Rabbit! Rabbit! White Rabbit! July 1, 2026

 

Rabbit! Rabbit! White Rabbit!  
(having a bad hair day?)


OK, it's July 1, 2026 already!!
We will soon be celebrating America's 250th Anniversay!


(...and this month DH and I will both be 81!)

For those of you who haven't yet reached these 'golden years', it's a strange time. Yes, we're glad to still be here and to still have each other, we are very grateful, but as the saying goes, "old age is not for sissies".  Losing family and friends as time goes on although expected, isn't easy. Losing abilities that were always taken for granted as our bodies gradually wear out is a bit frustrating - to say the least. 

Knowing that time is running out... thoughts of leaving those we love, and wondering what our next great adventure will be like fill our minds. Will we make it to the next decade? Do we want to? 

With the way things are going...  political chaos and global disasters, we worry about what lies ahead for our children and grandchildren. 

  A few pics of us in our older years...

                                                                                                                     ...most recent of us together

But... this week we will celebrate America's 250 years of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We celebrate what America has always stood for... and hopefully will continue to stand for as quoted on the statue of Liberty:

This country has been good to us for our 80 plus years. Yes, it's not perfect... but what is. It offers the opportunity for a good life, no guarantees, but the possibility of creating a life filled with freedom, equality, and justice for all. America is made up of immigrants. My own father immigrated here with his family from England... like so many others. 

As an Ethiopian immigrant once told me (he was driving our Uber in New Orleans) "I love this country. Here I can work, feed my family, and not be afraid"... (this was a few years ago. I hope it's still true for him).

Well, I didn't really mean to go into all of this... but my fingers sometimes just relate what my mind is thinking. That's what I like about blogging... getting things out of my head.  Hope I didn't say too much. But... Happy 4th!

Hugs (virtual),

Rian

and so it goes...

my tea- time - reading 

DH and I have 'tea-time' every day around 3.  He has coffee and a snack and I have tea. I like to bake, so sometimes we have pie. Generally he watches sports on TV in the den and I read in the front room. It's just a time to stop whatever we've been doing... and take a break. 

 

We are over our Strep and antibiotics... finally. I think the steroid tablets I took really helped with my cough. Now that I'm off them, we'll see if it eventually comes back. 

I also took prednisoline eye drops to help my eye. I'm off them too now. Scheduled to see the new Ophthamologist in about 10 days. 

I imagine everyone heard about the giraffe that was missing around the San Antonio area. My daughter lives there in the hill country and she was keeping a look out for it. We laughed over the possiblility of the tall critter hiding... imagined it keeping it's head low... (made us laugh thinking about it). But luckily it has been found and is in good condition.

Our Geoge Cooney (raccoon that comes by in the late evening) has brought his family by again. Apparently he has a wife and 4 little ones, but doesn't bring them by every night. Oh, and we discovered that possums like apples! Didn't know that. I don't like the apple skin, so when I eat an apple I cut off the skin and throw it outside for the birds and squirrels. Well, I threw a large piece of apple out yesterday and a possum grabbed it and ran off. The box turtles like apple pieces also... and will even eat strawberry tops and tomatoes. The 2 feral cats that hang about stay pretty close by these days. The grey one (Shadow) and the black one (Missy) come by both morning and evening... and occasionally hang around on the patio chairs during the day.

Shadow and turtle

DH and I went walking at the Mall Friday morning. We try to get our steps in each week, but have been a bit lax about it. We stopped at Eataly's for coffee and hot chocolate... and took this pic of the lovely pink rose that was on our table in the coffee shop.

I love pale pink flowers. They look so delicate...

This is so 'not important'...  but thought I'd mention it as it is important to me. We have square brick tiles in our entry as well as down the hall to the bedrooms. They have been mopped over the years, but never really scrubbed. We've been in this house 41 years this December. I decided that they needed to be 'scrubbed'. So I got a hard bristled scrub brush and a bucket of soapy water and have been scrubbing those bricks 2-3 rows at a time each day. (Can't do more at my age... 81 next month... it wears me out, but love having them clean!)

Here's a pic of the entry tiles:

If you look closely (and no one will), but the 6 rows on the right have been scrubbed. I can see the difference... not sure anyone else can... but I love knowing they're clean.

