Garden ~ Trips Canceled ~ Update

The tomatoes are a complete and total loss this year.  Not really surprised with our weather struggles this year.  We may get 10 to pick to eat and that is it from the 50-some plants.  Not sure about jalapenos and green peppers yet.  Tomato plants will be getting yanked when someone can volunteer for me.  We've gotten some rain here and there, so I'm hoping for the peppers, carrots and beets yet.  Thankfully, we are to get rain mid-week (one more thing I don't have to ask someone to do).

We've had to cancel another camping trip (last weekend, weather would have been absolutely perfect too).  We've also canceled attending a bike fest we were going to (motorcycle event next weekend).  These cancellations were no surprise to us.  

Most importantly, you all want to know the update at the consultation with the surgeon, right?  

I was pretty anxious to get a plan in place, but squeamish about which way we'd go. I mean, my regular doctor was hinting about skin graphs earlier...and it's been a worry wart on my brain since then.  I was however happy to get in so quickly, because I am also the Queen of Gauze.  The rolled gauze is expensive and I have been going through it like crazy.

Okay, okay....here's what the surgeon said.

As of right now, no surgery.  Woohoo!  Thanks to modern technology.  I have to get a vascular sonogram this week (before the funeral), then once they determine the veins that need attention, they'll do an in-office procedure and I should be back on my feet after that.  Thank you for all your prayers.

I'll be back when I can, and most likely have more handiwork "finished" projects to share.  Hmpf.  I do hate sitting like this.  It's driving me insane. Good gravy, I'm gonna lose my mind until this is all over with, and then I'm probably be complaining of not enough handiwork time, ha ha!

In the meantime, I've ordered my garlic for fall planting, already have the grow bags to plant them in, and have broccoli seeds ordered to grow as sprouts for better healthy intake.  I've also been really good at making list for things I need to clean, make and stock up on.

Happy Homemaker Monday

I'm up early.  Can't sleep.  Besides the coffee pot is closer to me at the computer than where I've been hanging out this morning.

I need to feel "normal" so why not try and post a quick join up today, and try and feel that way.

Just maybe. . . we'll get some good news this week too.  It's been one helluva weekend.  Within 24 hours (over this past weekend) our 20 year old was in a car accident and totaled her car, and our 4 month old grandson passed away (in case you missed my posts).  

Hubby has the day off today to help take care of funeral arrangements, and help our 20 year-old look at a possible car to purchase.  He needs to get a receipt for the tow bill for her totaled car too, so we can submit it to insurance.

I just need to help figure out what we'll eat tonight for dinner.  My Mom said she'd bring us a meal, but said she doesn't eat as healthy as we do. Hmpf.  I guess I'll take a quick look in the freezer and figure something out.

I'm joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.  Sorry for the photo.  I saved the new one, but couldn't figure out where the heck I saved it.  I hope to figure that out later when I can spend more time on here.

The weather outside . . .
High of 77°F, sunny.  We are to heat up again this week and get some rain.


On my reading pile . . .

On my TV . . .
We rented the movie "Hustle" and I am watching a ton of cooking shows since the doctor said stay off my foot.


On the menu this week . . . 
Ha ha ha!  There is only one - Hubby the take out king.  Quite possibly I can sit in the kitchen and give him instructions on something in the crock pot.   I was thankful to get a grill out dinner last night.


On my to-do list . . . 
(More like Hubby and Daughter's list)
Remind them to do these at least ~
-feed and water chickens
-fetch mail
-dishes
-sweep floors (that's pushing it)
-for me, check on greens in fridge and see if they are still good (totally forgot about them)
-appt at my surgeon
-have someone check on my grow pots
-get someone to cut me some plantain to dehydrate (this one will be a tough one to convince them)


What I am creating . . .
A lot of stuff.  When I'm up to taking photos, I'll be back to share.


Looking around the house .  . 
E-ghads!  It's a total mess.  Shambles.  I know it's temporary, but those two seriously need to get at least the dishes washed.  Urgh....I need my job as care taker of this place.  
Bedding needs washed, linens, the list is endless.  It's literally an endless list.  I have a list just for things that need made and restocked (lotions, vinegar infusions, etc etc).



