So Far So Good

Tonight's photo is a frog planter across the street. Just a smile for your day. This family has four little boys...I'm sure a special present for their mama! We have had a pretty good day. Woody did have trouble moving from couch to his recliner. Nathan was over to do a few sonny-do things for me and he helped Woody transfer. He is on call if we need him in the morning to get him off to dialysis. He is still a little confused. He asked me for an omelet when I asked him what he wanted for supper. I asked him if he wanted another omelet today and he didn't remember having one this morning. I think he still is off because of his little hospital stay. Other than that lapse and the fact he is weak, he seems pretty good. I have worked on getting him follow-up appointments after his hospitalization. I called home health. They are to get back with me. I returned a call to his personal care physician. They called when they learned he was in the hospital and asked me to return the call. I did that and after she checked on what was happening with Woody, she made an appointment to see Dr. Harlow on Monday. I also tried to call the wound care center, but didn't get through and wasn't in the mood to wait for a call back. So will try again on Monday. Dr. Robison, the hospitalist, called to report on some tests. At this time he said to go on with how we were treating him, but he gave instructions if he starts having problems what to do...Vanderbilt in Nashville. I appreciated his call. And, he did inquire how Woody was doing and I did mention his not remembering breakfast...still don't think that is a major problem. Just keeping an eye on things! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Home Again, Home Again

We began to wonder if he would ever get taken to dialysis. I don't know exactly when he was taken, but he was back in the room a little after 6pm and the doctor was calling me (I was at home) to let me know that Woody could come home this evening or stay the night and be discharged in the morning. The doc told me that Woody wanted to come home and I said that I would come rescue Woody! He told Woody that while I was still on the phone. On my way to the hospital, one of his nurses called me to say that he was being discharged. I told her that I was almost to the hospital. Woody is a bit weak since he hasn't gotten out of bed since he got to the hospital...he was on what they called "bed rest"...in other words "don't get out of bed." Today was pretty much a wasted day...just waiting on dialysis to get him. And, no one knew when he would go. We finally found out that his nurse had another patient at dialysis and she thought that they only do one patient at a time. Woody can't seem to recall what the room was like. He does still have some confusion...but I think it is hospital confusion so was anxious to get him home so he can figure out what reality is! Good to have him home. Praying that he has a good night...which will mean I will have a good night! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

What a Difference a Day Makes!

Woody is VERY much improved over yesterday. As a matter of fact he seems to remember almost nothing about yesterday...guess that shows how "out of it" he was! The plans are that Woody will go home tomorrow unless something changes. He will be discharged, if all continues as it is now, after he completes his dialysis here at the hospital. The doctors are pleased with his improvement...glad he seems to be responding to the broad spectrum antibiotics. Mid afternoon he was moved to a regular room so he's moving towards an exit! He had wound care visit him this afternoon and what she told us makes us interested in seeing if they can help his wound on his leg heal...sounds like a plan to us. They have a wound care out patient service at this hospital. Looks like he will be continuing with home health...only thought we were going to have home health in our past! We'll see what discharge orders are. It has been a pretty quiet day. I did have to track down his supper since he had moved rooms...but they did find a meal for him and he finally got to eat. I'm getting ready to leave in a few minutes. They are in the midst of nurse shift change now. His night shift nurse just introduced herself to us. Hopefully he will only have one more different shift before he heads home. I'm making plans of when to come in the morning...not knowing whenhis dialysis is. I will get here and stay with him in his room until it is time for dialysis and then I will go home for a while and then come back to scoop him up and take him home! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Not a Part of Tuesday’s Plans

Little did we know when we went to bed last night that Woody would end up in the hospital today! Never a dull moment! This morning when I came downstairs, he was sitting at the end of the couch all bent over and in quite a bit of pain...complained of his back, leg, and arm. And, he just couldn't get up enough energy to change positions. I would get him sitting up better and soon he would be all slumped over back in the uncomfortable position. He ate a little breakfast and soon thereafter he got sick...so we had a big mess along with trying to get him dressed to go to dialysis...had to start over again with getting dressed! I kept trying to get him to sit up and maneuver into the wheelchair and it just didn't happen. At a point, I called the dialysis center and told him that we were still trying to get from the house to the car. They said to take it slowly. Well, slow we took it and we never got him into the wheelchair. It got to the point that I knew that if I got him into the wheelchair in the house, that he would have major trouble transferring into the car. I talked to the dialysis nurse again and she suggested that we call 911, but gave me a number that wasn't for emergency. The ambulance still came with siren blaring! They loaded him off to the hospital with me following a short time later. They still don't know a lot...just that his white count is slightly elevated. This came on quickly since he was fine as far as we knew last night. They have decided to give him two broad spectrum antibiotics since they don't know the exact cause. But feel like it is something in his system since he is hurting in so many places. We have seen three familiar faces since we have been here. One of his care team is Woody's nurse who trained us to do home peritoneal dialysis. It was good to catch up with him. Then Dr. O, Woody's nephrologist came in to see what was going on with Woody and to get him set up for dialysis. Soon after Dr. O left, transport came to take Woody downstairs for dialysis. I went home for the hours of dialysis so I could get a few things done...like wash all the towels, quilt, pillows, pillowcases, and clothes that got messed up with Woody got sick this morning. Fun job...but someone has to do it! I stayed home the full time of dialysis and then came back to the hospital. Got there at a good time. The hospitalist was in talking to Woody and he is the third on Woody's medical team that we have known for years. I taught his two daughters at Montessori many years back. They are now mommies and have children at Montessori. We have now had a shift change with the nurses. I think I am going home...not sure that Woody wants me to, but I think that it would be best for me to get a good night's sleep. Guessing that he may be here for a couple more days...time will tell. He is definitely better than he was when we came in, but still not just right. He keeps asking if we are at the hospital...hoping and praying that he doesn't get more confused from being here! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

