By “easy December” I mean here on the Naneum Fan – weatherwise. John
Sunday, Dec 10
No CPAP – Oximetry for Dec 9: SpO2 low 82, 9 events <88% with overall avg., 90.7%. Avg. low SpO2, 88 .5%. Pulse avg. 57.8, low 52. Slept 7 hrs 21 min. slept more
We have been working on many projects. John outside re-positioning the water trough and building an enclosure to protect to-be-installed heating tape on the metal pipe. He has moved multiple bales of hay to feeding spots for the winter. We feed in about 3 different places, especially during nasty cold weather, to keep the horses moving about. It is good for them, and they move less if mounds of hay are always in the same spot. One of the trucks had ‘stuff’ in it – that’s out and other ‘stuff’ is in, awaiting a trip to the transfer station (aka ‘dump’).
I have been on kitchen cleanup control, Collared Dove control, and email address change control, not to mention processing of the photos from last Friday at the AAC, and transferring them to interested persons at the AAC. Seems everything spins out of control and has to be re-spun.
John made a red velvet cake tonight and I just frosted it. He has cut up walnuts and put them on top. We’ll be having that with a little ice cream for dessert. The boxed cake was bought on sale sometime ago. Its “best by” date was a year ago September. Keeping stored food moving/rotated (some folks have a lot) must be an art form.
I’m still working on email changes. Making progress.
Let’s start the week with a Merry Christmas greeting from Karen Barrows & 5 of her 6 Brittanys. The sixth is still in training with Scott Azevedo, in Los Banos, CA. Karen is in SW Oregon. 
North Umpqua Brittanys – most of her dogs and puppies go back to our bloodlines, so this is a family greeting!! We have been friends for many years. She lives in Glide, OR. She has a nice web page with videos and pictures, if you want to be entertained and get a Brittany fix. Paste “North Umpqua Brittanys” into a search box if you care to have a cheer-up look from a wonderful Brittany breeder.
Monday, Dec 11
No CPAP – Oximetry for Dec 10 SpO2 low 85, 7 events <88% with overall avg., 92.2 %. Avg. low SpO2, 90.2%. Pulse avg. 56.0, low 50. Slept 9 hrs 19 min.
I called in to Super 1 Pharmacy for John’s refill of Tamsulosin and will pick up tomorrow. It is supposed to make him handsome. (LOL, recall John edits my first draft version of this every week). We both stayed home today.
I’ll switch pictures from dogs to cats, because John finished the pass-over structure – seen being used in these photos.
Sue coming off the platform, and Woody and Sue resting and watching from there. The top is about 6 ft. X 4 ft. with metal roofing, so in light rain or snow the platform is suitable for occupancy. It makes a good lookout.
The left of the collage above shows the in-progress fence walkover into the front yard where they have a dog house (you’ve seen in previous blogs) holding a water heater and box of dry food up and out of reach of skunks. The “feral” cats eat near the front door twice a day, with a treat of canned food (pate & bits). The birds have feeders within the same enclosure, and we get quail and small birds (finches, juncos, and chickadees mostly now) eating the black oil sunflower seeds.
Here are the quail sitting on the newly railed fence around the front yard, hopefully to keep the deer out. 
Thanks to John for capturing this and the cats above on his camera. We have a lot of quail visiting us each day in the front yard, feeders, and driveway.
I got a call from my new endocrinologist’s office scheduler and we set up the closest appointment for Jan 30th at 9:05 a.m. in Wenatchee. John made a map with directions, to the place. We will wait until closer then to see what the weather is like. There’s always a possibility we could go up the afternoon before and get a motel room so we wouldn’t have to leave so early from Ellensburg in bad weather. (Now below, you will see this has been moved way forward to this coming Tuesday, Dec 19.) Now there is only rain in the forecast for us and Wenatchee, but we have to go over a slightly higher (~300 feet) elevation to get there. The Pass to Seattle is higher and the forecast is for it to be a mess of snow and rain on Tuesday. That’s why we never plan on going that way between early November and March.
I managed to set up the schedule for Thursday’s music. We are likely to have more people than chairs available without arms. Some will stand and a few don’t mind using chairs with arms.
