THE LIGHTER SIDE CAFE FRIDAY DECEMBER 4

Good evening friends!

Yesterday's appt. with the surgeon went well. She was very pleased with the progress of DH's wound and said we could return the wound vac. I called today and it is scheduled for pickup on Monday. After the appt. I went into DSW and tried on the low cut boots I had chosen online. I found one pair that I was pleased with and bought them and 3 pair of socks. I felt quite comfortable with only 3 other customers in the large store with me.

Then, against my better judgement, we met DD2 for lunch at a Greek-Lebanese restaurant. I had suggested getting takeout and going to DD2's to eat, but DH REALLY wanted to eat out. The restaurant was fairly crowded, tables too close together and, I am sure, in violation of the current limit of 50% capacity, though the tables around us did clear out fairly quickly. I have a really bad feeling about this and will be counting 14 days and hoping none of us gets CV during that time. Cases in LA have gone from 300-400 per day to 2500-3500 per day and the Thanksgiving surge is yet to come. My next door neighbor told me today that she has Covid. She is one of our hospice nurses. I picked some fresh satsumas and left them on her doorstep. She and her husband are also caregivers for his grandmother who lives in an apartment connected to their house.

I managed to get the Christmas decorations sorted, with a box to give away and a box for the DD's to share. I put up candy canes outdoors along the sidewalk and decorated the mailbox with greenery and a bow. Inside I decorated the tree and put out various decorations all over inside. The tree won't win any decorating awards, but every ornament has meaning for me. Many were made by people I love--my mom, brother, sister, children and grandchildren and others were bought on vacations in China, Mexico, Italy, Austria, Germany and various places in the US. Some were gifted by dear friends all the way back to my college days. It may not be fashionable, but it suits me just fine and brings good memories.

My mom loved to crochet dolls. She did an angel for me and one called Snowflake which was a brown-haired doll dressed in a blue dress with a cape. Over the years, the doll's hair disintegrated, so she is now bald. I researched craft sites online and ordered a new doll. The only problem is, Mama sewed the dress on her. I think I have found the end of the yarn she used to sew the bodice closed and will try to save it. Other wise, I will either have to match the yarn or use a ribbon or something to close up the back of the dress. I have several other decorations made by a dear friend who died of cancer years ago that need mending in one way or another and will try to get that done. I also have several ornaments that I should be able to fix with a hot glue gun. Anything that was beyond repair got tossed, including a couple of mercury glass ornaments from our childhoods, which nearly broke my heart. We have all the ornaments from DH's family and several from mine.

I haven't walked for exercise in 2 days, which has given my almost-blister a chance to heal, but I haven't been sitting still either, which is good. Tomorrow, Debbie and I are scheduled to walk, plus DGS and I will be cleaning the church, so I should get lots of steps. The tin god smiled on me today and I posted a .6 loss. Breakfast was pecan banana pancake and a slice of bacon, lunch was leftover ribs and potato salad and dinner was baked pork chop, sweet potato and mustard greens.

Judy - Here we would get a .22 pistol and end that coyote, but I'm sure that would be frowned upon at the Cape. I hope D & D and your neighbor's cat stay safe. Even DH enjoys an occasional Hallmark movie, though we laugh at the predictable plots.

Ann - Your Carl is a man among men and treats you like his queen. I am glad he listened to the queen and ordered the hearing aids. I think he will be glad. They are so technologically advanced now that some can be adjusted with a cell phone.

Sue - I am so spoiled living with everything on one level. Having to to upstairs and downstairs constantly would wear me out. My knees are bad and the going down is harder for me than coming up. I'm glad your DH wasn't injured with the mishap. Shattered glass just scatters everywhere, so you were smart to get it all cleaned up for him.

I have been half-watching a movie with DH, Fool's Gold with Matthew McConaughey. Silly, but fun. When it ends, I will get jammified and settle in with my book. I am enjoying it very much. Thanks Ann!