Big Red Dot X 2

On Wednesday I got to repeat my visit to the outpatient surgical center in Okatie to have the second cataract removed.  It was a little deja vu as it had only been two weeks since the first one was done.  I felt really quite comfortable this time, wasn’t nervous at all and had made my mind up that I really wanted this over and done with.  Even the picture looks a little less pathetic but that hair net is something else.  Yes, there is another big red dot over the left eye and the doctor even marked over my eye with a black marker, they really didn’t want to make a mistake.  After months of not seeing clearly and then a couple of weeks of being just plain off-balance, it was going to be nice to be even again.  I was told that often the second one is quite a different experience because your mind knows what to expect and even though you may not remember much about the first procedure you might be more aware this time.  That was in fact the case with me.  However, I am also very easy to suggest things to and it will happen.  Don’t ever tell me about a side effect of something cause I will have it whether I do or not.  Anyway, I was more aware and I actually remember talking to the doctor and the anesthesiologist during the procedure.  I also remember being moved from one room to the other and I saw the very bright lights and colors again.  While the eye was initially cloudy after the procedure, after my first nap I was able to see very clearly and by the next morning it was terrific.  All seems to be healing well, in fact, I think, maybe even a bit faster than the first one.  Maybe I am better at putting the drops in my eyes.  I do have to wear those funny little glasses for reading and I haven’t quite figured out the computer distance yet, but I sure can see distances again.  It does sort of feel like I have permanent contacts in my eyes but I don’t have to fuss with taking them out.  So all is good and I thank you for all your good wishes.

A Good Week of Walking

Despite having the day off on Wednesday, I did manage to have a good week of walking.  Another new friend came to Dataw to do a fast training walk with me on Tuesday which was just great.  Kathlyn is hoping to be able to do the 5K with me in April so it was fun to walk together and to find out that we do walk at a comfortable pace but we push each other enough too.  I was so glad that she was able to come out here and walk with me. I really wanted to get a good walk in before the surgery and I knew that I probably wouldn’t do a huge walk on Thursday or Friday either.   Just trying to be careful and to rest and recover.  I did a total of 32 miles last week and shaved off almost two minutes from my overall average time.  Burned 2,735 calories, and spent a total of 12:56:36 hours walking.   I’d say that was pretty close to a perfect week! This is why I like my Runkeeper App because of the statistics.  One of my pals said she was notified that she had walked the length of Italy by her app.  I haven’t heard that one yet but it is rather fun to get that kind of statistic.  The weather wasn’t so wonderful, it was actually quite cool for down here with the morning temperatures somewhere in the low 40’s most days.  We are warming up again and happy to be doing so.  The flowers are gorgeous and we were a little worried because we had a major frost here on Friday morning.  We were up early most mornings so I did get some wonderful sunrise pictures this week.

Update on Wyke, Cleo and Immy (puppy & kittens)

65 lbs

We took everyone to the vet this week.  The kittens needed some shots and we wanted to find out how much Wyke weighed as he seems to be growing on a daily basis.  Turns out he is now 65 pounds and he is only six (6) months old.  Whew, not too sure where he will end up but I can be sure he won’t be a small dog!!  The kittens 4.0 and 4.2 pounds which is double what they were when they went to the vet before they came to live with us.  I am pleased about that but they are so little compared to their big brother of a golden retriever.  We have had a lot of fun walking him this week with a number of his friends and he is getting to be very good at walking with a group of dogs.  He loves to play and he gets plenty of time to do that with his girlfriend, Abby, and his boy friend, Bailey, who lives down the street but we also really want him to be able to walk calmly with a group as well.  That seems to have been accomplished this week.  We love having Genie and her lab Nala here to walk with most every morning and Nala is very sedate so Wyke just does what she does.  The kittens are into everything and we came home from church to find a smashed glass lamp in the living room.  That tells you something.  Nothing like two whirling dervishes that are 4 pounds each racing around the house.  Wyke loves, loves, loves them.   Sometimes too much.  He was seen carrying Cleo, in his mouth, from the sun room into our bedroom this week.  John thought he had my hat in his mouth but it wasn’t the hat, it was Cleo.  She was quite happy about it and didn’t act distressed at all so I am pretty sure he has a very gentle mouth and doesn’t hurt her. That’s what I mean about too much.

Both kittens have learned to drink out of the fountain the way that Wyke does.  Don’t know who taught who but it is very cute.

Cooking this Week

We cooked some really wonderful meals this week that kept to the guidelines that I published last week about the Mediterranean diet.  It has really helped to make good choices and to know that we are getting the nutrients that we need to stay as healthy as we can.  We are both trying to lose a little weight.  Not a whole lot but just enough to make us feel happy with the way we are.  It seems to be working.  Slowly.  That, of course, is the way one should lose weight.  Change habits and hope for good results.   We made the Gratin of Fish and Spinach which was easy and oh so yummy and John made Nicoise Chicken with Tomatoes and Black Olives.  I was out at a meeting and when I got home the kitchen smelled just divine.  Both of these recipes can be found in that favorite cookbook of mine.  Wine is always my downfall but I have switched from white wine to red wine and am very happy with the change.  Most importantly I don’t seem to want more than one or two glasses at most which I will admit is not the case with a good Chardonnay!!!  I want to enjoy it, but not have too much.  However sticking to six ounces can be a challenge!!!!

Here is a simple recipe for a delicious comfort food dinner that is made all in one pot.  We took it to John’s cousin and his wife this week as Joanne is still recovering from surgery to her ankle.  It was delicious and honestly, very easy to make.  I hope you enjoy it as much as we all did.  By the way, the lemons are still doing their preserving thing.  Another couple of weeks before we can try them.  Please click here for the recipe for Chicken Fricassee with Spring Vegetables from Southern Living Magazine.