Category Archives: Challenges

May 10, 2024 · 11:22 am

Getting My Act Together

My new electric meat slicer was delivered yesterday. I reorganized part of my kitchen counter so the slicer is now on an easily moveable place mat so I can slide the slicer out a bit for use, with a NON-slide place mat on top of THAT so the slicer won’t slide when I’m using it. :0) I just ordered a cover that’s made for this particular slicer, rather than the towel I’m using now. I’ll read the manual for this later today.

Here’s the cover.

I’m set up now so I can cook and slice most any meat to eat for my lunches, taking the place of the deli turkey I THOUGHT was healthy, but turned out to be sky high in sodium. (Same with salami. )

I did find some lunch meat that’s half the sodium or less than what I’m finishing up now while I’m gearing up to do all my own.

I also found some low carb, much-lower-sodium frozen dinners at Stu’s Clean Cookin’ in Greenwood. I will try all of these, but some are higher sodium than I would like for the long run. It will depend on how the food changes come together (shown clearly on MyFitnessPal.com) before I make long term decisions.

Meanwhile, my doc has increased my thyroid hormone dosage, so that should help, as well, though it will probably take several 6-week trials before we zero in on my new good dosage.

I’m finally getting my act together on eating healthier, plus I’m working in the yard most every day and doing a session of yoga stretching in the afternoons at least 3 times a week if not every day. Hopefully, the lard will start coming off in a more steady manner and my next routine blood tests in October will show significant improvement. :0)

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April 6, 2024 · 6:04 pm

One Dog – Two Gates

This is an old picture of Amber and me. It gives you an idea of her size.

I told you that she has been getting into trouble lately and causing us a bit of grief. I am taking her out late at night as her last outing of the night NOT on the leash, as my husband was doing, since she pulled him into the planter and caused a lot of grief plus an all-nighter in the ER. I am simply letting her out, telling her to ‘hurry up’ and hoping she won’t be gone long, if she leaves the area. So far, so good.

The other problem is that we had taken down baby gates, leaving only one between the tiled areas on the first floor and the carpeted ones. She has a nice bed in the utility room right next to the garage. Suddenly, she was stealing food off the counter in the kitchen, or grabbing not-yet rinsed dishes and taking them to her bed, etc. We finally re-installed the baby gate between the dining/kitchen/pantry areas and the utility room.

The problem THEN was we installed it so the gate opening part got in the way of the door to the garage. We go in and out of that door all day long, so we were TRYING to adapt to the difference. We finally decided today to turn the baby gate around so it opened the other way – AWAY from the door to the garage. It took us a bit of time but we just accomplished it. This will save us a bunch of problems, as I found myself with the gate part open, the door to the garage open, the dog trying to bull her way past me to get OUT and the cat trying to sneak past me to get IN – all at the same time with me right in the path.

Hopefully we can now separate Amber from any food that needs to be out to thaw, or the chance to take a breath after dinner before cleaning up the kitchen. I’ll be able to let Amber out without getting trapped between the doors and the cat streaking her way in.

Life gets complicated sometimes, but we – as our animals’ people – are supposed to be smarter than they are…

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April 3, 2024 · 11:23 am

It’s Done

Enis Yavuz-Unsplash.com

We have always changed from snow tires to regular tires and back again ourselves in our shop. We had snow tires mounted on wheels so that it’s just a case of taking the current wheels with tires off and putting on the other set, already on wheels. It has always been laborious, but quite doable.

Now we have had to admit (my husband more grudgingly than I) that now that we are older than dirt, it’s better to let the people set up to do this do it for us, rather than struggle to do it ourselves.

To be completely honest, it took the TWO of us to get each tire into the back of our truck this morning. By the time we got the four regular tires into the bed of the truck and found the lug nuts and special one lug nut and wrench addition needed to put it on each tire, we were both a bit short of breath.

I took my Kindle so that I could read while I waited, but didn’t actually use it for more than a few minutes. There was a constant ‘show’ going on with people coming in and out and things happening all around, so I put my Kindle away and just watched what was going on.

I only had to wait about half an hour for them to get to our truck. The changeover went quickly and they only charged us $32.50 for the job.

When I got back home, I got our mail and dragged the empty trash can back up to where it lives without falling on my head. (I’m trying to train myself to put my phone in my pocket so that if I fall, I can call for help.)

We managed to get the snow tires OUT of the truck and stored – with their lug nuts – in the shop until probably November.

As we drove from the shop to the house, my husband asked, “Do you really think it’s a good idea to have this job done for us, when we could do it ourselves?” My answer – an enthusiastic, “YES!!!!”

