Wednesday, March 31

Up at 6:30 to get ready to go to water aerobics. On the way into the gym, another water aerobics member and I asked a lap swimmer coming out how the water was. "It's pretty nice," she said, "but it's wet."

What's "pretty nice" to lap swimmers, though, is "pretty cool" to water aerobics members. Br-r-r, hard to dunk down in it today. But I eventually got used to it and enjoyed the workout. Unfortunately, the pool will be closed Friday, though, for Good Friday, and because the lifeguard, who is a coach at the college, will be on a trip with his team.

Back home, once I was ready for the day, I ironed a tablecloth and napkins, and gathered dinnerware, etc., for Easter Sunday dinner. Then I played on the computer, visiting a social network site to watch my son and his band perform, and to watch a video of Ken Robinson, a humorous motivational speaker, talk about how schools undermine creativity in our kids. I thoroughly enjoyed both.

Mother came over while I was doing this and worked on her jigsaw puzzle. She finished it this afternoon.

After lunch, I took Mother shopping at the WDCS. She only shops about once a month, so she generally has quite a list. But it only took about an hour to complete the chore.

Back home, we relaxed with our own activities...Hubbie watched basketball games, Mother finished her puzzle, and I read my novel.

Supper tonight was steamed potatoes, and steamed yellow and zucchini squash, with sliced tomatoes grown at the hydroponic farm.

Later, at 7:30, we went to the local college for a program on the use of herbs for medicinal purposes, conducted by a staff member of the folk center in a town near us. The lady talked about essential herbs, like aloe vera, echinacea, ginger, goldenseal, lemon balm, mint, and sage. She demonstrated infusions and decoctions, and explained tinctures. She sent around samples of various herbs for us to smell and/or taste, as well as bottles of essential oils, and jars of decoctions and tinctures for smelling.

Echinachea summer tincture, she said, is believed to stimulate the immune system and helps fight colds and flu, as well as promoting healing of infections. She cautioned, though, that echinacea should not be used by those with impaired immune systems, such as those with rheumatoid arthritis, or HIV.

In fact, she firmly urged that anyone interested in using herbs medicinally should educate themselves on their safe use...never put anything in your mouth that you're not absolutely sure of.

We were back home around 8:30, and spent the rest of the evening watching TV.