Winter lingers

Nancy Hultquist’s Health Report Link Continuing Update by John on weekend, Saturdays.
Trying to get this to folks — about my health issues
Note the ‘XXX’ in the link. Copy – delete the XXX and paste and go.

http://rocknXXXponderosa.com/?p=11858
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Monday, Feb 8

Uneventful, unless I report on trips along the hall to the potty.

Tuesday, Feb 9

Same as Monday.

Wednesday, Feb 10

Our annual Culligan under sink 4-filter replacement was today. The tech checked the tank and lines, replaced one of the filters with one that would process water faster, and replaced the other 3 with new units. A small improvement for just the two of us, but nice that they update things. He realized that our main softener had a glitch, called back to Earth-base or wherever, and made an adjustment.
We should be able to tell how many gallons we use, but the little whirligig failed, so after consultation with John, we now recharge every 22 days. He was here almost two hours.
{A new flow meter cost about $350, and a full service on the unit is $150. John quizzed the person that called about our rating of the service, after giving a glowing report. We will consider replacing the 10 year old unit with a new one when they next have a sale.}

Thursday, Feb 11

Chelsea removed the wrapping and hard cast today. The X-ray confirmed healing. After 3 weeks, my arm was less than stellar looking. After a bit of lotion and a day, it is looking better. I’m to put the hard cast on if I go somewhere. [Next outing is Monday for a haircut.] Otherwise, treat in gently.
A new insight is that medical offices should have higher chairs and higher commodes – especially for people on Lasix and with casts.
We came home and then John carried neighbor Kenny back to the Fairgrounds in EBRG for a shot of vaccine.

Friday, Feb 12

Same day for me as was Monday.
John made a trip to BiMart. Over the last 5 years I’ve lost enough weight (intended) that most of my form-fitting panties no longer fit the form. BiMart was having a sale and held a package for John to pick up. He bought other things there, then went of the grocery store nearby.
It snowed about 4 inches. More on the way.
Neighbor Allen cleared the driveway; John cleaned up the edges. Doing so, he broke the pushbroom handle. Bought a new one at BiMart.

Saturday, Feb 13

By mid-morning there was about 9 inches of snow. Allen was back with the tractor and cleared it all. Our temperature went to 20°F., the sun shone weakly, and the light snow stopped for nearly 4 hours.

Sunday, Feb 14

Uneventful, unless the 2 inches of new snow counts.
John took a chocolate cake out of the freezer to celebrate Valentine’s Day. We each searched for a card or image on the web. Results below.
Nancy’s card to John . . . . . . . . . John’s gift to Nancy

Hope your week was fine…
Nancy and John
Still on the Naneum Fan

Still not cold here


Here is a link to Nancy’s health issues:
http://rocknponderosaXXX.com/?p=11858
Copy and delete the 3 XXXs; then paste in your URL line.
(It’s a word press thing! #%&$@)

The original (first) text follows the update of Saturday, the 6th.

Monday, Feb 1

Late afternoon. 17 minute phone call from Brisbane, Australia from friend made starting March 17 via Nick Zentner’s livestreaming geology lectures from his home 5 days/week. This generated world-wide comradery. Panic2020 shut most campus instruction and Nick responded.

Tuesday, Feb 2

A consultation with a sleep specialist occurred today. Lead-up involved several e-mail messages. Example:

Dr. Allison Morgan is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Hultquist – MSS NP (10:20)
Time: Feb 2, 2021 10:20 AM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 851 0538 9375
Passcode: 394396

This meeting is reported by John on the page about my health at the link above.

Started hailing at 11:57 AM, then quickly switched to snow. We got an inch that soon melted. We were headed to town later and saw no evidence of the event just a few miles south.

I sent thanks to photographers who took photos we posted last week. Following that, I completed the weekly chore of putting medications in the dispenser box. This takes a surprisingly long time because of the number of different pills, and that there are changes based on the latest blood exam.

Wednesday, Feb 3

A great local sighting of an Owl. Jeanne actually took it at her boy’s school on Chestnut at 12:30 on January 21st and posted on the Kittitas County Visual Delights site February 4. She was kind of embarrassed it wasn’t out in the woods somewhere but it was so cool. It hung out for a whole day in the school yard, while the kids ran around playing. It was so close too!

We often hear owls near our home NE of Ellensburg. Sightings are often at dusk because the hoots are frequent, so triangulation is easy. John has taken a few photos but it requires going during daylight to where he has heard the birds (Great Horned) and inspecting lots of trees. Most of the time they seem comfortable with the observation. The bird in the photo below seems oblivious to the attention. Barred Owl photographed by Jeanne Malinosky

Started at 4:00 am taking pills, tried going back to sleep; couldn’t so had John put my computer on a pad in my lap until I fell asleep at some point, maybe 6:30 – so not a restful night. Again, tried sleeping in until 9:30. Up, called Doctor’s nurse in Cle Elum with swelling problems on cast in sling. They returned call with options for wrap and cast. He did take the lower 4 inches or so of the wrap off and released my thumb. We will reassess tomorrow, hoping the swelling in my fingers improves.

Thursday, Feb 4

Slept in late. Setup Alarms for day. Took morning pills. Added pain pills at 9:45.
Hand in cast has less swollen fingers, so we are not doing more.
Zoom on AAC Game Noon day

The laptop fan arrived at the repair shop, ComputAbility. They wanted the computer about 1:20. John delivered it and then made stops at other stores. He picked it up and made it home about 3:40. The new fan is silent. Double Rainbow at Fairgrounds photographed by Tamie Schaut. Saving the story for next week’s blog.

Friday, Feb 5

A dull day. We did the things we had to do, and not much more. John moved a few buckets of rounded rocks to under the drip line of the walkway. There are also some additional landscape rocks, specifically some with noticeable growths of lichens. He can put a phone handset near where he is working and I can “beep” the intercom function if I need help.
He does the “Not So Nasty News” on Fridays. He has also worked on the “health update.” I’m struggling to get computer stuff done with my left hand. Two-handed chores are on hiatus.

Saturday, Feb 6

Slept-in till 8:00AM after windy night. John hoped to get “Nancy’s Health Report” out to the web by Noon. That was delayed some because Pat Jenkins wanted to come and get the remaining logs. John had to take a break and show him what to cut and take.
The link to the health update can be found above, just below the heading.

Sunday, Feb 7

We are watching the cold air move south, out of Canada, and slowly covering most of the two nations. Back east, where it is now Monday, the freeze line is at Georgia’s north border, and covers the north one-third of Alabama. Sister Peggy, near Cleveland is down to 9°F.
Earlier in the day we talked with her for over half an hour. Like us, she is eligible for the Covid vaccine – and like us there is none to be had. We are “cool” with the situation, but others around the nation are showing various degrees of anxiety.

