by Judy Handley | Dec 29, 2023 | 2023 Life Logs |
2023 Life Logs, Day 363: Slowly Rolling Along
Date: Friday, December 29, 2023
Weather: Overcast; High 46, Low 41 F
Location: At Home on Lakeview in Falmouth, MA
Only two more days in 2023. I have a few things I want to get done before the end of the year, so little by little I am attacking my list. I checked off the easy ones today. I wanted to send a small package to Marti in Boothbay, so I went to the post office to get that done first. While there, I picked up a Priority flat rate box to send a package to Puerto Rico. I had a few things I have meant to send for quite some time. Rather than put those things away to send another time, I got that done today as well. Between trips to the post office, a trip to Mashpee, fixing lunch and dinner, writing an email to Jo’s parents, and playing fetch with Shadow, that was my day. I wish I had something more exciting to write about, but right now, just making it through the day is exciting for me!
by Judy Handley | Dec 28, 2023 | 2023 Life Logs |
2023 Life Logs, Day 362: Rainy Day
Date: Thursday, December 28, 2023
Weather: Rain All Day; High 50, Low 41 F
Location: At Home on Lakeview in Falmouth, MA
On this rainy morning, I took Shadow out for his morning walk and made it all the way around the block. That is only two tenths of a mile, but it is further than I have walked for a time now. I then made my way to the Falmouth Hospital to get an Xray and an EKG that are necessary for my upcoming back surgery. I had to wait more than an hour for the EKG, so it was after noon when I returned home. I made a huge arugula, beet, and sheep’s milk feta salad for lunch and then succumbed to the overwhelming feeling of sleepiness that I think is caused by the medication I am taking for the nerve pain. Until three days ago, I was taking this medication along with Prednisone and somehow the combination didn’t make me a sleepy head, but without the Prednisone, at about 2 pm in the afternoon, I just can’t keep my eyes open. So today I took a nap and didn’t get up until almost 4 pm. I went out in the rain and played fetch with Shadow, drove over to check on the Goldstone’s kitties and fish, and came home and fixed dinner. That’s it for my day.
by Judy Handley | Dec 27, 2023 | 2023 Life Logs |
2023 Life Logs, Day 361: Adapting
Date: Wednesday, December 27, 2023
Weather: Overcast, Foggy Late PM; High 49, Low 51 F
Location: At Home on Lakeview in Falmouth, MA
It was warmer than usual for this time of year the three days I spent in Boothbay and today it was certainly warmer here than expected for late December. It as in the upper 40’s and a coat was not needed for trips outside with Shadow. There was no sunshine today, just overcast with fog rolling in around 5 pm while Shadow and I were outside playing fetch.
I spent my day rearranging the kitchen, adapting things to be more convenient for me to use. My new microwave, my gift from Justin, Jo, Ziggy, and Coco now sits next to the stove and the new shelf from IKEA is on the counter next to my refrigerator with lots of glass storage containers on the counter under the shelf and on top of the shelf. One adaptation completed; many more to make.
While working in the kitchen, I did a laundry and made vegetable soup. I also went to Heather’s where I met up with Peter and Karen Baranowski once more. I was there to check on the cats and feed them while Karen and Peter carried in the bags of Christmas gifts brought home from Boothbay. Again, thank you for being such good friends.
The way my back and legs feel right now tells me I overdid it a bit today. Time to head to bed with a cold pack.
by Judy Handley | Dec 26, 2023 | 2023 Life Logs |
2023 Life Logs, Day 360: Headed Home to Cape Cod
Date: Tuesday, December 26, 2023
Weather: Foggy; High 44, Low 41 F
Location: At Home on Lakeview in Falmouth, MA
Fog rolled in last night and this morning it was still with us. It was not such a thick fog that you couldn’t see through it, but it didn’t dissipate as the day rolled on. We visited this morning while Heather made waffles in the new waffle maker the family received from Justin, Jo, Ziggy, and Coco. It was quite a hit as it made big, fluffy waffles very quickly. They were served with a hot berry sauce and whipped cream or syrup. Yummy!
And with the last bits, Heather decided to make what could be an Iron Chef entry.
Before leaving, we posed for a family photo, one normal pose and one crazy one.
