Sunday News September 29, 2025 Hello, They celebrated Leroy’s 50 years ordination anniversary. We went to service Saturday night, and two on Sunday morning. During the service, they had a small validation and commendation along with a prayer. Leroy said a few words. After the service, Leroy and I stood at the door to receive congratulations and hand out bookmarks. The bookmarks had a picture of every church he has served as well as the years he was there. They were quite nice. There was also some time for fellowship and treats. It was nice. Another person on the church staff made a good slide show. By Sunday afternoon we were a bit tired. We both took a nap. I did get out and pick okra at the community garden. Half of it had gotten too large and went into the compost bin. Glad we have the bin. There was a Grant Wood Walk of the neighborhood. Grant Wood spent some time living here as a kid. We had gone on this tour earlier in the summer on a very hot day so they were repeating it. I wish I had gone again because one neighbor invited them in to see his historic home and what had been done to it. I had talked to him a few days ahead of the tour so I knew it might happen, but was not sure. I just stayed home and rested. Regrets. Amazing how 50 years can seem like such a short time when looking back on it rather than ahead to it. I was pleased for Leroy that the church wanted to honor him this way. Paula

Conundrums at the Grocery Store

Hello, Warning, if a potato is taken from the side of a heap, potatoes can fall. Only two went down to the floor, but it meant that the next potatoes came from the top of the heap whether they were worthy or not. Then it was time to move on to get eggs. How much should be paid for organic, free range, or pasture raised. Buying local was at the top of the buying criteria. Then some eggs were in plastic cartons and some were in cardboard. The cardboard carton, pasture raised, local with a small sale price won my purchase. Local honey that will fit in my own quart jar was an easy decision. Keeping it from dripping after filling was more challenging. The jar stayed in place while getting some other items across the aisle. On returning, all looked done, but just as soon as the jar was removed and capped a drip fell on the tray under it. Some tea we like was on sale. Should I get that or the not on sale, equal exchange organic kind? The on-sale tea found its way into my cart, but with some guilt produced. We support others around the world in other ways, but maybe buying their products gives them more dignity. I remember a day when I just went to the grocery store and bought the item we liked if it was priced at an affordable level. Life has more questions for me now. I try to go organic for the sake of the earth and the future, but sometimes the seductive voice of savings calls loudly. Who knew grocery shopping could be an ethical question. Paula

A long Day

Hello, Yesterday was another heart test day. We were there in plenty of time. We don’t live very far away, but did not really know the entrance they wanted us to use. Luckily, there were helpful people who could help at points of confusion. The parking ramp was rather full. I would slow looking for a spot to park with a car very close behind me. They kept honking every time I slowed. Pulling to the side, allowed them to pass and I was able to back into a spot. Leroy, as usual, thought it was a crooked parking affair, but I just ignored that. He did admit as we left the car, “It is better than I thought.” Just before Leroy was ready to go in, a heart attack person needed attention ahead of Leroy. I think it was a wait of an hour and a half. Leroy was bored, but not hurting so that is good. They found that he has no blockages to his heart. That means more tests in the future to try to ascertain what is the problem. Because they go in through an artery, he has to be careful with his right wrist. I zip his pants, button or snap, put on socks, shoes and tie them. He manages to eat with his left hand without spilling. No heavy lifting, no tugging, no vacuuming, no washing dishes, etc. for a few days. He feels a bit limited. I took the sticky pads off his arm and chest. Those places where they connected wires. He had already pulled on one side of his shirt so I missed two of them until last night. as the nurse stated, “If you wait too long the glue stays on the body.” Sure enough, there was a sticky feel. After searching for rubbing alcohol, I could not find the sticky places. How did that happen? Paula

