Being a Slight Invalid

Hello, There are some good things about the toenail gone. Leroy just washed the kitchen and bathroom floors because he did not want to have me accidently hurt my toe. I do not get on hands and knees, but squat. He still figured there was some risk. I can just let him do it. I did help move things out of the area, sweep the floors, and shake out the bathmats. At least I did not feel guilty about not doing so much. It seemed to me that my toe was a bit shinny. I called my provider this afternoon. That became a bit of a challenge. Apparently, many people have foot issues because it was a bit hard to get through. When I did get through, a picture was required to be sent to the online site. I could take the picture just fine. The portal, it required a provider’s name. my provider was off for the day. I only had the first name of the person who would look at it. The last name was needed to find anyone, requiring another phone call where I left a message so they could call me back. That next call was the best because they gave me the cell phone of another doctor. I am comfortable sending photos by text. That Doctor got back to me in short order. He feeling was that it looked quite normal. Yes! How did we manage these questions before such advanced technology? Paula

Earwigs

Hello, I have a closer relationship with earwigs than I had ever imagined possible. I barely knew their name before this season. Now I have talked to several, they do not listen or obey. I have dumped several outside after finding them around the base of the cabbage head. I have killed several with my bands by crushing them into the garden soil. I have tried to destroy their home in the garden by snapping off the lower cabbage leaves. I have put out a trap for them, recipe found on the Internet, and apparently caught many tiny ants. I am sorry about that as I suspect these are good creatures to have around. Is this war or what? Does this mean you should not get on my bad side? The cabbage heads have been quite good. Especially after we chase out the earwigs. Most of the damage is just at the bottom of the head. From the street the cabbage looks beautiful and perfect. There are still two heads left. We will get those cut and frozen before we leave on our trip. I like cooked cabbage better than raw. Leroy goes along with whatever I say in the food area. By the way, Leroy will not touch the earwigs. He was also that way with squash bugs which I attacked with a vengeance one year. I managed to extend the zucchini crop for a good month. The Internet site stated that earwigs like lettuce as well, but they seem to like our cabbage better. We have some very nice oakleaf lettuce that with stands the heat. I am pleased with it. Paula

Busy Morning

Hello, We were off to tai chi, even managed to arrive ahead of the instructor. But that just meant we needed to get the computer and TV set up for the internet connection. We are often joined by five or more online people. My foot did quite well with the balance poses. Leroy had a bit more of a struggle. The next stop was to pay a dentist bill. Just grateful that we have the money to do this without stressing about it. Course we like to stop at the city library. Leroy found about five books and I even managed to find two. I am reading one at home that will go in the little free library when I am done. Our little free library is frequently almost empty. Books go out, but seldom come back. We stopped at church to do some watering flowers around the building. Even though I had been to the pharmacy to pick up a filled prescription, we went there again to pick up one for Leroy. Now I have a message that I will have one there in a week. Are we on a lot of drugs? At home we had to do some watering because one flower looked rather distressed. We got water from the rain barrel. It was a task since leaves or some green growth was blocking the exit. It took two of us to get that open. The plant looks much better now. At home I asked Leroy for help with one of the credit card statements. I always keep the receipts and then check it against the statement. I can do it by myself, but it is easier with the two of us. Paula

Brass Band

Hello, The brass band was an interesting concert. They were quite good. They even stopped and showed all of their instruments. It was based on the British style of brass band. All of the selections were introduced with a little description. The concert was in the Shakespear garden. That certainly fits. I had wanted to visit the Shakespear garden. It was a good excuse to get there. What makes it a garden of that period, I can not begin to say. It was quite well organized and colorful. We were a bit early so we could walk around and admire the plants. There was a breeze scattering the bugs. The temperature was warm, but not hot and the breeze helped with that too. There was a municipal band concert after the brass band, but Leroy did not want to stay so long. I would have stayed if I had been alone, but it was ok to come home and go to bed before it was late. Today is so much hotter. Glad the concerts were last night. I went out early to water plants this morning. Neither of us did much outside this afternoon. Air conditioning is a comfort. Leroy had an appointment this morning with the cardiologist. I did my volunteer job. Trusted him to pay attention. He seemed to do a good job with questions and listening. Some of his meds are changed. He will have another procedure done when it can be scheduled. Guess these people are very busy. Too many people with hearts that require attention. We are fortunate that he can get it taken care of. Paula

Getting Ready for a trip

Hello, Even though the trip is still a little more than two weeks away, I keep planning for it. Perhaps it has been too long since we have taken a trip. Wondering which suitcase should I take. Old faithful or the new one? How cold will it be outside, on the bus, or in the hotels? What clothes to pack? Warm or cool weather? How much of each type? People often ask what cities will be visited. It seemed good to make a list that I can see them and start to learn them. Perhaps I should learn something about each one. Now that would be out of character. Should I set aside something when it seems we might need it? What shoes? Sunhat for sure, but it is worn almost daily. Should a spare go in even though it is not the favorite in case the favorite is forgotten at the last minute. How much reading material to take? Not a lot of time for reading, but certainly some. Perhaps the magazines will be just about right for reading and leaving someplace. How much money should we take? We like to leave a tip in the hotel room for the care we get. Then there are some meals that we purchase ourselves, but usually we use plastic for that. Souvenirs are not really on our list. Paula

Ordination At Church

Hello, We went to an ordination at our church last night. That is the consecration of a new minister who has just graduated from seminary and received their first call to a parish. This was a second career for this man. It was a good service. I drove and Leroy walked. I envy him the ability to just walk and feel good about life. On Tuesday it will have been two weeks since my toenail was removed. The instructions were to take it easy for two weeks. I have been trying to follow the instructions, but it takes a bit of encouragement on my part. Many days I have not even walked 5000 steps. Feels a bit sinful. Tonight we helped at the Saturday evening meal for the food insecure. It was not so nice for my toe. Too much standing and moving around. I did drive, but there was still about two and a half hours on my feet. Also we were short one person although the meal was not so hard to clean up. That helped quite a bit. Fireworks are going off in our neighborhood. Apparently it is legal until 11:00 at night on the weekend before and after July 4th. Leory and I like to be asleep by 10:00. Guess we can manage. Paula

Pieces Found!

Hello, This morning both Leroy and I went back to the parking lot where I had dropped the fob. We searched quite a while. Finally, I looked in a spot I was sure I had not parked. There was the red button. The other darker harder to see button was nearby. We were both quite pleased. Leroy suggested we see about replacing the battery in his fob which has not worked for several years. Previously we could not get the fob apart to get to the battery. We went to a battery shop that he remembered. The shop was dark and appeared closed with a sign on the door. It stated that they had permanently closed in February. One of us had the brilliant idea of going to an auto parts shop. “Sure, we can do that,” the worker said when we arrived. After a few minutes and with additional help they had to admit that they did not have a screwdriver small enough to take out the screw. These helpful people recommended a lock shop. They felt those people could do about anything. Driving again and looking for the shop. Leroy had noticed it before. We went in with high hopes and a little trepidation since we had heard it is sometimes quite expensive to work on these fobs. The woman there said, “I can do that. It not be long.” She was true to her word. It might have taken her five minutes and the bill was $8.03. Talk about a deal, no reason to wait years to get this done. On the way home we even completed another errand. Paula