Final Day of April

Once again another month is coming to an end...and, now we are 1/3 of the way through 2022! Days, weeks, and months are just speeding by. Is it my age...or just the day and times...that make time fly by so quickly? Woody has done a lot of dozing today...or so it seemed that every time I looked in on him his eyes were closed...probably didn't get much sleep overnight...wonder if he will tonight! I have worked some on the photos that I took yesterday and am pleased with most of them. Marie got in touch today with the upsetting news that she had lost all her puctures she took yesterday, She used her camera to show her husband a few that she had taken and then took out her memory card and inserted it in her computer to upload them...next thing she knew she had no pictures and has no idea why. She's hoping a guru can help her recover them. Carolyn and I are more than willing to share ours with her. But that will just not be the same as her own! We each get a different take on each photo we take...we can all take the same barn...but it will look different just because of each perspective or zoom or whatever! We can go back and take the same barns, but the conditions won't be the same so will look entirely different. Marie is sad to think she may have lost the pictures she took on such a beautiful Spring day. We're all hoping that they can be recovered. I worked a little in the front yard...trying to rake up all the debris...like acorns, small sticks, etc. I have little piles all over the front yard...hope they stay there with the rain that is coming. I also raked out some more leaves from some of the bushes along the front of the house. I don't last very long at the outside jobs! I have started a new book and am enjoying it so far. As I read, I try to figure out if Woody might enjoy it. It is hard for me to choose books for Woody...sometimes I am successful and sometimes not. I'm pretty safe if it is an author he already enjoys, but it is hard to find new authors for him. His books are due on Monday and some can't be renewed so I will need to make some choices. At the moment he isn't reading much so I'm guessing that the new authors I chose the last time don't appeal and that perhaps he is a bit burned out on one of his favorite authors. Woody's dialysis cycler machine is all set up and we will be starting tonight's treatmemt shortly as we have to be up and out of here early in the morning. Woody is teaching his Sunday School class in the morning. And, next when I blog, it will be May. Good bye to April! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Can You Guess Where I Went?

Barn trip day! Marie, Carolyn, and I took off mid morning. Marie had scouted out some good roads to go to find lots of good barns...lots of barns...between Shelbyville and Murfreesboro. The three of us snapped lots of photos...between us there is no telling how many...I just uploaded mine to the iPad and I have a few over 200! I haven't taken the time to look through all of them...haven't deleted the blurry ones yet. But there are more than enough in focus to provide fodder for the blog for a while. I started with this barn...the second one that we came upon...chose it since the name of the farm is my maiden name. Woody survived the day...probably enjoyed the peace and quiet for quite a few hours! More barns to come...a promise or a threat?!? Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Pretty Serious!

Joseph is almost always very serious. Isaac says he can tell which one Joseph is because he doesn't smile and stands very still...that's our Joseph. Woody and I have already been to Joseph's game tonight and are back home...it was a pretty quick game...the other team did our team in pretty quickly. They had really good hitters and our team just couldn't field the ball tonight. Win some...lose some...but the main thing is that the boys and girls have a good time! And, I think that they did. I believe this was their first loss, but not absolutely sure. Today was wash day for me...lots of ups and downs...up and down the stairs. I still have one load to get out of the drier. I'm sure that the highlight of Woody's day was getting out and getting to the ball game. I had Woody's dialysis all set up before we went to the game tonight since I need to get his dialysis started a little earlier tonight as I have plans in the morning...hoping that his dialysis machine, etc. cooperate and will be done so I can get him disconnected and drained before I need to leave. Time will tell! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Another First Bloom

I happened to notice that our rose bush had its first bloom open at the very top of the bush. Today has been a day of various tasks. When I came downstairs a little after 6am, Woody's overnight dialysis treatment was finished. So I disconnected him from the machine and out the machine through its last paces. All the records from the night's treatment are recorded and sent through a modem to "where ever!" I get information off the screen and record it in Woody's written records that I keep and turn in once a month...I can see how long the treatment took so Incan figure out when it has been at least two hours since the last fill takes place...so we will know when it is okay to drain him so he can really be finished with his treatment that started the night before and can eat breakfast. This morning, while I waited for his last fill to dwell for two hours, I got out the recipe for Sourdough French Bread and had it rising by the time it was time to do the manual drain...at this point it was a little after 8. It takes about 45 minutes for the last fill to drain. And, he doesn't want to eat till that drain is finished. After he drains and I have him disconnected from that, it is time to take care of dressing the site where his catheter enters his abdomen...also a daily task. THEN I can fix his breakfast and he can eat! This morning the time of a little after 9am was a fairly decent time...some mornings it is almost 11 by the time he can eat...by that time it is brunch! The dough continued to rise during all this. Sourdough takes a longer time to rise if no other yeast is used...and this time I felt that the sourdough starter was developed enough to rise without the help of other yeast. And, indeed, it did well with rising and we have two crusty loaves of French bread. Bread and dialysis took up enough time that I haven't accomplished as much of what I had planned to do with my washing, but I do have a load in the drier and one in the process of washing. I may do one more load of wash tonight,,.but then I might not! I did take a nap this afternoon as I woke up way too early...before I went down at 6, I had done one crossword puzzle and a three word puzzles that I have been sucked into doing most days...Wordle, Word Hurdle, and Phrazle and had printed out Woody's two crossword puzzles. He also usually does whichever of the word games that he does when he can't sleep in the night...he does Wordle and Quardle. I believe that he has done some napping today and I definitely closed my eyes a couple of times today...a couple of cat naps. I did manage to keep my eyes open enough to finish another book this afternoon. Woody has had his protein shake...tonight...strawberry...and now it is time for the dialysis "routine" to start all over again! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Another Color

