We were up early this morning, at 6:30 a.m., so I could get ready to take Mother to the clinic for a fasting blood work test. She hadn't eaten anything since before midnight last night, so she was hungry by the time we arrived at the clinic at 8:30.
We were fortunate to find a handicap parking space in front of the clinic, but things sort of went downhill from there. We were called back pretty promptly, and the nurse weighed Mother and took her blood pressure, and said her pressure was really high. Come to find out that despite my advise to Mother yesterday that she take her blood pressure medicines this morning, she did not. I guess I should have called her on the intercom this morning to remind her to do so.
Anyway, once the nurse completed her tasks, she announced that the doctor was at the hospital dealing with an emergency, but she should be back at the clinic presently. She was not. Mother had been complaining of hunger since we arrived at the clinic, so when the nurse stopped by again, I told her that Mother really needed to eat or risk crumbling.
The nurse escorted us to the lab for the blood work. However, the nurse there said she first needed a urine specimen from Mother. This required us to sit and wait while another patient finished with the bathroom. In the meantime, the nurse whisked someone else to the lab, which required us to wait some more until she could take Mother to the bathroom and instruct her in what to do. I accompanied her.
Finally, the nurse did the blood work, and we left the clinic to find breakfast for Mother. The nurse had advised us to let the receptionist up front know when we returned, so that the doctor could see her promptly.
I took Mother to a fast food restaurant for an egg and muffin breakfast with coffee. Mother missed her coffee almost as much as her breakfast this morning. As the nurse told her, though, she could have had coffee at home, as long as she didn't add sugar or cream.
A little while later, with Mother well fortified, we returned to the clinic. As promised, we didn't have to wait long before seeing the doctor. The doctor was very apologetic about her tardiness, and we assured her we understood and hoped her patient would recover. The doctor commented that she didn't think that would be the case, as he or she had sought medical help too late. Part of the reason she was so late, she explained, was that she felt obligated to stay and talk with each family member as they arrived to be with their loved one.
The doctor wanted to know if Mother was still taking her medicines as prescribed, and Mother said yes, and showed her the bottles she'd brought along.
One of Mother's prescriptions was missing, and the doctor asked about it. Seems that while she was taking her meds, or filling her pill carrier, or something, her cat knocked the bottles off the coffee table, and they rolled under the couch.
Mother used her cane to pull the bottles out, but apparently missed one, and then didn't realize she hadn't been taking her full complement of prescriptions for the past week or so.
Since we don't know where that bottle is (even after Hubbie searched for it later) the doctor ordered another prescription for her.
At last, we were ready to come home. It was 11 a.m. by this time. Later, after lunch, Hubbie and I ran errands...to the bank, to the pharmacy, to the farmer's market, and then to the WDCS for groceries.
At home, Mother had boiled eggs, and cut up apples, onions, celery, and pickles for for an egg salad and tuna salad sandwich supper.
Before supper, we watched the Boston Pops July fourth show that I'd recorded on DVR, but that we hadn't had time to watch until today.
After supper, Mother went home, and Hubbie and I went back to the WDCS for bread and bread rounds, and to another grocery store for cottage cheese, all of which I'd forgotten to put on my grocery list earlier. It's just been that kind of day.
Back home, Hubbie and I watched the 2008 movie, "Surveillance," starring Julia Ormond and Bill Pullman. A couple of FBI agents investigate roadside rage killings on a remote highway, but when they question witnesses, they get three different stories. Even local police seem be suspiciously involved. The only one who appears to know the truth is a young girl traveling with her family on vacation. Surprise ending.
Friday, July 8, 2011
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Thursday, July 7
Slept really late this morning, until 8:30, but did a treadmill session and resistance exercises after breakfast.
While I was on the treadmill, the volunteer coordinator at Caring Hands Hospice called to discuss a convenient date to have a card making session at a nursing home. I called her back as soon as possible, and we finally settled on August 11, at 2 p.m.
This coordinator is replacing the previous one, who has gone on to another position with the organization. The new coordinator isn't particularly crafty, so she asked that Mother and I bring necessary card-making supplies, and help the nursing home residents with their projects.
