Sunday, July 5
For July 4 CPAP. Reported figures. 7 hrs 16 min with AHI=0.41 Events: 3 H, 1 CSR. No major mask leaks (max=14 L/min); oximeter on, 7 hrs 34 min, AHI = 0.40
I was concerned about the lack of a ban on fireworks in the county and our dry surroundings, especially our pasture between two houses whose owners normally set off fireworks. I stayed up to watch for fires. Thankfully, only a few firecrackers were set off about 10:00 p.m. and no torchy fireworks. I planned to stay up until midnight to be sure all was quiet. I listened to the Kittitas County Public Safety Live Audio feed (police/fire scanner)–through my computer, until 2:05 a.m., when I decided the firefighters had contained the fire northwest of us on Hayward Hill, (near Howard Rd and Hwy 97). I was concerned about friends in the area, who are building a new house on that hill. It got relatively close to the house site, as seen in this photo (right below) taken by Facebook friend, Cathy Rose. She used a telephoto lens, so the distances are deceptive. The fire burned up-hill in grass toward an irrigation canal, with a driveable path along side, seen as the straight green feature going across the photo. The burn is the dark area, not closer than about 3 football-fields away.
The picture on the right is of part of the fire that burned 300 acres, starting just before midnight. Fire inspectors determined an incendiary device, not related to fireworks, was used intentionally to start it. There was an isolated haystack fire in the valley, two miles from our home, at Thomas and Fairview roads, about 3:40 a.m. (I was in bed by that time), but the firefighters on Hayward Hill saw that fire, and dispatched a unit to protect it from spreading into the dry land in Schnebly Canyon. That’s the picture on the left above, taken by a bystander; see below for more on that fire.
Monday, July 6
For July 5 CPAP. Reported figures. 7 hrs 38 min with AHI=0.65 Events: 5 H, 1 CSR. No major mask leaks (max=18 L/min); oximeter on, 8 hrs 40 min, AHI = 0.58
I am dealing with receipts and cleanup in our den. I finished email and recording CPAP & Oximetry data, and took ice-water to Dave (farrier) and iced Pepsi to John, in a red solo cup, our favorite song, once on the charts. Now I’m back listening to the scanner while I work. Interesting all that goes on in the county. I’ve been listening to the scanner though my computer, but the Internet just went down and I lost it. After David left, I drove down to check and photograph the burned hay. The bales are still burning and someone was working with a backhoe, cleaning up something. While standing on the hill, on the eastern part of Thomas Road from Naneum, I took the bottom of the photo collage below and drove closer for the top shot. I turned around and didn’t go by the fire site. John and I drove by two days later and it was burned completely, with only blackened ground left. It destroyed Sam Kayser’s hay for his large cattle operation, at an estimated $35,000 loss. Fire inspectors since determined it was a fire started by spontaneous combustion. Here is a link if you are in the need of something to read:
Heating in hay & spontaneous combustion
In the summer this is always a dry and hot area and the vegetation of the non-irrigated places goes dormant and brown. The hills have grass and sagebrush and higher up there are Pines. The foreground pastures are irrigated but the land is quite rocky and porous. Keeping any of this green when we’ve had a couple of weeks of 100+ temps is difficult.
I decided to nap awhile for some rest. I put my Oximeter on for my hour’s nap, and here is my SpO2 record.
I think I will take this to my cardiologist this week and to my sleep doctor the following week. The blood oxygen saturation level is the top green line, and the bottom blue is my pulse. The spike in pulse about 5:00 p.m. happens when I switch the finger the oximeter is on. Maybe I will take a similar reading made at night with the CPAP machine operating and the last two hours of my sleep without it. Again, the only reason I am on the CPAP is the thought that my SpO2 declines along with my pulse rate during my night’s sleep, and my organs need that oxygen.
Because I had to fast after 8:00 p.m., John fixed an early dinner.
