Is it Blogger or Is It Me?

After weeks of my "reading list" not showing up, suddenly it appears!  The problem is that there are so many blogs appearing that I have not seen before...and the ones that I regularly follow are not visible!   So my question is.............has there been changes to the readers or are others having this same problem?

Is Anyone Out There?

Has anyone else been having trouble with their blog?    I have been unable to access my "reading list" or see anything posted by those I am following.  Although I haven't posted faithfully I did read blogs almost daily.   Up until recently when they disappeared.   I have attempted to determine what happened, but thus far, have not been successful.  

Any advice would certainly be appreciated.   I am two weeks away from another surgery and lots of time for recuperation....I so miss reading the blogs!!!!!

Please, please offer suggestions!

Superbowl is Over

Not much of a football fan here, but usually watch for the new commercials and the half-time show.  Tonight I can say I actually got involved during the second half.  It was a close game and could have gone either way.  Congratulations to the Ravens!  Yet I always feel badly for the losing team who worked so hard and watched their dreams fade away.  And for both coaches to be brothers.  And their parents/sibling watching...what a position to be in.   

Still snowing, blowing and chilly here in Michigan.  But each day is one day closer to spring!!

Painting in on our agenda this week.  Our downstairs family room and game room has been dismantled and I can honestly say this is starting to get under my skin.   By Wednesday the ceilings and walls will be done and everything back in place!!! 

Tomorrow starts my third week of physical therapy trying to stave off shoulder replacement and the progress is slow!  Sure hoping this works!! 

Hope everyone has a wonderful week coming up.

Copied from Country Girl (with my own answers, of course)

Copied from Country Girl (with my own answers, of course)

Day book entry 1-31-13

Outside my window it’s dark and cold.

I am thinking that I want to put a log in the fireplace and cuddle with an afghan and hot cocoa.

I am thankful for my wonderful life, with all my aches and pains.

From the kitchen come the sounds of the dish washer. Should have waited to put in the pie plate from cheery pie.  Oh well, there is tomorrow.

I am wearing Gray jeans, white sweater, thick warm socks and comfy loafers.

I am reading Cutting for Stone.  Great read.  Thought provoking.

I am going to talk to my hairdresser tomorrow and decide whether to continue covering the gray  or biting the bullet and letting is grow.  Decisions, decisions, decisions.  Any advice out there?

I am creating a mess in the family room and game room - spackling walls and getting ready to paint.

I am hoping that my husband does not have shingles.

I am hearing an unnamed moving calling me into the living room.

Around the room items on the to do list for tomorrow, return books to library, pick up stamps and mail letters.

One of my favorite things is spending time with my husband. 

A few plans for the rest of the week – hair tomorrow, surprise birthday party of Saturday and perhaps painting on Sunday while listening to the game.  Hubby is working.

Tomorrow is Friday - Happy Weekend everyone!!  Enjoy!!

Life is good - flowers are blooming - things are looking up!

My last X-rays showed signs of bone growth.  Another X-ray on Thursday.  Weight-bearing as tolerated - which isn't a lot.  But at least I have graduated from wheel chair to walker!!  Didn't get the cap, gown and cake, but it was a huge accomplishment for me.   

 My Physical Therapist is a real sweetheart!  So bubbly and such a dear.  We've mastered going outside and going up and down the stairs with the walker.   And most importantly, I have mastered (mostly) my fear of taking another tumble and messing things up again!   Exercises are going well and she is adding more things ever visit.  Which is good - each visit is a visit closer to NO WALKER!

 We've had a few days respite from the hot humid weather.   Sun shining and flowers are blooming...in spots at least.  I did note that I have lost  a few perennials and hope that they come back next year.  In my spin around the driveway I noticed that I have lots of weeding to do....not yet so I just close my eyes and look the other direction.

Amazingly, my roses are doing well - very well.    And truly the flowers have thrived on much neglect for the last four weeks.  I am lucky, very lucky.  Hoping this weekend to get out there and do some deadheading!

Still holding on and practicing patience.........I know my sweet hubby will be glad when I'm about to go and do like I used to....but not nearly as much as I.

Thanks for listening to me ramble.  This has been a real journey for me.........and one that I don't care to repeat.

Stay cool and enjoy the days!

Lighthouses and gentle breezes...

It's still a bit humid and hot outside.  Great day for inside projects - especially since I'm still wheelchair-bound!   And sorting through photos is a great way to pass the time!   I'll have an X-ray on Thursday which will determine how well (positive thinking!) things are healing and will determine whether I have another two or another four weeks of non-weight bearing status.   I've been practicing on my patience and being good - so I'm hoping for two weeks!!!!   It's been two weeks already.

 

These photos were taken on a trip to the Upper Peninsula.  My hubby and I are in love with lighthouses and waterfalls and never miss an opportunity for a quick trip to visit one.   I can only imagine how the lighthouse keepers spent their days and nights.   They had to be of such strong character and mind.  I am always reminded of the luxuries we so often take for granted and their life was not an easy life.  Would I be  strong as they were - I would hope so - but I wonder!

  It is a solitary life most of the time.  Such responsibility for lives and safety.  The breezes were not always gentle and I can only imagine the ice during those frigid winter months.  Must have seemed like an eternity at times.

