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Saturday, January 30, 2021

The Morning After

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Although the Mister was weak in his knees all yesterday afternoon after his fall, the bruised hands weren't bothering him except he mentioned that his fingers seemed to be lacking some feeling. This morning when he got up he showed me his hands. Right hand has a large blister near the nail and the left hand has a blister on the pad of each finger, not the thumb. The ring fingertip on that hand was seeping lymph fluid. I called the local hospital to see if there was a doctor available to see him this morning. Due to it being a weekend, only the emergency doctor was available for an office appointment and it was scheduled. 

I then called our daughter across town to see if she could take him. He definitely should not be driving with those blisters and I no longer drive due to my old shoulder damage that now doesn't allow me to reach the gearshift and steering is difficult. She also has legal POA and surrogate privileges so should be allowed in for the doctor appointment. 

Daughter was allowed to accompany him after the copy of the POA was re-copied. We had sent the hospital copies when they were first filed in 2004, but who knows where they are now since the hospital went from one location to another a couple of years ago. They returned home with four of his left hand fingers covered with a gauze wrap, leaving the tips open for drainage that may occur. The doctor did prick the blister on the middle finger and covered it as well. A package of antibiotic ointment packets,  gauze pads (to be cut with scissors included) and a roll of tape to hold the wraps in place leaving the tips open was sent home with him. Doctor didn't use the word frostbite but did say the blisters should be treated as those of a severe sunburn. They should dry out and heal in several weeks. The main thing is to keep his hands clean and dry and without infection.

Well, there goes my dishwasher! I will be Nurse G. for a few days. I'm not excited about any nurse duties but one must do what one must do. 


 

 

Friday, January 29, 2021

This 'N That

I found this graphic on a blog that is written daily by one of my favorite TV anchors on our "go-to-station" WNEP. Andy Palumbo is really a gentleman with wit and humor and also seriousness in the correct places and time. His blogs can be very thought provoking. Andy's blog link 

Now for my quandary... Should I really pick up my eye drop prescription renewal now even though it is the beginning of the year and I haven't met my co-pay amount at all - or even come close to it? 


I have had it refilled twice last year and each time the cost was $42.20. I thought it wasn't covered and that those charges were the full cost. Wrong. That was the co-pay!  When I called to see if it was ready for pickup, the pharmacist alerted to me that the cost would be $119.81!  I probably should pay the price as I need it, but will treasure each and every drop. One little bottle will last two months if I only use it in the "scratchiest" eye! I feel like I'm a between a rock and a hard place and besides that - it is cold.
I baked my 2nd loaf of bread this morning. It is a frozen product and, though not really as tasty as I remember 'from-scratch' yeast bread. It costs just under $1.00 a loaf, slices easily and toasts well. it is OK and it smells really nice in here. Sometimes we just need an olfactory boost.
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The Mister fell today when his cane gave way while he was walking to the drop box at the library to return my borrowed books. He is not hurt too bad, but had to have help to get up and now his hand is badly bruised. Nothing seems to be broken so he's home free-------AGAIN!
That's it! That's enough! Click on image if you care to see images larger.
 




Wednesday, January 27, 2021

BORED

Gonna find SOMETHING to do that is INTERESTING! Bored to tears at the moment. Baking, cooking, reading, looking out at snow just does not cut it! We don't go shopping or out much due to Covid. What? What shall I get into? Closets don't need cleaning, dusting is done regularly, maybe "it" will come. Just gotta do SOMETHING!

Tuesday, January 26, 2021

Short Story

The years flew by…


Birth to age 15 - Lots of physical activities and book reading. Many friends, all ages, all races, all religions. Musical involvement; choirs, bands, orchestra. Arts and crafts. Horses.


Age 15-20 - Boyfriends, modeling, horses, marriage and first child.


Age 20-25 - Pain, frustration, rebellion, three more children, divorce. 


Age 25-35 - Marriage, two more children, horses, friends, motorcycle and snowmobile trips, physical and emotional injuries. Betrayal.


Age 35-62 - Satisfied, productive, healed, new friends, new experiences, beach, retirement. Loss of family members and friends. New family members.


Age 62-80 - Productive in crafts, baking, cooking, new friends, sharing. Happy. More new family members, more friends died.


Age 80-85 - More new family members. Loss of more friends. Unsettled, self sufficient and responsible, less social, less independent, less motivated, more accepting, more judgmental.








 

Friday, January 22, 2021

The Special Gift From MARY

A lady I met at the beach when we had our place in SC has been my friend since we first met in the pool. It has been many years and we developed something special that has continued. Mary lives in Canada. Every year she and her husband and other family members would travel to the campground and reside in rental units for many of the winter months. Those were grand times!

