I haven't blogged in quite a while. It's been a really busy, crazy, toilsome time.
I entered Fort Sanders Hospital, as planned, last Tuesday AM. My surgery was to be at 9:00, but was delayed somewhat. I didn't mind, as I was mentally prepared for what I felt was a routine removal of a tumor. Not so.
After they got me naked and into one of those notoriously immodest hospital gowns, I had to go potty.
When I was walking towards the door, someone called my name. It was Johnny Kidd. It seems that Debby was having a knee replacement. They are long-ago friends, and I didn't realize that she was in poor health. Aparently, they didn't know that I was in poor health, either.
We spoke briefly, and I went on back to my holding area.
They do things in their holding area like old time hospitals do, and I like that. They have gournies and beds, and they have real nurses and doctors buzzing about keeping up with their patient load.
I was the last to go from our area, and I thought perhaps theyd ruled out having me as a patient.
No such luck.
Things in surgery went without a hitch. I was sore and heavily bandaged when I awoke in recovery, but otherwize not in too bad shape, considering I'd just been sawed in half, parts of my guts pulled out , cut apart, and re-sewn, stuffed back into place, and my stomach was stapled together with metal staples which look for all the world like cage clips.
The hard part came later.
My Surgeon, a really nice fellow, came to my room and informed me that the cancer had metastized into the lymph nodes. He removed 19 of them, and that raises my level to a three, where it had originally been a two.
You go into the hospital, pay lots of money, get naked in front of people you don't know, have your guts torn out, patched, and re-inserted, drink a liquid diet, endure horrible pain and risk getting addicted to Morphine, just to have your level of cancer danger be raised.
There's something wrong with this picture.
I don't really think I could get my money back.
I don't think I've ever been so hurt and cried so much over something I can't see or beat in a fair fight.
The nursing staff was great to me, and I hope I've made some new friends.
I wore a surgical cap all the time I was there, as I knew that my hair looked terrible.
This morning, when I was certain that I could be discharged, I went to the trouble to arrange it in my usual style.
One of the nurses asked if I would fix her hair for her. She has lovely hair, but she sure liked mine.
They had not seen hair at all on me until this morning.
Because of the lymph node infections, I will now have to have Chemo, but I can take it in Jefferson City if I want to. That would be so much more handy than Knoxville.
I don't know how long the series will take, and I'm going to try to co-operate as much as possible.
Barbara cooked enough food for a camp meeting, and the parts we've sampled are great. Steve brought her to the hospital once to see me, and she almost 'lost it' a couple of times. This has really affected her in a deep way.
Michael, the hot dog man from Blaine, is on the Chaplain's team there, and he sent someone every day to try to give me some measure of comfort. He was out of town for some additional training. He worked with Cecil Cook, who was the nephew of Troy and Margaret Cook.
I think about all the Cook's were musically talented, but Sister Margaret was truely gifted in a wonderful way.
It was touching, the way people come forth with offers of getting me to the doctor's visits, food, prayers, moral support, and just to express their love for me, and their concern for me. I didn't imagine that I mattered that much to others.
That part is really great. The hard part is late at night, when I can't sleep, and the pain is so bad that it makes your teeth sweat, and you wonder why God could do something like this to someone He loves.
I know we're all dying from the day we're born, but dying like this is not just a death...it's a torture and execution.
I suppose I should look at the good side.
Yesterday, I couldn't walk without assistance, and today, I walked out of the hospital.
I don't have the frequency and bladder urgencey that I had before surgery (likely because that 2&1/2" tumor is not pressing against my bladder).
We are aware that cancer has been there, and we know to watch for it there again. And I have really great friends who have been so supportive to me during this time.
I hope I can get through Chemotherapy as easily as the surgery.
It's been a hard haul, and I need more time to think about it before I write much more, so I'll likely write more tomorrow.
I think I'll have the time.
Janie is coming to Clairemont to clean tonmorrow, which is one of the only reasons that we could keep Lynn from trucking up here with dirt on her mind. She so wants to be here and be helpful, but I don't need too much going on, and Janie and I work so well together. Also, I don't have to provide Janie with a bed for the night. Pete has already done that.
I don't know what all will happen, but I can promise that it will be a wild ride.
Keep on reading.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Monday, May 28, 2012
The Queen of Clairemont returns!
The Queen has returned home and will be blogging sometime tomorrow. She's very glad to be home and in her own bed, tired of the hopsital's fine bedding.
Claire is doing very well and wishes to thank those that offered their support in her trying times.
sjw
Claire is doing very well and wishes to thank those that offered their support in her trying times.
sjw
Saturday, May 19, 2012
I haven't blogged in a long time, and, believe me, I've heard the complaints from so many.
