You could almost watch the poplar leaves pop out today. After some very nice, very warm weather spring has busted out all over. I drove to Keene today and there were teeny tiny but green leaves and some shad was in bloom. Very exciting! I heard a loon the other day. Very exciting! My daffodils are blooming like crazy. Very exciting! Goldfinches are bright yellow and at my feeder. Very exciting!
Oh I'm so easily entertained. But really this spring stuff is very exciting to me. I realize that it's almost May (very exciting) but still it just feels as if it's been a long, long time coming.
I had a good week but spent a fortune on my car. Spent much of Friday at the car place having my winter tires switched out, oil changed and brakes fixed. What a relief that was, the brakes were making an incredible and embarrassing noise.
Today I went to neighborhood yard sale in Upper Jay and found a grand wicker rocking chair for the boat house porch for $25. Very pleased with myself, I motored on to Keene to have coffee and a nice visit with Julie. Home after that, then to the boat house to drop off the chair--there I realized that I left the cushion to the chair on the ground in Upper Jay. duh. Oh was I pissed at myself. Back to UJ I drove and the nice woman had put my cushion aside so it was still there. On the way home from that trip I stopped at another sale and bought a perfectly respectable $10 dresser (50% off), which is now in my living room waiting to be filled with...oh whatever things I need places to hide. It wasn't easy getting it into the house but I'm proud to have managed that. Next I need to empty the dresser upstairs and bring it to my bedroom to replace the bookcase I store my clothes in. Not attractive, a bookcase full of clothes. I have 4 dressers upstairs and another in my bedroom already. Does this mean I collect dressers?
I went to the gym most days this week, but didn't go yesterday or today. Carol is out of town and apparently I'm incapable of going by myself. My goal=going there tomorrow morning. Since I have no other plans (aside from the Brousseau visit at noon) for the day I think I can manage it.
Saturday, April 29, 2017
Wednesday, April 26, 2017
Cleaning day
It's been raining for 3 days but now it's clearing a bit and warmer (64) so I have the front door wide open and ahhhhhh spring air! I have on patch of daffodils blooming with a lot, no, really a LOT more to come.
I had a good weekend, spent nice time with Julie on Saturday, then had a busy Sunday. Went to the gym, went to P&J's, then had a very nice visit with Fred at his camp. Boy it was good to be there with him. Book group was that night, I made delicious scalloped potatoes but am a fool and filled the casserole too full so now I have cream and potato juice all over the bottom of the oven. What a doofus I am. Anyway book group was nice but Marylou gave us too much chocolate and I ate like a pig. I froze some of the chocolate, hoping what? that I'd forget about it and never eat it? No, that won't happen.
Monday was Windshield Day and Mr. Fix-it came in the afternoon. For some reason I got hysterical while waiting for him (he was 2 hours late but what difference does that make?). I do not, do NOT like having people come work on my house. Anyway he was fine and I now have the cleanest best windshield in Hawkeye. Bad brakes on the damn car, but a clear windshield. I went to Plattsburgh yesterday, ran errands, got groceries (at Hannaford, Joe), and had lunch with Julie. The brakes are grinding like crazy so I went to the car place but they couldn't fix them yesterday--I have an appointment with them Friday to switch my tires anyway, so I'm grounding the car until then. It freaks me out to drive it like this so I skipped the gym this morning. Tomorrow Carol will come here and we'll either walk around Hawkeye or she'll drive us to the gym.
So what did I do this morning? I got up at 5:30, waited until 7:15 to call my mother, had a nice long talk with her, then slept for nearly 2 hours. I do enjoy a good nap. Anyway, I'm slowly cleaning the living room, bathroom and kitchen now, have dusted and relieved the floor of its dog hair burden. Still have to vacuum the rug. Oh how I hate to vacuum.
I got some of Tess' pills yesterday but of course they didn't have the full number I need for a week so I'll have to go back for more. How is she? I think she's marginally better but that could just be wishful thinking and fantasy on my part. She's old and both she and I are tired of her hacking. But she's a sweet thing.
Sunday I tried to watch the horrible and stupid TV movie about the prison breakout of 2015--it was mostly about the woman who helped the inmates escape and boy oh boy was it a bad show. I didn't watch the whole show.
Linda called last night and we talked and talked. It's hard to believe that in 3 weeks the neighborhood will be buzzing. MAY is coming! Amazing.
Yesterday was my brother's birthday. How old would he be? Does it matter? He died and we all miss him terribly.
