Keeping track

Monday, May 15

For May 14 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.77. Events: 5 H, 1 PP, 20 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 31 min with (max = 12 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 90, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 92.2%. Pulse avg. 55.2, low 47.
Look back to last week for better photos. Correction to the bird ID in last week’s blog. It is a Black-headed Grosbeak. Thanks to Caitlin LaBar for correctly naming the new bird on the block. This is a male – check below for a photo of the female, which we have seen as well, but not photographed.

Audubon field guide

Here is a nice link to their “song.”

Sing a song

This link starts with a female and switches to the male at 1:05 minutes into the tape. They are both feeding, not singing. The viewing is backed by an interesting instrumental. This is named Fat Lips (Black-headed Grosbeak). I have no clue what the reference to “fat lips” is, except it might refer to the stronger bill shape of seed eaters when compared with insect eaters.

Another bird link

John sprayed Weed B Gone, mowed, and continued working in the yard on various projects.

I worked on dishes, the blog, and other stuff.

Tuesday, May 16

For May 15 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.90. Events: 1 CSR, 6 H, 15 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 40 min with (max = 19 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 88, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 92.2%. Pulse avg. 54.4, low 49.

I went to copy part of 10 more sets of the audience music, the last 3 pages that I neglected to run the first time.

Not much going on today, just the normal Tuesday stops.

Wednesday, May 17

For May 16 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=1.10. Events: 1 CSR, 7 H, 1 PP, 12 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 23 min with (max = 12 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 88, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 94.2%. Pulse avg. 55.8, low 50.

I picked up Gloria and we went to the Food bank for music and lunch after, but there was no SAIL exercise at AAC today. Just as well for me, because I needed to get home to leave for Cle Elum.

We drove my car to a reception for our retiring doctor, Paul Schmitt. We had nice visit with him and several others, including the new doctor we will be transferred to. We shared pieces of each type of cake there (lemon with white frosting and chocolate cake with cherries and chocolate frosting). The new doctor is Norman Wood. He is going to have a complete shoulder replacement in 2 weeks, and that is good so he should be healed by the time we have our annual physicals at the end of this year.

Our Brittany, Daisy, in CA hit the airwaves again on Facebook. Jeri Conklin entered two photos in the Lancaster Photography Association club competition – Desert Wildflowers and Desert Scenes, and she received two Awards of Excellence in Intermediate Novice Print Division. The title of the Daisy print was “When All is Right in Life.” Jeri used Photoshop to process the print of the cactus flower. She had fun and was happy to hear the judge comment on the positive things she had done with the photos. Congrats, Jeri. I have always loved all the photos of Daisy in the Poppy field.

Thursday, May 18

For May 17 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=1.10 Events: 1 CSR, 7 H, 23 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 20 min with (max = 14 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 88, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 92.7%. Pulse avg. 53.6, low 47.

John finished packing the truck canopy with stuff needing taken to the transfer station (aka dump) and went today. He managed to get rid of 200 pounds of stuff (with a lot of stuff that did not weigh much, but was bulky and filled the space).

I got my donation in the mail to help with the cleanup of the Wilkins family cemetery in Guyton, GA (my mom’s side). I visited there back in 2012 when I went to the family reunion.

We played today at Pacifica. Had a good turnout of players with a large and appreciative audience.

Friday, May 19

For May 18 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.00. Events: 18 RERA. Time on 7 hrs 35 min with (max = 16 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 88, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 92.2%. Pulse avg. 54.8%, low 50.

Horse (just one, Jazz) was in the yard again this morning. He apparently just stepped over a fence as John’s other horse, Drifter, often did. The others missed seeing how he got out, so they were still in the pasture. They are completely removed from that section until John has time to tighten the wires.

Our farrier came to trim Myst.

I dropped off my computer for service, and went to the last Scholarship luncheon of the year. We had a nice green salad, with chicken, strawberries, cashews, and onions, if wanted. For desert was a create-your-own sundae with two types of ice cream, caramel syrup, chocolate fudge spread, strawberry syrup, & grated nuts (plus the other sides left from the salad bar (strawberries & cashews). It was quite delightful. I finished there, bid adieus, and made it to the AAC, for BBQ & Dancing (line type), and there were four raffle tickets given to everyone there. Other early arrivals had lunch including BBQ chicken. The activities were organized and supervised by students from CWU in the Recreation and Tourism program. Some of the guys conducted two horseshoe games outside. The gals led the dancing inside, and some of the fellows also danced. I took photos and videos. One woman asked that I take her picture in front of the pool table with a great centerpiece – large cowboy boots and small bales of hay adorned above with large horseshoes. She wants to put it on her Christmas cards this year. I will show a few photos here so you can appreciate the efforts the CWU students went to, for the day of entertainment for the senior center group. It was a lot of fun. Three of the students are with the rodeo princess from Roslyn. The one on the left is Jenna whose family owns cherry and apple orchards in Quincy; she and her family donated a large box of large Honeycrisp apples to the raffle. Top right is the potential Christmas card photo, and the bottom right is one of the line-dance lessons. I took some videos too, but have not taken the time to upload them. The left is the sideboard with many gifts from the community collected by the students, and given by raffle ticket drawings to the participants. First on the left is the $50 Chamber of Commerce gift certificate (I won), the third one back are two baseball hats from Ellensburg Rodeo (I won them too). I’m excited about the hat I have on, because our music group, Kittitas Valley Fiddlers & Friends, plays each year for the Ellensburg Rodeo Breakfast in September. In addition, there were chocolates, decks of cards, and free dinners at several local restaurants. You can see about 7 down, the large Honeycrisp apple. With that luck, I should have gone and bought a lotto ticket! (But, I didn’t). I am going to use my $50 coupon in July, to take our visitors from Michigan (friends, Ann & Fred Joyal we have known since graduate school in Iowa, in the 70s), to lunch and to celebrate our wedding anniversary. I believe we will go to The Porch or maybe to Rodeo City BBQ.

I picked up two cases of cat food at Pet$ense, but did not get a $5.00 discount. I hope they print that offer again soon in their flyer, and I will try to obtain an extra copy of the newspaper ad. Lowers the price per can to .41 instead of .49, but at the local grocery store we frequent, the price is .68. We should own stock in pet food.I stopped by Hospice Friends on the way home to pick up some supplies for another, and myself, and while there (wearing my fancy musical shirt), the coordinator mentioned it and asked if I knew of a local orchestra. I told her about our group. She plays the Cello. Only once in the past (for Christmas carols in Cle Elum), have we had a cellist. He has since died. She works daily, so cannot join us on Thursdays, but she is very interested in joining us on the 3rd Saturday of the month at Briarwood. I’m sure that group will be delighted. She couldn’t come this week because she had to return to Seattle for a funeral. Only a small number of our group make those Saturdays.

We went to the Swedbergs’ house to watch their home and answer the phone while the family is in town at the funeral place for a 2-hour greet and viewing.

I took my computer and working on some things, mostly music, because I did not have access to the web from their house. John sat and read the old history of the Kittitas Valley. Those are classic books. He learns something new every time he visits and has time to read them. Niece Sally arrived back with a load of groceries a little over an hour after we got there. John talked with Sally a short time, then left for EBRG in the Crosstrek to fill its tank for his trip tomorrow. I stayed and visited awhile and helped boil eggs for the planned deviled eggs for tomorrow’s reception after the funeral and graveside services.

Saturday, May 20

For May 19 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.16. Events: 1 H, 12 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 7 min with (max = 11 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 81 (off CPAP), 19 events <88% with overall avg., 91.3%. Pulse avg. 55.9, low 50.

John left for Talapus Lake WTA duties at 6:00 a.m., because of concern about I-90 construction delays. After he left I fed two cats and the birds, and slept some more. He should make it home by 6:00 p.m. He ended up getting their early because there was no traffic stoppage and very little traffic at that hour. His trip home was more rapid than expected too, arriving after 5:00 p.m. He took the back roads from just east of Easton just to “check it out” because this coming Friday he’ll be over the Pass and heading home when I-90 traffic is heavy.
Our Brittany Annie was very happy to see him. She obviously felt abandoned today.

I went to Briarwood today for music, where we dedicated the program to the memory of Lorene Mellergaard Swedberg. [Mellergaards are a large historic family in the Valley.]
This Saturday timing conflicted with the Funeral at 1:00 p.m. and the graveside ceremonies after at the IOOF cemetery. The rest of the group stayed for a meal, but I left after our music and went to the reception at the Methodist Church. I missed a heavy rainstorm at the place we played. I had taken a page of the memories I constructed for the memory book, with Lorene’s photos and the music with the 1st verse of “You Are My Sunshine,” to Briarwood, and had it there for people to sign (as a sympathy card). Lorene used to attend our 3rd Saturdays of the month play dates there over the past decade or more, so people recognized her in the photos. At least one family relation was there whom I knew from dinners long ago with the Swedbergs. I carried the signed page back to the reception at the Methodist Church, had some food, and visited with a bunch of friends, relatives, and others in the family I have known since 1989. Here is the card I took for the family.Happy beginnings today at Alek’s 5th Birthday celebration in Kittitas using the Ponderosa rounds John made for mom Jennifer. A dozen kids were to craft decorations on the smaller rounds (see last week’s blog), and the larger diameter pieces were used under the main dishes. Cake and cupcakes on top of the larger rounds and the table of all the other goodies served to the 12 kids and their moms.

While the kids did not get to paint the smaller rounds, they did come inside to paint birdhouses. What a neat idea !Below is Jenni’s thank you note she sent to us with the photos:

The kids didn’t get to make their collages 🙁 (with the small rounds) as it started down pouring in the middle of the party. Decorations were fun!
We will have more friends over to decorate the rounds at a later time and I’ll send you those pictures after I take them 😉
Thank you and John again SO very much. These really made our party look great.

Sunday, May 21

For May 20 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.60. Events: 5 H, 1 PP, 11 RERA. Time on 8 hrs 21 min with (max = 14 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 87, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 92.8%. Pulse avg. 57.8, low 47.

Amy and Dustin Davison are back from their trip “North to Alaska.” Here’s the happy departure – we, and especially the audiences, missed Amy and Haley at our two musical gigs this week, at Pacifica and Briarwood.Dustin & Amy, happily boarding a ship, bound for adventures to see glaciers and small towns along the route. The right top photo shows the Sawyer Glacier, complete with lateral moraines, and look carefully at the one on the bottom right, at the black spots on the lower iceberg. Those black spots are seals.

After our brunch today, we plan to go to town to pick up some planter pots given to us by Suzanne Wade and hubby Randy. They plan a move in a few months and are cleaning out a few things. We will put them to good use in our garden and nursery.
Hope your week was fine.

Nancy and John
Still on the Naneum Fan

THANKS TO: Caitlin LaBar, we have an …
UPDATE: birds are Black-headed Grosbeak
LINK BHG

Sunday, May 7

For May 6 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=2.51. Events: 1 CSR, 12 H, 9 RERA. Time on 4 hrs 47 min with (max = 16 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 87, 1 event <88% with overall avg., 92.2%. Pulse avg. 52.6, low 48.

John left 5:45 for meeting Bill Weir to travel to N. Bend, WA for a WTA Crew Leader College class in First Aid. I had taken his BP (great at 112/63 pulse, 68) but he got to the end of the driveway, turned around, and came back. 2 of 4 horses were in the yard, rather than the pasture (better grass). They had leaned over a temporary gate and pushed it open.
I called Bill to tell him John would be delayed.
John opened a real gate and told the 2 to get home. They first went to a different gate, turned and came back down the driveway where I waited. I closed the gate after they went through, and John was quickly off toward town.

I contacted Cameron about John’s helping with bottling on Wednesday. I thought the event was on Thursday, but 5 folks are needed and someone could not come then. Next I started washing dishes, and stopped for a Yogurt and Ensure shake. I continued doing some birthday & anniversary animated cards.
I called around about the best prices on products at the two places John plans to stop today on his way home.
He made it home and, thankfully, the horses stayed in the pasture all day. The gate at Naneum Road was closed, so even had they come out again they couldn’t have left.

We are saddened with grief at the unexpected loss of our neighbor, Lorene Swedberg. She apparently had complications after what was thought to be a successful operation, and passed over the rainbow bridge early the morning of May 6, at age 91. Her family, many close neighbors, and friends and relatives in the valley will miss her caring personality and her pretty smile. Lorene took us in as family in 1989 when we moved in across the street on Naneum Road. We have always been included in all family events and have been the recipients of her canned goods, birthday cakes, homemade fudge, jam, her hugs, and shared her children, grandchildren, and now her great grandchildren.
These folks were adults when travel across Washington State involved a buggy ride, a train, and a ferry across the Columbia River. Pullman, home of the Ag. School was a day away. Now it is 3 hours.

Monday, May 8

For May 7 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=1.11. Events: 3 CSR, 7H, 23 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 18 min with (max = 8 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 89, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 93.1%. Pulse avg. 55.9, low 49.

A lovely start to the day, out in the orchard viewing the start of the cherry blossoms. The Rainier cherry tree is ahead of the others just a little bit. Left are the Rainier cherry blossoms; right are yellow plum ones.

I found out the correct email address for the new activities director at Hearthstone, with whom I have to work on planning two events there each month.

