Happy New Year... here's hoping that 2023 will be a good year for all!!
Bob is working on getting better... another stent on the 10th! He is tired ( cardiologist says this is normal)... sleeps in the recliner with a cat or two ! Adjusting to new medications... Eliquis replacing Xerelto.. Hope this one doesn't make him bleed!!
Keeping an eye on my lungs... hopefully no more liquid. My primary care doctor is on top of it all!!
So... fingers crossed...
Looks like Bob was taking too any anticoagulants when he was released fro the hospital.... The cardiologists had him stop taking some of them and when Xarelto left his system the bleeding stopped. He feels much better now??
Our weather has been really cold and Bob does not want me going out on errands. So... our daughter and grandson made a run. In exchange they took a shower... her shower pipes seem to be frozen.
Temps are due to go up by Wednesday...so normality will come!!
Merry Christmas to you all... ours will be different and quiet but not without love and good wishes!
Last night was fine... Bob ate some dinner ... watched a little tv and slept in the recliner for awhile. This morning went well too.. ate some breakfast and things seemed to be going normally.
But about 2 pm he mentioned bleeding in his mouth. It ended up being his tongue. We went to the ER ( - 4 degrees!) and spent 4 hours while they tried to stop the bleeding. They tried everything they could think of. BTW... lots and lots of blood!!
Of course he is on lots of anti-coagulants because of the heart attack.
While we waited and waited we tried to figure out how he lacerated the top of his tongue.. no real conclusions. But he is back home... nothing but cold soft foods for two days...
I'm fine... everything worked out well!! Then late Saturday night Bob woke me and said we needed to go to the hospital - the one I had just came home from! So off to the ER ... Bob had had a heart attack!!
After the tests etc. they put in a stent. So there he was in ICU. Wednesday they found a room for him... yes hospitals are BUSY... 3am they moved him bed and all. More tests... new medicine regime etc.
Tonight they sent him home...
Thank goodness the weather is going to be awful starting early tomorrow. When I went to the pharmacy for his pills traffic as packed. The lines everywhere were long... but I GOT his pills and came home!
The purging didn't do the trick. Off to the hospital for X-rays and lab work... then back for another the next day but the doctors decided to send me the ER for more stuff. The diagnosis was a pocket of fluid in my lower left lung and an episode of congestive heart failure..... then I was admitted .
The next afternoon a sonogram was done to locate the fluid... and a long needle was assembled and a radiologist applied lidocaine.Then he pumped out the fluid... more than a quart.
The next day I felt so much better and was sent home... follow up appointments scheduled. Antibiotic to be taken twice a day!!
Bob spent most of my hospital stay with me and my daughters were very scared and came to the hospital too.
Not sure this is all over with.... everyone is keeping an eye on me....
The furosemide is "purging" me of fluids...I won't know about the lung until they do another x-ray on Monday or Tuesday.
I managed a trip to the grocery store thanks to a cart. Bob offered to go with me but I declined... he feels rotten. He offered to sit in the car and wait but I didn't like that idea either.
Tests all went ok except it seems I have fluid in one lung...the reason why I am so out of breath. An increase in my furosemide is hoped to take care of it. If not they will use a needle and drain it. Sounds lovely doesn't it??
Tigger has lost his rubber band toy... ie I took it!! He's left with the ball made from blue painter's tape and some purchased toys. He has a toy mouse which looks quite real and we never know when or where it will show up!!
Looks like Bob has the flu .. I made him take a covid test just in case. It was negative.
Today is gray, dark and wet so having greenery with lights on the stair railings is nice...just enough light to keep one safe on the stairs and no need to have regular lights on!!
Tigger has decided that a blue rubber band is much more fun than the painter's tape ball... Jack ( gray stipped older one) just thinks both are of no interest.
Bob and I wrapped and boxed etc. the things for our adopted seniors... one thing still to arrive!
All my symptoms...swollen feet, shortness of breath, cough etc. worried us enough to call my cardiologist this morning. When the nurse called back it was to direct me to the hospital for chest x-rays and lab tests ASAP and an appointment tomorrow for an echo cardiogram.
It seems like the whole deal took forever...some glitch in my Humana Insurance caused a big delay. They had my birthdate wrong. But being at the end of the day also made things go slower!!
When I went on the computer a little while ago the test results were already available. Not that I know what they mean... not until I ask the doctor!!
It's warmer today so Bob unpacked the box of lights and started hanging them outside. I'm not sure just how many he's hung ( didn't look) . After Christmas we roll up each strand and put it in a plastic bag... so next year is easy peasy. No untangling!
My job is to hang lights on the deck railings. Last Christmas the squirrels destroyed lots of the strands. I can't imagine that they tasted good. So I shall have to buy new ones!
Tigger, the orange cat, did not enjoy Bob going in and out while hanging lights... started howling to try and find Bob or sat outside the inner garage door.. That cat!! Bob made him a ball of blue painter tape and he has been chasing it now that Bob is done and back inside.
Bob's lighting job is done!!
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Thanksgiving leftovers have been eaten. Our grandson is home from Hawaii- I swear he slept for over 24 hours when he crashed in his bed! Christmas shopping for our senior adoptees is progressing. Older daughter delivering gifts for the family adoptees for her non-profit!! .....and on and on!
Our baby tree is up and waiting to be decorated. The "greenery" is up on the stair railings. I'll be bringing down the storage tote of "Annalee's". The fireplace mantle looks empty without Santa, his wife and elf with the wicker sleigh ...AND all the reindeer including Rudolf and some babies!!
It has been too cold and unpleasant for Bob to put up the outside lights... when when the weather
does a Missouri flip and gets warmer... out he goes!
Shopping for our seniors did not go as planned... packaged muffin mixes using water only were not available. Ones using milk were.. so here's hoping these will work. Canned hams for Christmas dinner are not available nor will they be in the near future according to our grocery store's customer service! Spam or canned corned beef don't seem promising... will have to hunt. Instant mashed potatoes, canned green beans and canned yams were found ...
