November 15, 2013

Happy Friday!

November 15, 2013

Somehow this has seemed like a long week.  Every morning when I wake up I try to figure out what day it is, hoping for a Friday.  Then my brain wakes up and it usually isn't Friday, but today it was!

I was up early and spent time in the yard after it got light outside.  The birds are back in full force.

Remember the photo of the tree hanging over the water?  I said the birds would love it.  Today when I chased the ducks out of the yard, they headed for the tree over the water so they wouldn't have to get wet while they waited for me to go back in the house.  The green budgie was back along with bunches of sparrows.  Here the sparrows are lining up waiting for a spot at the feeders.

The Great Egret was across the Resaca, reflecting beautifully in the still water in the calm early morning.

The Green Heron found a perch not far from the Great Egret, but far from my camera.  I guess he was a little camera shy this morning.

The flowers were opening and these hibiscus blooms were covered with water splatters from the birdbath.

I LOVE early mornings in the yard.  It is quiet, calm, and peaceful.  God created so many beautiful things for us to enjoy, and early morning is a good time to enjoy them!

As much I would have liked to stay home and enjoy the birds for a while, I had to get ready and go to work.  Grandson Isaac was there and as usual, we had some good talks.  He shared the next 3 chapters that he has written on a fiction piece.  I will read them this weekend while I have time to really concentrate on them.  He got a few chores done for me and we watched a couple of cute YouTube videos on my computer. 

During the day, Ron left a couple of times on jobs or errands.  The last time he left, I was swamped with customers from the time he walked out the door until he got back.  Friday afternoons are usually quiet at the office, but not today.  I worked on some of my photos and had planned to print out some note cards, but my printer was acting up, so I will try again next week.  I did a little bookkeeping and some cleaning, but it was not a real productive day.

My elbow and hand hurt some today - maybe I did too much typing last night, but it is not bad and I am so pleased to be able to do more with the arm now that it is mostly healed.

We met our usual Friday night dinner friends.  The restaurant was noisy tonight and I struggled to hear much of the time.  The sound processor just seemed to pick up every mechanical noise there was and those drowned out the conversations.

Speaking of conversations, I did have a nice conversation with a customer this afternoon.  The man with him had gone to the car to get some money to pay their bill and while we waited, I asked the customer if he had a fun weekend planned.  He told me he would be working tomorrow for half of the day, but Sunday was going to be a full day.  It turned out he lives in a small town at the other end of the valley from us.  He said in small towns everyone helps one another.  He told me there is a lady who had surgery and is in a financial bind as she has not been able to work for a while and that his church was doing a benefit fund-raiser to help her with the expenses.  They have sold 1,000 plates for a Bar-B-Q they will have Sunday.  What a blessing they will be to her as they help meet her needs.  It is conversations like that, that I love to be able to have now that I can hear again!  My Cochlear Implant has brought so much joy back into my life.  I enjoy hearing what strangers (and friends) are doing to show God's love to those around them.

 



November 14, 2013

A Great Start to an Outstanding Day

November 14, 2013

This beautiful Black-Crowned Night Heron was waiting to greet me this morning when I went out in the backyard to fill the birdbaths and bird feeders.  Well, he may not have been there to greet me, but he posed nicely for me while I got a few photos.  It was very early and overcast when I spotted him, so the lighting wasn't perfect, but I sure love this photo.  Over the last two or three years I have had occasional visits from the Black-Crowned Night Herons as well as the Yellow-Crowned Night Herons.  A couple of years ago we had three immature Yellow-Crowned Night Herons around for a while and I am glad to see some of them still come around

This Black-Bellied Whistling Tree Duck proves why they are called Tree Ducks.  Actually, some bird lists have removed Tree from the name of these ducks, but I still think of them that way.  He is about 8 feet up off the ground, in our Royal Poinciana tree, waiting for an opening at the bird feeder.  This morning there was a great variety of birds in the yard.  Since we were out of town about 10 days ago for several days, few birds have come around, but word must have gotten out that the feeders are again full.  One of the Budgerigars was back - the green one.  The doves and sparrows were here in droves and a Green Jay kept trying to chase everyone else off the open feeder.  I hated to leave to go to work.

