Elena 
Outside my window…
Susan Hope Finely via Flickr, licensed cc
The weather continues to be in the single digits, but we are predicted to be in the 50s by Thursday!
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I am thinking…
about the changes a new year brings.
My wonder 97-year-old Aunt Dot is not living in her own home for the first time in decades. She had a medical incident and was alone at the time. She’s okay but it shook up her family a bit, so she is finishing the winter in an assisted living facility so she won’t be alone.
At the same time, a very good friend of mine had an unexpected collapse and was found to have pulmonary embolisms. It was pretty scary but with prompt medical attention, he will be fine.
But it’s yet another reminder to me that time is fleeting, situations change, and we are all getting older.
I am thankful…
that my loved ones are safe.
I’m thankful for our Lord’s Epiphany and His continuing presence in my life.
I am pondering…
Another reason I’ve been a little introspective I guess is that I had a big arthritic flare in my knee over the holidays. I first had a problem with one of my knees 30 years ago, when I was in a jazz dance class and my knee cap dislocated to the side. Then in 2011 I had enough pain in the knee to make me see the doctor, who diagnosed degenerative arthritis and prescribed Mobic and physical therapy. I used all of the Mobic, but never got called for physical therapy. But the pain went away and I happily walked, danced and exercised until this fall when it started to hurt again. By Christmas, I could hardly put any weight on it.
But with Calvin’s encouragement, I started taking ibuprofen and resting it and after some waxing and waning, it is almost back to normal. However, I still can’t walk on my tip toes, or jump on it, so that limits my dancing for exercise in my home gym in the basement. I see the doctor next week and I’m sure hoping this isn’t going to be a chronic condition – just a flare. And then I’m hoping I can figure out what to do to avoid reflaring in the future.
On the positive side, since I knew I wasn’t expending as many calories, I restricted my food intake and I didn’t gain any weight over the holidays! I’m pretty happy about that.
One of my Favorite Things…
The Christmas Peg Saints Rosie made last week – St. Ambrose, John the Evangelist, and St. Elizabeth Seton.
I am hearing…
hum of the computer and the cat playing with a mouse she refuses to kill in Rosie’s room.
In the kitchen…
I’m thinking possibly meatloaf. We start back to co-op this week so I definitely need a great crock pot dinner on that day. I’m thinking about a paleo orange chicken.
I am wearing…
Long gray pants I got for Christmas, a gray thermal long-sleeved shirt I got from Woman Within, and my athletic shoes from Second Sole.
I am going…
- Upper body workouts and core for now until my knee is back to normal.
- add some additional novenas next year with the help of PrayMoreNovenas.com
- to cut my carbs via the Wheat Belly Total Health: The Ultimate Grain-Free Health and Weight-Loss Life Plan recommendations
and intermittent fasting.
- Preparing my general science lesson for Wednesday. We are making DNA model key chains.
- Taking Izzy to work tomorrow. Most days Mr. Pete can take her.
- Make good use out of my planner from CatholicSistas. I finally got the entire thing copied and put into a binder. I am not an affiliate- I just like their product!
- Keep practicing my recital pieces.
Nothing right now. I am trying to get organized for the new school year.
From the Learning Rooms…
MISS C
My Granddaughter is in the Five-in-a- Row curriculum at Co-op and we try to follow through on the days she is with me.
This week in Five-in-a-Row they will be reading Stopping By in the Snowy Woods by Robert Frost.
Maryrose:
Rosie is also taking a writing class online using the Once Upon a Time Saint series as the writing
prompt.
We have a schedule! Rosie writes her history paper every Monday based on what she has read in her history the week before. Also on Monday, she reads her assignment in Once Upon a Saint. Then on Tuesday she writes her assignment for that class, and turns in her paper. Thursday is for revisions.
This semester she is also going to do drama – so just shoot me. It means a longer co-op day, more rehearsals, and since they are doing a period piece, I’ll probably have to make a costume. But she is very excited about it so I’m going to grit my teeth and push through.
A quote to share…
When I was desperately looking for ways to help Calvin learn to read, the Writer’s Jungle by Bravewriter’s Julie Bogart
was a source of great inspiration to me. This fall, I’m going to be sharing some of my favorite parts that really helped me teach my kids to write – from the absolute most recalcitrant writer, to the kid who has prose and poetry just dripping out of her!
The wastepaper basket is the
writer’s best friend.
—Isaac B. Singer