Here are the Annalee's from several years ago...
But he did have a great time! One parent posted a video of his group doing the conga dance on the cameraman... wish I saw it!!
When he got home his Mother said he was "loopy"... so off to bed he went and slept and slept and slept!
We were able to watch Dominic and the Golden Regiment play at the site of the USS Missouri on UTube last night! They all did well! We were amazed at the flag bearer/cheerleaders coping with the wind and their flags!!
We were able to pick Dominic out from all the others!! BTW ... about 300 band members went on this trip!
This morning he sent photos from Pearl Harbor...considering how few he's sent from everything else, he must have been impressed! I think I will have to make a file of all his photos in my computer...
Today they are supposed to go out in catamarans !!
Driving in and out of our subdivision we are noticing more and more Christmas lights and lit Christmas trees in the windows. I don't think this rush towards Christmas was so early in the last few years!!
But who am I to talk... Yesterday I helped my daughter put up greenery on her front steps ( the steps zig zag down a full story and a half) and two little (fake) greenery trees at the middle landing. Some of the lights on both are solar or batteries. They have timers too so the lights will be on when she arrives home from work!
So to follow everyone else we brought down our little fake table top tree and put it in place. Bob will bring down the plastic totes with "stuff" and lights this week!
Dominic - Hawaii
Trombone playing grandson went to the Polynesian Cultural Center yesterday... tried coconut bread ( sent via text the recipe which we will give a try). The Golden Regiment Band is supposed to have a Polynesian dinner, maybe a luau, there last night? Difference in time zones makes keeping on top of things difficult.
Here we sit waiting to watch our grandson and the Blue Springs Golden Regiment play in the Waikiki Holiday parade... Someone local has been making U Tube videos and uploading them. An earlier one showed the kids playing their instruments on the beach! Even though Dominic is in the back playing his Euphonium I can pick him out... he's SO tall! Lots of people stopped to watch them and take videos!!
He is enjoying this all...his first airplane ride... first view etc of the ocean...his first super fancy high rise hotel !!
Finally.. it's just past 10.50 pm... the video shows a Waikiki street with lots of people and the head trailer for the parade. Lots of Blue Springs fans ( probably parents, chaperones, band volunteers...etc.) So we watched.. through big and small groups, bands, fancy cars etc.
Finally the BS Golden Regiment came walking/playing toward us!! They stopped in front of the parade headquarters and proceeded to play and put on one of their routines. Bob and I thought they did well... think we found Dominic in all that!! His height 6'5" helps...
Now we can go to bed!
Years and years ago my friend Rita passed on her recipe for home made Chex Mix... The family has started its annual Christmas time request for me to make some. And so I did.... and passed on the first containers to my daughters.
Making it has gotten to be a little sad for me. First Rita became a widow and then dimentia,,, and her son came up from Florida and sold her house, got rid of stuff and whisked her away. At that point I wasn't sure she even recognized me...
So I make her Chex Mix and think of how long we were friends and miss her...
Aldi has it's Butterball turkey on sale... starting this morning. So off I went just after they opened. The parking lot was pretty full... loads of people... and plenty of turkeys. People were buying 2 - the Aldi limit. Me.. just one.
Aldi now has only one person run check out aisle ... the rest are self serve! I took my cart and was #2 in the person one! Easy peasy...got my turkey and the rest of my cart/list.
My son-in-law and grand daughter hit Aldi at 3.30. Parking lot completely full ! Still plenty of Butterball turkeys but the place was a mad house!!
So glad I went early!!
Dominic's trip to Hawaii with the Blue Springs Marching Band is getting closer and closer. The family is organizing suitcases and carryons for him. My old suitcase is bigger than most but he will need to pack his band uniform, two pairs of size 14 shoes (!), clothes for a week including nice ones for a special dinner, toiletries and so on!
His parents have to drop him off at the high school just after 3 am ! Yuck... but at least they don't have to take him to KCI ( the airport) which is an hour away!
Also luckily, the school is shipping and paying for his euphonium. Those with smaller instruments have to do it themselves.
So we will be having Thanksgiving dinner without him .. table will seem empty !
Weather has decided it's winter. The furnace is on... the days are gray and a cold front has arrived. Meals have switched to winter fare. Last night it was pork in an apple cider gravy with red cabbage and baked or jacket potatoes. Red cabbage is a comfort food for this family... My Mother taught me how!!
Another of her hand me down comfort food recipes is German potato pancakes...beginning to think it's time to make them again!!
Life is getting back to normal...We are all feeling better!!
I had an online bear show this weekend... bears were packed up and taken to the Post Office. And according to the PO two have already arrived at their new homes - Temperence, Michigan and McKinney, Texas. Quick wasn't it ??
Now I have to start work on bears and Christmas thingy-es for the next show in December!
We are living with more signs of the grandchildren growing up. Dominic's marching band plays in Hawaii on Thanksgiving Day. He and his Mother are going out to empty church parking lots to teach him to drive, He thinks she is a better driver than his Father ( right on kiddo!)
His sister has applied for an internship at the Harry Truman Presidential Library. She had us take a look at her application and her letters of reference. Here's hoping... finger crossed! Her college classes are going well and she has enough prep work at a local restaurant's kitchen to help out with finances.
I have been enjoying roaming through my computer looking for Christmas presents....a hard task since we all seem to buy whatever we need? But I have found some little oddball things to go with the gift cards we usually buy?
Our grocery stores are beginning to be well stocked for Thanksgiving necessities.. well-stocked but pricey. So I have started buying things here and there...Today it was Aldi's mulled wine for the adults and a cranberry cider for the kids.... and a huge container of cashew nuts for the huge batches I always make of "Chex Mix"... requests are coming in already.
