We often take a Sunday drive to a small village called Bethel. there are many fast food establishments going up in Bethel, but there a few unique places, too. The Feed Store and a coffee shop, a breakfast place and of course, our favorite, The Legendairy creamy whip.
Last weekend when we drove out there a sign caught my eye. This was an item I have never in my life seen spelled out. Certainly has never made my shopping list!
DEER ATTRACTANT
Our friend who goes deer hunting likely has a shelf just full of the various products. I had just never seen it on a sign! Somehow, it seems like cheating to me!
This is a month of changes. My husband will undergo knee replacement surgery this month. We are thinking his years of playing catcher in baseball and then doing the breast stroke among others on swim teams for many, many years contributed to the destruction of the cushioning in his knee. He is walking the dog and riding his bike with bone on bone at this point. Two meniscus repairs did not help either! They took measurements through his CT scan to fit the replacement parts with more accuracy than was available in years prior to this event.
We will doing all of his recovery at home. It is somewhat amazing after watching the video in the surgeon’s office that they think this is so advanced and safe that I will be his caregiver! Watching the video we both realized this is no little thing they will be doing to him. They also informed us that he will be up and walking immediately after surgery. Yes, he will need a walker or crutches for stability, but he is expected to walk regularly the day of surgery and thereafter. None of this lollygagging around in bed!
Evidently the surgery has made huge advances in the last 20 years and our particular surgeon is extremely careful. Bob will even be using a nasal antibiotic before the surgery as well as antibacterial body wash, etc.
There is a new pain medication on the market called Journavx. “JOURNAVX is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with moderate-to-severe short-term (acute) pain.” Evidently if works through the peripheral nervous system which is outside your brain and spinal column. This is used instead of opioids. According to our surgeon patients are recovering faster and not having the side effects and addiction risk of opioids. If nothing else, this will be a grand experiment in the effects of as Bob calls it, “Better living through modern chemistry! “
He has nice legs, but not like hers!
We practiced Bob getting in and out of the car with the immobilizer brace on his leg. He has to wear this any time he is up and walking until Physical Therapy releases him from it. They warned us he might have to use the back seat for the ride home. Yep! It was way too difficult for him to maneuver into the front seat. Hopefully that will not become his usual place to ride in the car! He is already unhappy at being told he may not drive for 4 weeks. The surgery is on his right knee. He told one friend he is going to put the number for Uber in his phone. He is not good at just being at home. I figure by the time he gets in and out of the car for physical therapy and doctor appointments, a nap at home might sound good! The heat has been getting both of us down.
Equipped with a leg immobilizer, walker, crutches, cane, a list of medications and printed schedule for taking them, the electric ice machine, leg compression stockings, (oh my I will be busy, won’t I?) we are prayed up and almost ready. Wednesday August 27 at 7 AM is the big day! So many people who have had the same surgery speak of how nice it is to not be in pain anymore. We have been told that the first two weeks are the hardest. I will be rearranging my schedule to accommodate his needs. He had so often been my caregiver. After almost 55 years this is not a burden or unexpected. He is the love of my life and I want him as comfortable and healthy as possible. Of course, I might have to tie him to a chair at times to get him to rest, but then I might also have to chase him around the house with the threat of a fly swatter spanking to keep him moving. Just kidding. I think?!?
There was a saying that after forty you just patch, patch, patch. I think after seventy you just crumble. Thank God we have access to so many kinds of fixes!
The introduction photo is the grandstand at Moler Raceway.
Many years ago our daughter (who is now 50) won tickets to a dirt race track for LOUD cars. That began a family tradition. At first we drove way out to the country for the event. Then a newer track was built closer to home and that became our go to.
They race modified cars on a quarter mile race track. The size varies from little ones (that sound like angry bees to us) to V-8 engines that can threaten you with hearing loss. In fact, my apple watch warned me more than once regrading the noise level. I forgot to take ear plugs and eventually bought some for $1.00.
Several times earlier this summer we planned to attend, but the heat and humidity were just too much for use to endure. We went last Friday night. I packed two zip lock bags of peanuts in the shell. We took our insulated water bottles. The snack bar was actually reasonably price be it a soda, corn dog or chili fires. There were six family members in all. We wanted to finish our snacks before the races as an open plate of pizza would just invite ‘eating dirt.’
The owners always wet down the track prior to the race. However, with cars in sets of 5-10 going around it at 50-85 miles per hour it does not take long for the dirt to fly. I was smart enough to wear a ball cap and old clothing. I did not remember to take a hoodie or a sheet for protection. My bandana was soon soaked from perspiration and after a few laps I wondered it I was smearing mud on my face? There were a couple near crashes and the race was stopped while the track was cleared. No one was injured while we were there.
Here are some photo examples. The great news is that everyone was getting dirty!
Solid gray pack with fine layer of dirt!
Bob and I sat side by side. We were both tidy when we arrived. We do not have freckles on our legs. Get a load of this!
My solid black shorts. Our speckled legs.
