Flower of the week

Onion view for blogOur flower of the week, here on the Naneum Fan, is Wild Onion. This variety is called “Taper-Tip Onion”: Link

Because of unexpected visitors on Sunday we needed to put a short note up to warn the thousands of readers of the delay. If you are reading the version of this on the web, at rocknponderosa.com you may go to the bottom, but if you are using an emailed version, you will need to use the link here …A short note
… to see a picture closely looking down on these pretty little flowers. This is a very good year for these, as there are hundreds of them between the house and the road.

John has consented to show some of the trail work from last week:

Here are photos showing projects on a trail 25 miles east of Mt. Rainier at a place called the Goat Creek trail in WA’s William O. Douglas Wilderness.
Goat Creek Trail before site 1 annotatedPurple dots locate the trail on a side hill. Photo is from up-trail looking back down. Note the green dot locating a break in the trail caused by toppling of trees, lower right. On the upper side are downed trees and the one with the small yellow dot is in the way of widening the trail in that direction. We decided to get rid of all the logs on that side hill.
Goat Creek Trail before site 1b with green dot We cut the log about where the yellow dot is in the first photo. Being “Wilderness” means using an ax or a crosscut saw. Above, Susan takes a turn at the cutting. Note the small green dot on the saw tip – blurred from movement. John is off to the right and taps the orange wedges to spread the kerf (cut) as the cutting proceeds.
Goat Creek Trail before site 1c Above, Susan strikes a pose. John is 97% hidden behind her.
In the photo below, the cut section has been removed, as have all the rest of the logs on the side just above the newly dug and smoothed trail. Compare with the first photo of the sequence. Note the other logs where the crew is standing in the first image, but now they have all been moved below the trail. Goat Creek Trail after work site 1Below is a “before & after” look at another trail issue.

The view is looking down-trail. The small standing tree is at the edge of the trail. To its left, the broken trunk (when it had limbs) blocked the trail.
Progect 2 before and afterTechnically this is classed as a horse-okay-trail. On the right, Susan and John finish the smoothing of the tread. Lisa Black, our Blue-Hat Crew Leader took the photos. Others are here:
Goat Creek Trail photos

Monday, May 23

For May 22 CPAP. Reported figures. Time on 5 hrs 39 min with AHI=1.06. Events: 2 CSR, 6 H, 9 RERA. No major mask leaks (max= 10 L/min). Oximetry: looks great all night.

We left just before 8:00 a.m. for a 9:00 a.m. appointment at the Yakima Heart Center. I drove and we filled up my rig at $2.299/gal, while the price in Ellensburg, remained 20 cents higher. It was an okay appointment, my blood pressure was nice, causing the cardiologist to comment favorably. Then labs were explained and another appointment made to check up again in a few weeks on my creatinine levels. That is a blood test measuring the level of waste product in my blood and urine. I was instructed to drink more water throughout the day.

From there we went to Costco and bought almost $200 worth of stuff for us and $37 worth for our neighbor.

I have been working tonight on paperwork to take to the Canyon View Physical Therapy for an evaluation by the owner to see if they can help my shoulder problem. I’d like to have better use of the shoulder – without surgery.

Tuesday, May 24

For May 23 CPAP. Reported figures. Time on 5 hrs 50 min with AHI=2.57. Events: 8 CSR, 15 H, 17 RERA. No major mask leaks (max= 7 L/min). Oximetry: Rather consistent and okay throughout the time.

I sent out a message to my music group (KV F&F) about Hearthstone, about the Briarwood Jam Session planned for the future, and our special annual event on July 1 celebration the Fourth of July, held at the Senior Center. We have played for that event for over a dozen years, at 3 different locations in town.

