Almost gone.

This month. Another slippery slope. Gone too fast. Ah well.

The weekend. Bueno. Almost felt normal. Mr. Macho and I checked out two new stores in town on Saturday. A sporting goods store. A craft store. Our little metropolis is growing. More shopping options feels like progress. Progress is good.

Saturday afternoon I cooked the huge pot of chili. I had a yen and googled some new ingredients for the chili. In addition to the usual beef, beans, onions, peppers, tomatoes, chili powder, and cumin - I added a beer and 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder. The chili was the smoothest, richest chili I have ever made.

Veering from the norm, I did not cook Sunday dinner. Instead, we opted to eat at the Buffalo Wild Wings. It was my second repast at this particular BWW, and Mr. Macho's first. He has declared, "I have been to Buffalo Wild Wings!" - which translates to, "I won't make that mistake again!" So many teevees. So much noise. Screaming our order to the waitress is not our idea of a fun dining experience.

Next on the agenda was a movie. Mr. Macho had decided he wanted to watch Denzel on the big screen. He rarely thinks about, much less verbalizes that he wants to go the the movies. I jumped right on that band wagon and off to the movies we went. Denzel did not disappoint. He is such a good actor. The good guys defeated the Russian bad guys. I was so relieved that his movie friend/side kick survived the entire ordeal. I was going to be so agitated if he had not.

After a big milk "shape" (thanks Tucker) at the Sonic we caught a quick visit with Macho's dad. Afterwards we just vegged at home for the rest of the evening.

Out-of-Town Son is due in after work this evening. He will be working in town the next two days and will crash at our maxi pad. I am cooking breakfast for supper tonight, trying a new biscuit recipe. I hope  they taste as good as the picture looks.

I am pleased to announce that I walked 1.5 miles again this morning on the treadmill. And. I shaved 3 minutes off of the time from last Wednesday.

With that uplifting note I am off to the shower and a little more folding clothes and dusting before the wind runs out of my sails.
Be sweet.

Slow day at the hive.

It is a slow day here at Bee Central. The buzz around here is that there are better days ahead. Today is pretty darn good.

This week I enjoyed having lunch with my girl friends on Tuesday. On Wednesday my new daytime bunko group convened. Fun connections.

Tuesday I had my annual mammogram. The process has been streamlined so that I was back in my car in 20 minutes. Nice. Three years since "The Scare". Nice.

On Wednesday I saw the P.A. at Orthopedic for post epidural shot follow up. Shots and physical therapy have helped. Considerably. What next? The pain is reduced, but not gone. Looks like, for me, surgery is going to be the best option for my long term health. My choice. The surgeon is booked until after the first of the year. I will wait.

Fall has come in on kitten feet. Back porch sitting has been premium. A single hummingbird has been spotted at the feeder. As opposed to the frenzied swarm that was here last week. I will not refill. Naked ladies have been spotted in the back yard. (Some call them spider lilies.) Pumpkins can be found at every market in town. Tomorrow I am cooking chili.

Today - look someone in the eyes and ask how they are feeling. 

Remember - a soft answer turneth away wrath. 

Be sweet. 

Bodies in motion.

Any kind of effort at organizing a 3 year old birthday party is a bit like herding cats. Do not attempt. 

The birthday girl arrived in royal attire. She greeted her guests and  upon their departure graciously acclaimed, "Thank you for coming to my birthday party!" 

I am three. 

Jackson struck this pose on his own. No one was hurt in the filming of this party. 

Posers. 

The venue was the best. Room for all to run, jump, roll, romp, climb, hide, and have fun, while being noisy. 

Complete with tiara and scepter, the Birthday Princess poses with her father. 

Parting shot. Yes. She picked out her socks and shoes, too. She is 'The Total Package'. Princess from top to bottom. 

I do not think it could have been any more fun for the birthday girl. She exuded birthday love throughout the entire party. 

The Tumblebus Station is THE place to host a 3 year old birthday party. Could not have been better. 

Her Royal Highness and the Queen Mother were duly worn out at day's end. 

Birthday eve.

Tomorrow the International Day of Peace will be celebrated 'round the world. 

