Walking, Mowing the Lawn, and Visiting a Friend

It was a nice week this week even though it was very hot.

We walked at the senior center every day except Tuesday because the gym wasn’t open. Don seems to be walking easier every day.

On Tuesday, I finally fixed my spinning wheel. After 2 years of not being able to spin my yarn, I can finally use my wheel again. I'm so excited. I spun so much that my legs felt like rubber when I stopped for dinner! 

On Thursday, we went out to breakfast with our friends from the center. I had been bragging about the French toast at IHOP, so we went there. I ended up being the only one who got the French toast. When we got home, I played around with making cards and hand-embroidering designs on them. 

On Thursday afternoon, Don had physical therapy, and he seems to be improving. On the therapist’s recommendation, we bought a therapy log that Don is supposed to lie on to help his upper back.

After walking on Friday, Don mowed the lawn. We had to add air to the back right tire again. After mowing the whole front lawn and most of the back, the belt broke on the lawnmower. Now we have to figure out how to get it fixed. We went to the John Deere dealer, and it looks like it might cost $500 to get it fixed. We are looking to see if we can find anyone else who works on it.

On Saturday, I went to visit my friend Sandy, who lives with her son one week and her daughter the next. It was really great to see her again. I can tell how much her family loves her and is taking good care of her.

original photos by Pat Hensley

Charpex 2025

We left home at 6:30 and drove north on I-85, which was a mistake. At that time of day, the rising sun was blinding! There were several times, I could hardly see the road, and I spent a lot of time praying that we didn’t get in an accident. If I did this again next year, I would leave at 7 am and go to I-26 to get on I-85 in Spartanburg.

We got to the place at 8:30, and I’m glad we did because I wasn’t sure where we needed to park. We found the free parking garage and got a great parking space. Even though we were early, we went into the Worrell Building at the Central Piedmont Community College, and people were busy setting up. Susan (the wife of the President of the Charlotte Stamp Club) was working at the welcome desk, and she was very nice. We found the “free” table and got some good stuff that I took to the car before the show started. Our friend, Robert M., from the Palm Beach Stamp Club, arrived, so we visited with him until the exhibit hall opened.

Don also joined the club for $5 as a way to support the club. They meet once a month on the first Sunday of the month. I don’t know if he will go next Sunday or not.

There were a lot of vendors in this gym, but my favorite things to see were the exhibits. All attendees were given a voting slip, and we could vote for our favorite exhibit. My favorite was the World Rarities and Uniquities, which had a lot of usual stuff, including great write-ups about why it was rare or unique. I also talked to Mick Zais, Past President of the American Philatelic Society. (I met him in 2017 at the Southeastern Stamp Expo in Atlanta. He was also the South Carolina Superintendent of Education from 2011 - 15. He was also the US Deputy Secretary of Education and then Secretary of Education in 2021)

After I found a dealer with $1 postcards, I showed Don where they were, and he spent most of his time there. I sat outside in the lobby and knit while I listened to an audiobook. At lunchtime, we walked to Burger King (about 2 blocks away). Don was in a lot of pain, so we stopped at the car and he put his back brace on, but he forgot to bring a t-shirt. When we got back to the show, Don went back to look for more postcards. About 3 pm, we left for home.

We thought we would go a different way home and take I-77 and then go through Union, SC, but when we started to get on I-77, it was a parking lot!. We got right off the next exit and found a place to pull over to figure out how to get back to I-85. Traffic was heavy going home, but it was easier going home without the sun in our eyes. We stopped at Carolina Fine Foods to pick up dinner on the way home.

Original photos by Pat Hensley

Hot days, Tiny Knitting, and Weeding

It’s been a very hot week. The temperatures have been higher than normal, and the humidity has been awful.

We finished week 3 of my graduate class. Everyone seems to be doing well. It’s really gone by fast, and hard to believe that next week is the last week.

We also had our knitting guild picnic this week, and I brought my watergate salad. There was also a yarn sale where members sell their own yarn, so I picked up 3 skeins of Miss Babs yarn from my friend Cathi for $5.

We also met the Old Hikers group for lunch at Sweet Catherine's. Jean brought a couple of old photos to share, and I showed everyone how I took a picture of them and could enlarge it on my phone to see the people's faces better. We had a huge crowd. I think it was the largest we've ever had. I saw some people I haven't seen in years. It was good to see Doris B. and Scott W. again! 

There was a cancellation at the physical therapist’s office, so Don got to go for physical therapy. I think he is finally starting to feel better. He felt well enough to mow the lawn on Friday.

On Saturday and Sunday morning, before it got hot, I was able to get out in the yard and do some weeding. Once my class ends, I will be able to get out every morning after walking at the center and hopefully get ahead of the weeds.

I’ve been making some tiny knit toys. I made a tiny cherry pie and a tiny chicken. This helped me try to decide what I wanted to make next for my big project. I’ve decided to make the Bonfire Tee with the yarn I just bought. 

Original photos by Pat Hensley

Back Pain, Farmer’s Markets, and Wedding Gowns

We completed Week 2 of my graduate class, which I’m teaching. All of my students are doing well. It’s hard to believe that we are halfway through already.

Don’s back was still giving him a lot of pain, but he had physical therapy again on Wednesday. The therapist really worked hard on his back, which was quite painful. But as they say, no pain, no gain, because the next day he felt better than he had in months. Each day, he seems to be getting a little stronger, but when he gets tired, his back starts to ache. But the ache is not like the excruciating pain he had been having. Now that the hot tub is up and running, he has gotten in it a couple of times, which I think helps him. I’m just glad he is starting to feel better.

Today, we went to IHOP for breakfast and then went to two Farmer’s Markets. At the one in Simpsonville, my friends set up a booth to sell dishcloths and baked goods to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Foundation. Many of us knit or crocheted dishcloths for them to sell. When it was over, they raised about $600, so I’m happy for them.

We also visited the Fountain Inn Museum, which has a special exhibit called “Cherished.” It features vintage wedding gowns, and my wedding gown was included in the exhibit. It was very nicely done. The exhibit runs through September.

 

Original photos by Pat Hensley

First Week of July

It was a busy week and very hot too.

On Monday (June 30), my grad class, EDEX 962/963, began. We met on Zoom, and we prepared for our first day with students on July 1.

Summer Learning Place 2025 started on July 1. We have the children Monday through Thursday for the next four weeks. This week, the children started on Tuesday. The teachers (my students) assessed them in reading, math, writing, and behavior.

Meanwhile, hubby is still having severe back pain. We walked for an hour on Monday and Tuesday, but by Wednesday, he was in excruciating pain. On Wednesday afternoon, he had physical therapy, but I’m not sure if it helped because on Thursday and Friday, he was really hurting. On Thursday, he spent most of the day in bed

Every day, I worked a little in the kitchen. I’m slowly emptying bags and boxes. Everything has to be washed before it can be put away.

Thursday evening was our town’s fireworks festival. My friend Sheila came over at 8:30 pm and then at 9:30 pm, we sat in the front yard and watched the fireworks. Don stayed in bed. They lasted about 15 minutes. The location was moved this year, and instead of shooting them from Woodside Park, they moved it to PD Terry Park. So, we sat in the front yard and faced towards the park and we had a clear view of all the fireworks.

On the 4th of July, we got up early and did our grocery shopping. We went at 8 am and there were no crowds or traffic. When we got home, I finished knitting my shawl and washed and blocked it. For lunch, we walked to Bucky’s BBQ and binge-watched Mission: Impossible Movies.