Fairy Circle

Our local newspaper featured a photo of toadstools that had popped up in a circle, producing a "fairy ring," or "fairy circle." Superstition has it that these circles are created by dancing fairies. The evenly spaced toadstools above are growing near the ivy around our well house. I can almost see a fairy gaily hopping from spot to spot, magically causing a toadstool to appear wherever her feet landed around the encircling ivy.

Of course, in reality toadstools appear when circumstances are right, like when there's plenty of moisture (recent downpours) and nutrients from rotting organic material.

Camper Fridge

After water aerobics yesterday morning, we packed a lunch and headed out to a town a couple of hours east of us to pick up the camper. We arrived about noon, and stopped by Daughter's house to eat our deli turkey sandwiches and individual containers of fat-free chocolate pudding topped with walnuts. Daughter was at work, and her husband, who was off work yesterday, was running errands. He arrived just as we were ready to leave.

Since I have a gift card to a department store in that town, given to me by Hubbie last Christmas, we stopped by to see if there were any clearance bargains. I came away with a couple of nice blouses, and plenty of money left on the card for another visit to the store later.

From there, we went to the camper sales and service business and hooked up the camper. We were floored by the cost of the repairs. There is a generous warranty on the unit, but we hope we never have another problem with the refrigerator!

Before returning home, we stopped by a discount warehouse club store to pick up several bulk-package items and fresh produce. We were on the road back home around 3 p.m.

Mother opted to stay home with Shih Tzu, and she had prepared broiled salmon, boiled new potatoes, and steamed mixed vegetables for supper. We added grape tomatoes that I'd brought home from the warehouse club store.

Note from water aerobics: we were talking about housekeeping, when one of the ladies, a young woman with pre-teen boys, commented that she knows it's time to mop the kitchen floor when it's so sticky that when she walks across it, her socks pull off her feet. I remember the days when my own teenage boys would spill orange juice, or drop jelly on the floor, and then wipe it up but fail to mop it, leaving a sticky goo.

Time to Push Back From the Table

At Cardiac Rehab, one of the other ladies was up five pounds in weight, which prompted the registered nurse to check her lungs and heart. The lady said she'd spent the weekend with her daughter, who, however well-intentioned, had served pizza for lunch and chicken spaghetti for supper. The lady thought both of these probably contained lots of salt, causing her to retain water. During her recumbent bike exercises, she got winded, and had to stop to recover. Rehab staff monitored her carefully for the rest of the session.

On a lighter note, one of the guys in the session mentioned that a local bank was having an open house today. It certainly wasn't well advertised, because I saw no mention of it in the local newspaper, or even on a banner or marquee in front of the bank. When I got home, Hubbie called the bank, and was told that, yes, they were holding an open house, and they hoped we'd come.

So, out of curiosity, we (Hubbie and I...Mother opted not to go) stopped by there around 11 a.m. There was one long table in the lobby with a cake announcing their level of assets achievement (the cause of the celebration), along with cheese, crackers, vegetables with dip, mixed nuts, a bowl of salty snack mix, and soft drinks. We registered for the cash door prize, sampled the refreshments, and then went on about our business.


Since I ate only a couple of squares of cheese and a few raw vegetables with a small amount of dip at the bank, we cut up fruit...apples, pears, peaches, grapes, and strawberries...after we got back home, and I indulged in a bowl full topped with walnuts to round out my light lunch. Tonight was weigh-in time at Weight Watchers, and I didn't want a full lunch meal to tip the scale. I was still up a couple of pounds at Cardiac Rehab today, so I knew I'd be that much or more at Weight Watchers, especially since I seem to weigh heavier in the evenings than in the mornings.

Hubbie worked in the yard this afternoon, while I met a 2 p.m. doctor's appointment for a routine checkup. Part of the checkup included blood work to monitor my liver function, among other things...this is a necessary test, because I'm taking a cholesterol-lowering drug.

The young woman who drew my blood is a former photography student of mine. She commented that the class she took from me was the best one she took in college that year, and what she learned has continued to bring her great joy, and even some monetary rewards. It's always gratifying to get positive comments from my students.

At 5 p.m., Mother and I went to Weight Watchers, and as expected, I am up two pounds from last month. I'll be watching my diet, until I drop those pounds.

After a supper of homemade split pea soup and PBJ sandwiches, Hubbie and I went to the farmer's market to pick up new potatoes to go with tomorrow night's salmon supper. From there, we stopped at a gas station for a fill-up, then went to the WDCS to pick up a couple of items, before finally stopping at a farm store for dog food.

We needed to get those errands accomplished this evening, because after water aerobics in the morning, we'll be traveling to a town a few hours east of us to pick up our camper. I'm glad the refrigerator is finally fixed, and we can bring the camper back, because I'd like to plan a September trip.

