GOOD LUCK?

 

Now I need my day after surgery and then some reading glasses.

BOY OH BOYS

These characters never stop.  I am having the best time of my life (so far).

Parents are teaching the boys how math comes in handy in daily life. As well as enhancing their taste buds for all things home made.

I think this was pancakes.  Note the recipe taped to the cabinet for easy reference.  A few days later, little guy wanted Sloppy Joes for dinner.  Big guy asked if they could make dinner for all of us.  Mom looked up a sloppy joe recipe (not Manwich from a can!) and had him make 1.5 times the recipe.  It was a lot of calculating and measuring but he did it all (with a bit of paper, pencil and Mom suggestions).  Little guy cut carrot coins and divided them by 5 so we all had the same amount.  They were respectful of my low carb lifestyle and gave me just half of a bun!

One day this week they wanted to have a tea party.  I bought a blue (more manly looking) tiny tea set in a wicker basket a year or two ago on Whidbey Island.  It's hard to explain how much they love it ... and use it!  

The tea set has very very tiny cups so before Covid, I would look for things for a medium size tea service.  Of course, they use the tiny cups for the first round or two.  Then move up to the bigger cups.  I found a small bright colored tray, a cup with a saucer, a tiny tea pot for a tea bag holder and a demitasse cup.  At the Dollar Store or Goodwill.  We also have a nice selection of tiny spoon and forks because miniature ANYTHING is just more fun.

Yesterday Mom cleaned out and organized our fridge (this makes life so much easier!). With five people in and out and looking for things and rarely putting them back in the same place, this is a necessity.  I had to drink hot fresh brewed coffee one day because I didn't see the cold brew (now bottom shelf on the right)

This morning when Mr. Big went to the fridge to decide what to have for breakfast, he was ecstatic to see the fruit all in one spot ... so he asked if he could make fruit for everyone.  Parents already had home made buttermilk pancakes on the menu but said YES to fruit to hold them over.

Amazing?  There was half of a peach and half of an apple to start with.  He put a blueberry inside EACH raspberry.  And the look of pride on that big guys face?  Priceless.

 

Happy, happy Grandma.  My new Covid long white hair look.  May keep it so I can just toss it up in a bun!

P.S.  Covid has only strengthened the relationship between these two guys.  Mom and I are always looking online for a house with no HOA and 1/4 acre of space.  Yesterday the boys helped me look and then we extended our search to include a pool and the price had no limit.  We found a perfect one for only $3M ... then when I said let's each pick our bedroom, they looked at me in shock ... we want to SHARE a bedroom, Gramma! We can each have a room for own to have our clothes and toys but we always sleep together so we can whisper.

When I went in to say goodnight, little guy was asking big guy to pull his bed closer ....

WOW! FINALLY!!

Yesterday was my pre-op check for having my right eye cataract removed next Wednesday!  Hooray!

Correction will be for "intermediate" distance so that it will match the mediocre job on the left eye.  About 20/40.  Legal to drive but not good enough for me to drive, so back to specs.  And reading glasses.

I'm looking forward to buying inexpensive frames online so I can suit my mood.  

The bad news, I do have dry eyes but for now should be able to manage with just OTC drops.  The other bad news is the left eye has developed scar tissue (about 1 in 4 people experience this)(lucky me?!) and surgery will be scheduled after the right eye is healed.  I'll be glad to see this in my rear view mirror!

The parents are breaking in the boys for online school by spending an hour or two taking Acellus Academy school.  Braeden can pretty much work on his own just need an adult in the area to me sure he's not star gazing.  Deacon is a little hasty in answering and doesn't listed to the WHOLE sentence. Today I think he gets it.

They will each write in a journal every day.  Braeden had to do that since Kindergarten.  I suggested a weeklong (or two weeks) with a topic of their choosing ... and they can use it in math, spelling, reading, measuring, art projects, wildlife, whatever.  They are starting with Oregon!  Then a camping trip will be planned to see things in person!

