there is a big bunch of clouds hanging around way out in the Pacific that will probably make there way here by Thursday. Can fall be far behind?
Ken continues his tests with no clear answers and just a lot of speculation. He is scheduled for a spinal tap on Thursday as they continue to look for an infection or a virus. The pain has lessened and he is more ambulatory, but is in constant fear of taking a tumble. He has even driven a little this week. To be continued.
I defrosted the big chest freezer today, which had not been done in years. It turned out to be pretty quick and easy as I was able to remove the big slabs of ice from the walls before they fell and melted. So it is back on and cooling down. That freezer is 35 years old, and I'm sure eats a lot of electricity, but I think we will just leave it in place for the time being. With the new refrigerator and its large freezer, I could almost give up having a second freezer -- almost!
Last Thursday, Elisabeth and I drove to Yakima to buy fruit, taste wine, and eat some good Mexican food. As we started home, my car began to chug and smell funny. After some fits and starts, we happened on the service entrance for a car dealership wherein we met a very nice sales manager who correctly identified the problem even before the mechanic put it on the computer (bad coils) and after retrieving new parts from the local VW dealer, he had us back on the road in about an hour at an unbelievably low price. We were very fortunate.
Colleen came down on Saturday and we canned peaches, and tomorrow I have some apricots that will be ready for jam. I want to go back over in the next week or two to get pears and anything else that is inviting. Ciao
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Saturday, August 07, 2010
Update
As a synopsis: floors are finished, house is back together, some sunshine has allowed a few flowers to bloom, we have not only a new refrigerator (planned), but a new dishwasher (unplanned), Cooper and the Westfalia have caused the remodel budget to pale in comparison, the weather in North Carolina and Maryland can be oppresive, we love to spend time with our family, Ken has been in pain and gimpy for over a month, and Colleen and Craig have been helper-bees over the past month.
Brian and the boys were here for three days in July after a whirlwind trip from Virginia to North Caroline to Idaho to here. They retrieved the car they had stored in Boise and drove to Lewiston where Doug Riddle (Jordan's dad), whom we love, took the three of them up the river through Hells Canyon. It can sometimes be difficult to impress teen boys, but they were impressed!! Doug was a sweetheart for doing that.
On Saturday, we hosted about eighteen family members with all but two staying the night. The front yard looked like tent city. The menu of the day was a Spanish theme with tapas, gazpacho, and paella. What an easy menu for a crowd!!! Jerry and Lois, Curt and Cinda and Linea, Jordan, Cliff, and Thomas, Craig, Cassie and Greta, Colleen, and Brian's longtime college friend, Jim, and his two girls were all in attendance. Fun, fun, fun.
Brian and the boys and Ken and I were in a shuttle to the airport on Monday morning at four IN THE MORNING to go to North Caroline in preparation for Brian's change of command on Friday, July 30. They have lovely new quarters on base, and with some frenzied unpacking, their house was quite settled and liveable by Thursday, which was a good thing, because Thursday afternoon saw the socializing begin again with the arrival of Sheila's sister and family and Sheila's mother and her sister plus Keith Craig and Colleen. There were also several longtime friends in town for the change of command.
Thankfully, Friday was overcast and the change of command was in a hanger at nine in the morning so we didn't suffer the heat and humidity. Here is the culmination of the day:
www.seymourjohnson.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123215892.
Then it was back to Brian and Sheila's for another full day of fun.
Part of the Air Force tradition is a "roof stomp" where many of folks who are under Brian's command come to the house, put up a ladder and stomp around on the roof. I think we counted about 25 flight suits on the roof, then they descended on the keg of beer in the back yard!!
We drove to Maryland on Sunday to see the Maryland Kirkwoods for a day or two because there was no way I was going to be on the east coast and not see Janet and the girls. Our plan was to hop from Andrews AFB to McChord, but the one flight had no seats so some super sleuthing garnered us two last minute one way tickets on Air Trans for a great price. We have been home since Thursday morning.
Ken is in the midst of a medical mystery after awakening on Fourth of July weekend in excruciating pain in his right hip and thigh. After three trips to emergency over that weekend and several appointments and tests, there is still no conclusion and he continues to rely on pain medications. Several things have been ruled out, mostly really scary stuff, but still no answer. He has developed weakness on his right side to the point that he doesn't trust himself to drive because he can't react fast enough.
He is scheduled for another test this Monday, plus he delivered a letter to the doctor yesterday to make it crystal clear as to what was occurring along with a request to move faster with some kind of a diagnosis. Continuing to take high-powered pain meds isn't the answer nor the solution.