A Summer Monday

The temperatures are acting more summerlike...but the humidity hasn't gotten too bad...yet...so not too bad. There has been a breeze today that made it a bit more pleasant than it might have been without. I guess it hasn't made a lot of difference about the temps since we both stayed im until this evening when we went to Monday Night Furnace Room Prayer Meeting. I gave Woody some KP duty today. He asked to do it! He peeled 3 pounds of carrots for our marinated carrot salad recipe. We each had some of that salad for supper tonight...pretty good...it will be better when it gets colder and the flavors meld a bit. This salad is big and keeps in the refrigerator for quite a while...but the fact that it is big, it meant using BIG pots and pans and bowls, etc. to cook, chop, slice and dice and mix all the ingredients in. It has taken two loads in the dishwsher to get all the big items in and all the rest of the things I used. The kitchen is finally under control once again! I still have a few to wash by hand after I post tonight's blog and change Woody's bandage on his leg. I still have a load of towels to get out of the drier amd fold...but I am ready to wind down for the day, as is Woody. It's really been a pretty quiet day...nice to not have to get up and out in the morning. Tomorrow we are back into this week's dialysis cycle...up and out early. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

A Knobby Day!

Now to explain tonight's blog title! I made an Amazon order last week which included two sets of wooden knobs to use on my stitching frames. I already had two sets and they are in use on two large projects and I had been using a smaller frame, but was having to use wing nuts to tighten the scroll bars...wing nuts and embroidery floss don't get on the best...very easy to catch the embroidery floss loop on a wing nut. When I found out that Amazon had the exact knobs that I need for my needlework scroll frames, I was very pleased and added them into an Amazon order that I made last week. As so often happens this order is arriving on three different days. Today was the first delivery...all that came were my wooden knobs. I had been doing little cleaning jobs around the house, but once the mail came, I stopped and got my latest sampler attached to the scroll rods and then those attached to the side bars with the new knobs. Then all I wanted to do was stitch...and that is what I did this afternoon until it was supper time. Woody spent four hours at dialysis early this morning and then has rested most of the rest of the day doing crosswords, reading, and watching some TV. He got to watch the St. Louis Cardinals on TV but the outcome was not what he wished! I'm heading down to change the dressing on his leg amd then put the last of today's dirty dishes into the dishwasher. I did finish another book this morning and got to reading on another soon after I had finished the one. I have been a reding mood lately. I got off to a slow start this year with my reading. My usual goal each year is to read a book a week and I have been a ways off from that, but am now catching up. By the end of June I should be at 26...I'll be at 23 when I finish the current one I'm reading. And, there are still a few days left in June. I may not make it to 26 by the 30th, but will be pretty close. Of course, if I read, that means I'm not getting a lot of otherthings done! I do have one audio book that I'm listening to so can accomplish a little when listening...as long as I don't wander away into another room and miss part of the story...which I have done...or fall asleep and miss several chapters! One time I woke up and the book had finished! Then it is a bit tricky to rewind and find the last thing you temember hearing before dozing off! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Blue Sky Friday