The nursing home is about a mile and half from our house, so it's a convenient site for a session. I just hope the ladies at the home will be able to handle the project. I think I'll make things easier by packaging some kits, so all that will need to be done is putting the cards together.
By the time I showered and dressed, it was already 11 a.m. I finished the morning straightening my office, and starting a load of laundry washing.
Mother stayed home today doing some baking for the fair, and Hubbie spent most of his day outdoors, except for an hour or so he spent at the Revenue Office renewing licenses on both vehicles.
After lunch, I completed the scherenshnitte card I started yesterday, and then made a corner bookmark. Since I've now done all the paper crafts I'd intended to do, I straightened up the work area and stored some of the materials away. There's still plenty of paper, stickers, scissors, glues, etc., for the kids to work with when they visit this weekend.
After that, I finished three loads of laundry, and relaxed for a while. Later, I made a batch of bran muffins to go with leftover veggie soup from yesterday. I set aside three of the best-looking ones to be entered in the fair. My muffins have earned blue ribbons every year, so I hope they do again this year.
Later, Hubbie and I watched the 2002 movie, "Fidel," a biography about Fidel Castro, from 1949 to 2001. It's a long movie, at a little over three hours, but it does a good job of showing the man from his idealistic youth, to his love of power, to his human fallibility in life and love.
While I was on the treadmill, the volunteer coordinator at Caring Hands Hospice called to discuss a convenient date to have a card making session at a nursing home. I called her back as soon as possible, and we finally settled on August 11, at 2 p.m.
This coordinator is replacing the previous one, who has gone on to another position with the organization. The new coordinator isn't particularly crafty, so she asked that Mother and I bring necessary card-making supplies, and help the nursing home residents with their projects.
The nursing home is about a mile and half from our house, so it's a convenient site for a session. I just hope the ladies at the home will be able to handle the project. I think I'll make things easier by packaging some kits, so all that will need to be done is putting the cards together.
By the time I showered and dressed, it was already 11 a.m. I finished the morning straightening my office, and starting a load of laundry washing.
Mother stayed home today doing some baking for the fair, and Hubbie spent most of his day outdoors, except for an hour or so he spent at the Revenue Office renewing licenses on both vehicles.
After lunch, I completed the scherenshnitte card I started yesterday, and then made a corner bookmark. Since I've now done all the paper crafts I'd intended to do, I straightened up the work area and stored some of the materials away. There's still plenty of paper, stickers, scissors, glues, etc., for the kids to work with when they visit this weekend.
After that, I finished three loads of laundry, and relaxed for a while. Later, I made a batch of bran muffins to go with leftover veggie soup from yesterday. I set aside three of the best-looking ones to be entered in the fair. My muffins have earned blue ribbons every year, so I hope they do again this year.
Later, Hubbie and I watched the 2002 movie, "Fidel," a biography about Fidel Castro, from 1949 to 2001. It's a long movie, at a little over three hours, but it does a good job of showing the man from his idealistic youth, to his love of power, to his human fallibility in life and love.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Wednesday, July 6
Today is Great-Niece's birthday, Happy Birthday, Great-Niece!
We were up early this morning, around 6:30, so I could get ready to go to water aerobics after breakfast. This is the first time the pool has been open in about eight months. About 25 of us showed up for this session. The water was pleasantly warm, and it felt glorious swimming and doing aerobics in it.
Today, I learned that the husband of one member is recuperating from knee surgery that took place two weeks ago. Another lady brought her 19-year-old granddaughter with her.
The young woman is very attractive and healthy looking, but her grandmother told us that she has cystic fibrosis. This is a life-threatening disease, she said, and life expectancy in the past was only 20 or 30 years, but with better management these days, that number is now closer to 40. Before she reaches that age, it can be hoped advanced treatments will be discovered to further prolong her life.
She said that her granddaughter is required to eat a high fat, salty diet just to stay healthy, even though no matter how much she eats, she stays slender.
The other news of the day is that our leader has lost a lot of weight...I estimate about 100 pounds. She's on some sort of diet, though I'm not sure what.
We ladies spoke of many things this morning, as we caught up on each other's lives. But I was surprised that no one mentioned the stunning "not guilty" verdict brought down yesterday by the jury in the Casey Anthony case (she was on trial for the death of her two-year-old daughter, Caylee). Maybe everything that needed to be said, both pro and con, about the case and the verdict, has already been thoroughly covered on TV.
