Short, but sweet...

Meaning that I'm just updating the fact that DH and I have now gotten  both our Flu shots and Covid boosters for 2023 and so far, so good. We barely felt either injection and had no reaction - not even a sore arm with the Flu shot. Just got the Covid booster Thursday morning, so waiting to see if our arms are sore or if we possibly feel bad for a day... 

Now it's Friday am (arm sore, but that's it)! And this Sunday is October 1st!  (Remember Rabbit! Rabbit! White Rabbit!)  This also means Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas will be here before we know it. So much to do, and such little time to do it... that's how I feel... possibly because I'm slow... and even slower getting things done these days.  

Closing this with a few pics taken of all the pumpkins at the mall:

We walk the mall once or twice a week and then stop for coffee or hot chocolate at Eataly's....  

(we're not shoppers, so seldom go into any stores). 

*BTW, that reminds me. I finally got to taste a 'cold brew' coffee. DH didn't like it, but I did! 

Hugs (virtual),

Rian

Nothing special...

Thought today I would just post a few memes that I particularly like:

This cat looks like our Ghost

what weekend plans should be

This I just like

 my Sunday mornings

what our house used to look like
when we had cats

And this is me lately as it seems groceries (and utilities)
have more than doubled!!

It's Sunday and another week starts tomorrow. DH and I got our flu shots Friday and hope to get our Covid boosters sometime this week. We have no other big plans for the week except to walk at either the Senior Center or the Mall at least once (hopefully twice), visit a friend in the hospital, and run a few other errands.  I picked up "Dark Matter" by Greg Iles at the Senior Center Library last week and just finished it. It's basically about scientists and AI... (a bit like Dan Brown's books). Not my favorite kind of read, but interesting ideas and possibilities. 

Ending this with a reminder to check your cars for kittens. With the weather turning cooler, they will go there for warmth...

See those little faces! 

Hugs (virtual),

Rian

Fall vaccines... are we ready?

Thinking about scheduling our vaccines for this Fall. How about you? 

We always get the flu vaccine. We get the normal one - not the one especially for over 65. That one has always worked for us, so why change it. And I'm pretty sure we'll get the new covid vaccine.  We know more people with covid today than we did during the pandemic. It may not be as serious, but we still don't want it!

As for the new RSV vaccine, the jury is still out on that one. 

Just wondering what your thoughts are on these three? We know people who don't get any of them (for different reasons) and that's fine. It's their call. 

I had the real flu years ago and was sick for over a month... it was awful. I thought I was going to die and at times wished I would.  So,  I'll take a day or so of feeling bad with the flu shot as my body's immune system builds itself up over that awful time years ago any day. 

I've never had covid (or if I did, I was symptomless) - even when DH had it in 2001. He was tested positive at the doctor's office - but his symptoms were similar to those of a cold. And I do believe the vaccines protected us to some extent. So, we will take another covid booster. 

But we don't know enough about the new RSV vaccine to make a decision yet. So, I think we'll wait a bit on that one. If you know anything pertinent, please share.  I think it's helpful to know other people's thoughts and why they feel the way they do.

(Remember to click twice and then on the small square at the bottom right to enlarge)

This is just a video taken at our daughter's place in the hill country. It's our daughter and granddaughter and 2 of their horses taken from their front porch. It has nothing to do with this post... I just like to look at it, so I thought I'd share. 

Hugs,

Rian

 

 

the weekend is here...

 

This picture reminds me of my daughter's porch out in the Hill Country.  It's the perfect place to have one's coffee in the morning... especially if Fall is in the air.

and...

I came across these on Pinterest. They are metal cat forms that remind me so much of what we see in our yard daily. If we didn't have the real thing, I would buy these.

The weather has been cooler this week... no triple digits. I even open the windows in the mornings for a little while. It's 78 F this morning.

We had friends over this past Friday for dinner. It's been ages since we've seen them, so it was great to visit and talk.  She and I have been best friends growing up in New Orleans since we were 8 years old. They travel a lot, we don't. But we get together when we can and can talk and reminisce for hours... mostly about New Orleans and LSU... and the guys talk football. They lost a daughter this past year. She was our daughter's age. God, I can't imagine. Think it would kill me. But my mom lost my dad, sister, and brother in her lifetime... and somehow survived.

