A Beautiful Sight

Since I have nothing of interest to post about, I have been surfing blogland and I have come upon a blog  that I would like to share with you. I don't think Karen will mind if I share my enthusiasm in her new sewing room with you. This room was created in a month following an unfortunate (to say the least) house event that involved severe water damage.

If you like to sew/quilt, this is the  "TO DIE FOR SEWING ROOM".  Look at all that floor space, wall space and storage space! And, the creme de la creme  - - those WINDOWS and VIEW. Go take a look.

 

 Sew Many Ways has just finished an exquisite black and white sewing room. The colors are only part of what make this room so special. I dare you to find something missing in her design.  It looks like it has all of the elements that you could want to make it not only functional but gorgeous! She is my kind of gal. One who likes to repurpose  furniture, create useful things and do-it-yourself or maybe do-it-sister type of person.

Day by day, I am getting my strength back after my recent medication reaction.

Hope all of you are having a good Saturday.

~Mary~

Happy Thanksgiving to All

~Mary~

Make That Turkey Stop

He makes me tired just watching him. He does not know how tenacious I can be. This is what happened last year when I set out to find a turkey! All kidding aside, last years turkey was delicious. It is hard to go wrong with a roasted turkey.

I have always enjoyed cooking and still do quite a lot of cooking. I don't have the sense to stop looking at recipes. Is that one of the criteria for loving to cook? Perhaps, it is just another addiction. The difference between now and then (when I was young) is the long list of favorites (which means, must try) are on the computer and have taken the place of magazine clippings. I can't deny that I still clip a few magazines!

Aside from turkey chasing, I am feeling very poorly. I had to stop the new medication. I talked to the doctor last night. I don't know where I go from here. The one and only thing I know for sure is that I can not wait until this medication is out of my system. I have had one $#*&@ of a week that I never want to repeat. I have come to believe that the ?cure is worse than the problem! After 16 years of trying to find a medication, I should have know better. The only difference in this medication from last time I tried to use it is the "time released" factor. I did not want to be a quitter or I would have stopped taking it sooner. This way, there is no doubt in my head that this medication or any in the same category which I have probably already tried are NOT for me.  Pain is  one thing but incapacitation is a very different "kettle of fish", especially when you inflict it on yourself. OK, I 'm putting this chapter on the book shelf never to be read again. I will continue hopefulness in science bringing us something other than pills for pain!

I am looking forward to feeling well enough to drive the car and getting out and about, especially since we are having wonderful Thanksgiving weather.

Wishing all of you a Happy Thanksgiving.

~Mary~

Want Some Turkey Dinner

Are You Getting Ready

For Christmas?

What fun it is to make these colorful and quick dishcloths. The Peaches and Creme cotton yarn is so easy to work with. I have gifted many friends with these little packages of love. They are always received with enthusiasm.

This is a spontaneous "pick-up" project that drew my attention this morning. Unfortunately, this is another morning/day of light-headedness and dizziness from the new medication. I am really having trouble just staying awake let alone walking around. I am hanging in there as long as I stay safe.  I am waiting patiently for the side effects to diminish!  I will be going to physical therapy this coming week and I have to get steadier on my feet.

Have a  Fun and Creative day.

~Mary~

It Only Takes One

Yes, it only took one pill to make a difference. I took the medication at bedtime as prescribed. When I awoke in the night to change positions I was pleasantly surprised when my pain was not as intense. It has been such a long time since I have felt that kind of relief. However, I noticed that it caused me to have a low level of irritating sensation to my skin causing me to want to scratch. I hope in time that my body will adjust and I will not have that feeling. Unfortunately, the most significant side-effect for me was waking up with feelings of light-headedness and dizziness. The light-headed feeling persisted throughout the day! And, after taking another pill last night, I am feeling very dizzy again this morning. I will use the medication for awhile and watch the side effects with hopes of them becoming less troublesome. This medication is giving me a lot of hope.

I have a free 14-day supply from the pharmaceutical company. A new dilemma has arisen. I checked my medication insurance plan and I was shocked.  Most of my medications are generic and they have a very low co-pay. That is NOT the case with this medication. For a ninety day supply my co-pay will be $238.95! Yikes. I am so thankful that I have insurance. Without insurance it would be $489.42 for the three months supple.  If I have success with this medication, I must find some way to purchase it.

I am so excited about the possibility of this medication working for me.

~Mary!

It Speaks To Me

I don't feel like I am very interesting these days of late so I am going to leave you with this stunning photo of a green eyed cat with a message that speaks to me.

I am planning on seeing a Neurologist after the first of the year. His office is out of this area but if I don't pursue another opinion I will never know.

LOOK at those eyes. I think they are great!

 Take good care of yourself.