HOORAY!

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March 31, 2024 · 3:14 pm

Accountability

quotesgram

I’ve been logging in at MyFitnessPal.com daily for 40 days, trying to be more mindful of what I’m eating, my exercise, my water drinking, etc. I’ve been following the keto eating plan for approximately half that time.

I’ve decided to make myself accountable once a month to keep my head on straight and stay on my way to many goals. I don’t have any particular goals on weight and measurements. I need to lose my lard – a lot of it – but I’m making mini-goals in 5-pound-increments to keep it doable in my mind. I’m trying to practice my yoga daily for half an hour, adding working in the yard outside, or heavy days of cleaning inside, lately, or future plans of using my elliptical machine in the garage when I can, or adding exercises with dumbbells to add strength, all in an effort to be stronger, more flexible, with better balance, less apt to fall.

Toward these goals, I am down 23 pounds since my heaviest. I have two pounds to go to meet my latest 5-pounds-lard-off goal.

February yoga practice
March yoga practice

Today I measured, since I have finished a full month of daily yoga in March plus another several days starting in February. (Can you tell that the sparkly stars on my calendar are a big motivator for me?)

Measuring shows a loss of .3 inches from my hips and a loss 1.5 inches from my waist.

So, bit by bit I’m making some slow progress. (I have to tell you that last night my husband and I were so grateful that we were still alive, relatively in one piece, and relatively healthy that we ‘celebrated’ with a dish of no- sugar-added vanilla ice cream. My husband added some fruit to his and I added some chocolate syrup to mine. This will be the last celebration for the foreseeable future. :0) )

I am now promising myself (and you) that I will report progress – I hope – again at the end of April.

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January 30, 2024 · 9:14 am

Beautiful Tuesday

Viacheslav Lakobchuk – 123RF.com

Today our weather is absolutely gorgeous. I’m about to go do several errands, and it will be a delight to be outside. It’s 44 right now, and the forecast is for 65 this afternoon. The sun is shining. GORGEOUS!!!!

My husband and I are learning to function on very little sleep at night. We’re lucky to be able to catch cat naps during the day, so things are improving there, as well.

So far, my husband has not tried to do things he shouldn’t, so I’m beginning to think I MIGHT be able to spend some time in my art room this week. I’m going to see if I can find another good video on techniques for wood burning to get the juices flowing. :0)

I hope things are going well for you today.

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January 28, 2024 · 8:36 am

Sunday 1-28-2024

Charlie Harris – Unsplash.com

Good morning. I need to warn you that you’re reading the words of a zombie, pretty much, since it’s been a week now since I got a regular night’s sleep. A week ago today my husband fell on the ice at the bottom of our driveway, breaking his collar bone.

We catch cat naps as we can, all day and all night, trying to sleep in our recliners. Sleeping well was a challenge before my husband hurt himself because that seems to go with becoming more ‘mature,’ but now we’re pretty much hopeless. We’re just glad for whatever we can get.

Each day is a bit better. He’s now saying he wants to quit wearing the sling. I simply told him I thought that it would slow the healing process and increase his pain, but that he, of course, could do whatever he wants…

Our son researched healing from bone breaks, bought and sent some high doses of Vitamin C and D-3. I’m giving these to my husband morning and night now.

I hope that your Sunday is a nice one.

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January 27, 2024 · 9:18 am

Soggy Saturday 1-27-2024

dallomoantonella.wordpress.com

I’m so glad we’re dealing with rain, rather than ice or snow.

My husband, who broken his left clavicle on the 21st, is now talking about not wearing his sling after a couple more days. I – having lived with this man for some 54 years now – simply told him it would take longer for healing, but that it was up to him how long he was incapacitated. Meanwhile, I’ll try to contact the orthopedic nurse on our portal to see if I can get some backup.

Our son, who lives across the world from us, bought and sent us two kinds of supplements to help him heal. I’ll start incorporating them into his meds today.

My husband is basically just moving from one room to another on the first floor until further notice. He’s doing that more easily now, plus sneezed and told me it didn’t hurt nearly as bad as previously, so there is definitely progress. We are still trying to sleep in our recliners.

He requested spaghetti, so I’ll make that for tonight.

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January 26, 2024 · 10:14 am

Friday 1-26-2024

Hans Isaacson-Unsplash.com

I have absolutely NO complaints about our gray, rainy weather. It is NOT ice. It is NOT snow. I can drive up and down our driveway without risking myself or my vehicle. I can do what I need to do. :0)

My husband is getting around better since breaking his collarbone on the 21st. He is at the computer now, watching YouTube videos. He’s a bit better each day, and so far is being careful not to hurt himself further. I’m staying close by, since he only has the use of one hand and arm.

