This week was quite different from our time in Colorado. We are back in The Pearl planning, of course, for our future excursions, bien sur – we have three in the works. However this week has been about friends and family – as well as some long anticipated medical stuff for Tricia.
Alexis and Joe invited us over for Sunday lunch, they know our tradition and wanted us to spend it with them at chez leur. They made corn chowder; best ever. Then we played a board game, as we do there, I came in last, Joe first – c’est normal. For the entree it was Parmesan crusted chicken. Joe made a delicious apple tatin for desert. We followed that with a Marvel movie. The day reinforced the fact that it is good for us to be back in Portland.
Lisa was due a thank you note for all she did for us in Colorado so I painted her one of Aspen Mountain using acrylic on paper.
Just before we moved to France, in January of 2022, we both had eye exams and got new glasses. Unfortunately, it was discovered that Tricia had some issues with her retina and was told she should have it checked if her vision deteriorated, which did in fact happen over the next few months. That led to the challenge of navigating a visit to an ophthalmologist in Paris; between Tricia’s French, a doctor and some staff who spoke English, it all went well. However, a surgery was required and we began that process, culminating with a serious surgery in June of 2024. We were told that her surgeon was considered one of the best in Paris, comforting to know. And it was only $600, thanks to socialized medicine in France – it would have been between $6-8000 in the US.
The surgery went well, yet, as her surgeon predicted, she developed a cataract in the same eye. She was unable to have that surgery while we were still in France so it had to wait until we were back here, and what a long wait it was. She had an appointment in March of this year, but then had to wait six months, until yesterday, for the surgery. It went perfect and she is already seeing better. As I write this she just said it is almost normal. I am so relieved.
This has been a long process for Tricia, for much of over two and a half years she had poor eyesight, yet she rarely complained, other than the occasional, “if only my eyes worked,” as an explanation for why she missed something, she has remand positive. I don’t think I could have handled it nearly as well. She does not appreciate effusiveness, so I will only say she impresses me sometimes. Of course, now that it is better, she will need to find new explanations… hmmm.
Our friend Shirley told me to sketch people while I waited in the clinic – who am I to question the person who has more of my art displayed than any other person?
One of the books I am reading at the moment is Vincent van Gogh, A Life in Letters. One of his descriptions, in a letter to his brother Theo, of a scene in Nuenen, Netherlands, formed an image in my mind for a painting, so I sketched it out with a few notes – we shall see if it happens.
We have of course eaten; yet, due to time we have not tried a lot of new things.
Monday evening I made a smoked oyster baguette sandwich, with capers, onion, mayo, and peppers – a pint of Guinness fit the bill.
On Tuesday, Tricia made fondue. The last fondue I had was in Annecy, so as always, food, like sketches, brings back memories.
This coming week we should be pretty much close to home, we have a bunch of food planned, some art, and just hanging out. I hope your week is going well, thanks so much for visiting, and as always, I encourage you to sketch some moments, and if you don’t sketch why not give it a try, my book is on the blog site and its free.
theTravelsketcher 
Sending Tricia the best for her recovery from the cataract surgery. Mine had progressed to about 70% vision loss before they were ‘done’ Dec/Jan this year. Now I just have variable macular degeneration in both eyes – not complaining, just saying I understand ! Glad you had such an enjoyable trip and love the look of the food enjoyed !
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Thank you, I will pass it along.
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Glad the surgery went well. Maggie
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Thanks, Maggie!
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Love the waiting room sketches. That sandwich looks excellent!
I had a cataract op early this year and it was so worth it. Luckily though that is all I have had to have done as an adult. The Aspen mountains sketch is very evocative.
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Agreed; it’s so worth it; I can see clearly now!
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Let’s hope it’s a long time until you need anything more. Thanks so much.
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I tried to comment….not sure if it worked or not? Anyway, loved today’s sketches and that sandwich sounds wonderful!
I had a cataract op earlier this year and it was well worth it. Luckily at the moment nothing else wrong with my eyes….
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Actually it did work thanks. Sometimes WordPress is fussy for sure.
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I find Chrome is usually fine, but WP and Safari aren’t really friends.
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So do you post and such on the browser, or Jetpack. We both use Jetpack. I only go to browser when Jetpack acts up.
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I didn’t know about Tricia’s eyes, but I hope she’s doing better and getting better! Food looks simple, but fresh and tasty, and I hope you have a great upcoming week!
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Thanks, and she is seeing almost normal now so that is great.
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Thanks, Rebecca! I’m seeing better already.
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Maybe I should switch to Jetpack!
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It is easy, but sometimes it acts up, which is usually fixed by an uninstall- reinstall. I only go to the browser when something isn’t working. Do you use computer or iPad? We both use iPad, haven’t had a computer in years.
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Thanks as always.
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I use a computer for my blog – I find it easier.
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I get that, when my Mac Air died a few years ago I analyzed what I needed, and found that with a Bluetooth keyboard, there was nothing that I needed a new computer for. Up until December I used a mini, but for the sake of art I went to a iPad 10 then. Today I will update to the new OS, which promises to make the iPad even more like a computer, cant wait.
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Wow it’s insane to hear about the difference in the cost of surgery in Paris vs the US. Glad to hear Tricia’s surgeries went well and that she’s seeing normal again. Love the sketches from when you waited in the clinic.
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One of the big frustrations to living in the only developed country in the world without medical care for all.
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Thank you for my thank-you-note/painting of Aspen Mountain. It is beautiful, and very thoughtful of you.
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It was nice to revisit the place through the painting.
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