March 13, 2026 Puzzling

 Puzzling

Hmmm, is the word puzzling an adjective, adverb or a verb?  According to Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, it is an adjective.  According to me, it is my activity almost the entire afternoon.  Yes, the New York Times Tiles game has had me in a single minded view.  Match the layers of tiles for as long as possible.

My first attempt lasted till about 30 matches.  Each beginning lasted longer and longer.  By mid afternoon I had reached 503 and then boo booed.  Back to 0 and started over again.  Anything that goes on in my immediate area can distract me just enough that I will either hit a dead end or just flatly touch the wrong square.  It is a challenge for my ability to concentrate as well as developing plans of action.  Granted it is not difficult to do the matches.  The ability to not allow distractions to break my concentration is the biggest challenge.

There are a series of different designs that rotate.  Some are easy for me, others are a real challenge.  Some I have never reached 100 matches.  The following puzzle is difficult as the items seem to match at times with one that is  not exactly the same.  My main error on this particular design is the background will unexpectedly match leaving no other move.  Ugh.  Back to 0.  That is when I just wave the white flag and change over to a jigsaw puzzle.  

I hoped to reach 1000 matches today as the following design is one that is easy to distinguish.  It is a goal.  A very challenging goal.  Here is my final match for this day.  I'll blow another day to attempt to 1000 matches. 

You folks have a good weekend.  I plan to celebrate St. Patty's on Saturday evening with my P.E.O. sisterhood.  Sunday evening will be a welcome home for Bonus Grandson(GS#2) and his girlfriend.  They spent the last several months in Australia.

Take care,

Janice 

March 11, 2026 Batteries

 Batteries

Batteries are such an integral part of my life.   In an attempt to have less impact on the garbage dumps we use rechargeable batteries.  My husband is somewhat opinionated on the type of batteries he wants us to use.  He was an electrical engineer major that quit 3 semesters short of a degree.  In addition he is an amateur radio operator.  He comes by his opinions honestly at least.  I do not care so long as the batteries last more than a day.  Which brings me to today's post.   

We had switched to rechargeable batteries before we moved to the Austin area.  I had not fully committed to rechargeable batteries until a bit over 13 years ago.  At this moment I can count about 40 42 AA batteries and 18 AAA batteries in candles.  I like the flickering of candles without burning a table top.  That is a story for another day.  Oh, there are also 9 or 10 tealights that use coin type batteries.  I can make a day of just changing and charging batteries.  A friend became so weary of changing batteries she gave all her fake candles away.  I will not do that.  

In addition, we have rechargeable lights for lighting inside our kitchen and bathroom cabinets.  Motion sensing lights to help navigate to the bathrooms at night.  The closets for both bathroom storages as well as the laundry closet had no lights.  Nor did  the coat closet or pantry. Motion sensing lights were added in all of those areas.   I can recall about 13 or 14 at the moment.  With most of the motion sensing light being in use for almost 3 years they are not holding their charge as well, either.  That makes for a lot of charging.  Ugh

Under Hubby's guidance/direction the types of rechargeable batteries have changed over the years.   Several of my batteries seem to be needing to be charged more frequently than I expect.   I did not date the batteries as they were purchased.  Amazon has a long record of purchases.  I had realized that the batteries were marked with approximate number of cycles that should be expected.  AI summarized those cycles by type:

• Lithium-ion (Li-ion): 500–1,500+ cycles (2-4 years).
• Nickel-Metal Hydride (NiMH): 300–1,000+ cycles (2-5 years).
• Nickel-Cadmium (NiCd): 1,000+ cycles (1.5-3 years).
• Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP): 2,500–9,000+ cycles (5-10 years). 

Yep, we have some of all of those.  Specific charging units for different types. I suspect some are over 10 years old.  Guess I need to start doing some culling of the batteries.  Remember to mark the purchase date of the new ones.  See if I can manage to have a single type of battery to simplify my life.  I'm old and will eventually forget all the correct chargers to use.

Thanks for stopping by.

Janice

March 8, 2026, Spring Forward

 Spring Forward

It is that time of year here in the States for Daylight Savings Time.  Move your clock forward 1 hour.  That gives daytime working folks more daylight after work.  Not sure how this helps nor hinders the 16% of workers of non day time jobs.  Another hoped for result is less energy usage.  I know as a retired person it makes for a few days of adjustments.  Same for school age humans.  Oh, yes, and trying to remember how to change the time on the approximately 10 clocks I have.  The last may be the biggest challenge for me.  

According to and AI summary:

 "Approximately 70 countries—roughly 40% of the world's nations—currently use Daylight Saving Time (DST). It is primarily observed in Europe, North America, and parts of South America and Oceania. Major regions that do not observe DST include most of Asia, Africa, and countries near the equator.

