Friday Thoughts & Things

Time again for Tanya's Willy Nilly Friday Five and Amy's Five on Friday (just hoping I can get on Tanya's link this week!) 

One of the lights on our deck.

1.  First Dr. visit for my 100% disabled veteran husband here in Oregon (Thursday).  He is on a program to see a civilian Dr. because we are so far from the V.A. in Portland.  There is a V.A. clinic in Bend but it doesn't address all issues...still I imagine he will go there some as well.  The new Dr. was great.  I think he is going to get some great care.

2.  Have I told you how NICE everyone is here?  My gosh, such friendly people!  Everywhere you go, people will strike up a conversation, and help you with something if you need it.  Central Oregon is a great place to live!  I imagine Portland is very different...not looking forward terribly to going there, except there are a couple of stores I want to check out.  But, I'm not in any hurry.  :-) 

3.  Went to Bend and ate for the first time at Immersion where our son-in-law Jack is the Executive Chef and our daughter Yvonne is the pastry chef.  Oh my oh my!  Such an incredible meal!!!!  Russell had an incredibly delicious, SO tender and flavorful steak and fries and I had the yummy Rancher's Pie which was melt-in-your mouth rib meat, with perfectly roasted veggies and topped with fluffy mashed potatoes.  For dessert, Russell had Yvonne's perfect apple pie a la mode, and I had the wonderful gingersnap crème broulee....What a meal!  And we had a great time.  It was fun sharing in their new culinary world...and Jack comp'd our meal as a treat.  Can't wait to take friends and family there...come on people, come and visit!!! :-)

http://imbrewing.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Dinner-Menu.pdf

http://imbrewing.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/dessert.pdf

4.  I am still seeing a lot of Google+ when I go to comment on people's blogs and I can't get to blogger to do so...I imagine people are still having some trouble getting to me even though I disabled my Google+.  For the first time I am seriously considering starting a new blog; getting a new email that isn't a gmail, and starting a new one.  I've had this blog for over 9 years!  And I love it's name.  But, sometimes one has to just cut one's losses and move forward....I will give everyone plenty of notice if I do, and also provide a link. 

5.  Have you checked out Mom's Healthy Eating blog?  Here's the link...you will love it!  Great low-cal healthy recipes and some wonderful info and advice.

This Week

There is so much more I could include today, but I will bring you simply that which has overwhelmed my week for Willy Nilly Friday Five, and Five on Friday....

1.  On Tuesday my hubby had an angiogram and it was decided to insert a new stent into his artery within the four smaller stents he has had since his heart attack 17 years ago.  On Thursday (yesterday morning) the stent collapsed and he had to be rushed to the emergency room and have it replaced.  He is still in the hospital and should be coming home tomorrow.  A lot of stress and worry; a lot of prayer as all this was transpiring.  Still worrisome, but we are thanking God for His good grace in getting my hubby some excellent (and fast) medical help!

2.  Our 47th Anniversary is on Sunday, the 29th, as I mentioned last Friday.  I am so grateful we have had so many years together, and am praying for many more!

3.  Our sweet grandson is flying to Oregon in 6 days to join his Mom & Dad there.  We had planned to do a quick camping overnighter some time before he left, but that isn't happening now.  I was looking forward to this special time with him, but it will have to wait till after our move, now.  It's been so wonderful having him here, and we are sure going to miss him!

4.  This Memorial Day will be a quiet one for us.  I would like to do a larger tribute to my Dad and to my hubby right now but I just want to say how much their service (and the service of many other friends and family) mean to me!  I miss my sweet Dad and always think about him at these special times of remembrance.  He was a good and honorable man who served his country and his family well!  May God's blessings rain down on America...we need them!

5.  And finally an actual few photos which I will also share with Today's Flowers.  I looked outside a week ago and my hibiscus had three blooms on it!  I don't think I've ever had more than two at one time.

Five Quick Things

For Willy Nilly Friday Five....

1.  Grandson's last day of school today (Thursday).  He brought all but two of his grades up.  He will be going by plane to join his parents in Oregon in a week & a half.  Gonna miss him something AWFUL!  He has been such a joy!  But I am not going to miss getting up at 6:30 every morning to get him off to school. :-) 

My sweeties when we all went to Disneyland back in 2011!

