May 30, 2022 Monday--1:30pm

Good Afternoon!

Already blog day and I thought...I never got to bookcards, switching summer clothes, or figuring out how to use the sauna or the vacuum--ROFL!  So how did the week fly by, feel so full, and me be so exhausted?  LOL! 

I have been delighted with the view these days.  Clouds have always been a fascination for me and now there's a spot of color in the planters, too. 

Monday

Leah showed up on my patio and planted the new coleus for me.  They were smaller and in a set of four so two got planted on the ends of the front planters.  I asked for the more yellow ones.

She removed the other dying coleus and we stuck it in a container just in case it might survive.

Noticed someone has been eating my petunias!  They are taking The Critter Cafe a step too far--LOL!

We assume it is the rabbits--probably cottontails as I don't see much of the arctic hares in the summer and they are so much taller they could stand and reach the whole of the planter.  

I don't think I have planted petunias before.  Maybe once early on--can't remember.  

But not something I will likely repeat.  I checked online and rabbits do love petunias.

So my pretty speckled petunias have become rabbit snacks.  I hope they leave them alone...but they seem to continue nibbling on the one side in most of the planters.  Time will tell.

The transplanted dying coleus was almost dead in another day so I chopped the whole top off and we'll see if it comes back or not.  Those leaves were brittle-crispy.

I haven't been throwing out any seed for the birds but I have been tossing out mealworms on to the grass now and then.  The robins love them--and love to bathe in the water dish, too!  

One day this grackle parked itself in the grass on its belly to chow down on meal worms.  Was there for like ten minutes--looked like it was nesting--LOL!

It looked funny, but that's not normal behavior so I do hope it was perfectly fine--just a bit eccentric.  

Anyways, Leah also did bring the summer clothes bins over to the front door for me in her car so I could wheel them in on my cart.  Took two trips.  Hopefully I will get back to that this week.  ;)

Tuesday

Was a pajama day with a little puttering.

Wednesday

I started these new capsules Leah got me that are supposed to help with digesting fats.  Leah dropped off groceries from a Cashwise pick up.  I wasn't feeling so well.  Turned out I think I had a terrible reaction to those supplements--stomach cramps and diarrhea.  Was up till almost dawn.

Not taking any more of those right now--lol!

Thursday

Leah and her brother, Aaron, made their monthly trip inside Costco.  Dropped off my groceries in the late afternoon.  I was washing clothes and when it came to the spin cycle the machine made a huge clanking bang and then sounded like it was going to spin right up and off the floor!  Like when a washer is really badly out of balance but worse than I have ever heard.  I shut it off and checked.  Didn't seem out of balance but I moved things around anyways and tried again.  Awful racket and washer almost bouncing or slamming back and forth.  The end.  

Called the office for maintenance.  But I don't like them to come when I'm not here because of Annie mostly.  She is so terrified of strangers and loud noises--and that would be both.  I had the clinic on Friday so she said he'd come Monday afternoon then.  (I always ask for afternoons.)  But we forgot about Memorial Day so I doubt I will see him till tomorrow.

I wrung out the clothes as best I could and it took about 4-5 hours to dry them--LOL!  But they are done and put away.  Lucky it broke at the end of the cycle, I guess.  :)

I also told her to have maintenance look at this piece of foam stuff hanging down from the track of my patio door, too.  You may have noticed it in pics before--LOL!  (Yes, procrastinating again.)

I did see a pair of partridges and tried to quick get a photo.  Not the best and only got one of them.  I don't have the pleasure of their company very often anymore so I am always happy to see them pop by.  They also like the mealworms.  ;)

Friday

Clinic day.

Other than I was tired and having a weirder leg day so had to sit down more often--it was best case scenario all the way!  My port worked right off the bat.  Dr Kobrossy kept his mask on without being asked.  We were pleasant and polite--and he was quick!  My bloodwork was good (1.4) so I was able to get my infusion.  And we were able to get an appointment with the lady part-time doctor in three weeks.  Wonderful!  No issues at all!  Whoohoo!