I took my Amoxicillin at 2:00 p.m. prior to my dental appointment at 3:00 for a build-up on my top back tooth. Sorry I don’t have a before and after of the decay, but this X-ray below was to check to be sure it was all removed from under the gum and crown. It was.Number 14 tooth is where the decay was, on the backside of the bridge (right top), and over the lower back implant. I had seen the X-ray when I had my teeth cleaned a couple of weeks ago, but failed to ask for a copy of the digital X-ray.

Afterwards, I went by my bank to get a Cashier’s check so I could pay off the last payment on my 2014 Subaru Forester’s car loan. Now it is mine! The payments had automatically been coming out of our checking account, but the last one cannot and must be paid with cash or a check. There is a Chase bank here in town, so I could take care of it, and they stay open after 5:00 p.m. We are also just into single digits (months) until the house mortgage is gone. Maybe that will have to be done in the same manner.

Tuesday, May 9

For May 8 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=1.11. Events: 2 CSR, 7 H, 23 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 19 min with (max = 8 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 89, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 93.1%. Pulse avg. 55.9, low 49.

We needed to get some stuff at Super One and pick up one of my prescription meds, and we were on our way to water the plants at Anne’s house, thinking she wasn’t going to be home yet, and we planned to clean the mud (now dried) off her rug we had tracked in a couple Sunday’s ago. However, we saw her at Super One, and gave her the mail and her keys and apologized for misunderstanding when she was returning.

We went by Bi-Mart for canned diced tomatoes with no salt. With us both there, we could each get 10 the maximum allowed (a good price at .59/can). It is odd – the little box holds 12 and holds together when carried. Take 2 out of the package and the result is a juggling act. Go figure!
While there, we also added sale priced cans of pineapple, and regular priced sliced peaches.

I sent out an invite to all music friends about a Bluegrass Concert at the Grange this Saturday night, and Kathleen and Phil decided to go and will drive me up with them. I’m 9 miles away from their house, so I will drive to them and park in their driveway. I thought it was too far out of their way to come pick me up, but actually the way he drove took them close to our road. So, it would only have been a few miles out of their way to stop at my house. From the intersection of Naneum and Brickmill, where they came by, we are only 4.3 miles north on Naneum. Oh, well.

Wednesday, May 10

For May 9 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.92. Events: 6 H, 17 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 33 min with (max = 23 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 87, 3 events <88% with overall avg., 91.6%. Pulse avg. 56.8, low 50.

John left at 7:30 to go help with the bottling of Rose’, made entirely from Syrah grapes. Eric, Tom, and John (3 also pruners) helped the Vigneron (Cameron Fries) and Dylan (son). [Their son is named after the Welsh poet, Dylan Thomas: “Do not go gentle into that good night”]. Afterwards, two of the crew joined the winemaker for a small lunch and a glass of the Rose’. John came home with a case of Rose’ and a case of Roussanne.

I picked up Gloria and we went to the Food Bank for singing, playing, and lunch. She found a loaf of bread she wanted, and I got some peach turnovers (with barely any fruit showing, so we are going to add strawberry jam to the inside. We had a good bunch of folks and a happy audience. The food was good, but the chocolate layer cake was the best part of the meal. I took a planter of Hens & Chicks to Evelyn.

John visited an apple orchard on his way home and took some photos.The left photo and the right bottom photo show the very close spacing that increases the density of trees in newer orchards. Small trees spaced in rows allows for efficient maintenance, harvest, and reduced labor. This orchard, named, “Prospector Orchard”, is located on # 9 Road off White Trail Rd, owned by McDougall & Sons, as part of the Pair A’ Dice Orchards, L.L.C. Check out the pretty blossoms in the upper right.
{Photos, looking north, were taken at this spot:
47.21837, -119.943032}, if you want to check on Google Earth.

John came home to a bunch of experimentation with cutting rounds from (fire killed) Ponderosa pine trees to help a gal in Kittitas prepare for a birthday party with a rustic theme for her son’s 5th birthday on May 17.

I went out to see what he was doing with the larger ones after he’d brought the smaller ones into the house for me to photograph to consult with the person needing them. It was difficult to make them all completely flat. I counted them and we had 19 of the big ones and 17 of the smaller.

Here is a collage photo of the rounds.The larger ones are 11″ in diameter and the smaller are 7.5″.

The height is not to exceed 1.5″. My favorite is the smaller one on the bottom right, which shows a cross-section with (3 branches). It’s unfortunate about the cracks, but she is going to fill them with wood glue, if necessary. The wide cracks are from near the end of the log – so John cut 3 feet off the end and started new cuts there. She still got all he cut. She plans to sandpaper them as well, because we do not have access to a band saw; only a chainsaw. I took the left shot over our backyard fence of John touching the log for the smaller ones. They started at 7.5″ and went up a little bit, but the bigger ones came from the log to the far right, second log up. The photo on the right is my contribution of packing the rounds into 4 boxes, which I delivered to Kittitas the next day, after playing music in Ellensburg.

She has plans to use the smaller ones to paint on for the 12 kids coming to the party. And, she has promised to send pictures of the party so we can see the final product of John’s efforts.

Today, for the first time, we saw a new bird on our feeders. It appears by its coloration to be a Baltimore Oriole, but ours have thicker beaks than some photos on the web. I captured two sides below.Their coloration is interesting.

The range of the Baltimore Oriole is shown here: Baltimore Oriole
This does not include Washington State. Out here, the native oriole is Bullock’s Oriole: Bullock’s Oriole

The Cornell site “All about Birds” claims these do not eat from seed feeders. Ours appear to have the beak of a seed eater, so perhaps we are seeing a hybrid. One of life’s little mysteries. We’ll check with the bird-geeks of our local Audubon club (of which we are members). Search using Images for “oriole nest” to see the hanging nest of the orioles. John did take a picture of one of these a few years ago. The nest included strands of orange plastic from a locally sold “tarp” used to make dams in the irrigation ditches. The nests hang on ends of limbs and seem never to be still. Getting a sharp image is hard with the camera we have.

We finished the day by driving the truck back in a rainstorm to pick up a used lawnmower from a student of long ago, Alex. This is a nice to have to cut the high grass in our yards. Our mower has severe issues and old enough it doesn’t justify a repair bill – even if possible.
Since we started using it, John has removed the bag, because with our high grass, it needed emptied too often. It’s a Craftsman made in 2009, with a 6.25 hp engine.

Thursday, May 11

For May 10 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.00. Events: 12 RERA. Time on 5 hrs 34 min with (max = 11 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 87, 2 events <88% with overall avg., 91.9%. Pulse avg. 59.3, low 49.

Time to replace sheets in the music packets. John took out the staples and I assembled, only to realize I did not make enough copies of the added 3 pages of songs. I had to go with fewer complete copies today for our audience.

I heard back from my call last week to the CWU Foundation about the money in my account from which we fund two student Scholarship awards in our name in the Geography Department and in the graduate program, CERM (Cultural and Environmental Resource Management). I needed to check the balance to be sure it would cover this year’s awards ($1,000). It will, but I will need to increase my monthly payments to pay for next year’s scholarships, so I don’t have to make a lump-sum payment at the end of May 2018.
I titled my awards The Hultquist Distinguished Service Award. The award is given to students who also go out of their way to serve others in the Geography Department, Central Washington University, or the broader Ellensburg Community.

I left for music and we had ten players performing and Haley dancing and singing on several songs.

Today we photographed the Orioles. We’ve seen Roufous-Sided Towhees here, and they are cute. None recently, though. Here is the closest feeder, with orioles and a redwing blackbird.

Several Birds Feeding at 2 Naneum Feeders

Friday, May 12

For May 11 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.59. Events: 4 H, 12 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 44 min with (max = 7 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 87.5, 2 events <88% with overall avg., 92.2%. Pulse avg. 54.9, low 50.

Stayed home to take care of many things needing done and have only accomplished a few – such as paying bills, washing dishes, arranging various things, just finished evaluating the applicants for our two scholarships. Earlier this week, I set up the account to get the money available for the checks to be written to the student recipients (one graduate and one undergraduate).

Cheered up by a picture of CA Brittany Daisy and her buddy, sent today by his mom, Deanna. What is cool is that she loves him and for him to play with her, but also obeys him as he takes the leash for handling in his mom’s obedience class for the dogs in training with them in Los Banos, CA. She and her husband, Scott Azevedo are special people, to send photos of her training, and gave me permission to print this in our blog. Leo loves training with his dad. Daisy with Leo, who will be 2 years old May 17.

Saturday, May 13

For May 12 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.52. Events: 3 H, 1PP, 9 RERA. Time on 5 hrs 46 min with (max = 21 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 86, 4 events <88% with overall avg., 92.4%. Pulse avg. 54.2, low 50.

Took more photos and another video of the fancy birds this morning. John did more reading about them on the web.

Swauk-Teanaway Grange presents our annual Bluegrass Concert on Saturday, May 13, with an outstanding young band from the greater Seattle area, “North Country Bluegrass.” North Country consists of young but experienced musicians – Norm Olsen (guitar), Kent Powell (bass fiddle), Will McSeveney (banjo) and Zach Top (Mandolin) with Michael from Canada on Dobro & Fiddle. Their website is: North Country Bluegrass
Their Facebook presence is: NCBB facebook
and a video of them doing Fox on the Run is here:
Fox on the Run at Shelton, WA in 2016 Run Fox Run
Their concert was wonderful, and I will go again next year. This was their 7th year coming to the Grange, and it is the first of their performing season. Their comments were cute and their expressions funnier when they goofed on a pickup or something in the lyrics. Their solo instrumentals are awesome. On their Facebook site one can follow them, their schedule (they’ll be at Wenatchee soon), and they are planning a new CD. The Banjo player and the Mandolin player team together writing songs, and we heard several tonight.

Sunday, May 14 Happy Mother’s Day !

For May 13 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=4.56. Events: 2 CSR, 28 H, 1 PP, 1 OA, 13 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 21 min with (max = 12 L/min). Sounds bad, but my Oximetry was excellent: SpO2 low 87, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 93.3%. Pulse avg. 52.4, low 49. Keeping my SpO2 high is the only reason I'm on the CPAP overnight.

After noon today, we are going to town in the truck to pick up more sidewalk pieces and carry my viola to see if their son Beck can use it. He is small at 12 years, needs a 13″ one, and this one is a little longer. It won’t work – his is a 3/4 size, but when I saw it, I asked if they could restring my 3/4 size violin to make it into a viola, by adding a C string for the G, and pushing the others up one, leaving off the E. (Highest on a viola is an A). Laura (mom) is going to ask his orchestra leader.

Here’s a brief glimpse of the sidewalk removal and pick-up story.
The largest chunk was too much weight for 4 people to lift, so Johnny got his diamond blade to cut it on both sides, and then used an awl to separate the blocks.Neighbor Joe came over to help Johnny and John load the heavy pieces. The last right photo above are the 3 pieces in the truck.

In case you’ve never seen concrete sawed, here’s a very short video.
Johnny Sawing the Largest Piece

We went by Safeway for their inexpensive house-brand (Refreshe) colas and 18 ct eggs for .98 cents, and got some fried chicken for a very late lunch and part of a late dinner.
Both stops today took much longer than anticipated. Then, on the way home I got a cell phone call. John pulled over for 10 minutes or so, because when we make a turn the signal drops and a re-dial is necessary. This was a sad news call, so did not want the hassle of a dropped signal.
The call, from Atlanta, GA was about a friend from childhood, who had died 3 months ago; Joyce Davis Fisher. Her husband had been in the hospital himself after her 3 surgeries and death, and was just finally able to call me to tell me. His name is David Fisher.

That was followed by bad luck with my Facebook ID being stolen and someone using my profile picture and cover picture to solicit money from my friends to help me out in some way. It’s called “hacking” and it is a sad commentary on the activity on the web of people trying to scam others out of money. It was definitely not a nice thing to happen on Mother’s Day!

Here’s a cute Mother’s Day comment from a dog trainer we know (Dan Hoke) in WA that he sent to the NWFTC list. (That the NW Field Trial Council, for all pointing dogs organization in the PNW.)

Dan said, “Anyway, with Mother’s Day coming Sunday, I figured Ol’ Marsh, deserved some Flowers or something. I guess I was too late for Flowers. So the Lady offered up that I could get Mom some Balloons. ……… “Sure sounds great”. “Get me a dozen, various colors”. Holy Crap, $63!!!!!! Geeeesh, To say the least, I was shocked by the price! I asked the Balloon Blower upper Gal why they were so expensive, She let out a sigh………..and said, “Inflation.”

Another sweet comment on Facebook from Nevada, from a former student, wishing me a Happy Mother’s Day…

“Awesome! Happy Mother’s Day to a mama of thousands of students!!!!! We love you!”

Hope your week was fine. Apologies for the late arrival of this week’s blog post.

Nancy and John
Still on the Naneum Fan

Monday, May 1

For Apr 30 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=1.72. Events: 1 CSR, 11 H, 1 OA, 16 RERA. Time on 4 hrs 47 min with (max = 13 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 89, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 93.4%. Pulse avg. 53.2, low 49.