Before going to work I spent time sewing and that also makes it a wonderful day.  I stayed up late last night working on one of the projects and then this morning made another block with a pattern I had bought at the quilt show - the pattern that was driving me nuts!  I think I mentioned that I bought this pattern while in Houston, but the pattern was not well prepared for sale.  Two of the 6 pattern pieces were not the right size.  You can cut it by using them as sold, but you have to make adjustments and there was no reason not to make the pattern pieces the correct size - there was room on the sheet of instructions.  I finally got it worked out and I enjoy making it, I just wish it had been easier to get started.  Here is the block I made this morning.  If you don't already know, I love scrap quilts.

I really felt wonderful  today!  There was very little pain from my arm.  I actually carried my supper tray at Luby's tonight when we went to eat with my mom.  I didn't carry it far before the cashier took pity on me and took it from me.  She has watched me suffer these last few months.  It has been 5 1/2 months since I broke the left elbow and I am just this week feeling like the strength is returning.  There have been two surgeries on it during that time, but it was so encouraging today to be having so little pain. 

Later this morning after I got to work, I did a couple of quick jobs and then  left to run some errands.  I went by the church to talk to one of the pastors about the Winter Texan Banquet.  I have headed up that event for 5 or the last 6 years, relinquishing it to the staff last year after I went deaf.  I will need additional help this year, but we got the ball rolling and again, it felt good to be getting back to normal. 

After I left his office I sought out one of the young ladies at the church who works with the singles and asked her to see if the singles could help us with some of the work on the banquet.  Next stop was the hospital to visit our friend who has pneumonia and blood pressure problems.  I did a little Christmas shopping and picked up my lunch before returning to the office so Ron could go out on a couple of jobs.  While visiting the man at the hospital, I noticed how well I could hear him.  His voice is a little weak and I have had trouble hearing him for years, but I probably got 90% of what he said today.

Crowd noises are still a challenge for my hearing.  When I met Mom for supper we were visiting while waiting for Ron to arrive.  A noisy group came out of the cafeteria and I told her just to wait with what she was telling me until they passed us.  They were really drowning out what she was saying.  We found a quiet room and did well during supper with only a few requests for repeats. 

This afternoon at the office in between waiting on customers, I finished going through the stack of statements from Medicare and my supplemental insurance telling me what they had paid on all my bills.  At one point, it brought me to tears as I saw how God had taken care of my needs this year.  With the terrible insurance I had before going on Medicare, we would have owed well over $40,000 this year on these bills!  Thank you, God that my deafness came this year and not two or three years ago!

I continue to work with the remote for the Cochlear Implant, changing the settings to match the situation I am in.  For example, while I was having breakfast with a friend earlier this week, I adjusted the sound processor to only pick up sounds very close to me.  That takes out most of the background noises.  It works well for that type of setting but if we were at my dining table with the whole family I would need  to increase the size of the area it would pick up, and naturally that would increase background noises, too.  There is still so much to learn about the adjustments. 

I just want to wrap today's blog up by saying:  This was a great day!!!  AND!!!  This was typed using two hands for the first time since early September!  This reminds me of a line in an old gospel song the Gaithers used to sing: "If it keeps getting better and better, oh, Lord, I don't know what I'm gonna do!"

November 13, 2013

Reaching Out

November 13, 2013

One of the first things I do in the mornings is to check the news on the television.  Then I go to the computer and check on news from family and friends by going to Facebook, emails, and my blog.  This morning there was an email that came through a friend.  This is the friend who graciously houses us in Houston.  One of her closest friends had sent her an email asking for information about the doctor I used in Houston for my Cochlear Implant, because a friend of hers had very recently suffered Sudden Hearing Loss.  I quickly got the information sent to both ladies and I am praying for the man I have never met, who is struggling with his hearing loss.  Please share my situation with your friends.  It is not gossip; it is getting out the word about a devastating medical condition that few of us ever hear about until it hits a friend or family member.  If I can ever be of help to you or a friend concerning hearing loss, please let me know.

The next thing I do most mornings is to go take care of things in the backyard: the ponds, birdbaths, and bird feeders.  The "duck wars" continue.  Just after dawn, they began to gather in the water just off the bank in the yard. 