Cooper on the other hand is like the Energizer bunny and just keeps going and going and going at 15 1/2. We had to have a sitter stay with him while we were away and Roseanne spoiled him beyond belief, plus she walked him downtown every day!! I never would have imagined he could do that as stiff as he appears to be. We had avoided some grooming and medical issues for him thinking he was gong to expire any day and wouldn't tolerate anesthetic, but he proved us wrong again - hence the big dent in the budget for some minor surgery, grooming, and teeth cleaning. This is the third winter coming up when we didn't think he would be going south with us.
We are now home for a while with no specific plans until we have Ken mobile again. So come and see us!!! The guest room is completely finished and it does have a new bed, so it is safe to visit. We would love to show off our newly finished floors, redecorated rooms and remodeled kitchen!!!
Now my goal is to get to the sewing machine to finish a couple of quilts that are in progress plus go to Yakima for some fresh fruit to do some canning before the summer is over. How homey is that? Ciao
Brian and the boys were here for three days in July after a whirlwind trip from Virginia to North Caroline to Idaho to here. They retrieved the car they had stored in Boise and drove to Lewiston where Doug Riddle (Jordan's dad), whom we love, took the three of them up the river through Hells Canyon. It can sometimes be difficult to impress teen boys, but they were impressed!! Doug was a sweetheart for doing that.
On Saturday, we hosted about eighteen family members with all but two staying the night. The front yard looked like tent city. The menu of the day was a Spanish theme with tapas, gazpacho, and paella. What an easy menu for a crowd!!! Jerry and Lois, Curt and Cinda and Linea, Jordan, Cliff, and Thomas, Craig, Cassie and Greta, Colleen, and Brian's longtime college friend, Jim, and his two girls were all in attendance. Fun, fun, fun.
Brian and the boys and Ken and I were in a shuttle to the airport on Monday morning at four IN THE MORNING to go to North Caroline in preparation for Brian's change of command on Friday, July 30. They have lovely new quarters on base, and with some frenzied unpacking, their house was quite settled and liveable by Thursday, which was a good thing, because Thursday afternoon saw the socializing begin again with the arrival of Sheila's sister and family and Sheila's mother and her sister plus Keith Craig and Colleen. There were also several longtime friends in town for the change of command.
Thankfully, Friday was overcast and the change of command was in a hanger at nine in the morning so we didn't suffer the heat and humidity. Here is the culmination of the day:
www.seymourjohnson.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123215892.
Then it was back to Brian and Sheila's for another full day of fun.
Part of the Air Force tradition is a "roof stomp" where many of folks who are under Brian's command come to the house, put up a ladder and stomp around on the roof. I think we counted about 25 flight suits on the roof, then they descended on the keg of beer in the back yard!!
We drove to Maryland on Sunday to see the Maryland Kirkwoods for a day or two because there was no way I was going to be on the east coast and not see Janet and the girls. Our plan was to hop from Andrews AFB to McChord, but the one flight had no seats so some super sleuthing garnered us two last minute one way tickets on Air Trans for a great price. We have been home since Thursday morning.
Ken is in the midst of a medical mystery after awakening on Fourth of July weekend in excruciating pain in his right hip and thigh. After three trips to emergency over that weekend and several appointments and tests, there is still no conclusion and he continues to rely on pain medications. Several things have been ruled out, mostly really scary stuff, but still no answer. He has developed weakness on his right side to the point that he doesn't trust himself to drive because he can't react fast enough.
He is scheduled for another test this Monday, plus he delivered a letter to the doctor yesterday to make it crystal clear as to what was occurring along with a request to move faster with some kind of a diagnosis. Continuing to take high-powered pain meds isn't the answer nor the solution.
Cooper on the other hand is like the Energizer bunny and just keeps going and going and going at 15 1/2. We had to have a sitter stay with him while we were away and Roseanne spoiled him beyond belief, plus she walked him downtown every day!! I never would have imagined he could do that as stiff as he appears to be. We had avoided some grooming and medical issues for him thinking he was gong to expire any day and wouldn't tolerate anesthetic, but he proved us wrong again - hence the big dent in the budget for some minor surgery, grooming, and teeth cleaning. This is the third winter coming up when we didn't think he would be going south with us.
We are now home for a while with no specific plans until we have Ken mobile again. So come and see us!!! The guest room is completely finished and it does have a new bed, so it is safe to visit. We would love to show off our newly finished floors, redecorated rooms and remodeled kitchen!!!
Now my goal is to get to the sewing machine to finish a couple of quilts that are in progress plus go to Yakima for some fresh fruit to do some canning before the summer is over. How homey is that? Ciao
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)