It’s kind of hard to believe that it was one short week ago when I was back home from having my second shoulder surgery.
It’s crazy how quickly time goes by.
I’m doing really well, y’all. I’m sure it’s because of your prayers plus the hands of my gifted surgeon, through whom God worked through to bring relief to my torn body.
My incisions are healing nicely, I think.
I have three holes around the top of my shoulder from the arthroscope and a long scar down my arm from the open repair of my labrum.
I have my first follow-up with my surgeon tomorrow. I think they’ll probably remove stitches at that time. I’ve got to get him to look at one spot where either the skin was pulled too tightly when they sewed me up, or something is infected. Back when I had my second ankle surgery in 2017 (or was it 2018?), one of my stitches got infected, and I had to drain it myself since my doctor’s office was two hours away.
The long incision was glued together. The glue will come off on its own in a few weeks. There’s an anchor attaching my bicep muscle to my humerus bone below the incision, so I have to be a little careful not to put much pressure on it. The anchor will dissolve in couple of years. I’ve got another anchor at the top of my shoulder where my rotator cuff was repaired. It, too, will eventually dissolve.
Go ahead and start calling me the Bionic Woman. Ha!
I have been sleeping so much better than the first surgery. I’m in my recliner and only wake up when I get a little cold. The throw blanket I’m using isn’t quite big enough.
I discovered I sleep better when I take a muscle relaxer, prescribed by my surgeon. I forgot to take it one night, and I was awake, in pain, until sunrise.
I’ve been going back to sleep on the couch for a couple of hours after taking Gambit out to potty at 5:45 each morning. He’s the one waking up that early – not me. He’s used to my regular, workday schedule, bless his heart.
The extra sleep I’m getting is doing wonders for my body.
The Mr. helped me get a bath this morning in preparation for a hair appointment this afternoon. My hair is nasty, y’all. The last time it was washed was last Wednesday – the evening before my surgery. Even though the Mr. and I figured out a way to wash it at home after my first surgery, I’m just not up to the physical contortions required, so I texted my hairdresser and asked for an appointment to let her wash and style it for me.
Here’s my before photo:
I did my physical therapy exercises after I got dressed since my sling was off, and my shoulder was already warmed up from my bath.
The simplest exercise – the scapular retraction – is the most painful. Even putting my right arm in the position it’s supposed to be in hurts. I know that this will get easier but right now, I absolutely dread doing it.
I practiced applying makeup one-handed. I need to get better before Monday when I return to work.
Lunch consisted of my newest cravings of bagel, vegan cheese, and tomato slices.
Last night, I painted my nails with the new polish I recently purchased.
I added a third coat today.
I’m kind of surprised I managed to apply it with my recovering arm.
My left hand is still bruised from where the nurse put in my first IV. It will probably look like this for weeks.
The interruption to the Mr.’s retired routine has been a lot. He’s needed a nap most days and has, more than once, told me that he was going to take me back to work early. I think Gambit is tired of having me home too . . .
My appointment with my hairdresser was wonderful. Having my hair washed and styled by a professional made me feel like a new person.
We stopped by Kohl’s on the way home and picked up a few things that were on sale.
I’m not sure I’m feeling that dress much. We will see if I keep it once I try it on.
So, it’s been a good day – I mean how could it not be with all of that pampering – and I’m much better right now than I had expected going into this second surgery.
Happy Wednesday, y’all! It’s hard to believe that we are halfway through the month of June already. Time flies when summer is afoot.
Here’s the latest round of Joyce’s questions, along with my answers to them.
Joyce, as always, thank you for hosting these fun, weekly, get-to-know-you shindigs.
1. Summer officially begins this week (in the northern hemisphere)…what was your favorite thing to do in the summer when you were a kid? What do you like most about summer now?
When I was a kiddo, I relished the slow, lazy days of summer. I spent many a day watching the morning game shows and then tuned in to a couple of soap operas that followed. Days of Our Lives was my favorite! If I was lucky, my mom drove me and my sister up the road to the state park, where we would swim the afternoons away.
During this empty-nest-not-quite-retired phase of life, I spend my summer weekdays at work and evenings on the front porch watching the sun set. We occasionally get invited to the lake. Another friend couple of ours just bought a tritoon boat. We are hoping for an invite soon!
2. Something you’ll celebrate this summer?
The Mr.’s birthday is the end of this month. Our celebration of that will be very low-key.
We will celebrate the 4th of July with our son and his family. With the 4th landing on a Friday, I’ll have a three-day weekend, which will be lovely.
3. Summer tastes like? Smells like? Sounds like?
Summer tastes like watermelon, lemonade, and fresh tomatoes sliced up and sprinkled with salt.
