IN Carmel

 It was two kinds of days all wrapped up into one.  The first part was busy in so many ways and the second part a big sleep over sit over taking care of the first part. Yes, it was Soup Kitchen day.  I thought the brain was waking up an hour later than it should.  I was happy to learn that I had one more hour than though to get ready for the trip south.  Woo.  Time became a big gift.   So I was on the way south at 8 arriving as usual to do a lot of preparation before the gang arrived.  We were gifted with a new volunteer that was kept busy in so many ways just like all the usual workers.  Craig was the best helper yet having served in other soup kitchens.  So, the morning went on as usual with all jobs finished around 10:30 giving us time to visit and become better acquainted.  My favorite time of the morning. The guests arrived as usual at 11.  There were times when the line was long and sometimes the line was short....

 Another good night of sleep with a slow wake up.  The morning stuff happened and I was off to IU North again for the two expected infusions with the third infusion being a surprise expected next week.  Infusions go in slowly.  Shots go in fast.  The three "omegas" are in me now working away and next week's trip is a no go now having completed the need this morning. Woo, Woo!  It was a knitting morning.  The pace sort of slow with half of the scarf completed.  That's good enough for me for a morning of needles.   The afternoon turned out to be wonderful with the sun shining and some work in the garden.  I kept hearing the cranes, but I never could see them.  That happens when they are high in the sky.  I uncovered all the jonquils proving if they all bloom it will be a beautiful sight.  One never knows but hope springs eternal in the life of a gardener.             These miniatu...

Waiting for Palm Sunday in my living room receiving a misting every other day with the hope of staying alive for another few weeks.  It's surviving here instead of at Lowes.  I hope they have a better chance at life. I called today another health day meaning time at the Y should help this body take a few steps closer to maintaining the health I have if my good sense clicks in.   So as usual, it was the usual morning stuff that included more knitting needles.  I took the basket of scarves with me to the Y having a friend who missed out getting a scarf when the bulk of the LS members received theirs.  The friend was visiting family in India.   I spent the first 30 minutes with Living Strong folks hearing about funerals and another Y employee dying.  Not such a good morning for some folks including me to begin the next part of the morning.  I guess I'm not a very good listener having empathy that stagnates the mind in not such a good place....

 First.  The picture less blog last night wasn't the computer's fault.  I was just too lazy to do pictures.  That's the word from the confessional.   For today.  It was an eventful day.  Well, for this ageing lady yes...eventful.  It started with a trip to IU North to see my primary doctor.  That's an event!  We discussed stuff and she seemed to be OK with my messing around with a few things.  Well, maybe.  I'll see her again in 6 months. I think the paper I brought with me explaining the details helped a lot. Having so many doctors makes the 6 months' time a good break between visits.  Many other visits will happen in March! Then back home again for a smidgen of time with lunch and off to pick up Rita.  I delivered a container of beef soup for a supper meal.  And we were off again with what I called a mystery trip which took us back to I U North.   We met the woman who started the rock painting pr...

 Today was another interesting day.  There are so many.  The morning started with all the regular morning stuff.  That never changes very much.  By 8:45 I was on the way to church.  This time Mary was working at the front desk.  She had directions for knitting the Norwegian Red Protest Hats now being knitted protesting ICE. That was a challenge I wanted to take.  After a good visit I went on to Heidi's house with a hat she had ordered from Mary's friend.  And there was another good visit with Heidi and James.  Now good visits are a wonderful way to start the day.  On the way north I snaked my way through a neighborhood getting familiar again with an area that Rita and I will be visiting tomorrow early afternoon.   Home for a few minutes and then to the Y.  I skipped the strengthening class and went right to the treadmill for more than a mile walk finishing up at the NuStep.  Ear plugs in place brought more Schube...

 I'm always amazed at how different the day can feel.  If one thinks of a line, the feeling can go from one end to the other. And then one hopes that the feelings come back to the center at some point.  It's called thinking of living a balanced life.   Today, life stayed near the center with one exception when it ended near the end of the line. Julie, Dr. Schneider's nurse brought it all back to where my mind needed to be.  This morning, the monthly blood test happened. I watched the I U portal for results which came about two hours later with more red numbers then I had hoped for.  Red meant numbers were not where they should be.  Either too high or too low. So, I waited for Julie's call.  She assured me that what they were looking for was within reason.  I could start another month of Cancer meds.  Yeah!  The mind went too near the end of the line, but Julie guided me back to the center where all was OK for now.  Thank g...

