It's cotton-picking time! Last week-end when we went to Hardy with my sister, we saw several fields that were already defoliated and ready for picking. Yesterday we drove up to see Ryan and some of those fields were picked and others that still had foliage on them were now ready for picking. I could smell the defoliant even in the car and it wasn't long before I could feel my throat closing up. So, I won't spend much time outdoors for a couple of weeks.

We had such a good visit with my sister. She's heading to Niagra Falls tomorrow with her sister-in-law. She said they've never traveled this far together before and may be home Tuesday! I don't think that will happen, though, and they will have a good time.

We haven't done much this week. Bill did use his treadmill a couple of times. He's really going to have to get back into it before we go to his check-up, although I think they will be able to tell that he has deteriorated some. I don't think he has ever fully recovered from when he had pneumonia. He's not complaining as much about using oxygen 24/7, so we'll see what happens when we travel.

Our weather has been lovely, only in the 70s for most of the week. It's supposed to get a little warmer this coming week, but the 90s are gone!

That's really about it. Today is laundry and maybe getting a few groceries. But, I do have some things in the freezer that I can get creative with so who knows, groceries may wait! 

Happy October!

Sorry for no post yesterday. There is nothing wrong, we were just very busy.

Our week started out with a bang, the dishwasher overflowed through the washer drain so we had a flooded laundry/computer room again. I called Roto Rooter but they couldn't get here until Tuesday. So, sopped up water again, although this was much worse than just from the laundry because it also washed out debris from the garbage disposal as I had been cleaning out the refrigerator. It took the technician a little longer than he thought it would but he got it running free. Then, it was washing up the towels again and getting it all cleaned up again. I had to wash the towels twice and use a laundry boost to get the smell out but it got done.

I've also had a secret that pertained to this week...my sister came to visit Thursday! We didn't tell anyone she was coming so that we could have just sister time, with Bill of course. She actually came to have me do her taxes. She's a partner in a business that always files an extension for the business taxes so it makes her taxes late, too. We haven't even done the taxes yet! We've just visited, and yesterday we went to Hardy, Arkansas to go to the antique and craft stores. It was also a good trial for Bill and his little tanks. It's also a little hilly and of course walking in and out of the shops. We had lunch in a little diner and then started out. Bill sat on the benches outside most of the time, but it was really hot again so he couldn't stay out long. We all got pretty tired and headed home and got in about 5, just in time to order pizza and just sit again.

Bill did fine and we had to change his tank while we were there, but we managed just fine.

Today is going to be for taxes and a little insurance research and more visiting. She's leaving tomorrow, she thinks. She says as long as she gets home in time to go to work Weds. afternoon, but I think now she's leaning toward tomorrow.

It's supposed to cool down tomorrow and I am really ready. The temperature on the bank in Hardy said that it was 100 yesterday afternoon, and Hardy is in the foothills of the ozarks. It's been just as hot here in the flatlands. But, tomorrow the high is only supposed to be 79 and a little rainy...nice fall weather.

So, that's why this is late, our week was adventurous but nice with family around. Until next time, and it should be on time!

This week has been trying at times. If you remember, I've told you about the problem with our washer drain. We've not gotten anyone to look at it, I just stop the washer while it's draining. Since it only does it when the wash cycle is over, I just have to look at the time when I start it, and about 20 minutes later, give or take a minute, it's time. Well, I decided to wash a couple of our little throws that were looking a little dingy. After I got them started, I got a box of paperwork to look through to shred and...you guessed it, I missed the time by 5 minutes. There was water everywhere! So, mopped and sopped and then had to wash a load of towels. We still haven't gotten anyone to look at it yet, but it's going to have to happen.

I noticed on Thursday that Bill was getting very winded, or so it seemed, whenever he walked. We are also still dealing with these colds and he's coughing more than usual and it sounds productive but I don't think he's actually coughing anything up enough to get it out, or if he is, he's just swallowing it. Anyway, he had walked through the house looking for me and was breathing very hard when he sat down, so I checked his O2 sat and it was 86. It did come up to 90 but didn't go any further. So, got him back on the O2 and that's when the battle really started. He says he's doing fine without it and he doesn't notice that he sounds like a freight train without it. It could also all be due to the cold restricting him, but I don't think so. I'm thinking that the emphysema is progressing faster than we thought it would.