I was back home around 9:30, and ready for the day by 10:30. Mother came over, and we worked on cards, again. She made one using handmade paper, and I started quilling leaf designs for mine.
Lunch rolled around pretty quickly, and afterward, Hubbie and I ran errands...to the roadside vendor to buy a flat of blackberries; to a greeting card shop for birthday cards for Hubbie's nephews (he learned today that there will be a birthday party for the boys when we visit them in another town on Sunday); to a pharmacy to pick up a prescription; and to a new grocery store in town. The new store sells groceries at wholesale prices, plus ten percent. Today, we found grapes at 97 cents per pound, and watermelons at $1.97 each.
The sky was a bit dark when we entered the store, but we were surprised upon leaving that it was pouring rain. At home, we noticed some small limbs and lots of leaves, as well as sycamore tree bark, had blown all over the yard. The rain had slackened enough for us to make a dash for the house, but another thunderstorm cropped up a little while later. The rain from both storms was heavy for a few minutes, but stopped too soon to do much good in the gardens.
Spent the rest of the afternoon finishing my quilled leaf greeting card, and starting a scherenschnitte (paper cutting) design. I found a fairy design online that I printed and scissored. Now I need to settle on a background for the design. I'll do that tomorrow.
While I was making cards, Mother washed four quarts of blackberries for the freezer. I intended to do that myself this evening, but she was tired of making cards and wanted something else to do.
For supper tonight, we had the veggie soup Mother made yesterday, with the bread sticks Hubbie and I brought back from the Italian restaurant last week. Heated in the take-home oven bag provided by the restaurant, they tasted nice and fresh.
Mother went home afterward, and Hubbie and I watched a strange 2008 movie called, "Nature's Grave." A couple camps in the wilderness of Australia, but because they fail to respect the nature around them, they are soon besieged and attacked by the beasts the area, from lowly ants, to eagles, to snakes, to sharks of the sea.
We were up early this morning, around 6:30, so I could get ready to go to water aerobics after breakfast. This is the first time the pool has been open in about eight months. About 25 of us showed up for this session. The water was pleasantly warm, and it felt glorious swimming and doing aerobics in it.
Today, I learned that the husband of one member is recuperating from knee surgery that took place two weeks ago. Another lady brought her 19-year-old granddaughter with her.
The young woman is very attractive and healthy looking, but her grandmother told us that she has cystic fibrosis. This is a life-threatening disease, she said, and life expectancy in the past was only 20 or 30 years, but with better management these days, that number is now closer to 40. Before she reaches that age, it can be hoped advanced treatments will be discovered to further prolong her life.
She said that her granddaughter is required to eat a high fat, salty diet just to stay healthy, even though no matter how much she eats, she stays slender.
The other news of the day is that our leader has lost a lot of weight...I estimate about 100 pounds. She's on some sort of diet, though I'm not sure what.
We ladies spoke of many things this morning, as we caught up on each other's lives. But I was surprised that no one mentioned the stunning "not guilty" verdict brought down yesterday by the jury in the Casey Anthony case (she was on trial for the death of her two-year-old daughter, Caylee). Maybe everything that needed to be said, both pro and con, about the case and the verdict, has already been thoroughly covered on TV.
I was back home around 9:30, and ready for the day by 10:30. Mother came over, and we worked on cards, again. She made one using handmade paper, and I started quilling leaf designs for mine.
Lunch rolled around pretty quickly, and afterward, Hubbie and I ran errands...to the roadside vendor to buy a flat of blackberries; to a greeting card shop for birthday cards for Hubbie's nephews (he learned today that there will be a birthday party for the boys when we visit them in another town on Sunday); to a pharmacy to pick up a prescription; and to a new grocery store in town. The new store sells groceries at wholesale prices, plus ten percent. Today, we found grapes at 97 cents per pound, and watermelons at $1.97 each.
The sky was a bit dark when we entered the store, but we were surprised upon leaving that it was pouring rain. At home, we noticed some small limbs and lots of leaves, as well as sycamore tree bark, had blown all over the yard. The rain had slackened enough for us to make a dash for the house, but another thunderstorm cropped up a little while later. The rain from both storms was heavy for a few minutes, but stopped too soon to do much good in the gardens.