Hope your week was fine,

Nancy and John
Still on the Naneum Fan

January ends – – Good!

Monday, Jan 25

Snowed a couple inches overnight, so John push-broomed the driveway just beyond the ramp, and to the Crosstrek under the carport. We had to return forms and related information to the “sleep doctor” in Yakima, with whom I have Zoom consultation on February 2nd. EBRG has the nearest USPS office; Cost was $1.40 + gas. He made two more stops.
We’d been up at 3:40 am to take some of my heart medications, but went back to sleep, before staying up for the day.

My “go-to” list for Tuesday errands has grown to 5.

Tuesday, Jan 26

I called Yakima Heart Center – need to move records to a new office. My Cardiologist, David Krueger is the lead person at the new location – called Yakima Heart Central. He admitted to being not very creative with the name. However, the cardiologists staying put will get a new name: Yakima Valley Memorial Heart & Vascular. It seems those staying (old Central) will become part of Memorial Hospital, and be on-call in the surgical/heart care of the Hospital. Those moving (new Central) will no longer work within the hospital. Some of the folks we have dealt with since summer of 2009 will disappear from our visits.

I sent thanks to my contributing blog photographers of last week.

This is errands day when we drive to town to do all my medical needs. Start after 12:45 at Medical Arts Bldg for Kim to draw my blood for test for BMP and my normal INR. I always need to check to arrive when she is there, that is, before or after her lunch.

Tonight I worked through all the pill containers, putting medications in the weekly dispenser. About half I take in the morning, a few in the afternoon, and another bunch at night.
Every Tuesday, after the INR gets reported, I consult with the Clinic’s coagulation guru – Lacey – and follow her advice for the Coumadin (warfarin) dose for the next 7 days.

Wednesday, Jan 27

Hard painful day today.
Decided to work on notifying google groups I have managed that I am having a difficult time at the keyboard. With those and others, I’m sending e-mails (point – copy – paste; mostly). This is still slow, but I do make progress.

Thursday, Jan 28

I’ve a ZOOM consultation next week, so I worked with Katelyn at the Adult Activity Center (AAC) who does such things for “Game Days”. I setup first parts and then closed video by mistake, so no photo of me showing on the Video screen of Zoom, needed for my Doctor’s Zoom visit. He is in Yakima, so this saves a 100-mile (round) trip. Katelyn is the coordinator of Zoom and also the new Senior Center Director. She will train us Friday in ZOOM Documents again.
John drove to town for 3 items; pick-up, deliver. He took my Dell laptop to David at ComputAbility. John tried to talk to me from EBRG on his car-Bluetooth phone a few days ago, and heard a strange noise. We ended the call. Once at home, he heard the sound from my laptop, and guessed the fan was failing. David agreed, but blew the dust out. He got the # of the fan and ordered one. No surprise they don’t have that one in the store. Manufacturers seem to have a different fan in every unit. Hope mine lasts to about next Wednesday or Thursday.

Friday, Jan 29

Tried the AAC ZOOM again with an exercise class. We have all learned something new as a result of Panic 2020. Too bad we didn’t invest a big chunk of money in the company about this time last year.
{John says: Many invested, but many got the wrong company. They wanted Zoom Video Communications Inc. – symbol ZM, but bought Zoom Technologies – symbol ZOOM. Not Smart.}

Saturday, Jan 30

I learned another odd thing. This reminded me of a first day of lecturing after not much use of voice over a summer. A 38 minute phone call from far-away friend lasted 38 minutes. Lots of talking and my voice faded.

John posted an extended update on Nancy’s Health Report today.
Go to the link here, where you can find out what he says about me.
This is the link to that page, Sorry, not working
? ? ? ? Will fix — Meanwhile, at the bottom of this post, use the “Previous” link and go back to:
January 28th: More than you want to know – Nancy
There will be updates on the “health journey” at least once a week.
His “Not So Nasty News” and my regular blog will continue on Fridays and Sundays, as usual.

Sunday, Jan 31

Took pain pills at 10:15. John’s done all his morning inside & outside chores while I slept in after a Pain filled night. We changed my blankets, pillows, and position in the middle of the night, and then I slept better and woke in a nicer feeling.

Pat Jenkins came for some limbs and logs to cut into firewood. He is the person that busted and removed the concrete in front of the house with a large (heavy) backhoe bucket. He also got most of the “waste” slabs from the milling that was done last summer.

My e-mails and link to the “health update” have generated numerous return messages, including phone calls. I talked with Joanie & Ken in Arizona; she was in the music group in recent years. My voice is gaining, e-mails are good, Greg sent a nice message on a 5-minute video. Modern communications is great. Remember when an operator got on the line and said “Number, please.”

Call tonight from doctor’s office that they’ll call Monday about how to set-up their Zoom software.

Hope your week was fine,

Nancy and John
Still on the Naneum Fan

Week of Doctor Visits

Monday, Jan 18

Shortened weekly blog because of typing one fingered with splint over fractured elbow bone. Also in a sling to keep things in place. Much less typing for me (being right handed). Simple daily notes.

Tuesday, Jan 19

Sunrises – We don’t see most parts of sky from home.

Sunrise photo in EBRG by Lori Waters

This is errands day when we drive to town to do all my medical needs. Start with before NOON to Medical Arts Bldg for Kim to draw my blood for MCP test and for my normal INR. I fell getting into the Crosstrek and landed on my right side, with arm and elbow between me and the gravel. See coming Thursday.

Picked up my Metoprolol prescription medicine from Bi-Mart Pharmacy. Sunset photo by Christopher Cyrus Peterson

Wednesday, Jan 20

John drove to Yakima, WA today leaving at 10:15 for two locations, Costco & Yakima Heart Center to appointment with Cardiologist Buffy Sawyer. Not returning home until 3:30.

Reason for Costco trip was to buy the 2020 TurboTax software to have for all medical costs and to buy some Vitamin D3 2000 IU.

Reason for Yakima Heart Center was to meet with Dave Krueger’s assistant to view my swollen legs. We left her at 2:30.

Thursday, Jan 21

We drove to Cle Elum Clinic to see our PCP, Chelsea Newman about our talk with Buffy Sawyer yesterday in Yakima. Swelling in legs responding to increased dose diuretic to 80 mg. That’s good. But, . . .
X-ray of elbow showed a fracture with a slight movement – thus the need for the splint to immobilize broken bone. That to last until a 3-weeks out visit (Feb, 11th). Likely after that just a sling for another 5/6 weeks. That’s not good. So, with my good hand out of commission and my left shoulder of dubious character – I’m not very functional.

