Tuesday: swimming, learning and watching

I did not go to NYC today but did go swimming.

Was thinking of doing some grocery shopping when a huge storm,

with terrifically loud thunder came.

I swam, made a Asian inspired lunch of eggs and rice with carrots on the side.

Very filling and warm.

I then spent a good deal of time researching, reading abstracts and making notes.

I understand that the 2 retina diseases I am researching

are more severe when gotten at a younger age then myself.

That is about the only comfort I have found thus far in my

medical research... 

I also understand that genetic testing and therapy is very new

and I won't be doing the latter. 

I have a better understanding of the questions I want to ask.

I think that is all I can ask for right now,

is try to figure out what the questions are.

I am struggling with a bit of fear about it,

it's not easy to read these medical reports but if I don't,

I won't understand what I need to really know.

I can say that it is hard to face one's fears but one needs to,

with God's help. 

It's so hard when everything is really quite unknown.

I binge watched old Perry Mason movies later,

as Mr Husband came home later than normal... 

Tomorrow I am getting my hair cut.

Thursday will be my last research day + preparing everything for 

Friday.  The trip itself I am not as worried about.

But more has to be done.

May God help us all, no matter what we are facing,

or even if what we are facing is yet unknown.

Monday: you were hot but the house is clean and an ice cream cone helps one along

Well.  Laundry is caught up.  No teetering piles.  No mountain of laundry to fold. 

I read about 4 or 5 medical articles and took notes.  

And bummer, I now understand that even for eye diseases that

one can get genetic testing for, there seem to be many cases

where there was no known family history for the eye problem.  Rats.

Well, better that I know.  I am hoping to do more research tomorrow. 

I am slowly understanding more and have a list of questions.

I hope to go to NYC. 

But it will depend on my sleep tonight.

Tomorrow is suppose to be a hot day, so I will be careful to stay well hydrated,

have my hat and such things.

The beef stroganoff and biscuits, I ate the last of it today! Very enjoyable.

Trying to figure out what to make (cook/bake) next. 

I read a fun adventure book, the boy who knew everything which was like

a superhero story but with kids.  It was clean, I appreciate that!  I got it last week at NYPL.

I read more of A Gentleman in Moscow! 

I am enjoying it! Still in the beginning pages...

And tomorrow, if I do get to my library, I am going to try to pick out some fun books

to read and one to take with me to the Philly trip on Friday.

Well, May God helps us all!

Sunday, you restore me

A peaceful blessed day today!

Church this morning, lunch afterwards,

visited our dear candle desk man...

brought him a sunflower, a few lemon crinkle cookies,

blessed church bread and a church bulletin :) 

We had such a nice visit! 

2 others from our local church arrived at the same time,

so that was doubly nice! 

And we ran into his sister on the way out and had a nice chat with her. 

We went home, had a wonderful "post-liturgical nap" and then did cards, 

including this one for Uncle Hank's widow...

Appropriate because he is/was in the Army... 

And we did other cards, and then had dinner

while watching the Walton's, 

before that having a nice chat with my Mom while

enjoying ice cream!

And family prayers.

I feel refreshed, which is a blessing indeed. 

Tomorrow is finish housework day, and plan for Friday.

I am thinking of going to NYC on Tuesday and the rest of the week

will come as it will... 

We are still thinking of Uncle Hank of course a lot... less than a week 

since we lost him, over a week since it all happened.

I am feel like I am working through the grief of it all

with God's help and seeing that sometimes part of one's 

cross in life is not being able to go to funerals one wishes one could go to

but for various reasons could not. 

I am hoping to look at another recipe or two to make soon...

I am thankful for this day.

I pray that God will help you with whatever it is 

you are going through and where you are in life.

May God have mercy on us! 

Saturday, looking towards next week

As promised, I wrote up the recipe and how GOOD these cookies are 

on my All the Ribbons blog earlier today!

They have this wonderful understated lemony tang,

the sweetness of the cookie is blissfully understated and the balance of 

flavours is lovely.  The cookie is soft, tender, chewy but crisp enough

that it clatters perfectly on the plate when serving the cookies.

I call it a cookie with an old soul, one that feels linked to the generations

before who have baked this cookie from Patrick's stash of recipes

handwritten on index cards.

For more, please read my blog post:

Lemon Crinkle Cookies!

I can't wait to have more of them tomorrow,

they are the understated type of cookie that wows you more mid-bite than immediately

but that you find yourself thinking about later, and wishing for another,

and then another.... 

 Breakfast was indeed decadent.

First the lemon crinkle cookies,

then a lovely biscuit with jam,

then a bit of the plum torte. 

(I still mean to blog this plum torte!)

Lunch was beef stroganoff, biscuits and sides of fruit salad and a green salad.

As you can see, I had a third lemon crinkle cookie with my fruit salad.... so good!

I walked by our laundry room and who did I see? Silly Cleo! :)

Finished my doughnut today too.

Pretty but I have had better...

We were really blessed to share vespers with friends from our other (far-away) church tonight

and go out to dinner with them.

It was a blessing to be with friends.

Also a blessing to have so much good food to eat.

***

We were not able to be in Michigan for Uncle Hank's funeral, which was today.

Three family members took pictures of the flowers we sent.

I am really sad we were not able to be there.

As my Mom would say,

It is what it is. 

***

So.  I am officially in countdown mode. 

Next Friday I go to Philly for the eye appointment that 

could take up to FIVE hours. 

I am going to need to leave the house before 8 AM.

My appointment is at 11:30 but I need to give myself a bit of

leeway for unexpected things, which from what my friend who lives in Philly

has told me, I will need. 

I will be lucky if I am home by 8 PM or so.

So I am planning my food, drink (including tea), snacks, 

knitting, book/s to ready, headphones to take, cell phone

battery to re-charge my phone, writing (paper, pens), prayer rope...

not to mention my medical papers/research, folders, notebook...and 

lots and lots of eye drops...

Mr Husband is not going with but he is only a phone call/email/text/chat away.

The trains there + uber are not hard.  

It's more that it will be 1) a long day 2) eye appointments of this nature and tests I find

difficult, I often feel overwhelmed and afraid... but who would not be if there 

is a possibility of severe vision loss?  Or even not fully severe (i.e. blindness) but totally unknown.

I keep clinging to 2 things: 1. God 2. No one that we know of in my family lines

has gone blind.  Of course I don't think we know more than 4 generations back but STILL.

It's really something to hold on to, based on what I know and what my

 friends and research show. 

***

Well.  That's about all for me.

I could use another cookie...

***

May God bless, help and save us!