I've been on an emotional roller-coaster lately.
I had a colonoscopy recently, and they found that I have colorectal metastatical adenocarcinoma.
That's a tidy way of saying that I have cancer in my bowel.
Those are not words I wanted to hear, and I certainly didn't want to hear them as a diagnosis to me.
Janie Pressley was with me as a driver that day, and we both had a brief but passionate meltdown.
I'm really finding out who my real friends are.
Cherokee called while we were at the hospital (just out of the blue), and she told Janie she would come to the house to be with us. We came back to Clairemont and spent the rest of the day having a girl-party in the bedroom sitting on the bed and just being friends, until Steve got home that night.
Janie had called him from the hospital, and he told her he would be home about 9:00, which she said would be impossible. He was in Cleveland, Ohio. He was home by 8:30. I told her that he had a whole pocket full of money, and that he was just about crazy enough to charter a jet. He must have mistaken his truck for a Lear.
He has struggled with his emotions, but has been a real trooper. The British are such strong people, and come through in a storm, and he's really showed his 'English'. He does about everything for me, and wants me to rest.
We have scheduled surgery with an Oncological Surgeon, Dr. Dudrick, for Tuesday AM at Fort Sanders Medical Center. He hopes that I might get by without a colostomy or chemotherapy. He has a great manner about him, and I, Judy, and Steve all liked him during my consultation. Judy, my favorite niece, went with us. She just recently got her Master's of Science in Nursing from the University of Tennessee, and I'm so proud of her. She took a whole page of notes, and she wants me to keep a lot of notes on my journey through this time of trouble.
I've waited to post this, because I wanted to inform some friends before they read this on the computer.
I went by to visit with Lori Daniel this past week, and to tell her and Dirk that they would not be seeing me at Creekside for a while, and why, and she told me that she would be keeping me in her prayers. She's a really nice lady (though she is somewhat different from the other Daniel ladies), and I'm developing a real affection for her. She has a really nice beauty salon, next to the building where Dorothy Reynolds had a small salon where I had my hair done for many years.
They live across Rutledge Pike from Creekside, and they always wave and keep a check on me.
There are so many who have told me that they will be praying for me, and I'm so glad to have the prayerful support of Betty Pike, my favorite Sister Worker. She surely has God's ear, as she is such a faithful Godly woman.
One of the pharmacy workers at Smith's, Margaret Sutherland, who is a faithful Christian, asked Steve to call her the minute I'm out of surgery and give her an update. She is in church every time the doors are opened, and a good prayer warrior. She's a little difficult with a lot of people, but we made friends a long time ago, and I don't have any problems with her.
I welcome the prayers of any God-fearing people.
Dr. Duffy Foutch, my Dentist, told me he would certainly be praying for me, and that he would help me in any way. Karen, his main assistant, is a 'Hat Lady', and is so nice to change appointments and work with his patients. She assured me that they would help me in any way with changes in appointments or arrangements that I will surely have to make.
Janie and Cherokee have been so precious and helpful in this situation.
Mary Douglas, my housekeeper, assured me of her prayers and support. She's been with us for about 10 years, and we have become great friends.
I'm overwhelmed with the support so many have shown me.
I will be in the hospital from 6-14 dys, my doctor says, and will be restricted from physically stressful activity for 3 weeks after I come home. I know I need the rest, but I also know I will chafe under the restraints.
Lynn, Steve's sister, wants to come up to be with us for my surgery, but Steve wants her to save her time with us until I come home from the hospital. She has so much energy, she will be a real help then. I need to get a guest room ready for her. Jim, her husband, offered to bring her up. He's a true jewel of a man.
I have a lot more to tell, partly because my computer has become ensnarled with so much junk, and it's so old. It about died on me, and I have been reluctant to burden it with more work.
I'm going to have to accept the change to a new computer, which I'm using now.
I promise all my readers to keep more current with this journal. It will come in handy for reference for me, also.
I didn't tell about Barbara. She had a total melt-down after I told her of my problems. She's already planning recipes for cooking food for me after I come home. I have some containers for her, as I won't be able to get any to her for a short while.
Faune Gerber has been ever-faithful to call and chat with me, also. We've been friends for many years.
I thank God for all of my readers, and I ask for your prayers and understanding during this time.
It's very early in the morning, and we haven't been to bed yet. Steve is tired, and I'm closing now to get to bed with him. I need rest.
I've been on an emotional roller-coaster lately.