Summer smells like barbecues grilling and afternoon rain showers.
Summer sounds like children playing in a pool, the thwack of a baseball making contact with a bat, and the ooohs and aaahs of a crowd after a well-placed return on a Wimbledon court.
4. June 18th is National Splurge Day…what’s the last thing you splurged on? What might you splurge on today?
The last thing I splurged on was nail polish from Lights Lacquer, a little, Miami-based, woman-owned company I discovered through an Instagram ad.
They regularly put out seasonal colors, and I fell for the most recent promotion.
I love to sport a light pink during the spring and summer months.
Their nail polishes stay on without chipping for days!
I doubt I’ll splurge on anything today. I’m at the point in my life where if I want something that’s not too expensive (or it’s not too close to Christmas), I go ahead and buy it for myself. I don’t especially enjoy shopping in brick and mortar stores. I just don’t have the patience, so if I splurge, it will be online.
5. Share a favorite summer quote, saying, song lyric, or meme.
6. Insert your own random thought here.
I’ve mentioned the show, The Chosen, before. Do you watch it?
They are slowly releasing episodes from Season 5; the first two are currently available for viewing on Prime Video.
They are doing a sneak preview of episode 3 on YouTube tonight at 7 p.m. Central, and it’s free to watch!
Episodes 3-5 will be on Prime Video June 22nd, and the last three episodes will be released a week later.
Yesterday was my first day of physical therapy on my right arm. It feels like this shoulder saga is playing out in two parts, much like a play with different acts.
Right Shoulder – Take 2
It seems so crazy that it was only Thursday that I had that surgery. My surgeon likes to get his patients into PT as soon as possible after he operates on them.
I’d managed to sleep in, even after the Mr. let Gambit out of the bedroom around 5. I let him out to potty, climbed on the couch, and once I got comfortable slept until 8!!
The Mr. helped me dress. He had to cover my incisions with bandages to protect them from the physical therapy. He removed them when we got back home.
I even put some makeup on. This is my setup for the time being.
Applying makeup with my left hand proved challenging. If you see me out and about, don’t be judging.
I tried to straighten my hair a bit – again a challenge given my limited arm use.
The Mr. had an apple waiting for me so I could have a little something on my stomach during PT.
Gambit was also waiting for me.
He knows he’s going to get bites because he’s old and gets almost anything he wants.
Take a look at my left hand this morning. That bruising is spreading and so ugly!
Physical therapy was rough but because this is my second round of it, I was mentally prepared.
We only did a few exercises – things I had done for my left shoulder – but the reminder of the limitations I am now facing, albeit temporarily, was sobering.
My physical therapist gently stretched my arm out. He told me it was moving well and could see it was doing better than my left shoulder had done during my first visit back in December.
We worked out a PT schedule. When I rehabbed the right arm, I immediately began with two visits a week.
My insurance allows for a certain number of visits every six months and releases those visits on a rolling basis. I’m about a week ahead of getting my visits back, so I had to self pay yesterday morning. Can you say $$$? Yikes!
Going forward, I’ll be doing PT once a week for the first six weeks and then will amp things up to a couple of visits each week.
The first six weeks after shoulder surgery are all about healing. Any exercises have to be passive with the good appendage supporting the bad one, so doing PT more often doesn’t necessarily speed up recovery.
In addition, this schedule will stretch out my allowed visits and allow me to have more in my back pocket for later.
By the end of my session, I was ready for the ice and TENS unit. TENS is the electric stimulation, which helps in pain management.
I got sent home with homework – exercises to do each day.
The only one I don’t like out of these is the table stretch. It has always been my least favorite, and I doubt I’ll be able to do it with much flexibility. The pain it brings about is something else. We shall see if I can do it.
I appreciate your kind comments and continued prayers.
I have a hard time sitting around waiting for things to heal. That’s what this week will be about, and it’s going to be all I can do to be a good patient.
But I will because I am ready to put this saga in my rearview mirror. I don’t want to do anything that will cause a setback.
If you need me, I’ll be fighting for space in my recliner, reading a lot, and catching up with very old Survivor episodes, if I can get the Mr. to share the TV.
I hope your Monday is finding you refreshed and ready for a new week.
Let’s do a weekend recap, shall we?
Friday
I’ll start with Friday since I was off of work recuperating from Thursday’s surgery.
Friday morning, I woke up when the Mr. let Gambit out to pee at 3:45. Yikes! So early! Our little guy is old, so he just cannot hold it as long as he used to.
The first night, post-surgery, wasn’t as terrible as I’d anticipated. I set timers to stay on track with my medicine, which kept the pain level tolerable.