Today there were more irises blooming and tonight's photo joined the ones of the other color. These are the main colors in this garden. We have had a yellow bloom in this garden too. I hope that we still have a yellow bloom this year. Melany is planning to thin them out later in the year and I would like to be sure to get each of the colors left in the garden. I did spend a little time out in the yard today...more weed pulling. I waited to go out in the yard till this afternoon as yesterday's rain cooled things off once again, though by afternoon it was very pleasant out. After lunch, I headed off to get my hair cut and on the way home I stopped at the pharmacy to pick up one of my prescriptions. I hadn't been in the pharmacy in a while so while there I looked around. This independent pharmacy has lots of gift items and it is fun to look around. Woody has done a lot of resting/dozing today as he didn't sleep well last night. I hope that he can sleep tonight! I decided to "restart" my sourough starter the other day and it is ready to use to bake something...trying to decide what I will make tomorrow...time will tell! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

April Showers

Woody is at the Monday Night Furnace Room Prayer Meeting. While he was gone I got tonight's dialysis treatment set up and everything is ready to make him his protein shake once he gets home, We have had rain off and on this afternoon and evening,,,I guess that these April showers are preparing all those May flowers...really some of those May flowers are already blooming. I consider the bigger iris as May flowers as they were the flower that bloomed close to Nathan's birthday...tulips bloom around Melany's birthday in April and daffodils and jonquils near my birthday in March. We have more of the purple iris open yesterday and today. Tonight shows the first of our Gerber Daisies to bloom this year. This is one from a plant that Mealny and Wade planted for us last year. Yesterday was busy for me in the cooking area. When we got home from Sunday school I slipped a Boston Butt pork roast into a slow oven to cook for many hours. When it was done, I pulled it...so that job is done...some in the refrigerator for us to eat now and some in the freezer for a later time. So no cooking today except for mealtime. I have begun doing wash that needs to be done...Woody's got done today...drier just buzzed to say that a load is ready to put away! One more to go and then maybe I'll work on mine tomorrow. Today being cloudy and a bit rainy seemed a good day to read so I finished a book. It also proved a good afternoon for naps for both of us. Tomorrow there is one appointment on the calendar and it is for me tonget my hair cut...an appointment that I always look forward to! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

I Was Right!

Last night I predicted that this iris would bloom today. It was open when I went outside this morning. This has been a day of doing lots of different jobs inside and outside fhe house. I woke up too early this morning and when I realized I wasn't going back to sleep, I went into the sewing room and machine hemmed the linen dishtowels. Recently I bought yardage of linen that was woven with toweling in mind...narrow width. I bought several yards and divided the yardage into six kitchen towels. All I had to do was hem the two ends on each of them. Last night before I went to sleep, I pinned up the hems...so it was easy straight stitching that I did this morning. They are all tucked into place in the towel drawer in the kitchen. By the time that was done, it was time to disconnect Woody...but not time to drain him yet. I ate some breakfast and then went outside to do a couple of gardening jobs. Nathan and Kathy and family had given me a rose bush for my birthday which still needed to be planted...easier said than done...but it did get done...hope that I dug a good enough hole...but what is done is done! I also planted some seeds that they had given me. Then I attempted to do some more weeding. I have weeded off and on today...doubt that it shows to anyone but me! Did I ever say, "I'm NOT a gardener?!?" Just doesn't give me satistaction as it does my daughter and sister and many friends!!! I want to be inside sewing or stitching or reading or cooking...not getting my hands dirty! It got into the low 80s today...pretty warm with the sun beating down! I'm getting ready to get dialysis set up, as we have to head out early in the morning for Sunday School. After I get him set up and connected, I still need to out together the ground pork concoction for Woody's breakfast sausage. I will cook it tomorrow, but it will be good to have it all mixed in the morning. So kitchen duties still await me. Woody has been doing his usial...puzzles, reading, TV watching, etc. He finished another book today. Well, it is time to get "things" started. Be safe! Be well! Be cautious,

Our Birdies Are Happy!