A cold front blew in with a vicious wind late yesterday afternoon.  This tree along the bank in the backyard blew over and I know what Ron needs to do this weekend!  A Green Heron flew out of it as I walked into the yard.  The birds will love it while it is draped just above the water.

It was chilly today so I felt I needed to fill the feeders for the birds.  There were a few doves waiting for me to serve their breakfast.

My husband and I had an interesting discussion about hearing loss when I told him of the email I just mentioned.  He said he thought it would be so much harder for a man to deal with being deaf.  Actually, I agree with him, but wondered why we both feel that way.  In most cases, the man is the primary bread winner in the family and being able to hear is important in almost every occupation.  The man is normally the protector of the family and if you can't hear danger, it is hard to protect others from that danger.  I don't have any answers to the question but I was amazed he brought it up, and amazed that once I thought about his point of view, I agreed with him.

It was a productive day at the office.  I did some bill paying.  I made up a deposit and went to the bank.  Then I spent much of the afternoon going through the statements I get from Medicare and my supplemental insurance.  Oh, there are SO MANY pages and pages of them!  I am very thankful for the good coverage that I have had and for the way I have been treated by all the doctors.  The doctors are busy and don't waste time, but they will answer all my questions.  I pray that with the changes coming in the medical system, we will still be able to receive the excellent care that we feel we have gotten this year.

Mom stopped by the office just before I went home.  She had been to Harlingen with the ladies in our quilt group to go to the quilt shop, Hobby Lobby, and lunch.  I had asked her to look for some things my mother-in-law wanted and she had selected a bag full of goodies.  My mother-in-law was delighted with the items. 

After work, I came home and fixed supper while Ron took the bag of goodies to his mom and then went to see our friend in the hospital.  The friend is doing much better and hopes to be released tomorrow.  I did a little reading and a little sewing after supper and think I could have two projects together by the end of the week.  I am pleased with the progress in "Santa's Workshop". 

November 12, 2013

A Day Filled With Friends

November 12, 2013

Today was a very nice day, filled with lots of friends.  That makes for a wonderful day!  My day started with meeting a friend for breakfast.  We met at 7:30 and neither of us needed to be anywhere very early, so we knew we had time for a good long visit.  My friend had a commitment for 10:00, so I was going to take her to pick up her car from her husband.  As we got ready to leave Chick-fil-A, her husband called and told her a friend of ours had been admitted to the hospital and he asked if we could go see him and his wife before we came to get the car.  Of course!

My friend called and changed her 10:00 meeting until 11:00 and we went to the hospital which was very close to where we were, and found our friends.  This couple have been friends of mine for a very long time.  The wife and I grew up together and it really hurts to see her husband's health be so delicate.  This man has a very weak voice and I was so thankful for my improved hearing so that I could hear the things he was trying to tell me this morning. 

After we left this sweet couple, I took my friend to pick up her car and I went to my appointment at the orthopedic surgeon's office.  I showed him the place on my arm scar that I thought was infected.  He said I was correct, that it was an internal stitch trying to work out and that it would either dissolve or work out before long and to just let it do so.  He checked the extension and rotation on the arm and was pleased with continued progress.  He said it was not profound, but it was improving and to keep up the exercises.

At the office, it was almost time for lunch when I arrived.  We always have jokes about the employees who show up in time to go to lunch.  Well, since I don't get to leave for lunch, but rather to just eat it at my desk, Ron said if I would eat, then he would leave on some jobs.  I ate and he headed out, not finishing the jobs until close to closing time.  Once he was back, I came home to get ready for quilting.

One of the ladies in the quilt group is in a wheel chair and another has brought her for years.  The last few months that has been harder and harder, so both had missed several meetings.  Tonight the husband of the one who brings our friend, came and helped get the lady into the house in the wheel chair and then went to the car to wait for the 2 hours while we met.  I offered him a spot in the living room, but he said he used times like that for his quiet prayer time.  What great friends to have; a husband who will give up the evening to help, but who is also a prayer warrior.  What a precious couple they are. 