We saw blue sky today...first time in a while. Today we were able to have a later start to our day...thanks to no dialysis or appointments. I did get the grocery list reqdy so I could head off to the grocery store mid morning. I had a lot of restocking to do...so now the cupboards and refrigerator are filled again...time to cook...again! I did roast the chicken almost as soon as I got home. Woody is wanting a special chicken salad recipe that dates back many years go to a special peogram that our Sunday School class did for the senior adults in our church...a sort of Bible School week for them. We called it Keenagers. We served this chicken salad on the last day one year...the special ingredient that makes it different is that you stir in Potato sticks just before servine..,potato chip like sticks...used to come in a can. I hadn't bought them in years! I was pleased to find them...now come in small potato chip bags. Thr chicken is cooked, taken off the bones...bones have been made into liquid gold aka chicken broth. I have to strain it and cool it after I post this. The kitchen is a mess...what else is new!?! I will clean it up after I get the broth taken care of. I'm tired today. I did a little too much standing in the kitchen today and my back is complaining. I just need my recliner and to rest a bit...should be good to go tomorrow. But tonight I will be pushing it a bit to get the kitchen ready for tomorrow! Cooking the whole chickens can be a pain. Today I chose to roast the chicken and then after deboning cook the bones and make broth...a bit less messy this way. EXCEPT...when I opened the chicken up...left it in the two bags that I had it in from the store...trying to avoid a major mess...WELL...I made the first small cut in the packaging and all the juices spewed out that small hole with great force...excaped the two bags I had the chicken in and got on counter and then ran down the front of my cabinets and onto the floor! What a mess! I have wiped and rewiped the all the places...washed, in clorox, the microfiber cloths that absorbed all that mess. I still want to wipe down everything with clorox wipes that we got as supplies when we were doing home dialysis...and then mop the floor. At the point that all this was happening, I was thinking..."why could't we just buy a rotisserie chicken! But...have to buy fresh with no additives or saline injected...so guess I have to put up with a mess...but hopefully not a meas like this one again! That's part of the problem with my back at this point in the day! So that was my disaster of the day! Woody's day has been tame in comparison to mine! It was nice to have Ruth stop by today...she had a sewing question. She came before the chicken disaster! It was nice to visit for a few minutes. I have had quite a social week this week...Linda, Jo, Carolyn, Jody, Donna, Ruth...wonder who I will see tomorrow! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Busy Thursday

It has been a pretty busy day. We started out early as our Thursdays do. I dropped Woody off at dialysis around 6:15am and then came home to do a few things around the house while he was having his treatment. I decided that I wanted some of Nathan's "home-grown" sausage and wanted a biscuit with it. The sour dough starter needed to be used so I decided that sour dough biscuits sounded good...and they were and still are. I sat on the front porch with my biscuit and sausage and a cup of tea. It was actually chilly sitting out there on this the second day of summer. We need to soak all this cool air in as the hot air will be with us before we know it! Once again, I think that it didn't get out of the 70s today...it rained lightly most of the morning...hard enough to hear it on the roof of the house. It was still lightly raining when I went to pick up Woody, but it was barely sprinkling when I took him to the car. The sun did come out late this afternoon. Our gardens are looking great after all the rain we have been getting! I sat on the porch a while ago, but it was chilly enough that I decided to come back inside. I have done some cleaning today...main project was the shower in the hall bathroom. The plumber left a mess in the tub and today was the first time that I had had a chance to clean it up and while doing that I cleaned the whole shower...good job done. After lunch, I headed to the church to work in the library for a couple of hours. Donna and I hadn't had a work day together in the library since last year. Maybe we can get back into weekly work days...or at least more frequently than we have been! We worked on filling memorials...which meant working on a book order or two. It was good to be back in the library, but the best part was getting to visit with each other! A little while ago we got a call from the home health agency who has been helping us out over the last 6 months or so. It looks like they are working on discharging him...that will happen next week according to the call. Our day is coming to a close once again. I still have a load of clothes to get out of the dryer and one to put in. But the most important thing left to do is change the bandage on Woody's leg. I imagine he is ready for me to do that so he can get to sleep. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

First Day of Summer?

The first day of summer did not feel like a summer day! It never got out of the 70s and rained off and on. The plants in our gardens are very happy campers! The gardens are looking great after the rain that we have gotten so far this week. There are no complaints from us about this Spring-like start to Summer! The 90s will be here soon enough! Woody had a major accomplishment for his day...he washed his hair...not an easy task when one cannot get into a shower. He has a big bowl of water on his lap and a glass, shampoo, and a couple of towels. He did get his shirt a bit wet so had to change that after the task was completed...but task was successfully completed. He said he felt a lot better! This morning I made a tuna casserole which is one of our tried and true recipes that sounds and tastes good to Woody. This was originally a recipe that uses Campbell's Cream of Mushroom soup...an easy open can and dump in casserole...but these days since we are avoiding salt as much as possible and other ingredients that are put into canned goods as preservatives that Woody isn't supposed to have, I have to make cream of mushroom soup from scratch. I have concocted a recipe is quite good if I do say so myself...and it works well in this casserole both flavor and consistency wise. I got it all put together and into the oven so it would be cooked in time for lunch. We both enjoyed it. Shortly after lunch, I headed off to get my hair cut. On the way home, I stopped at the public library and got Woody a book that we had put in a request for. I spent quite a bit of time in the kitchen on KP duty...a dishwasher full of dirty dishes and still had a lot to do by hand. I finished up the dishes after concocting his supper...taco meat filling using the pulled pork...that concoction got a thumbs up! Dishwasher is going and kitchen is closed for today...except for getting a glass of water or cup of tea! Tomorrow is an early dialysis day. After lunch, Donna and I are going to attempt for the first time this year to get back to our church library routine. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious! Oh, forgot to say that home health nurse made her weekly visit late in the afternoon. I think that those visits will stop after next week's visit.