I had a colonoscopy recently, and they found that I have colorectal metastatical adenocarcinoma.
That's a tidy way of saying that I have cancer in my bowel.
Those are not words I wanted to hear, and I certainly didn't want to hear them as a diagnosis to me.
Janie Pressley was with me as a driver that day, and we both had a brief but passionate meltdown.
I'm really finding out who my real friends are.
Cherokee called while we were at the hospital (just out of the blue), and she told Janie she would come to the house to be with us. We came back to Clairemont and spent the rest of the day having a girl-party in the bedroom sitting on the bed and just being friends, until Steve got home that night.
Janie had called him from the hospital, and he told her he would be home about 9:00, which she said would be impossible. He was in Cleveland, Ohio. He was home by 8:30. I told her that he had a whole pocket full of money, and that he was just about crazy enough to charter a jet. He must have mistaken his truck for a Lear.
He has struggled with his emotions, but has been a real trooper. The British are such strong people, and come through in a storm, and he's really showed his 'English'. He does about everything for me, and wants me to rest.
We have scheduled surgery with an Oncological Surgeon, Dr. Dudrick, for Tuesday AM at Fort Sanders Medical Center. He hopes that I might get by without a colostomy or chemotherapy. He has a great manner about him, and I, Judy, and Steve all liked him during my consultation. Judy, my favorite niece, went with us. She just recently got her Master's of Science in Nursing from the University of Tennessee, and I'm so proud of her. She took a whole page of notes, and she wants me to keep a lot of notes on my journey through this time of trouble.
I've waited to post this, because I wanted to inform some friends before they read this on the computer.
I went by to visit with Lori Daniel this past week, and to tell her and Dirk that they would not be seeing me at Creekside for a while, and why, and she told me that she would be keeping me in her prayers. She's a really nice lady (though she is somewhat different from the other Daniel ladies), and I'm developing a real affection for her. She has a really nice beauty salon, next to the building where Dorothy Reynolds had a small salon where I had my hair done for many years.
They live across Rutledge Pike from Creekside, and they always wave and keep a check on me.
There are so many who have told me that they will be praying for me, and I'm so glad to have the prayerful support of Betty Pike, my favorite Sister Worker. She surely has God's ear, as she is such a faithful Godly woman.
One of the pharmacy workers at Smith's, Margaret Sutherland, who is a faithful Christian, asked Steve to call her the minute I'm out of surgery and give her an update. She is in church every time the doors are opened, and a good prayer warrior. She's a little difficult with a lot of people, but we made friends a long time ago, and I don't have any problems with her.
I welcome the prayers of any God-fearing people.
Dr. Duffy Foutch, my Dentist, told me he would certainly be praying for me, and that he would help me in any way. Karen, his main assistant, is a 'Hat Lady', and is so nice to change appointments and work with his patients. She assured me that they would help me in any way with changes in appointments or arrangements that I will surely have to make.
Janie and Cherokee have been so precious and helpful in this situation.
Mary Douglas, my housekeeper, assured me of her prayers and support. She's been with us for about 10 years, and we have become great friends.
I'm overwhelmed with the support so many have shown me.
I will be in the hospital from 6-14 dys, my doctor says, and will be restricted from physically stressful activity for 3 weeks after I come home. I know I need the rest, but I also know I will chafe under the restraints.
Lynn, Steve's sister, wants to come up to be with us for my surgery, but Steve wants her to save her time with us until I come home from the hospital. She has so much energy, she will be a real help then. I need to get a guest room ready for her. Jim, her husband, offered to bring her up. He's a true jewel of a man.
I have a lot more to tell, partly because my computer has become ensnarled with so much junk, and it's so old. It about died on me, and I have been reluctant to burden it with more work.
I'm going to have to accept the change to a new computer, which I'm using now.
I promise all my readers to keep more current with this journal. It will come in handy for reference for me, also.
I didn't tell about Barbara. She had a total melt-down after I told her of my problems. She's already planning recipes for cooking food for me after I come home. I have some containers for her, as I won't be able to get any to her for a short while.
Faune Gerber has been ever-faithful to call and chat with me, also. We've been friends for many years.
I thank God for all of my readers, and I ask for your prayers and understanding during this time.
It's very early in the morning, and we haven't been to bed yet. Steve is tired, and I'm closing now to get to bed with him. I need rest.
Monday, April 16, 2012
Sunday PM Catchup
Cherokee says I don't blog often enough anymore.
I know that. I just don't take the time. It's only a few minutes if I keep up, but takes me so long to remember everything if I wait too long.