From the camera . . . 

The sky this morning.  The beautiful sunrises are moving south now.


On my prayer list . . . 
For myself and my leg issue (I am praying for a good visit to the surgeon, and quick healing of my open wound I still have), for our daughter and her family with the passing of our grandson, for our 20 year old who is recovering from her car accident (see recent posts) and personal requests

This and That

Thank you everyone for your prayers, good thoughts and well wishes overall.  We are all so shocked and deeply saddened over the passing of our grandson.  They have no diagnosis, and his family awaits an autopsy.  They awoke to him not breathing.

On a more pleasant note, when I changed my bandage this morning, I noticed the wound (at my ankle) getting smaller, which is a sign of healing (but still nasty looking).

Hubby plans to go load up the car our daughter totaled, tow it here, and scrap it for parts.  He then plans to sell what's left for a derby car.  The engine, tires and other new parts will be sold.  That's the plan. Daughter will then use that money to help pay for a new one eventually.  We hope the car is derivable, so they can get it up on the trailer today.  It's costing us $17 a day for every day it is still there at the tow yard.

I am trying to figure out a crock pot dinner, that can be tossed together and then just heated up tomorrow.  Hm.

Oh, if you have a favorite Kimchi recipe, a traditional one, I'd love to try it. Kimchi is one I have yet to make.  It's on my to-do list when I'm up on my feet again.

Oh, and another good note.  After driving to the ER, my ankle and foot swelled up.  I stayed off of it all day and night yesterday, and the swelling has gone.  

Okay, I'm off here and back to my foot up.  I am surrounded by library books, and lots of handiwork today.  I've even been reading about pets and herbs.  King had a seizure recently (our 20 year-old's dog),and we don't know why, so I'm reading up on that and sharing with her.  He can take medication, but the medication will do more harm to him than another seizure.  He's never had one before either.  We are hoping he doesn't have one again, and it may have been caused by something poison related (he had gotten out of their apt. one day, just a few days prior to the seizure happening).

I just know one thing - can't wait to be back on my feet.  I'm doing so much handiwork, my hands are so dry.  I'm completely out of calendula lotion, almost out of my face lotion, and my homemade deodorant is completely gone.  Ugh.  I need to get back in the kitchen and get back to just about everything.  

It's only Saturday and...

I got a call about 11am-ish Friday morning, and when I couldn't understand our 20 year-old, I calmly asked if there was a policeman there.  She put him on the phone.

An hour later I was with her in the ER at the hospital.  I drove despite pain in my ankle, because she had no one else to be with her and get her home.

Her car was totaled, but she came out with bruises and a small cut. Thank God she had nothing broken.  Thankfully, I calmed her down, got her to even laugh, and got some knitting done while we waited for x-rays and other tests.

I got her home, then myself home, and foot was back up.

We got a call this morning at 6:30am.  Our daughter (my step-daughter) was at another hospital with our youngest grandson.  

He had passed away. I feel like I'm in a bad dream.  Our hearts ache right now. I have yet to tell our youngest, who is very very close to our young grandson.

Hubby is on his way to that hospital (doctors are looking for the cause of his death), as my foot cannot handle the walking and I do not have a walker, wheel chair or even cane right now.

The family could really use some prayers.  

The Little Things

I had to come to the kitchen to get myself a cup of coffee (I need Hubby to put it in a large thermos tomorrow), so I thought why not share this....

Breakfast and dinner have been depressing for me, but dinner the most.  Hubby has been a dear and bringing me my breakfast in bed.

The latest breakfast was a scramble, but with only eggs and smoked sausage.

Dinner time, I am used to eating with the family and having conversation.  Not lately.  I'm in another room by myself, with foot up, eating alone, and no conversation.  I told the family I feel like I'm being punished (they laughed).

Last night my youngest came in and said, "Mom I gotta tell you something."

She proceeded to tell me she "needs her Momma back" and that she misses me all around, including me being here to clean out the fridge, and put potatoes and greens in her breakfast scramble. 