Interesting day, started with no electricity, so no breakfast or hot water to wash with. We made it and left for the doctor’s office in Cle Elum about 8:45. The appointment was for John, but I went along to visit and say goodbye to our doctor since 1988. He invited us to his retirement party on May 17 (it will be up there in the Cle Elum clinic). We carried him a bottle of White Heron Roussanne and of White Heron Syrah. He was pleased. I requested a picture, and he obliged. Our doctor since 1988 is in the middle, Paul M. Schmitt. He is retiring this month.

While there, I picked up my prescription for a pain pill which has to be delivered in person and not faxed to the pharmacy (because of controlled substances). It is Oxycodone.

Not knowing whether we had electricity, and starving from no breakfast, we took a gift card and ourselves for a brunch at IHOP. We both had a special off the spring fling menu – a platter with 3 sausage links, 3 pieces of bacon, hashed brown potatoes and 2 eggs over medium. With it was a special double pancake stack. John had his with strawberries and whipped cream (the waitress told us that they were out of blackberries – I’m sure he’d have preferred that); I had praline pecans, peaches, and ice cream on mine. We brought away a sausage link, hash browns and some of the pancakes for later. We simply added our own eggs & cheese.
From there we went to the grocery.

Once home, we found the power had returned 3 hours prior, so off about 3.5 hours. That was nice. John had talked to a crew looking for the problem. So before we left, they did not know why the power was gone.
Then finally, we both were tired and laid down. I slept for 2.5 hours. Think I needed it after a short night’s sleep.

Tuesday, May 2

For May 1 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.14. Events: 1 H, 1 PP, 14 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 58 min with (max = 23 L/min). I BOTCHED my Oximetry for tonight, because I accidentally hit record and not upload. It erased all last night’s data. Rats.

I had called the PUD early this morning to see what the story was on our power outage yesterday. Found out some interesting information. Naneum Road runs from the Vantage highway north only about 9 miles. Yet, that road is served by 3 different lines (the PUD calls it phases, A, B, and C). We are in phase B, and all the houses along that transmission line went dark. Neither A nor C were affected. Some of our nearest neighbors had no interruption. Interesting. The technician told me they had a map and he would have it sent to my email. I have not received it.

Music all day, with final prep of the master. Finally left at 2:40 for town to copy the music. Didn’t get back until after 4:00. John and I visited a little and I worked on organization of the song sets I had run. I need to finish. But I do have 3 to take to the Food Bank to hand off to a some people ahead of time so they can put their music in books and review songs on line they do not know. I still have to have John’s help in removing staples from 17 old copies for the audience, replacing the front cover playlist, and adding 3 new songs at the end.

I went over to my neighbors to pick up a Nioxin shampoo and conditioner set. John picked her some asparagus to thank her for making the effort to get the stuff at her discount, and I covered her cost.

We had a message on Facebook about our Brittany in California.Daisy retrieving (crop of the photo) on the right, to trainer, Scott Azevedo, 5-2-17. Photo by Deanna Azevedo.

Wednesday, May 3

For May 2 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.62. Events: 4 H, 20 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 30 min with (max = 11 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 87, 1 event <88% with overall avg., 92.3%. Pulse avg. 55.0, low 50.

I attended the Food bank and SAIL but my friend Gloria is sick (shingles) and wasn’t able to come along with me. Pretty much a usual day, otherwise. I was given a lovely western shirt (see below on Friday) by my friend, Joanie Taylor. She brought her Viola today and added richness to the group’s music, especially on the waltzes.

I was tired and took a 20-minute power nap that went to more!

Whoopee – I got all the music together for tomorrow’s play date at the Prestige Rehab. I had run 7 copies of the new audience copies, so I still have yet to get John’s help putting the other leftovers together properly.

Thursday, May 4

For May 3 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.16. Events: 1 H, 13 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 14 min with (max = 9 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 88, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 91 7%. Pulse avg. 60.6, low 50. Oximeter battery died at 4:53 a.m., but most of the night was on it, so I still had useful information to report.

I finished posting my BP records.

I went by the hospital with Daffodils for the front desk folks and to get my lab records printout. Then I went on to the Rehab to play music. We had 9 folks there and a good time with our new music for May/June. Afterwards, I went to say goodbye to Mae Opperman, who is declining dramatically. Four of her family were with her. She was my first roommate at the Rehab in 2010, and I have always called her my ray of sunshine because her positive attitude and assurances that I would walk again gave me the power to try and the confidence that she had been there and survived to be able to make it around on her own. She is now 96. She was breathing but unable to respond, yet I held her hand and thanked her for being my sunshine. I used to always dedicate that song to her, when she came to the park or to where we were performing in an assisted living home, so I just had a conversation at her bedside about those memories I would keep always. I am confident that it is possible for people to hear and understand when they are nearing death, and I’m positive my words were comforting to her daughter and the 3 grandchildren.
Birthday gal, Raychel, 2nd from right with her family. From the left is the enchiladas table, me (in the new western shirt) at the first table for utensils, tomatoes, seasoned asparagus, chips & dip, and John with the cooks at the grill (pork, fish, and shrimp). Nice party. Chocolate Kahlua cake for dessert and a double rainbow as we left for home, ~ 3 miles east and north. A few drops of rain fell as we left.

Storms were brewing and we all were able to view a beautiful double rainbow. The food was exceptional and the crowd was appreciative. Panorama across the top was taken from Bar 14 Ranch, 3 on bottom left, are there of the house, barn, and main home, 4th is at our home on Naneum Road, with the Ponderosa pine on the right, two stacked bottom right, are taken on Brooklane St. by Amy Davison.

Friday, May 5

For May 4 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.16. Events: 1 H, 13 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 25 min with (max = 10 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 86, 5 events <88% with overall avg., 90.4.x%. Pulse avg. 57.1, low 50.

Awakened at 1:30 a.m. by a raging thunderstorm. It kept us awake for 1/2 hour, and provided quite a fireworks show. We seldom have thunderstorms in our area, unlike living other places as we have over the years. The previous one here several years ago (but in the summer) ignited 17 wildfires and scorched the hills north of us. Thankfully, none were started this year. We are still very wet and very cool for May.

At 9:00 a.m., we had a call from the Yakima Heart Center scheduler that my cardiologist’s appointment needed changed to June 7, from June 5. It was not today !!! I had written on the calendar May 5 and not June 5! We were only 2 hours from leaving and luckily, the phone call came today. We went anyway to Yakima, because we needed things for us and for our neighbor from Costco.

We stopped first at Carl’s Jr. in Yakima for what we expected was to be a nice baby back rib sandwich w/coupon of buy one (combo), get one “thickburger” of equal or lesser value free. Once I saw the price, with tax, was over $12, I decided against it, and we left for Costco where we had a nice meal with dessert for >$5 less.
We had a Polish dog, drink, chicken Caesar salad, and a “very berry” sundae using frozen vanilla yogurt with strawberries.

Between our neighbor and us, we spent $344. We filled the cargo space in the blue Crosstrek without buying any large bags of dry cat or dog food or toilet paper (all large packages that hog space). There was room for more stuff on the backseat, but not a lot of room.

I turned around after an hour home, and went back to town for a Hootenanny. I was 5 minutes late getting there because of a stop at Safeway to pick up meds for me and soft drinks for John.

The performance was free and people from the community were encouraged to come sing along and bring instruments. I was the only fiddler in the audience, and there were none on stage (just 3 guitars) and all six people sang. One person was off stage handling percussion and the computer projection screen with the lyrics for the audience. I sat behind her.
The Folk Music group is called Woody’s Weavers with Hollie Caskey, Don Gallagher, Jan Jaffe, Carol Ritzenhaler, Dan Shissler, and Liz Smith. They were quite good.

I saw several friends there, and met the wife of a former student (we figure from 1989 or a year later). She was sitting beside me, and has a very nice voice. I sang with her, occasionally harmonizing.

It was fun and I came out to a gorgeous sunset.Woody’s Weavers on stage, another member (Liz Smith) to my left, percussion and computer/mic controller, and me in the audience fiddling with us all of us singing, Waltzin’ Matilda. Thanks to Amy Davison for taking the photos.

As we were leaving, we experienced a beautiful sunset.Sunset -Top left to right: Safeway parking lot from 4th St., Poplar St. view from Craig Hill, right looking toward campus and Barge Hall. Bottom left to right: Water tower on top of Craig Hill, zoom; long shot from Pfenning Rd., and to the right as well.

Saturday, May 6

For May 5 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.93. Events: 1 CSR, 5 H, 11 RERA. Time on 5 hrs 23 min with (max = 13 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 86, 2 events <88% with overall avg., 92.5%. Pulse avg. 53.9, low 50.

Sad wake-up call that my neighbor, Lorene Swedberg, passed away early this morning in the Yakima Memorial Hospital. She has been failing health-wise for a couple of years, but this was not expected at this time. So, it is a bit of a shock for the family and friends.

John left at 5:45 this morning and will do the same tomorrow morning for Crew Leader College required by Washington Trails Association for Crew Leaders and Assistant Crew Leaders. Trail building skills are handed down by the experienced ones to the new and less experienced ones. For these days the emphasis is on training and not just getting a job done. Some folks do management training and learn about regulations and emergency response – varies by location. Crews need to know how to use hand-held radios, and where is the nearest hospital from each work site, and much more.

Hope your week was fine.

Nancy and John
Still on the Naneum Fan

Sunday, Apr 23

For Apr 22 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.26. Events: 2 H, 1 PP, 21 RERA. Time on 7 hrs 38 min with (max = 9 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 89, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 92.5%. Pulse avg. 54.0, low 49.

We slept in an hour longer than usual!

Blog creation published just before 2:00 p.m. Won’t happen this week.

Ended up leaving for town in the truck to pick up broken concrete sidewalk pieces. They were heavy, but thankfully, John had the help of an 18 yr. old strong and agile young man, Trip (he’s John Landon III). They lifted a dozen large and many smaller pieces into the back of the truck, and then it started raining, so they both were soaked. I had on my rain jacket, but quit taking pictures.3 photos: Before in Ellensburg – after in our yard . . .
. . . showing where John unloaded them near the RR ties he plans to use with them to construct a loading dock. This is a project started several years ago when a bulldozer rearranged a bit of the field. Maybe it will get done this summer.

Another collage at the pickup site:John and Trip loading a chunk of sidewalk; middle John talking with Laura and an inside shot from the side canopy door of part of the load. I don’t have a photo of the complete load, until after it was emptied, but I watched a lot of hard work go into the loading. I’m grateful that Trip was there and willing to help John.
We left behind 4 pots of Hens and Chicks for them to plant and I will retrieve the pots when they get them planted. I also found out both the boys are musicians (Violin & Viola), so I will be sharing our KV F&F music with them.

We left and it started hailing on us, as we drove to Anne’s to water her plants and pick up her mail. On home and we had a late supper.

Finished Irish Lullaby that I received from Evie with corrections.

Monday, Apr 24

For Apr 23 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=1.72. Events: 2 CSR, 11 H, 1 PP, 24 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 23 min with (max = 13 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 88, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 93.1%. Pulse avg. 52.2, low 47.

John left for White Heron pruning at 7:40 and I sat resting for 1/2 hour. I’d already begun my day early with taking John’s BP. Finally, the new medication is working to lower it. This morning was the lowest I have ever seen for him: 118/70 with pulse 55 – more like my readings (except his pulse is always lower).

These daffodils cheered me and made washing dishes a happy occurrence when I could see these and look over them to watch birds feeding.Daffodils from our yard. John wants some of the pink ones.

John called to ask me to boil some eggs, as yesterday, for a salad: smoked turkey, cheese, Honeycrisp apple, egg, a little relish, with a small amount of mayonnaise.

I spent the day on chores at home. When John got home we ate, and then he went outside.

I’m still following Anne and Glenn Engels trip to Peru. Here’s today’s fix.Peruvian Dancers and Musicians at their evening dinner.

Tuesday, Apr 25

For Apr 24 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.52. Events: 1 CSR, 3 H, 20 RERA. Time on 5 hrs 49 min with (max = 13 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 88, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 93.1%. Pulse avg. 51.9, low 50.

I received a haircut today from Celia. I took a Nioxin Conditioner bottle to Celia for her to buy me a replacement on part 2 of the washings. I still have enough of the other parts. I came home and decided on the date of my next haircut. We put it on hers and my calendar. She’s done my hair since 1988, and now continues from her home, as she closed her business a decade ago. She’s only a little over a mile away.

I had my lunch as leftovers from salad yesterday and did dishes. I seldom complain of doing that chore, because John is so great about doing all the cooking, and he helps with the heavy pieces.
After getting home from my haircut, I went through more music preparation. Our exercise class was not held today because they are preparing for tonight’s shindig. It is the annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner at the Armory when the paid staff of agencies of various sorts honor their community helpers. Our music group qualifies for recognition from several of the sponsors. John’s trail work does not earn him a spot but now he goes as a spouse.

We had a good time and fun with friends from our group at our table. We had Evie and Peter Schuetz, Gerald Gordon, Tim Henebry and Roberta Clark, John and me at the table, and next door were four of the folks from the AAC (the senior center). We had room at our table for one other, but she had knee pain and couldn’t join us.

