privacy notice

'cookieOptions = {my site gathers info, I am told. I do not know how to access the info. You can visit https://policies.google.com/technologies/partner-sites to see what Google does with info. As I do not have advertising on my blog, I am not certain if Google gets much information from my blog.}

Saturday, May 29, 2021

May 29, 2021

 Slowly but surely I am doing a few projects.  sometimes I wonder why I do some of the projects.  Take for instance the recent desire to repair my fake pussywillow that had lights in the white buds.  Mine you this particular fake item died probably 10 years ago.  I packed and moved a nonfunctioning lighted (but not working) fake plant.  700 miles we move the lovely plant.

Hubby had researched the problem and figured out the lights were like the old fashioned Christmas tree lights.  If one light burned out the entire shooting match would quit working.  Bet most of folks that read this will have at some point bought that set of 5 lights and replaced bulbs till the one bad light was found.  One would rue the day if more than one light was out.   Hubby has a different approach, a magnifying glass.  

Hubby will look through an eyeloop magnifying glass until he identifies a light with broken wires of the glowy part.  No switching innumerable lights until the bad light is found.  Replace the one culprit or culprits as the case may be. Voila, lights.  Only one little problem with the pussywillow project.  No replacement lights available.  I did the next best thing, Michaels, Amazon and Google.  The fake willow buds, which were basically white balls, were measured.  A string of lights of a slightly smaller diameter were ordered.  

At least I thought they were a smaller size.  Of course not.  Close but not small enough to fit inside. Hubby suggested drilling the hole a bit bigger in the little pussywillow balls.  One attempt and it was obvious that would not work.  Well, I was not going to waste a perfectly good set of lights!  After all they had cost $7.95.  So I went again to the internet.  I was shopping for balls to fit my pussywillow stems.  Well, really to fit over the led lights.  Found the balls in the form of plastic beads.  Only $6.99.

Of course there was still a matter of fitting over the led lights.  So Hubby 'volunteered' to drill the hole bigger.  Forty little beads held by hand and drilled bigger for the all important pussywillow bush.  Hubby spent more than a few minutes drilling holes.  He did not charge so there was zero cost.

In the mean time I disassembled the original unusable lighted willow.  All that was left were stiff floral stem wires.  Okay, I will use these and attach the new lights to the wires.  Oh, did I mention I could not find lights i the right amount and length that were not battery operated?  Battery operated would not do for this process.  Hubby purchased some sort of capacitor or diode or something like that to use to convert the wall power to the proper voltage for the light string.  Have I mentioned my Hubby should be nominated for sainthood?

Lights were strung to the wires.  The wires were tied together and I began wrapping with the brown florist tape which I had in stock.  No additional cost.  Once part of the balls were ready to be attached it soon became clear the balls would easily fall off.  Out came the Elmer's clear glue.  Again a stock item in the crafting closet/shelf.  As of this evening the forty little balls have been glued to the lights.  Next to put the brown tape on the stems.   

Stems available on Amazon..
It appears we now have about 10 hours of retire persons' time.  That has no value.  About $15.50 in lights, balls and electronic gizmo.  I just check Amazon.  I can purchase assembled stems for $11.59.  The adapter gizmo costs about 50 cents.  I don't think I'll even mention that to my sainted Hubby.  After all even saints have their limits.

Take care out there.  

Janice


PS:  I have 39 left over balls from the original bush.   A partially full bag of pearls for crafting and left over florist wire should anyone need these items just to kill some time.


Wednesday, May 26, 2021

 Hair.  Moisture.  Bush head.  As in Roseanne Roseannadanna.  



My hair has changed over the years.  First my hair was sort of blonde, then red.  Later more brown than red.  Now mostly grey.  As a child Mom would perm my hair so it would curl. That probably was not necessary as my hair had 'body'.  If I rolled it it would curl.  If I did not it would be mostly straight.  Now this head of hair is a nuisance any time there is moisture in the air.  Like today.  

Washed my hair with frizz control shampoo.  Soaked it in frizz control conditioner.  Went to Stretch Lab for the assisted stretching.  Pick up groceries from two locations.  Go through the car wash.  Unload groceries. Hair was dry by then.  Frizzy little short hairs sticking up in all directions.  Ugh.  Rewet the hair.  Did the old time rollers and let it dry.  Curlers out and all was good.  Hair laying nice and smooth.

Then I cooked oven fried chicken.  After about 25 minutes of cooking I opened the oven door to check the temperature of the chicken.  Sudden shot of steam as I opened the oven door.  Instant bush hair again.  Oh, well.  The chicken was really tasty.  

Y'all all stay safe out there!

Janice

Tuesday, May 25, 2021

May 25, 2021

 Sister #1 continues to be on chemo treatments.  Her numbers have improved to the point the oncologist believes she can go to once every three weeks for her treatments instead of every other week.    She is tolerating the treatments though she is frequently feeling pretty tired.  Recently in a Marco Polo app conversation she noted she had a crying fit that morning.  I am certain she needed the release of all the emotions her diagnosis has given her.

Over the last 6 years Sis #1 has lost our mother at the end of January, 2015.  Her eldest son was in the final months of his life fighting cirrhosis of the liver.  Sis #1 one cared for him until he passed at the end of November that same year.  Days and weeks were spent at the hospital.  Somehow she still managed to work, maintain a home and remain mostly sane even though she was in her late 70s.

