TGIF!! I hope everyone in or near the path of Hurricane Helene is well and safe. Now let’s get into sharing five random things about our week. Here’s mine:

1. It seems crazy to me how fast September came and is leaving. Folks on my street have their Halloween stuff out!  Speaking of Halloween, one house keeps adding new stuff to their decorations, and it makes me smile as I go by on my morning walk with Maggie. I need to get my Halloween stuff out.
2. I have not seen my new granddaughter (yet, anyway) this week. Her mom is working on get a routine and knows I’m here if she needs me. It’s been good for me to focus on a bit of catch-up stuff in my life.
3. I had lunch with my former looong-time hairdresser and friend. It was so good to see her! I began going to her when I was pregnant with my first or second child and through her two children, and stayed with her until a couple years ago when she severely broke her let. Now we’re both grandmas! It’s a joy to see her, and I’m doing a little better about seeing friends.
4. Today we’re getting our first estimate on the front yard. Wizard and I drew up about six different plans before his brother (the one who passed nearly a year ago) got so sick and we put everything on hold. Anyhow, we pulled those out, and figured out a good idea of what we want and that we think will fit in our budget. And guess what — it was my design we picked!!   But of course, Wizard adjusted all the technical stuff, then we both fleshed it out so really, it’s a combo of both our ideas. But I’m still surprised the that we chose one of the sketches that Wizard nagged me into doing
5. Sunday we are going out to see Turbo’s baseball game. It’ll be fun and so nice to spend some time with Turbo and his parents.

That’s my five, now it’s your turn!! I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend! And if you’re dealing with the hurricane and aftermath, you’re in my prayers.

TGIF!! Let’s get right to sharing five random things about our week. Here’s mine:

1. The weeks are a blur this year. Seriously, both Wizard and I are trying to keep up lately! We’ve been trying to get to landscaping the front year without success. All that said, I have been feeling better this week with a bit more energy — however I tend to overspend that energy because I am not wise, LOL.
2. We are keeping Amazon busy this week by ordering randomly weird stuff. My two biggest thrill was a counter top organizer for my sponges, soaps etc., and a bread sling (from moving sourdough in and out of the Dutch oven. I didn’t even know I needed a bread sling until I learned I did — on YouTube Where I learn most of the important and live-changing things these days.
3. We hit Costco yesterday for our every month or two stock up, and we also hit the highest amount spent in one shopping. We were out of a lot of stuff! It was all boring stuff too, except we did pick up some wine.
4. This morning we’re going to the endocrinologist doctor for my followup. We are very glad to get this appointment, BUT…we have to be there at 8:20 and which means we’ll need to leave by 6:20 am because California traffic is just that miserable. That’s inconvenient but not too big a deal. What stresses me out is making sure Maggie gets a walk first — in the early morning dark and striving to not getting attacked by a coyote or any other creature who has been displaced by the fire. Seriously I have a path planned that should keep us safe, but Maggie really needs a walk because we’ll be gone a good portion of the day…
5. …Because after the appointment, we plan to go see our Granddaughter and her mom!!  That we’re excited about! There will some jostling and possible elbow jabs as we, um, negotiate who gets to hold her when and for how long    Then in the evening we’re going to dinner with Youngest and his wife to celebrate her birthday. We’re late celebrating because I had surgery and then she was gone on a vacation and then both our houses almost burned down…so yeah, late. Also our houses didn’t actually almost burn down, but the threat was very real (any time one can see the flames from their house, the threat is heart-poundingly real!).

And that’s my week, now I’d love to hear yours!!! I hope everyone has a terrific weekend!

TGIF! Time to jump right into sharing five random things about our week. Here’s mine:

