Sunday, April 19, 2026

April 19, 2026 Sunday

Greetings!
Lots of random pictures this week...many of pen cleaning--LOL!  Obviously more for my delight.  ;) 

Played phone tag with the eye center.  Dr. Anderson finally called me himself on Wednesday.  He agreed that if the oral steroids are working to reduce inflammation in the rest of my body it is probably helping with the eye.  But while I am on them--can't leave the apartment to get into the clinic.  Could use more time on them and he didn't want me to stop, either.  The plan is/was for me to stay on them, made an appointment for Monday the 27th, and I am to start taking some kind of medication to slow down my digestive system for five days before the appointment so I can hopefully make it in so he can look inside my eye.  Talk about being between a rock and a hard brown place--LOL!

But then Leah has a meeting to run at work on that Monday so now I am playing phone tag again to try to change the appointment.  Anderson is out of town the week before that Monday.  And he's booked up and trying to fit me in somewhere.  We'll get it figured out this week, I'm sure.  Eye is the same.  Can't see out of it.  Has a bit more light sensitivity.  No clue if that is good or bad.  But my hand, sinuses, toes, and general stiffness all over has been improving!  Whoohoo!  

So funny...the boys were at Plains Art Museum one night during the week for a felting class and Ian found his misplaced Christmas pottery!  Had been sitting around over there all these months.

They went to a class where they did felting.  ??  Using wool, water, and glue?  Never heard of this before.  (Well, Ian went--Liam didn't bring anything down to show me, but he was probably there, too.)  Ian made a mountain scene.
)
These are out of order but I don't feel like fighting with Blogger right now--lol!

Ian had two more little bowls to add to the collection he wants to display in my studio one day.

He made a good sized bag or pouch in that felting class!

The bag is pretty impressive!
Me.  Worked my baby steps to finish cleaning and filling the fountain pens.  Allie didn't pay attention at first.  Too busy.
What?
Watching CatTV--lol!
Took me till Thursday to finish them all.

Just kept plugging away at it.

Me standing at the sink flushing pens...boring to Miss Allie.
Two trays down.
One evening I couldn't find Allie.  
I had tossed the big memory foam cushion and her blue blanket into the studio along with so much other stuff...and she finally noticed it, I guess.  She has slept on it several nights.
Windy days blow leaves around in the window well.  Was 80 degrees on Thursday and we had snow flurries on Friday.  
Filling pens at the table...now that got Allie up to watch almost every time--lol!
Had to ask Dagan to open the four new little bottles as I have very little grip still.
Filling in the little binder to I know which ink is in which pen.

I did interesting things like miscalculate returning ink to a sample vial and squirting ink all over the table three times with my bad depth perception.  I got ink all over my fingers and hands more than I ever have. 
Allie seemed delighted with my frustration, exciting expletives, and sudden agitations.  
Normally this human is pretty dull to watch--lol!
Finally!  All three trays cleaned, filled...
... and the little ink color binder filled in fresh and clean.
Was a bit more challenging than usual, but still genuinely fun for me.  I am one happy camper!!

Life feels so much more normal!!  I am all caught up with writing letters again.  I can type--even if I am constantly hitting the wrong keys and my spell check quit on Blogger for some reason.

Dagan and Leah are supposed to come down and attach the tall furniture to the walls this afternoon.  I didn't have any appointments to go to all week.  (Or couldn't make them, I should say--lol!)  The diarrhea seems to be worth all the trouble and grief.  It was even easier to bend over to put socks on the past few days--whoohoo!  Little things like that...man!  You realize how bad things have really been.  I am very good at body-detachment after all these years.  You learn to ignore pain and limitations to survive and enjoy what you can do, you know?  

So, despite the one eye and no-warning-diarrhea...life has quite improved the past couple weeks on the steroids.  And the plan is to just leave me alone with steroids and diarrhea for a while, too.  I'll take it!  Delighting in being to write and type more...in using my fountain pens.  Maybe this week I can get back to making a few blog comments.  If Blogger doesn't mess with me there like I have heard several people complaining they are unable to comment on blogs all of a sudden.  Good grief.  Well, it will be nice not to have to struggle so much to get my socks on, anyways.  The little things.  Till next week...

12 comments:

Boud said...

I wonder if your spellchecker just wore out! You're in amazingly good spirits considering. Those pens are definitely a good part of your life. Those boys are really good at their craft production, I'm impressed. Wonder where they inherited their maker gene??I bet you've had quite an influence there.

Sandra said...

As Boud said, you seem in really good spirits. If this comment comes through you will no blogger has decided to let me back in! I look forward to seeing the progress in your studio.

jinxxxygirl said...

Its good to hear you so upbeat Rita... I'm not sure i could be.. ... Glad too that some areas of your health are looking up and the others have become more tolerable.. A letter from me is winging its way to you my friend... Hugs! deb

Far Side of Fifty said...

Little thing...baby steps. Hope you have a project that occupies you this week!

CheerfulMonk said...

I am so impressed by your attitude! You are an inspiration, and I hope the doctors can help enough so you no longer have to be. ❤️

Ann said...

It seems that no matter what you're going through, you always keep a positive attitude. Keep it up and I'm sending good thoughts your way that everything will work out.

jeanie said...

What a trade you have to make!!! V is having the opposite issue, with the pain killers he is on he is having no resultant joy elsewhere.

Beatrice P. Boyd said...

While not all the health updates were good, Rita, you seemed upbeat despite the setbacks, good for you. That sure is a lot of pens and I know how much you enjoy using them for snail mail and cards. I rely on ballpoint and gel pens which get discarded when used up. Hope you are able to reschedule the appointment.

Janie Junebug said...

Great photos of Allie! She's adorable. Isn't it nice to be able to use your table? The table that fits perfectly as you knew it would? It's wonderful that the steroids are helping. I know the diarrhea sucks, but I also know you love the decreases in swelling and pain. I remain optimistic that you will keep your sight in both eyes. I know you'll need surgery on at least one eye, but I believe you'll have your sight. If you don't believe it, then I'll believe for both of us. I should have a letter in the mail to you tomorrow. I've never heard of felting before and I'm not sure what it is from the photos. The little bowls are very nice. I hope the work on your place got done this afternoon. Hang in there, girlfriend. Scott who lives next door can't remember my name so he calls me Dave's mom or girlfriend. The last time I was mowing he said, Looks good, girlfriend! I thought that was funny.

Love,
Janie

Jim and Barb's Adventures said...

Love all the pictures of Allie, she is such a cutie. You sure are a trooper, so much going on and you just carry on!

DeniseinVA said...

That’s a great catch up on your week. Allie is so cute. I especially loved that picture of her looking right at you close up. I hope you everything goes good for you this week and you see an improvement. You really are inspiring. Hugs, Denise

Linda's Relaxing Lair said...

Beautiful photos, Rita. I wish you good health and happiness always. You are such a lovely person.