Tuesday, July 7
For July 6 CPAP. Reported figures. 7 hrs 13 min with AHI=0.42 Events: 3 H, 1CSR. No major mask leaks (max=21 L/min); oximeter on, 8 hrs 22 min, AHI = 0.36
I went for the fasting blood draw early, but had to wait everywhere. Afterwards, I went to Carl’s JR for their special on a large biscuit with egg/cheese/sausage. While there, I decided to order eight for us to have some for the freezer and for John’s upcoming trips when he needs to have breakfast on the road. After that, I drove by Grocery Outlet to have my coupon $3 adjustment that I was refused earlier, their fault not mine. From there to pick up hard cat food from a friend whose kitties are fussy and wouldn’t eat what she bought. I’m sure ours will not turn it down.
At 2:00 p.m., we went to town for Jazzercise (a quite strenuous session) — wish I had worn my oximeter to record my vitals. John dropped me off and went for gasoline (price up to $3.05), and to BiMart (sale items) for chainsaw oil & cat food. He got back just as we were ending, but we had to wait to meet Bianca after Jazzercise for some neat hanger organizers for the closet, another gift from the buy nothing site. It allows one to put hangers on the hanger and then it is vertically holding several things in the same space.
We went by Grocery Outlet on our way home to use the latest $3 coupon for a $30 purchase. We had the same thing happen with the same cashier, but this time the manager adjusted it and gave us our $3 refund.
Wednesday, July 8
For July 7 CPAP. Reported figures. 5 hrs 43 min with AHI=0.70 Events: 3 H, 3 CSR, 1 OA. No major mask leaks (max=13 L/min); oximeter on, 7 hrs 40 min, AHI = 0.52
I planned to cut John’s hair, but it had to wait until afternoon. He’s out working with Mikala – they unloaded rocks, in the sun, and then moved to the shade under trees for harvesting grass seed. In the fall the seed will be strewn over the bulldozed place out front.
Food bank today, only 3 of us there: all 3 sang, one played a guitar, and I played the fiddle. We had a very appreciative audience who participated and the servers sang and danced as well. It was kind of cool. We played for 1/2 hour, and then were served a nice meal: chicken fettuccini with broccoli, green salad, and cake for dessert. I had orange juice to go with my own iced water. It was quite pleasant inside with the a/c. I carried a bunch of straight-necked yellow summer squash that John picked this morning, packed in a cooler with ice, to give away. I gave 3 to our guitar player who loves the stuff. Then I took the rest to the Adult Activity Center for people there, mostly in my SAIL exercise class. Every squash went home with a person, and there were at least 9 of them. Class went fine, and I got home all right, but the temperature went to a high of 101 in town. We think our high (in the shade) was only 96.
I managed to give John a much-needed haircut. He’s fixing a salmon supper and waiting for the temperature to go down so he can get more outside chores done.
Thursday, July 9
For July 8 CPAP. Reported figures. 6 hrs 15 min with AHI=0.64 Events: 4 H, 1 CSR. No major mask leaks (max=8 L/min); oximeter on, 8 hrs 23 min, AHI = 0.48
We had an exciting morning with neighbor’s horse coming over the fence between our properties and in with our horses. Mikala and John spent the first minutes of her work time gathering up her horse and walking her down the road to home. Now they’re doing various chores, emptying the old truck after unloading rocks and going to pick up brush from behind the shed and move it to safer place.
I have to finish my handouts for today’s music, and remember to get some squash packed on ice to leave when I pick up the 5-gallon laundry detergent and smaller food buckets used at a local motel. I got my shower when John came back in the house, so after a bite to eat, I’m ready to take off to play music with 7 others at the Rehab place where I rehabed.
We had a good turnout of audience, and our usual dancer (Helen, 93), using her walker, dancing around in front of us, while singing. I normally don’t hand out music there because most are not able to keep up, and the ones who can, already know the words. A very cool interaction took place with an older gentleman new to the facility. He was singing all the verses to all the songs (without a lyrics packet). We got to “Take Me Out to the Ballgame,” and he belted it out very happily. At the end, he said, “I used to sing that at Crosley Field.” I laughed and said, “Oh, I have been there; you must be from Cincinnati!” I think that surprised everyone in the room, and he said, “Yes, I used to watch Pete Rose there.” Crosley field closed in 1970, with a winning grand slam for the Cincinnati Reds by Johnny Bench (catcher). Interesting that it was the first National League Stadium to have lights for night playing. John and I met in Cincinnati in graduate school in 1965, and we left in 1967, with his going to Iowa City, and my returning for 2 years to Atlanta, to care for my mother, and teach at Georgia State University.
