Beautiful Day

Hello,

 

The snow makes it so beautiful to look out. I like seeing the fir type trees out front. They are great bird sanctuaries and many birds are just at the window height for us.

 

Leroy and I went out a bit after 6:00 am to start shoveling. It was a wet heavy snow. We never know how much we got, but Leroy thinks it was more than five inches. I would agree that it was at least four. Because of the weight we did not get much more than the front done before we went in to eat and fortify ourselves. We went back out and got the sidewalk in the back done as well as getting some away from the garage. The city plow has gone twice this year on our ally so we did not do at much shoveling as usual, hoping they would come by once more. If it does not happen, tomorrow morning we will go out again so we can get out of the garage without difficulty.

 

Yesterday afternoon we saw birds at the feeder again. “I have never been so close to these types of birds.” Leroy said in wonderment.

 

It is quite nice to see them so clearly. I would like it if they would come more, but I suspect it is a risky place for them.

 

Earlier, Sarah had asked us if we had enough calendars. We, who still like those paper calendars said, “No, but we do not want you to spend postage on sending us one.”

 

Just Thursday Leroy brought home a calendar from work. Often people donate many of them, but this year has been quite slow since so few come to the museum. Saturday we got the calendar from Sarah. It was quite a nice surprise as it has many family pictures in it. Guess we “needed” one more calendar after all.

 

Paula

How Many Masks

Hello,

 

How many masks do you now own? Masks that you never had before March 2021 and probably never considered that they would become necessary. In our house there are many that are necessary. I have three, oops, now four that I keep in my work bag which also always has a snack bag with a mixture of peanuts, almonds, and green pumpkin seeds (I forgot the real name.). Many days that bag carries books and or movies to and from the library. I am grateful for all the bags in my life.

 

Leroy also has number of masks for work, but I do not think he makes any distinction of which he wears where. We both have a number of extra masks for use such as shopping, a doctor visit, or dropping something off at church. Leroy has more than I do, but I do not know the number for him. I know that I have three in my drawer.

 

Both of the cars have two spare masks in at all times because we might forget our mask. Then there is a hook at the bottom of the stairs where two masks hang in case we have a visitor who wants to meet on the porch or if our downstairs friends are there inside rather than out in the larger outdoor space.

 

I am grateful for each mask and the protection it gives me and others.

 

Paula

Birds at the Feeder

Hello,

 

Our bird feeder has had a slow start on the bird pipeline. It was a week or more that it had been up when I saw my first bird, a black cap chickadee. That was longer than a month ago. It seemed that another week or even two went past before the second chickadee caught my attention. Last week I saw a group of starlings struggle to land on the window ledge or the feeder. The entire setup seems to be aimed at smaller birds.

 

When I reported the starlings to Leroy he told me, “I saw some sparrows and chickadees there yesterday.”

 

“And you did not report that to me?” I asked wondering how such exciting news slipped his mind. His mind is not functioning at the great level that it used to in the past. Actually we both seem to forget more than was ordinary before.

 

Today I was gifted to see a multiple bird feeding that lasted for quite a long time. Only one or possibly two birds were ever around at the same moment. One would sit on the feeder and one might sit on the window ledge for just a short stay. I saw the chickadees and nut hatches. Only one nut hatch was ever there, but they seemed to be the dominate species as the chickadees flew away as soon as they approached. In the tree I also saw a downy woodpecker. It was a great bird watching day. I even learned that I could move around the kitchen some and be ignored if I did not get too close to the window.

 

Paula

Shoveling Day

Hello,

 

Leroy and I went out before breakfast to start shoveling so he could get out of the garage more easily for going to work. I do not know the depth of the snow, but we guessed it was more than five inches, deep enough to be noticeable when shoveling. The wind was blowing strongly so it mattered where we aimed the snow so it would not fly back in our faces. Leroy mostly was filling the wheelbarrow so he could haul it to the back yard as there is not enough room around the alley to stack it.

 

I was happy to go in when Leroy said he was hungry. After eating we did tai chi with the Ely Library contingent. We commented that with this much snow, had we been meeting in person, the session would have been cancelled. Leroy quit the class early so he could go back out and start off to work. He was pleased that the plow had gone through the alley. That was a big help, but required some snow removal just by the garage on his side.

 

Later I went out to shovel the sidewalk, but did not have enough stamina to do it all so I had to go out again later. I am now pleased to note that the sun has melted the snow off the sidewalk where it has been shoveled. I did a little more work in the alley, but will wait until Leroy gets home to finish that. I am not sure why, but I do not handle that wheelbarrow as skillfully as he does.

