Lucky Thirteen, Wednesday, July 2022.

This year is flying by. And I've slept most of it. 

Not sure if it's depression or the Methotrexate medicine. Am not feeling well at all. No energy. Dr. Newsome suggested tripling the prescribed Folic Acid. It seems to help.

Am in more pain now than before the Psoriatic Arthritis diagnosis. Feet and hands mostly. 

My Nurse Practitioner is giving me a referral to a Rheumatologist closer than Dubois - Olean, actually.

We'll see if I get the same diagnosis and treatment plan. 

In happier news, the fingertip I sliced open is healing nicely. Still a bit tender, but the skin has grown back enough to mitigate the tenderness on the very end.

The garden is coming along in spite of several raids by the local doe. Have been eating Swiss Chard and Bok Choi and a bit of lettuce for a while. Summer squash is starting to come in and there looks to be one viable Zucchini in the making. Tiny tomatoes and peppers have emerged. The birdhouse gourds plants are very small. Not sure if they will grow at all.

Another hot day underway.

3 April 2020.

I come from a long line of gardeners. I remember my great grandmother's foundation and border plantings. She had an amazing sense of color and porportion. Her yard and flower beds could have been featured in any number of gardening magazines.

Along the grass and gravel driveway until the side stairs grew a low cut evergreen shrub. I'm guessing it was boxwood, but that's only a guess. I didn't pay much attention to shrubs back then. The front of the house also had evergreen shrubs, perhaps a type of juniper or arborvitea. 

The left side of the house had bridal wreath spirea. I remember it because of it's graceful, weeping habit and the pretty white flowers in spring. Plus the stinky smell of the blossoms.

The back north side of the house was lined with huge three-plus feet high ferns that were so thick you could hear them rustle in the breeze.

March 20th. Spring Has Sprung.

And so has my back, but that's normal when renewing hard labor after a period of rest. Am sure all will be well in another few days. In the meantime I'll just be in pain.

Bandit on the other hand.... Well. He'll be better in a few days too. He was attacked by that big dog (Malachi) on Wednesday when we were coming home on the poop trail. He's been having a hard time getting up the stairs ever since. Today was the first he didn't cry and lay down on the ground when it was time to come inside. Have been giving him ibuprofen and his joint vitamins. They seem to be helping.

Nancy and I spoke with Deb, Malachi's owner. Told her at the very least, he should be muzzled. Suggested both a vet visit and obedience training. We'll see what happens.

Moved some bok choi so they are all in the same bed. Planted spinach next to it and when it stops raining will plant a few more seeds. Have rainbow chard, purple bok choi, radishes and some carrot seeds - all are frost hardy varieties. Also moved one of the greenhouse toppers to the bed I planted squash in last year.

The weather has been in the 50s and 60s. Even reached 71 one day. Glorious right now, but summer will probably be a scorcher.

Sarah Coleson, NPR, called with the results of my bloodwork. My cholesterol is 274, so she wants me on statins. I thought about it, did some research and agreed. Now I'm watching how much cholesterol is in the food I eat. Need to lose weight anyway.

My heart breaks for the people of Ukraine, now in the fourth week of war. NATO and the USA are helping, but fear WWIII should they enforce a no-fly zone above the country. I pray for peace.

That's all the news that's fit to print. 

March 13. The Clock in the Car is Accurate Again.

Clocks were turned forward one hour earlier and the weight if waking at five o'clock in the morning has been lifted. This is the first Winter I haven't altered my schedule to match daylight saving time. Got plenty of weird looks from folks driving by while walking Bandit at 5 a.m. 

Sat and watched the birds for a while this morning. A purple finch perched on the Gala apple tree caught my eye as I stood at the kitchen sink filling the coffee pot with water. It looked so pretty on the snow covered branch with a pale blue sky in the background. Then there are the starlings who have cleaned out the feeders for the last several days and are working their way through the suet log. 

There's about six inches of fresh snow on the ground. We slogged through it on the trail, but four degrees is too cold to linger. 

Missed my doctor's appointment on Wednesday. Drove as far as Gifford before giving up and returning home. Yes. Road conditions were that hazardous. Lots of automobile accidents regionally. Rescheduled for tomorrow morning. Hope the roads are clear.

