2024 THANKSGIVING WALKER NEWSLETTER

 

Hello!

I thought I had sent out a letter for Aug/Sept but can't find it anywhere on my computer.  Things have been a bit blurry for me since I injured my left hip the beginning of July as long days, weeks, and months have passed confined mainly to the recliner with icepacks to numb my hip so I can walk slowly with two canes to the bathroom and bed popping pain meds day and night. Even though I made two trips down to Cookeville for x-rays and an MRI that didn't happen- each trip putting me in agonizing pain for a week after- five months later I still am waiting to find out what exactly is going on in my hip. I've had to go back through Vanderbilt, and at this point my appointment for an MRI is not until the middle of April. It has been a big exercise in patience having to sit still instead of not to be able to be up and around like normal.

I've only seen glimpses of the outdoors summer and now autumn through a window. Not able to be outside with the animals, in the garden, puttering around my flower beds, gathering seeds to save, or watching the birds at the feeders has left a big hole in my life. It's like losing one's identity.

On the plus side, I've learned to do all kinds of things in the recliner that I never would have thought of before. As Dwight has quickly found out, when I'm not in pain, I need to keep my hands busy or else I end up trying to do too much (feeling guilty that everything has fallen in Dwight's lap) and flare up my hip. So, I've chopped up all kinds of veggies (just give me a cutting board and I'm good to go), re-potted the indoor plants Dwight brought inside ahead of the first frost (such fun actually getting my fingers in the dirt again even if it was inside), make my homemade rolls, and fold the laundry. I'm now in the process of painting a picture of Case on canvas when he was little- as I've done for all the other grandkids. once they turn sixteen-. for Christmas and have been busy crocheting a hooded shawl for Ellie like I made for Dawn at about the same age. It has been a big learning curve but at least it keeps my brain cells busy.

I am slowly trying to build my strength back up under Dwight's strict supervision, to see how much I can actually do with my hip as this obviously isn't going to be a quick fix anytime soon. Nothing like having to go blindly by trial and error. Needless to say, Dwight gets very frustrated when I overdo it, end up in horrible pain having to restart all over again. My Dutch stubbornness keeps me from totally giving up, but Dwight is definitely a match for me, so we've had several rounds of disagreements before we see eye to eye of how much I should do.

Through it all, my two fat cats have stayed close by; snoozing on my lap in the daytime or snuggling their fat bodies close at night when I can lay down- sometimes for only a couple of hours in bed. Their warmth has gotten me through more than one bad day and night.

I very thankful for Dwight who has valiantly taken over the household chores, paying bills, and going grocery shopping in order to keep everything going that takes away so much of his time working on pocketknives. He definitely will get an extra star in his crown for putting up with me; fussing over me when I am hurting, making phone calls to dr offices, and driving me to appointments while keeping my spirits up when I hit rock bottom due to the frustration of endless delays trying to get an MRI.

Due to the tightening of immigration- because of the tense situation in the Philippines from Chinese warships trying to take over- Dawn, Randy, William, and Katie had to make an unexpected trip back home in order to renew Randy and Williams visas. While here for a month, they were able to get a lot of business accomplished that needed to get done. We also got to see them again as well, which was such a blessing. They now are back in the Philippines for a couple of months, hoping to be able to get their visas extended for longer. Please pray for the situation in the Philippines. Every week they can see from their island American, Austria, and Japanese warship doing war maneuvers. More American troops have been stationed on their island, and it has become more difficult to get any calls or texts through.

Meanwhile I am grateful for all the prayers.  I’ve received encouraging cards in the mail, different ones have brought food in, and each week there are phone calls checking on us. I have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving season.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day on your end!

Until next time~

Dorcas

 

JUNE/JULY WALKER NEWSLETTER

 

Hello!

Just to let you know that I am still breathing on my end and hope you are on yours.