1. It’s brutal hot. It was 111 degrees and humid here yesterday. Today is supposed to be the same and last through the weekend. Thankfully we have A/C and I’m grateful for that.
2. No baby yet as I write this about 8pm on Friday. My daughter-in-law saw her doctor and they tried to nudge things along. First babies are stubborn! But all that really matters is that everyone is healthy and when baby girl arrives — mom and baby are in good shape. Well, dad too, but you know what I mean
3. Today (Thursday) totally got away from me and became exhausting. I had my day planned to manage all the tasks I hoped to do while still recovering — but the heat, Maggie having another episode of bladder accidents for a few hours (these episode come and go in serious weirdness but her vet is trying to help her), and a dead car battery ended up crowding the day and making us both tired. Probably I shouldn’t have tried making sourdough just yet…but…well…I did So I shall take a bit of blame. I wasn’t lifting anything heavy though!
4. In an upside to yesterday, I ran over to Youngest’s house to pick up an extra watermelon they had, and to go over instructions to pop in a couple times over the weekend to play with my grand dog and give the dog sitter a break. (She’s way more than a dog sitter, she’s a family friend, but dog sitter describes the situation. And yet I feel bad calling her a dog sitter and I had to add a parenthetical to point that out….maybe I’m really tired!) This quick visit on my part should have taken five minutes but Youngest and I got to talking and we lost an hour and a half! As I was driving home, Wizard called and said, “Did you lose track of time?” Um…yeah? But it was a great break to a long day! Also Wizard finds me losing track of time hilarious because it’s so rare.
5. Today is my follow up with my surgeon. I hope she has the biopsy results to give us the best information. But we have had no reason to expect anything other than good news. As for the rest of the day and the weekend — it’s baby watch and checking in on my grand dog when needed. And resting a bit more than I have this last day or two

That’s my five, now I’d love to hear yours! I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend filled with all the things that bring you joy!

TGIF!! And it’s a long weekend since Labor Day is Monday and many will get the day off work in the states. Let’s get right into sharing five random things about our week. Here’s mine.

1. As I’m writing this early afternoon yesterday — no baby yet! I talked to my DIL on the phone, she’s doing fine. They’re just waiting with no idea when baby girl will arrive. Could be anytime or another week or 10 days. Babies arrive when they are ready
2. I have a surprise doctor appointment with my primary doctor today. When I tell you all my surgeon and the entire staff are efficient, I’m not kidding. I got an email two days ago informing me of this appointment with my primary doctor. I think it’s so he can refer me to an endocrinologist (they specialize in endocrine system, and will help balance my hormones now that I don’t have a thyroid). Plus I know my regular doc and surgeon talked by phone about me because my surgeon told me that before the surgery. I’m just stunned in a good way at the level of care I’ve been getting after lack of care from a previous provider.
3. I’m bored, eating, restless and crabby. So, yep, recovery is going as it should Wednesday was a bright spot as my youngest daughter in law’s mom brought Wizard and I lunch. That was so nice!! We loved and appreciated the food (plus a plant and a bottle of wine for when I’m better!), and for me, it was more just seeing her that helped break up the days for me.
4. I took Maggie for a walk yesterday morning — it’s on my approved list of things I can do as long as I don’t pick Maggie up. I’ve been doing well walking a little farther each day. But yesterday there was a dog loose. I was not up to tangling with a big dog, and headed back into my track. Normally I’d have tried to do something, but yesterday was not that day. I don’t even know how many layers of stitches are in my throat, and I didn’t want to find out the hard way
5. I imagine we’ll be sticking close to home this weekend. But then again, maybe our new granddaughter will arrive. Who knows what surprises the long weekend will bring!

I don’t have much this week But I’d love to year your five!!! I hope everyone has a great weekend!

GRRR! I accidentally set this for August 6 rather than August 16th. Dumb Witch Moment! Anyhow here’s the blog on the correct date:

TGIF!! Let’s dive right into sharing five things about our week:

1. I made a lot of cookies this week. We took some last night to youngest and his wife (different kind of cookie for each).  We also went to see the progress of the work they are doing in the backyard. It’s a long term weekend project of building stacked stone walls and a lot more.  It going to look stunning when they’re done!
2. Yesterday I worked on sourdough bread and sourdough pizza dough. I made a misstep in the bread-making process which was annoying. Hopefully it’ll come out anyway. The missteps was the usual reason — me trying to do too much in too short of time. Even with excuses, though, it’s still my fault!
3. Maggie sort of mentioned this, but assuming nothing goes wrong, I’m having surgery on Wednesday. It will be 60 miles away in a brand new medical center that just opened one month ago. So we took a test drive out there to make sure we could find it — we did with no problems. Inside, it was pretty, clean and calm, the receptionist very helpful, and they have easy parking in a structure right next to the building. I’m happy as that’s less walking for Wizard than it would be at a big hospital. This building specializes in treatments, procedures and surgeries related to my diagnosis, so not a typical hospital. We have to be there at 5 am On the upside, we’ll be ahead of the morning traffic. And yes, Maggie is going to boarding for three nights just to make it easier for Wizard, and less stressful for Maggie.
4. Yesterday I went out first thing in the morning to do some weeding and trimming in the planters, and I didn’t take my phone. I missed a call with my Insurance Middle Man Company  that does all the authorizations. I realized it when I went in the house to grab my water, and that sparked an hour and a half of phone calls. Wizard knew I had to make those calls ASAP and finished up the gardening work. The whole point of me doing it was to make it easier on him. Even so, the two of us got a lot done and he didn’t mind. Also — the missed call was just to tell me the surgery had been approved. Why the first person I talked to when I called back couldn’t tell me that — I don’t know — she couldn’t even find my file, which makes me wonder if she was working on an etch-a-sketched or a computer linked to the company network? So many questions…but it doesn’t matter now, I’m approved.
5. Today I think I’m going to lunch with my sister and probably having chocolate cake! Of course, the plans can change if something comes up for her and that’s fine too. The weekend will mostly be getting what I can done before the surgery.