The Rutledge Police came and got John Estep out of my front yard last week, and it's been a nightmare sinse then. He is so useful. He was arrested because he didn't keep in touch close enough with his parole officer over a traffic violation from over two years ago. He had been charged with child endangerment over his child being in the car when he was speeding.
He's such a caring and thoughtful man, and he asked his 'woman' to have me please hold his job until he gets out. I paid his fines, which he will work out in time when he's released.
The police officer cried and asked my forgiveness when he took John. I guess I'm a big cheese, and he didn't want me to hold a grudge.
I thanked him for doing his duty, but expressed regret that I will have to get along without John until his release.
My neighbor, Mrs. Cabbage, had her Lincoln for sale last week, and I kept thinking that I might stop and ask about it. I finally walked over with two friends today and asked about it, but it had been sold for $1200.00. It looked new, and drove like a dream.
I'm so sorry I missed the boat on that one.
I worked some on fences up in the back fields this morning, and worked on the swimming pool this afternoon, with Cherokee's help. It is filthy from all the leaves and such that blow towards pools in the winter. Steve refused to heat it with my solar water heater last year, and I couldn't get in it. With PAD and fibro, you don't get in cold water....ever.
I repaired the solar heater today, and raised the temp five degrees just today, which was not a hot day.
I had to clean the filter about every five minutes, but it's getting cleaner all the time.
I enjoyed it so much year before last. It's nice to get in the water and 'float' while you walk when it's been hot all day, but I can't take the cold water. I look forward to getting in the pool after a day working at Creekside.
I went to a County Commission meeting last week with Janie. She spoke on the waste disposal problem with her neighbors, and I spoke about the tax issues in Grainger County. I brought the house down when I rebutted some lady's comments about the taxes in our county doubling last year. She said that her ministry was to the aged, and that they were having to eat dog food to get by after paying their taxes. I told the meeting that pork and beans were cheaper, not to speak of rice, potatoes, pinto beans, macaroni, and various sale items in the canned food departments.
The County Commission laughed out loud when they saw her face as I tore into her arguments.
I'm almost considering a run for Commission next term, so it would behoove me to have a few of them on my side. The Mayor, Mark Hipshire, adored my thanks to him in keeping our tax base low. He knows he has my support.
I stopped to talk with Lois Kitts today for a few minutes. She's the new widow at the head of our road. She's doing alright, but missed Bill so badly. He was a good friend and neighbor. She had the bouquet I had made for his funeral on her front porch. It is rather huge, and everyone says it's the most beautiful arrangement they've ever seen. I wish mom could see that the flower arrangement classes worked to my advantage.
I told her that Steve often asked about her.
Our road is named for her father.
Steve yelled at me for so long tonight because he wants me to get the new cat neutered. I assured him that I would call Katina Turley tomorrow morning and make an appointment. He's so anal.
I'm making a lot of Jello. I enjoy the cool and sweet favor in the evening, and the gelatin and fluids are good for me.
My health is failing so quickly. I've been terribly hoarse all day, sounding again like the growths are back. I don't even want to go to the doctors anymore. They can't agree, and they all just make me feel more like dying.
I'm depressed.
I know that. I just don't take the time. It's only a few minutes if I keep up, but takes me so long to remember everything if I wait too long.
The Rutledge Police came and got John Estep out of my front yard last week, and it's been a nightmare sinse then. He is so useful. He was arrested because he didn't keep in touch close enough with his parole officer over a traffic violation from over two years ago. He had been charged with child endangerment over his child being in the car when he was speeding.
He's such a caring and thoughtful man, and he asked his 'woman' to have me please hold his job until he gets out. I paid his fines, which he will work out in time when he's released.
The police officer cried and asked my forgiveness when he took John. I guess I'm a big cheese, and he didn't want me to hold a grudge.
I thanked him for doing his duty, but expressed regret that I will have to get along without John until his release.
My neighbor, Mrs. Cabbage, had her Lincoln for sale last week, and I kept thinking that I might stop and ask about it. I finally walked over with two friends today and asked about it, but it had been sold for $1200.00. It looked new, and drove like a dream.
I'm so sorry I missed the boat on that one.
I worked some on fences up in the back fields this morning, and worked on the swimming pool this afternoon, with Cherokee's help. It is filthy from all the leaves and such that blow towards pools in the winter. Steve refused to heat it with my solar water heater last year, and I couldn't get in it. With PAD and fibro, you don't get in cold water....ever.
I repaired the solar heater today, and raised the temp five degrees just today, which was not a hot day.
I had to clean the filter about every five minutes, but it's getting cleaner all the time.
