Good Bye, March!

Well, no "where in the world" photos tonight. Melany and Wade are still off somewhere in the world, but...today in a part of the world where the internet isn't "good enough" to send photos. So today's photo is taken somewhere in good ol' TN! I grocery shopped today...and, then out them away...an accomplishment for my day. The rest of the day has been pretty much the same as most days in our household. I guess it is obvious that we didn't get blown away last night. We did have some strong winds, but not as strong as was feared/predicted by the weather folk. There were several periods of very hard rain and one or two rumbles if thunder. We don't even have that many limbs down in the yard today. So we fared well during and after the storm. Today it has been much chillier...typical after a front comes through at this time of the year...storms caused by unstable air when warm and cold air collide. And, now it is just hours till April...doesn't seem possible that three months of this year have already passed us by...1/4 of 2022 already behind us! Woody finished a book yesterday and I finished one today. I haven't read much this year...but then I read way more than usual the last two years...guess it is time to take a break and persue other interests...needlework, sewing, etc. Well, it is time to go get Woody's dialysis treatment set up for tonight. I hope that you don't have too many April Fool's jokes pulled on you tomorrow! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

More Guesses?

Anyone able to tell where Melany and Wade are yet? Wherever in the world they are, they seem to be having a good time! We are sitting here listening to the wind...storms are approaching. Woody decided to get started on his dialysis around 7 tonight hoping to get going before power might go out. he said that he could hopefully get in the first exchange before the storms arrived. Each exchange leaves dialysis solution in him for what is called a dwell time. Each dwell time is 1-1/2 hours...then he drains, fills again, and dwells again, etc. for five exchanges...the fifth fill is left in until I do the drain manually...all the rest of his dialysis time is done by hs cycler machine. The first dwell time should be almost over...then the machine will drain him and refill him and he will dwell 1-1/2 hours again. If the power goes out the machine is supposed to restart and go in from where it was at power failure. We have never had a lengthy power outage so dont really know exactly how it works. At a point with a power outage I can take over and do the rest of the exchanges manually...haven't had to do that since training...hoping that I won't have to tonight either! So far the winds are in the 20 mph range...supposed to get stronger as front approaches...and, of course with these strong winds tornados are possible. I just checked and we are in a tornado watch...which means conditions are right for a tornado. We just don'tvwant this watch to turn to a warning...which means a tornado on the ground in our vicinity. All this to say...guess the saying is being proved right...If March comes in like a lamb, it goes out like a lion! Will let you know the outcome of this storm tomorrow...as long as we don't blow away!!! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Just Another Day

Today has pretty much been just like most days in our lives these days...dialysis, cooking, eating, sleeping, reading...Because we got underway later with Woody's dialysis last night due to him going to prayer meeting, dialysis ended later in the morning than most days. It was almost linch time by the time he was totally finished with last night's treatment...the extra fill and then manual drain adds a couple hours each day onto the length if we didn't do that extra cycle. Before I got the manual drain underway, I popped some potatoes into the oven so I could make ham-stuffed potatoes. They were finished baking and I was able to complete the recipe while he drained (45 min. to an hour). It was time for lunch by the time I had him disconnected from the drain cycle and had the last of the dialysis duties done. We ate lunch...and I headed upstairs and it wasn't long till I fell asleep and ended up taking a long nap. I do feel better today...hopefully drinking lots of water and cranberry juice has staved off a kidney infection. Taking a longer than usual afternoon nap hopefully helped too. Woody finished a book and has already started another from the stack I brought home for him last week. I have tonight's dialysis set up and the solution is warming. Woody decided to start at 8pm tonight hoping to be finished a little earlier tomorrow! I'll end with a "where in the world might Melany and Wade be" photo that Melany sent me this afternoon...sort of fun to get such pictures...a virtual vacation for me?!? Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

March is Waning

The goldfinches are back and the males are turning their brilliant yellow once again. They were really enjoying the bird feeders. Woody has just gotten home from Monday night Furnace Room prayer meeting. I have just gotten his protein shake made and he is partaking as I write this. Donna and I had planned to work in the church library this afternoon, but I got up not feeling the best so cancelled out on our plans. I have pretty much just sat in my recliner as much as possible today and am feeling some better this evening. I woke up with a pain in my back that took me back almost 50 years ago...the day before Nathan was born. I got very sick that day and ended up in the hospital with an acute kidney infection and a 105° temperature. So when I get that feeling in my back I hope that I can nip it in the bud very quickly! I have been drinking water and cranberry juics most of the day. My friend Ruth and I were messaging with each other late this morning and I mentioned that I wasn't feeling the greatest and she offered to get me some cranberry juice. So thankful for my friends! And, I do think that I am better this evening...that dread pain is lessening. I'll get Woody connected to his dialysis treatment in a while and then head upstairs and plan to get some good rest tonight. Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Another Blustery March Day

