Daily check in thread for all#203

Hi Lynnwood...

I am sorry that you are dealing with so much. I can't believe that just because he drives the Meals on Wheels program won't help him. That is despicable. My mother and grandmother got it and my mother could drive. And being 94, you would think commission on aging would help. Not to mention your brother. I am sorry you are having to worry with it all. Is there somebody else there that you could call?

Just remember it is pretty much out of your control. We can't do everything. Taking care of yourself is the best you can do right now.

Nothing wrong with taking a day off. Sometimes we just need to chill and heal.

Hugs, Karen...

Hi Karen.. collections can be nice . And it’s making the decision to let them go. I cleaned all the silver pieces to keep them at there best for years. Also have the white China set of dishes with gold trim set for 12 . And bowls also pieces they done’t make today like little demitasse cups and saucers and crystal bowls with silver carry bases. We used them all on holidays when the kids were little. They all had to be washed by hand. Selling them is tough but I know the boys won’t want them . Lots of family heirlooms are going astray to the new millennium.

The birch bark on my live white paper birch trees fall off and peel naturally every spring. All I do is pick it off the tree or pick up the fallen bark . It has lichen and moss which gives it a lot a character. I googled it and the bark cost is expensive. So finally I have a natural resource to share with friends and the garden club.

I delivered meals on wheels for years and we delivered in areas connected to other people that were in need in the same area. If your dad lives close it’s a no brainer. Sorry...it doesn’t need to be a issue. Meals on wheels here will deliver to anyone in need if they drive or not. Maybe to contact the meals director and explain the circumstances will help. Just his age at 94 is enough...Now I have all my groceries delivered and Amazon gelivery for other needs. Been doing this way before the corona thing.

The garden is lookin alive lots of spring flowers and flowering shrubs starting to light up the yards. Put all the bird feeders out wow tons of birds and can’t wait for the yellow finches to come. They come in huge flocks and love the bubbler water feature. It’s a pain to maintain... However the blue jays are taking over and chasing all the other birds away. So I will hope to put out feeders in a separate area with peanuts , walnuts and pecans let the blue jays fight it out with the squirrels by the hazelnut trees. Yeap hazel nut trees grow here like weeds.

I guess it’s nice to have the birds back since I lost my kitty. He kept all the birds mice gophers away. I got a scare today when filling the bird feeders there was a mouse in the seed bag... OMG... my hubs got quite a laugh outta that scene. Haven’t seen a mouse in ages due to the kitty... As you could imagine it spooked me pretty good.... But I didn’t feed the birds because of of the cats hunting and he was so territorial. Even the poor mail people were watched like a hawk . Speaking of hawks...even the resident hawks were not hunting in our pastures until the cat was gone. He adopted me as I am always out in the garden just followed me around .

Gardening is therapy for me especially with a lot of stressful days. It always helps bring up my attitude/adrenaline and feel much better when I have those really upsetting days. Stuff happens and can’t always do anything about it. So I try to concentrate on what I can do and that’s important to keep up our mental health.

I have my first shot for the corona virus second one due April 11. Ugh...no side effects at all.

Sending lots of good vibes to all....

Hi all...sorry I went MIA for a few days. Picked up 4 planks of exterior trim and deck screws and constructed four 2ft x 2ft x 10in planting boxes...placed them...filled with garden soil...mulched all around them...placed 3 trellises (have to buy one more) with plans of planting sugar snap peas, lemon cucumbers, regular cucumbers and Sun Gold cherry tomatoes with a whole bunch of French marigolds as soon as the last threat of frost is past. I have a cute statue of a boy preparing to throw a skipping stone on a little platform in the center of the planting boxes. My take on a French Potager garden. The fountain I found for $10 at the local Goodwill works and is opposite the new garden, in front of the mirror with the scrollwork. I'm in so much pain from it all (not done in one day, but several) but I'm loving the new view from the living room windows! So much so, that I also moved the table and chairs over to there and put the fireplace on the opposite wall (I won't use the heat element on it now, just the 'flame' feature).

