Booster Time

Hallelujah, we got our booster shots yesterday! Also, we had our teeth cleaned, making for a very productive day. Instead of a long drive to the convention center, not to mention the long lines, we went to what I call the baby Publix that recently opened. The store, right across the street from a full-sized version, is not at all busy making the wait time minimal. Aside from a very sore arm, I'm feeling pretty good although Bruce is feeling just a tiny bit under the weather.  

In other news, who else is in awe of the price of most groceries at the moment? Because this blog is meant for documentation of current events, meaning what is happening in the here and now, it must be mentioned. My heart goes out to all those living on limited means which is not to say that those folks don't always have it hard, but currently the price of just about anything has gone up. Imagining how to feed six people in the current price environment makes me so very glad that I don't have to anymore!

Speaking of purchases, I've touted the wonders of Swedish dish cloths in this space and am so sold on them that I gave the remaining two I had to Mary to try out. I almost had to be ask for one back because getting more proved to be a brand new experience. Actually it started out easily enough because buying from Amazon is normally a sure thing. Find the product, click on buy now, and expect it to come within two days if you are a Prime member. I did that very thing, ordering on a Saturday with the message that they would be delivered on Sunday. Perfect, as mine had just worn out after constant use.  Except it did not come. On Monday or so I checked the tracking and found this.

Davenport to Bonita Springs to Orlando to Bonita Springs to Fort Myers to Ybor City....what the heck??

Tuesday I received an email from Amazon saying it looks like it is lost and click here for a refund. While I did so, that's not what I wanted. I wanted my cloths!! Venturing out in search of a replacement, it took three stores before I found one that turned out to not be quite as good as the ones I'd been using. Still, it was better than nothing. I kept an eye on the tracking and it just got more and more bizarre.

What the heck is happening here with our USPS? While I've heard others say that their mail was lost, this was a first for us. Finally, Friday evening it arrived. The packaging looks pretty good for having been in so many hands, don't you think?

Should this amazing product be new to you, here's what it looks like when dry.

Falling into the category of there is always a silver lining, had I not broken my wrist and been given a magazine to while away the time, I would never have tried one, but baby am I ever sold now!

Here's a look at the Jack in the Beanstalk tree from last week. If you didn't see what it looked like less than three years ago I put it in my last post which you can read here if you missed it. 

The carport roof that was damaged by the falling tree is slowly being replaced and I do mean slowly. A notice appeared that we should move our cars on November 1 which meant that I had to move my bicycle as well. Currently it is on the front porch taking up far too much space.

Using it requires me to take it down three steps which in my current state of weakness is no fun. Speaking of which, my wrist behaves like a rusty door and my thumb, well it still doesn't bend much, giving rise to me saying to Bruce I now get the phrase, "sticks out like a sore thumb." Sure does!

I decided that I needed a tote bag for my pickleball paddle and camera when Bruce and I don't go together. Before I began sewing, I did a little bit of sorting.

If there is one thing I still miss from our home, that is a proper sewing space. Having to get out the ironing board, which is heavy and cumbersome, every time I want to sew, is a pain. Three baskets reside under my work table and over time they have gotten messier than is advisable.  It is also kind of fun re-discovering fabrics I'd forgotten about. The one I used for the tote bag however, was far too memorable to forget.

I lined it with polka dots, a favorite pattern of mine. So what's not to like--owls and polka dots for the win!

Friday, while getting ready for Dr. March's funeral I wondered what to wear. In my generation, (sorry just had to throw that in there), a lot of things were cut and dry. You wore black to funerals. Or I should say most people did. Thinking of the kind of people who would probably attend I stuck with tried and true, but I noticed a few people that did otherwise. Anyway, it was a Catholic mass with readings from grandsons and a eulogy given by his only son. While I only saw a couple of people I knew, I was able to talk to two of his daughters and sing his praises which seemed to make them happy. One of them said, "oh how he loved his x-ray girls." The feeling was mutual.

My goodness, thinking of 50 years ago, our high school reunion was held last weekend. Although we did not attend, Bruce showed me photographs from the event and all I could think was, "do we look this old?" While I suppose the answer is yes, especially because I am automatically given a senior discount at a few stores, I never think of us as looking old. Perhaps I need to spend more time in front of the mirror!

This past week it has been chilly a few days, one day we had fog and another rain. Then too, we've had some beautiful sunsets which, while this photograph is not traditional, it shows the far reaching effects of the setting sun. Mostly though, the sky has been clear, sunny and bright blue with very little humidity. Talk about hallelujah!

I mention the weather frequently so I will know looking back in this blog, what days were like. Once the fog lifted, the lake water was so calm and I couldn't help noticing the perfect reflection of this old canoe across the water. Well, I sure didn't expect an Egret to pass through at the same time!

I noticed the folks were treating the lake again late last week. 

Bruce had been telling me that the swan was on the other side of the lake most of the time so on my way home from the dentist I drove into the neighborhood across the lake to see if I could see it for myself. Well, turns out I did see it, and I also saw the folks who have been treating the lake. I still don't know who hires them.

They were just pulling up to the dock so I was able to ask them what they put in the water to make it so clear, although I can't remember them both, alum is the name I can.  Whatever it is, it causes the sediment to fall to the bottom of the lake, making the water crystal clear.  We walked down to the big lake and under the dock, well, see for yourself.

It really is amazing, almost like looking at an aquarium.

Furthermore, Bruce pointed out the woman who has been feeding the swan on her side of the lake. He'd noticed her while fishing which he's been doing a lot because his sore knee is keeping him mostly off the courts for now. My Panasonic zoom came in handy.

 Hopefully this juvenile will stick around long enough to lure a mate!

Unrelated to everything written above I discovered the other day that the man who did our new art piece is also represented by my publisher SunDance. How crazy is that? 

As it turns out, while writing this I've also discovered that I am not feeling quite as perky as I thought. Bruce described it as feeling sluggish which sums it up perfectly. Totally worth it though because I'd much rather feel sluggish for a few days than get Covid-19!

your friend,

Gail