These pain meds always make me itch, so I found myself scratching frequently throughout the night.
Take a look at the bruise on my hand. This is from the first iv the nurse put in – the one that wouldn’t allow fluids to drip because it was near a valve.
I have bruised easily for most of my life, and with the skin being so thin on the top of my hand, I was not all that surprised. It looked worse than what it felt.
Here’s what it looked like Friday afternoon . . .
After I got up, I read my First 5 devotion. We are studying Jonah right now.
Then, I got started on my NY Times games.
I don’t pay for a subscription, so I only play the free games. The Mr. and I like to compete against each other. With the recent app update, they created a Friends option. Rebecca and I are friends on all of the apps, so naturally, I invited her to join me.
I love puzzles and word games. These are great ways to keep my brain engaged.
With some of my games started (I have to ruminate on them sometimes because the answers don’t always come to mind quickly – if at all), I set them aside and listened to a couple of podcast episodes.
I also made my first cup of tea since Wednesday. It was delicious.
The Mr. had prepped Gambit’s food bowl for me, so when he let Gambit out of the bedroom around 6, I fed him. We spent the next hour or two watching the sun rise.
I also texted with Rebecca. We’ve been friends since 2006. She’s one of my dearest friends. She’s also an early riser like I am, so texting at that time of the day was perfectly acceptable.
I dozed in my chair a lot Friday. Pain medicine always makes me so sleepy. I can’t wait until I don’t need them so I can free myself of the cloudy funk I’ve been in since Thursday.
I iced my shoulder and neck all day following the 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off routine as instructed by the discharge instructions. I had a nerve block, which was administered into my neck. I remember being unable to turn my head without pain for almost a week after my first shoulder surgery. I wanted to see if I could cut down the length of time of the soreness, so my timer was constantly going off with reminders. Good thing I’d discovered how to label each one because I would have driven myself crazy trying to keep everything straight.
I watched another episode of the first season of Survivor while the Mr. was at the grocery store. He does our big weekly trip each Friday.
You know the saying, “It takes a village . . . “?
Well, Friday, it took a village to care to my needs.
Super Sis stopped by to bring me a package of fresh dill. It’s been difficult to find because everyone in town is making pickles. Tis the growing season!
Then, later in the day, I got a hankering for sliced tomatoes, which I intended to put on a bagel with melted vegan cheese. The Mr. called his mom, who has a garden, but she didn’t have any. She was headed out to Kroger and offered to pick up a couple for me. She brought those by an hour later.
With people texting me all day, I felt very loved.
The Mr. and I watched the opening games of the College World Series. Now that Auburn is out of it, I’m not very interested, but since I was stuck in my recliner, I didn’t have much choice.
The rest of the day was spent fighting sleep. I don’t know if my body was getting rid of the anesthesia, if it was finally releasing the stress brought on by months of pain from the injuries I got back in September, or if it was the pain medicine I’d been taking every four hours, but y’all, I felt rough.
I kicked the Mr. out of the den around 8:30 p.m. and called it a night.
Saturday
I slept as well as one can expect post-shoulder surgery wearing a sling, sleeping in a recliner.
I itched all night long – probably a side effect from the anesthesia as well as the strong pain medicine I’d been on since Thursday.
The Mr. let Gambit out before sunrise, and then he (Gambit, not the hubby) grumbled at me for two hours – begging me to feed him.
I was too groggy to get out of my chair until 7:30. Lol.
I actually did feel refreshed when I finally started walking around. I may have gotten caught up on my sleep.
I got him fed, my morning meds in, and saw a text from Rebecca, who was checking in on me.
Friendship, y’all. This is friendship. 🩷
My hand looked a little better.
The Mr. was still asleep, so I made a cup of tea. Caffeine, y’all. Priorities!
When the hubby got up, he brought me a bowl of watermelon. The goal for Saturday was to get me to poop. I’m know . . . TMI . . . but that’s how I roll around here so, um, yeah.
Anesthesia and pain medicine do a number on my body; getting back into a “routine” is always challenging for me.
Before reaching for constipation meds, I wanted to try to handle things naturally.
I tried eating another half bagel with the toppings I’d been craving . . .
I had mentioned, a few days ago, seeing this recipe on Instagram. I’m resharing the screenshots.
The Mr.’s mom was out and about and picked up the apples we forgot to purchase yesterday.
What did I say about a village?
I dozed a little Saturday afternoon while the Mr. watched baseball. Then, it rained. Hello summer!
I did a sink full of dishes since the dishwasher was full of clean dishes that the Mr. hadn’t had time to put away. Washing dishes with my left hand was interesting and very slow-going, but I got the job done.
