AuburnChick's Adventures

Hola, friends!

How was your weekend?

Mine was fairly chill. I stayed in pajamas the entire two days, and I’m not even ashamed of myself.

Friday afternoon, I came home to these beautiful flowers, which the Mr. had picked up for me when he was at the farmers market grabbing a bag of raw peanuts.

Nothing says college football like a pot of boiled peanuts.

We use this recipe.

We watched FSU get beat by Virginia, and we weren’t mad about it. We lived in Tallahassee for five years many moons ago. Being an Auburn fan amidst FSU fans wasn’t pleasant, so we’ve always rooted against them.

College football, y’all.

I finished reading a short story, which I’d gotten free through Prime’s First Reads offerings last month.

This was a big nope for me. The story was predictable; the characters were flat.

Books have been such a miss for me lately. I’ve been sorely disappointed by many of them.

I checked this book out from Prime Reading. It had been on my Kindle a long time.

The writing was horrendous. The plot was rushed. The characters had no character.

I gave it ⭐️.

Another book I recently finished was this one . . .

I think this might have been another free book from Prime’s First Reads. I was generous with the ⭐️⭐️⭐️ I gave it. It had too many cliches, and the plot was rushed.

Where are all of the good books?

Saturday

I got up raring to go Saturday. We had an away game, which meant we would be spending the day at home. As much as I love attending football games, I relish the days we can take it easy.

This was my idea of relaxing . . .

I started off by prepping this Jalapeño Popper Cheese Ball. I had seen the recipe on Instagram and knew it would be perfect for a football Saturday.

It was very easy to prepare.

That’s not the most appealing photo. My apologies!

But seriously, the texture and taste were absolutely amazing! This recipe will be on repeat from this point forward.

Then, for whatever strange reason, I jumped right into preparing another recipe.

I had seen an Instagram reel for Vegan French Onion Soup, and I knew I had to give it a whirl.

I used my mandolin to slice four yellow onions. I’d read that caramelizing onions is best done in a cast iron skillet.

The recipe states that it should take 40 minutes for the onions to caramelize. It took mine over an hour, but I was patient, and they finally looked like this.

I added toasted slices of a baguette the Mr. had picked up for me, along with Daiya mozzarella cheese.

The soup was delicious!

My shoulders were done, though, so I spent the rest of the day on my recliner.

We watched our Tigers play Texas A&M. Sadly, we lost.

Ugh.

The game was painful. Our defense was incredible; our offense could not get itself together.

We spent the rest of the evening watching football. Unfortunately, Georgia couldn’t pull out the win against the other school in our state. We were not having a good football day.

I called it a night rather early. I’d been fighting a small cold ever since our trip to our daughter’s house. Every time I fly, I come home with a bug. I decided to give my body the rest it was craving.

Sunday

I woke up coughing, so I decided to watch church from home.

I did eventually shower and wash my hair. I even changed into a clean pair of pajamas.

Ha!

We had a lovely little FaceTime session with our girl and her babies. Our grandson had asked to call; the first word out of his mouth when my hubby answered was, “Jeep.”

The Mr. has a jeep that our grandson has been talking about for over a year. He likes to call and make the Mr. walk into the garage to see it.

Nothing lifts my spirits quite like talking to my grands.

I spent the rest of the day with a new book (I’ll report back when I’m done) and just, in general, took it easy.

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Happy Wednesday, friends. I pray that today is finding you well.

It’s been a busy couple of weeks for me as I am fully immersed in the gauntlet of this season. Whew!

For now, I’m taking a moment to answer the Fall-themed questions Joyce came up with.

Thanks for visiting! I can’t wait to read your own answers.

1. Fall officially rolls into the Northern Hemisphere on Monday (9/22)…what’s your favorite thing about fall? 

College football season is my favorite thing about fall. All of my grand babies were born during the fall, so that now means that we do a lot of traveling in between games. It’s a busy time for us after lazy spring and summer seasons.

2. What’s one thing on your real or proverbial autumn bucket list? 

I don’t have a bucket list for this season. I have a to-do list a mile long that includes shopping for birthday presents, arranging travel back and forth to my grands’ homes, and trying to finagle the Mr. into doing more traveling during Christmas.