Leah and I kind of figured Kobrossy would behave.  He's become almost shy in the hallway if we have to wander past each other.  A quick nod and he lowers his eyes.  Even Dagan automatically guessed who Kobrossy was when he'd never met him and had never had a description, because of how Kobrossy acted (and myself) when we went past...just polite curt nods.  Everyone else is so friendly and I am friendly to them, too.

I'm sure Kobrossy is puzzled as to why I don't want him as my doctor anymore.  He obviously has only so much people skill available to him.  After saying how great the tumors were shrinking and how I was doing well...he made some remark about how I was in a better mood and something about depression.  Honestly I wasn't listening to him much--LOL!  Just waiting to find out if I could get my infusion.  Which I could!

I did mention to Leah afterwards that it is actually funny that I never really got depressed even when I could hardly walk.  A bit cranky sometimes--which I would apologize for.  Was that inability-to-function crankiness from pain and exhaustion...and I always feel so badly if I take out my grumpiness on anyone else and am short with them.  But I never went into a depression.  Even back when my left leg swelled up for no reason, remember that?  I maybe should have, but I just am focused on muddling through whatever it is I have to endure.

I think Koborssy may be looking for a reason.  And, naturally, it has nothing to do with him--ROFL!  That's fine.  He can think whatever he wants.  I won't have to see him very often and as long as he is pleasant and keeps his mask on and is quick as he was--we're good.

Leah came over after.  We both kept our masks on.  I stayed in my chair mostly while she made a quick graduation card and did the print outs for the insides of Ian's birthday invitations.  As neither of us could remember--lol!--I checked our card bins and we DO have a set of Christmas cards made up for this year and I have a set of birthday cards for next year.  Whew!  That takes the pressure off. 

I was so drained after Leah left--yup!--another 5 hour nap snuck up on me.  So I was up till almost dawn and then slept all morning.  My hours are so out of whack.

Saturday

My legs were better.  (I never know from day to day and there seems to be nothing predictable about it--but at least I DO have better leg days now.)  So I baked some chicken and some fish.  Watered patio plants AND, for the first time, used the stool to water my inside plants... and didn't feel in too much danger.  My weird legs held up okay.

  Couldn't avoid seeing that my plants inside really do need Leah's magic touch.  (She used to work at Baker Nursery for several years).  So I got in touch with her.  She knew this was coming as she (and Dagan) have been watering my plants since last fall.  So, sometime in the near future Leah will come over and she will bring out the supplies from my garage (folding table, potting soil, etc) to use out on the lawn by my patio.  

We plan to repot the Phils (Baby Phil and Baby-baby Phil) into one big pot.  The spider--we plan to pot the babies into yogurt containers to give away and spruce up the poor mama plant.  Maybe even plant a couple babies in with the mama plant, too.  And if the coleus stump has survived we can deal with that, too.  I will try to remember to get pictures, of course--before, during, and after.

Sunday

Set up my bullet journal for June.  (I do so love my bullet.)  And I set up letters in the portfolios. 18 of them!   

 

They weren't all strictly returning letters/cards/long emails.   I also set up a few for people I haven't heard from or written to for a while.  That will keep me out of trouble, eh?  And take me a long time!  True snail mail--LOL!  

Oh--SO funny!  See this stack of red trays under the front tray there?  All this time I thought they were empty.

Nope!  They obviously don't have a lot on them but they each have some signatures that need covers--LOL!

Mostly odd papers and odd sizes.  So there's that--LOL!  I really, really need some good energy, good-leg, productive days.  Do have laundry done and food to eat and have three weeks off from health visits--so I can hopefully have some good days this coming week so that I can get a few things done.  Fingers crossed.

[That's my only complaint about Keytruda--always being tired, listless, and foggy-brained.  But it is working and shrinking those tumors!!]

