Friday Update: Still doing well after surgery. The change over on blogspot is making it impossible to do anything but place a title. Will keep trying!

Let the Healing Begin! Can't get into blog to post! Surgery went well. More info to come.

'Twas the Night Before Surgery

I've done a little of this and very little of that today...mainly have attempted to be ready for heading out the door in time to get us to the hospital before 7am...as long as we don't oversleep we should be fine, since we live so close to the hospital. We rarely oversleep, but it seems that when we HAVE to be up and about that it is harder to wake up on time. Normally we are both awake early...so we will see if we are in the morning! There is always the possibility that I won't sleep much...that happens when I am concerned about having to be up a certain time. Someone from the hospital called late this afternoon asking if he had any Covid symptoms. I told her "no." So she said that we were good to go! Woody expected to hear about his Covid test today, but he didn't. Speaking of Covid testing my Arizona friend whose mother had Covid 19 is still waiting to hear from her test 18 days after taking it. Her mom is doing well, but my friend isn't feeling well. She thinks that she probably has Covid 19...at least she is treating herself as if she has it. Now if we can get through our hospital time without picking up the virus...so much for sheltering at home! Circumstances take us away from home at times. I ran an errand this afternoon...thinking that my patient might need me home on Friday when I would have to run the errand...so went a couple of days early. I guess my inner clock must be confused. I forgot that it was Wednesday and almost forgot to have my weekly "library meeting" with Donna. I was talking on the phone with Melany when I realized it was Wdnesday. Donna and I ended up private messaging each other. She said that she knew that it was Wednesday because she had gone to the Farmers' Market this morning. Woody headed off early this morning for his TN Oncology appointment. He got labs done and got his B-12 shot and his anemia shot and saw the doctor. So he had his 2nd medical appointment of this week. I guess the first two lead up to the main one that will happen tomorrow. I will report tomorrow on how everything goes with his surgery. Be safe? Be well! Be cautious!

Tuesday

I think that we have mainly lazed around today and tried to stay cool...at least I tried to stay cool. Woody is always cold these days. I tried to find things that sounded good for Woody to eat today...but his appetite just isn't what it used to be. He seems to be losing weight. Sweets appeal to him the most. Onion rings sounded good to him so I made him some in my air fryer. I sampled a small one and it tasted pretty good...though my memory taste said that salt was needed! Some things just say "salt!" Even though we rarely put salt on anything. We have both spent time reading today...a cool activity. I also watched a live sewing lesson on machine embroidering letters. I have really enjoyed the almost daily programming that my sewing machine company, Janome, puts on. It rarely pertains to the machine that I have, but even though it doesn't it can be applied to my machine. I was going to go in and turn my machine on and compare it to the machine that she was demonstrating on, but a storm blew in just as the sewing class started and I didn't want to plug my machine in during the storm. We have had a bit more rain once again...not having to water my container garden as much as I was having to last week. I guess we are wending our way towards Thursday...sort of twiddling our thumbs. When something like surgery is looming ahead I have trouble getting a lot done. It sort of feels like I am treading water! I'm off now to clean up the kitchen after my onion ring mess...the kitchen will be cooler as the sun has gone down. At least the mess isn't as great as the time that I actually fried the onion rings in oil on top of the stove! What a mess that was...I even had to mop the floor. I think that this will cleanup fairly quickly...put a good portion of the dishes in the dishwasher and then wash the air fryer parts by hand and wipe off the counters. Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Preliminaries

Today was preop day for Woody's Thursday surgery. He was gone about 2 hours and came home very tired! Luckily he didn't have to walk every where he had to go in the hospital. Once he got in with his walker, they got him in a wheelchair and pushed him to all the places that he needed to go. I know that they are going over things in his information because a nurse called from the hospital a little while ago to check about his allergies to adhesives and latex. Good to know that they are checking ahead of time! He did find out that I am allowed to go with him on Thursday morning and stay at the hospital during his surgery. Woody's will be his surgeon's 2nd surgery of the day. We are to be at the hospital by 7am. Nice that the hospital is less than 10 minutes away...happy we don't have a drive to Nashville! The phone rang again a little after the hospital called and it was a reminder/confirmation call for his appointment with TN Oncology on Wednesday. This week is filled with appointments for Woody. Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Trapping in the Backyard

