Thankful Thursday | #1 for 2025!
Happy New Year, dear readers!
This week, I am thankful:
for a fresh new glasses prescription
I had an eye checkup and it confirmed what I thought; that my current prescription wasn't quite right for me anymore.
I'm not delighted my eyesight got worse (!), but I am happy at the prospect of seeing better!
I am also grateful that my up-close vision hasn't deteriorated enough to call for bifocals or progressive lenses.
that next year I probably will have vision insurance
I'm insurance-less on the eye front this year, but I'm guessing I can get vision coverage once I am on the hospital insurance plans.
So, next year's eye appointment should be cheaper!
that I didn't have to pay for a dry-eye treatment
You know that Meibomian gland problem that I have? Where they get clogged up and then can't secrete the lubricating fluid that keeps my eyes from drying out?
Well, this year when I went in for my eye checkup, he said mine weren't clogged! Yay!
That means I didn't have to pay for the $150+ heat treatment that unclogs them.
I've been using my heated eye mask and also this spray that my doctor recommended. And obviously, it's working.
I'm thrilled!
And I'm motivated to keep on using my mask and my eyelid spray.
for good health
Working at the hospital really makes me so appreciative of the gift of general good health.
I see people with circulation issues, breathing difficulties, skin problems, mobility challenges, digestive malfunctions and much more, and it makes me appreciate what I've got.
My heart works! My lungs work! My digestive tract works from start to finish. I don't have edema. I have no areas of skin breakdown. My blood circulation is sufficient all over my body.
Amazing!
I'm grateful my job gives me the gift of extra appreciation for how my body works.
for everyone being gracious about the glitches yesterday
I figured something would go wonky with the Patreon, and it did. Ha. Someone more professional than me would have figured this out before publishing it, but here we are. 😉
I am also grateful for a lovely and responsive web hosting company because I am positive that once they open back up for business today, they will help me figure out what the problem is and get it fixed.
for the refreshing break from nursing school
I do have a big ol' pile of assigned reading/med cards to get done before school starts in a few weeks, but I decided to not think about that too hard over the holidays.
(Me: "Prework? What pre-work? I SEE NOTHING.")
I do feel the burnout subsiding, so I think in another week or so I will be ready to dive in and tackle the pre-work.
And I'm hoping that the restful feeling from winter break will carry me at least a little ways through the semester.
that it's (hopefully) my last semester doing competency and math testing
As long as all goes to plan, this is my last semester of having to face the "hell week", as they call it, at the start of the semester.
We have orientation, lectures, competency testing (to test all your clinical skills), and the do-or-die math exam all in the first four days.
Sooooo, I'll start practicing my head to toe exam and all my other skills over the next few weeks, and I'll do some math practice as well.
If they try to get me with one of those teaspoon questions again, I'm gonna be ready!
(Last semester, I totally missed that they wanted one answer converted to teaspoons, so I gave the correct mLs but got it wrong because it wasn't in teaspoons. And the terrible part is that I am actually very good at converting from mLs to teaspoons. Ha.)
I am always reminded of the scene at the campfire in Call of the Wild, when the wolves are drawing closer and Jack is contemplating the mystery of a fully functioning body - something he had never considered before he found himself in mortal peril.
This week's thankfuls:
A sunny day, after a December month with less than 30 full sun hours;
Feeling energized for work and chores;
Finding thank you messages in my inbox upon my return.
Have a good day, a good week, a good year!
@JNL, Thank you for mentioning Call of the Wild. My youngest son recently read it and was REALLY into it, and my older two also love it, but it never occurred to me there might be a movie. There are a few, actually. Not sure which one you've seen, but the TV series on Prime looks good and I think they'll really enjoy it. So thanks!
@kristin @ going country,
I read it! But the scenes were so vivid, I could see it in front of me, as every time when I recollect that scene -
This week I am thankful for a wonderful Christmas and New Year's with my family. I'm also thankful that I got to stay with my best friend, going for beautiful walks and general relaxation! There is also sunshine here today after weeks of rain and grey skies!
FIRST THANKFUL THURSDAY OF THE YEAR:
1.So thankful our son is having much better health after a coupe of years of challenges.
2. Thankful I have enough food,shelter, and general good health.
3. Thankful for new church friends.
4. Thankful for beautiful sunrise and sunsets.
5.Thankful for the beautiful weekly Farm Box I get from the urban farm right up the road from my house!!
@Madeline, when I see farm box etc. I always wonder how one knows about these things. What to search for ?? Thanks for any assistance.
@Brendalynne, Try googling "coop agriculture," "food coops," and talk to your neighbors who are subscribing. In my area the co-ops are always happy to have new members, but they don't have big advertising budgets.
Thankful for a restful winter break with teen. I am off at same time as teen for winter break & enjoy probably this as the last time to be off together during winter break.
Thankful for our house & heat as we head back downhill in temperatures on the winter wonderland rollercoaster this season. Snow returned & cold temps (feels like mid teens & will all day until night when continue to drop).
Thankful for the kind customer service employee at utility company that talked me through the 50% increase in my monthly bill (raised rates again).
Thankful that my Aunt is in the final stretch with insurance company & that then will be able to sell (what's left of house &) property. She has already had intrest to buy AS IS, but no amounts yet. We have talked through most scenarios to prepare for any options she will need to do. We have pretty good idea what value is & estimated costs for selling. Currently her house/property will be the only one for sale on the water.
Thankful my dad is handling chemo ok right now (still early in timeline).
Always Thankful for Kristen & her blog where we can learn & share. 🙂
Have a great weekend
@Regina, That is a large increase. I’m so sorry. 🙁
@Regina, wow, I'm thankful that I don't live where you do (she says with crossed fingers after reading that electricity rates in California will be going up in spite of being the highest in the country).
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, we get surcharged & securization charged for everything! Plus natural gas costs increased 20%+ more due to utility companies saying making repairs/replacement of natural gas lines beginning 2024 over next years.
Electricity is flat rate rates ($0.01 cheaper of lowest rate) in Winter (November until March) then increases $0.01 (April until June) then (July until October) have on/off peak rates that increase $0.05. So electricity did go up 20% like news media reported utilities would as our Governor agreed to the increase.
We also are charged as part of our monthly bill for assistance funds, which are good (& one time use per year only for those who qualify until funds run out) but I thought it was company giving back/tax write off.
@Regina,
I can see the value of having assistance funds available, because with the prices of everything going up (and wages not really keeping up....can't speak for anyone but myself, but the 2.something % raise I got last year is in no way keeping up with inflation), any of us could be in need at the drop of a hat....but I would have thought it came from the company giving back, a company-founded foundation, or something.
