Some of the dish towels have cute designs.
Finishes # 4 and # 5.
I had a procedure yesterday and must take it easy for a little bit. I had injections into my back that were not without pain. Far Guy and Jen are taking good care of me.
We got about 6 inches of snow after a hard rain.
Far Side
Andy gave Jen roses for Valentine's Day!
They are lovely and smell good too.
Monday appointments are done, I had a recheck with my Primary Care Dr and then in the afternoon I saw the Pain Management Doctor. They want to try one more injection in my back before trying a implantable device.
What ever lets just get this show on the road. FYI it was a two month wait just to get to see the Pain Management Doctor.
I have one more appointment this week and Far Guy has two.
We have wicked weather coming in soon. I suspect our February thaw and nice weather with bearable temperatures is over.
Far Side
I am enjoying the recliner, although the massage function is sometimes annoying. The heat is toasty warm:)
I am sometimes able to relax and crochet.
The days are a tad dull and dreary so I have to look for bright and cheerful in my archived photos.
We really like our Primary Care Doctor in Grand Forks, we both have the same Doctor and he has hospital privileges so he saw Far Guy in the hospital earlier this month. It is a 2 1/2 hour drive one way to the appointment, we went the night before and enjoyed supper and a game of cards with Andy and Jen and of course Sadie who was so happy to see us. We went to our early morning appointments and were back at home early in the afternoon on Tuesday. Our appointments went well...come back in six months. We can cross that appointment off our list. I need to get an RSV shot...I read it is best to get it in the Fall...so I can wait until then.
The ride was not real comfy for me, we stopped several times and that helped. The jury is still out on whether I have a SI joint problem or an L4 L5 spine problem...none of the Doctors agree. I have another consult next week.
Far Guy is back on a course of antibiotics, hopefully it will get him over the hump and back to "his normal". Fingers crossed.
Far Side
The Christmas Spirit is leaving the neighborhood, those that hired their decorations done have been de decorated. Funny thing one side of the street was mostly decorated and the other side was not. Interesting.
Jen decorated very nicely near the front door...very cheerful!
Three medical appointments this week, leading up to five next week. Usually we are organized and the right hand knows what the left hand is doing...we are both scheduled for appointments at the same time one day next week...good thing they are in the same town.
I saw my Rheumatologist yesterday, he has run out of options for me...so he is referring me to the pain clinic. Not sure what they will do. My sudden rise in skin cancers is most likely the side effect of the RA meds that did not work for me. My RA Factor has doubled and my Ferritin level is very high...not sure what will be done about that either.
Sometimes no plan is a plan.
Far Side
We like to put puzzles together during the Winter. We have finished two so far this Winter.
The Pringles puzzle all the pieces were in the can.
I finished the remainder of the watercolor Christmas cards on Saturday. Far Guy signed and folded the letters and tucked them inside. I attached the address labels and wrote a few notes inside some of them and sealed them. I have all the stamps but I am waiting for the return address labels that should have been in the mail last Friday.
Cards in progress
Using the homemade cotton watercolor paper was a challenge as it sucked up water to beat the band and extra drying time had to be allowed. No two cards are exactly alike...
The final count was 126. I am not sure I will do the homemade watercolor cotton paper again...but it did make a very pretty card.
Pain Report: Some improvement...is it enough? Is that it? I knew I wouldn't get complete relief, perhaps I was expecting too much. Before the steroid injections my pain was at a six...now it is a five at times. I am still doing the exercises and the pain at night that came on right after the injections is now gone...so at least I can rest comfortably again.
Far Side
Yesterday we had what they call a Ground Blizzard. The winds kick up what snow it can and blow it around. On our way to my appointment we saw many snow-nados/ snow-devils ...that is snow picked up into a swirling cone the air. The high yesterday was 13 F or -10 C the low was -2 F or -18 C the windchill was brutal. The weather is headed for the negative numbers for a few days and then it will warm up again...maybe above freezing and rain...I could do without rain and ice everywhere. Stay cold enough to snow...please.
Some spots in the road were icy and in some places it was hard to see.
