A Stitching Day…Mostly

We got up a little later since it wasn't a dialysis day, but still needed to get up and get going as Woody had a mid-morning appointment to have his brace adjusted. We got over there and were the only patients. The gentleman who is assigned to Woody came to the door and opened it for us. We filled out some paper work and then were taken right back to the room. He decided that the only problem was with the velcro...fixed the velcro and got the brace back in position and that was all...no padding or any reshaping which the wound care doctor indicated was needed. So it was good to get the velcro fixed, but...that is all he did. We will see what the doctor thinks when we go back. Woody mentioned that it hurt sometimes. The brace person said to loosen it if it hurts. Then he told us that it wasn't staying in the place it needs to be because we were not tightening it enough! Mixed messages?!? I tried to tell him what the doctor had said and that I thought that she had sent him some instructions. But that was dismissed, too. So...we will let the doctor deal with him if she still isn't pleased. The problem that I have with getting the brace on correctly is that I am only one person...only have two hands. When we are at wound care, usually two people deal with getting the brace on. Woody can help a little...he holds the back part of the brace on while I get the top part positioned and start putting the straps around it, but it would work better if there were two of me in front of Woody doing this. Oh, well...it seems to help some and when it bothers him, he takes it off. I have spent just about every extra moment between meals, appointments, etc. stitching. I will be gifting this piece a week from Sunday, but there is still quite a bit to do. I would like to have it stitched and just in need of a frame for Abigail's gift that Sunday. It is coming along. I finished an important part of it today so I am happy with the progress. I did sneak a little nap in this afternoon...I just couldn't keep my eyes open and I knew that it was probably senseless to continue stitching with my eyes half closed...I didn't need to make a mistake and have to do reverse stitching! Woody has had a good day...reading, looking at his computer, working puzzles, watching TV and eating his meals. I imagine that he will be transferring over to his couch/bed before much longer. I came upstairs to blog and will go down and load the last dishes into the dishwasher and then head upstairs and see what else I can get finished with my cross stitch. Oh, by the way...no unexpected packages came today. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Interesting Day

