Adrienne and Linda:
Author Archives: arletelouise
Thursday at Merrilyn’s
The first thing I did when I arrived was to tell Phyl she was going to kill me for choosing Thursday at Merrilyn’s instead of going for an x-ray of my left hip. This gathering was just too important to me, I’ll go tomorrow morning. She rolled her eyes and gave me the finger wag! Delicious appetizers: Apple Gruyere Tarts, Sausage Crescent Rolls, Chicken Wings!
Merrilyn’s Banana Bread for dessert:
Always so fun much fun! 
Dave and Phyl loaned me a cane – what a difference it has made in my ability to get around.
Back to California
Although I’m doing better, there was no way I would be able to walk the long distances at the airports today so I asked for wheelchair assistance.
Thank you Dave and Phyl for picking me up from the airport. Dave came in to wrestle the luggage!
Pasta e Ceci
Pasta with Chickpeas. It was my last night in Roanoke and I made dinner for Billie and JD. This recipe makes me think I need a food processor.
Out of the house!
We drove back to Virginia last Friday. There was no help driving from me of course, Billie did the entire 800 miles/12 hours. Since then, I’ve been resting and have discovered the comfort of a heating pad on my sore left hip. Today, Billie went for a bike ride with her friends. JD picked me up to go have coffee at Cups. Yay! I got out of the house. L-R: JD, Donna, Billie, JoRee, Kenny.
Happy Thanksgiving!
By Sophia:
No turkey this year. We made just two dishes (longest title ever): Pan-seared Oven-roasted Pork Tenderloin with Dried Cherry-Port Sauce with Onions and Marmalade AND Roasted Butternut Squash with Browned Butter and Hazelnuts.
Delicious!
Stella helps with recovery
There has been nothing to blog about. I’ve spent the last 7 days recovering from my bike crash. What a slow process. I walked (hobbled) up to the Tiki Bar today with Billie – 1/4 mile maybe – oh my!
The view from our table.
My left arm and shoulder seem fine except for the road rash section, my right thumb still hurts a lot, and my walking is slowly improving.
Recovering
Ice packs, heating pad, ibuprofen, and rest have been ongoing for the past two days. Thank goodness for NFL football games today. Yesterday, I watched shows that I would never have chosen otherwise like Vanderpump Rules and Love and Hip Hop. I can walk unaided now, although slowly, and am on the road to recovery.
Bike ride #4
Or … how to mess up a perfectly good vacation.
Our goal was to drive north, over two bridges, to the next barrier island and then do a 30-mile round-trip ride to McKee Botanical Garden to see Nature Connects: Art with Lego Bricks. We parked at a boat launch. 
The National Navy SEAL Museum:
A rest stop at Avalon Beach:
Back on the road, I turned to read a sign, got too close to the right edge of the roadway, slipped over the edge, and went down. Hard. Really hard. A construction worker, Justin, rushed over. He lifted the bike off me, got my phone, and called Billie who was ahead of me. A pickup truck stopped to see if I needed help. No, I didn’t want an ambulance. But I also couldn’t put any weight on my left leg and couldn’t move my left arm. Mike and Susan in the pickup loaded my bike in the back, Justin helped me walk to the truck and into the cab, and we drove back to where Billie’s vehicle was parked. Billie rode back on her bike. With help, I made it to bed where Nurse Billie brought me ice packs, ibuprofen, and went out to get a heating pad. We made a deal that if I wasn’t feeling better by Monday, I would go to a local doctor. Crap!
Bike ride #3
This was my best opportunity to check in with Weight Watchers this month – still below my goal weight!
We stopped at Nelson Family Farms on the way back. Billie bought some fresh fava beans – never had those before.
The longest stretch of road was on Indian River Drive. No shoulders but also not much traffic.
Beautiful homes to the left, their docks on the Indian River to the right.
Miles = 30.
arletelouise 