2025 Project 365 – Week Two

After several years of nary a flake, we actually got snow in our neck of the woods. Not as much as our northern & western neighbors got, but around four inches. Some of us may have lost our heads, as often happens when there’s a snow event. Dr. M and I, of course, remained calm, cool, and collected. (No really I didn’t wig out or anything!)

Sunday, January 5th       

Today’s sermon made me think of this poem about the underground railroad and the moody sky just seemed to echo it. 

I pulled my hair up to do some housework & thought this was as good a time as any to take a photo of my new penguin toppers. 

Monday, January 6th 

Dr. M says, “Now I’m not suggesting that an angel of the Lord restocked these Toaster Scrambles at the Neighborhood Walmart, or that the Almighty gives preferential treatment to capitalism, but sometimes it feels like a miracle when I find these. I’m sure some probably underpaid and overworked employee(s) did the stocking. But in just doing their jobs, people all along the supply chain made it possible for me to secure Pop’s go to breakfast food for another couple of weeks. Folks, the song that has been playing in my jukebox of a brain is one we sang way back: glory be to God on high, set to the tune of Michael rowed the boat ashore. Hallelujah.”

Tuesday, January 7th

Back to wearing compression socks (and really shouldn’t have stopped wearing them to work) and man I had forgotten what a workout they are to get on!

Wednesday, January 8th  

This used to be a hat (it was too small). 

Thursday, January 9th   

It was 20 degrees when I left for work, but I still felt Daisytastic!

Meanwhile, Dr. M was demonstrating the uses for chain mail on cast iron.

Friday, January 10th      

I finished the hat! It has an opening for a ponytail. 

And we got snow! Dr. M’s dad was like a little kid standing at the door watching it come down.

My view on my (very slow) drive home from work.

Saturday, January 11th      

Birbs in the snow.

We went to lunch with Dr. M’s aunt and cousins. It was a lovely day but this is the only photo I took - of our road as we were heading their way.

I had a rough week in the self esteem department (work stuff), but my physical pain mostly abated, landing in one knee and my shoulder. But my rough week is nothing compared to the devastation in California. I count myself fortunate that my physical needs are so well cared for that I have the bandwidth to worry about self esteem. How was your week?

2024 Project 365 – Week Fifty-two/2025 Week One

I haven’t felt well this week (again, boo!) and my head is in a weird space (I first typed “spack” & that tells you all you need to know about that. Also, don’t google the meaning of spack because it is VERY RUDE). And also the dryer just dinged & now I have to get up to see if the sheets are actually dry. So it’s just a lot, you know? Back in a sec…

Sunday, December 29th       

The juxtaposition of these two gifts from my longtime friends made me laugh. The angel was commissioned by Kim and she looks like me! And Jenny got me the perfect crochet bag. My friend Sherri also gave me a lovely angel ornament.

Monday, December 30th 

We had high winds and some rain on Sunday, but Monday night was lovely.

Tuesday, December 31st 

Dr. M says: 

They seek him here,

They seek him there,

The other cats

Seek him everywhere!

Is he from heaven?

Or mostly scat?

That damned elusive

Smoky Kat.

(With apologies to that Scarlet Pimpernel movie from yonks ago.)

Wednesday, January 1st   

My nephew Brad and his better half are enabling Dr. M’s cast iron & sheep addictions. Ha!

Dr. M., back to his old moon chasing habit.

Thursday, January 2nd    

Crocheting at work. I was checking out this hat band that I had just seamed together & I had a situation. I don't think the recipient's head is infinity scarf shaped. Oops. Frogging it is!

Friday, January 3rd      

Had one of those female appointments that is such a joy. No issues in that arena though!

That evening Dr. M made beef broccoli stir fry from scratch. It was delicious!

Saturday, January 4th      

It was Greyson’s 4th birthday party & his favorite gift in the moment was an Amazon delivery truck - complete with packages! It was a hoot. And Elliott was his adorable self as usual. 

My sister-in-law showed me the proofs for the books she’d ordered for the boys, using their faces and names. So adorable!

Laundry is continuing. I’m still unwell. Dr. M is still feeding me. May that last one continue through this year. I’ll tolerate the first one (I like doing laundry). I’m ready to kick the middle one to the curb. Does this mean I’m going to move my March doctor’s appointment up sooner? Odds are slim. Am I stubborn? What makes you think that? ANYWAY, how has your new year started?

2024 Project 365 – Week Fifty-one

Thanks for your lovely comments on the Christmas poem (our 33rd!). I struggled this year, which has frankly been true for a number of years. But the good news is that it’s Dr. M’s turn next year. Woo hoo! 

Sunday, December 22nd       

Feeling just a smidge overwhelmed. Yikes!

Monday, December 23rd 

I was repping my Carolina Hurricanes at work today! At least I got to leave early to go get my 2nd (and last) iron infusion. 

Tuesday, December 24th 

What I threatened to wear to our family Christmas Eve Brunch at Cracker Barrel, and what I actually wore. I posted the jammies on the interwebs and all God’s people said, “DO IT.” But it turns out that Chilly Willy was too chilly so I wore a more traditional outfit. 

I was dismayed to find out that I am (as I long suspected) an eg-no-ra-moose.

I didn’t get any other photos of family, but here are my brother & Dr. M wearing the shades Dr. M got him, and me with my favorite gift of the year (next to the one my friend Jenny gave me - a little pouch that says “I crochet so I don’t choke people - save a life, send yarn.”).

Wednesday, December 25th  

As usual we spent Christmas lunch with Dr. M’s dad. It was a lovely time - and two of his friends stopped by while we were there.

Thursday, December 26th    

Boxing Day!

