Watcha doing today?

[Littlesister]

Annarchy,  for your DH to be ok. 

 

Midnightmom, that is the best information yet. I have looked up a lot of things on it but none of it said it would turn yellow. I picked the two long ones while green. One was about 6ft. long and the other about 4ft. long. Now I know to wait till they turn yellow. The vines are loaded and it's only 2 plants.  

I have been canning squash for years but this being different I wasn't sure. But will wait till they turn yellow to pick now that I know what to do. 

 

Washed clothes early this morning and cleaned main bathroom. Just taking a break right now as I am dragging today, and it seems to be taken forever to get things done. It's been raining off and on all through last night and so far, all morning. Could be why I am dragging. No sunshine today. Just a dreary day today. But we need the rain. So not complaining. Hoping my other squash will make another come back. Glad I picked those tomatoes and checked everything else yesterday. 

[out_of_the_ordinary]

Annarchy, 

[Littlesister]

Got everything moved out of the way for the kids to get the bedroom suit out of that bedroom. They will be here at 9:30 in the morning. After they are gone, I will take down the blinds and get those washed and wash the windows. Then clean, dust and mop the floor. That was the room GS was using before he moved out the end of May. So, it does need a deep clean. Then paint. Just don't know what color yet. Looking at my paint charts. My room is a bluish grey and the small bedroom is blue and only the woodwork needs painting in the small bedroom. So, wanting a color that will fit in between the blue gray and the blue. If that even makes any since. Going to paint hall and foyer the same as the den. It is a light color. The fun of putting house back together will soon begin. 

[Ambergris]

PM and I are going to an Italian restaurant with a reputation for lovely desserts to have a mutual "not exactly our birthdays" lunch with the big puppy.   Little puppy might go with us or might stay with H's son.  

 

I always ate summer trombo when it was summer-squash sized.  

Edited August 5, 2023 by Ambergris

[snapshotmiki]

Yesterday went by in a blur. The kitten scratched my little Peanut's eye and neosporin wasn't helping so had to go to vet.

Walked first, this morning.
Second day of DH's IV antibiotics.
Just made Firehouse Baked beans for a funeral meal.
Only thing on my list this afternoon is to research candidates for local primaries on Tuesday.

[Littlesister]

Kids were here shortly after nine this morning and got the bedroom suit out of house. GS was still up, and he helped to move it. So had 3 guys moving it instead of just 2.  I dusted and cleaned the room really well but not putting any furniture in there till painted. I picked out the paint colors for the bedroom, hall, foyer, living room and dining room. So now all I need is the painter. Hope to find one this week. I now have a box spring sitting in my foyer blocking entrance to living room. DD is picking that up at some point but needs to be moved somewhere else at this point. I might have to just get the bedroom painted so I can get my desk, sewing machine and bookcases in that room and then wait till GS moves out with his stuff so I can get the rest of the rooms painted. The only room I won't paint other than the woodwork is my pantry. That was the last room DH and I had painted, and it was only about 6 years ago. So, it is still fine. I hate trying to do a paint pallet that flows with the whole house. But I got it figured out. I think GS is getting a bit nervous about moving into his own place. He's never really had responsibilities like that before, but he will learn. He has to start somewhere. And he knows where his mother and I am if he needs anything or help with something. 

[Mt_Rider]

Wow.....it's taken me two days to catch up with this thread.  Like trying to catch a big ball of yarn rolling down the steps!      You all have had adventures..good ones and ......bad stuff.  We're doing okay but a bit stretched for time lately. 

 

Annarchy?   How is MrA?       ...and how are you?     

 

Miki...    poor Peanut!  How is his eye doing?  He's gone thru it lately but so good to hear how milk thistle (?) was good for what ails him.  Later, when he's fine again from the scratch, tell me what you were treating with it, please.

