Starry night on the prairie

Had a very rough night last night.  Had more pain than I have had since I had surgery.  Thinking my foot got used to not being used and was protesting the movement I did yesterday.  I took some ibuprofen and then finally broke down and took a pain pill.  Unfortunately the pain pill didn’t help me sleep much but it did help the foot calm down enough that I got two hours of sleep.

The foot is much calmer today.  I took a nap this afternoon to catch up on some missed sleep.  I get an occasional twinge in my foot but it isn’t screaming all the time.

Ordered a new washing machine today.  It will delivered the afternoon on the day I get back to KS.

Found a place to go to physical therapy starting Monday here in OIK.  I need to get four sessions in before my Sept 4 Doctor’s appointment.  The first place I called couldn’t get me in until a week from today and didn’t accept my supplemental medical insurance.  The second place got me in Monday and accepts my insurance.

We did go out and bought groceries today.  I needed some more bandage tape as I have to wrap my foot with that stretchy medical tape.  Also got some Epson salts for my daily evening bath.  It felt so good to soak my foot last night.

Worked on some embroidery work today but other than that have done almost nothing.  One advantage to being at Jim’s house is I don’t see lots of things I wish I could be doing.  It is easier to just sit and do nothing.  I’m getting good at that!

Jim reports his hand has not been painful today.  He is to leave the splint on it for another 24 hours and then can take it off.  When we were at the grocery store strangers were commenting on the two of us having injuries.  We need to make up a good story about them I guess.

Grateful for pain pills and the relief they provide, grateful for physical therapy places, and grateful Jim’s hand is healing quickly.

What a day!  This day has had some unexpected happenings to make my birthday one to remember.

We got up early to get everything packed so we could be on the road by 9:15 to head to Wichita and my doctor’s appointment.  My guest left before 7:00 this morning and I needed to get his bedroom and bathroom cleaned so it would be ready for my house sitter.  My washing machine broke yesterday but luckily I had an extra set of sheets which fits the guest bed.

We managed to leave my house on time and arrived at the surgeon’s office a bit early.  The nurse removed my dressing and gave me wet wipes so I could clean my foot up some.  My foot is a variety of colors ranging from a deep purple to a ghoulish yellow.  It felt good to be able to clean between my toes.

The PA came in and removed the stitches and little bandages.  It is healing nicely.  She sent me for X-rays which confirmed that everything is healing great.  My boot has not been holding air and I asked them to check it.  The PA said they would replace it but the physical therapist guy didn’t seem to believe me that it was leaking.  After messing with it for about 15 minutes he finally put a new one on me although I could tell he wasn’t very happy about it.

I am now able to walk with only one crutch and can do partial weight bearing.  I can even take the boot off at night but I am not to put weight on my foot with the boot off.  I am managing to walk although uneven surfaces cause me issues and my foot is sore tonight.  I haven’t taken the boot off yet but it feels like it is swollen again.  I will try to stay off of it the rest of the evening and see if that helps.

I had to check-out and get instructions to take to a physical therapist for therapy they suggested I have.  I only have to go twice a week for two weeks.  The lady at the desk was overwhelmed and was helping another patient.  That took about 20 minutes.  She finally got to me and then struggled to be able to print the therapy instructions.  It was a bit frustrating.  The whole visit today seemed a step or two out of balance for some reason.

We finally got out of there around noon and headed to OK.  Jim had gone out to the car to get my crutches and when he was reaching into the car to get them misjudged the distance and jammed his fist.  It started swelling up on the drive home and was causing him lots of pain.  When we got home he called his doctor and was sent to urgent care for an X-ray.  Luckily he didn’t break anything but it is swollen and sore. They put a temporary splint on it that he is to wear for two or three days to help relieve the pain.

We went out for dinner.  Jim wasn’t able to eat much as he is tired and in pain.  He came home and is taking a short nap as he has choir practice to go to yet tonight.  I am going to stay here and prop my foot up and ice it and rest.  We are both tired tonight.

I appreciated all the phone calls, texts, emails and Facebook birthday wishes.  It has been a nice day outside of the injury to Jim’s hand.

OK is hot!  It was over 100 here today.  Strong City got another surprise thunderstorm last night.  The wind was rocking and rolling for a bit again last night.  I certainly welcomed the rain.

Grateful for a foot that is healing nicely, grateful for partial weight bearing and grateful Jim’s hand wasn’t broken.

My guests left around 9:15 this morning.  They were only 15 minutes behind schedule.  Not bad for having to get four teenagers up and moving.  I enjoyed their company and hope they return again sometime.  The little one had to go down to the chickens one last time to check for eggs this morning before he left.  He found one more egg to take home with him.

I went into Emporia after they left for my physical.  Had to get poked twice to give blood as the first site clotted over before the tubes were full.  My physical was a joke of sorts.  I had heard of special things that have to be done when you turn 65 and are on Medicare but my physical today was my doctor’s version of a normal physical with nothing extra.  Not sure it was a complete physical but I can check the box that I had one done.

My blood pressure was 108/60 this morning at the doctor’s office.  Not bad!  My cholesterol was only 219 which is very low for me.  Almost all the blood results were within normal levels and the two or three that were out of whack were not worrisome according to the doctor.  Looks like I will live another year or so.

Stopped at Walmart afterwards and bought groceries so I can fix dinner for tonight.  Two friends are coming over for dinner and I invited my guest that is coming in tonight to join us too.  Came home and started laundry.  I have the upstairs bedroom clean and ready to use and am doing the laundry from the bedrooms and bathrooms downstairs.  Jim is going to drive me around back and I will go in and clean the downstairs when all the laundry is done.

Tomorrow we have a free day.  It has been too hot to get much work done on the deck.  With company tonight we won’t get much done then.  If we were smart we would get up early tomorrow morning and work outside for a couple of hours and then sleep during the heat of the day.  I doubt we do that as Jim is not a morning person.  I’m not much help right now anyways.

Wednesday I have to be at the doctor in Wichita at 11:00 for my two week check up.  We will go to Stillwater after that appointment and I am spending the next two weeks there.  The house sitter is coming in Wednesday afternoon for two weeks.  I may be able to relax more there as I won’t see so many things I need to take care of while I am at his house.  So looking forward to becoming partial weight bearing after my appointment Wednesday.

I best be getting things started for dinner.  It seems to take me twice as long to do anything right now as I am not very efficient in my movements.  It is so hot out today I am glad to be able to stay inside and do things.

Grateful my physical is done for another year, grateful for positive changes in my blood test results, and grateful the bedroom is cleaned and ready to go.

Had a bit of excitement on the deck last night.  The kiddos staying here for the weekend and went out and ran back in and told me there was a snake on the deck.  We went out and checked it out.  It was a four foot long bull snake.  They are harmless although this one was hissing at us.  Jim got a rake and the snake wrapped around it and he carried it out to the back pasture.  The front yard got mowed and baled and thinking the snake lost its hiding place in the yard.

The guests are having a good time.  They sat around the fire pit last night for a couple of hours and made s’mores and watched the stars come out.  They all slept in this morning.  The girls made French toast and scrambled eggs for breakfast for everyone.  They were fun to watch cook.  They are high school age although they both look younger to me.  This afternoon the whole family went to the Prairie Preserve and did the bus tour and then went into Emporia to the disc golf store.  This evening they are in Wichita so the girls can go to a concert and the guys are playing disc golf.

Tomorrow I have a physical in Emporia at 10:00 and then have some friends coming for dinner and a guest checking in tomorrow evening.  I will have three bedrooms to clean up tomorrow and a dinner to fix.  Thankfully nothing is on the calendar for Tuesday so I can rest.  Wednesday I go back to the surgeon for a follow up visit and then will go to Stillwater for two weeks.  I found a house sitter so things should be under control here.

My foot is still healing.  I took a pain pill last night as it was cranky yesterday.  It is still a bit swollen but better than it was.  The boot is big and heavy and it is hard to elevate my foot.  I am hoping Wednesday that the doctor will give me approval to start putting a bit of weight on my foot.  I think she said something about using a crutch and sharing the weight between the crutch and my foot.  I will get the stitches out which will allow me to not have to use the cast cover when I shower and bathe.

Had a strong thunderstorm come through overnight.  It lasted several hours which is a bit unusual.  I was grateful for the rain we got as I had huge cracks in my yard.  My rain gauge is down due to the deck project so don’t know how much rain I got.  Guessing over an inch and maybe closer to two.

Grateful for pain pills when I need them, grateful for a healing foot, and grateful for the rain the prairie received.

It has been a busy couple of days.  Jim and I have gotten lots of yard work done.  The guys came to mow and bale the front yard.  I mowed the big part of the yard yesterday and today.  I had to mow the tall grass between what I normally mow and what the guys are able to bale.  It is dusty, icky mowing but I got most of it done.

We got the bedrooms downstairs made up and ready for our guests to arrive tomorrow late afternoon.  Found lots of dead spiders which is normal – just glad they were dead!

My foot is healing.  The boot is so so big and heavy I keep getting tempted to put weight on my foot.  I will be able to put partial weight on it starting next Wednesday. It is a lot more swollen since I got the boot as it is hard to prop up, especially at night in bed when I am wearing the boot.  Haven’t taken any more pain pills for several days now.  I do take some ibuprofen once or twice a day which is enough to knock the edge off the uncomfortable feeling in my foot.

The PA showed me something called EvenUp and recommended I get one.  I wear a tennis shoe on my good foot and the EvenUp is an attachment to my tennis shoe that makes that foot level with the boot.  The scooter is a lot easier to run with the attachment on my shoe.  The only problem is that bunion is now cranky because I have been wearing a shoe most of the time.

Still not a pro with the crutches yet but am getting better.  The scooter works better most of the time for me.  I do get frustrated with it as it does not turn very tightly.  I do a lot of 12 point turns.  I keep reminding myself to work with it and not get frustrated.  When I can do that it is easier.

Took my bath for the day when I came in from mowing today.  I was dusty and dirty with dirt in places in didn’t belong.  My boot had lots of its of grass stuck to it on the Velcro straps.  Wonder what the foot doctor will say when he sees that?

It did feel good to be productive and feel good enough to get out and mow and clean the basement.  One can only sit and do nothing for so long!!!

Jim has been working hard helping me get the outside of the house looking good.  He even washed the outside of the windows downstairs as they had lots of bird poo on them.  He found rotted wood on the deck landing and is replacing that.  The drainage needs improved around the deck below and he is working on that.

Grateful to be able to mow yesterday and today, grateful the tall grass is now in big round bales of hay, and grateful for all of Jim’s help.

Mixed news from the surgeon today.  I got put into a boot!  But!  I still have to be non-weight bearing for another week.  It felt so good to get the dressing taken off.  My foot is a bit swollen and very black and blue and yellow.  The incision looks good and is healing well.  They will take out the stitches next week.

They took more x-rays today.  I have one pin in my big toe and two in the bone below it.  Basically the doctor broke two bones and screwed them back together again.  Everything looked like they expected it to look today.

The PA was amazed I am off pain pills already.  She did warn me that I have lots of healing to do and it will take lots of time.  One more week of non-weight bearing and then four weeks of partial weight bearing.  She said the six weeks after that will seem long as it may take that long before I am pain free in walking with full weight.

I have to do twice weekly physical therapy starting next week.  Not sure how I am going to do that since I will be in Stillwater next Wednesday for two weeks and then back to Strong City for two weeks.  May have to drive to Wichita twice a week as that is about half way between Stillwater and Strong City.  She said I may only need PT for two weeks.  Guess I’ll figure that out what and where next week.

I realized today I won’t be able to do chicken chores for five more weeks.  I won’t be able to carry a five gallon bucket of water if I can’t be full weight bearing.  I hadn’t counted on it taking that long.  May have to get creative to find a solution to that problem.  Anyone want to move in with me?

I have guests coming Saturday that are staying until Monday.  I had been hoping I could get downstairs and do some cleaning but that isn’t going to happen.  I may have Jim drive me around to the back door downstairs and I can get in without doing the steps.  Jim offered to make the bed and do the floors.  I had cleaned downstairs before surgery but my intern was still here and I didn’t get his room cleaned good after he moved out.  Good thing the guests coming are easy guests and won’t notice a bit of dust.

I took a nap when we got home.  Going out still wears me out!  I didn’t sleep well last night as I had taken too long of a nap yesterday.  Hoping the shorter nap I took today won’t prevent me from sleeping tonight.

Feeling a bit discouraged today.  While my foot is healing well I realized how long this process is going to be and then I get to repeat it!  The neuroma surgery was much easier and healing went faster. At least that is my memory of it.

The boot is heavy and my foot is in a new position so it is cranky today.  At least I get to take the boot off two or three times a day so I can rotate my foot around.  I do have a dressing on it yet that can’t get wet or be removed.  Not sure my shower cover will fit over the boot so may take the boot off for my shower and bath time and rotate my foot then.

The boot is thick and is creating problems with the scooter.  Trying to figure out how to raise my knee higher so it is more comfortable when riding on the scooter.  I am trying to use the crutches more but I am still unstable on them.

The PA recommended I order a device called EvenIt.  I put it on the bottom of my good foot’s shoe and it raises that foot up so I walk level with the boot.  It is to prevent hip problems with the uneven leg length due to the boot.  Oh the things they make these days!

And this too shall pass……  Healing takes time…….  Thinking about hiking without foot pain next spring.

Grateful to have the dressing removed today, grateful the foot is healing on schedule, and grateful for Jim’s presence and assistance.

Went to the dentist this morning to see what the game plan is to fix my broken tooth.  To my surprise and delight she said it only needed filled and not a cap.  And she had time to fix it today!  I was glad to get it fixed and I didn’t get dentist anxiety as she fixed it today.  The numbness has finally worn off and I was able to eat dinner tonight.

When the dentist told me I needed a filling she asked if I needed it done at no or reduced cost.  I had met her at the Vo-Tech when she filled a tooth for me there at no cost.  I told her I had resources and was able to pay.  I so appreciate the fact that she offers free or reduced services to her patients.  She is a very gentle dentist and was very attentive to my pain levels and quickly added more medication when she hit a sensitive spot.  Her office staff were very good too.

Stopped by to see Tim after the dentist.  He looks better but still has a long ways to go in his healing.  Not sure they have figured out a final plan for healing yet.