Elijah's squirrel count is 47. He decided to set one trap in the front yard and one trap in the back yard to see if he could get any of the backyard squirrels. He put the larger trap in the backyard and he got what this size trap is meant for...a raccoon! I told Nathan that since this wasn't a bird food stealer that they didn't have to relocate it...but Nathan thought that it might be their corn raider so they chose relocation! Elijah is so close to his 50 squirrel goal...it just isn't happening as quickly as it once did! For the moment our front yard squirrel population is waaaaaaaay down! Woody and I got our grocery list ready this morning and I headed off for my every two-week Kroger trip. Today is the first time that I have been when masks were mandatory. I will say that for the most part folk complied. I only saw one man without a mask. My pet peeve for today is for the folk who wear their masks under their nose! Just saying! I had the most impressive checkout clerk and grocery bagger! The job was done in record time. I was one of the lucky ones who was in a line of at least three carts and the checkout lane next to me opened up. I couldn't get my groceries out fast enough...by the time I put the last item on the conveyer belt, whe was ready for it. I typed in my customer code and she gave me my total! The bagger helped me so much by scanning the two large items in the base of my cart so I didn't have to pick them up again! And, I had the right change this time...last week I was told that they were rounding up all totals if I didn't have the correct change (we still deal in cash...not cards). And, that the rounded up amount would be given to charity. That week I had just given my change to Nathan so had to let them round up...today Woody gave me his little change purse and I had the exact amount. I got home to find the raccoon and cage on our front walkway. I asked Isaac to have Elijah to move it off so I wouldn't have to take a detour around it on each of my trips to and from the car. I found out why it was on the walkway...it was digging up our yard...reason that Nathan put it on the sidewalk. Oh, well, didn't do too much damage before they relocated it! I got the groceries in and then had to put them away. Grocery days are days that I don't feel like cooking...too much dealing with food without having to cook it too! So we are eating the rest of the leftovers and I will start over with my cooking tomorrow...after all, as Scarlett said, "Tomorrow is another day!" Woody has enjoyed an afternoon of baseball on TV. He is glad to have the teams playing once again! Even though "his team" wasn't featured in any of today's games, he still enjoyed watching the games and glancing at the bottom of the screen to see that the St. Louis Cardinals were winning. Woody is happy the Cardinals won both yesterday's d today's games. He enjoys reading about the game statistics, etc. on the internet after the game is over. So he made two trips upstairs today...this morning to read email and print crossword puzzles and this evening to read more email and read about the Cardinal's win. Baseball action makes the summer feel more "normal" to Woody! It was strange to see a game played with no crowd...except for some cardboard cutouts and some fancy graphics that could fool one into thinking that there were folk in the stadium...and noise effects! Anyway, it was an enjoyable pastime for Woody today. Today is our oldest grandson's 23rd birthday. Happy birthday, Alex! He is in a wedding in Mississippi this weekend...hope he gets home safely and stays well! I did send him the photo that is tonight's blog photo and told him that I understood that he was looking for a pet...indicating it might be a good birthday present! He didn't think so...but passed it off on his mom that she wouldn't want it! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Fun Friday

Woody's Friday may not have been as fun as mine! He headed off a little after 7am to take his friend to a doctor appointment in Franklin, TN. I got up and got ready for a "library meeting!" Not really a library meeting, but a visit with my church co-librarian. She came over and spent part of the morning with me. As she was getting ready to head home she realized that we hadn't managed to talk about all that we might have! Up to this sheltering at home, we spent time together both on Sunday and Wednesdays...so there was lots to catch up on. We have been keeping in touch via phone on most Wednesday afternoons but it just isn't the same as when we get together in person. We had met out on the front porch one time during this "stay at home" time. Woody was away so we met in the coolness of the living room. We had chocolate zucchini bread and iced tea and chatted. We chased many rabbits! Woody got home sometime between noon and 1 after the trip to Franklin and then running errands for his fiend here in town. He sat on the front porch for a while this afternoon. One of his crossword puzzles didn't print this morning (We had been getting low ink warnings for probably a month and the black finally ran out!). This afternoon I changed the ink cartridge and printed his puzzle. So he worked his puzzle a bit later than usual. He's now enjoying his Friday evening news programs. Once again...a rather dull Frieay evening in our household...dull or not...it is the way we like it! I'm all for my recliner and a good book! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Rain!

Tonight's photos were taken from inside through the raindrop covered window panes. It was nice to get a shower that lasted longer than just a minute or two. Things actually got wet with this rain and there were a few standing puddles in the yard and the water was rushing down the road. The temperature did drop a bit...it wasn't as hot when I went out and picked a few grape tomatoes just a few minutes ago. Still humid, but one can breathe when outside! Last night before I went upstairs for the night, I got out all the items that I would need this morning to make chocolate zucchini bread. That's a first time to make it. It is good...quite choclatey...sort of a cross between chocolate cake and a brownie. I had been wanting something chocolate so this fit the bill. And, it must be good for you since it has zucchini in it...right?!?woody ran an errand this afternoon. He went to the Credit Union and then went to his friend's home. He needed to check with him as we received a reminder about an appointment tomorrow which we didn't know about...nor did his friend. They decided which doctor it was for...the problem is that all his appointments are through a certain medical group...but the doctors are in different locates—Tullahoma, McMinnville, Murfreesboro, and Franklin. The reminder just said the medical group not the doctor's name so that was a problem. By the time Woody got home, I had that mystery solved, as the doctor's office called to confirm the appointment. And, it was not the one that they had come to the conclusion that it was for...his friend decided that it was here in Tullahoma but it ends up being in Franklin, the one farthest away. But luckily Woody thought that I had said that the appointment was at 8am and set up an appropriate pickup time. Well, the appointment is at 9am and the pickup time will work...a for an appointment farther away, as long as his friend doesn't take a tremendously long time getting out to the car (which he has been known to do!). This all means that Woody has a trip that he wasn't planning on. Guess it is good that it was this week rather than next. Woody pretty much has next week filled with appointments...Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Not too many dull moments for us or so it seems lately! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Surgery Scheduled

