Positively Tuesday-Happy Birthday DH

     DH is 60 today. He's feeling it after stubbing his toe-the same one he hurt back in May. He is the booted man again to stabilize his walking a bit. I know age is a number, but this one feels particularly hard as he has just not been feel his best for a few years. I can't help thinking back to 10 years ago when just a few days after his 50th birthday, he had a TIA and we spent months of him regaining both large and small muscle coordination. He didn't get medical treatment for several days,not really recognizing anything had happened at first, which might have made his warning event, a bit more like a small stroke. We've both got a lot of living to do, so I'm hoping by wearing the boot, getting some time off this week to relax, and truly knowing retirement is not that far in the future, he'll feel like a young 60 by the end of the week. So with that lamenting out of the way with a positive  hope, I'll start my Tuesday with 10 things that make me smile, gave me joy, or were a simple pleasure. 

1. My MIL's birthday is at the end of this week too and we celebrated with cake and gifts on Sunday. (His BIL turned 63 yesterday as well for a birthday three for.) We joined efforts and are giving MIL from all of us, new easy open door handles for her house in town (not a fun gift but very needed to help her self reliance in her home). I had gotten her some solar lanterns last winter on clearance to go on the patio tables-it gets dark earlier starting in August and the full lights attract bugs. I was pleased that she was so pleased with the solar lights. Shopping out of season continues to be a simple pleasure for giving nice gifts at bargain prices. 
2. My nieces golden doodle brought me joy on Sunday. She, her husband, bother, and baby were out on the pontoon and he was missing his people! He let me shower him with attention and throw his retrieving toys. He even listened to me and came back when he saw another pontoon and though it was them,  rain and jumped off the dock and was going to swim after them. This dog loves to swim and is like the dock dogs they train, but his habit is self taught. 
3. Two full work weeks off started yesterday.Enough said about that. 
4. Many of us read the same blogs. It was a joy to read Cheap Chicks post from yesterday, learning she has been having a good summer. She also gave us a treat by sharing photos from her  cabin stay. 
5. Joy, and a pain- new phone. Mine was so old I worried they'd get nothing transferred. I'll have to get used the the mammoth size, but can already see it is easier to use Surprisingly, not a contact, photo, or email account was lost.I'll have more to say on this later in the week. 
6. Yesterday was an errand day-my phone, DH shoes, even with the toe issue! We went ahead and ate out yet again, at a Chili's. I signed up for the rewards on the spot and we got beverages for free. You can't not smile at a free Diet Coke. 
7. Probably not the best way of doing things, but I decided that I would start using the office now. I didn't paint and we didn't put new floor or carpet down. It means though I can get the family room back to rights sooner. The minimal furniture we have in the room now can easily be pulled out and the last of the fix up done in a weekend.  Already shutting the door and not seeing the work computer has helped my work and home separation. I am using it though with my personal computer and I like even keeping personal computer work separate. When I really do the fix-up, I promise I'll post real pictures, but for now, here's a glimpse. As you can see, lots of opportunity to add some color to the walls and turning the twin bed into a sort of day bed/couch. 

   

   Plain and ordinary canvas. 

   
   
8. I didn't lose any more weight this week, but didn't gain-with so much eating out over the last two weeks and birthday desserts, it could have been a mean result on the scale. 
9. Found this recipe for Creamy red pepper soup as inspiration to use some of the veggie tray/kabob kits DD2 brought home and I threw in the freezer. I plan to make and pop in the freezer, but I'll report back how it turned out. It brings me joy trying a new to me recipe, and double joy that I am using up  food that might have otherwise gone to waste. 
10. And, to wrap up this post, I'm hearing DH's phone ping, no doubt loaded with birthday greetings. Knowing people care about him an dus, and want to wish him well is a thing of joy. 

     The girls and I will take him to dinner and then to the new Disney movie, Jungle Cruise tonight. One couple had to cancel our weekend plans as they have a funeral and the husband will be a pallbearer. When she called me to let us know, DH answered my phone as I was occupied. She wasn't sure if it was a surprise they were coming, so she was trying to pass a message on to me in code until DH said, "Are you calling about the weekend?" I got a good chuckle from that, and appreciated she was going to save the surprise if it had been intended. I hope you have a positively superb Tuesday.