We are definitely having the hot and humid heat waves of summer- what I call the Philippine weather. If a week goes by without some rain (thankfully, we are still getting some rain showers) I have to water the garden tomatoes & peppers, my roses, all the transplanted flowers, and the redbud trees Dwight helped to plant along the driveway in May. The roses have been so beautiful this summer. Now the Rose of Sharon's, tall phlox, the lilies ranging from soft yellow- mixed with burgundy to dark burgundy to orange all along the outside of my picket fence, daisies, lavender, and mints are all blooming and giving color everywhere.

The raspberries have been covered in berries and have kept me busy picking them as they ripen along with the cherries, green beans and peppers. I've also been harvesting ripened tomatoes. What bliss! There is nothing like the taste of a picked warm tomato and fresh garden stuff.

With it too hot to work outside, except first thing in the early morning hours, I focused on the inside. Dwight sanded my China hutch so I could paint it a medium blue (it was stained dark cherry) to help lighten up that corner of my dining room. You know how I dearly love color. Even though the paint was an expensive brand- I can't believe the price of things now-a-days, the paint was thin like water and hard to work with even with a sponge roller as it was so runny. I complained to Dwight, who took over, telling me that I was making a horrible mess and that the paint was the way it was supposed to be. Now I've been painting walls and stuff around the house for years.  All I've got to say, is that when one coat of paint won't completely cover something and has to take two coats, it's not very good pain from my point of view. So much for modern advancement. Now that the China hutch is painted, it looks lovely.

Towards the end of May, after finishing planting all my sunflower, marigold, and pumpkin seeds, I ended up with a right-hand bleed for the first time- most likely from overworking it. Of course, my left-hand thumb joint flared up too. So, there I was trading ice packs back and forth between both hands. Dwight had to end up braiding my hair again as well. That Sun, with ice packs, I was only able to play the piano with one finger on each hand. I felt like I had regressed to the level of my young piano students.  It was quite humbling as normally I play chords and do runs.

Once my hands got back to normal, I began another inside project, this time the pantry. I moved all my canned stuff- that now is covering the back bedroom floor and half of my dining room floor. I want to get the shelves painted before the canning season hits big time. I got the ceiling painted and the wall between the shelves. Last week, I first kiltzed, and then painting all the shelves along the wall.  They are one foot apart so there isn't much space between when you paint underneath. I had to crouch, paint up-side-down, kneel, and lay on my back and side. It was slow going.  I was so happy when I finally got the first complete coat on. Now I need to caulk and give it another coat.

Wouldn't you know it, if my left hip didn't decide to act up? I've had problems with arthritis in my right hip, but my left one has always been OK. I guess all the stress put on it painting those selves caused it to bleed internally. As if to sympathized, my left hand has swollen up too, so I'm unable to use a cane to help me walk. I'm back to living with ice packs day and night, extra pain meds, and spending most of the day in the recliner. Needless to say, my painting project has come to a halt.  It's quite frustrating but I have to behave myself until my hip gets better. I wasn't able to make to church Sun.

I had also begun a couple mini-quilt projects to put on the back of my living room chairs, couch, and recliner for the summer. It is an ideal way to try out new quilt patterns.

Annette and Curtis, with little Ellie, had a safe trip back home from the Philippines.  They were quite happy to get back to air conditioning. It was a special time with Annette getting to spend her first Mother’s Day with Dawn. They also brought Katie along back with them for her to go to a youth camp. Katie was here for about a month. Dawn flew over for a week to fly back with Katie. They all came up for a visit before Dawn and Katie had to leave. It was so nice to have them all here again.  Dawn and Katie had a safe flight back. Thank the Lord; they have been getting rain again in the Philippines, so their well is slowly filling back up where they don’t have to carry as much water each day.  They had a very dry six months.

Dwight got slowed down on his pocketknife making when he got an elbow bleed. It is finally about back to normal after a month. It takes time and patience for a bleed to stop and the joint to heal, and then not to overdo it and get it bleeding again.  Dwight has never advertised his pocketknives- it’s all by word of mouth and from his FB page. He has orders for over three years and with some waiting to get on his waiting list. At first it was stressing Dwight out trying to push himself into going faster as everything is handmade. He now does it as he can.  All his pocketknives are a work of art. I am quite proud of my artsy talented boy.