The internet company I am signing up with needed a notarized signature from me so we went to my real estate office to get that done.  The lady that does that for me was out to lunch so went to the bank next door and they were able to take care of it for me.

Stopped at Walmart and got a few groceries.  Man!  I was tired by the time I got through the whole store.  The scooter made it fairly easy but my knee was sore from having it on the scooter for so long and the other leg was sore from moving the scooter.  I sure got starred at a lot and several people made comments about the scooter.  I wonder if people think I couldn’t hear them as they talked about me as I scooted past them.  Maybe I was invisible today.

Came home and took a nap in my recliner.  Moving around that much wore me out!

Fixed tacos for dinner tonight and made Jim another peach cobbler.

It is still hot and muggy outside.  The humidity levels are off the charts!  I am ready for it to cool down a bit.

Tomorrow I have to be at my surgeon’s office at 11:00 to get my dressing changed and hopefully be put into a boot.  My foot has not been cranky today like it was yesterday.  It will be good to be able to wash my leg between dressing changes tomorrow.  It has been itchy lately under the dressing wrap.

Jim had to get the scooter in and out of his car ten times today.  He had driven his Element as it is easier for me to get in and out of and easier to get the scooter in and out of.  He took my trash can down to the curb today as well as took care of the critters.  Not sure I could have gotten through all of this without his help.

Grateful for a gentle dentist that offered great care and was able to fix my broken tooth today, grateful for the exercise I got today getting out and about, and grateful for naps that restore my energy level.

 

Broke down and took a pain pill last night.  I slept really good as a result.  My foot has been cranky today so guessing I will take another one before bed tonight.  I don’t like taking pain pills during the day time hours as they make me too sleepy.

A lady came by the house today to get a tour.  She teaches Donna Eden Energy classes and is looking for a place to teach her classes.  Not sure if she will book or not.  She was a nice lady and will be fun to work with if she does.  I held my ground and told her I would not fix or clean up from meals.  That is too much work!

Jim has been cleaning out my garage.  It is too hot to sand on the west side deck.  He is finding all sorts of treasures in the garage.  Not sure I will be able to find anything when he is done but that is OK.  It will be nice to have an organized, clean garage.

Sat out last night for several hours looking for Persoid Meteors.  Saw one about every 20 minutes or so.  They weren’t very big or bright.  The moon is almost full and once it came out it dimmed the stars enough that we couldn’t see the meteors.  Tonight is to be the peak viewing night so will look again tonight.  After I went to bed Jim sat out for another couple of hours.  He enjoyed watching the thunderstorms to the west of us put on a lightning show.

Finished the embroidery on a tea towel yesterday and when I took it off the hoop realized there was a flaw in the material and the towel has a small tear in it.  Hate when that happens.  I’ll have to stamp another towel and redo it.  I have one set almost finished.

Got the paperwork from the new internet company today.  I have to have my signature notarized so will take care of that tomorrow when I go into town for my dentist appointment.

I’ll be glad when I go back to the surgeon’s office Wednesday for a dressing change.  My leg has been itching underneath the dressing.  Sure hoping for a walking boot Wednesday but it may be another week before I get one.

Put a plastic coffee table in the bath tub last night when I took my bath to prop my leg on.  It worked well!  A bath feels so good to relax in every evening.  It is a bit tricky to get in and out of the deep tub but I have figured out how to do so.  Grateful for the cast cover I found at Walgreen’s.  It has worked well to keep my dressing dry when I shower and take a bath.

Feeling a bit cranky today.  Everything I do is such an effort.  Feels like the healing is going smoothly though and I know this won’t last forever.  Sure makes me grateful for my health and mobility under normal circumstances.

Grateful for pain pills and a good night’s sleep, grateful for a clean garage, and grateful for a beautiful night sky.

No pain pills yesterday!  So far none today although I almost took one during the night.  My foot felt like a weather indicator and ached before the rain finally came and gave me some relief.

My other foot has a black and blue mark on the side where I keep running over it with the wheels on my scooter.  Maybe I should be wearing my tennis shoe on that foot to protect it.  When I put ice on my surgery foot I have been leaning the good foot against the ice to calm it down.

Jim went into Emporia to go to church this morning and run some errands afterwards.  I decided not to try church as it has lots of steps to get into the sanctuary and I am very unstable on crutches yet – especially doing steps.

Am working on doing some laundry.  Figured out I can pull the dirty clothes basket while I am on my scooter.  Have the intern’s bedding washed up.  Jim had carried it upstairs for me.  Now working on my laundry.  At least I feel like I am getting something done.  I mainly sit in my chair and do some embroidery work and look at all the things I wished I could be doing.

Not sure what we are doing this afternoon.  Jim was hoping to get outside and sand on the deck.  He is going to get some boards in town and replace a couple on the front steps.  Guess I will stay inside where it is cool and sit and watch.

My neighbor told me about her internet provider.  I called the provider and they did an evaluation and decided I qualified for their service.  They are to send me some paperwork to complete and when they get it back will schedule an install.  I trust this new service will be more predictable and faster than my current service.  I can’t watch movies now as they spend more time downloading than playing.  Tim is selling boxes that act like a cable box for a one time charge.  Jim enjoys watching the news and I would like to have a TV for him to be able to do that without having to purchase cable vision.  Crossing my fingers that this solution will work.

Still haven’t heard from the second solar panel company.  I need to get a second bid to make sure that the first company is in the ball park with their estimate.  I’ll try to call them again Monday and see if I can get hold of them.  The glass company hasn’t bothered to call me back yet either.  I don’t have anything else to do Monday so maybe I can get things moving on both of these issues.

Getting bored with sitting but knowing that is what my foot demands right now.  It is starting to itch a bit so I know it is healing.  I look forward to Wednesday when I can get the dressing changed and see what it looks like.  I can tell my toes are black and blue.  They don’t look as swollen as they did after surgery.  Swelling slows healing down so doing my best to stay off of it as much as possible.  If I am on my scooter too long it starts to ache from hanging over the scooter.

Grateful for the healing power of ice, grateful for my scooter that allows me to get around fairly easily, and grateful for all the care Jim is providing me.

 

Only took the one pain pill yesterday morning and haven’t taken any today so far.  Pain is minimal and when it hits if I elevate my foot and put ice on it I can handle it.  I did take some ibuprofen once today as that seems to help.

Went into Emporia late morning.  Needed to deposit a check at the bank and then went to see the grandkids.  Tim broke his elbow yesterday at work so we were checking in with him to see if he needed anything.  Ended up taking the two grandkids to Freddie’s for lunch.  They ate well and behaved themselves.  Brought Tim home a hamburger and then we came home.  I wasn’t up to picking up a few things I have on my list of things I need.

I was exhausted when we got home.  My foot was a bit sore from the adventure out.  I laid down for a bit when we got home and iced it and it feels better now.  I never did go to sleep but it felt good to stretch out and rest my leg and foot.

I’ve finished three tea towels so far and am working on the fourth one.  Sitting and doing nothing is not my style!  My foot seems to feel best though when I have it propped up on my chair and I stay off of it.  It is hard to carry anything and control the scooter at the same time.

Am sure hoping Wednesday I will get put in a boot and will be able to go to partial weight bearing.  The doctor said that would happen at either the first or second week appointment.  As far as I can tell the swelling is minimal which will help expedite the healing.

Tuesday I have a dentist appointment to see what needs to be done to the tooth I chipped over a month ago.  This appointment is only an evaluation and not a fix it appointment.  Wednesday I go to to Wichita for my one week appointment to get the dressing changed and the incision checked.

So far!  So good!  It has been less painful than I expected.  I managed to get in and out of the bath tub last night.  It felt so good to soak in the hot water of the bath last night.  I managed to sleep almost all night long without the assistance of pain pills.  That is amazing for me.  My head is clearing up a bit from the effects of the drugs that have been put through my system.  My muscles are adjusting to the different movements I make getting around.  Everything still seems like a struggle to do but I am adapting.

Grateful for Jim’s presence and help, grateful to see the grandkids today, and grateful for a bath last night.

 

Day two went well.  I didn’t take a pain pill until early afternoon yesterday.  I went outside with my scooter and when I come back inside I hit a bump on the floor and my leg fell off the scooter and my hurt foot bumped the floor.  OUCH!  Had to take another pain pill after that!

Only took four pain pills yesterday all together.  Not bad for the second day.  Took two before I went to bed last night and I was able to get some good sleep.

Woke up in pain this morning though.  I got up and took a pain pill and then went back to bed.  Woke up two hours later feeling a bit light headed.  I had forgotten to eat something when I took the pain pill.  I took a shower and then ate some breakfast at lunch time.  I’m still a bit light headed but feeling a bit better.  The pain is more uncomfortable today but still manageable.  Hoping I won’t need another pain pill until evening but I’ll see how the afternoon goes.

I haven’t had much of an appetite which is normal for me when I have pain.  I’ll try to do a better job of eating a ittle protein several times during the day today and see if that helps.

Something like this sure makes me aware of how lucky I am to have good health.  Everything right now is such an effort.  I am rather limited as to what I can do.  So grateful this is a temporary thing!

Jim continues to take good care of me.  I’m lucky to have him here.

Sitting, resting, doing a bit of embroidery work, healing, and practicing patience.  That is my day today!

Grateful for pain pills, grateful for Jim’s presence, and grateful for all my friends and family that call and check on me and all the prayers of healing being sent on my behalf.  I appreciate every one of you!

Had to get up at 4:00 this morning so we could be on the road by 4:30.  Arrived at the surgery center at 5:50.  They took me back to the room and got me prepped and ready for surgery.  I think it was around 7:00 when they wheeled me back to the OR.  They gave me some happy juice and I don’t remember leaving the prep room.

By 8:00 I was done and Jim was back with me.  I had the shakes after surgery.  That has happened to me before.  Reminded me of drinking San Juan medicine in Peru.  They finally gave me enough stuff to get the shakes under control and by 9:30 we were out the door and headed home.

Stopped by the pharmacy in Emporia to get my pain pills.  It was going to take them 45 minutes of fill the prescription so Jim took me home and went back into town to pick it up later.

The pain has been rather minimal so far.  I refused the complete block as the anesthesia doctor said it was optional and said she could do it in recovery if my pain was high.  It wasn’t so it wasn’t given to me.  The surgeon numbed the area and he said it would last about eight hours.  I still can’t feel my toes that are peeking out from the dressing.  The only pain I have is if I wiggle my toes.

Anticipating that tomorrow and Friday may be a bit rougher but so far so good.  I have kept it elevated and an ice pack on it most of the afternoon.  We both took a long nap this afternoon to make up for the short amount we got last night.  Trusting the pain pills will not wire me too much and I will be able to sleep tonight.

I ate a bit of dinner tonight.  Had to eat a cracker and some applesauce before they would let me leave this morning.  I tend to not be hungry after a procedure and honored that most of the day. I have been drinking lots to try to wash the drugs out of my system.

The knee scooter is working well.  I managed to get up the steps to come into the house using the crutches when I got home.  I try to remember to get up and scoot around a bit every 30 minutes or so if I am not trying to sleep.

This process will be another good test of my patience.  It is hard to sit and not do anything.  Maybe tomorrow I will do some embroidery or knitting while I am sitting.

Jim is taking good care of me.  I appreciate him being here and so willing to do whatever needs done.

Grateful surgery is over and all is well, grateful for my knee scooter, and grateful for all the expressions of love my friends and family have been sharing with me.

Jim will be arriving in about 15 minutes so will need to keep this short tonight.

The surgery center called me this afternoon and told me I will be Dr. Morgan’s first patient of the day and I need to be at the surgery center in Wichita at 6:00 in the morning.  Yuck!  Good thing they will give me drugs and I should be able to sleep most of the day when I get home.  We will have to leave around 4:30.  Maybe I will just stay up all night.  4:30 is about the time Jim usually goes to bed.

Went in to Emporia this morning to get an alignment and have new tires put on my car.  They did the alignment and told me I was good to go.  I went to the grocery store and as I was leaving got a phone call.  The tire store had a miscommunication glitch and  the new tires were not put on!  Went back to the tire store.  They pulled four guys off whatever they were doing and got my tires put on in record time.  They were embarrassed!

Came home and have worked off and on all afternoon on cleaning house.  Put fresh sheets on my bed, dusted, and straighten things up.  I didn’t get all the floors done but they look better than they did.  Ended up going outside and mowing instead of mopping floors.  I needed to move my body and work out some anxiousness about surgery tomorrow.  Just came in from mowing and I am dusty and dirty.  I didn’t have to mow all the yard this time.  It does look better.

Left messages with both the second solar energy panel company and the glass company.  Why won’t these people call me back?  Wish there were more options of companies to deal with.

Have a pot roast in the crock pot.  The house smells so good.  Jim loves peach cobbler so made him a cobbler.  It smells good too.

Grateful Jim will be here soon, grateful surgery day is almost here so I can get that over with, and grateful for new tires on my car.

I was up early and getting ready to go into Emporia to get my haircut when  I checked email and a friend who is moving posted she needed some things taken to Emporia to give away.  I went into Strong City and picked up her things and then went into Emporia.  Stopped at Goodwill to drop some of her stuff off and took the rest to the East Emporia Vet Clinic.  They were thrilled to get some used linens.

Stopped and filled my car with gas, went to the grocery store to get some Pectin so I can make peach jam tomorrow, exchanged my small propane tank for one that was full, went to the post office to mail three packages, stopped to see my real estate partner and finally made it to get my hair cut.

After my hair cut I stopped and picked up Ellexia so I could spend some time with her.  We made a quick stop at Taco Bell to get her something to eat and then came home.  We baked snickerdoodle cookies.  She rolled them in the cinnamon sugar mixture.  My kitchen floor is a bit sticky yet but we had fun!  She taste tested the cookies for me and said they were good.  She took home half of them to share.

She wanted green beans for lunch so I taught her how to make them with bacon and onion.  She ate the whole can of them.

While she was here my Camino friends from CA called me via FaceTime.  It is always a good day when I get to talk to Carolyn and Tom.  Tom warned me to be very patient with the amount of time it will take to heal from my bunion surgery.

