August 31, 2020 Monday noon

Well, I am here today.  

Grab a cuppa and let's chat. 

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Over 14 years of blogging and I have never needed a break before...but I'm thoroughly a believer in if you can't say something good...and I was too sad and upset to want to talk.  The state of the world and adding my own health issues on top of all that just got to be too much, honestly.  I needed to crawl away under the porch like a sick dog needing to be left alone.

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I have watched less news.  (Need to know what is going on, though.)  Oddly, YouTube suddenly quit giving me any email notifications whatsoever a couple of weeks ago.  I get all my news online because I don't have regular TV or cable. Now I have to go find my subscription list and scroll so turns out it actually helps me avoid the news--LOL!  I can focus on my narrowboaters, crafters, book binders, world travelers (now doing other things like rebuilding old RVs), bullet journalers, card makers, etc.  Fun and not stressful.  ;)

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We've had beautiful cooler days, then hot sticky ones...now back to gorgeous fall days again this past week with occasional rain/thunderstorms all along.  

I am back to being in a better state of mind, I guess...for several reasons.  I am having issues with uploading pictures on to blogger now that I have been forced on to the new format while I was gone...so these aren't in the order I would have liked them to be but I'm sure you can follow my meanderings.

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You may recall that a year ago Dagan and Leah picked up new IKEA cabinets for a studio update.  Last September I took these pictures of where the new table with two cabinets underneath would go...

...and where the new tall cabinet would go. 

Then last November Leah did get the new table put together and in place.  (Note I haven't been able to open the taboret drawers holding watercolor supplies since then because the table leg was blocking them.)

We had planned to wait until after the holidays to get the cabinets together...but we are slow and didn't get around to it before Covid hit.  (Below--shall return to this exciting subject.)  

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Annie and I spent lazy, endless, identical days where I just binge-watched The Good Wife and The Good Fight and lots of other stuff.

I made one trip over to visit McFamily before we had our mid-month exposures (Dagan to work, Leah to Costco, Caroline over here to clean) and then our subsequent quarantine.  I've not been over since.

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I was missing LIFE on my patio so I started to put out seed again.  Wasn't half an hour and a partridge showed up!

I have so missed their clucking! 

Since I started putting out a cup of seed every day a covey of eight has returned several times, a single one (that first one), and a pair. 

Gangs of noisy grackles!

And even a baby cottontail!!

I have missed them all.  I didn't realize how much.  Annie is very happy for the critter company, too.  :)

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Health...

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Well, turns out both times I was told I had a UTI there were no bacteria in my urine cultures.  And I was still having issues.  So, I had Leah check on Facebook (I'm not on any social media) in the Keto/low carb groups if anyone else has had bleeding from oxalate dumping--since I have been fiercely dumping since I started last June.  Yes!  Others have had blood in urine.  Also treated for UTIs and even scanned--nothing.  So, I decided to see if I could mitigate the oxalate dumping by adding some lower carb foods with high oxalates--like spinach, beans, almonds, etc.

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I have been making bean soup for a couple of weeks now and eating a big bowl every day.  Making it a little differently--using Leah's homemade bone broth...

...adding extra black beans... 

...and lots of roast beef! 

 Delicious!  

I have missed my bean soup.

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Already I have a lessening with the dumping issues.  May be TMI for some people--but the UTI-type symptoms are calming down--and no more blood so far (knock on wood--I had some even during and after the antibiotics).  My eyes are watering even more like they did in the beginning a year ago, but clear and not gritty.  I have had less of the hard crystals getting stuck in my tear ducts.  My sinuses are calming down and I can usually breathe through one nostril--occasionally both for short periods of time.  The crusty white buildup I have been getting inside my nose for months and months has almost quit!  (Oxalates are hard and white.)  The all-over pain that was more than my usual fibromyalgia pain has lessened noticeably and is more tolerable again.  And peeing is less irritating and cloudy.  (Big way you pass oxalates.)  All in a couple weeks of adding oxalate foods so that my body isn't trying to dump them as fast as possible--LOL!

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Funny.  When you are always adding a lot of oxalates your body chooses to store them when it can't keep dumping the excess fast enough.  Some people's bodies are better at that process than others.  Mine has pretty much had free reign to dump the storagehouse of oxalates for over a year and was going at it harder and harder.  Adding a few high oxalate foods has slowed it down for now and I should have thought of this a long time ago--LOL!  I am still dumping, never fear.  When I think of the amount of oxalates I could have in my body--no wonder I have been feeling even worse since I quit carbs and started dumping.  They may even be the cause or one of the causes of fibromyalgia and even arthritis.  Hasn't been studied enough.  Can take a person years to dump enough to be back to a normal range of oxalates and to get them out of all the places they have been stored.  And I have been in terrible shape for a couple of decades so I could have years of dumping ahead of me.  But I also could end up feeling closer to normal again after dumping enough oxalates.  Never know?!    

