I hope you're having a lovely Spring morning like the one here in North Carolina! I slept "late" until 7:45 and awoke to a symphony of birds. Meanwhile, my apartment is utterly lost in a sea of rhododendrons in all shades of pink.

I rented this place in the fall and had no idea that I was living in a flower garden. Cue my surprise when everything burst into flower! It's truly gorgeous and such a gift to live in this beautiful setting while proceeding toward a lengthy recovery. It couldn't be a nicer place. I shared some photos over on my Instagram account. Be sure to scroll through for the close-ups!

Next week is sure to be busy. I have my final appointment before surgery to get my before-and-aftercare instructions. So far, what I know is that the first two weeks are to be spent in bed, not the sofa but bed, then I'll be completely non-weight-bearing for a minimum of six weeks. Though walking is painful now, at least I can if I need to. It feels kind of scary to be in this position, but I'm determined to have the right attitude throughout this process. In fact, I plan to use the time to finish Grace and Lexie's story.

My eldest daughter's dog - my granddog - that I've been watching will be flown out to British Columbia to her this week. It's been fun having that sweet furball around. She's a nice dog, rather lazy, and likes to run after a ball in the house. I'll miss her when she goes back to her mama, but it was always meant to be temporary while Chloe found housing near her new job on Vancouver Island.

I actually worked on this week's product with my daughter. She is super thrifty - they both are - and she showed me the printables she makes for keeping track of her budget, her savings, and the debt that she's rapidly paying off. They were so cool that I had her produce them for printables in the store. You can get them too, as well as both years of the Frugal Living Yearbook, and name your price this weekend.

Your purchase will help dramatically support The OP and The Frugalite as I get ready for surgery and all that entails. To be quite honest, I was shocked at how much all the extras that aren't covered by insurance cost! A huge deductible, knee scooters, special things for a cast, and all sorts of pricey items. Plus, of course, some books to read while I'm laid up! Never have I had a better excuse to spend time reading!

For those who have asked how they can help, two options are making a purchase of our Simple Debt and Budget Tracker bundle or subscribing to my Patreon.

I feel so lucky to have supportive family and friends. My daughter, who lives nearby, will be staying with me for the first week, and my mother and stepfather are coming to help out with driving me to surgery and appointments. My landlady is incredibly kind and has already done a great deal to help while I'm off my feet and has offered to do even more. My besties are all long-distance, but they're always there to lend an ear and offer suggestions and support.

Sometimes, you forget how awesome the people in your life are, and then they show you in such a huge way that it brings you to tears.

Next weekend, once I know more, I'll share the details I learned at my appointment and what to expect from me for the first week or so.

You guys are the best. I am so glad also for our amazing community. I promise to keep you posted to the best of my ability or have my daughters do so.

All the love,
Daisy

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