Friday, Jan 22

We have been Brittany breeders since 1977 and made a lot of friends. Here below is one, Ray Trimble. Read the text on the feat he accomplished this week.

Saturday, Jan 23

We’d were up at 4:00 am to take medication and potty. Then back for more Zzzees. John slept in until 6:30 am, then up to open our gates for the Contractor to arrive at 7:00 with a load of decking lumber that will be the roofing over the back patio area.

Prior to Noon, I spent 41 mins reminiscing by phone with Dot Smith about our childhood days in Atlanta, GA.
John is shopping in town leaving a little after 10:00 and the house temp is now down to 70.2° – – at 10:30 the programmable thermostat lowers to 67. I’m getting colder hoping he’s back soon; here at 12:04. I’m used to 74°. {Okay, time to re-program.}

Once home John made me a blender strawberry smoothie.
Managed donning the compression socks we bought when we bought the Sock Donner at the Medical Supply store. The package contained a cm measuring tape for the calf sizing. So we used that and wrote the circumferences.

Sunday, Jan 24

Slept in till 8:00 after being up at 4:00 AM to take my medications.

Because of the immobilized right arm/hand, I need John’s help filling in a form for the Sleep Center. We are having a ZOOM consultation, they still want a bunch of information. The form deals mostly with Sleep Apnea while my problem is (apparently) shallow night-time breathing. More next week.

Hope your week was fine.
Nancy and John
Still on the Naneum Fan

Goings and comings on the Fan

Monday, Jan 11

I’m driving myself to check in for the Echo Cardiogram at Noon at KVH Hospital Imaging. Must dress properly, no bra, green shirt metal buttons okay.

Once there at Imaging, I must request to fill in the form for the results to be sent in the mail to all who need a copy of the results on a CD sent: Chelsea Newman (PCP), David Krueger (Cardiologist), Kumar (Sleep Apnea Doctor), (I always get one too) Nancy Hultquist.
Either tell Donna or Lauren at Imaging when I check in. This is supposed to take one hour.

I must get me some compression socks soon, (will try tomorrow at Bi-Mart, where they have them, but need to know how to able to calculate the size I need. I am set to meet a person there to search for the size given by the measurements of my distance Knee to floor, and of the size of my calf. I’m just getting one pair for now.

Go to Jerrol’s today for tax income folders. They sent me $10 off coupon, and I just realized I was out of them, from setting up hanging file folders for 2021 tax receipts.

Tuesday, Jan 12

Bi-Mart went to store mgr, Heather, with measurements for the compression socks I need being (1) Length leg knees to the floor= 1’ 11 and (2) Calf measurement=1’ 6”.

I made connection with the Yakima Heart Center scheduler, and my Cardiologist has no appointments opened until springtime, so I’m scheduled with his Assistant (whom I have seen previously, named Buffy Sawyer, who will be aware of the urgency of this appt., regarding the severe leg swelling I’m having. The left side of heart is operating at only ½ capacity. The appt. is scheduled for Wednesday, Jan 20th at the Yakima Heart Center across from Memorial Hospital.

Safeway, picked up tax records total for us for year 2020, to put in Tax Form record or receipts for 2020 now.

I spent 39 mins on phone with Kaiser Permanente Mail Order Pharmacy about getting the amount of money we both spent on prescriptions for 2020 tax year sent to us. It will be available tomorrow and they will walk us through how to get it. Unfortunately, we have to go through Kaiser member services and it will come via email, with support to help us obtain the printed record. This seems a terrible time sink, and is so much easier at other pharmacies.

Wednesday, Jan 13

Cannot believe nothing happened today. Check the calendar. Maybe I spent the whole day sleeping.

I’m seeing Chelsea tomorrow quite early about my situation of swollen legs. We need to be in bed early so we could get up at 6:30. We plan on a 45 minute trip to Cle Elum.

Thursday, Jan 14

We went to Cle Elum to see our PCP, Chelsea Newman. We arrived via I-90 Interstate route which sped up our trip. It was not snowing or raining. We expected snow because of the Cascades (Snoqualmie Pass) being snowed in (See John’s Friday Column below, in Not So Nasty News, for that news, plus some other very interesting information, regarding our trip this morning to Cle Elum).

We got there at 9:00 a.m. They didn’t have us wait a long time to be seen. We left the Medical Clinic, at 10:00 a.m., driving to Ellensburg for planned meetings there. Nurse Summer did the preliminaries. We were there awhile, dealing with my swollen legs, calves, ankles, and feet, and putting on compression stocks (way too tight for my likes). Chelsea actually put them on. It is a most difficult chore. She told us about a Sock-Donnor gadget that can be used to help. We have since bought one (on our way home today, from a Medical Supply Shop). They’re not cheap. When we get it to work, it works well, but we need to look for some instruction videos, because we don’t really know the procedure correctly, yet.

We drove home down Hwy 10 and had a back left tire blowout and flatten. John put the spare tire on, but had to not drive it over 40 mph. No traffic on the road, at 10:00 in the morning, so no problem, except for John’s hard work. He drove to Les Schwab where they repaired the hole, figuring a rock puncture. John & I heard a noise but never saw the rock. He stopped when he saw the low tire inflation light, but didn’t see what was causing it. Finally, when it went flat, he pulled over and put on the spare tire. Once at Les Schwab, we found another COVID-related problem. Because of COVID, their waiting room cannot serve popcorn, and that was sad, because I always enjoy that. They still have a waiting room with a TV and restrooms, which we both needed. One other good thing, the hole in the tire was repaired at no cost. The tire mileage is at about half-life, and we didn’t know if it was damaged beyond repair. The crew there is fast and efficient. In and out in just a few minutes.

From there we went to Kittitas County Medical Supply store and bought the Sock-Donnor.

From there to Shaw’s Furniture & Appliances Store where we ordered a recliner. That took longer than the doctor’s visit. The chair won’t be delivered until late April or early May. The chair will have false-leather (a reddish/brown color called Rawhide); we think will be best in our dusty house. The one in the store was fabric, or we could have had it.

Friday, Jan 15

Contact Chelsea about compression socks. Chelsea says don’t wear them at night. Thank God for a reprieve.

I’m looking forward to seeing Buffy Sawyer on Jan 20th at 1:20, assistant to Cardiologist, Krueger; then see Chelsea the 21st Jan, in Cle Elum at 11:00 a.m.

I called Jon Lawson, Shaw’s clerk to see if they could provide a loaner-chair. Jon arranged for one to be delivered Monday after 2 pm.

