Random odds and ends

I have nothing special to blog about at the moment, so today will just be random odds and ends.

First of all, how did I forget to mention that the 12th was our seventeenth wedding anniversary?! We didn't do anything special except hang out at home and talk about how lucky we are. The original plan was to visit one of the many state parks we haven't seen yet, and take a picnic lunch, but the weather was supposed to be bad, and we decided not to risk it. The dire predictions of wind, hail, and flooding rain never happened, though. We may try again this coming week. As far as doing anything that costs money, we can't. The new roof we just had put on cost us thousands of dollars, so for this year at least, it will have to serve as our "anniversary gift". And that's okay. Our home has been steadily rising in value over the four years since we bought it, and anything that adds to its value is a good investment. We're on track to pay off our mortgage in another 8 years, what with the extra payments we scrimp and save to make towards the principle. Once it's paid off, we'll be in a good position to travel and spend more "fun money". Hopefully.

The dogs are super itchy right now. I'm beginning to think we're going to have to take them to the vet for allergy shots next week. I gave them both baths and dosed them with Benadryl yesterday, but poor Poppy still has red, swollen eyes. Just like home ownership, pet ownership is always costing us money!

Eyeing my sandwich the other day. Beggars, both of them!

Sweet George.

My garden is really starting to grow, now. We'll be harvesting tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers soon. The other day I picked the last of the lettuce, a gallon size Ziploc bag full. No more leafy greens will be possible until the fall.

My "marigold mulch" is blowing up! We have cheerful orange flowers all around and between the food plants. So far so good.

And my zinnias from last year have re-seeded themselves! I love these easy, cheerful flowers. 

 

PS: Update on my finger: it's much better now that it's been two weeks since the accident. I still put a waterproof bandage on it when I shower, but otherwise it's mostly ok. I'll have a scar, but at least it's healing cleanly. You better believe I'm super careful when I use my new knives these days!

The finger and the party

Today I had planned to have Marla and Martina over for a little celebration. Martina has completed an internship in her journey to becoming a fully certified vet tech, and I, of course, have a new job. 

Yesterday I went shopping and got the ingredients for the food I was planning to prepare, but the only things I managed to finish were baking a pound cake from scratch and boiling some bow-tie pasta for a Greek pasta salad. When I went to start chopping veggies for the salad, I was careless and distracted, not to mention using a razor-sharp new knife....and I sliced a deep cut into the side of my left index finger. 

And oh my God, the blood! I don't think I've ever bled so much from a cut! The gash was pumping out so much blood that I started to get dizzy and nauseous. It got so bad I had to go lie down and elevate my feet to keep from passing out! I'm really glad Gregg was here. He ran and found a clean towel to wrap around my finger and hand with plenty of pressure. He got a cold wet cloth and dabbed my face and forehead with it until the danger of fainting passed.  Once the bleeding slowed down, he was all prepared to drive me to the ER for stitches. I probably should have gone, too, but once the bleeding finally stopped it was almost midnight and I just wanted to go to sleep. I guess I was worn out from all the drama. The towel my hand was wrapped in, as well as the white t-shirt I was wearing, had to be thrown away.

We had plenty of bandages and gauze, but the only tape Gregg could find was blue painter's tape. Stylish!!

A little while ago I very cautiously unwrapped the bandage from last night, and the cut looks pretty bad. Very deep. (I'll spare you the picture I took of it). But at least it's not bleeding, and I reapplied a coat of antibiotic gel to the wound before re-bandaging it. Stitches still might not be a bad idea, but I'd rather not go sit in the ER if I can help it. *

So needless to say, the girls and I won't be having our little party today. We've postponed until tomorrow, so I'll have time to (slowly, carefully) finish the food with only one good hand.

Injury aside, tomorrow will be better anyway because we're having our roof replaced today. A crew is on top of the house as I type this, hammering and nailing away. We'd been making plans to get the roof done for a while now, but only found out they were planning to come today at the last minute yesterday afternoon. Who wants to have friends around with all that noise and chaos going on? 

All in all, it's been quite the weekend so far!

*Have you ever chosen to let a bad cut heal without stitches that you maybe needed?