Thursday, December 28, 2017

So What Did You Do Over the Holidays?

Yes, it has been awhile since the last blog post. There are a couple of reasons for that, but mostly nothing very exciting happened, at least not blog-worthy exciting.

The last month or two I have been experiencing more right hip aches and pain so made an appointment to see 'my' orthopedic surgeon while back home for Christmas. I needed an explanation for the aches and pain, and a possible plan for some relief. So I was a bit surprised to hear I need a total hip replacement this spring. In the short term...


surgery the week before Christmas to


remove the 3 cannulated hip screws


The screws were put in by the same surgeon in May 2007 after I fell and broke my right hip 4 days after missing the bottom two steps going to the basement. That little misstep resulted in shattering my left ankle. I have thought the screws may have been causing some of the ache and pain I have been experiencing but the x-ray showed it to be much more than the irritation of 3 screws. The screws needed to be removed so the hip bone could heal BEFORE the hip replacement. I have always known this was probable, I just wasn't thinking it would be quite this soon. Doc also did an injection while he was in there digging around.

In the mean time, we are getting ready for the probable hip replacement. 





If it happens, it will take place about a week after we get back in April. We, Hubby and I, have had need of this equipment even prior to the 2007 falls, so we finally purchased the aids...just in case. Hubby took them out of the attic. They are ready to go. The staples will be removed Friday and then I also will be ready to go...back to warmer weather.

Happy New Year!

Tuesday, November 21, 2017

Change and Thanksgiving

We are beginning the third week at our winter home. As you can tell by the lack new blog posts, not much has been happening until today. We have settled into living in a warmer climate with days of 80º+ and nights in the 50ºs. Some of our friends and neighbors have also arrived at Senior Camp. We have settled into a retired life routine that suits the two of us.

It is Tuesday as I write this. It was Thanksgiving Day Lunch at the resort today. We have participated in this turkey feast for a number of years. Some years the food is better than others. Some years there are more residents and guests than other years. It is always a nice opportunity to see folks we have met in the past. Such was the case today.


tables were beautifully decorated
more on the decorating later***


Our neighbors joined us at our table set for ten. Also joining us were a couple Hubby and I have met and known for most of the 13 years we have been at Senior Camp. I have to admit I have not talked to her other for at least a year than to say Hi. I have even taken a resort class from her. She and her husband joined us and she told me and my neighbor how she had tripped and fallen just prior to coming to lunch. She landed quite hard on her bum and said she was certain she would have trouble getting out of her chair. We sympathized with her. I also noticed she was having trouble closing her blouse. Three buttons were unbuttoned allowing more of her chest to show than we thought she might be comfortable showing. She appeared to have trouble so I offered to help. I thought maybe she had hurt her hand when she tripped and fell. The button was very tiny and was difficult to push through the slot. That was when I noticed the top two buttons were missing. No big deal. The blouse would stay closed enough to not be revealing. We visited around the table before lunch, talking about places we had lived and places we have visited. I began to realize she was having some memory issues. I asked if she had hit her head when she fell. No. Did she black out and then fall? No, caught her foot on the lip of the sidewalk and landed on her bum.

The tables were called by number to go through the buffet line for lunch. She got up and got in line although her husband and the rest of us did not get up. She thought our table had been called even when I said, "No, our number is 1. Table 8 was just called." She went through the line and came back to our table with a slice of pumpkin pie, but no food. She asked her husband if he wanted the pie and he said no. She asked me but I said I wanted a slice of pecan. Finally, the fourth woman at our table took the pumpkin pie, whether she wanted it or not. A moment later, someone brought a plate of food to our table. She had left it set somewhere and thankfully, someone took notice.




She happily worked on her plate while we continued to wait to be called to get our food. Then she told me she was certain we would have birthday cake as it was Sue's birthday today and Sue would share cake with us. Then she left the table to find Sue and wish her a happy birthday. (Sue was not at the Thanksgiving meal.) When she was not present, I mentioned to her husband that I was sorry to see she has gone down hill. He looked at me and finally said, "Tell me about it!" She came back to our table with more plates of pie. She and her husband had 3 slices of pie for dessert. That was no big deal other than, he did not ask her to do it and I was a bit concerned we would all have more pie. Most of us had chosen our slice and brought it with us when we came through the buffet line.

We had entertainment after our delicious Thanksgiving lunch. About half-way through the program, she whispered across the table to my neighbor (whom she had not met before today) if she was ready to leave as she had had enough. My neighbor shook her head no; she wanted to stay. A few minutes later she came up to my chair and asked if I was ready to leave. Enough was enough. I said I wanted to stay until the end. Her husband said nothing. She stood for the last two musical numbers and her husband stood with her, but he did not leave until it was over. I watched her walk alone across the parking lot, concerned it she was going in the correct direction. I just felt sad.