Neighbor Linda and I went to the Derrick City Diner and had their fish fry (I had baked) it was tasty! She treated, which was nice. Afterward we went to TOPS and got some groceries. She doesn't have a car anymore, so she's dependent on others to get around. There but for the grace of God...

The war in Ukraine continues. It breaks my heart to know this is happening and I'm powerless to do anything to end it. Other than pray, that is. I see clips of what is happening there and just cry.

Here in the states us spoiled Americans are whining about the price of gas going up and blaming inflation on the President.

Some things just don't make sense to me.

Didn't do m

Last Sunday This February.

The weather is in the process of transitioning into Spring. One day temperatures will be mid-50s; the next day the high will be in the 20s. Lots of freezing rain, sleet and rain contributing to flooding in low laying areas. I'm simply happy that the days are getting longer.

Well... After fighting with my Brother sewing machine for days and ripping back countless seams, I decided to try my hand at hand quilting. It went okay, but would have been better if I set up a frame for that kind of work. 

So... I ripped it out and went to the shed to see how much work it was going to be to bring Mom's sewing machine and cabinet in. Moved some of the stuff in the shed yesterday. Moved the shelf and contents out of the office. Today I finished clearing a path in the shed, strapped the cabinet to the hand cart and got it as far as the front steps before I couldn't go any further. Luckily one of the neighbors was driving by and gave me a hand getting it up the stairs and into the house.

Took a while to get it cleaned up and oiled. Tested it out on some scrap fabric before I tried the wall hanging. Took me an hour or so to get the tension right, but she sews like a dream.

"What day is this?", Sunday

As I snuggled down between the flannel sheets this morning, I marvelled at how delightfully warm it was in the bedroom. It being shortly after four, I simply snuggled deeper and willed myself to sleep by counting to one hundred. Eh, sometimes it works.

Forty five minutes later, I gave up and turned on the light. Fed the inside animals, prepped the outside feed and went to nuke a cup of coffee. Discovered that I had neglected to turn the oven off last night. Hence the warm house. Expensive error, but well worth being warm for a change.  the computer to start my day. Played a couple games then fed the ferals (only Little Bit was there) and took Bandit for a walk.

I wish I had a camera that could capture the way the snow sparkles like glitter when temperatures are below freezing. 

Worked on the brown bag project this week. Hoping to finish the blocks tomorrow. 

Made a cutting error and have to get another yard of background fabric. That adage, "Measure twice, cut once." applies to fabric. Another expensive lesson.

The blocks are going to look fabulous together.

Well, the sun is up all the way. Guess I'd better put the bird feeders up. 

May your day be filled with laughter.

Superbowl Sunday.

Cold, cold, cold today. We only managed to walk a mile and a quarter today. Will try to make it up next Wednesday and Thursday when the temperatures reach the mid forties. Yepper. Spring is on the way.

Not much activity this week as far as projects go. Ripped out most of the bad binding on the Mexican Cross wall hanging. Hoping to red bind it tomorrow. Have two of the 54-40 or Fight blocks made. The tips Susie gave me when we spoke have helped, but the points still aren't perfect. *sigh* Still have to rip back the sideways block on the stained glass quilt; black thread on black fabric. Not looking forward to that process.

Went walking with Nancy and her pups, Wrigley and Riley, from the turnaround at the bottom of Droney road to the railroad tracks. Bandit was a mess when we got home. Took about half an hour to wash all the road salt and whatnot from his fur. Won't go there again in the Winter.

Talked with Lucinda. She's thinking of going to the flower show at Phipps Conservatory in Pittsburgh with me. Something to look forward to.

W stopped by briefly and dropped off some shrimp and onion rings from the wholesale place in Buffalo.

Another Sunday Passes.

Bandit  got into something on our nightly walk on the poop trail that made him vomit before we even got home. He proceeded to vomit off and on for the next twelve hours. . . twice on the bedroom carpet. Ewww. I was up and down with him most of that night and into the wee hours of the morning. All he seemed to want to do was lay in the snow. He wouldn't eat and was barely drinking all through Monday. 