3. Apples, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, butternut squash and cranberries are some of the top fall foods. Which one is your favorite and how do you like it prepared? Any on the list you don’t eat? Which one have you had most recently? 

I’ll take apples please, just peeled and raw. I’m not a fancy girl. I often eat an apple for breakfast each day.

Do not even attempt to get me to eat sweet potatoes. It won’t happen. I won’t prepare them for any holiday dinner and will almost gag if I smell them at someone’s house.

4. ‘Fall is proof that change is beautiful’ is a popular sentiment. Would you agree or no? Elaborate. 

I would agree with this statement. I’m a bit resistant to change, but I recognize the blessings that come with it. The seasonal shift to each season forces me to change perspective as I view the world through a different lens.

5. Is there a spot near you where people go to see the leaves change color? Will you try to leaf peep somewhere this fall? Lonely Planet lists the following ten places as the best for leaf peeping…of those listed which would you most like to visit? 

Stowe, Vermont~Shenandoah National Park, Virginia~Columbia River Gorge, Oregon~Zion National Park, Utah~Tennessee/North Carolina border~West Virgina~Northwestern Wyoming~Wisconsin Northwoods~Northern Nevada~Ozark Highlands Scenic Byway, Arkansas

I don’t think there’s a location near me that people purposely visit to see the leaves change. I live in the South where the change isn’t nearly as dramatic as other places in the country.

Leaf-peeping isn’t my thing either. I’m not ever going to plan a trip to go leaf peeping. I appreciate the beauty of a crisp, red leaf if I happen upon it, but that’s about it.

6. My Random Thought

Did you watch the memorial service for Charlie Kirk?

Wow.

Just wow.

To see so many leaders of our country stand on a stage and proclaim the Gospel was something nobody saw coming.

What a reminder of the impact that one servant of God can have.

One person being obedient to the Holy Spirit’s leading.

One person not wasting a second of his life pointing people to Jesus.

My tears flowed as I watched Charlie’s wife take a deep breath and whisper a prayer followed by “I love you” before approaching the microphone.

The pain on her face and the tears that she shed were heartrending as she proclaimed that she had forgiven the person who took her precious Charlie’s life.

What a testament to her obedience to God even in the midst of unspeakable grief.

No ordinary person could stand up under that enormous weight – only someone who walks daily with the Father, leaning into Him for strength.

As I was driving home from dinner last night, I thought about Charlie Kirk and the impact he had on this world.

An old song I used to listen to way back in the day came to mind as I pictured Charlie in heaven, being greeted one day by every single person whose life he touched.

Tender hugs to all of you. I pray that this week treats you gently. I pray that you look for opportunities to share about Jesus. Time is fleeting.

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I took Friday off of work so the hubby and I could jump on a plane to visit our girl and her crew.

Guess whose bag was whose. Ahem.

I normally work half a day when we take afternoon flights so I don’t have to use as much personal leave, but I decided to give myself a break and take a whole day. It was nice to get ready at a leisurely pace. My favorite yoga pants and tank top from my summer wardrobe fit the bill perfectly.

We fly Southwest a lot because the fares tend to be manageable. I was surprised when we approached our gate and saw this.

That guy right there was a deejay, and he was playing music for those of us waiting at our gates.

I saw a couple of ladies at a different gate dancing.

When he queued up Cupid Shuffle, I couldn’t hold back any more. A gal sitting in a chair behind me said she’d go if I would. So we did, and we danced our little hearts out with a small crowd that grew as the song progressed.

It was an unexpected bit of fun that was sorely needed.

I was in the middle of dancing to another song when my group was called to line up to board.

Chicky picked us up from the airport. Traffic in south Florida is beastly. I cannot imagine ever moving back down there despite my babies being there. I love the slower pace and less crazy roads up here in Alabama.

The kids were in bed, but that’s usually the case when we take an afternoon flight.

We did see this.

South Florida homes are not built with fireplaces. My daughter’s house has a very long wall, so they decided to build their own faux fireplace. They’re at the mercy of a friend who’s been helping, so they won’t have it done for awhile.

Little J man heard us arrive. His mama was sweet to let him come out for quiet hugs before returning to bed. Be still my heart.

