Monday, Dec 19
For Dec 18 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI= 0.41. Events: 1 CSR, 3 H, 7 RERA. Time on 7 hrs 17 min with (max = 21 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 88, 0 events <88% with avg., 92.4%. Pulse avg. 57.0, low 49.
First, we were scheduled for our toenail trims at the foot doctor, at 10:30. We were not even taken into the office until after 11:00 and still had to wait for the doctor to appear. He had a sidekick (Mary, his shadow today), who is a Physician’s Assistant, being exposed to different people’s needs and cases. Maybe that was the cause and responsible for the delay. We explained our issues with our feet.
After that was done, we went to Rite Aid for to prevent Annie’s (dog) seizures. The 180 tablets will last us half a year. She takes one a day, and at this price, we are saving half price over getting it from our own pharmacy. It is still $24/mo. Next time I need it refilled, I will call around for the best price. It is variable in pricing and costly enough to warrant checking at different pharmacies. It is the least expensive anti-seizure medication at around $5 USD a year in the developing world. So why is it so expensive in the USA? John’s guess is that we are subsidizing the poor in another part of the world. I picked up my Amoxicillin today too to be ready for upcoming dental work.
We went to Grocery Outlet for canned cat food to get our $20 worth of groceries with a $5.00 off coupon. Unfortunately, they had no Friskies cat food — only kind we use. The others are only 3 ounces at the same price, instead of 5.5 oz. Luckily, they had pork loin roast on sale for $1.79/#, so we got that with our ice cream, salsa, and sour cream to up the tally (which was almost $30 by the time we checked out) to meet the coupon. Food adds up quickly, as those with larger families are well aware.
We went by the feed store and bought some Country Critters feed for the deer. When we got home, John started with the three normally around, and the little buck we pictured here a few weeks ago was also back in the front yard. We do not know if he found the deer block and apples John put out up the driveway. Mamma and her twins must have decided to come to the front door to tell us John had not given them enough. 
First, he gave them a deer block. Here he has made pictures for me to use in a collage to answer questions you might have. The deer block he hammered on a little to show the contents better. Claims to be 10% protein. The smallest doe (fawn) has figured out nibbling on it.
She prefers this cob mixture. It’s easier to eat, and higher in protein.
The quail also found it, so John bought them some “scratch” and has built a feeding station in the Mt. Ash tree. Se below on Christmas day. I hope that the deer cannot reach that.
Here’s the scratch and here are the quail Christmas morning next to the deer block finding the scratch. Now he has a place in the backyard for them, but they haven’t found it yet.
Tuesday, Dec 20
For Dec 19 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI= 0.71. Events: 5 H, 15 RERA. Time on 7 hrs 0 min with (max = 19 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 81 spurious, 10 events <88% with avg., 91.5%. Pulse avg. 56.4, low 50.
Warm temperatures and winds!
I spent a ton of time working on music for Jan/Feb – today, I finished Cotton Jenny by Gordon Lightfoot. Neat song.
I went to Jazzercise and we had quite a little workout. My shoulder was hurting when I played fiddle at the Food Bank – Noon meal for those that need it. And, they thank us for our music by feeding us.
We went to dinner at the Weirs, our new friends in town. John met Bill through WTA and we met his wife Linda a month or so later, and have been out to restaurants to eat. This time was dinner at their home. It started with cheese, crackers, and Sauvignon Blanc wine, then beef stroganoff, salad, bread, and huckleberry chocolate brownies with two kinds of special ice cream. Nice evening.
I’m sorry I have not made a review of the year in the Best of the Blog as I have done in the past. I hope I have time to before next year – but right now I have to complete all the music for the next 2 months of playing with the Kittitas Valley Fiddlers and Friends. Our last performance this month is Thursday at an assisted living home, for all Christmas music. I have to have the next set of music finished by Jan 3 with copies to give to the players on the 5th. I’m adding new stuff to some of our old. Songs such as Gordon Lightfoot’s Cotton Jenny (mentioned above), Patsy Cline’s, I Fall to Pieces, Kingston Trio’s The M.T. A., and Jimmie Rogers, T for Texas. I need to do one other new one: Your Cheating Heart.