Sad because someday that may be me. Sad because her husband seemed to brush it off. Sad because he did not know her shirt was missing two important buttons. Sad because he appeared to ignore her. Sad because I know her. Sad because it is a sign that many of us at Senior Camp are getting older and having health issues. Sad because I don't want it to happen to me or those I love. Sad on a day and week when I am truly thankful.

Thankful for the little things like the beauty of the desert and the mountain I get to see every day. Thankful for a grocery store that sells a dozen roses for $9.99 which I can afford and enjoy, just because.




Thankful for the stunning sunsets the smog and clouds provide almost every night.


Thankful for family and friends. Thankful for my health and the health of my loved ones, as it could always be worse. Thankful.


****And now for the decor of the tables and room today...as Hubby and I and our neighbors were walking into the ballroom/dining room today, the person holding the door for us cried, "Mr. E! I know you." Yes, she did look familiar. After some reintroductions and chatting, the younger woman shared she is the decorator for our resort. She and some of her siblings had Hubby for a teacher. Small world and a bright spot to the day.





Sunday, November 5, 2017

Cemetery with a Story

If you are a blog follower, you know we like cemetery geocaches. Not that we spend a lot of time looking at the headstones, but often times, there is a story that goes with the location or residents. That was the case for Bethesada Cemetery along the highway we were traveling.


Bethesda Cemetery is located at the intersection of I35W and Bethesda Road in Johnson County, just south of Burleson, Texas. It is located beside Bethesda Baptist Church, but it is no longer associated with the church. In 1977 Boyd L. Green copied the names of the graves in the cemetery. At that time there were 736 graves with legible head stones. Another 200 graves were marked by field stones or metal funeral markers and could not be copied.








Sarah's new headstone


Sarah's original headstone


one of the Unknowns


And now for the interesting piece...


When Malinda died in 1867, her mother could not be comforted thinking that wild animals would dig up her daughter's grave. In order to give his wife peace in the matter, Malinda's father built this house over the grave.

the house bricks are being held together with metal rods


for size comparison


must have been a prominent citizen 
to have his face engraved on his headstone


more Unknowns


a new headstone

I am impressed by the care given the 900+ headstones in this cemetery. The fact the rocks and broken markers have been noted, even if the person buried does not have a known name. Thank you Mr. Green. In some cases, new headstones for some of the older, broken ones AND keeping a story alive about a little, brick house in the middle of all the headstones.

Saturday, November 4, 2017

Texas Adventures in Denison & Sherman

We stopped in Denison TX for a couple of geocaches related to the history of the trains that were part of that town. But as we drove into the historic district, we saw a sign that said Birthplace of Dwight D. Eisenhower. Really? His birthplace? That is the unexpected part of geocaching I love.

We followed the signs and came upon the historic site.









some touch-up going on at the house


his birthplace and home for 3 years




We continued down the road to Sherman TX and found an interesting cemetery...

a chair? a headstone?


I guess the train whistle doesn't bother the residents


some engraving on the throne
there were 3 thrones in that part of the cemetery


the oldest college in TX


in Sherman TX


artwork on the campus


All quick stops as we had more miles to go, more counties to collect, and more interesting things to see.

Friday, November 3, 2017

Geocaching Adventures in Kansas

We have not traveled the eastern side of Kansas until this trip. All about the counties, remember? Previous travels through KS have been more north to south/south to north through the central and western parts of the state.

We stopped at Fort Scott for a few caches. One of them was on the site of the old fort.


maybe one of the very few original buildings


weapons of the period


rebuilt fort buildings
housing the officers




thought this was an interesting tidbit


a picturesque setting
with a history of lots of unrest


A drive through the historic main street brought us to the unexpected...



one of two mansions
this one a B&B


doesn't this look inviting?
geocache right on the front porch


for whom the town is named
General Winfred Scott


the second mansion, Nate's Place
a restaurant


also looks inviting


And then farther down the road, a nondescript cemetery, except for its name and sign...


and 6 new KS counties!


Wednesday, November 1, 2017

Geocaching Adventures in Missouri

Our winter migration this year had some geocaching goals (Are you surprised?) including collecting new counties and finding some of the old caches placed in 2000 and 2001. One of the bonuses of a trip like this is coming across the unexpected. So far we have not been disappointed.


the unexpected


when the lid was lifted
there was scary cackling


definitely unexpected
and very well done


a geocache of the week for Halloween


cache owner put a lot of work into his/her caches


oldest geocache in MO


nothing fancy, but it was there


lovely walk beside the river


no briars, no clinging vines
1 more Jasmer box filled (geocachers will understand)
and 5 new MO counties