 

~Mary~

Physiatrist

Not much to say. Unfortunately, the majority of the appointment was spent with him telling me how bad my MRI's looked and pointing out the most severe areas. The long and the short of it is that he prescribed  more narcotic medication. Because I have so many side effects from narcotic pain medication, he ordered a slow-release narcotic for me to take at bedtime.

It is taking me a little time to come to terms with the situation because I let myself have some false hope in finding something new that I had not done in the past that would give me some relief.  I am back to "just live with it" and that is exactly what I will continue to do. Where is my "half-full glass"? Oh, I think I will find it soon!  I need to reflect on my Sunday blessings.

Take good care of your neck and low back. You will be thankful later. I always had a good income while working as a nurse but have paid a high price with forced 12 years early retirement  and loss of retirement income besides living many years with pain.

I think I will go out and get some sunshine.

~Mary~

Sunday Blessings

Sunday is a day that I try to make a list of the most recent blessings whether big or small. It helps me to focus on what is really important in this life. At the top of my list today is a huge blessing! I am so blessed and thankful to be ambulatory without any fractures or head neurological issues subsequent to the fall that I had in the garage recently. Yes, I have continual pain but I hope to get some benefit from my medical appointment tomorrow.

Maybe I could make some lemonade today since I have more lemons at the moment than what I want!

Would you share a lemonade toast (make that a hot spiced lemonade) to all the goodness in the world.

~Mary~

Another Shoulder Wrap

I am on my way to finishing another shoulder wrap for my charity knitting. These colors are very cheerful but not so bright as some that I have used in the past. Again, this is a simple knit stitch but with a decorative edge. It actually will have a collar that will go across the top and down the sides. I am excited about seeing how it is going to turn out.

Doesn't it look nice with the Burning Bush as a backdrop. The leaves are starting to fall from the bush and now the ground beneath it is a brilliant red color. Oh, the joy of watching the seasons changing of the colors.

My knitting/crocheting group is meeting this coming Monday afternoon and I hope I am able to go. I have my medical appointment in the morning and there is quite a distance between the two locations. And, we never know how long it will take for medical appointments. Unfortunately, this medical office has a reputation for long waiting times. In the past, I have waited as long as two hours! When they are good and in demand it seems as though waiting is not unusual. It will be good to get a current medical assessment.

Take care of yourself and I hope you have a Fabulous Autumn day and enjoy the beauty of the colors.

~Mary~

Do You Like It

If you like bright colors this is for you. It was a fun and fast project. Something that was easy to pick up and crochet a few rows. Since my fall in the garage, my arms don't allow me to work very long on any project. But, that will get better in time. I am happy to be able to pass this wrap  along to someone that can use a little shoulder warmth and a hug from a hand crocheted gift.

I think I found a nice closure. I was thinking that I would be putting some string ties on it. However, after reconsideration, I thought about the way string ties can get tangled, etc. in the wash. This closure almost gives the feel of a "little jewelry".

 

When I was taking the photo, I noticed this cute birdie house that I placed at the base of the tree many years ago when it had fallen. Looks like it is enduring the elements quite well, just as I am trying to do.

The leaves are coming down, down and down. I guess it will be awhile before I can do any outdoor garden cleanup. Day by day, my symptoms are improving but I really don't want to stir them up "to a roar" again.

Send someone a HUG today.

~Mary~

Where Do I Begin

Well, I guess I will try to make this as concise as I can but doubt that I can be as brief as I would like. I really don't like talking about my issues in life, especially physical problems. After all, everyone "has issues"! I work hard on focusing on the "GLASS HALF FULL " philosophy. However, a blog friend of mine has referred to me on her blog (which I appreciate) about our stations in life at the present time being "under construction".

It is time that I mention that I took a fall in my garage several days ago which involved twisting my spine, falling to the floor and hitting the back of my head. No symptoms of concussion but severe pain in arms and back. If you follow my blog, you will know why I say that I am thankful that I wasn't on the roof cleaning off the leaves! See - http://www.everydaydelight09.blogspot.com/2009/10/fall-fashion.html.

I have always been extremely careful and this is the first time anything like this has happened to me. Even though I have a long history of spine problems including a failed lumbar surgery (including residual nerve damage disabilities), I continue to be as active as I can. I generally resist taking any narcotic pain medication. I do not like the side effects and I need to be able to function. At one time, I had a morphine pump for pain management. But, what good is it to have less pain if you are too lethargic to live a life with any meaning?  Besides, I don't have anyone to take care of me. Wow, this is difficult to write about.

