First Grocery Shop in Three Months

One thing about being in hospital for a great length of time, you do not have to spend any money on groceries. Today the Banker came with me and I did my first shop in three months at least. I have gotten bits and pieces before but this was a proper grocery shop. We started out with going out for  breakfast of course, a stop at the bank and then off to Walmart.

I am not a big fan of Walmart but I needed a diverse number of things and this store would be a one stop shop. All I can say is that I am glad I did not do it alone. While I regain my normal state of being each day........ slowly, (I still have a way to go) I am not as good as I think I am. One trip around the store and I was in a full sweat, tired out and all I wanted to do was have a nap. Once again I am thanking God for my wonderful friends who look after me. She loaded the car, unloaded it and shoveled my sidewalk. I plopped myself on the couch like a slug.

On the upside, after a rest, I got the groceries stowed away, I got the very last of the Christmas stuff put away and the normal ornaments out. Yahoo for that job done. The Carpenter and Busy did a fab job of putting the decorations away, all I had to do some touch ups. I and I alone know the secret storage codes in this puzzle box of a house I live in. No one else could get it without detailed instructions. With that behind me, tomorrow morning its clean the kitchen first thing, paint the stair treads and then I can spend the rest of the weekend sewing quilt tops.

I finally finished and mailed away, an order for 21 puppets. I also have an order for three more but they don't have to be done this instant. Three little penguins. So I have enough projects to keep me busy for a day or two. I like that. I also like the fact that I feel like doing them.

Every day is a step foreward, getting better, getting back to my normal self. Happy Happy that its all going in the right direction.

Toodles
Linda

Slow and Steady March to Wellness

 I am getting better, I know some people will say that I keep saying that but its really true. Its happening at a slower than snails pace but its happening. I still have to truck up to the hospital each day to get the dressing changed but its a small price to pay for my freedom. The Banker (mostly), with Teddy Bear and KitKat for back up, make sure I get there each day. I am no longer having to have a nap every hour. The last two days I have not napped at all, which is good because I was doing four naps a day at one time. I feel like doing stuff, I actually did a little housework today, which got me all excited but I sure could not do much before I needed to stop and have a rest. Which I do. I am not overdoing it. I don't have the energy to overdo it.

Just the fact that I feel like doing a load of laundry and emptying the dishwasher is a major change in my life the last few months. I never realized how much I had lost interest in, I just felt like it was way to much work to be bothered with but now that energy is slowly beginning to return. This makes me happy, I don't like feeling like a slug. I am not high energy at the best of times but I like to at least be able to function.

I am never going to be able to repay all the kindness that has been showered on me through all of this. Never ever in a million years but I am sure going to give it a try. I know some really wonderful kind people and I am related to some too!!

Toodles,
Linda

44 days

That is how long I was in hospital with my bacteria infected leg. Its still not totally healed but its a lot better than it was and is slowly healing. My mind boggles at the length of time I was in hospital. However, I left with my leg intact and my life intact so I am completely and humbly grateful. Had the infection spread further than it did both could have been in jeopardy. I am back on one more round of antibiotics just as a precaution, which makes me feel better.

I have never ever been under the weather for this length of time. Apparently I have decided that if you are going to do something, you do it big and broad and dramatic. 44 days in hospital covers that don't you think?? My wonderful friends looked after me and my house while I could not do it for myself. I never had to worry about a thing. I also never had a day that I did not have a visitor.  I had well wishes, texts, phone calls, and  facebook messages to no end. I cannot think about it, let alone talk about it without it overwhelming me and making me puddle up.

It is wonderful to be home. sleeping in my own bed, not being woken up at 6 am to have to take a pill. The nurses in the hospital were wonderful but I prefer home thank you very much. I am off work until the beginning of March. Which is nice since all I seem to want to do is sleep. I am getting quite fond of the naps in the morning, afternoon and early evening. I am easily tired and have little to no energy.