Wednesday, Dec 21
For Dec 20 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI= 1.44. Events: 9 H, 3 PP, 8 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 15 min with (max = 18 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 75 spurious at turn off time, 1 true low event, 87 <88% with avg., 93.1%. Pulse avg. 53.0, low 50.
In the USA, most media and others call this the 1st day of winter. Elsewhere other dates are used, such as in November or the 1st of December. It is better called the December Solstice, the date that the Noon Sun is lowest in the sky. Whatever it is called, the best thought is that the daylight stops getting shorter and begins to lengthen. Maybe by John’s birthday that will become noticeable. In 2017, perihelion (when Earth is closest to the Sun) is also on his birthday (1/4). He claims he will be 38.
Today I picked up Gloria, and we went first to the food bank for music and food, and then to SAIL for exercise. We were both not too wanting of exercise. She had on boots that were not good for class. My shoulder was very painful from playing music, and I didn’t feel at all up to exercise class. We made a couple of stops on the way home, for her to get some gifts for a grandson, and go to the bank. She gave us 2 dozen cookies she made this morning. Nice peanut butter cookies. I wish I was closer to John’s sister to share; it’s her favorite but not John’s. So I ate several and froze the rest in smaller packages.
We were invited to a Solstice party tonight, but neither one of us felt like going. Folks bring music instruments to play “solstice music” but not “Christmas” music. I know a lot of the latter and not much of the former. Had I gone, I was going to take, “On the Sunny Side of the Street” music. We went to bed a little earlier than usual.
Thursday, Dec 22
For Dec 21 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI= 0.28. Events: 2 H, 2 PP, 18 RERA. Time on 7 hrs 13 min with (max = 23 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 87, 2 events <88% with avg., 92.3%. Pulse avg. 53.1, low 47.
I worked on music for Jan/Feb most of the morning. John took care of chores. He decided to go with me and help me by taking the Forester to the gas station. We were playing music at Hearthstone. It was our last time to do Christmas songs, and we had a good appreciative and participatory crowd. Some of my music disappeared, sadly. I was already operating on low numbers of copies, so probably next year I’ll have to rerun a set. These old folks get up and take the packet with them. I wonder what they do with it?
I also gathered some bar soap leftover from visiting hotels and motels for conferences in my past and put in two little containers of hand lotion. This is explained below.
One of the residents (Helen), and I do not know her last name, gave me a bell wreath:
I loaned it to a resident to hold and play with our songs, because I have both hands occupied with the violin, and I could not attach it to my foot. I need to find out her last name so I can write her a sweet thank you note, and send her a thank you picture.
Speaking of pictures – today after we were done playing, a gal I mentioned yesterday arrived at the place we were playing to deliver the wallet she was giving me for John. It is a nice Genuine Leather simple wallet to replace his long used and worn out wallet.
Hers she donated to John. It is new. It has many slots for cards and things. I think one will work well for his picture ID (Driver’s License). (John says: Washington politicians fuss about silly things and ignore their duties. Our WA drivers licenses are soon to be obsolete with regard to national security; called REAL ID. WA residents won’t be able to get on an airplane or visit a US Gov’t Office, such as Social Security. They have known of this for 10 years.)
My picture on the Free Givers Kittitas County site, which elicited her gift, is below. This is the same site that brought us the sweatpants John used to go to and from the hospital and lounge around the house for 3 days after his surgery.
I wonder if John remembers where he got this (he doesn’t). I know he never used the coin purse, so the one given to us by Lindsey is perfect.
She works nights at the Homeless shelter, so I took her some bars of soap, mouthwash, and lotion to share with the people. I’m going to go through our socks and gloves and fix up another bag of goodies to deliver. The homeless are housed each night of the week in a different church in town.
