17 January …
Another week …
Weather has been all over the place. Snow, rain, fog, cold, nice … you name it.
Mark dropped three trees last week so the chicken house gets some winter sun again and there is a bit more sun on the front of the house as well.
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John and I spent last saturday in the local cemetery photographing grave markers. I have a friend who used to work there and did all the photo requests from genealogists who use the “Find a Grave” site, but he moved to Idaho and the list of requests had gotten rather long. So, list in hand, John and I went grave tracking.
We were able to find six of the requested ten and I am following up on the others.
But now I find there are requests for at least five other cemeteries in this area. Guess I’ve better get back to driving myself again.
This activity gets me out in the fresh air with a purpose and there is a friend from a bit ago who may want to go cemetery hopping with me.
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Yesterday was a Medford day.
As usual, the drive was an adventure. The scenery is different each time we go. Yesterday a lot was brown with occasional bursts of red-orange. And at the rest stop there were raindrops on the trees. From where we parked the light was just so and there was one tree which appeared to be decorated with wee lights.
We did some shopping. There is a new, bigger CostCo near the airport. The layout of the store is very close to that of the older store with just enough variation that when you think you know where you are and which direction to go to get where you want to be next … you find you are lost.
Oh well …
I was surprised that the book section had shrunk and that several grocery items are cheaper at the local Grocery Outlet less than five miles away.
We made a stop at the retinologist office, where George and I had been going once a month, to leave them a gratitude gift of a box of premium See’s chocolates. I know it is a cliché gift, but I couldn’t think of anything else.
The staff had always been kind and thoughtful with us and I wanted to let them know I had appreciated it. It was a bit awkward … it seemed to surprise them and left some in tears.
I’m glad I did it however. Those visits could have been awful (after all, who enjoys having a needle stuck in their eye?), but their attitude helped and I wanted them to know.
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I’ve been doing the breakfast and dinner cooking and dishwashing thing for the family for over a week now. It is more of a challenge than when it was just George and me. Different people, different tastes … and Kamille has a gluten sensitivity so I’m learning new recipes such as that gluten free flour seems more “glutinous” and requires extra liquid to reach the same consistency for pancakes and waffles.
Another lesson in the-more-things-change-the-more-they-stay-the-same … standing at the sink, washing the dishes, just like I’ve done for 40 years or more and crying because nothing is actually the same.
But there are smiles as well such as when Paul ends grace with “… and make sure Papa is having a good time.”
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Did I tell you I’ve returned to spinning? We have been changing the arrangement of the living room and I abandoned my rocker place beside the wood stove for a more central location on the other side of the room. It took some rearranging but I think things are now in working order so it feels “normal” (there’s that word again).
I have two sweaters in the works and planning for next winter holiday gifts has begun.
Can anyone say THERAPY?
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Radio club tonight. Several items to discuss. The club, like so many things in my life, is changing.
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… and a thought related to chocolates …
Perhaps you will forget tomorrow the kind words you say today, but the recipient may cherish them over a lifetime.
So … ‘til next week …