Delays ..... But Not all Bad

One week later....
Waiting on the right rheostat for the fuel feed to come in to be put in my RV. After two new rheostats that neither one fit, I decided to go ahead and have the used one put in as my son had assured me that they ever rarely go bad. Trying my best to be patient  <smile>. 

Then, on the other side of this, I am also looking at the possibility of full-timing for a while. I am feeling such urgency to get away. I guess with all the activity here at this home, making it a home, isn't very satisfying for me. I "re-created" here what mimicked the happiest times of my life, a home with animals and garden, just like Hubby and I had, and like we did when kids were growing up. A councilor once told me that sometimes we seek to go back to the happiest times of our life so that we can start from there and heal. But having no one to share the work and rewards with has left me feeling quite empty.
Tonight I took a ride in my truck just to get out of the house (area). As I drove around, I wondered what was keeping me from feeling peaceful, what was nagging at me. Finally it occurred to me that
I am not the same person that I was then.... why am I trying to be?

Isaiah 26:3

Switching Blogs For a Time

As I won't be traveling til sometime next year, I decided to switch back to my former blog,

"Just Plain Country Living"

Just click on the name to go there.

I hope to record my adventures of making a go of it on 1 and 1/3 acres. I have some catching up to do, but it has been an exciting summer so far for me.

Thank you all for following along as I went through my adjustment to widowhood and learning about RV'ing.

Hope you all have happy travels and sunny days ahead!

May the Lord bless your journeys!

Yuck!

Got up today with flu-like symptoms.... headache, tummy rollin' and slight dizziness. Some of the neighbor gals were supposed to meet at my house tonite for knit-night but I had to cancel out on that. I had finished one of a pair of socks that had the reinforcement yarn in the heel and toe, and I wanted to show them, so I was disappointed. They will meet at Norma's house while I am gone.

I ended up spending the day on the couch with hot tea, almost dry toast and later some of that instant hot apple cider mix.

No packing today, although I did pull a few things out of the closet and put by the door. Hoping I can get back to it tomorrow.

 

Last night I ran over to my daughter's house who had just driven back from visiting her son in NC.... with a broken ankle! Daughter, not my grandson. They were walking in a park on Sunday, her last day there, when she stepped in a hole and down she went. Grandson, Tim, took her to get it looked at. Fortunately, a clean break and nothing displaced. She is in a boot and on crutches, with pain meds and orders to follow up in 10 days with her doctor ............ but, she had to do a 10 hour drive home by herself on Monday, and couldn't take the meds while driving.

 

Well, there was the car accident my grandson was in in May, then my son 's logging accident in July, and now Tina's ankle. My, oh my!

And they all wanted me to move back to PA so they could look after ME  ;-)

 

 

 

Footnote for those who have asked;  My grandson is almost back to normal, his shoulder is healing since the surgery in August. My son is gaining in strength, and adjusting to his limitations, but as yet no leg movement. Thanking the Lord for His goodness inspite of the circumstances!

Update on my son .... and Spam

Sorry to have to do this, but I have had to start comment moderation again due to some "spam" I've recieved lately. However, no "word verification" needed.
That stuff is a mess :-/

Update on my son, as some of you have asked. I was able to visit him most of yesterday. he is wheeling around in a wheelchair to and from therapy, and had some feeling in his foot yesterday also. We are hopeful that this is the beginning of him getting his feeling back in his lower chest on down to the tips of his big toe!! His logging and trucking crew was there to visit him on Sunday afternoon, and very encouraging to him. He told me how blessed he was to experience the feeling on his foot. He has always been a hard worker and now that he is pretty much out of danger, he is looking forward to going forward. He still has 2 weeks of antibiotics for the staph infection, but doing very well. The blood loss has stopped and he has needed no more blood since a week ago.

Thanks so much for all your kind thoughts and prayers! And most of all, thanking the Lord for His mercy and love toward us.

Is there really any such thing as *NORMAL* ???

.... or is that a figment of imagination? Time to fest up... my life has not been normal lately. Although that probably took none of you by surprise, sometimes it does me. Ready or not, life happens. I don't usually post about personal stuff but today I am making an exception.