This poster, below, presents the theme of the evening. Center pieces were glass jars with an inch of sand in the bottom, shells, and related decorations. It is shown in the left photo under the poster.The invitation.Center photo is my photo. Lise McGowan, Pacifica Senior Living, took the 2 on the left & right edges.
Left is our centerpiece, the meal with BBQ beef brisket sandwich with salad sides of carrot/raisin, Cole slaw, potato salad, and baked beans. This was preceded by a mixed salad. Lemonade, coffee, or water for beverage. On the right is a view of the incredible dessert table offerings. Nancy & John at the Volunteer Appreciation dinner, with the long wall decoration backdrop from the Ellensburg Adult Activity Center.

Another fix from Peru:Amazon Rainforest canopy, water lilies >3′ across, & wild banana.

You can be as smart as a 5th Grader: Giant Water Lilies
Use this [ large lily pads amazon-river thorns ] as an ‘Image’ search phrase. Lots of pictures are posted.

Wednesday, Apr 26

For Apr 25 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=1.40. Events: 1 CSR, 10 H, 21 RERA. Time on 7 hrs 8 min with (max = 15 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 88, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 92.5%. Pulse avg. 53.4, low 40.

This was the last day of pruning wine grapevines for John. Next week, when they round up enough people (5 needed), he will go back to help with bottling the Rose’.

I have to go for a blood draw tomorrow, for my standing order, and for 3 tests for my appointment next week with my cardiologist. I called Kim at the Lab to alert her that I would be coming so she could return my 3/4 size violin I loaned her daughter. The lab was busy and no one was answering the phone, so Leah at the front desk offered to personally deliver the message! It is not a far walk for her to do that, but it was very nice. Maybe I can carry some Daffodils to her. I did, on Friday.

Interesting break this morning when I went to the kitchen to fix my toast. I looked out the window and saw a lone Merriam turkey alternately flipping his tail feathers into a fan. I grabbed my camera and went to another window. After a couple of pictures, I realized I needed to video the activity. Here are the amusing results below. Video is rather short because I had to stop and run outside to shoo him away from the truck, although it wasn’t likely to be damaged.Merriam Turkey attacking himself in the shiny bumper of the F350

Tom sees Tom and fight ensues

Very windy day – up to 40mph gusts! Just when I was out gallivanting about town.

Today, was our little mascot Haley’s 4th birthday. I carried a stuffed Dalmatian puppy by for her and met both sets of grandparents. What a nice surprise! Check below for her thank you note.
Gloria and I were on our way home from singing and eating at the Food Bank Soup Kitchen (where a group of us play music for 1/2 hour), and then afterward, she and I go to SAIL exercise.

Thursday, Apr 27

For Apr 26 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=1.49. Events: 1 CSR, 10 H, 10 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 43 min with (max = 15 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 88, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 93.0%. Pulse avg. 53.0, low 49.

I went for my blood draw. Whoopee. INR=2.3, Potassium=4.7, and other tests: CMP 1.3 Creatine, Uric Acid 3.9, BNP, 2.66.
I do not have to go back for another month. NICE! The other tests were for my May 5 appointment with my Cardiologist.

We played music at Hearthstone to an appreciative audience. Met Tom there (guy we’ve known since his ex-wife took our Wine class years ago. Now he’s a resident there. I gave out the new song list to a couple of people and encouraged other capable of printing their own to do it to save on my ink and paper cost. I use our supplies to get the master arranged, ready for copying or sending, and then printing for all those without a printer. At least this time, I only have to add 3 songs to the audience copies and make a couple of sets to round out the number of the audience. Each year, five or more disappear – not returned by the audience, but what do they do with them? I gave a printed copy of the new song list for May & June to the two people there who do not have a computer as I had emailed the list to others.

I received a nice thank you note from Haley for her birthday present, the stuffed Dalmatian doggie. Right after she sang the words to Cockles & Mussels today, we all sang Happy Birthday to Haley! Everyone in the audience sang along as well! They love her at all the places we go.Received this today from Haley and mom, Amy. Haley’s drawings have been translated by Amy on the inside of card to the right.

Friday, Apr 28

For Apr 27 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=1.95. Events: 2 CSR, 13H, 17 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 41 min with (max = 16 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 88, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 92.4%. Pulse avg. 54.0, low 49.

I received a post from an Association of Pacific Coast Geographers (APCG) member that I thought I would share with our blog readers. John and I consider ourselves life-long geographers, but we still have to deal with new acquaintances asking place name questions. This excerpt below comes from Stephen Cuhna, Professor of Geography at Humboldt State University in Arcata, CA. I believe it is worth repeating here.
He says:

I faced this question every year during state and national geography bees. It was necessary to reassure parents that their kid’s love for geography would not sidetrack their inevitable march towards medical and law school.

The following passage, from in the NGS Geography Bee Study Guide for grades 4-8.

Knowing where places are located is an important first step to learning geography and enjoying the Bee. However, geography is much more than places on a map. Identifying Brazil, Zaire, Mt. Everest, Stockholm, and the Yangtze River are to geography what the alphabet is to reading. They open the gate for boundless and lifelong learning. Once you learn the places on a map, the real heart of geography is understanding why people settled there, who their neighbors are, how they make a living, why they dress and speak as they do, and what their kids do for fun. Developing this sense of place will raise a flat map to life.

Geographers investigate our global climate, landforms, economies, political systems, human culture, and migration. They are concerned not just where something is located, but why it is there, and how it relates to other things. A good geographer knows how to combine this information from many different sources, and to identify patterns that help us understand our complex world. Geography explains why your grandmother moved to Tucson (warm and dry climate), how oil from Kuwait reaches Italy (by way of the Suez Canal), where the tropical rainforest grows (near Equator), who faces towards Mecca as they pray (Moslems), and which continent is the most populated (Asia). In a nutshell, geography is the “Why of Where” science that blends and enriches history, literature, mathematics, and science.

John picked me Daffodils in two containers. I took them to four different places in town.

My first stop was the old Barge Hall (first building on the CWU campus) to a scholarship (fundraiser) luncheon on the 4th floor. I entered with a bouquet of daffodils and set them up in a glass on the table. We had an awesome “dinner” – for fewer people than the usual dozen, so there were leftovers the cook, Bobbie Broderius shared with some of us, as we were leaving. The main dish was a scrumptious lasagna. I brought home two large servings from which we will get 4 meals. We added frozen broccoli, on the side, and froze as two packages. With it today, we had two salads and warmed buttered, seasoned French bread. For dessert, chocolate and birthday cake ice cream with little crispy cookies.

I went by the hospital with daffodils for the front desk and for the lab, and picked up printed lab records. Got all my lab data since Jan 10 printed on 4 sheets (free). If it is more than 10 pages, one has to pay $10. The significance of Jan 10 is that is the last time I saw my main cardiologist, when he changed me to the new heart medication, Entresto, and I have to monitor my Potassium and my BP. I also have to have a Pro Time test monthly for my Coumadin, so I had my PCP add the potassium to the standing order for my INR. That simplifies things immensely.

From there I was off to SAIL exercise class with Erica leading. I presented a large can (fancy vase) of daffodils to Katrina, telling her John sent them, and told the AmeriCorps gals to take them home over the weekend to enjoy. At the end of class, I had to go to Super 1 pharmacy to pick up Amiodarone. From there on the trip home, I picked up Anne’s mail, delivered to her chair, a package I had been saving of her mail. While there, I checked on the plants that need watered every 4 days.

Ending the day with another photo collage from Peru:Peruvian Wildlife – Water lilies, Macaw, Parrot nibbling Glenn’s ear, Toucan, and Monkey.

Sat, April 29

For Apr 28 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.75. Events: 5 H, 17 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 42 min with (max = 9 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 87, 2 events <88% with overall avg., 92.0%. Pulse avg. 54.0, low 50.

It was chilly last night, and some of the water out front froze on the top. John put young plants inside the pickup canopy with 15 gallons of rain water (as a heat source) and brought in the plum tree cuttings into the house.

Sunny, not windy. John used the time to spray nasty chemicals on nasty weeds, take Annie the Brittany for walks, feed horses, and other do other chores.
I worked on music and dishes and a little on other paperwork all day.

John picked asparagus to go with the BBQ beef ribs he slowly baked most of the day. Asparagus is somewhat high in Vitamin K, to conflict with my Coumadin (lowers it), so I requested some wine with dinner (raises it). It was right on 2.3 on Thursday. I cleaned the dust off two wine glasses and measured what 4 ounces was and poured that for me of Syrah, from White Heron, where John has been pruning. Oh, so tasty. Fruity and very nice. I enjoy the whole dinner. I think we need to do this more often. [Syrah is a dark-skinned grape variety grown throughout the world, sometimes called Shiraz. This link gives an interesting report.]

This photo is combined with Saturday’s dinner and Sunday’s lunch.Left, Saturday night’s with Syrah – right, Sunday’s lunch for me – grilled chicken-egg salad, with apples and cheese, blueberry yogurt & Cheez-its.

Sunday, April 30

For Apr 29 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.62. Events: 4 H, 19 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 25 min with (max = 11 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 88, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 92.2%. Pulse avg. 52.6, low 49.

I just finished John’s haircut, the temperature is 52, and very windy just had 36 mph gusts the past two hours, on their way to 49 mph, until 7:00 tonight. Highest we saw this afternoon was 46 mph, measured at the airport 5 miles south of us.

I came back to work on the blog, and received a notification that the professional videotaping of the Songs of the Sixties program I mentioned in the blog last week (on April 21) had been posted by the local Educational TV station. Here is the link to over an hour of great music.Songs program

John decided to take time to download the Creators Update version of Windows 10. It was supposed to take 90 minutes to update but did so in about 65, and that was after a 2 hour download – allowed continued use while that happened. I was checking it throughout the hair cutting every 5 minutes to keep his computer from sleeping).

Wind gusts made it to 46 mph at 3:53 today.
As the sun goes behind the Cascades, the wind is dropping with it. Now at sustained 15.

Hope your week was fine.

Nancy and John
Still on the Naneum Fan

Sunday, April 16

After the blog was out, I sent an Easter card to several people, and was on Facebook checking birthdays, when an “ad” came across on The Free Box site for a giveaway of a 6′ 28″ bookcase. I was notified something had just been offered 35 minutes ago. We drove an F-350 to carry a 35 pound object because it was 6 inches to long to fit in the Forester. Round trip distance was about 20 miles. John says the bookcase is the most expensive free thing we’ve gotten. Nancy says, “Probably not.”

I worked on birthday & anniversary cards through Jacquie Lawson’s unique UK site and sent out an Easter card.

Monday, Apr 17

For Apr 16 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=1.22. Events: 1 CSR, 8 H, 16 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 32 min with (max = 16 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 88, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 92.5%. Pulse avg. 52.6, low 48.

John went to White Heron. It’s only 3 pruners this week, and just John & Cameron this coming Friday.

I managed to cancel the Haband VIP service after taking advantage of all the discounts. I had to get out or pay $15 / mo for something for which we have no use. They try hard to keep selling things after the initial contact.

INTERNET red light stopped progress, and I had to restart the router/modem.
I worked on the Jobs list ‘sends’ and music for the Food Bank, finishing Alexander’s Ragtime Band, Amazing Grace in C, and finally sent 6 pdfs off to Evelyn at 12:43. We are changing the keys to C or G for songs we previously did in D because our harmonica players only have C & G instruments.

I boiled eggs and made chicken salad for the next 3 days. It was a special mix, with added Honeycrisp apple that John brought home and grated cheddar cheese. Great lunch. He brought home two $10 boxes of 12 each of the Honeycrisp from Double Diamond in Quincy (been in ‘controlled atmosphere’ {CA} storage since fall). The image above is of the cars parked in front of Double Diamond (left) and Starr (right) – almost all these are for folks sorting and boxing apples, most into boxes of 40 pounds. Bigger packers are located in Wenatchee and the Yakima area.
This is nearing the end of the big Honeycrisp. Later they will have Apricots, boxed and sold fresh, because they do not keep in CA, as do apples. We don’t know the price yet.

My friend, Glenn Engels & his mom Anne, from Ellensburg has been sending pictures to his Facebook site all week. They are in Peru. Throughout the week, I will share his photos, as collages of my favorite shots of all the ones he is posting.These were in Cuzco. Anne with an Alpaca, Glenn with some local kids, and a wall hanging he purchased.Some more Peruvian images: a musician, guinea pigs on the dirt floor of a home, and garbage-eating receptacles.

Tuesday, Apr 18

For Apr 17 CPAP. I cannot report CPAP figures, today, because I did not replace the SD card in the machine last night. (I have to take it out in the morning and put in my computer to run my software analysis packages for each collection device.) Time was about 7.5 hrs. Oximetry was quite good: SpO2 low 91, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 94.5%. Pulse avg. 54.4, low 50.

I bid John farewell for his trip to White Heron today, went back to bed, and slept another hour. Spent the rest of the morning working mostly on music, but some on other needs in the house. The weather was crazy. Sunny, rainy, and even hailed at a friend’s a few miles to the SW.

I stopped by the bread room on my way to the AAC and found two packages of cupcakes to take to the senior center for the folks who come for coffee and visiting, or there were enough they can use them for noon lunches for a few folks. I took 2 dozen. I carried two gluten free pizza dough packages by a friend’s, and dropped off two loaves of white bread to another person (both on my way to the senior center).