OK, back to work. My latest music crush is Elvis Costello so I'll crank him up and finish the downstairs. Except for the bedroom, that's just too big a project to start.
I had a good weekend, spent nice time with Julie on Saturday, then had a busy Sunday. Went to the gym, went to P&J's, then had a very nice visit with Fred at his camp. Boy it was good to be there with him. Book group was that night, I made delicious scalloped potatoes but am a fool and filled the casserole too full so now I have cream and potato juice all over the bottom of the oven. What a doofus I am. Anyway book group was nice but Marylou gave us too much chocolate and I ate like a pig. I froze some of the chocolate, hoping what? that I'd forget about it and never eat it? No, that won't happen.
Monday was Windshield Day and Mr. Fix-it came in the afternoon. For some reason I got hysterical while waiting for him (he was 2 hours late but what difference does that make?). I do not, do NOT like having people come work on my house. Anyway he was fine and I now have the cleanest best windshield in Hawkeye. Bad brakes on the damn car, but a clear windshield. I went to Plattsburgh yesterday, ran errands, got groceries (at Hannaford, Joe), and had lunch with Julie. The brakes are grinding like crazy so I went to the car place but they couldn't fix them yesterday--I have an appointment with them Friday to switch my tires anyway, so I'm grounding the car until then. It freaks me out to drive it like this so I skipped the gym this morning. Tomorrow Carol will come here and we'll either walk around Hawkeye or she'll drive us to the gym.
So what did I do this morning? I got up at 5:30, waited until 7:15 to call my mother, had a nice long talk with her, then slept for nearly 2 hours. I do enjoy a good nap. Anyway, I'm slowly cleaning the living room, bathroom and kitchen now, have dusted and relieved the floor of its dog hair burden. Still have to vacuum the rug. Oh how I hate to vacuum.
I got some of Tess' pills yesterday but of course they didn't have the full number I need for a week so I'll have to go back for more. How is she? I think she's marginally better but that could just be wishful thinking and fantasy on my part. She's old and both she and I are tired of her hacking. But she's a sweet thing.
Sunday I tried to watch the horrible and stupid TV movie about the prison breakout of 2015--it was mostly about the woman who helped the inmates escape and boy oh boy was it a bad show. I didn't watch the whole show.
Linda called last night and we talked and talked. It's hard to believe that in 3 weeks the neighborhood will be buzzing. MAY is coming! Amazing.
Yesterday was my brother's birthday. How old would he be? Does it matter? He died and we all miss him terribly.
OK, back to work. My latest music crush is Elvis Costello so I'll crank him up and finish the downstairs. Except for the bedroom, that's just too big a project to start.
Friday, April 21, 2017
What happened to spring?
OK, so it's not snowing, and it's above freezing but really, what's up with this weather? It's rainy and in the 40's every day, which isn't really miserable but it's pretty close. I long to see sunshine! Tomorrow is predicted to be almost better than today, Sunday for sure is supposed to be warmer and maybe even sunny.
Tomorrow morning I'll meet Carol at the gym at 8:15, meet Julie for coffee at 9:30 in Keene, then at some point take my garbage to the dump. Oh, first I'll call my mother in the early morning. OMG that's 4 things in one day. We'll see if I can really pull it off.
Monday I'm supposed to get my new windshield. A passing truck sent a rock/stone flying into my windshield on my way to RI and now the crack has spread two-thirds of the way across the windshield. I have visions of the window breaking in half, flying into the car and decapitating me as I drive merrily along listening to Elvis Costello. No, I've been assured this will not happen, they don't call it safety glass because it's dangerous. Oh I just don't know.
Tess is not doing well and will soon start her anti-fungal med. once again. I talked to the vet this afternoon and he's phoning in a prescription which I'll drive to Plattsburgh to pick up. But probably not until Tuesday. Oh the poor dog is coughing sooooo much. Then she looks at me. We don't know what they're saying, our animals, but is she pissed off because I haven't solved her problem yet? or is she sorry to be making such horrible sounds? or is there something going on that I can't even imagine-- I don't know what to think. I'm really tired of listening to her all day and all night but I feel so bad for her, so very very bad for her. This is a dangerous fungal infection, blastomycosis, and the treatment is expensive and also dangerous. Liver failure. Loss of appetite. Inability to eat. Blood tests. It just goes on and on.
My daffodils are up but they're stalled at about 4" high. Who can blame them?
Tomorrow morning I'll meet Carol at the gym at 8:15, meet Julie for coffee at 9:30 in Keene, then at some point take my garbage to the dump. Oh, first I'll call my mother in the early morning. OMG that's 4 things in one day. We'll see if I can really pull it off.