Saturday morning, we hit the ground running. J is doing soccer at the Y. They do a 30-minute practice followed by a 30-minute game. J freezes up around a lot of people, so he mostly wandered around. He did have one shining moment where he dribbled the ball down and tried to score. Chicky said that he opens up a little more every week.

Little Miss watched her big brother and the other kids. This girl does not stop moving.

She is very close to walking. I think she’s going to be climbing soon as well.

After soccer was over, we headed straight to a park for J’s third birthday party!

He loves all things with wheels and adores the Cars movies.

South Florida is hot, hot, hot most of the year. Saturday was brutal, so we were spent by the time we got back to Chicky’s house.

The kids went down for their naps after lunch, and we settled in to watch the Auburn/Oklahoma game on the new TV Chicky and her husband bought Labor Day weekend.

Don’t even get me started on the pass interference call the ref missed, costing us a touchdown as well as the illegal play Oklahoma made that resulted in their own TD. We were not happy. Auburn didn’t play its best, but when refs can’t get their acts together, it’s even tougher to turn things around.

When the kids woke up, J opened up his gifts. We bought him the cutest coffee machine. It makes the noises that a real machine makes. His parents have a fancy one, which he “helps” with regularly.

We enjoyed watching him use his imagination to create all kinds of coffee drinks with steamed milk.

Sissy was very interested as well.

Chicky’s in-laws live in town, so they came over and ate tacos with us that evening. We always enjoy their company. It’s so nice when you enjoy the other set of parents. It was a late night as we talked long into the evening.

Sunday morning, Chicky and I took the kids for a walk down the street to the small park that’s close by.

Little Miss is big enough to sit in the jeep with her brother. They had a fine time riding around in the field.

We attended church later in the morning and got the kids down for their naps after lunch.

Then, when they woke up, we met Chicky’s in-laws at a local eatery that has several restaurants inside.

I got a vegan pizza and this glass bottle of Coke – such a throwback!

There’s also a place that serves up the best ice cream. They usually have a couple of vegan options that are absolutely the best! This was some sort of vanilla upside down Oreo creation – perfection!

We met back up at Chicky’s house and spent the evening playing with the kiddos before they headed to bed.

We had another wonderful night of conversation before they left and we turned in.

I ordered an early Uber since we were flying out at 9. Our driver did the best job avoiding the traffic snafus. We tipped him well.

Here was the view outside the window after we got to our gate. It was so early!

The flight was short – hence why we fly instead of driving since it’s an all-day affair if we motor ourselves – and got home around 12:30. I’d taken off all of Monday as well. Recovering from travel takes longer as you get older.

Gambit had a new dog sitter. She did a great job, but he was overjoyed to see us.

As I type this, he’s snoring beside me in my chair while the Mr. is snoozling on the couch.

I pray that your weekend was filled with lots of laughter and that you have a good week, friends!

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This bowl of dum dums sits on the counter in front of my desk.

I originally placed it there to provide a little treat to the people who visit my department.

It’s become a lot more than that.

If you look behind the bowl, you’ll notice the glass windows that provide me with a view of everyone who walks past my office.

Not only can I see out, but people can see in, and when they notice the bowl of dum dums, they often drop in just to grab one.

Sometimes they ask if they can have one, and then they leave.

Sometimes, a small conversation ensues. I’ve gotten to know the Fed Ex guy, the UPS guy (we get a lot of mail), maintenance workers, and the children of other employees who work on my floor.

There’s a classroom within view of my office, and students have to pass by to leave the building.

A couple of weeks ago, one gal came in, asked if she could have a dum dum, and, to be polite, started chatting with me.

The Holy Spirit has been speaking to my heart about making other people the center of my focus during social interactions, so with those lessons in mind, I started asking this young lady thought-provoking questions – questions that went beyond yes or no answers.

A friendship started that day, and now, when she leaves her twice-weekly class, she stops by to say hi.

And to grab a dum dum.

I was in the back of our suite yesterday grabbing a snack from the kitchen. When I got back to my desk, she was waiting for me.

Be still my mama heart.

My introverted, awkward, old self was touched by her thoughtfulness.

She’s not the only student who has come by. Earlier this week, a young man came in after spying my bowl and asked, point blank, “So, what do you do here?”

I had to laugh and quipped back, “According to my work bestie, not a lot.”

