Passing the time

Maybe I am in a time warp but it has been much easier for me this round to be home bound and inactive. I am enjoying reading, napping, doing little odd projects in my office or cleaning out drawers. I am getting caught up on some magazines which I won because my air miles ran out so they sent me magazines instead. I am trying to read a novel but it is going very slow. I think I am looking for the perfect read which is not fiction yet has some interesting storyline. I have to get hooked on a book to finish it. My friend is sending 'Lacuna' by Barbara Kingslover which is supposed to be really good. I also want to read a book dad has(about food) of course, I think it's called "Eating"??. I read the first chapter at the lake before surgery and it was about a true story of a food writer who, on this night, was hanging out with Mario Battali and they go through many pieces of "Lardo"(fat) and a case of wine. Hard core for sure. Fall brings out the cook in me more so than any other season. It is the slow and low aromas which fill the home and heart with anticipation of what is to come melting in my mouth. It's odd coming from a skinny chick but I have put on some weight. It's comfortable although we will keep an eye on that for sure. With little exercise and movement I do not want to get into poor shape. I even try doing a lot of deep breathing throughout day and night. I have one of those breathing aspirators they give you in the hospital which is good. By end of December I plan to be back into PT full throttle. For now the small steps are good. Manga !!!

Mary M. stopped by yesterday and made some wonderful smelling soup I have not eaten yet. She is such a sweetie. I love to see her smiling face. Quite an inspiration to me as so many of you are. Dale especially right now. Douglas and I went to see her Friday and Douglas took her sweet dog "Annie" for a walk while Dale and I compared battle wounds. As I was leaving the hospital two weeks ago she was entering. All is good now. Us warrior woman have to stick together.

Douglas feels good enough now (he has not been feeling too good-sympathy pains he says) to work in the studio with us having walkie talkies. I am stable enough to move about and even took my first shower ALONE last night!!!! Now that is accomplishment and a service to human kind if you get my gist. Then we ate lamb ragu from a local farmer with smashed tators and collards. We watched Bram Stocker's "Dracula". No Halloweeners. The whole street was dark except the reflection of the almost full moon against the foggy sky. The yellow leaves appeared white as if it had snowed. Stunning really. Now most leaves have fallen and our neighbor is cutting and blowing one of our maple tree's leaves back into our yard. It has been raining so too wet to blow.

Doug and Dad are going to Grandma's Tuesday to replace concrete driveway and repair a crack going into the basement. That means cleaning out the basement too and getting all Popa's tools and "stuff" out. They will take what they can use and donate the rest. Popa was a pack rat. No telling what they will find. Grandma too. She keeps sending me old articles and jokes she cut out of the paper 20-30 years ago.
I think she is still wrapping her head around her loss. She is walking down memory lane and still not leaving the house much. I wish there was more we would do but she has to heal on her own time. All I can do is listen.

Today Doug's also going to harvest the garden. It is going to get cold this week so we will take what is left and freeze or give away what we can not eat. My friend Renee may come tomorrow and pick some too and give me some much needed body work. I hope the carrots, beets,turnips and radishes keep growing under straw. We made the kale pesto and that is the ticket for saving kale. It will last 6-8 weeks in fridge with no cheese, or you can freeze. Great on pasta, as a spread or in soup. Dad and Mary are coming for a late lunch early dinner later today with Bell Diner's famous "Bee Bim Bop". So I better get up and do my exercises. Lots of love...............