21 August, 2020 - Running Around & Test Run Cookies

August 21, 2020

21 August, 2020 - Running Around & Test Run Cookies

Dear, Mom -

How are you today? Are you feeling well? Are you happy? Do you know how much I love and miss you? Lots and lots.

This morning I had to get up early to take Birgit to get her blood drawn. She has to get medicine for her arthritis every month, but also needs to have blood work done before hand to show that the different levels in her blood are reacting well to the medication. Today it proved not to be, so we have to wait another week and try her levels again. I am hoping this does not adversely affect her pain as she really has a bad bout of rheumatoid arthritis in her hands, wrists, back, and knees. Since she couldn’t get her infusion today, we didn’t have to drive back across town to the hospital at 2 o’clock. I did the usual Friday routine and cleaned the house for her. She cannot do things like that anymore as it is too taxing on her body. I don’t mind. I do what I can for her.

After I was done, I took Elsa the dog on a short walk. I wasn’t really able to take her on a long walk in the morning because I had to leave so early. She appreciated the mid-day walk, but it was humid and warm so we didn’t stay out too long. Then this afternoon (and now) we got rain again. It is possible that you did not, as you are 15 miles away from where I live. It is funny how it can storm in one part of the metropolitan area and not others. Sometimes Kim calls me to ask if it is snowing, or raining, or thundering in my neighborhood, and I will say, “Nope!” a she will be in the middle of a different weather pattern. She lives about 7 miles away from me. It may have to do with the fact that we live right off the Willamette River and just on the other side of the small Forest Park range.

This evening for dinner, I made taco salads. The cherry tomatoes coming on now in the garden are nice and sweet. It’s funny. I’ve never been a big tomato fan, but these cherry tomatoes are really delicious. I think the fact that I grew them makes them taste even better for some reason. I am proud of my li’l garden. I picked my first tomatillos today, too. I will need to make a salsa verde at some point this weekend (we’ll say tomorrow) so that the tomatillos don’t go bad. I don’t know much about them, except that I like the way they taste in a salsa, so I don’t want to take a chance at them going bad after months and months of waiting for them to grow!

My cherry tomatoes and tomatillos (more to come on the plants, too).

I also did a test run of cookies tonight. I needed to make sure they would be delicious enough to bring to you on Monday. I made half a batch for Holly that had pecans in them. As you know, I am not a big fan of nuts in sweets. I don’t think you really are either, but pecans are an exception that I can make occasionally. Walnuts I really don’t like in sweets because (to me) they have a bitter aftertaste. I know I am in the minority, but that’s okay. More for somebody else, like Kim. Ha.

I think I will try to do some organizing in the bedroom tomorrow. I really need to hang up my pictures the way they are meant to be hung. I wish I could paint, but that would be more than a day’s worth of work. It would mean taking things out of the room so I could put down plastic and bring in a shop vac. I would need to sand some of the spackle patches from where prior holes were. That is too much for me to try to accomplish in a weekend. At some point, when I have a few more days off at one time, I will set this as a goal because the walls in this bedroom drive me bonkers.

I was able to take a few pictures for you today while I was out walking with Elsa. I hope you enjoy them.

I really miss you. I can’t wait to come see you on Monday and bring you fresh, baked cookies! It means a lot to me to be able to bake for you like you did for me for so many years. Next I will need to make you Toll House Squares! Those were always my favorite and you would make them for me without hesitation when I would ask. I will do the same for you!

Take care, Mom. I will see you and talk with you very soon.

😘🥰All My Love, —- Sally Ann😍😚