The Morning After

Yesterday I was busy running around. First I made a grocery shopping run to the local Safewway. I had a bit of time after getting everything put away to sit and read before going into Burien for my haircut appointment. Candy, who cuts my hair, was running late so I had to wait. Fortunately Sherry, who cut my hair for about ten years before retiring, was there, and we had a great half hour catching up. When I finally left the beauty shop I rushed home and grabbed a carton of yogurt before heading off to an appointment with my podiatrist. At the last visit, in September, I had a cortisone shot in my heel, but it didn't work. I have just been putting up with heel pain through the holidays, but vowed I would go back to seeking help after the new year. Dr. Greenan clipped my fungal toenails, which is torture, since he has to dig out the corners to prevent them from growing in. A bit of blood is involved. But now it's done and will last for four to six months. He also gave me another cortisone shot and taped my foot. While he was working we talked sports. It helps to distract me from the pain. As he was taping my foot, I asked how long it would stay on. He said probably about 4-5 days, if I keep it dry, so I'm wearing a plastic bag in the shower. He said some people learn do their own taping or have someone do it for them. I'll have to see if Tom can help me. I said it was times like these that I wished I was a professional football player. I could have a trainer do it for me every day. I could get an MRI any time something hurt, instead of a doc saying "Yes, you have arthritis. See ya'." When I got home I had my exercising to do and a half hour on the stationary bike, while short ribs I had started for dinner were braising in the oven. With carrots and potatoes added to the cast iron dutch oven for the last 45 minutes, and teamed with a fresh green salad, it was a yummy winter meal. And winter is it, and all day we were being told that snow was on the way. But the timeline kept getting moved back, and the time when snow would turn to rain kept getting moved up. With many hoping the snow would wait until after the evening commute, and others hoping for a good snow, maybe enough for a school closing in the morning, we were all tuned in to the weather news. It finally started snowing here about 7:00 and snowed lightly but steadily into the night. We looked out to confirm that yes, it was indeed snowing.

When I woke and looked out at 2:30 last night, it had stopped, but the landscape was beautiful, with about two to three inches of snow.

But now it is the morning after. The rains have come, and we now have a fast fading blanket of slush.

It's 45 and raining, a 'yuck' day. School here was an hour late. I guess that's something.

The maple is now adorned with raindrops instead of snow.

Turkey soup is simmering on the stove.

I bought a package of two turkey wings during the holidays and popped them into the freezer just for a day like today. With onion, celery, thyme and sage, the wings will simmer for an hour. Then I'll let it all cool, pick the meat off the bones and make soup for dinner.

The bird count is down today, but the chickadees are still here.