Thursday, May 6

Overslept today, until 8:30, but did stair stepping after breakfast. Skipped the resistance and weights exercises, since four times a week is the optimum number of days for this type of exercise for older adults.

Hubbie accompanied Mother to our house around 10 a.m., and she went to her jigsaw puzzle. Hubbie went outside to work in the yard, and I got ready for the day. I didn't accomplish much before lunch beyond washing a load of clothes.

One of the things Hubbie did was climb onto the roofs of Mother's house, and our house, to sweep down gumballs and limbs. I'm not crazy about him walking around on the roof, but I can't stop him from doing it.

The cats didn't appreciate him being up there, either, which they demonstrated by crouching down and quickly slinking away to hide in other parts of the house...which didn't help calm their fears, since they could hear him clomping around up there no matter what room they were in. 

After lunch, Mother and I started a pot of chicken stewing. Then she went back to her puzzle, and I did this and that around the house. Spent part of the afternoon reading the newspapers and playing on my e-tablet.

This afternoon, the tree service guy came and cut that tree on the neighbor's property. He didn't go onto the property, but just cut the part of the tree that was hanging over the fence and blocking sight of cars approaching around that curve.

He refused payment for doing the job, saying that someday we would need tree service in our yard, and we'd remember to call him. However, he wouldn't be unhappy to see jars of homemade jelly on his porch. I think we can manage that.

Later, Mother and I made a double batch of blueberry muffins to go with chicken noodle soup for supper. We made this meal in anticipation of a rainy day, which didn't materialize. But it was a cool day, and the soup and muffins hit the spot.

Hubbie went back into the yard after supper, and I accompanied Mother to her house. Spent the evening watching TV, as usual.

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So much can happen in the course of a week:

Learning that my brother is declining after suffering a stroke;
Learning that Sis is suffering from sciatic nerve pain;
The death of a water aerobics member;
Learning of the death of the wife of my former sister-in-law's son;
The death of a well-known TV personality...we didn't know him personally, but we've known
   him from TV for over 30 years;
Learning about the friend of one of my great-granddaughters, who is suffering from bone
   cancer, and may lose her leg;
Learning that a friend suffered two ruptured disks;
Constant weather disaster news.

And then there are the happier events, like family member birthdays. Those help take the edge off more depressing news.