Just a reminder to US readers... don't forget to vote tomorrow ( Nov. 8th) if you haven't already
We are all back home...maybe we overdid since we are all feeling under the weather! But we had a great time!
Laurel's non-profit /development convention gave her lots of new ideas.
The rest of us walked and walked and walked. We saw San Antonio's River Walk... by foot and by boat. Saw part of the River Walk's fund raising parade... rain made the boats wet and they had problems! We shopped and found souvenirs for everyone. The River Walk is partly a water retention project with gates that can descend when there is flooding but also part of a river. Lots and lots of older buildings... newer hotels...the site of a World's Fair...where a hotel was build like building blocks ( pre-made sections attached together with furniture, bathrooms etc.) for some of the 6,000,000 fair attendees.
Two went on a ghost tour and saw the Alamo! Three went to the annual arts and crafts festival and learned about the "Day of the Day" ofrendas or alters. We decided to set one up for our family next year... especially since Robb's birthday was Oct. 30th .
San Antonio's Comicon was this weekend and held in the convention center below our hotel. My daughters smoke so we sat in the smoking area and watched and watched many many attendees... Carolyn took pictures of those in the best costumes!! She did not want to attend herself nor buy anything from the vendor area... but really enjoyed watching those that did!! There are people from babies to really oldies... plus whole families!!
And food?? We went to many restaurants and enjoyed them all...We had planned on some TexMex... but there weren't any in walking distance. Oh well!!
We left very early yesterday morning and , lucky me, I was seated on the right side at we headed North! Watched a stupendous red and orange sunrise through my window for almost the whole hour long flight from San Antonio to Dallas, TX !! Yes, I know... red sky at morning, sailors take warning!
After we arrived home I went out for Halloween candy and Bob brought down our decorations from the attic and and put them up outside.
Kids came ... little ones and big ones , all dressed up. I do have candy left but I am sure "someone" will eat it!!
I am all packed and ready to go. My daughter will pick us up around 8 am and then daughter number two!! I am so glad she has this whole thing organized... it's been so long since we flew and things seem to change all the time.
Leaving Kansas City and on to Dallas where we have time and change planes. Then off to San Antonio !
Our hotel and Laurel's conference is on River Walk... we will take a taxi or uber from the airport.
By the way... the fire was big enough that a barn full of horses had to be evacuated! The owner was lucky enough to have other owners offer stall space !!
Another fire ... grass this time... on the NE of Kansas City left two firefighters injured. One was still in the hospital this morning. The fire jumped a road trapping the two in heavy smoke.
The fire was bigger than I had thought... roads were closed and people evacuated!! We had wind gusts as high as 74 miles an hour!!
Today was quite different... temps only up to around 60 and it poured!! We were supposed to get about two inches!! Since the fire was still smoldering today, it was hoped the rain would help!
Started packing today for our trip to San Antonio, TX.... We leave Wednesday morning !!
The temps have gone back up ... currently 84 degrees - and Weather Bug has put out a wind alert and burn order !!
The what did I read on the Kansas City Star ( newspaper) posting? There is a fire along the interstate highway (470) in southern Kansas City. A brush pile fire and the KCPolice Dept is suggesting that people evacuate!!
Thinking abut where the fire is I remember that KC sends its brush ,leaves and tree debris there.... chews it all up.Then it is left to turn into compost for the KC Parks Dept...
The KC area is in a drought... so fires are not unexpected.... especially along railroad tracks!!
My primary care physician wants to put me on Fosomax...to help with my decreasing bone density. I have decided not to take it. The online review is not good at all.. one possible side effect is spontaneous femur fractures. It was taken off the market for awhile but is now back on.
So I will increase my calcium and vitamin D intake instead.
I am back in my bed ... not great but better than the recliner ... and getting better.
Tigger is getting better too. He really would not eat the dry food made for cats with urinary blockages...and would complain bitterly about being hungry. So the vet prescribed a canned version which he will eat. Tigger was mightily pleased not to be hungry after eating the first can full!!
Bob has switched our heating/ac furnace to its winter/heat setting. It is getting cold at night - low 30's but no actual frost - and having heat is so nice!! And having the second quilt on my feet is an additional luxury.
We are in a drought.... with burn restrictions. Leaves are falling but color is lacking. I've only seen a few red bushes. Most things are turning yellow or tan and falling....... but the weekend weather report is calling for nice warm ( mid 70's) temps and rain next week!!
Tigger is doing better. His eye seems to have gotten an infection - the inner lid is swollen. The vet gave us an ointment to apply with a Q-tip ... which he tolerates quite well. He still hates the vet's dry food - the anti-ash stuff. $40.00 for 6 lb bag.... and it currently eating Jack's canned wet food something he didn't do before ... LOL
I have managed two partial nights in my bed... whoo hoo!! I finish up in the recliner...A definite improvement ! Today I had a bone density test - scheduled by my primary care physician---- on the injury area.
I texted my daughters about the bone density test and one replied asking if I was dense! I replied "sometimes'!
Tigger spent the sleeping with occasional walk-arounds. The food sent home by the vet so that he doesn't get another blockage does not appeal to either cat!!
Bob managed to get the liquid medicine in... via a syringe .. lost one pain pill but did get one in and down his throat!!
My pain is just about gone... except when lying down so I am afraid it will be another recliner night. My primary care doctor has scheduled me for a bone density test...It will be Tuesday morning..
The vet unblocked Tigger's urethra yesterday - Friday. He is spending the weekend so the vet can keep an eye on him.
The vet called this morning and said things were going well. He will check on him tomorrow. Somehow Tigger managed to removed his catheter last night !?? Bet he's not happy at the vet's!!
Still having problems finding a place to sleep... recliner, couch and bed all not great!
One of my daughter's pupils from a few years ago emailed us... fundraiser for the Girl Scouts. She needs help raising money for camp next summer.