(To clarify, annual raises at the hospital where I work have been puny for many years. My performance was not lacking!).
@Liz B.,
I always give to local assistance funds but it is optional here. I round up to the nearest $10 mark when I pay my bill. I feel like it is one of the best ways to directly help those in need of a little help. Fortunately, we have a small, local, non-profit cooperative who does an amazing job.
On another note, raises have been lacking at the corporate level too. They have not outpaced inflation over the last 4 years. With cost increasing in our area by 30% since 2020, our Disposable Income has decreased as we head toward retirement. Not where we expected to be, but here we are. But none the less, we are blessed with enough.
@Bee,
That's so nice that you make that contribution. I think I would want it to be voluntary, myself. Now I'm wondering if my local utility has such a thing? Hmmmm.
Glad to hear you have enough. Having worked in health care for my entire career, it's difficult to know how things compare. I still hear about people in business getting bonuses and company perks, two things I've never been on the receiving end of. I am also blessed to have saved enough for a reasonably comfortable retirement (2 more years, fingers crossed).
@Regina, it frosts my chaps that utility companies did not do regular maintenance on their infrastructure. And now when they can not delay it any more, want customers to pre-fund it as much as possible. I was happy to see my state told the two main electric supplies they were *not* getting the honking increases they wanted. Any company who utters the words "returning profits to shareholders" (usually includes the top execs), makes me livid. When it is the company for whom I work "bragging" they returned 80% of profits to shareholders, it seriously affects my motivation and productivity.
@Regina, our gas company allows you to donate to their assistance fund when you pay your bill (hmm.. wonder how that works with ACH?) But our state does *not* allow gas or electric service to be turned off between November 1 and end of April. Those needing electricity to run medical equipment cannot be cut off no matter what time of the year.
@Regina, my state also has funds available (not enough for everyone) to help pay utilities during the winter. I should take a breath and think before hitting enter lol
I wanted to share my frugal method for spending less on glasses: I bought several pairs of frames from Etsy, eBay and yard sales. (Note the size numbers on a current pair that fit and look for the same.) Then every year when I get a new prescription, I use an online lens replacement service and refresh the lenses in 2 or 3 pairs. My prescription includes progressives, and lenses run $100-150, as opposed to $400 at local opticians. It's fun to have a selection of frames, and safer to have spares.
@Queen of Fifty Cents,
Can you please share the online lens replacement service? I have old glasses that need new lenses and the retailer I bought them from will not do this.
@Queen of Fifty Cents, That's a fascinating idea! Not one I had considered before.
@Queen of Fifty Cents, as it happens I need another pair of glasses. What service do you use?
@Queen of Fifty Cents,
I totally get that the expense of a local optometrists is complete sticker shock but here is my experience:
I am legally blind in one eye. Glasses are probably the greatest priority in my life just in front of good shoes ( Plantars fasciitis.) . I have tried cheaper venues but what has always happened is they break, don't fit, or have hidden price hikes.
I use an FSA/HSA and spend it at my local Dr's. I have used the same frames for four years now (that is with everyday tough wear.) When the lenses became scratched too early, they replaced them for free. They have repaired a broken leg. I get free cleaning and free adjustments when glasses get mangled from the life of an out of doors kind of gal.
I also fear not having a local shop to look out for me. It is like when all the small hardware stores went out of business because of big box and online. I lost all that expert advice.
On this grateful Thursday, I will post my gratitude for being able to afford a local shop.
@Mary Ann, I am so thankful for my local optician and the means to continue to use them. I especially appreciate having an expert adjust the fit. I can't make them comfortable on my own.
@Queen of Fifty Cents,
I would also love the name of the lens replacement company. I had my eyes examined locally, and purchased my new glasses there.
I would love a source to get the lens in my old glasses updated. That way I can rock my '90s "Sally Jesse Rafael" red frames once again. LOL
@Queen of Fifty Cents, I have been only replacing my lenses in my good frames for years & you're right, it's still starts out at $400+. My only concern would be if they got the lenses wrong or damaged what is the ability to fix that?
@Book Club Elaine, I also appreciate having a local optician. I wear contact lens most of the time, but I do have a spare of glasses just in case. When I switched to progressive lens, they weren’t adjusted properly. I literally was running into wall because I couldn’t judge distances.
Yes, this is the type of thing I worry about. I have a hard-to-treat pair of eyeballs, and I worry the headache of trying to do this all online would not be worth it for me in particular. For a simpler set of eyes, though, I can see it working great.
This week I'm thankful:
* for the slower pace. Kids are off school. My work/volunteer stuff is on break. My husband has finished his last job and starts a new career next week. Everybody's been free!! And I love that my husband hasn't been getting work texts and calls all the time.
* for my in-laws being able to visit and that we have such a good relationship with them. Also, that my parents get along really well with my in-laws and they like each other.
* that my kids are enjoying break together.
* that one of my kids is back to normal right now after a real rough patch. This school year (and the last couple of months in particular) have been very hard for her and it's good to see her fun, not-stressed self again.
* for comfy clothes to lounge in at home!
I'm thankful that
*I've been getting more sleep lately 4-5 hours per night was not enough.
*I have the option to homeschool HS son again for some of his classes. He can still take a few things at the HS, and he'll take technology classes there. We'll cover the basics at home. The YMCA will be his PE. He has a rough fall term, and the school/teachers had no new ideas about helping him succeed. So I had to make changes.
*The blogs that post regularly and in the early hours of the morning, so I have something to read when I can't sleep.
* The visit from my daughter and her husband. They played games with her siblings and chatted with everyone.
Peace in the new year to all!
@mbmom11,
So sorry you and your son are having a tough time with the teachers at school. Three cheers for your advocating for him and helping improve his situation. Hope this semester is much, much better for him.
@Fru-gal Lisa,
The teachers are actually mostly awesome- my other kids have had them. But this son has some quirks and accommodations, which haven't helped this year, and no one has new ideas. He's really smart but does not fit in traditional school well. I figure we can't do any worse at home!
@mbmom11, we were in a similar situation and decided to homeschool. It was one of the best decisions we ever made.
I'm sure you know this already (after all, I've probably mentioned it before) but online eyeglasses ordering is 100% the way to go based on cost and value (I do Zenni personally.) I would absolutely use a local place if they weren't beholden to the Luxottica monopoly and price fixing but we live in a fallen world so I do what I can with what is available to me.
