Sunday, January 31, 2021

A NOT SO HAPPY NEW YEAR....

 Hard to believe that it has been a whole month since of updated this Blog.  I have not spent a whole lot of time on any one thing..........but I have cut back significantly on watching my daily news programs.  I absolutely HATE what is happening to this country, but with the Grace of God  I am sure that we will find a way to heal.  And I will leave it at that.😟

For most of the month I have been getting physical therapy 3 days a week..........and recently changed to two days a week.  I have not seen a significant improvement, unfortunately.  Both Amanda, and Darius ( my primary therapists have been excellent. They are always so positive, they have helped me to know actions or movements that I should try to avoid, and exercises that I can do daily at home to reduce any pain.  We have succeeded in minimizing the pain, and we have seen a significant improvement in my strength and flexibility.  So that is pretty good news.  Since they are not able to stop the pain, they will be sending me back to my doctor to find an alternative. 

So.... what's been going on this month??  Well we have had some cooler weather........and we are expecting more cooler weather this week, so that is fabulous news for me.  Rich on the other hand prefers the hot and sunny days! We've been able to turn of the air conditioner and open the doors and windows,  Even the birds are enjoying themselves in the backyard, on the deck, on the grill, on the flowerbeds.......?


Only a couple of  take outs for dinner this month..........Subway and Chinese.  A lot of meals this month have depended on the weather, so we tried to make those "winter dishe w (one of my favorite nights),  Ham w/Au gratin potatoes and corn, Chicken Chile, Fajitas with Refried Beans and Rice, A delicious crockpot Pork Loin  w/mashed potatoes and veggie, and Ham and Potato Soup - another of our favorites!


The majority of our time this month was working in the yard, primarily doing repairs on the seawall, and repairing the concrete steps to the boathouse etc.... First on the agenda was the trip to Lowes for lumber, concrete etc.  (This is when we miss the truck!)  Managed to get 11 or 12  eight footers in the car by putting the front seat down, and having me sit in the back seat!  Plus we had a larger bundle of larger cuts delivered (Upper left photo). Obviously, Rich has been doing most of the work, but I have helped to carry the lumber out back, Hook up the electric cords, gofer this and go for that.........., shovel dirt, do the painting etc. etc.  Rich did most all of the work removing the old/rotted lumber (But I did help carry it all out front to be taken away, and bagged most of the loose stuff!  Picture in top center was day one of putting the new lumber on  ( to the end of the dock), and day two and three we finished it to the east - all the way to the end of the property line (bottom left photo).  Today we worked on the other end (westbound) and got a little better than half way - but we need to go beyond that blue tarp (bottom center).  Before we can finish, we need to remove some pretty ugly bushes!  And still have work to be done on the steps, concrete and painting. 


In the meantime there was a lot of regular yardwork to be done.  We do have someone come and mow the lawn (every other week in the winter), and when we are away, or if we get way behind they are very good at trimming hedges and shrubs etc.  It's looking An a whole lot better too, both the front and back yard. And we finally got the pineapple we've had rooting in the house planted.  We now have nine pineapple plants along the side and back. 


Well - I guess I'm up to date again.  It's 9;30 and I'm getting pretty tired.  Busy day toady!  

It's 64 degrees right now, and that is the high for tomorrow.  The next day we get down in the 50's !!