Anyway, what has been going on the last 6 weeks, is first my 21 yo grandson had a horrific car accident in which he was litterally projected out of the vehicle, was lifeflighted to Pittsburgh Presby hospital trauma unit where he was in a coma for 5 days, and had sustained multiple head, brain and other physical injuries. Much prayer went up for him and to make a long story short he has had a miraculous recovery although he will still be undergoing surgery on his shoulder to reattach his muscle in August. He will not be able to go back to work until Dec or Jan, depending... We are very fortunate to still have him with us.

Got to thinking all our family could breathe a little easier, when last week my son who has worked in the woods all his life, was injured through a freak accident of a treetop come crashing down on his back and laid him to the ground. He was taken by ambulance to the hospital where they took xrays. We were informed he had no broken bones, although he could neither sit or stand, and 2 days later he was released from the hospital. After another 3 days he was life-flighted to Pittsburgh Presby hospital with extreme bloating, 104* temp, and loss of feeling in his legs. That was Tues night. ( I was in NY, on my "shopping" trip at the time with my sister, but took a quick trip home the next morning)

They found he had a huge cyst full of infection from the impact, 5-6 broken vertabrae, and many fractured ribs. He was in surgery yesterday where they put 2 steel rods in his back after they cleaned out the infected area, then took him back into surgery where they worked on cleaning out an infection in the esophagus. He was in there several hours. They are waiting to see if the swelling caused the loss of feeling in his legs, and if so should therefore return to normal.

Today is a new day, and again, we are so blessed to still have him with us. Could have turned out much worse. I am just so thankful for all the many prayer groups who have taken the time to pray for him (them).

Remember to tell (and show) your loved ones how much they mean to you.

Yes, I am Moving!

Thanks to all of you for your suggestions and prayers. I really appreciate you all. I know its going to work out ok . I am usually stronger and not such an emotional basket-case, but I suppose we all have our days....

I promised pictures of my Pennsylvania home-to-be, so here is what is available right now. There is sooo much more but will have to wait till I get moved

Coming in to the paved driveway, the home is nicely landscaped with lots of perenials and cute little birdhouses in the midst. Lots of nice evergreen trees and maples on the property. I am imagining cardinals, bluejays and chickadees in the wintertime!

Looking from the backyard toward the house, there is a "bridge" from the driveway to the deck, and a small koi pond on this side of it. And that one section of the house where you enter through French doors from the deck?...... THAT is one large roomwhere my painting studio will be on the far end, Yippee! Lots of light and wind-tight!

A large 2+ stall garage with workshop on the end, sits on the right side of the driveway. There are flowers planted and another birdhouse in front, carrying on the landscape theme from the house.

A fabulous kitchen with stainless steel appliances and tons of cupboard space. A great place for our girls cookie-bakes at Christmas time!

