Getting Things Done Before Surgery
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Just six more days until my ankle surgery, so I’m focused on getting things done beforehand.
Steve went with me to buy a knee scooter yesterday at the medical supply store. He does the heavy lifting into his SUV for me.
The Heat Of Summer Is Here:
The heat is on. The plants beaten back from the days and days of solid rain are trying to bounce back.
I’ve cut most of mine back in the hope that the energy will go to the roots and make for a healthier plant.
My blooms are few and far between, which is a bit disappointing.
I normally don’t go for plants with pink blooms, as I prefer red. But this multi-plant pot surprised me once the geranium bloomed.
I do have to admit that it is vibrant and pretty.
When I was young, girls always wanted everything pink, it seemed. And I didn’t like the feminine notion that pink was always for girls.
So I seldom chose this color for clothing, etc. Red was my color of choice.
Oh, there are so many different birds here. They fly to all the bird feeders the residents have dotted all about the grounds. Above a male cardinal paused on the pathway.
It is a feast for someone who loves to take photographs of wildlife. I can sit on my patio and see birds and squirrels and here and there a rabbit.
Sitting On Ron & Pat’s Patio:
Yesterday I was sitting on Ron’s patio in one of their rockers, which is just across the sidewalk (and now my path) from me.
We watched a woodpecker eating from one of his feeders. Wish I’d had my camera with me.
This is Ron and Pat’s white hydrangea blooming. I think I’d like to try to grow one in a container as well. It’s one plant I’ve never planted before.
I love the big blooms. Like the geranium plant, hydrangea blooms are large and beautiful.
I replanted my Boston fern into another pot the other day. It was still in the plastic pot I’d purchased it in. But it was not faring well, so I finally got around to potting it in a bigger and taller pot.
I hope it does better after the repotting because it was beginning to look kind of pitiful.
Ordering Things I Think I’ll Need:
I’m ordering from stores online, things I think I’ll need.
Yesterday I ordered toilet safety rails. I never did get around to getting a plumber out here to change out the toilet to a taller one. It was hard to even locate a higher toilet back in January.
And the plumbers I had come out to give me an estimate were way too high. They wanted $1200 to bring a toilet and install it.
So I’ve just made do with the plastic high-rise toilet seat that fits down a few inches into the toilet.
But the problem is that it can tip. So I’m hoping the safety rails, which are free-standing, will help with that problem.
I just now, before starting to write this, ordered an insulated coffee travel mug so I can still have my cup of coffee in the morning without spilling it.
So I’m getting things done that need to be done this last week. I’m sure I’ll forget something.
But now I have neighbors around me who can help, thank goodness.
Sounds like you’ve got everything well planned before your surgery. And the good news is, that here, if you do need something, you’ve got neighbors to call for help. Must be a comforting feeling!
Brenda, I know that you will be well-prepared before Monday to have your surgery. I’m imagining it going very well and the recovery to be swift and easy.
So sorry to hear about Ron. I hope he recovers quickly. He’s such a wonderful and interesting neighbor.
Positive tho’ts, dearie, and all will go well.
I’ll keep you in my thoughts and prayers . I sure hope it all goes well for you . I know your very organized. Have you stocked up on groceries a bit or have you done a food prep ? A few frozen things to heat and eat might be handy the first few days . I love al, the pictures of your flowers and the wildlife . I’m in Wisconsin so my plants aren’t as far a long as yours .
I’ve been ordering more food that can go in the pantry to eat.
I used a toilet seat riser like the one you got (that snaps inside the toilet) for after my knee surgery and had no problems with it slipping at all.
Good thing you have such nice and caring neighbors now. Imagine if you were still in your old place and needing to have surgery! (*shudder*)
Yeah, “shudder” is right on the money. I had surgery on my ankle when I lived there in 2014 shortly after I moved there. It was the second surgery.
My grandmother had beautiful Boston ferns that thrived all hot summer long and I believe her secret was to not water them on top from above. She would fully submerge them in a container of water and let them soak for about 30 minutes. They were beautiful!
Good idea! I think I’ve heard that before now that I think about it.
I think that is highway robbery to charge $1200
to replace a toilet? I know around here they charge $400 to put up anew fan! Maybe more now as that was a couple of years ago.
I just had three olive trees plant out by my drive. Maybe not the best time of year with the best setting in and water restriction. I wanted to plant my side yard as the house has been painted and I can do it now but once again with water restriction I don’t think I can. Maybe some tall pots with drought tolerant plants!!
Wishing you the best of luck next week❣️
Thanks Annette. I just went to the nursery for one last hurrah. My plants look pretty bad and I wanted a bit of color.
I am so happy for you that you are living in a community where your neighbors are so kind! I’m thinking if you still lived in the other apartment you wouldn’t be having your ankle surgery!
You’re right. I probably wouldn’t. Only person I talked to there is 85 years old and she can’t do a lot.
Your efforts to be organized and prepared will pay off next week after surgery. I hadn’t thought of an insulated mug – brilliant!!!!
I’m sure your neighbors will be as helpful as they can be.
Have a bliss filled Tuesday, Brenda.
I just found out shipbuilder Ron is in the hospital with pneumonia. I hope he gets better.
Oh no Brenda! I’ll be keeping Ron in my thoughts and prayers as well hoping he will recover fast from pneumonia!
Oh no! That’s terrible! Poor Ron! I’ll be saying a prayer for him to get well, and one for Pat too. I’m sure she is quite upset and could use some prayers of support for her as well. 🙏
Good neighbors and being able to socialize with them make such a difference in the quality of life. The way your complex has been designed with the open patios and sidewalk(s) encourages interaction among residents. We’ve been experiencing extreme heat and humidity in SE Wisconsin, this kind of weather usually doesn’t show up until mid July through the end of August – UGH! I am checking my garden plants and planters 2x a day, in the early morning and about 7 p.m. and watering daily. I also give a weak dose (watered down) of plant food in my watering can every 2-3 weeks to my flowering perennials. In my planters I use potting soil that has slow release fertilizer in it so I don’t need to dose the planters on the front stoop. Your fern may have been pot bound, it should rebound. Good luck with your ankle surgery, all your followers are rooting for a great improvement in your mobility and banishing the pain forever.
Steve next door told me that he never thought climate change would affect him during his lifetime. But he says it will be something else within the next 5 years.
Sending good thoughts and healing wishes for your upcoming surgery. Stay positive, safe, and well, and be kind to yourself.
I’m a planner, so I’ll have things organized. Thanks for your kind words.
I’m having knee replacement surgery in August and in the meantime there are days that I have intense pain and cannot move about very well. So we ordered a height extender for our toilet and it is very stable because it’s attached to your toilet the same way your toilet seat is attached and your original seat stays on so it feels normal as well. Thinking you might want to try it — it’s on Amazon — https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008XMMCBM?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1
If, for some reason, the link doesn’t work look for
Carex Health Brands Hinged Elongated Toilet Seat Riser, Adds 3.5 Inches of Height to Toilet, 300 Pound Weight Capacity, Raised Toilet Seat, White (FGB32100 0000)
I did try it back in February. The screws or whatever that hold it underneath kept slipping loose, so it seemed kind of dangerous. So I went back to the one I’m using now.