It has been another stay-at-home day. I have just sort of poked around the house doing a little of this and a little of that. Woody has done his usual crossword puzzles and read and watched some more March Madness. I have been keeping up with "where in the world Melany and Wade might be" and done a little reading and a little stitching and texted and talked with friends and family. I keep planning in my head about doing some sewing, but haven't found the oomph to start in on the plans...one of these days. Woody is already underway with tonight's dialysis so he will be finished in the morning in time to head out the door to go to Sunday School. We are under a freeze warning for overnight. Maybe this is one of the Middle TN winters?!? We don't look forward to the cold temperature we will be facing when we leave in the morning...much prefer 60 and above over the low 30s! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Perfect

My new stock pot arrived today and it was the perfect size for today's making of my potato soup recipe. The new pot is a little smaller than the one that it is replacing, but at least for today it's smaller size was okay/perfect. Plus it fits in the spot where I stored thr old one which was my plan. The pan was a part of our anniversary present...my part. Woody's part of our anniversary present was a denim shirt. I guess you can say something for each of us. I did the anniversary shopping this year. On the morning of our anniversary I came down and wished Woody a happy anniversary and then told him thst I had ordered our presents. His comment was: "What did I get you?" I think he was okay with my choices. I've got to get Woody's shirt washed so he can see if he likes his gift. Woody is again enjoying March Madness again this weekend. I'm enjoying watching underdogs succeed...while I set Woody's dialysis up...I only watch then and when I am walking through. It's about time to get him connected for his nightly dialysis routine. Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Skipping Right Along to the End of March

About the title...it is time, not the occupants in this house skipping toward the end of the month! Definitely neither of us does much skipping these days...we are good if we just manage to place one foot in front of the other! Today I made a quick trip to the public library. Woody was in need of some more reading material. I brought him home quite a stack, which should keep him busy for a while. I had planned to make a pot of soup today, but decided to wait. I have a new small stock pot ordered and it is supposed to come tomorrow so I will hopefully be able to use that tomorrow or the next day (depending on when the mail runs!) to make my recipe. Woody's kidney nutritionist called today. She wasn't there for our appointment last week. She said that all is going well with Wooddy's dietary reports and to just continue to do what we are doing. So...a good report from her. We are just happy to be appointment free for a little more than a week! Well, I guess it is that time again...time to set up Woody's dialysis machine so he can get underway with his treatment in the next hour or so. Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

The March Winds Do Blow!

It has been quite breezy today...rather blustery as we are under a wind advisory...though, it seems to ahve calmed down. I felt sorry for the little birds clinging onto the branches of a bush outside the kitchen window. It was a little house finch and he wqs hanging on for dear life...but then he flew away. I guess he figured out what direction he needed to fly in order for the wind not to carry him off course. We had the usual dialysis duties at the beginning of the morning. Then I made up a batch of Woody's breakfast sausage. I got that mess cleaned up and the sausage in the freezer before it was time for Woody to go to TN Oncology here in town to see Dr. Eze and to have his first Keytruda treatment after his surgery. I get Woody into the waiting room and then head back home to attempt to get something done in the two hours that he is there. They call me when Woody is finished. Today I spot cleaned the carpet in the family room/Woody's room. It really needed it and it isn't easy to clean in there when Woody is here. This appointment time is about the only time that he isn't in this room in his chair. I got that done and sat down in my recliner and it wasn't long till I got the call that he was ready. After I got home I ordered Woody's dialysis supplies...almost forgot to call in the order today. But got that done. Woody has had his supper protein shake and now it is time to get tonight's dialysis set up. Dialysis is definitely a major oart of our daily routine...turn around and it is time to do something that has to do with dialysis! Woody has been doing extra crossword puzzles today from a crossword book given to him at Christmas. He also got some reading in while he was at Oncology. I finished another book yesterday. And, I got underway with a new cross stitch project, but realized that I have it set up incorrectly on the fabric...so that project is being set aside and I'm going to move onto something else. I wasn't very happy with the fabric that I was stitching it on, anyway...so easy to abandon it and restart it when I have fabric more to my liking. I'm going to make a cute Spring/Easter project to replace that one. Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Fifty-three Years!!!

A Blue Bird Day

It was such a pretty day today so zinsat on the front porch for a while and the birds entertained me! i think that today was the first day that I have ever seen a blue bird at any of our feeders. They must like whatever is in the suet that Melany and family gave me for my birthday. I saw my first goldfinch of the season. Downy woodpeckers, chickadees, cardinals, sparrows, tufted titmice, woodpecker variety that I can't remember at the moment. Lots flying in for a little snack. Shortly after lunch the electrician called to say he was on the way if we were at home. He came, figured out what needed to be done, and did it. So our part in the installation of the garage door is done. Now it is wait on the door to arrive. Woody is ar Monday Night Furnace Room Prayer meeting. I have his dialysis set up. He wanted to wait to have his protein shake till after he gets home so I will make that after he gets home. I have continued to clean out dresser drawers and vacuum the dust panels. It's mainly the heavy drawers that are left. It has been good tongo through the drawers and getting ridnof some things. Some of the drawers I had rearranged not long ago so I am just pulling them out and vacuuming the dust panel under them. I will stitch some this evening after I get Woody's dialysis running. I finished another ornament yesterday and now have my next project (this time not an ornament) out with linen, threads and beads. It's already for me to get going on. Be sasfe! Be well! Be cautious!