But some thankful things for me:
That I was able to take a long vacation with time away from work. I have been at my job long enough that I have accumulated a lot of paid time off and I appreciate that we are encouraged to take it.
In that time away, almost nothing of note took place so today and tomorrow should hopefully be quiet.
That I didn't get sick when others in my house did.
Generally that I came through the holiday season relatively unscathed. Not completely but you get the point.
@Battra92, I love Zenni!!
@Battra92, thanks for the recommendation. Off to look at Zenni.
@WilliamB, they are good but the frame quality on the cheapest ones feels like drug store readers quality. That is, to say, not the greatest but 100% serviceable.
@Battra92, and William B.,
I got some really good frames for $17 at Walmart last November. They were non-designer frames and intended for men. They are very sturdy and stylish, both; when I wear them, no one knows they're not women's frames.
@Battra92, i have to disagree with you on this. I have bought at least 40 pairs from them and I don't really see a difference quality wise on the frames.
@Fru-gal Lisa,
I bought mine from Walmart and they're also mens frames! I like the optometrist there, and I do prefer trying frames on first. ( My kids also have broken enough frames over the years that I like the local place in order to get easy repairs/replacements.) And there are frames for as low as $9- my favorite purple pair cost that! The more recent styles of women's frames just looked weird on me , so I ventured over to the men's section. These are simple and suit me. And not too much cost-wise.
I'm thankful:
that we have almost no snow. It's so much easier to get around.
that my husband's cousin is coming for a visit and bringing some photos of my husband when he was a boy.
that everyone stayed healthy over the holidays.
for a massage therapist that is helping my very stiff shoulder.
Thankfuls:
--For abundant paper and cardboard to start the woodstove in the mornings. For the most part I dislike the disposable tendency in our current society, except when I have to start the fire. Then I'm very happy to have all those boxes and school papers. It makes it so much easier to start the fire.
--Relatedly, for all my children that can now help with moving and stacking wood, or splitting and gathering kindling. There was some discussion here a bit ago about how parents only had wood heat as long as they had the child labor for the associated chores, and I saw myself in that. Not that we didn't have wood heat before the kids could help and we'll probably still have it when they're gone, but as long as they're here to help, I am for sure taking advantage of that. 🙂
--For the time, money, and supportive husband that allow me to take a night away at a hotel tonight. I did this a few years ago for my birthday--which is two days after Christmas--and now I try to do it every year at the end of our Christmas break. December is so stressful for me, with three birthdays in the house and all the holiday stuff, that this one night by myself is really appreciated and helpful before we go back to school/work. I didn't manage it last year because some family came to visit during our break, but I'm going this year, today. I only drive to one of the nearer small cities about a hundred miles away, but there's a really nice historic hotel there, along with a cool old plaza with shops and things to walk around, so it's a good place to go. And, this being a small, unknown New Mexican city, the really nice hotel is still only $100 a night. New Mexico is an excellent state for frugal people:-)
--For a great improvement in one of my son's attitude and behavior. I felt like we kind of lost him for awhile there, but he's coming back to himself, and it's a great relief.
--This has been on my list over and over, but . . . for our priest. Our resident priest was gone this week on Wednesday--a holy day of obligation for Catholics, which meant we had church--and the substitute priest was a good reminder to me of how lucky we are to have our current priest. I appreciate all men who choose to serve as priests, but some really have exceptional abilities to lead a parish, preach well, and relate to their parishioners. Ours does all of that well, and that is a great blessing for us and something I try not to take for granted.
--That my husband and middle son had a great, if ultimately unsuccessful, backcountry elk hunt, and returned home safely. They hunt really wild country for elk, on foot miles back in mountains, and I always worry when they're gone that something will happen out there. Always thankful for a safe return.
@kristin @ going country, enjoy your journey. A little time to oneself is rejuvenating.
@kristin @ going country, your one night away sounds too short!
@kristin @ going country, we use our toilet paper/paper towel tubes & stuff in dryer lint & vaccum lint to make fire starters. Granted you are supposed to dip each end into hot wax to seal in, we don't & it helps when starting campfires (not in woodstove).
Enjoy your night out, it sounds great.
Do you know about Zenni Optical? It's an online shop for prescription glasses. They are amazing! I have been using them for myself and my family for over 5 years now (ordered about 40 pairs - because they are so cheap and I love having a varietyy) and I was always satisfied, no problem whatsoever. I had to return a pair once (my mistake) and they took it back without hassle. The thing is: it is sooooo cheap compared to the optometrist and, IMO, the quality is the same.
@Isa, I love the idea, but what do you do when your glasses need adjusting?
I had the same question as someone else: what do you do when they don't fit quite right?
@Kristen, what you have to do is look at your current glasses. Look inside, there is numbers on the branch (branch? Not sure how it's called in english...). You just have to use those numbers when you search for glasses online (to input frame widht, branch lenghts...) If I'm not mistaking there is 3 numbers to use. It is explained on Zenni. They also ask your pupillary distance, which is usually not written on your optometrist prescription but really easy to calculate with a ruler. Again, well explained on Zenni website.
Oh yes, I have heard about the sizing numbers and pupillary distance; I was more thinking of how when I get my glasses, a lot of times the behind the ear part has to get adjusted to fit my ears properly. So I was wondering...what do you do then?
@Kristen
Some optometrists will adjust glasses for you even if you didn't buy them through their store. It's worth checking. My kids have done this at college far from home.
Does it make me sound like Scrooge if I say I'm thankful that Christmas is over? It was a nice day, but the season in general feels so hard to "get through". It was different when my kids were young and I had Hubby to lean on. I am also thankful for:
*my job, which adds structure to my life
*rediscovering reading, puzzles, and cross stitch as a way to stop doom scrolling
*my very helpful therapist - a man, which is is surprising even to me (ha!)
Happy New Year, Kristen!
@Gina from The Cannary Family, not a Scrooge at all. T-Day was "late" this year so only 25 days from T-Day to Xmas Eve. We hosted both holidays so seemed not much of a breather between the two.
@Gina from The Cannary, @Selena,
The season does feel much different when the children have grown and family is no longer with us. It feels incomplete as there is a hole in your heart. From a time perspective, it felt especially challenging when the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas is so short. I also hosted both and New Year’s Day. I’m tired!
@Gina from The Cannary Family, Because our two sons and their families live in distant states, they stay for 9 days over Christmas. They are wonderful people, the dearest to me….and yet I am super tired after hosting for that length of time.
