A Nearly Normal Day at the Chapman's!

Once again I woke up first and took my coffee outside to the kitchen deck where I could hear the birds and the sounds of the fountains. You begin to feel like an invalid when you stay in the house for days on end. It was a week ago today that I had my toe surgery and I have only ventured outside a few times during this entire week.

I loved the quiet time writing thank you cards and browsing through my Kitchen Junk book.

I love that my coffee cup  is the same color as the cards.

Silicone coated light bulbs was my craft for the day so I brought that out with me.

Just when I thought it couldn't get any better - it did!

I had gone back in to pour a second cup of coffee and saw that the mail had arrived!

Summer sent me this Tea Time magazine and I sat right down to read it.

I have several old old issues from long years ago that I still read from time to time.

Now I have a brand new Autumn issue!!

Before the sun totally invaded the deck I got to work on my little light bulbs.

I just squirt the silicone out into a small paper cup and then stick a bulb down in there and twist and turn as I bring it up - kind of like a reverse ice cream cone machine.

One tube did about 18 bulbs. Louis Dean said he would go out tomorrow and get me a few more tubes. Just make sure it isn't flammable. I have been making these for over 25 years and I love them!

They make the little bulbs look more like candle lights..

I have these all over the house!

I simply slightly unscrew them at night and then screw them back on in the morning.

It is part of my daily rituals......turning on my Thousand Points of Light.

This one is above the kitchen sink......

and in the dining room.

Some of the lights are the inexpensive kind you find at Christmas and others are the nicer ones with metal at the bottom. No matter which you use - they all shine just as pretty!

Doing a project was part of what made this seem like a normal day. That and not being in bed as much.

Even Louis Dean dressed and put on his shoes and socks and mended a chair.

It was good to see him doing something.

Yesterday he played some music. Not a lot and not for long but it was nice to hear.

For the first time in over a week, I prepared dinner.

We ate at the kitchen table........first, a simple salad.

Then baked potatoes, smoked sausage, candied carrots and garlic toast along with glasses of iced tea.

The only thing NOT normal about this meal was that I served it at 5:15!!

Yes, the hours ticked by slowly again today. At 3:00 I looked up at  the clock and marveled!

Now it's 8:45 and I am so ready for bed.

Louis Dean is watching football - which is a welcome change from the news!

I may join him for a few minutes before turning in.

Slowly but surely we are returning to our 'normal' life.

I'll have to tell you about my love affair with the word 'normal' sometime.