After Tim came to get Ellexia I laid down for a bit and took a short nap.  I had fallen asleep earlier sitting in my chair.  I don’t think I slept long this afternoon but it helped give me some energy.

The chickens had managed to knock over their water container and they were totally out of water when I went down to do chores.  Not sure how they knocked it over as it was full yesterday and rather heavy.  It is a three gallon container.  Silly girls!

I had gotten a pair of hair clippers and was going to cut the hair around Sophia’s neck where her electronic collar goes.  That didn’t work well.  Her hair is way too thick for the clippers.  One short swipe and the clippers would clog up.  I took a pair of scissors and cut her hair  It looks like a kid that cut their own bangs but I think I got enough in the right places so the contact points can actually touch skin so she will stay in her boundaries.

I only got one of my phone calls made today.  I am exploring internet options and the company I left a message with called me back.  I had to call them back as they called while I was getting my hair cut.  They are checking to see if they have room available on their tower.  Not sure what that means but she said it would take them a day or two to check.  My neighbor uses them and likes their service.  It is about half of what I am paying now and my service is very slow at times.

No surprise that the glass company didn’t call me today.  I will try to call them tomorrow and find out what is going on.  I didn’t hear from the solar panel company that I requested a bid from either.  Wonder why it is so hard for companies to get back to potential customers.

Tomorrow I need to do the floors on the main level and clean the upstairs bathrooms and then I think my list of thing to do before surgery is complete.  I have to go to town in the morning to get new tires put on my car.  The appointment may take up to two hours.  I need to remember to take a book or knitting with me.  Anyone want to come to Mel’s Tires in the morning and sit and visit for a bit.  My appointment is at 9:30.  Maybe I can get some phone calls made while I am waiting.

Jim is coming tomorrow late afternoon.  He is going to be here for two weeks while I am non-weight bearing and take care of me and do my chores.  I have a long list of things that need fixed.  He may need more than two weeks to get it all done!  If I don’t need physical therapy I plan on going to OK with him for two weeks after my second follow up doctor’s appointment.  I will probably stay off my foot more at his house than I will here.  It will be good to see him tomorrow.  I haven’t seen him for two weeks.

My feet ached last night.  I realized I had worn my tennis shoes all day yesterday and  my bunions don’t like being confined all day in a pair of shoes.  I had put my tennis shoes on to go out and paint and didn’t think to take them off all day.  I can’t put my anti inflammatory cream on them this close to surgery so had to tough it out last night.  I’ll be glad when they are both fixed and the pain is gone.

Grateful for the time I had with Ellexia today, grateful for the call from Carolyn and Tom today, and grateful I got Sophia’s hair cut without cutting her skin.

Had a beautiful drumming circle last night.  Seven of us gathered and sent love and peace out into the world.  Five of the seven had never experienced a drumming circle before.  I trust they will come again sometime.  It was a perfect night to sit out and watch the sunset and the stars come out.  It was nice and cool with a gentle breeze.  The only problem was the June bugs that jumped into the fire pit.

Two of the drummers stayed overnight.  We stayed up until midnight visiting.  He is one of my disc golf guests that have stayed with me for two years.  He and his wife and their family house sat for me a weekend while I was in CO.  I enjoy their company.

Went out and painted for two hours this morning.  I may go back out this evening when I get done writing and do some more.  Jim is going to sand the steps and hand rails so I can’t paint them.  I think I can find lots more of the deck that needs painted and not sanded.  Sure will be glad when that project is done.  Seems like we started it a long time ago.  I got the long support beam done up to the point where I don’t know how to set the ladder so I can get to it.  Maybe when I go out tonight a solution will present itself to me.  I need to weed wack yet so may end of doing that instead.

Two more full days before surgery.  My list of things I want to get done pre surgery is getting smaller so thinking I will get it all done the next two days.  I have a haircut in the morning and will run a few errands while I am in Emporia and cross a few more things off my list.  Still need to learn how to do steps with the crutches.  I hate those damn things.  I am getting around really well with the scooter.  I have learned how to get in and out of my chair and get on and off the scooter without using my left foot.  Practiced getting out of the bath tub last night without using my left foot.  I almost was successful!

Have some phone calls to make tomorrow.  Trusting it will be a day when I can talk on the phone.  Sometimes that seems too hard to do for some reason.

Laid down for a bit this afternoon but couldn’t go to sleep.  I slept for about four hours last night – not bad for me.  I feel tired today and thought a nap sounded good but as soon as I laid down I woke up.  Maybe I need to learn how to sleep standing up.

One of my guests from last December called me today.  He was cleaning something and found my business card and decided to call to say hi.  One of the guys that stayed with me for several months last summer called earlier this week.  My favorite part of hosting an AIRBNB is the people I get to meet.  I love when guests leave as friends.

This is my student intern’s last week here.  He has kept to himself most of the time so I have forgotten he is in the house most of the time.  I’m grateful he was here while I was gone so I had a house sitter.

I stamped three more sets of tea towels so I will have something to do while I can’t get around much.  Doing hand work will make the time go by quicker.  I also got some more dish rag yarn so I have those to make up if I need a different project.  May not get any of it made and that’s OK too.

Just remembered I haven’t done my chicken chores today.  Best get down there before the slackers go on strike.  I got two fairy eggs last week.  They aren’t good for much but they do make me smile when I see one.

Grateful for the beautiful drumming circle last night, grateful when my guests become friends, and grateful in 48 hours Jim will be here.

 

I am tired!  I don’t think I got even three hours of sleep last night and that wasn’t three hours straight.  There was a storm a brewing outside most of the night and I think there was a storm a brewing inside me too.  I finally had a good cry around 4:30 and was able to sleep for a bit after that.  I wasn’t even sure at the time why I was crying.

Not sure how much rain we got overnight.  The forecast is calling for more rain this evening and into tomorrow.  I haven’t done my chicken chores yet so haven’t been outside today to see how wet the ground is.

I painted the hall closet that had been treated for mold sometime ago.  I rearranged some tubs in the furnace room and moved some to the hall closet.  Now I can find what I am looking for downstairs.  Feels good to have that project crossed off my list.

While I was painting I decided to paint over some water spots on the ceiling in three rooms.  The paint is not covering the water stains in the mater bedroom.  I have put two coats on so far and I can still see the outer edge of the stain.  May need to put some Kilz paint on it and then the ceiling white.  The ceiling white paint covered the stains in the guest bedroom.  The stain in the kitchen showed through too and needs another coat of something on it.

I called the Rural Electric Company to find out what the process is if I decide to have solar energy panels installed.  There is an application that I need to complete before the work begins so they can ensure the system can handle what is being installed.  I have to pay a $500 fee to have the inspection and for them to make the connection with a new electric meter.  While I was talking to the lady I ask her for a recommendation of a company as I want to get a second bid.  She gave me the name of a company out of Haven, KS.  I got on there website and requested a bid.  Still not 100% sure I am going to do this but want to get as much information as I can.

My accountant called back and told me the 30% tax credit ends in 2019.  If I don’t have enough taxes to use all the credit this year the credit rolls into the next year and the next  indefinitely until I use it up.  As of right now Congress has not authorized an extension fo the tax credit into 2020 and beyond.

I didn’t hear back from the glass company about the window that may or may not have been ordered.  Thinking I need to find another company and have someone else that knows how to communicate do the job.  Wonder why they can’t return a call when they said they would.

Tomorrow I need to go into Emporia in the morning.  I need to pick up some groceries I forgot yesterday and I want to get some peaches from the fruit stand that gets them from CO.  I have time to make a batch or two of peach jam before I have surgery Wednesday.

Tomorrow night is the drumming circle.  Come if you can!  We will start gathering around 7:00 and will start drumming at 7:30.  If it is raining we will drum inside.  Forecast shows it is to stop by evening so we will see what happens.  Should be a pleasant evening to sit outside if it isn’t raining.

While I was in town yesterday I looked for an oil drip pan at Walmart which is where I had gotten the ones I use now from.  Walmart no longer carries them so I ordered one from Amazon last night when I couldn’t sleep.  I also ordered a compost collection bucket for the kitchen.  My chickens and dogs eat most of my food scraps but neither will eat citrus fruit, onions or spicy veggies like peppers or asparagus.  Jim is going to make a compost pile for me in the garden plot.

I have four packages I need to box up this evening and take to the post office tomorrow.  While I was downstairs rearranging the totes in the basement I found the items I needed to mail.  It will be good to have one more thing crossed off my to do list.

I have spent the day at home alone.  One of those days where out of concern for the safety of the public I have kept myself in time-out.  I was not in the mood to people today.  I was surprised I was able to talk on the phone a couple times today.  Betting I will go to bed early tonight if I think I can sleep.  I hate nights like last night.

Grateful to have the hall closet painted and totes moved into it, grateful to be crossing things off my to do list, and grateful for tears that help release emotion.

Slept lots again last night.  I woke up a lot but was able to go back to sleep most of the times without much delay.  Grateful for some good sleep!

Went out to paint this morning.  The wind was a bit strong so I did low painting today and stayed off the high ladder.  It is to rain most of the day tomorrow so maybe Sunday or Monday I will get back out there and get the high stuff done.

Went into Emporia after I cleaned up from painting.  Took my car to get my tires rotated and found out I need new tires.  I go back next Tuesday morning to have them aligned and new tires put on.  Really hadn’t budgeted for that expense but need to get it done before winter.

Went to Walmart after my tires were rotated and picked up a few things.  Couldn’t find two things on my list and forgot two other things that were on my list.  I did find some boys shorts on sale so got four pairs of those to wear after surgery.  I had some sweat pants but decided it was going to be too hot for sweat pants.  I will go back to town Saturday and see if I can find the two things I couldn’t find at another store and get the two things I forgot.  CO peaches are to be here Saturday and I want to get a box to make some peach jam.

Finally got the bid from the contractor that is going to rebuild my retaining walls in the back yard.  OUCH!  They have to get done so I am going to have to suck it up and pay.  He is to work me in over the next month and get them fixed.  It will be good to get that project crossed off my list.  It has been on my list for almost two years.

Called the glass people about the window they are to be replacing.  They haven’t called me back.  I’m almost ready to find another company to deal with.  This companies communication is very poor and I’m tired of nagging them.  I don’t trust what they tell me when they finally tell me something.

We are getting a few sprinkles on the prairie this afternoon.  Trusting we will get several inches of rain over the next two days.  There are deep cracks in my yard that need filled with water.  The forecast is showing the possibilities of some rain.  Trust the storms won’t bypass me like the storms the other day did.

Kathy told me she is coming for two weeks the end of September.  She also said Gene might fly out and stay for a bit and return to MA with Kathy when she drives back.  It  would be nice to have both of them here for a bit.  I haven’t seen Gene for over three years.

A friend of a friend called me today and wants to come see the house.  This lady wants to hold a retreat in the Flint Hills.  Not sure what her story is yet and when she is looking to hold a retreat or what type of retreat she wants to do.  I called her back and left a message but she hasn’t called me back.  I appreciate the referral from my friend.

Called my accountant and asked him some questions about the solar energy tax credit.  He is to investigate and call me back the first of the week.

Feels like I have lots of little projects in the works right now.  I’m waiting on several people to give me more information so I can proceed to get things crossed off my to do list.  I have delayed doing some home repairs and need to get caught up.

Got a fairy egg from my chickens today.  I always smile when I see one.  They aren’t good for anything but they do make me smile.  Only got one other real egg from the chickens today – the slackers!  They aren’t eating as much food as they should be.  Not sure what is up with that.

Waiting for the mood to clean house to come over me.  I have guests coming Saturday night and need to do some cleaning.  My get up and go got up and left me behind.  Having trouble getting motivated to do much the last few days.  I’m not as tired this afternoon as I was yesterday but still not back to 100% energy level.  Wonder if the pneumonia vaccine I got Tuesday morning knocked me down for a bit?  My body reacts weirdly to medications.

Grateful to have gotten some more painting done today, grateful I found some shorts on sale that will work for post surgery days, and grateful for the fairy egg that makes me smile.

 

 

Finally got some painting on the deck done today.  I did one long support beam using the tall ladder and a few more that I could reach from the ground.  I’ll get out again in the morning and do some more ladder work.  It feels good to have made some progress on that project.

I have felt off all day today.  My eyes were doing something weird this morning and this afternoon I have felt tired.  I was sitting in my chair  earlier and realized I had tears running down my face.  Not sure where they came from or why I was crying.  There is some strong energy in the world right now and it feels like I may have tapped into some of that.  Tonight is the new black moon and the energy is to be shifting and lightning up a bit in the next few days.  I trust that will happen!

I didn’t get much else done today besides painting.  I had no energy to do anything this afternoon so I laid down for a bit.  Never did go to sleep but it felt good to stretch out on my bed.  My back pain from yesterday is gone today thank heavens.  I may have been a bit dehydrated as I had forgotten to drink water yesterday.  I have been drinking as much as I can possibly get down today.  Feeling a bit better this evening.

I am having a drumming circle Saturday evening.  We will gather at 7:00 and start drumming at 7:30 and drum until the sun goes down at 8:36.  The intention we will send out is peace and love into the world.  There is so much chaos happening in the world and the division between us and them seems deep.  I forget I have more in common with the other side than I do our differences.  Hosting the drumming circle is my small part of building a bridge between the sides.

Come if you can!  Bring a drum if you have one.  I have extra drums if you don’t have one.  Bring an adult beverage if you want one.  I’ll provide iced tea and water.

I have two of the beds spoken for for the evening.  Still have two or three beds available if you are coming from out of town and want to stay over.  Let me know if you want a bed and I will save one for you.

A week from today is my bunion surgery.  I still have a lot of things I need to get done before that.  Trying to figure out a grocery list that will tide me over until I can drive again.  Not sure how long that will be – probably at least one week if not two.  Jim will be here with me so I can send him to the store if needed.

Hosting the drumming circle will help motivate me to get my house cleaned.  I have guests coming mid August that I need to prepare for and I haven’t found the motivation to do so.  I don’t want to think about having to go down all my stairs on crutches so need to get the rooms ready early.

Anyone have experience with solar panels on their house.  We are looking in to putting some on and would love to have a recommendation of someone that does a good job putting them on.  I got one bid but the guy had trouble identifying my house on his bid.  It took him three tries to get it right.  If he can’t get that right can he install the panels correctly?  If I have the work done I will have the panels put on the barn roof instead of the house roof.