This was our last day of Jazzercise and 4 of us were able to be there to thank Katrina for 2 years of offering us low-aerobic Jazzercise at the AAC. We had a nice card and gift certificate to her favorite morning place for lattes on her way to work. Connie, Nancy, Katrina, Evelyn, Nan (missing Anne, in Peru)

I will add the colors of the day, from Peru, from her son, Glenn.Peruvians are bright color people

I dropped by Bi-Mart to check my numbers, and found two containers of Easter chocolate candies marked 50% off. Luckily, my ending number of my membership is a “1” – the chosen number to receive a free package of Aplets and Cotlets “fruitlet” candies (Apple, Pear, Cherry) from Liberty Orchards in Cashmere, WA. I wonder how many gifts they give away on Tuesdays?

After picking up mail for Anne at Rosewood, I came home and continued working on the music I need to print for tomorrow that Evelyn didn’t get done before she ran low on paper.

Wednesday, Apr 19

For Apr 18 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.47. Events: 2 H, 1 OA, 2 PP, 19 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 27 min with (max = 12 L/min). Slept in after. Oximetry: SpO2 low 88, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 91.6%. Pulse avg. 55.6, low 50.

I awoke abruptly from interrupted sleep with nightmares about cleaning up this house. John left at 7:40 a.m.

This morning I continued searching for a cleaning person (for folks that moved here, not knowing it gets cold in winter; they are selling and moving to someplace warmer). I did not get my own dishes done.

Filling the “pill organizer” once a week is a tedious job and thankless task, but I accomplished it. I must check on the price of Amiodarone before I order a 90-day refill.
Need to finish getting the music ready for the food bank today, and load up ‘hens & chicks’ (plants) and clothes and get out of here to pick up Gloria.

I picked her up and we went to the Food Bank for music and food after, thanking us. We had a bunch of fans at the front table. From there we ran an errand to the bank, and went on to SAIL exercise class at the senior center. After that, we both needed some grocery shopping done. On my way home to let her off, I stopped by and delivered some hens & chicks (succulents) to a friend (story below on Friday).

One of our new songs next month has been presented and put into SongWriter 2012 software by Evie Schuetz. I found this rendition on line that is worth watching. I know you will enjoy it as much as I did.

Bonaparte’s Retreat, 1981, Barbara Mandrell & Glen Campbell (with him on Guitar & Bagpipe) Link

Today’s entry from high up in the Andes (from Glenn):Chicón Mt., 18,143 feet and examples of terracing

Thursday, Apr 20

For Apr 19 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.44. Events: 1 CSR, 2 H, 1 OA, 1 PP, 10 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 49 min with (max = 7 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 89, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 93.1%. Pulse avg. 53.9, low 50.

We entertained today at Pacifica and had an appreciative audience with a bunch of us performing. Our newest fiddler, Laina Brown, treated us at the end with a classical solo piece. She is so good and gracious to share her talents. Everyone in the audience loved her presentation, and all of us players as well.

After music, I picked up potting containers of all sizes from Sharla Layman’s husband’s workplace on Elmview, south of the airport. We’ve been starting new plants and giving them away, so the containers are much appreciated. Sharla is also a MOPS mom and participated in offering succulents (along with Amy), to the project described below on Friday.

I called EBRG stores about Sunflower seeds, looking for the best price. John went by & bought two bags. Best price on gasoline today was $2.73/gal and then we get a 4% return (~11¢) from the credit card agency. Life is way too complicated.

Our friend who gave us sweatpants, found a deserving person for us to give our Gazelle exercise machine, pictured in a previous week’s blog. At this rate of disposal, if we live to be 100, we will be rid of all this stuff.

Friday, Apr 21

For Apr 20 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=1.81. Events: 11 H, 19 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 5 min with (max = 10 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 90, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 94.8%. Pulse avg. 52.7, low 47.

Up at 5:40 a.m. and back to bed for almost an hour.

John left at 7:30 a.m. for White Heron.

I decided to go to the program, “Sixties’ Songs of Peace and Protest,” held at Hal Holmes center in Ellensburg tonight. I found my Peace Symbol necklace to wear, which had been gifted to me over a year ago. It had belonged to a young girl’s mom, and she had no use for it. This evening was an excellent performance, and I’m glad I went.

I made a few short videos of my favorites, but the whole program eventually will be broadcast on the Ellensburg Educational Station. I’ll try to get that link to share.

My evening’s favorite was The Same River, by Juni Fisher / arr. Judy Coder (who is on the guitar below). I love their harmony.

favorite Link

Here’s a funny one

Feel Like I’m Fixin’ to Die Rag, written by Country Joe McDonald – had the audience singing along on the chorus. This is full of GI humor .. chorus:

And it’s one, two, three,
What are we fighting for?
Don’t ask me, I don’t give a damn,
Next stop is Vietnam;
And it’s five, six, seven,
Open up the pearly gates,
Well there ain’t no time to wonder why,
Whoopee! we’re all gonna die.

These two gals (Jennifer Epps and Judy Coder) are members of a (normally western music) group from Ellensburg, called Notable Exceptions. You can find them on the web.

Here was an earlier song in the program, performed by the Ellensburg’s Women’s Chorus. I know 3 people who sing in the group. One of them (Minerva) is also in our Fiddlers & Friends group.

Where Have all the Flowers Gone?

I was particularly interested in recording this song because I have been working on getting the music score into SongWriter to share with our group to include in our May/June playlist.
I have been working on our music with Evie’s great help, for the Fiddlers & Friends. It’s quite the project.

This was the day that Glenn and his mom visited Machu Picchu.Machu Picchu and Inca ruins

Just looking at these make me dizzy.

Sat, April 22

For Apr 21 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.62. Events: 3 CSR, 4 H, 24 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 25 min with (max = 17 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 90H, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 93.5%. Pulse avg. 52.5, low 47.

Find time to cut John’s hair this weekend. Missed it today. I kept thinking it would rain and he would come in, in the daylight.

I am still working on finishing the new entries and making pdfs. I’m working between two computers. Some of the stuff from Evie is in a different version of SongWriter that only can be utilized on my new Dell laptop. All my other stuff is on the Toshiba. I’m slowly migrating to the new one.

Bob Hall’s “Bottle Stopper” gift.

A friend from Oregon mailed a package:John created this collage. A comment on the wine bottle that we actually bought at the old train station in Ellensburg. It is vintage 1988, the year I started my full-time teaching job at CWU.

Bob was a student at the Univ. of Iowa (UI) with John, in the same starting class of ’67. We are trying to figure all the people we knew from that year. Bob made stoppers for a few who started there 50 years ago. It has the UI’s mascot (a Hawkeye) on the top of the turned wooden top adhered to a food-okayed bottom.

John carried the stopper over and showed it to Cameron yesterday. I figure the bottling crew can test it next week when they bottle the Rose’ and have a bottle after the work is done, with some good food.  John plans to take smoked turkey. He thought it would happen this week, but it didn’t. He had bought the turkey, but we were afraid it wouldn’t last, even though smoked, so we have been eating it and he will get more, next week.

We made a great egg salad lunch with cut-up smoked turkey, Havarti cheese, Honeycrisp apple pieces, and relish.

Speaking of crafty things, Here are the results of the MOPS craft project to make chicks (of hen and chicks succulents) for all 50 Moms of Pre-School children (MOPS). Two others besides us, both MOPS members, Amy & Sharla (mentioned above), donated the chicks. Left – Before donation from John (via Nancy), of Hen and chicks to Amy, and on the right, one of the resulting planted chick containers. Scale is difficult to visualize, but the glass containers received were smaller than expected so they needed the tiny “chicks.”Besides being a musician (our flute, penny whistle, and washboard player), with her wonderful 4 yr old, Haley, our group’s mascot, she is an artist and a baker. She created this hand-formed succulent cake. You have seen her flower-decorated cupcakes in earlier blogs. What a talented young woman.

Sunday, April 23

For Apr 22 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.26. Events: 2 H, 1 PP, 21 RERA. Time on 7 hrs 38 min with (max = 9 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 89, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 92.5%. Pulse avg. 54.0, low 49.

Today, and the entire coming week, has clouds, chance of showers and a temperature range between 35 and 55°F. Over near White Heron, Apricots are blooming (pink) and vines are just starting pushing out leaves. South of Yakima (~75 miles) there is a claim that apple trees are flowering. An old residential section of Yakima on a hill west of town (early well-to-do folks) is filled with flowering plants. We’ll be down that way on May 5th, so hope flowering does not progress too rapidly.

Hope your week was fine.

Nancy and John
Still on the Naneum Fan

Sunday, April 9

For Apr 8 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=1.01. Events: 1 CSR, 7 H, 10 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 56 min with (max = 17 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 89, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 94.4%. Pulse avg. 53.5, low 50.

The AAG (Association of American Geographers) finished today, and my friend Joseph Kerski, Geographer at ESRI, sent me some photos of his time there. I did not miss many conferences and giving a paper during my sojourn in WA and ID over 37 years. After retirement in 2010, I have only attended one AAG meeting (at my cost), when it was held in Seattle a few years ago. Previously, the university covered most of the costs. John and I even went to an AAG conference in Toronto, Canada in 1966, as students, before we were married. I drove my old ’35 Ford from Cincinnati and took Nancy “J”, my friend since 6th grade, with us. We had a blast. I am a lifetime member (awarded after 50 years of membership). I began while in Cincinnati, in 1965. Top left is a photo of the ESRI exhibitor’s booth, top right, Joseph in front of a huge globe that belongs to a Geography Department at Bridgewater State University in Connecticut, and bottom is the Boston skyline. The clouds above and under those conference photos are beautiful, but I could not fit them all on my screen to snag into the image.

John sent me an Excel file with a month’s recording of his blood pressure and pulse readings. Not only did he list the figures, but also he constructed a graphic time comparison. I sent this on through the medical portal for Dr. Paul Schmitt. The Lisinopril (to lower BP) seemed to have stalled out and Paul had said he would add another med if that happened. So, he prescribed 12.5 mg of Hydrochlorothiazide. This is the starting dose (and 3 days later there seems to be no effect: next?).

I transferred all my BP information from my monitor’s memory, to my book, and now I have to keep it up daily because the memory only stores 60 readings and then overwrites it, so I lost ~3 weeks of data by being busy and lazy. I do not have an appointment until May 5, with Dr. Kim, so I will have a lot of information to share, even with missing stuff for 18 days of March. I don’t think I will go to the effort John did, however. At the moment I am fine, and only have to check my BP to be sure the systolic measurement does not go over 140 or below 100. It has been fine since starting on the new heart medication, Entresto, back in January.

I registered for the $5,000 garden makeover (actually $250 worth of stuff), being given in June 2017. See NWF.org/Subaru to register (free). John found the information when we were at the Subaru dealer last week for maintenance on my Forester, and picked up a plantable seed packet that I gave to Amy for her to plant with Haley in their flower garden.

I mentioned to our neighbor, Louaine, that John planted the seeds from a pretty flowering Almond Tree she has (and gave us seeds from over a year ago). This was her response, when I told her he managed to cultivate 3 trees and planted them with a covering protective guard fence, near the end of our driveway. She said, “That’s interesting about the Hall’s Hardy almond babies.” Here is a collage of two of the three trees. Left is the largest tree, and right is the middle-sized one, which is planted on the opposite side of the driveway’s entrance from Naneum Road, seen traveling west – east in the left photo. Sand gives the light-gray color on the surface.

Monday, Apr 10

For Apr 9 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=1.66. Events: 1 CSR, 11 H, 2 PP, 1 OA, 21 RERA. Time on 7 hrs 14 min with (max = 16 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 87, 1 event <88% with overall avg., 93.0%. Pulse avg. 53.3, low 50.

A pruning day for John who left at 7:40 a.m. for White Heron. Temperature, 39°; snow on hill (pictured above, without snow).

I wrote a note about John’s blood pressure to our doctor, to let him know about the paperwork we sent in the postal mail on Saturday (supposedly picked up at our rural mailbox), with details about his continued high BP. He called us a couple days later because the mail never arrived. We sent him graphs on another email account because the patient portal (NEXTMD) would not take images.

I called my PCP nurse to ask about my blood vial (it was lost by the lab last Friday; never recovered), and I requested my Coumadin and Allopurinol prescriptions be sent to the SAFEWAY pharmacy, because of a better price by over 1/2, by using a coupon from GoodRX. I mentioned in the blog previously about the Coumadin cost for 2.5 mg, 90 tablets, going down from $34.22 to $15.58 (less by $18.64), and today, John brought my Allopurinol (180 tablets), that cost us $60.00. The cost at Safeway for that will be $32.59 (less by $27.41). Both of those were using my insurance co-pay. At Safeway, I pay cash, and can use my Amazon.com card and get 2% off my pharmacy cost. Therefore, it’s a win-win situation that saves me $46.05 + 92¢ rebate, for two 90-day prescriptions.

Some yellow apples are starting to get too soft for us, so John saw the 3 deer (not looking for handouts much now). He tossed a few apples in their direction and they did not refuse them.

I did some housework: dishes and two loads of clothes. On the clothes, I used both zipped nylon bags given to me, to keep underwear separated. Very handy.

I changed the key on Home on the Range from D to C so our harmonica player could join us playing. He only has a C and a G type harmonica (obtained by turning it over and blowing into the opposite side).