Key Facts About DST Usage:

• Declining Usage: In recent years, several countries, including Russia, Turkey, Iran, and most of Mexico, have abolished the practice.
• Regional Variation: Some nations, such as Australia and the United States, use DST in some regions but not others.
• Purpose: DST is used to extend evening daylight hours, with the goal of reducing energy consumption, although its effectiveness is debated. "

Bureau of Transportation Statics

Anyhoo folks will look a bit drearier at work, in meetings, and generally every where locally for a few days.  Kids will come to school in the dark.  And our furry family members will be confused.  All in the name of more light for 84% of working folks.  At this point in my life I don't think I care.

Now get those eyes open!

Janice

March 5, 2026 Floaties

 Floaties

No, these I will write about this evening are not for fun in the water.  Like these on my youngest grandsons.

The Dad is middle age, the babes are grown

No, this is about that aggravating junk that can impair your vision.  That debris that floats in and out of our vision.  My left eye had a black one that would float in on my peripheral vision from the outer corner of my eye.  That might not be a problem for most folks.  For me as a driver of a hybrid auto it was a big deal.  People and animals do not hear my car moving all the time.  Hubby and I know to be on special alert for this situation.  The floater would move into my vision causing me to slam on my brakes.  Slamming on brakes in the traffic of Austin Texas is asking for a rear-end accident.

Read more about floaters here.

During the prep work for last year's cataract surgeries I asked about a procedure for floatie removal.  A friend in Missouri told me he was having procedure soon.  I did not know something existed.  Doctor gave me a quick explanation and noted an on-staff doctor was available.   I decided right there that the floaters were on target to be eliminated.  Jump forward to the required time past cataract surgery and and appointment is scheduled at the end of December.  Surgery on the black floater was January 8.  Once the recovery period was over, my vision was the best ever.  That combined with the cataract surgery for sure.  I use readers rather than have paid $$$$ for the cataract lens to be for multivision.  

This morning at 4:00 AM we rose sort of tumumbled, gradually raised our heads then our bodies off the bed and prepped for the surgery.  I can stay up all night better than I can get up early.  But I did it and we were the first at the surgery center, 5:35 AM.   Surgery took place at 7:00 promptly.   We were home before 9:00 AM.  Yes, my eye area is sore.  Here is a video showing the procedure.  It is not for the faint of heart.  I go in the morning to have the bandage removed.  It will take about 10 days to be mostly back to normal.

Normal for me will be when my eyes track together.  There were pain numbing injections into the eye muscles.  Those are sore like anywhere you get a shot.  Those muscles do not want to react thereby one eye moves faster than the other.  Double vision is the result.   The last eye took about 10 days.  Until they work together the way I want, no driving.  Of course there are lifting and bending restrictions for a period of time.  The vision improvement is well worth the short inconvenience.

Thanks for stopping by for a look!

Janice

March 3, 2026 Lucy

 Lucy

She's back!  Lucy, also known is Leaping Lucy, is staying with us for a few days.  She is here while her hooman attends a conference in Austin.  Lucy still leaps.  At 11 going on 12 years upon this earth the leaps are a bit fewer.  Very many leaps require additional rest time.  Sounds like Hubby and I.  We never leap, BTW.

There has been so many changes in the last couple of years.  Youngest Sister and her husband have finished a lake house.  The 2024 and 2025Thanksgivings have been spent with them there.  The place was just wonderful that first Thanksgiving day.  Our son, DILove, and 4 of the 5 grandkids were there.  Even DIL's father and girlfriend were in from Costa Rica for the holidays.  Y-Sis's children and grandchildren were there.  

Y-Sis with Nephew #5, Nephew #6 (Leaping Lucy's hooman), BIL, Niece #3,
and Lionel the Rescue.
Y-Sis grandkids came late that night.

Back row:  Bonus Grandson (GS#2), GS#1, GS#4, Son. 
Front row: DILove, Bonus Granddaughter, Grappa (DIL's Dad), and Girlfriend.
GS#3 had to work at a resort that day >: (

That us with the bunch.  Hubby on the right, me on the left.  Smiles and having fun!

On the day following Thanksgiving the weather was warm enough plans were being made to go on the pontoon for a ride.  Around noon a call came to Y-Sis that BIL's youngest sister was having some health issues.  She was in transport to the hospital by ambulance.  Preparations continued for all the fun activities that were planned for the day.  Some of us were sitting by the gas outdoor firepit.  A phone rang.  BIL began going toward the house.  As he walked into the living area, he suddenly collapsed to his knees in sobbing anguish.  His youngest sister had not survived a massive heart attack.  She had literally dropped dead in her home and revival attempts were unsuccessful.  

What a turn of events.  Of course my family held Y-Sis's family in our arms.  We did our best to then give their family alone time to figure out what to do next.  Looking back it is a bit of a blur when Y-Sis and BIL left to be with his siblings in Houston.  Lots of calls were made.  Sitting next to Y-Sis as she told one SIL that Carol had passed.  That SIL was in route to the hospital.  She was driving and I could hear the anguish from her.  