Today has been a full day. I got up around 6am to see where Woody was in his dialysis cycles...and he still had a ways to go. He was sleeping still, so I headed back upstairs and took a shower and got dressed. I came back down and it still wasn't finished. It finally finished the last fill a little after 7:30 and I wanted to leave no later than 7:40 for my doctor appointment. I got him disconnected and headed out the door and was pulling out of the dirveway a little after 7:40 but pretty close. My doctor is in McMinnville which is about 45 minutes away, but with school zones I wanted to have a little bit leeway. It's a pretty drive...nice to see how everything is greening up...but no photos today since I was driving. I kept wishing that I was on a barn trip instead of a doctor trip! I got to the office a little bit before my appointment time of 8:40. The parking lot was almost full...but when I went in there was no one in the waiting room and by the time that I got all my paperwork brought up to date, I was called back. I answered all the questions asked by the nurse...then someone knocked on the door and said, "She's ready for you." Whicj made no sense to me as usually they come to get you when it is time for labs. But she took me down the hall and around a corner and into another room where my doctor was sitting...with a walker next to her. Now I don't know how many of you do what I always do when I see Dr. Harlow...I ask how she is. We've known each other for years...as she used to go to our church before she moved to McMinnville...so it is just the normal thing that I ask a friend...but probably not what most say first to their doctor...usually it is the doctor asking how the patient is! Anyway, she said she was doing pretty well...didn't mention the walker. We went on with her asking a few questions and then I had to ask what the walker was doing next to her. She explained that she had fallen off a ladder and broken her hip back in February! So I would say that today my doctor is worse off than I am! I asked a couple of health questions...got answers and then went on to the lab so she could get on with her patients. She still isn't working a full day so they pack as many patients in as they can in the morning so she can go home to rest. I came home and got Woody's last fill drained and then got him his breakfast at noon. He said that he still wanted his breakfast since it was really his favorite meal. Later in the afternoon, he had some cran-apple crisp and ice cream and then had his shake a bit later than usual. I had decided that since it was such a beautiful day that I would fill bird feeders, as I had gotten new bird seed yesterday. I also cleaned the humming bird feeder as it was looking a little cloudy...don't want my hummingbirds to get sick! And, today I saw a hummingbird at the feeder several times. Good to have the hummers back. This hummingbird feeder is a new one that Melany, Wade and family gave me for Christmas so this Spring is the first time that I have had it out. I also plan to put out our older one too and am in the process of getting it cleaned up. Hopefully I will get it out tomorrow. I watered the new ferns and begonia that Melany and Wade brought me last weekend along with the sunflower seed feeder. It didn't take the birds long to get the word out that the feeders were full once again at 106. The only one that I haven't seen a bird eat from is the new sunflower feeder...sometimes it takes them a while to check out a new feeder...I'm sure that it won't be long till they are grabbing sunflower seeds from it...or the squirrels will discover it...along with the others!!! I sat on the porch for a while and called Cheryl...she likes to sit on our porch...so we talked on the phone and she could hear the birds singing and the children across the street playing. I snipped off some branches that have been getting in the way and picked up a few more sticks. The hard bucket is full to overflowing. Woody has pretty much stayed put in his chair and I think dozed off and on...think he may be dozing as I type this...at least I think that I hear dozing noises! He has on Friday evening news programs on, but not sure he is learning much at the moment. Be safe! Be well! Be cautious! Speaking of those three things, I was surprised to be the only one that I saw masked this morning at the doctor's office...first medical facility that I have been in for several years that didn't require wearing them. The nurse did ask me if I wanted her to wear one. I am going to end with three more photos...one I call " Maybe Tomorrow." It is the way I found an iris a few minutes ago...looks like it may unfurl it's petals on the next sunny day. And the other two are views from my front porch that shows "Spring Green." Moving to TN as a young bride it was the first time that I realized why there was a spring green color in the Crayola box!

He Scored!

Another night at the ball park. Joseph's team is going strong...they won again! And, tonight, Woody and I got to watch. Good going Joseph and the rest of the Nationals! This has been a full day. This morning Woody had an appointmen with Dr. O and his dialysis team here in Tullahoma. We got home around noon and shortly after that I headed off to the Credit Union and Kroger. I hadn't been to Kroger. Of course, after doing the shopping I had to get them into the house and put away. That accomplished there was a little time to breathe before we headed to the ball field. We are now home and waiting on Woody's dialysis solution to warm up so we can get tonight's treatment going. I have an early morning appointment so we will see if there will be time to at least disconnect him before I have to head off. Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Such a Pretty Day

