November 4, 2024 Monday--5am

Good morning!

What a week!  I watched the boys Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.  Monday I had each of them alone for a while because Liam had an orthodontist appointment and after that Ian had Haley's Hope.  Liam and I went downstairs so I could turn on my kitchen and bathroom faucets and play with the sprayers--lol! 

Liam showing off his new Crocs.  He only has one pair right now, so they match--lol!  He has been into mismatching his clothing for a while, Leah said.  He absolutely loves his Crocs!

I took a picture from Dagan and Leah's front step of the giant skeleton the next door neighbors had for Halloween.  It is really creepy huge!  And do you see the dog skeleton, too?

Most of Monday and Tuesday we worked on Gramma's Minecraft house.  They build and I get to (mostly) make the decisions--lol!  We are always in creative mode so we don't get attacked by anything.  I much prefer that. ;)

Everything in Minecraft is in cubes so we have to use what we have.  In the bottom half of the screen in front right you can see the "house" with a rainbow-colored enclosed walkway to another blue addition.  That is under Ian's control.  The top half of the screen is under Liam's control.  He's building a long multi-colored bridge to that land over there where we plan to build a barn. 

Top half--Liam got a shot where you have the long view of the bridge across the water.  (As you can see, nothing seems to stay in proportion and Gramma finds that very confusing.)

Have I learned something about Minecraft?  Very little, I think--lol!  The house has a main floor where we have a living room and dining room.  There is a giant aquarium with fish in it between first and second floor.  (But Ian won't count that as second floor--even if it is an entire floor of water and fish--lol!)  Second floor has a bedroom and an office.  You can see there is no roof at the moment.  We started on a third floor but weren't sure what to put in it...when Ian suddenly wanted to make a room underneath the house.  Not a basement, but a deeply dug out room with a secret entrance.  We're making it into a home theater/gaming room.  Oh, we had needed a kitchen...so Ian added the rainbow walkway tunnel to that blue building.  (They know Gramma likes lots of color.)  Apparently, you can do anything in Minecraft--IF you can do it in cubes--ROFL!  If none of that made any sense to you...I totally understand and empathize--LOL!

I did get all the black card bases folded and took them with on Wednesday.  Leah had a meeting she couldn't leave so I was over a couple hours earlier than the boys get home from school.  Here I was set up on the end of their dining room table. 

You may ask--how on earth did you manage to be over at their house for several hours for three days in a row?  THE NEW CHAIR!!!  I LOVE IT!!  I purposefully spent most of Monday and Tuesday in the new chair and was shocked at how well my back did.  The new chair gives me the back support like my big comfy brown one at home.  Therefore, it has been thoroughly tested and enthusiastically approved!  It is awesome!  Meant to be!

Wednesday I was up at the table most of the time I was there.  I finished the birthday cards!  FINALLY!!  Whoohoo!!  (Used up four out of five on the tape runners--lol!)  Doesn't look like over 50 cards, does it?

I realized I should probably cut out white cardstock to tape on the inside...and probably should stamp something inside...and that would take quite a bit more time and work...  

I ordered some white pens!  ROFL!  Problem solved--lol!

Wednesday Ian had reading homework.  So I was still up at the table while he wanted to read the book to me.  (He's doing so much better reading, too!!)  Leah picked up Dagan at the car rental place...running late, they picked us up (all ready waiting on the front steps) so they could drop me off at home because they had an appointment at the chiropractor.  It is always busy at the house, I tell you.  Going to be so different for me...and for Allie!  :)

Thursday.  Tammy was supposed to be here at 11am.  She showed up close to noon.  (I was pretty sore--yup!)  Anyways, we had a nice visit and she said that it turns out I can keep Keanna as my cleaner.  So, I am still going to have Keanna for an hour and fifteen minutes every two weeks.  She can still clean my bathroom, floors, and do a little dusting.  I might also add checking if my microwave needs cleaning after I move.  She does my microwave every so often for me now if I ask her.  (I need a stool and still will when I move even if the new one will be a bit lower.)  Keanna was excited when I texted her.  I think both Tammy and Keanna are looking forward to seeing my new place.