Meanwhile, a student from 15 years ago recently had a chair in a storage locker after the death of her father-in-law for whom the chair was bought and used only a little. She and her hubby drove the chair to the end of our driveway and moved it into John’s old 4WD pickup to get into the house. My old garage sale (?) one quit working this week. It does not raise my feet as high as desired. I’m going to put the donated one in our new room where all my income tax files are stored and use it there when filing and organizing tax information. It’s been a life saver since it arrived. The one on-order gets the head lower and the feet higher – called a “Zero Gravity” position.

Saturday, Jan 16

Morning sunrise I tried to photograph and failed from our perspective so got these from a friend, Cindi Crawford Ackerman, location South Thorp Hwy, and the photos are 2 minutes apart to show fast change. Left taken at 7:25 a.m.
Slept in ‘til 8:30.

Breakfast as usual, John made my Blender Smoothie (Peach). Thanks to my caregiver and for all the other meals he fixes for us.

Tonight I have to get ready my evening pills for Saturday, and my Sunday morning & evening pills. Little glass dishes, like for apple sauce, are great for this.

Monday had only the loaner chair on the schedule. I called and canncelled the delivery of the loaner chair. Just now, Hay Guy Mario called and wants to deliver hay around lunch time.

Sunday, Jan 17

John spent time outside replacing two gates – difficult to use – with less cumbersome ones. He says it is an age thing – them and him.

At 1:00 pm we called our cousin Ethel, 103 yrs old in PA. We had a nice 35 min conversation. The complex where she lives is about 35 years old (and so is our house) so we talked about the parts that are failing. And we all had dental visits cancelled during Covid closures. Things could be worse.

Hope your week was fine.

Nancy and John
Still on the Naneum Fan

Not so Nasty News January 15th


Item #1: Nice weather

The weather contrasts this week have been interesting. Here on the Naneum Fan we started with cool and wet, although western Washington has had high winds and rain. About 500,000 were without electricity. The peaks of the Cascades have gotten snow.
Scott’s Weather Blog

Meanwhile, in Europe, cold weather and snow have been a bigger burden. Madrid had issues.
Snow and cold
In a mountain location the temperature dropped to -35.8°C., about -32°F.
Our airport – KELN – reported a high of 52° at mid-afternoon Friday, clear sky, and brief gusts of wind. The nicest day this year.

Item #2: Other winter photos

Item #3: Need for a short piece of pipe

The photo (left) is of the tire change kit that comes with Subarus. The spare is a temporary (go slow) item, but works.
A digression: The piece with the small circle just below mid-photo is a threaded steel deal that can be used when in need of a short pull. My Crosstrek has a pop-out square piece of plastic in both the front and back of the plastic body (right photo – rear of car). Plastic is a key issue, because a chain or strap hooked under the car will put pressure on the plastic and cause damage. Thus, one can pop the square and screw in the O-hook, attach a tow line, and pull hard. The threads go into the steel frame. Neat.
The shiny item on the left of the photo with the dog-leg toward the up-end is the wrench to remove the lug nuts. Great. Except it is quite short. It is so short that I could not get even one of the nuts to come loose with my no-longer great strength. I had to invoke brute force. That is, I had to position the wrench in a way that I could give it a good kick. Had I not had on thick soled work boots, I’d have been down in the Yakima River looking for a large rock.
So – wanted: a 2ft. section of pipe that will provide the leverage to break the lug nuts loose. Subaru owners, be aware.

Item #4: New grocery items


Both of these items pose questions. How do you package 99 cans? Packaging and packing are complex issues. Just think of an item of odd shape that comes in a cardboard box. There are folds, tabs, fillers, and empty space. So, 9 x 11 works. How are they in there?
I do like the idea of “boneless” potatoes. I never buy a whole chicken because of all the bones and other waste. A boneless potato is so much nicer then those with bones. How do they do that?

Item #5: Deliberate, or not?

And that, for this week, is the not so nasty news.
John

Winter 2021 on The Naneum

Sunrise on the Naneum Fan
Photo by Allen Aronica, from just north of us on Naneum Road 1/2/2021

Monday, Jan 4 _____HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JOHN !!!

Thank you to all senders of various forms of birthday cards to John for his birthday, including phone calls.

Now to GeorgiaThank you, Gerri & Allen Aronica for their nice gift of a Claxton, Georgia Fruitcake; I’m sure more of a Christmas gift than a birthday gift, but it was so close, John double-dipped. I’m a born and raised Georgia Girl. The bakery is 30 miles from my Grandparents farm, but I grew up in Atlanta and, with my dad, eating fruit cake, and learning about all the geography of the places from where the ingredients traveled to the factory to make it to the cake.

Almost like going in John’s home state of PA to the Hershey PA Candy Factory, where I loved to do the same things with my Economic Geography students. Boy, has that changed since I was younger (and John is the same age), and we could WALK above the tubs of chocolate, right down by the side of the stirring tank, and see the chocolate kisses coming out in front of you all wrapped up in foil. No such views now. You are guided in cars or walking through Disney like characters, occasionally way above completely enclosed windows, and it looks now like no fun at all.

Video of the Hershey Chocolate Factory Plant the largest change of all my memories (probably 50 years).

Hershey, PA – (10 mins)

It’s quite similar to the Sunnyside cheese tour of their packing factory. A person once was able to walk beside those up close.

And with the Cheddar Cheese factory in Tillamook Cheddar Cheese Factory in Oregon. No longer a walk through as once was, and we did that together in 1970.
Time moves on. More memories:

From Fire and Rescue, Sullivan’s Island, SC.
The photo is of Mandy Hawver Hydrick, who is getting a COVID vaccine as a first responder (fire & rescue): Assistant Chief Amanda

This reminds me of my summers there riding bikes around the Island with her mom (my cousin), Cindy Wilkins, climbing on the rocks at Fort Moultrie, and walking the beach.

Tuesday, Jan 5

Town day: Pickup my meds, Atorvastatin, at Bi-Mart pharmacy. Go from there by Super 1 to pick up LASIX at the drive-up window. Exciting!

Wednesday, Jan 6

Trip to Cle Elum for 3:00 PM visit with Chelsea (PCP) regarding swelling in my lower legs and decision on change in meds to reduce by using drugs rather than foods. My food intake has not changed at all, so it has other components and she is involving my cardiologist. Seeking an appointment with him ASAP, in Yakima, WA.

Lunch: John came home with Super 1 fried chicken we warmed and had with peaches.

Supper: Two entrees: Oven-warmed fried chick thighs & legs, plate; and a Bowl of Beef Stew John made with ground beef in the sauce, grated cheddar cheese, and I had Cheez*its spread around the edge of the bowl.

