Friday Food 01-26-24

Lunch yesterday with friend Carol. We went to  Blue Agave in Yorba Linda.   Upscale, Tex-Mex food is always very good.

I don't usually order wraps, but this sounded so good. Grilled chicken chopped with bits of apple, crumbled blue cheese with a sauce for dipping.  .  Rice on the side and chopped veggies.  The yellow lump is a scoop of corn pudding.   I would definitely order this again.   And I had the second half for lunch today  - great. 

Carol Bednar ordered chili relleno and and chicken tostada served with Texas beans and rice.

I have switched to wearing a slightly too small long sleeved mock turtle with a small pillow (7" square)  over the incision site.  It is held in place by the tightness of the shirt.  No tape, so there is less itching, but I am still applying Cortaid-10 around the parameter of the steri-strips. The pillow stayed in place when we walked and I wore a vest so it doesn't really show. Unless someone is staring at my un-bra-ed bosom, which is not very likely.     Feeling better every day.  

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Wordless Wednesday 01-24-24

 

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Pacemaker #6 and Oceans 01-23-24

Saw the surgeon this afternoon.  Bandage removed, just the steri-strips remain.  I am cleared to do whatever I want to do.  No restrictions.  Follow  up the end of April. And then every six months, I guess until I die!   Perhaps they will have the check ups electronically and I won't have to pay $5 parking to see the doctor!!

I stopped on the way home for a Vente Latte - it was delicious with one of the cookies I bought yesterday!   I planned to take a half hour shower, but there were messages to send, KoKo's walk, warmed over dinner, and I just lost the inclination.  I will take Immanuel to school in the morning, then KoKo will take me for the morning walk, and THEN I can have a shower.  I have such an exciting life!!   But I really do feel so  much better than I have for the last 2 - 3 years.  My new primary doctor, Dr. Sidigian thought I might need a pacemaker the first time she saw me.  I saw her Thursday morning  before the implant and thanked her for the diagnosis.   And today I found out she will retire the end of January.  Bummer

 When I travel I take pictures of the ocean, even if there is nothing but water.

My laptop background.

These are stand up paddle boarders - Monterey Bay.

Pacific Ocean along I-5

Cruise ship in Monterey Bay

Acadia National Park,  Atlantic Ocean - Maine

Ebey's Landing National Historic Reserve - Washington State

Cascade Mountains, Olympics, Salish Sea.

Dana Point Harbor

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Pacemaker #5 01-22-24

Another good day.  I drove!  Not a problem after I figured out how to put on my seatbelt without lifting my left arm over my shoulder.  Did a couple errands and came home for a nap. No walk for KoKo this morning because it was pouring  rain but the weather app showed it wasn't going to rain at Noon, so we went out and walked about 1/3rd of the way when it started sprinkling.  He did his business and we headed for home.  Not too wet.  But it continued to rain off and on all day. Tomorrow morning I'll drive Immanuel to school and maybe try sewing again. The itchies are still with me, verrry distracting.  I see the surgeon at 2:30pm.

Rain pictures from all over the country.

And Nancy Ota somewhere out of the country.

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Pacemaker #4 01-21-24

Well, I'm getting along okay.   Maybe I have moved around too much as the pain is slightly more.  But not as bad as the itch!  I keep going around the edge of the bandage with the Cortaid sttick and that relieves it for a bit.   I also put on a bra to hold the boob up a bit,  not sure if it helps. Worth a try.   Wedid both walks today, just the loop, no "side trips".  Each walk is a bit less than mile and I no longer have to  sit down to rest.  I'll try driving the  loop tomorrow to see if I can drive okay.  

In 2012  Visions Quilt Museum hung 40 12"X12" quilts from the Thomas Contemporary Quilt Collection.  These were only part of  the 2X12s at that time.  Have added quite a few during the intervening years. 

Forty twelve-inch square quilts from the Thomas Contemporary Quilt Collection.

