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Sweet November

Reflections: celebratory tea

Skywatch: a bougainvillea roof

And then it's time to acknowledge the good of the week. Here are my high fives:

1. Progressive, transition lenses. After two years of neglecting, avoiding and hesitating, I finally set foot in an optical clinic and came to terms with a 'perk' of aging. My traditional books, here I come! Back.

2. BBC modern adaptation of Cinderella. That bit on university research was very appealing. It's fun when a fairy tale sounds intelligent and not just all charm and romance.

3. Free expert knowledge. Last week when I mentioned my Mom successfully battling pneumonia and enlargement of aorta, I meant she was already breathing on her own. But she's not totally out of the woods yet as she's having difficulty swallowing food. A friend in the medical profession shared keywords of possible causes. That helped me form my own questions to ask the physicians.  It's comforting when you have at least an idea of what's going on and what to do next. 

4. Cousin time. As an only child and now as an adult I realize how daunting it can be to make pivotal decisions alone when an elderly parent is sick. I appreciate this cousin's availability to talk things out with me. 

5. Celebratory tea. Hope is a good thing. Optimism helps. Celebrating them lifts the spirit.

Linking with Friday's Fave Five and Willy Nilly Friday

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Comments

  1. cedarmerefarmNovember 7, 2014 at 11:01 AM

    That's a lot of bougainvillea! I think it's such a beautiful and interesting flower.

    ReplyDelete
  2. DeniseinVANovember 7, 2014 at 11:19 AM

    Hi Hazel, I love your photo. It looks so incredibly tropical, definitely a place I would like to be right now :) Have a great weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Maude LynnNovember 7, 2014 at 11:23 AM

    How pretty!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Pat @ Mille Fiori FavoritiNovember 7, 2014 at 12:05 PM

    This is so beautiful, Hazel. I am always impressed with how ful and high bougainvillea can grow!

    ReplyDelete
  5. TomNovember 7, 2014 at 5:23 PM

    Now that's the way Bougainvillea should be grown. In Hawaii they love to shear it into little shapes and cut off the flowers! Tom The Backroads Traveller

    ReplyDelete
  6. **Lih**November 7, 2014 at 5:57 PM

    Olá,
    Linda foto!
    Beijos!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Tanya BreeseNovember 7, 2014 at 7:20 PM

    bougainvillea is so pretty...we don't have it here in virginia but it was everywhere in san diego...i miss it! i like those dishes at the tea. prayers your mom continues to improve! thank you for linking and have a super weekend :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. A Colorful WorldNovember 8, 2014 at 12:57 AM

    Love that bougainvillea roof! I hope your Mom continues to improve!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Margaret Birding For PleasureNovember 8, 2014 at 2:16 AM

    Yes hope and optimism are the key. Hope you Mom improves quickly. Love the reflection shot. Have a great weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  10. IdaNovember 8, 2014 at 3:01 AM

    The tea sounded fun. Those desserts reminded me of "Whoopie Pies."
    Some good things to be thankful for. I have 3 brothers but they all leave the care of our mom up to me so I might as well be an only child. It is difficult.
    I have Transition lenses but the funny thing is that I take mine off when I read.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Ni de Aqui, Ni de AllaNovember 8, 2014 at 3:27 AM

    Pretty pictures! I hope your Mom keeps improving. It's very good to have cousins, mine are far away, I miss them.

    ReplyDelete
  12. JerraleaNovember 8, 2014 at 3:33 AM

    Cousins are our first friends and only they know the family dynamics. It is certainly a blessing to have them!

    I'm all for celebrating - and having tea, too!

    I will chime in and say I love that bougainvillea roof as well.

    ReplyDelete
  13. KathieNovember 8, 2014 at 3:57 AM

    The bougainvillea roof is gorgeous - nothing like that around here :)

    I found that version of Cinderella on youtube and I've bookmarked it - thanks!

    Hope your mom is feeling better soon.

    ReplyDelete
  14. 'TsukiNovember 8, 2014 at 3:59 AM

    The tea captured my interest, well the macarons, mostly... I hope you enjoyed them... (Specially now that I'm starving, just and only because of your yummy pic... ^^)

    ReplyDelete
  15. eileeninmdNovember 8, 2014 at 5:19 AM

    Pretty sky and I love the bougainvillea.. Gorgeous.. Happy weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  16. CarverNovember 8, 2014 at 5:29 AM

    Delightful shots and post.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Barbara H.November 8, 2014 at 5:46 AM

    I am very thankful for reading glasses - I would be pretty limited without them.

    I had not heard of that modern adaptation of Cinderella - will have to look it up!

    My m-i-l has had problems swallowing over the last year and is on a pureed diet now. She eats well now but it was a bit of an adjustment. We never did find a specific cause, but it started after a severe infection, and all her muscular abilities have been declining with age. It is hared to deal with some of these issues - I am glad your cousin was available to talk things out. That helps a lot.

    ReplyDelete
  18. thomasNovember 10, 2014 at 8:06 AM

    Wow! What a beautiful roof

    ReplyDelete

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