Yes, a great time was had by all as we watched the various hot laps and races. The announcer was unintelligible. The family tradition lived on for another year!
While in the line for refreshments I had great fun telling Rowan about one year when he spent the night with us after the races. He is now 14. At the time he was quite a bit younger. When we got home that night I told him he had to take a shower. He balked and put up a fight. When I told him the story he shook more dirt off himself and said, “Gross!” I told him I agreed!
And the first time we took Ellie (now 20) the announcer was able to be understood. He was saying the names of the drivers. Ellie in full playground voice turned around and asked us, “Did he say Weasel Roads?” Indeed he had! If I could have found shirt with that drivers name on it I would have bought it for her in a heartbeat.
If you are there and get bored with the races, you can always people watch. This year they were selling something like 5 aluminum beer bottles in a sack of ice to keep them cold. One little girl had great fun playing with the ice. (I wondered if I could have just bought the ice?) She eventually put some up the leg of her dad’s shorts. The family did not think it was as funny when she tried it on her grandpa!
We left a halftime, our usual departure. Everyone but the retirees had worked that day and some had to work the next morning.
I hope you have some sort of family tradition to keep the joy and mirth flowing through the dog days of summer.
The opening photo is the front flower bed right outside my office window. If you have followed this blog you likely know my fascination with the neighborhood rabbits. I was so relieved to see a baby bunny in the garden a few weeks ago. I did not even get upset that it was nibbling on the plants.
My attitude has changed. The bunny has sheared the leaves of many off the nasturtium plants. None of the ones in the front flower bed, thank Goodness, just out back.
Bunny is center left in photo
There is a music group in Puerto Rico called Bad Bunny. I should be grateful this Bunny does not eat EVERYTHING!
Naughty hungry bunny
Those particular nasturtiums are not likely to ever bloom! I know I am to be sharing with nature. Maybe I should plant twice as many next year?
On either Saturday or Sunday we are likely to take a drive to a nearby town called Bethel. They have an creamy whip, ice cream shop called Legendairy. It is decorated with Bigfoot, the ultimate Legend around here. They do not put a much air in their soft serve as most places. That makes it rich and creamy. This week I tried strawberry layered with vanilla. Chocolate is my favorite.
There is one house we pass where an older lady is often sitting in the driveway or in the shade of the garage, reading and watching the traffic go past her house. We have not seen her in a while, but that could be due to the brutal heat and humidity here.
This past weekend we spotted a truly award winning scene. This is especially for our friends, Dan and Betty Cooksey!
Here is the scene from a distance.
A sidecar is always interesting!
Look closer and it looks almost like a Chris Craft boat! And quite some blonde hair. Can you hear me asking Bob to get closer?
I do believe that sidecar has a dog in it!! I wonder if he wear goggles?
We caught up at the stoplight that thankfully was red!!
I see no goggles on that golden retriever head!!
I believe it was granddad driving, possibly grandgirl riding and favorite canine in the sidecar!
I swear the dog knew to lean around the corner?!? What a fun treasure in plain sight! Keep finding humor all around you. It will lighten the burdens of your soul!
There is a new place near us called David’s. When we first visited there many of their appetizers were half price, including the freshly baked pretzel.
Bob’s phone is next to the tray to give you an idea of the size of this thing!
The pretzel comes with a little cup of Queso cheese and a little cup of ranch dressing. Now they no longer reduce the price on the pretzel. (They were likely losing money on it!) In fact when we returned recently we had decided to make the jumbo pretzel our dinner. We ate much of it, but carried 2/3s of it home.
If you like the warm pretzel from Sam’s Club, (I like it with Parmesan cheese), this one is WAY over the top of that!
My husband and I discovered early on that there thing he likes to eat that I detest. There are things I like to eat that he can eat for one meal, but does not want it repeatedly as leftovers. One of his favorite dishes is seafood pasta. He has learned and perfected his own recipe for that dish.
I was writing the blog entries as I usually do. I could hear him in the kitchen and remembered that he planned to cook his sauce this morning. I went about my prayers and writing. When I decided to take a break after 1-1/2 hours I had forgotten his kitchen work. I opened the office door and the sauce fragrance almost knocked me down! There is something about shrimp, olive oil, garlic and clams simmering in clam juice and wine that I was not prepared for at 10:00 AM! I can imagine Dana and Kathy beating a hasty path to our door upon reading this.
You see, the plan is to have the two of them over for dinner to meet each other and eat this dish Bob makes. I on the other hand will have something I like to eat. Nope, I’ve never tasted his sauce. Those who like that sort of thing say it is delicious. Mom ruined any hope of me ever eating fish with her exaggerations and tall tales. Such as, making salmon cakes for dinner using canned salmon and telling me there were no bones in it. The most brave I became was Mrs. Paul’s fish sticks. Once I left home I discovered that tuna steaks are quite tasty, as long as they are well done. In Ireland I was able to eat salmon, but here I have to make myself. Crab cakes are good. Coconut shrimp is tasty but not really good for me!