What a pretty day! Nice to see the sun shine and feel the temperatures warm up. We had a usual morning...inside...mainly dealing with finishing Woody's dialysis and getting his late breakfast. I only ate a light breakfast because a group of us were gathering for a late lunch. A group of is from our Sunday School class gathered at Arby's. We chose Arvy's because it was a favorite of one of our former class mates who passed away last year. Often when members from the class visited with Betty, they took along an Arby's roast beef and a chocolate shake...much to her delight...and in her laet months she didn't have a lot of bright spots in her life. Our class was saddened that Betty's family chose not to have a service of any kind to honor her so we decided that once Arby's opened to inside eating that we would gather and have a sandwich and shake in her honor. And, today was that day. We had a nice time visiting and remembering Betty and all enjoyed a good lunch too. Knowing that Arby's is a favorite of Woody's, I brought him home a treat of Arby's roast beef. After I got home, I did a little gardening. Woody has tried for years to get the creeping flox reestablished in one of the flower beds...some of that flos had crept out of the flower bed and was growing out in the yard. I decided that while it was flowering and I could find the clumps easily, that I would do a little transplanting. I probably relocated seven or eight clumps. Now we will see if those clumps survive their move. I also started the momumental job of picking up sticks and limbs that have come down in the last storms. Two ferns got their dead leaves cut off hoping that new growth will take over. And, that was enough outside for me...hope that the pollen didn't get to me. I really had to quit when a lawn mower service got underway on a yard across the street and was stirring up a lot of dust that was drifting this way. After all that activity, I was ready for a nap! I'm waiting on Woody's dialysis solution to warm so we can get underway earlier tonight since he has a morning appointment with Dr. O at the kidney center...hoping that his dialysis will be finished early enough to be able to do the final drain before we have to leave...and maybe he can have breakfast before also. So off to get dialysis started for the night! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Tuesday

Another day...another dollar...or perhaps lack of said dollar! Today we have done a lot of the same ol' same ol'...dialysis disconnecting and connecting...filling and draining...washing and sanitizing hands...masking and unmasking...setting up and taking down...patience and sometimes not so much patience...sitting and waiting...those words pretty much describe our days and nights...especially Woody's! We are waiting now for the dialysis solution to warm so then we can grt Woody connected for the next ten plus hours so we can disconnect...drain...and sit and wait for the next treatment. We are definitely in a cycle ising a dialysis cycling machine! I did leave the "hamster wheel" for a while today and went to work with Donna in the church library. We, today, worked on long overdue books...in other words, giving up on ever getting them back so spent the time making sure they weren't on the shelves and then deleting them...one way weeding happens in a library, We deleted quite a few and added one new one. But our shelves Re in need of weeding as they are getting overly full once again. One of those duties that makes me sort of sad as some we need to get rid of are old friends...but sometimes it is time to make some new friends! Well, it is time to get the next dialysis treatment going so it will end at a reasonable time in the morning, Woody has learned that he can't eat breakfast until that last fill is drained. We are now doing that drain two hours after the last fill ends. Then the drain takes from 30 minutes to an hour. Most mornings he doesn't get breakfa#t till ten am. Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Quiet Monday

We have really done a lot of nothing today! I worked on putting away items that I had used for our "company" last week. Woody did go to prayer meeting tonight. He's the only one who moved the car. I got under way with the grocery list so it will be ready when I decide that I "have" to go to the grocery store. It has been rather chilly today and there is a possibility for frost in the morning. I have been wondering which "winter" this is! The dogwoods are still in full bloom and our white azalea is just about in full bloom. The trees are beginning to show their spring-green color...along with adding a lot of pollen to the air. I received some linen toweling that I had ordered and have washed it and ironed it so I can cut lengths and hem each towel and then have some new kitchen towels. I set up Woody's dialysis while he was at prayer meeting. He has just finished his protein shake so in a half hour or so we will be ready to get him connected and the dialysis going for tonight. After that, I may go upstairs and cut a couple of towel lengths and then hem them by machine this evening. We'll see if I can find the energy needed! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Saturday Visitors

Melany and Wade arrived late morning and left late afternoon. They brought a surprise for our front porch...three pretty hanging baskets...so pretty. We had a nice visit. I made hot pork sandwiches and mashed potatoes for lunch and had cran-apple crisp and ice cream for dessert. We talked about lots of things, walked the front and back yards, did a little weeding as we walked by some of the flower beds. Talked about garden plans and a couple of things that I can do in the gardens (without too much effort!). While we weee sitting at the dining table having lunch, the mail carrier delivered a box that I wasn't expecting till Monday...nice when things come early! The box contained a new toaster that I had ordered after our old one "bit the dust." Went back in time and got a two slice toaster rather than another toaster oven...takes up a lot less space and I figure that I can use our small oven if I need to top toast or broil something. We'll see! It's bright red...the red accents I have in the kitchen are a tip of the hat to red barns...at least in my mind that is what the red represents! Woody is already dozing on the couch. I have the dialysis solution warming. I'm hoping that he isn't too deeply asleep to wake up to do his part of getting connected. We need to get it going early so we can be ready to leave for Sunday School on time in the morning. Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Good Friday…Good Day for a Good Visit

