We did some errands in Falmouth, then took a drive to the harbor to watch the sun set.
We ended up at the BBC for pizza two-fers.
Made me feel like a teenager again, only this time, with a proper date, and someone I like very much at that!
Gardener’s Diary
We had about 7 inches of snow on Saturday. Today, except for a few patches, it’s completely melted. So, I was able to do some clean-up of errant ornamental grass fronds.
Due mostly to neglect on my part, my laptop died, and I bought a new Windows 7 machine on Friday and picked it up Saturday morning, in the middle of the storm.
It was Ron’s idea to get it on Saturday and even though the driving was horrible, he was right. It gave me the day to poke around with the machine, and Sunday was extremely busy: transfer station and cleaning and cooking for a Patriots playoff party with the gang.
Everyone brought something to eat: matzo ball soup, quiche, linguine with shrimp. I made a spiral ham, scalloped potatoes and an apple cake from an very odd recipe in an old cookbook: a box of yellow cake mix, 3 eggs and a can of Comstock pie filling. That’s it. No water, no oil.
Between laundry, cooking, shoveling and other chores, it was a very busy weekend. Sunday night I was exhausted and hurting from my shoulders to my feet.
Zero
Meatloaf, Bagels
Really nice meatloaf recipe – seasoned ground turkey rolled up with prosciutto or copacolla, cheese, spinach, red pepper, wrapped with bacon and served with a red sauce.
It was fun to make bagels, although I have to work on the shaping. They taste pretty good, but the bagel maven won’t get a sample until tomorrow, so the jury is still out.
So Adorable When He’s Asleep
Storage Unit
Peter and I emptied the storage unit today. We had very few items in there, but they were all heavy: Robert’s old desk, which went to the transfer station; Emme’s toy chest, which went back to Edgewater; and the futon, which is now in the basement at Dixon.
Wilt Stop
It got to 60 degrees today, so I put Wilt Stop on the rhodies and the azaleas. Evidently it doesn’t work on hydrangeas.
Picked up more LED lights on sale at Mahoney’s. Switched them out on the cluster of trees in front. Hung the solar lights on the shed.
Just saw a couple walking their dog in the field – in shirtsleeves.
Put away the tree and the ornaments. Bought a floor lamp at Cape Pickers. We now have light in three corners of the living room, and interestingly enough, it looks bigger.
Ron has been off his feet for two days now, and it has made a big difference. We really overdid it on Wednesday and Thursday.
Ron’s Right Foot
Before – Ron6 weeks after6 weeks after surgery
surgery
Ron's Foot One Week After Surgery, January 4, 2012
Two Weeks After Surgery, January 12, Stitches Removed
Four Weeks Out, January 26, 2012
7 weeks out.
New Year’s Day
Ron spent most of the day in his chair but is getting around a little bit better.
I was able to attend two New Year’s celebrations, the annual Woods Hole march around Eel Pond with hospitality afterwards, and a nature walk at WBNERR.
I made a Sicilian dish, arancini. The recipe called for a hamburg mixture for the filling instead of straight mozzarella. Messy but pretty good.
Recorded a bunch of Twilight Zone episodes on SyFy.
Comfort Kitchen?
Ron’s first and most extensive foot surgery was yesterday. He was “under” for three hours for an Austin bunionectomy and second toe arthroplasty. These were intended to correct hereditary problems that contorted his foot so badly that it was incredible to me that he could walk at all.
He’s been in tremendous pain, even with heavy medication, and nauseous from the anesthesia.
He tried to navigate between the bedroom and the bathroom with crutches, but it was extremely difficult for him.
So, this morning, I set about to get my hands on a walker, either renting, buying or getting the doctor’s order for one that would be covered by Medicare.
Turns out, one of the local thrift shops, run by the Society of St. Vincent dePaul, GIVES AWAY walkers because “it’s the right thing to do.”
I am still flabbergasted by this. The walker I brought him has some rust (I think it was kept outside because when I put it in the truck, some ice fell out of the legs), but it works perfectly well.
I stopped off to get a roast chicken at Stop & Shop. These are on sale for $5 on Fridays, along with loaves of Italian bread for $1.
This was supposed to be lunch, but Ron hasn’t had much of an appetite.
I heated up corn chowder last night, oatmeal this morning, and a couple different kinds of jello, applesauce and tapioca tonight.
I think Ron is sleeping now. I propped up his hurt foot, took his temperature and fed him an OTC med that stifles nausea.
We had no idea what to expect. It isn’t until we left the hospital that they told us the first 48 hours are bad and the first week is the worst.
Ron is remarkably uncomplaining, and I am hoping he’ll be much better tomorrow.