The blog is back to being a "medical journal" for Woody (reason I started this blog back in 2009). The main information to share today is that Woody saw his surgeon this morning. His surgery is set for next Thursday with preop appointment on Monday. He will become a statistic on Monday...as he will get a Covid 19 test. The surgeon told him that this type of dialysis might not work. One of the problems could be scar tissue from his emergency appendectomy that happened a few years back. He will attempt to clean out scar tissue along with placing the tubing. If this form of dialysis doesn't work then he will have the "usual" type. But we will try this. We were told 2-1/2 years ago that a person can start out with peritoneal dialysis And then move to hemodialysis...but not vice-versa. Both forms can be done at home. So it is a wait and see if this works or if it doesn't. Once again it is very hot (I guess I should just say that it is "still" hot!). I spent some time watering gardens this morning...both our patio herb/veggie container gardens and Nathan's zucchini, tomato, squash, and cucumber garden. I picked a couple of zucchinis and picked up a tomato that had fallen off the vine onto the ground. I ate it at lunch...nice to have a tomato right from the garden. I "thought about" making some chocolate zucchini bread...but just couldn't face heating up the kitchen by cooking something in the oven! Tonight we had some more slices from the pork roast that I cooked over the weekend and then I made Pennsylvania Dutch Style Green Beans with fresh green that Joseph picked and brought over to us the other day...so fresh tomato and fresh green beans all in one day! Pretty good eating! Even Woody said that the green beans tasted good...but of course they are in a sweet and sour sauce...so that slightly sweet taste won him over, I'm sure! Wade talked to his mother today and she sounded positive about the way things were going for her in rehab. She said that she liked her PT person. Good to have things going in a positive direction—good for her and good for Melany's and Wade's stress levels! Melany said that they had some rain this afternoon (so did we...but not much). She said that it cooled it down enough to sit in her new swing in their back yard. She hadn't been able to do that for a while both because of the heat but also due to all the hospital comings and goings of the last week and prior to that getting things ready for Wade's mom to move to assisted living. But today Melany was able to put her feet up for a while and just relax today. And, a good thing to put her foot up as she is wearing a boot due to a bone spur rubbing on a tendon. And, then today she had a skin cancer removed from the top of her head...so she is very ready to do as little of nothing as possible. I'm with her on doing as little as possible...this heat just zaps my energy...all I want to do is sit in my recliner under the fan with the AC running and read...or nap! I just told Woody that I would be down in a little while to finish cleaning up the kitchen after it cooled down a bit...he asked, "When...December?". Very funny, Woody? Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Soooooo Hot!

As far as I'm concerned it is too hot to do anything...especially outside. I did water this morning before it got too hot. But the trip to the mailbox after lunch was just a "too hot walk," as was taking out the garbage. I came back in after each of those outings and collapsed into my recliner with the ceiling fan going full speed and the AC on! Each job I did either inside or out just seemed to take extra effort today. I did manage to get a load of clothes washed and dried. Woody sat out on the front porch for a while this afternoon. He enjoys basking in the hotness! As you can tell...not me! It was too hot to cook so luckily I had plenty in the fridge so we "scrounged" today. The microwave heated up our lunches and this evening we both ate cold salads. The good news for the day is that Wade's mom was discharged from the hospital and transported to rehab. And, it did work out that she is having rehab at the same facility that will be her assisted living residence. She was doing better today. She was able to put a little weight on her left leg. So...progress! I hope that rehab goes well for her and that it won't be too long before she is up and about and able to move into her new home! Woody received a call from his surgeon's office confirming his appointment tomorrow. I wonder if he will have a surgery date after he sees him tomorrow. I am guessing that he will. In the meantime...Be safe! Be well! Be cautious! And, try to stay cool!!!

Clean Up: Aisle 13!

I came downstairs to quite a mess this morning. Woody decided last night that he wanted to make pancakes for his breakfast this morning and asked me to get out the recipe that I use. I got out the recipe and got out all the paraphanelia that he needed: bowl, measuring cup, measuring spoons,etc. along with nonperishable items that he would need. One of the items that I got out was a neat pancake batter "distributer" that helps you pour the batter onto the griddle and make less mess. Abigail gave me this neat kitchen tool several years back. I showed him that I had put it out on the counter and told him that all the batter in this recipe would fit into this container. Sometime in the night Woody and I both heard something that sounded like something had fallen. Neither of us knew exactly where the sound came from. Well, Woody got all the batter put together and poured it into the container and took it across the kitchen to the counter next to the stove and all of a sudden all the batter started pouring out of it all over the counter...some on the front of the cabinet and some on the floor. I happened to be at the bottom of the stairs when I heard Woody's SOS! Suffice it to say that side of the kitchen got a thorough cleaning along with the whole kitchen floor. I discovered that the handle had broken and that the metal spring had fallen out...we guess that was what we heard in the night. Woody had never used this item before so didn't realize that the handle wasn't right. Anyway...big mess to start out our Monday! Could have been worse...the thick batter didn't run down between the stove and the cabinet and pretty much stayed up on the counter top except for a small amount. I will say, though, that I have found batter in several other places as the day wore on...handle on the faucet, front of the cabinet under the sink, etc. Now for a report on Wade's mother. She is doing better. The blood transfusion seemed to get her turned around. And, her blood pressure is back to normal. They finally got her out of bed today. She's not in a lot of pain and it doesn't seem to be her hip that hurts but her knee when she tries to put weight on that leg. But all in all her recovery is heading in the right direction. Melany was told when she was at the hospital today that she would be moved to rehab in the next 24 to 48 hours. Melany texted me a little while ago that they are now saying that she will be released from the hospital tomorrow. There is a room in the rehab part of the assisted living facility that she will move to after rehab...so that is good to be going to the same facility. I haven't given a squirrel update for a while. That is because the count remains at 46. Those last couple of squirrels that we see at time just don't seem to be interested in going into the traps...they just seem to feed around the traps! Over the last few days we have only seen one squirrel at a time...so definitely the squirrel population in our front yard has lessened! I know that Elijah is aiming at 50 so perhaps it is time for him to get those last four out in the backyard. It's up to Elijah if he wants to move the placement of the traps. I know that he would like to reach that elusive 50 total! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Looking Back a Year