It's the End of Another Week and Another Season!

Saturday rolled around again. How is it possible that another week in March has gone by? And, it's the end of winter. Tomorrow Spring will arrive! I'll be glad to see Spring...but do wish that time would slow down just a little. We haven't done anything exciting today...but...then do we ever these days!?! Woody has continued to follow March Madness. I made another apple crisp per Woody's request. Which means that I had kitchen cleanup to do. I stitched while I rested after my cooking spree. I also cleaned/straightened up another dresser drawer and cleaned the dust panel under it. The two easiest drawers are done...the rest will take a bit more effort! We'll see if I can find the effort to be able to rise to the occasion! I got Woody's dialysis going early again tonight since we need to be out the door fairly early in the morning for Sunday School. It's Woody's turn to teach his 6th, 7th, and 8th grade boys' class in the morning. I get to go to my class and be taught! After Sunday School, we come back home to watch our church service on Woody's laptop. We continue to avoid large gatherings of people. Neither of us needs to get Covid! And, unfortunately, it is still out there, though does seem to be settling down somewhat. Be safe! Be well! Be cautious! When next we "meet," it will be Spring!

Visitors

Nathan, Isaac, Joseph, and Quicksilver stopped by on their way home from the Vet's. The boys let Quicksilver check out our yard. He was a very calm little, well not so little, puppy...maybe he was subdued due to having just been to the vet. I asked the boys if he was usually this calm and they said "no." Woody has been enjoying watching March Madness...something different for him to watch during his day. I made a big mess in the kitchen today. I created a chicken & mushroom egg noodle dish. Pretty good. Woody finished the chili at lunch. I'm hoping he will try this new recipe tomorrow. He is once again slightly more adventurous with his eating...he's willing to try some different things. I had bought some new socks recently so decided that I would clean out my sock drawer. I took the drawer out of my dresser and worked on getting rid of socks that no longer had a mate, etc. and straighten the drawer up while I put away the new ones. When I started to put the drawer back in place, I noticed something on the dust panel beneath the drawer...I guess it was doing it's job as it was very dusty...so I got the vacuum out and got it dusted well. Now the problem is thwt I know that the dust panels under the rest of the drawers are probably in the same shape...so I guess one little job done leads to another bigger one. My dresser isn't too bad to take the drawers out of...but Woody's has longer/wider drawers...not sure I am up to getting them out to dust under them. A couple of mine are pretty heavy...one is loaded with LOTS of cross stitch books...again, not one that can be taken out easily without emptying it...and, I don't think that I am up to emptying drawers right now. BUT, unfortunately I now know the dust is there! It's been there for a long time, but since I didn't know it, it didn't bother me! Oh, well...there's plenty of dust on surfaces that are easy to get to that I "could" take care of too! Changing from the subject of cleaning...I have just about finished another Christmas ornament. I will get back to stitching after I get Woody connected to his dialysis for tonight. We're waiting on the dialysis solution to heat up. I've already cleaned up the kitchen so I will head upstairs and put in the last few stitches. These last two have been quick stitches. We're still working on getting used to the time change. All this week I have been so surprised when my 4:30pm alarm goes off to remind me to take my before supper meds...it seems like it is much earlier in the afternoon than 4:30...and, last week it was 3:30pm...so it really is earlier than 4:30 according to my body's clock! Our electrician didn't show up today...why am I not surprised! Glad we aren't in a huge hurry! Covid seems to be calming down, but still...Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Last Appointment…This Week

We managed to get to and from Woody's appoiontment today...this one took a little longer...the kidney appointment involving the doctor almost always is a longer one. Today they were running behind...it all started with the doctor being 45 minutes late to begin the day and Woody's nurse said that from then on they just got farther behind! We waited in the car for a while and then once we were inside it didnt take a whole lot longer. But we left home at 10 and didn't get home till almost noon. Test results, etc. make him good to continue for next three months. His phosphorus readings were much better. And, his hemoglobin is low, but within what they have set for a goal...it is common for dialysis patients to have low hemoglobin and get injections to combat it. Woody got his injection today. After we got home, I got busy in the kitchen. I roasted a chicken in the convection oven...when done and cooled I cut it off the bone...some pieces and some slices. I am now making broth from the carcus and some veggies. I am about ready to remove it from the heat so I can cool it down to put in the refrigerator overnight. I have a recipe in mind to make with the chicken pieces and can use the chicken slices for some lunches and dinners. At tiday's prices, I'm trying to get as much from this chicken as possible! I ran a couple of errands after the chicken was done. I picked up a prescription at the drugstore and then stopped at the grocery store down the street. i had found out they have ground pork with nothing added to it. I had been looking for some for several months...ever since I realized that Kroger was no longer carrying what I had been getting to make Woody's breakfast sausage. So I was very glad to find what I wanted there. Hope they continue to carry it. Well, it is time to set up Woody's dialysis treatment...that time rolls around all too quickly each day...if I feel that way, I can only imagine what Woody must think about the amount of time he has to be connected to it! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Tiring Day

