I need a day, or a few, off

 Thank you for all the encouragement.  Tired today, so I'm just letting you know I'm taking today off from blogging. And maybe a couple more.

Nothing personal!

Small hitch

Friday morning, Handsome Son and I left at dark o'clock to go to the cardiologist office, in slashing rain. It was locked, no lights on, nobody there except another patient! Then someone opened up and we went in, lights turning on, and it was okay after all.

The cardiologist found something in my heart to be concerned about. So more tests next week. Most of the week is about tests and doctors. 

I've gone from being horrified at finding I need the surgery at all to being anxious to get it over with, without any hitches! 

So this is brief, I'm tired and a bit disheartened. I suspect that some of the concern relates to liability, some to age. By Wednesday I'll know if the surgery can go ahead.

Happy day everyone, hitches or not. We got this.

And this 

Over 30 protests in my small state alone. 

Sand in the gears, Misfits and Mma Ramotswe

Let's try this. And urge our MOCs to oppose the ridiculous tariffs.

And it's Misfits day 

I really like being able to send back these ice blocks and cooler bags for reuse/recycle. One of the many good things about dealing with Misfits.

Canned goods, stocking up.  I make a  very simple stew with a can of diced tomatoes, can of cannellini beans or chickpeas and spices, good too.  Potatoes for another soup maybe, with chard, and chicken chunks in the freezer.

Yogurt for desserts with berries, and other meals, brown rice to go with tofu stirfry, coffee in case I run out (!) and Tony's because the rainy weather is tough on Helen Hip.

Today's sand in the gears: messages of thanks to my senators, Booker and Kim, for this week's marathon speech,one delivering, one supporting. And I asked them to lead shadow hearings on signal gate and illegal deportations, to shine a light on them and not let the fascist admin move on.

All good, and now I'm reading 

Peaceful reading, distraction from pain and politics.

And for the viewing pleasure of grammar  police officers

Happy day, everyone. And if you want to end your sentence with a bird, or flip one, go ahead.

 

Restful Wednesday

After the excitement of the Wisconsin win, Wednesday was all about trying out the resistance bands, check, and cooking for the freezer, check.

Cream of red lentil and carrot soup, a favorite 

Today's lunch with multigrain toast, and half a dozen servings to freeze.

I used smoked paprika, fine seasalt and umami seasoning mix, usual onions, garlic, olive oil base.

The relief of having a sofa at a better height is surprising. So much easier to navigate. In other nonnews I think I'm running out of tasks. I scrubbed a step stool..

Happy day everyone, if you find you're scrubbing stepstools, maybe reconsider your life path. I did. I invented the Lazy Lady's Tray Cloth.

Nice piece of batik torn to size and chucked on a favorite tray.  Shameful shabby chic. Tea stains, the pot sometimes drips, won't show. 

Meanwhile here's a mourning dove couple checking for this year's nesting place.

They've nested around here several times, laying eggs in a scrappy nest near the deck, if they don't find anything they like along the front path. 

They're nice neighbors, not too noisy. And considering the state of the nests they throw together, they're in no position to snoot my new traycloth.

 

Brrrreaking news

 My former State

Ed note: it's about the crushing Dem victory in yesterday's Wisconsin State Supreme Court election. I first lived there when we came to the US. It's the dairy state, residents took the pejorative term cheesehead, adopted it and made cheesehead hats to reclaim it! Cheeseheads rule, over massive spending by M**k to buy the election.

My current state of NJ, our Senator Cory Booker

Do I pick winners or what? On a more optimistic day than quite a few recently, I'm just sayin'.

Quiches, Textiles and Tea, sofa risers, doors, keys, cabbages and kings

Cooking for the freezer today, two crustless spinach quiches, using mozzarella cheese. 

Battle stations, then wonderful smelling quiches hot from the oven. Once cooled, I'll slice and wrap them for the freezer, to go to when I'm recovering.

Today's PT was a bit rugged, the changing temperature, swinging over 40 degrees over a couple of days, having made Helen Hip a bit unhappy.  