I want to recommend a TV series I'm watching now that I'm enjoying. It's called "Where the Heart is" on Roku. It's set in a little town in England (Skelthwaite) and the characters are so likable. (And for once there are no murders in the little English town - like all the English mysteries - Father Brown, Granchester, Midsummer Murders, etc. These always makes me wonder how safe these cute little towns are).  I think there's also a movie by this same name if you google it - but the movie looks like an entirely different story.

Guess that's it for today.  I have a pot roast in the oven with onions, carrots, and potatoes for supper tonight. And I just finished the tassels on one side of another fisherman's afghan.

And closing with a video I took this week of a fat little squirrel eating from the catfood dishes out back.

(remember to hit the arrow twice and then the small square on the bottom right to enlarge the video)

He's a brave little thing with all the feral cats out there.

Have a wonderful Sunday and thanks for reading!

Hugs,

Rian

Something I think about...

Here's something I've thought about a lot... and wondered about. It's something that I may be lacking, but don't know how essential it might be... to making a person respectable or worthy. I know in the sports profession (as well as many others, it's a necessity).

I guess what I'm trying to say is that for whatever reason, I don't have a 'competitive bone' in my body. From childhood into adult hood, I've never wanted to 'compete'... not that I didn't enjoy doing my own thing, or helping someone do theirs, but never wanted to 'be the best' or 'win the race' so to speak. That sounds so 'uninspiring', doesn't it? 

Even writing my books or doing my pottery, it's nice if others enjoy them, but don't want or need a Best Seller, don't want the spotlight for any reason. That sounds pathetic, doesn't it? But it's true. I like my life and feel it's good. I've created the atmosphere I enjoy, and have surrounded myself with family and friends... not a lot, but enough. 

However, when you come to our age, you begin to think perhaps I could have done more? I could have honed my creativity to a higher level, I could have tried for more recognition in my field of study or other? But I didn't want recognition or power... just love and peace and a happy home. 

I know that people who are competitive get further in life. They work hard and fight for their place in the world. They may struggle, but usually get to their goals, and become rich and sometimes powerful. 

I'm going to guess that it takes all kinds... the ambitious and those not so much (am I a muggle? - NO! I really like the idea of magic). 

My older sister was an Architect. She once told me that I was much too 'comfortable' with life. Maybe she was right. 

Anyway, this has been on my mind recently, so I just thought I'd put it out there.

Enjoy your Sunday! And again thanks for letting me share...

Hugs (virtual),

Rian

Nothing important... just 'stuff'

lately

Sorry it's been a while since I've posted (except for the Sept 1 Rabbit Rabbit). Have been having the same symptoms as a month ago - tired, no energy, headachy, and racing heart. My bp isn't high... usually runs relatively low 94/59 or thereabouts. But bloodwork came back fine (except for low D and B-12). Cardiologist did an Echocardiogram and it too was fine. He doesn't think it's a problem with my heart, but wants me to wear a heart monitor (again) to make sure it's not AFib. 

My personal belief is it's the D and B-12 deficiency... as 48 hours after the B-12 injection, I feel normal again. Problem is that it doesn't last. I am taking daily D and B-12 supplements now so perhaps that will help. Anyway, that's why I haven't posted in a while... just sleeping the days away pretty much. But definitely better this week.

This is a video of one of our box turtles helping himself to catfood out back. He is one of the larger ones. We also had a tiny one out front the other day.

And the next pic is one of plantings of orchids at the Mall. I love the color! Most of the ones I've seen have been white. This blue is brilliant!

And last is Winston and Abby watching a dog show on TV:

These two dogs love TV... don't you wonder what they're thinking?

And the only other interesting thing I have to say is that I discovered (quite by accident) that Central Market makes the best home-brewed sweet tea (outside of DH's of course). How this discovery happened is that I got an ocular migraine on our way to CM Tuesday morning. These can come on any time of the day or night and affect my vision (and usually accompanied by a nagging headache). So, since I couldn't see straight, DH sat me down in their lounge/cafe/coffee shop and got me a glass of ice tea (made with real sugar - no artificial) while he shopped. It was really good!! I now want some each time we go. 

So much for my life since the last post. It's still HOT here. But they are promising some cool weather - possibly this weekend. Can't wait.

It's Friday! Enjoy your weekend... and as always, thanks for letting me share

and

and you are all in my heart!

Hugs (virtual),

Rian

September 1st: Rabbit Rabbit! White Rabbit!

Rabbit! Rabbit! White Rabbit!

 Welcome to September 2023!

Hugs (virtual),

Rian