--------------------

2025 Thanksgiving

BIL #2 and Sis#2 next to him and every one else.

Back Row:  Nephew #6, Niece #2, Niece#2's #1Son, BIL3, Nephew #5.
Niece#2's #2Son, Niece#2's Daughter, Y-Sis
Lionel the Rescue and Leaping Lucy were already in bed for the night!

Back row:  Hubby and Son
Front row:  Me, Granddaughter, and DILove and Law!

Thanksgiving 2025 found our two families together.  Our Sis#2 and her husband joined Y-Sis and my families.  By that time Sis#2's husband is at year two surviving an incurable Leukemia.  There is still the tender memory of the 2024 Thanksgiving.  That will last forever we are sure.  Shared trauma is not something one buries.  At one point together Y-Sis gave a toast to our departed sisters.  BIL's sister that passed 2024 Thanksgiving and our Sis#1 who did not live to see the completion of the lake house.  

2025 did see some fishing, 

Some Lounging, actually lots of lounging.  And eating is a must to clear out the leftovers!

Leaping Lucy in Hubby's lap, BIL#2, Sis#2, BIL#3, Son, Y-Sis, Nephew #5.

All that brings us to 2:30 AM, March 4, 2026.  Lucy is curled up next to me on our favorite recliner.  I have a business meeting in 6 1/2 hours.  Dental appointment at 2.  Pickup scripts.  And no eating after 5:30 PM because on Thursday at 5:45 AM my floaties will be removed from my right eye.  Another busy week for certain!

Y'all have a good rest of the week!  I plan on getting past this week and look forward to Memorial weekend at the Lakehouse with the Rogers' crazy extended family!

PS:  2025 found GS's #1,3,and 4 with their Mom's family.  GS#2 was living in Australia!  Missed them.

March 1, 2026 Swimming

 Swimming

Not really, though is was warm enough today, Sunday, March 1, to have done so.  Yes, upper 80s F already in March.  It will most likely be another scorcher this summer. I dread even the thought of it being so hot we stay in the apartment constantly.  This apartment complex does not have a swimming pool for cooling off in the hot months.  

It seems so frivolous to even think of swimming.  The Golden Corncob has started another war.  He seems bent on destroying as much as possible so his real estate development business can have lots of work when he leaves office.  Well, that is if he ever will without an insurrection.  He tried it once even though Fox News et al said it was just a peaceful protest.  I can hardly believe so many folks go along with the out right lies.  And now the man that condemned previous presidents for wars; the Corncob that would end Russia's war on Ukraine; that ran as the peace president has started yet another war.  

Could all the problems in the US be why I awoke hardly able to stand?  As I rose from the bed I almost fell into the window.  I fell back on the mattress and waited till I felt more stable.  Stable is a far reach from where my body was.  Plus, both hips and my lower back were screaming in pain.  Most of my day was spent on muscle relaxers and ice packs.  Walking is almost back to normal.  But the pain in the lower back is still very much there.  Pain medicine and off to bed for me.

But still, nothing in comparison to the nations being bombed out of existance.

God forgive us sinners,

Janice

February 27, 2026, Toast

 Toast

Today is a very special day.  It is my #5 Nephew's birthday.  He is my youngest sister's oldest son.  He was the first of my nephews and nieces when I was actually old enough to be an aunt.  I was 9 when #1 Nephew was born.  My youngest sister was only 18 months old at the time.  You could say my sisters and I were 'spread out' in ages.  That we were.

It has been fun to be an aunt.  Letting the 2 older nieces spend time at my home.  They played in my makeup and nail polish all one day.  We let them keep it all on as we took them to a small cafe for dinner that night.  Those two women still remember those special days.

The four older nephews never spent time like that with us cause there were cool uncles for them to visit.  Then came #5 Nephew.  By that birth, we had moved to Missouri.  Time to just visit over night with just one of the kids was not possible.  Between visits to our home and their home Sister's children grew to know is very well.

#5 N was possibly 1 to 2 when we travelled to Texas for maybe Easter.  Just talking and having an opinion about his wants.  We were staying at my sister's new home.  She was serving breakfast.   #5 was at the table in his high chair.  He was getting cereal.  We just wanted toast.  He asked his mom for toast like us.  "No, you are getting cereal."  With that she left the room to get dressed for the day.

Hubby and I looked at each other.  We took the cereal and gave #5 our  toast.  He immediately had the most quizzical look on his face.  Then a smile and a glint came into his eyes.  And ever since, he knew who he could trust for bits of fun.

Happy Birthday #5 Nephew!  We'll always share the toast.

Thanks for dropping by,

Janice

February 25, 2026 Too Hot!