It started out like a normal Thursday...we got up early and headed off around 6am for Woody's dialysis treatment. I dropped him off and headed back home. Once I got home I started working with the red, orange, and yellow bell peppers that I had purchased Tuesday. I diced three of them...that is the size I like to use in Woody's omelets and a couple of other recipes that need peppers finely cut. Then I cubed three...a size that I use in several recipes. The other six, I oven roasted till they were blackened. When they are done, I wrap them in the foil that I cook them on and let them cool. When they are cool, the skin and seeds slip right off/out. I did the roasting this afternoon. After I diced and chopped, it was time to meet Jo and Carolyn for breakfast. The little cafe where we have been meeting for years has closed. So we had to claim a spot somewhere else to eat and visit. Today we went to Hardees. We had a nic visit until it was time for me to pick up Woody. After lunch is when I roasted the peppers. The roasted peppers are in the refrigerator. Tomorrow, I hope to make the sweet red pepper sauce that Woody uses instead of catsup...that sauce takes a couple of roasted peppers per recipe. I will freeze the others after I use what I need. At some point this afternoon, I saw the mail carrier drive past so went out to check the mail. On the front porch there were two boxs from Amazon...we had/have no outstanding orders from Amazon presently. Seeing them made me wonder if they had something to do with the fraudulant charges on my card that I took care of yesterday morning. I don't know for sure, but I am pretty sure that this delivery and the fraudulant charge on my card are directly related. By the way, I'm not sure that I mentioned, but the unwelcome charge was an Amazon Marketplace charge...so...at this point two and two are adding up to four! The boxes were addressed to me. Inside I found ten ziplock packages that each contained what I show in tonight's blog photo...farm animal party favors...each contain enough for 12 children to have one of each of the different items...so I can have a pretty large party. In other words what you see in the picture you can multiply by ten and that is how many items I was sent. Oh, and along with those, there was one box of au gratin potatoes. I spent a good amount of time on the phone trying to find out how to return them. They took information from me and checked my account...and found taht I had two accounts...one mine and one, I guess, created by whomever! The Credit Union is taking care of the fraudulant charges...I just wanted to return the order that I didn't order. In the end I was told to just throw the contents of the boxes away...and if any more come to do the same with those. I guess someone didn't have anything else to do the other night than try to make an order for me...(insert rolling eyes). At the moment nothing further can be done with my account as I haven't used my new card yet...anywhere...so for the time being we are safe. Amazon destroyed my second account that wasn't mine to start with and we are back to square one. I am expecting more boxes as I don't think that what I received today adds up to what this person attempted to spend. I wish they had chosen a little better in what they ordered for me in my name!!!!!! They don't have my taste in things to order...at all! I had an inspiration as to where this orderer might hav originated from...but then I'm not sure since the Credit Union person I worked with yesterday said taht I was the second person who had a fraudulant order happen from Amazon...so that may be the scam of the moment...watch your account. I think that I realized it happened almost as soon as the "transaction" took place. I had been checking my Credit Union account to check to see if something had cleare earlier in the evening and that charge was not there then. I went back to chevk one more time before I went to sleep and it was there then. I will say that it is a good thing to watch your accounts closely in this day and age. I don't quite see the point in doing what was done...except that it defrauds Amazon and causes a hastle for the person whose card number and account that they hacked...guess I am old...I just don't see exactly what the purpose is. Alls well that ends well...the money has been returned to my account and I can just sit back and see if anything else is coming my way...what a shame that Amazon won't let me return the merchandise. After spending quite a bit of time online chatting with Amazon and then talking with a real person, the afternoon got away from me pretty quickly. I spent a little more time on the phone ordering a dialysis prescription from Fresenius...that didn't take very long by comparison! I made a meatloaf for our supper...Woody is back to wanting meatloaf sandwiches once in a while...at least he doesn't want them exclusively like he did for a while! I read the other day that after my generation meatloaf will be a meal of the past...interesting...other generations will miss out on lots of good eats...casseroles was another item mentioned in that article. I will say that I am glad that we both like casseroes as with the price of groceries, I can give us a large variety of meals at a much lower cost than if we were just eating cuts of meat. Anyway, we like our cassroles...and our soups...and..! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Wednesday—All Day

It's one of those days that I feel like I was busy all day, but looking back on the day I'm wondering just exactly what I did! It was a day off aka no dialysis. Oh, I just remember why the day seems a bit confused...I did a morning errand that I didn't know that I was going to have to do till close to midnight last night. I found a fraudulant charge on my online Credit Union statement. So I immediately called their 24-hour number and put a stop on my card. This morning I had to go to our Credit Union...file a fraud claim and get a new card. After that I stopped at the church and took something into the office for Woody. By the time that I got both those errands done, it was almost time for lunch. Once lunch was over, it was time to head off to get my hair cut. After my hair cut, I headed to fill up the car with gas. It was getting low and we have two out of town jaunts over the next few days...so taht wasa taken care of. I have managed to stitch a little in between errands. I also believe that I took a short unplanned nap this afternoon. I watered the plants that I planted yesterday and pulled an armful of weeds a little before supper time. Woody has had a day that he likes...not HAVING to go anywhere. He continues to feel pretty good and is a bit stronger than he had been. He is transferring easier than he had been...all good things! I have changed the bandage on his leg and he has transferred over to his couch/bed. I have finished downstairs and have come upstairs hoping to get some more stitching done. I met last night's goal and have set another for tonight before my eyes close...moving down this piece...getting closer to the bottom of it...when I get there it will be finished! But still a ways to go. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