Sharing is something we have in common. Sharing projects, creations, talents, and thoughts were common and still are! I'm not going to elaborate here but just want you to know how talented this wonderful friend is. She's a knitter, a jewelry maker, and so much more, including nursing skilled. 

I just received another pair of her special slippers! They were mailed to me (airmail!) on December 17, 2020 and I just received them January 21, 2021. The coincidental part is that I was wearing my maroon fleece trousers when they arrived and there was maroon yarn in the pattern. She had asked me earlier what colors I would like when she made another pair (5th!) for me and I suggested red or brown. She had contacted me again to say her supply of red was not going to be enough but she had an idea of how to fix that predicament.

Oh! how good they feel! My older pairs of two brown, one blue, one yellow still have life left and are worn daily. Now I'll be sporting these. I have to ask her what type of yarn she uses because they last like iron! They surround my feet with warmth, unselfish love and art!

Please tap on image to view larger
 
Phentex Yarn is a synthetic yarn made from olefin fiber. It's made to be long-lasting and well-worn, making it a popular choice for big projects and apparel that's meant to last.
Olefin fiber is a synthetic fiber made from a polyolefin, such as polypropylene or polyethylene. It is used in wallpaper, carpeting, ropes, and vehicle interiors. Olefin's advantages are its strength, colorfastness and comfort, its resistance to staining, mildew, abrasion, and sunlight, and its good bulk and cover.
Link to Video of pattern demonstration: slippers
Another link to Video of pattern demonstration: slippers
(please read comment BELOW from my Mary!)

Wednesday, January 20, 2021

Passing through Winter

As you probably have already guessed, I'm doing more reading than writing. That doesn't mean I'm not thinking, just pushing a lot of my thinking in the bottom drawer for now. 

I must tell you that my favorite reads are almost always 'who dun it' stories, mysteries and forensic leaning. 

A book was recommended to me by a friend who is also a dedicated  reader. She has suggested several others for me and I have returned with some for her. This one is a type that I seldom read as I do not like emotional stories, stories of struggles through everyday life, sad stories, love stories, and more. So, I am not at the end of the book as I will keep on plowing through it, but will be glad to return it to the library. 

There isn't going to be a review here. No way! Read it for yourself if you already haven't and decide for yourself if it was a good book to share or pass over to others. You can always Google the title and read reviews. 

The Giver of Stars by JoJo Moyes

Image from Wednesday’s Women website


Thursday, January 14, 2021

Kitchen Gadgets

Of all the kitchen tools I use on a very regular basis I'd like to share the ones that are most important to me now. Here are my TOP TEN!

1. Campbells Soup "Pop N Pull" can tab lifter opener tool. Easy open with lid magnet.

2. "Top-Off" Jar and bottle screw top opener.

3. Wooden Spoon - well aged.

4. Measuring Spoons.

5. Shaker.

6. Blender.

7. Sugar Shaker.

8. Colander.
9. Funnels.

10. Egg Slicer.
Of course there are MANY others that I feel are very necessary here for me to use such as sieves, racks, sharp knives, toothpicks, and other well-used utensils besides the few tools pictured above.
to view images larger just tap on one

Wednesday, January 13, 2021

Pea Soup

From a beautiful and naked spiral ham bone to two quarts of pea soup was the accomplishment yesterday.

I had simmered the bones and 10 cups of water for over ten hours the day before. After I had strained out the bones the kettle of broth was cooled out on the front porch to cause the fat to solidify over night. I removed the fat crust easily and then another simmer with a bag of split peas (not a thing else!) for another seven hours, stirring often. The broth needed NO spices and was both sweet and salty. You can be sure it is delicious! Yes, I tasted a bowlful. I don't even want to share, but will.

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Sunday, January 10, 2021

The Wall

Doesn't everyone have a kitchen wall by the side entry door that looks somewhat like mine? 

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Saturday, January 2, 2021

The New Year Start

Well we're off to a power outage on the first day of the new year - well I should say night! The power went out about 11:30 pm and the stand-by generator kicked in and is still running as I write this at 9am January 2. The electric company says it is out due to tree damage and is expected to be restored by 1:00 pm today. We won't hold our breath! 

The best thing we ever did in July of 2015 was to have the generator installed. It has saved a full freezer of foods several times and, of course we have lights, water, heat and other necessities to be comfortable. The cable, land line telephone and internet were not affected either - this time.

I guess we'll grind up the left over ham for sandwich salad and save a few pieces to freeze for split pea soup making in a week or two ahead. Our ham didn't have a bone but our daughter's did! Of course she saved it for me.  

The dirt road around the lake has been covered with cinders due to the ice buildup and the ice fishermen were out there, this time with a tent. 

We understand conditions will improve but a new storm of snow is predicted for tomorrow. It is W I N T E R!