So my daughter and I ordered a few things.. combining our order to cut down on shipping costs. It arrived and I will hide my things for Christmas boxes!!
Vet called again... Things are going well but Tigger is mightily unhappy with being there. So we will pick him up and take care of him here. Getting his meds in will be a "treat"!
I could not get comfortable on the couch though pain wasn't an issue.... back to the recliner last night. I am going to try the bed tonight.
Tigger the orange cat is off to the vet. He was so unhappy this morning. He couldn't settle anywhere. Yowling all over the house. Bob decided to call the vet. While on the phone he noticed Tigger could not use the little pan.
The vet says his kidneys are hard and the urethra is plugged. The vet is working on him and Tigger will be there for the weekend ( at least). Tigger's new catfood - for sensitive stomachs probably the culprit.
Vet just called... unplugged things. We'll see how it goes.
Still can't manage to sleep in my bed... am so tired of the recliner. Last night Tigger ( the orange cat) decided I was the perfect place to sleep and jumped up on me several times. 14 plus pounds landing on one while asleep is NOT great!
I think the rib is healing... and ice packs help... but now I have a huge bruise ( currently burgundy colored) below the rib area.
Our trip to San Antonio is up in the air... waiting for me to be able to sleep in a bed. My two daughters will go no matter what...but Bob and I will miss quite a few sights if we don't go.
Bob suggested I try the couch tonight.... on my back...
It has been a miserable week.... early Monday morning I had a leg cramp . While up walking it off I decided a trip to the bathroom was needed. Backing up to the toilet I slipped and fell hitting the water tank.
That hurt like h***..... tried using pain pills and patches with out much help. Slept in the recliner...Bob became my nurse and go-getter.
No better yesterday so went to the clinic for x-rays etc. Muscle bruise and small rib break was the diagnosis. I will go to my primary care doctor Monday ( that was the earliest I could see her and the reason for going to the clinic.)
I so want to sleep in my bed and not in the recliner !
We are definitely heading into fall... Day temps are now hovering around the 70's and night time ones in the low 40 to 50 range. This means more blankets on the beds!!
We could use rain... the ground is cracked. But we don't have to mow the yards... the grass is hibernating!!
My grandson was finally tired of his LO-O-NG hair . He went to a chain salon that specialized in men. I loved the first cut...but the marching band director did NOT. Dominic's hair was too short to put it into a ponytail for band. So off he went for cut number 2.
Yesterday it was Fall !! A little rain and much lower temps... only in the low 60's !! Bob flipped the furnace from air condition to heat... and it has been RUNNING!!
Today it is still running but the temp is at 73 outside and may get up to the mid-80's. Another part of our up and down temperature cycling?
It looks like next week will be cooler... 70's. Shorts will be washed and put away till next Spring... and long pants and sweaters are ready for layering!! While I am at it... I am sorting things for our local thrift stores. Things I have not worn for years will be finding new homes!! My closet and dresser will have a new emptier look!!
I haven't felt like posting since we received our covid booster... the one for the new variant. Bob did fine but I certainly did not. I felt rotten... slept off and on all Saturday and Sunday . Getting back to normal today...
Sadly I missed my grandson marching in the Blue Springs Fall Fun Fest parade Saturday..
He has three marching band events and then off to Hawaii ( Pearl Harbor) where the band plays for the USS Missouri. He will miss Thanksgiving here but I have told him we will postpone things till he gets home.
Last night we had water with bursts indicating sir in the pipes. This morning I could make a pot of coffee but then no water at all!!
Bob went to take a look at what the water department was doing around noon. It looks like they were closing things down. A truckload of gravel was being delivered!
But by 2pm... still no water... luckily we have a few bottles of water to drink!
Last night Bob went to CVS;s website and signed us up for the new Covid booster. Lots of medical stuff to fill out... insurance details etc. but we has appointments for 11 am today. We arrived on time and there was more paperwork to fill out and sign. By 11.30 we were vaccinated ( Bob got a flu shot too - I am allergic). So that's taken care of.
Our teacher daughter was vaccinated last night. Headed off to school this morning. She has no students on Friday and was supposed to substitute in other non-gifted classes but by 9 felt so ill she had to go home. Fingers crossed this doesn't happen to Bob or me.
Heading out to pick up our order ( special cat food) from Target we noticed water running the gutter. It was coming up from the ground in front of a neighbor's yard. She was sitting outside so we stopped to "suggest" she call the water department.
On our way home the Blue Springs Water dept. truck was parked in front of her house and a group of workers seemed to be discussing what to do.
Soon they were at work digging away and vacuuming up the wet dirt. (Our subdivision was built in the 1970's and the pipes are often needing replacement! Our clay soil and hot summers / cold winters add to ground shifting which leads to pipes breaking and this summer has been HOT!)
Making dinner I turned on the kitchen faucet and tan water came out ... air in the pipes added to it all. We put some in a glass ...not a pretty sight! Bottles of water for us tonight!
I have been watching all the TV and computer postings about Queen Elizabeth's life and death. I had hoped she would live as long as her Mother ( the Queen Mum).
When I was really young, and living in London, I remember singing "God save the King" and being confused about the switch to "God save the Queen"... by then we were living in the US..
Yesterday was the coolest it's been in ages... never made it over 69 degrees. I even had to switch from shorts to jeans and make sure my quilt was "in place" for last night! But today we are back to normal . It's currently 82 degrees. Up and down... up and down. What's next!!
We went back to our daughter's house yesterday to do a little more on her office revamp. She's been unloading boxes of stuff she took out the other day. Things are looking good!!
The dogs ( Scout and Harper) were utterly whipped after our Sunday work day... so tired that they didn't even want to get up yesterday morning!! Don't think that's happened before! But they were ready for more romping and stomping while we were there yesterday.... multiple trips up and down the deck stairs returning whatever was thrown ( the deck is up one story off the ground).