2.  Spent the biggest part of my Thursday morning on the phone with first one tech and then another trying to figure out why my laptop's camera won't work.  The manufacturer finally sent me a mailing label to send the laptop off to get fixed.  I don't know...maybe I just won't get it fixed.  I want to be able to Skype with the family till we get moved.  But is it worth all this to have my camera working!?   Well, I CAN Skype because I can see who I'm talking TO...they just won't be able to see ME.  After all that aggravation (it literally upset me so bad I was depressed the rest of the day!) I am thinking that will be good enough! :-)

3.  My legs have been bothering me a lot lately.  I have these spells...sometimes it seems to come on with the hotter weather, but that isn't always the case.  Just weak in the legs and with pain in the front joint where my right leg joins my trunk.  Will be back to the Dr. soon....I don't know what good that will do.  They never say it's anything but my chronic fatigue syndrome. 

4.  My husband had a heart ultrasound Thursday also, and will have an angiogram on the 24th.  We are thinking he may have had one or two stents wear out (he's had four stents in his heart for 17 years) or that he might have heart failure.  The news on his ultrasound is that his ejection faction is good, so I am thinking things may strictly be respiratory (he also has COPD) and does not involve his heart....hopeful news!  Just want to find out why he is having such a hard time, and I'll feel better after the angiogram makes a deeper examination.  Prayer is always appreciated.

5.  Our 47th wedding anniversary is on the 29th!  And of course Memorial Day on the 30th.  Proud of my veteran, who has undergone a lot because of his service, from agent orange and PTSD.  Proud that he has always been a patriot and a good man!  He served in the Army and then later as a pilot in the Air Force.  Love him a lot...we were so young (right out of high school) and not long married when he left for Viet Nam...

A Break Is Necessary

Having cataract surgery...will be back as soon as I can be!

God's Colorful World!

Well, had my Dr. appt. this morning and the surgeon said my eye is healing at a better than normal rate!  He was surprised at how well I was doing at less than a week and a half!  I was given the all's clear to drive, and I have already been feeling very comfortable watching TV and even starting to read!  That bubble gets smaller every day and will soon be gone.  I am in a fantastic mood, because I am so grateful to God that I live in a time when modern medicine can correct something like this!  I am so thankful I can see and enjoy God's beautiful world!  Here are some of the glorious gorgeous things in my little corner of God's world!

A red-winged wasp

A lima bean seed sprouting

A squash blossom (and some ants!!!!)

A calf at the Farmer's Market

Nubian goat kids.

Fluffy yellow chicks (oh how I wished they could go home with me!)

While I lay face-down right after surgery my gorgeous plumeria bloomed !(frangipani)  This is a cutting from my Mom's plant which I gave her for Mother's Day about seven years ago.  It originated in Texas at the Festival Institute where I worked for five years and where there is an amazing gardens.

The lizard who lives on my back porch (and is scared to death of me!)

A get-well gift from our pastor and his wife!

It will look lovely next to the two miniature roses our daughter gave us last fall.

Thank you all for your prayers for my speedy recovery...Those prayers were answered.  I am so grateful for all of  you, my blogger friends!  Hope you are all having an incredible week!

Taking a Break For Eye Surgery

I will be off-line for a while.  I have a post already prepared for this coming Friday but I won't be checking or commenting on anyone's blogs for about a week.  I am having surgery Monday morning  (June 18th) to repair a macular hole in my left eye.  If you are interested in knowing more about this condition, please click on this link:  HERE

Basically they will have to drain the fluid out of my eye and replace it with a gas bubble.  The gas bubble will press on the hole for a period of at least three days as long as I keep my head down, and repair the hole.  I will have to sit and lie face-down for at least that period of time and partially longer.  I also cannot be in an airplane for a few months or drive up in the mountains, either.  The pressure could cause the surgery not to work.  I will be awake for the procedure, and it is out-patient surgery, but that doesn't mean it isn't actual surgery.  I am a little apprehensive, and will appreciate your prayers during this time!  That would mean a lot!

I hope you all have a wonderful week!  God bless you and yours!  I look forward to being back online soon and to seeing all the posts you do during my absence!  Gotta keep our eyes healthy!  There's too much beauty in this world and I don't want to miss a single thing!

View Over my Back Fence.......Storm Clouds over the Catalinas