 

LittleSister... YAY!!  So good to hear of GSs new behavior and attitude.  Milk fiasco, notwithstanding.  Folks do say that especially when young folks begin drugs or alcohol abuse, they swim blindly thru those years without any of the process of maturing taking place.  They can "wake up...get clean /sober " at age 25 and act like a 13 year old.  They flat out MISSED all the growing up by being blitzed out.  I've seen this to be true in at least one relative-in-law.  If he can stay off the substances, no reason he can't catch up his "gone" time and become a normal young man.    Make-up time is not 1 to 1.  Maturity can happen faster  if   they stay-on-the-planet and off the stuff.

 

Good to catch up with all the rest of you too.  I'm fine.  Have my hearing aids and both ears are accepting them.  Reading glasses and over-the-ear control box for the in-the-ear piece are trying to occupy the same space.  That's a little sore but it will work out. 

 

I'm having trouble scheduling horse rides.  DH is temporarily taking on another client for 8 hrs Sat/Sun.  So I need to catch a weekday ride -preferably with senior rides to and back.  Leave DH some days at home to rest his back.  Then there is road construction.   You know the story:  Winter and Road Construction are the two seasons for mountains. 

 

Y'know...this dog knows when it's 6:30pm.     TIME TO GO OUT FOR A WALK/SNIFF  ...and get the dumb birds in for the night too   She just came in here and said that!  

 

I added some to my 'Mandatory Relocation' Sci Fi down in Fireside today.  {remember...I never finished it}   

 

MtRider ...off to feed and walk and .....start supper!   

[Annarchy]

DH had issues!  I couldn’t get a pulse.  Two short quick beats & nothing!  Used the BP cuff… 40 bpm!  Not consistent AT ALL!  EMS sent him by ambulance to the hospital.  I gathered his stuff, into my briefcase, and headed up to the hospital.  
 

Our choices are a local, (10 miles away, that has proved to be negligent, or going 60 miles to the one that has saved his life.)  A typical ‘no brainer’. Plus they have all his records, so, for me, checking in, was basically, unlock the ER doors & go to the room. 

 

EKG was attached, his heart was still beating, two short and stopping, over and over… basically, this is  normal for most people……….beat……beat……beat……beat……etc.

 

His was…. Beat..beat..stop………..…beat..beat..stop…….……beat…..etc.

 

Doc did a bunch of tests…. Finally came in and watched the monitor going crazy, eyebrows raised, as he watched the monitor…left the room ordered an x-ray of his chest.  Came back 2 hours later and said, ‘..the start of congestive heart failure.. ‘. Get to your cardio, ASAP.  
 

Got home around 2 am.  I was beat!  I usually crash 8p.  I slept until 7a, I’m usually up around 4a.  He ragged and chided me for not having my heart issues checked….I keep telling him, it’s just my back & arthritis!  Nooo… that night he insisted adamantly, I make an apt for me. Called his cardio Dr, got an apt for him at 4 p. yesterday.  I made my apt., Monday, closest they could do.  
 

Got there, he talked with the Doc…. Several ‘stat’ tests were ordered.  Doc is very concerned.  As we were leaving, I commented, “..see you Monday morning “…. He asked why?  I told him they couldn’t get me in.  He says, ‘ I can always make time…’. 
 

Now, I’m scheduled for an iodine cat scan in Sept., because DH wouldn’t shut up about some of my symptoms….  Like, …how long has this been going on?  DH says “…years…” doc looked at me with raised eyebrows…. I had to agree….  
 

Dangit!  I’m tired of all this….it’s just my spinal column….  It’s messed up,from the ground up, has been since I was 11 years old and crushed it in a car accident….I know what it does…. DH just doesn’t believe me….  

As I was posting this, he came in and told me, ‘a hiatal hernia can cause the same symptoms he is having…’ after he did an internet search… doc, also mentioned checking his stomach…. Several years ago, they put a balloon down his throat, to open his esophagus above his stomach, because food was getting stuck above his stomach, when he swallowed, not getting into his stomach.  Very painful and, for me, stressful to watch him suffer.  

So, now we wait, do the tests, and wait….

Mother, I seriously don’t know how to make this story humorous…. I wish I could…. Jeepers, maybe you could help…..

[Mt_Rider]

  Annarchy....Jeepers always tells her stories AFTER she's unglued herself from self and carpet. 