I will make a dash today to get supplies, lunch from the deli (my husband’s request) and our mail. That’s it for ‘out’ today. I called our friends about not being able to come to Lunch Bunch and about my husband’s fall.

I’m grateful we can handle what happened ourselves. In fact, all I need to do so far to keep my husband in line is tell him that I am happy to try to hire someone to help him. :0) MEAN woman….

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January 25, 2024 · 10:18 am

Amber

Amber is worried. She senses something isn’t normal around here, and she is following one of us – and then the other – closely, trying to be everywhere at once.

BEFORE injury

She cries if I put her on the other side of the dog gate. I only do this when I’m trying to help my husband get out of his chair or back into it, etc. (He broke his collarbone falling on the ice Sunday, January 21st. He doesn’t need surgery and recovery time is approximately 10 to 12 weeks. He is learning how many things he does that affect the muscles in his left shoulder, how much he uses his left hand, and how MUCH it hurts to sneeze, cough, or laugh.)

He insisted he wanted to sleep upstairs in our bed last night. Nothing would convince him to change his mind. We went to bed around midnight. I basically lay there with my eyes closed, but was trying to stay alert to help him if needed. Around 2 am he said I was right (!) :0( and that he couldn’t get comfortable in the bed. He then learned that he uses is left hand to hold onto the stair railing. We slowly and carefully got down the stairs and back into his chair. We basically slept – where we could rest – from 6am to 8.

He is stronger this morning and was able to get out of his recliner carefully by himself. He looks more alert. I’m hoping he will take several naps whenever he is sleepy.

Again – BEFORE injury

Amber wants to sleep right in front of his chair. We have already made it VERY clear she is NOT considered a lap dog (97 pounds) and that my husband is very happy with her beside him, rather than in his lap right now. If we insist she get in her “place” on her bed across the room, she watches him, alert to any movements. (usually she does this only when he has food, but now it is really concern for him.)

I keep trying to reassure her. I guess in this case, seeing is the only way she will be believing.

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January 24, 2024 · 11:20 am

Figuring it Out

Bowditch & Dewey-LynettePaczkowski

It’s been quite the night and morning.

Since my husband broke his collarbone falling on the ice in our driveway Sunday morning, we’ve had x-rays and seen an orthopedic surgeon, who said my husband could heal without surgery. With surgery or without, the recovery time is 10 to 12 weeks.

After fighting with my husband (we don’t even use the same salt :0) ) he has agreed for now that we will stay downstairs. He’s still in quite a bit of pain on ANY movement and only has the use of his right arm and hand until further notice, making any normal activity quite difficult. We are sleeping in our recliners, getting as much rest as possible, which so far isn’t much. Thank goodness we can both take naps any time we need it.

Breakfast, morning chores, sitz bath, change of clothes, meds, and back in the chair took until 10:30 this morning. He is taking a nap in his recliner right now, and seems to be as comfortable as possible. While he’s doing that, I’m doing laundry, cleaning up the kitchen, figuring out food, etc.

It’s amazing how quickly your life can change. I’m so relieved this wasn’t any worse and that we can let this heal on its own. We are adapting slowly to the new normal. I’m walking kind of a tightrope right now, between helping and stepping on pride. I’m wishing I had a magic wand to make him feel better.

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January 23, 2024 · 10:24 am

Verdict

luis_molinero-freepik.com

This morning we drove through rain and pretty heavy fog in places to try to find the orthopedic surgeon’s office in Fort Smith by our 7:50 appointment. After driving like a rat trying to find the cheese with my poor husband agonizing each time we hit a bump, pothole, railroad track, speed bump, etc. due to his broken clavicle, we found it and checked in with a minute to spare.

We were seen quickly – amazingly quickly. We had two choices: 2 surgeries or none. The 2 surgeries would have included one to place a positioning plate and the second surgery to remove it later. Recovery time – 10 to 12 weeks. The surgeon told us the break would heal and would take almost the same amount of time, doing what we’re doing now, with NO surgery. The only difference is cosmetic – he’ll have a knot where the break was on his shoulder. He told the surgeon “he was old and didn’t mind getting uglier” so we will continue what we’re doing now, making him as comfortable as possible and letting him heal. The doctor said sleeping in our recliners was probably a really good thing until my husband can get up and down by himself without so much pain. He will get a follow up x-ray and see the surgeon again at the end of February.