I got to wondering a little while ago, as I was cleaning up the kitchen, what the kitchen looked like a year ago. The blog comes in handy for me when I want to know what was happening at a certain time in the last eleven and a half years that I've been blogging...it acts as a diary for me. I can head to the date or at least the month and find out pretty much what was happening. On this date last year the kitchen was really taking shape...still no refrigerator and still no running water...so had neither a working sink or dishwasher. But both of those things would happen the next day. So I was close to being a very happy camper! I would no longer have to go upstairs to the bathtub to wash my dishes!!! I'm very glad that the remodeling is a year behind us! Glad to be where I am today...continuing to enjoy my new...well, not so new now...kitchen! Still feels new to me! Update on Wade's mother isn't as good as I wish that it were. She isn't doing all that great today. She continues to have low blood pressure so hasn't been able to get up yet. She also had to have a transfusion today. Melany spent several hours with her today and she said that she was a bit more confused than she had been...but that she did answer all the questions that the doctor asked her except for the name of the hospital that she was in...she just knew that she was in the hospital and that it was in Murfreesboro...in that respect passed the doctor's test! Wade is spending time with her this evening. They will only let two people visit over a 24-hour period...at different times. And, the one person can't take a break and go back to her room. Covid 19 certainly makes things more difficult! I made book requests for Woody as he finished the two paperbacks that the Hastys brought him and is about finished with the last of the public library books that I got for him a couple of weeks ago. I got a call from the library that they had them ready for me to pick up and we set up a time for me to get them. That was my only time to leave our driveway in several days...I guess since last Saturday when I got our groceries. We are still very much sheltering at home! Woody spent a good portion of the afternoon on the front porch reading and watching the birds and other activities in our neighborhood. I did cook a pork roast this afternoon...something that sounds and seems to appeal to Woody these days. His appetite has definitely lessened and he only wants to eat things that he really likes...Feench toast, corn on the cob...sometimes jello with fruit in it...always cookies...though, even those seem to hang around longer than they used to. He has enjoyed the limeade that I made the simple syrup for earlier in the week. He has enjoyed a glass of limeade while he sits on the front porch. Also I managed to get some peaches that have ripened and taste good to him. I am not having to cook quite as much as I had been for a while...guess a respite for the moment. I'm hoping that his interest in food picks up once he is on dialysis. I have a feeling that it will since he has been told that he will be able to eat a more "normal" diet then. Again, as with most things, time will tell! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Friday Fun?

Our main activities of the day have been porch sitting (for Woody) and baking cookies (for me). And, we have both done some reading. And, of course, Woody has worked crossword puzzles. Just a quiet day for us. It has been really hot, once again. I'm going to go out and water the patio container gardens. I've talked to Melany and she said that Wade's mom is doing fairly well. tonight they are celebrating Alex's birthday. His birthday isn't until next week, but they planned an early celebration prior to Grandma Proctor moving to assisted living...oops...that didn't work out. Nathan and Kathy dropped off Alex's birthday cheesecake when they went to Murfreesboro on Wednesday. Melany ordered one of Abigail's specialities: a Reese's peanut butter cheesecake. Alex is celebrating a week early and, I doubt that anyone realizes (except me) that he is celebrating on what would have been his great grandmother's 108th birthday. I guess I'll head out to water before it gets too dark...it is starting to get darker earlier these days...each day gets shorter now that we are in the second half of the year! I jus had a drop down on my iPad that showed that one of my childhood friends had made a new Facebook post. I went immediately to read it as I was sure that it was good news...her almost 92-year-old mother just got home from the hospital. She is home having put both Covid19 and pneumonia behind her. She went into he hospital on Monday and she got to come home today. As my friend said...wear your masks and wash your hands! She caught Covid from her son and grandsons who live next door to her. They didn't believe in wearing masks...until they got Covid and then passed it on to their mother and grandmother. They are part of Arizona's pandemic statistics! So as I say each night: Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Hip and Kidney Reports

