Hello!
Despite some showers it continues to be hot and dry,
but then this is August. The blackberries are over and most of the green beans.
I harvested lavender and chives. I've
been busy drying peaches and apples, canned tomatoes, did up tomato juice, and
salsa. I also made two batches of 3 day lime pickles as well. One week I tackled the attic and sorted
through years of stuff that seemed to multiply the more I worked through piled
up stacks- something I've been planning on doing for who knows how long and figured
I'd better do it before I hit my 80's or 90's. Outside I trimmed the formal
garden and the long & side hedge in the front yard that looked like a
wilderness. Now I need to get the back enclosed garden trellis hanging with
wisteria that resembles a jungle gone wild under control too.
I'm so thankful for the daily strength the Lord
gives. One hot muggy morning as I was picking green beans and sweating
profusely I straightened my aching back in time to see a couple hummingbirds
darting around my 2-toned white and lavender rose of sharon bush blooms and
then glanced at my cutting garden near the stream, which in reality is any
plant I need to find a space for, to see butterflies dancing all over the red
bee balm and the last of the flowering phlox and realized how blessed I truly
am. Even though my house and gardens will never grace any magazine cover, I am
quite content to be right where I am.
One thing I am not thrilled over is the squirrel
population. I admit one or two or even three squirrels can be cute and they do
all kinds of antics that can make a person smile, but those critters multiply
like rabbits and unfortunately love the bird feeders as well. I realized I
definitely had a problem when one day glancing through the living room window
at the back porch I saw something that made me look twice. My gourd bird feeder
had grown a bushy tail. An instant later a head popped out and the crazy
squirrel looked like it was enjoying a personalized hammock squirrel-size
swing. I took off running for the back door to chase it away. I had read lately
that one needs to exercise in bursts of speed for maximum benefit. Well
now-a-days I get plenty of bursts of speed between my front and back porch bird
feeders trying to keep the squirrels off. I've even not filled the bird feeders
for a couple of days to discourage the squirrels, but so far no luck. Tex also
helps chase the squirrels every time he sees one but can’t figure out yet how
to climb a tree to catch them. He will sit at the bottom of a tree, cock his
head, and you can see his doggy brain cells buzzing trying to figure out a way
to outmaneuver those furry critters.
Dana fell halfway through July and despite all the
tests that came back negative I’m positive he had another minor stroke.
Physical therapy had already been coming and Dana was gaining ground, but after
he fell he regressed backwards and still hasn’t caught back up. His left side
(the one the first stroke affected) is weaker and some days Dana is more
confused and has trouble with his speech. He also has trouble keeping his left
eye open. The other night after taking his nightly insulin and pills, Dana
headed into the dining room instead of towards his bedroom muttering that it
was dark and he couldn’t see. When I
asked Dana where he was going he said he was trying to find his bedroom. I had to
turn him around and head him in the right direction. The lung specialist said
she noticed Dana’s breathing was more restricted this time and ordered more
tests. Then the eye doctor is concerned with Dana’s eyes and has me putting on
ointment twice a day besides the drops. Today we went back after a month and he
wants it continued for another month.
This past weekend Dawn and her family came for a
quick visit starting Friday night. Saturday was a whirlwind of activity all day
until they left that evening. It was grand being together again- just too
short. They helped with a lot of things Dwight and I am unable to do. After Dwight’s yearly comprehensive visit to
the hemophilia clinic, they have scheduled more physical therapy for him too. Dwight spent the other weekend putting new
brakes on my vehicle. I am so thankful that he is still able to keep my
vehicle’s maintenance up checking the oil etc as I’m lost if I turn the key and
something doesn’t work.
Take care on your end and stay cool!
dorcas
