Summer Restoration

Unfortunately, while I've been down with the ankle injury,

I also got a flu virus.

It's been nice to look out into our backyard and see NATURE!

We have a Verdin pair in the backyard!

At least we DID . . . 

The nest fell down once.

And no wonder; it was just hooked on to the side of a spiky cactus!

They tried again!

It fell down again.

I picked it up and wedged it into a V of the cactus:

And there are two little blue jelly-bean-sized eggs in it

that I don't think were there before!

One egg has a crack in it and there's no baby bird, so

I'm suspicious that the eggs aren't good.

Can you see them?

We have a Verdin nest in the front Sweet Acacia tree, too

(we do every year),

This little birdie didn't make it, either.

He was a mourning dove.

Our Chinese Elm trees are now about 20 years old, and their trunks and

bark are getting more interesting all the time.

 

And our cute little cactus has bloomed twice!

Happily, I got to see a new birdie visitor!

This is a Western Tanager, if I'm correct.

Isn't he beautiful?!

I also saw what I think was this pygmy nuthatch.

I haven't seen him again, but I keep looking!

The red yucca in the front yard are blooming, too.

The Verdin and hummingbirds love these!

Here's a hummingbird!

Our neighbor had his driveway blocked off the other day

with a sign that said, "DANGER: BEES!"

I saw the bees amassing near the corner of the garage door

for a little while, but then they were gone.

I didn't see a removal service come, so I'm not sure what happened to them.

My dear friend Cindy brought over this adorable little

hedgehog with wheat grass growing in it.

Our cats LOVE it!

Especially Claude.

Such a beautiful girl!

Allistair & Stephen:

Juvy:

Juvy & Stephen (watching birdies):

 Allistair:

Big-eyes Stephen:

Allistair:

I've been transitioning out of the knee-high boot - yay! but ouch, too.

Here are a couple of big-boot outfits.

On a chlly day:

top: Charter Club (Macy's)
leggings: INC International Concepts (Macy's)
shoe: Tretorn (Amazon)

I decided to try some wide-leg jeans.

top: Charter Club (Macy's)
jeans: JAG (Amazon)

I think I like them.

They're very comfy and I think they'll be nice to have for

creating outfits with different silhouettes. 

Even as I'm working back to ankle health, I'm still weak.

Check out the left leg muscle tone versus the right leg.

:(

It's still pretty swollen, too.

Here's the small boot.

If I'm going to walk a lot, I still need the support in the big boot.

top: Charter Club (Macy's)
skirt: Rekucci (Amazon)
shoe: Kenneth Cole (Amazon)

When I finally was able to run errands this week

(I got the flu last week - poo!),

I went with my friend Cindy.

It was helpful to have "support staff" with me - ha!

I found these adorable travel drinking glasses - in the shape of cacti!

Aren't they adorable?!

I've managed to eat fairly well in spite of the virus.

I've made big batches of stuff that I can throw together

and let simmer.

Potato corn chowder

Lentil rotini

Mushroom stroganoff

Garbanzo bean brownies - YUM!

This was the first time I tried this recipe and I think I'm going to make

another batch tonight!

I've been watching "Father Brown" on Netflix,

snuggling cats,

and drinking a lot of sparkling water and tea.

That's my continued healing plan.

I'll keep you informed!

Recovery

It's slow.

The boot is a good friend to me during this time.
I wouldn't be able to walk without it.
My ankle is very weak.
Today is three weeks since I injured myself,
and my ankle and foot and leg are still swollen and bruised.
I had no idea it would actually take so long to heal -
even on the outside!
I figured after a week or so, the bruising and swelling would be gone,
and the ligaments and bone would heal slower.
It looks as if it's ALL taking its sweet time.

Next week I have another x-ray and then a follow-up appointment with the podiatrist.
I'm hoping to graduate to a smaller boot and get the okay to do some
strengthening exercises.  I can barely flex or point my foot at all
and it honestly freaks me out a little!

Since the injury, I've been extremely tired
(and everything takes more energy to do!).

The first week I needed 1 or 2 naps per day.
The second week I didn't need naps anymore, but I had trouble waking up
in the morning and I was ready for bed around 7-8 pm.
This week I'm waking up around normal time and able to be
semi-functional most of the evening.  That's good improvement to note!
I have been trying to be kind to myself and not push too much,
but it's hard to be fatigued again after months of feeling great.
I miss being physically active.

One thing that has made me happy is trying to make cute outfits
that accommodate the boot. 

I found that a black a-line skirt
with an eye-catching patterned top
(I prefer smaller patterns) works great to help
the boot to blend in and not seem quite as huge as it is.