The report from Wade's mom around 10pm last night was that she had broken her left hip. She had surgery this afternoon. And, from the last report she was doing as well as could be expected so soon after surgery. She is back in her room and Wade has gone to visit her (which is allowed in regular rooms...so glad someone can be there with her!) They have already told them that she will probably go to rehab on Monday...might have gone sooner, but the weekend has to be factored in! Monday is the day she was supposed to move into her new assisted living residence. They have spoken to them and they will reserve her room till she is out of rehab. They are not sure where the rehab will be...they are hoping that it will take place in the rehab that is attached to the assisted living where she is moving...but...not sure that there is a bed there. Time will tell. At least her surgery is over and she is now in the healing process! And, we did hear back from Woody's nephrologist's office this afternoon. He said that looking over all labs, that he recommends getting the peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheter surgically placed so Woody will be ready for dialysis when the time comes. They made an appointment for Woody to see the surgeon next week. I will eventually remember the type of dialysis Woody is having! The catheter that Woody will have will be placed into the peritoneum, which is the lining of the abdomen. Blood is filtered naturally, via a peritoneal catheter, using the blood vessels in the lining the abdomen, the peritoneum. This is one of the ways that dialysis is done at home. There are no needles, and the blood never leaves the body. This type of dialysis is done daily...can be done during the night. The fact that this type of dialysis is done daily will allow Woody to have a more normal diet. Not that Woody really wants to go on dialysis...but once it is necessary then he looks forward to eating some of his favorite foods again! So I'm figuring that a new learning curve is about to be introduced to us...a new normal...or as someone has put it...a new abnormal! That can be applied to this new medical situation in Woody's life as well as what the pandemic has pushed us into...THE NEW ABNORMAL! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

One Too Many Doctor Visits!

In the two Dorrell households and the Proctor household there, at this point, have been six medical "appointments"...five were planned. The sixth just happened a few minutes ago in Melany's household. Wade's mother just fell...the ambulance has come to pick her up and the rest of the household is just waiting to find out what injury/ies she might have. She is at the hospital and they have made her comfortable and she isn't in pain. They are waiting for a doctor to examine her and order X-rays. She was in the midst of getting ready to move into an assisted living residence on Monday. I have a feeling that her move may be put on hold. Al this just goes to show us that we just don't know from one moment to the next what is going to happen in our lives. This morning Woody had an appointment with TN Oncology for labs only today. They made him stay since they were concerned with his red blood count. Well, for Woody, his count was up quite a bit from the last time...so that was good. When he got home, Isaac and Joseph were here. They stayed here while the rest of the family went in various directions. They came over with a packed lunch and their "screens!" They did do screens for a while, but then made their way into the toy closet and had quite a good time with the pirate ship and pirate island and several other toys. They hardly ever get into the toy closet these days so it was a "good thing" to entertain them during their stay over here. While they played quietly in the living room, Woody and I waited for a call from Dr. O, Woody's Nephrologist. We managed to answer the borrowed phone (not used to iPhones) and get the link clicked on to make a video appointment happen. This time Dr. O did talk to Woody. On the other two phone appointments that Woody has had a nurse practitioner talked with him. Woody is getting quite close to dialysis and the doctor wants him to have the catheter placed in his abdomen. Getting this procedure done doesn't mean that he will start dialysis immediately, but he will just be prepared for when the inevitable happens. The doctor was going to check the labs that Woody had done this morning and then compare to last week's labs and make some decisions from there. I guess we will be hearing about an appointment to have the outpatient procedure done. The doctor who will do that procedure, I taught at Montessori many years ago—small town living! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Tuesday Confusion!

Today has been a day of changes which ends up spelling confusion to me! First Woody's nephrology office called to change Woody's appointment from Thursday to tomorrow. Which seemed like a good thing at least at first. Nathan wasn't going to be here on Thursday which would mean leaving me one of their phones so we could telemed the appointment. I was dreading that because we don't have an iPhone type gadget so I really don't know even how to answer one much less answer through an app, etc. So I was glad when they called to move the appointment to tomorrow. Woody has an oncology appointment early in the morning and the kidney doctor is mid morning...on that should work out. Melany had planned to come visit with Erin on Friday and pick up a cheesecake from Abigail. Well, Melany found out they were having company on Friday. So she decided to put off the trip here till next week. But...when I went next door to rearrange the cheesecake pick up time with Abigail, I found out that the teenagers are going hiking with the church youth group tomorrow morning and Nathan and Kathy were planning to do something in Murfreesboro while they hiked so they could drop off the cheesecake at Melany's house. And, could I have Isaac and Joseph come over here while they were gone? Oh, wait...the phone doctor appt.?!? Well, they will leave a phone with us so we can still have the appointment! So we are back to the way it would have been if the appointment had been on Thursday...back to me figuring out how to use a phone I have never used before! Totally confused?!? Well, I am! Guess it is best to just go with the flow and whatever happens whenever will be what happens!! Woody is working on writing up a "story" about Elijah's time on a coach pitch team. He has been choosing photos that he wants to use. So this afternoon after lunch I helped him resize them. He also has Joy and Esther doing some little illustrations to put in this story. I delivered a rough draft to Joy this afternoon so they can see where their drawings can fit. Woody has spent quite some time working on this. He wants to give it to Elijah as a memory of his time on a coach pitch team. It's too hot to do much of anything. One load of wash done and put away...garbage can taken to the road...choose from what I cooked over the weekend and yesterday for meals. I sat down next door for a little while and watched a couple of games being played. We have both read. I finished another book and am working on four other e-books and one "real" book. One of these days I will get thoroughly confused with storylines! But I figure it is a challenge for my brain to keep them straight...a challenge for my mind! Woody has started on a new book. Good ways to pass the time on hot summer days! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Monday Mania

