Catching Up On Ray's Progress

After church and lunch at home, I spent the afternoon with Ray at Aspen Trace. He participated in five rounds of bingo, which is a daily event if you know where to look. Ray was lucky, winning two rounds and the candy prize. When some players left, the rest of us learned how to play "Catch Phrase." I joined the other four players—some had never played before but caught on quickly. We played for about ninety minutes before it was time for supper.

Last Thursday, Aspen Trace transported Ray to the surgeon's office for his two-week post-surgery checkup, and I met them there. The doctor removed the staples from his incision, and we saw the X-ray showing the titanium rod and two screws holding everything in place. It will be a few more weeks before the break is fully healed.

On Friday, I picked Ray up from Aspen Trace with a therapist assisting his transfers in and out of the car. We toured the house to check for any obstacles to his returning home next week and received several easy-to-implement suggestions.

On weekday evenings, I like to visit Ray—if I haven't already that day—to watch Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy together. Over the past two weeks, we've also enjoyed watching the Olympics. Fortunately, it's only a five-minute drive from our house to the rehab facility.

After the 9 inches or more of snow on January 25, I documented the snow melt with these three photos:

February 14, 2026, 8:42 a.m.

February 18, 2026, 10:33 a.m.

February 19, 2026, 11:15 a.m.

The Olympics have ended, and I know one program we'll be watching this week: the premiere of Season 50 of Survivor on Wednesday. It's hard to believe we've been following this reality show for 25 years. This season features an all-star cast of returning players.

I've documented other details of the past week in this page from My Everyday Life

My Everyday Life - February 15-21, 2026

  

Until next time: if you’re a Survivor fan, may your favorite contestant stay in the game. And if your weather is milder than ours, I hope you spot signs of spring—fresh shoots in the ground or buds forming on the bushes and trees.

The Snow is Melting

 A week ago, snow banks were everywhere, but during the week, I looked out the window and realized I could see grass. The thick blanket of snow was gone. However, the large mounds of snow are still around, as you can see in this photo taken of our mailbox.

It will be a while before we can use the sidewalks

We had rain overnight, but that didn't diminish the mound. 

In my post last week, I hadn't finished "My Everyday Life" for February 1-7, so I'm posting it today, and also the one for this past week.

My Everyday Life - February 1-7, 2026

My Everyday Life - February 8-14, 2026

Until next time, may the snow continue to melt, and may your tax return be simple and easy to file.

An Unplanned Change

Most readers have heard that Ray fell last Wednesday morning while playing pickleball at the YMCA. An X-Ray determined that his hip was fractured. We waited in the emergency room until 5 p.m., when a room became available. While we waited for the room to be ready, the orthopedic surgeon met with us and explained how he would insert a titanium rod and screws to stabilize the hip.

The surgeon scheduled the surgery for 12:30 on Thursday. Our pastor visited in the morning and said prayers before Ray was moved to the pre-op area, where I was allowed to join him. When they moved him to the surgical area, a nurse showed me to the waiting room and gave me directions to the cafe where I could purchase lunch. While I was finishing lunch, Carol, a member of our church, sat down to eat hers. Her husband was in the ER with dehydration. We visited for a while, and I returned to the surgical waiting room. It wasn’t long before the surgeon arrived to report that the surgery went well. I waited another hour until the nurse reported that they were transporting Ray to his room. He said several times that he was happy it was over. Actually, it’s not over. There’s a lot of rehabbing to come.

I ordered some food for Ray as he hadn’t had anything to eat or drink since midnight. He enjoyed a pancake and rested for the rest of the day. I’ve been going home after dark to sleep in my own bed.

When I arrived on Friday morning, a physical therapist had just arrived. He had Ray wiggle his toes and checked a few other things. Then, he had Ray sit up in bed and drop his legs over the edge of the bed. He couldn’t move on his own, and with the help of an apparatus, he stood and was moved to a large, adjustable recliner with a leg rest, where he spent most of the day.

