Reading and Recuperating, Part I

The backdrop to my knee surgery recovery for the first two weeks was the Summer Olympics, paired with channel surfing, The Big Bang Theory and Modern Family.  I’m not a television watcher but I didn’t feel up to reading, so I was doubly glad when I felt better and got off the pain pills.  I began to read again and gave myself permission to read purely for fun and escape.  Therefore, I was delighted when two friends with whom I regularly share books dropped by for a visit, bringing cozy mysteries and box lunches from Heavenly Ham.

The Cracked Spine, by Paige Shelton

Minotaur Books, 2016

A cozy Scottish mystery set in an Edinborough bookshop where Kansas native Delaney Nichols has agreed to work, sight unseen.  She applied for the job and was hired while she was still in the states.  Her eccentric boss Edwin McAlister has two other employees, Rosie and Hamlet.   Shortly after her arrival, Delaney is able to rent a cottage owned by a taxi driver and his wife who befriend her, and a local pub keeper provides romantic interest.  The setting was fun, the mystery was forgettable.  The author gives Delaney special powers that seem unnecessary.  The plot also strains credulity when an heretofore unknown copy of Shakespeare’s First Folio of plays is uncovered, then disappears,  The last person to have it is found dead and Delaney is determined to find the murderer because the police investigators seem to suspect her new colleagues.

Mrs. Jeffries Wins the Prize, by Emily Brightwell

Berkley Prime Crime, 2016

The ladies of the Mayfair Orchid and Exotic Plant Society play for keeps in this latest installment of the Victorian Mystery series featuring Mrs. Jeffries, the housekeeper for Scotland Yard Police Inspector Witherspoon.  Mrs. Jeffries, assisted by the entire downstairs staff and a few neighbors, helps her boss investigate his murder cases unbeknownst to him.  Mrs. Jeffries must determine which society matron stabbed to death a dealer in rare flowers and then subtly guide Inspector Witherspoon to reach the same conclusion.  It’s the recurring characters that make this cozy mystery entertaining.

These mysteries my friend loaned me provided comfort and entertainment as I recuperated, a pleasant escape from being a patient.  I raid my library book shelves for mysteries to read in tomorrow's post.

Total Knee Joint Replacement Surgery Can Be Fun

I never knew getting a total knee joint replacement could be fun.  I’m not saying the surgery, which I’ve heard two doctors describe as bloody, was fun, but I was knocked out so I have no complaints there.  When I interviewed my surgeon before I decided on a doctor, I asked him about infection control.  He told me it was important not to touch the open wound.  I’m not sure what his other patients have been like, but that would be the least of his worries with me.   Touching an open wound, looking at an open wound--neither appears on my curiosity list.  Besides my knee was so protected after surgery with a thick, waterproof bandage, I don’t know how a person would even get to the incision. 

We don’t have a downstairs bedroom so we had to create one for me to stay in, post-op.  In our living room, known at our house as the music room because of my husband’s large vinyl collection, the sofa turns into a bed.  Ricky put a portable memory foam mattress on the thin sofa mattress, creating a comfortable bed.  I packed up lounging clothes and toiletries in a laundry basket, and I was ready for my new quarters.  

View from my music room bed with bouquet

Treble and me lying on the music room bed

I could have stayed in the guest cottage behind our house, but living in the middle of our music room meant the household revolved around me.  Ricky couldn’t sneak downstairs for coffee in the morning without waking me.  This meant I got served coffee and a breakfast of fresh fruit and some sort of pastry or quick bread in bed every morning. 

This is where I need to say that if you are going to have fun with your total knee replacement, you must first select a caring and knowledgeable partner.  My husband Ricky is adorable and smart and kind.  He is also a retired nurse.  So, when I needed some modifications for handicapped accessibility, he was on it.  When I needed a shot in the stomach every morning for three weeks to avoid blood clots, he was on it.  As wonderful as Ricky was, he came to look forward to his daily trip to the local Walgreen’s.  It seemed like there was always something I needed that we didn’t have.  I quickly stopped apologizing when I realized the trip to Walgreens represented freedom for Ricky each afternoon.

Secondly, you must select awesome friends.  And you have to start years in advance of your surgery to secure these, so don’t wait to the last minute to find the perfect partner or friends.  While Ricky was holding down the fort in those first two weeks, my friends were insuring that we wouldn’t starve.  Good friends in New Orleans sent an edible arrangement of fresh fruit.   