My husband isn’t happy about the long recovery time, but he’s delighted that he will heal without surgery. He griped about my driving on the way to the appointment, but subsided after I bit him verbally. I just asked him to consider riding with me a character-building exercise, and to remember that I don’t say a word when HE’S driving, even when he scares my hair off.

Our doctor appt was so early that our mail hadn’t been delivered and the trash was still down at the bottom of the driveway when we got back. I’ll make a trip for groceries in a bit and will check those two things again.

We are relieved. This could have been a lot worse. We have agreed that in the future, we will just leave our trash in our garage, waiting for our driveway to clear, before risking anything like this again.

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January 23, 2024 · 5:52 am

On the Way to the Surgeon

Even with the ice storm (the bulk of which seems to have missed us, thank goodness), we were able to get my husband’s shoulder x-rayed yesterday. They prescribed pain meds, cold packs, a sling, and we have an appointment to see an orthopaedic surgeon this morning at 0-dark-30. The x-ray showed a broken left clavicle. We’ll know more after the surgeon sees us. At least we should be able to control his pain better now while we find out what is next.

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January 22, 2024 · 9:01 am

Covering Up My Head

Prostock-Studio – istock photo

Suffice to say, this is an awful day. I have a call in to our primary care doctor, asking if they can take an x-ray of my husband’s shoulder. We got about an hour of sleep last night. He is in pain.

The ice outside makes it so that we can’t get to Fort Smith to the ER even if my husband would agree to go. He HAS agreed to go to the clinic if they’ll take the x-ray.

The schools are closed due to the weather. The clinic won’t open until 1pm. All my appendages are crossed that they will call me back, tell me they WILL take an x-ray, and we can GET there and get him more help than I’m able to give him.

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January 21, 2024 · 4:03 pm

Oops!

kichigin-freepik.com

Well, it got above freezing. We drove the trash down to the place in the driveway where we have the trash can. I got out and started to roll the trash can down. I immediately started slipping badly. My husband drove on down to get the mail, then stopped to get out to help me, when he saw I was having trouble.

I waited, but he didn’t come. I kept creeping down, inches at a time with the trash can. I finally got down to the street and left the trash can. He had fallen and was trying to get into the truck. He made it back inside the truck just as I made my way over. His left foot had gone out from under him and he fell backwards, hitting his shoulder. He almost couldn’t get into the truck. He insisted he could drive, so we drove down to the church, turned around with lots of pain for his left shoulder, then made it back up the driveway and to the house.

I had him take some aspirin and got him settled in his chair with the heating pad wrapped all around it. I got him a drink. He’s watching TV and I just checked on him. He was holding the heat pad close to his shoulder. He says it feels a bit better.

We should have driven all the way down to the road, then he could have gotten the mail while I tried to walk up for the trash can. Shoulda – woulda – coulda. Now we’re supposed to get an ice storm starting tonight-into-tomorrow. We’ll just stay up here until further notice – until we can get wherever we need to go without getting out of the truck on ice, assuming we can get down the driveway in the first place.

Did I tell you I’m ready for spring?

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January 20, 2024 · 9:27 am

Waiting for Tuesday

Freepik

All my life I’ve been waiting – for something.

As a kid, I waited for Christmas, or my birthday, or…

I waited for school to be out.

I waited for summer.

When I fell in love and my to-be husband was in the Marines, I waited for him to come home on leave. I waited for weekends. I waited for him to get out of the Marines. I waited for him to go to the same college as I did. I waited for him to ask me to marry him. I waited for the wedding.

I waited for our children to be born.

I finally decided that I was wishing my life away and that it probably wasn’t the best way to live. I decided to try to live more in the moment, cherishing all that I have.

Now I find myself waiting again. This time it seems kind of silly. I’m waiting for Tuesday. Why?

Our weather is supposed to get above freezing. Things are supposed to start to thaw out. That means we can finally get down our driveway – and back up again. It means freedom to plan our day around what we’d like to do, rather than making the best of things.

My life is a good one. We have gotten through this cold spell, stuck up on our hill, just fine. But I’m WAITING for more – being a greedy lady.

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January 16, 2024 · 10:22 am

Weird Start to Our Morning

McLaren Health Care

Besides being 4 degrees (update – we’re now up to 7 degrees) with a wind chill of -22 this morning in ARKANSAS – this has been a weird morning BESIDES the robocall we just received.