I watched one more episode of Survivor before turning out the lights.
Sunday
Sunday morning, my medicine reminder went off right before 5 a.m.
I decided to stay awake. I really love sunrise.
I texted a Father’s Day message to Chicky’s husband. He is the sweetest young man. I also texted Rooster. We are incredibly blessed to have both of these guys at the helms of their little families.
Gambit was more than happy to snuggle with me once he got up.
Then, I settled in for some game playing.
I made myself a cup of matcha. It was the first I’d had since before my surgery. Doing everything with my left hand was a lot slower, but I managed! There’s not much that will stand between me and my matcha.
The Mr. cut and peeled an apple for me after he got up. I love a good honey crisp apple.
Then, we watched church from home. I was nowhere near ready to brave an excursion outside of the house.
I munched on another half a bagel.
The sermon was so good. I took notes in my app.
After church was over, God blessed me by allowing my plumbing to finally start working! It may not seem like much, but this was yet one more hurdle to overcome – one I definitely counted as a win!
I’d decided to try to stay off of the strong pain meds to further clear my system.
Ugh. The pain really started revving up, but being the stubborn person that I am, I dug my heels in.
Before baseball got started up, we decided to remove the thick bandaging from my surgery and get me into the bathtub. The last time I’d showered was Thursday morning before my surgery. I had been instructed to wait three days before resuming bathing.
The padding extended down my arm past my bicep.
I grabbed my waterproof sling and my foam bath.
The Mr. had to help me with everything. Fortunately, we are pros now, so we didn’t have a bathroom full of water and bubbles when we finished.
We got our first look at my incisions. They were almost identical to the set I sported on the left side. I think the bicep tenodesis incision is a little longer. It was done as an open incision instead of via arthroscopic means.
I felt like a new person after putting on a pair of clean pajamas.
The rest of the day was spent reading and watching baseball. I have my first physical therapy appointment Monday morning. I’m dreading it because I remember the first one after December’s surgery. I nearly threw up from the pain. The surgeon, however, is very insistent with his protocol. Waiting longer isn’t part of his regimen.
Good thing I’ll be home all week. I’m going to need this time to gain my strength back and get used to the discomfort that will company being up and about again.
24 hours ago, I was preparing for shoulder surgery on my right shoulder. I guess you could say that today is officially day two of my recovery.
First off, I’d like to thank each of you who left a comment telling me you were praying for me. Even if you didn’t comment, but you prayed for me I thank you. I definitely felt the prayers.
I thought I’d do a little recap of surgery day. This will help me remember it in the future and make you more knowledgeable in case you have to go through this one day.
10 for 10 don’t recommend though.
As you might remember, I was up at o’ dark 30 because I couldn’t sleep. The hubby and I left the house around 6 AM and got to the surgery center about 6:15.
That place is a well-oiled machine, let me tell you. They had me checked in very quickly, and before I knew it, I was in the back getting prepped.
By the way, the lady who checked me in was the same gal who checked me in back in December. She was so sweet!
I put on my gown and cap because fashion is super important for an event such as this.
If you look closely, you’ll see a foam box behind my head. That’s actually the “pillow” on the bed.
The last surgery I had, I commented to the Mr. about how comfortable the pillow was. I didn’t realize it was foam. So I looked a lot closer this time.
I told the nurse how much I liked it, and she seemed surprised. I found it in my bag of stuff that I took home with me.
My nurse was the sweetest thing. She shares the same name as my sister! I loved that little God nod.
The warm blankets she got me were everything!
She went to start my IV and actually got one put in, but then my vein didn’t want to cooperate. The IV was too close to a valve, so when she removed pressure, it wouldn’t drip or do whatever needed to do. She even called in another nurse, but they couldn’t make it work. 
I told her that if she needed to do it again, even though I cannot stand needles, she could. That’s what she ended up doing and the second one took much better. It actually wound up being in a better spot too, so it worked out all the way around.
The bruised part of my hand (left side) with the red dot in the middle was her first attempt. It didn’t bruise up until yesterday afternoon. She wound up getting a good stick at the top of my wrist (bottom right).
While she did her thing, we had a a good time getting to know each other. I learned that her husband also works for the college. It’s very possible that I’ve run into him.
Another God nod.
Meanwhile, the hubby sat in a corner indicating, through married silent looks, that he was not amused at the amount of talking I was doing. He cannot handle much verbal interaction early in the day, and since he hadn’t had a cup of coffee, he was really struggling. Ha!
I was the second surgery for my surgeon yesterday morning. I heard him talking to the lady next to me. Her procedure was going to be short and quick. Then he stopped by my cubby and had a little check in. He was pretty confident that things would go quickly. He didn’t think that my right shoulder was as damaged as the left.