Tomorrow I need to go to town and pick up a few things.  It was good to stay home all day today and be by myself.  I haven’t talked to anyone today except Jason.  He called me earlier.  I love days like today.  It was a good day to be alone as I have been a bit grumpy all day.

Tomorrow I need to make a few phone calls and follow up on two contractors plus check with my accountant about a question on the solar panels energy credit.  I wasn’t in the mood to make phone calls today.  Some days I don’t people well.

Grateful for the painting I got done today, grateful this day is almost over, and grateful for the upcoming drumming circle.

 

Went into Emporia this morning for my pre op exam.  I got cleared for surgery.  My blood pressure was good and all labs except for the BUN level and TSH were within normal limits.  I ended up agreeing to get the pneumonia vaccine today and he sent a script to the pharmacy for the shingles vaccine.  He reduced the dosage on one of my medications which I always like to have happen.  I go back to my family doctor August 19 for my annual physical.  He will check my Vitamin D and cholesterol levels then.

Stopped at Staples and got a toner cartridge and than came home.  When I got home a friend was here with a friend of hers.  Her friend is looking for a place to stay for the winter.  I gave her a tour of my house.  Not sure if she will want to stay here or not and I’m not sure I want someone here full time.  It is nice to have someone here so I can get away but I do love having the house to myself too.  I’ll see how things work out.

Went out and mowed for over an hour this afternoon.  I still have at least one more hour of mowing to do.  When I finish writing this I will go back out and get it done.  I’ll probably try to figure out the ladder and if successful I will do some painting this evening.  I need to get that deck project done.  It is bugging me and I won’t be able to get on a ladder for six to eight weeks after surgery next week.

I have had some strong lower back pain today.  It started yesterday when I was unloading the car from the stuff I got in KC.  It didn’t hurt over night but started again after I left the doctor’s office today.  Not sure what is up with that.  It was strong enough for a bit to make me think I had a kidney stone.  I laid down for a bit and the pain diminished after I took some ibuprofen.  It wouldn’t have gone away if it was a kidney stone.  I must have twisted or lifted something wrong yesterday.  It is better this afternoon so maybe it will be gone by tomorrow.

Tomorrow is an empty space day for me at last!  It feels like it has been a bit since I have had one.  I don’t have anything else on my calendar until Monday so I will get a string of them.  Yay!  I have a long list of things I would like to get done before surgery so should have plenty of time to get it all done.

I got a bit more sleep last night than I have been getting but doubt I got more than four hours.  I slept for about one hour and than would wake up for an hour and repeated that cycle all night long.  Sure makes for a long night when that happens.  It has been an it since I got a good night’s sleep.  I am tired again this afternoon but am not going to take a nap and start that cycle again.

Feeling like I am forgetting to do something important but I have no idea what that might be.  I keep checking my to do list and nothing stands out to me.  Wonder what if anything I am forgetting to take care.  Guess if it is important I will know soon enough.  I keep feeling a sense of hurry up which is unusual for me.

Grateful for a healthy body, grateful the back pain is better this afternoon, and grateful for a string of empty space days ahead of me.

 

 

 

Home again!  I left this morning at 8:15 for KC and got home this evening a little after 8:00.  It was a long day but a fun one.

I started the day in KC at Costco.  I hadn’t been for a bit so had a long list of things to get.  Then I went to Hy-Vee and got some diced beets and a few other things.

Met a dear friend for lunch and had a nice, long conversation.  Our third partner in crime couldn’t make it today and she was missed.

After lunch I went to see my trust attorney and signed a bunch of papers updating my will and trust.  Met another friend for coffee when I was done at the attorney’s office.  Had another wonderful conversation with her.

Ended my day in KC by having dinner with Nicole and Geoff.  We had a nice visit.  Drove home facing the sunset the whole way home.  Very little traffic and a smooth ride home.

Got the car unloaded and everything put away.  I think it may be time for a bath and bed.  I didn’t sleep much again last night.  I’ll mention that to my doctor when I see him tomorrow morning for my pre op visit.  Last night makes the third night in a row that I have had trouble getting more than three hours of sleep.  I’m tired tonight!

I have a few errands to run in Emporia after my doctor’s appointment in the morning and than I should be able to stay home for a few days.  I need to get started painting the support beam of the deck and deep cleaning my house.

Got surprised by a thunderstorm last night.  My rain gauge is still down so don’t know how much rain we got.  My weather app says we got .8 inches.  The wind blew hard for a bit and then calmed down and there was a steady, gentle rain for quite awhile.  I had some deep cracks in the yard so every drop of rain I got was much appreciated.  I love sleeping when it is raining.

Feeling a bit talked out tonight.  Had four good conversations today which is four more than I normally have during a day!  I enjoyed each one though but am not used to being around that many people in one day.  At least traffic was light on the highway and in the city today.

Grateful for my dear friends that I spent time with today, grateful for a competent and kind attorney, and grateful for safe travels today.

 

Tim called last night to see if they could come out today.  I gladly invited them to come for lunch.  I fixed meat loaf, baked potatoes and green beans.  It was good to see all four of them.  I have been gone and hadn’t seen them since I came home.

Tim and Michelle went out for a bit and the two grandkids stayed here and played.  Both were very good and we had fun.  It was a nice afternoon.

I didn’t fall asleep until after 5:00 this morning.  For some reason my head was busy last night and I felt very restless.  I finally got up around 4:30 and took another hot bath and was able to fall asleep after that.  I got up at 10:00 so I could get lunch started.  I’m really tired this evening and trust that I will be able to go to sleep at a more reasonable hour tonight.  I’m going to KC in the morning and won’t have the luxury of sleeping in.

I had planned to get up early this morning and get out and paint for a bit.  That didn’t happen!  I won’t be able to do so tomorrow either.  Tuesday I have a Doctor’s appointment at 10:30 so may be able to paint an hour or two before that.  Thankfully my calendar is clear after Tuesday so should be able to get some time on the ladder in starting Wednesday.

Ellexia enjoyed playing on my knee scooter today.  I have been practicing on it.  Still haven’t mastered getting off the scooter and into my chair on one foot.  Maybe I need to go to scooter school!

It clouded up this afternoon and felt like it might rain.  I keep checking radar but the rain seems to be going around me.  If I am really lucky I might get a few drops of rain yet tonight.  I have big cracks in my yard and could use some rain.

Had a phone call from one of my long-term boarders from last summer.  It was good to hear from Billy Bob.  He is working out in CA now and only gets home every other month or so.  What a challenge that would be.  He had to live in his truck for two weeks as he couldn’t find a place to stay.  He met a guy who knew of a place and is finally in a room with a shower.  He pays over $100 a night though!  Wow!  Maybe I should raise my rates.  We had a fun conversation.  I love when my guests become friends.

I have a long list of things I need from Costco tomorrow.  I haven’t been for a bit.  Sure wish I lived closer so I could go more often.  I like their store brand of things.  I need to remember to take a cooler with me tomorrow so I can get some cold stuff.  It will be good to see my friends and Nicole and Geoff.

Got the rooms downstairs cleaned up last night and the beds made.  Still need to do some work on the upstairs rooms but am going to wait until it is closer to surgery date to do the upstairs.  I think I can stand the dust until then.  I need to make a big grocery list and stock up on everything so I won’t have to go to the grocery store for a week or two after surgery.  Jim will be here so he can go if needed.  I might make some dishes up and freeze them so Jim won’t have to cook so much.

After I have company the house always feels so big and empty to me.  It was nice to have the kids here for a bit today.  My student intern should be back yet tonight sometime.  He doesn’t visit with me much though.  He only has two more weeks before his job commitment will be over and he will return to school.

Feeling a bit empty tonight.  I realize how much richer life is when you have someone with you to share the little things during the day.  Jim and I text back and forth during the day but it isn’t the same.

Grateful the kids came out for lunch today, grateful Billy Bob called me, and grateful I was finally able to get some sleep this morning and trusting I will get even more sleep tonight.

Got up early this morning after sleeping for four hours.  I couldn’t get a second sleep so I got up.  Went out around 7:30 and cleaned out the chicken coop.  It was nice and cool and it was easy to clean out today.

Went into Strong City to the hardware store and got a new can opener.  I needed to go to Emporia to get new oil pans for the chicken coop as the ones I have are rusted through.  I also need a new toner cartridge for my printer but couldn’t summon the energy to drive to Emporia today.  Neither item were emergencies so decided they could wait until my next trip to town.  It was nice to be able to easily open a can of beets for my salad at lunch today.  I also found out that if I take my deck paint can into them they can order the paint I might need to finish the deck project.  They are a True Value Hardware store.  The True Value Hardware store in Emporia where I got the paint is no longer a True Value Hardware and can no longer get the paint I need. That was an easy solution to a potential problem.

Finished printing a paper copy of my blog entries.  I was way behind printing them so it took a while to do so.  My printer gets confused if I get ahead of it so I have to wait until it starts printing the pages before I can move on to tell it to print the next page.  It must not like to multi-task!  I have an electronically backup but I lost over a years of blog posts when the blog company changed software and no longer trust that the backup works like it is supposed to.  Not sure what I am going to do with the paper copies but I feel better knowing I have them if the system crashes.

Went to Pioneer Bluffs to volunteer for the Day of the Cowboy event they hosted today.  I only stayed for two hours.  They had plenty of volunteers and didn’t need me.  I saw some friends and visited for a bit with them.  I wasn’t in a talkative mood today and came home early.  The event seemed to be well attended and people were having a good time.

Came home feeling a bit light-headed so laid down and took a nap.  I feel fine now.  I was hot and tired and probably a bit dehydrated.  I’ve been pushing fluids since I woke up and the light-headedness has gone away.  When my thyroid levels get out of whack I can have blood pressure issues so will start checking my blood pressure and keeping an eye on it.

Got the final set of lab results back.  I was surprised my potassium levels were good as I had forgotten to take the potassium pills with me on vacation.  Maybe I don’t need them anymore.  The only result that was concerning beside my TSH level being way too high was the BUN level.  It was 36 which is the highest I have ever had and above the 20 recommended high.  My levels have slowly been creeping higher these last two years.  BUN has something to do with kidneys.  I have been having lots of leg and foot cramps lately so will mention that to the doctor when I have my pre op exam Tuesday.  I have a full physical scheduled for August 19 so will have two chances to talk to him about it.

Tomorrow I have absolutely nothing on my calendar that has to be done.  I may get out and do some deck painting tomorrow morning if I get up early enough.  It will be nice to get back on that project.  The deck has been patiently waiting for me to get back to it.  The steps need sanded before I can paint them but there is a support beam that I can do.  It is high ladder work but if I go slow and steady I can get it done.  Jim is going to sand and paint while he is here taking care of me after my foot surgery in August.  I bet I can paint the low stuff once I get put in a boot one or two weeks after surgery.  I won’t do the ladder stuff with a boot on.

Monday I am going to KC all day.  I am meeting a friend for lunch, have an appointment with my trust attorney in the afternoon, meeting another friend for coffee, and then going out to dinner with Nicole and Geoff.  It will be a long day but a fun one.  I also need to go to Costco and pick up a few things.  Tuesday I have a doctor’s appointment in Emporia in the morning for my pre op clearance.  Wednesday I should be able to get back to painting in the morning before it gets too hot.

The house feels big and empty to me this evening.  I realize how much richer my life is with Jim around.

Grateful the girls have fresh linens tonight and the job of cleaning out the chicken coop is done, grateful my blog posts are copied and caught up, and grateful buying a can opener solve a potential paint problem.

 

 

Went into Emporia this morning after I had breakfast. I dumped off my car full of recycling material in Cottonwood Falls, went to the bank and stopped by to see a friend then headed to Emporia. In Emporia I got a new filter for my refrigerator, picked up a prescription, stopped at the liquor store and then hit Walmart. It felt good to cross a bunch of things off my to do list.

I had called a guy to fix my back yard retaining walls over a year ago. He forgot about me and I finally remembered to call him. He was to have come yesterday but finally showed up today. He has a project near me and thinks he can send one of his guys over to get the project done over the next couple of weeks. One wall has deteriorated to the point that it needs completely redone and the other one only needs about half of it totally rebuilt. He is going to install a drain behind the stones and then backfill the area behind the stones. I trust he won’t forget about me this time or start the project and never finish it. Time will tell!

I got one bedroom cleaned and the sheets off the other bed are in the dryer. Still need to clean two bathrooms and one bedroom and then the house will be back in order. I do want to clean the whole house before surgery August 7 but have lots of time to get that done.

Discovered some of the chicken feed has gone bad. I didn’t think they had gone through enough while I was gone. I checked it closer and found mold on some of it. I dumped out the feeder and put fresh feed in it. They went after it big time! Not sure where the mold came from. I dump it from the sacks into kitty litter containers and store them where they don’t get wet. Feed is so expensive I hate to throw it away but I can’t feed them moldy feed.

Had a quiet afternoon at home. I laid down for a bit but didn’t fall asleep. I’m glad I didn’t as I will sleep better tonight since I didn’t take a nap. It felt good to stretch out and rest for a bit. I have enjoyed the silence of the house this afternoon. It has been a bit since I have had complete silence to enjoy.

Tomorrow Pioneer Bluffs is having a big event in the afternoon. Still not sure if I am up to going to it. I’ll make a last minute decision tomorrow if I feel like going. I didn’t realize how tired I am until this afternoon. Another quiet day at home sounds like what I need right now but the event sounds fun too. Some of my favorite people will be there and I would love to see them and visit with them.

I hope to get up fairly early tomorrow morning and get out and get the chicken coop cleaned out. It is overdue for a clean out as I didn’t get it done before I left for Maine and Colorado. I may go down and do it this evening if it cools off a bit. I am always glad when that project is done.

I tried to open a can of beets to put on my salad for lunch and discovered my can opener no longer works. I tried using a punch to get it open and gave up. I’ll need to go to town tomorrow and get a new can opener. Wish I had discovered it before my trip to town today.

It felt good to eat my normal food today. My body seems to thrive on my normal food. Trusting the new thyroid medication will help bring my levels down quickly and I will regain my energy level. I don’t like being a couch potato anymore.