I need to hush up and get this out in the mail. Already the 4^th of July is over.  For all that is wrong with our country, I’m still very thankful to live in a free land.

Until next time~

Dorcas

APRIL/MAY WALKER NEWSLETTER

Hello!

The hummingbirds are back, and everything is green once again here in the TN Mountains. The irises, mock orange bushes, lilacs, wisteria, and roses are blooming as the spring flowers fade away. I planted green beans in the garden and put in tomato and pepper plants while the lettuce is ready to be picked. The peas haven't done this year as well- I think due to all the rain we've gotten. I cleared out in front of the picket fence and transplanted starts of bushes that had wandered through the fence and transplanted other flowers needing thinned out.

Remember me telling you about the huge birches that got cut down along the driveway?  Well, my front yard looked like a tornado had passed by. Despite trees lying everywhere flowers still came up and bloomed between and around them. One day sitting on the porch pondering the situation, knowing that it would be a long time until I saw my lawn again (as each time Dwight cut up some branches with, he ended up down with an elbow bleed) the Lord showed me how even in the storms of life we can find blessings around us. Then lo and behold a miracle happened. One evening after giving one of my girls a piano lesson, her mother asked if her husband, who works cutting trees and has a big chain saw, could come and help cut up some wood. The next night, she, her husband, and some other family member came and began sawing logs and stacking wood. I made a huge pot of spaghetti and two apple pies that we ate after it got dark. Between Fri evening and then half a day Sat, when they came back with more of their family, all the trees were cut up and stacked neatly in my woodshed!!! Sat afternoon, I sat on my front porch in a daze looking at my lawn now totally cleared of branches and trees.

Of course, life isn't always smooth sailing. The next week, despite me checking and trying to keep an eye on the bees, didn't a bunch of them swarm on me again that I was wanting to start another hive with.  Thankfully, there still were lots of bees left. To my surprise, when I checked the hive the next week, I found a couple more queen cells, so transferred them plus some capped frames filled with bees into the other hive. I shall get a second hive going yet.

I made it through the colonoscopy, which turned out to be a nightmare as my sugar went wacky, I threw up, and ended up quite dehydrated by the time Dwight took me to Cookeville to get it done. I ended having to have a whole bag of IV fluid- which had the nurses quite concerned- before getting the procedure done. My hematologist had ordered meds to help with any bleeding. Thankfully, they didn’t have to do any cutting. When discharged and told I could wait for five years before having another colonoscopy, I informed them that it was my one and only. Hopefully, my iron is behaving and coming down where it should be. This past week, the rheumatologist called and wants me to come back in three months and have some more x-rays done on my spine and hip to determine exactly what is going on. He suggested taking shots for my joints that flare up, but I only plan on doing that as a last-ditch measure. As long as I can keep the pain down, move, I shall get by.

I was feeling quite good with myself, until watering my tomatoes one evening on the hill my feet slipped out from under me and I fell. I landed on my left hand, which I already have problems with flaring up, causing it to bleed internally. So, I was back to living with icepacks again. I ended up playing the piano with only one finger with my left hand while keeping an icepack handy for a couple of Sundays- quite the experience I assure you. Dwight was down for over a month with his elbow, so we kept trading icepacks back and forth. Such a crazy time!

Annette, Curtis, and five-month-old Ellie are over in the Philippines right now with Dawn and the family, so Randy could finally meet his granddaughter as they won’t be coming back for another year. I told Annette that she takes too much after this grandmother whizzing around the world with a baby. Thankfully, she has a lot of past strong women in her genes. It is quite the experience for them as it is quite hot and dry in the Philippines right now. I will feel relieved when they are back on American soil. They are planning on bringing Katie back with them.