He will sit with it on with no problem, but he takes it off to walk to the bathroom or kitchen, which defeats the purpose! I showed him how far he could go with it on (it's 47 feet of tubing), so he's pretty independent with it. He can go into the computer/laundry room to his chair, he can get coffee and put it in the microwave if necessary and use the toaster. Of course he can go to the bathroom with no problem. But, he's still fighting me every step of the way! Not only do we have the concentrator, and an extra one in his mancave to use while he's on the treadmill, we have 6 small ones to use when we are out and about and 2 4 ft. tanks that have a wheeled cart. I told him we could put one of those tanks, with a separate length of tubing in the kitchen so he could take the trash out. He can also use a small tank in his backpack to take the trash to the curb on pick-up day. Yes, it's inconvenient but it's doable. So, we shall see what happens in the coming week. 

We haven't gotten the paper itinerary yet, but Mayo called this week with his appointment schedule and it will work perfectly with what we were planning. So, I have all of our hotels booked and, including the visit with his sister, we will be gone exactly 2 weeks.

Well, better get started with my chores. I'm going to put the laundry room back together since I know that everything has dried out by now. It's almost time to start changing out clothes. We are both so ready for fall. It's supposed to be in the 90s all next week again, and has been this week. It's also been more humid again. It did rain most of the night after we went to bed and a little this morning. It looks like it could rain again and it is supposed to rain at different points throughout the day. But, I have no real plans to go anywhere so it can rain all it wants.

Hope everyone has had a good week and will have a good one ahead. We're planning another little day trip next week-end so that will be something to look forward to. Have a good week-end!

The day is getting away from me. I guess because we slept later this morning, although by sleeping in standards, we still got up pretty early. But it was later for me than usual.

We both gave in and let the cold that's going around get the best of us. I caught it Tuesday and felt horrible until Thursday. I still don't feel great, but much better than I did. Emily told me it lasts about 8 days before feeling really good so I'm about halfway there. Bill started getting "snotty" Thursday and felt bad yesterday. He feels and looks better today so maybe because of his daily antibiotic he didn't get a full dose.

We received some very sad news Wednesday. Our transplant friend Paul passed away Wednesday morning after a short but painful battle with lung cancer that moved to several other organs. He was a sweetheart of a man and will be missed by a lot of people. As one member of the support group said, he was truly grateful every day for his heart and the extra time he was given.

Our weather is supposed to start cooling down this coming week and we've been told that the lows will start in the 50s and drop to the 40s by later in the week. I don't know if I'm ready to turn the heat on yet, but I am ready for the 90s to be gone.

We went to Applebees for our anniversary dinner Saturday night. We like their 2 for $20 and 2 for $25 menu. And for those who don't frequent them much, you can get 1 meal from the $20 and 1 from the $25 for $22.50. Isn't that fun to know? We really don't care about the cost that much, we just like the food and they do a good steak.

Those are the highlights of our week. We're finally getting the hedges trimmed today. The young man gave us a quote of $30 for 7 bushes/hedges and I told him that was way too low. He said he hates giving estimates and he's always too low. So, until next week...have a good one!

Another normal week. I don't even really know what to put here. We had no problems with health, although Bill is coughing more lately and doesn't seem to want to do anything. He's done this before so I'm not sure what's going on. The weather has changed and a lot of people around have head colds. But, his cough is just his normal cough and all of his vital signs are good, so it's puzzling.

We did make an impromptu trip to Dyersburg, TN to JoAnn Fabrics. We were gone exactly 2 hours and it's a 45 minute trip each way. We went for one specific thing and it was in stock. Since the drive is through the country, and a lot of our trips are through the country even when it's not by choice, we, or at least I, noticed that farmers have started harvesting the corn. That means that defoliating the cotton will begin soon and I will want to hibernate.

We've heard from our Florida friends and family and they have all weathered the storm. Most had mainly rain. I've seen that our South Carolina ones have been online, so they must be OK too.

I felt the big Oklahoma earthquake this morning. By the time the wave got here, it just felt like I was laying in a hammock gently swaying instead of my bed that shouldn't be moving. I didn't hear any rattling of glassware or anything and Bill felt nothing at all. And, our OK people are fine.

Looking at our calendar for September, there is nothing on it except for today. It is our 26th anniversary, and Bill's daughter Aimee and husband Lee's anniversary, and I think for them it is #10. We're probably going out to eat tonight, although I told Bill even if we ordered pizza that would be OK too since our first "date" was pizza. One of the effects of the stroke is that Bill doesn't have much concept of time. He asked me how many years this would be and when I told him he just said "Damn, has it been that long?"! I don't know if he was meaning that's a long time or it doesn't seem like it's been that long, and I don't think I want to find out! I'll just take it as time flies when you're having fun!