Spent the rest of the afternoon finishing my quilled leaf greeting card, and starting a scherenschnitte (paper cutting) design. I found a fairy design online that I printed and scissored. Now I need to settle on a background for the design. I'll do that tomorrow.
While I was making cards, Mother washed four quarts of blackberries for the freezer. I intended to do that myself this evening, but she was tired of making cards and wanted something else to do.
For supper tonight, we had the veggie soup Mother made yesterday, with the bread sticks Hubbie and I brought back from the Italian restaurant last week. Heated in the take-home oven bag provided by the restaurant, they tasted nice and fresh.
Mother went home afterward, and Hubbie and I watched a strange 2008 movie called, "Nature's Grave." A couple camps in the wilderness of Australia, but because they fail to respect the nature around them, they are soon besieged and attacked by the beasts the area, from lowly ants, to eagles, to snakes, to sharks of the sea.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Tuesday, July 5
Slept late this morning, until around 8 a.m., but did a treadmill session and weights exercises after breakfast. Mother came over while I was on the treadmill.
Before I headed to the shower, I decided to look for some homemade candy in the side-by-side refrigerator/freezer. Naturally, I couldn't find what I was looking for, so I took everything out of the freezer, and we organized it all and put it back...though I never did find the item I was looking for.
By the time we finished that task, I was ready for a shower, but a thunderstorm rolled in, so I waited for a while. The storm brought a sprinkling of rain, but not enough to even dampen the ground, much less benefit the gardens.
By the time I was able to get ready for the day, it was nearing noon. After lunch, Hubbie and I ran errands...to the bank, to a business supply store to pick up colored sheets of paper to use in greeting cards, to the Extension Services office to pick up entry tags for the fair, to two different health stores for fish oil tablets and multi-vitamins, and finally to the WDCS for groceries and other items.
Back home, I finished the embossed card I started yesterday, and then snapped photos of all the cards Mother and I have made over the past several days and uploaded them to my social network page.
This afternoon, Mother made a pot of vegetable soup, using a container of leftovers we'd accumulated for the freezer. This will be our supper for tomorrow night. Tonight, we had leftovers from last night...barbecued country ribs, with steamed new potatoes, and zucchini and yellow squashes.
Mother went home afterward, and Hubbie and I watched a 2005 movie, "Fragile," from a premium channel. A young nurse finds her new job at a rundown children's hospital unsettling when strange things begin happening.
Before I headed to the shower, I decided to look for some homemade candy in the side-by-side refrigerator/freezer. Naturally, I couldn't find what I was looking for, so I took everything out of the freezer, and we organized it all and put it back...though I never did find the item I was looking for.
By the time we finished that task, I was ready for a shower, but a thunderstorm rolled in, so I waited for a while. The storm brought a sprinkling of rain, but not enough to even dampen the ground, much less benefit the gardens.
By the time I was able to get ready for the day, it was nearing noon. After lunch, Hubbie and I ran errands...to the bank, to a business supply store to pick up colored sheets of paper to use in greeting cards, to the Extension Services office to pick up entry tags for the fair, to two different health stores for fish oil tablets and multi-vitamins, and finally to the WDCS for groceries and other items.
Back home, I finished the embossed card I started yesterday, and then snapped photos of all the cards Mother and I have made over the past several days and uploaded them to my social network page.
This afternoon, Mother made a pot of vegetable soup, using a container of leftovers we'd accumulated for the freezer. This will be our supper for tomorrow night. Tonight, we had leftovers from last night...barbecued country ribs, with steamed new potatoes, and zucchini and yellow squashes.
Mother went home afterward, and Hubbie and I watched a 2005 movie, "Fragile," from a premium channel. A young nurse finds her new job at a rundown children's hospital unsettling when strange things begin happening.
Monday, July 4, 2011
Monday July 4
Independence Day! Happy Fourth of July to everyone!
We were up this morning at our usual 7 a.m. time, and I did a treadmill session and resistance exercises after breakfast.