After Tammy left...Allie does this.  She stares at the door after anyone has been here--like she's waiting for them to come back.  Has become a habit because of Keanna and Dagan, really. Keanna comes in and takes my trash out for me first thing.  Dagan often comes and leaves right away to bring things to or get things from the garage, too.  So Allie always wonders if people are going to come right back.  She waits quite a while.

OH! Oh! Look what I saw on the patio!  A single partridge! 

The following day, too.

You can tell how cold it is outside by how puffed up they get to keep warm.

I don't make sure there is seed out there every day and leave none out there for a day or so in-between because I know it will end fairly soon when I move and I don't have a lot of seed left anyways.  Don't want them to become dependent on it, you know?  But it was a joy to see the single partridge, nonetheless. :) :)

The rest of the week I was more or less in recovery--lol!  End of the month so banking, budget, rent check, setting up the bullet for November...all the usual monthly stuff.  

Totally forgot about calling around for an eye doctor.  Even though I woke up Monday with a bloody eyeball!  How bizarre!!  Just like Dagan did a little while back.  Not a clue why.  Just woke up with very bloody white of my right eye.  (Really grossed out Ian--lol!)  Was Dagan's right eye, too, Leah said.  Nearly gone by now.  Strange.

This coming week...the election.  No plans.  Whew!  Four days of stuff going on in a row is a lot for me.  Most I've done in at least three years!  Couldn't have managed it six months ago.  (Like the trip to all the furniture stores, either.)  So, I am feeling better than I have for years!  Even if I am not back to my pre-cancer self quite yet.  Getting close.  And...can I say it again....I LOVE THE NEW CHAIR!!!  And I will have my own red one, too--whoohoo!!

Meanwhile--photos from Leah.

I have no clue what this Halloween creature is from that Ian planned to wear.  But it is appropriately creepy and scary. ;)

The boys and Mama and Daddy carved pumpkins.

Leah took some pictures.  The lights rotate colors inside the pumpkins.

I know this is random, but I think this was when Leah was leaving work one night.

A baby bunny in the parking lot!  You know how I love critters.  Couldn't resist adding this little one.  Kind of seems late in the year for baby bunnies,

Friday--Halloween.  The boys in their costumes.  Liam has the Minecraft one from last year.  (Now the cubes make more sense to me--lol!)

I asked her to get a picture at night of the neighbor's giant skeleton.  Very creepy!

BTW--all the candy in the front there gets given away to people at Dagan and Leah's work.  Leah buys them Keto treats, so they get plenty of goodies without all the sugar.  The dressing up and doing the trick or treating is the fun part.

Saturday.  Home Depot.

The boys love making things there.  Tic Tac Toe boards this time.

AND...drum roll...

It was Dagan's 50th birthday on Saturday!!  Dagan said he didn't want anything done...but Leah planned a surprise party for him at a place in town called Gastropub.

I try not to put pictures of other people online but I have little bit for this big occasion.  I just won't name anybody.  This place has a couple of pool tables and a foosball table, too.

Cool giant poster-type thingie for 1974!

Happy 50th Birthday swag.

Couldn't resist a shot of some of the smiling party group.  Dagan is in the back on the right side of the table.

So, it was a very busy week all around.  I can't get over the fact that my baby boy is 50 years old.  ["He'll never live to be two" the doctors said.]  I guess we have a tendency to buck the odds in this family--ROFL!  Blessed.  Truly, truly blessed.  

Chilly fall days...with sun or rain...love, love, love this time of year.  Not a fan of DST, though--lol!  I hope everyone has voted.  Thinking positive.  Till next week, everybody!  (I sure hope we know the results by then!)  *love and hugs*