FORGET ME NOT

 

I think I am losing my mind.  I'm losing many things so I'm pretty sure my mind is next.

My luxury room is filled with baskets.  (They do need to be re-sorted but no one looks through them except me).  I hide little gifts underneath nighties, or sox, or other boring items but now I have to write them down because I FORGET where I hid them.  I always have a treat box but once the boys see it, I have to use another basket to keep them from helping themselves.

I am loving my computer glasses! Except I take them off and on so much, I'm usually offering a twenty five cent reward to whichever grandson can find them.  Then I started hanging them on the front of my shirt so I could always have them with me.  Until I bent over and lost them in a basket of warm clean towels.  Since I was lazy and didn't fold them, they were missing for two days before I decided to fold.  (Now I have the lanyard things to hang around my neck)

A week or two later, I lost one of my prescriptions.  Of course, I waited a day or two but it is a drug that should be tapered off, so I had to call my Dr.'s office.  His nurse laughed at my self berating and said I wouldn't believe how many calls they get.  Yes, an hour after I got a 30 day supply, I found the bottle in the pillow case of a pillow I don't sleep on.

The new bright yellow pillow reads "my happy place"

If I don't put my credit card back in the EXACT same slot, I go into a panic.  Lately, people can just wait while I get myself settled before I leave self checkout.

Is this just me?

TOO LAZY FOR WORDS

 

One of the many perks of living with my kidlet!  Pedicures!!  

The 7 year old joined in and proclaimed he wants one every time.

Another perk is a chocolate on my freshly made bed 

Wow Gramma!  You've got a lot of bling!

My baby turned 35 yesterday!

Yes, they STILL get dressed to play army

My view from the chair on my patio ... 

can barely tell it's a parking lot on the other side.

A MISH MASH OF THIS AND THAT

Sorry I didn't post last week.  I was not feeling well, mostly intestinal trouble with headache and extreme fatigue.  No appetite (that never happens).  Thank goodness for Google.  I’m pretty sure I have pancreatic cancer, appendicitis, ruptured spleen, cirrhosis of the liver and a brain aneurysm ... on my way to dementia.  I'll need to update my medic alert bracelet.

I just got this from Etsy ... the flat wider bracelet says "severe shellfish allergy  no sulfa drugs  type 2 diabetes". The little tags are my In Case of Emergency and Fake Knees.  Just in case my phone is crushed after being hit by a fire truck.

Luckily, they family went camping for four nights so I could stay grumpy and napping.

They went to southwest Oregon on the McKenzie River and they all hiked 5 miles to the famous blue Tamolitch Pool ... 

It's 38 degrees year round, as is the McKenzie River .... and yes they all went in!

Walking the plank!

Kate chose this location for the difference in flora and fauna.  They tried to go last year when the wildfires forced them to evacuate.  They all agreed it was worth waiting for!

Butterfly

MAY DAY

 I'm officially 69 as of May 1.  May is a great month for me ... Mother's Day, Kate's birthday, Tahlia and Audree's birthdays, Farmers Market opens (although Oregon just shut down again on Friday) and all the late spring flowers.  Kate's native plant collection are hitting their stride!

The two leaders of our Property Management company and our local Landscape chair popped over on Weds to say they are getting complaints (still) about our "encroachment" onto common space.  This time (first time for the main manager to visit in person), the tone was so much more kind.  We had not added any additional pots since the last cantankerous visit (although Kate has "dropped" some seeds here and there around rocks). Kate does have starts in tiny containers on trays that she carries outside on sunny days.  

We actually got a lot of compliments from them on how the native plants look now that winter is over.  He ended up apologizing for leaving the front area just mud for so long and the next day, a tiny patch of sod was installed.

Clean and serene ... 6x6

Two or three neighbors have asked Kate to design some pots with native plants.  She is so excited!

A tiny basket, in the tree, filled with native succulents

We've almost disguised the utility boxes!

The fountain with room to perch and wait your turn

GOOD THINGS I'VE LEARNED FROM OTHERS

I love learning new things and short cuts and saving money.  Every once in a while I ask friends about their favorite apps, especially the younger generation. They do EVERYTHING on their phone and scoff at boomers who have printers!  How they can fill in forms and email or pdf or png and send astounds me.  I'll do apps next week.

I first heard of cold brewed coffee while living in Maui.  I had it steamed hot because I couldn't imagine drinking cold coffee ... especially first thing in the morning.  The best benefit of cold brew coffee is lower acidity.  Then I tried it cold.  Now we make our own and I drink it cold, with cream.  Even in the winter!

Put your favorite flavor of ground coffee beans in the sieve like tube, gently pour purified water into the tube, then let rest in the fridge for at least 12 hours.  