I may opt to do art appreciation and music. Reading and spelling.

PANDEMIC PUDGINESS

This will be short.  Just got results of blood work and quarantine eating has caused my A1C to go up. 

I will now have to get my chefs involved.  Salad and veggies and whatever protein they are having.  Gotta stop eating little boy food ... mac and cheese, chicken nuggets and fries, hot dogs and fries, tater tots, hash browns, pancakes, waffles, cookies, home made bread.  Yes, I did this to myself.  

AND ... I have enjoyed ice cream for the past two weeks.  I can easily cut out sweets.

Everything else is fine, or better, except one thyroid test ... 

"One of the thyroid levels (TSH) is borderline high, but active thyroid hormone level (free T4) is normal. This is not uncommon, but we will need to follow".

I haven't looked up TSH and how to manage but I'm pretty sure eating more healthy and walking it off will help.

Dr said we can test again in 3 months to see if I can control this with lifestyle changes. Otherwise, something stronger than metformin.

To top off the day, we got a letter from the Property Management Company who will now take over "the continuing complaints" about our yard and patio. As long as they are handling ALL of the yards and patios with the same guidelines.

It will be an interesting conversation.

THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN

The family returned to Oregon finally, after more than a week in Montana.  They have fallen in love with the adventures of the wilderness.  Grandma Laura and Grandpa Edward have a second home in Lincoln, Montana (population 1,013)(2010 census).  Their 2,400 sq ft house has 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.  It also has a great room with pool table, ping pong and I can't remember what else.  Over the 3 car garage is an apartment with two full size beds, a tiny kitchen and a private bath which my family got to use.

Sitting on ten acres.

They have a 4 wheel drive piece of junk and the kids loved being jostled and bumped around and it's about a mile into "town"

Grandparents treated to a trail ride.

The whole gang went on several hikes!

There was lots to discover

The boys were hoping to find gold and file a claim

They had nice hot weather and enjoyed tubing

Best of all, each night they gathered around for a multi-chef meal (and no dishwasher)!!

Interesting facts.  The Unibomber was discovered and arrested just five miles south of Lincoln.

Lincoln has a humid continental climate, bordering on subarctic climate (hot in the summer and up to 85 inches of snow in the winter).

WHAT WILL AUGUST BRING

I'm writing this on Saturday afternoon, August 1.  Can't believe it is August already.

With the house to myself,  I've done a small bit of tidying up.  Our dining table is an everything table .... dumping ground for everyone (except me ... I go straight to my little apartment).  It's the boys' computer area.  It is the arts and crafts table (including for Mom) and then we eat there, rarely all of us at the same time.  I removed everyone's everything and put it on their bed.  Washed and gave it a swipe of Lemon Pledge.

The kidults left me a legal size sheet of tasks to do.  Watering the plants, feeding the birds, feeding Ralph, our Betta fish, and of course Mr. Bosko.  So I've had 6 ft chats with many neighbors.  And now I spend my computer time in the living room looking out the windows and watching all the activity.  Who knew!

Gave the kitchen a deep clean and steam cleaned my face masks.  And every day I took a nap!  I ordered from Amazon Fresh and got a lavender scented hand purifier.  Just getting tired of the other two aromas.  

I indulged in an extra long shower and lotioned up everything.  Before the kids left, I took the dog for a little walk and almost took a tumble.  My eyes do not work together and I stumbled on a crack in the sidewalk.  My cataract surgery is re-re-rescheduled for August 26.  Jesse brought my walker back from storage so at least I can safely take Bosko out.  A friend of mine took a tumble on a sidewalk on her lunch break (yes, she is still working at 75)

 ... smashed her face, her right wrist was broken in three places and her left hand was also broken. Had stitches to the head and inside of her mouth. Surgery was needed for both the broken bones. Still in splints waiting for permanent casts. 

So I don't care if I look like a little old lady, I will use the walker and always carry my cell phone.

Well ... it's time for my daily meditation!  Until next time!