Covid and other stuff

 My Mom tested positive for Covid yesterday.  The day after I spent extended time with her in the emergency room.  The Nursing Home has not done the boosters available this Fall....or the Flu shots or RSV.  Uffda.

Yesterdays project was getting the Christmas ornaments ready to mail.  Not sure when I will get to the Post Office.  

I am almost done with a project I started last summer.  I have my Mom's numerous photo albums and boxes of loose photos.  I have gone through and scanned the really old photos and sorted through them.  I have envelopes filled with photos for many relatives on both sides of the family.  Mom had begun sorting at one point....and now it is almost done.  One more day and I will have it completed! 

My grandfather Albert and a three horse hitch. Three horses don't have to work as hard as two horses and they make a powerful team.

Far Side

Tired

 It was a busy day and I am tired.  

I spent most of the day at my parents.  Dad was so excited to see me!  He was having a good day...he remembered I was the oldest "kid" and my name! He even recalled where he was when I was born and how when he came home from Korea it was like I knew him as I held my arms out so he could take me. He said that I was what got him through the tough times in Korea. 

Mom and I worked on sorting and marking things in her garage for a garage sale later in the month.

When I got home I had a nap...then helped Far Guy with supper...ham, sweet corn and fresh peaches. After supper I went out to the garage and cleaned up another corner and organized some stuff, filled bird feeders, picked and watered tomatoes.  Felt like I needed to kill something so I grabbed the roundup and went to my other baby brothers shop and killed weeds, and filled my mower with gas. Straightened up the patio...cause we may get a rain storm...probably not but you never know.  

The next County over from us (where my parents live) is a new hot spot for Covid according to the CDC. A little church in the nearest town...the Pastor and his Wife got Covid and exposed the whole congregation. 

Minnesota is offering $100 dollar Visa cards for people who are newly vaccinated.  Apparently they are not being overrun with people to vaccinate.  The anti vaxers are digging in their heels...so sad that they cannot bring themselves to help protect young children who cannot get the vaccine.  Not sure why they think the way they do...I think it is selfish.   We cannot get herd immunity unless it is a good effort...the virus will keep mutating and soon it will be a super virus that there will be no vaccination for.  Well enough of a rant for today. 

Thank you to those of you that got the vaccination...you did your part! 

Far Side   

Book Club

We read The Book Lovers Cookbook.   I wasn't thrilled with it...and I like reading cookbooks.   We had our first in person meet...some of us brought a prepared recipe from the book.  

I chose Carrot - Raisin Pineapple Salad; 4 cups shredded carrots, 1 cup of raisins, a can of crushed pineapple, a dash of lemon juice and a bit of cinnamon.  It was okay...I give it a 7 out of 10.  It is from Midwives.   I also made punch...well I took small bottles of Welches Grape Juice and small cans of 7-UP and slices of lime.  You  mix it equal parts...it is called Merry Punch  ...I give it a 10...it is from the book Pride and Prejudice.

Onto the next book.  We also had a book swap...that was fun....I came home with three new to me books. 

Infusion Day and grocery pickup went just fine.   I wore a mask in the one grocery store I went into to purchase cherries and peaches.  Far Guy napped all the while I was gone to book club. Cases of Covid are exploding in this area.  I skipped Bingo.  We still have wildfire smoke...it is supposed to clear out on Friday and then come back.  We had 1/4 inch of rain in our rain gauge.

Far Side

Thoughts on Grocery Day

 Traffic was more crazy than usual...it was crazy days in town...needless to say we stayed off of Main Street.   I have not been crazy enough to go to Crazy Days in years. 

Grocery Pickup was great...just missing Licorice...but we can do without it. 

I stopped by my parents to check on them.  Dad was in the ER Wednesday night...he has a broken rib from a fall on Tuesday.  He got scanned ...my other baby brothers daughter Stacey who is an RN went to the ER with them.  Dad said he was feeling pretty good after a good nights rest....and the Doctor said the rib should heal up. 

 Back home, I mowed our lawn and trimmed around trees a bit.  It was a warm day high of 84 F or 29 C  eh!  For now the wildfire smoke has lifted. 

Real scary news about the new Covid variants...seems like they are spreading like wildfire.  I wonder if we are headed for another lock down?  Wouldn't that be the pits.  Herd immunity seems to be a figment of the imagination with so many people who did not get the vaccination.  Heck we would still have Polio and Smallpox if our parents had the same thoughts against vaccinations.  I was thinking of the sugar cube and the polio live virus that was on that cube...a bit scary...but Polio was scary too.  Polio could cripple you...heavens Covid can kill you...that all I will say about that.

Far Side

Be a Helper

 We had a few frustrating days, with medical appointments changed and cancelled.  The right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing and they are not consulting each other.  They are not helpers...well we had one helper who scheduled everything and later in the day a different nurse (Nurse Ratched type) called and cancelled everything...she was a real bitch non helper.

My eye doctor called I have a wrinkle in my retina, he says he is not concerned at this time however I have to do the test over again in six months.  Should my vision change I should call him immediately.   He is a helper. 

We went for a ride on the trails yesterday and while we were gone our patio table exploded...the glass top shattered into many pieces...Far Guy says a million pieces.  We were getting it cleaned up when my other baby brother and she who sees robins first stopped by.  She who sees robins first helped me sweep up the glass.  My other baby brother said we could put the steel frame in his bin that will get recycled someday.  Their Grand Ava was along...she helped by carrying a vacuum cleaner from the garage.  They were all helpers.  It took a while to vacuum all the cracks and crevices between the pavers.   We were tired had a nap and after supper we vacuumed some more...we are reasonably sure we have that huge mess cleaned up.

Even Baxter can be a helper! 