It’s Tuesday…I Think…

I didn't work in the library today so I am confused that it is Tuesday! Look what bloomed. I planted the bulb from the amaryllis that our niece gave us several years back. Up to this year, it had only given us leaves...but this year!!!! Today there are two blooms open...but I didn't think to take a picture till it was too late. Very pretty and very stately! I'm late coming in to blog. I ended up getting busy toward the end of the day. I had a very lazy day because I didn't sleep well last night...didn't sleep much at all...so I napped several times today. I guess I finally got enough naps in that I had energy to do a few things before it got dark. It is the night to take the garbage can to the curb and when I did that along with the recycled stuff (I knocked down a lot of boxes). I realized that I hadn't planted the hostas that Melany brought on Sunday and dug holes for...the weather has warmed up and hopefully no more freezes! So I planted those. Kathy, Isaac and Joseph drove up just as I was going to fill the watering can to water the newly planted plants. Since they were here, I had the boys help me get the hose hooked up...I needed more than my strength to make sure that the hose was tight enough. They were able to do that for me. We stook outside and talked while I watered...talked about weddings, ball games, graduates, etc. Along with a bride, their family also have two graduates: Graham from Motlow and Joy from high school and cosmetology school. Along with three boys playing baseball! Busy times in their household! Woody had a good dialysis as far as we know, at least. He did have some new news from dialysis...a new schedule...he has been assigned to start a half an hour EARLIER!!!!!! Oh, my...but I guess we can adjust?!? I guess time will tell. That schedule starts the second week in May. Along with napping I have interspersed stitching and a few household chores into my afternoon and evening. Woody had a late supper because I socialized in the front yard...he is about ready to call it a day. He has already moved over to his bed/couch. I plan to keep on stitching after I get the kitchen closed down for the night. What I'm stitching isn't for Abigail's shower this coming Sunday, but for the following Sunday...but there is quite a bit to go on it even though I have been stitching diligently for some time now. It just doesn't go very fast...but it is coming along. I did go to Kroger just before picking Woody up today. They had red, orange, and yellow bell peppers on sale so I wanted to get some before they change their sale items tomorrow. I will need to chop, slice and dice them and get them in the freezer for future recipes. I'm trying to decide if I need to roast any of these...I think that I still have some roasted ones in the freezer...I'll check and decide. But pepper prep is on my list of to-dos probably for tomorrow. Stitching will be high on the to-do list, too. Woody has a day off...always good for him...we both like those days that we can stay home. I do have a hair appointment tomorrow...but that is an appointment I always look forward to! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Just What Am I Saying to Abigail?!?

Obviously I didn't take tonight's photo (it's Kathy's photo)...and I look like I'm lecturing sweet Abigail...but she seems too happy for it to be too serious. Really what I am telling her is about the Christmas ornaments that I gave her...one represented their engagement, one their wedding, one their first Christmas and one reminding them to "let their lights shine"...meaning for them not to hide ther lights under a bushel...but before I finished that orament, I realized that Payton had asked her to marry him amidst the Christmas light display at his house...so I was telling her that that ornament could have a double meaning. We had a very nice time at her shower yesterday. I went with Melany (Abigail's Aunt Melany) and Brooke (Abigail's cousin-in-law). This shower was given by her co-workers at the church preschool where Abigail teaches. Three of Abigail's students were there and they helped her open her presents. It was sweet. One of the little girls is their flower girl and the little boy is their ring bearer. Abigail was filled with joy as she always is. She is just so happy, which makes us all happy! Her wedding day is getting closer. Today Woody stayed at home and recouped from all of last week's activities! This week will be a little calmer. We did pick up one appointment today...it is to go to get his brace adjusted...that won't be until Friday. I made a pot of soup...good day for it as it was a bit frosty outside this morning. There is a chance of frost tomorrow morning, too...surely these cold early morning temps will soon be behind us! I went to Monday night Furnace Room Prayer Meeting this evening. Woody was asleep by the time that I got home. He indicated that he was ready for sleep prior to me leaving. I checked his leg bandage before I left and it was still in good shape so I will either change it before dialysis in the mornng or after dialysis. I poked around in the yard for a little while this afternoon and pulled a few weeds and cut off some dead growth on a couple of things and also trimmed a couple of stalks of asparagus that grow next to our mailbox...why...I don't know! They had gotten to the point that I think that they were going to interfere with the mail carrier putting mail in our mail box...so they are snipped off...but they will be back. For years, Woody attempted to grow asparagus...his famiy grew it when he was a boy. We never had any luck with growing it. But somehow out near the road we have a couple of stalks that come back year after year. Once in a while I manage to cut it when it is young and then add it to a salad. Two stalks doesn't exactly make a serving...but ok to add into something for flavor! Well, I'll head back down and finish in the kitchen, I left a couple of dishes soaking in the sink. I'll take care of those and wipe off the counters and stove and call it quits for tonight. Hopefully I will get some more stitching done on another gift that I am in the middle of doing...hopefully I am a bit farther than midway! But it is slow-go. Nathan and Isaac and Joseph stopped by this afternoon and did a couple of things in the yard that Woody asked them to do. The boys laughed when they saw the picture that I am posting tonight...Joseph especially! So I guess I hope that it brings a smile to you, too! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Sunday Favorite