Thursday, Jan 7

Call from KVH imaging for 12:30 Appt for Echo Cardiogram this coming Monday afternoon.
Supper: Cooked Frozen Lasagna, John made baked apples.

Friday, Jan 8

We missed getting food for the family in EBRG both days last week. So back to the Kittitas Pantry where I fell 2 weeks ago.

On the road I called my aunt Marise Wilkins, in Guyton GA. It’s her 90TH year Birthday today. Her hubby, now deceased, was my mom’s youngest brother. Henry was the family’s representative that “gave me away” at our 1969 wedding.

At the Pantry, John walked through with me as the staff and I chose things for the family we are shopping for.

We get stuff too – a single layer chocolate cake for John’s birthday. Through the year when we grow onions, we donate them. When Bi*Mart Kitty Dry Pellets go on sale, we always donate one a 16-# bag. We make other donations as well from around our house.

A couple of kids like the little boxes of raisins as shown on the left.They seemed to have lots, so when I was asked if he should put some in (we are not allowed to touch anything), I said “All you want to give them.” He gave us an entire box – – but it had 24 pounds in plastic bags – – as we found when we started repackaging things prior to the first stop. Likely, we won’t need to get any for awhile.

Seems odd that this small town “Pantry” has more food than they can give away, while we hear of shortages elsewhere in other states.

One of the director there with her husband, is a doctor, at the Kittitas Valley Hospital, had just gotten her shot of Covid vaccine. We visited about the distribution of these, and are glad to know the local medical folks are being served. The County got just under 1,000 doses a week ago.

When we got home, there was a stack of stone siding under the new car port, plus some other things Contractor Walter had dropped off. So, soon we’ll be back to the remodeling.

Supper: Baked potato blue cheese, mushrooms, cooked pears, chicken.

Saturday, Jan 9

Nancy’s awake every morning at 5:00 a.m. to take medication, regardless. Takes care of other things (putting out dog in yard), before returning to sleeping). John is up & about earlier because of going to bed much earlier in the evening. I went back to sleep and slept in very late this morning until at 10:00 a.m. from needing to sleep in after late night hours and with badly interrupted sleep. I’m unaware of when John was up first, but I know he was taking care of animals, inside & outside the house. I guess I’m alert to the comings and goings, but I don’t really wake.

I called “Hay Guy” Mario and he’s bringing 4 tons on Monday. If he can get 2 trips in, double that. I’m driving myself to EBRG for my Echocardiogram at the hospital imaging department. It will take 2 hours! So good I can leave John home to handle the hay.

Brunch: Smoothie with pureed and strained blueberries, plus the liquid ingredients.
Supper: Some butternut Squash cut and baked with Mini-marshmallows on top, baked potato with blue cheese, mushrooms, cooked pears, chicken.

Sunday, Jan 10

We both slept in until 8:30 a.m. John’s been for the mail that comes after dark. I still haven’t gotten the compression socks Chelsea wants me to wear. I talked with Janee’ at Bi-Mart but sizing is an unresolved issue.

Brunch: Bacon, Pancake, with strawberries atop, under Maple syrup.

John started his afternoon moving firewood stacked in a small shed just off the back concrete slab. A couple of holes need to be dug and a sack of concrete mixed and used as a footer. There needs to be space for the posts that will support beams of the much expanded patio roof. The back space will be snow and rain free – about 28 feet wide and 14 feet out from the door. Holes will be dug Monday, by Nate.

Supper: Chicken, fried onion rings, Butternut squash with walnuts in sugar/cinnamon sauce, under toasted mini-marshmallows baked on top, breaded shrimp, PowerAde for drink. Chocolate cake and ice cream will finish off the evening.

Hope your week was fine.

Nancy and John
Still on the Naneum Fan

Happy New Year Week!

Monday, Dec 28
Blue Bird Ski Day – White Pass, WA Photographed, by Lise McGowan, Ellensburg, WA, Kittitas Valley, 12-28-20.

John did all the work on the cleanup of the stuff in the Curved Glass China Cabinet had us up at 7:30 to begin cleaning up stuff around patio doors inside our den. I got a little more involved with drying the cleaned stuff and storing those elsewhere. The process slowly continues. Need to do more soon. John’s gone to bed, and I have about 20 more minutes until I can take an acetaminophen, fluoride my teeth, put my gen teal drops in my eyes, and go to bed.

Tuesday, Dec 29

We left home, John driving, so I could make phone calls. I had two blood-draw tests noonish blood draws at Med Arts building on Jackson Street. We dropped off a red package of blood vials at KVC hospital front desk. While there, I called Cle Elum Medical to leave message for Nurse Lacey.

From there by AAC on to drop off package for Katrina,
then Super 1, then we went by Amy & Haley’s with ceramic things and Raisin mini-packets.

This photo in the snow of the Kittitas Depot is awesome taken by friend EvieMae Schuetz.

Wednesday, Dec 30

At 10:00 a.m., James Hickey at Umpqua Bank set up payment to Davenport’s for finish of one of the remodel contracts. Checked with Lyn; later will get a USPS notification the money has been deposited in their business account there at Umpqua Bank.

With this telephone and digital transfer, and not going in person to the lobby of the bank, I’m a happy “kamper.” James Hickey has done this previously and sent to the Davenports and also delivered to us for our records. I’ve also dealt with Brandy, but she is off this week. Didn’t get this done until noon because he spent longer with a bank client, & went to his lunch before calling me.

John went to start his car to leave for Cle Elum Clinic. He left at 10:30a.m. and has an hour (roads okay, but he went the Interstate rather than the Old Hwy 10).
John plans on calling me from the road to report in on the snow situation on timing his trip to Cle Elum for his appointment. He doesn’t want to cancel because of snow that they have in Cle Elum today.

John called at 12:18, they got his ears cleaned out. He is heading down the Freeway to buy gasoline at Pilot, and plans to call me from Bi-Mart Parking Lot in 45 minutes. Going for wild bird seed.

Week coming will be busy. I have two appointments we must go to Tuesday & Wednesday, which John must drive me to. He still have a pickup load of fine horse manure to deliver to the vineyard. And the remodel crew may want to come start on the next project.

I have adjusted to putting a pillow on the end of my recliner because just putting the swelled legs down on the recliner HURTS them way too much. The pillow is difficult to manipulate from the table to my right, but I can manage the pillow while using my laptop not to have the severe pain pressure without the pillow.

However, Chelsea needs to know I still am having slight instability factors, e.g. at the Medical Arts Bldg. Lab yesterday where the better K test was performed, but still some, difficulty moving around the house, some painful muscle movements today, changed from the leather shoes today and now using an open non-laced shoe for walking, but still have on same socks.