John called me from a traffic jam stop for road construction, about 12:30. He just dialed my number (on his phone) and it came up automatically on the Bluetooth through the dashboard car speakers, so we continued talking through the traffic diversion. Tomorrow he goes back for pruning again, but Wednesday it is supposed to rain, so he will help bottle Rose’ instead.

Tuesday, Apr 11

For Apr 10 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=2.51. Events: 1 CSR, 16 H, 1 PP, 17 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 23 min with (max = 19 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 87, 1 event <88% with overall avg., 93.3%. Pulse avg. 54.5, low 50.

John went pruning at White Heron.

I went to Jazzercise, by way of the Food Bank bread room, picking up some cupcakes for the AAC to go with coffee for the day, stopped by the Post Office to send a certified mail letter, and went to Safeway to deliver my prescription savings coupons to the pharmacy. On the way down the aisle, I noticed the Quick Response Code [ QR code ] price of a dozen eggs was $ .78, so I requested the price because I do not own a Smart phone. They gave it to me. A Japanese auto-parts supply giant, invented QR codes in 1994. We’ve been going downhill ever since. I went by Bi-Mart to check our number and after Jazzercise to Super 1 to pick up Lemon Pies, the last day for my rain check.

I fixed more music for the food bank tomorrow.

Wednesday, Apr 12

For Apr 11 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=1.25. Events: 2 CSR, 9H, 18 RERA. Time on 7 hrs 10 min with (max = 14 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 86, 2 events <88% with overall avg., 92.5%. Pulse avg. 53.9, low 49.

John stayed home because of rain and while he thought he would go to help bottle Rose’, he won’t, because they need more people than are available (some are unreturned snow-birds) to make the process work properly (5). He built another bird feeder – the new one is on the base of a Tamarack tree he cut off (leaning and too close to the house), cut about 7 feet up. The squirrel and the obnoxious Collared Doves were the first to find it, and the finches will not eat with the squirrel there. John left the platform in the Mountain Ash tree for when the squirrel takes over the other. We wonder what he’s doing with all the seeds.This photo shows both feeders, left is in the Mountain Ash tree in our front yard, and the right is atop a sawed off Tamarack (Larch) tree.New Larch feeder with birds – right with Douglas Tree squirrel

I decided to order with my discount from Haband something for us at a significant discount and free shipping, before I cancel my Haband VIP trial. I have heard awesome comments from two of our guitarists (Gerald and Maury) about their use of a Red Copper Ceramic no-stick pan, with NO oil required, and the ability to cook eggs in the same pan as other things. Gerald’s came from Fred Meyer (a Kroger Co.) here in town, where one can get a skillet for $19.95 for a 10 inch and $29.95 for a 12″, but, if bought in WA, we would have to add 8.2% sales tax to the total price.

I can get two 9-1/2″ ones at Haband for $29.98 total. That’s paying $19.95 for the first and the second for $9.99, with free shipping and a discount 10% (Haband VIP discount), plus another discount of 15% off a >$40 order, using my Haband credit card. So, $26.98 + $49.99 for a 9-1/2″ square deep dish one with 5 parts (acts as a baking dish, deep fryer, steamer, etc.). Total $79.97 minus both percents off = $59.97, so I ordered them. I don’t cook much, so I hope John likes them. He OK’d my purchase before I made it.

I printed some music copies for today where the key had been changed so the two harmonica players could play with us at the food bank. We played with a bunch of people, and to an appreciative and involved audience. The front table was filled with our fan club, all singing along, sharing books of lyrics.

Picked up John’s new med for blood pressure, and they also had my Entresto ready. I was surprised I didn’t have to wait a week for them to order it. I guess they must figure I’m good for it, and ordered an extra container last month. Supposedly, I am their only client using the medication. It is normally too expensive to have extras sitting around.

Crap – all my dental insurance allowance ($1,750) is spent up for the year, after having the two implants seated, for which just this year I had to pay $1,680 (more occurred from our out-of-pocket last year). I am afraid my monthly bill for dental insurance exceeds the amount of reimbursement. From now on, everything will be out of pocket – 4 cleanings, a build up, and hopefully nothing else. John’s is on a different tab, so his cleanings will be free and any work will probably be covered at 80%. Now we have to schedule eye exams and John is due for new glasses. Some of the expense will be covered.

John made a pork roast for supper and we had it with a baked potato and Yellow Delicious apples.

Thursday, Apr 13 Happy Birthday, Daisy Tre’

For Apr 12 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.73. Events: 6 H, 1 PP, 10 RERA. Time on 7 hrs 58 min with (max = 10 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 88, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 92.1%. Pulse avg. 53.5, low 49.

Unexpected trip to White Heron to prune. We thought it would rain, so John slept in, but Cameron called at 7:15 a.m. to say it was all right with no rain, and John left to prune; only 3 pruners worked today.

Today was my Brittany in California’s 4th birthday, and we received a photo from her trainer’s wife, Deanna, of Daisy on a “honor” of another dog’s point.On the right “honoring” the find of the Brittany on the left. Our dog’s call name is Daisy – and her official AKC name is Cedaridge Kip’s Camelot Shay Tre’ JH – – The JH title at the end is for Junior Hunter. She is with her trainer, Scott Azevedo, still competing in AKC Field Trials and also will start on her MH (Master Hunter) title in AKC Hunt Tests. Photo by Deanna Beals-Azevedo.

I called Haband with the order for the red copper pans.
I also called Meadows Place (assisted living home) with a 10-count for chairs. We had 13 people participating, counting Haley (see her photo below).

I got my tripod hooked to my camera to take tonight to videotape the lecture. I packaged some other stuff to meet someone there to drop off, and met someone else to pick up another item.

Left today at 1:00 to go to the Meadows Place; before John arrived home. We had a large turnout and a good audience. This photo was taken by Joanne Moore, who was there from Roslyn with her husband, Lloyd. They are friends of our guitar & Dobro player, Maury Martin. Joanne took this photo on her phone, during the presentation of Cockles and Mussels, sung by Haley Davison (almost 4 yrs old the end of this month), and backed by us. She is holding sticks that she used on other songs to keep the beat of the song. What a cutie. She is our group’s mascot.

We are called the Kittitas Valley Fiddlers and Friends. The group began in the 1950s. Two members of the original group still play with us. Another, the accordionist from the 50s is a patient in one of the nursing homes where we play, and she joins us in the semicircle when we are there. She is only able now to keep time to the music, but her timing is still right on and her smile never ends. She gets much happiness from watching Haley dancing. Her dad started the group. He was a blind fiddler. Her husband is one of our guitarists. Haley was standing in the sun in front of the group; her mom, Amy, is to the right of the picture, and she is our flute player, who also plays the washboard and penny whistle. Top left is our fiddler Evie’s arms, and I’m sitting on a piano bench, beside one of our mandolin players, Joanie. Behind her was our bass guitarist, Sharon. All the guys on guitars (Maury, Gerald, Charlie) were to the left, along with Tim on bass mandolin, Kevin on banjo, and Dean on harmonica. Our tambourine player, Anne, was to the far right. Photo by Joanne Moore.

We went to a talk tonight at the Historical Museum by Kelsey Doncaster, formerly my student in the REM graduate program.
Kelsey Doncaster 4-13-17 Lecture Kittitas County Historical Museum

Kelsey Doncaster presented an excellent discussion, “Managing Water in the West – Dynamite, Draglines, and the Unexplained Cracking of a Pressure Tunnel: Building the Kittitas Division of the Yakima Project.” Kelsey has worked as an historian for the Bureau of Reclamation since 2008. He was my student at CWU in my graduate class (REM 515: GIS in Cultural & Natural Resource Mgt,) in the Cultural and Environmental Resource Management Program.
Description on YouTube video: His presentation goes for just over 45 minutes and is followed by a little over 20 minutes of questions & answers. Video by Nancy B. Hultquist (Emerita Prof, Geography), with permission to tape by Kelsey Doncaster. Introduction was by Sadie Thayer, Museum Director.

We came home for a late dinner.
I uploaded the videotape to You Tube that I took tonight, and it worked overnight for over 2 hours on the upload. I’m happy our DSL worked through the night.

Friday, Apr 14

For Apr 13 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=1.17. Events: 7 H, 9 RERA. Time on 5 hrs 58 min with (max = 10 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 85, 1 events <88% with overall avg., 93.3 %. Pulse avg. 54.1, low 50.

This was non-pruning day so John worked in the yard here. Lots to do in the garden and other things. He wants to spray weeds with Glyphosate (RoundUp®), but the temperature is supposed to be over 60°F. No such luck. He did use an old T-shirt and filtered rainwater (25 gallons) so that when he can spray he won’t have to use house water. Ditch water has too much junk in it and clogs the nozzle, and we think that water was the source of the Giardia infection he had, so not wise to be spraying that on a lot of things.

I need a Pulmonary Function Test (PFT). I made it to the hospital for checking into the Cardio Pulmonary Lab a little before 10:45. I met Anne Engels there in the hospital lobby for some paperwork and wished her well on her upcoming 3-week trip to Peru with son, Glenn. I’m taking care of her mail and plants while she’s away, and her neighbor will look after the inside cat.

The PFT took longer than usual. WE did have to visit. Then equipment malfunctions and experienced staff consultations. I got a comparison of the past 3 test results (today included) for a trend analysis report. Also sent them to my cardiologist (for my May 5 appointment).

I was starving when the test was over, so I went by the Food Bank to see friends (from our horse riding days) who are the volunteer cooks on Friday. The menu today was a make what you want on it, Taco Salad. Very good, with a peach/plum cobbler (warm) for dessert. I sat with people I know from playing music there, and we had a nice visit, plus I met some new folks.

From there, I was off to Pet$ense for my order I made this morning for 3 cases of cat food, to buy with my $5.00 off a $35 purchase. It was already packaged at the front desk and one of the cashiers was kind enough to carry the load to my car. The price was about 46¢/can, less than any other place around, including Costco, and it only carries the Pâté .

I came home to finish getting the videotaping of last night’s talk to get off to the presenter and the director of the Kittitas County Historical Museum. This mentioned above in yesterday’s blog entry.

Then I worked on more paperwork, and some music for the Food Bank presentations, thrown together with the KV Fiddlers & Friends prep for the next two months, May/June. I’m using the same playlist as last year, but a few things have been changed on some of the songs, so I have to make a new master to send to the players (those who can print their own). By using the old list, I save time and printing costs by being able to use the same copies of lyrics for the audiences at 5 different places.

I came home to the sad news of the loss of Gil Kiesecker, a fiddler who passed across the rainbow bridge this afternoon at the age of 101. I heard him play in Kittitas at the WOTFA summer workshop in 2000. For 21 years, I was in a class there with his daughter, Jean K. Levold, but I never realized he was her father.

Below are some memories. The photos Jean sent to Roy & Shirley Calvert, asking them to pass the news to the rest of us in the WOTFA (WA Old Time Fiddlers Association). I have shared with a few who knew him and no longer are members. . . . . Dance fiddler from the Blue Mountains
Gil Kiesecker

Above is just an introduction to his life.

Here is a video of his fiddle playing.

Show Me the Way to Go Home

Gil was born in Anatone in southeastern Washington State in 1916 and was playing dances in that region when he was in grade school. Here he plays and sings the traditional closer for old-time dances in the Pacific Northwest. This closed the District 6, Washington Old Time Fiddlers show in Des Moines, WA, May, 2007. He has two CDs on Voyager, CD356, “Dance Fiddler from the Blue Mountain,” and CD360, “Blue Mountain Memories,” www.voyagerrecords.com. Video by Shirley Calvert.

Clearwater Stomp

Gil is backed up by Stuart Williams, guitar, on a tune he learned from a musician in Lewiston, Idaho, where the Clearwater River joins the Snake River near the Southeast corner of Washington State. This video was made at a workshop at the 2006 Northwest Folklife Festival, Seattle, by Lew Holt.

Then, with an introduction to Gil Kiesecker is the following:
Clearwater Stomp by Vivian Williams (fiddle) and husband Phil Williams (guitar) -2011

Link

Another musician near and dear to our hearts passed over the rainbow bridge, last month, Feb 16 at 80 – Phil Williams. He and his wife Vivian were excellent players and music historians. John and I attended some of their presentations in Ellensburg. Here is a link to a message about his death and the plans for a celebration of life this spring.

If you follow the Gil Kiesecker video on Clearwater Stomp, it is followed on You Tube by Phil Williams introducing Gil’s love and playing of the song, and a little bit of his history. Vivian plays the Clearwater Stomp backed by Phil. Link above.

Meanwhile, check this out regarding Phil Williams.
Link Re: Phil

Saturday, April 15

For Apr 14 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=1.88. Events: 1 CSR, 8 H, 1 PP, 1 OA, 11 RERA. Time on 4 hrs 48 min with (max = 11 L/min). Slept 4-1/2 more hrs off CPAP but on oximeter, AHI was 1.04 overnight. Oximetry: SpO2 low 85, 12 events <88% with overall avg., 92.0 %. Pulse avg. 53.2, low 49.

Morning sunshine!
John carried Sunflower seeds to the bird feeders and then worked in the garden, including doing 2 gallons of spraying there and elsewhere. He put cans over the Asparagus tips to protect them.

We took a walk around the yard today to see trees, flowers, and other things.

