Saturday August 9th... new A/C being installed today

I've not a lot to say today (not that usually stops me from posting), but we've been here in Texas without our downstairs A/C since Monday. Normally this would be life-threatening since it's been in the high 90's here most of the week. 

But... our upstairs one still works (old too - but still kicking) which helps cool the area right below the stairs (dining room and entry) and we have ceiling fans almost everywhere (as well as a few standing one that have been brought into use). So luckily it hasn't gotten over 87 F in the house... which is not great, but do-able.

And truth be told, I'm writing this because Blogger is giving me that new little pencil on the right side that is suppose to do 'something'... like perhaps bring more in to read blogs if certain things are mentioned like food or ?  Since I quit putting labels out a long time ago, I've been happy with my small group of readers. 

We were suppose to have DH's brother and his wife here this week. They come up every summer to visit, go to Ham's Peach Orchard, and a few other favorite places. But we had to cancel due to the A/C problem. No one wants to visit in Texas with no A/C available. 

Update on Sister-in-law: Doing better, out of ICU, but still in hospital. 

Paris Baguette 

I know that I sent pics of the Paris Baguette when we were in Houston, but now there is one that just opened not far from us. It had been open for just 3 days when we visited this past week. DH got his favorite cream donut and I got a grilled cheese on sourdough and my new favorite drink - a cold brew vanilla cream (so-oo good).

Since I've nothing more to say here, thought I'd send a pic of my new work station (too hot in office with A/C out). Besides, I love to see the insides of people's homes... helps to give me a better idea of who they are. Do you find that true?

As you can see, I haven't taken off the bunny tablecloth or figures (I really like my bunnies... but did put away the other Easter decor). 

And my granddaughter taught me a new game on Roblox. It's called "99 days in the woods" and basically it's a survival game (which normally I don't like), but it's interesting to play with her. She is great at shooting wolves and monsters that attack (I suck!). So I can survive if we play together as I can chop down trees and keep the fire going and she does the hunting and protecting. She and I lasted 54 days the first time we played. Alone I never get past 4...  

Ok, better shut this down before you all lose interest. But just a quick update on my eye: It's finally back to normal (or almost - still itches, but I can read again!)

Surgery is scheduled for August 21 and reconstruction (plastic surgery) the 22nd. Don't know how I will blog after that. There is a possibility they may have to sew my left eye shut for a month... (really really hope that doesn't happen!) Hoping the surgery won't have to entail too much of my lower lid... so reconstruction will just be a matter of sewing the area back together. Please pray that it happens that way... (thanks 🙏).

Have a good weekend! And thanks for reading this far... wasn't sure what I was going to write about... but my monkey mind took off!

Hugs (virtually),

Rian

Rabbit! Rabbit! White Rabbit! August 1, 2025

 

Rabbit! Rabbit! White Rabbit!

It's August 1st!  Rabbit! Rabbit! White Rabbit! 

I chose this pic as we really could use some luck this August... It has been and is continuing to be a summer to not remember.  My daughter in law is back in the hospital and so far the doctors are stumped as to what is going on. She has had 3 surgeries so far. And my biopsied eye is finally healing... only to have surgery in 2 weeks and have to heal all over again (yuk!).

Still wishing all of you a safe heathy happy August!

Hugs (virtually),

Rian

Updating since Eye bump biopsy...

Eye bump biopsy

Beautiful pic, yes?  Well, it's now 8 days since the biopsy on my lower eyelid bump... and believe me, it has not been fun. 

Whole eye has been red/pink, sore, leaking, and burning (felt like large pieces of sand in it) and below eye sore to the touch (due to injections of numbing agent). 

Saw the eye surgeon again 4 days after to make sure it wasn't infected. He looked at it and said it wasn't, but told to continue ointment and could add Systane drops to help. 

Also told he could insert a contact that might help, but since I didn't want anything else put in my eye to irritate it, declined that.

Have been taking Tylenol daily to help ease it.

But he also told us that the biopsy was positive for basal cell carcinoma and must be removed by the Mohs method, then the lower eyelid reconstructed. The surgery is generally done without sedation, but the reconstruction is under sedation. 

I have concerns about that. Will be talking to the Mohs surgeon soon to discuss this. 

While the eye surgeon was telling us all this, I just sat there silently looking at him. DH was sitting on the bench beside me. I said nothing, but my thoughts were screaming, 'you frekking have to be kidding me!'.... and DH said later, he was thinking, 'Man... just stop talking!'

My eye is still very pink throughout, but the scab where he cauterized it has fallen off... and although eye still leaking, it is better enough to type, read, etc.

That's pretty much the update. Not looking forward to the surgery/reconstruction. Seems like the recovery period could be long. I hate not being able to read or write. But it is what it is. 

 

Now going to post a few pics here of other things:

DH's 80th Birthday cake

Ryder (oldest granddaughter's Bernese Mountain pup

Youngest granddaughter in Hawaii with her family

Leatherback sea turtle on beach in Hawaii

Beach on the Big Island

I really do love Hawaii beaches... 

...and lastly a view my daughter took from her front porch in the Hill Country:

This pic was taken from daughter's front porch in the evening while granddaughter headed out...

I love it! Could see framing it or making a puzzle from it... very quiet and relaxing scene.

Anyway, that's it for me. Can't tell you when I may be posting again, but will when circumstances permit.  Love sharing with you. Thanks so much for reading. 

Hugs (virtually),

Rian

Past week recap: birthdays, travel, food, and the unexpected

Eating breakfast at Kelley's country cookin'

This past week DH and I celebrated our 80th birthdays. We are only 9 days apart in age. Of course I'm the older one (which should give me some clout, right?)