Today our dear friend Linda H. spent the afternoon with us. She brought Arby's sandwiches and I made cran-apple crisp. So we ate and then talked about LOTS of things...caught up with each other...shared memories...and...chased a lot of rabbits...covered lots of subjects! Linda and I walked around our yard. She is a wonderful gardener...which I am not...I envy her green thumb. She planned to come visit us after she ran an errand in Tullahoma, but was unable to complete her task since her destination was closed due to it being Good Friday. That just means another visit in the near future! She brought me some old craft/needlework magazines that I look forward to perusing...late night reading material! Our church livestreamed our Good Friday Service this evening. We really appreciate today's technology that allows us to attend services from home. Woody's dialysis for the night is underway so Good Friday is waning. We're looking forward to another visitor tomorrow! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious! I'll end with The Legend of the Dogwood that tonight's photo can illustrate. THE LEGEND OF THE DOGWOOD TREE There’s nothing more majestic than a dogwood in spring, decked out with fabulous flowers! To some people, though, dogwoods hold a deeper meaning. The legend of the dogwood tree is an age-old story that tells the story of this magnificent tree and how it become the tree we know and love today. Our story begins almost two thousand years ago in Israel. If you ventured into the forests of Israel at that time, you would have seen plenty of sturdy oaks, lofty cedars, walnut trees, and more—all of which are fine and noble trees, loved and used by carpenters. However, one tree was prized above all others: the mighty dogwood. Back then, the dogwood lacked its distinct fruits and flowers, but it was still impressive, rising taller than any oak or cedar. Its wood was strong, hard, fine-grained, and easy to work with. It had no equal, and it was constantly in demand. During this time, a simple carpenter was declared King of the Jews and was sentenced to death. The method of execution? Crucifixion. And the tree used to fashion the iconic wooden cross? A dogwood. According to the legend, the dogwood felt great sorrow for the role it played in Jesus Christ’s death. While on the cross, Jesus sensed the tree’s anguish, and he decided to transform it so that it could never again be used in crucifixion. From that point on, the dogwood was no longer a tall, stately forest tree. Rather, it became a small and shrub-like tree with thin and twisted limbs. Jesus was taken down from the cross and placed in a tomb. Three days later, he rose from the dead. At the same time, the dogwoods in the forest burst into bloom, and they continue to do so right around Easter in what is believed to be a celebration of Jesus’ resurrection. While the dogwood tree never again took part in an execution, it’s still said to carry the marks of Jesus’ crucifixion. Its four large petals represent the cross he died upon, and each petal displays four red-tinged notches that are said to represent four nail holes. And in the center of each flower is a green cluster that is symbolic of Jesus’ crown of thorns. Alas, the legend of the dogwood most likely originated in the United States in the 20th century. While we know Dogwoods are not native to the Middle East, nor would they have been found growing there in Jesus’ time, this story is one to think about and ponder! Nevertheless, the legend persists, and many Christians revere the beloved dogwood as it continues to remind them of Jesus’ love and sacrifice.

Evidence That the Wind Did Blow Last Night!

Here's what was discovered this morning in Nathan and Kathy's lot right behind our house. The little building was the clubhouse that Nathan and the kids built some time back out of salvaged wood. The side of it was a lean-to that sheltered (?) the riding lawnmower. The tree that is down is just a little ways from the little building...farther away from our house. We're glad that wind damage happened there and not to any houses in the area! Nathan stopped by this morning to check out ehat had happened. Our next door neighbor had texted them about the downed tree and the damage to the clubhouse. Then this evening Nathan and Kathy stopped by so Kathy could see in and so they could decide what the next steps were...looks like someone who knows about trees is going to have to come in and take care of the tree to keep it from falling on the other neighbor's fence. I knew when the wind really picked up last night and went out on oir little sunporch (enclosed...not outside) to pull down the blinds and thought that I saw some things flying (being blown) across the back yard. At that point Woody told me to come in from the glassed-in area to be safe! The storms blew through very quickly. We have other limbs down but nothing major. After I got Woody disconnected and deained and his breakfast fixed, I met Carolyn and Jo at the Downtown Cafe for breakfast. We had a good visit...we always do! Covid has cut into our little outings...maybe we can get back together more regularly once again. I continued to do what I guess you could call "Spring Cleaning"...a little cleaning job here and there. This evening while Nathan and Kathy were here, it was time for me to set up Woody's dialysis. Nathan decided that he wanted to do it...so I talked him through the set-up with Kathy observing. They left after that. Once the sulution heated up, I got him connected for tonight's treatment. He's watching TV now...unless he has dozed off! I have the kitchen cleaned up and am getting ready to head upstairs once I get the dishwasher going and get some clothes out of the drier. So our day is coming to an end...rather busy day...lots of visiting! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Wednesday…Storm Line Approaching