Funny, though, I still miss them after they are gone. What wouldn’t I give to have them nearby!
Hosting is a big job! No wonder you are tired.
I was reading a little post on “glimmers.” A glimmer is a moment of your day in which you feel joy, happiness, peace, or gratitude. I loved this word and thought I would share.
I am thankful for a New Year. Although I know intellectually that Tuesday of this week did not differ much from Wednesday, I love that 2024 has ended and 2025 has begun. There is always a feeling of hope that comes with New Year’s Day. I say good-bye to the difficulty, the pain, and the failings of the previous year and I enter a period of focus when anything is possible. My goal is to keep this feeling going.
I am thankful that some of my family could come together for New Year’s Day lunch. This is a traditional meal of Hopping John, greens, cornbread, and roast pork.
I am thankful for a refrigerator full of leftovers, so I won’t need to cook and can regroup over the holidays.
I am thankful that the holidays are no over. I always enjoy them, and I am always happy for life to return with its normal rhythm and activity.
Happy 2025! Wishing everyone the blessings of peace, good health, and prosperity.
@Bee, typos… sorry.
@Bee, I will be on the lookout for glimmers today. Thank you!
Thankful for the neighbors who threw another in their series of great New Year's Day parties yesterday. As last year, lobster tails and shrimp were among the refreshments, and I helped make sure that none of those pesky things went to waste. 😀
Also thankful that although we've got a lake effect snow warning from now through late Sunday afternoon (with a potential snow total of 1-2 feet), I've run all necessary errands. I also have plenty to do: I've just received the files for 11 JASNA papers to work on.
@A. Marie, settling down with Jane while the snow roars outside sounds like a great way to spend a few days.
It was fun seeing your blue Christmas tree again!
I'm thankful for a quiet, restful week between Christmas and New Year's.
That stretching, ice, and anti-inflammatories are easing my neck and shoulder pain.
That the firewood we worked to gather and split all summer is keeping us toasty this winter.
For Happy New Year's wishes from family and friends.
I am thankful for making it thru a difficult work year and hoping for the best for 2025.
I am also thankful that my siblings enjoyed their Holidays as well as we did. It was a nice holiday season for our families.
I am thankful that I have worked thru expenses for the upcoming year and hopefully I will be able to retire in 14 months. Things are looking good for that.
@Maureen,
We shall retire together then! Go Maureen!
@Maureen, congratulations. i know you will succeed. i have been retired 10 years i retired early and i am so grateful not to be at a horrible job in a great company. that is no longer great anymore.
1. I'm thankful that I got to have a traditional New Year's day meal of hog jowl, black-eyed peas and greens yesterday with my daughter and granddaughter. (Other daughter and family were visiting friends at a beach). I cooked the meal and my daughter made peach cobbler for dessert, which hit the spot. We opted out of cornbread this year.
2. I usually take down my Christmas decorations on New Year's Day, since I almost always have to work on Epiphany. So I'm thankful that I got them all taken down yesterday while I had the day off of work. One less task for this weekend.
3. I'm thankful for congenial co-workers, especially the one who left a bottle of small-batch Kentucky bourbon on my desk!
4. I'm thankful for the cheery scarlet blooms on the pineapple sage plants I have in pots on my porch.
5. I'm thankful for heat that works. The temperature was in the low 30's F this morning and will be nearly every morning this week, according to forecasts.
Random musing: I realized this year, my first Christmas as a widow, that my holiday celebrations have always centered on my immediate family, yet as their kids grow and they have in-laws and long-time friends to consider, the situation is changing. I decided I need to start new traditions, not to exclude my family, but to do some things that don't depend on them, to avoid my sitting around waiting on family to appear then missing them when they are gone, or having nothing else to do once I have visited them and returned home. I don't always have the time off work or the extra cash to take vacations every year around Christmas, so I'm looking for frugal, but fun ideas that can become my new traditions that will be in addition to the precious time I spend with my loved ones. I'm accepting ideas!
@JD, My husband and I had a similar conversation regarding the Christmas holidays. My children, nieces, nephews, and grands are scattered. They have significant others in their lives that they must consider. Frankly, the holidays are and always have been a lot of work for me. Although I don’t want to admit it, but I am getting older. All that work is much more tiring than it once was. I also think it’s time to look at different options than “a good old-fashioned family Christmas.”
@JD, this year I had friends over for board games and snacking. Very low cost and effort, as I am known not to go overboard in party prep. Except on food, of course.
@JD, I don't know if this would fit the bill, but (and this is a longer-than-necessary story) our organist sings in a choral arts society that performs a little over an hour away from here. They (almost) always have a Christmas performance that we attend. Afterwards we stopped by a local doughnut shop (only open after 7 pm) to get doughnuts as a treat. After more than an decade of this tradition, I was so saddened at last year's performance because the husband of a couple (who always spoke to us kindly and who always sat near our family) wasn't there. I found out he had died. Traditions like that allow us to have a different kind of family/community... and if real family happens to be around, take them to the show.
@JD, a few ideas:
Gather another friend or two in a similar situation and attend a concert, or drive around looking at lights, or visit a nearby town with nice architecture/cute stores/good coffee. Watch a Christmas movie together (or alone, so you can back it up or stop it if you want), listen to Christmas music while doing a project with said friends (packing shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child, maybe?), or, a radical thought—establish a tradition with a friend to do something entirely non-Christmas, going to the closest beach or sneaking around washing all the windshields in the church parking lot while everyone is inside. (WHAT?? I must be low on sleep!)
@JD, I don't remember if church activities are your thing, but my single brother who lives in a city across the country from the rest of the family only comes home for Christmas some years. On the years he is not with us, he sometimes visits multiple Christmas Eve services at different churches throughout the day/evening enjoying all the beautiful music. I am also single, and I think that sounds like fun! I may try it in my small hometown next year.
@JD, if a movie theater close by, go see a movie. That's what we've pretty much been doing for the past for years. Xmas Day use to be hosted by my late MIL but after she died, her siblings/their kids/grandkids (rightfully) decided they were going to have their own Xmas Day (it was a 1 1/2 drive each way for them).
Sad to say we had to purchase our tickets online (and pick our seats) and since we aren't a "rewards member), pay a CC fee. But our tickets were still cheap as we're both over sixty lol.
@JD, we say the 12:20 movie which was also 25% off.
@Selena, SAW not say.
@JD, We’ve taken to meeting up at a destination the three of us families agree on. It costs about the same as the whole Christmas hoo-ha and we get a vacation out of it too, so it’s actually cheaper. We get to visit with each other so much more happily with no one being the host.