 

Building muscles, determination, and stamina is the goal with all of this shoveling. Truly a gift of nature to provide all this splendid opportunity!

 

Paula

Uplifting Day

Hello,

 

We started the day by a good session of shoveling snow that was about three inches deep but light and fluffy so it was an easy job. Early in the morning it was beautiful to be outside with the snow as a light reflecting blanket.

 

Later we went to church where issues of depression and low feelings were addressed. Certainly it is good for us to look at what our emotional state is from time to time.

 

We were called by some friends who wanted to walk today. They had just returned to town from helping their family after the birth of a new grandchild. It was great to see them again on our lengthy afternoon walk. This time we mostly stayed on the streets and saw some different scenery than usual on our walks.

 

Following that we went to pick up a hymnal that we had loaned to another friend. Besides getting the hymnal back we also were gifted with some, just out of the oven, bread pudding.

 

After I got home and on the computer to write to you, I decided to learn if I could Skype with my Slovakia friend. She, who goes to bed much later than I, was still up. We had a nice long chat as it has been quite some time since we last connected.

 

I also spent some time reading my book for the book club. It is called “The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas. I am finding it quite interesting. I might even see the movie when I have finished the book. For my other book club we are reading some “escape” literature. I am thinking that is a good idea after so many serious books that I have read. Escaping the real world for a while sounds like a nice break.

 

Paula

Techno Day

Hello,

 

For the book club at church we have been meeting on my free meeting account which cuts us off after 40 minutes. This month Sarah let us use her account which she had paid for the holidays, so there was no time limit. I read in consumer reports that another was more highly rated that the jprogram we have been using. It will let you be on for 24 hours which is much more than we need.

 

I invited members of the club to meet with me today so we could do a trial run with the program. Unfortunately we had a bit of difficulty with it. We could not move between speaker view and grid view even though those options would be clicked on by any of us at any time. I could only see one person as the speaker and no one else ever got in the big picture even when they talked. Two of the people who were using tablets could not get their video to work even after pushing on the video icon numerous times. There were other confusing things but I have forgotten just what they were. I spoke with one of our daughters and her nine year old. The nine year old is all excited about trying to solve this mystery.

 

The voicemail answer greeting on our home phone is just the company recording so I decided today to track down how to change that. We have a voice over Internet protocol (VIP). I went to the service web site and did a great deal of searching before I was able to find the instructions buried several layers deep.

 

I went in using the little box and got it done in three minutes. However, when I called the number with my cell phone, I got some automated man’s generic greeting. I mumbled and did not really leave a message. Unfortunately that message was not saved. Groan! After we ate supper, or dinner, depending on to whom you are speaking, I called the number again and heard my own recorded message. I could leave a message and access it later. Maybe I just did not give the system enough time? But then how much time do electronic things need to work? Does anyone know?

 

Paula

Scary Traffic Tales

Hello,

 

Earlier this week when I was driving home, I noticed that a semi was coming into my lane as I entered the interstate. Luckily the driver noticed me and stayed in the other lane. My heart was beating a little faster. Later on the “S” curves which are really an overpass, the semi in the next lane seemed to be coming more to my lane on the curve. This often happens so I stay well over to the side although there is not much side to get onto. I also slowed a little so I was not quite up with the cab. All at once that truck was coming into my lane. I put on the brakes, pulled over as much as I could without hitting the rail, and checked the rearview mirror to make sure I was safe from the car behind me. That car had also slowed a great deal. Before that big rig moved more than two feet into my lane, the driver must have spotted me and pulled back into his lane. Then I suspect because he was going too fast for the car in front of him he slipped into the left lane and sped away. I was happy to get home.

 

Today I went out to do some shopping. I approached a green light that was at the top of a short hill for me. Just as I started into the intersection, I heard a siren and saw bright blue and red flashing lights coming at me from the left. This time I slammed on my breaks hard enough to slide a little. The police car was not coming as fast as I had first thought, but it did go through the intersection ahead of me. I believe they would have stopped if I had not. Again my heart was racing.

 

The other day when I went to work, I saw two vehicles go the wrong way on a one way street. I even blew my horn, amazed that I found the horn, but the driver of that car did not stop. Later the worker truck that I saw turn onto the one way street slipped off to the side immediately, so perhaps they had done that deliberately. Traffic can be a heart stopping experience.