My mom and two of the other ladies came together.  One of them drives my mom and the other lady to the group.  Mom is trying not to drive much after dark and the other lady doesn't drive.  Wasn't this entire day a great example of the body of Christ working together to meet the needs of one another?  What an amazing group of friends I have!  One of our group was out tonight because her husband's health is not what it once was and she needed to be with him.  We missed her a lot, but we know she made the right choice by staying home to care for him. 

During our time together for quilting, I shared a lot of the things I had learned and seen at the quilt festival recently.  They are all friends with my friend Tiny who met me in Houston and they wanted an update on her health also.  Within the quilt group, the discussions also run along the same lines as what I have just covered - helping one another.  We all shared tips and suggestions to one another and those with questions or problems with their quilts, shared the problems and got advice.  We talked about how each of us have different strengths in the quilting.  One is an excellent hand quilter.  One is great with color and design.  One can solve the math problems in the quilt planning.  Each of us is different but we are all alike in our love of making quilts.  We help each other.  It was a great day! 

November 11, 2013

Veterans Day 

November 11, 2013

America is such a blessed nation.  Over the years our veterans have served our country to protect the freedoms upon which the country was founded.  My dad served our country during WWII in Alaska, and his dad (my grandfather) served in France in WWI as an ambulance driver.  It seemed that many of my grandfather's stories were of repairing the ambulance to keep it running to be able to transport the wounded.

Here is my dad, home on leave, with his infant son, my brother. 

Well, back to the intent of this blog - my Cochlear Implant.  As I have explained previously, there is a coil with a small magnet that is attached to a cable that leads to my sound processor which is worn behind my ear.  That small magnet is held in place on my scalp by being attracted to a piece of metal under the skin where the wire goes into my cochlea.  I think I need to keep a list of the times that little magnet decides to take a leap off my head and onto a nearby metal object.  You may recall, recently in Houston, I had two such episodes: one where it attached to the ribs on my umbrella and once to a huge metal column.  This morning as I was putting a case of soft drinks into the refrigerator at the office, it attached to the freezer door of the refrigerator.  It is easy to pull the magnet free, but it also tends to pull the sound processor off my head and I don't want to drop or damage that!  I was just left temporarily stuck in an awkward position as both hands were full.  You just have to laugh!

 

It was a slow day at the office since it was a legal holiday.  Most of our customers are banks and government offices, and they were all closed for Veterans Day.  I worked on clearing a stack of papers that was growing on my desk and made good progress.  Since little was going on I decided to come home and work on some projects here.  I spent the late afternoon and evening working in the sewing room.  I unpacked the pieces from one of the quilt classes I took in Houston recently, and put them on the design wall.  The class was all about design - making small segments and then moving them around on the design wall to see what you can come up with.  I also washed most of the fabrics I bought and ironed them.  Now they are ready to use when I am ready to start a new project.  

This is the project started in one of the quilt classes.  I will play with it and make lots more segments before I decide on a design.  Maybe I will let everyone play with it at Christmas. 

 

Keeping order in my sewing room is an ongoing battle.  I have three projects on the big design wall (6'x6') at the moment and one on the small wall (3'x3').  One on the big wall may be ready to sew together by the end of the week.

 

I have an appointment tomorrow morning with the orthopedic surgeon so he can check on the small spot of infection that developed recently. 

November 10, 2013

A Very Nice Sunday

November 1, 2013

We went  to Sunday School and worship service this morning.  Years ago they changed the name of "Sunday School" to Sunday Bible Study, but some of us old folks can't remember to use the name change - it was only about 15 or 20 years ago that they did it.  Most of our class members were there.  I think maybe all but 4 were there and of those, one had to work and two had health problems.  We had 3 visitors.  Our group are very faithful and it is rare that we don't know why someone is not there.

One of my young grand sons sat with me in church.  He is rather quiet (except when he gets to making sound effects for the little toys he is playing with).  It is always a joy to sit with the grand children in church.  The pastor brought a very good message today encouraging us to each tell someone about Jesus this week. 