Laurel's computer repair that we helped with last week did not do the trick even with the world-wide online repair person ( in India) that was part of her computer purchase deal.... so an actual person was to come to her home within 5 working days to fix it. Between Laurel's work schedule and the "person" they finally set up a time this afternoon..... but we just got a text saying he was coming NOW ...four hours early. Luckily she had returned from a work "thingy" and was home.
The guy finally made it... and replaced most of the computer aside from the case. Still does not work... doesn't get past the set-up. So the company will send a box and she is to mail it back to them. We don't know what the computer company will do then....
Bob went to our daughter's house while the guy was working on this... she felt uncomfortable with him and he doesn't like dogs....not a fun day!
We helped our daughter revamp her home office!!! First we totally emptied it out... then Bob vacuumed, and rolled up the old area rug. Our daughter washed the walls and I took out trash and cardboard to their respective "wheelie bins"! Cardboard to the recycle one.
probably most don't know where the "word" Santa Cali-Gon comes from... Independence, Mo was the start of the three trails heading West. There are places in the area where one can still see the swales left by the wagons! Santa is for the trail heading to Santa Fe. Cali- is for the trail heading to California and Gon for the trail heading to Oregon.Trains of wagons filled up on supplies in Independence!!
So Independence hosts a a three day festival every Labor Day weekend with crafts, vendors, a beer garden, a carnival etc. One can find home made items from root beer to kettle corn ! All set up in the area around the square which surrounds the Jackson County courthouse. President Harry Truman's home is a few walking blocks away and is run by the National Park Service. His Presidential Library is a short drive away.
Bob and I planned a trip out to Independence ( home of President Harry Truman about 15 miles west) today. First was to be a visit to the Independence farmer's market, Then a saunter around the square to see what's new. Then lunch at Ophelia's Restaurant.
When we got there we were faced with set-ups for Independence's Santa Caligon festival. No farmer's market. All parking lots closed off. Tents being erected for craft booths. A Ferris wheel in the middle of the street - part of a carnival to be. Street parking was all filled with worker cars!
So we headed home... try again next week!! Being retired a postponement is ok...
My teacher daughter talks to me on her hands free ( in her car) phone as she heads home each day.... today was a winner. It was raining cats and dogs with thunder and lightning which I could hear!!
She has been back to school for three weeks ( kids for two). Today her new principal has covid. The new art teacher has covid. Probably one of the custodians has covid. One of the teachers had her car stolen and so had to cope with the police and couldn't make it to school....so my daughter ended up spending her day doing all sorts of things as her school tried to cope!! And things won't be any better tomorrow!
The other daughter called last night ( 9 pm)... computer problems..big ones. She was working with an IT specialist ( in India) trying to fix things. So my husband had to be part of the process... The IT person via a link accessed his computer and after a lot of things I don't understand downloaded a fix for Laurel's computer into ours. Bob then downloaded it into a memory stick. My daughter picked up the memory stick on her way home from work and will download the fix into her computer...
Fingers crossed... the download into our computer from India took 8 hours ! While we were sleeping....
I've kept myself busy.. New bears... bear sweaters... bear hats and scarves... and reading. Tigger the tripper likes it when I read though I have to watch out that he doesn't change the pages on my kindle.
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Luckily the temps have gone down a bit.... Scout and Harper have been at work digging under the 6 foot wooden fence and even managed to break one of the slats down at the bottom. So Bob went of the Home Depot ... twice... to buy concrete pavers. Luckily he screwed a wooden 2 x 8 over the broken slat before he put a paver because Harper moved the paver!!
Yesterday we were back to work on our daughter's new deck railings...
Everyone in the family is back to school...teacher, college student and high schooler. And things are going well ( for now?). Though teacher/daughter's school did have a lock down... gun shots heard nearby.
Went to the farmer's market this morning...fresh bread from the Mennonite booth... lots of veggies... and oatmeal craisin cookies. Yes... I could bake the bread and cookies myself, but I do like to support the market's vendors!! And the veggies taste better than those from the grocery stores!!
Woke up early this morning to the sound of rain!!! Not just a sprinkle but actual rain.... went back to sleep. When I woke up again and looked out of the window, I saw our newspaper sitting in the rain and that Bob had forgotten to put out the trash bin. Luckily the trash guys were a little late...managed to get the bin out to the end of the driveway before they came!! And to get the paper before the rain got into its plastic bag!! Success all around!!
Its now almost three hours later and it is still raining lightly!! And the temps haven't hit 70 degrees!!
To celebrate ( and because there is a coupon online) I have ordered a pizza for the two if us tonight!!
Celebrating that it never got hotter than the high 60's !!! Even turned off the car's a/c when picking up the pizza!!
Out elder daughter has signed up for a non-profit convention in San Antonio at the end of October.... and her sister, Bob and I are going along!! Not for the convention but for an annual celebration of Robb's ( deceased son/brother) birthday on October 30th.
So plane tickets have been bought... hotel reservations made and we have started looking around for things to do and see. What popped up first ??? A Day of the Dead Festival and a ghost tour !! I am hoping to do the River Walk.
Can't wait to see what else my daughters find!!Non-convention attendees will be tourists during the day ...all of us at night! So glad the hotel has a pool, we will need it to recuperate!!
I am still taking it easy... pinched a nerve in my lower back which led to PAIN from my hip to my foot... so took it easy yesterday with regular intakes of acetaminophen. Much better today... spent my recliner time knitting on a bear sweater... still needs buttons and pressing.
Today Bob took off for out elder/ dog owning daughter's house. Harper got out of her wooden - 6 foot - closed fenced back yard.. Scout didn't go with her but our daughter did get Harper back! Now she and Bob and trying to find out how Harper managed it!! (turns out she worked her way under the back gate... They blocked that off so Harper won't be able to do that again!)
