November 30, 2016. Madison, Mississippi. The Left Eye.

Yesterday, my left eye once again had surgery.  Dr. Kosta did the job.  He looks as if he was 20 but of course, as he has all the credentials, he must be much older.  After the last surgery, the little stent slipped out of place so was not doing it's job.   Today at my day post operation check, the pressure in my left eye is 6, which the good doctor is says is too low.  My right continues to be perfect at 14.   Right after the operation on my left eye the pressure was 2, which Dr. Kosko said was too low.   He also said that the San Antonio surgeon would have had to repeat the surgery anyway.

Now I am back taking multiple drops.  And again I must not bend my head below my waist nor lift anything even close to heavy.  I must not strain.  No sneezing.  No blowing my nose.  No constipation. I must take life easy for the next week.  I am not really sure what that means as my life is already pretty easy.    I must use the eye patch for sleeping.   But I am doing what I am told.  Dr. Kosko assures me that the drive from Texas to Mississippi had nothing to do with the stent moving out of place.   The old stent is now behind my retina.  We elected not to go after it.

I see the good doctor again on Monday and hope the pressures stay reasonable.   So far so good.

November 29, 2016. Madison, Mississippi. The Coffee Pot.

When we returned to our Mississippi home a few weeks ago we discovered that one of our two one cup coffee pots would not work.  Suzanne and Ken took it apart to fix it but it appears that when the pot was cleaned, a  part disappeared so it would never work.  As it was the pot used by me for my tea each morning, Suzanne and I bought a new one.  The one we selected was small and  inexpensive.  Suzanne read the directions and told us how to work it but since she has gone, I have done everything wrong, one thing after another.

Some how or another, I mix up the order of what needs to be done.  I put too much water in the reservoir so I ended up with water all over the counter.  I could not get the pot to brew.  My cup overflowed.   Finally, I seemed to be getting it right.  For two mornings in a row my tea was brewed in a timely fashion.   Then I really got humbled.  Everything was working perfectly so I walked over to the toaster for the next step of my breakfast.  When I returned to the coffee pot, I discovered brown liquid all over the counter.  I had forgotten to put in a cup.  My tea was over everything.

How stupid of me.  I was so pleased with myself that I forgot the first step, which is to select a correct size cup and put the cup in the proper place.     I bet I never do that again.

November 28, 2016. Madison, Mississippi. The Storm.

I did what any sensible person would do this afternoon when confronted with a very big storm.  I went to bed.    The thunder was so loud it sounded like a bomb.  Of course, I have not actually ever heard a bomb, but the three claps of thunder so loud and so close together that I took to my bed. Normally when I nap, I lie on the top of the bed with a quilt over me, but today I got right in bed.

The day was overcast right from the light of day.  and the wind blew hard all morning.  We even had white caps on the reservoir and waves crashing onto the shore.  By noon, the rains started as did the increase in the wind.  Then the thunder started and I took to my bed.

Ken was down stairs sitting watching the storm in his recliner chair.   He said it was a spectacular sight.  I slept through the power outage and most of the thunder.  But the rain kept coming hard all the rest of the afternoon and evening.  Just now the rain has stopped.  When Ken came up, he reported we were under a tornado watch.  Goodness.  These Mississippi storms are real storms.

November 27, 2016. Madison, Mississippi. Christmas Decorations.

My habit is to decorated the house for Christmas immediately after the Thanksgiving holiday.  Ken would buy a tree as soon as the trees arrived and put the tree in a bucket of water on the back deck.  The tree always came home wrapped for ease of transport.  Our home was always decorated for a long time because we decorated as soon as we had the time.

A few years ago when we bought our condo in Mississippi, I brought two small boxes of decorations from the farm, just to give a holiday look to the place.  Then three years ago we brought all our decorations south and divided them between the Mississippi and the Texas family.   We knew that eventually the farm would be sold so we started moving stuff out.

Today I put out our decorations.  It took me less than an hour, which is perfect.  Our new home looks a bit festive but certainly is not crowded with decorations.   One group of decorations I brought was a set of small houses that my Mother had used on our mantel.  She had artificial cotton on the mantel to look like snow but that is long gone.  Now I arrange them on our mantel.  And I wish my Mother was here to share in our pleasure.   After everything was in place , I remembered bringing Christmas placemats, but I could not find them.  Eventually, they were found in the bottom of the china cabinet in the dining room where someone put them away last year.  Now we are ready for the season in our home.

