A Week in Two Days

It's only been two days since my last post, but it seems as if a lot more time has passed. When I left you, I was getting ready to start the prep for my roto-rooter treatment. It's all done now, but oh my...what a process. This isn't my first rodeo, and so I knew what lay ahead. It's a little like childbirth, though. Once it's over, the pain is quickly forgotten. I was impressed by the compassion and competency of the team of health care providers who took care of me. It made an otherwise distressing procedure downright pleasant. I've been given the "all clear," but I have been moved into the category of greater frequency for these procedures. It's a little early to start gnashing my teeth over it now. I'll have plenty of time to think about it before the process starts all over again.

In the meantime, and as a distraction, I did get some sewing done. I filled in my hoop for Pieces of the Past.

I've already started stitching the next section, and I'll pick it up there this morning. I'm approaching the halfway point. When I purchased this pattern, I also purchased the floss packet. As I'm working on it, I'm running concerningly low on a few of the colors. Already I've substituted one of the yellows from my stash of leftover floss, and I can continue to do that. Also, I can set it aside if I need to get more. I'll let my supply of floss help me decide whether to stitch the whole thing now or set it aside for a floss-acquisition trip.

For now, I'm just really enjoying all the color. The designs are so pretty and delicate.

They make me think of my mother and my grandmother, who loved pretty china like this. My mother had a bone china cup collection.

While I was stitching, I noticed another of the Western Tanagers at our feeder.

These images are taken from inside the house, zoomed way in, in low light, and through a window. And so I've taken dozens of pictures, just hoping to get a few that are in focus.

Since I can't decide among them, you get to see several.

I believe this next one might be the female. If you're wondering what she's perched on there, it's the arm that holds my bird cam. I haven't used the bird cam for a long time because I end up with thousands...maybe millions...of pictures of the same bird. We could take the arm off, but the pigeons use it as their perch when they're at the feeder, and so we leave it for them.

We had a pretty nice day on Wednesday, and so I made a trip into town to pick up my annuals. I was halfway home when I realized I hadn't included any geraniums. We had dinner out last night, and so I was able to pick some up then. Included are dahlias, impatiens, snapdragons, and some "filler flowers." Also, I found a good sized Sun Gold cherry tomato. The one I got at the farmer's market died almost immediately when I set it outside. This one should be hardier.

It's looking like a pretty nice day today. The forecast shows that it won't rain until later this evening, and so I'll get out and plant these today. I'm looking forward to it.

If I can get that finished, I'll get back to the top-stitching on the New Mexico Kitchen block. I was quite a ways into it when I quit last time. I'll pick it up with the shredded lettuce, and then continue on. Probably I won't finish it today, but there should be no problem finishing it off by tomorrow.

Okay, so life really can get back to what passes for normal here at the Three Cats Ranch. I'm looking forward to it. Big sigh of relief at having that dreadful procedure finished.