Here are some of my ensembles!


pattern: stripes

t-shirt: Target
skirt: Rekucci
sock & shoe: Target
bag: Taget

Trying to look jaunty:

pink velvet sneaker: Tretorn (Amazon)

pattern: dots

top: Beall's
skirt: Rekucci
clog: Dr. Scholl's (DSW)
bag: Target

 I LOVE this round striped straw bag!

 pattern: tiny bows

blouse: Beall's
skirt: Rekucci
shoe: Tretorn (Amazon)
bag: Target

 pattern: tiny hearts

blouse: A New Day (Target)
camisole: JKY by Jockey (Target)
skirt: Rekucci
pink velvet shoe: Tretorn (Amazon)

I love the little tiny heart pattern on this blouse!

I had to make a return at the mall (tiring!),

but happily I ran across these beautiful dotted flouncy

scarves at Macy's.  I will probably wear them in my hair

this summer.

Sorry these next two are blurry.

pattern: squares in squares

dress: Target (many many years ago)
slip: Jockey (Macy's)
pink velvet shoe: Tretorn (Amazon)

I really love this dress.
I almost took it to the consignment store many times,
but I'm GLAD I KEPT IT.

I'm glad to have lots of opportunities in life

to learn how to be content and grateful.

I'm grateful for these adorable and loving cats! 

They are extra sweet to me when I'm down.

God must tell them so they can take extra good care of me.

Claude . . . 

Allistair's smiling happy face:

Two cats (Allistair & Juvy) on my lap
and one right next to me (Claude)!

Allistair's soft belly:

Helping me feel better in bed (bonus: clean socks)

Stephen's cute little pink sticking-out tongue: 

Claude poking out from under the bed:

Sweet Juvy cuddles:

Stephen eating in this position - !!!



Belly-up snuggles:

This handsome face:

A curly tail:

Criss-cross paws in front of face:



We have a Verdin pair in our backyard - hooray!
They're probably my favorite desert birds.
They like to build nests in spiky trees or plants,
and they picked our crazy huge spiky backyard cactus!

We have had a pair in our front sweet acacia tree for years and years,
and I love watching them out my office window.
But I don't spend as much time in my office as I do in the great room
(and with this injury, on the couch), so it's an extra gift to have a pair
RIGHT OFF THE PATIO!
I can watch all their cute little activities.

Their nests always seem precarious, and they often fall down.

This one has already fallen down once.

They rebuilt it but used new twigs, not the old ones from the ground.

Hope this nest stays up until the babies are all grown up!

My sweet parents sent me a cute air plant

(growing on a sodalite crystal - what a cool idea!)

as a get-well encouragement gift.

It makes me smile!  

One of our small cacti did three HUGE blooms:

One of our cacti, which broke off a couple of years ago
(I replanted his other parts elsewhere in the yard)
is growing again!

This cactus in the corner of the yard has some cute nubs,
too.

I got an aluminum can and scoop for our birdseed

and I love how it looks!

Much better than just a bag sitting there.

I'm going to get another one of these for our cactus potting soil

(Amazon, less than $30).

I think I saw this bird (pygmy nuthatch) taking

a shower in our fountain last week!

The neighbor's oleanders are goregeous.

This little succulent planter I made:

Our pretty and peaceful backyard, lush with plants and creatures!

I have had enough stamina to keep cooking healthy tasty food

(it's a priority - I don't think I'll heal without it!)

Pineapple roasted veggies (I eat them over pasta):

eggplant
onion
mushroom
red bell peppers
pineaple
corn
zucchini

roasted potato wedges

When I was dropping off clothes at the consignment store,

I saw these amber glasses and fell in love with them!

The have a neat fish scales pattern

that I learned is called "cubist".

I got a smoking deal on these - 6 for $12.

They look beautiful with our blue glasses

(I guess I have a type when it comes to glasses - a foot and a texture!)

They look pretty in the cabinet together.

Cheers!

I tried some Beyond Meat sausage and liked it a lot!
Greg didn't hate it.

Fruit salad - blueberries, banana, apple, coconut strips, walnuts

green beans

veg sausage with dijon mustard, ketchup, and pickles

(I'm hungry now!!!)

The chance to go to a special event movie:
the Star Trek Deep Space 9 behind-the-scenes 25th anniversary
special movie, "What We Left Behind"!

We are huge Star Trek fans

and the movie was GREAT.

The seats were uncomfortable with the boot,
and my ankle was aching a bit, but it was a very fun event
and I am thrilled that we got to go!

I have a Deep Space Nine t-shirt, so I wore it.

 I hope you take the time today to be grateful, no matter your circumstances.

Thanks for stopping by!