Tom's blood sugar

 Tom had a bad reaction to his 50 reading of blood sugar today.  I gave him two glasses of orange juice .  and peanut crackers and a chicken salad supper.  He finally got well enough to get to bed.  He was also very confused.  Hopefully he will sleep it off, and be better in the morning.  

First real snow

 December 2, 24 was our first real snow.  We had around 6 inches and today, December 5, we had another 6 or so inches.  Very pretty, but very cold.  Mara loves to roll in the snow as she rolls in the grass when there is no snow.

Birthday

We went to 99's for my birthday and were treated to our meal by an unknown person and the manager paid for our dessert.  I will try to put in a picture.

approaching 91

 I am on the eve of being 91 years of age.  I never dreamed of being this old.  I still enjoy life and look forward to each day.  Right now I'm off to fertilize my inside plants.  That should take the rest of my energy.  I just go home from Walmart, doing last minute Thanksgiving shopping.  I"m not decorated , but I have fixed the table for our family of 6.  

Mary and Beth at Colorado River.

 We drove for hours along the Colorado River to get to Moab and Archies national Park.  I loved every minute of the drive.  Charlie drove as I sat in the back seat taking photos.

Moab national park

So many lovely sights in the park.
 

moab

 

Colorado visits

 While in Colorado, I visited with Beth several assisted living facilities.  My favorite was Solstice at Mesa View in Grand Junction.  I could be very happy there.  The next day we went touring along the Colorado River and on to Canyonlands and Arches National Park.  Very impressive.  So different and beautiful.  This picture shows me standing on Beth's new home patio

Colarodo

Thurday was an interesting day. Bryce drove us to the airport in Portand to catch our flight to Denver. Beth, Charlie and myself boarded the plane and 4 hours  later we were in Denver.   We had a short wait for our flight to Grand Junction and soon we were in the air again.  Just before we got to Grand Junction, the pilot announced that two big storms were in the area with 50 MPR winds and he was returning to Denver to wait for better weather.  To make a very long story short and after many promises for a new flight crew to arrive, we were told that the best they could do was reschedule the flight for 6:30 on Friday.  We found available seats as It was now too late to go to a hotel.  We lay on the seats for a 3 hour nap and a United Employee brought blankets for our comfort and we slept a little.  

Friday,  as promised, the flight happened and we were in Grand Junction in an hour. Charlie got the rental and we drove to Fruita, a few minutes away. Beth and Charlie went to close  on their house and I stayed in the AIRBAB and slept.  They bought the house and furniture. Later, Beth took me over to see the house and it is so very nice.  I love the layout.  Now on to the next adventure. an  assisted living home, but I"m worried about the elevation as I am some short of breath and I know Tom will be, so we will have to see.

Grace Fellowship church

 This is a group of our friends who have left WPBC and are visiting Grace Fellowship.  

Moving sale

We are trying to get rid  of lots of unneeded junk in preparation to move to Colorado in two years.  That is the plan at the moment.  Beth wants to move there when she retires in two years.  We will follow.  So another move is in the making.  Lots of stuff to get rid of in the meantime.  We do have two years.  

new churches

 We visited Hebron Baptist last Sunday and plan to go to West Sumner Baptist this Sunday.  Hebron was very nice and friendly but still a distance away.  Sumner is very close for winter driving.Will update as we visit.  

new neighbor

 He is not the typical neighbor, but an added attraction to our little community.    

Black Day at Church

 Our new pastor of 3 moths was fired by the deacons and today was his last day.  It will be known how this will affect the church.  Tom and I will look elsewhere for sure.  Brother Ken was an excellent preacher and it was totally unfair for him to be dismissed.  I wish he and Jen the best wherever they go.  I am very upset over this.  WPBC has been our church for 25 years and we are so sorry to leave, but we can't stay while Gary and Edie are in charge.  The devil has finally gotten a stronghold in the church,  Maybe it was us and things will get better without us. 

COVID day 12

 I finally feel human again.  I played piano for an hour or more today.  Tom still has a deep cough.  

I plan to try church on Sunday, I cooked supper.  

covid day5

 I wish I could say, I'm almost well, but I still feel sick and weak.   Maybe Fran's good chicken soup will put some energy and spice back in my life.  Hopefully.  I'm getting tired of doing nothing and feeling terrible.

covid

 After weathering all the bad pandemic of covid, we all fell ill with is this JUly.  Beth and Charlie and then me and Tom.  All of us were very sick and still are.  I'm taking the covid medicine and I guess it makes me feel a little better.  It does have a bad after taste in your throat and mouth.  I still have the cough and stomach issues.  

Ballplayers with coach May 2024

 Grandson Archie with his twin ball players, Quinn and Aurora

Birds in May

 

 

Rose and yellow breasted grosbeaks and tiny hummingbird to left of feeder.

May Flowers

 

new painting aventures

 Tom is beginning to take up his painting  again after 60 or more years.  It gives him something to focus on rather than all his ailments.    I have lots of energy since my heart valve replacement and enjoy the warm weather to work outside.

Gardens 2024

 Brian has  cleaned all the designated flower beds.  We still have to get out hoses and prune the grapes.  Then it will just be playing in the yard.  I continue to feel energetic and enjoy the yard work.  Each night we have close to  dozen deer in the back yard.  Today I received my order of deer no-no and put 8 bags around the yard.  So far, the lilies are safe.

Flooded basement

Last Friday during a huge rainstorm, The basement flooded.  This is eht home for Beth and Charlie, and much storage.  Everything was ruined.  Service pro came and spent two days drying up water.  Now most of the ruined stuff is out in the garage.  They took away the carpet covering and B<C and Sara hauled wet stuff to the garage.  It is a big mess and we are all unhappy that they have lost their nice home. 

