A Slower Pace.....

My days are usually full to overflowing and the weeks whip past so fast I can barely keep up.

Not so lately. Life has slowed down to a crawl. Instead of looking up at the clock and thinking 'Is it ALREADY that late??' I am now glancing at it off and on all day and thinking 'Is it ONLY whatever time it is?' It's been a long slow week since my surgery and I have been getting lots and lots of rest.

There's just something comforting about a bowl of tomato soup!

Louis Dean made a late lunch for us today and we sat at the kitchen table to eat it!

Louis Dean normally likes to eat in the den sitting in his recliner and more often than not - watching TV! Having that on all the time has nearly driven me crazy - which I know! It's a short trip!

But seriously!! News, news, news, news, NEWS!!! The thing about that is - there IS no real 'news!'

It's all old and endlessly repetitive.

SO! We ate in the kitchen with no noise other than Neil Diamond singing softly in the background.

It was nice and I think we shall be doing more meals sitting at a table.

Deanie and Lonnie came over to check on me the other day.

They were worried about me since I have kept such a low profile lately.

We laughed and talked and had a good time even though Louis Dean and I were coughing our heads off and you KNOW what a germaphobic Deanie is!!! It is a testament of her love that she came to see us! I am positive she went home and took a shower and put all her clothes in the washing machine!

This has been my view lately.

I have spent days and days in bed and it's not been a bad thing.

I have read, played Scrabble and Words With Friends, prayed, napped and often simply lain in bed doing nothing at all other than think. And remember. And plan.

All good things to do and all require time which I have been gifted with this week.

Most mornings, actually EVERY morning this week, I wake before Louis Dean.

He is having a terrible time with insomnia and only goes sound asleep in the wee hours of the morning. Today I made my coffee and carried a cup outside to sit in the gazebo for a few minutes. I filled the ponds and watered the plants for the first time in over a week.

It's still hot in Texas and I have lost several pots of marigolds and such to the heat and lack of watering. It was so humid I didn't last long and by the time Louis Dean got up I had already gone BACK to bed!

Late this afternoon we decided to try and 'act as if' we felt better.

The air felt much better than it did this morning so we took our iced tea to the gazebo and did what he loves to do best!

We sat! Feet up and relaxed.

I don't think it hurt us to go out for a bit and it probably did us some good.

My foot is doing so well. It has some tingling in it but no real pain.

This recovery has been so much easier than the other foot! But, then again, this one was not nearly as damaged. I haven't had to use crutches, walker or even so much as a cane!

I had several wonderful surprises that arrived in the mail today!!

This box was so fragrant I could smell it before I even opened it up!

Sweet Annie sent all the way to Texas from Michigan!

This is from my friend, Peggy, at A Primitive Plot.

There was also in that box a bag of special goodies!

I have often admired Peggy and her wonderful crafting skills.

This pin will look prefect on a tweed fall jacket I will wear if it ever gets cold enough!

He will live on my dresser when he's not on my lapel.

Thank you, Peggy!!! You are wonderful!

In another package was this darling banner!

I won Arlene of Nanaland's  September Giveaway!!

I went right out and hung it in the garden!

Thank you, Arlene, for the banner and the inspirational card!

AND I had even one more package to open!!!

Note cards from Summer in the best pumpkin color imaginable!!

This set of four hankies arrived over the weekend from her, too!

What a treat to get so many lovely things in the mail!!

Thank you, all, for the cards and emails and messages and phone calls.

I am so blessed!

I hung the fresh Sweet Annie on the lace covering the lamp shade by my bed.

This was the fresh piece.....

Peggy sent me two dried clusters and I hung one here in the hall....

and the other one here.

It's a good thing I had cleaned house before my surgery because I haven't done much since.

I cleaned out my chest of drawers - you  know - the one I look at from my bed.

Filled two sacks with Goodwill donations. Took this nightgown and cut a pair of pajama bottoms for Trystan out of it.

It will be a bit shorter than the pattern and I cut it where I can use the existing hemline for the pants.

Trystan is the shortest of the quads so it should fit her just fine.

I really do like redeeming things and using stuff instead of throwing it away.

This Guess lightweight shirt has seen years and years of wear.

I like to put it on when I want a little something on my arms.

After the last washing, I noticed a pretty good sized hole near the bottom so today I sewed a denim heart over it. Now it will be good for another few years!!

I close with this plaque I have in the hall.

It is old and worn but I do love it and paused today when I was hanging up my Sweet Annie to read it once again.