My two daughters headed out to a large church in Kansas City which had donated space for Phoenix Family's Operation Backpack! They and lots of other volunteers were going to spend the day filling about 400 backpacks with supplies for the upcoming school year which starts in about 3 weeks. The backpacks will have paper, pens, rulers, crayons for the little ones, calculators and so on!!
I imagine everyone will be exhausted by the end... though everyone will have had lunch and a break mid-day...
So what were we doing??? Bob went out let Harper and Scout for a potty break and outdoor time around noon. He also mowed our daughter's ( The dogs' owner) back yard and weed whacked around the fence. When he was done the dogs were more than ready to go back inside...currently it's 90 degrees and the dogs appreciate air conditioning inside just like we do!!
I stayed home... 90 degrees is too much for me ... and worked on pumpkins made from vintage upholstery velvet...
BTW the younger daughter and her family had a great mini get away to Omaha.... here's a photo she sent from the zoo!
Today was Missouri's primary day so off we went with our picture id, crib sheets and voter card saying where our polling place was. Good thing since it had changed !!
It was quite busy for a primary election. Voters had to wait for an available machine! My daughter, who votes on the other side of town, said it was the same for her !
Now we all wait...
My daughter, the teacher one, and her family voted and then headed out on a mini vacation to Omaha, Nebraska. On the way they stopped at the Lewis and Clark museum just outside of Omaha.
They plan on a good long look around Omaha and then stay at a motel with a pool which my grand son will love!! Tomorrow up early and off to the Omaha Zoo. They are looking forward to seeing the sharks fed. The sharks swim in a glass tunnel above one!! They will stay at the zoo until the heat sends them back home!!
News is saying the Missouri's voter turnout is light... not what we saw here in Eastern Jackson County.
Temps hit mid to high 90's this afternoon...yuck!
Up and dressed and the temperature still was at 69!! So we went off to the farmers' market again for some home grown veggies and fresh baked bread from the Mennonite ladies booth!!
Then Bob spotted a booth with home made jams... and it was a jar of "traffic jam" that caught his taste buds !! Traffic jam seems to be a mixture of all sorts of berries! The vendor said it made the best peanut butter and jelly sandwiches!!
My tomato purchase means tomato, lettuce and bacon tonight!!
The market seemed to be even more diverse and full this morning ( than last week!)
Nice to have it cool and to get out of the house... though Bob had to go out again for batteries. My blood pressure machine wasn't working. Was I dead? No it just needed new batteries!
Today's weather is just right... slight sprinkles every so often and the high is currently 79degrees!! Much better than the days of high 90's to over 100 degrees!!
Woke up this morning to the sound of rain... the road side gutter is flowing with water and it's a lot cooler. It has rained steadily since .. the temp is a lovely 69 degrees and 10.16 am!!
I am surprised that I don't hear groanes of pleasure from all the plants and trees!
Later... I went to the grocery store for my daughter's birthday cards! It was quite empty so the checkout lady was happy to see me and could stop standing around for awhile.
Stupidly I left the cards in the cart and had to go back to the store..no harm done and they were there!!
Temp still low!
We decided that we really needed to "get out' of the house ... and since today is Saturday that means the farmers' market in downtown Blue Springs would be open starting at 7am! So as soon as we were dressed (etc.) we headed out!
The Farmers' Market has really grown since the last time we went... Lots of vendors with everything from veggies, roasted coffee, cookies, dog treats, honey, a Mennonite bakery vendor, soaps and finally an A T & T booth!! We came home with bags and bags... even an Armenian melon/cucumber.
I texted my sil who is Armenian for hints and lives in Chicago... no hints but said it was delicious.
The huge tomatoes will be great for BLTs !! The raspberry sweet rolls were breakfast!
So.. we were able to get out of the house and be back home before it got hot... this afternoon we hit 100 degrees!
We are still hunkering down... the temps reach 98 every afternoon and no rain so far.
With the current covid news here I have started wearing my mask again when out for groceries. The number of cases had gone up but not hospitalizations... Today the newspaper said that had changed. Luckily we have has both shots and both boosters but all sorts of people ( like Pres.Biden) have too but are now testing positive.
Well.. we are finding things to do here at home ! I went to Wal-Mart for groceries and a huge bag of fiberfill... more bears on the way!!
Bob and I have decided to hunker down inside.... it's just too HOT. The temp is currently 98. We do make a few quick trips out... when necessary ... like to the library, grocery store, craft store or quilt store.
Indoor projects that have been postponed are now being completed. I am working on bears for the fall's upcoming shows. Bob has been going through his stash and getting ready sell things...plus we have been doing lots of reading!!
Local charities have been getting ready to provide backpacks and school supplies for children who need them ( and their parents can't afford to supply them). There is also a charity that provides shoes.. new ones... also for needy kids.
My daughter's non-profit is one of those who provides school supplies... "Operation backpack" . She has been looking for "deals" and ordering enough supplies for all the backpacks her non-profit needs..... and she has asked Bob, myself, her sister, nephew etc to help get those supplies into the back packs!! Lunch will be provided for all the volunteers ( we won't be the only ones, that's for sure!)
Here's hoping it will lots cooler on August 4th!!
It really has been too hot to get much done on my daughter's deck. We have gotten the bad flooring boards replaced and done a lot of scraping ( getting ready to paint) but have not managed to do much on replacing the deck railings....one hour outside is just about it. We have had days and days of high 90's.
But... we did get the deck ready for a 4th of July get together... all cleaned.. rugs put down ( temp... back up for painting later) My daughter made loads of different salads.. wonderful turkey burgers for Bob to grill... and I made a huge strawberry shortcake at the request of younger daughter for her July 3rd birthday instead of cake !
With all that heat people went back and forth... eating or talking on the deck and then cooling down inside with air conditioning.. the dogs did the same thing!