@JD, one of my favorite authors, Maeve Binchy, wrote a book (the name of which eludes me but maybe Quentin's) about a restaurant. It was filled with of stories about the people who worked there and also the patrons. My favorite story was about a group of older women who called themselves The Chickless Mothers. Their annual Christmas custom was to gather together for a joyous meal at this restaurant. Their children were always too busy to spend the day with them, so they took matters into their own hands and had a wonderful time on their own. I aspire to that.
@JD,
We have done different things over the years (even though have teen) that include:
●helping local organization assemble holiday gift/food boxes for pick up/delivery (& helped deliver)
● movie theater outing on Christmas night
● our community still puts up Christmas lights on house/yards so driving around looking at lights still possible in addition to drive through holiday light displays
●community (local & high school) drama club puts on live acting show
● in bigger cities we would like to help serve food to homeless (research & preplanning needed)
● wall downtown & look at storefront holiday window displays
I'm sure there are more options that are more precise to your area, maybe check out local events calendar for your community. 🙂
@JD,
All - thanks so much for chiming in with ideas! I do like to see the lights around town and in the town where I work, and I always attend Christmas Eve service. We have a downtown open house in my town, but it's in early December, and I am trying to think of things for the day or two before Christmas, the day of and the day after up to the weekend after, mostly.
I'm not ruling any of these ideas out (although a movie on Christmas day, while popular, sounds so odd to me, but who knows, I might end up enjoying it). I'm going to take a look at what's around me. I live in a really small town, so not much happens here - we don't even have a movie theater - but that won't stop me. My biggest issue is that these things are often better when shared, but with the hurricanes and business closings, most of the women I've hung out with over the years have moved away. Working an hour from home, I don't have a chance to make new friends in my town - yet. Retirement may change that. But fear not, I will take all these suggestions very seriously and see what can be made to work for me in my circumstances! You guys are great!
@Book Club Elaine, I love Maeve Binchy!
@WilliamB, I first read this as “board games and snarking” and thought that sounded like a fun party! But snacking is nicer.
@Book Club Elaine, I LOVE Maeve Binchy! She is the only author who I have ever collected—automatically bought her books as soon as they were published. She mentions Quentin's in multiple books, including one with that as the title. I'm wondering if The Chickless Mothers is in "This Year It Will Be Different", a collection of short stories about Christmas.
@Meg in SoTX, Oh there was both, trust me.
@JD, Good for you. Some new activities and interests are also good for families. The holidays are a great time to travel and admire another place's traditions, decorations, and views. Look for friends or relatives who also would enjoy a new view, and book a trip, a theater and dinner outing, or a workshop to do together. I love sewing workshops and save up travel ads that come in the mail. Many specialty organizations sponsor wonderful tours--gardens, museums, a historical path, an author or composer's life, or a look behind the scenes at some place that interests you. I worked full time for many years and couldn't do the family hosting or traveling or decorating that seemed to be expected, but I needed some rest. So that is an option too--go to a spa hotel and pamper yourself, or round up a friend at your house and have a grownup pajama party with pedicures and homegrown facials. You don't have to travel a long way to just take a break from your usual paths around town: be a tourist at home and check out what your local tourism board is recommending to visitors. You might be very pleasantly surprised! Good luck in the new year, with hope that you will enjoy this new appreciation of the holidays. They can include the old, and the traditions, but new traditions can be quite wonderful and enriching without costing an arm and a leg.
@Lisa K, What a beautiful idea! My church welcomes visitors, and the musicians put a lot of special effort into music. There are also very elegant decorations, and more cookies and punch than we should be eating. This year our pastor's message was well balanced, recognizing that it can be a blue time of year for many people, and cheerfully urging everyone to light a little candle just for the evening. I think everyone left feeling uplifted.
@JD, You have some special challenges. I have moved a lot and worked full time continuously. There was an article in the Washington Post, I think, this morning, or it may have been published in Time Magazine, about how very many Americans do not have time for leisure activities or friendship. I have joined several groups whose interests I share--gardening, faith, sewing, music making, books, political efforts--and through them met great candidates for friendship and for various activities and projects. I worked part time after retirement in a different field, and found compatible friends in my new capacity. The part time crew had regular potluck dinners! So don't be blind to good people you work with.
Another issue is that some people in my small town seem to socialize only with the people they have known forever. It is hard or unusual for them to be open to a newcomer. If that is the case in your town, look for other newcomers. Or start a club of your own focusing on something you enjoy, and you may find kindred spirits closer than you think. Best wishes.
@JD, movie on Xmas Day is kinda odd at first. But the theater is usually filled with like minded/similarly situated folks (especially if the movie is themed from a certain era like the one we saw this year). Not packed to the gills with people (read: space between you and other patrons) but enough to not feel like you're the only ones in there.
@JD,
I'm so sorry for your loss this past year, and I know this Christmas was difficult. I am the sole survivor of my family. Most years, I concentrate Christmas around the religious observance and attend church services. It helps that my church denomination is very low key about it until the start of Advent, and they don't decorate until right before Christmas Day. Some of my friends have a reception on Dec. 25, much like William's, and we just go over there and snack and talk and play games. Their get-together is meant for those of us who are unattached or who are too far from our families to travel home. It is very nice. I also have found, personally, that listening to radio stations that do NOT play holiday tunes (we have one station that starts on Veteran's Day weekend, for God's sake! Too early!!!!) and not watching those sappy Hallmark movies or other holiday shows helps get me through the season. After this year, I am not going to hang my hopes on attending the church ladies' Christmas party; I got stood up and forgotten this year and it really sucked. Maybe I'll order a pizza and have other friends over that night instead.
@Fru-gal Lisa,
I am so grateful that the Hallmark Christmas movies are not being broadcast any longer. They started in November and here was hardly anything worthwhile watching. My husband and I are now enjoying short nature documentaries (penguins, whales etc in January) and also RailAway with beautiful countryside. Small "glimmers" - and I can also knit while watching. Soo much more relaxing to the mind!
Informal, last minute NYD gaming pastry was everything I could have hoped it was - fun, friends, funny, lots of cheese. Great way to start the new year.
My new(ish) house still makes me happy and reduces stress. One of my gaming guests was my realtor, giving me the opportunity to tell him so.
(Reasonably) healthy body, and plan to get it more so. I need to do better at exercising, at which I was erratic last year. I think I could crack the problem if I could figure out why it's easy for me to exercise (vigorous walking) while on vacation but not at home.