I then left around 11 am after having my car packed with bags of Christmas presents. Since Heather and gang are headed on to Vermont in the hopes of going skiing, presents needed to be sent home with me. That is, all except for the waffle maker. It is going to Vermont with them. I drove straight through to IKEA in Stoughton, about a four-hour drive. I wanted to find some sort of shelf to put on my kitchen counter so I can store my glass storage containers on and under the shelf. That will keep me from bending down to get them in the cabinet under the counter. I was successful in finding something that I hope will work. I also picked up a few other odds and ends along the way. It was almost 4 pm when I left, so I had a home ETA of 5:15 pm. I contacted the dog sitter to see if he could help me unload the car but found out that he was sick and had Shadow at home with him, not at my house. So, I sent an SOS text to Karen and Peter Baranowski and they said they were headed home as well and would arrive at about the same time as me. So I headed home and as soon as I left IKEA more fog rolled in and stayed with me all the way home. Karen and Peter arrived just after I did and helped me unload. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Then I was off to pick up my Shadow. I have really missed him and was anxious to get him home for a proper snuggle.
Shadow and I headed home, both of us glad to be here I think. As I unpacked and got dinner ready, Shadow had a nap in his bed under the Christmas tree.
And after calling my sister to check in and eating dinner, Shadow and I decided that we will go to bed early tonight. I truly enjoyed my time in Maine, but it sure feels good to be home with my Shadow.
by Judy Handley | Dec 25, 2023 | 2023 Life Logs |
2023 Life Logs, Day 359: Christmas Day in Boothbay
Date: Monday, December 25, 2023
Weather: Overcast; High 45, Low 33 F
Location: At Home in Marti’s Home in Boothbay, Maine
Merry Christmas! Christmas day here in Boothbay was such a wonderful day. There were squeals of delight mixed with oohs and aahs and smiles and hugs showing thanks. We spent almost two hours opening everything in our stockings, taking a break to have some of Heather’s Monkey Bread halfway through.
Then we launched into the huge number of presents under the tree. Sam got money to put toward the purchase of a car and a load of snowboarding gear.
He might be beyond squeals of delight, but he was obviously delighted with his gifts. Jonah got a bathrobe with a hood that he loved so much he didn’t take off all day.
He also got Liverpool soccer shirts, new ear buds, and a load of other things that caused whoops of joy.
Ollie got the thing he has wished for since he was two. He has always wanted a John Deere tractor. He didn’t get that, but he got a promise from Santa that his mom and dad will search for a lawn tractor and hopefully have it by his birthday in March. He just couldn’t believe it at first,
but he was so very excited once it sunk in that it was true. He also got Lego sets that brought forth the squeals.
Heather gave everyone things she brought back from her trip to Dubai. I got a pair of earrings that are just beautiful. And I also got a very special present from Heather and Jed. They took one of Windbird’s old sails into the sail bag shop and I got a red and white bag with an anchor applied.
I will always think of Windbird when I carry the bag. Jed and Toby both got ceramic oyster platters
and Marti loved her matching cook book and dish towel representing Robert McClosky’s children’s book, “Blueberries for Sal”, which takes place in Maine.
It was sometime in the early afternoon before all the presents were opened. Ollie launched into his Lego sets and Sam and Jonah worked on finishing up their soccer projects which they proudly displayed once they were completed.
All of the adults, except for me, pitched in to help Marti get the dinner ready. We thought John, Becky, and a visiting friend were going to join us, but Becky was just not up for two nights out in a row.
Before dinner, I announced I was going to drive downtown to see the Christmas lights so Sam and Jonah joined me, with Sam driving. Downtown was like a Christmas fairy land. Jonah took photos of some of the displays, but it was impossible to capture the overall effect. We especially enjoyed the library lawn and the very Maine lobster and lobster boat.
On the way home, we went to the Boothbay Railway Village and enjoyed their display of sailboats and Santa’s sleigh. Dinner was yet another feast of fantastic food and after dinner we decided to watch a movie, an old favorite which is a satire with different twist, “The Princess Bride.”
I have not been allowed to do anything for three days because of my back nerve pain and it has been fantastic—not the pain, but the not doing anything.. I feel a bit useless, but I’ll get over that. But tomorrow, it is back to reality. I can’t thank Marti enough for inviting me to come have Christmas here in Boothbay. I think the last time I was here for Christmas was in 2007 for Sam’s first Christmas. I’ll have to do a little tour down memory lane to make sure that is correct. But whenever, it has been a very long time. This visit has been wonderful, and I think everyone had a very, very Merry Christmas. I sincerely hope you did as well.
