Welcome, sugar plums, to Sentence a Day 07.2020 – my crazy July in one run-on sentence a day. I always say that these posts are a quick way to journal your day-to-day life. Especially during this historic time.
If you haven’t joined us for this link-up, I would like to invite you to try participating. It’s not too late to start for 08.2020 or pencil it in your agenda to begin with us in August. And if you are interested, let me know in a comment below and I will add you to our email group. Of course, if you don’t blog, you can still participate on paper or on your favorite device. Then come back to share the highlights of your August in a comment on my 09.01.2020 SaD post.
Rebecca at Knit by God’s Hand came up with the idea for SaD and Sarah at Foxy’s Domestic Side always keeps us together by fetching the link-up code. Hope you will run by to check out their posts and the posts of some of the others linking up. Now, let’s see how July looked ’round our castle.
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Sentence a Day 07.2020
Another unique month of unfamiliar experiences.
Quiet Beginnings
- Peaceful day with almost no phone calls; quiet time on the patio, started new morning routine course, blogging, writing interspersed with vacuuming, fixing cheeseburger soup, putting away laundry, and having my hair cut for the second time since Covid. 07.01.2020
- Hallelujah for happy days…mom had such a great day, which trickled down to my siblings and me having a good day…patio quiet time and smoothies, workout, run, grocery trip to the commissary, made 21 ziplock bags of smoothie fruit and veggies, leftover soup for supper, blog reading before bed. 07.02.2020
- Got our workout and run in for the first time in days, bathed these kitties, quick trip to Lowe’s for a flag, nice swim in triple digit heat, hot dogs for dinner and Dairy Queen for dessert, the kids can come to celebrate with us tomorrow. 07.03.2020
Happy Birthday, U.S.A.
- Happy 4th of July, happy birthday, America! Started the day with a bike ride around the neighborhood to count the flags flying, smoothie on the patio, then started in on Salisbury steak and apple pie for our dinner, kids arrived late afternoon, spent several hours splashing in the pool with the grands, dinner in the dining room, gave Cami her first ice cream, Barbies in the den, baths in the master tub, fireworks on the front and back balconies. 07.04.2020
- Hard to get started today…almost felt as if there was no reason to get out of bed, except I had kitties to feed and tee shirts to pick up at Old Navy; Mom called crying saying she was so lonely and just wanted to hear my voice, heartbreaking; scrapbooked with Valerie, hamburgers on the grill, quiet evening with a flaming, hot pink sunset before bed. 07.05.2020
Rain? Rain!!
- We got up early and RAN!! That deserves a sentence to itself; smoothies on the patio, QT, then off to Martin Tires to get new front tires…boring, expensive but necessary; put 4th decor away and set out summer things inside; enchilada pie for dinner, blogging before bed, building cloud, lightning, thunder and no rain. 07.06.2020
- Across the mountain to help with the babies now that Kindercare is closed due to 2 cases of Covid; teleconference about long term health insurance, ironed, made a new recipe that didn’t turn out too well, hate when that happens, bedtime walk and asleep before 10 pm. 07.07.2020
- Up for a quick workout and run, over to baby sit or baby love because I am not ‘watching’ them but loving the girls; Target run with Lauren, Cami and Cia – all of us masked, Lauren followed me home and ordered pizza for all of us, exhausted tonight; Cady had her first orthodontist appointment, Mom had a good day…thank You, God. 07.08.2020
Patio Time
- Day off from baby-loving to get things done around the house, beautiful morning for quiet time and Bible journaling on the patio, cleaned the upstairs, brushed the pool, put up laundry, scrapbooked with my sister, Monte Cristo sandwiches for dinner, off to bed early. 07.09.2020
- Woke up with a sinus headache and congestion, texted Lauren that I was worried about going over to help with the babies, took the morning slow, alternating between chores and little projects for fun, cleaned the downstairs, worked on blog posts, blog reading, listened to Crystal Paine on podcast, completed more of my morning course, scrapbooked with Val, Taco Bell for dinner, called mom and just after we hung up she fell, while talking to Kevin who is on his way to South Carolina, mom has hurt her back but they were able to get her in bed. Keep her safe and comfortable, please, God. 07.10.2020
