore, some have died or moved in with their kids. There are a few who are snobs, who never speak to you. Then there are the groups of residents who sit around a table playing cards or talking over a cup of coffee. A place where it's quiet and most times peaceful.

There are the care-givers. Taking others to dr. appts, fixing meals and checking on each other, Those are more like Mr. Roger's Neighborhood. 

I think about Mr. Rogers. He was ahead of his time... or maybe humanity just hadn't caught up to him, one. 

Nice Man. 

What's your neighborhood like? Any juicy stories you want to share. Hehe. 

Or an act of kindness or love. 

It takes us all to make this world go around!

So 

enjoy life, smile and be cheerful

Love a lot, love a little but LOVE!

Good News

 

Don't ask me what that means! 

It's just a saying we've used in the South for as long as I can remember.

And

I am as happy as a dead pig in the sunshine today! 

I went to the oncologist yesterday. I'd already been having doubts creep in about doing chemo at my age. 

But, they found my HR2 was positive when they did the biopsy, when was that... seems like ages ago. 

Don't ask me what HR2 is, either.

I just know that it has to do with the cells in your breast and skin and mine was positive so if a tiny positive bit was floating around in there, it would be agressive and that's not good.

So, yesterday the dr. said, no chemo.

but, he strongly recommended a shot that they do every 3 weeks of Herceptin to fight that bad HR2 positive thingy.

I start that treatment next week. 

To say I was relieved is an understatement. I mean.... I am in good shape for my age but I 'ain't' no spring chicken either. I just couldn't imagine what chemo would do to me. 

Thanks for your prayers, your concern and for having my back.

You are the greatest!

Take To The Skies

 I have some pictures taken out of a plane window, clouds so gorgeous and I got to thinking about how flying has changed over the years. 

The first flight I made was in 1953 with a 3 month old. Those were times not everybody was hopping on a plane to go somewhere.. Flying was a BIG DEAL and it was expensive! You got all dressed up and you were catered to so that you got to thinking you are a dang movie star! Of course, I had never flown before and you could say I was pretty nervous. But, I got there. 

Here is a picture of my Mom and step-dad in the early 1960s. I wish it was closer up so you could see that pretty frilly blue dress Mama had on, with her broad-brimmed hat and gloves, high heels. My step-dad in a suit with a white shirt and tie and his hat. I mean, you got dressed up to fly. And, you got food to eat on a plane, meat, salad, veggies and dessert! There was anywhere from 3-6" more leg room. It was fun back in those days. 

In 1957 I flew from Birmingham, Alabama to Honolulu, Hawaii ... with a 5 year old, a baby 13 months old and me 8 months pregnant. Now, that was a trip! This is the plane like we flew on.  Not very big for such a long flight. No jets, just propellers turning around and around. 

When we got to Honolulu we were met by my husband with leis to drape around our necks and big hugs and kisses. I wanted to see what the airport in Honolulu looked like back then 'cause I could not remember so I googled it. 

Just look at the greeters all lined up by the runway. Sure don't see that today! 

Six months later my husband got new duty (Navy) on Midway Island and we took off flying once again, only this time in a Military transport plane. No frills on that plane and it was a 1,034 mile journey with, by now, 3 children. But, hubby was along to help this time. 

Eighteen months later we headed back to Honolulu on this plane... I actually have a picture of it! Passengers loaded from the tail of the plane, I believe it was a military plane. 

And, I've flown dozens of times since, cross-country, up and down the east coast, to France, to Ireland. And, it seemed every time I flew things were getting worse. 

Now days, it's a nightmare. No fun anymore.

I have learned a bit about the life of a flight attendant, too, since my granddaughter-in-law-to-be is one. They used to call them stewardesses. 

A stewardess in the 1960s

An attendant in the 2020s 

 Not much has changed. They still have to wear hose and heels most of the time, have a perfect appearance including manicures, hairdos and such. Even the dress isn't that much different, just a tad shorter. 