I guess today's "mania" was cooking mania. I decided that it would be good to make a couple of main dish salads. I wanted one that Woody can't have and then wanted to make one that would work with Woody's diet. It has taken most of the day for me to accomplish getting them made. I had to make homemade mayonnaise for Woody's and since I don't buy canned soups any more, I needed to make cream of celery soup for mine. There was lots of veggie dicing. While I was dicing for one salad, if the other had the same veggie in it, I diced for that one, too. I also had to boil eggs and cook rice...anyway...it took a good portion of the day and a good many dishes! At one point I didn't have any measuring cups clean. I loaded the dishwasher and still had lots more to wash that didn't fit in. After I blog, I guess I will have lots to put away...the ones that finished a little while ago in the dishwasher and the ones that I wished by hand...all should be dry and ready to put away when I go back downstairs. Woody chose to wait to eat supper till he finished a book so he still hasn't eaten. Today he ran a couple of errands. He delivered church literature to several of his Deacon families and also picked up a couple of prescriptions for me at the pharmacy. The rest of the day he has spent inside reading, working crossword puzzles and watching TV. I think that squirrel count is at 46...might be 47. I just know that Elijah is closing in on 50! He told me that he hasn't spent any of his squirrel earnings. He has something in mind that he is saving for. Graham finished his second day at his new job, pin setter and tech person at the local bowling alley. I think that he is enjoying working there...at least he wants to talk about his job so for a 17-year-old guy that is a pretty good indication that he is happy with his employment at the present! Hopefully it is just the type of job for a college student. We'll see how it goes once his Motlow classes begin. Sounds like the hours are perfect to be able to juggle both college classes and work hours. Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

The Larder is Fuller

Well, the larder may be fuller than it wasbefore I went to Kroger, but that didn't mean that I ended up cooking any of it as I was too tired after making the trip to the store and getting it put all away! So we ate on leftovers for lunch and supper. Maybe I'll be more inspired to cook something tomorrow! That trip to the store seems to take something out of me...especially in this heat! It has been hot again today, but it didn't feel as hot, at least to me, because the humidity was down some today. It made it much easier to breathe! After I got all the groceries put away and ate lunch, I came upstairs to do a little reading...well...not much reading got done, but I did get in a good nap! Woody has stayed home today. He enjoyed sitting out on the front porch for a while this afternoon. I continue to enjoy going through the cookbooks that the Hasty's brought yesterday. As I go through them, I am reminded of times in the past when Woody and I would go to a really nice bookstore in the Nashville area (some will remember Davis Kid Booksellers). I would enjoy spending time in the cookbook section looking for a new cookbook to add to my cookbook collection. I feel like I am browsing through a cookbook section as there are so many to go through! I have copied one recipe into my iPad recipe app. I found a cheesecake cookbook that I took over to Abigail. I figured it would give her some more ideas of kinds of cheesecakes she might add to her repertoire. I've talked to several friends today...enough to run down the battery on both my cordless phones! It was good to catch up. These days we miss getting together to just talk due to all the quarentining so the phone comes in handy to let us socialize! Nice to talk with friends! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Who Were Those Masked Visitors?

For some reason today has seemed like Saturday all day long. When I stopped to take my before supper medicine, I opened that Saturday opening and then realized that it was really Friday. I guess all this staying at home has my brain totally confused as to what day it is...guess three plus months mainly at home has turned each day closer and closer to being the same. While it was cool in the early morning, I went outside and watered the patio herb/veggie/flower planters. I knew that it is supposed to be very hot for the next several days on into next week. So I want to keep on top of keeping the plants well watered. I harvested a few more grape tomatoes. Then I cleaned up the front porch...vacuumed off the pillows...ridding them of kitty fur! I fixed breakfast for Woody and me. Woody usually fixes his own breakfast, but today I was around and he hadn't had breakfast yet so I made French toast. Before 10am Woody left to run errands with his friend and he didn't return until after 2pm. Not long after he left, I got a call from the public library that a book that I had put on hold was ready for me to pick up. I set a time to get it. Then worked on getting the ingredients out to make zucchini bread. I was going to try a new recipe...chocolate zucchini bread. But Woody said that he would eat some zucchini bread if I made it so I switched back to our tried-and-true zucchini bread recipe (Woody doesn't like chocolate)...adding some of Nathan and Kathy's fresh blueberries. By the time I got everything ready, it was time to go pick up the book at the library. When I got back, I put all the ingredients together and popped them into the oven to bake for 1-1/2 hours. They came out of the oven about the time that our masked visitors arrived and Woody got back from running errands. Our visitors were Doyle and Linda Hasty. They stopped by to pick up a special order cake/cheese cake from Abigail and visited over here with us for a while before they headed off with their speciality strawberry cake/cheesecake and some zucchini bread. I understand that the blog picture of Elijah's birthday cake sold them on ordering a cake from Abigail for Doyle's birthday. Doyle and Woody sat on the front porch and talked and sipped fresh squeezed limeade. Linda and I decided to stay stayed inside where it was cool and sipped limeade and enjoyed a piece of warm from the oven zucchini bread and caught up with each other. it's the first time that we have visited in person for any length of time since we all began sheltering at home back in March. They had been by to drop off some things...but we called that just a drive-by visit! They brought us several boxes of books that Doyle had gotten at an estate sale...lots of cookbooks to peruse! I so far have looked at a cookbook with 500 meatball recipes in it and at the moment on my lap have a cookbook that just has potato recipes. After I look and capture some recipes, I will pass them next door for them to check out. The lady of the household must have loved to cook...or at least read about cooking! We are now settling in for another quiet Friday evening. I guess I need to start thinking about want I will need to get at the grocery store tomorrow...it's been two weeks since I went. I didn't think that I would like having such a long time between food shopping trips, but it is working out very well. I thought Melany and Erin were coming this weekend and I was able to come up with a meal even at this end of the two weeks. But in the end they aren't coming until next week...so whether that meal plan will still happen remains to be seen! But now it's time to start plans for being able to eat for the next two weeks! Most of the plans will depend on what is on the store shelves tomorrow...so part of the planning happens at the store! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

I Think It's Thursday?