The view from the third floor on an overcast day

We spent Saturday watching the Olympics. I learned today that there are only two physical therapists on duty across the entire hospital and emergency center on weekends, so Ray had help only getting out of bed to the recliner and back to bed. Moving to a rehab center will allow more opportunities for physical therapy. We hope to learn more and secure approval from insurance and the doctor tomorrow.

The same view, but notice the blue skies on Saturday

Today was much like Saturday, except that I brought a deck of cards and we spent some time playing Solitaire. I brought a few word puzzles Ray enjoys, and we watched the Olympics before the Super Bowl. We had planned to watch the Super Bowl at Joe's house and visit with Kylie, Dustin, and others who would be there. 

I hope to continue posting, but I'm unsure how much free time I'll have over the next several weeks or months. Until next time, may your days be rewarding and may you avoid accidental falls.

Snow and Cold!

      Last Saturday, we stayed home because of the cold and the looming arrival of a big snowstorm.  By 5 p.m., snow was falling, but I kept busy working in the kitchen, making soup, a hamburger casserole, and a mug cake. It snowed all night, and by Sunday morning, we knew we wouldn't have a church service. I wanted to go out and measure the depth of the snow on our patio table, but I couldn't open the patio door because the snow was jammed against it.

    I heard from a church friend that their daughter's wedding, scheduled for Sunday afternoon, went ahead as planned. It was meant to be a very small wedding, but when the snow began to fall, plans changed, and the ceremony proceeded with only the bride and groom, her parents, and the pastor. It's my understanding they'll have a reception soon for family members and friends who were snowbound.

    The sidewalk to our front door was cleared on Monday morning, but the driveway remained impassable, as you can see in this photo.

    Late Monday afternoon, I wasn't sure what to expect. Were we supposed to shovel? Would a crew come to clear the driveway? Did I need to hire someone? While contemplating these questions, I decided to order some groceries for delivery — something I've never attempted. I asked for delivery on Tuesday morning before 11 a.m. The next morning, I received several texts from Kroger asking questions about the order, seeking approval for substitutions, and notifying me that the delivery would be later than I'd requested.

    Looking out our front windows, we realized that two bobcats were clearing driveways and piling snow on the edge of the street. Eventually, we saw a third one clear our driveway, allowing us to leave the house if we wanted to. Shortly after, our groceries were delivered. It was convenient to get the groceries I ordered, but it won't be my regular way to shop. 

Two Bobcats moving snow

           

    By Wednesday, after four days at home, we were ready to venture out in the sub-zero cold and headed to the YMCA to play pickleball. A smaller number than usual showed up to play. Late in the afternoon, we learned that The Social, where we play bridge on Thursday afternoons, was closed for the rest of the week because of the cold. Since we weren't able to play, we decided to use that free time for a trip to Anytime Fitness and take care of two other errands.

    Since the church kitchen renovation was completed last fall, the congregation's Game Night resumed for the first time on Friday evening. We enjoyed chicken potpie, salad, and dessert before being introduced to Rack-O. Some groups were playing dominoes, cribbage, and other games. In the past, we've played Euchre on game night, but we didn't ask if anyone wanted to play. After a game or two to learn strategies, Ray was beating me, but I won a game or two too.

    We watched the IU men's basketball team play UCLA in Los Angeles on Saturday afternoon. Both UCLA and IU had recently defeated Purdue, and now they faced each other. At the end of the second overtime, IU was the winner! Several men fouled out on each team, and for a moment, it looked like there would be a third overtime. Everyone had to be tired after such a physical game. 

    We watched two movies this past week. The first was Clue, a silly movie based on the Clue board game. There was a lot of running around from the library to the lounge, the kitchen, the dining room, and other parts of the house. The other movie was an Alfred Hitchcock mystery starring Grace Kelly and Ray Milland, Dial M for Murder. Compared to today's movies, there was no swearing, no special effects, and no nudity, but just a complicated plot line that made you wonder if Milland would get away with murder. 

My Everyday Life January 25-31, 2026

    
    Until next time, may your day be full of sunshine and blue skies, and may the temperatures rise above 32˚ soon.