We've been hitting 80 degrees since Friday.  Severe thunderstorms passing through last night.  Well, very early this morning--I was still awake.  *sigh*  Still heavy, sticky air but cooler so far--71 degrees right now.  :)

I'll close with a picture Leah sent me of the boys in the ant masks they colored.

They sure do fun art projects.

It's still clouded over.  A grey day.  Radar shows more storms might be coming later.  The planter flowers are all perked up and happy.  Funny how plants just love thunder and lightning.  I do, too.  Annie--not so much--LOL!

Till next week.

Spread that love and kindness.

The world needs it.  :) :)

May 23, 2022 Monday--10:45am

 Good morning!

We had some gorgeous days...

...where I could have the patio door wide open all day.

I do love all the beautiful clouds showing up again.  All winter they appear to be just a big gray blanket the majority of the time. 

Most of the week we had chilly days, though...or wet.  Not sitting out on the patio days.  They'll come.  Today is one maybe.

That broken coleus shriveled up to nothing.

We got down into the 30s and had frost warnings this week.  So the matching coleus in the other planter has started to collapse, get brown on the leaves, and shrivel up.  Did not like the cold wind.

I think that particular coleus is more fragile.  The other coleus...

...and all the rest of the plants are doing well.

Leah said she is going to Baker Nursery today so I asked her to get me a different pair of coleus.  Those were unusual and pretty--but not hardy.  The wind here is a killer of fragile plants, too.

I don't remember which day these came.

Two of us tied to win Connie's yearly contest as to guessing the date her biggest snowbank (named June) would finally melt.  She sent me a lovely hand-crocheted pouch with a zipper and that hand-made square paper cover folds around post-it notes!  She is so talented!  Love all the color!  Thanks so much, Connie.  You can visit her in Minnesota here.

Tuesday

I did a load of laundry and got it all put away right off.  When I watered the plants I also had a rag with me and scrubbed off the residual bird poop from my chair as best I could.  Was a puttery day where I got a lot done but nothing to really show for it, if you know what I mean--LOL!

Wednesday

I finished watching the final season of Ozark.  (Had a strange, yet appropriate, ending.)  Was a very tired day but a good one.  My legs are doing better than they were--so I thought it was time to do some testing--of them and my strength, too.  Actually brought trash to the dumpster for the first time since last fall!  The dumpster height comes to my neck so I have to be able to heave the bags head-high or higher--and I did!  TaDa!

Thursday

I guess it is just plain better that I isolate myself.  Probably for the summer.  As long as the numbers are down here McFamily can do a lot more in the summertime.  They have been visiting family and friends, catching up with dentist appointments, chiropractor visits, and are able to go to parks and the Zoo, etc.  Dagan's been back working at the office and is now going golfing when he can.  

So we decided that instead of Craft Nite Leah and I would do a video call on Thursday nights.  (Dagan often will pop in on those.)  I already do a video call over dinner with the boys on Wednesday nights.  But I won't be seeing much of them in person and if I do we will be masked, keeping our distance, and making it brief.

Now that Leah is sending food over I can use any energy that would have gone toward cooking for other things.  I haven't used my vacuum for so long I quite literally forgot how to work it--LOL!  Leah has the same Dyson so she emailed me instructions.  I need to tackle that this week.  I also want to try using the sauna--finally!  I may be draggy tired but my legs feel a little more dependable. Leah also sent instructions for how to use the sauna, too. 

I won't know how long these legs can last until I try longer, harder things.  Yes, they have just kind of failed me--but at least if I am at home I can just stop whatever I am doing.  Was it in February when I last visited at McFamily's and had to go home early because I suddenly could barely get out of a chair?  Anyways, I am aware of that possibility and will pay attention--and make sure I have the phone with me.  If I can do the vacuuming and bring out the trash again...and manage a step stool (haven't tried that yet)...then Dagan or Leah won't have to make weekly trips over for the helper visits unless something in particular comes up I need help with.  