 Too Hot

Living in what is considered a semi-arid region of Texas, winter weather is usually pretty mild.  There will be maybe two or three 'blue northers', cold fronts, come through bring chilly weather.  The temperatures typically stay above freezing.  The 13 winters since we have moved from southwest Missouri to Central Texas have been unusual.  Snow and/or ice have occurred at least 4 or 5 of the years.  Just three weeks ago there was a cover of sleet and snow mixture that stayed on the ground for 3 days.  In shady areas the cover lasted another day or two.

In January 2021 a week long frigid front came through into Texas.  It even reached the The Valley, Lower Rio Grande, and froze the vegetable crops.  The strain on the power grid actually took the system down in several areas.  Our apartment unit was without power for a week.  We had only electric heat therefore our temperature in the apartment was 40 degrees F.  Our son and grandson insisted we come to their home where they had power.  We agreed on the 3rd day.  They would not let us drive because they considered us too old to be out in the weather.  lol.

Son's home backed up to a retention pond.  It was cold enough that the pond froze deep enough to be walked on.  One family even brought out their hockey equipment.  The dad was schooling his children on the fine art of hockey.  Not at all a typical scene in Central Texas.

The pond without humans risking their lives.

As mentioned earlier in the post, it was quite cold, like in the low teens, just a few weeks back.  Sunday night was in the low 30s.  Today the temperature was in the mid 80's and will approach 90 tomorrow.  It is giving our thermostat settings a real workout.  

Here are charts for the last two months:

As you can see we are having wide swings. But the grid has not had a major failure so far.  However our breaker just tripped for our living room.  No idea why as we have only a couple of laptops, a lamp, google home, and a ceiling fan.  And of course our two electric recliners.  Wanna come help me up so I can reset the breaker?  

Life is fun some days!

Janice

 

February 20, 2026 It Has Been Seven Days

It Has Been Seven Days 

This is beginning to irritate me.  How can I forget to write my blog at least every other day?  Distractions, that is how.  Just today I had an agenda in my mind for the day.  Part of the agenda involved activities both inside and away from our apartment.  

Sort clothing and begin washer was first on the agenda.  Next was steam mop the hard surface floors.  Our little Robbie 2 had done most of the vacuuming at 7 this morning.  He does not get into the corners as good as I want, so I follow up with a broom and dustpan.  The plan was to follow with a quick shower, dress, and head out for about three errands.  Oh, before anything do about half of the PT exercises for the replaced hip.

Grocery pickup was scheduled for between 11:30 and noon.  The first load of clothing was in the washer.  Corners were cleaned and I was just starting the steam mop.  I managed the main bath and moved to the living area.  Hubby told me he had himself in a mess.  He could not get into his ham radio computer.  His password was not working.  Let me finish the mopping and I'll see what I can do was the gist of my response.

Within a minute he was asking again for my help.  I turned the steamer off, and grumpily said, "Fine your project not mine."  I know, that is not the compassionate way to answer.  We exchanged words that 85 and 79 years old senior citizens married for almost 59 years would say.  His words were nicer than mine.  After about 30 minutes, I told him I could not fix it and needed to finish the mopping.

Mopping finished.  Clothes put in dryer and second load in the washer.  No shower, just a quick PTA cleansing and jumped in clothing.  (Folks in this area would not appreciate a nude grandma running around.)  I was out the door with recycling and trolly to carry in the groceries in tow.  Miraculously, I arrived at the grocery store at 12:15.  

The remaining 2 stops were accomplished without any further issues.  Well, except I did fail to get some of that $2.39 a gallon gasoline that was not on the agenda.  The two tubs of groceries loaded on the trolly and the walk back to the elevator to our 4th floor apartment.  Once in the apartment, I was immediately put on a video call with Hubby's brother.  

Once the conversation about the doggie paw washer we had sent Bro ended, I returned to previously mentioned agenda.  Hubby put the groceries away while I dealt with laundry.  Thank goodness for that wrinkle prevent cycle!  It was then time to once again deal with the wrong password issue.

"Hubby, are you ready to work on retrieving your account?  I thin........"  He broke in and said, "Never mind, I have it fixed."  Good for him figuring it out for himself.  Maybe I need to just ignore him and let him figure stuff out for himself.  After all, I have a lamp that has always leaned a bit to one side.  It needs a spot of solder to hold a part of it in place.  I asked him to fix it about 53 years ago, it is still leaning.  I'll take a note from his playbook.  That means I'll figure out a way to fix it myself.

Have a great weekend.

Janice

February 13, 2026 Owls

 Owls

As happens every 6 to 8 weeks, I did not even go to bed last night.  I was doing a NY Times Tiles match game.  The patterns within the game change every 24 hours.  There are 8 or 10 different designs that rotate.  Some of the designs are easy for me to rack up the points as I match between the blocks.  Others I prefer to give maybe 30 minutes before switching to an online jigsaw puzzle site, Jigsaw Planet. Blogger friend, YAM, submits her lovely photos under the name yammacca.  She  makes into puzzles for all to enjoy.