Another Fun and Rainy Day

Another day that started when the birdies were waking up. After I took Woody to dialysis, I actually came home and went back to sleep for a little while. I woke up earlier than I needed to this morning and knew that I wanted to be awake for my adventurous afternoon! I picked Woody up at the usual time from dialysis and headed home, got him settled in his recliner and took his lunch order! Once I had his lunch in front of him and other things that he might need while I was gone, I headed out to the car and headed off for an adventure with Jo and Carolyn. We met up in the Lowes parking lot and Jo drove us to Shelbyville. We went to a gift shop called the The Brass Lantern. It's a big building that is divided up into booths that individuals have set up with all types of gifts...some antiques and some brand new...some clothing and some decorative items. We had a fun time looking and I was the only one who came away with a treasure. I got an antique metal and wood scoop in which I plan to display some small cross stitch pieces. After we did a thorough job of looking at just about everything (so much stuff, I'm sure we missed some things!), we headed off to find a place to have lunch. We were a bit late to go to some of the places that only serve till 2pm so went into town and went to a restaurant called Legends. We all three were hungry after our shopping efforts and enjoyed pur meals very much. But thr best part...just being together! Another good thing about the day was the rain...it held off while we were shopping...we never got wet going to or from the vehicle...it did rain a bit on us on back to Tullahoma, ut stopped by the time we got to town. And, it didn't start back up for me until I got back in the house. Then it rained most of the rest of the afternoon and we had a few thunder booms off and on. I can say that it had to be a measurable rain as there were standing puddles in our yard...haven't seen puddles in the yard or elsewhere in months! So a much welcomed time with friends and the a nice rain on top of that. Our gardens are very happy. Woody survived me being away...doubt that he even missed me! Tomorrow's adventures...probably a home health visit and a hair cut for me. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Such a Nice Day!

We had a leisurely morning...no place to go! I was able to do things around the house that get neglected all too often. Our friend, Linda H., had an appointment in Tullahoma and then came for a visit. She stopped at Arby's on her way here and brought us Arby's roast beef samdwiches. I provided a salad and a light dessert and iced tea. The three of us enjoyed visiting throughout lunch...solving the world's problems...ha...not really! Linda had some things to drop off at Attic Outlet...a not-for-profit thrift store. I had a couple of bags of books that I dropped off, too. We checked out what treasures might be found inside the thrift store...Linda found a treasure...I did not! It sprinkled while we were inside. We came home and the sprinkling had stopped and Linda and I "toured" our newly planted gardens. We came back inside so Linda could say good bye to Woody and when we walked back onto the front porch, it was raining...didn't last long amd Linda went on her way. A very pleasant way to spend an afternoon. The other reason that it was a nice day...rain! It rained about an inch in the night. And, has rained a little several other times during the day. Just as I was finishing dressing Woody's leg wound a few minites ago, I realized that I was hearing rain again and it poured for a few minutes. Our gardens are much happier than they were yesterday! Happy for a real watering from God rather than little ol' me! I have more adventures planned for tomorrow! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Father’s Day 2023

Joy is going to beauty school...learning to cut hair,etc...Goosey was her first haircut on a man. Happy Father's Day to Goosey (Woody)! He needed this gift! Good job, Joy!

Front Yard Friends

I have had a pretty busy day today, but did sit on the front porch for a little while this morning. Tonight's photos show a couple of friends who hung out with me and I managed to snap their pictures. We started early...out the door by 6am for Woody's dialysis treatment. The good thing about today is it is Saturday and he has two days off before his next treatment. I came home and put a Boston Butt roast in the oven to slow cook. Then I made one of the cold salads that Woody has been enjoying. After the cooking is when I took a break and sat on the porch for a little while with my morning tea and my camera. I got things ready for my Zoom book club meeting before I headed off to pick Woody up. When we got home, Woody settled into his recliner and I gave him a snack to tide him over till lunch. I'm guessing that there were twelve at the Zoom meeting...mostly the same ones who were there last month. We had a lively discussion for about an hour. Once it was over, I headed down to get Woody's lunch...just a little after noon...so his lunch wasn't very late! The roast finished cooking shortly after I came downstairs...so I had that to tend to after lunch. It came out very tender...it's all pulled and part is in the freezer for later and some is in the refrigerator for now. I think that the later that is in the freezer is the first thing that is all ready to feed my company...just think they will be here four weeks from today...well, not yet, as they will be getting in late. After I got the pork pulled, them I tackled the mess in the kitchen. It really cleaned up quickly...most went in the dishwasher after I emptied it and only a few had to be done by hand. I line the roasting pan with foil so it isn't a hard cleanup. After supper, I went out to water as some of our newer plants aren't established yet and today's upper 80s temps were hard on them. Shen I came in Woody was already dozing so I will go down as soon as I publish this and see if he is awake enough for me to put a new bandage on his knee. We have Sunday School in the morning so another morning of heading out...but not as early as on dialysis days! We come home after church and watch our church service on my iPad. So those are the only plans for tomorrow...at the moment...church and meals and take it easy. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Physicians' Friday

