Brother visits me but Lincoln thinks he was here to see him!
I have always felt that I have many, many good friends but I have been humbled and ever so grateful for the many wonderful friends that have offered and helped during the last week and a half since I had knee surgery. When you live alone and have been independent for most of your adult life it is difficult to ask for and even accept help. I am not sure why that is….it just is. So to require Allen’s help with the dogs for many, many months and having to have someone wait on me for several days after the surgery and even now to have someone chauffeur me to appointments is disconcerting. And while I am blessed to have so many caring friends there is nothing quite like having family check in. (This may not make much sense to those of you who live in the same community with your family members but trust me, it is special.)
Most of you know that I am from Georgia, born and raised, and that is where my family – small though it is – just Brother and Sister and their families – still lives. We don’t get together as often as I would like but as often as we can with everyone’s busy lives. So last night when Brother came to visit it was like a tonic. There is something about reminiscing about crazy things we did as kids, places we visited, etc. and all the laughing that ensues that does something to aid in healing. One of the stories we recalled last night was about Sliding Rock, a place we used to go to as kids when we camped in North Carolina. My folks enjoyed camping and we did a lot of it as kids all around the southeast. There was an article in Southern Living Magazine in the August issue about the South’s Best Swimming and Watering Holes and it was featured for the North Carolina entry. I was telling Brother about the article (See it here) and we laughed about how we used to slide and slide down this natural water slide as it was always a favorite highlight of any trip to that area. Brother’s best memory of it was how at the end of the day the “ass was worn out of his shorts”! LOL Laughter is the best medicine!
Sometimes I am asked to create a special image for a paint party…especially for kids…since they don’t always want to do something from the list of many paintings that the adults choose from for their parties. I don’t mind trying to create just what they want.
I didn’t realize that it would take me so long to be able to get around on my own as it has. I guess I thought I would bounce right back like I did after the meniscus surgery but that was not the case. Plus I have needed to keep the ice therapy machine on my knee to keep the swelling down and that has required refilling every few hours, 24 hours a day. Sandy has done all of that with a smile and a sense of humor. She has been simply wonderful. I can’t even begin to thank her for all that she has done for me and the boys.
Not being mobile because of this knee surgery (see yesterday morning’s post) has me catching up on several projects including the Crocheted Temperature Blanket. I love how this thing is looking. The last time I shared it with you was May 3rd and that was the progress of the rows through April where it looks very cool and blue/green (
Today is the final day to vote in the “Best of Awards” and I really could use your help. Please take just a minute to 
I’ve missed a blog post or two and been a little slow in reacting to messages because I had knee surgery on Tuesday. Arthritis in my knees is so bad that I finally couldn’t function any longer without getting it fixed. Because of my age (young by arthritis standards) and because I really only needed the outer side (lateral) repaired, I opted for a type of surgery called 
The Studio 