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Anyways, I am kind of experimenting right now.  So far, so good.  I am seeing improvement.  I figure that if I felt better and had less symptoms over time that it was probably oxalates but if I got worse...then it was probably something else and I needed to go back and have them find out what is going on.  But I don't think it was UTIs.

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Meanwhile, I am also finally going to see the new doctor, Kate Kessler, who is both a regular physician and also an osteopath!  You may remember I had an appointment to see her as a new client (osteopath) that I had to cancel due to Covid.  Now I have an 80 minute new client appointment set up for October 9th.  (Yes, she is that booked up and popular.)  That lifted my spirits, too.  :)

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 Leah came over on August 12th for a Christmas card planning night.  We had made up several sets before Liam was born but he's three years old on Thursday and we have used them all up.  So we planned out three year's worth that night.  I have been working on them since then and I also brought supplies with and we worked on them the one day I visited on the 16th.  Once I get done with a set of Christmas cards I can start working on sets of birthday cards for myself.  :)

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We started on the card bases.  First cutting.  Blue set.

Gold set.  We're keeping the sets on different trays to keep them organized.

Black and white set.  There are 100 in each Christmas set for Leah and me together. 

Next came the creasing to make them easier to fold. 

Then I folded.

On the blue cards--had the double-sided tape on the fronts so added those.  We have half the insides corner-punched.  Leah has the rest at her place.  Once the insides get taped in this set is done! 

Gold set.  About 2/3 the way through adding fronts and insides.  But then I have 100 green die cuts to make and glue to the fronts.  This set will likely be second done. 

This one will take the longest.  Need to black emboss the stamp on the white front piece and then color each one, then add the tape, and then attach the front and the inside piece.  This one will definitely be the last one.  Coloring while I watch TV is in my future...for some time...plan to color some birthday cards, too. 

Anyways, having projects to do and being creative (even if it is assembly-line work) lifted my spirits.  And the beautiful fall weather--my favorite time of year. 

Then--to really keep me busy (and delighted to be so after waiting a year) Leah and Ian came over for the day yesterday to work on the cabinets!!!

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I had figured that, since we are still in a tentative double bubble, we should try to finally do that while we can.  So...yesterday was a big day!  Leah, with some help from Ian, got ALL THREE of the cabinets together!!  They were here till almost 7:30pm and went home in a thunderstorm.

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Out of order, but this is what it looks like right now.  Beautiful chaos!

 The taboret is under the window table...

...and the low cherrywood cabinet is in the middle of the room for now until they both get emptied out and go to the garage.

 There is stuff piled everywhere...waiting to be sorted and find new homes.

The two new cabinets under the die cutting table!  They fit perfectly!  IKEA really does have accurate measurements, that's for sure.

The new tall cabinet fit, too.  Comes out a bit further, but I love it!

Ian had an important task that he was determined to do on his own.  He took out all the drawers in the old cherrywood tall cabinet and piled them on my bed.  Mama moved the cabinet to the hallway and then Ian put all the drawers back in by himself.

It was very exciting to see all Gramma's wooden stamps.  Each drawer he had to show me and/or Mama and talk about the treasures within--LOL!

I told him that he is old enough now that he is starting Kindergarten to start learning how to use stamps.  Soon.  I will bring over some kids stamps and ink pads I got for him like a year ago that he wasn't interested in back then when I go over for Liam's birthday on Thursday.  I hope the ink pads haven't dried up!  I'll have to check them.

Ian took his job with the drawers very seriously, as you can tell.  He was a very proud workman standing before the refilled cabinet.  ;)

A couple random pics from last night. 

  

Leah even made chaffles for dinner.  Was the closest thing we've had to a Gramma Day since the pandemic.  A very nice day.

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Meanwhile, while I was writing this my dryer broke.  Luckily the clothes were dry enough to take out, sort, fold, and hang.  I think a belt broke or something.  Scared the bejeebers out of Annie and me.  Really loud!  So, I will finish up here and call maintenance.  

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Not going to make any promises as to when I'll be back, but let's just say I am going to try to get back to my Monday posts.  Between making cards, critter cafe reopening, easing of oxalate dumping, an appointment with the osteopath, the cabinets together, and a bit of visiting...I think I have regained a lot of my positive balance...for now, anyways.  ;)  

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 I have been reading blogs, even if I hadn't been commenting for quite a while.  Been more of a lurker--LOL!  That's been changing some, too.  Crawling out from under the porch.  ;)

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Until next time.

*love and hugs*

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"Where does it all lead?  

What will become of us?...

It leads to each other.  

We become ourselves."