Doctors have certainly filled the hours today. Woody started off with a two-hour appointment at TN Oncology that included getting his Keytruda infusion. By the time I got him home it was time to get his lunch so we could make the trip to and from McMinnville with an appointmrnt sandwiched in with his personal care physician...which took up three hours of his afternoon. Positive reports from both visits. His labs were very good from his morning appointment. His white count was good showing that he isn't fighting any infections. His hemoglobin was the highest it has bren in several years. We shared his blood work from this morning with his PCP this afternoon. She knows he gets bloodwork done in several different places...TN Oncology, dialysis center, and whenever he goes to Vancy, so she doesn'r subject him to more unless there is a reason. She felt that he had definitely improved from when she saw him three months ago. We left with call her if we need her and she would like to see him a couple of times a year. So I guess he has done what is needed for her to consider him her patient once again. This morning while he was at Oncology, I made use of the time and got gas and went to the Credit Union. Aftef I got him settled back in his recliner after his afternoon trip, I made a quick trip to the library. Tomorrow is my Cottey College Alum Zoom Book Club meeting. I read the book so long ago that I needed to get it to review it a bit before the meeting! The zoom meeting is right adter I pick Woody from dialysis. I'll get him settled in his chair and get him a snack to tide him over till after my meeting! We got a little rain yeaterday, but not enough to negate my watering this morning. I did that after I ran my errands. After my stop at the library this afternoon, I stopped at the grocery store down the street from us. I wanted to take advantage of some of their sales. I got some good deals, I think, and plan to have those purchases get us through the weekend so I don't hqve to do my next BIG shopping till sometime next week. I sat on my nice clean porch and drank my tea this morning...definitely ready for some porch sitting! I talked to Cheryl while I sat there this morning...less than a month and she and Rachel will be here and we won't have to visit via phone! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Thoroughly Thursday!

What a day! As usual for a Thursday, we were up and out early. I came home and had my breakfast. About the time I was finishing, Nathan drove up with his pressure washer in the back of his truck. He got the garage side and the front side of the house all nice and clean. He will be back another day to do the other side and the back. The sides of our house are really high so he had to use the really tall ladder. I stood at the base of the ladder hoping that I was bracing it! He made it through so there wqs no ladder slipping! He did the front porch, too so after he left I washed off the rocking chairs and also sprayed off the pillows. I put the pillows and chair cushions on the ramp in the sun to dry. So we have a fairly clean front porch at least for the moment...all ready for some porch sitting. Last night before leaving the kitchen, I put together ingredients for a sour dough bread that was supposed to rise for 12-24 hours. I baked that this afternoon. It was a new recipe...English Muffin loaf...turned out pretty good. Woody has been enjoying soft shell tacos. I decided that I had better read the ingredient list and found that they had several ingredients in them that Woody isn't supposed to eat..so made the decision that I needed to make flour tortillas from scratch. I watched several YouTubes that showed how and decided that today was the day. And, that effort was successful, too. But what a mess the kitchen is and...my steam has run out! I'm hoping that sitting to write tonight's blog will rest me enough to tackle the kitchen some more. Still have to change the bandage on Woody's leg. Tomorrow should be an interesting day...Woody has his every-three-week appointment at TN Oncology for labs, see his oncologist, and have his Keytruda infusion. That's in the morning and then in the afternoon, he has an appointment with his Personal Care Physician...just a three-month check-in. That's in McMinnville...so a 45-minute to an hour drive there and then back...the travel will take longer than the actual appointment. That will take a big chunk of time out of the afternoon. Busy day today and then another busy one projected for tomorrow! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Wednesday Wandering

I didn't wander too far from home today, but just went in a different direction than usual. Instead pf turning toward dialysis, I turned the opposite way and met up with some of the ladies in our Sunday School class and enjoyed lunch at a little Italian restaurant here in town. We enjoyed the food, but probably enjoyed visiting with each other even more. Woody chose to wait for his kunch till I got home. Before I left, I made him a tomato/cucumber/onion marinated salad that he had requested...these days he is interested in cold sides. He didn't know that I had made this salad, so I surprised him with it on his plate for lunch along with his other requests of things we have in the refrigerator. It was a quieter day than usual for Woody...I was away for a while and his nurse came yesterday rather than today. We had anticipated that it was going to rain today, but we barely got a sprinkle so I ended up needing to water. Our new amd old plants continue to look good. We're starting to see little bitty peppers on our pepper plants and also our tomato plants have blooms and the cherry tomato plant has quite a few little tomatoes on it. Promises for good eating a little way down the road. Wade brought us a planter with cucmber, sauash, and shallot plants in it and they are growing rapidly...you can tell his green thumb was involved in starting them! It's about time to go do the dressing change on Woody's leg, finish in the kitchen and put away a few clothes that need hanging up...then I'm either going to read or stitch. I did finish a tiny sampler last night and have already started another one. This cross stitch pattern I bought early in my discovery of my love of cross stitching...so I am finally getting around to stitching it! I still love most of the pattefns that I bought all those years back and am enjoying finally getting around to stitching them. The one I finished last night was a newly purchased chart...but I am trying to stitch what I already have in my pattern "collection" and trying to only buy linen and floss when I need it. I have stuck to that "policy" pretty well...if is fun to get new patterns once in a while, but the fact that I still have so many unstitched patterns that I still love, it is fun to pull those out and get them ready to stitch. I still want to grt back to sewing, just haven't mustered up the energy to get back to that...planning sewing projects in my mind as I cross stitch! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Today's Tuesday?