When we came downstairs this morning, I made a quick check to be sure our animals were good and that the water was still dripping in our sinks. Our security system was beeping a rhythmic beep. I went around checking doors and windows and couldn’t find anything wrong. The beep was driving me nuts. I didn’t see anything listed on the system control pad, so I just started pushing buttons. I finally got the system to be quiet, but that was followed immediately by the phone ringing – our security system folks.

I was able to remember our password and my name (always a good thing) and assured her we were not under attack. She wanted to know if she should send someone out. I told her that the only way someone could come and SEE us today was if they came in via parachute (explaining about our steep snow and ice covered driveway.) We agreed that we should all not worry about anything and get on with our day.

It’s good to know that there really ARE people on the other end of our system and that they WOULD send people to try to help us if we either didn’t answer the phone or couldn’t give the password.

This morning I’m going to make sure I have the emergency number in my cell phone and that I find the emergency necklace they provided – just in case.

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January 13, 2024 · 11:05 am

Fun Ahead!

Lowe’s

I’ve told you that I’m trying to learn how to do wood-burning, or pyrography. It’s difficult, to say the least, because you can’t hold the tool down close enough to the tip to allow you to feel in control, plus each tip does certain things best, and it takes a LOT of experimenting and practice to be able to choose the right one and use it effectively.

I have a tool now, and tips, and a holder, and safety stuff. I’ve been experimenting, and sometimes get excited about the results and many more times hit stumbling blocks. Example: I’ve learned how to transfer a design – should I choose to do something NOT freehand – but had a really hard time trying to do lettering around it. Needless to say, I have a LOT of practicing to do.

I got a fun package in the mail today – I ordered some different sizes and shapes of wood so that I have something to do the pyrography ON when I can –

I now also have a couple of different wood stains now, plus varnish.

SO – the only thing holding me back is

  • courage
  • practice
  • ideas
  • practice
  • time
  • practice
  • energy
  • practice
  • learning – videos
  • PRACTICE
Wikipedia

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January 8, 2024 · 1:57 pm

I Prevailed

Izzy Park – blue_jean – unsplash.com

It would seem that refilling a prescription should be a simple thing. You order, you pay, you receive –

Except when your provider decides to quadruple (that’s right) the price of your prescription. You look on the net for other providers. They’re as bad, or worse. No generics, either.

I finally found a source outside the country. I’ve used them before and was delighted to find that their price is 1/4 of ours. Then my doc said they don’t provide paper prescriptions anymore. When I explained my problem – detail – she relented. We picked it up, sent an image to the outside pharmacy, as well as all but our first grade report card, paid, and then also mailed the prescription. We received it just fine. End of story? NO…

The next time they were out. So was everyone else. A generic was offered. HOOORAAAAAY!!!!!! I ordered, paid, and we waited. We got the box, but instead of 100 tablets, we got 10.

I went on chat and told them about my problem. The department that handled problems would call me last Thursday – or Friday – or…. of COURSE they called when we were out this morning.

I called. They were too busy. I called back. A nice lady is now expediting a replacement of the order for which we have already paid. We should have it in a little over two weeks – keeping all appendages crossed.

It would be NICE – when your husband’s life depends on a prescription – if it didn’t cause you to have to hock the dog in order to pay for it and jump through countless hoops in order to get it. Just NICE.

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January 7, 2024 · 11:27 am

Figuring It Out!

Red Bubble

I want you to know that I’m not as dumb as I look! I figured out TWO things recently that I’ve been TRYING to do it seems like forever –

THING ONE – I used to add captions and credits to pictures on my blog with no problem. Then – the people who get paid to keep the website up to date, make it easy to navigate, and on the cutting edge, came in and ‘improved’ WordPress (this host) and disappeared my ability to caption or credit the way I used to. I tried and tried, and finally gave up, just putting the credit on the next line as close to the picture as I could. Suddenly, in the middle of nothing, I right-clicked ON a picture instead of elsewhere, and a box for caption and credit popped up! Yureka!!!!! I am newly ‘en-franchised’ now. :0)

THING TWO – I told you that I have been working to improve my Etsy site. I have fought with making and installing a banner across the top, have made and installed a new logo, and have mostly finished describing my products in a different way that SEEMS to be slowly increasing my “traffic” (visits to the site).

I’ve been unhappy with the names of my product sections for a long time. I have also been upset that I couldn’t reorganize the categories in a different order on the page. I fought and fought this morning, after having added two of my new wood-burned earrings to the site, trying to change the name of the earring section and also to figure out a way to have the three types of earrings I offer to be listed as sections one after the other to the left of the page, instead of having people have to scroll down to SEE I make stud and clip earrings, as well as dangles. I FINALLY found a place that allowed me to change the names of the sections and reorder them! HOORAAAAAAY! :0)

I’m not as dumb as I look, nor am I dead yet!!!!!!!! There is still life in the old girl!