In-spite of this I am making myself do a little something each day. My house is a disaster. I lost interest in doing anything so long ago that my house is showing the effects. The great purge of 2015 has begun, slowly, but its begun. A little each day and eventually it will get back to normal.

I hope to start blogging more regularly from now on. Right now I think its nap time.

Toodles,
Linda

HOME ALONE

Well this was not the Christmas I had planned let me tell you that. I got a chest infection, then I got cellulitis in my leg and I have been knocked on my keister for the duration. IV antibiotics and now some heavy duty oral ones are working on my leg. |Its slow but there is improvement. This thing is really painful so this is not going to be a long post, my leg feels best up rather than down.

So I am at home not with Busy and the Carpenter having a family Christmas. I just was not up to the trip. They have been sending me little videos as the day goes on so I still feel part of things.I miss being with them and watching the Tater Tot rip into Christmas. Ah well another year.

My wonderful friends have gone above and beyond the call of duty to keep me looked after, I have been spoiled beyond all possibilities. I am blessed blessed blessed to know such caring people.

Well my leg is protesting so I need to go put it up

Merry Christmas, & Happy New Year

Linda

SICK SICK SICK

I am sick, I have been since Wednesday last week, well actually before then but I gave in and admitted it on Wednesday. I was hoping it would go away but its not. I have an ugly dry cough, I croak when I speak and all I want to do is sleep. Eating holds no charm but I am making myself. I am going to the doctor tomorrow.

I hate going to the doctor when I am sick and think I should be at home. Doctors seem to think I am good to work no matter what. I have never been one of those people who gets time off. I get "Oh no there is no reason you can't be at work". I am prepared to fight if I have too. I seriously feel crappy. So much so that all I want is my Mommy. ( I know its childish but she is what I want. Not gonna happen but I can  pout about it if I want to, being sick means you can be cranky and unreasonable)

My wonderful friends are looking after me. bringing me food and calling and texting with offers to get me anything I need. So I am being monitored and very well looked after. I am just not much good at being sick. Feeling like a dish rag lost its charm three days ago. I missed making curtains at KitKat's house. I missed No Cook Friday, I miss going out.

I had plans to do some Christmas shopping on Saturday, I had 4 places to go, I made it to one and then came home and slept. oh well it is what it is. I will survive, I just am not a happy patient.

sniffles
Linda

Mutterings of a Mad Woman

That is mad as in angry not crazy, although there may be some who would argue that point. I am cranky because I am trying to get the house decorated for the holidays and my knee is slowing me down, my house is a complete mess and there is no power to my outside lights. Hrummphhh. I think I need a nap.

Ah well slow and steady, this too shall pass. I am thinking that I maybe have hit that stage where I question my sanity as to why I have all this stuff and why I think its a good idea to do this every year. I have lots and lots and lots of projects to do and I think I have a cold coming on. Oh my this has turned into a pity party. Its also the reason I am blogging and not decorating. I am taking a wee break.

Ok so before I completely go down sorry for me road, I will change directions. I will bore you with what I did this weekend.  Yesterday I went and actually got some Christmas shopping done, some gifts purchased and then I got this, before my knee gave out and I had to come home.

Its the next to the last segment of my Nativity scene. I have one more piece to get and then the whole thing is complete.

I am running out of room anyway so once I get the guy playing the horn thing I am done.

I also got the front of the house decked out even if the lights don't work. I redid the wreath last year but I did not change the ribbon, that got updated this year.

before and after. I loved the old ribbon but the colour did not go with the pretty red of the poinsettias
I am much happier with it now.

I found this Gothic window box at a yard sale quiet some time ago and I love it. I like that I can change it up each season. I love the look of my house when its all done up for the Christmas season.