Anyway, I think it's Tuesday...the iPad says it is Tuesday...Alexa told me it is Tuesday...but the nurse came this afternoon so that tells me it is Wednesday...but dialysis today says that it is either Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday. Guess we will go with Tuesday! The nurse came this afternoon after I texted her that I was going to lunch with my Sunday School ladies tomorrow and that I would be out of pocket for a couple of hours and asked her if she could work around that time slot. She texted back and said that she was in our area and could she come in about ten minutes...worked for us...so tomorrow is freed up and I don't have to do Woody's leg dressing tonight. Today was one of those days when I did a little of this and a little of that and a lot of resting. I think I have taken several naps today...a couple unintended. I decided that I wanted to revive my sour dough starter. I had some dormant started in the refrigerator. I also cooked mushrooms for upcoming morning omelets for Woody. That's about all the cooking I did today...did warming mostly for meals except for our breakfast. I have been wanting to have access to more of my pnotos that are stored on external passport drives on my old laptop...but want to be able to get to them on my iPad so figured out how to do that today and copied past barn trips onto the external thumb drive that I have pnotos stored on for my iPad, Happy that I figured that out. Tomorrow is garbage day and lately I have been emptying out home dialysis supply boxes. Most of these contain "bags" filled with one solution or another and I have to empty them down into a sink or tub. I got rid of quite a few more boxes and bags...so the supply box stacks are going down...a couple more garbage days and I will have the task done and we will have reclaimed the home dialysis supply space in the family room and in Melany's old room. Nathan stopped by for a couple of minutes with information about the BCM building's renovationafter this past winter's burst pipes...renovation is coming along. He was heading off to take Elijah to his batting lessons. Goosey (Woody) and I have given him a month worths of batting lessons from a gentleman in the area who has a very good reputation for working with boys on their batting skills. We learned about this batting coach from two of Woody's home health nurses. Sounds like he is enjoying the lessons and working on what the coach has suggested. We are settling in for the evening. I have a coupke of dishes to wash by hand and have to start the dish washer and then am finished downstairs for today. I'm looking forward to joining Sunday School friends for lunch tomorrow. Oh, and, the nurse and I are in agreement that Woody's wound is getting smaller...thus seems to be healing. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Monday, Monday

We have had a relatively quiet day...not going anywhere until this evening when we went to Monday night Furnace Room Prayer Meeting. We are home. Woody has had an evening snack, his bandage changed, and is now all tucked in for the night. I still have a little left to do in the kitchen and then wull be ready to head upstairs. Today I just did a little of this and a little of that around the house. I even sat down and did a little stitching this afternoon. We got some rain last night and it really cooled things off. It has been a much cooler day with low humidity...pleasant June day. We will be up amd out early in the morning...back to dialysis after two days off. To be continued. Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Sunday Favorites

Hard Workers!

Melany and Wade have to be exhausted...they worked so hard! And, things are looking great ariund here. Several new plants went in what we call the "shared garden." Before we lived here thefolk who lived here and the next door neighbors shared the care of this garden. When we moved in, we pretty left the care of this garden to our neighbor...it was mainly rosesand he knew all about caring for roses! We did share expense of mulching this garden. When that neighbor moved, we more or less got handed over the care of this garden. When Nathan and Kathy and their three kids moved in, we shared various tasks. When they moved, it is back to our responsibility and the last few years Woody, who is our gardener, just couldn't keep up with it any more. We are so thankful for our children and their spouses being willing to add us into their busy schedules! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

I Am Amazed!

When I came upstairs a little after 2pm, I decided that it was time to attempt to arrange for a plumber to come...again! I have been trying to get a couple of problems fixed for almost two years. The plumber that had been recommended first would never get to the point of calling me back when he said he would. And, then we would have health issues arise that wouldn't make it convenient to try to arrange a time even if I could get the plumber to call back! I had someone else recommend a plumber to me and I had kept the name and number as I decided that the first plumber didn't seem interested enough in the job! I decided this afternoon that I would call this plumber and hopefully he would arrange a time to come by next week. But, no, he answered and I told him what I needed and he said that he would be here to check things out in about two hours! And, two hours later he called to say that he was almost here! He came in with another young man and they evaluated and decided what they wanted to do first to see if our problems could be solved easily. AND, they got underway right away. They had to go get a couple of parts and then finished in a little over an hour total time. Of course, the verdict is still out to see if the leaks have been stopped...but at least something has been done! I'm still amazed! I have food preparation ready for tomorrow's lunch with "our gardeners." Woody hasn't seemed to feel the greatest today. He has already settled in for the night and I haven't had a chance to change the dressing on his leg yet. I hope that I can still do it before the evening is over. If I don't I will need to do it before he leaves for dialysis in the morning. Not too fond of adding tasks to our early mornings! It's hard enough to get out the door by six with just routine tasks! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Starting to Make Plans