Then, he placed his hand on my left shoulder and prayed for me. This man can pray, let me tell you. He even prayed for my marriage – probably because he knows how hard physical challenges can be for a couple. I’m so thankful that he is a Christian and knows the Lord personally.
The anesthesiologist came in and administered the nerve block, which numbed me from my shoulder to my fingertips. Before he did that, the nurse administered a relaxing medication. That was also wonderful.
Then, they wheeled me back and I stayed awake a couple of minutes. I saw most of the surgical techs and even my doctor in there, but then before I knew it, I was out cold.
You’ll laugh at this next part. The first thing I remember was dreaming about blogging, and then all of a sudden I was awake in recovery.
My hubby came in and told me that I had a 50% rotator cuff tear, and my labrum was torn all the way around. Although I was a little surprised at the news, in a way, I wasn’t. I had been telling him that the pain was worsening.
Then, the surgeon came by, and he had pictures from my surgery. I didn’t get pictures when he fixed my left side.
He spent some time talking to us about what he had seen and what he had done.
He found arthritis. I think he might have cleaned that up. He seemed a little surprised with the labrum tear as well as the rotator cuff because the MRI had not shown the rotator cuff torn like that. He also fixed a rather large bone spur and opened up some space in the AC joint. So, essentially, he said we had done a repeat of the left shoulder – the same injuries- the same procedures – the same anchors – the same time I’ll be spending in my sling. Joy joy.
The procedures he performed: rotator cuff repair, bicep tenodesis, and distal clavicle excision.
Although I was numb down to my fingertips, I had a lot of pain on the edge of my shoulder where I think the bone spur was fixed. The nurse gave me more pain meds through my IV, and by the time I was in the car driving home I couldn’t feel that pain.
The nurses at the surgery center were absolutely amazing! They wouldn’t let me go home until I was 100% comfortable. I think it helped that they weren’t super busy too. I think most surgeries happen towards the end of the year when people are trying to finish using up insurance benefits.
Because the surgery took longer than what the doctor had expected, I did not get home until about 11:30. I think the surgery was a little rougher than the first one. We will see though.
Gambit was very happy to see us, and I think he’s happier because the surgery was on the right arm, which means he can still sit with me in my recliner because he sits on my left side.
One thing I’m having to watch out for right now is my arm dangling from my sling. Because my arm is still numb from the nerve block, I cannot feel when it slips out of the sling. So every time I have to get up, I have to check to make sure my arm is not hanging down, which is a very bad thing with the repairs I had done.
I’m grateful that I didn’t wake up nauseous from the anesthesia. My throat was very dry and sore, though. The hubby had bought me vegan ice cream which he fixed me a bowl of after I got home.
Other than that, I’m just taking it easy, and we’re going to take it day by day.
We sat on the front porch for awhile.
This is Gambit’s favorite place, other than beside me on my recliner.
The nerve block started wearing off late afternoon – a mere nine hours after being administered. Rats! I immediately started taking pain meds, per my doctor’s instructions. By 8:00, the pain was rolling in.
Fun times, y’all. The first three or four days were the worst the last time.
I start physical therapy Monday, which sounds crazy doesn’t it? I have a follow up appointment with my surgeon next Friday.
I’m off of work all next week, and I’m really grateful for that. I know things are going to get a little bit tougher before they get better, but I’ve been through this before, so I know what to expect.
Thank you for all of your prayers! They mean so much to me. I know that God hears prayers. Please keep them coming, as I have months of recovery ahead of me.
Truth be told, I’ve been awake for almost two hours after a night spent tossing and turning.
It’s a good thing I turned in early, because sleep was elusive.
The five alarms I set before going to bed really were unnecessary.
This morning, I’m going in for my second shoulder surgery.
By all appearances, I’ve been calm and steady.
I spent the week preparing for my absence at work – leaving goody bins for Camp War Eagle ready for my boss and coworker, who will be answering all of the questions at our table while I’m at home recovering.
Yesterday, when I got home from work, I prepped a pot of Chipotle Black Bean Soup for post-surgery days. I even portioned it out to make things easier for the hubby, who will have to do everything for me for a short little while.
The recipe is in this cookbook – a favorite of mine.
I showered using the surgical scrub provided to me by my orthopedic surgeon’s office, and I get to do that one more time as soon as I drag myself out of my bed, where I’m currently writing this post.
The scrub is interesting. You shower as normal and then scrub your body with the cleanser-laden sponge. Then, you wait, without the water running, for five minutes, to let the cleanser do its thing before finally rinsing off.
I’ve gotten to be a pro at this, unfortunately.