In texting with a friend today I noted that I had not gone to bed for sleep.  What a long night, was the response. Not really when my mind is concentrating on the match game.  Besides, I think of myself as a night owl.  The response from the friend was, "Well to be accurate all owls are nocturnal".  Wise guy.   

It was literally 4:30 AM before I noticed the time.  My mind was not feeling sleepy.  But I did need to move.  I had 3 packages needing to be prepped for shipping.  I sat to work retrieving the information.  Labels printed, packages taped securely, and still not sleepy.  Folded a load of laundry that was resting in the dryer.  Still not even 6 AM.  An English muffin and cup of warmed over coffee to start the day.  By 7:30 I was asleep in my recliner.  Hubby had been up about 20 minutes when I crashed.

By 10 I was awake.  But not necessarily wanting to take on the world.  Now it is 3:30 PM and I have accomplished basically nothing.  Well, paid bills, talked to Hubby, talked to son, ate a bite of lunch.  Then the silly match game called to me again.  One thing is for certain, if night owl is not correct, wise old owl surely does not fit either!

Thanks for the stop by,

Janice

Current score.  4:30 AM score was 683 when I mismatched.

February 11, 2026, Book Club

 Book Club

An organization to which I belong has 3 gatherings each month.  A formal business meeting, a book club, and a coffee/lunch are scheduled for each month of the year.  All are scheduled for the first, second, and fourth Wednesdays.  Today was the second Wednesday, so book club it was!

The book club meets at Panera's, a chain restaurant.  Panera started as St. Louis Bread Company.  They have yummy bagles, lunches, and fresh coffees.  It is a pleasant setting for us ladies to gather and discuss each month's book.  This month's book, Finding Dorothy by Elizabeth Lett, was well received by the entire group.

AI gave this brief summary of the book:   ". .a historical fiction novel that tells the story of Maud Gage Baum, the wife of The Wizard of Oz author L. Frank Baum, focusing on her life and her efforts to ensure the 1939 MGM film adaptation honors her late husband's work. The narrative uses a dual timeline, exploring Maud's rebellious youth as a suffragette's daughter and her early life with Frank, alongside her experiences on the film set as she connects with a young Judy Garland and tries to protect the spirit of the book. "

A well written book that pulled me into the story line within the first few pages.  The author had pursued her research so thoroughly that each person was almost three dimensional.  After reading this book I am now wanting to rewatch the original film starring Judy Garland.  One event toward the end of the book told of the struggle to have the signature song included in the final take.

If you are looking a an easy read for the coming months,  I hightly recommend this tome.

Thanks for stopping by for a chat.

Janice

February 8, 2026 Borrowed Beauty

 Borrowed Beauty

Yes, I know, still skipping days.  It will take more discipline than I currently choose to have to be posting daily.  It is my choice at this point.  Actually it is a matter of looking for the inspiration.  Today's inspiration came from a blogger in Sweden.  The blog is Björn Rudbergs writings.  His post on February 2, 2026 is Candlemass.

Hubby's maternal family line traces back to Sweden.  The family Bible is written in Swedish.  Reading Björn's writings feel like showing respect for that heritage in a small way.  The Candlemass poem introduced a new liturgical season to me.  One in my Protestant background which was not celebrated.  For the non knowing, like myself, here is one link to better explain candlemass.

As for the inspiration from Björn, it was the haiku that closed his haibun:

zigzag in the snow
tracks traversing the meadow —
the snow hare’s evening
Björn Rudberg

Can I in some way keep the feeling of this haiku in one of my own.  Well, there is neither snow nor snow hares where I live.  Maybe my imagination can take me to a snowy landscape.  Or to a treasured memory with tracks.

Cape Cod, October 2005

watery fingers

reach for the plovers tracks

erased by the moon

petra domine

Nowhere close to the elegance of Björn's writings.  Still inspired to create a haiku.  That feels so good.  

Thanks for stopping by for a chat.

Janice.

February 6, 2026: What's Up?

 What's Up?

The jig is my usual response.  Sarcasm is part of the DNA of my family.  Family communication accepts it as normal responses.  That has changed with addition of our DIL's family.  Well, her dad gets it.  She is not a fan.  It goes completely over the head of her daughter, our Granddaughter #1.  That means often a response has to be explained.  Often there will still be a puzzled look in response to the explanation.

Communication is so very important in relationships.  Relationships with individuals, organizations, and between nations.  Communication can take so many forms.  People actually being present and talking.  All the electronic options from phone calls, face time, emails, texts, and the list goes so far beyond those.  Take for instance my Hubby's hobby, amateur radio.  Yes, speech is probably the number one way of communication between the hams, as they are called.  Number two is Morse Code.

