April 1, 2026 Rabbit! Rabbit! White Rabbit!

 

Rabbit! Rabbit! White Rabbit!

It's April!!  And Easter is almost here!

I don't have much to say

But...

HAPPY EASTER!!

and since it is also April Fool's Day...

Hugs (virtual),

Rian

Update on my eye drama... and a bit more

speedy???

Checked in with Eye Surgeon by phone Thursday morning. Told him my eye was still bothering me, tearing a lot, blurry, and had a small bump between my eye and nose. It's been 5 weeks since the stent was taken out. He had me come in, irrigated my eye again,  and said that it was open, not plugged - which is good. Thinks the small lump is just where the sutures were. Told me to put steroid drops in 3-4 times a day for one week, then stop... and see him again in 2-3 weeks. 

So that's where we are...

Also... I've a short funny story. Recently DH and I changed our "departure plans" (not sure what the right word for this is). Basically it's funeral plans without the 'funeral'.  Anyway, the funny part... which wasn't funny at the time... was that the person we changed the plans with was "ghosting" us (ha ha, no pun intended), I had both called and emailed her with no response for about 2 weeks. All we wanted was for her to send us a copy of the new contracts or new arrangements for our files. 

Anyway, I wasn't too worried about it. It's just that on the initial copies that we did have... my name was misspelled and my phone number was incorrect.

But... when I got to thinking about it, why would I care that my name was misspelled when the time came? Also, in that same situation, they certainly wouldn't be calling me... 

Anyway, it was resolved, as when I gave up on calling the agent, I just called the main number and was told that that particular agent was no longer with them... and I was given to another person who immediately sent me copies of the contracts. Problem solved.

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It is now Saturday morning, March 28th - our grandson who passed away last year would be 19 today... bittersweet thoughts today for a beautiful boy. 💔

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And... getting ready to leave for our "NO KINGS" protest this morning. It's chilly, so may have to wear a coat... and will post more about it after we get back home. Sometimes there seems like so little we can do to change our present situation... but I know we can attend a PEACEFUL PROTEST (so far this is still legal) and we can VOTE (so far this too is still legal). 

I want so much for AMERICA TO BE KIND AGAIN!

Just back from Protest in our area... HUGE TURNOUT !  Last October there were about 3000 people for that protest, this time looked like 5- 6,000 - not counting all the cars that drove by honking and waving flags. 

Apparently our son went to another given in his area and said it was a great turnout there too...

Here are a few pics: 

 

Enough for today... I need to sit down with a cup of tea and be thankful for peaceful protests. 

One sign I didn't get a picture of said... 

"Are we great yet? Or just embarrassed?"

Hugs (virtual),

Rian

My wandering mind... and an atypical day

Today has been a bit 'atypical'... in that I seem to have accomplished a few things that I've been putting off. It is only 1:30 in the afternoon and already I've cleaned out the cabinet under the sink in the bathroom, organized my writings into completed stories, not completed stories, short stories, essays, poems, thoughts, etc., showered, dressed, and am ready to get on with the next de-cluttering. 

It may not seem like a lot, but believe me... it isn't easy at 80 for me to get a lot done... and it's frustrating. I want to do so much (and so much needs doing) but I tire easily or get distracted. Yes, one can say, there's always tomorrow (but at 80, you can't be sure...).

Anyhow, I'm in the process of putting together all my old writings. I've decided to put them all into a book... not for publishing (well, it will be self-published) but only for me. I've decided to call it either "In Loving Memory (of me)" or  "In Remembrance of a Life" (Title  could/may change later).

And with this agenda, I've been able to get a little further into my decluttering mode. I even took a large Tupperware container of costume jewelry that had belonged to my mother to the Salvation Army recently. It's been sitting in my room for almost 20 years. I'm not much of a jewelry person, but my mother loved jewelry... and I simply could not throw it away (couldn't sell it either). At least this way, possibly someone could enjoy it.

DH and I have been in Texas for 55 years as of this past Sunday (March 15). We moved here from Florida on the Ides of March 1971 during a sandstorm with a 2 yr old son and a 10 month old daughter... and we were both 25 at the time (#3 surprised us in 1973).  

We rented for a few years, then bought a house, then built this house in 1985... a little over 40 years ago. (Kids were 17, 15, and 12 when we built it. Now they are all in their 50's, and married)  So yes, there's a lot of closets, drawers, and cabinets (not to mention attic and garage) that need cleaning out. 