A family teenager seems to be getting over their excessive screen use. Although more work and attention is needed, this is a good time to acknowledge progress.
Thanks to knitting skills, I could make a custom-fit bespoke hat for my friend undergoing (yet more) chemotherapy. Thanks to a large stash, I had a single ball of soft silk in many purples with which to make the hat. Thanks to a lot of experience, I could eke out that single ball into a full-sized hat.
Enough resources to cover my needs and a nice number of my wants.
For this group, which is reliably a pleasant, cheery, and positive one. Thanks to all for making this a happy place.
@WilliamB, I came across a small lot of silk yarn skeins at my favorite resale shop today and was wondering what they could be used for. Now I know. Thank you!
@WilliamB, yeah to less screen time! Seems to be common unfortunately.
Your hat your friend sounds wonderful & beautiful! What a great friend you are. 🙂
@Book Club Elaine, If you’re concerned about having enough yarn, work from the top down. After much experimentation (and frogging!), I cast on 6 sts, increased to 11 sts on the next round, then increased 11 sts every other round till my desired circumference. Then I knit till I just enough yarn left to bind off (more experimentation and frogging), and bound off.
For something bigger, semi-random striping using different yarns can do the trick.
@WilliamB, I will definitely try that!
@WilliamB, my theory about your ability to walk for exercise on vacation but not at home is that there is so much to see while on vacation, but it is a little mundane at home. Also, there are SO MANY OTHER THINGS TO DO at home!
Several things have helped me: 1. My friend waiting for me at the end of my driveway at 6 AM; 2. I vary the route; 3. I challenge myself to find new things to see in spite of the familiarity. Over time, I look forward to seeing seasonal changes, knowing that certain flowers or trees will be blooming, producing, changing with the seasons; 4. if I don't keep walking, I will be purely miserable at our cabin in the summer at 7800'.
Gotta find some motivations, my friend! (Podcasts might help but I'm afraid of not hearing cars because despite very little traffic, we have zero sidewalks.)
@WilliamB, this is a great hat recipe - thank you!
@WilliamB,
A very thoughtful gift!
I purchased my new glasses at Costco. Perhaps not as cheap as ordering them online but I like to be able to try on the frame before purchasing. Certainly, cheaper than at the eye doctor's office.
This week’s thankfuls:
- We enjoyed spending Christmas day with our kids and the grandbaby. So thankful both kids live close to us and that we have a good relationship with them
- I am able to walk with less pain every day after surgery 4 weeks ago
- DD and grandson came by for a visit on New Year's Day. Seeing the baby always brightens my day
- Grandson liked the black-eyed peas I made for New Year's Day and had no trouble eating them
- Most of our holiday decorations have been packed up. Now we just have to get them moved into the garage
I'm thankful you are using Agathon for your web hosting. I/the mission org I was at was one of Peter and Alan's early clients before they even officially founded Agathon. They do good work.
I'm thankful that I can have a cold on a week where I don't have lots to do.
I'm thankful for getting to take our boys to the holiday drone show at the zoo last night and for good attitudes the entire time!
I'm thankful for a hand-me-down smart phone from a friend that will now run Google Voice as a "home phone" for my kids to call/text their friends. The old host phone died, so I'm thank for this replacement.
Yes, their customer service is SO good. I hope never to switch!
@Kristen, I wish I was big enough for them. BlueHost has gotten very complicated with overseas phone help. Sigh.
Yes, that is hard! My experience with Agathon (now renamed Deep Roots Hosting) is that the owners were often the ones responding to my emails, and that always impressed me. They're right in there doing the work and it makes the whole experience feel so approachable.
This week I am thankful:
*that I've had time with all my children. College breaks are lovely.
*that we were able to surprise my in-law's at their big Christmas celebration. We usually never make it due to distance and being tied to church at this time of year.
*that we were able to see my grandmother-in-law again. She broke her pelvis-- such a setback!
*for my "next door" neighbor (who lives maybe a mile away) and who was able to take care of our cat and chickens for a couple days so we could travel.
*that exercises and stretches I'm doing seem to be helping some pain I've been having.
*that my husband shares what he's reading out loud in the evening. Sharing ideas with each other helps us create a delightful family culture.
@Jody S., My DH and I share what we’re reading, too. Now retired (early), we read our own books in the mid afternoon with tea, but share stuff from them. On Sunday morning we read the NYT (physical paper on this day, digital version on the other days) and share tidbits. It’s very pleasant.
I’m hoping the first day of the year was an anomaly and swat teams of 4 roaming the city streets is not the new normal for 2025. It’s unnerving. And the poor families dealing with the tragedy.
Thanksfuls:
1. This blog
2. My optometrist—available, kind, knowledgeable, always seeking new answers to my particular vision difficulties, and a dear friend (he was the best man in our wedding 38 years ago)
3. Cinnamon—a taste-good addition to food that is supposed to help with blood sugar
4. A wonderful place for walks just one mile above my house
5. GREEN! This is the time of year that the grasses come alive.
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, Ceylon cinnamon I hope?
1. I am thankful to be a part of a church that fasts and prays together as one body. There are many needs in my family right now and prayer/study refreshes my soul in a way that I cannot put into words.
2. For time with my son spent simply over his Christmas Break from school. We did not make big plans this year so we have played lots of card games, enjoyed naps, snuggles on the couch watching Christmas movies, lots of great food....just simple family time.
3. We had several fairly warm days around Christmas with temps around the 60's. I love cold at Christmas but I enjoyed the warmer days so that the kids could get out and ride scooters, bikes, skateboards, etc. that they received at Christmas.
4. That all of my family remains well even though we have seen the flu, colds and Covid take do many friends over the Christmas break. I am praying that this continues as the stories I have heard of flu this year are awful.
5. For the feeling of a clean slate that the New Year always brings. We have been purging items that are not used any longer, clothes that have been outgrown, cleaning out our garage and laundry room. This coming weekend we will take down all the decorations and do a bit of rearrangement. This feeling of everything having its place and prepared is such a comfort to me.
Thankful for a successful holiday season, a little time to myself, starting the tax season, freezer meals and bag meals, and finally getting Christmas put back in its box. I love my family and decorating. I love the meals, but at some point I need to go back to "normal."
Thankfuls (with some comments on pregnancy loss so skip if you're sensitive about that):
-Thank you all for your very kind comments and wishes after I shared that I miscarried. It's nice to have a gentle place to share sorrows.