The epidural steroid injections into my back were not real painful, I expected that they would be more painful. The Doctor said it will take several days to know if they worked or not. So far the pain remains...I have a full feeling in my back and a headache...and I am not normally a headachy type person. Time will tell. It was worth a try.
I had another biopsy on my face last week, they were atypical cells but the margins were clear...so praise God no more surgery on my face!
Christmas Card Report I was able to take 12 cards from the drying area so my total is 35. Slow but sure.
Far Side
Today I have steroids injections into my back. God willing and we hope the roads are good. The injections were ordered by the Spine Clinic Doctors. I hope that it helps with the pain. Time will tell. I can have 4-5 injections in a year if it works. When it no longer works I will be evaluated for surgery.
Next week I have more arthritis injections two at a time in my belly. This is the second time ( every 4 weeks) on a new med called Cimzia. Last time I had no adverse reactions...and my psoriasis was a bit better as for my arthritis pain...no change...still a bugger. Since I have multiple types of arthritis...Rheumatoid, Psoriatic and Lymes Arthritis...I am a challenge for the Doctors. The Rheumatology PA that has been managing my care finally moved on and I go back to see my other Rheumatologist later this month.
Riding in the car for any length of time is so very painful. I am still doing PT exercises, whirlpool baths and we purchased a massage gun that has heat. I take 6 Tylenol a day and a gummy on the days that I am able to stay at home. Most days I have a long nap with a heated rice bag. The pain just wears me out. I have no pain or very little when lying down...however I cannot lay around all day.
One step at a time...
Far Side
Christmas Card count... a measly 4 cards yesterday total now 23. It is a new project and has some kinks to work out...drying time is very important! It is all a learning process.
I mailed a whole bunch of odds and ends AND this years Christmas ornaments yesterday. It took the postal clerk about 30 minutes to deal with my 15 packages. He said he hadn't mailed that many packages in the last six months. The lady waiting behind me was not too happy.
We still have a few Christmas ornaments to hand deliver.
Back at home I gathered together all my lawn mowing garb threw it in the washer and washed my red boots off in the sink. All of it including my hat will be stored in the old toy box until next year.
I got two pair of snowboots out and washed up a pair of crocs for the shoe drawer. Also decided to get rid of two pairs of shoes from the shoe drawer...progress! ( Truth be told I still have one pair of crocs by the door just incase I need to slip them on quickly instead of my snowboots)
Listed a few more things for sale on Facebook Marketplace. It all takes time.
My desk is full of "stuff" from upstairs...paper stuff...old stuff..."stuff" that my Mom kept..that needs to be sorted out...many things will find a home in the Grands three ring binders that I have been keeping for them. ( I sorted things out for my siblings last Spring and my pile of "stuff" just sat upstairs.) All that "stuff" needs a proper storage spot!
AND I am ready for the snow! I can tell the snow is coming...change of weather is painful for me.
Far Side
I am crocheting something for me...well if I like it when it is done.
It is a shawl, using a variegated very thin yarn. I have a long ways to go. It is slow going. Many things are slow going these days.
Far Side
We will need a nap today. We won’t know when to eat or sleep with the time change.
I will skip the hair net today. This is an old photo from my vast collection of Forgotten Old Photos…an unknown couple taking an afternoon nap on what we used to call an Indian Blanket. ( A colorful blanket with designs on it.) Not sure what other people would call it.
Today Far Guy will change all the batteries in the smoke alarms. He stocked up on batteries last week…because he knows me well. I insist that the batteries be changed with the time change spring and fall. What if they don’t beep when the battery is low…what if we are gone when it beeps…that would be a false sense of security. So he changes them so I don’t have to worry. Like he says he can use the batteries elsewhere where it is not as important as saving our lives.
Far Guy is still struggling… now with a cough AND a sore throat to accompany his shortness of breath…he is on a different antibiotic after a trip to Urgent Care.
I made soup…homemade vegetable beef…with beef of course …rutabega, cabbage, carrots and potatoes….and fresh flat bread…boy was that yummy.
I dislike the time change…it makes me crankier than normal….I hate that it gets dark before supper.