I washed my hair while I showered as well. I know how difficult this task will be after my surgery, so I wanted to make sure my hair was clean – for a few days anyhow. I may enlist the assistance of my hairdresser the next few weeks until I get to the point where I can do this one-handed. It’s quite a comical event, let me tell you.
I put reminders in a couple of places to make sure I don’t eat or drink anything. I’m function on autopilot each weekday morning, so I didn’t want to mess anything up with this little hiccup in my routine.
My surgery folder and sling are in my car.
I’m wearing one of the new shirts I bought a couple of weeks ago . . .
I’m also sporting my Superman socks because a little superhero help never hurt anyone.
These tangible preparations mask the small bundle of nerves that lies underneath the calm exterior.
I truly won’t know, until I wake up from surgery, how bad the damage in my right shoulder is. I don’t know why that makes me nervous, but it does.
Maybe it’s because the recovery from my left shoulder surgery has been so long and difficult. I still have a ways to go to get that shoulder functioning normally.
Maybe it’s because I’m finally enjoying sleeping in bed again, so a return to sleeping in my recliner makes me sad.
Forgive me while I have a small pity party. I am all about keeping things real, though.
With all of that said, I am reminding myself of the positives.
I am grateful for modern medicine. I’m thankful that God allowed doctors to gain knowledge of the human body’s workings.
I am grateful for the technology that makes it possible to diagnose what ails a person, and for the skills He’s blessed medical personnel with to treat those ailments.
I am thankful for the healing that He has provided in my left shoulder – I’ve come a long, long way since I hurt it last September. What I’ve already gone through the past six months has prepared me for this next part of my journey. The first time around, I was scared out of my wits – unsure what to expect. That’s not the case this morning.
God’s got me, and He will use this for His glory. This knowledge is what, ultimately, gives me peace.
Happy Wednesday and thanks for visiting my blog today!
If you’ve been here very long, you know that Wednesdays are when I answer Joyce’s questions and travel around blog world to see how others responded to them.
So, without further ado, here we go!
1. June 10th is National Herbs and Spices Day. Besides salt and pepper what herb or spice container do you reach for most often? Is there a spice you truly dislike? What’s a recent dish you made that called for more than salt and pepper?
My spice racks are a situation, y’all. Last summer, I pulled everything out and organized them. I discovered multiple bottles of the same spice. I have them grouped in similar flavor pallets because I cook a variety of dishes.
I find myself reaching for cumin quite often. Turmeric runs a close second.
A spice I’m not fond of is fennel. I actually avoid recipes that call for it.
A recent recipe I’ve made that called for more than salt and pepper was this – The Best Vegan Lasagna Soup. It was delicious!
2. It’s been said ‘variety is the spice of life’…in what way is this true for you? Elaborate.
As mentioned in my previous answer, I cook a variety of dishes. As a vegan, I like to explore different flavor combinations. I peruse Instagram for new-to-me recipes, and I have quite a few vegan cookbooks in my cabinet. I actually enjoy cooking for myself more than eating out because most restaurants do not offer a variety (if any) of vegan options.
3. What’s something in your life that adds ‘spice’(excitement, intensity) even if also comes with challenge or unpredictability?
This was a difficult question for me because I like for my life to be calm and predictable.
I guess I could say that being the mama of adult children adds excitement and intensity, sprinkled with challenge and unpredictability. The Mr. and I are pretty settled, so when one of the kiddos says they are coming to visit, we get moving and rearrange a whole lot of stuff to make things happen.
As far as challenging, again, going back to having adult children, learning how to communicate with my kiddos and adjust to their boundaries has been interesting.
I especially appreciate the candor that has grown between my daughter and myself. We had a tough time when she was a teenager, so the open and honest conversations and our efforts to navigate through them with grace have been exhausting and rewarding.
4. If you could instantly master one skill or hobby, what would it be and why?
A hobby I worked hard on last Fall was crocheting. I’m not as good with it as I am knitting, but I pushed through, even as I was fighting through the pain of my shoulder injuries, to make several hats.
Being more accomplished in this hobby would give me more enjoyment in the process.
5. We’re halfway through the year…what’s one book, movie, or activity you’ve loved this year that you’d recommend to others?
A non-activity that’s been a staple in my life these past six months has been rest. Coming off of my December surgery and dealing with the lingering effects of that led me to cherish hours of rest. Instead of running errands on Saturdays, I’ve stayed in my pajamas. I rush home from work or physical therapy and jump into my pajamas. It’s been blissful.
6. Insert your own random thought here.
I’ve been trying healthy drink recipes (non-alcoholic) the last few weeks, and I have the following one queued up next. I found the recipe on Instagram.