The days seem to be muddling together. Today hasn't had anything happen that "says" it is Thursday. Our pastor does a Thursday Bible study at noon...but didn't have one today...so nothing has happened to distinguish Thursday from any other day! It continues to be very hot and humid. I did do a little church library business today...I wrote a memorial book letter this morning and got it in the mailbox to be picked up by the mailman. I decided today was the day to squeeze limes and see if there was enough juice to make the base for limeade. I decided that it was "meant" for me to make the base as there was exactly the amount of juice that the recipe called for. I made a I made a simple syrup base and it is in the fridge ready to make glasses of limeade. I did have a glass and it tasted very good and refreshing. I decided that it ws time to harvest the two ichiban eggplants that had grown to a good size. This is a slender Japanese eggplant. I made a recipe that was meant for this type of eggplant...we had that as a side dish tonight. Tasted pretty good. I don't know if we will have any more of these eggplants or not...no evidence of any more at the moment. Our little grape tomatoes are ripening. I have harvested a few of those and eaten several. Isaac and Joseph also like to harvest those and pop one in their mouths. Nathan and Kathy's blueberry bushes are really producing...the bushes are so tall that it is hard for them to harvest them without a ladder! Woody has stayed inside today...avoiding the excessive heat, I guess. He has read, done crossword puzzles, watched a bit of TV and just sAt around keeping cool...though the heat doesn't bother him as much as it does me. I'm heading down now to finish cleaning up the kitchen mess...waiting for the kitchen to cool down a bit. I mainly hang out upstairs these days since Woody can't stand to have the AC on downstairs. I did work a bit on some sewing designs this afternoon...still looking for the one that I will put on a t-shirt. I guess I have too many designs since I keep looking for the perfect one! Melany has been waiting to hear what is in store for her school for the coming school year. It looks like they will be returning and all will be a ring masks. I think that I understand Tullahoma schools are planning to also return...not sure about masks there. Nashville said that their schools will be virtual till at least Labor Day. So all different plans for schools across our state. Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

It's Wednesday...again

Seems like we just turn around and the middle of the week is upon us again. My routine for Wednesday is to have a church library "meeting" with Donna via phone. We had a nice visit and did talk a little about the library. I've spent some time helping Abigail set up for her little preschool that she is planning to have with 3 or 4 little children from church A couple of days each week. We carried a bunch of my school equipment over there yesterday and then today one of the mamas had some more equipment for her to use. We got it set up. Isaac and Joseph were funny enjoying it all...what we had worked with for so many years. They have graduated from using most of this but still enjoy it. Woody has spent the day inside...doing some work with the laptop and, of course, has done his crossword puzzles and read and watched a bit of TV. I did a little cleaning. I made Sweet and Sour Pork for supper...now I have the mess to clean up. I headed next door to help Abigail after supper so am just now back home to do the clean up. Elijah's birthday present did arrive today and I think that he felt it was worth the wait...a little remote control drone. He had it flying around in their house when I was over there. Oh...and, the squirrel count seems to have slowed down. He hasn't gotten any the last couple of days. The count is now 43...I think. He told me rather wide eyed the other day that he had almost caught 50! We had another pop-up storm this afternoon. The last couple of days we have had at least a little rain in the afternoon which has let me not have to water the patio garden planters. Our herbs are growing great as are our few veggies. Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

EZ's Eleven!

Elijah Zion also known sometimes as "EZ" turned 11 today! Happy Birthday, Elijah!

He had one of Abigail's fancy cake/cheesecakes...this one a strawberry cake/blueberry swirl cheesecake. Very yummy!

Goosey (Woody) and I had to give him a promise as our gift didn't make it in time...supposed to be in the mail tomorrow!

Elijah has also been known as "Danger!" And, this gift from his daddy makes me think "DANGER!" I guess Nathan has plans for a new act in their program? Elijah received some throwing axes and also throwing knives! GULP!!!

I think that Elijah has had a fun day. It started out with waffles and ice cream, a family birthday tradition, for breakfast. He chose to go to Taco Bell for lunch. And, homemade pizza was in the plans for supper. The birthday child gets to plan the meals for the day on their birthday. Also, he got another treat for the first time ever, he got the school day off for his birthday and got to have extra screen time. They started their school year yesterday...the first time that they had been in school on his birthday. Happy, happy birthday, to our sweet Elijah!

Can You Solve This?