Love Birds
- Happy anniversary to US! Struggled to sleep part of the night but got up feeling pretty good, did a workout and run, smoothie on the patio, picked peaches to keep our tree’s branches from breaking, champagne in the hot tub with the heat on, walk around the outlet mall, a stop at Kohl’s for new towels, and picked up take out at Crab Station to eat at home with disposable gloves on instead of silverware, watched “Greyhound” with Tom Hanks before bed, Mom seemed okay when I talked to her but very confused, and sore. 07.11.2020
- Slow, quiet Sunday; walked out into the desert to leave the smaller, greener peaches for the animals and birds to eat, picked up doughnuts on the way back, after breakfast we swam, I scrapbooked with my sister, and we had leftovers from our Crab Station meal for dinner. 07.12.2020
- Workout and run then over the mountain to be with my babies 3 today, Cami seems out of sorts with her teeth, home to do laundry, iron, made skinny lasagna roll-ups for dinner, bedtime walk in triple digit heat. 07.13.2020
Technology Troubles
- Something is wrong with my blog and my graphics/images aren’t showing up, so frustrating, used my good camera and cell as a remote to take some fashion haus photos but can’t get them to show up in my post; helped with my pumpkin pies, scrapbooked with my sister, honey-lime enchiladas for supper, bedtime walk and a mini-rain. 07.14.2020
- Been a long week and it’s only Wednesday, work out and run, helped with my girlsies, Cia and I pretended we were kitties coughing up fur balls, Cami snuggled up in my arms and fell asleep; tried to take a necklace and earrings to be fixed at Nayda’s Beads but her store is closed – Covid strikes again – mom had a bad day, thought they forgot to bring her dinner but it turned out she just couldn’t see it, her sight has gotten so bad, poor baby; fixed my blog issues myself! 07.15.2020
Dragging
- Kind of dragged all day…this crazy heat is getting to me; my girls were adorable, Lauren said she loves when I am there to help, picked up a Walmart order – seemed there were a number of folks doing that, Bible journaling, not much else this afternoon, pizza for dinner, bedtime walk around the park, 14 new Covid deaths, mom sounded stronger again. 07.16.2020
- Fri-YAY…not a moment too soon; over the mountain to help with my granddarlings, played with both in their new candy zone wading pool, quick run to Hobby Lobby for gold paper for a wedding scrapbook page; home to shower and change then off to Ft. Bliss to donate blood and have it checked for Covid antibodies; leftovers for dinner, early to bed. 07.17.2020
Mini-Getaway
- Slept like a champ; but feeling weak as we did our workout so opted to walk rather than run afterward, drove up to Ruidoso, NM to escape the miserable heat and for a change of scenery, bought soap at All Lathered Up, wine at Noisy Waters Winery and Heart of the Desert, home with Church’s chicken for dinner, watched “Emma” with a glass of strawberry kiss (Kool-aid-like) wine. 07.18.2020
- Quiet Sunday, some work in the yard, some scrapbooking, grilled shish kabobs that were a big success, cooled off a bit in the the pool, finished The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek, with tears streaming down my cheeks. 07.19.2020
Productive Days
- Monday…my favorite day, except when I have a toothache…got the laundry and some ironing done, made this faux crab salad on croissants for dinner, mom had a fabulous day with a manicure, haircut, and win at Bingo, sundown rain storm. 07.20.2020
- My PC was restless much of the night so we neither one felt like working out this morning, I was over the mountain to help my baby with her babies, Cami struggled to eat and sleep and Cia was goofy in the pool, mailed mom a large print word search book, and Trey a letter and some gift cards, lazy all afternoon just trying to catch up on blog reading, leftovers for dinner, walk around the block, Fluffy came by for dinner, mom choked this morning and it scared her to death. 07.21.2020
Thrift Store Money