Neither of us slept the best last night so that made the trip to the surgeon's a bit more wearing than usual. The stitches came out easily...Woody said that he didn't even feel them coming out. The doctor cleaned up oart of the area where he had pulled the flap of skin to over the place he removed the tumor. By cleaning it up, I mean that he removed some of the skin that had died, but that wasn't a oroblem. He expected to do that...he had written that in his notes from our last visit. He was pleased with how it has healed so far and can see new tissue forming to fill in that area. Woody asked one question for which he got an answer he wasn't expecting nor wanted to hear. He had found a small subcutaneous bump on his upper arm. He showed it to Dr. Kelley and Dr. Kelley said that given Woody's history that it was probably melanoma. He felt no need to biopsy it at this time. He said to see if the Keytruda would take care of it. Woodynis scheduled for his next Keytruda infusion next week. Dr. Kelley will be sending his observations, etc. to Dr. Eze. He also mentioned that this small tumor might be a candidate to be injected with the virus like Woody had done before. He felt it would respond better to that treatment on down the road than the one that had grown so much on the outside of his arm. That will be part of what he tels Dr. Eze, Woody's on oncologist here in Tullahoma. Woody doesn't usually show discouragement, but I think finding a place that is probably melanoma so soon after his surgery did get to him a bit. Another option, of course, is to have this place surgically removed. So I imagine that the two doctor's will weigh the possiblities and keep an eye on "things" for the time being. Woody's dialysis is already started for tonight as we have ANOTHER appointment in the morning. Thank goodness it is in Tullahoma. Dr. O changed Woody's next week appointment to this week...so we ended up with three appointments in one week...haven't had that happen in a while. Just a minute ago the electrician, who I had called last week, called me back. We need to have a plug put in the garage for the garage door opener before the garage door folk come back to install it (that will probably be a while!). The electrician will stop by and see what needs to be done on Friday. I am relieved that he called back as lately I haven't had a lot of luck getting appointments with workmen set up. I attempted to get a plumber months ago, but so far that hasn't happened...I let that ride as temoerature changed andwe didn't need to have that work done while it is cold outside. Don't need the workmen coming in and out of the house while it is cold outside...especially since they will be working partially in the bathroom that is connected to "Woody's room." Now that it is getting nicer out, I may attempt to get that set up...again...but will wait to get electric done first...one thing at a time! I went to sleep early last night, but woke up several hours later and after such a good "nap" couldn't get back to sleep. I decided to cross stitch and got another Christmas ornament stitched. So the middle of the night was productive for me! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious! Oh, and, about tonight's picture...there are two barns in this picture..one behind the other. It is hard to capture both when traveling down the road at 55mph...but managed to snap the picture at the right time today...so two barns for the price of one tonight!

A Slooooooow Day

It has been a slow day because we haven't done very much and also a slow day for Woody's dialysis. I think today's treatment took the longest time ever. Woody says that it may be his "fault," as several times during the night he woke up with the alarm going off due to a slow drain. He has no idea how long those alarms had been going off...in some ways it was good that he was in that deep of ansleep, but in other ways he needed to shut off the alarm and change positions to make the drain process go faster. At least we had no appointments we had to get to today. Now tomorrow is another thing all together...he has an appointment with his surgeon late morning. I'm going to make tonight's blog short and sweet so I can go get his dialysis machine set up so we can start a bit earlier than usual. Tomorrow he is due to get his stitches out of the long incision on his arm. It is really healing very nicely...though he will be left with an ugly scar...at least the place is healing! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Beautiful Day

Tonight's photo doesn't match the day! But it was one of the snowy/icy images that I captured on Saturday. But I am so glad that the ice and snow are no longer with us. Once again our temperatures are on the rise...the promise of Spring was once again in the air...and really is just around the corner...even the calendar says so. It was so nice to head out for Woody's appointment with the Fresenius Kidney Care nurse this morning and actually be comfortable without a jacket! That appointment went fine and was an in-and-out appointment. After the appointment we went to get gas for the car so we will be ready to head off Wednesday to see his sirgeon. We were back home in just a little over an hour from the time we left the house. Our favorite kind of appointments..."close by" and "in and out!" We came home and I got a grocery list together. This time I decided to shop in person...it had been months since I had shopped inside Kroger. Before getting to the store, I stopped at the library to return some books that Woody had finished reading, then went to the Credit Union, and made a stop for a late lunch. I had a free birthday burger at Ruby Tuesdays. Today was the first day that worked out that I could stop and enjoy a birthday lunch. There's one thing for sure...I did not grocery shop being hungry! Got the groceries and came home and put them away. Woody went to Monday night prayer meeting and returned a little while ago. He is having his supper protein shake at the moment. I have tonight's dialysis treatment all set up. We'll get him connected once his shake has had a little time to digest! I'm ready to sit in my recliner...but that won't happen for a little while. I'll post this and then put away a few dishes and load a few into the dishwasher and that is it for me as far as doing things around the house. I'm ready to do some cross stitching. Yesterday I finished anoher Chistmas ornament. I have another one ready to stitch once I sit down tonight. Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

And…Prediction Was Right!