November 26, 2016. Madison, Mississippi. Christmas Cards.

I love Christmas cards.  This morning I read every card received last Christmas and noted on my list who had sent us cards.  It was a walk down memory lane and I enjoyed remembering every friend.  Our family friend Bram Collier, had the habit of keeping his cards in a box beside his chair.  Every few days he would use a card as a book mark and he would drop a note to say hello and to tell you what he had been reading.  I have always thought it a good idea and I enjoyed his notes over the years.

I even enjoy sending Christmas cards.  My system has never changed so by now I know the drill.  First I address the envelopes and add the return address sticker and stamps.  Next I sign the cards with our full name.  Today I had three cards from Jim and Sue and several from Sarah.  I need a last name.  And last I write a note with every card.  I feel as if I am just stopping in to say hello, but briefly.

This year Ken was late ordering our cards.  I actually forgot to ask him.  Yesterday he sent me many options so tonight I selected one and he ordered the cards on the Internet.  He is an expert at digging things out and even better at ordering items on line.  So now I am set and even have the Christmas stamp when the cards arrive next week.   Sending and receiving Christmas cards is a great joy for me, especially in my more sedentary years.  So here we go.

November 25, 2016. Madison, Mississippi. The Lights.

Our home on Franklin Street in Kensington had a lovely large backyard.  With the two levels, Ken planted his garden on the lower level complete with a charming garden house.  The garden was productive but the best aspect of the garden were the raspberries.  They bore twice a season so we ate berries both spring and fall.

The upper level housed the pool, hot tub, decks, gazebo and patios.  The plantings were lush, with a large magnolia tree in the back of the top level.  Although we talked about it, and twice met with lighting people, we could never decide what we wanted to do, so we did nothing.  Other than lights outside the doors, we had no lighting in our back yard.

Now in our home in Mississippi we have rectified that error.   Last year when we were in Mexico, lights were installed at the front, showing off the house a bit and allowing us safely to go in and out at night.  We have been pleased with the understated look.

While we were away in Nova Scotia and Texas this summer and fall,  our lighting man has fixed our backyard too.  The lights are not garish or bold but four trees are lit with lights pointing down the trunk and the railings on the deck have subtle lights, along with the path to the lower deck and the dock.  The lights are set to come on at dusk and off at midnight.  From inside the house, the back looks like a wonderland.  Both Ken and I are pleased.

November 24, 2016. Madison, Mississippi. A Splendid Feast.

The adults sat in the dining room.  We were a table of 26.  The teens sat at a table in the family room. They were a table of 8.  The young children sat at a table in the hallway on the way to Eleanor's studio.  There were 6 children at their table.  So we were a group of 40 celebrating Thanksgiving together.  Each table was beautifully decorated and set with china, crystal and silver.  It was a beautiful sight.

Of course, everyone helped by bringing food, thus making it easier for Eleanor and Jim. But still, much work had gone into the preparations.  Eleanor is well organized so she planned ahead, which meant that serving dinner for 40 was not hectic.  In fact the whole day was quiet and pleasant.  First we ate a pumpkin soup, made by Henry Greaves.  Delicious and spicy.  All the dinner food was set out on the side board so we helped ourselves.  Turkey, ham, two types of stuffing, gravy, brussel sprouts, mushrooms, sweet potato casserole, green peas, mashed potatoes plus baked.  A veritable feast.

I ate three different desserts, from an array of 12 different types.  Delicious and not a bit fattening. Port and coffee to end the meal.  The afternoon was a delight.  The whole Greaves family, except the Mills, who were in Louisiana for the holiday, were together, plus those of us who feel like family.  Ken and I were delighted to be invited.  Christina and the girls picked us up so we really had a day off.  And I brought the best thing, which was wine and port.

The Sutherland's home is perfect for a feast like today.  They built their home specifically to be able to house such an event and to have a studio for Eleanor.   They succeeded.  Hats  off to them.