Toadstools and Compost Heap

All around town...on the lawn at the college, on a grassy corner of a curb downtown, and tucked in the ivy surrounding our well house...rise clusters of large, white toadstools. The one pictured in the first two snapshots measures eight inches high and six inches across. In the second photo, our well house seems to rise like a brown toadstool in the background.









In the other three snapshots, a bunch of discarded impatiens, and a single day lily come alive in our compost heap in the backyard. A squash plant thrives there, too, its trailing vine creeping out into the yard, bearing a butternut squash almost mature enough to pick and eat.

On Our Honor

Today was water aerobics day. There were lots of folks at the pool this morning. Usually, there are only three or four of us in the deep end during the 30 minutes before aerobics start, but today eight of us dodged each other as we swam.

We learned today that the pool will be closed for Labor Day next Monday. And on Wednesday, I'll be accompanying Mother to outpatient services at the hospital, where she's scheduled to have a colonoscopy. So Friday will be the only day I can swim next week. However, I'll still go to Cardiac Rehab on Tuesday and Thursday, which should provide plenty of exercise for the week.

After I got home from the pool, Hubbie and I began making plans for a trip to Branson in late October. Sis plans to make the trip with us this time, so we began scouting for extra show tickets for her and Mother. I have tickets to four shows that I've gotten at a silent auction and free in a door prize drawing.

A friend told us that we might be able to pick up the extra tickets that we need at a local radio station. So this afternoon, we called the station, and as luck would have it, they had tickets to three of the shows...two tickets per package, at a cost of less than one ticket at regular price.

Tickets to the other two shows will cost regular price, but I have two free tickets to one of those shows. So we will see five shows at a considerable savings. After lunch, we hightailed it to the radio station to pick up the tickets.

Since we were out, we drove to a close-by town to see if our favorite farmer still had peaches. He didn't. In fact, he wasn't even available at his roadside stand. But there were several large boxes of watermelons at the stand, with prices attached. A sign stapled to a tree advised folks to select what they wanted and leave money for their purchases in a coffee can on a table.

As we were choosing a watermelon, a gentleman arrived, picked the one he wanted, made change from the can, and paid for his purchase. Hubbie only had a $20 bill. The gentleman said the can still had enough small bills to make change, but then there'd be none for other customers. So I searched my purse for the correct amount, which luckily I had. When I paid, I noticed there was a generous wad of bills in the can in denominations ranging from twenties to ones. Only in a small town can a farmer do business this way and not be robbed blind of both money and melons.

A Difficult Day

I started the day with Cardiac Rehab, of course. The scale showed that I'm up a couple of pounds. Despite trying to be careful, weekend meals and last night's spaghetti supper might have contained more salt than usual, causing water weight gain.



After I got home, I arranged silk sunflowers, and cattails gathered from the yard, into a Mason jar, and tied a raffia bow on it. I tucked a sunflower photo greeting card that I'd made on the computer into the arrangement. Inside the card, I'd added a photo of the three of us, as well as a photo of Shih Tzu. We hope the arrangement and card bring a little cheer to our friend who is battling terminal breast cancer and must take medical leave from her job.



At 3 p.m., arrangement in hand, we went over to the college for a gathering to honor this special lady. Attending the event was very difficult. Today she sat, thin and ashen, and obviously exhausted, with an oxygen tank at her side, putting on a brave face as she visited with each of us individually. Mother remarked on how cold our friend's hand was as she held it.

This is a lady, who only short months ago could command a room with her powerful voice, lighthearted banter and bright smile. Our hearts especially went out to her husband, who, though he tried not to let his wife see, was unable to contain his tears for very long.




Refreshments were offered, and although none of us felt like eating, we accepted small portions for politeness sake, nibbling at our food without enjoyment. As at any gathering, folks stood around in groups engaging in small talk. But the atmosphere was low-key, with little laughter, as if our healthy gaiety would somehow be a betrayal to our friend...a reminder to her of how she has been robbed of joy by her disease.


We left the gathering with heavy hearts, riding home in silence. We feel so helpless in the face of this. We want to do something constructive for our friend, but are at a loss to know what would help. And so we'll pray, and stand by should she or her family call upon us.

The Ailments of Friends

The water at the college pool felt great once I was in it this morning. News from the pool today is that one of the group was diagnosed with breast cancer within the past couple of weeks. I worked with this lady during a session for children at the art gallery recently, but apparently at that time she had not yet gotten the results of her biopsy. She and I also worked together several years ago, when I did a month-long photography residency at the middle school where she was a teacher.

Also this morning, a former water aerobics member visited. About a year ago, she and her husband sold their home, bought a fifth-wheel camper, and hit the road. They are back in town right now to visit her husband's elderly father. Eventually, I think, this couple plans to settle down in a town several miles south of here. This lady, who is younger than I am, suffered a stroke about ten years ago, brought on by the extreme stress of her job. She quit her job, of course, and learned the value of play. She was tanned and healthy looking today...and best of all, she glowed with happiness.