As we ladies age, it seems hair begins growing all over our faces.  Mine started with just a mustache.  When Kate was about 8, she exclaimed "Oh cool, Mom!  I didn't 

know you could grow a mustache!"  I thought since my hair was so light, no one would notice.  Off to have it waxed away.  That is a very spendy monthly habit. 
While commiserating with a friend, she told me about a tiny facial shaver that she uses.  Keeps one in the car for when the sunshine shows one she never noticed before.  I keep mine in my bedside basket and use it a few times a week while watching Hulu.

Oxo's ground meat chopper is a miracle in our kitchen.  We eat a lot of ground meat, including chicken and turkey, and the boys do not like big chunks.  Kate and Jesse would spend 20+ minutes breaking up bits with a wooden spoon or spatula.  Oxo's device has three prongs so does the job in one third the time!

And my favorite!  Foam old time rag rollers.  I've been using these for several years.  My hair is thin and a bit wavy, but not enough to look sexy beach girl curls without a little help. These get used with my short hair and now with my pandemic long white hair.  How did I ever sleep with hard rollers???

Share one of your secret joys?

SECOND DOSE DONE

Oregon is having a week or two of summer!  From high of 50's to high of 80+.  I'd like a month of 70, one of 75, one of 80 and IF we have to, a bit higher (hope the pool gets opened this year!). But I'll take what I get.

I got my second dose of Pfizer vax Saturday afternoon about 1pm.  It's 5pm and nothing so far.  While waiting my 30 minutes after injection, a person in a car three spaces ahead of me had a reaction.  Several workers and nurses rushed over and then the emergency van arrived.  Someone left in the ambulance.  Scary.

The boys continue to do online learning but when the March report arrived, turns out the little guy was NOT doing school work ... instead he was playing the Roblox video game.  He logged in just 12 hours the whole month.  Needless to say, he had Roblox taken away for a week and now he either comes in with me or does school in the living room but screen must be visible.

He's in First Grade but is already finishing 2nd grade math and is in 3rd grade social studies and science.  Smart as a whip and it comes easy for him.  Then we have 4th grade Braeden who put in 40 hours (week off for Spring break) and did Science only one week and moved up to 5th grade.  Did only Social Studies for another week and finished up his 4th grade work.

Taken from the Grandma chair.  Deacon is furthest and notice how his blanket covers most of his screen?  Now he has to sit in the Grandma chair as the hallway is behind it ... lots of foot (and eye) traffic

I think it works way better to let kids choose their own interests, as long as they do the minimum of each subject.  We're going back to public school in September (hopefully) and it will be interesting.  Deacon cannot sit still more than 10 minutes and prefers background music.  We may have one at home and sign him up for social activities and sports.  Braeden will do just grade level unless he gets lots of encouragement.  He doesn't want to do ANY team sports ... golf or swimming for him.

Except for sharing the bathroom, this intergenerational living is still going well.

COVID - MONTH 13

 

Despite the beauty of Spring flowers, Oregon Covid cases are again increasing, so I'm back to online shopping only.  I get my second dose of Pfizer on Saturday.  The weather prediction is for sunshine all week ... a low last night of 32 and the high going to low 80's by the end of the week.  Hopefully I will be motivated into walking!

I've been using Zenni to get new glasses and decided I'd like to try prescription readers rather than the one strength fits all.  My face is aimed at my computer most of the day.  I could NOT figure out how to get reading glasses without buying a regular pair ... with the same frames!  I need reading glasses, driving glasses and computer glasses to be easily identified

After investing too much time, I used the little help chat.  Here's what he told me:

Reading Glasses

In order to get reading glasses, take the ADD number and add it to the SPH number. Enter the new total in the SPH and do this for both eyes. Remember that the CYL and AXIS don't change so enter them exactly as they are written. And reduce the PD by 3mm. If you have dual PD, reduce 1.5mm by each eye.

Computer Glasses

In order to get single vision computer glasses, take the ADD number and divide it in half. Then add the 1/2 ADD to the SPH number. Enter the new total in the SPH and do this for both eyes. Remember that the CYL and AXIS don't change so enter them exactly as they are written.

????????  I must be getting OLD.

I got my PD measurements from Costco where I used to buy my specs in person.  Covid that "in person" right out of my choices.  Zenni suggests you measure yourself in the mirror, pupil to bridge of nose or have someone measure you .... but would that be as exact as a professional with the right equipment?  I think not.  After several tries to Costco, I finally got a sympathetic ear who looked up my prescription to get the measurement.

Can you imagine when Zenni gave me these two formulas???  First I had to learn which was left and which was right on the prescription ... they are Latin abbreviations: OS (oculus sinister) means the left eye and OD (oculus dextrus) means the right eye. (Note to self ... use the left eye to give someone the stink eye!)

I did the calculations but didn't trust myself, so did them again.  And then once again.  And finally ordered a pair.  Let's hope I got it right.  I did take the time to email Zenni to put give the calculation to us (like they do IF you order two pair).  Wouldn't cost them a thing and would be great customer service.  Stay tuned.

Silver frames .... I'm tired of my glasses being the main focus of my face on Zoom!