 

Paula

Different Standards

Hello,

 

Do I have different standards towards kids and adults? I must. There was a woman in the library yesterday who was wearing her mask only over her mouth. I was happy that I had my mask on, even though it was hurting behind one of my ears, and that I was behind a plastic shield that sits on the front desk. I believe that if she had been under 13 years old I would have told her to have her mask cover her nose as well since it is of little value to have it doing half the job. For some reason I kept thinking, “What if her surgeon and other health care workers would operate with such a lax method of protection?”

 

Maybe it would not matter to her, but who knows. There are also many others who seem to have difficulty keeping their masks on their nose, but they at least struggle to try to be effective whereas this woman never made any effort to put it in the proper place.

 

I also know that there is a guy who, I believe would be in his 20’s, comes in to use the computer. He has irritated me from time to time so I had no compunction about asking him to adjust his mask when he asked for computer time. I perhaps justify that request because he will be there for a longer time.

 

It is hard, for me, to stick to the same standard for all. I believe there was also some of that in teaching. It is easier to be nice to the nice kids. That is especially sad when we do not know why any child is acting up.

 

Paula

Sun

Hello,

 

The sun is shining on the snow. It lifts my spirit. Leroy and I went out early to shovel the little bit of snow that had fallen, but more fell and the sun took care of most of it. I suppose we could have waited, but I like getting out. It is fun to shovel when there is just a small amount of light snow. It still looks nice out because there was still quite a bit of snow on the ground from the previous storm.

 

We took a long walk this afternoon and I almost wished that I had my summer sun hat on to shade my eyes. We had both put sunscreen on our faces.

 

In the few spots where the sun had not melted the snow on the path there were many footprints, both from humans and dogs. I found it interesting that the footprints direction indicate that people do keep to the right on the trail. I have found that to be true when we meet people, but it must be the majority. There was also a bicycle track. Some are heartier than I am as well as more daring. There were some slippery spots.

 

We saw a number of people on the trail. One person, we know and several of the rest we recognize their coats more than we recognize their faces. We say hello to almost all that we meet with either a verbal greeting or a wave. I am not sure why, but it makes me feel good to see people using the trail. We are grateful that it is only about two blocks from our house. If I were selling a house I would include that as a good thing.

 

Paula

House Plants

Hello,

 

My house plants help me to feel better on a daily basis. Today I read that it is really true that plants help people feel good. I like all the green ones, but the blooming ones lift my spirits even more. I have violets blooming almost continuously. There are two plants, if one is not blooming the other is. So they keep me blessed with a lovely purple. Then the pink Thanksgiving cactus is just getting started on its second round of blossoms. The first one opened yesterday. It will have several more before this is over. I thought it might not bloom again because the first time was so complete with almost every branch participating. So far I do not see any buds on the white one, but then it just finished blooming. Soon I will have an amaryllis blooming. It looks to be spectacular as the bud cases are quite large. The coleus that I brought in for the winter also blooms, but much smaller flowers. I tend to pinch them back because I want the plant to branch out. The spider or airplane plants also bloom producing babies that I do not know what to do with. If someone wants some, I could certainly share. Right now I have potted some plain green leaves, but I also have some striped so there is variety. The last blooming plant is an angel wing begonia that I got from a neighbor. They have them in a large pot every summer, but just let them freeze. This fall, I stopped and asked if I could have some slips from them. They had never thought about taking them in the house. They seemed quite happy to have me try this and let them know how it works. It took quite a while from them to get any roots. Some had no roots when I put them in the pot, but they have thrived. They bloom all of the time, but not as brilliantly as they do outside.

 

Here is that begonia.

 

Paula

The best weather day

Hello,

 

I understand tomorrow will have rain changing to snow. That does not excite me as I will be working and working means driving. I hope it all comes later in the day so I can just miss any excitement. I go at 8:00 am and come home 3:00 pm. hopefully daylight will also help. It is on these days that I envy Leroy because he can park in the parking garage at his work place so he never has to clean the car windows before he starts for home.

 

Leroy and I did get our 10,000 steps today. We took a walk to the church where we turned in a check and a magazine that we have finished with. All sidewalks were clear except a few places where we crossed streets. I know that those spots are hard to maintain because the snow plows often replace snow that was once removed. At the end of our block, Leroy took the shovel up and opened it up again. It is so nice to walk rather than climb into the intersection. With time those “hills” become slippery as more and more feet go over them. A few years ago one of us fell in just such a place. So we are extra cautious. Depending on the situation we try to avoid it.