- Beautiful morning on the patio, caught up on quiet time, did some Bible journaling, writing, out for a run all by my lonesome, tried on my new maxi…love…dropped off clothes to be considered by Uptown Cheapskate, earned over $50, dental appointment for my infected tooth but Dr. Muñoz can’t figure out what is wrong, referred me to a specialist. 07.23.2020
Over the Mountain
- Over the mountain to help with my girls, Cia and Cami and I walked to the park, feeling kind of punk with my tooth so laid down for a quick nap that went on for several hours, pork loin, tater tots, squash casserole, and baked beans for dinner. 07.23.2020
- Fri-YAY…cleaned house, organized my decoration bins in the garage, pulled out bins full of lesson plans and library crafts to use with Lucia, finished a scrapbook page, quick run to the post office and to pick up beer to enjoy while watching the first Cincinnati Reds baseball game of the season – while in the pool and hot tub; hot dogs and baked beans for dinner, new friend Veronica from across the street brought us peaches from her yard – HUGE; blog reading before bed. 07.24.2020
- Lounged in bed for a bit before getting around to exercising and going for a walk, picked more peaches, put together a Walmart list and ran up to grab some groceries, made more ziplock bags of smoothie fruit, got Casita Linda’s for dinner, then went out to Ft. Bliss with PC so he could check the lights around all of the buildings he is responsible for at work, good opportunity for me to take photos. 07.25.2020
Olive Garden, Baby!!
- Another lazy morning, listened to church in bed, talked to Cady on Facetime, made smoothies and 2 cobblers, one for us and one for the neighbor, scrapbooked with my sister, started on my banner, Valerie texted that talking to mom left her in tears, our mom is so pitiful, so lonely; showered and went to the kids’ house for dinner, grandbaby loves and Pictionary (bucket list activity), but mom called several times so upset, she is seeing people…real from her past and imaginary, I just feel awful. 07.26.2020
Poor Mom
- Before my first sip of coffee, mom was calling to say she was sure she has another UTI, spent the morning working with my sister and brother to try to get her some help for that and to look into Visiting Angels to help her through the long afternoons; quiet time on the patio, transplanted our lavender and planted a blackberry bush; worked on my summer banner (summer bucket list), laundry, cheeseburger soup for supper, blog reading tonight. 07.27.2020
Happy Birthdays
- Happy birthday, Cadence Ellie…double digits!! Wish I could spend some time with my baby girl, I miss her and her mama; enjoyed time on the patio this morning, then jumped up for a run and walk, lazy most of the rest of the day with the exception of ironing, headache-y, feeling lost, just as we fell asleep a firetruck and EMS came for our neighbor next door. 07.28.2020
- Patio quiet time, ran to Walmart to pick up a grocery order, tidied around the house for the kids to come, planted a few new plants, fixed a chicken pot pie, sweet potatoes and a squash casserole with peanut butter criss-cross cookies for dessert, my Prince dropped his car off at the shop, so I picked him up, we enjoyed time in the pool with the kids, then dinner, and bath time for the babies before they all headed across the mountain, how I love holding my babies; Lucia said “you’re my favorite Gabba.” 07.29.2020
And More Birthdays
- Happy birthday to my first born, sweet baby Brennyn Alexis; I love you with all my heart. PC had a dental appointment so we were able to sleep in a bit and enjoy a smoothie on the patio, he used my car to get to his appointment and then on to work, I enjoyed a late morning swim, then worked on my patio banner, enjoyed photos of Bren’s vacation to the South Padre Island beach, leftovers for dinner. 07.30.2020
- Happy birthday to my second born, sweet baby Lauren Allegra; I love you with all my heart, too. We always spend birthdays together and had so hoped we would again this year, but it wasn’t to be. Slept like a champ, up at 8:00, did a work out and run before starting our day with a smoothie on the patio, followed by a full day of running errands, oil change, inspection, picking up PC’s car, an outlet mall run, a stop at Walmart and frozen yogurt, “Anne with an E” and Reds baseball after dinner. 07.31.2020
So that’s my run-on sentence a day 07.2020. Makes me tired just rereading it. But love having these tidbits of daily life to reflect back on.