 

You guys are in the middle of this one.  But of course we want updates to be praying.   

 

And you have a heavy load to carry right now...both of you.  DH and I always tell on each other too.  But I still want him in appts with me.  Cuz I don't always remember things .... 

 

God, give the Annarchys your stamina and strength to hold up their "basket" together.  Heal them in ways that would marvel doctors.  Give their doctor the very best wisdom for helping them.  Let no small thing go unnoticed. 

 

MtRider    

[Mother]

Annarchy.  No need to try to find humor in this crisis.  Just find the love that comes from us here.  

[Littlesister]

Annarchy, praying still that all is going well with your DH and yourself. It's good to be taken care of each other. Wives do tend to forget to take care of ourselves when we are taking care of our husbands. I did that and still paying that price. But I would do it all over again if I had to. 

 

Mother is right you are in the middle of a medical Delima right now.  No humor like Jeepers had.  But things will turn around for the good. 

 

My next-door neighbor is out of the crises he was in and is now doing better. My neighbor called me yesterday and said he will be in hospital a few more days and then off to rehab. They broke through the blockage and the ulcer has stopped bleeding. So now needing that ulcer to heal. He's still not eating much but at least he is out of danger. That man really does have 9 lives like a cat. He has had many health issues that almost took his life. He made it through this one also. God really does answer prayers. But also knowing that when it is time to go home God will call you up. 

 

Finished getting the rest of the stuff out of the closet in bedroom and now to get that wire shelving out. Then I am going to paint that closet and remove the doors. Going to put all 3 of the bookcases in there. And make that closet out as part of the room instead of a closet. I hate sliding doors and will eventually replace all of those doors with something much better. Cleaned the kitchen early this morning and checked on garden. Will pick okra this evening. Tomatoes will need picking tomorrow. Some are getting there again but not quite ready to pick. That Tromboncino squash is loaded. Will need to go out and pick all that as well. Will post about what I have learned more of on the Challenge post. 

 

[snapshotmiki]

Sunday was a regular Church and walk dogs day, for me.

Yesterday, after walking, was take Oreo to vet for 6 months nail clip and 3 year rabies shot day. We started drugging him Sunday night as usual. Finished Monday morning and he was very loopy. When we got to doc, he went ballistic attacking anyone trying to get near him. Bit the assistant before the vet got into room (didn't draw blood but I saw a mark). He weighs 39 pounds now. We finally had to leave him and let them knock him out. When we got back to get him, he could barely walk, but it still took 3 of the workers at vet to get him in the car. They were wearing long armed leather gloves. He seems ok today, but yikes! He is just too much for me and DH trying to help with the midline in his arm and barely able to breathe. Dog came from the shelter and we have tried our best with him. Not sure how much longer we can do this. I am so glad it is over for 6 or 7 months.
Then I had a doc appt. in the afternoon for possible kidney stone. Have a CT scan set for middle of August.

 

Today should be much calmer. Will walk first.
Vote in local primary.
Walk dogs.
Do laundry.
Try to regain sense of calmness!

 

I haven't planted my trombo squash yet, Littlesister,  It seems too hot to plant anything right now.  Was 102 for two days in a row, then 100 for two days.

[Littlesister]

Wow Miki, taking Oreo to the vet is an adventure. Poor thing doesn't like doctors. But he needs to go at times. Glad that is over for you, and he is doing better today. I had a cat like that, and I just popped her on the rear and made her behave. But then cats are sometimes easier to control than a dog. With my other cat that never gave the vet any issues decided one day he wasn't coming out of the cage he was in. They came to get me to get him out and they don't normally allow anyone in that area. But he would not budge and tried biting them. I just opened the cage and popped him on the rear turned him around and pulled him out and he then calmed down.  Animals are funny sometimes. 

 

Been working on the now empty bedroom and closet. I am going to be painting the closet myself as if I just paint the whole closet white, I won't have to worry about cutting in and trim work. Will hire a painter to paint the bedroom though. My hands are not sturdy enough for the trim anymore. And they would be faster than me anyway. 