For example, Leah is going to bring the summer clothes bins from my garage over to the front door for me in her car so that I can come out to the parking lot and haul them inside on my cart.  (My idea.)  I didn't want to push it that far right out of the gate by trekking back and forth to the garage.  So if it's not raining we will do that when she drops off the coleus.  

And I plan to later haul the winter clothes bins out to the garage myself.  I can always make one trip one day and another trip another day--and can sit and rest in the garage. too, if I need to.  I have been able (on a good legs day) to make it down to the office and back without having to sit down on one of the benches in the hallway to rest my weird, wonky legs.  :)  And I can pick a good-legs day to make it to the garage.  No time limits on that.  

Anyways, back to the week.

Friday

Dagan dropped off food for me at the patio door.  I had made a bookcard for Liam to thank him for making the Mother's Day card so I sent that home with Dagan along with a few other things.

The kids were almost ready for bed when Dagan got back home.  Liam had finished eating dinner and was watching his favorite TV show...but when he found out he had a letter from Gramma (his first just for him) he wanted to have Daddy read it to him right away.

Leah said Ian had been finishing his dessert and was excitedly running back and forth to the table to finish it up.

I forgot to take pictures of the bookcard but I picked one with gardening pictures on the cover because I also thanked him for being a helper with my planter boxes.  I cut and pasted some things inside, too.  I think he liked it.  I sent over two empty bookcards for the boys, too, to do whatever they want with them.  

Dagan and Leah finally got the school room/gaming room mostly finished.  They had to wait quite a long time for items to get back in stock at IKEA...and some parts of the bookcases are still not in stock (hence the "mostly" done).  She sent me pictures and a video of the big reveal to the boys.

The big reveal video.

They seem to love the new space for school and all their art & craft supplies are stored in there now, too.  They got their new IKEA paint sets out.

Learning Chinese Checkers.

I asked Leah what was Ian sewing?

Some kind of dividers for her brother, Aaron.

Anyways, I'm glad they have a dedicated space for school.  I'm sure that helps with focus, you know?

Speaking of school.  Liam has suddenly gotten interested in drawing a couple months ago so that is why he's improved.  Used to be just jagged scribbles--LOL!

Saturday

It was Leah's birthday and the boys made these for Mama.  They made pictures, folded them up, wrapped them in red paper, and drew a bow on top.

Ian drew a farmer with a humungous pig--with a note that the farmer could get 1,000,000 strips of bacon from that pig--LOL!

As one of the gifts Ian also made wavy strips of bacon from red and white paper--but Leah said a drink got spilled on them and she didn't get a picture--LOL!  (Bacon cheeseburgers are a family favorite...with me, too.)

Liam made his pictures on the red paper.  Copying Ian he made a farmer and a pink pig.  Hard to see the pink pig on red paper--LOL!

This one is a farmer and a pink pig and a cow.  I guess the cow has the black spots, eh?

Then he drew their house...from the front...

...and from the side with the front steps and the back deck.

My guess is all the lines are to show the siding.

Anyways, Leah said she had a great birthday!

I did another load of laundry and we had frost warnings that night.

Sunday

Another busy, puttery day.  Got the rest of the laundry put away.  Worked on getting winter clothes out of the closet--just piling them on the table in the bedroom.  Been procrastinating about cutting and filing my nails--got that done.  (Does anyone else put that off, too?)  

Today 

I had to be up early because the Federal Housing guy was coming this morning...and he is always early, too.  He didn't have a mask so I gave him a paper one.  He said he should have one in his pocket all the time.  That he did in his winter clothes but is forgetting now with the summer clothes.  

[Note: He has never worn a mask during the entire pandemic--LOL!  Maybe he figures he is in and out so fast and never stops moving?  But at least he was very nice about wearing a mask for me.  And yes, it gets into the 50s and people here get out their summer clothes...heck!...upper 40s will do--LOL!  In the fall--same temps--people are complaining they are too cold.]

