The best thing that has happened lately is that Kathy came to visit!  It was great to have her here.  We talked and talked and did nothing very special but had a good time.  We cooked some different things, making spring rolls and trying out my spiralizer in some different salad recipes.  We visited an art museum and discovered an artist that was very puzzling to me.  The artist was Cy Twombly.  Some of his art is here:

 http://www.theartstory.org/artist-twombly-cy-artworks.htm#pnt_2

We had visited the museum earlier when James and Heidi were here.  I guess they have different visiting displays from time to time.  This wasn't here then.  He had some green and black pictures that Dad and I loved.  They suggested tree boughs hanging thickly over a stream.

Kathy is on a strict diet that was really good for me to see in action.  She drinks a healthy fruit and kale smoothy in the morning and then has different veggie salads for lunch and dinner.  I did it with her and felt great and nourished.  The difference between hers and my usual diet is that she allows no animal products.  I have been having pastas, eggs and milk products but maybe I will cut those down and enjoy the delights of more veggies.  Can't hurt and could make me feel even better.  I love beans in all forms for protein.

Dry eyes
I sneezed really hard while we were in Utah and a black spot appeared in my right eye along with some fuzzy stuff along the edge of my vision.  I made an appointment with Heather's new boss and checked it out.  It's nothing to worry about, just a natural benefit of growing older, but what a doctor!!  I was very impressed with his thoroughness and kindness.  He discovered why my eyes have been dry for years.  No other doctor has ever suggested what he said, just offered me drops.  What's happening with my eyes is this:  our eyes produce 3 different fluids to coat them as tears; they are water, mucus, and oil.  My little oil ducts haven't been working for years.  So if you have dry eyes you can help them out by bathing them, putting a warm compress on them for a few minutes and then massaging the eyelids gently after that.  The oil ducts could be plugged and need to be softened and unplugged.  Or if you are like me and have had the condition for years they could have atrophied and may never produce again.  I am still trying the compresses and massaging.  I can always hope.


Back pain
One morning when I got out of bed I felt a twinge in my left lower side that steadily grew and grew till I could hardly walk.  It lasted for days, sometimes getting better as the day wore on, arriving again the next morning.  I went to our regular temple shift on Wednesday expecting/hoping that the pain would diminish as the day progressed, but, alas, it only increased.  Even before our prayer meeting before our shift I decided that I needed to leave.  The temple president is a doctor and came to visit with me about it and suggested ibuprofen.  He said it was an inflammation and that was the best thing for that.  I never thought of it as inflammation, only as a pinched nerve, and I have never had any use for ibuprofen.  Extra Strength Excedrin is our go to med.  But that was useless this time.  So I drove home and stopped at the Walgreens on the way.  I hobbled in to the store and bought some, took it and went to bed.  I couldn't believe the effect!!  What a miracle.  I guess you just have to use the right thing for the problem!  So if you ever have back pain, try some ibuprofen.  I bet you all knew that already, but I just learned something very useful and was SO grateful.

Dad is still working at the tax place and enjoying helping people get their returns. He says the people coming now are the ones that have to pay so that's not as much fun as before, but he still likes to be useful.  He is the only volunteer where he goes along with one guy who is an employee.  The other guy doesn't speak Spanish so Dad gets to help all the Spanish speakers.  What a useful thing it is to know Spanish!  I had hoped to go Spanish speaking so I could learn it when we applied for our mission years ago, but we had a good experience anyway where we went.

He is also still at the peanut butter factory.  He has an easy time on Thursdays when they produce the peanut butter.  He stands there and watches the pot fill up and empty and keeps the peanut butter at a safe level so it doesn't overflow or run dry.  But on Tuesdays he helps clean all the equipment with a power sprayer in the parking lot and it's pretty hard work.  He comes home tired.  He is supposed to be finished with his year the end of August, but with all the trips we are taking he will be gone much of the summer so they are getting a replacement for him to take over soon.  I think he will be finished the end of May.  It won't be too soon for him.  Then we will get another stay at home mission like maybe the bishop's storehouse, or the mission home.  There are lots of things to do and it would be fun to do them together.  I think it's so wonderful that we can still be useful as old as we are.

And now Kathy is gone, but we are looking forward to seeing everyone again in a few weeks for Jared's wedding and the missionary farewell for the Collinses.  What a summer!  So good to see you all when we can.  We love you with all that is in us and pray for your happiness every day.