Friday, July 10
For July 9 CPAP. Reported figures. 6 hrs 41 min with AHI=0.15 Events: 1 H, 2CSR. No major mask leaks (max=20 L/min); oximeter on, 8 hrs 13 min, AHI = 0.12
Mikala was a no show, because of family issues, requiring her to babysit her siblings.
Early morning call, 7:30, from friend back east. I was on my second sleep, but hadn’t actually yet gotten back to sleep. However, I did nap a little for a 20 min. power nap.
John and I both left about 10:20, to go by a yard sale of a friend to check out their tools. We came away empty-handed, but then stopped off at Burger King to use coupons for our lunch to take to the going away ice cream social for Olivia Estill, who actually will be returning in September for another year on AmeriCorps ** service at the Adult Activity Center. We all are very happy to have her coming back. She has been our wonderful leader of many exercise classes (SAIL and Yoga), and of many other projects she’s done for the center. She is quite special to everyone. She is from Louisville, KY and will be returning there for August to visit family. There must be a break between appointments, which are normally only a year of community service.
. . . . . . . . . . . . …… Nancy and Olivia
**AmeriCorps engages more than 75,000 Americans each year at nonprofits, schools, public agencies, and community and faith-based groups across the country. Since the program began in 1994, more than 900,000 AmeriCorps members have contributed more than 1.2 billion hours in service across America while tackling pressing problems and mobilizing millions of volunteers for the organizations they serve. I did not know how they are paid, but I send out job announcements from my Jobs list to people. From my research online, it appears they are paid ~$1,200/month by the government program.
The center had cracker delicacies we didn’t expect and we had our own purchased lunch. I should have taken a picture of the tray of goodies on each table–unique crackers with toppings such as ham & cheese, turkey and cheese, strawberry and cream cheese, peanut butter and apple, pepper jelly on cream cheese, olives on salami, red pepper / cheese / basil leaf, avocado on cheese, and probably others I don’t remember. We had fries with our JR Whopper (John’s) and my Chicken Nuggets – much came home with us. They finished with ice cream. We need not have gone to Burger King – and that took 18 minutes from ordering to being served. I was not happy.
Tonight John picked a bunch of squash for me to share at Briarwood tomorrow. I packaged them in small plastic bags the newspaper comes in. That way people can carry them without being stuck by the hair-like spines on them, which really bother me, but not all people, apparently. As well, I have about 8 pieces of clothing, mostly blouses, to share with the folks at Briarwood, and to clear off our guest bed.
Our neighbor’s horse (Rose) returned tonight. John walked with Mikala back through the gate and down the road to their house. Then he talked to her father who is trying to put up an electric fence. John plans to repair the fence where she is coming through. It is low barbed-wire on steel posts. Rose pushed until the post bent and the top wire came loose and then she stepped over. There are trees and brush there too, so they can’t return that way. The collage below shows the return route out the driveway, and my dinner afterwards.
The left was taken with my telephoto over the limb of the mountain ash tree at our front door. The barn in the background is the Swedberg’s across Naneum Road.
John fixed a great dinner tonight: Coconut shrimp, fried apple & pineapple slices in brown sugar that caramelized, red seedless grapes, our one strawberry, and 3 cherry tomatoes – first of the season.
Saturday, July 11
For July 10 CPAP. Reported figures. 6 hrs 20 min with AHI=0.16 Events: 1 H, 1 CSR (alarm went off). No major mask leaks (max=15 L/min); oximeter on, 11 hrs 0 min, AHI = 0.11
John’s alarm was set for 5, but he got up at 10 to, and after helping with a few things, I went back to lie down with the CPAP still engaged. He usually tells me bye when he leaves, but I think he thought I was asleep, when he left about 5:45. I heard the car on the gravel as he left. All the windows were still open. He’s off for Dorothy Lake, west beyond Stevens Pass. After Skykomish he will go south 8 miles on gravel/dust to Dorothy Lake trail. He thawed one of the biscuit things to eat prior to arrival at the trail head.