I am still renting DVDs of Inspector Lewis.  Have two more seasons to go.  A lot harder to binge watch when it's on DVDs in the mail--LOL!  I've started watching the latest season of Outlander.  Still scattering in Death In Paradise episodes.  Didn't realize I was a season behind!  Speaking of seasons behind--I think I am only on season seven of Call The Midwife!  I am way behind on that one.  Too many good shows to watch, eh?  

Well, this week I will hopefully be seasonally switching clothes again.  Don't want to be as far behind as I was last fall.  Good grief--half the winter was gone before I got them switched, I think--LOL!  The donation bag is pretty full already.  Need to start another one.  I'll have donation bags to cart out to the garage, too.

  The garage IS something I need help with...speaking of donations.  But I doubt Dagan and Leah will be able to come and help me with it this summer because I think they are finally going to start finishing off the basement!  Took them a few years to get the patios poured, garden beds in, grass in, deck done, and yard landscaped.  Time to move on to the basement.  :) :)

All I got done last week on the bookcards was search out some older paper to use for the bookcard signatures.  So I hope to do some more with those.  I never make promises these days...not even to myself--LOL!  When you have limited control over your days...your body...it is too frustrating to have much on your to-do lists.  ;)  I still make them...but they are often just transferred--unfinished--untouched--to a new list.  Such is my life.  But things are truly going well and Annie is still doing okay...life is good.  I even have flowers on the patio--whoohoo!! 

Be interesting to see how it goes with Dr. Kobrossy on Friday...and will my bloodwork still be okay enough to get my infusion?  Fingers crossed all of it goes well.  I am still taking all the extra vitamins and supplements.  Leah is coming with me this time.  Wish me luck!  And see you next week! 

P.S.

I love that Leah asked me to save her some coffee grounds (they don't drink coffee) and when I asked her why she sent me this.

Now I am really saying goodbye...

love and hugs from Fargo

May 16, 2022 Monday--1:30pm

Good afternoon!

I have lots of pictures today!

Thought I would take before pics of the patio.

The grass is green and it has been warm enough to qualify for spring.

Tuesday

Dagan had been more exposed than since the pandemic started.  On Wednesday last week he had a meeting/meal with the big wigs because of his new position...and no one wore masks, of course.  So, to be on the safe side we postponed everything a week (Leah and my Craft Nite on Thursday and doing my patio on Saturday).

Wednesday

I know it is hard to tell and I forgot to take pics in progress but I worked on bookcards.  The covers we had cut previously I folded and paired up with the signatures...

...and I folded more signatures with this watercolor-y paper I ordered...must have been last year.

So, I am finally back to doing a little something with my next batch of bookcards!

Annie wanted to be up next to me but can't jump that high anymore.  She let me pick her up and put her in her spot with her memory foam cat bed.  :)

She's been jumping up regularly on to the footrest on my chair, though, this past week!!  A little less appetite, but otherwise seems like she's doing well and is happy.

I also set up letters ready to go (10) and did laundry.  Lately it is easier for me to do smaller loads more often and I am down with that.

Thursday

Katie came to clean.  Nice to have such good news to share with her.

The stamps came for card making.  A couple of line-drawing type bird stamp sets.

About 5:30pm there were suddenly masses of people running and jogging down the sidewalk--most of them kids.  They were doing some kind of marathon--had numbers and headbands.  Mother's with strollers.  A girl in a wheelchair with a broken leg being pushed.  Dog companions--who loved the running and the crowds.  I've never seen so many people on that walkway!  They ran from right to left and I could hear a crowd clapping and cheering somewhere off in the distance.  But then they all came back going from left to right...very few still running, some determinedly jogging, and many too tired and just walking.  So a lady went by with some kind of big bells around her ankles clanking away.  Sounded like she stopped at the end of the sidewalk and just took them off and clanked them endlessly to motivate the runners--either that or she was running in place for 15 minutes!  (Cow bells?)

Later that night we had our first tornado watch of the year.  Nothing here but some rain.  I'm not sure there were any tornados that touched down anywhere.  Between the runners, bells, and thunder...I didn't see Anne all night--LOL!