Little yellow bells are popping up in among some wild Cherry bushed (trees).Yellow bells – yellow aging to orange but can have faint brown markings inside, often turning deep red when withered.
Link to Fritillaria pudica

Yellow is the color for the day. Next is a collage taken from the end of our driveway, across our neighbors’ Swedbergs’ barn to Bregg Hill, a basalt outcropping, and the yellow wildflowers or weeds (we don’t have the energy to walk over and up to find out what they are). Top photo is just the top of the hill showing over their barns; the bottom shows the yellow blooms continuing to the north, down the hill, with 4 deer in the foreground.

We continued our tour, ending in the garden, and leaving out the onion shoot planting. Not much to see there, and the result of the late planting will not be known for 2 weeks or so. Although spring is sprung, Sunday morning temperature dipped below freezing.Replanting of strawberries: Before and after with walkway added, made from chipped trees left by last year’s FIREWISE activity.Two of the larger pots of Hens & Chicks needing re-potting. Need to give away some and break apart and replant. We do have some singles and smaller multiples.

Sunday, April 16 Happy Easter !

For Apr 15 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.63. Events: 5 H, 25 RERA. Time on 7 hrs 59 min with (max = 13 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 87, 1 event <88% with overall avg., 93.1%. Pulse avg. 52.5, low 49.

Cold…between 4 am and 6 am the airport readings were down to 30°. When I got up our porch was at 34°, but nothing looks damaged outside.

Hope your week was fine.

Nancy and John
Still on the Naneum Fan

Monday, Apr 3

For Apr 2 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=1.57. Events: 1 CSR, 10 H, 22 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 21 min with (max = 16 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 87, 1 events <88% with overall avg., 92.5%. Pulse avg. 54.9, low 51.

A pruning day for John who left at 7:30 a.m. for White Heron.

John called at noon to say he’d be late arriving. The road from George to Quincy has the DOT doing something with long delays. He is following a different route home, which he will have to use for the rest of the week.

I finished cropping the photos for AAC for the Louisiana Bayou and sent 99 Mb of stuff through the wetransfer.com site (free for downloads for 7 days). The photos I am taking for the senior center needed to be created at a higher resolution so the publisher can use some in the program of activities for the City of Ellensburg agencies that comes out quarterly.

John took photos of the ‘finish’ on the Baker’s Secret Teflon coating that was ruined cooking the roast for last Friday’s potluck.
See below for that story.

Tuesday, Apr 4

For Apr 3 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.15. Events: 1 H, 1 PP, 19 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 32 min with (max = 20 L/min). I did not do this oximetry before re-recording for tonight and wiping it out. However, I am sure it would have been good.

We had a rude awakening. A critter arrived into our house overnight. Rascal (cat) brought it over the fence (and maybe inside) and our dog delivered it to our bedroom. This appears to be a Bushy-tailed Woodrat (Neotoma cinerea), and a photo is here: Bushy
The dust pan is 9-10 inches across where Bushy is resting. Note the rounded ears, white feet, and bushy tail.

John left at 7:40 a.m. to prune at White Heron.

The pork roast for dinner last Friday John baked in a non-stick Baker’s Secret pan, with aluminum foil placed beneath it (and up over the pork loin). Cooking apparently adhered the foil to the surface. We soaked the pan in hot soapy water, but when the foil came up, it brought the coating with it. Seemed very strange because it was cooked in a “slow oven” (225°F) except for the last ½ hour.

RUINED TEFLON CAKE PAN
Left is the full pan; middle is the area of bubbled covering within the yellow frame (left pix); the large missing pieces of coating (upper right), where the metal of the pan shows.

I took it to Bi-Mart from where we bought it a couple years ago, to see if they would send it back to the company. I was surprised that they honored the lifetime guarantee and replaced with a slightly lighter version of the same sized pan. In addition, they were going to send the ruined one back to the company.

Currently, they had this 9 x 13 Baker’s Secret cake pan in house wares for $5.97.Replacement pan given. We have been appreciative of the business practices of Bi-Mart, with returns.

I went to get ice cream from Grocery Outlet, but they were out. While there, I went across the street to spend a $10 coupon from Jerrol’s. I applied it all to 3-ring dividers to use with our music endeavors around town.

Another photo awaited my arrival home. It is of my Brittany in CA.Daisy is happily running over parched land looking for birds. Photo taken by Deanna Azevedo, wife of Daisy’s field trainer. Almost all four feet are off the ground, and she’s smiling, with ears and tongue flying.

Another Tuesday stop yielded 40# of culled Yellow Delicious apples from the F.I.S.H. food bank. They are a little soft and aromatic. Still edible and also good for the deer.Collage of boxes of apples after unloading a large plastic bin that I will return tomorrow when I go play music there.Soon, “our” three deer came for dinner – mama and her twin fawns from last year. They are our “familiars” and co-exist with our cats, dog, squirrel, songbirds, and pheasant. The “winter” coats are looking ragged, but thankfully, the little girl made it through.

Wednesday, Apr 5

For Apr 4 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=1.17. Events: 9 H, 1 PP, 22 RERA. Time on 7 hrs 41 min with (max = 18 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 87, 1 events <88% with overall avg., 92.2%. Pulse avg. 53.2, low 47.

John left at 7:40 a.m. for White Heron pruning.

This morning, I ran copies of two pieces of music for the players and we ended up using only one at the food bank soup kitchen. The other I need to change the key and add a 4th verse onto the lyrics, “You are My Sunshine.”

While we are on a sunny yellow theme, I’ll add a collage of our bunch of goldfinches who have dramatically changed in color brilliance over the past month since we first saw them. Collage of Goldfinches in our front yard. Red finch on the far left. If you look forward to Saturday, you’ll see the close-ups John took with his 200mm lens.

I took Gloria with me today to the food bank. We found some rolls for her and a Rosemary Olive Oil loaf for John. We had a nice music session with lots of players and singers there and joining in from the audience. Afterwards, we enjoyed a nice meal. The place was filled today.

I got off the note about the retired geographers’ cancelled meeting next Tuesday morning and included the news about Jim Brooks’ passing. I attached copies of two articles and his obituary that appeared in the local paper, Daily Record, for those without subscriptions, or who live out of town. James Brooks was a geography professor and also was CWU’s President for 17 years. The CWU Library is named for him. If you want to read the material, send me your email address and a request.

John noticed the horses seemed interested in something – watching/watching/watching – but not appearing alarmed. He guessed Turkeys, and went to confirm. He saw only 4 or 5 as they entered the woods, but likely there were more. In previous years, we have had as many as 12 or 13.

Thursday, Apr 6

For Apr 5 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.83. Events: 2 CSR, 5H, 14 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 1 min with (max = 15 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 85, 2 events <88% with overall avg., 92.6%. Pulse avg. 52.9, low 50.

Too much rain today, so no pruning.

Checked with Barb and Dee Eberhart and had a good conversation. They do not have email, so I needed to tell them about our former colleague. Dee retired from CWU when I came in 1988.

I went by the hospital for a blood draw for Pro Time (INR) and Potassium, for my Entresto med. They did not have the standing order properly listed, but drew two vials of blood anyway, asking me to report it to the doctor’s office. I did.

On my way to the Rehab for music, I stopped by the AAC to pick up my freely given computer carrier, given by Tiffany M. on the Buy Nothing East Eburg Facebook site: “Computer bag with padded center compartment. Two big pockets + center compartment + lots of smaller pockets. Includes a high-quality adjustable padded strap with metal clasps.” That will fit my laptop perfectly for trips out of the house. From there, I went to the Kittitas Medical Supply store for CPAP supplies. I have already met my Medicare deductible this year, so I owed no co-pay on $432.69 worth of tubing, mask, nasal pillows, and filters. {John says things of equal complexity and similar materials can be found in a hardware store for under $40.}

I went by Grocery Outlet to buy four 3 lb. packages of frozen blueberries that ended up being $1.16/lb. special deal, buy one, get one free. I forgot to get the Campbell soups on sale – Cream of Chicken and Cream of Mushroom; ends up being 66¢ / can, when getting three cans of each type.

I talked to the nurse at my PCP’s office in Cle Elum, but she had only received the INR results and not the Potassium. Currently, it is a mystery what happened to that blood. John thinks this guy got it:
I wasn’t home long before we went back to town for a geology lecture at the new Science II building on campus. The Ellensburg Chapter of the Ice Age Floods Institute sponsored it, and the community is invited. At least 100 folks attended. We both thoroughly enjoyed our evening.

Please do take the time to view the videos I made. You will not be disappointed.
Larry N. Smith: Glacial Lake Missoula and Its Giant Floods

Larry Smith came over from Butte, MT – a locale known for its Copper. Google Earth will show the big pit NE of town, and here is a link to a photo of the
Berkeley PitIntroduction to the topic and speaker:

“The Clark Fork River was dammed during the last ice age by a glacier at the current location of Lake Pend Oreille near the Idaho/Montana border. The lake rose and fell multiple times.  At its maximum, the lake was 2000 feet (610 m) deep at the ice dam, 1000 feet (305 m) deep at Missoula, and extended up multiple valleys in Montana. Glaciolacustrine sediments in the Clark Fork River valley at Garden Gulch, near Drummond, MT allow for documenting high-stand positions in glacial Lake Missoula and repeated subaerial exposure of the lake bottom. Sandy alluvial sediment below the glaciolacustrine section locally interfingers with the lowermost lake-bottom sediments, showing concurrent deposition of the alluvium with the transgressing lake. Cycles of lake deepening, subaerial exposure and periglacial modification are represented in a 9 m-thick section. Optical dating of quartz show that glacial Lake Missoula reached >65% of maximum capacity by 17-24 ka and either partially or completely drained twelve times from this position. Others have inferred that the lake rose and fell 35-90 times, but many of those events possibly did not reach the maximum elevation seen near Drummond.
Larry Smith is an associate professor in the Department of Geological Engineering at Montana Tech. He has been studying glacial Lake Missoula for about 17 years. He got interested in the lake deposits while working at the Montana Bureau of Mine and Geology. He studied the huge gravel deposits in the Alberton Gorge are, which were moved during cataclysmic lake drainages. The gravels host the aquifers that residents use for groundwater. Larry has Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph.D degrees in geology from University of California, Santa Cruz and the University of New Mexico. He has lived in Butte for 23½ years.

Larry Smith – Questions & Answers, April 6, ’17 IAF (after lecture)
A few questions

Friday, Mar 31

For Mar 30 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=1.95. Events: 2 CSR, 12 H, 3 PP, 13 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 9 min with (max = 21 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 84, 8 events <88% with overall avg., 92.6%. Pulse avg. 55.5, low 50. CPAP on all night. I cannot explain the low SpO2, unless the dirty filters needing changed are causing it.

Today, John left to prune if 7:40 a.m. Cameron called and it is not raining, but it looks pretty iffy here. They did have to retreat to the winery, sitting out a quickly passing rainstorm, and watching the clouds and angry skies. They could see the storm as it crossed the ridge 15 miles west of them. When it crossed the Columbia River just a short distance away, they were already in the winery. John and Cameron were the only pruners today.

I fed cats and started uploading movies I took last night. One of the most skittish ferals we are feeding comes in after the others finish. I managed to take his picture at the front door, in front of the wooden pallet protecting the dry food from the deer. He has been around in the shadows for months, but we thought it was a female, and called “her” Sally. Now that he has come closer for canned food, we realized he is a male. So, he became known as Salazar. He still runs when we open the door, but he has learned to come to the front porch for his vittles morning and night.

First, my morning concern involved being a Sherlock Holmes on my blood draw yesterday. I was at the Kittitas Valley Healthcare Hospital at 12:45 and only one phlebotomist was there (Nathan). I am supposed to have a standing order for an INR and a Potassium test (requiring two vials of blood). He found the standing order for the INR (Pro Time), but the potassium was not there (as had been sent 2 weeks ago for a second time from the KVH – Cle Elum doctor’s office). He drew the vials to submit to the lab, and explained what I needed to tell the office to do about the computer paperwork request, followed by a phone call to have the lab find it in the computer, print, and store in the correct file. I did my part yesterday. I spoke with the nurse and knew the Pro Time had been sent to the doctor (INR=2.4), but with no potassium reading. This is required for my new heart medication, Entresto.

This morning I first talked to the Cle Elum clinic and then to KVC Hospital’s lab technician, Dean. He was going to search for the missing vial, run the test, and send the results to the doctor’s office. I was to receive a phone call from them later in the day, on my message recorder, because I was leaving for Yakima as soon as John returned home. We had a 2:30 p.m. appointment for servicing my Forester / Mat was to help me with the phone and Bluetooth connection / John had 2 bottles of White Heron wine for Mat & his wife.

We made it there in time, but when I gave them my DL and insurance papers for a loaner car, they noted my insurance expired on Mar 16, 2017. I must have received them in the mail, and never separated the cards to get them into the glove compartments of our vehicles and into the envelopes with the car registration papers and the dates covered on the outside of the envelope. Meanwhile, I requested from my insurance provider (in Idaho), and they emailed me a 30-day temporary proof to use until Safeco replaces the cards. While still in the waiting room, I called the Yakima Heart Center to make an appointment with my cardiologist. That is going to be May 5th.