All for now. For those of you who watch college football, enjoy the games today. As for us, we'll stick to watching baseball!

We've slowly gotten back to normal, whatever normal is. All of our cold symptoms have gone away and Bill is back to exercising, at least every couple of days. We had a drier week than last week with only some pop-up showers this week.

We did have McKenna one day this week. She fell Wednesday night and landed on her left wrist. There was an EMT at the church and he checked her out and said that he didn't think it was broken. I picked her up from school, she only lasted 30 minutes, and took her to the dr. for xrays. He didn't think it was broken and couldn't see anything on the xray but wanted her splinted for a few days. Since she's left-handed she couldn't write so she didn't go back to school. He did give her some pain pills and after she took one she slept for 3 1/2 hours, so she wasn't going to take any more of those if she needed to be awake.

Today is Kayden's first pee wee football game. He's so excited! It was 2 1/2 hours away so there was no way we were going to try to go. I think our days of watching the grandkids do things are in the past. It's sad in a way, but we have to do what is best for us.

We did go to Jonesboro Monday afternoon and got my ring inspected and made a stop at Hobby Lobby for some yarn, as if I really needed any more. But this was for a special project. I was hoping it could be done in blue since I have most of the shades needed, but no, it was purple! I have so many projects going now that I'm going to set up a schedule for working on all of them together. That may not work, just have to see. We stopped at Sonic on the way home for a milkshake since it was too early for dinner out and then we didn't eat anything at all that night.

Today's already been a busy one, laundry more than half done, and talked to my sister and my daughter. When the laundry is done I'm going to finish my shawl project that I had ordered. I had to order more yarn and got it all done except for the edging at the neckline last night. I don't like the way the instructions say to pick up the stitches, so I took it out and will do it a different way that will look better.

That's it for the week. The dryer just buzzed again so that means the sheets are done so back to work for me. Have a good week!
 

It's been a busy, but productive morning! Breakfast cooked and eaten, 1 load of laundry put away, another in the dryer, 1 in the washer and 1 more waiting, and a pot of chili in the crockpot...and it's not even noon!

We haven't had a good week. Bill started showing all the symptoms of the cold that is making the rounds. So far OTC meds have kept it back and he says he's feeling better, but Thursday was pretty rough for him. He hasn't run any fever, but his appetite was off, he was coughing more and he didn't argue when I told him he needed to keep his O2 on all day. I also told him if he hadn't felt better by yesterday he was going to the dr. We were not going to chance pneumonia again, especially since we know for sure that his lung capacity is diminished. But, not only did he say he felt better, he looked better and his appetite is back. He's out on his treadmill now since it's in between the rain showers and the sun is actually shining a bit.

We have had rain all week, hence the chili. It's not cold, in fact it's very warm and humid. But the gray days along with the rain has put me in the mood for soup of some kind. As I told Mistie last night, I'll just crank the air down and get it really cold in the house!

My thumb has healed nicely. When I looked at it Sunday I thought that it could have used a couple of steri-strips. I don't think it needed stitches, just a couple of strips. But, it has closed and doesn't hurt. Ahh, the wonders of neosporin!

School started for our area this week. Grandma's taxi ran for a few days and may have a few more runs to make. Although Brianna does have her license, she can't drive alone until December. Just one of the quirky laws here. Whenever she has something after school, she misses the bus and if the weather is bad, she can't walk to Em's office, or my house. But, I told Bill, it's only until December and I don't mind.

We are probably going to Jonesboro Monday to get my ring inspected before the month is out. It's supposed to be nice Monday and Tuesday before rain moves back in the end of the week. I also want to look at some yarn. I'm actually trying to find projects to use the yarn I have on hand and I found an afghan pattern to make for someone. I have all the colors I need for it except for one and she loved the pattern...but wants it in a different color and of course I don't have the colors she wants! At least Bill doesn't kick about it.

That's about it for this week, I think. If you're where it's raining, stay dry. I have a friend affected by the flooding in LA. She posted on facebook last night that she was finally able to go back to her house and there had been 52 1/2 inches of water inside. She said there just were no words to describe it. There are no words of sympathy that would make a difference to her either. I saw a statistic that said one parish and 105,000 people affected and there were only 135,000 residents. Kinda puts it into perspective.