That’s my five, let’s hear yours! I have everyone has a fun weekend!

TGIF!! I know were only 9 days into August and it still feels like it’s going fast to me Okay let’s dive into sharing five random things about our week. Here’s mine:

1. I made gluten and dairy free shortbread cookies yesterday and they taste like they are dairy and gluten free   I will either drizzle them in lemon icing or  maybe make them into cookie sandwiches using dairy-free cheesecake frosting. That will elevated them a bit, but I still wouldn’t recommend them. A cookie like shortbread depends on the quality of the butter and the gluten in the flower to get the right flavor profile and bite. I didn’t think this version would be comparable, but I guess I had to prove my hypothesis I do think it’d be better if I made the cookie a chocolate flavor with cappuccino flavored icing Those flavors would cover for the lower quality (in baking terms) butter and flour.
2. Also I’ve been craving chocolate cake from Cheesecake Factory for a week now. I rarely have cravings this vivid and specific.
3. Lizard Slayer is alive and well. Yesterday morning I went over to the area of the planter Maggie was hanging out in and saw an unattached still-moving lizard tail. Eww. Then later, Wizard found the rest of the lizard — not moving. My sweet and charming dog is a serial killer. Probably, one day they’ll be a movie about her. All the neighbors will say, “But Maggie was the sweetest girl! I can’t image her being a serial killer.”
4. Today is my UCI appointment. We’ll see how it goes. I was surprised to get a text that they require masks….then I remembered this particular facility has very sick patients who are often severely immunocompromised from the meds they are on to treat their disease. I’ll cheerfully wear a mask.
5. We were going to see Turbo tomorrow, but he’s had a virus. He starts first grade Monday, so I want him to rest and get well. We will likely go the following weekend then I can hear all about his first week of school. As for my weekend, well now I can do some cleaning I’ve been ignoring all week — yay me!!!

Yep that’s my boring five, I bet yours are much more interesting!!! I hope everyone has a great weekend!

TGIF! Who let August in??? If feels too soon Okay let’s dive into sharing five random things about our week.

1. My daughter in law took a picture of Wizard and me last week, and I look like a big puffy older woman. And I thought that shirt I was wearing looked okay, but nope. I’m a little traumatized, LOL. Also I’m not stressing about weight gain or loss until after I get “fixed” then I’ll figure out the path to feeling my best weight wise. But still, pictures of me are now banned to protect my mental health
2. On the other hand, my grandson, Turbo, has style!
3. My hand is healing so well now. I was able to do a bit of yoga yesterday with no real pain, and it just ached a bit at the end of the deal. A huge improvement! Plus the swelling is gone (or mostly gone). I’ll admit (now)  that when I slammed my hand into the drawer pull on Sunday, I wasn’t sure if I broke a bone or not. The hand/wrist bones don’t have much padding to protect them. I leaned toward not haven’t broken anything, but still, I’m relieved.
4. Tonight we’re going to dinner with Youngest and his wife for my birthday. It’s a not a big deal birthday this year. Too many other things going on, and I’m fine with that.
5. Tomorrow is the baby shower! My daughter in law’s mom has done a huge chunk of the work, but I’ve enjoyed helping where I can. Please cross your fingers that we pull this off — all arranged by phone, text and email since we live about 180 miles apart We both want my daughter in law to have a lovely shower celebrating this much-wanted child, and we sincerely hope the guests have a good time too!

That’s my five, now I’d really love to hear yours! I hope everyone has a delightful weekend!