Monday I'm supposed to get my new windshield. A passing truck sent a rock/stone flying into my windshield on my way to RI and now the crack has spread two-thirds of the way across the windshield. I have visions of the window breaking in half, flying into the car and decapitating me as I drive merrily along listening to Elvis Costello. No, I've been assured this will not happen, they don't call it safety glass because it's dangerous. Oh I just don't know.
Tess is not doing well and will soon start her anti-fungal med. once again. I talked to the vet this afternoon and he's phoning in a prescription which I'll drive to Plattsburgh to pick up. But probably not until Tuesday. Oh the poor dog is coughing sooooo much. Then she looks at me. We don't know what they're saying, our animals, but is she pissed off because I haven't solved her problem yet? or is she sorry to be making such horrible sounds? or is there something going on that I can't even imagine-- I don't know what to think. I'm really tired of listening to her all day and all night but I feel so bad for her, so very very bad for her. This is a dangerous fungal infection, blastomycosis, and the treatment is expensive and also dangerous. Liver failure. Loss of appetite. Inability to eat. Blood tests. It just goes on and on.
My daffodils are up but they're stalled at about 4" high. Who can blame them?
Tuesday, April 18, 2017
Easter came, Easter went
Just home from Little Rhody, went there on Thursday and drove home this morning. Had an easy trip home, trip driving there wasn't so sweet--my windshield was hit with a rock and how has a big crack in it. When I checked my banking from RI I found that someone had charged a bunch of stuff from online dating sites to my account. Fortunately my bank KNOWS I have no need of such help so denied the charges. Unfortunately they also canceled my debit card and are sending me a new one with a different number. I'll have to update online accounts as I think of them. Oh well whatever happens happens. The irony of someone cheating on a Christian online dating site is not lost on me.
We had a happy time visiting, Mark, Liza and I. Easter was a good day, we had our ceremonial lox and bagels breakfast (huge) then Mark & I went to the beach with Treasure for a nice long walk in the fog. We had a lamb dinner at the end of a nice day. We dyed eggs on Saturday--
(there are only 11 because one was too cracked to dye)
It was a pretty quiet visit, a couple of trips to town, mostly a lot of reading and visiting and resting.
Tess is not great, she's still coughing. I thought she was better but maybe the trip home was hard on her because she's been coughing a lot since we got home. I talked to the vet--Tess has lost her appetite, which is upsetting. The vet recommended we stop her med., which is fine with me because it's getting harder to get her to eat the pills. Oh dear. I'm not feeling optimistic about this.
Treasure is exhausted and passed out cold on the living room floor.
The ice is out of Silver Lake. I don't know when that happened but it happened while I was away.
The fog was thick at the beach in RI.
The dogs exhausted themselves playing with the Easter toys.
We had a happy time visiting, Mark, Liza and I. Easter was a good day, we had our ceremonial lox and bagels breakfast (huge) then Mark & I went to the beach with Treasure for a nice long walk in the fog. We had a lamb dinner at the end of a nice day. We dyed eggs on Saturday--
It was a pretty quiet visit, a couple of trips to town, mostly a lot of reading and visiting and resting.
Tess is not great, she's still coughing. I thought she was better but maybe the trip home was hard on her because she's been coughing a lot since we got home. I talked to the vet--Tess has lost her appetite, which is upsetting. The vet recommended we stop her med., which is fine with me because it's getting harder to get her to eat the pills. Oh dear. I'm not feeling optimistic about this.
Treasure is exhausted and passed out cold on the living room floor.
The ice is out of Silver Lake. I don't know when that happened but it happened while I was away.
The fog was thick at the beach in RI.
The dogs exhausted themselves playing with the Easter toys.
Tuesday, April 11, 2017
Spring has arrived
It was 70 yesterday, 67 right now and some of my daffodils are up (though only a few inches). I even have a few crocuses showing (but no blooms yet). There's still snow but there is also bare ground in spots and the driveway is muddy but not sloppy. I drive to the house once in a while and am very proud of the lack of ruts this year. I'm not usually so careful.
Tess has been maybe a little better but she's still hacking away. This is the 4th day of her meds and I had a conversation with the vet last night--he said it could take a week before a dramatic change would be seen. Oh boy I hope he's right. Today Tess seems to be hacking a little less but she's still sounding too human in her coughing. She's hard to have in the bedroom at night, I wake up several times to her noises and she seems to be worse in the night. She's a trooper, though, and is very perky and active. We walked to the mailbox the other day, which is nearly a mile and she went along but oh my goodness is she ever slow.
