This has not been a great week. I started coming down with a head cold late Sunday night. I think it might be a sinus infection now, but I am waiting to see if it goes away on its own. I can’t take decongestants due to afib, so I muddle through with Tylenol, cough drops, and rest.
Then I did something to my back one day this week. Though it feels much better now, it’s also a little twingy. So I’m trying to remember to move slowly and deliberately rather than suddenly.
But even on the not-so-good weeks, there are blessings to be found. I’m thankful Susanne at Living to Tell the Story started this weekly exercise in cultivating gratefulness.
1. A peaceful transfer of power. I forgot to mention the inauguration last week. I’m thankful that, whatever political affiliations are represented, we have a peaceful transfer.
2. Lunch with Melanie was also from the week before. I always enjoy our lunches. We met on a Friday, and I had already published my FFF for the day. Then I forgot last week. We went to Red Lobster courtesy of some gift cards I had received. The waitress even gave us some extra Cheddar Bay biscuits to take home with our leftovers.
3. Home improvements. One of the things we looked at during our excursion to Home Depot last week was new knobs for our kitchen cabinets. We discussed painting the cabinets but weren’t sure if that’s what we really wanted to do. But I did want to go ahead and change out the plain brassy knobs. We bought three to try out, then after we made a decision, Jim took back the ones we didn’t choose and bought enough of our choice to do the whole kitchen–something like 29 knobs. I took a picture when he was part-way through installing the new ones:
New ones are on the left, old ones are on the right.
I liked some of the antique brass ones we saw. But if we ever do paint the cabinets, I want to paint them grey, and the black would look better on those. I think they look better now. 🙂 Funny how such a little thing can spruce up a whole room.
Jim is almost done painting the family room, probably the most used room in the house. That room and one other had off-white window blinds that looked old and discolored–plus would not go well with the light grey walls. I’ve wanted to get rid of them for a long time, and now Jim replaced them with white ones. They look so nice!
4. Dry cleaning sheets. With painting the window frames, we wanted to clean our valances. The fabric I used for them is dry clean only. Woolite makes sheets for the dryer for dry clean items. Jim cleaned off dust and cobwebs from the curtain, and I popped them into the dryer with the Woolite sheet for twenty minutes. So much nicer than trying to find a dry cleaner and paying their prices! The valances came our great.
5. A “Bed Buddy” pad that can be used for heat or cold. I put it in the microwave to heat and use when my back was bothering me and Icy Hot and Tylenol weren’t working. It helped a great deal. I wish it was unscented, but at least the scent didn’t give me a headache like scented things usually do.
Just sharing the highlights of the week has lifted my spirits.
How was your week?
Stray Thoughts 
I’m so sorry to hear about your sinus issue and back pain. Not fun. That bed buddy pad hopefully is helping so you can get some sleep.
I’ll bet you’ll be glad to get all the painting and cleaning done! Thank heavens for the Woolite cleaning sheets! So much nicer than taking them to the cleaners.
Have a restful and good weekend.
I’m glad you don’t take those decongestants. I used to and then discovered, during my last sinus infection which was more than 5 years ago, that if it wasn’t bacterial and didn’t need an antibiotic, that the saline spray worked great along with drinking licorice tea believe it or not! That tea totally cleared me out. I use the saline nasal spray (i just buy the target brand) which doesn’t contain meds, every morning and evening in the winter months and it has really helped my sinuses.
You know i know all about back pain. I will pray for you this morning that you will get relief. The only things that help me is a monthly visit to the chiropractor who used rapid release or Active Release therapy on me and my daily morning stretch on the fitness ball. I also use a CVS brand heat pack that can be heated in the microwave (it’s unscented) or you can freeze it. Cold usually is best for acute back pain. (according to my chiro as it decreases the inflammation which is what is really causing the pain usually unless you’ve slipped a disc).
How fun to have lunch with Melanie and get extra biscuits to take home. I LOVE their cheddar biscuits.
The Biden team was wonderful with the transfer of power…very classy.
I hope you have a good weekend.
Praying you feel better soon. 🙂
Thanks so much–feeling much better today.
Praying you’ll be back to good as new soon! Dealing with two things is a bummer. And yes, I miss the days when I could pop an over-the-counter med for something without first checking all the possible issues! I like your new knobs! Smart you, even keeping in mind something that could go with painted cabinets if you do that. Yes, when I have a small change it amazes me how it catches my eye each time I come into the room. Maybe we’re more observant than we think? I rarely go to Red Lobster, but did go a couple of times in the past 2 years with my older friend. Yes, YUM on those biscuits!
Feeling much better now–thank you!
I love those new cabinet knobs. It is always fun to update the house a bit. Your cabinets look great! That “Bed Buddy” sounds like something that would be very helpful. I may have to look into getting one for times when I am having back pain. Amen to having a peaceful transition of power. That is the American way and I hope we never have another year like 2020 and 2021! Have a good weekend. See you again soon!
Sorry to hear you’ve not been well and then back issues too. I hope you’re soon feeling better. I like your knobs and yes it’s surprising sometimes how just a little thing can make a big difference. Take it easy.
Thank you–feeling much better now.
Oh, I’m sorry you are so poorly! I hope all the symptoms resolve and that your back is able to relax.
With such a busy time, I’d forgotten it’s only been a week since the inauguration 😉 Glad you had a nice lunch with Melanie. Isn’t it amazing how many knobs are in a kitchen?! And amazing how one change leads to a dozen others. How fortunate you have Jim at the helm!
Wishing you a speedy recovery.
That’s so true about changes. This whole house is geared toward beige–even the shower surrounds in the bathrooms are beige. So changing to grey coloring is taking more than we thought. I’d *love* to change out the brassy door knobs, but there are way too many doors to make that feasible. Although I have thought about suggesting changing a room at a time–but that might look weird, and then you have hinges to deal with as well.
Oh, and thank you for the good wishes–feeling much better now.
And I’m sure we won’t be changing the showers until they need it for more than their color. 🙂
Sometimes it is more important on those hard weeks to find the blessings. I am glad that you focused on the good instead of the cold and sore back.
Those new kitchen knobs look good.
I hope you are feeling fine now. Willow
Feeling much better, thank you!
I hope you’re feeling better soon. I have been using a bed buddy for years! Actually, I have 2 now. We live in a very old house without central heating. We have a pellet stove and a couple of electric fireplaces. Consequently, I often go to bed with one bed buddy at my feet and the other around my neck. They are such a comfort. Be well!
Thank you–I am much better today. I used to have something like a bed buddy that had rice in it and could be heated or chilled, but it got lost along the way. I was thankful to find another one. I can imagine how cold it would be without central heat! What a good idea to use these in a cold bed.
Thank you for the reminder that even in the midst of a bad situation (week, month, year) God is always near.
Such a blessing that He is always with us.
I hope at the time of this comment your back and the cold are much better! The new hardware certainly does spruce up the cabinets! I have never heard of the Woolite product. I’ll have to keep a lookout.