Company
We had company this morning and it was so unexpected as how the day went. By mid afternoon when the company left, I was ready to sit down and take it easy.
Thanks be to God for such good days.
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Noreen
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Noreen
God’s Grace
Each morning I pray to live in God’s grace. With my impatient nature, I need it throughout the day. Dennis can’t read my mind in regard to what I may need assist in or on. Choose my words and tone carefully and all will work out to His glory. Tough, but doable.
My gosh, having it feel like 18 degrees this morning, I did walk the drive and the patios for a brisk intake of fresh air if only long enough to take in our acre and front yard looking great after the haircut it had gotten yesterday. Well done . . . older ones on Stauffer Avenue. The winds were enough to make me walk a bit faster with my companion cane.
I was content giving the kitchen and bathroom some TLC. Get the local effort done before going to the grocery store. I had my grocery list ready to go and then I looked in the freshly-cleaned bathroom mirror. I have a lot of hair, but they are fine and hard to control on a quiet day, let alone a windy day. I brushed as best I could and was going to apply a bit of hair spray. Fingers on the left hand couldn’t budge the ignition button let alone hold the can. The right hand was in charge of spraying all around the head. The right side of my head is like a helmet. Let me just say the hair of the eyebrow on the left side of my head can take on hurricane force winds and not budge, while the actual hair on my head on that side didn’t get any spray at all. That’s okay, the grocery store still took my money regardless of the new hairstyle I was sporting.
It is the smallest of items that I realize were taken for granted. Yes, pushing the button on spray cans is right up there with the wire twists on a loaf of bread.
Let’s hear it for a good day!
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Noreen
Tag Team 101
Even with the wind from the northwest, I could hear our Sear’s rider mower in the far north portion of our acre this early forenoon. It drove home the point that Dennis was in the mowing mood. First time for the 2021 year. As spring has taken its time being fully on board, every height of grass could be seen in an uneven patch of green. When I took a closer look, my push mower was sitting by the garage door. After lunch Dennis proposed a tag team event on the front lawn and also the grass on the north side of the house . . . which is minimal.
Dennis and I would each take a round and shut the mower off. It may have taken us longer for the 25′ x 25′ front lawn than the remaining acre. The time did not matter as neither one of us felt fatigued. It was good PT. I sat on the patio as Dennis used the Cub-Lo-Boy to finish our far yard up and also do neighbor Edna’s yard. Edna just had her 92nd birthday.
We had waited a long time for such a perfect day to enjoy being outside. Spring came slowly and today hit all the marks. Tag Team 101 nailed it! Sweet.
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Noreen
Self Satisfaction
I can’t put a price on self satisfaction. Doing for myself is better than any pill or prescription. Once the three living room windows had been freshened up, complete with a changeout of valences, I knew the rest of the living room needed a once-over.
Out came my small vac off of the attic steps. Dennis was on hand to move all the furniture into the center of the room and I could work at my own pace. With a bag of various attachments, the rest of the day fell into place. I don’t mind taking multiple breaks. It is a treat knowing that I can mange my home’s needs. I don’t have any problem asking for help in reaching when it takes both arms. The left arm is gaining strength and the left hand fingers have come a long way being team players. Sweet!
Dennis took over to vac out the lint trap in the clothes dryer inside as well as on the outside of the house. Damp lint can really stick to surfaces. I can attest to how hot the next load brings the temp of the clothes to. Warding off a dryer fire . . . got it done.
I have the remains of last night’s oven dish out of the refrigerator so we can each decide how much to microwave for supper.
Saturday nights I enjoy several mystery shows on PBS. After my shower, the challenge will be not checking my eyelids for cracks, aka: napping. I had a great workout today. Who knows what tomorrow will bring!
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Noreen
The Week Flew
Even with sub-par spring weather, time does not stand still. I had nothing on my plate while Dennis was on the docket for an eye injection at the clinic here in town.
For cool temps an oven meal seemed to be what was the best. I took out a packet of frozen white chicken meat that was pared out from a rotisserie chicken we had enjoyed last week. I like to sneak in veggies that are not on Dennis’ favorite list. Today I quartered frozen Brussel Sprouts to add to the pasta, chicken and Alfredo sauce. It will be enjoyed this evening and perhaps a few more. We also threw in some cubed cream cheese while the pasta was hot. It puts such a great coating onto the pasta.