Tuesday, Dec 12
No CPAP – Oximetry for Dec 11: SpO2 low 84, 9 events <88% with overall avg., 92.7%. Avg. low SpO2, 89.8%. Pulse avg. 58.3, low 50. Slept 6 hrs 32 min.+ 1.5 hr off oximeter
John (with newspaper in hand) is going to town with me while I exercise and then go along on shopping stops. John suggested I take a video of the Jazzy Funercise class to prove I was exercising, so here is 31 minutes to show I did. I should have moved the chair to my right, which blocks much of what I was doing. I always alternate legs on the movements, rather than do the lifts all on one side. That way, I remain balanced (no comments, please) and some feel more like dancing so I can keep time to the music. This was a new teacher with a new program, so it was a little rusty on the edges, but she did a very nice job. Only two of the normal class members were there. We received a good workout, without walking around the back of the chairs, as we often do, doing the different aerobic exercises. My FitBit wrist band recorded 20 minutes of vigorous aerobic exercise.
Class today at the AAC:
Jazzy Funercise
We went to Bi-Mart, where I checked our number on the list of winners, and we won nothing. I found a desk calendar for us to hang on the wall (30% off). I had been waiting for that since the end of Nov. when in previous years they have had the price reduction. Now, I can begin using it (starting with the new doctor’s visit appointment made for Jan 30 yesterday)! (now changed to 12/19). Then we drove to Super 1, and John took care of going in for groceries and to pick up his meds, Tamsulosin, .4mg capsules. It cost us $15.20 for a month’s supply. I just looked it up on GoodRX and found it for $10.85 at Safeway, but only $8.73 at Costco! I will have to check our next time in, to be sure our Costco honors the coupon in the Pharmacy. I know they do not honor any food coupons. Too many little details about medications and medical things.
While I was sitting in the parking lot, I called Joanie Taylor (in Quartzite, AZ and heard all about her recent surgery. We miss her on violin in our group, but she and hubby Ken, go for 6 months every year. Temperature was 70° when we were talking. She’ll not be back until April.
From there, we went to PetSense for $5.00 off a $40.00 purchase of canned cat food bits. With the $ off, it brings the price down to the same as the pate we get at Costco, and we cannot get the bits there.
Morning was been filled with getting notes off about our email change, downloading data, eating, feeding cats, and making telephone calls about music.
I just worked a little over an hour, with a short phone call included and sent out 8 jobs via the Jobslist I have not done anything with that chore since the weekend. It is, however, much appreciated by the almost 800 members on the google group list, NW Geography Jobs (including many more disciplines).
John fixed supper. It was good, and different. We had store bought beef stew (from a can; John wanted a can that size), but John added our beef, cauliflower, made a pan of cornbread [with corn niblets], and he cut up an apple.
Had a sad call from a friend in Oregon whose husband passed away, after a very long illness with his heart, a heart transplant 7 yrs ago, and then a couple of strokes. The last one took him. He was in the hospital Rehab in Salt Lake where the transplant was done. We have known them through Brittanys for over 40 years.
Tomorrow I have to finish getting the Thursday Christmas music ready to take to Meadows Place.
Wednesday, Dec 13
No CPAP – Oximetry for Dec 12: SpO2 low 82, 9 events <88% with overall avg., 91.9%. Avg. low SpO2, 89.8%. Pulse avg. 56.9, low 51. Slept 7 hrs 59 min.
I fixed my salad to take to Food Bank and worked some on the Christmas music. I took some bells along. Two of our fans at the front table played them with us.
Thursday our music group goes to Meadows Place and I have to notify people who are coming and call in the number of arm-less chairs required. Hard to get at assisted living homes where they need to have arms on the chairs for safety reasons with the residents. We perform in the dining rooms of the homes.
I went to my SAIL class. There I took a 51 min video, until battery ran out. I should have started with a new one. Oh, well, we got most of it. We went overtime today. Interestingly, I met a woman there from the university (teacher of visual arts) that I knew over 8 years ago in a campus wide committee we both participated in, regarding Service Learning Activities for university students. I actually knew her father and his cat, “Crackers,” from visiting him when our music group went to play at Mt. View Meadows. That’s where our group is playing tomorrow, but they have changed the name to Meadows Place, with new ownership.
12-13-17 Ellensburg Adult Activity Center
SAIL class
Came home and washed dishes.
I have to finish getting the Thursday Christmas music ready.
I continue working on email address changes.
I took a break to do a few birthday cards and check email.