The above problem showed up on Facebook this morning and for some reason I decided that I would see if Woody could solve it. It took both of us...me for the tricky details that are within the problem and then Woody to actually solve it. We won't say how many wrong answers we gave before we finally got it right! But let's say that it did take up some of our "spare" time today! After he got it solved, I still had to have him explain it to me! I am not nor have I ever been a lover of math. But he is a mathematician so figured that between the two of us...and finally we did get it solved. After solving it, I was to post the same problem on my Facebook "page." Which I did and have been having to tell folk all afternoon that they got it wrong...so far only 6 have gotten the answer right...Melany even got in on it...we have had a couple of phone conversations over it! Was it worth spending all that time on...well...probably not, but it was a different way to spend the day! Woody headed off to have labs done for his upcoming appointment with his nephrologist. When he got home, he spent time doing some weeding along the road edge of the garden we share with Nathan and Kathy and family. He can sit on the railroad ties that are stacked on the front of that garden. It was pretty hot outside today. I watered and did some deadheading on the plants that are on our patio slab. And, emptied the compost bucket a couple of times...that was enough outside time for me! I finished another book this afternoon...needed to read to soothe my brain after all that mathematical thinking from this morning! We had an enjoyable, though quiet, fourth weekend. Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Sunday Blessings

Happy 4th of July from Woody & Lois

'Twas the Night Before the 4th

It feels like summer is here...quite warm and humid today and no rain.  Elijah got another squirrel today!  So new count is 39!  I checked with him a few minutes ago to make sure that I had the count right!

We spent time with Nathan on the front porch today.  He was doing some filming for a video he is doing for a church camp.  That is the way they have been hired this summer...to do videos for churches and camps.  He was talking about traps and using the squirrel as an example for his mini-sermon.  I gave him some still pictures of the squirrels raiding our feeders and he has worked them into the video with voice overs.  I guess lots of folk are having to get creative with what they do for a living!  They do have an in-person gig coming up in a week or so..at an outdoors church event.

Wondering how schools are going to be handled this year.  Our neighbor grandchildren will continue as usual due to homeschooling.  Graham registered for on campus classes at Motlow...at this point three of those have turned into online classes.  Melany teaches in Rutherford County (Murfreesboro, TN) and she is waiting to hear how her school is going to handle the new school year.  Her doctor told her that she would need to wear a mask whether it is required or not.  She has Crohn's and is on an immunosuppressant drug.  She has two masks that I made.  Might need to make her some more!

I decided that I want some potato salad for 4th of July so am going to put it together after I publish tonight's blog.  Woody can't eat it...so when it comes to making something just for me it is easy to put it off...but this time I think that I will make it.  I'm making a recipe that Melany shared with me several yeRs back: Lime and Thyme Potato Salad.  It is very refreshing...different than my usual potato salad. It isn't Woody's favorite so he won't be sad that he can't eat it!

Have a great 4th!
Be safe!
Be well!
Be cautious!

Squirrel Count has Increased

 I think this squirrel may be asking, "Where'd everyone go?!"  I forgot to give a count last night, but yesterday Elijah and his dad hauled off number 35...today's count is at 38 (I think! Elijah keeps track better than the rest of us!  Two were caught this morning.  While they awaited their relocation, two of their friends visited them.  There seems to be an endless number of these rascals!  There's one thing for sure...their numbers are helping a ten-year-old (soon to be 11) boy have a profitable summer!

Woody slept better last night so has had a better day.  But he still has stayed pretty close to his recliner...reading, working crossword puzzles, and watching some TV.  I slept well, till I woke up at 4am...so my day has been long and I haven't felt the greatest.  But I did manage to use the peaches that I bought at the store last week and also some of the blueberries from Nathan and Kathy and family's blueberry bushes and put together a peach/blueberry cobbler...quite tasty!  The only problem with the dessert is that Woody wished, again, for ice cream which he can't have.  He was told the other day that when he is on dialysis he will be able to have that ice cream once again.  Still doesn't make us jump up and down and get all excited about starting dialysis...just something that will be a positive when he does start!  He will be able to go back to almost normal rating.  He was told that he may have to eat extra things that have potassium in them because potassium tends to be leached from the body during this type of dialysis.  He will be glad to eat bananas, dark green veggies, watermelon, and other things that he can't have at the moment due to their high potassium.

This afternoon, Abigail came over to check out the Montessori equipment that I have. She plans to use it at her house, as she has been asked to give lessons to several preschoolers from our church.  We went over equipment talked some about how she will fill up the time that she has with them a couple of days a week.  A new venture for our Abigail! She left to go make some cheesecakes...another of her ventures!  She cleans houses, too!  She's the best kitchen cleaner around!

Nathan and Joseph were on the front porch bird watching, when Abigail and I went out the front door after her Montessori "session" with me.  They were trying out the binoculars that they gave Goosey (Woody) for Father's Day.  Our front porch is really enjoyed by both out families...it's like an extension of our house...another room...a sitting room!

Be safe!
Be well!
Be cautious!

And, BOOM! It's July!

Sometimes the Tennessee greenery seems to take over.  I'm not sure if this is kudzu or something else outlining the roof.  Woody says that if it is kudzu that he would expect it to be overtaking the whole barn!

Today being Wednesday, I had our weekly "library" phone chat with Donna.  We caught up with other.  I had several other phone calls, too.  So it was sort of a phone day for me.  I also worked a little in the sewing room...still searching out a design that I want to use on a t-shirt.  I have been enjoying sewing videos that Janome, my sewing machine brand, have been posting daily.  I usually learn at least one thing from each video.

Woody had a bit of a slow start to his day since he didn't sleep well last night.  He has read most of the day with a crossword puzzle fit in here and there and a TV program or two.  He did really enjoy supper...spaghetti and meatballs.  It did taste good, but now I have to face a very messy kitchen!

Be safe!
Be well!
Be cautious!