I enjoyed it so much year before last. It's nice to get in the water and 'float' while you walk when it's been hot all day, but I can't take the cold water. I look forward to getting in the pool after a day working at Creekside.
I went to a County Commission meeting last week with Janie. She spoke on the waste disposal problem with her neighbors, and I spoke about the tax issues in Grainger County. I brought the house down when I rebutted some lady's comments about the taxes in our county doubling last year. She said that her ministry was to the aged, and that they were having to eat dog food to get by after paying their taxes. I told the meeting that pork and beans were cheaper, not to speak of rice, potatoes, pinto beans, macaroni, and various sale items in the canned food departments.
The County Commission laughed out loud when they saw her face as I tore into her arguments.
I'm almost considering a run for Commission next term, so it would behoove me to have a few of them on my side. The Mayor, Mark Hipshire, adored my thanks to him in keeping our tax base low. He knows he has my support.
I stopped to talk with Lois Kitts today for a few minutes. She's the new widow at the head of our road. She's doing alright, but missed Bill so badly. He was a good friend and neighbor. She had the bouquet I had made for his funeral on her front porch. It is rather huge, and everyone says it's the most beautiful arrangement they've ever seen. I wish mom could see that the flower arrangement classes worked to my advantage.
I told her that Steve often asked about her.
Our road is named for her father.
Steve yelled at me for so long tonight because he wants me to get the new cat neutered. I assured him that I would call Katina Turley tomorrow morning and make an appointment. He's so anal.
I'm making a lot of Jello. I enjoy the cool and sweet favor in the evening, and the gelatin and fluids are good for me.
My health is failing so quickly. I've been terribly hoarse all day, sounding again like the growths are back. I don't even want to go to the doctors anymore. They can't agree, and they all just make me feel more like dying.
I'm depressed.
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Sunday, April 1, 2012 AM
It's still a little early to expect Steve to be up, so the house is quiet, and I have a few minutes to blog.
Betty Pike, my favorite Sister Worker, had cataract surgery this week. I haven't heard how it turned out, but I've been praying that all went well.
Her plate is full, with Ma Pike being 92 and quite feeble. She's having to stay at Betty's house some of the time, and she is so independant that it doesn't suit her much.
Betty also does so much for others that she stays busy all of the time, plus having a 'dog sitting' service.
Faune Gerber's daughter divorced on Friday, and Faune is despondant about it all. She had tried to help them work things out, but Julie is a little hard-headed, and went through the divorce. She will be moving back into the house with Faune and her husband, Armin. They've given her two rooms for herself and the two daughters, for which Faune is the 'nanny'.
Faune is an old friend, contemporary, and helper to me. Steve and I will never forget her for getting our Veteran's Loan for Clairemont approved so quickly. She sure could run an office.
The work at Creekside is slower inside and very demanding outside. The yard looks really good with Janie's touch. She's a wonderment to me. She brought supper to Creekside last night, and it was fabulous. Clarence Singleton ate like a horse, enjoying a good, home-cooked meal with true friends.
Clarence is my special case, a fellow most would consider the village idiot. I felt a special affection for him several years ago because of the teasing he endured at the hands of others, so I "adopted" him, to look after and see that others were more kind and accepting of him.
It was amazing how much more social acceptance he has, and how much happier he is.
We see that he has meals, mostly now at Creekside, but often at the Down Home. He loves the Fried Chicken Special on Thursday nights, and we pay for him to have his special treat.
Janie, Cherokee, and I have put reflectors on his bicycle, and a horn, along with his handle-bar basket, so that it is easier for him to carry his 'treasures', and so that the reflectors will make him safer.
He dresses mostly in darker colors, so the reflectors are a good idea. He also prefers to wear pink caps, so I keep him in good supply. They show better in the dark that darker ones would.
He's not welcome to stay long in most places around Rutledge, but I've assured him that he's always welcome at Creekside, and we often show up for work in the mornings and find him sitting at the picnic table on the front patio. He's waiting for his friends.
We are getting rave reviews on the work on the yard. It does look a lot better, more like a gracious home and less like a dump for construction materials.
Janie puts Clarence to work on smaller projects when he's there, and he is good for the 'heavy lifting' jobs.
I've been working a lot on hand-painting the ceiling medallion for one of the bedrooms, and it's glorious. I'm matching the colors in the wallpaper, which looks like a cross between clematis and wisteria. It's pains-taking work, but I enjoy seeing a bland, white medallion come to life with vibrant color. That room has a large, beveled-glass window, and I think it will compliment the color nicely.