Slight change of subject to a link sent to me today about an article, which I found to be truly meaningful to me after being involved with using and teaching GIS pronounced as the three letters and standing for “Geographical Information Systems.” My first class in graduate school was in 1971 (Iowa). My first class taught was in 1977 (Idaho). Before that in Cincinnati, OH, I learned about computer cartography, and taught my first class in that, in 1967 (Georgia).
Here is the article of interest about GIS:
Will the Real GIS Please Stand Up! It’s really quite amusing, so you should give it a read.
I especially hope Gina, our Iguana loving friend and rescuer in Texas will read this article above. Read the article and you’ll understand my comment.
Thursday, Dec 14
No CPAP – Oximetry for Dec 13: SpO2 low 85, 6 events <88% with overall avg., 92.2%. Avg. low SpO2, 90.1%. Pulse avg. 57.7, low 52. Slept 8 hrs 52 min.
Whoo hoo !!! I’m so happy!! An appointment opened up with Dr. Stone for Dec 26th at 9:05 a.m. in Wenatchee (now changed again; glad I requested to be on the cancellation call list). Pray for no snow. John just told me last night we were not going to have a white Christmas, so I hope he’s right for Wenatchee as well.
We both worked on projects until leaving at 1:00 p.m. for Meadows Place with all the stuff we needed. John helped set up chairs and we did not have to bring in my folding chair from the car. Was certainly a cloudy gray day today.
I took my camera and couldn’t find my tripod so was going to use the piano, but John spied a highboy cabinet, and helped me put it on top and he started and stopped the camera recording. We got the whole hour in (staring a little before 2:00 with two songs for a warm-up, and then launched into the booklet we had given the audience, with the lyrics on colored pages, so I had to give directions throughout the playing. The pages were not numbered, so I had to say the title and the color of the page. We have used this handout for years, and only have 14 copies left, so I have to be very sure to have someone watching the music so it does not disappear. It would be a pain to replace now. Occasionally, our audiences are larger than 14, so this month they will have to share. The December music is the only one with this setup. All other months are numbered.
Here is the recording of today’s music – 59 minutes worth. Go through a few but don’t miss going to the end for a couple of our group songs, and the next to last song with Manord leading us on the Peter, Paul & Mary song, A ‘Soalin, and don’t miss the very last song by Evie and Laina, twin fiddlers, “This Christmas Night.” ~ ~ below, a screen capture from video ~ ~
. . . . . Kittitas Valley Fiddlers & Friends,
. . . . . . . . . . Meadows Place, 12-14-17
Christmas Music
Friday, Dec 15
No CPAP – Oximetry for Dec 14: SpO2 low 82, 18 events <88% with overall avg., 91.8%. Avg. low SpO2, 88.9%. Pulse avg. 56.x, low 51. Slept 8 hrs 41 min.
I went to the Let It Snow! event at the AAC. I took lots of photos because the staff are always too busy to take photographs while serving us lunch (turkey casserole), and leading the events. Nicole helped with the snowman making below, pictured at the foreground left below at the craft table. Many of the leaders and servers are volunteer members. It’s a nice joint effort for the benefit of all there. The AmeriCorps gals (Nicole and Jessi) then post the photos on Facebook, at Ellensburg Adult Activity Center. The nicest thing done with the photos helps people who come to events and do not have a computer or smart phone for access to the web. They order 4×7″ photos and then give them to the people. I have had some folks request a particular picture location with them standing adjacent so they can send to their grandchildren. The AAC always decorates the entire room with nice décor for the month or season.
We started the program with a song fest (6 songs) from the acapella group of singers named Black and Silver (directed by Sara Pope). I will put a video below of their 3rd song (with drum accompaniment by Mark Manning on an African drum, a Djembe. This drum originated in West Africa. According to the Bambara people of Mali, the name of the djembe comes from the saying, “Anke djé, anke bé” which translates to “everyone gather together in peace,” thus defining the drum’s purpose. In their language, “djé” is the verb for “gather” and “bé” translates as “peace.” (information from Wikipedia)
Black & Silver Song with Djembe drum
Peace
The last song was a sing-a-long, with audience participation: “We Wish You a Merry Christmas!”
Black & Silver Song 6
link
After their performance, we were served lunch.
Here are some of the table centerpiece decorations.
They were different on each of several tables of three rows.
Part of the event was hand-crafting one’s own to take home. 
(left) Instructions for making the base; craft table participants. Connie Bright (2nd from the right above) helped with the snowmen making materials, and with a game of pin the lips on the snowman toward the end. It was interesting (see below).