Top row: Judith Roderick, Kristin LaFlamme, Terry Grant, Sherry Kleinman, Nelda Warkentin, Els Vereycken, Bodil Gardner, Kirsten Duncan.   2nd row:  K. Grace Howes, Sue Benner, Aileyn Renli Ecob, Karen Rips, C. Terry Meyer, Brenda Gael Smith, K.Velis Turan, Gerri Congdon.   3rd row: Terry Grant, Mary Pal, Doria Anne Goocher, Linda Colsh, Polly Bech, Els Vereycken, Ruth Powers, Sue Dennis.  4th row: Thom Atkins, Sandra Hart, Joan Sowada, Diane Perin Hock, Terri Stegmiller, Sally Sellers, Cynthia St. Charles, Chris Hanson.   5th row: Julia Zgliniec, Nanette Fleischman, Nikki Wheeler, Natalya Aikens, B.J. Adams, Nancy Morgan, Catherine Kleeman, Deborah Boschert.

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Pacemaker day 3 01-20-24

Well, I don't have much to write about, but time a plenty!  Usually I take pictures when we walk, but I can hardly manage the cane and the leash and the sling on my left arm.  So, the pictures you will see this week are all from the past.   I did start to have some pain and the itchy bandage continues to be an irritant.  To be honest, I think one problem is my saggy boob!   I'm trying to think of a one boob bra sort of "fix".  But maybe I can just wear a whole  bra,  I'll try it in the morning, I have a couple old stretched out bras in a drawer somewhere!!   I dug out an alpaca serape from the  70s because I can't lift my arm enough  to wear my regular jacket.  It is very warm and was good protection from the sprinkles we had on both morning and evening walks.  The sprinkles are to continue for the next three days, hope we can hit some lighter times.  I am enjoying being out walking, it has become such a regular part of our lives that skipping a day seems off-kilter.   We do miss because of wet weather and KoKo goes out back to find a potty place with me standing guard against the coyotes.  Just like on a walk, I have my cane, a can horn, and a whistle.  Don't think I could pick KoKo up with the sling,  but I'd do it if I had to. 

I'm just reading, dozing, working on my laptop a bit, and throwing Froggy for KoKo to  chase.  He is quite good at bringing Froggy back for more  throwing and when he comes back without him  it is  the end of the game.  I do so appreciate the texts, phone calls,  and  e-mails.  This is only two days of recovery and I am beginning to feel the isolation  - like Covid in Spring  2020.  I may try some sewing, but might not be able to machine quilt because of the left arm restriction.  Heck, maybe I should dig out one of the hand applique or piecing projects that are stacked on shelves of the same.  

Fifteen to Twenty years ago when fabric postcards were very popular I belonged to an online  group and also taught some classes.  Also, I branched out and made some slightly larger pieces for sale.  They were all ten inches or less. 

About 10"   Sold

About 10"   Sold

"Nipsy" a  postcard 6"X4"   Sold

Postcard  6" X4"  Gifted

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Dear Amy in  Austin,  I don't know how to answer you directly so I hope you see this "PS".  The pile of fabrics I showed the other day was what one student brought to Ruth McDowell's class at Empty Spools at Asilomar some years ago. It always makes me smile.  The blues  went  into  a blue and while quilt that remains unquilted!  The English would call that a "flimsy".  Del

Pacemaker Day 2 01-19-24

Day one of recovery.  Still no pain, but like so many wounds it itches like crazy!  There is a  very thick pad over the incision and rubbing it has no effect on the itch.  Went all around with Cortizone stick which helped a bit.  Today I did not have the tiredness I have been waking up with every day for years.  My oximeter read 81/96 and has been steady at 60/96 all day.  MUCH  better than the  38 to 50 it has been since I started  recording it in mid-summer.  I actually feel ALIVE!  Hope it lasts.  I am wearing the sling to remind me not  to lift my arm higher than my shoulder and  it is very effective.     Today I was drowsy, which I attribute to the  anesthetic,  so  have  just napped...read...napped...massaged KoKo...napped...read...  repeat!   A neighbor walked KoKo this morning, but he and I went about 5pm to do the short walk, a little less than a mile.  It was okay and I enjoyed the cool evening air. Have an appointment  next Tuesday to see the surgeon and possibly have a smaller bandage.  Thanks for the cheering notes.  Del

FLOWERS TO  BRIGHTEN YOUR DAY

French Marigolds

Amaryllis

Peonies

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