Best Of

Good evening to all. I hope everyone is as pain-free as possible and enjoying the last days of summer. It's been quiet here, minor storms, limited rain. Guess that's about to change with the tropics warming up. I was looking outside at mama cardinal and her fledgling, enjoying the bird feeder. When the storms come, I worry about people and all of God's creatures.

Mara, I have wanted to ask about groundless beef and lentils. What exactly is the groundless product and what do lentils taste like? Forgive my ignorance. Your receipes always sound so good and affordable.

Thank you for the appreciation of my simple poem. They use to be a bit more involved, but my brain fog has limited my word soup. lol

In pockets for all your needs.

Laurel

Chicagoan- I have had a truck for the last 20 years (the same one). I always loved a truck- sits higher in traffic, can haul something without having to borrow someone's truck, I liked it. But, since I have the arthritic issues now, I cannot get up into the truck bed anymore, and I have trouble cleaning off the windshield with it being so high. So I am downsizing, a lot… to a subcompact car. More my size (I am short and thin), and better gas mileage. My truck is my past me. Time to change to something more 'me' now.

gallmary- Yes, that was me that kept track of everyone. I would keep a sticky note next to my desktop computer. Sadly, I do not do that anymore. Sorry friends. I do read each day, and comment periodically, but I got out of the habit of keeping notes. And when you stop doing it, it is hard to restart. So much going on here. So much to keep track of.

I am just keeping on. Last scans still stable. Still on same treatment (3 years now). Next scans mid November. I am attending church more this summer. Don't know how it will be in the Winter months with colds/flus/etc. I am getting a different vehicle. My is 20 years old and having issues. That has taken up much of my time lately.

Thinking of all of you and love to read about what is going on.

I’m stopping by in Mel’s Living room be with you all this evening. I see a lot of you sharing some of your struggles my heart is with .you and I’m in your pockets.

@irishlove. I read your poem and it touched my heart. In so many ways. Thank you for sharing it with us. Had a few days of feeling like that in the poem.

@threetree, it seems like you and I are usually matching with our pain and wondering what’s causing it. I’ve been the same, last couple of weeks. Didn’t know if it was a summer cold, or my allergies and asthma, and all the bone pain, extra exhaustion and sleepiness all day, that passed but still am not feeling up to going out with the heat…my older daughter who works at a spa, and teaches color and hair styling to new hires coming out of school. So I went by her the other day to get my hair done, and felt better, but couldn’t wait to get home the afternoon in that chair was long & tiring on my neck & spine. It's this cancer thing that causes this. I’m convinced it’s the MBC and the. Side effects of all the treatment. Period. I hate wondering what’s causing all the discomfort. I. Know it all started with this metastatic cancer beast in me. The idea it could Covid? We don’t need a new thing to worry about. Not buying it. Just another media scare, and I refuse to embrace it. My whole life it was a cold or allergies, or flu or the 24 hour bug. Covid ???? Nope 👎 wear a mask or you’ll die, nope👎, monkey pox, nope 👎. Just taking one day at a time. The last two days I picked up a paint brush after weeks of avoiding something I love. Just a few touch ups on nearly finished Painting. It helped to lift my low mood.. then I cooked dinner. Now that is always exhausting. I don’t do it. Every day. I wish I had the energy that our sweet @mara51506 has🥰Maybe I should us her idea of the Elvis Lip curl😊

@tougholdcrow I’m just loving that handsome kayak companion riding in the front. He looks like a Really nice guy. I love dogs so much. Could never be without a dog in my life 🐕🐕‍🦺 ♥️

@sondraf Good wishes your way so you can continue to get relief from your pain from the lymphedema. So sorry you are going through that and hopefully the Lymph Specialist will work some magic. And in your pocket this week. Hopefully the Big D will subside. 🩵

Dear Irish: "He only can create the greatest imaginable beauty who has endured all imaginable pangs"—Yeats