August 8, tricky day

Today's Handsome Son's birthday, yay him. It's also Handsome Partner's anniversary. Our son was with him at his last moments.

This makes it a complicated day, though we decided quickly to celebrate each person on their birthday, to lift the weight off the day a bit.

So I baked a chocolate cake for Handsome Son

sent him a card, and a greeting text at the hour he was born, and he'll be over next week for a little celebration. 

Meanwhile I went out early to pick these, they're doing well this year 

and to provide mosquitoes with a nice breakfast.

I did find a suitable aquarium for SG, Mitch 

98lbs empty. A gallon weighs about 8lbs. Times 75, plus 98. It adds up.

And I'm wondering what to make next that's portable and I think I'll try this 

Happy day everyone, some days are harder to navigate than others, but we've done it before, we can do it again.

Sez Ted and Big Ursy and Pony and Ursula 

Spring is under way, walking a bit hindered

So here's what I saw this morning on the patio 

Plural snowdrops! Last year I think one came up. But here, wow, maybe four, a banner year.

And daffodils are just starting to show. They were evidently starting up under the snow.

It's the first time for a few days I've been out on the deck, but now the snow has receded and I thought I'd finally take a walk to the pond, booted and hatted and long coated, it feels like the 20s f., a bit cold. 

Then the plan hit a snag, almost at the pond. Namely a big old downed  tree blocking an entire section. It was old and probably rotted, so the weight of the snow with wind seems to have broken it off at the base.

I need to get through there to access the pond. I could have found a way round by a couple of streets but it occurred to me that it would be wise not to go where there may be other trees waiting to fall on unwary walkers.

So I took pictures to send to management in case they don't know yet, and came home. Late edit: they didn't know. Landscapers on their way now.

I'm now planning on a cup of tea and a slice of the chocolate walnut cake I made yesterday in case of a visit this week from Handsome Son. I have to test to make sure it's okay. 

But first I learned to use Resistbot and sent emails via it to all my reps demanding they get us out of Iran, no bombs to hide the Epstein files.

Happy day, good to get out and find signs of spring, unless you're looking for signs of fall where you are. Or look for signs of chocolate cake, it's all good.

Early morning orchids and a good day

 Early this morning the orchid posed against her outdoor friends.

Handsome Son came over in the afternoon and we had newly baked chocolate walnut cake and tea for his early birthday. Also a card I drew for him and a check. And the highlight, a hummingbird, first in two years showed up, for a few minutes.

Then he went off to a concert and I tuned into an online yoga session from AARP. Nice instructor, who had got into bridge pose halfway through the session, suddenly froze! 

At first I thought she was overdoing the time until I realized the screen was frozen. Chat went wild with questions and concerns and I suggested everyone could feel free to get out of bridge pose before they locked up that way..

Then I abandoned it no sign of fixing, and joined other friends in an online audio pod. 

Very tired today after recent exertions. So this is an abbreviated post. Happy day everyone, eat cake. Advice from 

Ted and Big Ursy

And Madame Floof 

Ugly useful thing, Misfits

My front door, despite the curtain, is still  drafty because the wind blows right at it. I've been thinking about making a draft stopper, and I've seen really beautiful artcraft ones. 

But I decided a draft stopper hidden by a curtain didn't need to be anything more than functional. Also if it used up some materials, good.

So I hauled out a pair of old socks, found the rest of a bunch of unspinnable cotton roving, and this happened.

All the roving used, socks knotted together, now holding the fort at the front door. Empty bag to prove it. 

And Misfits arrived.

I didn't order that many chickpeas, much as I like them. Two of them were packed in mistake for cannellini. 

Not a big deal, I can use them, but I reported and got a series of messages about refunds. I did explain they'd sent two extra chickpeas. I can't fathom their math but since the numbers are so small anyway, I'll consider it fine.

The pieces of cod I ordered arrived labeled codpieces. Cracked me up.

Lunch was chicken croquette with mushrooms and spinach wilted in, then berries and yogurt. 

And I now have the makings of tomato cheese egg bake, maybe supper tonight on toast. 

I always send up thanks to the growers, pickers, packers and drivers feeding this grateful old party.

And old Helen Hip would like a word. As you know, I started months ago with what my doctor diagnosed as bursitis. Very likely, in view of my activity. And I found there are quite a few places in the hip where it can happen. 

So I proceeded to get advice from various up to now trustworthy sources. Gentle stretches. Don't sit with crossed knees. Heat. Ice. Gel for pain. Pillow between knees to sleep, patience, it takes time. Use a cane to avoid falling.

And I found: hip stretches irritated it and prolonged the pain, pillow between knees transferred pain directly to the knee instead, gel did literally nothing. The other ideas not bad. 

I also learned to get up slowly, stand straight before stepping forward, nobody had suggested that, maybe they thought it was obvious. 

So, still walking as I can, lifting stuff as usual, no stretching, no extra pillow, no gel, it's improving.  I guess time was the most effective measure. I'm happy it's doing better so maybe that pain wasn't my new normal after all.

And some of those ideas may work for some people, just not this one. 

The chocolate cake is now evenly divided - some to Gary, some frozen for handsome Son's next visit, small amount left for my afternoon tea. This is how it goes when I bake. No danger of my getting more than my share!

Happy day everyone, share your cake of life!