At the moment storms aren't in the picture...but, if one looks at radar, approaching storms can be seen. Ar the moment the wind is what gives a clue that something is on the way. Woody drove home from his Keytruda treatment as he wanted to put the car in the garage...and, I don't even attempt to make that 90° turn and attempt to get through that skinny garage door opening and into the likewise skinny garage space. So our car is inside and protected from whatever might blow through this evening. There are tornado watches around us...don't think we are in one at the moment. Kentucky is already having a rough time...I've heard about a few tornado warnings for counties just north of the TN/KY border. While Woody was at TN Oncology today, I attempted to work on cleaning "his room." While he is there is about the only time that I can clean it without him being in it...so I ran the vacuum and mopped "his bathroom" floor. That two hours that he is gone goes by pretty quickly. I did change the batteries in his LED clock...took me a while to figure out how to get it set again. It is one of those that is supposed to set itself at some point, but was afraid that it might get confusing until it decided to reset! I still have a load of towels to get out of the drier. After he got home, I drifted upstairs and drifted off to sleep for a while. My back wasn't too happy with my vacuuming and mopping efforts. It prefers me to dust! I even pulled a few weeds on my say inside after droppijg Woody off for his appointment. I got rid of a fee dandelions. I could tell that we had had lots of rain lately. My little weeding tool went into the ground quite easily and I was able to get the dandelion root and all...but some will be coming back as the root broke away before I got it out of the ground. I'm not much of a gardener and never will be. Last night I didn't take our knocked-down boxes out to the road for recycling as there was a chance of rain over night. So this morning I made a mad dash to grt them out before the recycle truck came. And, I just made it...they pulled up as I was putting down the last of the boxes. If I don't get them recycled every week, they make a pretty big stack behind the chair in the living room. Of course, when I get tonight's solution bags out, I will empty another box...and the stack begins all over again...but at least it won't almost reach the top of the back of the chair! I am heading off fairly in the morning, so I'd better go get Woody's dialysis set up so he will be finished before I head off. Be safe! Be well! Be cautious! Here's a photo of the approaching storms. It is still a ways away from us...we are the blue pin.

Tuesday

Another pretty day...warmed up very nicely. I worked around the house this morning...the cups and saucers are back in their places. Glass globes are sparkling...and...a little less dust is showing. After lunch, Donna and I worked in the library. We actually emptied the last box of new books...and they are now on the book shelves waiting to be read. We were glad to have finally cleared the books that have stacked up since Covid slowed everything down. I stopped at the grocery store on the way home to get a couple of things that should allow me to put off major grocery shopping for a few more days. Woody worked on some of the crossword puzzle books that he was given for Christmas. He has done a little reading and tv watching. I am back to doing more reading. I have not been doing as much cross stitching lately. Tomorrow Woody has his every three-week visit to TN Oncology here in Tullahoma. He will see his Tullahoma oncologist and have his Keytruda treatment. I'm waiting on the dialysis solution to warm up so I can get his dialysis going tonight. It's that time again...seems like we just disconnected him! If I feel that way, I can imagine how Woody feels. But he is ready to get it underway. Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

An Easy Patient

Woody had his monthly check-in with his Fresenius Kidney nurse. His nurse had had a stressful morning from before he got to the center up to seeing Woody. when he did the few things that he needed to do for Woody, he proclaimed Woody an easy patient...just what he needed after his hectic morning. nice to be an easy patient! Woody had his labs drawn and signed a few papers and answered a few questions and we were out of there and on our way back home. We managed to sneak between raindrops, too. It wasn't raining at all when we left, though it had rained prior to us leaving. And, it was barely sprinkling when we got back home. I have been doing fiddly cleaning jobs today...continuation of cleaning things that don't get cleaned very often. Most of thr time the teacup collection just gets a swipe from a swiffer. But today I took them all off the shelves and have washed them by hand. They are all on the dining room table waiting for me to put them back...I took the photo so I would know where they go and not have to make any decisions when I put them back. It has been fun looking at all the details on the cups and saucers. These are all a part of my mother's teacup collection as is the display shelf. When she moved to my sister's house she didn't have any place to put the shelf up and asked me if I would like the display shelf and some teacups to fill it. Obviously I accepted her offer! The two of us sat and chose the ones that Mother wanted me to have. So it wae fun thinking back over memories brought back because of the cups and saucers. Most are made in England but there is also one from France and one from Germany. One belonged to my Aunt Lois, some are from other of Mother's relatives and one was my grandmother's, on my father's side, sister's. The family ones are all marked with who they belonged to originally. One of them was hand painted...a hobby back "in the day." That one is very thin china. The only reason that these have "chuna" on them is that they are bone china...not where they were manufactured...rarely these days can you find something that isn't made in China! I also polished the bells on the little bell shelf in the living room...so silver polishing and cup and saucer washing. My hands need lotion tonught! I will dust and use furniture polish on the cup and saucer display shelf...tomorrow...fiddly cleaning is done for today. Oh, I almost forgot that I also washed off all my glass bells that are on my china cabinet/buffet and dusted the rest of the items on that and polished that large puece of furniture. Dining room is definitely cleaner! There is still a bit more to do in there...like dining room chairs need to be polished...again, another day! Woody went to prayer meeting tonight and is home. He has had his protein shake and is now ready for me to get his dialysis going for tonight. Be safe! Be well! Be cautious! (Sounds like Covid cases are on the rise againM)