We had nothing special planned for this most patriotic of American holidays, so Hubbie went outdoors to clean the awning and top of the camper. Mother and I stayed in the air conditioning, of course, and worked on greeting cards again. Today, I made a thank you card, using handmade paper, and then I began an embossed card. But I haven't finished that one yet, because I needed to stop and help Mother with her projects...a screen door Christmas card, and a scrapbook page.
After lunch, Mother washed new potatoes, and cut zucchini and yellow squash into chunks, for the steamer. We planned to have barbecued country ribs with the vegetables, which I wanted to cook in an oven bag, but I discovered that we didn't have any bags. So I changed into patriotic colors, donned my American flag pin, and went to a grocery store to fetch some.
Around 3:30, we started the meal cooking, and then continued crafting for a while. The meal was delicious, served around 5 p.m. For dessert, we opted for ice cream...I topped mine with fresh blackberries, and Mother and Hubbie had caramel syrup on theirs.
Afterward, while we were putting the food away, Mother somehow lost her footing and fell flat on her back on the kitchen floor. Later, she joked that we'd challenged her yesterday to do a back flip, and she thought she'd just try it.
She was referring to an incident when our 17-year-old Shih Tzu, while trying to scratch her ear, ended up doing a back flip. Since she and Mother are essentially the same age in human years, we asked Mother if she'd like to try to do the same. She said she guessed not, since she can't scratch her ear with her foot.
Today, she nearly gave me an attack when she fell, but thank goodness she didn't break anything. Her pride was a bit hurt, and she'll probably be sore and bruised tomorrow, but otherwise she's fine.
After supper, we watched the patriotic show, "A Capitol Fourth," on PBS. Later, we went to the river to watch the fireworks. We found a great spot to park, where we could see the fireworks from the van. It was a very nice show, and afterward, we were able to beat the traffic coming home.
After a snack, we headed to bed...but it was clear that we wouldn't be sleeping for a while, because our neighbor's teenaged sons chose to shoot firecrackers well into the night.
We were up this morning at our usual 7 a.m. time, and I did a treadmill session and resistance exercises after breakfast.
We had nothing special planned for this most patriotic of American holidays, so Hubbie went outdoors to clean the awning and top of the camper. Mother and I stayed in the air conditioning, of course, and worked on greeting cards again. Today, I made a thank you card, using handmade paper, and then I began an embossed card. But I haven't finished that one yet, because I needed to stop and help Mother with her projects...a screen door Christmas card, and a scrapbook page.
After lunch, Mother washed new potatoes, and cut zucchini and yellow squash into chunks, for the steamer. We planned to have barbecued country ribs with the vegetables, which I wanted to cook in an oven bag, but I discovered that we didn't have any bags. So I changed into patriotic colors, donned my American flag pin, and went to a grocery store to fetch some.
Around 3:30, we started the meal cooking, and then continued crafting for a while. The meal was delicious, served around 5 p.m. For dessert, we opted for ice cream...I topped mine with fresh blackberries, and Mother and Hubbie had caramel syrup on theirs.
Afterward, while we were putting the food away, Mother somehow lost her footing and fell flat on her back on the kitchen floor. Later, she joked that we'd challenged her yesterday to do a back flip, and she thought she'd just try it.
She was referring to an incident when our 17-year-old Shih Tzu, while trying to scratch her ear, ended up doing a back flip. Since she and Mother are essentially the same age in human years, we asked Mother if she'd like to try to do the same. She said she guessed not, since she can't scratch her ear with her foot.
Today, she nearly gave me an attack when she fell, but thank goodness she didn't break anything. Her pride was a bit hurt, and she'll probably be sore and bruised tomorrow, but otherwise she's fine.
After supper, we watched the patriotic show, "A Capitol Fourth," on PBS. Later, we went to the river to watch the fireworks. We found a great spot to park, where we could see the fireworks from the van. It was a very nice show, and afterward, we were able to beat the traffic coming home.
After a snack, we headed to bed...but it was clear that we wouldn't be sleeping for a while, because our neighbor's teenaged sons chose to shoot firecrackers well into the night.
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Sunday, July 3
Another really hot day. Though Hubbie ventured out into the heat, Mother and I preferred to stay in our air conditioned house.