Our area has a number of anti vax people...I have relatives that are against vaccinations.  How are they helping vulnerable transplant patients or children that are immune compromised.  Of course none of them have Polio, Diphtheria, Whooping Cough, Measles, Mumps,  Ruebella or Small Pox...why are they protected from the diseases that could take their lives...because they had mothers (helpers) who cared about them!  Yet they choose to play the Covid lottery...I guess that is their choice.  Sadly they are not helpers.

Far Side

Bingo

 We have no flowers except for the tin ones.   There is still snow in some spots....and we may get more snow next week.   Winter wants to stick around!

I took my Dad to Bingo, everyone well almost everyone wears masks until they are at their table, then they can take them off.   We did not Bingo, but we got within one number several times.   It gives my Mom a break and my Dad really enjoys Bingo.  He goes out to Doctor appointments, Church and Bingo.  I am not sure how many more times we can safely go...We are watching the Covid Case numbers and they are going up ...I also heard that the local hospital reopened their Covid ward....it has been closed.   One week at a time....if everyone would just get their vaccinations and wear masks we would have a chance of getting back to normal someday.

My Dad has some memory problems, I have to redirect him and explain things to him several times...he does pretty good for being 94.   He misses a few numbers here and there...he wants me to point them out...so I do. Together we make it work so we don't miss a bingo.

Far Side

Moon and More

My walk after supper yielded a few photos of the moon. 

March 25 Waxing Gibbous 

My baby brother was born many moons ago...I think he should be my older brother any year now.   He is 67 today.   He bumped me out of the most favorite only child position in 1954.   Happy Birthday baby brother!

Yesterday Adventure Grocery Day was not much of an adventure...they were short of Lime Outshine Bars.  Everything else was as ordered....they even put the yogurt in its own bag after several were punctured during last weeks delivery. 

We received word that one of our Grands tested positive for Covid eight days after getting the first vaccination, was very ill for a day and is feeling better now.  

Anything is possible...stay safe out there! 

Far Side

Covid Arm

 WELL... I have Covid Arm.  Leave it to me to get something.  The red area where they gave me the injection never did go away and it kept getting larger, sore, hard and hot to the touch. 

I filed an adverse reaction report.  

It is supposed to go away on its own.   My Doctor had never seen Covid Arm before ...so now she has.  Leave it to me to teach the medical community. 

Far Guy had markers on it and they have washed away...now he just measures it.   My Doctor said "I bet they won't give you the second injection in the same spot...probably the other arm." No way they can have a different spot on that same arm...I would like to keep my good arm a good arm.

Well it is better than getting Covid, in the hospital on a Vent and possibly death. 

I cannot believe all the anti vax people out there....someone said it is the mark of the beast...I don't even begin to understand why they would want to take the chance on getting Covid or passing it along to someone else that could possibly die...does that mean they could be charged with murder...or reckless endangerment??  It sure opens up a whole lot of questions. 

Today is day 15 for me and in 13 days I get my second vaccination.  I am still a bit tired, like my body is trying to fight off something...I imagine after the second vaccination I should just put on my jammies and go to the couch.

I had a nice video visit with my Doctor I needed a couple of refills on meds, it has been a year since I saw her in person.  She says at the local clinic anyone with respiratory symptoms is taken in a separate door from everyone else and is seen in a different part of the clinic. 

Far Side

Grocery Day

 Well what do you know we got almost everything on our grocery list. They are still out of green enchilada sauce but daughter Jen found some for us....and I have one can in the pantry shelf. Ah yes hoarding big time.  Usually when I use something it goes right back on the list.  

It was a nice day around 40 F or 4 C eh!  So I disinfected the first grocery order right there in the parking lot...I get lots of stares but I just don't care. I didn't disinfect at the next curbside pickup ( I disinfected at home)...and then went by the Post Office drop box and the drive through at the bank and just about that time Far Guy was done with his infusion. 

Far Guy noticed some construction going on at his old house in town...he lived in that house for 19 years. 

Looks like it is getting an enclosed porch.   It is used as a meeting place for disabled folks. 

Town was not real busy...the deer hunters are gone. 

The Governor of the Great State of Minnesota has ordered a "Dial Back" for the Covid outbreak.   Closing bars, restaurants, gyms, theaters etc...but schools can remain open along with stores, barbers, beauty shops and churches.  Restaurants can do take out business only.  This Dial Back is in effect from Friday night November 20 until December 18.  I notice lots of bars were advertising specials to empty their taps before Friday night on facebook. Where ever will the bar flies go for a month?  Home??  Imagine that.

Far Side

Flowers and more

My small flowerbed is looking really good.  The squirrels have taken out a few plants.

For the most part it looks good.  The Pansies and Violas don't like the heat...they will come back nicely when it gets cooler.

I mowed yesterday here and next door it took a couple of hours.  The rain we have been getting lately makes the grass grow real fast.  I dumped out the rain gauge again this time it was 1 1/10 inches.

Far Guy finally has tomatoes forming.  This is a Yellow Pear Tomato plant...so we should see them getting larger and ripe in the next few weeks.

Yeah for tomatoes!  I harvested lettuce again...it is so good to have our own lettuce.  I also picked a few raspberries and the chokecherries are almost ready to pick...the shrubs that get the most sun are real close to being pick worthy.

With so much rain mushrooms are popping up in the lawn.  I know nothing about mushrooms...other than the ones in the store are safe to eat.  I mowed over quite a few yesterday!

I went in the local little store for milk...the mask law is supposed to be in effect however inside a woman and grade school age child wore no masks.  Until everyone wears masks inside public spaces the Pandemic will continue.

Our oldest daughter Trica had a positive Covid test last week just before she had emergency surgery for a looped intestine.  So far she has no terrible symptoms but we are still concerned...Far Guy is worried...I don't worry as much as he does...let go and let God!

Far Side