Actually all the slate in the rest of the house could use a good scrubbing too... but not about to tackle that. (Possibly I could hire a company that does that... may look into it). But mopping may be all it gets.

OK, that's it for my post for the week. Sorry it's just mundane details, nothing exciting or terribly interesting... 

It is Saturday... so have a good weekend! 

Hugs (virtual),

Rian

 

Happy Father's Day Dad!

 

Happy Father's Day Dad!

My dad was born in 1907 in London, England. 

Came to America with his parents through Ellis Isle  in 1920.

Met my mom in New Orleans and raised a family there.

Miss you Dad!

and the beat goes on...

Life goes on... at least it does until it doesn't. DH and I are still coughing, but not as much. Here's the thing...

As I mentioned in the previous post, we had company from June 4 (Thurs) through June 7 (Sun). On Tuesday both DH and I were tested positive for Strep and negative for covid...and put on antibiotics.

As it turns out, our company (DH's brother and wife) started coughing the next weekend (about 5-6 days after leaving our house). I was sure we'd given them Strep. BUT... as it turns out, they tested negative for Strep and positive for covid ??? Huh???

They were told that since Covid was viral, they didn't need antibiotics, so they are on cough meds and nasal sprays.  We are finishing up our antibiotics and doing better, but just wonder at the  strangeness of all this???

(wouldn't that be nice??)

Update on critters:

Can't remember if I told you that the box turtles are now joining the cats and raccoons at coming right up to the French door window and stretching their little necks to look in. It's so funny... 

And... George Cooney (our night raccoon that comes by every night around 9 or 10pm) brought his family with him last night! If we're correct in this, he brought either a wife and 4 babies.  They climbed down the tree by the back porch and were enjoying the treats (which last night was left over steak fries and a part of a peach coffee cake). I would have taken a pic, but they were all over the place and it was dark.

Shadow (feral) climbing same tree

On the home front:

We're watching The Big C... on Netflix. It should be depressing, but it's not... kind of funny. Getting a little sad towards the end of Season 4. 

And I'm re-reading one of my favorite books, Lady of Hay by Barbara Erskine - a story of a modern woman who seems to be a re-incarnation of Matilda, Lady of Hay, during the time of King John (12th Century). Jo's a journalist researching the possibility of  past lives, but through hypnosis and regression becomes hopelessly emeshed in Matilda's life... and death. 

And that's it for this week. Being handed off to other specialists... Eye surgeon wants me to go see an Ophthamologist to watch my eye. My immediate doctor is an Opthamology surgeon and if I don't want another surgery (I don't), he recommended someone to keep an eye on my eye. And my PCP sent me to a Pulmonologist to check on my chronic coughing. They ran all kinds of breathing tests (which weren't easy since I have bronchitis at the moment). But she is sending me to have a swallowing test with barium. I have to say that I liked her a lot. She listened and asked a million questions. Since I have a chronic cough, aspirate, and can't swallow pills well... she thinks this test will help diagnose my problem. We'll see.

a few pics:

and an idea for creating my small front porch out front:

something like this...

Hugs (virtual),

Rian

 

an overdue update and a few pics...

red pepper from our yard

DH brought in this new red pepper from our yard yesterday. It's so pretty I had to post it. Usually our peppers get eated by something before they get to this size... 

And before I continue this post, I need to say that I had written a post earlier in the week and was getting ready to publish it yesterday... when it just 'disappeared'. I was shocked... and tried to get it back, but no luck. 

So, I'm starting again today. As you know (if you read my posts) we had company (DH's brother and SIL) visiting last weekend. It was a great visit... with time spent eating out at favorite restaurants, visiting the Peach Orchard, and reminising and talking for hours at home. DH made his red beans and rice one night and I made stuffed artichokes as well as both a Dark Chocolate pie with bourbon whipped cream and a buttermilk pie (DH's brother's favorite).

However... during their visit, I started coughing (I have a chronic cough supposedly due to radiation years ago) a lot... more of a loose wheezing cough. This was different. Anyway, I went to my PCP on Monday to have it checked out. She gave me  a steroid injection and a Rx steroids and said it was probably bronchitis. Since I didn't have a fever nor a sore throat, she put off the Rx antibiotics for now.