I'm late blogging tonight as I was on the phone with my sister...makimg plans...for when she and my niece are going to be here in July. They made reservations today...a little more than a month away. I have been busy today...dialysis trips to and from, a little gardening, washed the dust off our car, did grocery shopping, did several loads of wash. So a busy day. Woody had a goid day again today...just sitting around, but finished a book, did his puzzles, watched some TV...a lot of his usual these days. He has settled in for the night. I'm going to go finish in tbe kitchen so it will be all clean so I can mess it up tomorrow when I do some cooking for "my gardeners'" visit on Saturday. Melany, Wade, amd maybe Erin are coming back to do some moe on our gardens. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Wednesday

A day that we didn't go anywhere, but people did come to us. Woody's nurse texted us fairly early asking if she could come sometime in the afternoon, but she didn't have a time to tell us yet. About 40 minutes before she arrived she told us she would be here in 40 minutes. While she was here, we noticed a lawnmower start up, but I thought it was at a neighbor's. I was wrong, Nathan had arrived with his riding mower and cut our grass. It was pretty dry and dusty. I did give him a mask to wear...hope all that dust and pollen doesn't get his allergies going! I made Woody's breakfast sausage this morning...so a month's worth is now in the freezer. I spent some time today trying to decide what to have for lunch on Saturday when Melany and Wade and maybe Erin come. More gardening in the near future! Now I've got to get my grocery list compiled so I can go to the store either tomorrow or Friday. Woody is all comfy on his couch/bed. I didn't have to change the dressing tonight since the nurse did it when she was here this afternoon. So I gpt the kitchen cleaned up before I came upstairs, which means my evening downstairs "duties" are done for today. Woody has had a pretty good day today. The nurse said that she thought his color was better today. She measured the wound on his leg that we dress daily and she said that it wqs smaller than the last time--both in circumference and depth. She and I are in agreement that it is attempting to heal...time will tell! Tomorrow is another get-up-with-the-birds day. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Recovering from Yesterday?

It has been a slow day for both of us...or so it seems. I guess we are in recovery mode from yesterday's trip to Franklin, TN to Woody's melanoma surgeon. Woody has spent most of the day on the couch rather than sitting in his recliner. I have kept busy, but have taken many breaks after each effort! One thing I did today, because it is the night we take our trash can to the road for pick-up in the morning, was empty dialysis supply boxes...some are easy to dispose of and others, I have to empty the bags that contain liquid. The effort behind that task is open the boxes and then carry the heavy bags to the tub and cut them open, let them drain, and then gather them to out in the trash can. Also had lots of boxes to collapse for recycle pickup. Let's just say I got a good start, but there are still several stacks of them in Melany's former bedroom...and I haven't started on the ones in the family room. But give me a few more garbage days and they will be part of our past! Some of the bags have saline in them amd some have dialysate in them. There are also boxes of tubing...those are easy...just slit oven the box and carry them to the trash can...dump them out of the box and then collapse the box. I also had small boxes that contained items needed to FedEx labs and other samples that had to be sent now amd again. I think I got those all opened and dumped. I am done with box emptying for today...the reat will have to wir for another day! I watered after I got home from taking Woody...so pleasant outside at that time! I sat on the porch and drank a cup of tea and wrched and listened to the birds. I guess my next task for the day is a dressing change on Woody's leg. Then I will add the last few dishes to the dishwasher and I will be through downstairs for today. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Ink Blot/Rorschach Test?!?

When I spotted (pun?) this cow, I thought of the ink blot test! Interesting markings on this black and white cow. This herd of cows was very interesting...many different varieties. Not a barn tonight, but many to come! We had a really nice barn trip yesterday and I am pleased with most of the photos so quite a few to share over the days to come. We headed out a little before 9am this morning in the direction of Franklin, TN. Woody had an appointment with his surgeon who removed the melanoma tumor from his arm last year. We thought he was going to check out that surgical site...but we don't even think that he looked at it. He only looked at the place on his upper arm where there is a subcutaneous melanoma tumor. He was satisfied that it is remaining virtually the same size and said to leave it and continue the Keytruda treatments. It gives them something to judge his melanoma by. Woody said that his oncologist here in town says that this spot is like the "canary in the coal mine." It will let them know if there are more problems...something to keep an eye on...and judge about if there is any other melanoma growth. He said that he doesn't meed to see Woody again unless it is decided that this tumor needs to be cut out. So another doctor off our appointment list...at least for the time being. The trip there and back was uneventful except for the time that it cut out of our day and the fact that it pretty much wore us both out. I know that I took a nap this afternoon and I think that Woody did, too. Nathan stopped by to change the batteries in one of our smoke detectors that had started chirping and Woody didn't acknowledge Nathan being here...so I think that he was dozing...whether he admits it or not...well, that is another story! We didn't get home from prayer meeting till almost 8. Woody ate a snack and then I changed the dressing on his leg and he is all tucked in. I still have the dishwasher to unload and refill with today's dishes and then I am through for the day! Another early dialysis day in the morning. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Sunday Afternoon Barn Drive

I don't know about you, but back in "my day" we went on family Sunday afternoon drives, when I was a child. I was reminded of those as Marie, Caroline, and today our friend Vicki, went on a Sunday afternoon drive to find barns...and we found many! We even traveled on a road called Motlow Barn Road...perfect!