Of course, I was joking, and my bestie laughed uproariously from her little cubby.

This was the perfect opening to start a longer conversation with this young man.

I learned that he grew up a hop, skip, and a jump from where I lived back in Florida. We had a few other things in common.

A connection was forged.

I invited him to stop by again. I sincerely hope he does.

I am thankful for these opportunities to be a friendly face to these students – especially the ones who are living away from home for the first time – unsure of the path they’re going to take with their studies and future careers.

So, I’ll gladly keep filling that bowl with the hope that it serves as a welcoming beacon to anyone walking by.

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It’s been an emotional week, y’all. I’m sure you can relate. Getting back in the swing of things feels odd.

Here are my answers to the Hodgepodge questions Joyce prepped for us.

1.  Are you more life of the party or more party pooper? If your answer is somewhere in the middle which side of the middle do you lean towards more? 

I’m somewhere in the middle. I don’t enjoy being the center of attention. I’m not opposed to a party, if I know other guests, but I prefer more intimate conversations than standing out among the crowd.

Birthday party, beach party, cocktail party, dinner party, charity fundraiser, surprise party, costume party, garden party, Christmas party, reunion...what’s your favorite kind of party? 

My favorite kind of party would probably be a beach party. I like fun, informal settings.

2. Cheese, wine, and balsamic vinegar all improve with age. What would you personally add to the list? 

I believe that most people improve with age. We tend to be more calm and settled, and, hopefully, more sage.

3. How do you feel about your birthday? How do you want to be celebrated? Or don’t you? 

I don’t want to be the center of attention. I want my children to call me, but that’s really it. With my children grown and with families of their own, and after having my husband forget my birthday two years in a row when our kids were younger, I realized that it’s just another day – no biggie.

4. What remarkable feat, interesting piece of trivia, or historical event occurred on your birth day and month? Not necessarily your same birth year, just the same date/month. 

Hmmm. I had to do some research on this. I was born on Easter Sunday. Bridge Over Troubled Waters was the number one song in the U.S. and Great Britain.

5. Share two good things about your life right now. 

There are so many good things about my life right now. I have the sweetest little grands, and they all have birthdays coming up soon, so I’m going to be doing some traveling to join in on the celebrations.

I have a job I love to go to with colleagues who are more like family than mere coworkers.

I could list so many good things, but I’ll end with the best “good” thing – I’m a daughter of the King, forgiven from the penalty of my sin through the death and resurrection of Jesus. Nothing will ever top this as the best thing in my life.

6. My Random Thought

I did something for the very first time in my life Sunday.

I saw a movie by myself – Downton Abbey.

The Mr. has never watched an episode. I’ve watched every one of them plus the first two movies.

So, I didn’t have anyone to go with me, but I didn’t want to miss out either.

The movie was EXCELLENT. I felt like I had been transported to England and with that beloved family that has carved out a special place in my heart.

The closing scene was EVERYTHING.

That’s me – after the movie – missing mascara from church and the movie’s ending. My emotions have been in overdrive for almost a week.

Take care, y’all. May you seek out quiet to soothe your souls and find moments of joy in the midst of the craziness running rampant these days.

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It feels strange doing a recap of my weekend given the horrendous things that happened last week.

I’ve been a very sad mess since Wednesday afternoon and have found myself tearing up at random times.

It’s been a lot.

I had my last follow-up appointment with my orthopedic surgeon Wednesday afternoon, and while I was waiting to be seen, my husband texted me the horrible news about Charlie Kirk’s passing. I’d already been praying for him, but hearing about his death threw me for a loop, and I fumbled my way through my exam, forgetting to ask the questions I needed to ask, and running in late to my weekly physical therapy appointment. Thank goodness they’re in the same building, but I was quite stressed by the time I got to PT.

One of my coworkers was out Thursday and Friday, so I wore a couple different hats those two days.

Friday afternoon, I stopped at Chick fil A on the way home to grab the free sandwich the app had generously rewarded Auburn fans who live in Alabama. That’s how I cook the Mr.’s dinner some days. A free order of fries accompanied the sandwich thanks to oodles of points I’d accumulated. The fries were for me because carbs and stress go together.

Friday night, the hubby and I watched Erika Kirk share her first words to the public, and my heart absolutely broke for her. I cried the entire time she spoke.