For those of you unfamiliar with Morse Code, here is an excerpt from Wikipedia:

"Morse code is a telecommunications method which encodes text characters as standardized sequences of two different signal durations, called dots and dashes, or dits and dahs.^[3][4] It is named after Samuel Morse, one of several developers of the system. Morse's preliminary proposal for a telegraph code was replaced by an alphabet-based code developed by Alfred Vail, the engineer working with Morse. Vail's version was used for commercial telegraphy in North America. Friedrich Gerke simplified Vail's code to produce the code adopted in Europe, and most of the alphabetic part of the (ITU) "Morse" is copied from Gerke's revision."

Hubby meets up 'on the air' on a semi regular basis with other hams to practice code.  Dits and Dahs float through the apartment.  The electrical impulses will actually turn on and off his bedside table lamp that has touch control.  Yes, that is rather strange.

One form of communication that is offensive is what the man in the White House does in the middle of the night using AI.  Putting himself in a plane and dropping poo on protesters.  Dressing himself as the Pope.  Last night he posted a racist image of former President Obama and First Lady Michelle.  Actually, those forms of communication show such an uncouth nature.  It is shameful for our nation as a whole.

I'll take the dits and dahs that turn on the light next to my bed any day.  Meanness has no place in a civilized nation. 

Thanks for stopping by got a bit,

Janice

February 2, 2026 Nobody is Visiting

 Nobody is Visiting

After years of neglect of this little blog, folks quit checking for posts.  I've done the same thing.  Recently I have checked on a few of my old regulars sites.  As I visit the sites I would check almost daily the posts are dates two to four years old.  I wonder what has happened.  

Some stopped due to burnout.  Lemon Drop Pie, Ginny, was Voice of the Year in 2013 in the Heart category.  Her most recent post was June of 2024.   I met Ginny through a weekly meme challenge led by Second Blooming.  That blog site is gone.  The network she used is now defunct.  I cannot remember her name.  But I remember her joy raising a son, her husband's heart attack, and her seven fishes Christmas tradition.    

A few it was, sadly, due to illness and even death.  There was one 99 years old lady's blog that the announcement was made by her son that she had passed.  Another blog just ended with the post titled 'Cancer'.  Stage 3.  That was written on July3, 2022.  One Italian blogger has posted nothing since the height of the Covid outbreak in Italy.  I pray she was not a victim.

There are still a few of my old favs that I am still following. Little Wandering Wren still posts to Facebook stories.  Doses of Wild YAM is very much still posting regularly.  Wildbird Wednesday blog/photography meme already has posts for February 3rd.  Same with Skywatch Friday as submissions were made on January 29, 2026.  

There are two bloggers in Canada that regularly post.  Seasons in the Valley's writer, The Furry Gnome, resides near Georgian Bay in southern Ontario.  His writings influenced Hubby and I to visit that area in 2016.  That same trip took us to share dinner with Traces of the Soul writer, Cheryl Lynn.  That is a highlight to get to meet a person face to face.  

Through one blog or another I was led to Carpe Diem Haiku Kai.  With that blog I learned about the beauty of haiku and other forms of Japanese poetry.  The author/teacher, Chèvrefeuille, of that blog is a nurse.  Due to the Covid pandemic he was unable to maintain the weekly meme challenges.   Attempts to revive the site have not succeeded.  Sure miss this site.

Visitors would be welcome again to this blog.  But first I must begin reconnecting.  I need to look for birds to photograph.  Surely I can take photos of the sky to rejoin that group.  After all, Covid is generally not the invisible enemy now.  But it left a dark stain on our physics.

Hope to see you soon,

Janice

February 1, 2026, Inspiration

 Inspiration

How does one get inspired?  Where can an inspiration come from if one just sits in a recliner?  Wish I had that answer.  Today is just another lazy Sunday.  I took a walk.  We received a grocery delivery from Wally World.  The kitchen was put back in order after breakfast.  The cat is still here while Son and DIL are in Aussie land.  A bright, crisp afternoon on the first day in February.

The walk was started by gathering up all the garbage needing to be removed.  Clean liners placed in cans.  One very full trash bag carried down 3 flights of stairs.  Hefted the bag into the dumpster.  Heading toward the sidewalk glistening grass surprised me.  The sprinkler system had performed its duty in the freezing temperatures.  The grass was covered in ice droplets.  Not the most reliable surface of a middle old person to cross.  The transit was made with nary a misstep!

For the next 20 or so minutes my eyes took in the area around the complex.  Surely there is something inspirational going on along the way.  The disk golfers are out enjoying the hobby.  A gentleman is sitting in the slide door of his van.  He speaks first.  The van was crammed with essentials.  Inquired if he travelled much.  "I try", he responded.  He noted it was his second home.  The feet propelled me onward with no inspiration to be found.