All of the lighthouses are so different.  Some with more modern conveniences and some so rustic.  Can you imagine living in a lighthouse?  As I child I always thought it would be so much fun - as an adult...I admire those who did.

This one is in Traverse City, Michigan.  The red roof always draws me in.   If you are in the neighborhood, there is always so much to see and do in TC.

The ones which are located along miles of beach are so appealing.  They are truly beacons of light in the darkness.  Can you imagine being on a ship seeking the light to guide you safely in?  

I feel cooler already - those gentle breezes are so refreshing.  There is something so relaxing about being outdoors, hearing the water lap against the shore , rustling of the leaves and the smell of fresh air. 

Hope  you have enjoyed!

My Goodness - Such a Sticky Day Out There!

 It's another sticky warm day - 101 degrees at 11 a.m and I'm told the humidity felt that high was well.  Since I'm housebound for the time-being, I can only take someone else's word for it.   Physical Therapy came this morning and I was exhausted after a short while.   I've been doing real good but the last two days, lots of pain and discomfort.  They suggested I spend more time laying down and resting and that wasn't hard to do!       Hubby was working this afternoon, got up at 12:30 for a quick bite and the power went out.   Grinned, kissed him bye as he headed to fast food for lunch and went back to bed with my Nook.  This may be the longest short book is history ....I keep falling asleep!

Not sure what time the power came back on, I did briefly wake up as I felt the fan gently blowing a breeze in my bedroom............ah, so nice!  So nice I fell back asleep.

Finally got up for a bit, grabbed a bite to eat, caught up on emails, and Words with Friends (am I the only once addicted to this game?) and decided to sort through some pictures.  Today, the water pictures seems appropriate!   Oh, what we could do with a gentle soaking rain. We had predictions, some wind, television flickered, but that was about it.

Practicing patience........sometime I've never had an abundance of!   But I am thankful, so very thankful for all that I have been blessed with.  My heart goes out to those who are suffering this terrible heat without a method of cooling off, and for the many many who are having their crops and livelihood destroyed by this drought we are all suffering. 

My prayers is that it ends soon!!

In The Blink of an Eye - Plans Change

 These were some of the plants I was taking care of.  Some crepe myrtle had taken over a flower bed so I decided to pull it, rearrange flowers, put new edging down and breath a breath of fresh air into the existing bed in front of the house and to the side of the house.

I know this is a bad time of year to think about doing this type of activity, but unfortunately, that is how my mind works.  Plus with all the time watering during the drought I really started noticing how badly they needed work.   Two beds down and two to go - not bad.  Would give me something to do during the early morning hours and late evening hours - before the sun hit full.

Crepe Mrytle all pulled and that was a job!  Shovel a zillion loads (or so it seems) of mulch and took to the compost pile.  Dug up some of the plants and replanted into other locations or into pots for the "duration" of the project!

Then it happened - walking across the kitchen floor to fill a plastic bottle of drinking water and I fell - apparently tripped over my own feet!   Took me an hour to get up.  Doors locked, just me and the dog. Finally managed a poorly executed one-egged shuffle to the bedroom and collapsed on the bed thinking it would get better when I got over the excitement and got myself calmed down.  It was then that I realized I couldn't move my leg on it's own.  Long story short - trip to hospital, x-rays and cat scans, and diagnosis -broken hip.  Just got home and am trying to figure out which way to turn. I am lucky in that there is little displacement therefore they have recommended non-weight bearing for 4-6 weeks and we'll take it from there.  I'm thankful that at this point surgery is not required but very fearful as patience has never been in my vocabulary!!!  And am just now realizing what my limitations are.............arrrrrrrrrrrrrgggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

I know I am not the only person who has ever dealt with this - and I will survive it.    I've begun collecting books to read, pictures to scan and thinking this will be a good time to review plans for those flower beds since obviously this will now be a fall project!!!  

Ideas anyone?

Gerber Daisies

Every year I tell myself - "easy on the flowers".  Today I made a "quick" trip to Meijers and there calling my name through the plant garden were pot after pot of Gerber Daisies.   I don't know what it is about them, but I absolutely love them!   The colors are so vibrant and soft and happy, if flowers can be happy!  But alas, it is Michigan and we are still having freeze warnings.   I gathered up all my willpower and left them waiting for my return!

Check One off the "To Do" List!

The guest bathroom upstairs looked like this when we bought the house...and we knew at the time we would be making changes.   The color and design are pretty dated, don't you think?  It is a tiny bathroom but it does serve it's purpose.  I don't know what materials were used on the walls ..we took a sander to the wall to smooth them out.  The master bed/bathroom has a similar texture.  If anyone out there has any ideas (other than a sander) to smooth out the texture, please share!!!

This is the remodel (minus the picture being hung above the commode or a sconce with candle - still undecided).  Much cleaner, fresher and definitely updated.   Formica counter top replaced with granite and under-mount sink, new faucets, shower curtain and 13" porcelain tiles.


Feels good!!  I've already started one of the guest bedrooms.  My goal is to get these projects done before spring!!!  The master bed/bath will be my last project if my stamina (and my husband's patience) last!!  Wish me luck!

I'm linking up to Debbiedoo's Newbie Party!