"And it came to pass..."

 Just a short journal entry to say this has been a much better week!

All systems are go with our water and plumbing....although RWD Services came out yesterday - at no charge - to use the camera to check the lines from where they repaired the sewer to the back fence.

The guys had a nagging feeling that there might be an additonal problem and, sure enough, there is.

I looked at the camera screen as it showed roots and a shift in the pipe that will need to be replaced - at some point. I can either put this off until the time comes when the roots get worse and the plumbing again stops up. Or I can address it sooner rather than later, and at 77 years old, I think it will be easier to deal with this than when I am perhaps 87!

They are working up an estimate and I am so grateful this will not be an emergency issue.

The work will involve taking up a stone walk, the pond area Louis Dean created last year and the shade garden. Major landscaping changes will be required.

Again - better now than later.

Grateful I have Hector and Bruno - although Bruno is more expensive.

It is what it is and we will do what we need to do.

I pray every day for wisdom in taking care of Louis Dean and making decisions that I am still new at making. Who knew I would be in charge of so much at this time of my life?

I had a new batch of chocolate chip cookies for them and they loved them!

In other news, I received a call from the VA Enrollment and Elegibilty Division yesterday.

I spoke to a real person and she gav me so much information and a break down of just exactly what I need to do to receive VA benefits for Louis Dean. Since he didn't serve in the army during a time of war, he is not elegible for financial aid, he does qualify for medical benefits which include Home Health Aid and long term care.

The sweet representative is mailing me the documents and I wrote down all the instructions on filling them out. While I pray we will not need the VA help - it will be a comfort to know that it's in place if we do.

I'm back to cooking meals and making sure Louis Dean eats well.

Do any of you make any of the Facebook reels?

This is one of them and it was really good.

I served it on some really good toasted bread and topped with sliced avocado - for me.

LD doesn't love it so I don't serve that to him - other than in guacomole.

We are still packing Christmas away and Louis Dean is a huge help in packing the tubs.

The house is still a wreck but I'm not fretting about it.

Our bedroom, my bathroom, the kitchen and now most of the den is devoid of Christmas but feels rather empty since I haven't brought my debris fillers in yet.

Louis Dean loves movies - especially John Wayne - but I have watched the last one for a good while.

I just can't.

But we have an entire bookcase full of DVDs and I told him we would watch one together every day.

It has to be one both of us like.....

Last night was On Golden Pond.....

I love that film and I have actually been to Squam Lake in central New Hampshire.where they filmed the movie.

In years past, I would travel somewhere special for my birthday and this was one of our stops in our tour of New England.

I'm only good for ONE movie so I left him up to watch this one - which we have both seen recently!

Meals require attention and I try not to waste food.

Today was a BLT that was exceptionally good due to the multigrain bread.

Once again, I added avocado to mine.

We went to vote after lunch and it was our first time out of the house in over a week.

Did errands and picked up meds at Walgreens and I shopped Aldi.

We were out of a weird list of stuff.....

coffee filters, black pepper, bleach, parchment paper....

Cocktail hour on the driveway......

Wine, grapes, chicken salad and crackers.

This is tonight's feature film.....

It was my turn to choose and I admit I wanted to have something Louis Dean would really love to watch.

Tomorrow is our movie night with Ilene and the movie choice is OURS!!

Have you seen any good ones lately??