I busted out laughing at the mention of the missing ingredients in the scramble.  I too, secretly missed them but didn't say anything (was blessed to have more than toast and not have to make it).

We laughed together as she told me she missed her "morning power greens and potatoes."

I'm not sure Hubby will make another one after she let that out of the bag, but we did get a laugh.  I too miss being physically able to do what I want and need to do. 

Okay, off the computer and back to sitting idle.  Just had to share, ha ha!

Next Step

Just a quick update - got the appt with the surgeon finally scheduled next week.  I won't know what the plan is until I see him.  I am pretty certain some sort of surgery will be happening.

Meanwhile, I'll continue to be the "Queen of Crochet" and Hubby the "King of Take Out."  He's too tired to cook when he gets home, and daughter has her dog, dishes and homework.  However, our 20 year-old came out yesterday afternoon to take care of Romeo for me.  I was so grateful for that.  Putting pressure on my right leg is downright painful.

However, Hubby has brought me breakfast in bed the last few mornings, prior to him leaving for work.  Love him for that!

I was considering sneaking out (more like hobbling out) to the edge of the larger garden to see if there are sprouts of Russian kale, but decided not to do that.  Although a nice crock pot home cooked soup would be nourishing and delicious.  I mean I already have cooked sausage in the freezer, and I can put my leg up to cut up some potatoes, and I think I have onion soup in the freezer or even broth somewhere..........

Back for an Update

I'm so glad we had a long holiday weekend, so I didn't have to take this turd out on a bum leg.  He was very cuddly the first two days of school, but after that, wanted to play and lay around outside.

First visit to the doctor.  First of all, I am lucky to have been at home until second visit.  His first words were, "you should be in the hospital."  Cost for my meds before insurance.  After insurance?  $5 each.   

One of my breakfast meals, served in bed.  Hubby made us bacon veggie omelets.  So good!  So thankful for it too.  I was tired of toast and coffee.  Second breakfast in bed was french toast, scrambled eggs and sausage.

Hubby and Daughter were not all that happy about taking over my chores, and I often heard long sighs, but they did it for the most part.  And although the guys invited Hubby for a bike ride, he stayed home, cleaned my chicken coop and mowed.   He even pulled a few weeds.  I felt awful, but he seemed to want to get stuff done here and help me out.  He was mumbling about the herb garden (photo is a few down on this post).

I read over a real newspaper for the first time in a long, long time.

Good, interesting book with facts, from the library. 

Meanwhile....in the herb garden....4-5 feet tall weeds.  When our 20 year-old was over, she was being attacked by grasshoppers taking over the herb garden.  Said it was "Jurassic Park" out there (second time I was told this, ha ha).  You can't even see my herbs, and I'm pretty sure I lost more than the thyme.

I watched a ton of cooking shows.  I'm surprised I didn't order a smoker after all those recipes I watched.  I watched too many for sure.  I have to say, the "Jazzy" vegetarian is somewhat annoying to watch.  I get tired of her repeating the "jazzy" this or "jazzy" that.

Anyway, I tried to stay off my feet as much as I could, but when Hubby was at work and daughter in school, the puppy duty was still on me.  Along with laundry and meals.

I tried to look at things in a positive way (having to be on my bum with leg up), I plunged into my handiwork, read some of a book, journaled and watched some "I Love Lucy" to add some much needed laughter.  They say laughter is the best "medicine" so that's what I put on the TV.


I got all of these completed while watching a lot of cooking shows.  

Bracelets (just need ends sewn in and buttons), another washcloth, two sets of boot cuffs and 3 sets of pot holders.  Doesn't really look like a lot for 6 days of sitting around though.

My laptop took a pooper, so I can only post from the computer as the pain gets better.   Doctor visit update?  I'm now heading to a surgeon.  More sitting time, but this time he was more stern about it.  It's been very painful.

Edited to explain:  Basically, when the table slammed down on my foot, it caused more pressure in the varicose veins in the lower leg, causing some to literally "explode" at the skin level.  The worst is a group of veins on my inner ankle.  Worst pain ever.  The "explosions" are now open wounds the vein surgeon will determine on next.  

I'll be back soon.  Thanks for visiting.