I have 15 pots of canna plants that are getting tall already inside the house! I'll have to put a fan on them to help strengthen the stems before setting them out in a few more weeks. Night temps have to be warmer for them and the amaryllis. I had to move the cyclamen to a different location...the morning sun was getting too strong for them and they were frying! Now, they're in the kitchen, set back from the window on the portable dryer and recovering nicely.

My crocus are finished but the jonquils and larger daffodils have started blooming, along with the hyacinths. The tulip foliage is up and I spotted some buds today, too! The peach tree is getting ready to burst forth with it's pink blooms and the dark burgundy leaves to follow. Leaf buds on the lilac, oak leaf hydrangea and elderberry bush, too! I love Spring!!

Lisa's Mom is continuing to respond well to the chemo. Not sure what blood test they do to check her progress but she'd started at a count of 28,000 and last test showed 4,000 so it's coming down but still a ways to go to the target of 400. This is her 'week off', so another round of chemo starting the day after Easter. Lisa will start her Spring break Monday and will stay overnight but home again on Tuesday while one of her sisters stays with Mom. The other sister will be there on Thursday so we can spend that extra day together, too. I doubt Lisa will ever feel comfortable leaving Mom overnight by herself, even if the chemo gets rid of all of the cancer. We discussed it a little today and will revisit the topic at some point in the future. The High School is still Hybrid with only a fraction of the students actually attending half days in person, split sessions. They'll probably leave it 'as is' until September when everyone will have had a chance to be vaccinated.

My garden grounds me. It helps me see the passage of time and the wildlife helps me know that 'all is right in the world' even when there's a health crisis. I hope for more nice days to just sit and relax in the sun, knowing that all my hard work is paying off. My mouth is watering, just thinking of the summer salads we'll enjoy from the 'fruits of my labor'.

Hope everyone is enjoying peaceful days.

I should call Meals on Wheels myself, as soon as I get the energy to do so.

Ordering food isn't an option when you are not using computers or smartphones. It's also difficult when you are too cheap to purchase good hearing aids which work well with your cheap stupid phone.

I get my 2ond vaccine April 6th, and will drive down after that. (Would rather fly, but won't take that risk.) Would like to wait 2 weeks after my 2ond vaccine to be safer, but not sure I should wait that long.

Dad said he was going to cut his hair yesterday (buzz cut), but he was too tired after trimming his ear hairs to finish it. He also said he'd just sat in his chair all morning, too tired to pick up his book and read. HUGE changes for someone who's always been on the move.

When I get there after an 8 hour drive, I have to sleep on a very uncomfortable cot in a wide place in the hallway. No hotels/motels within 20 miles. Last time I went for 5 days it took 2 weeks to recover.

I'd rather stay home!!!!

Thanks, but my father doesn't need a hospital bed or other assistance of that type. He still drives and rides a motorcycle...or he did a few weeks ago. All he really wants is Meals On Wheels, he's sick and tired of the few things he cooks, and he's been feeding himself this way for years. Many areas no longer have land lines at all, everything has gone to cellphones!! Apps are nice for those who have smartphones, and have learned about them early enough to still use them as they age... he is not one of those people.

Pitmom sorry about the car. And I get it all to well the sleeping with her can be tough.

I feel like my hands are tied I have beds to give away and furniture dishes you name it...I’m trying to get rid of , and so many here live so far away. I just donated my 1978 corvette to the local charity for the homeless. I was saving it for my son who passed away.

Well GreenBeans I was hoping something would work out for you and your dad. Especially a bed so you won’t have to sleep on a cot. I’m sure you will come up with something soon. Oo someone 90 yrs old on a motor cycle is pretty good for that age. I can barely drive a 4 wheel ATV. I still use my landline. Let us know how things work out.

Many healing thoughts to all. HT

Hi Lynnwood,

You would think that they could make an exception due to his age. I am sorry your brother isn't helping. This is unbelievable to me. I can't believe that people would be this way. Remember one day at a time. You have a full plate but still.

Always know you can talk here and get things off of your chest. We can only deal with one thing at a time. And take care of yourself first and foremost.

I hope your friend will be okay. I am glad she has somebody like you looking after her.