Saturday Doings

Our Saturday doings were mostly same ol', same ol'. We got up with the birds and got ready to head to the dialysis center. I came home and decided to walk around and look at the gardens. It was nice and cool. Everything continues to look good. I decided to do some weeding in one of the beds that Melany and Wade will work on next Saturday...hoping to help them out at least a little bit. After I weeded for a while, I sat on the porch and had my morning tea listening to the birds sing and enjoying looking at all that has been done so far in our gardens. Today was a much hotter day...it got into the upper 80s trying to edge into the 90s. Woody felt better than usual when he got home from dialysis so I wheeled him around the yard so he could look at the gardens again today. After he got settled in his recliner, he ate a little snack to tide him over til lunch. I made a quick trip to the grocery store down the road to pick up a few items that I needed to make a couple of recipes. After lunch I did a couple of things before I was going to do a little cooking. I soon realized that I needed a nap before I did any cooking! After my rest, I put together a salad that needs to get thoroughly chilled to blend flavors before we eat it...so it is now chilling so we can have it tomorrow. That ended my cooking efforts for the day. we had supper and then I went out to water, as a couple of the new plants looked a littke overcome by this afternoon's heat...until they get established, I will be doing a lot of watering. I did the dressing change on Woody's leg before I came up to blog, as he was ready to turn in for the evening. I had started cleaning up the kitchen, but stopped to do that for Woody and decided to blog after that. So I will head down as soon as I publish this and finish in the kitchen. Then I will be ready to head uostairs. I'm going to gather up cameras and batteries...that's just a hint of the plans for tomorrow afternoon! To be continued! Be safe! Be Well! Be cautious!

Look Who Helped Mulch

Woody asked Melany if she would put one of the bags of mulch in back to use on the herbs and vegetables. When Melany got to a stopping point today, Woody asked her to take him put to see what has been done to the gardens so far. He had only seen from the car window as when he has gotten home from dialysis, he hasn,t felt like prolonhe took a nice tour. He was very pleased with how things sre looking! Melany put in all the new plants that they had left in pots on Monday. And then she began the task of mulching the bed that wraps around the front porch side of the house. She ran out of mulch just after she finished across the base of the front porch and then extended that line out to the driveway. Sging his time in the wheelchair...just wants to get inside and to his recliner. But today he was ready for a tour. He is very pleased with how pretty the gardens are looking. Before he was ready to go back inside he wanted to mulch the raised bed on our back patio. So Melany rolled him around there and he and she worked on mulching there. I'm sure he was glad to do a little weed pulling and a little mulching...a little like the good ol' days when he would spend hours working on the gardens. It started sprinkling on them when they were out there and by the time Melany got him back up the ramp and into he house, it was more than a sprinkle. That little shower didn't last long. Melany said that she and Wade plan to come next Saturday and work to try to complete the remaining gardens...a never ending job. But at least it isn't a thankless job...we are very thankful for their hard work plus there is reward in seeing how pretty everything looks when the mulch is down around all the plants both old and new! I watered everything late this afternoon aftrr Melany left. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious! And, I will end with a picture of one of the new plants put in on Monday...a day lily. It bloomed for the first time today! Quite pretty!

Fairly Busy Tuesday

As is the norm on Thursdays, our day got started early. We were out the door by 6am to head to Woody's dialysis center. I understood that Lowe's is open by 6am so I decided to head that way and see S I needed a couple of things from their garden department. The gates were still closed into the garden area and I didn't feel like getting out and going in to find out if you could enter that way. I just headed home and got busy there. Well, first I ate breakfast and then sat on the front porch with my cup of tea for a little while. I decided that today was the day to dry mop and set mop the floors that don't have carpet. That means the kitchen and three bathrooms. I did hit the middle of the sunporch and laundry room but only with dry mop today. Before I did the bathroom floors, I cleaned the toilets...still have the sinks to do...maybe tomorrow! Enough cleaning for today. I did do a little in the gardens when I first came home from taking Woody...while it was still really cool out. It still hasn't reached what I would call "hot" but from what I hear that word along with humidity may not be far off! Today has been very nice. When I went down to get Woody his supper, he had already moved to his couch/bed...so he had breakfast and supper sitting on his couch...lunch in his recliner...his change of acenery for today other than dialysis center! Today at the center they romoved some stitches that were put in when his new dialysis access was put in. His nurse said they had been in long enough and Woody was glad as he said that they had started bothering him. After my cleaning morning, I ended up taking an afternoon nap. After I publish this, I will go down and dress Woody's leg wound and take a load of clothes out of the drier and put a load into the dryer. I will finish in the kitchen which amounts to putting in a couple more dishes and then running it. Then I will head upstairs hoping for a good night sleep so I can be of at least little help to Melany tomorrow. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!