Towards the end of March, I agreed to give thirteen-year-old girl piano lessons which makes four girl’s total. I’m making that my limit as it keeps my brain cells busy. I do enjoy seeing these girls learn to play songs and see the pride on their mother/grandmother’s faces. Meanwhile, I have been keeping in touch with Katie and how she is doing with the piano lessons I sent her over in the Philippines. I plan to see Katie while she is here and have her play the piano for me to see how she is progressing. We never know what life brings, but one thing for sure is that I don’t have to worry about getting bored.

Take care on your end until next time~

Dorcas

 

 

 

MARCH WALKER NEWSLETTER

Hello!

Easter is coming early this year.  Personally, I wish they would just put Easter on one Sun in April (like Thanksgiving and Christmas) when it's warmer and more flowers are blooming, but since I wasn't consulted about the matter, we will have to celebrate it when the powers-that-be decide. No matter when it is designated on the calendar, Easter is my favorite holiday.

He is Risen; He is Risen Indeed!!!

Meanwhile, the month of March is acting like spring with temperatures warm and sunny one day and then cold and rainy the next. The earth is coming alive once more. First tiny crocus and snowdrops appear out of the barren earth then the hardy daffodils bloom flaunting bright colors of pale to bright yellow- even in freezing temperatures and snow- lining my picket fence, driveway, and the paths in my woods. I love my two-toned daffodils and even have some miniature daffodils that are totally adorable. My cherry, button, primrose bushes, and pear trees are in full bloom all pink and white while the peach tree buds are ready to open any day. Tiny new green leaves are appearing on my rosebushes along with the tulips and iris growing taller each day. Migrating birds are showing up at my feeders to my delight. I finally saw my first robin and Eastern Bluebirds at the bluebird boxes to hopefully stay and build nests. When I checked my goldfish pond, I was excited to see froggy eggs floating in the water. Even the bees in the hive are buzzing around. I've been hanging wash out on the clothesline and opening my windows on warmer days to feel the spring air. What bliss!

I finally got my sewing room closet painted and organized.

My granddaughter, Annette, her husband, and baby Ellie came up for a couple of days. What fun getting to cuddle the little Miss that is growing like a weed.  While here, the guys cut down the huge remaining birch trees along the driveway that I had planted years ago as 2-ft twigs. Now they were over 60 ft tall and dropping large dead branches.  The electric company cut the one side of the driveway that was at the electric wire. It was quite the job landing the trees just right. Due to the rain, Curtis wasn't able to cut up as many of the trees as planned until they had to leave, but he was able to clear the one side so Dwight can get his truck through. Meanwhile, the front of my property looks like a tornado came through with large trees lying everywhere. Annette and Curtis want to come back to do more, but it will probably be later as big news: they are planning on flying over to the Philippines towards the last of April for two weeks to be with Dawn and Randy.  Randy has yet to see his granddaughter and William his niece, so it will be a special time for them getting to meet and spend time with tiny Ellie.

The Philippines are in a very dry spell right now that began in January.  Their well went dry so they are toting water and having to do the wash by hand. Everything is brown and quite dusty. The other morning when I was having my devotions, I thought about what Dawn said how they can see rain clouds coming towards them every week over the ocean, but the clouds always go around them.  It reminded me years ago when Dana came home all excited because of answered prayer. The construction crew was working on a roof that was all torn off on a hot sunny day when a sudden rainstorm appeared heading right towards them. Dana stood up and prayed, “Lord you know how in the Bible Joshua prayed and the sun stood still. I don’t need the sun to stand still, but please let the rain go around us so we can finish the roof.”  The guys laughed, shaking their heads at the “crazy preacher”. Lo and behold if the rain didn’t part and go on either side while they finished the roof in the dry. So, I told the Lord that if He could do it then, He still could do it now, and asked that He’d send some rain around the world to my daughter.  When I talked to Dawn again, it had rained all day that Sunday!