I tell Bob when it comes to clams and oysters, “I don’t eat bait!” Just pass me by when serving fish. Taking the photo for you, I was reminded his magic sauce also has butter and bay scallops in it!
I give thanks for this wonderful husband who is not afraid to take on the cooking tasks he enjoys! I just pray I never get dementia so he can tease me and try to get me to eat bait. You wouldn’t, would you, Bob? He is an incurable tease. He just might try it should things ever go that way.
I have posted this twice, but it seems to get stuck in the cloud? First I posted it too soon and took it down. Then I re-posted and Bob could only see it by paging through the posts. So here is my final attempt at rock humor!
Driving to a Convent Meeting was accidentally loaded earlier and was then taken down. Hopefully with a new title this will load a-okay on the day I desired it to go up.
I take a couple of freeways to get to meetings at the Convent of the Transfiguration. One interchange passes a landscape supply center. Passing there a couple weeks ago their sign read: “Changing the world, one stone at a time.”
I was laughing out loud as I merged with traffic. You might remember the song I like entitled “One Less Stone” by Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir? The lyrics say that when I praise Jesus there is one less stone that needs to cry out. This episode occurred on the way to Jerusalem, often called the Triumphal Entry.
Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”40 “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” Luke 19:39-40 NIV
So yes, by praise we are changing the world one stone at a time. I also was reminded of the stone that was supposed to seal the grave of Jesus. The women on the way to the tomb …
they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb? Mark 16:3 NIV
One Gospel says the angel rolled it away, or an earthquake. What if Jesus himself rolled it away? Jesus changed the world with the one stone rolled away, meaning by his resurrection and ascension he changed the world with that one stone. Of course, it might have been the angels. As we know from later accounts Jesus can walk through walls! He can likely walk through huge stones, also.
That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said. 20 As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord! John 20:19-20 NLT
What stone can you change today? You do not need to be a big strong landscaper to change the world! Just praise God each hour. It is a good discipline for each of us to participate in.
Not liking the humidity this summer, we still need to walk this feisty beagle 4 times a day. The only time she will pee in the yard on her own is if she did not go out the night before because of thunder and is desperate in the morning. Then we simply tie her out early as her only option. Maybe we should get hard heart-ed and make this a new practice!
I was complaining to my neighbor about having to walk this dog. Then I began to notice the evening sky. I would have missed these sights had I not taken Lucky outdoors.
“The Lord wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent.”– Psalm 104:2
The snapdragons have kept me entertained as the other plants bloom and wane. This guy was an extremely busy bee!
He is inHe is outExploring for more bountyTake a rest little fellow!!
Year before last I bought a Mallow shrub. It did not survive the winter. Sadly, I could not locate teh receipt to return it for a refund. Last autumn, I bought another mallow and kept the receipt just in case. It survived the winter and is starting to amuse us with saucer-sized flowers. What a strange delight.
Enjoy your summer, whatever the weather where you abide! Keep your eyes open for those treasures in plain sight!!
I have been cooking every time I step outdoors. Twenty minutes of working in the garden and I am soaked as if God decided to baste me!
Did I show you the rose? Last year the deer kept eating the new shrub almost to the ground. I was not even certain it would survive the winter after that abuse. Yet here it was blooming large and glorious! And oh, the fragrance of an old fashioned tea rose.
“I come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses”
This photo was from June 17 and it is a good thing I took a photo, because the next morning it was gone. Deer bit it off. Unbelievable!! None of the subsequent flowers were as large or as fragrant as that first one. So Bob had the idea we protect the shrub with berry netting. I put up the netting and refreshed the bars of Irish Spring soap. They were deterred! Next I noticed Japanese Beetles eating the flowers. I sprayed like crazy and removed any bugs I saw.
A week or 2 later, I noticed there was hole torn in the netting, perhaps by deer teeth?!? Bob and I spent just about 20 minutes the other evening replacing the berry netting around the rose bush.
You can see where the Japanese beetles have eaten leaves. I cut the remaining flowers and brought them indoors. By the time I came in the house every stitch of clothing was soaked. I am not exaggerating!
The same day, earlier in the day, I began cooking. We had visited the Country Market. I went to work making green beans and ham with potatoes. That required more than one boiling pot! My neighbor had commented, “Them’s some good beans!” so of course, I felt compelled to make him some more. Plus the price was down to .99 pound for fresh green beans!
I went on to cook the spaghetti squash. I am a diabetic married to a man who loves spaghetti. Well the sauce isn’t too bad but the carbs in spaghetti are not good for me. Spaghetti squash gives me a nice alternative!
half an empty squash shellspaghetti sauce shreds – enough here for 3 servings
I usually freeze the squash into servings for myself. Having just made fresh pesto sauce I am certain we will be feasting on this soon!
Yes, I have been cooking in more ways than one! Hope you are finding ways to remain cool or at least cool off when you have been basted out of doors!
Treasures in Plain Sight, A Christian Blog 