I went to town for an 11:00 a.m. consultation / evaluation with Natalie Joyce, Physical Therapist, and owner of Canyon View Physical Therapy in Ellensburg. I was very pleased with her knowledge, consideration, testing, and concerned professional explanation. She decided I was a candidate for their help, and sent me home with “practiced” exercises I need to do 5 times per day. She approved me for 2 times a week, coming into the center for 45-minute sessions. One of the tools used was a walking cane, plastic. I went by Hospice Friends in town on my way home, and borrowed an old smooth wooden walking cane to use in place of a broom. The physical therapist gave me a rubber piece to use around a door handle for one of the exercises. She demonstrated each exercise and then gave me a diagram (see below) of the five exercises I’m responsible for doing at home. She does not expect this to be an easy task, and she will evaluate my progress to see how we are doing on getting my range of motion back. These exercises are recommended for me for treating adhesive capsulitis (commonly called a “Frozen Shoulder”). I plan to give it my serious attention.

I’ll break them down and say what I remember to guide me (and a friend’s friend back in New Jersey) through them.

The overall plan is to do these 5 exercises five times a day, after all three meals, and 2 snacks. (We are not regular with meals.) I think it is better to consider my waking hours and do them at 3-hour intervals, if I am where I can.

The first three are done in a prone position. I do them in my recliner.

Exercise One: Shoulder Flexion
Exer 1- Shoulder with cane
Firstly, the “wand” in the PT room used was a fancy walking cane. HOWEVER, note the directions. I am to grab my wrist and lift, and do NOT use the cane (or wand). I have found that using my right arm to lift the left makes the right one hurt, so I have pushed it and raised with the muscles in my left arm to the point to count after reaching the stretch.

Secondly, the diagram of the man lying on his back is wrong, or at least I feel is misleading. There is no way I can do that movement to raise anything over my head with both arms, so my instructions were to use my right hand to grasp my left wrist and lift my arm as high as I can, and hold for 10 seconds. I have since adjusted that procedure (as mentioned above).

Exercise Two: Shoulder External/Internal Rotation
Exer 2- Shoulder with cane Ext-Int Rotation
Exercise Three: Flexion on Counter
(standing without rolling chair need), or I can alternately do this at home in my recliner leaning forward with both arms. When away from home, I will use a counter or table.
Exer 3- ArmRaiseNoWheeledChairStand@counterReach forward with thumbs up. You can use both arms or assist the left with the right.

Exercise Four – Scapular Retraction: Bilateral
Exer 4-UsingRubberPieceTiedToDoorHandle
Anchor a rubber strap to a doorknob. Grab each end. Sit in a chair or you might stand if the height angle is right. As directed, pull arms back. I don’t have handles on my strap, (as pictured), so I think I will use glove to lessen the pressure on my fingers and hands. At home I have stood next to the patio door, locked it, and pulled backwards while standing.

Exercise Five: Circular Movement, Clockwise and Counterclockwise
Exer 5-Pendulum
Stand for this and lean over with left arm dangling. This diagram is misleading. I find it is better to face the table and lean left and right to cause the circular rotation, keeping my right hand above my knee, and moving my body from side to side. The goal is to move the left arm without using the arm itself (i.e., “Don’t stir the pot.”) It will be turned by your body motion to move clockwise and then counterclockwise in a circular pattern. I also can stand, lean forward, and get the required movement by swaying my body from left to right leg, without a table in front of me.

I made appointments for the next 6 weeks. I came home and checked my schedule and also canceled and reset my appointment with personal doctor Paul Schmitt until I have completed a couple of weeks and had my progress evaluated by the therapist. The paperwork has to be reevaluated for Medicare to continue paying for the sessions, if the need is still there and progress has been made. Later, I was called as an appointment for next week (Tuesday) was possible because of a cancellation and I was on the wait list.

Wednesday, May 25

For May 24 CPAP. Reported figures. Time on 4 hrs 12 min with AHI=1.90. Events: 2 CSR, 8 H, 6 RERA. No major mask leaks (max= 9 L/min). Oximetry: Okay throughout the night, and after the CPAP was off.