After lunch, I took Mother to the worldwide discount chain store, so she could shop for vitamins and other personal items. When we got back home, I ran errands with Hubbie...to the bank, to the health store, and back to the WDCS, this time for groceries for us and for Mother, who didn't want to hike back up to the grocery end of the store after she'd shopped in health and beauty aids earlier.

This trip, I talked with a woman who took photography classes with me in college 20 years ago (we were both non-traditional students, obviously). She's a lady in her late 70s or early 80s, who didn't look well today. When I asked how she's doing, she said she is suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and it's a real chore for her to shop without exhausting herself. She also said her husband has suffered a stroke recently and is pretty much housebound. He is an avid golfer, but can no longer get out to do that, which is frustrating him. She said that he remarked, "If there is anything good about growing old, I wish someone would tell me what it is!" I'm afraid all of us who are experiencing physical ailments that are beginning to limit our activities feel the same way. But I figure all I can do is struggle forward and make the most of what I'm still able to do. Fortunately, right now I feel great and have few limitations.

Also at the WDCS, I talked with another woman who is a Master Gardener with Hubbie. This woman's husband has been in the hospital for eight or nine days, while doctors decide whether to do surgery for his diverticulitis. The woman herself needs knee surgery, but can't think about that until her husband is treated. Both of these folks are in their 70s.

After all the not-so-good news everywhere I went today, I was glad to get back to the comfort and cheer of my home around 3:30 p.m.

Supper tonight was spaghetti, salad, and green beans, always a comfort meal.

Movie: Saturday night we watched another British film called, "On a Clear Day," (2005) rated PG13. In this film, a 55-year-old man, who has a strained relationship with his son, is laid off of his job and becomes aimless until, haunted by something that happened in his past, he decides to swim the English Channel. His friends, and finally his family, rally to help him achieve his goal.

Sunday Visit

We got up later than we intended this morning, which didn't matter since I wasn't planning to exercise anyway. All we needed to do was get chicken into the slow cooker and scrub potatoes for lunch. It was a very simple lunch that didn't require much preparation.

We had a pleasant visit today with Granddaughter, her young man, and his three-year-old boy. We are very impressed with Granddaughter's companion choice...the young man is handsome, clean-cut, polite, and obviously very responsible. His son is very well-behaved and polite, too.

They arrived about 10 a.m., so we could have a couple of hours to visit and get to know the young man and his son before lunch. We are never sure what to offer folks we are not well acquainted with, but both the young man and the little boy ate heartily, so we obviously did an okay job planning the meal. And the little boy's face lighted up when he saw we were having watermelon for dessert.

Just as with all the kids before him who have visited here (including Granddaughter when she was a little girl), the little boy found the toys in our toy box fascinating. The toys we have are ones we've collected over the years...some from yard sales, and some of which were left here by kids when they visited. There's a very old Fisher-Price activity center that's entertained babies and young children for over 20 years; there are old purses, make-up compacts (minus the make-up), and real portable phones (deactivated, of course); as well as dolls and balls and cars. Nothing in the toy box is high-tech, but kids love it all.

As the adult children and grandchildren always do, Granddaughter brought out the photo albums, so she could walk down memory lane, describing to her friend the good times she enjoyed with us when she was a little girl.

After lunch, we all gathered in the yard for group photos. Then we all hopped in the van (except Mother, who wanted to go home and rest) and toured our small town. Obviously, Granddaughter has been to our house many times, but it has usually been on holidays, and not at times when she could leisurely look around town.

We toured the historic homes district, where there are many restored antebellum homes, and the historic business district, where the library, the courthouse, several antique shops, a popular restaurant, an art gallery, and a recently restored pocket park are located.

We drove by the college (the oldest in the state) where I go to water aerobics, and where the lake that Mother and I like to walk around is located. Then we toured the main shopping district, a long stretch of road that is currently under construction to widen it to four lanes and install sidewalks. Since Granddaughter's friend works on similar construction jobs, he was interested in this area.

From there we swung around an upscale residential area, and then came back home.

Hubbie asked if the little boy was ready to eat some ice cream, and the answer was a resounding "Yes!" We all indulged, some preferring vanilla covered in chocolate sauce, walnuts, and chocolate morsels, and some (Granddaughter and I) opting for fat-free chocolate with walnuts and chocolate morsels.

By this time, it was about 3:30 p.m., so Granddaughter and friend decided they should leave, since it would take a couple of hours for them to travel south to the town where they live. By the end of the visit, the little boy, who was shy when he arrived, was hugging us and calling us Grandma and Grandpa. We're glad he decided to adopt us. We hope Granddaughter, her friend, and our adopted great-grandson will be back to visit soon.