Hubbie was up at his usual 7 a.m. time this morning, but I snoozed on until nearly 8:30. I skipped my exercises this morning, so I could quickly have breakfast and get ready for the day in order to have plenty of time to work on making greeting cards.
Mother came over around 9:30 a.m., and we went to work right away. Today, I made an Easter card, a Valentine, and a Christmas card. Mother finished a Mother's Day card she began working on yesterday, and then made a Valentine.
For lunch, Mother made Swiss steak, which we had with mashed potatoes and green beans. After lunch, we finished the cards we'd started, and then cleared away the mess we'd made. Tomorrow, Mother will finish a scrapbook page, and I will make a couple of more cards...one using handmade paper, and one using embossing tools.
Before Mother went home this afternoon, we searched for dishes to use in making place settings to be entered in the fair. I think I'll center mine on a brunch theme...mixed pattern blue/pink floral China, set on a blue placemat topped with a lace doily, a China coffee pot, sugar bowl and creamer, and a white cutwork embroidery napkin. Mother will use a combination of black and white dishes and a white teapot for an afternoon tea theme.
Mother has busied herself the past week or so baking and freezing cookies, muffins, etc., for the fair. So far, the only baked goods I've made are blueberry muffins, and sugar cookies. But I do plan to make bran muffins and a coffee cake. I can't make the coffee cake, though, until the evening before I'll enter a sample of it, because I want it to be freshly baked...it doesn't freeze as well as cookies and muffins.
Later, Hubbie and I watched the 2005 Lifetime Movie Network feature, "Their Eyes are Watching God," starring Halle Berry, Reuben Santiago-Hudson, and Michael Ealy. A high-spirited young woman, living with a much older man, yearns for adventure. She encounters a dashing older man, who marries her, but then tries to smother her spirit. After 20 years of living her husband's dream, she is released to pursue another life. She marries a man many years younger than herself, but stuff happens.
Before we watched this movie, we started watching "The Men Who Stare at Goats," starring George Clooney. It's a satire that's supposed to be fall-down-laughing funny, but we didn't get the joke...we were just puzzled by it. So we ditched it.
Hubbie was up at his usual 7 a.m. time this morning, but I snoozed on until nearly 8:30. I skipped my exercises this morning, so I could quickly have breakfast and get ready for the day in order to have plenty of time to work on making greeting cards.
Mother came over around 9:30 a.m., and we went to work right away. Today, I made an Easter card, a Valentine, and a Christmas card. Mother finished a Mother's Day card she began working on yesterday, and then made a Valentine.
For lunch, Mother made Swiss steak, which we had with mashed potatoes and green beans. After lunch, we finished the cards we'd started, and then cleared away the mess we'd made. Tomorrow, Mother will finish a scrapbook page, and I will make a couple of more cards...one using handmade paper, and one using embossing tools.
Before Mother went home this afternoon, we searched for dishes to use in making place settings to be entered in the fair. I think I'll center mine on a brunch theme...mixed pattern blue/pink floral China, set on a blue placemat topped with a lace doily, a China coffee pot, sugar bowl and creamer, and a white cutwork embroidery napkin. Mother will use a combination of black and white dishes and a white teapot for an afternoon tea theme.
Mother has busied herself the past week or so baking and freezing cookies, muffins, etc., for the fair. So far, the only baked goods I've made are blueberry muffins, and sugar cookies. But I do plan to make bran muffins and a coffee cake. I can't make the coffee cake, though, until the evening before I'll enter a sample of it, because I want it to be freshly baked...it doesn't freeze as well as cookies and muffins.
Later, Hubbie and I watched the 2005 Lifetime Movie Network feature, "Their Eyes are Watching God," starring Halle Berry, Reuben Santiago-Hudson, and Michael Ealy. A high-spirited young woman, living with a much older man, yearns for adventure. She encounters a dashing older man, who marries her, but then tries to smother her spirit. After 20 years of living her husband's dream, she is released to pursue another life. She marries a man many years younger than herself, but stuff happens.
Before we watched this movie, we started watching "The Men Who Stare at Goats," starring George Clooney. It's a satire that's supposed to be fall-down-laughing funny, but we didn't get the joke...we were just puzzled by it. So we ditched it.
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