Saturday morning, I slept until 8. Gambit had gotten me up a couple of times in the middle of the night. My body was worn out from that and the week.

We had an early game, so I quickly got ready. Every home game, there’s a suggested color for fans to wear. This particular day, we were asked to don our white gear.

It was a hot one. Whew. We tried putting sunscreen on my scars, but one of my shoulders still caught the brunt of it.

It was Homecoming. The alumni band sat a few sections away from us. They sounded so good!

The eagle’s flight was incredible.

The highlight of the pregame festivities is always the National Anthem . . .

Followed by the flyover.

This was a C17. It was a HUGE plane that flew low.

Ms. Homecoming was crowned, and we won the game.

I grabbed a selfie under a rolled tree during our walk back to our car.

We were a nasty mess when we got home. The heat drained us, so we grabbed our showers, and then I put together a pot of Two Bean Chili from this cookbook.

I used canned beans to save time. It’s a recipe I’ve made many times, and it always turns out great!

I spent the evening reading while keeping my eyes on various football games.

Sunday morning, we got ready for church.

Honestly, I didn’t know what to expect given the week’s happenings.

My church is usually well attended. We have a lot of college students who are there each week. Yesterday, I felt like we were busting at the seams. It did my soul so much good to see these young people there in droves.

I teared up through each song. I kept thinking about how Charlie Kirk was singing in heaven now. I was also reminded that God is still so good, and evil will never win.

After church, I watched a movie and did laundry. I spent the afternoon relaxing.

I recently quit watching Big Brother, so my nightly TV viewing has changed. I had been tiring of this show for a while. Some of production’s recent decisions and the fallout from those decisions, as well as the ridiculous shenanigans by the contestants, made me realize just how stupid this show is.

I have a busy week ahead and will be working through lunch to make up some time I’m taking off.

Please let me know how I can pray for you this week. It would be my honor.

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Hello friends! It’s Wednesday, so you know what that means.

I appreciate the thoughtful questions that Joyce prepared for this week given tomorrow’s somber date.

Thank you for visiting. I’m looking forward to reading your answers as well.

1. What gives you energy? What takes it away? 

Things that give me energy:

• Fridays during Fall because football season, y’all 
• Saturday home football games cheering on my beloved Tigers – War Eagle! 🧡 💙
• Driving to the airport – headed towards a vacation spot or to see my  girl’s crew and my beautiful grand babies
• Leaving early on a Friday to drive north to visit my son’s crew and my sweet E girl
• An office full of visitors when we haven’t been told, ahead of time, that a university function included a visit to our office (this happened last year and kicked my behind into gear to figure out how three advisors were going to have an individual session with each person)
• A good night’s sleep – a rare thing since I turned 50 and especially since injuring my shoulders last September

What takes away my energy:

• Math problems
• Family drama
• Constant physical pain
• Too much sensory stimulation (I cannot stand going shopping for this reason)
• Conversations that don’t have a point
• Small talk (I’d rather have a long conversation that goes deeper into a topic)

2. How often do you shop for clothes? What accessory do you always wear? 

I follow several influencers on Instagram, so if I see something I like, I will order it. I don’t make it a point to go out shopping. I despise it. I’d rather try something on in the comfort of my own home. 

I always wear jewelry – my wedding rings, a ring on my right hand, earrings, a necklace, and bracelets. I even wear an anklet if it’s going to be seen. 

3. What’s something free that you feel grateful for? 

I will never stop being grateful for salvation from my sins – free for me but which came at the ultimate cost to Jesus. 

4. Breakfast, lunch, dinner…which meal of the day do you enjoy most? What’s your go-to comfort food? 

I prefer dinner the most. I’m not a big breakfast eater and would quite honestly skip it if I was retired and not getting up so early.

There’s something about ending the day with a little dinner and either a good book or something on a streaming service. 

Mexican food is my comfort food. Give me a bowl of chips and salsa, along with a bean burrito, and I’m a happy lady. 

5. This week the world remembers the tragic events of 9/11. Do you mark the day in any way? How do historical events shape your perspective on your personal challenges? 