A loop was made using sidewalks.  Thoughts were few.  "If I cross here is it considered jay walking?"  "I'm getting hot so I'll remove the gloves, hat and unzip the coat."  Done and the feet just keep moving forward.  I return to the area with the glistening grass.  I've warmed up but the grass is still covered in ice droplets.  There should be some sort of inspiration in that, but no.  Guess today's post will just be SOC.

Take care,

Janice

January 31, 2026 Where Is Yesterday?

 Where Is Yesterday?

There you go.  Somehow yesterday was missed.  Where did it go?  What so occupied the brain cells that blogging thoughts were nowhere to be found.  It is a mystery.  I know there was a day.  Two loads of laundry were completed.  Four online puzzles were completed.  The cat was fed.  We ate the remaining chicken and dumplings from Thursday's cooking.  January 30 happened but was I present?

Do you ever have days like that?  You know they happened.  You see you made comments on Facebook posts.  You vaguely remember watching Shannon Makes.  You vaguely remember watching the latest Pateron member vlog post on Reawakening Château de Purnon. You leave comments on both sites.  You check on the blogger in Scotland via her blog, Doses of Wild YAM.  

Somehow you make it through the 50+ emails.  Mostly ads that come because you signed up to get a discount on some something or other xx number of years ago.  Then one of the emails takes you down the rabbit hole of reels.  Or personal business issues.  Or the remembering to apply for the refund of the broken item from Temu.  Or one of the hundreds of distractions that have become the life of an aging lady.

WARNING:  Rabbit Hole Ahead!

Awhile back, don't even ask me when, I became curious as to what age was considered 'elderly'.  Would I be ranked as elderly in able to qualify for some sort of rate cut, I seem to remember.  Google to the rescue.  "What age is classified as elderly".  Talk about a rabbit hole!  By the time I came out of those tunnels I had aged 10 years.  And I had learned a new set of labels for age classification for 'old'.

Here is a summary from a bunch of probably young researchers at Mayo Clinic.

Key, detailed aspects of aging from Mayo Clinic-related studies include:

• Definition: Generally, 65 years or older is the standard for defining the elderly.
• Sub-groups: 
• early-old (65–74) 
• middle-old (75–84)
• late-old (85+)
• Health Focus: The focus at this age is on managing chronic conditions, physical/cognitive changes, and maintaining independence.
• Research Metrics: Studies, such as the Mayo Clinic Study of Aging, often analyze populations within the 65+ range to determine health trends. 
  

So, there you have it.  Far from young but a bit shy of ancient.  I'll give myself a by on neglecting to write a blog post for yesterday.  Yesterday found me square in middle-old age.  In addition, I am a full fledged member of the popular We Do Not Care Club.

Thanks for stopping by,

Janice

January 29, 2026 Birthdays

Birthdays

My three sisters each had two sons and one daughter.  About 4 years ago when sending out ecards I noticed something kind of interesting.  Each of my nieces' husbands had January birthdays.  All three were in the last 3 days of the month.  What are the chances of that!  Two of the nieces have May birthday, only 3 days apart.  The youngest niece was born in September.  Youngest is probably 20+ years younger than the other nieces.  So, they did not all fall under the same sign to influence those choices.  Just a freak coincidence.

Each month I have a goal of sending e-cards to everyone in my PEO group.  In addition, family members and close friends are included in the greeting sending out.  There is a variety of choices so no one receives identical cards.  I cannot guarantee that the next year someone might get one I sent out last year.  They received a greeting cause they are on my Luv Radar.  If you read this blog, which no one is since I was radio silent for so long, and do not get a greeting there is a reason.  Usually it is either I do not have a good email address or I do not have your birthdate on record.

Last December I reached 79 years circling the sun.  Well, outside the womb.  Hubby reached 85 in September.  Those six years difference made little difference until about the last 5 - 10 years.  These days the difference is showing a bit more.  Some days I think how hard I pushed him when he was just too tired to keep going.  I work to not do that any more.  Yes, age does have an influence on how well our bodies serve us.  All the years of not lifting correctly, carrying too much body weight, rotating shifts at work, the air we breath, and our inherited DNA are huge determining factors.

In the US and Canada it will be interesting to see if births rise in about 9 months.  Blackouts and other events that cause folks to stay home are like some sort of love potions.  During my recent hospital stay I was in the maternity wing.  I had to giggle at the irony.  One of the nurses and I were joking about that.  Then we drifted to the effects of blackouts, etc on birth rates.  She noted there was a huge surge in births following the Covid shutdown.  Now I am wondering how many births are a direct result of boredom.

Regardless of what circumstances surrounded the conception of the children in my sisters' lives I am glad.  Lots of fun memories to recall on a cold winter day in January.

There are 41 folks in this photo.  All but two are members of my sisters' and my families.  And there are at least 2 buns in the oven in the group.  BTW this is only part of the family.  