Then by Tuesday DH was coughing also... so he went in the doctor's. They tested him for Covid and Strep. He was negative for Covid and positive for Strep! So... they asked me to come in and be tested. I did. Same result... negative for Covid, but positive for Strep...???

Neither of us has a sore throat, nor a fever. Doctor says sometimes that happens...?? Now both of us are on Rx antibiotics and had to call our weekend company and inform them. Sure hope they don't get sick.

So far, so good, talked to them yesterday (7 days since they arrived here lastThursday) and no one is sick. Fingers crossed!!

Now... enough of that. Here's a video of one of our larger box turtles that visit our yard and eat the dry cat food. DH brought him inside for a minute to show me. We have many smaller ones, but this is a big guy.

(always remember to click on small box to get video to enlarge)

... and a few pictures that I like:

and...

Have a great weekend!  (Two of my favorite bloggers were in hospital recently. Sure hope you are both home and doing well...)

feral resting under fern out back

Hugs (virtual),

Rian 

Rabbit! Rabbit! White Rabbit! June 1, 2026

 

Rabbit! Rabbit! White Rabbit!

We have company coming in this week. DH's brother and wife come in every summer for a few days and we eat out at their favorite places... as well as visit Ham's Peach Orchard in Terrell, TX. 

So this past weekend we're getting things ready for company. This involves some de-cluttering and general clean-up (mainly floors and dusting). Actually, I've gotten a bit lazy about it all... things are pretty much ok as they are... but I use to do a major overhaul in the past... too old to do all that now. 

But we do always cook their favorites on the night we don't go out... DH's red beans and rice and my stuffed artichokes. The dessert varies - sometimes buttermilk pie and sometimes my favorite dark chocolate pie with bourbon whipped cream. 

Since we go to Ham's one morning and have their home-made peach ice-cream while sitting in their old-fashion rockers outside, we take home their fresh peach pulled pork sandwiches for lunch that day. These are really delicious! (I'm not supposed to have them as they are not gluten free, but I usually take a bite or two).

We also hit our favorite Italian restaurant... as well as a great crepe breakfast place.

So, yes, the days are spent mostly eating and talking. But it's a fun get-together that we all look forward to.

*BTW, I think I've figured out how to Zoom! Scheduled a zoom meeting with my cousin. Will let you know if it works out. 

(It didn't)  :(

Some memes I like:

I know there are...

Hugs (virtually),

Rian

Update on goings on here...

Since I haven't posted since May 9th, I thought I should give a heads up... not that anything interesting is going on. But I haven't felt well in the last week... just extremely tired, a little light-headed (felt faint 3 times which is really unusual for me). 

My B-12 is normally low to low normal, as is my D-3. I take D-3 daily (for the most part - sometimes I forget). And I used to take a B-12 injection once a month. But since my eye issues, I've neglected to take them for the last 8 months. So I got a B-12 injection this past week. It's been 3 days, has it made a difference? I can't tell... maybe not as tired. But my bp has been pretty low... 80/59 on some readings. It usually goes up to 110/63 or so later, so I generally don't worry about it.

But something strange happened the other night. It was 80/59 at 9pm, and then jumped to 165/90 by 10pm... and all I did was go to bed and was reading... when suddenly I felt weird... so thinking my bp was getting lower, I got up and took it. Instead it had risen to 165/90??? So DH and I sat up until 1:00 am checking it every 15-30 minutes to make sure it didn't go higher. It didn't... and by midnight, it was back to normal.  Why the sudden jump? I have no idea. 

Saw the doctor (actually my Nurse Practitioner that I really like) the next day and she ran a UA and a Blood-test. Both were pretty normal except for my MCHC is low... but only borderline low. This could be due to Iron deficiency or my low B-12 levels. My NP is concerned that I don't eat enough (I don't eat much red meat, but I do eat chicken and salmon). Granted I don't eat a lot... but I think I eat healthy.  My weight stays within 5 lbs one way or the other from 120... and at 5'4, I think that's pretty normal. 

And due to the fact that I have migraines, interstitial cystitis, mild IBS - and all of these have food restrictions. Basically I'm gluten-free, lactose free, can't have too much acid (tomato sauce, etc.) for the IC, and no artificial sugars, nitrates, etc. for the migraines. It does cut down on what I eat. 