Saturday Doings

The end of another Saturday is before us. We're waiting on Woody's dialysis solution to warm up. I have kept busy today and am very ready to head upstairs to my recliner. I have done a little cooking and a little cleaning, The living room got dusted...and, this time more than a lick and a promise. I polished furniture pieces and also dusted items that I don't dust every time that I give the room a lick and a promise! The bells and other decorative items have been individually dusted and taken off their shelf or table top. I still have one more little shelf with tiny silver bells that needs attention...needing dusting and polishing. I roasted a pork roast and some potato wedges this afternoon. The kitchen is cleaned up so once I get Woody's dialysis going I can go upstairs and collapse. I am tired. Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Dogwood-Winter Birthday

Melany's birthday usually is a time for tulips and blooming dogwood trees The tulips have started blooming and the dogwoods are opening up and starting to show out along the highways and byways. And, in our front yard. Tonight's dogwood photos were taken from our front porch today. One of our TN winters is called Dogwood Winter since it is a cold snap when the dogwoods are blooming. I actually heard a weatherman refer to this cold snap as "Dogwood Winter." And, it has turned chilly. A few snowflakes were spotted coming through the air today. We are under a frost advisory for overnight. All I can say is "brrrrrrrrrrrrr!" I talked to Melany a little while ago. It sounds like she has had a pretty good birthday despite spiending a good portion of it with lots of children. A couple of the children in her art class found out it was her birthday and brought her cards. This is one of my favorite birthday pictures of Melany. She is 2 and we were living in Sunnyvale, CA at the time. The little outfit Melany is modeling was made by Linda here in TN and sent to Melany to celebrate her birthday. You can tell that Melany really loved it. I can see it in living color despite the black and white photo...it is a beautiful lavender. Hmmmmmm...this picture was taken 50 years ago...amazing how time flies! Happy Birthday, Melany! We have had a quiet day...we are always glad for quiet days. We've both done what we usually do. I have attempted to do a little straightening up and putting some things away. My stitching corner needed a little work before I could vacuum...the vacuuming effort will be done later or tomorrow! Well, it is time to set up Woody's dialysis. Be safe. Be well! Be cautious!

Take Us Out to the Ball Game!

We have been back from the ball game just long enough to get Woody's dialysis set up. Tonight was Joseph's game. We saw him bat three times. He got on base twice, scored once and struck out once. He is on the Nationals and they won again tonight. Good game, Joseph! It was a bit chilly at the ball park tonight and they had the 6:30 game...so played under the lights. Nathan's family were almost all there...Graham was missing. Kathy kept the score board up to the moment so we could tell what was going on. The main confusion...both teams wore red...so at times hard to know which team was doing what. I finally kept it straight by which coach was on the mound pitching. Joseph has several girls on his team...and one of them hit a home run twice...of course a home run with this age can be for more reasons than just a hard hit ball! But this little girl really smacked them. Nathan leaned in and told me her name and hearing her last name told me that her grandfather was a professional baseball player. Fun times at the ol' ball park! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

A Little Sewing

I spotted these photos when I went to find something for tonight's blog. I made this over the weekend...the first photo shows the way the linen/cotton blend basket weave fabric. All I had to do was trim off the selvedge edges and straighten up the other two edges and put in a machine double hem on all edges. Once the edges were hemmed, I popped it into the washer and then the drier...and when it came out it was all puckered and soft...my warm weather throw. So I did manage to do a littlr sewing and used one of the pieces of fabric that I had ordered...One piece used and no leftovers except for very narrow strips. Probably more than you wanted to know...but the fabric was rather magical! And, it was good to do a little sewing...lots more to do in the sewing area...but one thing done! Woody's dialysis supplies were delivered today. Stacks of boxes everywhere once again...supplies to last a little more than a month. I put some away, but am going to wait to put some away till I use up the box we are currently using. I will have less moving of boxes that way...in the long run. The delivery and putting away was the accomplishment of the day with a little more cleaning...the dust cloth and vacuum did a little work today, too. Now it is time to get Woody's dialysis going for another day. And, the cycle of what we do daily continues! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Tulip Time

Our tulips are beginning to bloom. That means that it is almost time for Melany's birthday...and the tulips are correct...her birthday is only a few days away. We have stayed at home...another no appointment day. We are starting to get used to weeks with no appointments...better not get too used to no appointments...they pop up on the calendar again next week. This week the only medical thing on ourncalendar is a dialysis supplies delivery...at least that comes to us and we don't have to go any where. The delivery is tomorrow. We got a later delivery time this time...so I am glad that it doesn't conflict with his oncology appointment like it has in the last months. Oncology has moved due to him taking a couple weeks off after his surgery. I did a little cleaning today...got out the dust rag...still more to do but did get a start on that task. I am waiting on the dialysis solution to warm up and then I will get Woody set up and connected for his nightly dialysis treatment. Woody has had a day of puzzles, reading (maybe), TV watching, and a little napping. He enjoyed some of the apple cranberry crisp that I made yesterday. Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