I called my Pharmacist to ask if Aleve (Naproxen Sodium) would conflict with my assorted meds, as Ibuprofen does. Yes, it is in the same drug class. Therefore, I cannot take it. She suggested using Aspercream with Lidocaine, and I will check with my physician (Dr. Paul).

I did my exercises this morning (half of them) — 2 sets of 10 I only did on the first three, did all on the 4th, and I did all the 20 in both directions of the last one. I was hurting, and did a few more at the Food Bank and at my SAIL exercise class, but I’m supposed to be doing over 20 minutes of them 5 times a day. Where does one find the time and the energy? I’m still hurting from yesterday. I picked up Gloria and took her along with me to the two events for the day. We rushed her home because she had her own physical therapy session at 3:30.

On my way with Gloria, to the Food Bank Soup Kitchen for music, I picked up some shirts for John from a gal in town. Turns out we have mutual friends where John prunes wine grapes. Small world. Wow, a bunch of nice dress shirts and sporty tops. We just went through the box. Maybe we can toss a few of his worn out shirts.

Thursday, May 26

For May 25 CPAP Reported figures. Time on 4 hrs 39 min with AHI=2.15. Events: 3 CSR, 10 H15 RERA. No major mask leaks (max= 15 L/min). Oximetry: okay all night.

Permission granted by Dr. (Paul) Schmitt to use Aspercream with Lidocaine for shoulder pain exacerbated from the exercising.

John held Myst for the farrier to trim her feet. My part in this was writing the check to pay for the work. After the trimming, John went down to switch the water from west-side to east-side of the ditch on the neighbor’s land. Later he will remove the “dam” and let it go to the next neighbor south. She is the new owner there and hasn’t got the hang of this water thing, yet.

We will have brunch and I will be taking off in an hour for playing music at Hearthstone while John goes shopping for a less expensive pellet-feed for the horses. He succeeded in finding one at a different place. There are only 3 stores in town for buying such items.

At our music gig, we had a nice turnout of audience and fair amount of players. Two violins, flute, tambourine, and 4 guitars. We were joined by the Activities Director there, only to hear she was moving on. Luckily, we will play there one more time before she leaves. She has been a member of our group every time we play there (monthly), and also at events held at the Senior Center, to which she brings residents of the facility where she works.

Friday, May 27

For May 26 CPAP Reported figures. Time on 8 hrs 9 min with AHI=1.35 Events: 2 CSR, 11 H, 11 RERA. No major mask leaks (max= 16 L/min). Oximetry: Just fine all night long.

Today was an interesting day on the road. I drove John’s car so I could fill it with gasoline for his trip tomorrow across Stevens Pass. I first went for that chore, followed by going downtown across from our bank to the off campus location for a CWU administrative office. We only had about half our usual crowd, probably because of people leaving early for the Memorial Day weekend. We had a lovely luncheon, with a special Macaroni and Cheese casserole, an Asian salad, some fresh strawberries, and a tasty lemon dessert.

From there I drove to Kittitas on my way home (about 6 miles out of the normal return route). Reason was to pick up some items from people on the new Buy Nothing East Ellensburg/Kittitas/Vantage list, of which I am now a member. First, I picked up 2 monkey blankets for upcoming baby showers. These were freely given (and they are not inexpensive). [John wants to know why baby events are called showers.] Nancy here, I think it is because you’re expected to shower the parents with gifts for the new baby.
monkeyLoveesSecond stop was to deliver some used stuff to a woman at her shop on Main Street, but she was closed for the long weekend. Then I went a couple blocks north and picked up two large bags of baby clothes, blankets, towels, and a nursing cover. On to the next place on my way home to pick up a folding lawn chair. I broke one of ours last year so this is a freely given replacement.

Saturday, May 28

For May 27 CPAP. Reported figures. Time on 7 hrs 7 min with AHI=3.37. Events: 5 CSR, 24 H, 11 RERA. No major mask leaks (max= 9 L/min). I had the new mask on again that is almost impossible to set up from the top of my head connection to the pressure tube. I think my positioning is hampered and causing a partial obstruction to the airway. I will experiment more tonight. Oximetry: Okay all night.