Oh my heart. This anniversary breaks me every year. I’ll never forget where I was when I learned about the first plane hitting the World Trade Center – the all encompassing sadness that flooded my body – the shock that continued to increase throughout the morning as the events unfolded. 

I was a stay at home mama at the time and was on my way to a hair appointment. I cried in my car in the parking lot as I imagined what every single loved one was experiencing at the sudden and unimaginable loss. I’d lost my dad very unexpectedly that April and was still grieving very heavily. 

I mark this tragic day by remembering, through tears, that horrible day and the ones that followed. 

A few years ago, when I was still teaching, I presented a lesson about September 11th to my students, and I couldn’t get through it without breaking down. It’s a sadness that will never go away completely. 

I think it’s natural to ask, “Why?” What’s the purpose in the hard when it touches my life? 

Looking back at historical events helps me see that in the moment, something can look quite bleak, but when all is said and done, good always comes from the event. God uses every single thing to bring us closer to Him and, ultimately, to bring glory to Him. 

6. My Random Thought 

Speaking of hard stuff, our little corner of the world was rocked Saturday when a retired professor was killed while walking her dog at a local park. This happened in broad daylight. Here’s the link for an article about what happened.

I am so sad for her family, friends, colleagues, and students. I didn’t know her personally, but the tributes others have written speak volumes about the impact she had. 

I’m not gonna lie. I’m also mad. Why should I be afraid to go on a walk or even to a store? I remember years ago, when I taught school in Florida, and I’d go for runs in the wee hours of the morning before the sun was even thinking of making an appearance. I usually felt safe except for one morning when I noticed a car slowly following me. I made like I lived at one of the houses before booking it home when the car disappeared. 

I often pray for Jesus to return to take His children home where every tear is dried, every heartbreak is mended, and where evil no longer exists. 

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Good Monday morning, friends!

Did you have a beautiful weekend like I did? The weather was absolutely divine!

Friday found me with a lot of pep in my step. There was a lot more activity on campus in preparation for our first home football game.

I ordered a vegan pizza from Mellow Mushroom, and it was fabulous!

I’m so grateful for a place that offers vegan cheese, which makes all of the difference on a pizza when you can’t have dairy.

Pro tip: use the Tiger Town To Go delivery app. The company is local, and they do the best job getting food delivered in a timely manner.

I watched the men’s semi-final. Unfortunately, Djokovic couldn’t pull out the win. I like Alcaraz too, so I wasn’t upset.

The hubby and I grabbed sushi after I got home from work, and then I started a new book.

I’ll let you know what I think about it after I finish.

I slept in Saturday morning and got in some good snuggles with Gambit.

Then, I got busy making another batch of the vegan chicken salad that I’d prepared the week before. I didn’t press the tofu this time, which helped a little more with the texture. I also used a grainy mustard, which improved the taste.

Auburn wasn’t playing until 6:30, so I had all day to relax before getting game day ready.

We rented a parking spot at a local church, which we had done last year. This makes it easier to drive to campus. In the past, we’ve driven two cars down, parked one, driven home, and then had someone take us to the mall to grab a bus that Auburn’s transportation office provides for game attendees. It’s been a pain for us, so we caved and reserved our parking spot.

We hoofed it across campus to visit a friend’s tailgate. They always do it up fancy with a hired band.

I was super nervous about someone bumping into me. Both of my shoulders still hurt, but the right one, which had surgery in June, is still a bit of a mess.

So, we walked to the stadium early to avoid the crowds. This allowed us to get settled and enjoy the pregame festivities.

The weather was perfect. It was overcast, and there was a delightful breeze.

I didn’t eat at the tailgate, so the hubby grabbed a pretzel for me. Stadium pretzels just hit differently – especially with mustard.

The university added a new Jumbotron to our end zone. I’m happy for the people who sit on the other end.

The eagle is always my favorite.

The band comes out after the eagle flies.

Then, the flyover happens. Saturday, three helicopters did the honors. I always get chills.

The game was a lot of fun. A young lady in her late 20’s sat to my left, and she was a hoot. She was probably a few drinks into her day, but she was very friendly and commented that only in Auburn can you go to a game, not know a soul, and make friends the moment you sit down.

The light show between the third and fourth quarters was exciting.