Tuesday morning I was able to get him to eat chicken and rice and by that evening he was showing signs of being better. By Wednesday he was back to his old perky self with one exception - he now knows whining will get me to take him outside regardless of the time of day (2:30 a.m. included).

Made me realize how much I love him. 

Miles walked this week: Monday 2.72, Tuesday 2.84, Wednesday 4.04, Thursday 4.03, Friday 1.76, Saturday 1.19, Sunday 1.55.

Monday Mahem.

Garbage day, so I gave the rest of the banana nut muffins to the garbage guys. Hope they enjoy them. Too many calories for the diet I'm trying to follow, which is basically eating fewer calories than daily activity burns.

Finally finished putting the flooring down in the hall. Did some yesterday and finished off the part by the small bathroom this morning. Still have to purchase and install the baseboard, but noticeable progress is being made.

Got tired of seeing the aloe vera overcrowded and dieing, so decided to re-pot. Ran out of pots and thawed soil before running out of plants. Have to bring in some more soil from somewhere (or buy a small bag).

Sunday Morning.

Been a couple days since I wrote. Have been doing my couch potato impression. Watching TV mostly. 

Has been super cold here the last few days. Honey Bun disappeared for a couple days, but showed back up this morning. Was so happy to see him I gave both ferals a full can of cat food. 

Broke down and called Susie to see if she's feeling better. Turns out she had a "wicked" sinus infection. Poor girl. When I called at 2 p.m. she had just gotten out of bed because she was hungry. 

Depression has reared its ugly head again. Stopped taking vitamins for a few days. Seems to be all it takes to make me weepy.

Made banana nut muffins yesterday. Ate two in the morning and another two for evening snack. Then I read the calories: 300 each.  Went over daily target by almost five hundred calories. But that's okay. Am getting better at limiting food intake and am usually within the 1200-1500 range.

Picture is from after the snowstorm and before the cold snap.

Wednesday Wake Up.

Was woken at five o'clock to Bandit crying. Threw on some clothes and got him quickly outside so he could you know what.

Didn't sleep well at all last night. Been tossing and turning since before one. Not sure why. Couldn't shut my head up. Not necessarily bad things. Memories. Hopes. Plans. The usual. So tired now I'm going to take a nap.

Tuesday Tasks.

Shovel, shovel, shovel. Then shovel some more. Good exercise, but hard on the back.

There's probably fifteen inches of snow on the ground right now and more on the way. The birds are congregating at and under the feeders. Nice to see the cardinal is back. Blue Jays are as well. 

My indoor plants aren't doing well. Haven't figured out why.

Called Susie this morning. She's still sick. Dan went back to work even though he's still sick -not as bad as it was. Jacob only got a mild case, so he's feeling better. Sure do hope she's better soon. 

Not sure what to do today. Feel like taking a nap.

MLK Monday.

Roughly ten inches of that four letter word for cold and nasty (sn*w) greeted us this morning. Could barely open the front door. Shoveled off the front porch and stairs while Bandit did his business. It is heavy packing snow and we're anticipating another three to six inches before the precipitation ends later today.

Today I'm grateful I don't have to drive in these conditions.

Managed to quilt part of the wall hanging. Hope to finish today. 

Sunday Shivers.

Just came back in from walking Bandit. Minus one on the thermometer, minus thirteen with the wind chill. It was a quick fifteen minute walk. Don't know how the ferals stay warm in this cold.

Now I'm sipping a cup of hazelnut coffee. It's not very good, but maybe the caffeine will jump start my day.

Never did make stir fry last night. Had the last of the chili instead. Guess today will be stir fry.

Saturday Ketchup.

Posted a picture to Facebook of the wall hanging in progress with the embroidering completed. Was shocked at all the wonderful comments from folks I rarely hear from.

Yesterday I went shopping at TOPS. Got a BOGO of Turkey Hill ice cream. Was a bad idea. Had two bowls for snacks.