My plan was to put all three bookcases in that bedroom closet but will now have to go to plan B. Two of the bookcases are too tall unless I take out the top shelve, and I don't want to do that. So will have the one in there that really doesn't match anything anymore as I don't have that old desk it went with any longer. That was a wraparound desk and it finally fell apart. Guess It got moved one time to many. 

 

Was up till after 3 am working on the fridge in garage. Seems the defrost stuck and I had to move everything to the cooler. GS came home from work and thought someone had broken into the house. He heard me in kitchen bagging up ice for cooler and thought we had an intruder as I am usually in bed before he gets home. So, he went to 7 11 and got a bag of ice for me. After he realized it was me. He was about ready to come in kitchen from garage and hurt someone. At least he's being protective. Anyway, I moved what meat that was in there to the big chest freezer and then defrosted and got the ice out of bottom of freezer. I didn't lose any food as I caught it all in time. Though there is not a lot in that freezer. But GS had bought some hamburger and put it in there. So that and some other things are now in the big freezer. I will just leave it in that one. I will be defrosting that freezer in the fall when it gets cooler. 

Have chicken in oven cooking for dinner for GS tonight. Fixing him some fried okra as well. Okra is out of garden and is now slowing down. But got enough for fried okra tonight. 

 

Hope everyone is doing ok now with all the issues some are having. We all need to stay healthy these days. 

 

[snapshotmiki]

Already walked this morning. It's hot! And humid!
Getting ready to walk dogs.
Use leaf blower on front and back porch.
Clean bathrooms and dust house.
Cook burgers.
Rest.

[Becca_Anne]

Sounds like a productive day Miki!

My day was all meetings....now just watching tv with my husband. Highlight of the day was my visit with the chickens today we had 2 eggs so they are going to be earning their keep hopefully at least enough help pay for their feed  

[snapshotmiki]

I'm so proud of your chickens, Becca Anne!  Earning their keep is good!

 

Good morning!
Will walk first.
Haircut at 1.
Take my friend to store right here in town.
Bible study tonight.
Easy day!

 

 

[Littlesister]

Chickens are now producing eggs for you Becca Anne. That is great. Hope they produce a lot of them so you can save on feed. 

 

Miki. Sounds like you are having it easy for a couple of days. That is great. 

 

I left early this morning to go to Doller Tree and Then Harris Teeter to pick up RX. Was going to a couple of other places but it started raining. Need to make a trip to Home Depot. But that will be another day now. I am working on bedroom closet and have some small holes to fill in so will be doing that in a bit. Needed some sandpaper to sand a couple of places down smooth in closet but that will have to wait now till I can get to Home Depot. Got part way home and traffic was stopped. Must have been a wreak on the Carrollton bridge again. So had to sit and wait it out a bit. But wasn't as bad of a wait as I have had in the past. This area is really bad for traffic these days. 

 

Not much activity on here of late. Guessing everyone is really busy right now. I think Jeepers is in Indy this week. Have a safe trip back home Jeepers. Hope you get a lot done at the new house and enjoying Your GS also. 

[kappydell]

whew.  We now have yet another chicken, a wyandotte that nobody wanted because she has 3 legs, according to what the clerk told us at Tractor Supply.  They gave it to us,  OK, no biggie, Im not perfect and my critters do not have to be either, as long as they are not in pain.   

Today I looked closer, and we have a two  HEADED chicken (!)  Now that is certainly different.  Not much to 2nd head  as it is not living.  It seems to be no trouble to Petunia except it makes her a little klutzy.   

 

We also have 2 pups for free, 8 wks old.  Part of a surprise litter from a supposedly "fixed" female a neighbor got from the humane society.  The two littermates are certainly not twins...different daddies I presume - one looks like a golden retriever beagle mix, the other looks like a black lab-corgie mix.  We call them our "sisters from different misters"  They are fun to watch, full of energy. 

 

I got a nerve test done on my non working left hand.  I have a pinched nerve in my neck.  Waiting to see whats next.