In 2017 her next oldest son told her it was time to move in with him.  Sister's knee joints were reaching a point where walking was hard and a bit unsteady.  In early 2019 she had both knees replaced.  She developed an infection in the last replacement and had to spend 4 weeks in a rehab facility.  That slowed her recovery.  

August, 2020
By the end of 2019 it was apparent Sis #1 needed a hip replacement.  That was done in February of 2020.  Of course by mid March our lives were moving toward shutdown due to Covid.  In late July, early August we sisters isolated ourselves for two weeks.  Then we did the Covid land bound cruise at Sis 4's home.

In less than a week Sis #1 had a mild heart attack.  The attack led to tests.  Sis #1 required a stent placement.  Less than a month later in late October she was extremely weak.  Hospitalized, again, rectal cancer was discovered.  A seven hour surgery resulted in portion of the colon being removed; a total hysterectomy;  additional material in surrounding areas removed;  lymph nodes and other tissue for testing.  By mid December the doctors declared her to be cancer free.   we all took a deep breath of relief.  With Covid still raging in Texas, we sisters declared no Rogers gathering.  This was the first time since before I was born there had been no gathering.

March 3, 2021
In January Sis #1 was doing fair but not really rebounding like she wanted.  With all the major surgeries in under two years and being 84 we were thinking it was just going to take longer.  By the end of February it was time for another sister gathering. Three of the four had at least one shot so we felt it was safe. Two would getting their shots during the time we decided to gather on March 3.  Not a covid cruise but cruising to get the covid shots!

Following the March gathering Sis #1 continued to have more problems.  She had several appointments with the different doctors as 4 were involved in the cancer surgery.  On March 19 Sis #1 recorded a Marco Polo message that left us sisters in shock.  The cancer had returned and was inoperable.  Without chemo she would not live until summer.  There were a couple of complications that needed to be resolved before the chemo could begin.
A week after she had her first chemo treatment on April 5 we sisters gathered in Oklahoma.  Time is precious.  No chance can be missed.   Talking and games filled the hours.  We played Mexican train dominoesSpeak Out game proved to be challenging and pretty funny.  Sis #1 would have to rest more frequently than usual.  We other three were happy to accommodate her needs.  Even though we did make her put the big plastic thing in her mouth.

Sis #1 has every right to cry.  Gets her joints ready to boogie or at least to make a few short trips.  Then she is hit with an incurable disease.  Several of us have shed tears over this turn of events.  But no matter what, how long or in what condition we will do our best to get together.  Maybe not all four but as many as can.
April 17, Cache, Oklahoma

 
Madill, OK, for commissioning of #3 Nephew, 3 of four sisters

So you folks take time to love and care for one another.  Tomorrow is not promised no matter what.

Live, Laugh, Love
Janice

Sunday, May 23, 2021

April 19, 2021

Back in April I had started this post.  Unfortunately I was becoming more and more lethargic.  Constantly coughing and increased use of the rescue inhaler.  Finally my May 10 scheduled asthma appointment with Dr. Henry arrived  Lung tests showed all was well with the lungs.  So why all the constant coughing and difficulty breathing.  A description of the stuff I was coughing up led Dr. Henry to treat me for a sinus infection.  Now almost two weeks later I am soooo much improved.  No more rescue inhaler.  Coughing is almost non existent.  I am ready to finish this post started on April 19.

Goodness.  Another busy several weeks in my old person life.  We filled our days while Cousin was here looking for patches of bluebonnets.  We, also, visited some local interesting historical sites. Here are a few of the sights.

Mount Bonnell


Austin view from Mt. Bonnell


I would show you photos of the vast fields of bluebonnets outside of Brenham, TX.  Unfortunately the memory card was in my computer 2 hours away.  So here are a couple of cell phone shots.  No bluebonnets.  Ugh.



Even when we went on the 'go to' place for bluebonnets, the Willow City Loop, just a smattering of bluebonnets.  Lots of Prickly Poppies filled in for the masses of blue with masses of white.





And the occasional hawk sighting.


Evening found us in a small bed and breakfast outside of Fredericksburg, TX.  The place was full of all things from the 1930's through the 1960's.  Way more than I would want to dust, just sayin'.



The last day of Cousin's visit we dropped by Luckenbach, TX. If you are a country music fan you may have heard a song about this wide place in the road.  Made more famous by Waylon Jennings' song.





Accessing a Facebook group that was recording the best locations for bluebonnets had sent us to Brenham.  Lots of missed photos.  Last stop was a bonanza for bluebonnets along the Colorado river (not the Colorado river of the Grand Canyon).  Horseshoe Bend State Park had several acres of the blues to enjoy.  And we did along with a picnic lunch.  


Somewhere in the middle of all the short bluebonnet jaunts we celebrated Easter with a wonderful meal with our Son, DIL, Youngest Nephew, Cousin and Bonus Grandson.  The location was an upscale restaurant.  A celebration of all having our shots as well as the Resurrection.  Also, the 14th anniversary of Hubby's miraculous recovery from a massive blood clot.   So much to celebrate.

Cousin left to her home in the KC area the next morning.  The next day I sold the bed we had been providing for guests for about 20 years.  I had paid $100 for it.  The people paid $150 for it.  Talk about supply and demand.  We are planning on replacing the bed with something that takes less storage space and lighter to manage.  Folks still welcome.

That catches you followers up through mid April.  Of course today is nearing the end of May.  Yep, feeling much better.  Hopefully will see you tomorrow with a bit more of an update from Central Texas.

Peace and joy,

Janice