Well, we had planned for some time to visit DH's brother and his wife, who live in the Houston area, in July, so we told the kids we didn't want any big todo for this milestone... the trip was our celebration.

DH's brother and wife are connoisseurs of good food and watch shows that show local restaurants and chefs that one might want to try. So needless to say, we eat out a lot when visiting them and vice versa. It's fun... and we enjoy it with them... probably because it's not something we tend to do on our own.  

Here are a few pictures of one of our breakfasts:

my breakfast egg sandwich

veggie omelette

eggs benedict

It was all very good. They had previously brought home a chocolate cream pie from this restaurant and we nibbled on that for several days. I'm a lover of good chocolate pie and this one was very good.

Kelley's chocolate cream pie

We also went to several other restaurants that were all excellent, but the one I wanted to special mention here is called Paris Baguette. Some of you may be familiar with it. We weren't... and were blown away when we walked in.

There are rows and rows of pastries , sweet and savory, breakfast sandwiches, cakes, pies, etc. You pick up a tray and  tongs and go down the rows picking up whatever you want, then to the cashier to pay for it before sitting down to eat or taking it home. They heat up the pastry or whatever as needed for you. It's awesome. 

Here are some pics:

We each picked out 2 things to try and sat down and shared. All were good. But of course we had our favorites and have already picked out what we would need to try next time.

I wanted to take pics at all the restaurants, especially the Seafood one and the Mexican one... but I'm lucky I even remembered to take these.

And I mentioned 'the unexpected' in the title here... unfortunately we got a phone call from our oldest son the same day we left for Houston. He had to take his wife to the ER that night and the they were waiting to transfer her to a Houston hospital for surgery. 

Since we were already in Houston, we planned to stay a few extra days to be with them. As it turned out, they ended up transferring her to a hospital in San Antonio. The ambulance broke down twice on the way and finally they had to wait for another ambulance to continue. Then... they brought her to the wrong hospital first, then finally to the right one. My son's comments were: "you can't make this s... up".

Anyway, she is in surgery now. As far as what kind of surgery, I'm not sure... only that it was 'complicated' (something to do with bile ducts and stents?) and couldn't be done at the original hospital where they live. Waiting now to hear from son on how the surgery went.

That's it for the recap. Hope your week was good. Thanks so much for reading. 

Also: My biopsy for this bump on my lower lid will be biopsied Thursday by an eye surgeon. The thought of it scares me... (I shouldn't be such a wus - but IT'S MY EYE). If it's benign, the eye surgeon will cut it out and sew it up in his office. If it's not benign, he will have to send me elsewhere.  

Hugs (virtually),

Rian

Happy 4th of July 2025 !

Happy 4th of July!

If you click here, it should play 

"It's a grand old flag!"

I love this song from Yankee Doodle Dandy

with George Cohan

Lyrics here:

You're a grand old flag,
You're a high flying flag
And forever in peace may you wave.
You're the emblem of
The land I love.
The home of the free and the brave.
Ev'ry heart beats true
'neath the Red, White and Blue,
Where there's never a boast or brag.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
Keep your eye on the grand old flag.

Wishing you all a happy safe 4th of July!

Hugs, (virtually),

Rian

 

Rabbit! Rabbit! White Rabbit! July 1, 2025

 

Rabbit! Rabbit! White Rabbit!

Good Morning! July1st 2025 is here already!

DH and I both hit the big 8-0 this month... 

(a little scary, but glad to be here)

Hugs (virtually),

Rian

Stories worth sharing...

Teddy, new adoptee

Had to tell you this story: 

My cousin in New Orleans recently lost her 16 year old kitty.  For a while she grieved over this loss. She lives alone and Kuchi was her companion for years. Well, when she decided to adopt another, she started thinking about an older cat... felt she was too old herself to take on a kitten. So she started checking out rescue centers. 

She had a few options available and sent me pictures and explained their ages and circumstances. I found one that seemed perfect... intelligent face and not too old. I believe he is 12. But the choice was hers and after getting it down to 2, decided on Teddy (which was my choice also). 

Anyway, he has been with her for about 2 weeks now (apparently fostering until a decision was made). But she just told me yesterday that she will be adopting him and getting all the paperwork, medical background, etc. this Saturday. So happy that it worked out. She says he is a wonderful sweet cat and loves having him there. Teddy deserves a loving home for the last years of his life... and her spoiling him with a new cat bed, cat tree, and his favorite food... as well as a loving lap to sleep on whenever she's around is great for both of them.

On another note:  

I can't remember if I mentioned this at an earlier time, but I don't think so. In some ways, it's a funny story... but also a bit sad (depends on how you look at it).

Our daughter lives on 8 acres in the hill country. Neighbors around her have acreage also. Many have animals, mostly horses, dogs, cats, rabbits, etc. Well, a few years ago, one of her neighbors released all their rabbits... into the wild. Naturally they multiplied and many were visiting daughter's property (black, white, black&white, grey, and golden bunnies).

Loving animals and afraid for their welfare with predators, she began to catch them and keep them in her barn. But after several batches of baby bunnies (some of which she was able to find homes for), she decided to keep only the females penned in. I believe she had maybe 6 females... for about a year, maybe longer. No babies. But recently and I'm sure they were working on their tunnel for a long time, but recently the females tunneled out. 

Now that they have all been loose  again for several months... she just found baby bunnies in the hay in her tack room! 

 

... and so the battle continues.

Just thought I'd share those 2 stories with you - one with a happy ending and the other - a conundrum.

Don't you love that word "conundrum"? I recently found this list of really great words:

Aren't these great words? (Think my daughter may be discombobulated with these shananigans)

Hugs (virtual), 

Rian