Now that I’ve done that, I need to take a gazillion pics after putting the hardware on the rest of the earrings I wood-burned and add them to the site. I hope to be able to finish that today.

It feels so GOOOOOD to have finally made some progress.

Pixabay

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January 2, 2024 · 10:17 am

Too Much?

Freepik

I had a subscriber write and ask me how to unsubscribe this morning. I thought an ‘unsubscribe’ button was automatically included on the blog website pages and certainly at the bottom of emails or texts people receive from me.

I found out that there wasn’t one on my blog that I could find, so I looked for one I could add. I couldn’t find one. That frustrated me. I then researched further, and found instructions to unsubscribe. They are –

_________________

Unsubscribe From a Blog

To stop following a blog’s updates, follow these steps:

  1. Click on Reader in the WordPress.com toolbar. (upper left on your screen)
  2. On the right side of the screen, click the “Manage” link next to your existing Subscriptions.
  3. Click the three dots next to the title of a specific blog you’re subscribed to.
  4. Choose “Unsubscribe“.

_____________________

I did this, and found a LOT of things to which I’VE subscribed in the past, and some I didn’t even remember. I’m going to clean those out this morning.

I have had others contact me over the years, and I can go to my list, find their name or email address or website, and delete them. No muss, no fuss. This isn’t possible when I don’t have any of that information, as was the case this morning.

I realize that I write a lot. Sometimes I have to cut myself off because my intention is NOT to bury you in emails on your computer or messages on your phone. Every person’s definition of ‘too much’ is different and I respect that.

If you would like to unsubscribe, 1) comment to a post on the blog and I’ll handle it if I have your information, 2) follow the directions on this post, or 3) you can always email me at lindawlewis1@gmail.com and ask me to help.

Sorry I can’t seem to find information on adding an unsubscribe button.

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December 29, 2023 · 2:01 pm

Making Progress

I’ve finished reorganizing and labeling everything on my “Etsy shelves” in my office now. I found a couple of things I THOUGHT were listed, but weren’t, so I took care of that.

Now I’m going up to my art room to gather a few more things I want to add to the site.

When I’ve gathered them, I’m going to allow myself the time and space to start experimenting with my new wood burning tool. REALLY. I AM. :0)

We went to Lunch Bunch and Kay and Bud were there. We had a good time catching up.

About an hour ago, FEDEX came and delivered the MIG wire welder my husband ordered. He took it out to our shop and brought back the manual to read. He says it looks good.

I hope you’re having at least HALF a good a day as we are enjoying.

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December 17, 2023 · 9:43 am

Possum Update 12-17-2023

Facts You Didn’t Know

Update – for those of you rooting for the opossum we caught in the humane trap in our garage two night ago –

  1. the ones we find are NOT sweet little cuddly furry creatures we could adopt. They have big teeth and hiss and spit. They try to eat not only all the birdseed they can find in the garage, but roam over our counters, knocking things off onto the floor, walk over the top of my husband’s Vette, scratching the paint and sometimes leaving ‘treasures’ on top and in the bed of our truck. They terrorize our cat, eat the food out of her bowl and knock the bowl onto the floor, and the list continues.
  2. The one we trapped two nights ago is free. Our dog Amber got into the act (my husband never thought about leaving her inside – go figure) and proceeded to try to fight with the possum. The possum DIDN’T play possum, but ran across the yard. My husband thought, “Oh, well,” and started back inside. The possum ran BACK into the garage under the Vette. He looked, but couldn’t find the possum.
  3. SO – last night we were awakened at 0-dark-thirty by Amber barking in the utility room. We managed to ignore it. When she started up again this morning, my husband ignored it, but I couldn’t.
  4. It didn’t bother me a bit that Amber went upstairs after I had done all the morning chores and cold-nosed my husband awake. :0)

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December 3, 2023 · 11:09 am

Changing Non-Gracefully

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Imagine my shock that I’m NOT aging gracefully. I’m doing it with some resentment, dragging my feet, gritching, and gnashing my teeth. Changes bother me more and more. I’m tired of ‘rolling with it,’ ‘adapting,’ etc. My latest gripe is companies that are changing the way they are paid.