Have a good day. Keep hanging on.

Hugs, Karen...

Happy Easter to all..
Busy day people bring groceries and the home nurse comes soon.

🤗😀

Y'all still there? I don't comment much, but read everyday and am surprised we have no posts for 47 hours!

I'm still stressed out, reeling from finding out my brother is not the stand-up guy I thought he was. Hurts me to the core!!

Got my second Covid-19 vaccine yesterday. I was warm when I went to bed last night so didn't have the electric blanket on. Woke up cold in the night, thought I'd rolled over and turned it one. Woke up frozen in position, with EVERY joint stiff, sore, and painful this morning. Trying to get mobile. Shoulder is pretty sore, but no dizziness like I had with the first shot. Should be okay once I get warm and lubricated.

Getting a long needed haircut at noon - I wear it short and it's about 2.5 inches longer than usual -- or, to put in perspective, 35% longer than usual. Supposed to be 80 today, so time for my "summer cut"!

Then I really need to do my taxes. Doesn't take long and isn't a big deal, but I usually have them done by mid-February - even when I had a business with employees I did them early. Just another thing I really don't care about anymore.

Just trying to do "the next right thing" and hoping the depression lifts soon. No medication has ever helped, and it seems like the deep, dark holes come more often now and are deeper and darker.

Thanks for reading, and hope y'all have pleasant days.
Lynnwood

Hi everyone. Hope everyone is doing well.

I've been watching the news regarding Prince Philip's passing. I can't help but feel sorry for the Queen. It's so hard to lose someone, especially when you've been with them for years.

Anyway, have a birthday coming and again have mix feelings as I usually do. On one hand, I'm grateful that I'm alive, but a bit sad to be getting older. It's so weird that it feels like just yesterday I was in highschool!! Time waits for no one.

Hi all...The car saga continues...she bought a 2013 Dodge Avenger with the money she owed me and help from another friend. No idea how or when I'll get paid back. I told her that, if she was going to do a 'shout out' on facebook, to please give me one of my own and not lump me in with others...sooo...she did none! It's as if she just won't do anything that makes me 'special' to her in any way. Instead, she posted a pic of her stepfathers widow (she passed recently from covid) and their daughter and captioned it with how much she loves these women! I am soooo hurt! It's hard to believe it's not intentional.

She was in the ER on Easter...covid test was negative...they diagnosed her with pneumonia. My son did not come either. Ever since I announced that I would no longer be cooking for the holidays, it's been hit or miss if they'll bother to show up. Lisa was with her family...so I had a rather quiet day.

Things are heating up here in the trailer park. I got word from a source at Borough Hall that the new inspector found 15 violations of the property maintainence ordinance and has notified them of it at the main office. We're owned by a non profit organization...which also handles COAH related projects for the Borough, so this is a big deal that they're not maintaining our park properly...might cost them their contract for the services they provide to the town. So, they'll either fix the problems or sell us. Only time will tell.

Now, for the garden report: I had 3 blue trellises already and added them to the new raised beds. I was going to look for a fourth, but realized I had an old, green rose arbor...so I bought a can of spray paint instead! I'll use it to corral the tomato vines once they're planted in the fourth box. I found French marigolds at the garden center (a bit early) and got them in...transplanted 7 strawberry plants from the patch I had that now is mostly flowers...and planted the kiwi vine I bought late last summer and it's got signs of new growth on it! The sugar snap peas and cucumber seeds have been planted, too! Lowe's had Boston ferns on sale so I picked up my usual 2 hanging ones and decided to place them differently this year. The jonquils are done but now the tulips are blooming. I have 5 different narcissus going now, too! I just love the garden in Spring!

It's raining today and through tomorrow...but I can see it all through the window at least.

I'm sorry there is so much bringing you guys down...

Pitmom I don't have children, and I am way outside the box.. .
I don't think Q-TIP Skill will work, maybe radical acceptance with your daughter. Once there consider how to put self kindness first.

GARDEN QUESTION PITMOM:
Here is a link to my posting of flowers from my side yard

Do you know the name?
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10215351706866348&id=1846355780

Peace all