We did get snow. Tonight's photo shows what it looked like when I first looked out this morning. As you can see the roads didn't get too bad...at least not in front of our house. The temperature barely made it to 32°...if it did! But there was still melting as the sun came out in fukk force and a lot of melting occurred...mainly only shady spots left with snow. Nathan came over to find out that the ramp tarp worked partially. For the long sloped part of the ramp all he had to do was pull the tarp down the ramp and the snow cleared off. But at the top of the ramp, the flat part going out from the door got the tarp blown off so snow piled up. But salt, a push broom and Nathan's muscle power got it cleared. I did go pour more salt on it this evening as it was pretty wet up close to the door...figure it was partly due to runoff from the roof. We may have to put a door mat on it before heading out in the morning to Sunday School! But there should be no problem with the sloped part. I enjoyed a quiet snow day and stitched, read, and napped off and on! I did get the cross stitch piece I was working on finished. Our challenge tonight is to conquer the time change with dialysis and needing to head out the doorfairly early in the morning. I think that we got his dialysis going in plenty of time...we'll know for sure in the morning! I am very confused at the moment as part of the clocks are set to tomorrow's time and part of today's! Some I alone as internet will reset them and part I have to change. All I need to know is that we got his dialysis started at 7pm today's time. This change of time messes with everything...internal clocks too! The first few days of the time change are usually the hardest and most confusing! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Can the Prediction Possibly Be True?!?

Tonight's photo is from more than a year ago...BUT...they are predicting that we may get any where from 3 to 6 inches of snow in the overnight hours! You wouldn't dream it if you were to step out our front door right now...quite nice out once again. Nathan, Kathy, and Esther came over to prepare our ramp...just in case this snow really does happen. They spread tarp down the length of it then weighted it down with cans, etc. Woody also had them put our car in the garage. I was hoping that this is one of our Middle Tennessee winters! But since it isn't Spring yet, this one probably won't count. Here are the "winters" I'm talking about: Redbud Winter: early April Dogwood Winter: late April Locust Winter: early May Blackberry Winter: mid May Britches Winter: late May Something to look forward to during Spring, while we get teased back and forth between warmer and colder temps! That teasing is just part of living where we do. Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Someone Became a Year Older Today…I Wonder Who!

It was a beautiful day...I couldn't have ordered a prettier one for my birthday. I have had phone calls, unexpected visits, cards, birthday present in the mail, emails, texts, and I don't know how many Facebook wishes! I got a call from my former boss and while I was talkimg to her Abigail, Joy, and Esther showed up on our front porch with birthday wishes and gifts! After they left, I decided that I would fill my bird feeders...first picture shows them all fulled and hanging...I circled them to make them easier to pick put in the picture. I then finished sweeping the leaves off the front porch. While I was doing that a friend stopped with homemade chocolate chip scones...a thinking of us gift...not knowing that it was my birthday. She was happy that they served a double purpose...and that her timing was so right! Latrr in the afternoon, Kathy and Graham showed up followed by Nathan, Esther, Elijah, Isaac, and Joseph. Abigail and Joy were at work...reason they had stopped by earlier. They brought gifts and willing muscles to work in our yard! And, work they did...lots of leaves were raked up and things trimmed...they worked hard.There are still leaves left, but a major dent in them was made. I appreciate their willingness to work in our yard! So all in all it has been a very nice day...a good day to celebrate my 74 years! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious! Oops put the wrong photo in...this one just shows Joseph's legs under the tarp! Sorry JoJo! And, Graham had left for work! Also forgot to say that the last photo is Eijah taking a little break juggling acorns! Now I'm off to get Woody's dialysis started for tonight...then I am going to head to the recliner to stitch!