53 Year Friendship…Not Long Enough!

We started our day with very unexpected and very sad news. Nathan called to say that he had just talked to one of our very best friends, Linda, and she shared with him that her husband, Doyle, had passed away yesterday. We have known them since we married and have stayed close all these years...even when we moved to California for a couple of years. Woody mentioned the flowers that are tonight's photos...we call these our Hasty daffodils as they gave them to us. They are our late bloomers of our early spring bulbs and are just now in full bloom. This was literally jaw-dropping news as Woody's mouth fell open when I shared this sad news with him. We have been processing this news all day and are having trouble believing it. I will tell a little story about my early days of living in Tullahoma...the southern accents were sometimes hard for me to understand certain words. I had been introduced to Doyle and Linda and thought that I knew their names...then I heard people calling him Dole so I got confused. I think I finally asked someone to spell his name for me so I would know for sure what his name was! The otherconfusing word for me was Shovel...Come to find out that was the way Shelbyville is pronounced by some around here. Just a part of me getting acclimated to the South! Over the years so many good memories shared together as families. Doyle will be greatly missed. Our hearts go out to Linda and their boys and their families. So hard to say good-bye to such a good friend. Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Batter Up!

Baseball season is underway for the Dorrells. We have two playing this year. Joseph is playing in Tullahoma's Little League. The pictures are thanks to Kathy at their opening ceremony this morning. The blue arrow points at Joseph. I believe that Joseph is playing coach pitch. Elijah's team has started practicing, but won't get underway with games till May. He has aged out of Tullahoma's Little League so he is playing on Manchester's Youth League. They have both been enjoying their practices. Joseph's games will get under way on Monday. Woody and I both have stayed home today. Woody did his usual crossword puzzles and his newest word game interest: Wordle. I have started playing Wordle, too and also work the USA Today crossword puzzle. I often start that crossword puzzle while I am waiting on Woody's to print out. I became aware of Wordle when several of my friends started putting their daily results on Facebook...so I decided that I needed to check it out...at first I was checking it out for Woody, but I ended getting drawn into it. Wordle is found on the New York Times website. The object is to guess a five letter word in six tries. You put in a five letter word and when you enter it you are told if the letter is right and in the right place (square turns green) or if the letter is right but in the wrong place (square turns gold) or if the letter is wrong (square turns gray). Then you proceed to guess a second word using what you learned with the first word. The object is to guess the right word before your turns run out...6 guesses. The other day I got the word in two tries...a definite fluke. I am usually able to guess by the sixth...I think that since I have been playing I have only struck out twice. Anyway, we both enjoy playing this. Woody also attempts Quardle...4 different words...I tried that one...never figured it out. I will stick to Wordle. I was told last night at my virtual reunion by Randi about one where there are eight words. She plans to send me that information so Woody can try it. Besides word games, I also worked on tomorrow's Sunday School lesson which I will be teaching. I had put the finishing touches on that by lunch time. After lunch time I had fully intended to do some sewing. Well, once again, naptime won out over sewing time! Lately I'm just not good for doing much after whatever I end up doung in the morning. This morning Woody was ready to be disconnected from his dialysis machine and then the manual drain done when I fot downstairs. This way he got to eat breakfast at a fairly decent hour. His breakfast has gotten later and later lately due to him choosing to wait till he has had that final drain. He often has what we cal brunch, it ends up happening so late. Hus dialysis is underway tonight hoping that it will be finished in plenty of time before church in the morning. There is no way to know for sure exactly how long it will take each night...last night right at 9 hours, but some nights this past week it has been closer to 11 hours...and we know no rhyme nor reason as to why sometimes it takes so long and why sometimes it takes a lot less. Last night he had no alarms...but we can't seem to control number of alarms either. We do know that sometimes he sleeps through alarms that tell him he is draining slowly so rhat does slow things down as he doesn't move around to get the draining going a little faster. Let's just say that everyday on dialysis is a learning day or a scratch your head day or just glad that it went quicker. We just take the days as they come...nothing else to do! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Virtual Reunion

It is amazing what one can do these days from home...traveling virtually to my alma mater, Cottey College in Nevada, MO. I had a fun time playing Cottey trivia with a dozen or so alum...I knew four of the ones gathered personally. I put arrows showing me on the screen and I put a box around my lifelong friend. Randi and I have known each other since probably we were two or three years old. We went to the same church, we were in the same school from 1st through 8th grade, same classroom from 1st through 6th, same Girl Scout Troup, same high school and...then we went to Cottey together! That's a lot of togetherness over many, many years...guess we have been friends for over 70 yeaars...how could that be?!? Randi stayed in AZ and I moved to TN. But due to the internet we have kept in touch. So it was especially fun to have Randi in the same trivia group with me today. She is part of the Cottey Alum Board so she is actually on Cottey's campus as I type this. Right now, as I type this, I am attending the chapel program that honors Cottey's founder's birthday. Again...amazing what one can do virtually. I made soup today...one of our favorites that Woody said sounded good...and he did enjoy a bowl for lunch. He is waiting for me to come downstairs to get his dialysis going. Then I will come back upstairs and attend a virtual reunion with my class members who decide to join in the virtual reunion this evening. Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!