Lunch: John came home with Super 1 fried chicken we warmed and had with peaches. He also got some cans of tuna to share among the 4 cats.

Supper: Spaghetti with ground beef in the sauce and pieces of cook chicken cubes, grated cheddar cheese, and I had Cheez*its spread around the edge of the bowl.

We soaked washed dishes in the dishwasher and ran it.

Thursday, Dec 31 New Year’s Eve

We snagged this image from the web, so have no information about it. Odd thing is that the photo is not taken from Midnight.

Seems more like sunset – a good time to celebrate, and then go to bed.

Last Pink Sunrise of 2020 photographed by Janet M. Downs, who only saw this for 8 seconds.

8:46 a.m. we received a phone call from our Contractor Walter, wanting John to view a post & beam patio cover he had built in EBRG. John took off soon as he could to meet him at the home. Here is a photo, but ours will be a little lower and a bit wider. Details in a later edition with our own version over our patio.

Skipping Zoom Game Day today at 11:00 AAC to work on the den moving project. Game was going to be Pictionary.

Lunch: We ate at 2:00 p.m., after blending me a Smoothie Low potassium content. (We re-wrote the recipe on Fridge door). As dessert, we each had a piece of Claxton, GA fruitcake (a Christmas gift from our neighbors, Gerri & Allen Aronica, who likely don’t know I was born and raised in Atlanta, GA! And also, need to thank them for a Jar of Honey made from bees on their property, just a 1/2-mile up the road from our house. John had a grilled cheese & deli ham on one piece of large Wheat bread, folded over & sliced.

Tried calling sister at 6:00, but no answer at either phone; she called back at 6:16 and we decided the phones were at fault for her not answering. We discussed my current medical issues, so I must contact her again after Wednesday’s appt in Cle Elum.

I have large swelling of my legs, calves, and feet beneath my knee. NEVER in my life have they ever been this huge. I have had them raised now since 6:00 p.m.

Supper: Oven reheated fried chicken from yesterday, also served with Russet baking potato covered and sliced, baked into a shell of Beer Batter Mix; later Baked Apple Crumble Cake Topped pie, with strawberry / vanilla ice cream for John, and vanilla for me.

Friday, Jan 1

Sleep: interruptions off and on throughout the entire night by a “dream” awaking me over and over. We have got to get to the bottom of what is causing this disruption to my nightly sleep pattern.

I have more blood draws test this coming Tuesday to see the results. That will last for the next two months. The Potassium test is being continued. I am faithful my medications. On Vitamin K, I have changed no food intakes, except suspended taking the Ensure with the high amount of Potassium. My doctor restored taking two medications related to potassium lowering, and increased my Furosemide to daily up from every other day, with the hopes of decreasing the incredible swelling side of my legs, thighs, ankles, and feet, and will examine me in the office in Cle Elum, also to view the bruising, and blood in contact with the fall outside their building, when my muscle stability tossed me down on the concrete sidewalk.

When the phone rang this morning at 8:43 and John had to leave, I was sleeping intently, and awakened abruptly. A neighbor needed help – it’s a long story – but the short of it was she needed to make long distance phone calls and doesn’t have that on her phone contract. John was going to use the Bluetooth in the Subaru, but would have to go toward EBRG.

John left the house at 8:43 a.m. – returned at 10:45, and is now out feeding horses. I’m doing my morning activities with computer and medications. Additionally, the first day of a month means redoing certain charts for keeping track of daily measurements, morning and night.

Supper: Boiled Cocktail shrimp, with tails to remove, plenty for each of us; Breaded Cod, Potato pancake. Dessert: Heated Dutch Apple Pie, with Crumbled cake topping on pie, served with vanilla Ice Cream.
John finished his Friday weekly blog, Not so Nasty News about 7:35 p.m.

Saturday, Jan 2

I slept in even though I had a good night’s rest, and John slept in a little longer too but got up to take care of the cats, quail, horses, and other things. John is cleaning out kitchen cabinets of china cups, saucers, plates, bowls, we no longer use, don’t want or need to donate to Naomi’s Hope charity.

Brunch: A piece of ham, 2 eggs over easy with a little cheese, small bowl of peaches.
Supper: Best part was Butternut Squash cubed and baked with Mini-marshmallows on top.

Sunday, Jan 3

Decent weather so John cut brush for an hour just west of the house. A fire reduction action. Most every thing else was standard stuff.

Supper: Stew, potato tater tots, I had Cheez*It on the side of my bowl. PowerAde for drink.

Late Sunday night, 1/3/20, my Sunday Night’s blog will create its own new Live Link for the third day of Jan, 2021, from which to begin next week’s blog. Probably will just finish Sunday, and start afresh. Actually, I know we’ll be getting ready for appointments on Tuesday in Ellensburg and also a Wednesday trip to our PCP in Cle Elum.

I’ll have to take my camera along, in case I see a photo
opportunity that I can post on the Kittitas County Visual Delights site.

Hope your week was fine.

Nancy and John
Still on the Naneum Fan

Christmas a week early

Monday, Dec 14

Starting Christmas a little over a week early, for our blog.
First stops are in Roslyn, WA in the north part of our county.Top pix is snow on the Roslyn Museum and the Roslyn Café.
The bottom are the street signs; photos by EvieMae Schuetz.
(This is the town where outside scenes of the TV program “Northern Exposure” {1990-1995} were filmed.)

Morning wake-up not for Nancy until 8:30 a.m. Then cup of coffee and chocolate Ensure with strawberry yogurt.

I sent thank you email messages to people who gave me permission to use their photo in our weekly blog last week. My note to them always starts with the specific location on the web where the photograph taken may be forever found.

The total number of robocaller connections for Dec 4=3.

Tuesday, Dec 15

Motorized Parade, Kittitas, WA – by, EvieMae Schuetz

Sorry, I intended to have the longer 18 wheeler & hay truck be the longer photos, but I failed in positioning, & ran out of time.

Get up early to take pill, and drink ½ hr. later, shake, coffee. We need to be at our first two stops before noon.
Set up my external storage back-up for its noon start. It did it in 26 minutes.

We left for the AAC for our Foot care appointments at 11:00, getting there 10 min early, and mine was first. John was to follow. We visited a little, were given too many bags of homemade cookies, and we gave the staff some SUN*MAID Raisins Boxes. With almost no visitors to the Center, the normal supply of cookies had trouble finding homes. We paid our donation fee, and Shyla started on my feet. I was done about 11:30 so I left for my blood draws at the KVH Medical Arts building, and while it took a little longer than usual, I was back by noon, John had only to wait 2 minutes.