I went to the gym Sat., Sunday and yesterday but we skipped today. Tomorrow we meet at 6:15. We agreed that soon we have to pick up the pace, increase speed and/or incline. I'm winded at my present pace but still able to talk fairly easily. I've lost 14 pounds, coming along, coming along.
I had a fairly uneventful weekend, saw the neighbors on Sunday. Had to go to Plattsburgh too many times last week. Went yesterday to have lunch with Barb and deliver her Easter basket. I made 2 baskets handily and was pleased to find that I enjoyed the weaving and that the baskets turned out well. I'd make more but what for? I may weave a few to have on hand, I don't know.
Going to Plattsburgh tomorrow to pick up more meds for Tess and have lunch with Julie. She's returning from DC today so we can compare notes on our travels.
Thursday I drive to RI for my Easter visit. I'm looking forward to being there. We'll do our usual visiting and maybe hit the beach. It's pansy time in southern New England so I'm hoping we get to buy some. It feels early for pansies here but I think we're past the worst of hard frosts so they should be all right on my deck. Color! Flowers! I didn't plant any seeds this year, deciding to wait until the ground thaws and direct sow the seeds.
Treasure is just fine. I try to give her lots of attention and affection to make up for the extra time spent with Tess and worrying about Tess. Dogs don't measure how much time you spend with the others, I know that.
Tess has been maybe a little better but she's still hacking away. This is the 4th day of her meds and I had a conversation with the vet last night--he said it could take a week before a dramatic change would be seen. Oh boy I hope he's right. Today Tess seems to be hacking a little less but she's still sounding too human in her coughing. She's hard to have in the bedroom at night, I wake up several times to her noises and she seems to be worse in the night. She's a trooper, though, and is very perky and active. We walked to the mailbox the other day, which is nearly a mile and she went along but oh my goodness is she ever slow.
I went to the gym Sat., Sunday and yesterday but we skipped today. Tomorrow we meet at 6:15. We agreed that soon we have to pick up the pace, increase speed and/or incline. I'm winded at my present pace but still able to talk fairly easily. I've lost 14 pounds, coming along, coming along.
I had a fairly uneventful weekend, saw the neighbors on Sunday. Had to go to Plattsburgh too many times last week. Went yesterday to have lunch with Barb and deliver her Easter basket. I made 2 baskets handily and was pleased to find that I enjoyed the weaving and that the baskets turned out well. I'd make more but what for? I may weave a few to have on hand, I don't know.
Going to Plattsburgh tomorrow to pick up more meds for Tess and have lunch with Julie. She's returning from DC today so we can compare notes on our travels.
Thursday I drive to RI for my Easter visit. I'm looking forward to being there. We'll do our usual visiting and maybe hit the beach. It's pansy time in southern New England so I'm hoping we get to buy some. It feels early for pansies here but I think we're past the worst of hard frosts so they should be all right on my deck. Color! Flowers! I didn't plant any seeds this year, deciding to wait until the ground thaws and direct sow the seeds.
Treasure is just fine. I try to give her lots of attention and affection to make up for the extra time spent with Tess and worrying about Tess. Dogs don't measure how much time you spend with the others, I know that.
Friday, April 07, 2017
Fungus dog
Tess' test came back positive, a little ambiguous but positive so she's taking an anti-fungal med. as of today. The vet, who is wonderful called last night with the results of the urinalysis and then called in the prescription to the drug store I use in Plattsburgh. This morning I went to the pharmacy and got the 10 pills, a 5-day supply for $150. Honestly, America is a wonderful place but there are things about it that are just unacceptable. The vet called me this afternoon and told me how to order the same drug from a Canadian firm for 1/7th the price. Now we'll see how she responds to this med. I sure hope it works, I feel so sorry for the poor girl. She hacks and coughs and sputters so much, then looks at me with such a sorry look in her eyes. I have faith in this vet so I have hope that Tess will be OK. If left untreated blastomycosis can be fatal. Does this treatment make sense for a 14-year-old dog? Well now that I know how to get the drug at a lower price, yes I think it does.
Yesterday I went to Plattsburgh, too just to get a few things. I made a couple of baskets this week (!) and needed some supplies to finish them. Both baskets turned out well but they are simple designs. I don't seem to be able to do anything fancy and I don't seem to remember how to shape baskets except in squares and rectangles. At any rate I really did enjoy making these baskets and it was nice to be good at it.