-Canadian healthcare system appreciation: I am very grateful that the medication I used to manage the medical aspects of the experience were easily accessible (and free.) Because the medications used to manage miscarriage are often the same as the ones used for abortion, they aren't accessible everywhere in the world. Being able to get the actual miscarriage part over with quickly last week was a huge relief, emotionally. And physically it reduced the risk of complications like infection or needing surgery. And the doctor and nurse I saw (both men, incidentally) were very compassionate.
-I've been reading a lot about increased food-bank use in our city. I feel really lucky to be able to be on the giving side to food banks, and not the receiving side.
-I'm glad that people are more open about pregnancy loss now compared to my mom's generation. It meant that I got a lot more support than women in previous generations did.
@Meira (meirathebear.wordpress.com),
May your heart continue to heal. <3
@Meira (meirathebear.wordpress.com), I said it last week as well, but I'm so sorry you're dealing with this. I'm also very grateful that you live somewhere with reproductive rights and were able to get access to the drugs you needed. Sending virtual hugs.
@Sophie in Denmark, I second what you said to @Meira.
And @Meira, I hear you on the support available now vs. in previous generations. My mother had a miscarriage in 1945 (10 years before my own birth), and she and my father rarely mentioned it thereafter. In fact, if I hadn't stumbled across a letter that a family friend wrote some years later, I might not have known about it at all. So I do sometimes wonder what my oldest sibling who wasn't would have been like.
@Meira (meirathebear.wordpress.com), I lost a pregnancy after my 2nd child. I wasn't very far along, around 7 weeks or so if I remember correctly, but it was rough for awhile. I was just so sad. Please continue to be kind and gentle with yourself during this time. I can honestly say that I no longer experience sorrow when I think about it. I wish the same, eventually, for you.
@Meira (meirathebear.wordpress.com), sending you virtual hugs and much love.
@Meira (meirathebear.wordpress.com),
Also hoping you continue to heal, physically and emotionally. My mom had two miscarriages, and I think one of them was either before or after I was born. I'm the third of 4 girls in my family. In my mom's generation, it wasn't talked about - my mom mentioned it from time to time, but was very matter of fact about it. Perhaps she grieved those losses privately, I don't really know. I'm glad you have supportive people (and medical professionals) to help you.
This week’s thankfuls!
• We had lovely holiday celebrations. There were a few hiccups, but the days were filled with love and joy. We simplified lots of areas of our celebrations and overall it felt peaceful.
• My husband and I celebrated our 4th anniversary with a revisit to our first date location.
• For all the time my company gives us off during the week between Christmas and New Year’s – not having to use PTO is amazing.
• The snow has been holding off! We did have a white Christmas which was lovely, but I’ve been in a walking boot and the lack of snow is letting me get around town as needed.
• Three coworkers came over on New Year’s Eve during the day for lunch and a puzzle party! We spent a few hours enjoying each other’s company (no work talk), they are a special group of people.
• Our family has been able to share blessings with people who mean much to us and to people we haven’t met.
@Geneva, how cool the place of your first date is still in existence! Ours isn't, long gone but where we met is still there. However we have not revisited "the scene of the crime" so to speak lol.
First of all, I want to shout out a big THANK YOU to --and say that I'm very, very, very thankful for-- all of you sweet people who responded to my despondent post yesterday. I was very much encouraged by your support. (I tried to thank every writer individually but after awhile, the computer said I was commenting too much and made me quit. If I didn't respond to you individually, that's what happened so pls. forgive me.) So I am thankful for this blog and the commentariat community. I feel like I have a huge circle of friends, from all over the world, here. God bless all of you!
2. I'm thankful for Medicare Advantage. I had to switch plans but they've assured me my new plan is also wonderful. Prior to age 65, I had either rotten insurance (Aetna) or no insurance at all, --and in both cases, I'd end up paying with my credit card. As to "Aetna, they're out to get ya," I'm so thankful that with Humana MA, no one argued with me or denied permission when I needed to go to the doctor. Sadly they quit business in my state, but I hear my new provider, BS&W, is supposed to be good. We shall see. Praying that the new president doesn't cut this needed program.
3. Paid-off house. Paid off everything except the car and one credit card (huge vet bill), and I'm working on both.
4. For the 14+ years I had with my puppy dog. May she rest in peace, and be in Heaven cancer-free. (And yes, I'm looking through the pet postings on Craigslist and elsewhere...stay tuned).
5. That my friends vacationing in New Orleans are OK. They were nowhere near the place where the guy ran over all those people with his truck.
@Fru-gal Lisa, Fingers crossed for #4. Your puppy is out there, just waiting for you. I've always believed that the best "thank you" and expression of love to a dear departed dog is ... getting another dog. Not a "replacement" (because they can't be replaced) but a vote of confidence in and expression of hope for the future. ;-} And fun!
@Fru-gal Lisa, you next dog is out there. Far too many cats and dogs waiting for their furever home.
@Fru-gal Lisa,
Yay you for looking for a new dog! Don't forget to check for rescue organizations, if you have any in your area. Our dog was a rescue, and he's the sweetest dog who loves his hoomans (aka "givers of treats", ha ha). Looking forward to updates when you find your new furry companion!
Today I am thankful:
1. I have had time with family and friends this Christmas.
2. That lack of time to decorate before Christmas means that there is now no "undecorating" to do (hidden blessings!).
3. For lots of time to just "be" this holiday. I was really exhausted before the holiday, and I've had enough time to sleep that I actually don't feel tired for the first time in months.
4. For friends and family who included me in invitations which meant I got to socialize without the stress of hosting. I was able to bring food to gatherings and parties, so I still got to enjoy fun cooking.
5. For time to read. Reading is my favorite hobby, and I really hadn't time to read in the last month+ before Christmas holidays. I had chosen not to start any books because I had so much work/projects to do (and had no time to go to the library), but I found that my work/life balance was really affected, so in the future, I think I will make it a priority to have at least a short reading break each day to combat burnout from work.
6. For sunshine after many cloudy days.
7. For time to be creative and do craft projects.
8. For living in a place that has peace, not war.
I am so grateful for:
* A safe trip from Minnesota to southern Arizona (we're here for five weeks while our house is being remodeled)
* A beautiful trek through New Mexico where I thought of readers Kristin @ Going Country and JDinNM, wondering if we were anywhere near them. I said "Hello!" in case they could hear me.
* A trusted and talented contractor and design team
* An honest conversation with my husband on New Year's Day, where we discussed The Five Lists from Suleika Jaouad. If interested, check out https://theisolationjournals.substack.com/p/a-confession-4b5.