This is our day for errands, (some already above & below) and we had many; review here. We’re using this symbol to indicate stops: ∞∫∞ On way to town, we stopped along Wilson Creek to hang a bag on an old Pickup Truck: Rustler Jeans (too long for John) ∞∫∞ John wants to take our insulated shopping bag by Winegar’s for quarts of their Ice Cream he and I like. We did, but he sat in the car while I went inside for it. ∞∫∞ Nancy went into Bi-Mart to check numbers, and to buy a large wall/desktop calendar for our kitchen. ∞∫∞ Delivered boxes of groceries we get from the free food place. We take to one place, and she distributes further.

Late afternoon check in call from Gerald; he’s fine.
The total number of robocaller connections: Dec 15=1.
Much fewer than in late November; prior to election.

Wednesday, Dec 16

Christmas lights – ’cause I won’t do this again until the 27th.

^^^This is actually a School District in Utah! Description of how they did it: Shot in one continuous take where all 5 busses are electronically connected together through DMX channel relay boards back to a central computer programmed to control the light show.
They wrote: Special thanks to our Transportation Department, Technology Department and Communications Department and the Utah Symphony Orchestra who made this video possible.

The next video is fixed in a loop, so only watch it for once through, 2:07.School Bus Christmas Light Show video below:

School Bus Christmas Light Show (in loop)

Another restless night, probably because of getting to bed so late, nearly midnight. After being awakened at 7:00 by a Contractor’s employee knocking on the front window to pick up some primer paint. It sat outside for months; John moved it inside when he expected below freezing temperature.

He passed along to expect two in the next morning be back tomorrow to finish the top and end of the stone walls. John and Walter (finally) figured out how they want this done. A 12 inch Cedar board is the solution. Photo next week. An original thought was to cap them with metal roofing-like material. There was a long interlude to develop a different solution.

A lot of wasted time today. I slept in until almost 9:00.
I had to fill in all my medications in my case for the week, and check about some other, also had to check all refills from which pharmacy, and be sure they were correct to give to our P-AC to send approvals for the coming year. We get 90 days at a time. I filled in a separate listing for John and for me, because we may go different directions. Two nurses, different rooms to start. Chelsea, our PA-C “doc”, visited with John and then they both came in for my evaluation (actually, these visits described today will happen tomorrow in Cle Elum, at our doctor’s office there).

John’s now taken care of cat cleanup, feeding, and visiting in the new room, and feeding the horses. I’ve been catching up on emails, and other computer activities.
Started raining today.

Supper: John fixed Pizza for both of us. For dessert, we shared a piece of carrot cake.
Number of robocaller connections for Dec 16=1.

Thursday, Dec 17

9:33 a.m. call from Gerald; foggy over there, otherwise all is well in Thorp, WA.

Ate a piece of fruitcake and fixed a salad for my lunch to eat; planning on a Zoom game. I cancelled that at the AAC with 5 others, and it is Scattergories. I enjoy that game, but I had too much paperwork to document about the problem with my diagnosis from a blood draw of Potassium (K) that indicated I have a seriously high level.

John and I investigated the K in my regular foods. Only the Ensure® seems high.
I’m dressed and ready to leave for Cle Elum at 1:00 p.m.

Once there, Chelsea decided to manage the K with medication changes first, and take me off of Ensure because of its 470 mg/serving), but that was the only food change. I’m also being taken off the drug Spironolactone. We didn’t get home until 6:04 p.m.

The total number of robocaller connections for Dec 17=2.

Friday, Dec 18

A week away from Christmas Day, our last Christmas photos to show again by our same photographer, EvieMae Schuetz.
These are all in her home:Our photographer EvieMae Schuetz is a musician. She created this Musical Christmas Tree. All the ornaments are musical notes, instruments, or something associated with a musical part of her life.

Today begins with a message back from our friend Cameron Fries’ photo of the newly installed roll bar on the backhoe/front end loader. John wanted to add a roll bar before we had it taken over, where sandy soil and frequent steep grades could be an issue. Local shop couldn’t find one. A Quincy area shop found one. Much more something found in that sort of farming region. More fruit and fewer cattle.

Our property is totally on an Alluvial Fan, full of heavy basalt rocks and little dirt. This implement is too lightweight to handle such, but will be perfect in moving the sands of the vineyard:Photo of roll bar taken by White Heron Cellars, Mariposa Vineyard owner, Cameron Fries. He’s taken the backhoe off and is using the front loader. We’ve got rocks. He’s got sand – courtesy of massive floods 15,000 years ago.

We left our house about 12:20 to go to the Kittitas Post Office to mail a large envelope to our sister Peggy, in OH. Stopped off at a friend’s house there to pick up a cat scratching post. A woman took it there for us, saving us the drive across the valley in a direction we rarely go.

Gifted post photographed & given by Rachael Brunson. THANK YOU!

The cats have it in their room, but we haven’t yet seen them use it. It’s 16 inches tall.

From Kittitas to EBRG to drop off now taboo Ensure and pick up a pillow and an egg-carton foam pad for a in a pillow case in the seat of my recliner, at Hospice Friends. Onto Safeway Pharmacy to buy my Coumadin pills. From there, for John to pick up his 2 medications from Fred Meyer Pharmacy. Using gasoline to save money on the meds.

At 5:52 my blood pressure is: 127 / 73 pulse 72. I’ve been soaking dishes and need to load the dishwasher. Done.

Supper: beef sirloin tip roast fried, French fried onion rings, pork & beans, canned pears. I had one Reese’s Peanut butter cup.

John finished his Friday weekly blog, Not so Nasty News.

The total number of robocaller connections for Dec 18=1.

Saturday, Dec 19

We both slept in long this morning, I longer than John. I didn’t get to sleep until after 2:00 am. after going to bed at 11:15 p.m. Not sure why my Friday nights are always becoming restless nights, that screw up my ability to get to sleep and make it imperative I always set up all the proper parts of my recording devices for my ICD measurements every time I’m out of bed and back in again. Guess I’ll also have to insert an afternoon nap into today’s schedule.

Brunch: John fixed bacon, blueberry pancake (high on the blueberries), a bowl of canned peaches, with PowerAde (strawberry – lemonade flavor).

John went out to shovel horse manure into the back of his pickup truck, to take another load over to deliver to Cameron at the Mariposa vineyard. He got in about an hour’s work before rain started. It has continued throughout the day and still is falling tonight at 8:00 p.m. It is noisy on the skylights.

