Handbell Sunday

 Today was possibly a little intense for my stamina level, but it's all OK.

Handbell choir this morning. The prelude was "Amazing Grace." (Sorry, you can't see the pianist off to the left.)



And the anthem was "You Raise Me Up."



I'll tell you what else I did tomorrow.

See Silent Night

Mid-Winter Garden Report

 You may remember that I brought two plants inside for the winter. Actually it's three. I'll explain.

This is Sedum linare 'Sea Urchin.' It turns very white/pink when outside in the summer and fills spaces very nicely. It's doing OK. I don't think it's a problem that that taller stalks have died back. The new growth looks healthy enough. And I'll be able to put it in three places this year.

The other one I brought in is Sedum mexicanum 'Lemon Coral.' From the sad little puddle I bought for $2 last spring I have 3 nice pots. It's gotten pretty leggy, but I'll give it a haircut when I put it out come spring.

I guess I've never showed you this plant. Probably because it didn't do what I wanted. It's not hardy, but I knew that when I bought it. I thought I'd put in out in a pot each year for interest, because it is a very interesting plant. It's Fishbone Cactus, Cryptocereus anthonyanus.

However, It really doesn't handle any kind of weather very well, and it's mostly just scarred and unhappy. And it gets sort of hidden by the other plants. I'm not sure if I'll put it outside this year.

This is what it should look like. This picture was taken of one at the Flower Show a few years ago.



And now, for the news on my Aloe squarossa. It broke off at the root. Not sure why. Here's what it looked like when it was healthy.



But I planted a bunch of the stalks today, so it should come back just fine.

Anyone who would like to have a couple of stalks, let me know. You can have them now and sprout your own, or I can plant some in cups for you to get later.

I worked on stuff all day long. Nothing heavy, but I did 3 hours of screen time, some other things, and I didn't have to take any naps.

Five ibuprofen a day- can't seem to cut down to four, and I'm still sleeping with an ice pack on my face, but the bones in my face aren't nearly as sore.

See October Rock Garden 2024

Mile and a Half!

 Today I did screen time in the morning, then a couple of errands, and... ta da! I walked 1.6 miles with Cathy.

We went to Cartier Park in Ludington because it's the right length and I knew the paved trail would be plowed.

We actually did 1.6 miles.

The best thing about that trail is going along Lincoln Lake. Well... what can I say? It looks wintery.

Haven't done a selfie of us hiking in a while. Yes, my eyes are still a little sensitive, so sunglasses it is.

When I got home I worked a little more on the project I need to finish, and spent some time on my jigsaw puzzle. You need to know that this is truly an amazing amount of activity today. I was on my feet a whole lot, and I'm not exhausted. Although I do need to go rest my eyes pretty soon. But I lasted an hour longer with the eyes than yesterday.

I'm working hard at rebuilding my stamina.

See A New Pose

Another Almost

 I'm pretty sure I've never told you how Om and I got engaged. It's a story full of "almosts." It was 1968. It was almost Valentine's Day (Feb 13). The moon was almost full (the next night). He almost had a ring (we were having a composite made with stones from each of our mothers. Incidentally, I hardly ever wore it because it has two pearls and they are just too soft for the lifestyle my hands have always been involved in). He drove me to the local junkyard (yes, indeed), in his almost car (a British Ford of some kind that quite an adventure) where we parked and I officially said yes. At least that part wasn't an almost.

The next day I came down with the flu and spent most of a week in the college infirmary.

That was 57 years ago. We've always celebrated Feb 13 more than our actual anniversary which is in August. Mostly because for most of our life together our summers have been so busy it wasn't even funny.

I wanted to show you a picture of some special Valentine cookies I made for the occasion long ago. But, sigh... I can't find it. It's got to be just staring me in the face in the photo albums, but I'm not seeing it. So I did scan a picture you've never seen of us before. This is 1981, near our 13th Anniversary.

I keep recycling this one. But I don't think there is a picture of us taken together between February and August 1968.



And this is a couple of years ago, but pretty much the current condition.



Think we'll make three more?

See Almost Full

Almost Full

 The moon wasn't full last night, but almost. Also, there were no clouds. Tonight, all is gray and snowy. So I bring you the almost full moon.

And, I decided to pretend I wasn't still recovering today. Don't worry, I didn't get nuts, but I tried to keep up a continual series of short bits of work and computer time and short rests.

I am tired, but it was pretty successful. However, now my eyes are overworked, so I guess I'll go lie down with an audiobook. Of course, almost all the things I'm really behind on require at least eyes, and 90% of those need screen time.

See Night and Day