Friends, Fun, Doctoring and Finally -- Preserved Lemons!

It has been a week of off and on bits. Last week Rick was away, cycling to Bloomington, Indiana, to watch the Little 500 cycling race. If you have seen the film "Breaking Away," then you know what this is!

 He was supposed to cycle the whole way, camping for part of it. But snow and temps in the 30s caused a change in plans, so rather than leaving on a Sunday, I drove him to the Ohio border a couple of days later.

After dropping him off and driving home, I crashed for about an hour. A sinus infection is no fun! 

It was good that he was home over that weekend, though, for we were able to gather together for a brunch with good friends, some of whom we hadn't seen in quite some time. It's always a joy to connect with people you've known for many years and shared many experiences, the highs and lows of life. I was glad Rick was still here. 

While he was gone I managed to strip down the last of Easter decor and add some spring touches. My favorite? A glorious bulb garden. (You should have seen it before most of the daffodils died!)

 

Remember when I made the preserved lemons? We had to let them "preserve" for four weeks and finally, they are ready to use! Oh, they're so good. Salty and briny and you can cut right through them with a spoon -- you don't even need a knife! I sauteed some shrimp with them (using a bit of the brine and the butter Barb gave me) and they were delicious! Now I've got to start making my own lemony herb butter!

This little fellow is one of those who have been coming to Cafe Lizzie for their daily seed. He's a beauty!

 

PT continues. I'm faithfully doing my exercises but still... challenged. I know Rome wasn't built in a day and my leg didn't poop out overnight. But it's getting old. I learned yesterday that I have a partial tearing of the tendons that attach on the outside of the hip. I don't know what that means, apart from more PT. 

But I love the therapists. They've dropped the mask requirement and I was taken aback to see the face of one of my lead therapists, with whom I've been working since January. He doesn't look like I thought he would from the eyes down and it's very disconcerting. Not bad, really. Maybe a little sinister, with his beard and his smile, but then he'll be putting me through my paces so sinister is probably appropriate! But it's just -- well, odd, seeing faces.  And this just in -- the MRSA in my lungs is back. That's getting very old. It wears me out.

On another note, I've recently had some lovely comments from several different people who are either "anonymous" readers, no-reply bloggers or those who do not have a link to your own blog (if you have one). If one of those is you, I'm sorry I can't reply directly to you -- and I hope you know how much I appreciate your comments and the time you take to come to Marmelade Gypsy. (That goes for everyone who reads this!)

Friend Kate and I ventured to the theatre the other night, seeing the Steve Martin/Edie Brickell musical "Bright Star" performed by our university theatre. It had a lovely set that was flexible (making for quick scene changes), beautiful costumes and choreography, the music was nice and well sung and well miked. But when the dialogue came about, with the exception of a couple of characters, I could barely hear a word. I thought it might be my plugged ear from my sinus infection but Kate couldn't hear either -- and she has good ears! I was glad I read the Wikipedia synopsis before I went!

Finally, I should clarify one thing from an earlier post -- I think I may have turned some of you off the Eleanor Roosevelt bio I reviewed HERE and I don't mean to. It's not a bad book; it's a well-written biography of a fascinating woman. My main issue with it is that it was long (which I sometimes don't mind) and I think at that point in time I was really wanting something that moved a bit faster. When I called it a "slog," that was probably more me than the work of the writer or his interesting subject matter! It may or may not be your thing but please don't let the fact that I was probably seeking a read that was more like a good mystery turn you away!

Spring is here, I think -- despite slightly cooler temps than I'd like. I'll take it! Enjoy!

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