I got resistance bands, green blue and black from Theraband, Emil's recommendation for my current fitness level, and tomorrow I'll start with them. Years ago I had bands, which wore out, proving I used them. 

Then Gary rushed in, wanting to check various keys I keep,  because he changed his lock.  

All done at warp speed.

Textiles and Tea today presented Peyton Pearson, a brilliantly gifted weaver, hsnd dyer, graphic designer, punch needle artist, already with a name, at 27!

Watch out for him, he's a rising star.

Then another irruption from Gary, who has finally found the right doors for our outdoor storage areas. Which will need to be stored in my living room pending painting and installation.  He needs a second person to lift them -- heavy solid slab, not hollowcore.

Here's a neighbor helping, Gary being on the other side, glimpses only

And here's the current state of play

The door, stored until painted and installed outside, adds a charming rustic touch to this shabby chic interior. 

In among all this is Michael the contractor,  who has finished the risers for the sofa, just before leaving for a week.

Note the higher level of the sofa, unbelievably more comfortable now that the height is right.

Now to fold the laundry I was doing before the day got complicated. My knitting friends also emailed today with offers of help and food if required, so nice.

Considering I'm a single older party living alone, it's amazing how complicated my days can get. Something for everyone today.

Happy day everyone, try not to have everything happening at once. Which is more than your humble blog writer can manage, it seems.

One busier person today was my Senator, Cory Booker, holding the floor of the US  Senate,  giving a marathon civics and history class, with the support of other Democrats, and still going, since yesterday, non-stop. Good trouble and a hero of our time.

Reclaiming our flag 

New photo reminder of trans sisters and brothers, seeds and more

 Swiped from Debra, She Who Seeks, to remind us all

Thank you, Debra and if I knew the creator, I'd credit them.

Today is about returning an item via UPS, and, while I'm out anyway,  going to the dollar store and seeing about some seeds for this year's flower containers. 

So here's the display, smaller this year, no cosmos, no marigolds, but we'll survive. 

The price is up from four packets for a dollar to a dizzy four for $1.25. So this year's garden, seeds, potting soil etc still totals a modest $25 or so. I can do this.

My chives finally gave out last year after many years, so I'll try a new start.  I may need to get marigolds from the local farm stand.

If I fill and place the containers ahead, I think I'll be able to get the planting and squirrel proofing done early May. Anyway that's the plan. 

I would like a flower garden again this year. I have plans about walking, then sitting on the deck admiring my surroundings! Great ambitions. 

Happy day everyone, always have plans of some sort, dream big. Sez the lady with three dollars in flower seeds..

Colder, but fields of daisies rule

 

Any field of flowers is good for a person's spirits, and too much of a good thing is wonderful!

Handsome son visiting today with a med he picked up for me, and while he's here I'll give him sugar cookies, tea and a request to assemble a tub bench to make it easier for me to shower. It's the kind you slide across, instead of stepping into the tub.

Here's the bench installed 

And Handsome Son assembling the handheld showerhead, ready to install it

Quite a few of the extras I've had to buy because of surgery are in fact going to be generally useful anyway. I'm already using the hip kit items, and I imagine I'll be glad of the tub bench long after I heal.  So it's more long-term, really.

I'm thinking about shopping for seeds, in the hope I'll be able to do the flower containers again. I have potting soil and containers. Maybe by mid May I can do that. We'll see.  

Happy day everyone! Make stuff, resist, enjoy!

Singing for freedom, and walking for spring

 Here's where blogista Anne will be next weekend, taking part in a singing rally

Let's join her in spirit, even in person, if you can.

And today, here in NJ,  warm sunshine, the daffodils bursting out, insects busy everywhere, emerging from underground, the Korean spice bush budding up, some cosmos maybe, self seeded from last year, first forsythia down the street. Lovely day.

And more women's art, from the Fils et Aiguilles blog

And, speaking of hand made items, this morning I sent off a pair of socks and two pairs of gloves to the knitting ministry, with a note taking a little leave of absence, but promising to return.

Happy day, everyone,  so many reasons to keep going and stay joyful. Now I'm off to sit on the deck, to read and to watch and listen to birds.