I love pickles, and I know pickle juice is very hydrating, so we shall see how this turns out.
What are your thoughts? Would you be willing to try it if someone made it for you?
I’ve been a fan of one of the originals, Survivor, since it first aired back in September 2000.
I think I’ve only missed one or two seasons along the way.
Season 48 just concluded, and expectations are already being raised for Season 50, which will include a cast comprised of past players. I’ve read that there are a couple of players from Season 49, which won’t actually air until this Fall. A lot of people are up in arms about that!
The roster for Season 50 is already out, and I have to admit that my memory has failed me on some of the players.
As a result, I’ve decided to go back from the beginning and rewatch every season.
I expect it will take awhile, but I’m excited about it. The chance to refresh my memory and watch how the franchise has evolved should be fun.
I began Season 1 last Thursday, and let me tell you, I’ve been giggling a lot.
Watching Jeff man-splain tree mail and tribal council has left me shaking my head. I guess back then, new viewers were cropping up each week – people who hadn’t necessarily been tuning in – so he felt the need to explain every single thing – every single episode.
The videography and audio remind me a little of home movies.
The first immunity challenge was a far cry and much easier than what it’s become in recent times.
I noticed during Episode 3 of the first season. During tribal council, when Jeff was asking them questions (very easy compared to nowadays), whoever had the floor held a conch shell.
Like really? This is something a teacher would do in class.
Y’all, I just cannot. Lol!
This show has definitely become a much bigger production over the years.
Watching Richard Hatch play again has been interesting now given how the game has changed over the years. I won’t spoil things for you, but his name, along with a few others’ is legendary.
I miss crusty Rudy, salty Sue, and devious Kelly.
I’m looking forward to seeing Boston Rob and Parvati on there thing.
I can’t wait to watch the season where contestants are placed in the Outback.
I know I’ll be sad when I watch players doing their thing knowing that they have passed away since being on the show.
It’s going to be an interesting walk down memory lane.
What about you? Are you planning on doing a reboot? Have you ever gone back and rewatched seasons to prepare for a new one?
Straining this was not fun. I think I’ll juice my lemons and ginger next time. I was also surprised that it didn’t call for added sweetener. Once I tasted it, I realized that it wasn’t needed. That’s a win in my book!
Friday evening, the hubby and watched college baseball. Teams are in the super regional playoffs, and Auburn is hosting. We are so proud of our team. It is doing so well this year!
The game didn’t start until 7, and because of the rain delay, it went late. I had to go to bed before it was over, but when I got up the next morning, I read that we’d lost in extra innings. Boo. 😔
Saturday morning, I got up before 6 to watch the women’s finals of the French Open.
This has been an exciting tournament!
I’m thankful for the TV that is mounted on the wall beside my desk. I keep it on sports events during the summer while in-person traffic is slower.
The women’s final was incredible and oh so close.
I’m so happy for Coco and her team! 🇺🇸
Saturday afternoon, I attended a baby shower for a friend’s daughter, who is expecting twins in a few months. The Mr. stayed home to nurse his cold.
I love this dress. I got it last year from Amazon. It even has pockets!
On the way to the baby shower, I stopped by the library to pick up this book, which is placed on hold. I’ve found that it’s easier to place a book on hold and let the library staff pull the book for me than me going, hunting for what I want on the shelves, and then checking it out. Call me lazy. I’ll own it.
I had seen something on Instagram about the woman written about in this book, so I knew I had to read more. I’ll start on this after I finish this one, which is on my Kindle . . .
While I was out celebrating the new mama1to-be, Auburn was losing a must-win game. Guess they won’t be going to Omaha this year. We are a little broken hearted. 💔
Saturday evening, we watched The Accountant. The second movie was just released, but since I hadn’t seen the first one, we had to start with that.
It stars Ben Affleck, and I’ve gotta say that I really like him in this movie. His portrayal of a man with Asperger is touching (the movie is kind of violent though, so there’s that).
I woke up around 7:30 Sunday morning to rain, and five minutes later, the power went out! Yikes!
It didn’t seem like it was a strong storm, but this is what I saw when I let Gambit out.
I’d already decided to stay home from church given my upcoming surgery and that the Mr. had been fighting a cold all week. Because of that, I’d planned on watching the men’s final of the French Open. It promised to be another good match given that the guys were first and second seeds.
I watched the first set on my phone, and then, two hours after the power went off, it was restored! Woo hoo!
Y’all, this match was epic!! Both players were well matched, and the score went back and forth.
It was a stellar come-from-behind, clay-in-his-eye victory for Alcaraz.