So much nicer, cooler weather. Haven’t had to close the windows yet at 10:00 a.m. Guess I should just in case. Okay, did, but it still was only 73 in the hallway, and 77.5° on the front porch, our highest reading.
I have been organizing things to take today to Briarwood. I loaded one of the multiple clothes hanger with a bunch of stuff, M to L, to share with the residents. It’s in the back of my car. I should have taken a picture hanging on the door of the guest bathroom. Need to carry out the squash and some jeans too small for John, and my violin will be the last to go when I leave. This is one way to clean house and garments that is easier on me, in one-stop giving.
Okay, I made it there in time to give my stuff to the persons, and set up the rest for others. We had a small audience today, but had a viola, violin, tambourine, and 3 guitars. Small but we did fine and had a nice presentation, meal, and visit. Our menu included soup, chicken salad spread on some little round toast things I took, and a bunch of good desserts, along with great raspberry lemonade. I won’t need much for dinner. Everyone there took home a squash or two, many took blouses and jackets, and the rest I folded and left in the free for the taking cabinet, in their exercise room.
On the way home, I saw a sign for a yard sale on a road east of us 1.5 miles. It seemed worth the detour. I got some small nice stuff we can use, most 10 cents or free, with one pretty butterfly decorated container I will give to my lepidopterist friend, my former student. Oh, I did buy a box of quart canning jars (11) and delivered them to my neighbors on the way home. I got everything for less than $4, and just used the excess change in my purse/wallet. One cool (warm) thing I got was a thick white and brown designs on a wool knitted hat, for a buck. Considering we paid $30 for one for John once at REI, that was a nice purchase.
John made it home safely at 6:20 p.m. from his 251-mile trip. He doesn’t want me putting pictures of his trail work in the blog, but I’m proud of the work he does, and want to show one project from yesterday–midway and completed.
The wall of the ditch to the left was used to supply mineral soil to the stepped walkway. That drainage ditch will keep water off the trail and send it under the completed bridge in the lower part of the right finished project photo, with one of the workers sitting in the ditch to the lower right. The bridge is a slab from a Cedar tree. It fell many years ago and some was split for a project. This piece was waiting there – so they used it.
Sunday, July 12 Happy Anniversary to us, July 12, 1969
I’ve looked for a wedding picture to scan to include, but cannot find it. Maybe next year.
For July 11 CPAP. Reported figures. 8 hrs 4 min with AHI=0.12 Events: 1 H, 1 CSR. No major mask leaks (max=6 L/min).
Today started with making cookies to take to the Retired Geography profs & wives meeting tomorrow morning. We froze the mixed dough from last month and when thawed but still cold, it was easy to work with. I did that while John picked more squash. Then he delivered it to 3 neighbors. One neighbor traded a rose bush she dug from near her steps. She had it in a planter that he will have to return. Then he fixed a super good brunch.
Squash delivered: the biggest and oldest went to the hogs next door; the owners who gave the rose bush, and more to two other neighbors. Cookies ready to pack. Brunch partially eaten. I decided I wanted fresh salsa on my cheese, onion, mushroom frittata, and had already eaten many of my peaches, and small bites of the rest, before taking this picture.
The outside cats must have abstained from food during the heat (but, really, Woody hasn’t). After not seeing Sue for a month, she has been here several nights, and today in the morning. I fed Woody for a second time, as I already fed her this morning early. Her mom Sue came and asked for food – she vocalizes a lot. John was busy digging weeds, and held one for me to photograph to share on the blog. Locals call this goathead or puncture vine. My photo is below but see the link for good images of the pretty little yellow flower and note …
… the “etymology” mentioned there – caltrop – and follow that link (click on the word, to access the link that is not obvious).
It was a nice cool morning, much different from the heat of the past week.
Here’s a collage of feline and weed activities. Sue is having breakfast and Woody’s on the left watching John. On the very left she is shown resting in the planter box. Marigolds were there last year, but it is not planted now. The year before were sunflowers, then tulips, and before that was spinach.
Finally, here’s a close up of those awful goathead. The sticker parts are called nutlets. Not nice when the dogs step on one. {Click on this to open large view.}
Hope your week was fine.
Nancy and John
Still on the Naneum Fan