 This was truly a lazy day.  Not crazy, just lazy. After another night of wonderful rest, the rest continued because it was Sunday for one reason.  Sunday rest doesn't always happen but today it did. I think my body is telling me thank you. I started the day in the usual way and until it was 10 o'clock I knitted.  That's one way to spend a lazy morning.  We were off to church.  I submitted bills for Palm Sunday palms.  Then it was off to the sanctuary to hear the choir rehearsal.  A new song with so many good words. Sometime ago one of the choir members asked what if anything I missed not singing with the group.  My answer was the words.  Of course, words go with notes, but I missed the words more than anything.  My bulletin has the words printed so I say the words as the choir sings them.   Our minister writes a study guide each Lenten season to go with the sermons for that season of the year. This year each Sunday in Len...

                                      One of the banners that was removed the Sunday before Ash Wednesday.  I'm celebrating today with a day of rest.  One day early but I just might as well have two in a row.  The celebration really began last night with 8 1/2 hours of sleep.  Woo.  What a tremendous gift my body has given me.  I must remember to gift back to what I live in.  Lesson learned.  Remembered?  I hope so. The exhaustion count is high and lasts long when I land in the ditch after doing more than I should.  This week I wasn't very good. In fact...Bad, bad! .                          There really is proof matrical arts is in my life although I must admit...I'm slow.                   ...

  Now isn't this just beautiful.  It's a peek into the kiln with mugs still more then hot enough to remove.  The kiln in this firing held a few more than 80 mugs. Kimmy is the spinner of the mugs.  Glazing was divided between Kimmy and Jared. All mugs are available by accessing an Etsy site.  And on Friday, she (Lela) observed the third day of rest even though according to the book there was one day only of rest on the seventh day.  Not being God, this body needed a bit more time.  It was a very short night.  Thinking back to 2021 there were three months of not sleeping in bed but in a chair after the big surgery.  So, I just took to the chair at 1:45 am as if it was 2021.  No problem at all.  I watched reruns having not seen them in the first run.  There were short naps and the day came around just as I knew it would.  Some things haven't changed.   The morning was easy with a 9 o'clock meeting I hoped would be ...

This may be a short message. I'm beat so resting the fingers might help. There was a little knitting this morning but not a whole lot. I think I got to the halfway point. Who can remember? Not me. I looked at the calendar realizing that I missed my primary doctor's appointment by 45 minutes.  I called the schedular and low and behold, the appointment had been moved to next week.  I forgot to change it on the calendar.  Dah.  If I had checked the portal, I could have figured that out.  Woo.  Lucky me. Then I was off to the Y taking a body that once again had more sleepless moments than I had wished for. I'm calling it over tired. I'm a product of my mother who did the same thing that I seemed to have copied. Words from my sister. Work like crazy and then take two days to recover. Understanding moderation would help.  I would say Tues. was the crazy day and now I'm living Thursday. I did about 10 minutes of NuStep to get the body started. Then it ...

Help...It's mid week already. It feels like the week has just begun. Remember that whisper I talked about yesterday. I've come to realize my hearing aids were acting up and the whisper was really a scream. So, yesterday's tired body was carried into the night which was one that just didn't work so good. Sleep started around 1:30 with many awakes added to the rest of the night. Today was another dragging day because of the disconnect. I guess I earned that disconnect with all the stuff that happened yesterday and last night. Today I had enough sense to take it easy. And I did. Screams get my attention. Whispers, I ignore. I made one run to Meijers mid morning getting gallons of water for the CPap machine along with more protein drinks. They are serving me well so I will continue. There was no trip to the Y but I did do a little in the garden. Already one weed is taking shape and I hope to get ahead of it. It's where milkweed will grow so the solution is to d...

 Today was another busy day.  What made it even busier was the fact that I couldn't remember the time for a Y class to meet.  Up until today I have been 15 minutes late.  Today I was off a whole hour.  Dah! So, after the morning stuff at home, I made an early appearance.  Of course, I filled the hour partly on the Treadmill and partly on the NuStep.  Then it was balance class time with a body that whispered..."what are you doing to me".  I didn't pay much attention to the voice but had a good workout morning times three.  For the fourth time which was scheduled, I sprinted out the door.  Enough was enough.   Home for 15 minutes for lunch and then I dropped Doug off at I U North for his monthly shot. I went on to church for a meeting with Darren and two other folks that are helping somewhat with his move toward a Doctorate Degree.   Then it was back north to pick up Doug at I U North and HOME we came.  But not for...

