A Nice Day and A Visit With Elizabeth

Yesterday was a perfect day. It started out at the pool...where we had it almost to ourselves. At one point, I was in the water all alone. Joe was using the hot tub and I was still in the pool. This is helping his legs and my arthritis. We mostly exercise in the water. During the summer, they give a lot of lessons and we enjoy watching the little kid's progress each week.

We stopped at McDonald's for a quick lunch, because of Joe's appointments and my plans for the afternoon. Instead of eating at the restaurant we went to East Park, by the Rock River,  and ate while watching a pelican fishing. There are usually 30 or so pelicans there, but yesterday only one lonely bird. They are huge birds and we love to watch them.

When I got home, it was time to get ready to go to Elizabeth's for our visit. She lives just up the road from us with her two West Highland Terriers. She met me at the door and I waited a while before she let the dogs in from outside. They get too excited when I visit...they need a cooling down period :) She loved the lily that I took her from my garden. We sat next to the fireplace with a dog in each lap. Bello and Foxy are such cute dogs. Taking care of her pups keeps Elizabeth going. She told me about the places she'd been since I was last there. A concert at Anderson Gardens, city market in Rockford, shopping excursions....this lady gets around. She is in a water aerobics class at the pool we go to. Several times a week she is enjoying the water and hot tub. We have our Church in common, so conversation always about that. She asked if I wanted tea...so we went to the table by the window and had tea and an almond coffee cake. I had taken Ernestine's zucchini bread...and we shared that. She asked about the recipe and I told her. After we cleaned up the table, we went back to our chairs and settled in for more conversation. I mentioned that I was going to be making some favors for bingo prizes..for the nursing home in town. Little Manger scenes that are easy to do, some Christmas signs for doorknobs, and some felt doves for Christmas trees. As I was explaining about these...she offered to help me. So, the next time we meet, maybe she'll come to my house and we can do these together. She is one of the ladies who makes prayer shawls for our Church, so in her close to 90 age.... she is pretty active.

It was time to leave and we went to the door and said our goodbyes. As I left her driveway, I thought to myself...she's keeping up on everything current from ipads, to world events, to Mass everyday, to swimming at the pool, and still loving to shop for clothes, and watering her plants. She's an inspiration to me.
Balisha