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

💓

Playing Catch-up...

African chicken peanut soup

Thought I'd try to play 'catch-up' a bit here. Made this soup last week, ate on it for 2-3 days and froze the rest. We really like it! Sent a pic of it to my cousin in New Orleans. She asked for the recipe and made it herself yesterday. 

Vic (one of my followers who doesn't have a blog - I think) mentioned in her comment that the cheese biscuits sounded good and was looking for some recipes. Here's the one I use... it's so simple and good thought maybe I ought to share:

Great Cheese Biscuits

Ingredients:

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

1 cup melted butter

1 cup sour cream

2 cups self-rising flour (which I normally don't have... but can make by substituting 2 cups AP flour mixed with 2  teaspoons baking powder and 1 teaspoon salt)

Preheat oven to 425. Mix all ingredients. Then either spoon into well greased mini-muffin tin (makes 24 mini-muffins) or cut with biscuit cutter. Bake for 10 mins (till golden). Cool on wire rack for 5 mins.

I have also halved this recipe to make 12 mini-muffins for just the 3 of us.

There's not much to tell here as since my last eye surgery and the Arctic freeze we haven't gotten out much. 

Ferals doings fine. We have one raccoon that comes by every evening around 9pm... looking for a hand-out. He stands up on the Kitchen French doors and basically says "I'm here!" (sometimes he even bangs on it) We give him bread or cookies or whatever is on hand that day. One day he got a left-over cream puff... he was excited. I think raccoons have a sweet tooth... 

And we still have the 2 feral cats (the gray we call Shadow and the black we call Missy). They come by almost daily... and are usually waiting by the door in the morning. And if it's really cold, sometimes they will sleep under the heat lamps on the back porch. 

But we still get an occasional coyote in the yard... even though we had coyote rollers put on the back 6 ft fence. We think one comes in from our next door neighbor's retaining wall. He scares away easily, but it's still a concern for the ferals. 

However, it is mating season and our local newspaper says to be alert for seeing more feral activity (coyotes and bobcats). They recommend keeping a close eye on small pets when outside and not to call Animal Control unless an animal is acting sick or weird. Clapping your hands or banging a pot (we use an air-horn) will make them run away. 

And our crows have gotten quite comfortable... both in the front and in the back. They 'caw' whenever they see us and hang about the trees waiting for their peanuts or cheetos. Some are a bit greedy and try to get 2-3 peanuts or cheetoes in their beak at one time... occasionally one does it, most give up and take just one.

Our youngest son came by yesterday afternoon and said that the crows are all cawing and hanging about in the front when he came in. We said we know - they have gotten to know that we are OK with it.

Closing this before it gets too long and boring. Will post a few memes or pics I like.

and

I would buy this coffee...

and lastly I'm going to post 2 poems that have been running around in my head lately... not sure why. But both these poems I read years ago and they somehow made a point with me.

"Loyalty" by Berton Braley.

HE MAY BE six kinds of a liar,
He may be ten kinds of a fool,
He may be a wicked highflyer
Beyond any reason or rule;

There may be a shadow above him
Of ruin and woes to impend,
And I may not respect, but I love him,
Because — well, because he's my friend.

I know he has faults by the billion,
But his faults are a portion of him;
I know that his record's vermilion,
And he's far from the sweet Seraphim;
But he's always been square with yours truly,
Ready to give or to lend,
And if he is wild and unruly,
I like him — because he's my friend.

I criticize him but I do it
In just a frank, comradely key,
And back-biting gossips will rue it
If ever they knock him to me!
I never make diagrams of him,
No maps of his soul have I penned;
I don't analyze — I just love him,
Because — well, because he's my friend.

and

"Outwitted" by Edwin Markham

He drew a circle that shut me out—
Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout.
But Love and I had the wit to win:
We drew a circle that took him in! 

OK, yes, I know I've jumped around a lot here... but that's just how my mind works. (Deal with it! - no, just kidding)

Really closing this now. Wishing you all a good weekend. Thanks for being still here - if you got this far.  

Hugs (virtually),

Rian

 

 

Rabbit! Rabbit! White Rabbit! Feb 1, 2026

 

Rabbit! Rabbit! White Rabbit!

Well, here it is February 1, 2026 already.  This little bunny looks like he has a static electricity problem with his bunny fur!

The Arctic Storm has played havoc with the weather across the country. Please stay inside, stay warm, stay safe, and don't try to walk on the ice! 

I recommend a cozy fireplace, lots of warm blankets, hot tea or hot chocolate, and fresh baked cookies to get you through it... or a huge pot of home-made soup... and cheese biscuits! 

Hugs (virtual),

Rian