Special Interest Group

 I have mentioned before that Tom and I take fun classes at the University provided for seniors. Each semester we can take three classes that meet once a week and three lectures whenever they are offered. 

It’s been changed up a bit and you can sign up for six things whether it be all classes or all lectures or any combination that suits you. They also offer special interest groups which you can sign up for as many as you like. My one special interest group has been The Art of Ft. Worth, which I’ve really enjoyed. My sister has been trying to get me to sign up for Women and Wine...but since I am a one glass gal, I figured it wasn’t for me.

Well, since I like most of you have been cooped up for way too long I gave in. Women and Wine had their first in person get together in over a year last evening....and I really enjoyed it..and no one noticed that I only had one glass.

Since everyone has been vaccinated we felt somewhat  safe.

Kathy our hostess  (with the long hair) has a wonderful outdoor area  with a complete kitchen by the pool.

The weather really didn’t cooperate, but at least it wasn’t cold. The weather also kept some from attending. There are usually twenty in the group.

The five acre property in on the edge of a bluff and the view was beautiful.

It sure was wonderful to go to a social event.

Do You Have a Plan

Recently I went with a friend to look at a gated community of small patio or garden homes. She is a widow and wants to live in a smaller place. In most communities like this, the lawns are also taken care of which is a real draw for aging seniors. 

This particular property also had a clubhouse and a small swimming pool. On this day the only ones in the pool were a couple of passing Mallards.

It got me to thinking. Do you have a plan? In  many cultures  the parents move in with their children in their final years. I can see that as a problem if the house is also occupied by a growing family. Wondering to myself if senior citizens and teenagers can happily  co-exist?

There are a lot of different options in the U.S.  depending on your economic level. There are places where they have three different levels of care: senior apartments, assisted living and  then full nursing care. Not sure why I am thinking about this since we are not ready for any of those

Reminds me of a conversation with a friend who was a real estate sales person in Florida. He said “oh one family can keep you busy. The wealthy come down here and buy big properties, some on the water with big docks for the boat. They are so sure that all of their kids and grandkids will be constant visitors.When that doesn’t happen they eventually call and want a small home in a gated community. Then they call a few years later and are looking for just a condo. In the end I sell that for them because they are headed for assisted living”......What was supposed to be a funny story, I found sort of sad 🥲.

Finally

 The glass company finally came to repair our front door.

We have been having to go in and out our kitchen door for over a month now.

The glass  shattered after  a severe cold front we had here in Texas.

The finished product. It has always been a wavy glass to afford a bit of privacy. Sure is going to be nice to use the door again. Maybe I will just go buy a new Spring wreath. Oh I forgot. My car is in the shop having the side mirror repaired 

 Do you ever have  a time where everything seems to break?

Pretty Weather

We have had gorgeous weather lately, but 

 what  is probably our last cold front of the season is blowing in this morning.

So we got out early for our walk.Tom who had a hip replacement has graduated from a walker...which he detested to a cane. He didn’t want a cane either with so he is using a putter.

. .His goal is to get back on the golf course as soon as possible so I guess using a putter is  not such a bad idea. Although as much as he is walking he may need a new one. Wait! Is that my putter?

Oops!

 Me oh my! Look what I did to the side mirror on my car....

I pride myself on being a good driver...and have never had a accident.

Guess I can’t claim that now.

Click on drawing to enlarge

You see one of my sisters ask me to come over and help her prepare a casserole which was my recipe. She was expecting and overnight guest, so she ask me to pull in and and over to the left so her guest would be able to pull into the right side of garage since it was going to storm. My sister has a covered parking area by her side door. The roof of the cover is held up by two brick posts.I usually  park even with the door and don’t pull  further back. So when I went to leave I looked over my right shoulder to line up and miss the house...forgetting about those darn posts. Grrr.

At least there is no damage  to the side of the car or my sister’s brick posts!

Geraniums

 One of the easiest plants for me to keep alive are the trusty old geraniums.

The most readily available around here every Spring seem to be ones in shades of bright red. While I like these for our cabin in Colorado,

my favorite color for the large pots by our front door here in Texas are the light pink ones. I have found over the years  that these are difficult to find.

So I have had to settle for what I call a hot pink. They seem to be happy where they are, but next Spring I am determined to find the lighter pink ones..

Staying Busy

 Staying busy since I need to be home while my hubby is recovering from hip surgery. One of my sisters liked my face mask, which  I had sewn myself, so I told her I would make her one. Oh my gosh she brought over a lot of fabric to keep me busy! Not sure if she is going to wear all of these herself or give them as gifts?

Playing Nurse

 

I have whole a new found respect for nurses.

Nursing my hubby who has a new hip has been a full time job.

Joined all five of my sisters and their families for a wonderful Easter dinner. My niece Kristin made her delicious cookies.

I did get out for a walk early this morning which always lifts my spirits.

It is beginning to look like Spring here. Japanese Snowball bush beside the guard shack of a billionaires estate.

A pretty pot has a bit more character from the cold weather.

Our Pyracantha Vine looks like it will not sprout out. The extreme cold was just too cold for it.

We are going to replant and hope it will once again look like this.

New Hip

 Well this was the week (finally) that my Tom got his new hip.

The surgery took place at a new orthopedic hospital and it was beautiful. That extra room has a pull out bed, another t.v. and a mini fridge for anyone that wants to spend the night with the patient, but since  our house was less than 10 minutes away, I decided just to go home.

The view was pretty amazing too. The trinity river was down below with jogging trails on both sides.

There were a lot of bikers too.

and yes, since this is Texas we even had a horse or two strolling by.

Hubby 

Hubby leaving the hospital today..(who looks a bit better than that first picture) with his new companion...a walker.

We were given a long list of instructions Guess I had better read them too.

Word has it that these are patients that didn’t. I am hoping this setup was an April Fools joke.

Did you play an April Fools joke on anyone...or do you even know about April Fools Day?

Have a nice weekend and let me know about your Easter.