Interesting Day

The diaysis supply delivery happened a little after 7am...always good to get it over and done with rather than having to wait around for him to come. I still have boxes to put away...but that can be done another day! When he left, I got Woody disconnected from his dialysis cycler machine. Once that was done then it was time to make breakfast. Breakfast accomplished I sat down and ate mine and read some more in my latest book and sipped a cup of tea. After that it was time to change Woody's bandage on his arm. It still seems to be healing fine. I turned around a couple more times and it was time to do the manual dialysis drain. I did get to sit down for a couple of minutes to test out my new heating pad that had been delivered late morning, At that point, lunch was just around the corner and Woody needed to eat his pretty close to noon as we had to leave the house by 12:30 for his oncology appointment. I got him "delivered" for his appointment and I headed home for what I thought would be a couple of hours. I did make a quick stop at Hobby Lobby as I was running out of the red embroidery floss that I am using on my present stitching project. I didn't shop/look around at all...just in and out! I came home and ate my last two bites of lunch and then headed upstairs to test out my new heating pad and check in with my sister, Cheryl. She had a surgical procedure so I was checking to see how she was doing. But she didn't answer so I started checking out a few emails, etc. and the phone rang. It was Oncology saying Woody was ready to be picked up. It had been less than 45 minutes since I had dropped him off...he definitely hadn't had Keytruda. So I headed back in the direction of Oncology. The doctor decided that he wanted Woody to heal a couple more weeks before he had Keytruda...so new appointment was made for two weeks from today and he was free to go! I talked to Cheryl (twice) and to Melany late this afternoon. Cheryl has survived her procedure, but still not goung to win any races...she's not supposed to do "anything" till tomorrow...so definitely no races! She isn't even supposed to put her recliner up and down by herself! The mail has bern kind to me the last couple of days. Today I got something from Cheryl for Spring and the other was the second part of a gift from Melany and family. I'll reveal the reason for the gift from Melany and family tomorrow! I have a nice new suet feeder and suet for our birds...not for the squirrels...it is supposed to be squirrel proof...time will reveal if that is true of not. Today's gift was the suet so I hung it. I havrn't seen any birds at it yet. i guess it is time to go set up Woody's dialysis. Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Chillier

Yesterday's rains definitey brought us chillier temperatures. But we did see the sun today, though the clouds moved in and as a couple of hours ago, we once again have rain. We are in and dry so all's well on our part at this point in our day! Donna and I worked in the library after lunch and got quite a bit done despite running into several problems..one was attempting to type on a typewriter. Most of our labels are now prined out from the computer, but we have a couple that I would rather type on the typewriter. I bought new typewriter ribbons and changed those out today, but it didn't like the labels that I was trying to type on. Well, it took way too long to get them done, but I did manage to get labels typed for a stack of books that Donna had ready for me...and there are quite a few new books on the new book shelf all ready to check out with more to come. Woody had a run-of-the-mill day today doing his usual to keep pass the time. Right now we are wIting for the dialysis solution to warm so I can connect him for tonight's treatment. Tomorrow is dialysis supply deluvery day so if you happen by at just the right time, you will see a semi truck pulled up in front of our house. I was happy when we got the call today telling us what time tomorrow that we were back on the early time...between 7 and 11am. I was glad for early as Woody has his oncology appointment after lunch...so no overlap in times. He will get his next Keytruda infusion tomorrow...always something! But that is his only appointment this week so that is good. We just changed the dressing on his arm and it seems to be healing well...not the prettiest scar, but is healing. Well, time to get his dialysis going for tonight so I will stop. I will say that today I did choose to not mask while working at the church library today. But I think that we still need to: Be safe! Be well! Be cautious! But perhaps, just perhaps, things are settling down with Covid...praying so! Also praying for the Ukranians and their country...and the world!

Rainy Day

Going to blog early tonight to keep from forgetting! Woody is at Monday Night Furnace Room Prayer Meeting. I have his dialysis treatment set up for tonight. Today we had some March wind and some prespring rain...nourishing all that is getting ready to grow! The purples and yellows in our gardens get added to daily. When I went to the mailbox, everything still looked fresh and new...the rain hadn't seemed to beat anything down. Nathan brought by the former youth pastor from our church as he and his family were visiting in the area. It was good to see him again. Woody enjoyed the visit. I made a Cran-Apple Crisp today...something that Woody had said sounded good to him. Since I had both apples and cranberries it was easy to fulfill his request. We both enjoyed it midafternoon. I finished a cross stitch ornament yesterday and got to work on another cross stitch piece yesterday...working on things that I have started over the years but never completed. This project is stitched on perforated paper...not my favorite thing to stitch on...but it is good to work on these old projects from yesteryear! This one is a small Christmas bell pull. I got the border completed last night and have been working on one of the little angels this afternoon. The ornament I finished yesterday is the fifth one I have completed this year...it is for Erin (a penguin...but don't tell her!). I also finished a book today. I haven't been reading much this year...I am way off of my usual goal of at least one book a week...averaging about 2 books a month at the moment. But when I stitch I don't do a lot of reading. Woody has done his usual daily crossword puzzles and now his two daily word games, watched TV, rested, and read. And, now at prayer meeting...a good diversion in his week. Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Well, I Did It Again!

Forgot to blog...again...and, this time didn't make before midnight! Oh, well...I did think about blogging when Inwas setting Woody up for tonight's dialysis. We started earlier because of needing to get out the door early for Sunday School in the morning...so that got me out of sync...or at least I will use that as my excuse! I sort of took the day off today and did some stitching. I haven't done much this week and I had the goal set to finish another Christmas ornament. And, I am close...just have to outline it and it is a small ornament. I didn't do anything outside today except get the mail because we had been warned that the pollen count was up and it was windy. Trying to hold off the sneezes for at least a while. Woody did his usual...crossword puzzles, a couple of new word puzzles that he has discovered: Wordle and Quordle, he has read, watched some sports on TV, etc. So a quiet day in our household. Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Busy Spring Day