While the match was on, I blended up a different juice. The recipe was from a reel I’d seen on Instagram. And yes, it would seem that I watch a lot of reels. I may represent that remark. Ahem.
Here’s a screenshot of the ingredients. Y’all really need to watch the video on how she makes it – easy as can be!
These were the ingredients I picked up during my Kroger trip yesterday.
And then the blending happened . . .
I had read someone’s suggestion (in the comments) to top it off with coconut water at the end, so I did!
Here’s how it looks, finished!
This juice is my favorite so far. It’s not tart at all. It is amazing! I may add less sugar next time since the coconut water is naturally sweet.
I’ll have this on repeat all summer long.
After the tennis match was over, I prepared another batch of my ginger-turmeric juice.
It’s a messy job, and I dread doing it, but my body thrives on the two ounce shot I feed it every day.
Sunday evening, we tuned in to the sneak peek of Season 5, Episode 1 of The Chosen.
The first two episodes will drop on Amazon Prime on the 15th.
Even though I know what’s coming because I’ve been a Christian since I was a teenager, watching the life of Jesus depicted so beautifully always brings me to tears.
And that, folks, concluded the weekend!
How was yours? Did you take it easy, or did you run around doing all the things?
It’s just little ole me sharing a few of my favorite things.
First off, gardenias.
I didn’t know I liked these until last summer, when my neighbor gave me some blooms she’d cut from hers.
She called me last Saturday and asked me to meet her at our fence. That’s where she gave me another handful.
I normally cannot tolerate heavy floral fragrances, but for some reason, the smell of a gardenia doesn’t bring on a migraine.
A good back scratcher has quickly topped my list of favorites.
With my shoulders in such bad shape, getting to an itch on my back has been impossible.
After my first shoulder surgery, my left arm itched horribly while the anesthesia was working its way through my body. I borrowed the one he had and slipped it into the sling that was protecting my arm and scratched away!
The Mr. ordered a set of three from Amazon last weekend in preparation for my second surgery.
The handles extend too! I selected this one to keep by my recliner.
This face serum has made my list before. I love Little Seed Farm! Every single thing I’ve ordered from them has been high quality and so good!
Last weekend, my package with a larger bottle arrived.
I use it at night after I have cleaned my face and again in the morning after I’ve given my face a good once over with toner.
My face is softer than it’s ever been.
Did you know that Amazon Prime First Reads offers a free Kindle book each month?
Do a search for “First Reads” from your app or the website.
I have a reminder on my phone to grab mine.
They give an assortment of books, and you choose one. Occasionally, they’ll add a short story that you can download as well.
These are usually books that haven’t been published yet. Sometimes, they are by well-established authors. Other times, they are not.
It’s been hit or miss for me as to whether I’ve enjoyed them. My favorite free book offering has been Mayluna. If you haven’t read this one, do it! It’s full of so much nostalgia. It will tug at your heartstrings.
I enjoyed the short story (a bonus) from this month’s pickings . . .
I already finished reading this book too, which was my selection for the month . . .
I’m a sucker for historical fiction, and this one did not disappoint. It felt like a cross between The Women and Firefly Lane. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Speaking of books, I am a little infatuated with my Kindle Oasis. I purchased it four years ago despite my preference for tangible books. With all of the travel we started doing, I wanted something portable.
I recently purchased a new cover for it, which I embellished with The Chosen and Auburn stickers.
Last year, I saw that Rebecca was testing out a page turner for her Kindle, and I knew I had to get one.
Each part has a charging port.
Once it’s charged up, you press the button on the clip to make the light start flashing, and then you hold down the button on the clicker. This pairs the two.
Then, just clip the one half to your Kindle, and away you go!
This has saved my hand, let me tell you. I’m pretty sure that I would have carpal tunnel by now, which I certainly don’t need given all of the other physical challenges I’m dealing with.
I set my Kindle on my little stand (another Amazon purchase influenced by Rebecca), and I am all set!
Vanilla extract is an ingredient I’ve been using every day. I make a Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie for breakfast each day, and the recipe includes vanilla.
This is the brand I’ve been using lately. I order it from Amazon.
I actually got a two-pack this time around. It should last a good while since I rarely use more than a half teaspoon.
I ordered a new set of dishcloths. My office has a tiny kitchen, and prior to me working there, I guess they only used a sponge to hand wash dishes. I detest sponges, so I started taking in dishcloths from home, but they were ratty and had holes in them.
Hence, the new ones!
The set I bought includes eight (two sets of the four you see above). I’m keeping one set at home.
I like these a lot. They are a tad on the rougher side, so they do a good job cleaning dirty dishes. They aren’t super absorbent, so they dry quickly.
AuburnChick's Adventures 