This room with the fireplace will be a den/tv room where the guys can hang out and watch their games.

~~~~~~~~~
Meanwhile, son and dil arrived from PA Thusday afternoon. It was so good to see them! They got my 4-wheeler loaded on the back of his pick-up, and the log-splitter, generator, and zero-turn mower loaded on the trailer. Then I asked him to take what-ever tools that he didn't have but needed. They were very few, because he does have alot of tools himself (he is self-employed and buys and cuts timber). DIL even found a few things for her garden. They gave me some good advise on what tools to keep for myself.

We went out to eat at O*Charley's and had a great meal and more conversation. Back home, They tied the load down while I started the wood-stove. Then it was on to bed for them and I knitted on a sock for a while. They had gotten up at 2 am to make the trip here and wanted to start back about that time in the morning. My son wanted to be back in the woods to work today! Not a sloucher, that one! Maybe its because he has always remembered a very important lesson from when he was little........
...........It was summer time and we grew a large garden. I had given all 5 children a row in the garden to weed. He announced he didn't want to weed his row, and just kept fooling around. I told him "if you don't get your row weeded, you don't get to eat lunch". He laughed and thought I was bluffing. As he soon found out, I wasn't. As he recalls, it didn't take long to get that row weeded! .....and today, all his children know this story. He uses it on them :)

Late yesterday, after a long nap, I carefully walked up my 900' long lane to the mailbox, The gravel is rough in places, but good exercise. Tabby, the cat, accompanied me. I had left Izzy in b/c I didn't want to fight the leash. That crazy cat walked about 5' in front of me the whole way, until near the end and then she swiftly grabbed a field mouse and took off back toward the house. When I got back I got out the pruning tools and proceded to prune the 6 small fruit trees we had planted a few years ago. I am trying to increase my activity a little each day.

You all have a great week-end! Thanks for stopping by!

I found myself! (haha, I wasn't that far away)

I finally feel like I am finding the real me again. I was able to do the dishes and run the vaccum in the LR on Tues. before my knit group arrived that evening. I am using the cane full time now instead of the walker ...... when I don't walk off and leave it also :-/

This morning I awoke to a beautiful Kentucky sunrise! It was prettier before I took the picture but this one isn't bad either.

Yesterday was the first day I was able to sit long enough to get at some painting. I started this for my "homework assignment" for the online 'Painting Skies' class I am participating in. I hope to finish it today.

Then a friend stopped by to visit me while her children were at youth group. She happened to see my knitting project on the coffee table and said she wished she could knit .... I told her about the winter knit group I had started and she was very interested. I left my painting sit and we got out some needles and cotton dish-cloth yarn. I showed her how to cast on stitches and do the regular knit stitch. She took to it like a duck to water. She had several rows done before having to leave so I sent needles and yarn home with her until she could get to W*M to get some. She was so excited! She will be back next Tuesday :)

This is what I had been working on while recuping. A French Slouche' hat and knit-in-the-round matching scarf out of yarn I got in PA last fall.

I originally had trouble pulling the yarn from the center of the skein because these skeins are very short and fat, and it would squoosh together and get tangled near the end of the skein. I thought about how to remedy that and came up with the idea to use my paper-towel-holder to slip the yarn ball over and instead, use the yarn from the outside of the skein. Works for me!

Today I had a back-to-my-old-self lunch. Looks good and healthy don't you think? Half an avacado, a hard-boiled egg, green olives, baby carrots and ranch dip, and a couple slices home-made cheddar cheese from the neighbor Amish farm ...... yummy!
Also, in the background you can see the little crocheted coasters I made up this week. I now have a slate coffee and end tables and they always feel cold. When I set my cup of hot tea on it in the mornings it doesn't stay hot very long, so the coasters will delay the cold transfer.

Besides all this I am making more solid plans to get back in the RV asap and get to AZ. I have several stops along the way, and I am sure looking forward to it. Praise the Lord for health and healing!!

I am still trying to catch up on all the blog reading I have fallen so far behind on. You all be safe! Do something good for your neighbor , or even a stranger. It will bring happiness to you both!

First Snow

Today, January 12, snow covers the grass completely but not the driveway. It looks pretty but it won't last ........ this time. The birds gather around ths feeders; cardinals, chickadees, finches, nuthatches, tufted titmouse, bluejays and mourning doves pick up seeds dropped on the ground.

There are also flickers with their bright red heads.

Yesterday the visiting therapist had me outside walking on the gravel drive and a little in the yard. He said just the walk on gravel would be enough to make my knee sore and tender for the rest of the day and today. He was not kidding. I also was able to climb the entire flight of stairs to the upstairs and back down, however mostly using the good leg. Still, I am getting stronger and able to do more. It is now 4 weeks since my surgery. Although I haven't driven yet I hope to do that soon.