Friday, Dec 23
For Dec 22 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI= 0.36. Events: 1 CSR, 3 H, 21 RERA. Time on 8 hrs 21 min with some leakage. Oximetry: SpO2 low 85, 16 events <88% with avg., 91.5%. Pulse avg. 55.8, low 51.
Started the morning with music. The M.T.A is first, mixed in with scanning. Been fighting with both all morning. It should not be this difficult. Of course, there are tons of verses, so that adds to the problem, and they are printed only (at the bottom of the page and not beneath the notes), so I have to listen to a video of the Kingston Trio to see where to put the words on the score. I also have had to change the notes in the music book printed copy to fit with the way they actually sang it that so many of us remember. I think I will leave Worried Man for a future playlist! It goes on for many more verses than this song.
John took care of outside chores, and while we thought we would awake to silver frost (frozen fog), instead, it snowed about an inch overnight. John put out “scratch” for the quail, but the deer found it before the birds.
Mid-morning John fixed us a nice brunch: eggs, link sausage, hash browns, toast, and an orange. Now he is resting.
I have been dealing with bills and music. I give up. I’m done with The M.T.A., although it is not perfect. Two of the verses do not line up with the notation of the music score. I mentioned to a friend in the group and he sent me access to one page where the words were with the notes. It is now much better.
Saturday, Dec 24
For Dec 23 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI= 1.00. Events: 8 H, 1 PP, 11 RERA. Time on 8 hrs 0 min with (max = 18 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 88, 0 events <88% with avg., 91.6%. Pulse avg. 53.8, low 50.
We worked on outside and inside chores. I decided I needed to send a greeting to a few people. I used the wrong set and a bunch bounced, but a lot made it through and we have received responses.
We’ve got clear sky so it will be cold tonight and no snow for Christmas Day. We’ve got 8 inches or so on the ground. A bit more is expected Monday evening.
John put up the feeder in the Mt. Ash tree today, and I got these pictures Christmas morning.
The broad view shows the placement in the limbs of the tree, and the shots on the right are two Juncos enjoying the scratch. Generally the name Dark-Eyed Junco is given to these birds but there are color-pattern differences.
Juncos, general
The very distinct dark (almost black) head is common here and to the south of us. So the name is Oregon Junco in these parts.
“Regional Differences” are described near the bottom of this page:
Color patterns and more
Sunday, Dec 25 . . . . MERRY CHRISTMAS . . . .
For Dec 24 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI= 0.26. Events: 2 H, 1 PP, 15 RERA. Time on 7 hrs 42 min with (max = 23 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 89, 0 events <88% with avg., 92.3%. Pulse avg. 53.3, low 50.
We wish you a great tasting pie:
John made the pecan pies from his mom’s recipe. My hat is from my friend since the 6th grade when we met. Her name was Nancy also, and we went around Atlanta as a duet playing our guitars and singing, when we were in high school. We both played violin in the high school orchestra.
We went about 11 miles SE to Fox Road for the Orcutt’s Family Christmas dinner. We had much food and many people. Food was ham, London broil, turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, sweet potato/pecan casserole, many salads, and many desserts (including wonderful fudge of several varieties; the blonde was great and certainly all the chocolates, with & without nuts, and also with marshmallows).
Below (left) are father and mother (holding a bloom from our Cactus we clipped just before leaving), and on the right daughter Suzy with hubby Bob. We can’t keep all the others straight so won’t include them. We met a relative of this family within a month of moving here, and he was at the dinner today. The longest distance traveled award goes to a granddaughter who is a US Air Force pilot stationed in northern Germany.
On the way home we drove to the Brickmill Road display of Christmas lights we saw several nights ago. Below is a collage of part of what we saw.
The top left is the entrance and at the end of the driveway is a sign pointing up the drive for more lights. We took this as an invitation and drove farther toward the house. The top right picture was near the entrance, and the bottom panorama is south of the house, where we turned around. It was a striking presentation.
Hope your week was fine.
Nancy and John
Still on the Naneum Fan