Friday

Leah went plant shopping with a girlfriend.  Sent me pics and got all my plants for the patio!!  We changed plans again--decided that if McFamily stayed outside and I stayed inside they could come and fix up the patio for me on Saturday!!!  Wonderful!

My big purchase this month arrived...a hepa air filter.  Figure it can't hurt and might even help with my chronic sinus.  I'll appreciate it more come winter, I'm sure.

That was a project for me.  Moving out one side of Grandpa's desk and back so I could plug it in.  Good place for it--centrally located.

No, I haven't even turned it on yet.  Haven't read the manual and it has been so nice out that I have had the patio door wide open all day every day it hasn't rained.  Been in the 60s and even hit 72 one day I saw.  Been gorgeous out there!

Saturday

So exciting!!  Lots of pictures!!

They moved back to let me decide where the pots would go.  The boys handed me the pots.  I took some quick before pics.

The little marigold plants were just filling in here and there so they waited on one of the little tables.

Dagan made trips to the garage and went around the building so he never came inside.  He brought the bags of dirt, fertilizer, my patio chair, pot with the hose in, and the bird water dish.  He also planted.

Ian and Liam did a lot of finger-stirring in fertilizer and then planting.

That lonely guy from our building showed up and tried to give the boys candy again.  No thank you.  He hung around for quite a while.

Leah did a lot of planting and overseeing the boys.

Then everybody took turns soaking the planters.

Dagan sprayed off the chair and tables.

The boys were getting restless.  Eventually they ran down the sidewalk to the big cottonwood tree and back a couple of times.

Leah started spraying the entire patio plus patio door and screen.

All done!

I wanted pictures of all of them so I went out quick.  I do enjoy the candid shots the best, I think.  ;)

Family shot.

Liam wanted them all to jump--so they did.

Funny how they race over to see themselves jumping.  Kids are growing up in such a different world in so many little ways like that.  Just being able to take a picture and see it instantly on a phone!  What a world.  But to them this is normal, you know?

Anyways, the newly cleaned and potted patio!

You might notice on the front planter on the far left there's a coleus that has fallen over.  I tried to put it upright and pack some dirt around the base to hold it up--but it felt broken.  

Maybe too hard of water spraying or something.  But it is the only plant that didn't fare well.

After they left Annie came out to inspect the patio.

I sent Leah a picture of the poor coleus.

Here's the matching one in the opposite planter.  (I have three different pairs of coleus.)  

Leah said she has to go back to Baker Nursery for some things so she could pick up another one for me if this one doesn't make it.

Sunday

  I think it is a goner.

Totally collapsed.  :(

I was so tired again that after McFamily left about 2pm...I was asleep by 3pm and didn't wake up till 7pm!  Another marathon nap.  No wonder my hours are messed up--LOL!  But I am sure getting sleep so I can't complain.

Today

I already got my JetPens order.  The pens are uni-ball one gels.  I'm really liking how smoothly they write.  I got a "new colors" set of three (I have the original colored set) and a couple more of the ones I have been using a lot (blue and blue-black).  Yes, I am a pen junkie!!

This is a Lamy cursive nib!  A brand new type of nib for them.  Can hardly wait to try it out.

But these!

OMG!  The smallest post-it type notepads I have ever seen!!  Look how tiny they are!

They just make me smile when I look at them!

Anyways, that's about it.  I watched the rest of the new season of Billions.  Been renting Netflix DVDs of Inspector Lewis.  Have now started the final season of Ozark and when I need a break from the heaviness I watch some of Death in Paradise.  (I know doesn't sound lighter but it is--LOL!)  I've been writing letters...got half of them sent off.  Beautiful, quiet days--except for the unexpected hundreds of marathon runners--LOL!  

If nobody gets sick, Leah and I plan a Craft Nite on Thursday.  Otherwise I only plan to try to get more letters written, to make cards, and to sit out on my patio!  Have a fabulous week!!  :)