Need to figure out a new way to get my trash to the curb. The 1/4 mile driveway gravel eats the trash can wheels. I looked on-line for a cart of some sort to put the trash can in but the wheels on the carts I found don’t look anymore sturdy than the plastic wheels on the trash can. Anyone have a suggestion for a solution?

I have been practicing using the knee scooter and the crutches. It may be a long two weeks when I have to be non-weight bearing. I’m getting better with the crutches but haven’t attempted steps yet. Glad it is only for one or two weeks and not weeks or months!

Feeling a bit disconnected from my friends and family here in Chase County. Visiting with a friend last night and today helped a bit. One disadvantage of being gone so much is it makes it hard to stay current on friends and family. I may try to make some lunch dates for next week so I can catch up with my dear friends.

Finally feel like all of me has arrived home. I am not so scattered tonight and feel like I have gotten a bit refilled. I love how the quiet prairie fills my soul with peace. I will go out and sit on the deck in a bit and watch the sunset. Oh how I miss those when I am gone. The sunrise this morning was beautiful.

Grateful for a productive trip to town this morning, grateful to be back home on the prairie, and grateful for a contented soul tonight.

Got the results of my TSH thyroid levels back.  It is way high at 6.09.  The Endocrinologist is changing the dosage of my medication and I am to have it rechecked in two months.  The high level will explain why I have been so tired lately as well as why I have gained a few pounds that have not wanted to come back off.  My skin has been super dry lately too which is another symptom that my levels are off.  MD Anderson wanted me to keep my level below 2.5. I’m glad I asked to have it checked.  Hopefully I can get it down a bit before surgery in two weeks.

Jim left this afternoon around 4:45.  It was hard to let him go home.  The only hard part of our relationship is when we aren’t together.  I won’t see him again until August 6.  But then we will have four weeks together.  He is staying here for two weeks after I have surgery August 7 and than I am going home with him for two weeks.  Our plans may have to change if I have to have physical therapy.  The Doctor said over half the people need help getting their big toe to work right after surgery.  Maybe I will be one of the few where it works without help.

Jim got most of the mowing done for me before he left.  The yard looks much better.  I still need to go out and weed eat a few places but will wait for a cool morning to get that done.  I also need to get the chicken coop cleaned out.

While Jim was mowing I cleaned the laundry room.  It was disgustingly dirty.  I washed the cat bowls and water dish and hand mopped the floor.  One room down and 20 to go!  I think I can!  I think I can!

The guy that is going to repair the retaining walls in my back yard is to stop by sometime today and look at the project again.  He was here over a year ago and forgot about it.  I hope he shows up today.  I would like to go take a nap as I didn’t sleep much last night but I don’t want to miss him if he comes.  My Airbnb guest will be back sometime soon for the evening and a friend is coming over to get some eggs.  Maybe tonight I will be able to sleep all night.

I had turned the A/C off Tuesday when I got home but had to turn it back on this afternoon.  It was nice airing out the house for a short bit.  The evenings have been so nice and cool.  I love sleeping with an open bedroom window.

My student intern left with his dad today on an adventure.  They weren’t sure where they were going to end up other than they have baseball tickets to see the St. Louis team play tomorrow night.  Not sure if he will be back Sunday evening or Monday evening.  I need to get his room cleaned while he is gone as I haven’t cleaned it for three weeks and I don’t think he did either.

Tomorrow I will need to go into Emporia and pick up my new prescription.  I am too tired to go in tonight.  I needed a day where I didn’t leave the place.  I think the tiredness from traveling has hit me.  I feel a bit like a slug today and am moving slowly.  I am glad I have a few empty space days ahead of me.  My soul needs refilled.  I do have a long list of tasks I want to get done before surgery but I should have plenty of time to get everything done and take some rest time too.

I spent time with my attorney in KC yesterday updating my trust and will.  I always get depressed when I do that task.  It feels good to get it updated but it seems so remote.  I have struggled to maintain a healthy relationship with money over the years and I got triggered yesterday and took a face plant into the muck pond over a money issue.  I was a mess last night as I worked through it.  I still feel the remnants of it today although it is receding.  Guess the issues I am to work on during this lifetime never completely go away.  I get a new lesson from a different perspective all the time.  I go back next Monday to finalize everything and then maybe I can put it away and forget about it.  My problem with the will is I don’t really care what happens to my material things after I am gone.  I just want to make things easy for those that it might impact.

Grateful I had my TSH levels checked and looking forward to feeling better soon, grateful for the time I had with Jim, and grateful step one of updating my will is completed.

We got home around 8:00 last night.  Came home through Emporia so I could stop and get a few groceries.  Had dinner at Radius before we stopped at the grocery store.  It was so good to get home.

After we got the car unloaded and a few things put away we sat out and watched the stars come out.  We stayed up way too late as it was so beautiful out neither one of us wanted to go in.  I saw six or eight falling stars.  The Persoid Meteor Shower is beginning with the peak to come on August 12.  I had to get blankets to put over me as it was cold sitting out.  Imagine that – cold in late July!  I’ll take it any day.

Today Roxy and the two cats needed to be at the Vet office by 9:30 for their annual visit.  Miss Ellie weighs over 18 pounds, Belle weighs over 14 and Roxy was 82 pounds. The cats each got three shots and Roxy got two.  The Vet cut the rest of the matted hair off the cats with the clippers.  Roxy got her ass shaved to get rid of the matted hair around it.  I needed to get all four flea medication and the dogs needed HeartGuard.  It cost me nearly $500 to get out of the office!  Ouch!

We brought the animals home and then turned around and went back into town.  I stopped by the Medical Clinic and got my blood drawn.  I had asked my Endocrinologist if she would have my TSH levels checked.  I am starting to think my levels are too high as I have some hypothyroidism symptoms.  I also needed blood drawn for my bunion surgery pre op work up so got both of those done with only one stick.  Have gotten about half of the results back so far and everything is normal.  Still waiting on results for the TSH levels and some of the other panel.

Jim and I then headed for KC as we had an appointment at 2:00.  Got there a bit early and got out of the office by 2:15.  We stopped at Carrabba’s for lunch and than came home.

I had an Airbnb guest come in this evening so I cleaned house for a bit when we got home.  I only gave the house a lick and a promise so will need to do more cleaning next week when I have more time.

My guest came in around 7:00 this evening.  She is a delightful woman and will be a fun guest.

Jim has been out mowing this evening working to get the outside of the house back in order.  I had forgotten about the need to fix dinner tonight so quickly threw together a Shepherd’s Pie.  It turned out good and is one of Jim’s favorites.

About ready to grab a blanket and go sit outside for a bit and catch my breath.  I haven’t had much time to do so today.  Grateful that tomorrow I should be able to stay home all day and get some things caught up.  I will have to go into Cottonwood Falls though as I loaded my car with recycle stuff that needs dropped off.

Jim will be returning to Stillwater tomorrow afternoon.  I had hoped I might go down next week for two or three days but my schedule is starting to fill in so I probably won’t be able to get away.  I’m trying to get lots of things done ahead so I won’t have much that needs done while I am non-weight bearing for two weeks after surgery.

Feeling a bit scattered and like not all of me has gotten home yet.  I’m sure a full day or two at home will solve that.  I was able to make a few phone calls today and get some of my to do list things started.  I still feel like I have lots to do but not sure that is true.  Things will settle down quickly I hope.

Grateful for the cooler weather we are having, grateful for the beautiful night sky I can see from my deck and grateful for the time I have had with Jim.

Today has been a rest and recovery day.  We did take a mile and one half walk this evening but that is about as ambitious as we got today.  I even took a two hour nap today even though I slept well last night.

Went to Hobby Lobby and got some embroidery floss.  I hadn’t been in a Hobby Lobby for a bit.  We walked around and looked at all the decor stuff they have.  Looked more like clutter than something I wanted to buy though.

Fixed ham and beans in the instant pot for dinner tonight.  I sure like using an instant pot.  Clean up is easy and it doesn’t heat up the kitchen.  It is nice to put something on and not have to tend to it while it is cooking.

Tomorrow afternoon we will drive to Strong City.  I plan on stopping in Emporia on the way home to get groceries.  We will probably eat in Emporia for dinner as I have no idea what food is in my house at this point.  I’ve been gone for almost three weeks and was gone the week before this trip.

Wednesday I have to take Roxy and the two cats to the vet for their annual visit.  I scheduled it so Jim could help me take them all in together.  After we get that done we will take them home and then turn around and leave for KC.  We have an appointment in KC at 2:00.

Thursday Jim will come back to Stillwater.  I have a long list of things I need to get done before my foot surgery on August 7.  Jim will be back up August 6 so he can take me for surgery on the 7th.  It will be a long almost two weeks before I see him again.  I might come down next week for two or three days but I’ll have to see how I am doing on getting caught up at home.  I will have limited mobility for six to eight weeks after surgery and need to get some things done.  Jim has a lot he needs to get done too as he will be at my house for two weeks after I have surgery.

I’m sorry this vacation is coming to an end.  It has been wonderful.  I am grateful the heat has dialed it down a bit today and the forecast calls for a bit of a break from the 100 degree plus days the prairie had been experiencing.  It is only going to be in the low to mid 80’s for the next few days.

I do look forward to seeing a sunrise and sunset again.  I miss them when I am gone.

Grateful for a restful day today, grateful for the time I have had with Jim, and grateful I will get to sleep in my own bed tomorrow night.  There is no place like home!

We made it to Stillwater this evening around 7:30.  The day seemed to last a long time!  Why is the drive to some place so much faster than the drive home?  The weather was good although it kept getting hotter and hotter as we dropped altitude.

We did make a quick stop at Capulin Volcano National Monument and drove up the scenic drive.  We didn’t go on the hike into the volcano.  The view was incredible and one last chance to see the beautiful New Mexico landscape before we left.

We stopped in Guyman, OK for lunch mid-afternoon.  We ate at Pollo El Ranchero.  It was some of the best Mexican food I have had in a long time.  They make their own chips and salsa.  I highly recommend you stop there if you are ever out that way.

It took us a bit of time to get the car unloaded.  We took way too much stuff.  I do better on trips when I fly as I don’t have room to take everything but the kitchen sink.  We had to sort my stuff from his and than put all his stuff away.  The washing machine has been running non stop since we got here.  The cats were happy to see Jim and get outside.

We made a quick run to a grocery store and grabbed a quick bite to eat while we were out and about.  It rained a bit this evening and has rained again since we came back from the grocery store.  The rain is most appreciated as it has been very hot and dry here while we were gone.

We will hang around here tomorrow and than Jim will drive me to Strong City Tuesday afternoon.  It will be good to get home.  I’ve been gone for almost three weeks and had only been home for two days after my trip to Maine.  I will have two weeks to get my long to do list accomplished before I have foot surgery August 7.

We had a wonderful vacation.  It is hard for me to know what I enjoyed the most.  The train ride was incredible, wading in the creek at the Sand Dunes was so much fun, relaxing at Estes Park was much needed, seeing all the beautiful sites on our hikes was good for my soul, spending time with Jim’s brother and his family was delightful as was spending time with Jim’s sons.  I enjoyed seeing the elk, antelope and deer run free in the National Parks.

As good as it is to get away it will be nice to be home Tuesday.  There is no place like home!

Grateful for a safe journey, grateful for the rain the prairie received today, and grateful for another wonderful vacation.

 

What a wonderful day.  We rode the Cumbres train from Antonito, CO to Chama, NM.  We had a stop for lunch somewhere along the ride.  The scenery was incredible the entire way.  We had reserved seats in the Coach Class but could stand out in the open car for as much of the ride as we wanted to.

The engine is powered by coal.  We had to make two water stops as the train uses 100 gallons of water per mile.  We used 3 tons of coal to go the 50 or so miles we travelled.  There was a small gas powered car that followed us in case the cinders start a fire.  It happened today!  They said it was the first time this year that a fire started.  We didn’t see the fire.

I stood outside in the open car at the start but got a cinder in my eye and went back inside.  The smell of the burning coal was making me a bit nauseous.  Jim loved standing outside and stayed outside most of the trip.

We went through a dime-sized hail storm at one point and it rained a bit and sprinkled a bit off and on.  The temperature was warm in the lower elevation and cooler in the higher elevation.  We went on the highest train elevation track in America at over 10,000 feet.

I saw several antelope, elk and deer.  I was hoping to see a bear but did not.  Saw lots of different wild flowers.  The pinion trees are loaded this year.

We saw a few cabins and ranches scattered in the middle of no where.  One ranch has a private airport, lots of cabins and a huge main house.  This ranch has over 15,000 acres.  I use the word “ranch” lightly as I’m not sure the land is used as a ranch to raise cattle on.  The house and cabins are only useable during June, July and August due to the extreme snow this area gets.  I heard the fishing in this part of the state is pretty spectacular and the land owner flies in his guests in his private airplanes.  It is used mainly as a summer fishing lodge.

We were told what little land is available sells for $95,000 – $150,000 an acre and there is no electricity or sewer available.  People build summer cabins only on the land.

I took several pictures today but mainly just enjoyed the beautiful views.  It felt a bit like we had gone back in time as the views were all made by Mother Nature and little has changed over the years.  We saw two different rainbows today.

The drive from Antonito to Raton was incredible too.  I could be convinced pretty easily to move to the San Luis Valley.  I loved the wide open spaces of the valley with mountain views in all directions around you.  Not sure I could tolerate the heavy snow and long winters though.  Our host on the train told me Chama had over 3 feet of snow on the ground for over three months last winter.

After the train ride we were put on a bus and taken back to Antonito where we had started our day.  We than drove to Raton, NM where we are spending the night and than tomorrow we will drive to Stillwater, OK.  It should take us a bit over seven hours to make that drive.

I’m sorry this trip is coming to an end.  Jim will take me home Tuesday.  Wednesday we have an appointment in KC and than Jim will go back to OK Thursday.

It will be good to be home again I guess.  I feel a bit disconnected from my “normal” life in Chase County.  I had gone to Maine for a week before I left for this trip so really haven’t been home much for over a month.  I will have two weeks to get everything in order before I have foot surgery on August 7.  I hope to get my deck painted before I have surgery but I’ll see if that happens.  Jim is coming to help me during that time and has offered to paint if needed.  I have to be non-weight bearing for two weeks and can’t do chicken chores during that time.  Wonder if I can talk him into cleaning out the chicken coop for me?