 Woo.  It's been a busy day.  It started with getting up and then getting out after all the morning stuff. Last week I spent an hour or so at church making decisions and pulling out all the things we would be using today.  That proved to be the biggest plus in a long while.  I arrived at church at 8:30 and moved all the banners to where they needed to be hung.  Other things were placed near their to be home during Lent.   Kathy, Eric, Heidi and James arrived at 9 am.  They have been with me for quite a while so the need to explain what needed to happen was minimal.  And there were five busy, busy folks with Lent in mind knowing where things needed to go.  By 10 we were finished.  I call that a first in the history of preparing the church for the season of Lent.  Heidi and I made a final walk through and we were out of there!  There are a few new things in new places so the words, keeping things fresh coming from mento...

  Sunday, another good day starting with a slow morning.  That's a good thing.  Then it was off to church celebrating the Transfiguration of Jesus and Confirmation Sunday and the last Sunday before Lent that signals the packing away of alleluias not to be read or sung until Easter.  I think it was one of the best ever worship hour making each one of those mentioned blend into a meaningful worship service.  The music was what I would say part of the glue that made it all work.  Jill preached a great Transfiguration sermon.  Darren had the beginning and ending of the service with packing away the alleluia words the children colored while the choir sand the Ukrainian Alleluia. Alleluia banners were carried to the narthex as the service ended. It all brought tears to my eyes along with perhaps a transfiguration moment for me when all was said and done.   After church I found take out clams for delivery to R who labels them and met Kathleen to mak...

  Busy, busy day with never a dull boring moment.  Life is good.  I was up early finding two valentine cards to greet me on the kitchen table.  I live with a very thoughtful man. There was time to do what needed doing at an unhurried pace.  I was off to Bread and Bowl at 8, stopping at R and B's with two containers of chicken veg. soup.  I left them on the porch where R could find them easily, on the welcome mat.  Then I was on my way to church hitting every green light except one.  Woo.  a record on the time and staying within the speed limit.  Doug would be impressed.  I worked for a while by myself getting food in the oven and everything else in place needed to fill the take home clams.  Heidi came and we went to the sanctuary to talk a bit about tomorrow's service.  Back to the kitchen with Sarah Ellen arriving.  We filled 57 take home containers today adding many other things to the take home bags.  At 11 we...

 Different stuff happened today.  It was all good stuff which makes it even better stuff.   The day broke before I woke up.  Woo.  That happens but not very often.  I'll take it even though a smidgen of the morning was over and gone.   There wasn't much time before the 9:00 appointment with Michael, my great PT friend.  There was a recheck on vestibular stuff and nothing showed up.  Added to the take home assignment were exercises that strengthen what needs to be strengthened to prevent more vestibular stuff.  MORE HOMEWORK!  but happy to whatever keeps the ugly giant away.  There was no after shopping.  Doug scheduled today as Tax Day.  I've never attended but today I was on the way with Doug to Noblesville to our tax man.  I thought we might need to meet each other.  So, we did.  It never hurts to get a few important things in my head.  Tax info has been submitted to the government. Fin...

 Well, it was the same old same old.  I woke up, brushed my teeth and washed my face among other things such as taking a lot of pills to get the day going.  And the engine revived up when all was ready to go.   This was a Y day but before that there was a little knitting, bird feeding and more of the usual.  Doug had to fetch his own paper in this morning.  I don't think it hurt him.   I started at the Y with the Living Strong group. Then leaving early, I stopped at the office to get some questions answered which made me late for my 11:15 class once again.  Angie is so gracious and welcomed me in as usual getting me started on the rowing machine.  I met a new pardoner.  We proceeded around the circle using many things to build strength with repetitions including rest.  That went on till 12.  I was on to the treadmill and at 12:30 started the martial arts class once again. I have pictures to post when the blog will let...

  On to Wednesday.  Where has the time gone?  Maybe gone with the wind might be one answer.  I was talking with a friend a few days ago that spend time with family in Nebraska and South Dekota.  There is nothing to stop the wind there and it blows a lot and with furry.  So what is in the news column today?  The alarm went off.  I didn't set it but I did learn to turn it off so it stops ringing every Wednesday no matter what.  I think it was another Jared move not wanting me to forget him.  How could I?  His birthday is Saturday and there has been a lot of fun over the years with that kiddo.   There was breakfast and just quiet for a while.  Then off to the knitting store for more yarn.  The pickings were a bit slim in my basket.  I bought some paint pens for a project coming soon with my Live Strong friends.  Back home again and soon I was on the way to church meeting Heidi and James for a good work day...