Busy, busy day! Between dialysis duties and household duties, I have kept very busy. I started in the kitchen. I'm not sure why, but I decided that I would change the filter in the refrigerator. That led to cleaning the filters in the range hood. Then I decided that I would clean the small top oven. I had only used the steam cleaning feature and hadn't ever used the heat cleaning feature. I still haven't wiped out the oven, but it looks very good. I also wiped out the microwave and washed the turntable...not very dirty as I had cleaned it not very many days ago...but there had been a few splatters since I had cleaned it. At that point the appliances on that side of the kitchen had had attention paid to them. The only other large appliance that needed something done to it was the dishwasher and I did need to clean the filter so this evening when I emptied the dishwasher, I decided that I would go on and do that. So parts of the kitchen are much cleaner! Since I am hoping to get Woody interested in some porch sitting, I decided that I needed to get it in better condition...so that is started. I put all the pillows through the drier to freshen them. Wiped down the chairs and started sweeping leaves away from under chairs...didn't quite have the energy to complete the sweeping job. But the porch is sitable now. If I can move tomorrow, maybe I will complete that job and fill bird feeders. It got close to 80° today...absolutely beautiful outside! Somewhere I managed to do a load of towels and washed the tablecoth that I leave on the dining room table these days so I can eat some of my meals there and do a little work there now and then. Next I will take winter decorative items off the china cabinet and make that room look more springlike. Do you think I'm ready to have Spring get here!?! I believe that we have a front coming through on Sunday...so warm temperatures will probably be leaving us...again...but at this time of the year we expect to go back and forth between warm and cold temps. I will take the warmth whenever we get it over the next weeks...and, I need to remember the cooler temps when the hot temps arrive! My favorite times of the year are Spring and Fall...the times in those seasons when we con't need a sweater or jacket...when the temps are "just right!" Usually not a lot of those "just right" days in a year! But I'll take them when I can grt them! Woody didn't feel like going outside today, but enjoyed it being warmer in the house. I did go out and take a few more pictures today. Using my oldest camera that has a setting that lets me take close-ups with one of my long zoom lenses. Tonight's photos shows you a couple of the ones I took this afternoon. Today was the first time that one of our regular size crocus has bloomed. Most of the flowers blooming now are miniature...we have tiny jonquils, iris, and crocus. Tonight's photos show a regular size jonquil and crocus. Be safe! Be well! Be cautious! I just realized that I didn't post the picture of the jonquil that I meant to...this one looks like it is floating in air:

17 Days Away

Another beautiful Spring-teaser-of-a day...beautiful! We fot into the upper 70's today. Today can make one a believer that Spring is only 17 days away. We have had a fairly peaceful-stay-at-home day. Woody spent some time with the bandage off of his arm letting it get some air and dry out a bit more when not under the bandage. It doesn't look too bad. Now, if you were to walk into the room and see him sitting there with no bandage on his arm, I am pretty sure that your eyes might stray to it...it is a fairly large wound. But I do think that it looks better than yesterday...so the healing process is underway. Woody always amazes me at how well and quickly he heals considering how many problems he has throughout his body. Nathan stopped by, again, today. He hurt his back doing a farm chore and is using the inversion table that I was gifted, but I am not using it...so guess it is good that someone is. In the last two days I have gotten back to doing a little cooking. I turned two leftovers into other dishes...turned the last of the pot roast into enchiladas and turned the last of the lima beans into succatash...using up some items from our freezer. I needed to use up some things in the freezer to be able to make room in the freezer for a pan of enchiladas. I still haven't done much stitching...whenever I sit down to stitch, I find my eyes closing. We had another short night of sleep as Woody got sick in the middle of the night...guess it was at a time when he had too much dialysis fluid in him...never sure. He doesn't have nausea...just gets sick and then feels fine. It was early enough this morning that we both could have gone back to sleep, but didn't. This afternoon, I decided to go outside and take some of our flowers that are blooming. Flowers are really popping up all over...wonderful to have color added to our yard after not much color this winter. I decided to use my micro 4/3 cameras (the kind of interchangable lens cameras that I have...mine are mirrorless...much lighter than DSLRs (both the cameras and lenses). I came on board with the mirrorless the year that they came out...perhaps the next...but my red micro4/3 mirrorless was the first model that Panasonic came out with...the Lumix G1 (I got mine in 2009)...and I have stuck with their cameras ever since...both in my interchangeable lens cameras and my point and shoots. Most of the time these days I use my newest point and shoot...but it is good to go back to these others and choose the lens that is best for the shot. The thing that I like best about point and shoots is that I have a range of lenses on my camera already...invariably, when I have my changeable lens cameras, I wish that I had a different lens on! Today I used a zoom lens on my black G-5 camera so I could zoom in and out from the flowers. But on my G1 I used a prime lens...with on focal lens and let my legs get me closer to the flowers. Both do a good job with close-ups. I think that two of tonight's are with the red camera and one with the black camera (easier to designate the cameras by color than number...or older (red) or newer (black)! The black camera had the longer lens on it and I noticed that I had a bit of a harder time holding it still...need to get back into practice holding the larger cameras still! I need to get the front porch ready for doing some porch sitting and get the birds back at the feeders. I got fed up with the squirrels and haven't filled the feeders lately...but will again so I can sit and take birdie pics! I'm hoping that Woody will feel like sitting outside on one of these warm days. I think he has started thinking about trying to get out there. I can gdt him to the front door in the wheelchair and then he can use the walker to get down the step to the porch and then it is just a short distance to the first rocker. Speaking of the front porch. I took Mr. Snowman and a smaller snowman off the front porch yesterday in honor of it being March and we are ready for no more snow! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Surprised My Sister