During the end of lunch and after our piano player (Trip Landon) finished his lunch, he and his brother Beck played a short duet, and then Trip continued with a bunch of Christmas songs. We started and ended with music. The music continued through the game described below (pin the lips on the snowman).
Some information about the contribution of the Landon family.
Part of the Landon family are here; from the right, Laura, Beckett (who incidentally has borrowed my ¾ size violin I had in the 4th grade, turned it into a viola [with a different string setup]), Trip Landon (who played the piano for us today, but the day before, played Christmas music with our Kittitas Valley Fiddlers & Friends. The gentleman across from Beck is his grandfather, Gary Brown, a US Navy Submariner. Dad Johnny joined them later for the meal, but Beck had to leave to go back to school. Both Gary and Johnny are veterans, and both boys played patriotic music with our music group back in November for the AAC’s early Veterans’ Day celebration. Look back in the blog to Nov 3.
Here’s a very short video of the brothers’ piano duet. I haven’t had time to upload all the videos yet.
A piano duet (just a warm-up)
Trip & Beck
Then Trip continued alone on a bunch of songs for the season.
Here he is playing for the rest of the party, and an AAC member, Jackie, thanking him at the end. Jackie is in my SAIL class there.
Here was the game (Pin the Lips on the Snowman):
Start with blindfold, placing a kiss on the snowman, and the one getting the sticker closet to his lips won a package of chocolate kisses. You can see the errant ones, and others were even farther off the snowman.
Here’s a video of the process, very short:
Connie leading blindfolded lady toward the wall.
Placing lips
Finally, a few parting shots 
Posing with our hats and friends, Nancy, Jessi, Marilyn, Curtis. Long ago, Curtis was my student in Geography classes at CWU.
I have been wishing to get a photo of me, in my Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer sweatshirt, with a stuffed Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer I bought at a yard sale ~5 years ago and donated to the senior center, where I get to see him every year. 
Left are two shots of Rudolph at the AAC, and him with me, 2017
I came home, called Dr. Stone’s nurse, and now I have an appointment Dec 19, at 1:05 p.m. in Wenatchee. That means I have to miss Jazzy Funercise at the AAC, but this is extremely important to my health, so I have to go. It’s especially nice the scheduled time is later in the day, as well. And, the weather forecast is for light rain, only.
Meanwhile, I need to get some blood tests drawn this Monday, so that the endocrinologist will have the whole picture. I have to get them ordered through my PCP who made the referral. The tests requested are Ferritin, Free T4, Free T3, Reverse T3 and a TPO.
We stayed up way too late working on chores.
Saturday, Dec 16
No CPAP – Oximetry for Dec 15: SpO2 low 82, 10 events <88% with overall avg., 91.9%. Avg. low SpO2, 89.8%. Pulse avg. 55.8, low 52. Slept 7 hrs 24 min +.
Today has been filled with accomplishing chores in the house and outside. John’s biggest one was removing a tree that fell across a fence at the south end of our pasture, and our neighbor’s horses came over for a visit to graze out of our sight in the woods by the creek. At one point recently, they apparently were followed out by our horse, Myst, whom John found one morning on the opposite side of our fence, in our neighbor’s pasture. He was lucky even to see her, because the morning freezing fog was so dense. He thinks he has put an end to the problem, and has taken out the tree, and put up the fence. He also loaded some rounds of wood he cut several years ago into his Gorilla Cart and brought them out.
I continued working on the blog, processing photos and videos, working on email address changes, working on sending announcements to the “jobs list” I moderate, and putting away dishes.
Sunday, Dec 17
No CPAP – Oximetry for Dec 16: SpO2 low 84, 6 events <88% with overall avg., 92.8%. Avg. low SpO2, 90.5%. Pulse avg. 56.6, low 50. Slept 7 hrs 46 min.
John titled this post as “An Easy December” because long range weather forecasts – out to January 1 – indicate we will not have seriously cold temperature, nor lots of snow. Last year we had cold temperatures that lasted so long people and animals suffered. Even our frost-free faucet froze. We managed to keep the horses watered. Many folks in the Valley had more issues than we did. Wildlife suffered, but the upside is that such cold also kills pests that survive (overwinter) during a season like we are having now.
We know folks in the eastern and central parts of the country are having cold weather, and there are still fires in California, but we are, relatively speaking, having an easy December. We wish you well, stay warm, and safe.
Hope your week was fine.
Nancy & John
Still on the Naneum Fan