I bet you didn't know that an attendant has to often get up at 3 or 4 in the morning, get herself to the airport only to discover the flight is delayed or cancelled... and she doesn't get any pay until that plane is in the air... so if she's sitting in the airport or on the runway waiting for it to take off, she's not getting paid. Passengers can complain all they want (and some of them do big time) but the attendants just have to smile and take it. 

Well, I have bored you long enough. 

Sorry about that.

Just feel so for us all because flying just isn't fun anymore! 

Hiking the Trails

 I don't know how I got started being interested in hiking! 

No, wait a minute. I didn't say I hiked. Heaven forbid. I am talking about just having an interest in learning about it. No way am I gonna do it!! 

I think first of all was the book "Grandma Gatewood's Walk" that set me on this path. I found it totally fascinating... as long as someone else was doing it! And, I am more familiar with the Appalachian Trail than other hiking sites. 

But then I read another book called "Wild" by Cheryl Strayed. The book was good, the movie was good. It was about a hike on the Pacific Crest Trail through Calif, Oregon and Washington. 

Last month a friend on facebook mentioned another hiking book and this one really caught my attention. It was written by a Lawrence Alexander who is from my hometown. So, I got noisy and looked him up and found that his grandpa married one of my husband's cousins... and the grandpa was a distant cousin of mine. Of course, I had to order both Larry's books. 

I'm over half way through the first book, the first leg of his journey on the Appalachian Trail. I'm pretty proud of him because it's well written, funny in places, agonizing in other places and I am once again fascinated by this hiking thing.

Oh, did I tell you that my Daughter Shirley and I hiked part of the Appalachian Trail!! It's a funny story! 

We were driving back to Virginia from Alabama when we saw this pull off and a sign that said, 'Appalachian Trail'. So, Shirley's a nut, so much fun, and that nut pulled the car over and we girls got out and hiked a short distance and now we can say we have hiked the A. T. 

Do any of you hike? I hear that my grandson is planning his first hike... in the Grand Tetons! I can't wait to hear about that. Maybe he'll write a book. 

picture taken from internet. It is not of my grandson. 

This and That and Something Else!

                      What have I been up to lately?

                           Well, just let me tell you. 

Of course, I watched the fireworks from my balcony on the 4th but for some reason they weren't as nice as in years past. I think something went wrong with the lighting. There'd be long pauses and then they'd start up again and there was no grand finale. But, I did see some! 

Shirley and some of her family left for Alabama the day after the 4th. Dylan, who is 12, is going to space camp at the Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville. Michael lives nearby so the rest of the crew will hang out with Michael during Dylan's adventure. 

I tell you, it felt mighty strange, having them head down to visit Michael. Shirley and John always let me tag along but I had a dr. appt during that time as well as they are packed.. two cars, 4 adults, 3 kids, a dog, luggage... no room for me! 

The day after the 4th a bunch of us residents were treated to hotdogs, chips and ice cream in the community room. 

Oh, and I did a watercolor....

Oh #2...

I started that new blog featuring flowers. You'll find it here:

The Joy of Flowers

SURPRISE!

               You can tell when I get bored!!

I start doing all sorts of silly things... but I hope this one is not silly but will be of some enjoyment to others.

                                     Yep, I started a new blog. Lordy help me.... haha.

I love flowers and have tons of pictures of flowers. I took most of them. So, I'm sitting around here bored. All by my lonesome! 

                                                   Then it hits me... I need another blog! 

Please check it out, follow me if you'd like, leave a comment and come back to visit me often... so I won't die of boredom. 😁

Here's the link...The Joy of Flowers

I'll also follow it myself so it will be on my blog list on Accidently Aging. That way you can click there or on here. 

Happy 4th of July

                               July 4th is Independence Day...

                           What will you do to celebrate?  

I'll probably watch the fireworks from my balcony. My days to sit out in the night air and listen (and watch) the loud booms from fireworks exploding is over. I've seen a lot of it over the years... time to just sit back and relax and reflect.

picture made a couple years ago from my balcony

I did save this picture I took earlier this year of a flag hanging on the George Washington Bridge so I could use it for the 4th. That was ONE BIG flag!

I'm hoping that all of you have a very safe and happy 4th. God bless the USA