And.

We will celebrate the 3rd birthday of our Ambassador of Peace.

Super Carrot's first kiss. 

Her aura is peace. Her mission is love. 

Celebratory photos will be posted at a later date.

Peace out. 

Milestones. One lap at a time.

I love the smell of rain in the morning. Today? It smelled liked progress.
I completed one entire lap in my hood. Hurting. Every. Step. Of. The. Way. And finished = smiling. Not crying.
I can do hard things.
I win.

Bee the adventure.

We took to the road over the weekend. It felt good to leave town for a few days. Change of scenery did the head and heart some good. The body, not so much. We left early Friday and headed for the coast. Doctor recommended frequent stops to stretch the legs and back. And so we did. 

Years ago Out-of-Town-Son lived in Hattiesburg and introduced us to the Plaid Rhino. We like stopping in from time to time. They have changed the menu, but we still got the things we wanted. For Mr. Macho it is a hamburger with a fried egg on it. 

For me it was the shrimp po-boy. 

We stopped at Mom's before checking in to our hotel. It was her birthday weekend and that was part of the reason we were there. She is actually 94 years of age today. Can you imagine? Other than being extremely hearing impaired she plugs along amazingly well. With a little help from her friends. 

The other reason we traveled to the Coast was to see Beach Boy and his family and to attend the Friday night football game of the team he helps coach. We cheered on the Bearcats, unsuccessfully. Not a bad game...there is hope and good things happening for the team. The best thing happening is that they have some terrific coaches in place that are really teaching the boys football and life lessons. Being a part of a team is chock full of good life lessons. Having  good coaches is icing on the cake. 

Our Millie couldn't hang. She and her big sister lasted until right before half time when they got to go home and sack out. 

Saturday morning we attended the inaugural "Pigskin and Pearls" football fund raiser in the high school cafeteria. Well done, coaches' wives! 

For lunch we went to the local eclectic eatery...Darwell's. It is a favorite spot. I love the way the owner greets most all his customers and schmoozes them up. This time he regaled us with his wrestling prowess. 

The art on the walls is the work of the owner's father, who is reputed to be the author of the lyrics to the old Three Dog Night song, "One (is the Loneliest Number)".  It's a good story. I hope it's true. 

After lunch we did a little shopping in The Pass and drove over The Bay bridge. Trees laden with spanish moss stir something deep inside me. My idea of heaven = sitting in a comfortable chair, facing the water, with a cool drink under one of these beauties. 

We got to spend a few more hours visiting with Mom and taking her to Saturday Mass at her Parish church. She can not hear what the priest is saying, but she wouldn't miss it. 

Later we went to watch some football with Beach Boy & Co. Sister Marsha dropped by for a brief visit.

Sunday we had a lazy start. Slept late and took our time checking out. We met Beach Boy and family for a brunch. 

Nice stranger offered to snap our photo. Sweet Pea doesn't particularly like to stand still for the photo op. You can see her yellow dress behind me, and one purple flip-flop clad foot between me and Mr. Macho, if you look close. 

I told her I wanted to show her something. And when she saw us on the phone screen she said, "I know what that is. It's a selfie!" Of course it was. I think her great Aunt Rhonda taught her that! 

The ride home was fine with a nice stop at Out-of-Town-Son's house for a quick visit. It was good to get back to our locale. The sight of cotton ready to pick let us know we were back in our county and almost home. And. I have to say, as much as I looove the adventure, there truly is no place like home. 

***

My back behaved, for the most part, this weekend. This morning is good. I have been to the gym. I feel stronger. 

On to the next thing. 

A quiet week.

My third shot was administered on Tuesday. The first 24 hours were really good. Then, as prescribed in the paperwork, the pain returned. Just like the second shot. Only this time the pain is less. Thank goodness. Ask me again in 10 days. That is how long the docs say it may take for full affect.

This morning I had a quick visit with oldest sister, Stephanie, passing through town. She, her husband, and Sister Paulette were returning from the wedding of a granddaughter in Kentucky. It was a nice porch visit at Sister Paulette's house. Complete with hummingbirds, humidity, and large cups of coffee consumed. Comfortable.