Before we go…
Your Turn
How would your sentence a day 07.2020 post read? Were there more good days or difficult ones? Has life almost returned to a pre-Covid state? We have had maybe 1 day of double digit new Covid cases in El Paso and every other day has been triple digits. An increase of 12 hospitalizations and over 200 new cases today. Exhausting. Discouraging.
Thank you for popping in. Keep wearing those masks, gals! Think of the $$ we are saving on lip stick!! Stay well.
Hugs and kisses,
Hello Leslie! I always enjoy reading your Sentence a Day posts and the little peek it gives me into your daily life. I feel kind of like we’re neighbors, just chatting. I can relate to your challenges with your mother. My MIL is in a similar situation. She’s being released from a rehab center to an assisted living center tomorrow, after falling and breaking her hip. She has good days and bad days, and it’s heartbreaking to be watching it all through a window, because of COVID. I’m impressed with how well you’ve kept up on your workouts. I haven’t been able to get motivated to run in this heat. I have been doing my Orangetheory workouts three times a week and a few early morning walks. It’s been a while since I had a goal I felt truly excited about. I miss that feeling. Otherwise, I am happy to be seeing my family again, and the new house in Southern Utah is a fun project. Wishing you a happy August!
I hear good things about Orangetheory and have thought about looking into it once the germs settle. Our gym has reopened but we are scared to go. Even with the mandatory mask requirement.
Praying your MIL adjusts to her new home. Did they have to do surgery on her hip? Mom fell a week ago and we were certain she had broken her hip but apparently not. I know you can appreciate how difficult it is to have to watch helplessly through the window. My mom cried the other day that no one she loves has touched her in months. So. Sad.
I understand being nervous about the gym, Leslie. My fitness center has added an air filter system, extra cleaning, screening, and social distancing, but in truth I still get a little nervous if I think about it too much.
My MIL did have surgery on her hip. The surgery went well, but there was a period of confusion afterwards that lasted for more than a week–possibly the anesthesia working its way out of her system, or just all the trauma. She seems to be doing better now and likes her new home. At least she has a little patio, so we can sit outside, open her door, and talk from a distance without the glass in between us. We still can’t go inside. It’s a little hard for us to hear each other at times with the traffic and her declining hearing, but it’s better than looking through a little window. The no touching part is very difficult though.
I’m wishing you and your mom much peace and love.
Thank you, Christie, for sharing the information about the Orangetheory gym where you are going and the housing and health of your MIL. My brother was removing the screen from my mom’s window when she was in her previous apartment but got in big trouble for doing so. We sure hope while we are up there, my sister and I will be able to sit with her behind the plexiglass on the porch. It will be very hard not to break the rules and hug her.
It always makes me so sad to read about your mom’s struggles. I bet being surrounded by such cute grandbabies helps keep that beautiful smile on your face.
Thank you, Joanne. My grandbabies bring me such joy.
Oh, your momma calling & saying how lonely she is – that tore my heart up a little bit.
It’s a crazy time, isn’t it? Where you have lazy days because you cant do a lot, but still feel overwhelmed. It’s a unique time.
I love your wheelbarrow for the 4th – so cute!!
Thank you, darling friend. My mom calls crying several times a week. Sometimes several times a day. She never ever ever ever cried until the last year. I mean never. And now she cries constantly and it is heart-breaking.
It is a crazy time. And my antidepressants haven’t been refilled so I have been struggling even more than normal. Not a good time for my psychiatrist to disappear!
What a beautiful names you’re children have! Lovely to read these posts.
What a dear compliment. I love my daughters’ names!! Thank you so much.
Oh it must be heartbreaking to receive those kind of calls from your mum, and hard to do anything when you are so far away.