I usually eat oatmeal with blueberries or banana for breakfast with a expresso size cup of coffee. Half an avocado and cheese and crackers for lunch, and a normal supper (meat and veg). I snack on nuts and apples, sometime a small piece of pie or cookie with tea at teatime (3-4pm). That all seems healthy to me??? If I'm hungry anytime day or night, I usually have tea and toast...

OK... that's all probably TMI, but since my followers numbers are small, I don't think I mind sharing. Just hope it wasn't too boring. And truth is, I'm hoping someone out there may have some advice.

As for my eye issue, it's better (I think), still drips tears and aches a bit on occasion, but looks OK. Think it's just adjusting from the 5 surgeries. Hope it will somehow return to normal at some point, but if not, it is what it is.

Will find a few memes to add here and hopefully elevate the mood:

...and going to add this one that my daughter sent me after having a difficult day at work:

Hugs (virtual),

Rian

a look around our house... and Happy Mother's Day!

Our AGA

It's obvious that I have nothing of interest to post... so, I thought I'd just post a few pics of rooms in our house.  Not terribly interesting, but I do enjoy seeing the insides of other bloggers dwellings, so maybe it's not too boring.  

The two main rooms we live in are the kitchen and the front room. So, that's what you're getting. Both are a bit cluttered. I like to cook and thus, want things close at hand, so my counter space is limited... and I like to putter around with my art, books, and plants in the front room. Thus, it's not exactly a Good House-keeping showcase.

But we love it... and it's comfortable... and we've been here since we built it in 1985. It could definitely use some remodeling, but at our age, I doubt that we will do much. I would really like to run the small entry porch across the front of the house one day. Then we could sit out there in the morning or evenings and watch the walkers go by... 

But first - the kitchen. It isn't large, but isn't small either. Half of it is the cooking area and the other half has a table and chairs, a cup cupboard... as well as a French door leading out to the back patio (the window to the feral world). 

window to the feral world

And of course the main part of the kitchen is the AGA, an old English stove that we fell in love with and bought years ago.  It's always on (no preheating necessary), .... no knobs... and has 4 ovens and 2 hobs.   Here's some pictures:

Kitchen from one side: These objects in front (burner and pancake grill) are not usually there

Kitchen from the other side:  Was cooking when taken (old pic)

Both these pics were taken years ago.  But nothing much has changed... except in this lower one, granddaughter has grown from 7 to 13 (pigtails to no pigtails - I loved those pigtails). 

...and now for the front room:

I took pictures from different angles to get a better idea... but I do have books, blankets, my writings, magazines (mostly food ones) here and there... so, yep... a bit cluttered.

One more angle... to show where I sew/sketch:

and of course, there's my plants:

These are in the right hand corner of front room... with more in the left.  I hope to eventually cover the room with them.

And that's it.  Tomorrow is Mother's Day and the roses on the table are from my oldest son and his wife.

Happy Mother's Day!

Hugs (virtual), 

Rian

Rabbit! Rabbit! White Rabbit! May 1, 2026

 

Rabbit! Rabbit! White Rabbit!

\
It's May 1st!  (and I almost forgot...) 

DH reminded me this morning. So, here's wishing you all 

a wonderful healthy happy May!

Hugs (virtual),

Rian

a hodge podge of thoughts and ideas...

Having been busy these last few weeks with visiting in the Hill Country, the unexpected trip to N.O., daughter and son-in-law coming home for a few days, learning to accept my new eye's condition, etc., I haven't had much time to think about things (or read)... as sometimes you just 'go with the flow' and do what needs doing. 

Can't say I haven't enjoyed all of it... even the unexpected visit to N.O. for a family funeral, but now it looks like I may have a few weeks to just 'be'... and 'think' (and read!).  That may sound weird, but perhaps I am a bit weird. To be truthful, I've always thought weird or eccentric was kind of interesting... definitely  not boring (now there is a thing as "too weird" - that I don't care for).

Today I'm back to typing my children's short stories onto the computer so that I can eventually upload them into my book "In Remembrance of Me" (for my family). It will contain my stories, poems, thoughts, essays, and maybe even a few sketches and watercolors. 