Total eclipse 2024

 Tom and I watched the eclipse from the beginning to end.  It was very nearly total.  Two deer wandered out into the yard.  I couldn't get a picture.

 ON Tuesday of this week I had myTranscatherter valve replacement in my heart.Today, Sunday, I played organ preludes at church and the piano for song service.  I feel great.  I had four heart surgeons and numerous other medical people in surgery.  All went well for the wire to be inserted and the balloon to place the new metal valve.  Modern medicine is fantastic.  My surgeons were wonderful.  Dr. Gimmini was  my main surgeron.  A native of India, he is my favorite.  Though all the others were great and I was well taken care of and God was in control.  Many prayers were offered as well.  ON Tuesday of this week I had myTranscatherter valve replacement in my heart.Today, Sunday, I played organ preludes at church and the piano for song service.  I feel great.  I had four heart surgeons and numerous other medical people in surgery.  All went well for the wire to be inserted and the balloon to place the new metal valve.  Modern medicine is fantastic.  My surgeons were wonderful.  Dr. Gimmini was  my main surgeron.  A native of India, he is my favorite.  Though all the others were great and I was well taken care of and God was in control.  Many prayers were offered as well.  

Heart surgery

 ON Tuesday of this week I had myTranscatherter valve replacement in my heart.Today, Sunday, I played organ preludes at church and the piano for song service.  I feel great.  I had four heart surgeons and numerous other medical people in surgery.  All went well for the wire to be inserted and the balloon to place the new metal valve.  Modern medicine is fantastic.  My surgeons were wonderful.  Dr. Gimmini was  my main surgeron.  A native of India, he is my favorite.  Though all the others were great and I was well taken care of and God was in control.  Many prayers were offered as well.  

Countdown

 Yes, the days are racing along and I will have the TAVR surgery on Tuesday, the 26th of March.  Needless to say it is snowing up a storm and this does nothing to help my spirits.

I do have a few blooms in the sunroom and promises of lots of orchid cactus for the coming weeks.  ONly one of my plants is choosing to bloom.  I suppose I prunned the others back too severely.  

Oh well, we will see if we are able to have church tomorrow.  that will be something to do .

 

TAVR

 I have written about my Arotic stenosis and have now had the CAT scan and follow up tests and have the TAVR scheduled.  This is transcatheter Aortic Valve replacement.  I will have three surgeons performing the surgery and have confidence they are the best.  My shortness of breath seems to be getting much worse and I will be happy to get this valve replaced.  

Mary's Heart

Thursday I started the first of my tests for the procedures to unblock my aorta Stenosis.'

I had a CT scan and it was very uncomfortable with the dye.  I actually screamed when they started the dye it burned so much.

February 23 Latest on Tom

 Tom's left eye has dried up, but now he has wet Macular Degeneration in his right eye and had to receive a shot in the right eye yesterday.  He also now has gout in his right ankle, so he is in a lot of pain. We seem to keep the roads hot getting him to  appointments.

In other news, it snowed a little bit today.  We still have a snow covering of at least a foot.   

Tom home

 I got Tom home last night , Jan 25 after a week in Togus hospital.  His gout is better and he is able to walk with just his cane as of today.  

It snowed quite a bit today, maybe a few inches and the roads are a mess

I was very tired last night when we got home and we had leftover soup, but tonight we had pork roast, green beans, baked potato and sweet potato.  

I burned  a pot yesterday while making tea and today heating beans.  I simply cannot leave the kitchen with something on the  stove.  I must not go to the computer or go to lay down in the bedroom.  

Tom 1-19-2024

He has been at Togus hospital since Wednesday night 1-16.  They finally agree he has Gout in his ankle and hopefully treatment will take the pain away.  We may get him home Sunday or Monday or not..

He has to be able to walk for us to manage him at home.  

Last of Swap Shop materials

 Yesterday at the Swap Shop, I turned over all my history of the shop which I opened in 2007.  I had kept it all these years, but it was time to clean house so my history is gone.  Maybe I wrote about it in 2007, I will look and see.  Don Berry is now in charge of the shop and it's future.  See Dump Shopping 2010

Tom :

 Yesterday, Thursday, January 16, I took him to RUmford ER.  They treated him for a foot infection, but had no rooms.  At 11:OO pm. They took him by ambulance to Togus hospital.  He is now being treated where they know all about his various ailments.  He feels content there.  His infected foot is maybe a little better, but still hurts.  I'm in  the Augusta Hampton Inn for a few nights so I can come visit him easier than being at home, an hour away.  It is more restful for me.  I had a chicken pot pie and ice cream from the deli downstairs that Beth brought to the room before she left for home.  I cooked the pie in the room microwave and ate half the ice cream from the room refrigerator.  She set up my Chromebook before she left for home.  

January 16, snow

 Snow has just started but it is supposed to get really bad after lunch  time.  It is nearly 12 noon now.  It is also very cold.  I'm going to get dressed in very warm clothes and may get in bed to get warm.  It is too cold to work in the sunroom.

January 7 snow storm

NOt much of a storm.  We may have 3 inches so far and not much falling now.  It is however, cold.  The sunroom has no sun and the heater is only making it 50 degrees.  We closed the curtains last night too, but it hasn't made much difference.  Hopefully the flowers will survive.

I was invited downstairs by Beth to watch the uphill race in the Alps.  It was exciting and a girl from Maine won first place.  HIggins placed enough to make her a winner overall 

Church was cancelled, which was good as we could not have made it out safely.