Night games are my absolutely favorite. They have their own vibe – so much more of a party feel. I loved watching our players dance on the field. College should be a time of lightheartedness. With all of the NIL crap, I feel like a lot of joy has been sucked from college sports. Watching those young men enjoy time together on our legendary field made my heart happy.

We won handily.

Then, we made our way back to our car, stopping at Toomer’s Corner for a photo under the rolled trees.

We didn’t get home until after 10:30. Whew! I was tired! Gambit was happy to have his mama and daddy home.

Sunday morning, we attended church and then got started on our Sunday chores.

I prepped a Vegan Red Lentil Stew.

I prepped everything except for the garlic, which the Mr. had to press for me.

This is a delicious soup!

I washed the bedding, a chore I try to do weekly since Gambit sleeps with me.

I don’t know about you, but I love a quilt.

I also watched the U.S. Open men’s finals. It was nice to see our president there supporting this tournament and those young men.

Oh, and a sweet bit of news.

Saturday, my son and his little family welcomed a new fur baby to their home.

You might remember that they lost a beloved dog earlier this summer. My daughter-in-law had been beside herself with grief. That little guy had been hers before she met my son. They’d been through a lot together.

It didn’t take much to talk my son into getting another dog. My son has always had a tender heart – especially for dogs.

They surprised my granddaughter with this little guy. She is smitten.

He’s already quite spoiled, but they are doing right by him by crate training him.

We FaceTimed yesterday, and it was all this little guy could do to stay awake. He lost the battle – several times while we chatted.

We will get to see him next month when we drive up for E’s birthday. I cannot wait to get my hands on that bundle of love because I am a lover of all things puppy.

Gambit and I watched the men’s tennis finals. I am so happy that Alcaraz won. It was vindication after his Wimbledon loss.

Alrighty. It’s time to wrap this up. Y’all have a wonderful week!

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I’ve hit the twelve-week milestone, y’all!

What a magical marking point it has been.

The last two weeks have blessed me with a noticeable lessening of pain – to the point where, in case you missed it, I have been able to resume driving!

I started out with a short foray to fill up my car with gas on Sunday. The lack of pain afterward gave me confidence to declare that I’d try driving to work on Tuesday.

It didn’t feel weird to be behind the wheel at all despite the length of time that had passed since my last solo drive to work back in June.

I managed to park with a minimum of exertion.

I didn’t even mind the .25 mile walk into work. I’d missed the view (the hill not so much!).

It was pure joy to regain more independence.

I have got to glean what’s in my work bag though. I’m not sure why I think I need all the things, but I do.

My daily responsibilities at work are getting easier. I have found that setting my keyboard lower has been key. I’m waiting for an under-desk keyboard tray to be properly set up ergonomically.

My reach is slowly improving. Here’s my right arm.

Compare that to my left one, which had surgery last December before Christmas.

I still cannot reach out to the side with my right arm. I feel a sharp pain when I do. I’m not worried, though. This is just my body letting me know that it’s still healing.

Another big improvement I noticed is that I can wear blue jeans again!

My boss came into work one day last week wearing the cutest pair from American Eagle. My boss is tiny, and since I’m also petite, I’m always on the lookout for pants that aren’t too long.

I ordered two pairs and had them sent to the store in the mall to save on shipping. It was weird to walk into the mall. I very rarely go even though it’s five minutes from my house.

Y’all, I didn’t think I’d be able to try them on once I got them home, but I decided to give it a go, and lo and behold, they are stretchy enough that very little pulling was required.

I bought them in black too. Here’s the link.

Unfortunately, they aren’t on sale any more.

My ability to catch a good night of sleep is improving weekly. I’ve had a few decent nights, and now that my body has gotten a taste of it, it’s craving more. I’ve been in a big deficit since this journey started a year ago.

I have a recheck appointment with my surgeon next week. It’s more of a check in really, so I’ll be able to discuss anything I’m worried about which isn’t much at the moment. My left shoulder is still giving me some trouble, so I might make mention of that.

Anyhoo, that’s about it for now.

I think I’m going to pause these updates since I’ve turned a couple of big corners of late. I’ll probably post at the six, nine, and twelve month milestones.

I pray that, should you find yourself facing this type of surgery, you’ll call to mind my updates, and they will be of encouragement to you.

Have a fabulous day, my friends!

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