This week, Janie and I decided that the wall which enclosed a lot of the front porch just had to come down. We hired a local handy-man to cut it out with a concrete saw, and it was like turning on a spot light when the light came in. We're going to be using a railing there, and it will be much lighter and more welcoming. We're already planning hanging baskets and medallions there. We love to scheme.
My fet and legs hurt all the time, and the stairs at Creekside don't help a bit. I go up and down them so many times a day.
My hair is beginning to come back, though all too slowly for my taste. It's still quite stringy and rather short, so I'm trying to not tease it, hoping that not teasing will help the growth process. But not teasing it makes it fly-away, and it just doesn't look like me. I also have to pin it so closely to my head that the pins make my head sore. I just wish this all woundn't have happened.
I've asked Steve to get the pool ready for summer while he's home this time, but I don't really expect him to. I'll have to have someone help me with it after he's gone back to work. If I can get it warm enough, it would sure help my fibro and my PAD. It would also lift my spirits to know that I could enjoy a nice time in the pool every evening. That 'floating, weightless' feeling is so nice after a hard day's work. I heat it with solar, as I can't stand the cool water on my feet and legs.
It's becomming daylight outside, and it looks like it will be foggy early.
I'm off here to paint my medallion.
Special hugs to Faune.
Oh, and I'd better mention Barbara.
Betty Pike, my favorite Sister Worker, had cataract surgery this week. I haven't heard how it turned out, but I've been praying that all went well.
Her plate is full, with Ma Pike being 92 and quite feeble. She's having to stay at Betty's house some of the time, and she is so independant that it doesn't suit her much.
Betty also does so much for others that she stays busy all of the time, plus having a 'dog sitting' service.
Faune Gerber's daughter divorced on Friday, and Faune is despondant about it all. She had tried to help them work things out, but Julie is a little hard-headed, and went through the divorce. She will be moving back into the house with Faune and her husband, Armin. They've given her two rooms for herself and the two daughters, for which Faune is the 'nanny'.
Faune is an old friend, contemporary, and helper to me. Steve and I will never forget her for getting our Veteran's Loan for Clairemont approved so quickly. She sure could run an office.
The work at Creekside is slower inside and very demanding outside. The yard looks really good with Janie's touch. She's a wonderment to me. She brought supper to Creekside last night, and it was fabulous. Clarence Singleton ate like a horse, enjoying a good, home-cooked meal with true friends.
Clarence is my special case, a fellow most would consider the village idiot. I felt a special affection for him several years ago because of the teasing he endured at the hands of others, so I "adopted" him, to look after and see that others were more kind and accepting of him.
It was amazing how much more social acceptance he has, and how much happier he is.
We see that he has meals, mostly now at Creekside, but often at the Down Home. He loves the Fried Chicken Special on Thursday nights, and we pay for him to have his special treat.
Janie, Cherokee, and I have put reflectors on his bicycle, and a horn, along with his handle-bar basket, so that it is easier for him to carry his 'treasures', and so that the reflectors will make him safer.
He dresses mostly in darker colors, so the reflectors are a good idea. He also prefers to wear pink caps, so I keep him in good supply. They show better in the dark that darker ones would.
He's not welcome to stay long in most places around Rutledge, but I've assured him that he's always welcome at Creekside, and we often show up for work in the mornings and find him sitting at the picnic table on the front patio. He's waiting for his friends.
We are getting rave reviews on the work on the yard. It does look a lot better, more like a gracious home and less like a dump for construction materials.
Janie puts Clarence to work on smaller projects when he's there, and he is good for the 'heavy lifting' jobs.
I've been working a lot on hand-painting the ceiling medallion for one of the bedrooms, and it's glorious. I'm matching the colors in the wallpaper, which looks like a cross between clematis and wisteria. It's pains-taking work, but I enjoy seeing a bland, white medallion come to life with vibrant color. That room has a large, beveled-glass window, and I think it will compliment the color nicely.
This week, Janie and I decided that the wall which enclosed a lot of the front porch just had to come down. We hired a local handy-man to cut it out with a concrete saw, and it was like turning on a spot light when the light came in. We're going to be using a railing there, and it will be much lighter and more welcoming. We're already planning hanging baskets and medallions there. We love to scheme.
My fet and legs hurt all the time, and the stairs at Creekside don't help a bit. I go up and down them so many times a day.
My hair is beginning to come back, though all too slowly for my taste. It's still quite stringy and rather short, so I'm trying to not tease it, hoping that not teasing will help the growth process. But not teasing it makes it fly-away, and it just doesn't look like me. I also have to pin it so closely to my head that the pins make my head sore. I just wish this all woundn't have happened.