I'm not a hoarder... but I do have trouble throwing out stuff that is either sentimental or still useful. I know the rule: divide it all into "Keep", "Donate", or "Throw out". But what about "May be needed later?" Yes, I know, if you haven't needed it in the last few years, you probably won't... right? 

I have to add this here as I just read it in an article entitled "30 Days to a Decluttered Home" in the AARP Bulletin. These were the first 2 Mistakes they mentioned:

1. Holding on to things because you feel guilty, thinking that a dead person would be mad if you got rid of them. (how true... and probably why I kept my mom's costume jewelry for 20 years)

2. Saving "stuff for someone else" who may never want it - your kids. (True also... to some extent)

Ok, this is getting boring even for me.  Going to say "Happy St. Patrick's Day!" (late, I know) and close. 

I know this isn't really a St. Pat's Day pic... but it's so darn cute!

One more thing before I close this, I made those British Flapjacks again. These came out great! This recipe is definitely a keeper. I won't post it as Lyle's Golden Syrup (a key ingredient) is probably hard to fine unless you have a British Emporium close by. 

Hugs (virtual),

Rian

 

 

Flap Jacks! and no, not the kind you think...

These are just my latest purchase from the British Emporium near us. DH and I watch The British Baking Show on Netflix almost daily. Love it! I have tried several of their bakes (both savory and sweet) and it's an educational (and fun) show to watch (if you like baking). I find Paul and Prue (the host and hostess) a perfect blend of judges. 

Anyway, they recently made something called British Flapjacks  (nothing like what we Americans call Flapjacks). These are similar to granola bars made with oats, butter, brown sugar, and syrup.  Since I eat oatmeal almost every day, I thought I'd try to make these with my gluten free oatmeal. And I did. 

But I first googled if it was OK to use regular pancake syrup or maple syrup to do this... and I was told that I could (could even use honey), but they wouldn't taste the same. Using Lyle's Golden Syrup or Royal Syrup would be best since it has a caramel flavor.  

So DH and I went off to the British Emporium (luckily there is one close by) and bought those items I pictured above.  This is really a cute store and I should have taken pictures there to post... but didn't think of it. 

There are so many other items there I would have loved to get, but it's not cheap and I will curtail my wants till another visit later in the year (there was an adorable Douglas stuffed rat - I know, I know, who wants a rat... but it was so-oo cute). And of course, besides the normal British baking food items, there is also stuff relating to Downton Abbey, Harry Potter, Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry cook books, etc. 

OK, well I made the British Flapjacks and although they taste very good, they came out way too chewy. So I googled if there was any way to fix this. Told to wrap them (as needed) in a wet paper towel and microwave for a few seconds. We did... and it works! Still chewy, but softer and not likely to take out your fillings. They also recommended not cooking as long next time and possibly adding a little flour to the recipe. We'll see.

If you noticed, besides Lyle's Golden Syrup, I also bought some caster sugar (hard to find) and PG tea bags. Caster sugar is just super-fine and best to use in some baking recipes. Also we drank a lot of PG tea when in England years ago... so I just thought I'd revive the memory.

That's it. Hope I didn't bore you too much. If you're not into British stuff or baking, I'm sure this wasn't of much interest. But since I can't do much sketching, painting, or things that take good vision, I have taken to doing more cooking, baking, etc. - experimenting and trying some new things.

My eye is coming along... just not there yet. Think the Eye Specialist said it could take months. 

A few funnies:

Now... know that I also love coffee!  Very much! But to me tea is for comfort and relaxation (it also warms me, I tend to be cold a lot). Coffee is a pick-me-up. So I have coffee usually in the morning... and tea to relax in the afternoon. 

(I find that when I sit still a lot - reading, working on my laptop, etc.  I get cold... icy cold and need a cup of tea or a warm shower to get my body temp back up. Perhaps this is a symptom of Hashimoto -which I do have. Anyone else find this happens to them?)

Well, as usual, thanks for reading. Enjoy your Sunday!

Hugs (virtual),

Rian 

March 1, 2026 Rabbit! Rabbit! White Rabbit!

Rabbit! Rabbit! White Rabbit!

 

Can you believe that March is here already? I went with this white rabbit as he/she seems to be a lucky rabbit... and with St. Patrick's day coming up soon in March, it seemed appropriate. 