I am not a surgical candidate because of the severity of the cumulative trauma, aging (yes, that naughty word) and congenital abnormalities in my lumbar spine. And, my cervical spine is symptomatic (arm pain and numbness) but I do not have enough vertebral bone left to do a fusion unless they rebuild the spine with wire caging and donor bone. No thank you!

That is a snapshot of what I am living with. Hey, I am still alive and don't look too bad for 70 years of age. It is amazing how good a nice smile can make you look!!

Anyway - - - I have had to take narcotic pain medication to try to break the intensity of the pain cycle. It is helping. At least, that is what I am going to tell you.

Monday, I have an appointment with a  Physiatrist (Rehab-Pain Specialist) to obtain current diagnostics and discuss any available current treatment modalities that I may not be aware of and that may have potential benefit for me. My "church family" have offered assistance and call frequently. I love those blessings. Oh, and Lily has been her ever loving self never annoyed with me and giving lots and lots of love - love - and more love! Aren't pets fabulous?

Previously, I said that I can not live without my "little red wagon" and this is one of the reasons. Right now (more than ever) I have to eliminate any lifting and carrying  that isn't absolutely necessary.

I am a strong person and in my heart I know that before long, I'll be up and running again!  Thank you Sara for your kindness and support. It is greatly appreciated.

~Mary~

Never Forget

I have three brothers and a son who served. God Bless Them.

~Mary~

In The Kitchen

This recipe is nice and quick and easy. Block Party Beans can easily be modified depending on what you have in your pantry. This time I followed the recipe as written. Sometimes I add a can of chopped tomatoes and chili powder if I don't have canned chili beans in the pantry.

If you can use a can opener you can prepare this recipe!

As you can see by the television screen, this is the day we remembered our Military Services following the tragic shooting at Fort Hood, Texas last Thursday. It was a nice tribute to our men and women and a very sad day that will be recorded in our history and never to be forgotten.

As usual, the beans turned out very tasty! And, their calorie count is lower than some recipes with crispy bacon (1/2 lb) that I like to make and LOVE TO EAT. I have several recipes that I have gathered through the years for beans that never disappoint!

If you like being in the kitchen, this is a great time of year to stay warm and cozy near a warm oven.

Hope you are having a Lovely day.

~Mary~

Let Us Celebrate

Following weeks of trying different possible solutions to fix my "Comments" button -  I DID IT - IT WORKS!  I could not begin to tell you everything that I tried to correct the problem. And, yes of course it involved working with the HTML code. I really did not plan on learning this much. But, I guess it was inevitable because I am always tweaking something on my blog. 

There is an old English idiom first used by Alexander Pope in the 17th century that says "A little knowledge is a dangerous thing". It is interpreted as "People who have only a little knowledge about something often make big mistakes because they think they know more than they actually know". Many times I thought I had gone just too far and my Blog was going to self destruct! Ya, like I didn't have anything to do with it.

But then, that leads me to the question of  "Isn't it a good thing to think outside of the box?"

PLEASE, PLEASE send me a comment so I know it is working. Thanks. ~Mary~

Flashback Friday

In 1962, a new "Fire Chief" tricycle for my 21 month old little boy with a big smile on his face. My children are 21 months apart, so it looks like this was a gift when his baby sister was born.  Look at those wooden blocks on the pedals. That was a common site in those days, so that there was room for growth of the child. It was different from now, whereby, toys were kept for a longer period of time and repaired if possible.

"Blocks on my tricycle" is a common saying of mine because I have blocks (pedal extenders) on my automobile gas and  brake petals! I guess I would be called "vertically challenged" in this PC (not personal computer but politically correct) world.  Since I am 5 feet tall, just a little added height makes driving more comfortable and safer.

For more flashback friday see-

http://everydaydelight09.blogspot.com/2009/10/flashback-friday.html

Stay safe on your tricycle or in your automobile.

~Mary~

Delicate Pink Penstemon

When many flowering plants in my garden are taking a vacation from displaying their colorful beauty, this plant starts giving and giving. It is a sweet very delicate pink bell shaped blossom with yellow stamen. I took the photo from the base looking up into the blossoms. It is called  Penstemon Pinifolius. The Penstemon plant comes in a variety of colors but seems to have a similar shape and form, some are taller than others and some are more bushy. Many varieties are native to Northern California.

I hope you enjoy the beauty of this plant as much as I do.

I hope you are having a Happy Day.

~Mary~

A Finished Afghan

The afghan is finished and ready to keep someone nice and warm. This is the afghan that I called Tudor and Baroque for the names of the two different colored yarns by Lion Brand Yarn-Homespun.  It was a fast knit and is very soft. I think it is a perfect yarn for charity projects.

See - http://everydaydelight09.blogspot.com/2009/09/tudor-and-baroque.html.  for additional photos.

Hope you had a Fabulous Day.

~Mary~