Grateful for all the beautiful scenery I saw today, grateful or safe travels, and grateful for my weekend house sitters that allowed me to be away.

 

It turned into a long travel day today.  We drove from Estes Park to Antonito, CO.  The traffic around Denver was backed up for about 60 miles west of Denver.  Stop and go traffic for almost 100 miles of the trip.  Makes the trip seem very long.

We dropped off some left over refrigerator stuff and said goodbye to Jim’s brother and his family at 8:00 this morning.  We went back to the cabin and finished loading the car and were on our way by 9:00.

We stopped in Leadville for lunch at a local cafe.  The food was so so but we had a very good waitress.  The restaurant was jam packed full and running understaffed.  I left her a big tip as she really did her best to serve us and the things that weren’t good were out of her control.

We went to the Sand Dunes National Park.  What a treat that was.  We waded in the stream of water that is on the edge of the sand dunes.  The sand dunes were amazing to see but the wide creek was worth the trip in itself.  We must have waded around for over an hour.  The water is only ankle deep and was very warm.  Lots of families were there and the children and adults were having a grand time.

We stopped in Alamos for dinner.  The food was outstanding and we had another wonderful waitress.  It was one of the better managed restaurants I have eaten in.  Service was outstanding, food was outstanding, it was clean and I could see lots of teamwork happening.

We drove on into Antonito after dinner.  We walked over and checked out the train we will be riding tomorrow after we got checked in.  The hotel is old fashioned but clean.  It will do for a one night stay.

We have to be at the train station at 9:30 in the morning.  We are a two minute walk from it so that won’t be a problem.  The hotel advertised it has a breakfast but found out they don’t provide breakfast on the weekends.  There is a cafe in town so we will go there in the morning for breakfast.

After the train ride to Chama we will be driven back to Antonito in a bus.  We have hotel reservations in Raton for Saturday night and then will drive on to Stillwater Sunday.

The drive after dinner tonight was breathtakingly beautiful.  The sun was lowering in the west and there were enough clouds to create beautiful color in the west and beautiful shadows and light on the mountains.  I love this part of the country.  Wide open spaces yet mountains in the background.

We drove through mid to high 90’s today and low to mid 70’s.  We would gain elevation and it would cool off and then drop down into valleys and it would heat up.  It was a pretty drive today but the heavy traffic made it a long day.

Grateful for a safe journey through very heavy traffic today, grateful for the fun we had wading in the sand and water, and grateful for excellent waitresses that provide great service.

Tuesday night’s full moon was a hard night for me.  Not sure why it hit me so hard but I was an emotional mess all night long.  I didn’t sleep much, cried most of the night, and took a nose dive into the muck pond.  Luckily by morning I was out of the muck pond and feeling better.  As always Jim was very gentle and kind with me even though he doesn’t understand the pull the moon has on me.

Thomas left at 6:30 Wednesday morning to catch the shuttle to the airport.  Jim drove him down to the gathering area for the shuttle.  Thomas had a long adventure to get home due to a storm in the DC area but he finally made it home much later than anticipated.

I took a lazy day Wednesday,  We hung around the cabin and didn’t do much.  I was emotionally drained and didn’t have much energy.  I took a short nap in the afternoon and woke up feeling rested.  We went into Estes Park for dinner and afterwards took a nice long walk around the Y Camp grounds.  The day ended much nicer than it started.

Today we were up rather early and drove up to Park and Ride area and took the shuttle bus up to Bear Lake.  We walked around Bear Lake and than walked up to Nymph Lake.  Nymph Lake had lots of water lilies on it and was beautiful.  I liked it better than Bear Lake although Bear Lake was beautiful too.

We then drove up Trail Ridge Road and walked the open tundra opposite the Ute Trail.  The wind was gusty today and gave me a good workout.  We climbed up a hill and found a rock in a bit of a sheltered place and stopped and had a snack and enjoyed the view.  Came back down after a bit.  My bunions did not like the uneven surface of the tundra.  I was grateful I had my walking sticks with me as they kept me from blowing away a couple of times.  We walked about four miles today altogether.

We stopped at the Forest Canyon Overlook and than drove back to camp.  On the way to our cabin we stopped at Jim’s brother’s cabin to make plans for dinner together tonight and then stopped at a friend of Jim’s cabin for a short visit.

After dinner tonight at Jim’s brother’s cabin we will have to start packing as we will be leaving Estes Park in the morning.  We are going to the Sand Dunes tomorrow and will end the day in Antonito, CO.   Saturday morning we have a train ride from Antonito to Chama and then will ride a bus back to Antonito.  We will spend the night Saturday in Raton and drive to Stillwater Sunday.

I’m sorry to see our time come to an end here.  It has been a wonderful respite place.  I love the weather here and am grateful I have missed the heat wave back home is having.  At night I have to put on sweat pants here to stay warm enough.  Don’t think I will need them when I get back to OK and KS.

Almost have the third set of tea towels finished.  I made eight dish rags and ran out of yarn.  At least I didn’t waste all my time here.

Didn’t see much wildlife today.  We spotted a female herd of elk while at the Forest Canyon Overlook but they were quite a ways away.  There was a deer in the front yard this morning.  We didn’t get lucky enough this time to see a bear.

I told Jim next year we need to plan on staying for four weeks instead of only two.  It takes me about a week to adjust to the higher altitude and four weeks would give me three weeks of hiking time.  Escaping the KS heat sounds wonderful again.  It will be much more fun next year to hike when my feet are fixed and they won’t be yelling at me.

Grateful my dip into the muck pond didn’t last long, grateful for all the beauty I saw in Mother Nature today, and grateful for hiking sticks!

Today was a quiet day for me.  Jim and his son went hiking and I stayed behind at the cabin.  My feet are doing OK but they aren’t up to long hikes everyday.  I think the guys hiked almost 12 miles today.

I put the dirty laundry in my carry on bag pushed and pulled it to the laundry mat.  My carry on bag was easier to take than carrying a sack of laundry.  While I was waiting for the machines to finish washing and drying I knitted another wash rag.  I am out of wash rag yarn so no more knitting on this trip unless I stop and buy some more some place.

I have four tea towels of the third set I brought with me done.  It is relaxing for me to work on them and helps make the time go by quickly when I can’t be outside hiking.

After Jim and Thomas came back Jim and I went into town to get him a new pair of hiking shoes.  When we went in the shoe store the sky was bright blue and it is was warm outside.  By the time we were done the clouds had rolled in and we could tell it was raining in the distance and the temperature had dropped at least ten degrees. When we got back to the cabin there was hail piled up by the side of the cabin.  I swear the weather here changes even faster than Kansas weather does.

We went over to Jim’s brother’s cabin for dinner tonight.  We had a pleasant evening visiting with them and enjoying someone else’s cooking.  It is a beautiful evening tonight and is to get down to the 50’s overnight.  The forecast is for clear skies for the next few days.

Not sure yet what our plan is for tomorrow.  Thomas leaves for the airport early tomorrow morning.  Jim and I will probably find a three to four mile hike to do.  My feet should be good to go tomorrow again.  I’m sorry to know that Friday is almost here and we will have to leave.  We have enjoyed our time here very much.  I hear the temperature back home is to hit 100 or above for the next four days. Doesn’t make me want to rush home by any means.

Grateful for a quiet day at the cabin, grateful my feet seem to only need one day to recover and will tolerate me hiking again on them, and grateful for the cool temperatures of Colorado.

 

Got up before 6:00 this morning.  We left the cabin at 6:40 to take Thomas to Bear Lake so he could hike.  Jim and I came back into town to get gas and then headed up Trail Ridge Road.  We took a cut off and took the back road up to the visitor’s center on Trail Ridge Road.  The road was a beautiful dirt road through the mountains.  We saw a female moose on the way.

We hiked over 2 miles away from the Visitor’s Center.  It was a beautiful hike on a nice trail.  We had to walk through two snow fields.  They have had a very late spring this year and there is still a lot of snow above tree line.  We saw a small bachelor herd of elk, followed by a female herd and then the baby and mamma herd.  Also saw some wild turkeys.  The scenery was magnificent all along the trail.  After over two miles we stopped and sat on the grass and took in the sites and rested a bit.

We heard thunder and looked to the west.  A huge thunderstorm was brewing so we headed back to Trail Ridge Visitor’s Center.  Jim kept encouraging me to keep going as fast as was comfortable for me.  I’m afraid I hike at the pace of a turtle though.  We got sprinkled on a bit but never had heavy or even light rain fall on us.

After using the restrooms at the center we headed on up Trail Ridge Road and went up to Grand Lake.  I hadn’t been there for over six years.  The town has changed!  We ate at what used to be my favorite restaurant but it has changed hands and wasn’t the same.  Hard to make a trip back in time!  The food was good though and we enjoyed our lunch.

After lunch we headed back to Estes Park.  The first half of the drive went quickly but then we hit a long delay.  It took us over an hour to go three miles due to a road construction site.  Once we finally got through that we got back to the cabin a bit after 4:00.  It has been a long day.

Shortly after we got back Thomas came in from his hike.  He wasn’t as lucky as we had been with the weather as he got some good size hail where he was at.

We could tell all around us it had rained but we never drove through much.  We just had a light shower at the cabin but the sun is out already and for the moment it is clearing up again.  Mountain storms seem to come and go quickly.  It is lightning in the distance and I can still hear thunder so the possibility of more rain today still exists.

I didn’t sleep very much last night so am really tired this evening.  I hope I can make it until 9:00 or so before I fall asleep.  Part of the problem last night was the almost full moon shining in the bedroom window.  I knew I had to get up early and kept thinking the moon was the sun as it was so bright.  Full moon happens on Tuesday night.

My feet held up OK during the hike today.  They are sore again tonight a bit but just to touch.  They have never throbbed like they did when I had the neuromas.  Last night they were sensitive during the night and would wake me up when I rolled over and touched them to the bed.  I grateful it is just a bit over three weeks before I have the first one taken care of.

Not sure what the plan is for tomorrow.  It is Thomas’s last full day here.  We are having dinner with Jim’s brother and family tomorrow night.  I hope Jim and Thomas get one more hike in together tomorrow.  I will stay behind and nurse my sore feet.

Grateful we missed the bad weather while we were out and about today, grateful Thomas returned safely from his hike, and grateful for all the beautiful wildlife I saw today.

It is a lazy, cloudy day in Estes Park.  It sprinkles every once in a while but hasn’t rained yet.  It is a bit windy at times and feels like a storm is brewing but hasn’t occurred yet.  Good day to stay at our cabin and do nothing.  The temperature is in the mid 70’s but doesn’t feel that warm to me.  I had to put on sweat pants for a bit to warm up.  If the sun pops out and I can sit in the sun I warm up quickly but sitting in the shade is a bit cool.

Yesterday Jim and his son Thomas took a long hike.  They hit snow on their trail somewhere along the way.  The trail was a bit harder than I am up for and my feet were hurting so I stayed at the cabin all day.  I did a bit of cleaning up and walked over to borrow a crock pot from housekeeping so I could fix white chicken chili for dinner.  I needed a quiet day alone to recharge.

The soup turned out really good.  I used the can opener that was in the cabin to open the corn and green chilis.  I was going to open some cans of beans but decided to cook my own instead as the can opener didn’t work well.  I could only get about two inches of the cans open and then had to use a knife to pry the lid open enough to shake out the stuff in the can.  I had a package of beans and my instant pot and lots of time so did that instead of using canned beans.

Finished a complete second set of tea towels and have a third set started.  Have knitted seven dish rags so far.  I’m almost out of dish rag yarn.  I’m so glad I brought those projects along with me as it has been relaxing to work on them.

Got a text from my weekend house sitter.  She found a dead chicken in the chicken yard.  It is one of my older ones.  I’m never sure what causes them to die.  I don’t worry about it unless more die around the same time.  Chickens don’t recover from small injuries very well.  I was sorry my house sitter had to deal with a dead chicken.

Got a letter from the City of Emporia notifying me that a tree on one of my rental properties is blocking the sight of traffic.  I got hold of my rental property manager and he is going to take care of it for me next week.  I’m grateful I signed up for the USPS email alert.  I asked my house sitter to open and then send me a text of the picture of the letter so I knew what was going on.  I only have until next Friday to have it taken care of and I won’t be home until the following Tuesday.

Having a wonderful time in Estes Park.  The weather is so cool and nice.  The view from our cabin is amazing.  The only issue for me so far has been my sore feet and the tooth that I broke a piece off.  My feet are allowing me to hike every third day at least.  I am learning to chew on my left side instead of the right where the tooth is broken.  It gets sore if I use it to chew with.

We have only eaten out once since we have been here.  I don’t like crowds and downtown is crowded.  Jim and his son went downtown this afternoon but I decided to stay at the cabin where it is quiet.  I didn’t feel like being around lots of people today.  I may take a nap in a bit.  I could get used to being lazy.

We only have four full days left here.  We have to be out of the cabin by 10:00 am Friday morning.  Jim’s son departs on Wednesday for the east coast.  Time is going by too quickly.  I told Jim we need to plan on spending four weeks here next summer.

Grateful for cool, cloudy lazy days, grateful for my house sitters, and grateful for this respite time.

Yesterday turned into a lazy, rest day.  I took a nap while Jim drove his youngest son to the Denver airport.  We spent the morning sitting on the deck watching the baby fawn and her mother play in the grass.

My feet were a bit sore yesterday but not too bad.  They bothered me more at night.  When I would roll over in bed they would yell at me and wake me up.

Today Jim and I took a 3.5 mile hike to the Pool.  It is a beautiful spot on the Big Thompson River.  The hike was a gradual climb on a beautiful trail.  The trail was very nice in places, a bit rocky in others and big steps in other places.  As usual for me the climb back went much faster than the climb up.

Jim’s other son left this morning to go on a hike by himself and hasn’t gotten back yet.  Wonder how many miles he will cross today?  He runs regularly and does a lot of walking and is in much better shape than Jim or I are.

Tonight I am fixing ham and beans in the instant pot with corn bread.  I’m glad I brought the instant pot with me as we have used it most days.  Makes meals simple and quick with easy clean up.