While outside, I got to inspect the new doors on the barn. I had them changed from rolling to swinging doors and the opening raised to accommodate the height of the RV, as that is where it will be parked at the times I am home. I am pleased with the work these guys did. No pictures, sorry, as I didn't think to take my camera outside.

I had my first "Knit Night" with two ladies coming to my house last Tuesday. I think it will be fun. We plan to meet one night a week for the winter. We each work on our own projects and just visit and have a good time. It was nice to have some company

Other than that not much is going on. Thats my up-date for now. I am trying to make my way around all your blogs and catch up on what is happening with all of you. Have a good week-end and if you are traveling please be safe.

Holidays and Rehab

Hoping you all had a wonderful Christmas! I have not been able to spend much time catching up on reading blogs. This pain med I am on either makes me so sleepy, or does not really control the pain well enough to concentrate for long. Just the way my body reacts to it. I am doing better but rehab is going to take a l-o-n-g time. Izzy is being very patient and careful around me, and comes to lay down with me when I need to use the leg exerciser for 2 hrs at a time. Could not ask for a more faithful companion! Back to the dr this Wed. to have staples removed and to see what he has to say about how I am doing.

My daughter posted to my painting blog the winners of the Christmas Give-Away. I ended up giving 3 away because, well, just because I felt like it :) I wish I could have done several more to give. Looking forward to the time when the aches and pain let up long enough to let me paint again. I could read, but I fall asleep from the meds. So I knit, and then make like a frog and "rip-it" out my mistakes from falling asleep knitting .....ah, such is life.

Meanwhile, I am thinking about having the "house" batteries removed from the rv and brought into the house until I am well enough to get back on the road. I read somewhere that a cold snap could ruin them, and I just replaced them when I was back in Pennsylvania last fall. Do any of you others do this if you will not be using your rv for the winter??

I'll be spending a quiet New Year's Eve. We used to get together at church with lots of friends, games, and good food, and wait for the New Year to begin. Haha, I will have a hard time staying awake past 9 pm this year! I will probably watch a good movie or two, and be knitting on another project. A new year is a chance for a fresh new beginning. I don't make resolutions but I do give thought and contemplate what changes I will try to implement in the coming year. Are some of you looking forward to changes, big or small? Maybe that will be the topic of my next post....

You all enjoy your celebrations, be careful, and if you do have something to drink, please don't drive.

Time to Fess Up

Since I hit the Kentucky homestead and the damp cooler weather, my knees have been talking back to me. Not just the bad left one, either.... the right one is now loudly complaining that it is doing all the work. (sounds just like a couple o' kids, right???)

So I called my doctor office today, and am waiting for a call back as to when they can schedule me for the long, put-off knee replacement surgery. I am finding it hard to even walk since returning home, and my knees have been constantly painful.

There is so much I want to do, places I want to go, and scenes to capture on canvas, and I am to the point that if it is going to become a reality I need to get this done. I have finally conjured up the courage (read ...... the Lord has given me confidence and a willingness to go through with it) that I can get through this and there are better things on the other side. I know, that I know, that I know, when He leads me to something, He will be there to see me through.

I told my eldest daughter my decision yesterday, and she and her hubby volunteered her to take off work to come down for the first couple weeks till I get through the rough part. (I did not ask, because she has back disc problems .... I just figured Iwould get through it somehow.) There is a PACS van that will be able to transport me to therapy after she leaves.

So in the mean time, I have one more short trip to make back to Energy Lake over Thanksgiving holiday weekend, and then the RV will be put up till I re-coop enough to go to Tuscon, Arizona, to my brother and sil's, towards the end of Jan/Feb(??) I have lots of reference photos to paint from, my knitting stash will be close at hand, and my sewing machine will brought downstairs so it will be available to me.

I also hope to make one of these for on the walker, before surgery.

Oh yes, and if I get time and inspiration I might get in a few groceries and clean the house :)

You all enjoy yourselves and be safe out there!!

A Different Road

It has been 2 months today since I lost my husband, and I was forced onto this road I must travel called Widowhood.

I am sure I must have been in the state of shock for the first 6 weeks, as his death was totally unexpected. I have been through the whole range of emotions, questions, doubts, guilt, sadness, confusion, hollowness in the pit of my stomach, lack of energy, and lack of appetite.

I received a letter in the mail inviting me to a grief and bereavement support meetings. I have gone twice now and feel it is has very beneficial for me to be able to relate to others in like circumstances.

I know that the Lord is my strength and my source, and He will see me through, although at times knowing it in my head and feeling it in my heart is 2 different things.

This blog will be the story of my journey. If sometime in the future I decide to allow others to read it, I pray it can be of some help to those who find themselves in similar situations.