I've asked Steve to get the pool ready for summer while he's home this time, but I don't really expect him to. I'll have to have someone help me with it after he's gone back to work. If I can get it warm enough, it would sure help my fibro and my PAD. It would also lift my spirits to know that I could enjoy a nice time in the pool every evening. That 'floating, weightless' feeling is so nice after a hard day's work. I heat it with solar, as I can't stand the cool water on my feet and legs.
It's becomming daylight outside, and it looks like it will be foggy early.
I'm off here to paint my medallion.
Special hugs to Faune.
Oh, and I'd better mention Barbara.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Tuesday AM
It's early for me to post, but I need to get an early start on my day.
The workers from Creekside are supposed to come today and help me get the yard in shape. It suffered from severe neglect last year, as I had two surgeries and couldn't do my usual work on it.
We are moving things from Creekside to Clairemont and the storage unit to make more room for working at Creekside. It seems like we have to move something out of the way every time we do anything.
Sammy Fox came and installed a bright orange fence in front of the pasture next to the yard, and I want to hurl every time I look at it. I'm going to paint it with brown, green, and gray spray paint. I can't stand it.
We are spending a lot of time on the yard, and it sure takes away from doing things to the house that need to be done.
Today is supposed to be nice, so the yard work should go well.
I had 'night sweats' all night, and my night shirt was soaking several times.
Janie and Cherokee came up to Clairemont last evening, and I gave them the 'fifty-cent' tour.
They both loved everything. It needs cleaning.
Faune Gerber is asking for prayer that the marriage of her daughter will not fail. I think the divorce hearing is for later this week. I hope it's not too late.
I'm painting (at night) a ceiling medallion for the front upstairs bedroom at Creekside. It's called the Wisteria Room. I'm matching the colors in the wall paper to the medallion.
Barbara's mother sent me the nicest little boquet as a thank you for taking Barbara to the terminal to get her night tables. It wasn't necessary, but it was sweet.
Well, I'm off.
The workers from Creekside are supposed to come today and help me get the yard in shape. It suffered from severe neglect last year, as I had two surgeries and couldn't do my usual work on it.
We are moving things from Creekside to Clairemont and the storage unit to make more room for working at Creekside. It seems like we have to move something out of the way every time we do anything.
Sammy Fox came and installed a bright orange fence in front of the pasture next to the yard, and I want to hurl every time I look at it. I'm going to paint it with brown, green, and gray spray paint. I can't stand it.
We are spending a lot of time on the yard, and it sure takes away from doing things to the house that need to be done.
Today is supposed to be nice, so the yard work should go well.
I had 'night sweats' all night, and my night shirt was soaking several times.
Janie and Cherokee came up to Clairemont last evening, and I gave them the 'fifty-cent' tour.
They both loved everything. It needs cleaning.
Faune Gerber is asking for prayer that the marriage of her daughter will not fail. I think the divorce hearing is for later this week. I hope it's not too late.
I'm painting (at night) a ceiling medallion for the front upstairs bedroom at Creekside. It's called the Wisteria Room. I'm matching the colors in the wall paper to the medallion.
Barbara's mother sent me the nicest little boquet as a thank you for taking Barbara to the terminal to get her night tables. It wasn't necessary, but it was sweet.
Well, I'm off.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Sunday AM
It's time for an update.
Ruby Oaks, an old friend from the Truth, died this week. She was 88 years old, but the last time we talked, she was clear and alert. She had lived the last year or so with her daughter, Donna Brown, a widowed lady. She also professes, and is one of the sweetest women I've ever known, with a good spirit, a clear testimony, and a sweet heart. She is the sister-in-law of Cheryl Brown, an old childhood friend who I still talk with on occasion.
Bill Kitts' funeral was week before last, but I didn't attend the funeral. I just can't stand in those long lines and watch everyone hold a family reunion. I went early with my floral offering, singed the book, and beat the crowd. Sammy Fox told me the line was so long that the service had to be held late.
Cherokee, Janie, and I took the day yesterday for a 'girl's day', and went to North Carolina for a road trip. Janie had to take her grandaughter back home, and we wanted to stop at all the Goodwill's and Habitat Stores along the way.
I found a lovely light fixture for the living room at Creekside. I was not too sure what I would do for overhead lighting in that room, but this fixture is perfect, and it was cheap, which is what I really like.
I also found some lovely wooden cornice boards for larger windows. That Habitat is really reasonable, and the manager is really nice. There was an older lady helping him, and she was really helpful in getting our merchandise to the front of the store and into the truck.