Skipped the gym this morning but will meet Carol there tomorrow morning. Let's get back to the routine! We skipped Monday this week, too. I do know that I can go there alone, duh, but we have a good time there together.
It's snowing right now. Been spitting all day and my house is so no-warm. I can't seem to get my fires hot lately and boy is that frustrating. We may get a few inches of snow overnight tonight, then Sunday is supposed to maybe, just maybe be sunny and 50. Right now it's 37 and gray. Been gray all week.
Yesterday I went to Plattsburgh, too just to get a few things. I made a couple of baskets this week (!) and needed some supplies to finish them. Both baskets turned out well but they are simple designs. I don't seem to be able to do anything fancy and I don't seem to remember how to shape baskets except in squares and rectangles. At any rate I really did enjoy making these baskets and it was nice to be good at it.
Skipped the gym this morning but will meet Carol there tomorrow morning. Let's get back to the routine! We skipped Monday this week, too. I do know that I can go there alone, duh, but we have a good time there together.
It's snowing right now. Been spitting all day and my house is so no-warm. I can't seem to get my fires hot lately and boy is that frustrating. We may get a few inches of snow overnight tonight, then Sunday is supposed to maybe, just maybe be sunny and 50. Right now it's 37 and gray. Been gray all week.
Tuesday, April 04, 2017
D.C. travelogue
"when doing the dishes is the highlight of your day you have to laugh"
So says my friend Carol. That's because doing the dishes in hot water WAS the highlight of my day. Because the water came out of my own faucet. yes, it's true, I have indoor plumbing again. I turned on the pump tonight and it came up to pressure just the way it was supposed to. Boy was I relieved, I was worried that the frozen line (if that's what it was) had burst somewhere between the house and the well. I like to think I'm an optimist but sometimes I just feel the worst will happen. Anyway it's all good. I just took a shower in my very own shower, first time in more than 3 weeks. So now I'm back to what passes for normal at 58OHR.
I'm still going to the gym in the morning, this week we meet at 6 a.m. because of my friend's work schedule. That means I'm up at 5 and out of the house by 5:30. This morning that meant walking down the driveway. in the mud. in the rain. in the dark. Oh I was thrilled. But I did it--we agree that our dedication to treadmills is mostly due to our allegiance to each other and our promises of showing up. Whatever works, and this works very well.
I made a basket this week, not something I do often any more. It's an Easter basket for my friend's grandchild and I'm quite pleased with how it turned out. It only took 2 hours to make, the large baskets tend to take less time because there's less weaving involved if you use big weavers. I never used to time myself making baskets but I was curious yesterday so kept track. Will I make more baskets? I was tempted to make another one yesterday but decided not to.
Tess is still hacking and a mess. She's good during the day but nights are worse. It's hard to get a good night's sleep with her coughing and hacking so much. I shouldn't complain, I feel really sorry for the poor dear. I did finally collect enough urine for a sample, which I delivered to the vet on Saturday. They had to mail it out (postage included in the $180 charge) so I won't hear the results until the end of the week apparently. I just feel bad for Tess, she's tired of this. (so am I, but then I'm not the one with the problem)
Next week I head to RI for an Easter visit. I'll get pansies, that will be nice.
I'm still going to the gym in the morning, this week we meet at 6 a.m. because of my friend's work schedule. That means I'm up at 5 and out of the house by 5:30. This morning that meant walking down the driveway. in the mud. in the rain. in the dark. Oh I was thrilled. But I did it--we agree that our dedication to treadmills is mostly due to our allegiance to each other and our promises of showing up. Whatever works, and this works very well.
I made a basket this week, not something I do often any more. It's an Easter basket for my friend's grandchild and I'm quite pleased with how it turned out. It only took 2 hours to make, the large baskets tend to take less time because there's less weaving involved if you use big weavers. I never used to time myself making baskets but I was curious yesterday so kept track. Will I make more baskets? I was tempted to make another one yesterday but decided not to.
Tess is still hacking and a mess. She's good during the day but nights are worse. It's hard to get a good night's sleep with her coughing and hacking so much. I shouldn't complain, I feel really sorry for the poor dear. I did finally collect enough urine for a sample, which I delivered to the vet on Saturday. They had to mail it out (postage included in the $180 charge) so I won't hear the results until the end of the week apparently. I just feel bad for Tess, she's tired of this. (so am I, but then I'm not the one with the problem)
Next week I head to RI for an Easter visit. I'll get pansies, that will be nice.
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