Free Weekend

We had this weekend free - no hospitals, no appointments, no guests - and so we decided to take it easy.  We didn't go anywhere, or do anything - which made for a nice change.

Yesterday, Jane worked in the garden, getting it ready for the winter, and planting some fall crops. Our neighbor kindly came over and helped with some mulching using her big industrial chipper. I watched the girls and nursed this headache from the last intrathecal. I'm sure I sound like a broken record, but I've never managed to get the pain from these things under control. I've tried the patch, painkillers, everything, and it's all for naught. Horizontal rest and continual consumption of coffee and Diet Coke is my current best bet to treat the problem. Unfortunately, it'a a little like putting a band-aid on a gunshot wound. Well, with any luck, I'll only have one more round of it that I have to deal with.

At any rate, when I was feeling a bit better on Saturday afternoon I tended to the mushroom logs, soaking them in water in the hopes that they would finally start to bear some  fruit. We'll see in a couple of days. I'm hopeful for some success, as we've had no fruitings this year. Last year, we had so many flushes, we had to start drying them. I'm not sure why we've had less luck this year.  Bad weather, bad spawn, who knows?

We received a care package from some of the families at our church on Saturday. That was really great, and I continue to be amazed by how helpful and kind people have been. I feel a little helpless to do anything but say 'thanks', when everyone has been so kind to us, both through their gifts and thoughts and prayers.

Today we went to mass, and after that came home and had brunch. Jane made omelets. We then decided to surprise the girls, and took them out to the Margaret's elementary school to practice bike riding. They're both doing very well at it. Both have the same issue of forgetting to pedal, though. This makes for a very stop and go practice session. I'm sure that we'll only need a little more practice, and they'll be merrily riding along. I promised Margaret I'd go running with her while she rides the bike - when she gets the hang of it.

After that, a little chestnut picking at a nearby church, and the day was over. How the time flies. I wonder what we're going to do with all of these chestnuts.

A couple of you have asked about the Oatmeal Stout. I can't really say how it's progressing - as my tastebuds are wrecked right now - thanks to Mr. Chemo. Jane swears that it tastes pretty good. I'll give it another week or so before I make any assessment. It's easy to be partial to one's own recipe.  My gut tells me that it's probably going to be an ok beer. I'm already working up a recipe for my next batch. I'm thinking an English ESB...