Fall Tomatoes

My Fall tomato experiment was useful this year as a learning experience.  We picked a bunch of tomatoes today and had some good fried green tomatoes.  The tomatoes look good but they are not flavorful.  I planted late and the cold weather came early.  So we picked the best ones today and put them in a brown paper bag to ripen. At least this year’s summer tomatoes were a success.  Next year I start earlier for the Fall crop. Here’s what we picked.

There are at least twice as many green ones on the vine but it’s supposed to go down into the 30’s tonight.  I’ve got the plants covered but I’m not planning on more harvest this year.

A Long Weekend I’m Thankful For

Karen just called to say her family has arrived home safely after visiting with us.  It was a nice visit. We did all our usual holiday traditions – turkey and muggin (Penny did a great job this year, but she always does); visit the beach; Harbordocks; shopping; lots of just together time.

We did not do any early morning Black Friday shopping but did get to take advantage of some discounts later in the day at the outlet mall.

Penny made a great breakfast on Thursday and we ate out on Friday (Mother Earth’s)  and Saturday (Waffle House).  Sophie is into spelling words and as we entered Waffle House she spelled it, “W-A-F-F-L-E…”. We haven’t  seen the kids in about 2 months, which is a long gap for us.  Two months ago Sophie was just beginning to write in a legible manner.  Now she can write everything using both capital and small letters and if you write out something she will copy the words almost perfectly. That to me is an incredible advancement.  She is learning rapidly in school.

We went to the beach twice, Thursday evening and Saturday afternoon.  I didn’t get any good pictures on Thursday because Sophie wasn’t in a cooperative mood. On Saturday it was quite windy but not cold and we had a good time.

Proof it was windy – airborne kite surfer

We went to Harborwalk to show Karen how much the area had changed. The wind was uncomfortably strong there so we didn’t stay long.  It was time for Harbordocks  anyway.

Lucy seemed to enjoy Harbordocks the most, pointing out boats and birds and looking at us in the mirrors.  She is in a very cute stage right now and with her small stature and pretty face she can get her way with me very easily.

Poor Tim seems to have come down with a cold here and Sophie had some stomach issues, probably due to all the peppermint candy she ate on Saturday.

I took the girls for a long walk in the school yard.  The balance beams were a big hit there and both girls made “syrup”  out of dirt and pine needles.  We played on one of the old monkey bars in the schoolyard and I explained to Sophie that I played with her Mother on these very bars when she was Sophie's age.  That confused her somewhat.  She doesn’t have a good concept of that many years passing and how things change.  She only has 4 years of experience.

making syrup

The Feagins left and Penny and I settled in for a nice afternoon nap to the drumming of the rain outside.

Week In Review

Last weekend was taken by our marriage prep work.  We had a couple over on Saturday and Pre-Cana on Sunday. We only had to spend an hour with the couple on Saturday.  They were very well-adjusted and seemed to be communicating well.  Penny and I didn’t have our best day at Pre-Cana.  We were both off for whatever reasons.  My hand was hurting so we left  when we completed our responsibilities there.

Monday I had a regular doctor’s appointment.  My weight is again approaching 200 lbs and my blood sugar was a little high.  That’s not good.  I’m paying for the lack of activity due to my thumb surgeries without the lack of eating.  Otherwise I’m doing OK. 

Thursday was cast away day.  I went to Gulf Breeze and had the cast removed from my left hand .  Now I’m wearing a removable splint.  We once again took advantage of the trip to eat lunch at the Hawaiian restaurant we like.

The incision on my left hand looks uglier than the one on my right.  The palm on that hand also had some nasty bruises on it.  So It wasn’t my imagination that this hand has been more painful.  We also went through a different routine at the medical center and ended up spending the whole afternoon there.  It was crowded because the next Thursday is Thanksgiving and we were seeing the pre-holiday rush’

This week also saw Christy’s plant in our front yard in full bloom.

 

The cats only showed up sporadically this week with Slash being the only one out there more than 1 day.  The cat next store has been out there patrolling the area and keeping them away.  There also is a big possum and raccoon visiting the feeder.

My left hand is doing OK.  My right hand is now working nicely.  I can do everything now that used to cause pain without pain.  I thought that my brain would remember how painful certain actions were and make me hesitate.  It doesn’t work like that.  I now pinch open hangers, button buttons  and do all those formerly painful actions without really thinking about it.  The brain just knows that the pain will not be there.  I still have pain in the right hand but it is from the surgery and becoming less and less each week.

Slow Heal

My left thumb surgery has proven more painful than the right hand.  It’s not all that bad just not the same as I remember the other.  Add to that the fact that the right hand still hurts some from the surgery on it and that is aggravated by the additional use it is seeing as the good hand. 

I’m intentionally not doing much.  There isn’t a lot I can do anyway.  So I’m letting my hand heal and napping when my body wants to.  It’s a tough life.  It doesn’t leave much to write about though.

Post Surgery–Left Hand

So far this surgery has gone easier than the last – I think.  The nerve block is still in effect. I’m just beginning to get feeling back in my hand but I still can’t move my fingers or control my forearm.  the old noodle arm is back.  I’m not having any pain yet but I’ve been taking the pain medicine at regular intervals and the pain pump is turned on.

I don’t remember anything about the surgery this time.  I had a different anesthesiologist and I was out before they did the nerve block.  I woke up and the nurse said that I was all done.

I had a cup of ginger ale, got dressed, and was wheeled out to Penny waiting with the car.

Now I’m waiting to see how much pain comes along when the block wears off and the pump runs out of juice.  It’s better this time because my right hand works  with little pain and I can do one handed things easily.  It’s weird though that I still try to use the left hand—it just doesn’t do anything.

Penny is once again doing a great job taking care of me.  She is making sure I don’t do anything I shouldn’t and that’s a good thing.