Supper: John, again, made sliced and fried sirloin-tip beef roast, with hashed brown large potato patties, canned small beets, plus his own homegrown fried purple onions. Dessert we are eating now, ice cream. He is having Vanilla ice cream topped with melted Chocolate chips fixed so it doesn’t harden. I’m having Winegar’s special homemade ice cream from Ellensburg, flavor: Kookie Kayla – a Vanilla base with Peanut butter, sea salt cookie and fudge swirl. Kayla is part of the Winegar clan, and clerks at the ice cream counter, and explained “her flavor.”

History: Winegar Dairy Farm (with Holsteins) began a dairy in 1956. The kids suggested started the business of the coffee / creamery. Now, grandchildren are involved, with at least 4 generations. A lot more history with photos can be found on their website, along with their menu. It is expensive, but we were given a gift card.

The total number of robocaller connections for Dec 19=0.

Sunday, Dec 20

Thankfully, it stopped raining. It rained all night and into the morning hours. Not real hard, but rain nonetheless.

Awoke at 8:15, a.m. and John also and took care of things for him and the cats. My first cup of coffee and computer startup at 9:00 a.m. Various interruptions kept me from doing some of the things I wanted to do. Maybe Monday.

We called our cousin (age 103) in PA this afternoon at 2:30 p.m. to check-in how she’s doing at her young age; what a gift she’s given us to live so long with a clear memory to be able to share family members’ past. She’s quite the resource. We had a nice 35 min conversation, and she remembered another recent place, company and a sign from near Clarion. John wanted to know if his sister remembered a sign with a saying on a lumber company.
When John realized he quoted the wrong saying, and talked to Ethel about it, things got cleared up. The sign was:
“If you can’t stop, then smile, when you drive by.”
Ethel knew the name – Fulton Lumber – and the name of one of the workers. He moved into a new house – on the street John and Peggy lived on – and had kids that Peggy did sitting for. That’s 65 or so years ago.
John’s original and wrong saying:
“There is no place like this place, anywhere near this place,
so this must be the place.”
So says this building in Texola, OK – – John has never been there and can’t recall why he knows this catchy saying. Full wording is on the right – not readable in this view.

The total number of robocaller connections for Dec 20=0.

Supper: Roast chicken, mashed potatoes with gravy, and last of the beets.
Apple pie in the oven.

Hope your week was fine.

Nancy and John
Still on the Naneum Fan

Not so Nasty News December 18th

Item #1: Did you get whacked?

A sign with this list appeared:
. . I’m a – –
Wooden Spoon,
Lead Paint,
No car seat,
No bike helmet,
Bed of pickup riding,
Garden hose drinking,
. . SURVIVOR.

If I understand the first one – wooden spoon – to mean getting whacked by mother, I’d have to substitute something else; or maybe I just don’t remember.
Now this: The image is of a spoon. Is it a “wood” or a “wooden” spoon? If I write – silver spoon, or silvered spoon – there seems to be a difference. The “ed” on the end changes the meaning. But the “en” on the end of wood seems to make no difference. If you get whacked by one, you’ll not notice either.
“Wool” works the same way: A sweater might be called wool or woolen. If you have a cotton sweater, you don’t call it cottonen. Still you can call a silk garment silken. But does “silken” imply it is like silk, but really isn’t? Consider gold and golden.
More word stuff will follow.

Item #2: White in the air

I followed this link:
Skagit Valley winter home

It is interesting, but the article included this statement:
“A couple of great places to begin when searching for the birds are within the Skagit Wildlife Area, run by the Washington Trails Association. ”
So I wrote WTA’s HR & Finance Manager and friend Kara:
Makes me wonder what else WTA does that I’ve never heard about.
Her answer:
“haha. that is pretty funny. no wonder we are feeling so stretched thin around here.”

The ‘Seattle Refined’ contributors are short a brick or two of a full load.

Item #3: Rawl

An activity this week involved a couple of other of the pending home projects. One of these introduced a new word, namely ‘rawl’. I wanted a 2nd post in the front, an unnecessary addition where the new covered ramped walkway turns and comes to the front door. We had replaced the original 4×4 post with a 6×6; matching the big posts of the walkway. I thought a second post would add a decorative harmonious touch. I do have in mind some sort of functional use, but that is not relevant at the moment.
In any case, this post needed to be set on existing concrete, thus requiring a wood-to-concrete base. The metal base is anchored to the concrete with a bolt that goes through the base, into a hole, and has an in-hole part that expands. The apparatus is often called a throughbolt because the bolt part goes through the base or fixture.
As a man once intoned – Here’s the rest of the story:
{ from Wikipedia }
Rawlings Brothers, a small plumbing and electrical engineering company, was founded in 1887 in London. In 1910, the company was awarded a contract by the British Museum, which required them to unobtrusively fix electrical fittings to the museum walls. The contract led to the invention and patenting of the world’s first wall plug, which became a standard solution for attaching things to walls. John Joseph Rawlings, who is credited with invention of the wall plug, named his product Rawlplug, using the first syllable of his last name, and renamed his business to Rawlplug in 1919.
Walter, our contractor said to Nancy – We need a rawl. That wasn’t in her in-house dictionary, nor mine, nor in fact my computer’s.
Now fixed.

Item #4: more word usage

Sometimes it is just that the wrong word is used. For instance, in the image below, top left the word “common” seems to be better than ‘popular’. On the right, “slow down” would be better. Youngsters often are quick and change direction at random. Old farts are slow.
The bottom left one is cute; shows someone knows how to use words. The other 3 are just silly, and could have been corrected easily.

Item #5: Moving Woody inside Woody’s favorite place in her new home.

We made a deal with our neighborhood contractor regarding several projects of home repair and remodeling. The remodel – new room – of the double garage was priority #1. That’s long since been done and I’m using it daily; now with the addition of Sue and Woody (mother and daughter feral cats). Mother Sue shows signs of aging and her coat started to tangle, so not fluffy as needed for heat retention. About a month ago I carried her into the new space with all the necessary items. I had picked her up many times, then sat her back at the food bowl. Picking her up and carrying her inside was easy for her, and me.
Woody required a different procedure because she has never been picked up. I tacked and wired fence, with a door, leading to where we had been feeding the outside cats. When she came to eat, I closed the gate and opened the door to the room. Her instinct was to climb, but there was no where to go, so she jumped down and ran into the room where Sue (her mother) was.
She learned, almost immediately, how to push through the swinging door. Got her back from the utility room easily. This week, I went out the front door but didn’t have the swinging door blocked, and the door from the utility room (now called a walk-in pantry) to the kitchen was also open. Oops! She made it out and into the house, to a bedroom, and under the bed. It took us about 20 minutes to “move” her back. All’s well.
{The swinging door is full size, solid pine, but with swing hinges. That a small cat can push it open, implies, I guess, that it is well balanced. Surprised me, anyway.}

And that, for this week, is the not so nasty news.
John