We do have a spectacular icicle hanging from a gutter that was damaged during the derecho.

 

Paula

Sunny Day

Hello,

 

The sunshine seems to bring out the best in people. Leroy and I took a walk this afternoon after he came home from work. We saw a number of people out and about. Many of the walkers greeted us, smiled, and or waved. A few people looked familiar since we have met them on walks before. I was also pleased to note that almost every driver paused for us to cross ahead of them.

 

We tried to walk down to the lake, but the sidewalk under the interstate had not been cleared so we turned onto some side streets that we had never walked before. It was a little bit of an adventure, but of course we have lived here so long that we knew where we were and could make good decisions about the way we wanted to go.

 

We get hen eggs from a couple in the congregation. Today, when I got them from her, outdoors with good social distancing, she commented that with more daylight the chickens are laying more again. I said, “Thank you for the eggs.”

 

She replied, “Thank you for helping to use up some of them.”

 

It is hard to outdo some people because I think we get much more than we give.

 

Leroy and I both need about 1,000 steps to get to 10,000, but I think we will be able to manage that just around the apartment. I do have book club over the internet so that will mean a bit of sitting, but not all of the time.

 

Paula

A Sunday just like others

Hello,

 

We get up, Leroy cuts my hair, we take showers, we eat breakfast, we do devotions, we set up the computer with the TV to get the big picture for church, we so some moves with Bob and Brad (physical therapists), worship with 100 other unseen people, I attend Sunday morning learning with 13 other seen participants, Leroy is not feeling well so he is napping, we take a long walk of almost 5000 steps, eat lunch of left overs, see a bird at the feeder, wash dishes, Leroy works on stamps, I watch a video with plenty of fast forwards because I cannot remember all of it from seeing it once before, we take another walk that is about 3000 steps, count underwear to learn when wash needs to be done, watch the start of two more discs that I brought home from the library to see if they are good, eat a snack, and now Leroy is reading a book while I am writing.

 

I also tried to check Fitbit on the computer, but for some reason the app and the device are not bonding. It bonds on my phone so that is ok. “Bonds” is their word, not mine.

 

I should be reading my book for Tuesday book club at the library, but for some reason cannot seem to get it to a higher priority.

 

Paula

Torn Sheet

Hello,

 

I believe in wearing things out. At least that is how I grew up, with a strong sense of do not throw it away until it is beyond use.

 

This morning I washed sheets. The bottom sheetnhas a tear in it now. It must be time that it can become a rag. Rather it will become many rags. We had known for some time that these flannel sheets were getting quite thin. Do you think we have missed the year end clearance on flannel sheets? I will have to do some searching, otherwise I will simply wait until next fall to purchase so I do not have to store it. I did have another set of well used sheets so they are on the bed in the meantime. It would not do for us to slip between regular sheets in the winter.

 

Leroy went to the neurologist yesterday. I went as well because I don’t trust him to give me the full report, but then I was thinking about skipping it since Leroy has made such progress. He then told me he wanted me to come. He will be on the current level of meds for at least a month. The Dr. commented we do not want to drop it too much too soon because you almost went blind. It was good to be reminded of that. It seems it was almost a miracle that his sight came back. The Dr. also mentioned that if the hospital had not been so full, he would have admitted Leroy overnight. Leroy finds the meds make him a bit nervous so he is now starting something that he can take daily to learn if that will help his anxiety. We will both be happy if it makes a difference.

 

We got our first calendar for this year. It was nice to get it. We have also decided that we will print one off monthly with some events already added. There was a free calendar at the Dr.’s office, but it is not a style that we use so we left it there.

 

Paula

The Tree is back in the Box

Hello,

 

Yesterday was the last day of the Christmas season. We could have put the tree away, but just did not get to it until today. We have created a box of things that we are going to eliminate next year. Leroy could have put in a few more things, but I did not want to just yet. Maybe next year will be the right time. We actually had one box less to put away. Such a good thing!

 

The living room seems larger now. We dusted and vacuumed so it is for sure cleaner. It is nice to get that done when furniture is out of place. Plus we were both home so it was good to have some teamwork.

 

My family rarely had a tree up much before Christmas, but I do not remember when we took it down. We always had a live tree so the condition of the tree might have dictated the end day. Some years it looked better when it went out than when it came in. We had cedar trees from the farm so they were often a bit brown as they started life in the house. We watered them well.