Today I am packing. Going to see the Bearcats play tomorrow night. And wish Mom a happy 94th birthday.
This will be my first road trip since May.
Maybe there is a happy little adventure to be found this weekend.

Be sweet.

The week in review.

Here are a few shots from last weekend...

Sweet Pea and her Nanny last Saturday. She and her parents had driven up for the festivities surrounding her little sister's birthday. 

Sunday. T-bone and his sister, Super Carrot, cheesing for the camera. 

***

The week has brought mixed reviews. I am still taking my meds at bedtime. That produces a period of fairly normal movement sandwiched between morning and afternoon/evening pain. I am thankful for the middle of the sandwich that allows me to get to the gym and do light exercise, get to meetings, do some housework, get the grocery shopping done. All of which felt impossible two months ago. Next shot on Tuesday. The shots have helped. But not in the miraculous way I had hoped.

*****

Our compost heap produced a mystery plant this summer. I sent photos of the plant far and wide and my most reliable consultant (Cajun brother-in-law) seemed to lean in the direction of the squash family. The plant prolifically produced blossoms. That fell off without producing any fruit. For weeks. On Wednesday of this week I went out to add some green bean refuse to the compost when what to my wandering eyes should appear....

...this green thing. 

I quickly snapped and texted the photo to my expert consultant. He proclaimed "Pumpkin!" 

Mr. Macho harshed my 'farmer buzz' and said it would not reach maturity. Boo. There went my Thanksgiving plans for pumpkin pies. The plant did seem to be dying in the late summer drought. Friday I checked and guess what! It is a small variety and is turning orange! Last year I bought several different varieties of pumpkins - large and small. They all landed in the compost. 

I do have a little green on my brown thumb. Just throw it in the compost and leave it alone. That is my gardening strategy. 

Friday I spied this dangerous creature hanging out on my feeder. I will warn you not to google this - but preying mantis kill hummingbirds. They do. 

So I got my little whisk broom and shooed him away. He was persistent and I had to swipe at him three times before he took flight. 

Eeww. Gross. 

*******

Sitting on the screen porch this morning was peaceful. Until the neighbor started hammering and then turned on some power tool. 

Mr. Macho has had to work today. Saturday. I have plans to make it to the gym. For supper tonight I am borrowing Mimi's idea and making unstuffed cabbage. It looks easy. And good. 

I like new stuff. New food. New places. New friends. 

My bible study and garden club resumed this week after a summer break. I have agreed to a new daytime bunko group. 

New things. New challenges. New ideas. New stories. 

New adventures. They may seem small and inconsequential to you. They feel like mountains to me right now. They feel like progress. And healing. 

Today I wish you happy adventures. 

Peace. 

Surviving Labor Day.

The weekend was good. Out of Town Son and his wife arrived middle of the day Saturday, followed closely by Beach Boy and his family. We enjoyed visiting with everyone. We had a good thundershower move through and cool things off slightly. Then Beach Boy & Co. traveled on to DIL's parent's house to spend the night. The rest of us stayed here and enjoyed a delicious steak dinner cooked by Mr. Macho, and an entertaining night of football. Our team(s) won. 

Sunday, the last day of August, brought back the oppressive heat. Daughter and family arrived in time to enjoy some take out fried chicken. Then it was time to make our way to Millie's birthday party. Her first! 

September 3, 2013. Millie came into our lives. Her Mom earned the "Brave Parent of the Year" award when the labor progression went into overdrive and drugs were ineffective. She is a true hero and all around terrific mother!

Our Sweet Millie on the day of her birth.

Daddy love.

Fast forward one year....

The birthday girl. Before she was finished she looked life Smurfette. 

This well known socialite was spotted in attendance. The consummate party animal. 

The Super Carrot. 

All grandparents were in attendance and all enjoyed the celebration. 

***

We enjoyed a lazy start to our Labor Day. I have had good factime visits with family. Mr. Macho has washed his work truck AND cleaned the interior. 

We got the new cable boxes connected to our teevees. You know how fun that is. We survived with only a few bruised feelings. 

I hope your labors have been few and fun today.