Ellen Abbott had sent me some snowflakes that her sister Pam crocheted. I was internet friends with Pam too so I was very appreciative. I used three of them as gifts for my friends, and made a garland with the rest. I enjoyed crocheting the little baubles - maybe I have my crojo back!

Friday, December 27th      

Went back to work today. It was Hair Wash day which is a Trial and a Tribulation. I was checking to see if the little bun looked ok. 

Meanwhile, Dr. M was solving a mystery with his Pop: New pants, new shirt, same memory struggles. This afternoon, he told me that some people had visited him earlier and brought him something, but at some point Pop had forgotten what they brought him and now he couldn’t find it. I couldn’t see anything new around the house, but I could tell he was upset with himself, feeling like he had messed up. Finally he remembered that it had been his former coworker who had visited, along with his wife. I asked if they had delivered his meal, which they do once or twice a month, and he practically shouted “that’s what they gave me…my meal! After they left, I ate it. That’s why I couldn’t find it.” He was relieved that he had solved the mystery. So it goes.

Saturday, December 28th      

It was our annual gathering! We think we’ve been doing this for 40 years which frankly does not compute. 

Can I just complain a minute about all the people who are posting about the “liminal” time between Christmas and New Year’s? The Lost Days? The advice to not try to do anything very strenuous? Because Sister has to work every day next week except for New Year’s Day, and while it should be a bit quiet, I still have new hire orientation and data entry to do. Liminal my (slowly diminishing) butt. What would you like to complain about?

Merry Christmas!

 

Housecleaning

I’m supposed to be cleaning my house.

Those shelves won’t dust themselves! 

And I’m kind of afraid to look in the crisper drawer. 

Is this what the Kindom of God is like?

Rooms full of who knows what

that has been accumulating for

who knows how long?

Is this the world that Sweet Baby Jesus

was born to save? Dust. Something

growing in the corner. A woman

writing what purports to be a Christmas poem.

You do know that God loves all the corners, right?

Under the rug. Under the bed. Under the bath mat.

If you lift the corner you can see Sweet Baby Jesus

handing soup to a child sitting in the rubble. 

Go ahead. Lift the corner.

Have some soup.

Dana and Mike Rhyne

Christmas 2024

2024 Project 365 – Week Fifty

 A couple of days have extra photos and I’m not even going to apologize. 

Sunday, December 15th       

It was our anniversary! One of our ministers, my Uncle Frank, passed away last week and it sent me down memory lane. So please indulge me with some a lot of new photos that I don’t think I’ve shared on my blog before (note, yes, I was a scrap booker & was ruthless with the scissors). 

Monday, December 16th 

I had an iron infusion today. There was a basket of crochet caps in the lobby - maybe I should contribute some to it.

I had done a bit of googling before the infusion:

Meanwhile, this is the extent of our holiday decorating this year. It’s a bit of a silly house.

Tuesday, December 17th 

On Sunday I had the bright idea to make a hat for our Dirty Santa at work on Thursday. Here I am doing a fit check.

Wednesday, December 18th  

Today I felt SO MUCH BETTER!!! Most of my random pain was gone, and I had a lot more energy. Maybe the low iron really was the cause of most of my pain. This picture has nothing to do with that, but it’s noteworthy because Dr. M texted it to me while I was driving and when I asked my car to read the text to me it said, “photo of a gray cat on a trashcan” & that blew my mind.

Finished the hat. When I went to take a photo I didn’t remember that I was on selfie mode so I was shocked to see my face. Ha!

Thursday, December 19th    

No photo.

Friday, December 20th      

Dr. M got me flowers! He used the vase that my cousin the potter made. Made me smile.  

Saturday, December 21st      

Random Saturday good things: the orange lily from my bouquet opened up, and Dr. M saw nekkid sheep on his way home from his dad’s. 

Christmas is next week! How did that happen so fast? I think I’m mostly ready - I have to wrap some presents, but that’s it. I do have to work on Monday and Friday, but I have three days off to spend galavanting around and eating with family. I also have another iron infusion on Monday. I’ll probably be insufferable after that. Something for all of us to look forward to!

2024 Project 365 – Week Forty-nine

It’s our anniversary! I stayed home from church today because we decided to work on our Christmas cards as our anniversary activity. 

Sunday, December 8th       

If you recall, last week I felt terrible on Saturday, but Sunday morning I was back to my usual self. 

Monday, December 9th 

I was completing an online questionnaire for physical therapy (for my shoulder) & was impressed at how “woke” they are. And then I went to my appointment and the person who worked with me starting talking about how terrible vaccines are. You win some, you lose some. (To be fair, my doctor was also concerned that I got both my flu and COVID vaccines at the same time & she thinks my greatly increased muscle/joint pain might be due to that.)

Tuesday, December 10th 

It was a rainy evening in Plateau. 

Wednesday, December 11th  

I have been STRUGGLING with my pants. I know I should just get rid of these and get some that fit, but for now I’m using one of these to at least keep them from dragging on the floor. 

Thursday, December 12th    

Dr.  M says that it’s Daisy’s fault that he eats so many fries - she has a built in frenchfry holder!

Meanwhile we had our service awards luncheon at work. I hit my 5 year mark in April, but we just do these once per year. The Nothing Bundt Cake bundtlet was delicious!

Friday, December 13th      

No photo. 

Saturday, December 14th     

It was my friend Jenny’s annual ornament swap at her church. I had a nice time! Also, I continue to be very short. It's a mystery to me.

I’m having an iron infusion tomorrow which I fully expect to solve all of my problems. I’ll suddenly be pain free, my leg swelling will disappear, I’ll sleep through the night, and I’ll be able to solve work conundrums with ease. If that’s not how it works I do NOT want to hear about it. Ha! What do you have going on this week?