 

I had an encounter last night with a very irate man who was quite nasty and demanded I stop breeding cats because they were in his yard and he is allergic to cats.  I calmly explained they are outdoor cats -  I do not "breed" them - but they are yard cats I feed, let shelter in my shed in foul weather, and get to vet if they get hurt. But I dont breed them (they do that on their own) nor will they stay in one yard. Oh my, he got angrier and angrier...the more I tried to talk calmly the angrier her got.  He said he had just buried two...None missing showing up for dinner here, so I asked what they looked like as there are other cats around, too.  He got angrier, insisting they were all mine.  I then offered to bury any that got killed in the future as he said he was allergic to cats.  He did not like that offer, either. Then he said I wasn't taking care of them, and obviously did not care (because I was calm I guess); that the was going to start shooting them (illegal); and he was going to harass me constantly until I stopped breeding cats. 

Oh yes, he also accused me of faking being disabled (I guess he was trying to get a rise out of me, as he was so irate that he was screaming by this time).  I offered to show him my surgical scars but he didnt respond to that either.  I did keep my distance though as I was concerned he might shove me down in his anger and re break my  spinal repairs.  He finally stomped to his car and drove off.  He said he lived at a certain address but he doesnt.  (We've met who lives there)  I notified the sheriffs dept in case he returns to have another go-round or harms any of our animals.  The deputy was pretty concerned and said if he returned he would arrest him.  Oh my. (I remember mentally ticking off all the laws he broke during his rant that I would have arrested him for...disturbing the peace, terroristic threats, harassing a disabled person and so on.) I doubt he will return, but one never knows.  I'm glad Mary was not here, I'm not sure she would have held herself in check when the threats started.  

 

I wonder what planet he dropped in from?

 

 

Edited August 10, 2023 by kappydell

[Annarchy]

Kappydell, that’s nuts!  Yup, we got a few unhinged people around here, and we live in the ‘historic’ part of town.  Several people wanted to make our block an HOA…that didn’t go well with most of our residents. At.All.!  People around here have goats, chickens, pea fouls, peacocks, and, some have sheep, a block away have cattle & horses,  yet another block away are cotton fields, alfalfa, sorghum and corn…. Yup, not gonna happen.. They moved here recently, and want to change everything!  Lol, they moved… to the new construction development, a mile away.  
 

That’s the reason DH is considering moving into the mountains, in northern AZ. 
 

The PTB are trying to build an expressway to Phoenix and Tucson, less than a couple blocks from our house.  Yikes!  We’ve been here since 1982, when we got the opportunity to buy my grandparents house.  I’ve been here since the 1950’s.  It’s a heartfelt ache.  All the neighbors now, think we are the “old people” on the block.  We’ve watched the older generation pass, sell their houses, watched younger ‘kids’ move in, which we watched grow up, and now we are the ‘old people’ on the block. SIGH…..  luckily, some of the long term people, feel the same…. They don’t want the crappy ideas the ‘young’ people have..

[Littlesister]

Wow! Kappydell. Seems you have a crazed neighbor hat doesn't like animals. Mainly cats. I hope you don't have any more issues with that neighbor. He sounds like trouble. 

 

Annarchy, I know what you mean about the younger ones moving in. We had one that wanted to start an HOA around here. That got nipped in the bud real fast. Not going to happen. Had one neighbor come up to me last year and asked me why I didn't complain about another neighbor putting things on her front door railing to dry. Just told her it wasn't my business what she did, and I don't pay attention to what the other neighbors or doing. She said I should say something to her. Told her she seemed to be the only one complaining and that if she didn't like it then she should tell her how she feels about it. I'm several doors down from this lady and I can't see her front porch for the trees. Stopped that one real fast also. New neighbors move in and try hard to take over. Us old folks are not so old that we can't remember how things used to be. Good neighbors and everybody minded their own business. Though we did have a couple of issues and they moved away. Wonder why. 

Seems it doesn't matter where you live there will always be that someone that can't get along with others. 

 

Annarchy, we have already been through what you are going through with the building of expressways and such. We now have Harborview, much more traffic, a 4-lane highway that was once an old country road. And the building hasn't stopped. It's everywhere here. But for some reason I can't bring myself to move from this house. I like my neighbors, and this is the house my DH had when we got married. Lived here the whole time. I guess there are just too many memories to just up and leave. Lots of good times in this old house. We even got married in this house.