Patti Smith

7-28-2020 Tuesday 10:30am

Yes, I am a day late.  I didn't think anyone would even notice, but someone did.  ;)  I was at the clinic again yesterday.  Bladder infection back again.  Not feeling great, obviously.  On antibiotics--longer dose this time.  I had a difficult time with them last time so I don't expect to have any easier time this time.  But--don't worry--I'm going to be fine.

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Had a visit with McFamily last Thursday and that will have to hold me for a good while.  We had Jelle's Marble Run (YouTube) on with their winter olympics games.  There was a lot of laughter and cheering for teams.  Hard to describe, but here's a pic of the marble curling event--LOL!  So funny! 

The boys even were watching while they ate...

...and you can tell Liam is much more comfortable with me--LOL! 

He still doesn't want to do hugs, but I'm sure he will one day. 

I dearly love these four human beings. 

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The only thing I got done before I got sick again was to finally clear off counters and re-arrange them.  Moved the appliances with their new dust covers from Amazon.  (Yes, Leah gave me both an Alexa and a Hey Google thingie--and I use both of them--LOL!)

 I have wanted dust covers since I moved here.  I'm using the pandemic and not being able to go to Joann's for fabric as an excuse to finally just buy them.  (Ignore the fact I have had five years to sew my own--LOL!)   Anyways, this was exciting to me. 

Now I don't have to spend so much time cleaning the dust off the appliances before I can use them--hehe!

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That's it from here.  

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Not sure when I'll be back to chat.  

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Everything going on in the world has been highly stressful for me...and you know I do not like to spread negative energy out into the world.  There's more than enough of it to go around right now.  I've always gone very quiet when I haven't anything good or positive to say.  Losing my optimism and laughter is a very rare thing.  Well, I haven't totally lost it yet, but it has been harder to blog sometimes than it used to be.

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A deep sadness for our country has been slowly engulfing me.  I had been feeling like I needed to step back...take a kind of spiritual retreat...a news and computer break...and now I am actually sick...so perfect timing, I guess.  One of those be careful what you wish for things, eh?  LOL!   

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So, till we meet again...be kind, listen, do good when you can, be patient, love your neighbor, appreciate friends and loved ones...and vote.

7-20-2020 Monday-1:45pm

Good afternoon!

I was out watering plants this afternoon and thought I'd take some pictures.

I still need to pick dead heads, but even half dead geranium blossoms are sending out new blossoms...kind of re-blooming over the dying parts.  They've really gone wild this year! 

The coleus planter on the left was completely tipped over in that last bad wind storm.  I got it upright but some stalks were broken off.  It will revive, I'm sure with the way they are all growing this summer.  Even the marigolds have come into their own.  :)

They all obviously love the heat and humidity.  Glad somebody does.

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While I am outside watering Annie parks herself behind the end table near the patio door and observes my every move. 

She loves her new spinner toy now that I moved the two good balls she had into it.  These harder plastic balls are lighter and Annie lives for speed.  The new white balls that came with this new spinner (put one in her old spinner behind the tan chair you can see in the last photo) are heavier and she can't get the wild speed she loves.  Guess I'll have to buy a new ball for her old spinner, too--LOL!  Spoiled much?

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Well, on Tuesday Leah went shopping at Cashwise and dropped me off some groceries and Caroline came to clean in the afternoon.  Dagan went to work on Wednesday to help the first 1/4 of the office settle in.  We've been in quarantine since then.

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So, just the usual stuff since then.  Laundry.  Called my mom.  She cancelled an outside visit from Kathy last week!  Said she was too tired.  I told her she needed to kick herself in the butt and get out of the apartment when she can.

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  She said, I have the wrong kind of shoes.

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For going outside?

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For kicking myself in the butt, she laughed.

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Oh, you don't need any shoes for that.  Even barefoot you can kick yourself in the butt, believe me!  :) 

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  Told her I can totally understand the isolation burnout but she has to push herself.  Force yourself to do things when they feel overwhelming...or you'll never do anything at all.  She knows I know about pain and exhaustion taking over your life...and that it is not easy.  She agreed.  I do hope she goes next time.

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Had a Video Gramma Day with Ian on Saturday.  Liam had fallen asleep on the couch so I read The Shy Stegosaurus all afternoon!  We didn't finish the book until 6:30pm!  Liam slept almost the whole time and I think Mama and Daddy may have been snoozing nearby part of the time, too.  Resting their eyes?  LOL!

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Last night it cooled off so I had switched to using the fan drawing air from outside on the AC because it was cooler outside than in here.  Anyways, laid down in my chair at 1am--and in a few minutes I smelled smoke!  And not cigarette smoke...smelled like wood smoke.  Strong.  ???