Ron and I picked up lunch and went to his mother's house to eat with her.  His mom is sore from the surgery on her arm a few days ago and some other aches and pains, but when she talks about the things she loves to do - craft items - she lights up like a Christmas tree.  She loves to make things for her family and friends.  We always have fun visiting.  I told her we were going to the grocery store and asked if she needed anything.  The lady who takes care of her a few hours every day does most of her shopping, but she had one item she wanted.  Ron was going to have to go back over there later in the afternoon anyway, so I told her WE would get it.

We got home and Ron promptly fell asleep.  So I (not WE) went to the store.  I very rarely shop on Sundays, and I told Ron this evening if I ever say I am going to do it again, he is to "whack" me over the head!  It was packed!  I got just what was on my list and came home.  I had it all put away and some chicken breasts simmering on the stove before Ron woke up.

My wrist and arm have hurt a lot today.  They are stronger, but sure are aching.  I spent the late afternoon and evening cutting out a Christmas sewing project.  I have a little over half of it cut, but that is when my arm got so sore.  The rest of the cutting will have to wait for another day. 

Someone mentioned in a comment yesterday about my being able to hear on the television.  It is getting better with my Cochlear Implant.  I miss some, but get enough to keep up and what I have been watching recently are the Hallmark Christmas movies and I probably have them memorized.  I do keep the closed captioning turned on and rely on it often.

Oh, in church this morning, the music was a little better.  I could manage with the old hymn and one of the praise choruses we sang.  There were several songs that were new to me and I thought I might could pick out the melody, but wasn't sure, so didn't try to sing.  Maybe this week I will get out some Christmas CDs at the office and start playing them to see how I do on the familiar Christmas songs.

After I gave up on cutting fabric, I made chicken salad from the chicken breasts I had been simmering, but cutting the things to go in it just about did me in.  Ron had gone to a meeting or I would have had him finish for me.  Things that seem like they should be so easy, aren't.  The pain in cutting  - for example celery or an onion, come in the holding of the object with my weak left hand.  My mind says, "all you are doing is holding it - no problem".  My arm says, "OUCH!"

Our youngest son had called today and talked to his dad.  He is in his final semester in the seminary working on his Master's degree.  He had talked to a man at a nursing home about doing some ministry there - and when he showed up today the man announced that he was there to preach to them!  Stephen was not expecting that at all, but he had his Bible and a marker in a passage he had been studying and they got a sermon from that passage.  He said it went well.  God is good.  I told Stephen in a text message that God's Word is so ingrained in his heart and mind that when given the opportunity, it just comes out his mouth. 

It has been a good day.  

November 9, 2013

Sunny Saturday

November 9, 2013

Two months ago today, I had my second elbow surgery.  I continue to make progress, but it is slower than I want.  I must stop and think about the progress.  Today for example, I carried a large cup of tea to the sewing room in my left hand.   Even 10 days ago, that was a painful, if not an impossible  chore.  I have typed more with the left hand today than on other attempts.  There is progress.  A tiny area of infection has developed in the scar on the arm.  It looks like an internal stitch may be trying to work out.  Ron called the doctor's office yesterday after I showed him the spot, and I have an appointment early next week and they told me what to do in the meantime. 

It was beautiful outside today.  I spent time in the yard this morning doing some work.  Most of the hibiscus plants are in full bloom.  I really enjoyed being in the yard and needed some outdoor time.  But three nose bleeds later this morning had me spending the rest of the day less active.  I think the problem is a mixture of low humidity, allergy medications, and pain medications.  I did go get my hair cut, but the rest of the day pretty much has been spent in the sewing room. 

There have been almost no birds in the yard this week since I was out of food for them.  Ron got some today and a few returned.  The free-loader ducks showed up quickly.  There were a few doves, a Great Kiskadee, and a Green Jay or two.

I started washing the fabric I bought in Houston and have done some sewing.  It is time to get going on Christmas projects!  I have been playing with a new pattern I bought in Houston.  This is the pattern I mentioned a couple of days ago that is "not as advertised".  I have had to do a lot of adjusting and experimenting to get it right, but I know I will like the results.  It is kind of a "crazy quilt" variation. 

Never made it to the grocery store, but made a big pot of broccoli soup for lunch.  It has been nice to watch the Aggies play a great game of football and to watch some Christmas movies.