All around us people were setting off fireworks... the really loud ones made the dogs jump!
After we divided up the leftovers we headed home...we could see lots of fireworks along the way !
After the last few HOT days... everyone, including the dogs, has decided to postpone the next work session till Thursday!! Hooray!!
We have all be working on replacing the bad deck floor boards for my elder daughter. We made the mistake of waiting till early afternoon on Saturday. Two hours later it was 95 degrees outside and we were all ready to collapse .
Luckily Sunday was Father's Day and my grandson's 16th birthday.. so no work plus cake and ice cream!
Back to work Monday ( Federal holiday Juneteenth) but we smartened up and started work at 7 am. Much cooler !
No gifties from Scout this time but ready to help Bob and our grandson. They got quite a bit done and are planning on starting to replace the railings etc. next weekend
We were out at my daughter's house finishing up some house repair chores when Scout ( my daughter's black younger dog) came running up the deck stairs with a gift in her mouth! I couldn't decide what it was and as she ran back down the deck stairs I followed her. I told Scout it was "mine" and she dropped it. My giftie was a small box turtle. Completely unharmed and all closed up into its shell.
I took the turtle and set it up on some boards and waited... slowly but surely it opened its shell and a nose appeared!!
We decided to put it out behind Laurel's wooden fence near a small creek. Bob carried it out hoping not to get any ticks.... it's pretty rough back there and it is tick season...! So no ticks and hopefully the turtle won't try to get back!!
PS Box turtles don't bite... they just pull inside their shell and close up!!
As Bob was doing the laundry ( yes, he's special does all the laundry every week!) he noticed a huge puddle ( 4 feet in diameter) where the A/C drain is ! Yuck
Our laundry is in the basement and there are 4 iron drain pipes taking care of the water from the bathrooms, the kitchen, the washing machine and the a/c that go into the main sewer pipe and out ibto the city sewer.
After turning off the washer we got out the wet/dry vacuum and sucked up the puddle... but the drain wasn't draining!! All the water we sucked up had to be carried up out of the basement and dumped out in the back yard.
Bob called our usual plumbing company.. no help till the middle of next week and we were going to be without water or toilets etc. The next company, a referral from the first, couldn't help till next Monday. This company referred us to the third which could be out that afternoon ..
Not knowing how long this whole thing was going to take, we reserved a hotel room not too far away...
The plumber came.. found the two pipe openings and got to work with his snake and an inspection camera. He was successful... no break in the sewer pipe which collects from all the other pipes and goes out into a collection place for all the houses on our cul de sac. But the pipe does have scale and after 47 years I am not surprised.
So we are back to normal... Bob finished the laundry... we cancelled the hotel... turned the a/c back on. The plumbing company will be back and de-scale the sewer pipe.... and we crashed!! Not how we planned to spend the day... cost - over $400.
Bob was getting ready for bed ( up late last night playing XBox) when the tornado sirens started wailing! Woke me up and we headed downstairs to check things out on the TV and our cell phones.... sirens still wailing louder and louder.
A tornado had been sighted over the state line in Kansas and more possibilities were being watched!
Headed downstairs to our "safe" spot - the basement! Settled ourselves down on two folding chairs and waited for the sirens to stop!! In other words... the storm had passed.
The storm moved quickly with loads of thunder and lightning but not much rain.
When the sirens stopped wailing and things got quiet... it was back to bed for us. One daughter living east of us lost her electricity. The other daughter and family slept though it all !
One actual tornado - EF1 - in the area. Trees down.
It seems like forever since I posted.... Our week/ weekend down on the lake was great. The weather was fantastic and the water not so cold that the younger members didn't go swimming and paddle boating..
We took turns making dinners so the food was good and varied.
Missouri is the "cave state"... due to the type of sediment and the inland sea. There was one people could tour about 2 miles away so the three younger ones went to visit. The didn't do the "crawl" tour... felt they were too big and Dominic hit his head on the ceiling of the regular tour!! The cave is open year round and the temperature stays in the mid 50's. They did enjoy the tour!!
For those who don't know... the Lake of the Ozarks is a man made lake... made for electrical power and recreation. The lake is still owned by the power company but the shore has been developed since the 1930's. This area had deep valleys and rivers and when dams were built the area was flooded. This may have been a Works project... providing employment and recreation possibilities to central Missouri.
The geography has meant lots of little coves and shoreline depths up to 20 feet. Little is walk-in and some very steep hillsides. But a great place !!
We were so lucky weather wise... on our trip back ( we were the last to leave being retired and little work obligations) rain hit us heavily!! So heavily that cars pulled over on the highway and semi-trucks went much slower than usual.
Laundry done... things put away... thinking about a possible next getaway!!
Bob , my daughter and I went off for our second covid booster this morning. We hadn't any bad reactions before but today's vaccine was the pits. Temps..aches and pains and a general feeling of being not right. We did manage an early evening nap and feel a bit better.
Home tomorrow will be an improvement...
All of us are organizing ourselves for a get away on Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks. We have rented a "lakehouse" which is right on the water and big enough ( hopefully) for all 9 of us!! Each group is responsible for dinner one night... !
Each family is arranging for their animals. A cat sitter is coming here today to learn the ins and out for our older cats! It's the medicine etc. which requires her... no just leaving food out and friends checking on them. Our grand dogs will be boarded.
Our #1 daughter has arranged for us to receive our 2nd covid shot on Wednesday. She gets one too because of her job. Everyone else is too young for the second booster.... Hopefully the booster will be a "no ill effects" one.
Schools will be closing for the summer next week... though daughter #2 will be teaching an enrichment class in her district's summer school.
When we get back home... I think we will collapse
Today I received an email from Ancestry.com....Interesting... They have found a way to take one's DNA and determine how much comes from each parent. Heaven knows how they do that... but this is my result
Detailed comparisonSame data, more detail. This chart shows the percentages of each ethnicity you inherited from your parents. Added together, the percents from each parent for a region equals your percent for that region.