 

Now Leroy is “working” on his stamps.  He always uses the word working, but I wonder when it is such a pleasure for him to do something with them. He got quite a few for Christmas so they have to find a home.

 

I will work three days this week. I wonder if I will be quite tired when done. I know that I had not worked at night for a while and Monday I was ready to be done about an hour before closing time.

 

Paula

 

I have just seen the news about the situation in DC. I pray for our country and peace.

Leroy’s Pills

Hello,

 

Leroy had participated in a research project to learn if cocoa powder and vitamin D created a positive situation for the body. It was a three year stint of swallowing three pills daily. That ended on December 31. It certainly reduced his pile of pills. He does not yet know if he was taking a placebo or the real thing. He also does not know the conclusions. He is just happy to be done with that.

 

He now only takes calcium with vitamin D as well as vitamin C along with his prednisone. He is happy to have just a few things to remember to take. He ran out of his green calcium pills and so is now taking them from “my” jar. The only trouble is that the C and calcium pills look the same. He is to take the C before the meal and the calcium after the meal. We solved that by putting all the calcium pills in my holder. Such high powered thinking we are required to do!

 

At least his dosage of the prednisone has been cut many times. He is taking a small dosage, but I think it still makes him anxious and upset over the least little thing. I have to keep reminding myself that this did not bother him in the past. It takes a will or thought process not to be sucked into it. We are both looking forward to the day when he will be down to a maintain level or even stops it altogether. We are grateful the help it gives him. He is so much better than he was four months ago. He sleeps much better now so that is good too.

 

Some people thought he would gain weight, but that has not been the case, instead he has lost weight and is not having an easy time gaining it back. He got suspenders to hold up his pants. That has been a good solution for the sagging pants problem.

 

Paula

Cleaning a closet

Hello,

 

Yesterday Leroy wanted to clean a room since we have not done that for a long time. We settled on doing just a closet. It was not a large closet, but we managed to take out quite a lot of things. We must be master packers. We did manage to get rid of some boxes so now there is a little more space in the closet. Is that scary? Do you know what happens when you have empty space? It gets filled by mysterious means when you are not paying attention.

 

Leroy is also talking about getting rid of some of his sports coats and one of his two suits. Since he retired from the ministry he does not very often wear them so a smaller number will be sufficient. I could also say that about some of my clothes. I do not now wear them to work since we are not open for people to come in, I figure I do not have to dress up very much. I attend church in whatever feels comfortable at home, consequently, no dressing for that either. Today I did wear a nice top because we had book club after church. I could only be seen from the waist up, I let the bottom half of me go in some old sweats, sloppy socks, and slippers. I will wait a while longer before getting rid of some clothes, because they might feel like new when we can once again be in groups, or even with small groups of people.

 

One thing about these times, I have not been buying any clothes except panties since some of them have left the drawer for the ragbag never to return.

 

Paula

Thoughts about 2020

Hello,

 

Never in my 73 years have I/we gone so long without attending a church service in a church building.

 

I have walked more this year than any other year.

 

I am now very dependent on the Internet and connective media.

 

The phone and the computer have become best friends.

 

I have learned several new things including a new meaning for the word Zoom.

 

My vocabulary has expanded to include words I had never heard before, both relating to the pandemic and the derecho. Now I use them frequently maybe even in my sleep.

 

Who knew I could wear a mask for several hours at a time.

 

We visited a South American country, Columbia.

 

We are filled with gratitude for returning health.

 

Who knew we could spend so much time together and still be together?

 

 

Paula

Quiet Day

Hello,

 

Leroy and I have just had a quiet day at home. But then this morning Leroy announced that he wanted to wash the kitchen floor. After learning that I was going to make granola he decided to let that happen first, because he could sweep up anything that was on the floor because of that. It was great to get that floor clean. I helped by taking all things out that were not attached to the floor. Oh the table stayed because it is easier just to move it around the room than out the door. I am pleased to have that done.

 

We took a long walk this morning. Lucky us, we did not check the wind before we set off. We chose the direction that was most beneficial for coming home with it at our backs. We walked again this afternoon but the wind was not so strong. We both have our 10,000 steps now. Leroy is getting into the challenge to get those steps each day. He uses his phone to count the steps. We are pleased that they clear the bike path. It makes it so much easier to get around.

 

It was to snow this afternoon, but it has not done that yet. Or perhaps it will not.

 

Happy New Year! Look for the joy in the little things.

 

Paula