I've nothing special to blog about. My eye is still tearing and sore on occasion, still hard to read, but it's only been a week since the doctor took out the stent, so  I'm giving it time... 

When DH and I went to our friend's 80th birthday luncheon about a week ago, she and I were talking about our childhood (born in 1945) and what we remembered about the neighborhood and schools, etc. 

We both lived off Canal Street before the age of 8, but she and I met when my family moved from off Canal Street in New Orleans to Lakeview (an area out by the lakefront... not on it, but only a few blocks away). We were 8 years old... became best friends that lasted through grammar school, high school, and college. Stood in each other's weddings (2 weeks apart), etc., and are still bff's (best friend's forever) at 80. 

Elaine (left) and myself (right) at her wedding

Anyway, I digress.  But what I wanted to post here was a picture of something we both remembered that always brought us joy as children when it came down our street - the Roman Taffy wagon! 

It sold taffy... in long strips (like a candle) wrapped in wax paper, pink, white, and chocolate (I always got chocolate).   

I found this picture in an old book about Louisiana history and cooking. You can see the Street car in the background which we rode to go to downtown Canal Street back in those days. And back then, everyone dressed up to go to Canal Street. Nowadays the streetcars are still working, but no one dresses up... and downtown has gotten a bit shabby... 

Anyway, just wanted to share this tidbit of memory from my childhood. I'm sorry to say that we haven't been back to New Orleans since before the pandemic. Family (mostly cousins now) is still there. I'd hope to go back this summer, but this eye issue stopped that... (maybe in the spring?)

Anyway, wishing everyone a wonderful happy healthy March! And as always, thanks for reading. 

Hugs (virtually),

Rian

Eye update... and other stuff

doctor with sense of humor (not my eye)

DH and I went to my 5 week post-op Eye appointment yesterday. I'm going to tell you how it went... could be TMI, so be prepared. Actually it wasn't pleasant, but not too bad.

me these days...

First of all, I didn't think the Doctor would take out the stent yet... but he did a few tests to see if my tear duct was open. This involves putting a long needle like instrument into the eye and irrigating it with water. They do use numbing drops first. Apparently since the water came through my nose and mouth, the tear duct was open.

They also sprayed some numbing stuff up my nose before putting another instrument up my nose to check on the stent (I guess that's what he was doing). Then he proceeded to use a tweezer like instrument to pull the stent out through the inner corner of my eye. Did it hurt? Yes, but not too bad. 

DH (who stayed in the room with me) said the stent was a long thin tube that was attached to a cord. When the doctor pulled it out, there was a pop.. and after pulling it out, he looked again and said that the knot at the end didn't come out, so he went back in and pulled that out. 

Done and Done! Said that I didn't need another appointment... unless I was worried about something. Said everything looked fine.

Told him my eye was still stinging a bit. He said that it probably would as pulling that stent out was like popping a rubber band in your eye... to use Systane as needed. 

This morning eye still watering quite a bit... and sore. Some swelling. But I'm thinking it will take a little time to get over the trauma (both the eye and me).

At one point he said to "try to relax... nothing bad is happening". I thought 'not to you'... but didn't say anything.

But hopefully this 6 month Eye ordeal is almost over. Now if my eye will just stop tearing and being blurry, I may be able to get back to reading (actually still reading, but it's a struggle), sketching, painting, etc. Perception is not good with one eye.

Hope I didn't bore you too much. Writing down what happened is really just for me - so I can go back and remember if needed.

Thanks for all your prayers and good wishes along the way. I'm sure it helped. I know it helped me to stop being so fearful. I've never been good about having people work in my mouth (dentists used to be top on my fear list). Now I have to add not liking people in my eye either. 

But I will say that this Eye Specialist is very good. At least everything he did or said worked out as he said it would. He doesn't have the best bed-side manner as he tends to be a little brusque... like saying "Stop talking!" or telling me the horrors that could happen if treatment is not taken, etc. But like Doc Martin on TV, he starts to grow on you, and we ended up liking him/trusting him despite it all. 

Better close this as it's getting too long.

Ending this with 2 pictures:

recent bobcat sighting (Isn't he handsome?)

and... 

Hairy Coo on my laptop (so cute)

and... (a reminder)

Hugs (virtually),

Rian

Valentine's Day! Feb 14, 2026

 Happy Valentine's Day!

Hugs (virtual),

Rian

Thundering and raining here... 

Planning to make some lemon squares for the guys

Nothing else going on

💓