This is an old picture but you get the drift. We have more snow but it generally looks this way. I want to find a light up Snowman to have at the side of the steps but my search is not proving fruitful. I really wish I had kept the one Mom had. Oh will I shall press on. I don't like a lot of the new ones they have out there but I will find somethng. No rush until the power problem is sorted. (it means a trip to the basement and I am not up for that today)

Last night Teddybear and I went to a play and then our for coffee and a chat after. I was thinking of going shopping again to day but I could not work up the enthusiasm to do that. I can get it done over the next week. Tomorrow night The Banker, KitKat, Teddybear and I are having supper at the Bankers. We have been invited to see her newly painted living room, new drapes and she will; have her house perfect for Christmas. Right now I need to keep on plugging away at my own  decorating and working at the super secret Christmas projects. Updates to some.!!

Toodles,
Linda

Later the same day!!

P.S.  things have gone on a lot better than they were earlier this fine day. Santa has exploded all over the house and while I am not done with the decorating, I am farther along than I thought I would get. this makes me happy. I have not set out everything but I have not skimped either. My knee is tolerating the stomping about and that is a relief

I am Linda and I have a thing for Santa's!!

The Dickens village needs to come out and the kitchen needs to get its Christmas on but that will happen this week. The house is still a mess its just more of a festive mess this time. I am going for a little nap then I am going to make the yearly family ornament.

Toodles again,
Linda

Random Saturday Ponderings

Winter is here, We got a dump of snow last night and the world looks like it has be sprinkled liberally with layers and layers of powdered sugar. My new neighours,whom I had my doubts about but now think wonderful,  shoveled my sidewalks for me, both front and back. I was totally shocked and grateful;. They are the quiet, keep to themselves sort, not even really saying hello when we pass. So the fact that he did all that shoveling for me was totally not expected. I think I see a Tim's gift card in someone's future. I have to say thank you somehow. He built a rink in their back yard and the two kids are having the best fun on it.

I have more to be grateful for. The Banker popped in this afternoon and helped me haul the Christmas things up from the basement. She saved me and my poor sore knee a multitude of trips. Now I can get the front of the house decked out for Christmas and I can take this week and get the rest of the house decorated.( I should be able to buy the last of the Nativity set this year, squeeee!!!) I am looking forward to getting the stuff out. I love Christmas. I may have mentioned that once or twice

Not sure what I will do now, if I finish the Nativity this year and I got the last of the Santas for the stairway last year, what the heck am I going to collect now?? I have looked high and low for a pig ornament but cannot find one anywhere. I may have to resort to making something. I thought Pier One would have some but no joy. My Pig tree still needs decorations!!

I will get a snow globe this year, Started that a few Christmas' ago and can carry on for a few yet. I  like to add to them. I also need to short through things and weed out some of the Christmas stuff I am really ready to get rid of. I have a lot of Christmas things. It is my favourite season after all. I did a purge last year and need to keep doing it.

Tonight I am supposed to be going to the show with Teddy Bear and a couple of ladies from my book club. I will go, but my heart wants to just stay home where its warm and I don't have to worry about slippery streets. My knee has been giving me the business this last week. I thought my knee cap was out of place. A trip to the local walk in, the doctor yanked, bent and twisted it for me and generally made it very sore, ex-rays taken and they decided I have osteoarthritis in it. Well my regular doctor told me that several years ago and gave me pills for the pain. The up side is the yanking and bending must have moved whatever was out of place back to where it belongs so I can walk about without feeling like I am being stabbed in the knee cap with every step. Legs are feeling rather stiff, which I blame on the weather and the knee is still tender but its well on it way top getting back to its normal pain level.

Groceries were purchased this morning and I made a quick tour around two charity shops. I found some buttons to make into flowers because I think I am going to make some to sell. I found an egg cup and two lovely Christmas plates. I also found a Partylite candle ring that will work to go with the bisque church and singers I found last year. The candle ring is a group of angels flying in a circle. I love finding things in charity shops, I am thinking now I have the right plates for my Christmas tree plate stand. A yard sale find a few years ago.

I need to go have a nap before the show, otherwise I will be snoring through the better part of it. Tomorrow I am going to sew quilt tops and knit away all the hours God sends. Maybe I will be back and I will have some pictures to share!!.

Toodles.
Linda