How much water

Hello, I watered a mum plant at church that was inside the building. The dish under was not very deep. Just a little water was needed. Somehow my little got way too large. I raced to find a rag, asked the custodian. “Sure, I have rags,” he told me as he handed me a medium sized towel. The water was pouring off the table, splashing on the wall, and spreading out on the floor. The towel only held about half the water. The wastebasket was close; after wringing out some of the water, I raced back downstairs to find more of these rag towels. Back up the stairs, and sopped up as much as it could hold. Hurry down stairs for another towel when the flow finally stopped. It was a calmer affair to water the outdoor plant where the excess water would not cause any harm. It is good that Leroy is almost done getting drops in the first cataract eye. He seems to blink just as the drop falls. Or I might be aiming in the wrong place, or he might move his face just as it drops. It is definitely a challenge to get this job done. Seems to me he was more cooperative with the nurses at the surgery center. Hopefully, we have enough drops to make it to the end of the month. The trials of the easy life. Paula

One more on Leroy’s Health

Hello, He feels so good this morning. He even helped with dishes at noon. Last night he did have a headache. Apparently in the night it went away. He had taken pain pills, but that just took off the edge. I have come to the conclusion that everyone and their grandmother must have A Fib. Oops, it is probably just their grandmother who has it since age seems to be the major qualifier. This morning, I went to tai chi. When it is over I always report the number of participants to the person at the library desk. As I was telling the woman, she commented, “See that man out on the bench outside the window. He has been sitting there for some time and cursing.” “I will stay with you,” I told her. Not sure what I planned to do in the event of an issue. He had a small blanket with him, no shirt, not shaved, large tattoo on his back, and something that looked like mail. After a bit, the woman stated. “He has been much quieter now.” A woman came into the library with her two children. The man outside got up went to the garbage bin, put stuff in, and then I did not see him. Going closer to the window, he was spotted on the cement on his blanket using his phone. I suggested, “I think you should call someone to just check up on him.” She called the city office and the mayor came over. I left as he was coming. All that made my morning longer, but I was glad to wait with her. Paula

Leroy is Bored

Hello, Leroy’s second cataract surgery went well. It was earlier in the morning. He could drink water closer to the surgery, so he got up at 4:30 for his last drink. The anesthesiologist, came in and said that she would give him half of the dose he had last time, even though it was quite low. He was talking normally when they brough him back in the room and he remembered much of what happened in the operation. They too noticed how much better he was this time. No one had to ask, “Does he always talk like this?” This time they did not highlight the signs of a stroke. And they were not adamant about not leaving him alone for 24 hours. He is not to do much for the rest of the day. He is bored. He is listening to an audio book, but gets rather tired of that. Now we just have to spend some more time getting tests for his heart. Amazing how the focus of one’s life can change in a heartbeat. Paula

Leroy looks healthy

Hello, Yesterday Leroy had a call from the cardiologist. They had told us if the Doctor calls it is not good, no news is good news. The doctor reported that Leroy had more a-fib incidents when he was wearing the halter which monitors 24/7. Leroy feels nothing. When we saw the Doctor, he did comment that some people are asymptomatic. Guess that must be Leroy. Leroy asked if he should go ahead with the second cataract surgery. The reply was yes, but in the notes, he called it dangerous. We are hoping for the best result on Monday. This time he is scheduled for early in the morning and he can drink water much closer to that time so he should not be dehydrated. Leroy also is going to have a cardiac catheterization the following week. We feel as if our lives have been flipped upside down. Leroy admitted, “I have always been rather proud of my good health. Now this shoots it down.” We are getting used to the idea. I am almost starting to hover asking, are you thirsty, do you feel all right, do you want to sit down? Today we still walked to church to volunteer by watering plants, helping unload, packing grapes, washes and culling plums. We were there and on our feet for most of two hours. We were not alone another couple was there also helping the main person. We brought home some of the bruised plums. They had excellent flavor. Paula