Sorry to hear you’ve been suffering with toothache, and even worse that the dentist doesn’t know what’s causing it (this sounds expensive!) I dread going to the dentist, even for a check up, I had an awful dentist when I was a child and he instilled fear into me which I still feel. So you have my real sympathies with this bit!
How lovely to spend time with your girls, even though it’s tiring, it’s still so uplifting to know how happy they are to be with you.
Thank you, Deb. The toothache is gone. Now do I go to the specialist or just thank my lucky stars and ask no questions??? I must have been traumatized by a dentist, too, because I really dislike going.
It’s so special your daughters have birthdays so close together! What fun to celebrate together! I’m sorry your mom was having a rough time! I hope she is on the mend now. I’m glad you seemed to like The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek. I recommended it to my mom because she enjoys those type of historical novels. I thought it was fascinating especially since it was rooted in so much truth. I can’t believe it was a free prime book! Such a well written story!
Wasn’t The Book Woman a fabulous read? I truly enjoyed it. And it makes me wish I had some blue ancestors among our Kentucky family.
Sorry to hear about your sore tooth – the worst- and your mum’s confusion. You get a lot done, I love reading about your meals and running around.
I enjoy your sentences so much too. The walking to shops and the time you spend with your mother. Hope she is enjoying her tablet.
You’ve had a full July, Leslie. Glad you get to see your grand-babies often. I hope your mom feels better and your toothache gone.
Toothache is gone!! Now, do I keep the appointment with the specialist of just pray it stays away?
I’m so sorry things are still rough with your mom. I love how much you love your “granddarlings.” It just shines through. And you dinners always sound SO GOOD! Yum! Maybe I should go eat some breakfast 🙂
Awww, I am glad you can pick up on my love for my granddarlings. They are such a light in my life.
Leslie. You had a busy, hot July. Your call from your mom break my heart. I worry for our elderly. I just want to hug my Grandma. Sorry to hear you have a tooth bugging you. That is never fun. Hopefully you get it figured out. I love that you get to spend some time with those little babes. They are growing so fast. And how is one in double digits already. We only had a few days where it felt like it was in triple digits here and I was miserable. Haha. I can’t even fathom that kind of heat. Only once when I was in Redlands, CA was it that hot the week we visited my friend. I had never been so happy to come to to our Sk heat. 🤣🤣.
Thank you, dear, dear friend. Going to see my mom the end of this month because we just don’t know how much longer she has. Afraid if loneliness can kill one, it will be her undoing.
We are having triple digits again all this week. It is truly exhausting and not much fun being out in it. Even at bedtime, when we try to walk, it can still be over 100*. Yes, I would enjoy a few weeks of your cooler summer temps and time at the lake.
Hi, Leslie – I always find that your comments about your mom tug at my heartstrings. Sending extra prayers and warm hugs to you both.
Thank you, Donna. You always think of my mom and I appreciate that so.
I’ve been thinking of you over there Leslie and sincerely hope your mum is going ok, it is such a worrying time. You sound very busy with all you do and it’s always fun to read what you’ve been up to. That baby is just a little doll!! Take care!
Thank you, Debbie. I am going to see mom because we just don’t know how much longer she can hang on. She is so unhappy, so lonely. Can loneliness kill one?
You’ve been so busy the past month! Those enchiladas sound divine! I pinned them to try later! You’ve been getting in quite a few runs! Good for you! I hope your mom is doing better now! I’ve been thinking about her!
The honey lime enchiladas were yum. Different.
Thank you for thinking of my mama. Difficult days.
You have the most beautiful grand babies! Happy Anniversary! I just watched Greyhound last night. It was ok. Maybe I’m just not into war movies.
You know, I liked Greyhound but it was almost too much for me to keep up with – all the nautical speak.
Thank you for the anniversary wishes and the sweet compliments about my grandbabies. I love them so.
Happy anniversary! And so many birthdays for you in July! What a fun month… except for that toothache! I’m so glad you get to see your girls. And I’m lifting your mama in prayer…
Thank you!! July is a big month for us. Ka-ching!
Thank you for lifting my mama in prayer. She needs those prayers so desperately.