The lower level window across from my desk was a challenge. I said we should clean it in place…Far Guy said “oh no we can open it.” Huh? It is a bugger to lock once opened it has to go back together perfectly…the stars must align and the moon has to be just so and if you do it on the second Sunday in a week you might get it to latch. In the summer I don’t worry about it…but it is winter.
Yes that white stuff is snow.
Usually I sit outside cross legged in those rocks to wash the outside of this window…I always wonder how fast will I be able to move if a snake comes along…well I didn’t need to worry about that yesterday but I also didn’t want to sit down in that snow.
We finally accomplished the washing and waxing of the window…Far Guy helped and then I sent him inside to be the pointer…what you don’t need someone to point where the window is smeared? I do. ( Yes I wax our windows…I used to use a product in a pink can called glass wax…now I use something called Glass and Silver Polish….it helps the rain/snow slide right off a window without leaving water spots. I waxed windows all the time at the resort…many many windows.)
Now we have to get the window to latch…let the adventure begin.
Well he struggled, I struggled…at one point he was outside pushing on the edge of the window freezing his butt off, while I was trying to latch it from inside. He came in to warm up. Then I did it…I opened it once again…someone said “You didn’t open that window again did you?” accompanied by a sigh that could have been heard in the next county…. ummmm yes… then I closed it firmly and low and behold it latched. I DID IT!! Far Guy was amazed…howdidyadothat? Just lucky I guess.
That window has pretty stuff on the ledge too…it is all waiting in the kitchen…after the big struggle I was too tired to put everything back…of course everything had to be moved under this window …and what better time to scrub the floor and give the grout a really good clean.
I finally had a chance to put up my Thanksgiving flag.
It has been 8 hours and my eyes are still big black pools. I can hardly wait to go to sleep. I cannot be cranky whilst sleeping. Good thing it was a cloudy day. Good thing Far Guy had a meeting last night…Chance will put up with me no matter what kind of mood I am in.
We had storms on Tuesday night but the worst of it went south of us. We got 1/2 inch of rain so the grass will grow again.
I had an eye appointment… my vision is pretty much the same. I am getting new reading glasses. Far Guy picked them out because of course I could see nothing. Isn’t it funny that the time when your eyes are getting dialated is when they want you to pick out new frames? I know the glasses felt comfortable on my face. I have another appointment for the usual Vision Field Tests…just to be sure I don’t have glaucoma. My pressures are slowly going up 16 then 17 and now 18. I may have some cloudy spots that will have to be taken care of someday when they get bad enough, the Doc says my implanted lenses are properly in place and look good except for a few cloudy spots.
I have a headache and I am cranky…my blood pressure was way up…we had to wait about 20 minutes past our appointment time. I know I am whining. I will be better when I can see properly.
Far Guy was patient. Chance went along because the high yesterday was 68F or 20C eh! A tad chilly for July but I hear it will warm up on the weekend.
Cross one appointment off the list. No rest for the wicked this week, one appointment or meeting after another. Next week isn’t looking real relaxing either.
We are having a thaw, what a mess. It just makes for icy areas that will eventually be covered by snow. Hip breakers.
We still have some snow. It was 36 F or 2 C eh! yesterday.
Lets call it five inches of snow at the snowstick.
I tried to work in the woodshop yesterday…tool troubles caused a hissy fit and a near melt down, I came in and collapsed on the couch. I am going to buy my very own Rotary Tool and smile when I hand back Far Guy his piece of crap junk that doesn’t work for me. He has no problems with it…when he is in the woodshop I just ask for his assistance. I know I am mechanically challenged…but still…why do some things have to be so difficult.
This is my after Christmas look at the wreath by the door. Rummage sale stuff.
This is another rummage sale bargain. I need to touch up the paint on the flowers and fix that poor birds leg. I know it is kinda Christmasy but I still like it.
HP is sending a box so Far Guy can mail back his computer. He is using the laptop for the moment. He has it hooked up to his monitor and says it isn’t too bad. We usually only use the laptop when we are away from home.
Well I am hanging around someplace. Just not on the phone or the Internet.
Maybe I am asleep in the hammock. Maybe I melted in the heat and am just a stinky little puddle on the floor.
I am enjoying the silence… I am going to go rob a neighbor of their Wiffy signal to get this posted.
The repair people might be out sometime today:)