One example is our water bill. It used to be that I wrote and mailed a check. I did this with everything else, so that was fine. Then I was paying everything online through my bank EXCEPT the water bill, for which I wrote almost the ONLY check I wrote each month. They are finally allowing online payments, but they must be done through their payment thingie, which charges you an extra $2.25 to use the service and you have to enter all your information each time, like you never used it before. UGH.

I was cleaning out my gmail this morning and ‘newly’ discovered some emails saying my insurance bills are due. (They sent these in November and the bills aren’t due until the middle of December.) We always get a slew of bills from our company in December, putting me off my Christmas spirit a bit, but I’ve gotten used to it. When I saw them, though, and we haven’t received the paper bills yet, it got my attention.

Maybe they won’t send the paper bills this time. They’re due the 12th, and I haven’t gotten anything in the mail. I went online to check, but then had trouble (imagine that) getting logged on. I went through my notes and was reminded that I had to sign up for a ‘new’ account with new agent in our regular company, and so had a different user name and password now. I logged in and discovered that they were now doing everything online.

To make a long rant a bit shorter, I went ahead and paid the premiums, and then had to go looking for the paperwork that should accompany the bills for our records. I found and printed them. I’ve never met the new agent and now the company seems to have gone all digital, so I may NEVER meet him.

Now that I’ve overcome yet another change, I’ll probably get the paper bills in the coming week…

Bah! Humbug!

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December 2, 2023 · 3:04 pm

Tiny Bit of Progress Today

HandmadeHavenByLinda on Etsy

A short while ago I finished most of the major revamp of my Etsy site. Of course, there is ALWAYS more, or another good idea I can try. I’m still trying to figure out how to offer deals on multiple purchases, for example, but the main reorganizing is finished.

I just came in from the first session outside. I have all the iris plants out of one planter in the back, and am now relocating them in the front. This may take more than a day, because my back is already reminding me that I’m not a spring chicken anymore, but I’m making progress. I’m trying to get outside each afternoon that the weather is cooperative and get SOMETHING done.

When I finish my outside stuff for the day, I plan to try out the new Dremel and see if I can do any good with it. Fingers crossed on THAT.

Happy day to you.

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December 1, 2023 · 10:04 am

Ummm..

As I get “more mature” (read ‘older than dirt’), memory becomes more of an issue.

I used to think it was ‘aggravating’ to go into a room, then realize I couldn’t remember why I had gone there. I had to go back to what I was doing, get into it, and THEN I remembered why – getting up again to go DO it this time. NOW I write a sticky note before I get up, KNOWING I won’t remember. I’m not sure I can call this an ‘improvement.’

Paul Harizan-Getty Images

My husband has kept a spreadsheet on his computer for years that lists what he considers important things for us to remember. This has helped us many times. We’ll list the date of installation of our new tankless water heater on there, for example.

I’ve devoted a whole big notebook to keeping stickies with artist information on them so that I don’t have to start from scratch when I feature an artist’s work on the blog. Right now I have 6 pages of these.

I have stickies everywhere – on my desk, on my computer, in my hand, on the fridge, on the ‘go-out’ table, etc. You get the idea.

I notice I have a word retrieval challenge more and more often these days. I’ll start to say something or write something and the word I’m trying for just won’t come. I’ve given up on being embarrassed with names, even with people I’ve known for a hundred years or so. The words simply ‘disappear’ until they’re ready to come – usually in the middle of the night. I’ll sit up in bed and say, “THAT’S what I was trying to think of!” (Unless I write it down on the notepad on the table beside my bed, I’ll forget it again by the time I get up in the morning.)

I write notes to myself, leaving them on the dresser I pass on my way out of our bedroom, reminding me of something I need to put on the grocery list, or something I need to do during the day.

Even though I’m coming up with ways to get around the problem, I’m aware that the problem seems to be growing faster than the solutions I can come up with. I comfort myself with the following –

Spreadshirt

Medical News Today

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December 1, 2023 · 9:11 am

Hot Water!

It’s a thing of beauty and a joy forever! It will probably last longer than WE do. :0) It was installed yesterday and the grin hasn’t left my face.

Travis, our wonderful plumber, is coming back sometime today to clean up the installation debris, old unit, etc., and has agreed to cart off the old backup regular water heater that failed and has been sitting down there, as well. I’ll write him a check today.

My husband and I both think that the water is getting hot more quickly than with the old unit. I don’t know if that’s because the former one was failing or if the new one is more powerful, more efficient, or what, but it’s NICE.

Any condensation goes into a drain in the floor. It’s wonderful not to have to ‘wonder’ if the hot water will come on when I’m washing my hair in the kitchen sink in the mornings, or whether the hot water will STAY on when I’m taking my shower in the evening, constantly having to turn the knob to adjust the temperature.

