Done

 We took a chance on ordering a new spring hinge for the back door, I'm less and less enamored of ordering things online with only a picture and measurements for a guide.  I'm surprised how much we missed having the door work properly.  Couldn't find one that was right in any of the local hardware stores.  It finally arrived last week.  The Husband had it installed in a jiffy and it's perfect.  He said it was even the exact same brand as the broken one.   I love having a handy man around.

Hinge works great.

Our daughter ministers to a sweet sister in the ward who just had her first baby.  She wanted to gift them something personal.  So she made this stunningly beautiful blanket for them.  (No one but another person who creates things by hand - which the new mom isn't - will truly understand the process, the effort, expense and the heart that is in every aspect of a gift like this.)  Our daughter just finished it and is ready to wrap it in ribbon for them.  Well done, it's just lovely.

Our garden is still going well.  I've joked that we spent a lot of time and money on veggies that are 90% given away.  But that's really tongue-in-cheek, I love to be generous.  The challenge is finding someone around who likes them that isn't already growing their own.  Next year:  no carrots.   And fewer tomatoes.  We just can't eat them all.  And I mentally fuss that such a garden is just a bit much for The Husband.

Beautifully done.

Received a request to play for someone to sing.  It's in a few weeks at a ward across the valley that meets at 8:30 a.m.  This young lady used to live next door, leaves on her mission soon. So honored to be asked to accompany her.  Though I'm super-nervous.  My (already limited) skills have deteriorated a lot over the last year, what with the eye issues I've got and the tendonitis in my wrist that complains if I overdo. But I've been given a few weeks to practice and if I only do 20 minutes or so a day, I should be able to do it. If I can conquer my fear.  Fear of failure, disappointing other people, embarrassing the person kind enough to have faith in my ability to help her, fear of being in front of people.  It's a bad thing.

It's been said - a lot - that people's nature really comes out as they age.  The kind ones get sweeter and the ornery ones get mean.  The Husband is in the first category.  His soft heart is more and more evident, he's quick to forgive, slow to anger and constant in his gratitude.  What an example!!  I, on the other hand am well into that mean-old-lady thing.  I get frustrated easily and don't handle things as well as I could/should.  I keep trying and I definitely won't give up.  But sometimes it feels like a hopeless battle.

Saturday was a mostly rain day.  And it's been so much cooler we've been able to leave the air conditioning off at night and open the windows.  Since our little trip we've watched a movie and a couple shows on Netflix and Amazon (so grateful for those luxuries), I've devoured a couple books (still wish authors wouldn't use  such foul language all the time, it disgusts me).  The Husband's hearing aids have been checked and I think they're an improvement.  His feet seem happier in the new shoes.  I've texted a bit with our out-of-state daughter.  Hearing from her has been reassuring to me as I've worried about their new jobs, move to another city and all complications that arise from that.  Been there, know how it can be.

The Husband came down with a cold.  Constant sniffling, sneezing, nose-blowing.  Stopped at Costco on friday for one of their rotisserie chickens.  And in spite of the fact that it was 89 degrees out yesterday (such a relief from the 100's we've been having) I made him some chicken soup.  Simmered the bones for delicious rich broth and stuffed it with carrots and noodles and told him it would cure him.  And what do you know?  Today he's feeling better.  There's magic in homemade chicken soup.

So grateful for hope for improvement in many things.  Little things that keep us from being on edge all the time - like a door hinge that works properly, a piano in tune and the right glasses to help me see the music properly.  Something to look forward to always helps:  just this morning received an invitation to dinner with one of my favorite people. I can just picture the two of us sitting at a table and talking away until one of us checks the time and is astonished at how late it is.  That has happened.  And it's just nice all around.

Today's hope is that our backflow thingamadojiggy passes the inspection.  And that The Husband continues to feel better and that all of our children find even a small speck of joy in the day. I want that for them.