 Busy day after a good night of sleep.  Now that's a good combination. I sat for awhile with coffee in hand and then started another scarf with no hurry in mind.  The plan was to participate in two classes at the Y today with a repeat of the martial arts class on Thursday including another Living Strong get together.  The calendar says that will work.   There was a surprise with one of my neighbors being in the strengthening class.  We were pardoners.  It promises to be a lot of fun.  Then there was time for a half mile treadmill walk and then on to what I call sort of a Japanese martial arts class.  That one is harder with specific moves in specific ways.  Good training for the brain which mine has been without for way to long.  Both sessions have teachers that I would say know for sure what they are doing and how to teach those skills.  Woo, Hoo.  Those two classes went from  11:15 to almost 2 with a little bre...

 I'm getting a "sign into my google account" sign when wanting to post pictures.  Bad, Bad!  So now pictures tonight.  We'll see how this goes.  Another start to a five-day week.  I know...there really are seven days in the week.  But the five still are sort of alike.  Well, sort of.  It was an early wake up and I just went with it.  Breakfast, Pills, Toothbrushing.  Most of us do a little of each at some point in our lives.   I decided to make a run at finishing the scarf I was working on and that happened.  The basket of scarves went with me to the Y and Living Strong.  Arriving early, I was able to get my mile walk in before we met.  It wasn't going to happen after because of our monthly church gathering for lunch at McAlister's.  When the other ladies arrived bit by bit, everyone picked out a scarf they liked. My goal for the morning was to get over some humps or holes I thought were holding us...

               Add at least 12 more and you get the idea of the entertainment that is seen at the window. There is not much to write about this Sunday that is different than any other Sunday.  So, we'll see how this goes as it comes out of my head on to my fingers.  One can be surprised.   It was so wonderful to wake up in a warm bed thinking there wasn't a reason to explode out of that bed.  So, I just stayed put for a while.  But the clock said it was time to move at one point.  Then I did.  There was breakfast, paper fetching and bird feeding.  The blue birds were a delight again.  I yelled come and get it which they followed that instruction with a grade of A+.  I started a new, you know what.  Moved the burp bag to the car for Ginny and noticed it was time to leave for church.   We honored three ladies today who came to church almost as babies, now in the late 80's and...

 I'm a little late starting the blog but there was an important happening early evening.  So here goes the attempt.  It was a good morning for a Saturday.  I still enjoy Saturday even though all the other days  feel like a Saturday when I was working five days a week.                                        Nigela, One of the earliest flowers to bloom.  It self seeds every year! There was a whole lot of bird watching, feeding and thawing bird bath water.  The Blue Birds really like water with their food.  The others don't have water so much on their want list unless it might be for play in the bathtub time.  There were hordes of Blue Birds this afternoon filling the feeder way over the number indicated safe for the space. The fire marshal was nowhere to be seen. I picked up the new yarn to knit and then realized that it reall...

 Another good night of sleep.  There is no answer to why, so I'll just take the good night.  I started another scarf with some pretty yarn knowing I didn't have enough but started it anyway.  I got pretty far before it was 8:30. Time to start thinking about a trip in the car to PT at 9.  I discovered it takes a 5-minute chunk of time to make the trip.   I met my two friends Michael and student soon to be teacher Daren. It's 7 years of training before one can call themselves a PT. They are doctors at that point.  Daren took over.  I did 10 minutes on the Nu Step warming up the muscles and talking to both of them while pedaling.  Then the subject was vestibular ear testing.  And with testing completed there was evidence that the right ear was in trouble.  It didn't surprise me at all.  I thought something was going on having learned to compensate for the dizzies.  Crystals found where they belong in the ear create good ...

 Today had some interesting parts a little different than other days.  It started out to be the same old same old as JB would say.  That's short for Jared Bryon.  So, here goes the day.                                                Now, this could not get any prettier.  A beautiful Hibiscus. Up at about the same time with breakfast, TV and pills.  The same old same old for sure.  Then let's add knitting to the S O S O.  I finished another scarf, so the basket is filling fast since I didn't empty it completely when giving Ginny her bag full.  That took me to Living Strong time which started a bit later this morning.  I arrived later also.  Most folks were there but some were not.  And the morning continued with a whole lot of visiting on many topics. It was a social morning for sure. ...