* A lovely, safe, quiet and relaxing Airbnb
@MB in MN, Hey there! Greetings from the Land of Enchantment. ;-}
@MB in MN, Thank you for sharing this link. I love the concept of the 5 lists. I think this is a wonderful way to begin the year. It’s more than just goal-setting. It is a look into ourselves.
Thankful for this sweet spot, as always.
Thankful to have today and tomorrow of with some zest to actually accomplish some things. We have a doozy of a storm predicted for the weekend and I need to get some things done before the snow hits.
Thankful for a full pantry, freezer, and cupboards.
Thankful I remembered to get pearled barley at the country market yesterday. I've wanted to make beef barley soup for two months!
Thankful the "holidaze" are over. I feel like Bee, that I am getting older and while I love the looks of decorating, the physical challenge coupled with just getting everyday chores accomplished is too much. Our family continues to cut down on gathering (sadly) so I'm really hoping that aspect does not change.
Thankful for a New Year and a fresh start!
Thankful for my oldest pup being 25 days away from his 14th birthday. He is still doing pretty good. He is deaf and going blind but he knows his way around.
For my oldest child helping change batteries in the smoke detectors. I did not have to climb a ladder.
That my kids & I all joined Apple Fitness and I am very pleased that my morning stiffness has improved!
So far the next winter storm is missing us, thank you Mr Weatherman. It is too cold to shovel.
Thankful for the 2 weeks off of work. I don't really want to go back. I am thankful for the things I did get done and won't concentrate on what I did not get done. 🙂
I'm thankful for a very nice Christmas with my family and a relaxing New Year's watching my favorite shows and listening to music, and for the ability to go for walks and enjoy everyone's lights and decorations over the past few weeks. I'm also thankful for the energy to work on cleaning and organizing. I need to do more, but I've gotten a good start.
Cookie Monster's googly eyes make me smile every time I see them! And I love knowing the sweet story behind the tree.
* Homemade kombucha - I've been making/taking it for almost a year and I'm amazed at the difference it makes in my gut health, which was compromised by years of overuse of antibiotics. Plus, it's very frugal. And delicious.
* Knitting and crocheting - I didn't weigh in on the superpowers post, but I'll share here: my superpower is making useful and beautiful things out of string.
* The posts and comments here. Seldom is the day I don't either learn something new or am challenged to think in a new way. Today's new thing is knitting hats from silk yarn -- thank you, William B!
* A great glasses shop that I am able to afford.
* The heat, light, and joy created by having a fire in the hearth on these cold winter nights. It has been a wonderful antidote to these dark short daylight times here in the northern hemisphere.
@Book Club Elaine, Ditto on always learning something new or a new idea/POV to ponder from the world-wise commentariat and from Kristen herself. Today's thing: Kristen’s eye mask.
Thankful that:
1. Sumo oranges are back in season and appeared in our grocery store yesterday. I don't care that they cost $4.99 each!
2. Cheese exists. I love, love, love cheese.
3. We thought ahead to get medication for Clobber Paws to survive the fireworks without going crazy. We got him last February so had no experience with prior fireworks, and, sure enough, at the first blast he became frantic. This happened at 8:30, so gave him meds right away and he was fine by midnight. Since we have 24 hours of light on July 4, New Years is an excuse for endless hours of amateurs setting home fireworks.
4. My friend who knows I don't bake cookies (I don't even like cookies all that much) brought over a plate of them for the husband.
5. The husband, always the husband.
@Lindsey, I ate a sumo orange recently and thought of you. Sumo oranges and Harry & David Pears are my favorites.
@Lindsey,
I share your love of Sumos. I need to check my local stores to see if they're in stock.
@Bee,
Oh my gosh, both are SO GOOD.
- Like you, I'm also very grateful for good health and a well-working body!
- To be in a warm climate...yesterday I was outside in a tank top...it was a little chilly when I wasn't moving, but still love it!
- For meeting new people in our community.
- For the truths of God's Word that stand firm, even when my feelings don't.
Thankful that we continue to make (slow but steady) progress on ground level cleanup from October hurricanes. I needed quiet time and a slower pace after extended and more intense caregiving this past summer/fall. So this time period of focused clean up does have some upsides and I am grateful for that. We are lucky to not have as much damage or loss as many.
Grateful that a friend’s exploratory surgery today resulted in a positive outcome.
Yesterday I enjoyed (really truly) a day organizing and inventorying our cleaning supplies, OTC meds and took down all the Christmas decor - feels good to know what we have and where it is.
Grateful for all I learn from all of you.
i am thankful that i was able to visit my two teenagers nanny who worked with us from the time my 13 year old son was 2 years old, until Covid. she is in the hospital with a mass in her kidney. i would like to request prayers for her and i say thank you.
also thankful for the hubby. he does a ton of housework and helps our kids with their homework. the only thing i could do was help them with their bar/bat mitzvah studies and spanish. i can also do some help with writing. but he does the heavy duty math and science. if it doesn't involve managing $, i am clueless.
Happy new year!
1) I am thankful for the earlier conversation about minimalism cf. hoarding, an interesting topic especially for this community. It is so helpful to think about the big picture of our practices.
2) This year I am thankful for freedom from pressure to Decorate for the holidays. We had an expensive and exhausting trip for a family Thanksgiving, and I kept it very simple for Christmas. Worked great. My mother would have been horrified, but she's gone now.
3) I am thankful for the gorgeous yarn I bought during the T trip, and the pleasure it will give me as I knit in the winter months.
4) I am thankful for the gentle expertise of my nurse practitioner, who expertly diagnosed my burned thumb and prescribed antibiotic ointment. It is already much better. Be careful with hot pans in the kitchen.
5) And for good planning skills in the kitchen. We have hosted several dinners, enjoyed excellent meals at home, including celebrating DH's birthday, with virtually no waste.
Hi Kristen,
Thank you for the link to the heat mask. I will definitely look into that.
I woke up last Sunday with a swollen eye, but thought "hey, that will pass". Monday was my first day back at work, and guess what, it had not passed, on the contrary, I could barely see from my right eye! I consulted my pharmacist and she thought it looked like an allergic reaction, but she advised me to see an optometrist.
So that was the day I learned about a new body part, the Meibomian glands, and that they can get blocked. I am now on a treatment of ophtalmological cream and heat applications to get it unclogged.
This week, I am grateful for good eyes. I am 49, only started wearing reading glasses 6 months ago and this is my first eye emergency.
Happy New Year!