Then and now

 I love honey, and have tremendous gratitude for the bees' work.

From the internet

My apartment has a huge built-in shelf...here my youngest son is opening a gift when he visited a few years ago. I have about 3 times that much pottery on several other shelves, as well as tubs of it wrapped up and stored.

Senior prom for my youngest granddaughter...in the red. I don't know why the girls always are with friends in all their photos. 

Another of my sons thinks he can make funny faces when he takes a selfie.

My granddaughter who's studying a semester in Berlin Germany

And my oldest son, who's birthday is this month. He was apparently dressed for a special occasion. 

My grandson and his girlfriend who just bought their first house together! So proud of them!!

Arrival in Plymouth Rock, September 1620

Somebody in our family tree might have been on the Mayflower.  But just look at how few were alive by Thanksgiving 1621! I do wonder how they made it through that first Massachusetts winter!

And closer to home, I did talk with my friend who I'd been feeling bad toward (hurt, angry) and our talk brought us to a place of understanding where each of us had come from, so we're going forward as we are. Neither of us can approach the friendship much differently, so it's going to continue limping along.

And I had the annual physical with my doctor, with no big changes. Still a bit of wheezing in my lungs, and he thinks many of the changes I've experienced lately are due to the strong course of antibiotics. Will check in with him again in 4 weeks. At least all the blood work numbers were within normal range.

Thanks NASA and 2024 post on FaceBook from Arcan SerifogluNASA'S James Webb Space Telescope - JWST

The Largest Structure In The Universe! This gigantic supercluster is the largest known structure in the universe, it consists of 830 separate galaxies which are inside of 4 connected galaxy clusters. The supercluster is known as the “BOSS”, the entire structure stretches approximately 1 billion light years across,

Credits: NASA, ESA, ESO, Images by Science Photo Library.

A yellow tea set with blue interiors - the woman who bought it said it reminded her of Giverny France, where Monet's kitchen was in these colors.

Today's quote:

Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.

Marcus Tullius Cicero

Yearly physical

This morning, while the Dr. spends most of his time typing on a computer, I'll review (from my notepad on my phone) the various complaints that are current.  Strangely, some are completely new from last year, which will mean adding to the list he's typed up already.

I had my fasting labs a week ago, so he'll be able to tell me the chemical results from my blood-work.

I'm hoping the Dr. will find some ways to treat the new problems.  The old recurring ones will have questions answered by just saying keep on doing what's already been done.  I admit to not doing Physical Therapy exercises regularly.  They used to help with my hand cramping when holding tools, mainly for working in clay including sometimes just a tiny paintbrush.

So while I'm sitting here and the temperature outside rises above freezing, and the bright sun dries off the clouds that were here an hour ago...I bemoan the landscaping crew that has again made my environment hostile to creatures. Including me.  They shoveled and ladled a foot deep spread of mulch on all the beds around buildings, and next to driveways.  Only the plants which had already poked their green heads up were able to sustain themselves (bushes of course, and the ever present day lilies.)

Now April 2

Last week Mar 28

week before Mar 23

But that isn't the problem.  It's the smell.  The mulch has been treated to kill anything under it.  And it was made from wood with creosote.  Whether that's the "treatment" they talk about or just is coincidental, it stinks.  I know with time it will weather away.  In the meantime I cover my nose as I walk to and from my front door and car.

And of course the neighborhood creatures are also dismayed, since many of their food bugs and worms and nuts have been covered with the mulch.  Only grassy areas (which were mowed though not needing it) remain.  The edges of each stretch of pavement or walk were edged, and steeper slopes were weed-eaten. (There, I made a verb out of cutting with a weed-eater!)

Aren't you glad I can't share the smell of creosote with you?  I hope soon to be able to open my windows when it's over 60 degrees F outside again. Soon.