Busy Saturday

Busy day, but we can say that now that we are at the conclusion of the day that we have made it through all the appointments and obligations that this week brought us. I came home from dropping Woody off and got busy on completing what I have been making for Abigail's gift for tomorrow's shower. I found a box, tissue paper, the card, etc., showed the items for the shower gift to Woody after he got home and proceded to wrap it. Just as I finished wrapping it, I realized that I had failed to take pictures of what I had made (one the things I do after I finish stitching anything...a photographic record of things that I have made). Well, at least I am gifting these to my granddaughter so I can still have a chance to take their picture after giving them. Woody got out of dialysis a bit later than usual...of course...sinc today was my Cottey book club...most days he is waiting on me when I get there. Today I got there at about the same time as usual and I had to wait about ten minutes. I still got to be in on the book discussion. I didn't care for this book as much as I have for some others. The book we discussed today was A Gentleman in Moscow. I understand that it is streaming on some network...but I from what was said that a lot had been changed about it. I don't stream so won't know! Next month we will discuss the book that I suggested for the club for this new book club year. It is The Bookwoman of Troublesome Creek...I highly recommend this book...guess so since I recommended it to the group! I have been picking up things to do with the needlework projects that I have been stitching on and doing just some general picking up of things...especially here in the bedroom as it has become a craft room during all this needlework finishing over the last couple of weeks. I am about ready to get back to work on another stitching gift that I have been working on, but set aside so I could work on last week's shower gift and tomorrow's shower gift. The washer and dryer have been running in the background while I did all this other stuff...which means that after they do their work, I have some putting away of the clothes...which I have done...but there are more to come. Melany, our daughter, and Brooke, our granddaughter-in-law, will be coming here prior to the shower and then the three of us will go to the shower together. When I saw the date today, I had an instant reminder of a day 21 years ago...don't think of it often but once in a while the date will bring it back. This is the day that I was "struck" with Transverse Myelitis...so thankful that most of the symptoms that rapidly occured have mostly gone away...the outcome could have been so much worse...at least I am up and walking today...and, it was a bit questionable 21 years ago, as we had no idea what was going on. It was the night before Easter Sunday...and it was months...really years before most of the symptoms were gone. Today...pretty much I am only left with a tingly right hand...where the odd sensations began during the attack. There is a blog early on that explains TM...it is not a rare, but not very common disease where something attacks the spinal cord...they are not sure if it is an autoimmune disease or if a virus causes it. It often causes paralysis below the waist. It literally gave me all the symptoms of MS and then some within 24 hours. The neruologist explained to me that if it is going to go away it will do it within the first year. He said that the reason that symptoms go away is that the swelling in the spinal cord goes down and eventually the nerves settle down. I believe that Celebrex is what keeps the swelling down in the spinal cord for me as when I have to stop taking Celebrex for any length of time, the symptoms come back...so I continue to take it...just less than I once did. Anyway, so thankful to be at this end of that event in my life and be able to say that I was left with no more than a tingling hand! To God be the glory. We are settling in for the evening. I still need to go down and put the last few dishes in the dishwasher for today. I'm not sure that I am up to folding/putting away any more clothes for the day...think they can stay in their respective machines till tomorrow! Woody's leg has been bandaged and he is ready to head to bed when he wants. Tomorrow starts another week...but not quite as busy as this week has been...or at least it isn't...yet! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!