My plan for the afternoon was to tackle one of the three living room windows. Not to do the exterior tip in job as Dennis likes to wash off the outside of winter’s dirt storms. The forever window screens can hold a huge amount of dirt. One window a day is enough. We have a great kitchen stool with just enough height to get the curtain and the rod onto the brackets.
Not to worry, all prescribed exercise moves were fulfilled today. A good feeling.
My hope is that the weekend can be a strong-end for every one.
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Noreen
Sweet Life on Stauffer
Life is quite sweet. Oh Yes! It can be quite different each day but we at least have the day.
PT is going well. All is working within this ole body . . . just not as smoothly as I would like. Just not with the strength that I would like. Do you get it? I am an impatient person. Dah! I have all the tools I need to work on recovery. Next week, there are no appointments with me for PT. I will have this time to do whatever I can, however often I can to build and restore functionality to the Me I want to be. The remaining schedule for the week after next is in place, ready for me to return for check in.
Yup, life is sweet. I can do all I did before, perhaps just a bit differently and in a different time-line.
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Noreen
The Real World
Each day the ultimate is that we awake and have a fairly positive attitude about what the day may bring. Sometimes the real world is determined to have its way with us and there is no trying to sugar coat it.
Last night when I went to bed, I thought were it not for the Foley catheter that has to be within three feet of my right thigh, where it is attached, I could roll over and lay on my right side during the night. As it were, where the catheter hangs, going over my left leg, I need to stay on my left side during the night. Hmm.
Yup . . . I had indeed rolled over onto my right side during my sleep and the catheter coupling had detached from stretching it beyond what it could. I knew when last I had awoke at 4 a.m. all was good. Whatever I had voided sometime from four until seven . . . I was in a wet bed. It will surely get you up and at ’em in a hurry.
By noon all was back to normal . . . me and the bed. Angst over with. I am sure tonight, in my slumber, my subconscious will have me sleeping like a mummy.
In recovery that brings unusual circumstances, like wearing a catheter while getting physical strength back from a stroke . . . life happens and it is dealt with. Ever so humble, it is all doable. There was more good during the day that ensued than not.
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Noreen
Whew
PT was a good session today. I came home with my arms feeling like noodles. Lots of homework to do before Thursday to work on the left bi-cep for strength.
Whatever isn’t nailed down is blowing in the cold northwest wind. The clouds are purple and look like they are about to burst with some of the snow that the north part of the state is getting.
Megan took down our curtains in the living room at Easter. Dennis has commented several times it feels empty and almost echo’s. Last night I spent some time in one of the closets in the basement. As Spring cleaning is done on the living room windows, we will have curtains ready to be laundered and put up. We don’t want Spring to come without the ritual of Spring cleaning. Slow and steady for most things, but . . . not the bi-cep.
We have some Fairfax red tulips about to open, I hope the cold temps tonight will be short-lived. Any glimmer of Spring gives me hope, and . . . these days hope keeps me going.
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Noreen
A Flurry?
I think I saw what may have been a lone flurry. It sure felt chilly enough for it.
In March, as I was in the hospital, Dennis was home alone. Dennis lost his wallet. He revisited all the places he had been in town and also checked the police department. Nothing. Somehow his wallet went through the washing machine and clothes dryer here on Stauffer Avenue. As Dennis is apt to leave clothes in the clothes drier until there is a next load . . . his wallet was lost until I got home from the hospital. The only things that didn’t make it out intact were the Medicare card and the Social Security Card.
Today we decided to drive to Fairmont and visit the Social Security Office and get the duplicate work started. Though the office hours began at nine, it was locked up tight. All the windows, including the glass doors were papered with printed info of various items. Dennis noticed off to one side a telephone number to call. All questions were to be answered by listening to prompts. We finally got “a live one.” We can expect the Medicare card in 3-4 days but we need to get the duplicate Social Security card by going online. WTF!
The trip was not in vane as there was a Fairway Grocery store in the same strip mall.
We are happy to have the next step in the wallet renewal and this afternoon Dennis is getting the push mower tricked out, complete with jacket and gloves on. Tomorrow is to be cooler yet. We might still catch a flurry.
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Noreen
Slow Day
Stauffer Avenue is having a slow Sunday. I read until the eyes got heavy and then moved into a softer chair and was lulled into closing my eyes while listening to a television show Dennis had on.
With the wind whistling in our favorite evergreen it wasn’t difficult to shut down for a bit. Monday brings the monthly calendar to the center of the kitchen counter so as to not have us miss appointments.
I hope everyone has had a chance to do what they wanted to today as well as being who they wanted to be today. It’s called the balance in life that makes each day special.