Today is Cheryl's, my favorite (and only) sister's, birthday. I put a note on the back of her card that told her what her gift is. I decided that she hadn't received her card since she hadn't said anything about her gift. So when I called her this afternoon, I asked her if her card had gotten to her on time. She said that her card had gotten there yesterday. So I asked her if she had looked at the back...I had written "over" on the inside. She hadn't...but did then...and seemed excited when she read what her gift is...a promise of a plane ticket to TN from AZ. So now to plan a time! Looking forward to her visiting, again! Today for the next 8 days we are six years different in age. But...then...I become 7 years older...again! She did say that now she is very happy to be younger...she didn't feel that way when she was little! We made it safely to and from the surgeon's office today. It was a quick visit. Today, he only removed the drain. He will remove the stitches at the next appointment in two weeks. The surgeon seemed pleased with how Woody is healing. He did of course tell us that what was removed was melanoma...no surprise there! Plus we had already read the report on MyHealth at Vanderbilt. Nathan and Isaac stopped by to see us this afternoon. Nathan brought is a basil plant...first new plant of this growing season. At the moment we have just set it pot and all into the raised bed so I can bring it in if/when the next cold snap arrives. It has been a gorgeous warm Spring day here again today. We made it to 70...very nice! Nathan did a few "sonny-do" jobs for us while they were here. Our blue birds should be happy he and Isaac cleaned out the bluebird houses so they can build fresh ones. I have been seeing bluebird activity near the houses the last few days so now they can get busy and make their new 2022 homes! We've had a long day today as neither of us slept the best and then the trip to and from. So I think we are both happy to see the day draw to a close. Woody's dialysis is going and he has moved back to his couch bed. He has been sleeping in the recliner since his surgery. I got bandages checked and changed so I think that my nursing duties are finished for the day. I am going to do a little in the kitchen and then head upstairs...hoping that I can do a little stitching tonight before my eyes close! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

In Like a Lamb!

We have had a delightful day here in Middle TN! It's days like these that make you really think that Spring may be just around the corner! I'm sure we will have many more cold days, but it is nice to see blue sky for a change and have the sunshine come in the windows! It has been a busy day for me. I started out as usual getting Woody disconnected from his overnight dialysis. He has been noting when his dialysis was completed and has been clocking how long the last drain has been in and the last few days, I have been doing the manual drain prior to him having breakfast as he has usually bad the last fill in him for around two hours. I did the manual drain and then got his breakfast made. When he finished breakfast I changed the dressing on his arm where he had the tumor removed and checked the drain from where he had the lymph node removed. By the time I get all that done, it is usually 10am. Today, I was to pick up my grocery order between 10 and 11am, which meant it was time to head to Kroger. I got back home unloaded the groceries and put them away and was able to sit down a little while before it was time to get lunch. After lunch, I headed back out to go to the church to work with Donna in the library for a couple of hours. We accomplished quite a lot. Our next work session, will end with a lot of new books on the shelves. Today was getting a lot of books a little ways farther in their processing. We did get a few totally ready for the shelves. I made a stop at the pharmacy to pick up prescriptions for Woody and me. When I for home, I finished getting the garbage and recycle out to the curb and then I was able to shut the door on the outside world for today! Woody has had a good day too. He has read quite a bit, watched a little television, worked word puzzles, etc. Tonight we got his dialysis started earlier than usual due to needing to be in Franklin, TN by 8am in the morning. We will need to get an early start to be there on time. Hoping that his dialysis goes as well as it has been the last few days. That's our day in a nutshell. I am very glad to be sitting in my recliner! Tonight's photos show a sampler that I started work on back in 1993. I took a correspondence course through EGA (Embroiderer's Guild of America) on Ukranian embroidery...learning the techniques that Ukraine women use when embroidering on clothes. I never totally finished the course, but did get well underway with the first sampler that was part of this class. With all that is going on with the Ukranians I was reminded about doing this piece and decided to get it out. I have other things that I am stitching on currently so don't think that I will start stitching on it, at least, not at the moment. It would take a lot of studying to get back into the cadence of doing this with the proper method...a lot of water under the bridge and I don't remember all the ways to make the stitches so the back will look a certain way. But I did decide that I would drape it over my needlework basket and then when my eyes fall on it, I will remember all that the Ukraine and its people are going through and remember to pray for them fervently. This basket is right next to my recliner so my eyes fall on it regularly. What you are seeing is part of my stitching area...sleeping area...reading area...favorite place to rest and relax! "My little corner of the world!" Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!