Edible Arrangement

Pork loin dinner

My best friend prepared several meals, and she and another friend from work brought me a goody basket I ate from for days—hummus, banana bread, fresh pimento cheese, flatbread, almonds and dried fruit. My friend and TRX instructor prepared two healthy meals for Ricky and me that actually fed us multiple days.  Long- time friends dropped by for a visit and brought sweet goodies and a gift certificate from our neighborhood bakery.   My former boss and her sister brought me chicken salad from my favorite restaurant and small decadent chocolate cakes.  My across-the-street friend and neighbor came by to visit bringing little goodies each time.  A good friend who had recently moved to another state sent us pizza delivery one night.  My writing group also supplied sustenance-- from pastas to guacamole to gelato. 

One neighbor loaned me all sorts of adaptive equipment.   My sister-in-law wired a bouquet of flowers.  Get well cards arrived each day in the mail.  My sisters in Virginia called frequently to check on me.  Two friends came and stayed with me so Ricky could escape to a near-by town one Sunday to visit friends and attend a benefit for an ailing musician.  I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve such considerate friends. 

A good caregiver and wonderful friends are the factors that made my knee replacement “fun,” but tomorrow I’ll talk about what made my knee replacement successful.

A Charming Salon

When I was leaving today for my appointment to get my hair cut and colored, my friend and stylist texted me, "I can't believe that I've forgotten to tell you I've moved."  She went on to say that her salon and house are now side-by-side on a quiet street in a tiny historic part of Bossier City, incongruously located near the bustling riverboat casinos.

I set my GPS and crossed the river to find her new abode and place of business.  I came upon a delightful enclave of cottages that immediately demonstrated to me why she is excited about the move.  The cottages are tiny, fairy-like in appearance, but the outdoor space is quintessential Louisiana, reminiscent of hidden New Orleans courtyards. 




Lights appear in the windows of her shop at twilight

When I look at the lush vegetation, it's hard to believe it's October 1, but our current Louisiana daytime temperatures are remaining in the eighties.  Moreover, a hard rain blew through while I was getting my hair done, which should keep these plants happy for now.

 

One of the outdoor seating areas outside the shop

T-Cup Bird Feeders appear to float amidst the vegetation.

 

My friend is still in the process of getting herself settled and her spaces organized , but at least she can step outside into this serene oasis to rejuvenate and recharge.  

 





Working and Playing

Working for a living and volunteering in the neighborhood has kept me busy lately, with job-related evening meetings and sitting in front of computer at night to line up volunteers for our upcoming Highland BLOOMS garden tour of seven neighborhood gardens.  This is no ordinary garden tour--we have jazz bands at two large garden sites; an old fashioned lemonade stand with homemade cookies and lemonade served from the gazebo in one lovely shade garden; artist vendors selling their wares; a raffle of a lovely water feature that I truly covet; a red tag sale of vintage garden items; a tasting table of local treats; cold drinks at most locations; free passalong plants to first 200 patrons--all included in the basic admission fare for the tour.  Wow!  No wonder all the committee members are on overload.

Fountain being raffled off (photo by Sarah as fountain
now appears temporarily at home in her garden)

Yesterday another group of neighborhood volunteers and I picked up any litter in the vicinity of our tour gardens, then we hit other litter challenged areas.  Unfortunately, in this central city neighborhood, we have people with no eyes to see and appreciate the beauty around them and these few trash our historic neighborhood.  It's heartbreaking, but you can't let it bring you down. 

I love early morning trash clean-ups, I know that's weird to say, but there are few folks out early on Saturday morning.  It's quiet and peaceful.  Though we stick to sidewalks mainly in our litter removal efforts (and what we can reach with our grabbers), I see and hear the birds that I'm too busy or insulated in my car or house to notice on normal mornings, I notice tiny flowers that I would ordinarily fail to note or appreciate, and the unusual cool mornings we've had this week have been heavenly--yesterday was no exception. 

On one major thoroughfare, I found the most delicate tiny violets growing in the shade of a concrete wall next to the sidewalk.  I noticed the hearty, vividly colored flowers  shown here when I stopped to clean a parking lot near some popular eateries.  I have grown to love the discovery of unexpected beauty in the midst of sometimes harsh surroundings.



Tiny flowers growing in concrete next to litter of parking lot

After the trash clean-up, I connected with friends for a group birthday lunch and general happy get-together.  We have been trying to meet, literally, for months to celebrate some February birthdays and an April one.  One friend had out-of-town guests she wanted us to meet, so finally we gathered for lunch at Lilah's, a local cafe and bakery, to celebrate all of the above--birthdays and an appreciation of new and old friends.


Artist hanging her pictures for art show in Lilah's,
which the restaurant periodically does (though none was
featured yesterday)



My friend Beth with her childhood friends who were visiting.




Since I was one of the February birthday gals, I had to show you one gift I received from my friend, Kathy--a garden shed to display in my exercise/mud room until I am ready to share it with the birds.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Mother's Day and a beautiful week.