Tomato Joys and Woes

Hello, We were able to pick a nice number of tomatoes in two days. I did give a small bag away, but I was happy to do that. Today was canning day. We think it has been three years since we have had enough tomatoes to can. My memory of how to, is a bit rusty. About how many make a quart? How long should they be in the water bath? What pans did I use to sterilize the jars and lids? Do we have enough jars? Where are the jar rings? What did I use to put the jars in the canner without burning my fingers? With some help from the internet, my brain, and Leroy’s memories it got done. All was good until I went in the spare bedroom and saw a tray with tomatoes on it. Neither of us remembered to bring that to the kitchen. We only had enough for five jars, but really there was enough for six jars. Now those tomatoes will have to be used another way, especially as they are quite ripe. Blessings overflow. At noon we ate beans from the garden and squash that was a gift. We have a very rich life. Food to share and more clothes than we can wear. We also have some mysteries. Why is there a dead mouse on the sidewalk close to the house and then another out on the main sidewalk? Why is there a dead bird by the fence? Is there a cat that hunts but does not eat the kill? Paula

Community Garden

Hello, Even though it is Sunday, we walked to the garden this afternoon. I try not to work on Sunday, but some things were ready to pick. We got a number of tomatoes and left some on the plants. Then it was time to pick okra. Two of them were too large and had to be put on the compost. Then there was a big picking of Swiss chard. It is beautiful. The broccoli looked very nice, but the holes in the leaves signaled cabbage worms in abundance. We washed all of these things even though that was work too, but I do not like to have them in the house unclean. As it was, the first washing of the broccoli had at least ten worms floating around in the water. Leroy picked off several more. The vinegar soak killed more of them. The last water was clear of worms. It is still a bit hard psychologically to eat this produce. Interesting how chemicals do not bother us so much because we can not see them. Ultimately, they probably harm our bodies much more than worms. We are going to read this evening, by reading or watching TV. Paula

Leroy Feels Fine

Hello, How many appointments can he have? That is a question with a big answer. Age seems to be the cause of this as he does not show any other symptoms. He did the stress test, but we do not know the results. He does have a slight leak in a valve or two, but not out of the ordinary for his age. The fact of the matter is that the body has gone on for 76 years and it has a few things that are not working as if he were only 50 years. He is certainly getting a lot of reading done now. Although some of it has been audio books which he does not like as well. The eye doctor told him his eye and lens look good. He has reading glasses now and that has made a big improvement. His correction is not as strong as mine, both for near and far, so he manages much better than I did between the eye surgeries. I believe the difference was so great that my poor brain could not get it figured out. He is back to getting 10000 steps per day. He does admit to being a bit tired, but then he has always taken naps. We have only missed getting the eye drops in once. I am pleased, we have remembered so often. He can go back to normal activities so we will volunteer at church tomorrow. Mostly that is not too hard, but we do feel tired when finished. I have read The Women by Kristin Hannah and am now reading The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien. They are both set in the Vietnam war. It makes me realize how little I really knew about that even though I was alive then and old enough to be aware. Paula

Labor Day Indeed

Hello, It seemed like a day to labor. We were out of bread and granola so I made granola in the morning and bread in the afternoon. We had been gifted with some tomatoes. Some of them were a bit fragile so it was necessary to take care of them. My rag bag was full and overflowing which means they needed to be washed.

Leroy helped me hang the rags and get them in and folded afterwards. I fold the rags because they take a lot less room. In the afternoon we went and picked okra and cucumbers in the community garden. Much of the okra had gotten too large. Six inches instead of the recommended length of 3 to 4 inches. We tossed quite a few in the compost. There were seven cucumbers and we managed to give away five of them as well as one bag of the okra. We did discuss the okra with the people who took them. I could not give them much advice about them except to look it up on the internet to learn about it. Leroy had cataract surgery last Wednesday. During that he went into some a-fib so we have been busy seeing a lot of health care people for consultation and testing. They are trying to get all the testing done before his next surgery. Not an easy task since they were booked out until October. But I think much of it is scheduled now. Leroy and I think it was because he was dehydrated. He had been told not to eat or drink after midnight. We are not up so late so he had something at 10:00 pm. It was 16 hours before the surgery and I think that was too long. He is feeling fine and his eye is healing well. We need to see the eye doctor, but the heart people scheduled an appointment at the same time so we will have to adjust. Paula