[snapshotmiki]

I'm glad you had a deputy come and filled out a report, KappyDell!  Always good to have an incident report to refer back to!

 

Sorry you all are considering moving, Annarchy.  I liked the Kingman area but don't remember the area around Grand Canyon.  It would be a little cooler and maybe more success with a garden!

 

I will walk, walk dogs and go to lunch locally (maybe). Not sure what else I will find to do. It's just too hot for me to stay outside like I want to. Come on Fall!

Maybe I will make some vegie broth overnight and can it tomorrow.

[Ambergris]

In some places, feeding them is legally the same as owning them, and you can be held liable for what they do.  Also for hoarding, if you have more than the local limit.  

 

I'm trying to work up a new budget.  My plans are all on hold right now.

[Littlesister]

Don't feel like I did a lot today, but I did. Checked garden and picked squash, tomatoes, okra, eggplant, cucumbers. Then came in and got that all taken care of and then went and worked on the bedroom closet getting it ready for painting. Had several holes to fill in and letting that dry overnight and then in the morning I will sand it all down smooth. Then GS and I will go to T-Mobile to turn in my old phone and then off to Home Depot. I like their paint better than Lowes. I have a list of things I will need for garden. Fertilizer, topsoil, garden soil and such. Need to go to Halmark also to pick up something there. Then maybe GS and I will go to lunch and then home. I should be able to start the painting tomorrow afternoon. Since it is just the closet it shouldn't take more than a couple of hours to paint and clean up after. I now have enough squash to can up so will be getting that done also. tomorrow. Going to be a very busy day. So will hopefully get an early start on it. GS moves into his apartment in 2 weeks and then I can get the rest of my house back together. Once everything is back in place and cleaned up then I will be furniture hunting for both Livingroom and den furniture. Then GS can take that other couch for his apartment if he wants it. I have so much to catch up on that I think it will be a busy winter for me. But at least the garden will be done. I was going to try a winter garden this winter but will just wait till next winter for that as I just have to much on my plate right now for that. It is hard enough keeping up the yard and the house right now. And the garden was not as big this year so not as much to deal with there. Next spring will be a whole new ballgame for me. So, no kids moving in and out house will be back together before then. And I can concentrate more on the yard and a bigger garden. I did open the big garden this past spring but mostly planted squash as that was the only thing, I was really low on. If I can get 10 to 12 quarts of squash from this picking that will give me about 20 to 22 jars of squash to last till planting season next year. Trying to figure out my plans now so I will be much better off when spring planting comes around again. 

[Mt_Rider]

  I did a little corner of clutter clearing today.  Kind of a cheat cuz I didn't actually throw much out.  I just consolidated neatly.  That counts tho.  Was so little, DH hasn't even noticed ...yet.  Yesterday was strenuous with a horse ride and a talk with grief counselor.  New topic:  Maui burning.     Just hard to believe!  And with the number of dead rising, as expected.... it's hard.

 

I'm back to walking around a mile each evening with dog towing.  Then stop to sniff/dig.  Then off like a rocket again.  She and I saw an 8pt buck yesterday.  He wasn't in any hurry to move on....and I was calculating how close to fall rutting season....and we turned around and went back.  Not chancing that!

 

MtRider 

[kappydell]

I cooked up one of the climbing squash today,  It was 2 feet long, about 2 inches in diameter and made around 2 1/2 cups once sliced.  No seeds - which was a surprise.I liked it much better than the bush type.  The flavor was milder, the skin was more tender, and it soaked up my seasonings nicely (chicken bouillon powder, onion powder, paprika, and a pinch of sugar.  I steamed it in the frypan with around a teaspoon of oil in the water so after the water evaporated it wouldn't stick.   Mary did not want to try it, her loss...it was delicious.  We had oven fried chicken & mac salad with apple crisp for dessert. 

No more visits from Mr. Intense.  Cool.  Went to physical and occupational therapy; other than that just sat around.  It rained on & off.