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| Looking at the data I decided that Parent1 is my Father...Parent 2 my Mother. I know my Mother's background so that seems logical. I know nothing about my Father other than his name, parents' names and that he was born in Berlin so his percentages are fascinating. One other thing I did know was that he had no Jewish heritage. When my parents were married in Germany in 1940 they were checked all the way back to the 1400's... odd little factoid wouldn't you say?? | |
A friend's son is a stainless steel welder... a skill he learned in high school His whole family is artistic and so when I wanted a Ukrainian sunflower he made me one!!
I picked it up today... It is about 5 feet tall and very heavy. The leaves even have veining!! When I decide where it should go, Bob will make sure it is well anchored with concrete!!
...addendum... Our younger daughter ( the teacher) graduates again tomorrow. When I think of how much schooling she has accomplished I am amazed. She has two Bachelor of Arts ( English and Teaching) , a Master of Arts in Gifted Education and tomorrow's degree - an Ed Specialist degree in Gifted Education. She already looking for more classes...!!
This school year ends the end of May... but she will be teaching summer school .
My daughter bought Bob a Paul Hollywood bread cookbook for his birthday.... today he made his first loaf.
Next loaf will be Irish Soda bread... buttermilk in the fridge waiting for him!!
If we didn't live on a high spot I think we would be floating away!! We have had so much rain that Nature has formed a swimming hole in our back yard!! When the rain is heavy we get rivers from the cul de sac down the lot lines!!
Bob wants to mow but the ground is so saturated that he can't!!
Today has been glorious... the temps got to mid 80's and even though it was a little windy, the sky was blue with white clouds. Everything took advantage... my lilacs are in bloom... my neighbor red dogwood 's flowers are bursting... my redbuds are covered with little flowers!! I'm sure the iris will be blooming soon!
A friend we hadn't seen since the beginning of covid dropped by for a long chat... we are all caught up now with children and grandchildren She's a widow with one daughter in California and one in Virginia so halfway between them both!
We had an early dinner... wonderful salmon! My grandson's , the trombone player, high school jazz group had a concert.... of course we had to go. Met my daughter and her husband outside of the high school's concert hall and found seats. I was a little nervous. We hadn't been to a large event since covid began....Took masks just in case. But it was ok.
Tomorrow is supposed to be wet... rats
Woke up this morning with hands that ached and would not do much of anything. So no bear making or much of anything. Took some acetominophin ( with my heart medication I can't take the others). My hands feel a little better. Lucky that I am a two finger typist isn't it??
So it's a reading and puttering day...
We had all sorts of dire storm predictions yesterday... the wind alerts were really nasty. 80 mph predicted for late last night and early this morning. So we readied the deck... took down stuff, brought in the rug, turned the chairs over etc. Later, I did see lightning and heard some rumbling...but nothing too scary. No damage sighted this morning.
Forgot to post this yesterday...things more normal today
All of a sudden things are beginning to bloom ..add red bud trees to forsythia, magnolias, pears, wild cherries, something wild and white that looks like apples and so on. Saw a large bed of bright red tulips and the daffodils are still out!! BUT they ( the weather people) are talking about a huge snow/rain lots of wind storm starting tonight ! Bother as Pooh would say....
and loads and loads of dandelions.... bright yellow all over the lawns!!
We try to combine our tasks into one round trip... today it was grocery store, pharmacy, gas station and Post Office !
Usually I put packages either in the mailbox ,or if too big, on the front steps... but today the box was too big and the weather was too iffy to leave it on the steps!! Didn't want the bear inside to get wet so we added the PO to our round robin trip!!
I've started a shopping list for our Easter "dinner". It's going to be a casual one... Bob is grilling. I hope it is nice enough to be outside!!
I have started picking up stuff for the EGG hunt...I will have to check up in the attic to see if we still have plastic eggs to put stuff in!!
Spent the evening at our elder daughter's house...got the menu planned for Sunday. Added items to her Wal-Mart grocery list. Now to check with younger daughter and get her approval. .... Yes... approval given. .... We should have a great meal... hope the weather co-operates!
My day trip was part of my birthday... We headed East to Rocheport which is on the Missouri River where I bought two bottles of a newly released white wine from one of the wineries. We investigated two "antique " stores which were mostly decorative things for the home. Then it was lunch at the "General Store". I had a chicken curry salad on spring greens with craisins and almonds and a cup of coffee. Bob had a ham and cheese quesadilla with chips and coffee. Both good and enough for dinner in the evening. We were surprised at the constant traffic of diners... never an empty table!!
We headed home through Booneville ( Danial Boone actually lived here for awhile). Then stopped at a huge cheese store in Sweet Springs. I bought some Hemmes Brothers cheese curdles and some apple cheddar... and some home made horse radish from down by Lake Pomme de Terre ! The Hemmes Brothers are a local family... originally they ran a dairy farm but now make cheeses!
Another Antique Mall in Bates City and then home.... where we crashed on our recliners!
My 77th birthday was a great day... Bob organized the event and went off to the grocery store for a cake (carrot cake with little icing carrots on top), ice cream, candles and a bunch of daffodils!!
A huge box of flowers from one of my daughters arrived in the afternoon. Bob and I snipped the ends, added the flower stuff and arranged them in a vase. Their perfume was "smell-able" all over. Two of the flowers are small sunflowers.. Ukraine support !!
Everyone arrived in the evening... cake, ice cream and presents!! And lots of hugs!!
After all that, we spent time planning our Easter and our "get away" to the Lake of the Ozarks over Memorial Day.. everyone is looking forward to both things. Lili ,almost 20 now, hinted that an Easter egg hunt -- like when they were small - would be great. I told Bob he would have to hide them less easy to find... not pleased with that.
Long ago Easter egg hunt...