Forgot to get coleslaw for the now frozen pulled pork leftovers. Cutting up the celery to use for snacking. Bought baby carrots for that purpose as well. Need to use the broccoli and the cabbage so they are earmarked for stir fry. Guess I'll make beef pot roast so I can have a few more ready meals. Beef and broccoli is one of my favourite stir fries. Guess today will be ham, cabbage, carrot, celery and the last of the red onion. Maybe some green pepper as well.

No wonder I'm so fat. I'm obsessed with food. Really need to stop listening to Rachael Ray in the morning. She makes everything sound delicious.

Yup. January 15th and the diet is not going well. I've been super hungry lately. Carb-ing up like mad. When that's happened in the past it's been a prelude to sickness. I've been a bit phlegmy the past couple days and can feel a heaviness in my chest.  

Really didn't want to go outside in the cold this morning. Waited until 7. Looked at the "feels like" weather and the minus ten degrees didn't imp

rove over the next couple hours, so out we went. Tried to get Bandit to walk down the street, but he planted his feet and wouldn't go. Managed to put all the feeders out. Honey Bun was waiting on the porch, so I fed him. Wish I knew why he doesn't want to stay here.

Friday Photo.

 

The sun came out briefly on our walk. 1.66 miles today.

TOPS market day.

W stopped by for a quick hello.

Thursday

Was surprised to see we walked 1.95 miles yesterday. Mostly because it was a bad day for me. 

I got angry. At Wal-Mart. Specifically: the app. Got to the pickup lot and the app wasn't working. The lot was full. Waited a good twenty minutes only to see folks who got there after me leave before me. Not to mention, the cat food was sold out. Which means I have to go back to town for that. I was pretty impatient. One more example of me feeling entitled, I guess.

Good thing I get over being angry quickly. All it takes is a wagging tail when I open the door.

Laid another row of planks in the kitchen amazed at how nice it looks now. Got some degreaser and am going to clean off the kitchen cabinets and repaint them. Not sure when, but it's on the list.

The new microwave has a beeper that repeats until the food is removed. Not sure if I like that feature or not.

Made pork loin medallions baked with sliced apples and red onion sprinkled with brown sugar. Served it over basmati rice. Got three tv dinners for another day. Going to make a batch of ham and scalloped potatoes today. 

The embroidered holly leaves on the wall hanging are completed. Work on the holly berries is underway.

Mother Nature dusted the ground with snow overnight. The sun is starting to peek over the mountains giving our view a blueish glow. Time to fill and set the feeders out.

Warmer Wednesday.

Going to be above freezing today. Perfect opportunity to gather supplies from town. The microwave spat fire last night so it's getting replaced. Will call Linda later to see if she needs anything from town.

Called Sue yesterday to wish her happy birthday. Jake answered the phone and we chatted a minute or two. All of them have COVID. I'm a bit worried about them. Nothing I can do from here. 

Didn't even walk a mile yesterday because it was so cold.

Twinkling Tuesday.

Twinkling because it's so dang cold. Five degrees outside and with the wind chill it feels like eight degrees below zero. Bandit and I walked fast this morning. Noticed that Honey Bun is finally staying in the heated cat house. Hope he shares with Little Bit if she gets cold. Will need to put the bird feeders out once the sun comes up. Too cold and dark to do right now.

Looked out the window after taking the feeders down last night and there were eight deer in the back yard. Three of the hearings were searching the ground around the shepherd's hook that hold the feeders. The does mostly stood back and watched them. It was quite entertaining.

We walked slightly more than two miles yesterday. Can't believe we went that far considering the low temps.

Guess I'll grab a second cuppa and watch the news for a bit then get my day started. Hope Susie likes her handbag. 

Monday.

The roads and walkways are not as slick as yesterday so we might actually get our two miles in today. Only managed one mile yesterday.

Rested for the bulk of the day in the bedroom to be close to the humidifier.  Watched TV and played games on the computer. Still managed to do a load of laundry, vacuum and mop the bathroom floor. Rearranged the nicknacks in the bedroom.

Eyes swollen again today. Might have to move to the bedroom. Will try a pot of water on the stove first. Was waiting for Romeo to move from my feet before I put it on, but he's fallen asleep and I hate to move him to boil water and warm up my coffee. 

My baby girl turns 45 tomorrow. Feeling a bit old today.