Take care,

Janice

January 28, 2026 Doctors and Memory of My Mom

 Doctors and Memory of My Mom

Today was a follow up day with the eye doctor and my GP.  Follow up for what you may ask.  You have no reason to know as I have been silent for years.  Let me catch you up on the happenings of the last few months.

Following about 4 years of inner thigh pain and what appeared to be muscle atrophy.  My right leg would just collapse while I was trying to walk.  The symptoms seemed to be similar to issues from 1985 when I had a ruptured disc, l4/l5.  I set up an appointment with the spine specialist at my ortho clinic.  He sent me to a pain specialist.  After more x-rays, CT scans, shots, 12 weeks of physical therapy a decision was made.  The pain was not improving and the issue was the hip joint.  So back to the ortho group  to the hip and knee specialist.

The hip doctor had replaced my left knee in 2016.  Had worked with me on muscle and adductor issues.  He even had done surgery on Hubby after his bicycle fall.  We knew each other.  The first words out of his mouth when he came into the exam room, "Your hip is a disaster!  Oh, hi, its been a while since I saw you."  The leg collapsing under me was the bone spurs catching on each other then giving away.  Well, good to know.  June 9, my hip was replaced.

That same day the elevator in our building died.  We live on the fourth floor.  I walked down to go to the hospital for the surgery.  After surgery I was to return home the same day.  I had to explain to the doctor and staff that to send me home meant my climbing 3 flights of steps.  I was not prepared to do that no matter who was going to lift/help me up those steps.  Nope, please, let me stay over night.  They did and Medicare paid the bill.  The elevator was out for over 2 weeks.

Cousin came to help with my care for the first 10 days.  What a blessing.  Hubby was in no shape to care for me at the level I needed.  I will say that hip recovery is soooo much easier than knee recovery.  I did all PT from home than released back to the same PT tech that had helped me before.  All went great and now I can climb the steps to the 4th floor apartment!

Last spring I was 78 and the eye doctor had noted cataracts in both eyes about 4 -5 years before.  We had been letting me wait till driving was a bit iffy to schedule the surgery to correct the issue.  It was time in early 2025 but hip issues and surgery caused eye surgery to be postponed.  Finally, August 19th the right eye was done.  The was d left eye was done one week later.  I chose not to pay extra for dual vision lens so reading glasses are used.  Distance vision checked at 20/20.  My vision was the best in decades.

Except for floaters.  You know those irritating blobs of protein that float on the inside of your eyeballs.  So hope you do not have to deal with those things.  I even had developed a dark one in the left eye.  It would float in from the side and look like something was stepping out in front of me while driving.  With a hybrid that already is a problem as folks do not hear my car moving when in electric mode.  

On the final day of my cataract surgeries I mentioned that I had heard there was a surgery to remove floaters.  Yes, there is a surgery and the eye clinic has a surgeon on staff.  In mid October I was given the all clear from cataract recovery. An appointment was set up with the floater surgeon for evaluation.  It was December 3 before he was available.

Once Dr. Fisher, the floater surgeon, gave the go ahead January 8 surgery was scheduled.  Arriving before 5 AM made for a short night's sleep.  I was home with an eye patch by noon.  In hand was a schedule for eye drops and the do's and don'ts for the next 3 weeks.  Today was the follow up.  All is good to go to  schedule the right eye floatie removal.  The left eye was and is so crystal clear.  I can hardly wait.

So why a follow up visit with a second doctor today.  Severe abdominal pain that radiated into my back sent me via ambulance to the ER.  I was alone when the pain had me in its grips so I called 911.  Basically an early diagnosis of a kidney infection changed to maybe bladder.  I was admitted for 2 days for IV antibiotics and morphine shots to manage the pain.  By the next day the diagnosis was no infection anywhere.  The follow up today leaves us all puzzled.  None of the commonly tested bacteria were detected in the cultures.  All I know is I no longer have pain.  Only one antibiotic pill left and I am done.  "Just watch yourself!" sweet Dr. Daniel said.

One last thought on this January 28.  This is the anniversary of the morning in 2015 following a night I spent at my Mom's bedside.  She begged me to make the nurses quit hurting her by putting clean bandages on her sizeable bedsore.  "Jannie, make them stop!" That was about 3 AM Those were the last words I remember her saying to me.  Around 6 AM I stepped out of the room for a bit of a break.  When I returned, her soul had left her body.  The night before she had angrily said, "In the morning I'm gonna standup and walk out of this place."  As with everything Momma did through out her life, she stood by her word.  She was 96 years 4 months and 17 days old.  Her life is covered more here.

Mom holding her youngest great grandson.

So there you have it.  Some of the not so fun things over the last year and a memory of my Mother, Mary Helen Rogers.

Y'all stay safe and warm,

Janice