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Now, there are apartments all around me for blocks...no homes with fireplaces nearby and I don't think any of these apartments are fancy enough to have fireplaces.  It had only cooled down to 65 degrees--not exactly fireplace weather.  Might have been someone with an outside fire pit of some kind?  But most apartment people don't have them or they are not allowed, you know?  So--I couldn't sleep for wondering what was burning and where...and waiting for our fire alarm to go off...or to hear fire trucks.  Nothing--LOL!

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It finally faded away around 3am, so I got to sleep around 3:30.  Pretty tired today, but I still wonder what was burning during the night.  ??

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Aha!  I love the internet!  I just thought--I may not have regular local TV anymore but I have the internet.  The wind must have been just right for me to smell it all the way down on the south side of the city last night...yup!...like a campfire smell.  :)

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If you're curious click HERE.

(Hope the link works)

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Whew!  Now if I smell it again I won't worry.  Not that I was fretting...I just turned Netflix back on--LOL!

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Slow week again.  I think I have covid burnout or the covid blahs.  No motivation.  Just days floating by--quite pleasantly--but uneventfully--and not a lot gets checked off my to-do list in my bullet--LOL!  Oh well.  I can count my lucky stars that my life is uneventful right now.  Till next week...may your life be uneventful, too.  ;)

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"I'm happy to be reminded that an ordinary day full of nothing but nothingness can make you feel like you've won the lottery."

Susan Orlean

7-13-2020 Monday-11:45am

Still morning--LOL!  

This is going to be really short.

Very, very low key week.

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I made it over to McFamily's on Wednesday from about 3:30-8:30pm.  Got a racing down the hallway "Gramma!" hug from Ian.  Great time.   Had both the boys in my lap for bedtime stories again.  I sure hope we can keep up our bubble for a long time.

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Was a lazy week, otherwise.  Just doing what you have to do (laundry and such) and watching a lot of TV and YT--LOL!  I'm slowly re-watching Monk and enjoying it a lot.  Plus a lot of BritBox and Acorn...a few Netflix DVDs as they come in the mail...playing with Annie...quiet week.

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Oh, Thursday morning there was a ruckus going on outside.  Kids.  Annie ran for the hills.

 I took some pictures kind of through the blinds.  (I often keep them shut to the sun in the mornings so I don't have to run the AC.)  Must have been some kind of Day Care facility.

 But if this is what schools are going to be like come fall...

 ...no masks, no distancing--just acting like nothing is happening...

...Ian just can't go to kindergarten this fall.  Dagan and Leah are both vulnerable adults.  Haven't heard anything yet about the school's plans, though.  Hoping they have an online option.  I'm sure they'll hear by August.  What a challenge for the schools all over the world!

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For about a month my "smart" TV has kept disconnecting itself from the internet.  So far I have been able to monkey around until I get it back, but it definitely seems to be losing its "smarts".  My internet is on and the laptop works just fine.  Duh.  So how smart is that?  LOL!

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Woke up yesterday to being forced on to a new version of Microsoft-10.  I don't notice much difference so far.  I only do limited things online, but I take that as a good sign.   

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Speaking of forced changes...I haven't noticed anything so far on Blogger today.  I'm sure they'll push the new version on me eventually.  Or I am using it and haven't noticed?  Now THAT would be wonderful!  ;)

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I love this picture from Leah from this weekend.  You will probably have to click to enlarge it--but the boys are helping Daddy mow the lawn.  They each have a lawnmower.  

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Well, I said this was going to be short.  Tomorrow Leah is going grocery shopping at Cashwise (dropping mine off here) and Caroline is coming to clean!  On Wednesday Dagan has to be at work during the day for the first of their four-part re-opening of the offices.  After that he can work from home and go in after hours like he has been, but he'll be needed during the day mid-month for the re-openings for the following three months, too.  He has to make sure all the computers are up and running and able to compute and converse--LOL!  ;)

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So, since we have to quarantine after exposures--we might as well do all the exposures at once.  Leah will grocery shop--Cashwise one month and Costco the next month.  Caroline is going to come to clean for me once a month.  Afterwards McFamily and I won't be able to see each other for at least a week or more...to make sure we're all still well before we "bubble" again.  They say that most people get symptoms in 5-6 days--but some as early as 3 and as late as 13 days.  So, about a week we hope will be good.  That's the plan, anyways.

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This afternoon I am going over to McFamily's.  After the boys go to bed Leah and I will go over my Cashwise grocery list and we will have some chat time.  So, I'll be a little later getting home tonight.  That's it for this week.  Shock!  Really short for me--LOL!  Till next week...may it be an absolutely delightful week for us all!

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"Love intentionally, extravagantly, unconditionally.  The broken world waits in darkness for the light that is you."

L.R. Knost