Not sure what the plan is for tomorrow.  Part of it will depend on how my feet are doing.  They have handled the hiking better than I had hoped they might.

It sprinkled on and off during our hike today but never did rain hard.  Typical mountain weather from what I understand.  It wasn’t as warm today as it only reached the upper 70’s today.  Perfect hiking weather!

I am continuing to work on embroidery work on tea towels.  Almost have a second set completed as well as five dish rags.  It is relaxing work for my hands which relaxes and quiets my head.

Can’t believe we have been here for one week already.  Time is going by too quickly.  We will be here one more week and then have one more adventure riding a train before we head for OK and then end up in KS around the 23rd.

Grateful my feet are allowing me to get some hiking in, grateful for relaxing, lazy days, and grateful for the beautiful weather.

Yesterday we hiked on the tundra up off of Trail Ridge Road.  It was a beautiful tundra full of early spring flowers.  The wind was blowing hard up there though with gusts up to 40 MPH and sustaining winds around 30 MPH.  I almost got blown over twice before I learned to not lift one foot before I planted the other one – especially during the gusty times.  We were out on the tundra for about an hour and half.  Got hailed on at one point although the hail was small and luckily didn’t last long.  It sure stung though when it hit my face.

We got stuck in a traffic jam that lasted over 30 minutes on the way up Trail Ridge Road.  Turned out to be what they call an Elk Jam.  There was a bachelor herd of elk lying right by the side of the highway and everyone was slowing down to take pictures. People were stopping their cars, getting out and taking selfies yards from the elk.  Not sure that was a smart thing for them to be doing but didn’t see any misadventures from it.  We saw a female herd on our way home.

Traffic is very heavy here.  Rocky Mountain National Park had over 4 million visitors last year and they are on pace to have over 5 million this year.  The road ways were not built to handle that many people.  Restaurants are full and it takes a good 20 to 30 minutes to get from one end of Estes Park to the other during daylight hours.

The boys worked together and fixed chili for dinner last night.  I had brought my instant pot and they cooked the beans in the instant pot and then added the other stuff for chili.  It was really good.

Today we took a five mile hike up to Mill’s Lake.  The parking lots were all full above so we had to park below and take a shuttle bus.  We had to wait about 30 minutes to get on the bus.  They are doing road construction on Bear Lake Road so that delayed our start.

The trail to the lake is mainly a rocky trail.  I struggled to make it the 2.5 miles to the lake.  Jim was very patient with me and encouraged me to stop and rest as often as I needed to.  It was mainly uphill and the trail was full of rocks to balance on and step up and over.  I kept getting light headed and a bit nauseous.  Thinking I am still adjusting to the altitude here.

Part way up we saw Victoria’s Falls.  The water is really cold and running fast this year as CO had a high amount of snow late this spring.  The Falls were beautiful.  I love hearing the sound of rushing water along the trail today.

The lake was so worth getting to.  It was absolutely beautiful with clear, cold water and mountains all around.  There is still snow on the bank across the lake from where we were.  People were trout fishing, having picnics, and just enjoying the beautiful scenery.  We sat on some rocks by the lake side and enjoyed watching the birds glide through the air and the fish jump out of the lake.

Thankfully the downhill trip was much easier for me.  It was a rougher trail full of slippery rocks and boulders to step around but going down was much easier for me and the trip down went much faster.  We hiked over 5 miles all together today.

I have been resting and elevating my feet since I have been back to the cabin.  My bunions did not appreciate my hiking and they are making it known that wasn’t what they like me to do.  I’m grateful I am getting one of them taken care of in August and the other one later this year.  When my feet hurt I get cranky and hurt all over.

The weather today was perfect hiking weather.  It was in the mid 70’s and bright blue skies all day.  Thankfully the trail had lots of trees around it and we were in the shade most of the time as 70’s here feels warm.

Not sure what we are doing tomorrow.  One of Jim’s sons returns to the west coast tomorrow and Jim will take him to the airport tomorrow afternoon.  The guys may do some sort of hike in the morning – not sure if my feet will allow me to go tomorrow.  I may stay behind and continue knitting and embroidery work.  I finished one set of tea towels and have two more of the next set done.  I have also made three dish rags.

Last night Jim helped me organize my embroidery floss.  I can make a big mess of my tin of floss very quickly.  It is nice to have it back in order.

I’m having a grand time in CO.  The mountains are so beautiful, the air is so fresh and crisp and where we are staying is very comfortable and relaxing.  The night stars are amazing.  Haven’t thought much of home this week.  Last night I slept like a baby for over six hours straight.  That rarely happens for me.

Grateful for this relaxing time away, grateful I made it to Mill’s Lake, and grateful for the beauty of the earth.

Yesterday was Jason’s birthday.  I can’t believe he is 44 years old now.  Where does the time go?  Jason has taught me more about life than anyone else I have ever known.  I am so proud of the man he has become.  He has had lots of obstacles and hurdles to jump during his life and managed to over come each one.

We spent a quiet day yesterday.  The boys were tired from there very late flight Monday.  Jim didn’t get back from picking them up from the airport until after 3:00 am.  We all slept in late Monday morning and took a lazy day.  Both boys had work they needed to do and spent lots of time on their computers catching up and making phone calls.

It was a rainy, cloudy day that was a perfect day to spend doing nothing.  I did make another dish rag and finished two more tea towels.

We took the boys out to dinner last night and then went grocery shopping.  I went to bed early but the guys stayed up until midnight or so.

Today is a beautiful day.  The skies are bright blue and we have lots of sunshine.  Sometime this early afternoon we are all going to drive up Trail Ridge Road and take a hike.  It is a beautiful day for that.  This evening I need to do some laundry after dinner.  The Y Camp has a laundromat on grounds so will use that and not fight the traffic downtown Estes Park.

I am finally slowing down a bit and allowing myself to relax.  The mountains are so amazing and healing.  I feel a deep peace in myself that has been missing for a bit.  Still not sure I could live here full time but what an escape they are to come to.

Grateful for this healing, quiet time in the mountains, grateful to be able to allow myself to slow down, and grateful for the joy Jason has brought to my life and the privilege of being his mother.

Jim just left to go to the Denver airport to pick up his two sons.  They both arrive around midnight but are coming from different directions – one from the east coast and one from the west coast.  Jim is excited both are coming for a few days.

We had another quiet, restful day today.  Both of us took a nap this afternoon.  I finally feel rested and acclimated to the higher altitude.  When we took our walk this evening I wasn’t short of breath and my legs didn’t feel like mush.  We walked for about an hour around the grounds of the Y Camp.

This afternoon a doe and her fawn entertained us while we sat on the front deck of our cabin.  The fawn was spotted and had long legs.  She looked like she was doing more hopping than walking.  We saw several more deer while we were on our walk. Haven’t seen any elk yet this time.

I have been knitting and doing embroidery work on a set of tea towels.  I have two wash rags knitted and three tea towels done.  It gives my hands something to do while I sit and look at the mountains.  It is so beautiful here.  The cabin feels very private although there are cabins to either side and around us.

It rained for a bit this afternoon.  We got a blanket and sat out on the deck and watched it rain.  I love the smell of the cedar and sage when it is wet.  The air smelled so fresh and clean.

Not sure what the plans are for tomorrow.  It is to rain again tomorrow but be sunny and clear on Tuesday and Wednesday.  We may just hang out here again tomorrow as the boys will have had a long day today.  Tuesday we will go on a hike in the mountains somewhere.  David goes back to the west coast on Wednesday but Thomas is staying for ten days or so.

I fixed split pea soup with ham in the instant pot for dinner.  It was good and easy to make.  We will have to go to the grocery store tomorrow once the boys decide what they want to eat for dinner.  We have left over soup and goulash from the night before for lunch tomorrow.

Grateful I have finally adjusted to the higher altitude, grateful for the rain today and the fresh smells in the air, and grateful for the mother deer and her baby that played in my front yard today.

We arrived in Estes Park yesterday afternoon around 5:00 local time.  We had an uneventful trip here.  I slept from the CO border to Boulder so that part of the trip went fast.  We stopped at a Rocky Mountain High store in Boulder and then came up to Estes.  We are staying in the same cabin we did when we came last December.

Today was a relaxing day.  I took another nap and slept for two hours.  I think I am still recovering a bit from my trip to Maine.  We did go visit with Jim’s brother and his family this afternoon and then went to the grocery store.  It is simpler to cook in then to fight the crowds and eat out.

Got a few sprinkles today but otherwise it has been beautiful here.  Both last night and this evening we took a long walk on the grounds of the Y Camp where we are staying.  The mountain air is so fresh and clean.  The wild flowers are late appearing this year due to the long winter they have had here.  There is still lots of snow on the mountains.

Tomorrow Jim’s two sons arrive late in the evening.  We will be picking them up from the Denver airport.  Not sure what else we have planned for the day.  It is so nice to just be able to relax and do nothing.

I have been doing some embroidery on another set of tea towels.  I have two towels completed and a third one almost done.  I also knitted a dish rag.

Grateful for this relaxing time in the mountains, grateful for a safe trip here, and grateful for the beautiful weather and beautiful night skies.

I am patiently (OK not so patiently) waiting for Jim to arrive.  He should be here by 4:30.  We have been apart for over two weeks – not long by calendar time but it feels like a long time by heart time.

I am almost all packed.  We are leaving for CO tomorrow morning.  I will finish up with toiletries in the morning.  I think I have most everything else off my list gathered up.  Since we are driving I always take too much stuff just because I have room for it.  I spent two months in Spain and France with just a carry-on bag.  I’ll take the same bag plus a bunch of stuff this trip.  We will be cooking in our cabin so taking the Instant Pot and spices and other food stuff.  I keep reminding myself they do have grocery stores in Estes Park!

My neighbor reported on Facebook she got over two inches of rain overnight and it continued raining most of the morning.  I just got back up from doing the chicken chores.  There is standing water all over my yard.  Lots more rain is in the forecast.  Hope my intern can get to work in Cottonwood Falls Monday morning.  He may have to take the long way around.  Maybe someone needs to do a ferry service while the road is closed between towns.

I slept lots last night at last.  I am still tired today but I usually am after I get lots of sleep.  Maybe the mountain air will help my sleep.  We will be out and about hiking most of the days – that may help too.

Michelle and her family and Jason are to come out this evening for hamburgers and hot dogs.  Tim bought a bunch of fireworks to shoot off when it gets dark.  It is hot and muggy outside but we won’t have to worry about a fire this year.  There were lots of fireworks going off all around me last night.  Trust we will see more again tonight.  I like them from a distance but really don’t care for the loud booms.

I didn’t get my hall closet painted today or the chicken coop cleaned out.  Guess they will have to wait until I get home later in the month.  Not sure what I have done today other than gather stuff up to take on the trip and chores.  It has been a slow, lazy day for me today.

I’m in a better head space than I was yesterday.  Still thinking about what action is best for me to take.  Knowing that keeping my vibration high and strong and continuing to hold and send peace to the world is my first step.  I would like to find a more physical activity to participate in so I can be part of the solution too though.  I miss having a regular volunteer activity to do.  I will be laid up for six to eight weeks with bunion surgery though beginning August 7 and will have another bunion surgery the end of November so maybe I will have to wait until the first of the year to find something to do.  Hope to be able to do taxes again next year.

Grateful Jim will be here within the hour, grateful Michelle and her family and Jason are coming out this evening, and grateful for sleep last night.

 

I took a nose dive into the muck pond this afternoon.  I was sitting in my chair and realized tears were running down my face.  I had spent some time catching up on the news as I hadn’t heard or read any news for over a week.  A picture of the refugees in America that are being held in unsanitary cages captured my heart.  How can this be happening in America?  There was a story of a border guard who quit after being asked to tell two young brothers they couldn’t touch and console each other.  Then I read about a judge that let a young rapist off the hook because the judge feels the young man has a bright future ahead of him and a rape charge would derail his life.  Really?  How much did it derail the young woman he raped or does that not matter?  Then I saw an article about how the number of billionaires has rapidly increased and at the same time the number of those that have fallen into poverty has also rapidly increased.

I felt so overwhelmed at the injustice world I live in.  How can this country of so many riches be so unbalanced in so many ways.  My heart hurts from it all.  I felt so helpless and such pain and sorrow.  So many people are suffering needlessly due to the actions of a few elite morons.

Still not sure what I am going to do about any of this.  I do know it doesn’t help to fall into the muck pond and stay there.  That lowers my vibration and energy and adds to the fear and helplessness of the world.  I went out and mowed the rest of my yard and bounced on my mower and let go of as much of the dark energy as I could release.  That helped some.  I also realized I am still very tired and need to recharge and reground myself and then decide what I can do to help.  I know that when I get this tired things look different to me and it is hard to keep things in perspective.  I managed to climb out of the muck pond but my heart still hurts.

I went into Emporia this morning and when I went to get out of my car at Bluestem realized I had forgotten my purse at home.  Had to go back home and get my purse and go back to town.  Loaded up on chicken feed, dog food, and cat food.  I got lucky at Bluestem as when I was getting the flat cart a worker asked me if he could load something for me.  10 bags later the cart was full.  He pushed the cart to the cashier and then unloaded it into my car.  I only had to unload the feed when I got home.  That was easy.

Stopped at Walmart and got groceries and a few things I need for the trip to CO.  By the time I came out from shopping it was raining so had to unload my groceries into my car in the rain.  It was a warm, cleansing rain though and felt good to be out in it.

My intern went home for the night and will be back Friday afternoon.  I leave Friday morning so am trusting he will be back in time to do chores Friday evening.  He forgot to charge the dog collars while I was in Maine.  Next time I will text him and remind him to do so.  I am lucky the dogs didn’t run away while I was gone.  I don’t think he likes animals as I never see him petting them or paying attention to them.

The kids are coming out for dinner tomorrow night so got stuff to make hamburgers, potato salad, deviled eggs, and baked beans.  Got ice cream bars for dessert.  Going to keep it simple and easy.

Jim is coming tomorrow afternoon some time.  He hopes to get away by noon but he usually runs late so don’t expect him until closer to five if then.  I still have things I need to get done before I can leave Friday so I will have a busy day tomorrow getting that stuff done.  I made a dent in my to do list today but still have a rather long list to work my way through.  Maybe I will get some more of it done tonight yet.