I’ll be happy to pay THIS bill.

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November 30, 2023 · 9:23 am

And the Water is Off!

Gem Voyager

Our wonderful plumber is here. The installation of our replacement tankless water heater has begun. The water to the house is off until further notice.

I know without a doubt that I wouldn’t be a good burglar. When I get stressed, I need to find a bathroom, and that’s a real problem if you’re trying to get away with something, be quiet, or cooperate when the water is off. The only ‘comfort’ today, since I have no clue how long the water will be off, is that we have two bathrooms upstairs that I can use and leave to flush later.

I guess it is my perverse nature that I react this way. Usually hours and hours can pass and I can easily wait – but turn off the water and tell me I ‘can’t’ and my system goes into ‘high production.’

I’m hoping that this will be a smooth, relatively quick installation. We are so lucky to have Travis Hawkins as our plumber. 479-461-8347. It is beyond price to know that someone knowledgeable will come when needed, and that we’ll get a fair price and can trust the work done.

I’m going to work in our office, write posts for the blog, and then work in my art room to stay out of the way. :0)

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November 29, 2023 · 10:42 am

Wednesday 11-29-2023

“Branch Manager and Assistant Manager” – @Buitengebieden On X

Well, I’m feeling quite happy now.

Our plumber just came to take some measurements for the replacement of our tankless water heater.

I had told my husband that I wanted HIM to handle things, since the two of them speak the same language, and that I would just try to stay out of the way, but available, if needed.

Travis, the plumber, said he would be back tomorrow at 8:30 for the installation.

The best part of the whole thing is the resolution of the question of the chimney for the unit, which has to be vented through the roof. My husband had gone on chat (with me typing) to ask if we could use the stainless steel chimney we already have with the new system. The chat people couldn’t help us and gave us the number of the more technical folks. We talked to them, and they basically said to use the PVC pipe they wanted. My husband wasn’t convinced.

When Travis and he were down in the basement taking measurements and talking details, they talked about the chimney. They have agreed that the stainless steel chimney should be fine for the new system, and that they don’t need to run the PVC pipe. This will save Travis a LOT of time and labor, and should save US some money.

We had agreed that we would do what Travis wanted to do, since HE was the one who was doing the installing, HE was the one who had experience with this new unit, and HE would be the one we would call about any problems.

Since Travis is fine with this, it’s a win/win for everyone. :0)

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November 27, 2023 · 12:00 pm

CyberMonday 11-27-2023

cutigers- @cutigs1 on X

We just got back from taking out trash down, getting our mail and making a grocery run to Walmart. I’m exhausted.

We had TWO Black Fridays this year and NOW it’s CyberMonday, and the crowds are already fearful. In Greenwood. Arkansas. An extremely small town in the middle of the River Valley, ‘small, sweet, but nowhere’ U.S.A. I can only imagine what it’s like in big cities.

I always make a point of either making the Christmas presents I give or shopping the whole year, buying something for someone when I find it and then putting it away until Christmas. This is so I don’t have to fight the crowds. Nothing kills my Christmas spirit more than lots of aggressive folks pushing and shoving their way through shops, stores, parking lots, and streets between me and where I’m trying to go.

Fighting our way through today – just to replenish our groceries – reminded me that I really enjoy people AT A DISTANCE rather than in large menacing groups. We just put our groceries away and are resting before putting our lunch together.

Happy CyberMonday to YOU, too.

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November 20, 2023 · 11:40 am

Monday 11-20-2023

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We got up and left this morning – in the cooler, rainy weather we’re having – immediately after feeding animals to get lab work done for our 6 month routine doctor appointment Wednesday afternoon. We like to treat ourselves to a Dari Restaurant breakfast afterwards.

They called us back to the lab part of the clinic, but then told us, after taking some of my blood, that we weren’t due for any more lab tests. I explained that it had been six months since we last saw the doctor and that we ALWAYS got fresh lab work done so that she could see how we were doing and could make recommendations for what we should do until we saw her again. They checked the records again and said it was ‘too soon’ for our lab tests. I was too shocked to ask when we WERE due for the tests, and we left.

We went ahead and enjoyed our breakfast out, but I’m still at a loss. If we don’t have the test results for the doc, all we can tell HER is that we’re still old. All she can tell US is that we seem to still be alive, and then give us another appointment.

It seems like there is a lack of communication somewhere. With my luck, our doc will want us to get lab work some other day after Thanksgiving, and my husband will probably get ugly about having to go to the doc 3 times…

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