My friend John brought me several loads of concrete blocks this week for a really great price. They were from an old mobile home foundation where the trailer had burned. It must have been a dirty job, but the block were cheap, his labor was, too, and I"m glad to have something to use in building our house for such a good price.
He is local, and is a good worker. His pretty sister, Ashley, works at the car wash across the street, and causes a few horns to blow when she's working in her hot pants and halter tops.
We've been working on the yard a great deal, and it shows it. We have faithfully burned on a huge brush pile that was an eyesore, and it gone now. It really opens up the yard.
I repaired an angel figurine that was broken, and I'm now looking for a solar light to put in her hand, which is held aloft.
I also put a light in a stained glass flower pot, and it looks so pretty in the evening. It's on the front steps now, but Janie says it would look better down by the deck. We'll try it there.
Clarence Singleton comes by almost every day to visit, and Janie often puts him to work. He's so simply minded that he can't be trusted to complete a task without supervision, but he needs to feel useful. We put mirrors and reflectors on his bicycle to keep him safer on the roads, and we almost always feed him, either with Janie's offerings or we take him to eat. I try to not give him money, as he uses it for cigarettes or God knows what, and is still hungry.
He's quite well-known around Rutledge, but most of the people he knows are not his real friends, and they tease and ridicule him. I try to treat him as a real person, which he is, and he loves the attention and affection I give him. He was born with a cleft palate, which has never been repaired, and he is a Down's child, so he is not pretty, and sometimes it's really hard to understand his speach, but he's a friend, and worth the effort.
He wears pink hats, almost all of which I've bought him. I thinks he likes the singularity it brings to him.
I need to get to work, and I'm sure I've forgotten some things, but there will be other posts.
Ruby Oaks, an old friend from the Truth, died this week. She was 88 years old, but the last time we talked, she was clear and alert. She had lived the last year or so with her daughter, Donna Brown, a widowed lady. She also professes, and is one of the sweetest women I've ever known, with a good spirit, a clear testimony, and a sweet heart. She is the sister-in-law of Cheryl Brown, an old childhood friend who I still talk with on occasion.
Bill Kitts' funeral was week before last, but I didn't attend the funeral. I just can't stand in those long lines and watch everyone hold a family reunion. I went early with my floral offering, singed the book, and beat the crowd. Sammy Fox told me the line was so long that the service had to be held late.
Cherokee, Janie, and I took the day yesterday for a 'girl's day', and went to North Carolina for a road trip. Janie had to take her grandaughter back home, and we wanted to stop at all the Goodwill's and Habitat Stores along the way.
I found a lovely light fixture for the living room at Creekside. I was not too sure what I would do for overhead lighting in that room, but this fixture is perfect, and it was cheap, which is what I really like.
I also found some lovely wooden cornice boards for larger windows. That Habitat is really reasonable, and the manager is really nice. There was an older lady helping him, and she was really helpful in getting our merchandise to the front of the store and into the truck.
My friend John brought me several loads of concrete blocks this week for a really great price. They were from an old mobile home foundation where the trailer had burned. It must have been a dirty job, but the block were cheap, his labor was, too, and I"m glad to have something to use in building our house for such a good price.
He is local, and is a good worker. His pretty sister, Ashley, works at the car wash across the street, and causes a few horns to blow when she's working in her hot pants and halter tops.
We've been working on the yard a great deal, and it shows it. We have faithfully burned on a huge brush pile that was an eyesore, and it gone now. It really opens up the yard.
I repaired an angel figurine that was broken, and I'm now looking for a solar light to put in her hand, which is held aloft.
I also put a light in a stained glass flower pot, and it looks so pretty in the evening. It's on the front steps now, but Janie says it would look better down by the deck. We'll try it there.
Clarence Singleton comes by almost every day to visit, and Janie often puts him to work. He's so simply minded that he can't be trusted to complete a task without supervision, but he needs to feel useful. We put mirrors and reflectors on his bicycle to keep him safer on the roads, and we almost always feed him, either with Janie's offerings or we take him to eat. I try to not give him money, as he uses it for cigarettes or God knows what, and is still hungry.
He's quite well-known around Rutledge, but most of the people he knows are not his real friends, and they tease and ridicule him. I try to treat him as a real person, which he is, and he loves the attention and affection I give him. He was born with a cleft palate, which has never been repaired, and he is a Down's child, so he is not pretty, and sometimes it's really hard to understand his speach, but he's a friend, and worth the effort.
He wears pink hats, almost all of which I've bought him. I thinks he likes the singularity it brings to him.
I need to get to work, and I'm sure I've forgotten some things, but there will be other posts.
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