John was off at 5:30 a.m. for a WTA work party at Barclay Lake, near Baring, WA, on the other side of Stevens Pass. This is his second trip over there this season. This is about 25 miles from the Puget Sound town of Monroe (~20,000 folks). While he was well on his way home there was an accident on the road (Highway 2) that would have delayed him several hours. [The old road nearby has a bridge collapse that prevents a detour along this stretch.] Link: Wreck on Hwy 2

He’s been without his cell phone all this week, but the results of a search for it at the last minute before leaving this morning resulted in his finding it under the front passenger seat of the Forester that I drive. He was riding there Monday when I drove us to the doctor. Also, and awesomely, in the same place, he found his Nepalese wool hat wrapped around the older missing phone we have since replaced. Hmmmmmm. In that old phone’s carrying case was a thin Casio calculator that we like to have when we go to the grocery stores (especially Costco) to compare ounce prices. In addition, this old phone will take photos and one can remove them from the phone by a USB cable. Our new phones have a camera but do not allow one to remove them. They force you to pay for TEXT messaging to send the photos to an email address. We refuse to do that. Yet, now I can just keep the phone for emergencies when I do not have my big camera along. Maybe I can teach John to take photos on it, and he can pack it in his backpack for trail work days. He thinks not, because he has a 9 year old Nikon D40X that actually takes great photos, but is large and heavy compared to phones, yet images easily download to his computer.

John made it home about 5:00, but as he stepped out of the car, both legs cramped. He stood holding onto the car door and car to stretch his legs, and then turned around in the other direction for over five minutes to stretch muscles until he was able to walk again. He says they did too much fast hiking. The day was rainy and cold so he did not drink until after he was off the trail and on the way home. Maybe a bit of dehydration? They got several serious trail issues taken care of, no one was injured, and they had a lot of fun in the mud. WTAers consider that a great day! [John remembers from high school that basketball players got cramps so he doesn’t blame this on his old legs.]
He did the night feedings and lay down to nap for an hour. Then we had supper.

Sunday, May 29

For May 28 CPAP. Reported figures. Time on 5 hrs 35 min with AHI=4.30. Events: 5 CSR, 24x H, 10 RERA. No major mask leaks (max= 12 L/min). Oximetry: Fine throughout the night.

Fortunately, John awoke without pain in either leg. He went out, did a few chores, and brought back a large handful of beautiful strawberries from our “newer” garden. They get more sun there and are doing nicely. This is the first harvest of the year. My job was to clean and cut them. He added sugar, and then we had them for brunch on top of a simple pancake. I had my leftover egg/mushroom/ham fried from last night’s dinner, and we had pears from a can.

We tackled a bunch of projects in and outside the house, and then were surprised by an unannounced visit from a couple in Everett we have never met. She was the daughter of the folks who built the house (1981), which we have lived in since 1989. She’s in her fifties, and she had not been here since 1982. She remembered a few trees in the orchard when they were smaller. Recognized the house and the old red barn, and the little shed where I park my car. We walked them around the orchard and to the barn, out to the pasture and the side of the house, which has the old pump house converted to a place for feeding and watering the feral cats in the winter (it has a heater in the bottom). We about froze with 35 mph winds and temperatures of 62. Wonder what the wind chill was. Neither of us had on a coat, gloves, or scarf, and we were out for over an hour. The experience was very rewarding and nostalgic for Barb and her husband, Ed, whose company made the aluminum framed windows in our home. About 15 years ago, a niece of Barb’s, came by, we did the tour, and she gave us a little family history. Barb took photos, and is hopefully going to scan some old photos of the house when it was new. Sadly, her dad died shortly after it was finished and her mother died about a year after we moved here. There was another owner for about 3 years. John took a photo of them in front of the house.
cropped of two
Hope your week was fine.

Nancy and John
Still on the Naneum Fan