I need to touch up the house a bit.  I haven’t made it downstairs yet to see what needs to be done down there before I leave.  I have two different sets of house sitters coming to stay over the weekends while I am gone.  I will have to beg their forgiveness if the house is not up to my standards this time.

I’m glad I have the house to myself this evening.  I may need to move and shout out some more dark energy that feels like it is boiling up and out of me.  Not sure how I would explain that noise to my student intern!

Grateful I was able to climb out of the muck pond this afternoon, grateful for the media that lets us know of the injustice that is happening under our noses right here in America, and grateful Jim is coming tomorrow.

Home sweet home!  I got home around 1:15 this afternoon.  The flight between Chicago and Manhattan landed early and my luggage came right out.  I love small airports!  Both flights were a bit early and travel was easy today.

I have laundry washing and am unpacked.  Went through the mail and paid a bill.  It is nice to get home and take care of “normal” things.  The house is in good shape and I don’t have too much to do to it.  There is a smell in my pantry I need to track down. Thinking I have some rotten onions or potatoes some where hiding from me.

I am tired!  I had trouble falling asleep last night and only slept for about two hours.  I might have gotten another 30 minutes of sleep but not much more than that.  I dozed on both flights for about 10 minutes.  A bath tonight will be heavenly and am trusting it will help me sleep tonight.

I had such a nice respite at Camp Hutch.  Hazel’s family treated me like family and embraced me with their love.  I feel like I made several new friends on this trip.  What a beautiful spot Camp Hutch is.  Very relaxing and peaceful for the soul.  I loved learning how to kayak and plan on doing it some more.  May have to get one for myself.  I see why Kathy loves hers so much now.

I worked on a to do list while I was traveling today.  I leave Friday morning for CO with Jim and will be gone for almost three weeks.  I have a lot to do over the next two days.  Jim will be coming Thursday afternoon so we can leave early Friday morning for the drive to Estes Park.  I feel a bit behind getting ready for the next trip but with a list made it feels a bit more manageable.  I’ll have to make a run into Emporia tomorrow to stock up on critter feed and pick up a few things I want to take with me on this trip.  I also need to get my tires rotated.  The weather will be both spring like and summer like so will need to take a variety of clothes so I can be comfortable.

I went out to mow this afternoon and got rained out.  I love hearing the rain and thunder.  I don’t think the rain will last long and may be able to go back out and finish mowing this afternoon or I may wait and do it tomorrow when it is drier.  The rain helped cool things down a bit.  I’m not used to 90 degree days.  It only reached 80 once while I was in Maine and most of the times it was in the high 60’s or low 70’s.  Heat and I do not like each other these days. It will take me a bit to adjust to the higher temperatures.  Guess it is a good thing I am headed to CO Friday where the highs are in the low 70’s.  More my type of temperature.

I sure like looking outside and seeing the wide open spaces.  Maine is beautiful in it’s own way but I missed seeing the wide open horizon.  I trust the clouds will part by sunset time and I can watch the sun set tonight.

I have two dozen eggs extra if anyone needs some.  I haven’t made it down to see my girls since I got home this afternoon.  When the rain stops I will go down and see how they are doing.  I need to get the coop cleaned out before I leave Friday if I can find the time and motivation to do so.  I’ll see what time I get up tomorrow morning and if it is early enough I’ll get down and get that task done before it gets hot.

I chipped a tooth while I was in Maine.  The dentist I want to go to is out of town this week.  I’ll have to remember to call from CO next week and get an appointment for when I get home.  I have a feeling they will have to put a cap on the tooth even though it is just a small corner that broke off.  I don’t have dental insurance.  I trust the rest of the tooth will stay in place and not become sore while I am gone.

Feeling a bit like not all of me has arrived home with me yet.  I’m sure most of that is due to being very tired.  I’ll catch up with myself soon!

Grateful for on time and smooth travels today, grateful for the drink the prairie received from the rain this afternoon, and grateful to be home, sweet home!

My last full day in Maine. After breakfast we went to Hazel’s brother’s house. He drove us to the Bangor bus station. We took a two and one half hour bus ride to Portland.

Hazel’s niece’s husband met us at the Portland bus station.  We stopped at a sandwich stop and ate lunch. Then he very graciously gave us a tour of the coastal area of the city. We stopped at several light houses and beaches. The coast here is rocky. The sun was out and it was a beautiful day to see the ocean.

After our tour we went to his house where we will be spending the night. I will head to the airport around 5:30 in the morning so I can catch my 7:05 flight to Chicago. I have a little over an hour lay over in Chicago before my flight to Manhattan. Hoping to be home by 3:00.

It has been a very restful time for me.  Last night we had one last kayak adventure that was cut short due to rain. I got to see the sunset from the kayak which I had been missing.

I will have two full days at home before I leave Friday morning with Jim to go to Estes Park in CO for a two week stay. We have some plans after that so won’t be back home until July 24.

I’m so grateful to my student intern for caring for my critters during the week and friends that come out to care for them on the weekends. It is nice to be able to get away without worry.

Maine is a beautiful state. It doesn’t call to me to come live here though. Not a lot of racial diversity in the state. Lots of clean fresh air and lots of trees and ponds and lakes.

I’m ready to be home again. I miss my wide open spaces.

Grateful for the hospitality Hazel’s family has shown me, grateful to see the ocean today, and grateful to be going home tomorrow.

It has been a rainy, cool day at Camp Hutch. There were thunderstorms off and on all night. Lots of standing water in the yard. The rain has continued off and on all day.

I struggled with sleep last night. The first night that has happened since I have been here. I stayed up to listen to the loons and bull frogs. They play a symphony of music all night.

This morning after a late breakfast we went over to Hazel’s sisters house. They fed us homemade from scratch tomato soup. Yummy!  Her family has accepted me with loving open arms.

We came back to Camp Hutch mid afternoon. Both of us are taking some quiet rest time

I had hoped to go kayaking one last tine today but need the rain clouds to move out before I can do that.

Tomorrow morning we will catch the bus from Bangor to Portland. If the weather cooperates I hope to spend the afternoon on the beach. We will spend the night at Hazel’s niece’s house and they will take me to the airport early Tuesday morning as I have a 7:00 flight to Chicago.

Sounds like a heat wave came through back home while I have been gone. Can’t say I am sorry to have missed it. It has been nice to have to put a sweatshirt on here to stay warm enough.

Looking forward to returning home Tuesday afternoon. I miss my wide open space.

It has been a wonderful restful week for me. I can see why Hazel loves this place and space. I will leave her in her loving family’s hands. They take good care of her.

Grateful for the love that Hazel’s family has shared with me this week, grateful for my house sitter this weekend that took good care of my place and critters and grateful for the special time I have had with Hazel.

It was a peaceful day at Jacob Buck Pond. This morning we went to visit a friend across the pond. She is a delightful lady and we had an interesting conversation with her.

We had lunch when we got home and then took naps. After our naps we went kayaking. I am a big fan of kayaking now. I figured out out to steer it and make it go sliding through the water. The water was smooth as a mirror and reflecting the trees and clouds.

I fixed us dinner afterwards and we will spend the rest of the evening relaxing.  I made two more dish rags today.

I have slept more here than I have for a long time. My soul must have needed this retreat space. Life is simple here. This is a beautiful healing space.

We had some showers earlier today but the afternoon was lovely. When the sun comes out it warms up quickly. More showers are forecast for tomorrow but trusting there will be a break between storms so I can get back out on the kayak one last time before my journey home that starts Monday.

Will take the bus to Portland Monday morning and spend the afternoon on the beach. My flight out if Portland is at 7:05 and I should be back in Manhattan by 1:30 if all goes as planned.

Missing the open prairie and the sunrises and sunsets. It will be good to be home. The time here has gone quickly though. The rest has been good for my soul.

Grateful for another adventure in the kayak, grateful for all the sleep I have been getting and grateful for the beauty of Nature.

It was a beautiful day here today. Bright blue skies and lots of sunshine. It warmed up to the 80’s today for the first time this summer.  Unfortunately this afternoon the clouds rolled in and there were some brief showers.

A high school friend of Hazel’s came over this morning and then Hazel’s  sister came over. They had a gab fest. It was fun to watch them. I knitted another dish cloth while they visited.

I am missing the sunrise and sunset as you can’t see the horizon here. Grateful the sun was out today.

After everyone left we took a nap. I didn’t fall asleep today but laid down for a bit.

Went to the grocery store after our naps and then decided to go see Rocket Man, the movie about Elton John. It was a great movie.

We stopped and had dinner at a local restaurant and then came back to Camp. The restaurant was loud and noisy.  After being in the peace and quiet of Camp Hutch for two days it was a bit overwhelming to hear so much noise.

Going to call it a day and go to bed early tonight.

Grateful for the peace and quiet of Camp Hutch, grateful for life long friends, and grateful for the sunshine this morning.

It was a very calm and relaxing day. I had a good night’s sleep at last.

Fixed chicken tenders and grapefruit for breakfast.  Sometimes you have to eat what is available.

The hot water heater wasn’t working so Hazel’s brother-in-law and her sister came over this morning to fix it. While they were here her brother and his wife came over with fresh muffins, bacon and eggs.  We all had a nice visit.

After everyone left Hazel and I went kayaking on the pond. The lake was very calm today and looked like a reflecting mirror. It was like floating in heaven out on the water. We must have stayed out for over an hour paddling around and enjoying the view.

We cane in and I fixed a salad for lunch. We sat out on the deck chairs for a bit. I went upstairs and took a long nap.

Fixed bacon and eggs for dinner. I have been knitting off and on. I have finished three dish cloths on this trip so far.

Lazy, quiet day. Just what my soul needed today. Not sure what the plan is for tomorrow. Doesn’t matter!  I know it will be another wonderful day in paradise.

Grateful for this peaceful retreat, grateful for the cool weather, and grateful for this healing time with Hazel.

A day full of delays. Got notice this morning that our 3:47 flight out of Manhattan was going to be delayed until 4:45.  I got to Hazel’s house around noon. We called American and they rebooked us for a 8:35 flight.

We went to lunch and then took a short nap before going to the airport.

Our first flight didn’t take off until 5:40. We grabbed a quick salad at the Chicago airport and waited to board our 8:35 flight. It didn’t depart until 9:45.

We will spend the night in the Boston airport as we will miss the last bus of the day going to Portland. We will catch the 7:30 am bus to Bangor instead and arrive in Portland around noon.

We were going to book a hotel room in Boston but they charge $550 to $1,259 a night. Can’t see paying that much. Wonder what makes them so luxurious that they can charge that much.

I must have needed another lesson on patience. So far I have rolled with the delays and allowed it to be what it is.

It will feel good to get to our final destination tomorrow afternoon. Funny that it took me less time to get to Spain then it will to get to Camp in Maine.

Grateful for safe flights, grateful for the laughter that happened today, and grateful to be on this adventure.

I didn’t get much sleep last night.  Slept for less than two hours then woke up and couldn’t go back to sleep.  Finally got about another hour of sleep around 5:30 this morning.  Gave up at 7:00 and got up for the day.  I’m getting sleepy this evening.

Finished cleaning the house this morning.  Lynn came and picked up the Newsletters to take to the post office.  Took my car into Cottonwood Falls for an oil change at 10:00.  Lynn came to the station and we walked up and down Main Street in Cottonwood Falls for about 20 minutes.  That made the waiting time go by quickly.  Dropped off recycling stuff after my car was done and came home.

Mowed the entire yard including the little push mowing part this afternoon.  It was a beautiful day to be out mowing.  There was little wind, bright blue skies and low 80’s.  Perfect weather to be outside.

Did a check on critter feed and I have enough to get by without having to go to town today.  Found another container of peanut butter cups so didn’t have to go to Emporia after all.  That was nice!

Got my packing done this afternoon.  I had a list and it went quick.  Just need to grab my toiletries in the morning and I will be ready to go.  I am leaving around 10:45 in the morning to head to Manhattan.  Hazel and I are going to go out to lunch as I doubt we will get dinner.  Our flight leaves from Manhattan around 3:30.  We won’t get to Portland until after 1:00 am.  It may be a long travel day.  Wednesday we will take a bus from Portland to Bangor where one of Hazel’s siblings will pick us up to take us to Camp Hutch.

I love being close to water and am looking forward to a week in Maine near the water and loons.  I’m sure we will go to the ocean at some point too.  Hazel has kayaks we will use to play in the water.  I’ll work on my sun tan while I am there.

Just trained my intern on how to do chores.  I so appreciate him taking care of things while I am going to be gone this week.  I have friends coming to spend the weekend so my intern won’t be stuck here.  I appreciate them too!  I am so blessed!

It felt good to have another productive day today.  I got a lot done yesterday and today.  I finally feel ready to leave for Maine.  I’m getting excited to go now.  Not sure why it usually feels a bit complicated to get away.  I have felt like I have been running behind the last week or so and finally feel like I have caught up to myself.  It will be so nice to have a week to relax and not have chores and critters to take care of.

Grateful for the sleep I will get tonight (does it work to be grateful in advance?), grateful my to do list is completed, and grateful for all that will be tending to my critters and house while I am gone.

We arrived at Camp Hutch around 3:30. It took a journey of 28 hours to get here. Well worth the journey. It is so peaceful and beautiful here.

We spent the night sitting in chairs by the luggage claim area of the Boston airport.  There were bathrooms nearby and we took lots of walks. The time passed quickly. We didn’t arrive at the airport until 1:00 and then had to claim our bags.  I never did sleep at the airport.

We got on the 7:30 bus to Portland and then got another bus to Bangor. The bus was comfortable.  I slept for about 30 minutes on the bus.

We got to Bangor around 12:30. Hazel’s brother and wife and son met us at the bus station and took us out to lunch. After lunch we stopped at a grocery store and then came to Camp Hutch.

I took a shower after we put groceries away and then took a much needed nap.

Hazel’s other siblings came to see her this evening. They had a nice visit.

I fixed us each a salad for dinner. We then both headed to bed. Trusting we will both be able to get some much needed sleep tonight.

Grateful for a safe journey to Camp Hutch, grateful for Hazel’s loving family, and grateful for the quiet and beautiful space I am at.