Since the last newsletter, I have been to the rheumatologist at Vanderbilt, another doctor to schedule my colonoscopy in April, and this past week I was at the imaging center to get a complete abdominal ultrasound and mammogram to rule out any cancer and pinpoint what is causing my iron level to be so high. Thankfully, my RA level is still down, and the mammogram was normal. I told Dwight by the time I get done poked and prodded and tested from head to foot, I should be good for at least another forty years or more. Such a crazy time!

Every chance I get, I have been outside transplanting small bushes and planting bulbs- you know me, putting the last of the leaves on the garden plots before planting, and clearing out some other  garden areas. I am so thankful to be feeling like myself and am trying to behave.

Our pastor retired so, now instead of playing the organ, I have to play the piano.  It’s been years since I’ve had to play the piano for church. It certainly has been keeping my brain cells busy. I did have a senior moment the other Sunday when I was playing the offertory, and my mind went totally blank as I was playing by ear. I hit a chord, it was the wrong one, still blank, so thought I’d just hit the main chord and run up for a “quick” ending. Thankfully, when I hit the main chord, it was the right one and I was able to finish the song. Such is life on the piano bench!

Have a Blessed Easter Season~

Dorcas 

2024 JANUARY & FEBRUARY WALKER NEWSLETTER

 

Hello!

The New Year has come and gone already, and we finally got some snow here on the mountain. Now it is halfway through February and the temperature continues to fluctuate up and down.  I noticed some of my daffodils poking their heads out of the ground already.  Spring is coming- joys- but winter is not finished yet.

Our place has a new look. The local electric company came and cut down all the birch trees on the one side of our driveway. The little two-foot twigs I had planted years ago now were over 60 feet tall. A lot of huge branches were falling and in danger of landing on the main electrical wire to our house. It was quite the job and took most of the day. We want to cut down the birch trees on the other side as well.  Right now, there are huge logs and branches covering up my formal garden needing to be cut up before spring gets here.  There is never a shortage of things needing to get done.

Towards the end of January, my granddaughter, Annette, her husband, Curtis, and my great granddaughter, Ellie, came up to visit.  It was a joy to hold the little Miss again. She's growing, cooing, and looking all around at her new world.

I have kept busy keeping water in the duck and hen houses, breaking ice in the buckets outside, making sure there is plenty of feed, and spreading more straw to keep the animals warm and comfy during cold days.

Dwight has kept the woodstove going and stocking wood. We are grateful for the wood fires on frigid days to warm our bones and keep the house cozy. I love baking and making large pots of soup on cold winter days.

I unloaded the back closet and plan to get painting it this week. As usual I am behind of where I'd like to be, but thankful for each day I can be up and get around.  One week, my hip acted up and I had to use a cane to get around. You would think I was an old lady, huh? The cold temperatures are hard on Dwight's ankles and joints as well. One day when we both were limping around, I said a body would think we were old folk in a nursing home.

Dwight took me this week to the hematologist for my high iron. She did a bunch of blood work, wants me to get an ultrasound of my liver, and other tests to try and pinpoint exactly what is going on. I've got an appointment for a rheumatologist as well. I tried to donate blood to the Red Cross when they were in town but when my finger stick kept bleeding and they found out about hemophilia, they wouldn't touch me. After all the tests come back and if nothing else shows up, the hematologist wants me to come in and have them draw off blood each month and see if my iron will get down to normal.  Meanwhile, I shall continue eating beans which helps and work up a sweat as much as possible under Dwight’s watchful eye. I am praying for a healing touch as I don’t want to have to go on another medication. Won’t it be grand when we get a glorified body and don’t have to worry about these earthly bodies acting up every time you turn around?

Keep praying for my daughter, Dawn, and her family in the Philippines.  They have been battling sickness that is going around.  Also due to the dry weather their well has run dry so they are toting water and having to do the wash by hand again.  We thank the Lord for all the doors He has opened for them in spreading the gospel on their island.

Take care on your end!

Dorcas