Since I know so little about my grandparents - having never thought to ask when they (or other family members) were still around to ask, I thought I'd leave some account of my life for those who might be interested (or not). 

Also, I still need to put away Easter... or at least the baskets, plastic eggs, and a few other things that are still hanging around. I did take the "Happy Easter!" from my door a while back.

And I may need to make some Brown Butter Coffee syrup as well as some Turbinado Vanilla Sugar and some Power/Energy Balls to have on hand... and to put in my friend's upcoming birthday bag. These are all great and I can post the recipes - or just google.

Our little raccoon that comes by every night between 9 and 10 is still making his appearance. Here's a short video I made of him the other night. We have begun to call him "George Cooney". 

(Don't forget to hit the little square button to make the video larger)

...and I will close this rambling post with a recommendation to watch The Truth about the Harry Quebert Affair... which is streaming on Prime. It's one of the best shows we've watched in a long time.

And a few memes:

I do this...

it takes me a while in the morning...

I do this too...

As always, thanks for reading...

Hugs (virtual),

Rian

' 

Unexpected trip...

Just back from an unexpected trip to New Orleans this week. My brother-in-law passed away last Friday and his funeral was this Wednesday. I say 'unexpected'... but he was 93. My sister (his first wife) passed away back in 1987. She was only 51. 

But despite the sad circumstances, it turned out to be a good visit. I hadn't seen my niece (my sister's oldest child) or her brothers in years (probably the last time was at my own mother's funeral in N.O. back in 2008 - 18 years ago). We text/email, but it's not the same. Seeing their children all grown and adult was wonderful. Hugging them all was wonderful too.

After the funeral, we all went back to the Air-B&B they were staying at in St. Rose. There we ate and talked till late in the evening, swapping stories of time past, people gone, and what all our lives were like now. It was good.

Because of the time crunch, DH and I flew Southwest both ways. We haven't been on a plane together since before Covid. Things have changed. The airports have changed... actually aesthetically for the better. But with all the TSA and security, they ask you to arrive 2-3 hours ahead of your flight time. So, you are left with a lot of time to just hang around. Granted if you want to eat or shop, it's probably good for the airport. We don't do either... just buy a coke and water, possibly a magazine and sit.

Another thing we noticed, we flew on the big new Southwest Boeing 737MAX8 - which has 175 seats (now assigned). Some have extra legroom (you pay for that). Others (ours) are from the wing on back. (row 17 on) Not a problem. I like to be on or behind the wing.

But... what we did notice that the aisle between the seats seemed very narrow (17 inches wide). You have to turn your carry-on the side to get it through. Carry-on maximum size is 24x16x10. Not a problem either, but just wondered how very large people would get through. Maybe that's always been a problem...

Anyway, the flights themselves were fine... no delays, no cancellations. I do love to fly... just don't like the hassle at the airports.

And lastly I'm going to tell you about my cousin (who we stayed with)’s  elderly cat, Teddy. She got him as a rescue after her own 15 year old cat died. Teddy is a domestic shorthair, gray, and about 9 or 10 years old. He is a sweetie! Friendly and loving, and very observant. He watches you very closely, and comes when summoned. 

We were told that his first owner passed away and he found himself at a shelter (for several years). My cousin took him in about a year ago and they have made great companions. Only problem is that he had had surgery previously and recently had to have another operation for some growths... and unfortunately she received his diagnosis of cancer the day of my brother-in-law's funeral. The Vet told her that he may only have another year... but he seems fine, eats well, doesn't seem to be in any pain, and we're hoping they are wrong. (I was told that with 2 of our cats in the past and one lived 10 years, the other 15) So, you never know.

Anyway, here are a few pics of Teddy now... wearing the cone of shame after his second surgery.

new surgery areas

Despite this diagnosis, he is a lucky cat. My cousin spoils him with his favorite foods, several cat trees, scratching posts, toys, etc. And he seems to be responding well to all that love and attention.

Closing this now. We flew back Friday afternoon. It was a bittersweet trip... sad event, but wonderful to see family. 

Thanks for reading. Enjoy your Sunday! 

Hugs (virtually),

Rian

(Seeing the Eye Specialist tomorrow... for a visit and consultation)