After receiving our car, and paying for the two new air filters that were filled with dust and cottonwood fluff, we drove to Costco for almost $90 of things, causing the doorman checking John out, to say, you did well to come out with less than $100. I noticed when starting the car, that my maintenance due light for technical inspection (an orange wrench), was still coming on the screen on the dash. I planned to go back anyway on my way home to have my new cell phone paired with the Forester’s Bluetooth technology. That took awhile, but we paired John’s phone and mine so that we can use it in that vehicle. I found out something I did not realize, which is that the phone only needs to be turned on, not opened, and can stay in your pocket or bag. You can make a call or accept one with the phone out of sight. Pretty neat. That process took awhile, but afterwards, I drove to the service department and they reset my service-needed light. I watched him do it, so now I know for the future. It is in the settings near where the clock is set.

Our trip home was partially light, although overcast, but no rain, while the trip down to Yakima was through torrential downpours – slightly exaggerating here, but my windshield wipers were on the highest speed.

I arrived home to no news from my doctor, so I have to imagine the vial of blood was never located. That is not a comforting thought from a hospital environment.

Frogs are croaking out back, and have been for many nights in a row. It does provide peaceful go-to-sleep music in harmony with the owls’ hooting, and the stream rushing, filled with mountain melt water. It is still cold so the frogs must be hardy.

Sat, April 7

For Apr 6 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=2.54. Events: 16 H, 12 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 18 min with (max = 14 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 90, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 93.6%. Pulse avg. 53.9, low 50. My Oximeter ran out of battery, so it recorded only for 2.5 hours (might affect the result parameters).

I awoke at 5:30 and thought it was 6:30. So, I may need an afternoon nap. I fed Rascal and cleaned the kitchen. Then I decided to scan the offers from the Subaru dealer we found when we returned yesterday evening from my 2014 Forester’s service, where they had to replace a cabin air filter (cost=$66.31, plus tax= $5.44) and an engine air filter ($29.74).
I composed a complaint email to ask for money back from the $49.95 they should have charged me instead of $66.31. There was also $5.24 tax on the charge for that filter. It took too much time to do this, so if my time were worth more than $1/hr the refund won’t cover it. But there is principle involved. I had to do it, and they’d better acknowledge my request. I sent it to the Service Manager, to two of the service consultants I dealt with, and to my friendly sales associate from whom we have bought 3 cars at their dealership. I also called another service consultant who helped me yesterday and told him the story. He does not have an email address, but he was in the shop today. I asked him to tell his manager to read his email.

Early morning phone call from Gloria, inviting me to a Ladies Tea at Pacifica, but it is at the same time that I have a dental appointment for a teeth cleaning.

I managed to wash a load of dishes and John took care of the outside chores. He finished planting his onion “sets”, and after brunch went to work on planting flowering almond tress he started from seeds from our neighbor. From a dozen seeds he has 3 baby trees. Now we will enjoy a nice brunch he fixed while I continued working on the blog. He served ham, cheese omelet, buttered sourdough roll sliced toast with Parmesan cheese, and pears.
Hope your week was fine.

Nancy and John
Still on the Naneum Fan

Sunday, Mar 26

For Mar 25 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=1.62. Events: 1 CSR, 9 H, 18 RERA. Time on 5 hrs 33 min. Oximetry: SpO2 low 65 (spurious, when stopping CPAP), actual low was 89, 3 events <88% with overall avg., 92.3%. Pulse avg. 53.6, low 50.

John and I decided to travel to Costco, and stopped on the way to pick up from Lynn Davenport a gift of two nylon-washing bags with zippers to protect things with hooks or fringe, while being washed in the clothes washer. She is the one who gave me a photo of the Elk sign for last week’s blog, but now I received another I’ll put in here, after the Yakima story.

Our Yakima trip took 5 hrs total. I was already tired from late hours and interrupted sleep. It was an interesting weather day, with our experiencing fog, rain, and sunshine.

We first went to Home Depot and spent a $50 gift card from a friend. We had tried before and not found the items we had in mind. The items today we found included a new end for a damaged extension cord, a Husky Extension (100′) extension cord, and a container of growth hormone to treat cuttings from plants to encourage roots on a stem. We went a little over our $50, but put that card out of its misery.

Here’s the story behind the need for the first two items: John had his Ford truck plugged in to charge the battery out in the pole barn, and when he removed it, he did not roll and hang it. It was a big orange one (maybe looked like string cheese) that attracted a mouse, that chewed on and through it, very close to the plug-into end. So, while John can cut the short end and replace the connector, to repair it, he still wanted a new full and longer cord. The one that was chewed was a 50′; when he fixes it, he’ll still have about 40′ of cord. However, he bought a 100′ one to use for long distance outside activities.

The growth hormone is mostly to try and start new Shiro (round, yellow) Plum trees. The bottle has enough powder to do 100, so maybe other trees will get the treatment too. The Christmas (whatever) cactus needs some offspring, also.

We decided not to get gasoline at Costco, because it is 12¢ / gal cheaper in Ellensburg at Sunrise than at Costco. Also, until the end of March, we can use our Discover card, and get 5% off all gasoline purchases, but Costco only gives 4% off and won’t accept Discover. This week ended that 3-month savings. This photo came from Cindi Crawford Ackerlund, who works for the WSDOT and took it for me, after my request last week for one of the Elk warning signs along I-90 from Vantage to Ryegrass Summit. Go back and read last week’s blog to read the beginning and get the “rest of the story.” I put my request on the Facebook site, Community Connect Kittitas County. Amazing how requests can be fulfilled.

Monday, Mar 27

For Mar 26 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.95. Events: 6 H, 1 PP, 16 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 20 min with (max = 10 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 90, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 93.2%. Pulse avg. 54.5, low 50.

No rain today, so it will be a pruning day and John left a little late because of the ice on his windshield !!

I am starting my day with more photos from Cindi Crawford Ackerlund. Yesterday, she sent me the ELK NEXT 10 MILES photo, seen above, yesterday, and today, she took these photos on her way to work. She also sent me many others from Ryegrass Summit, but these two were my favorites from her trip to work this morning. These lovely photos of clouds, morning sunrise, and fog show the wind turbines and the cell tower at the top of Ryegrass Summit on I-90. This is the top of the hill where the road starts down to the Columbia River, 10 miles away and 2,000 feet lower. That cell tower is the one we “lean toward” from our house, occasionally, to get reception on my cell phone. John’s rarely gets reception on our property. Upsets me when he is outside, and might want to call me, or vice versa.

I have many projects to work on today; the largest is trying to get my new computer (4 months old) to work. It got dementia, or something overnight. I thought I had the SleepyHead software installed and running, but yesterday, I was unable to access the program that I had used on Saturday. Windows 10 on that machine is not working the same as the installation of it on my old laptop (where I am writing this now). On the Dell, I cannot access a list of programs on the system as John and I can do on our other two computers. I cannot restart or shut down that computer, only put it to sleep. I cannot display the date / time. If I don’t have a shortcut to the program on the desktop, I cannot use it. This is driving me nuts. John tried to help last night to no avail, because of lack of time and need to retire for early morning wake up. I will work more today, and he will try again when he gets back from pruning.

The issue (and one that my friend Sam in Idaho tried to help me solve, was that my Windows 10 software on my Dell was not properly configured, and I could not access a number of things). The most recent activity was Saturday with SleepyHead (free software). I downloaded an upgrade from the web. I put my data in from my CPAP machine’s SD card, and was pleased that it worked. However, I turned off the machine and went to bed. When I returned Sunday, I had no access to the software, and I could not reach the Program Control Settings option.

I talked for the first 30 min to a Costco Concierge Services guy, and when he wasn’t able to help, he put me through to Monica on the Dell support team in New Delhi, India. Now I have her direct email and that of her supervisor. I spoke and worked with her for well over an hour.

She listened to my problems, and finally, through Dell Support, connecting to my machine directly, so we both could see the problems I was describing. It took us 3 times, and my battery ran out on my telephone landline, but she returned the call, and I had gotten the other charged up phone normally near John. That reconnect came at 5:30 my time, and we talked (and worked another hour.

I do not know how or what all she actually changed, but I know the settings needed changed to allow me to press the Windows Key on the task bar (or on the key pad, 2 left of the space bar) to access things, which I have not been able to do for several months. She thinks that on a Windows update, my computer was corrupted. Shortly after John installed Win-10, last year, his system refused to come back on. Just black screens. He had to take it to town.
I am now able to shut down, restart, and do other things. I now have sound on my SongWriter software. I have access to Application software installed on my computer. The over 2-hour process ended up being quite amazing. I need time to transfer and download more programs, and check out all the access things she fixed, and hope there are no more needing adjustment, but I have a direct email to her and the Dell Support team to get assistance, if needed.

I worked on the Anniversary Dance program email with directions and menu, building location, and documentation for the potluck / jam practice on Friday.

Tuesday, Mar 28

For Mar 27 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.71. Events: 1 CSR, 5 H, 18 RERA. Time on 7 hrs 3 min with (max = 9 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 90, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 93.4%. Pulse avg. 55.6, low 49.

John left at 7:30 a.m. to prune at White Heron.

Charlie gets his gravel delivered. Fortunately, John will not have to go assist. The deliverer is bringing a tractor to help spread the gravel on the low spots of his driveway, where the creek flooded.

Dave Hazlett comes to trim Myst. I left a check for John to assist at 2:30, and I will not be home until after he leaves.

I called two places about Magnesium 500mg strength, number tablets, and price. Rite-Aid won my business at 2 cents/pill cheaper (with their buy two bottles for the price of one).

I went by the bread room on my way to Petscen$e, where they had my order ready and gave me $5 off, and on to the senior center, where I visited with the AmeriCorps person, Megan, I’m helping plan the Cajun music presentation for this Friday’s special event. Stayed for Jazzercise, and then visited Bi-Mart, Rite-Aid, Hospice Friends, and I also delivered some items from Costco to two different people.

Wednesday, Mar 29

For Mar 28 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.32. Events: 1 CSR, 2 H, 17 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 9 min with (max = 10 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 88, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 92.5%. Pulse avg. 57.0, low 52.

I spent a lot of time on the Haband order of a jacket for John, using a $15 gift certificate and finding out about 2 other discount codes bringing down the cost of the $24.99 jacket to $9.78. I now need to set up making an auto payment or a payment on the Haband account, as it now has a balance. Contact Comenity Bank by phone to pay no charge, and on line to set up autopay.

I punched holes in the music for Gerald/Charlie’s book and mine for tomorrow & put the lyrics in a binder for Gloria to follow. She was going to hear us play. Needed also to charge up my battery so the activities director could videotape our practice session.

Thursday, Mar 30

For Mar 29 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=2.71. Events: 3 CSR, 18 H, 15 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 39 min with (max = 17 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 84, 2 events <88% with overall avg., 92.6%. Pulse avg. 54.2, low 50.

It was sunny and John left for White Heron.

Playing at Pacifica (old Dry Creek), on our 5th Thursday day off, as a practice for April 1 night. A subgroup of the Kittitas Valley Fiddlers and Friends has played music for the dinner part of the party, for many years, for the Blue Agates Square & Round Dance club dinner (before and during), before their caller leads the dancing.

This video is a little ragged, because we had interruptions from residents going in and out the back door behind us, and one blind lady sitting next to the activities director pulling on her arm and talking to her while she was holding the camera. It was great, however, that we had the chance to practice for an hour and 10 minutes, with an appreciative and forgiving audience.

Video: practice – for Blue Agates Square and Round Dance 43rd Anniversary Dance Dinner

Video of practice session

Tonight, Amy and I met with Bret (CWU music prof.) at his house to practice Cajun music for tomorrow’s lunch. Laina will join us tomorrow when she gets out of class at Central. We should start the music a little after noon.

Friday, Mar 31

For Mar 30 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.18. Events: 3 CSR. 1 H, 14 RERA. Time on 5 hrs 35 min with (max = 13 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 88, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 92.7%. Pulse avg. 55.8, low 47.

I took a few photos at the start, and set up my camera for the video below.

John went with me, Haley came with Amy, and we met Bret there to have lunch ahead of the music with the crowd. The menu was sweet cornbread with a bowl of Jambalaya, with shrimp only, or also with chicken and sausage. Amy & Haley arriving in their Cajun attire, Bret setting up, and bringing a shaker for Haley to use, eating sweet cornbread, & butter with our Jambalaya, and Haley’s chair.

Here’s the group, after Laina arrived at noon.Midway with music and Haley joining with the shaker, right was our last song, a sing-along with the audience on Jambalaya. Amy played the flute, penny whistle, and washboard (with thimbles).

Within the music, you’ll see that a couple of people got up and danced.If you want to experience the 39 minutes of entertainment, you can watch the video below.

Cajun Music 3-31-17 AAC Special Event, Louisiana Bayou
Louisiana Bayou

We came home and started dealing with potluck items for the evening, and I set up my music to take along. We took separate cars.

John had cooked a pork loin roast and I carried along some rolls.
We had 19 people arriving there for dinner, starting before 6:00 p.m. and ending after 9:00 p.m. after playing all our music.Collage of some of the food brought: left top pork roast, beans, scalloped potatoes, fruit salad, rolls, Coleslaw, veggies & dip, Jello salad, decorated cupcakes that looked like real flowers.

Saturday, April 1

For Mar 31 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=1.55. Events: 2 CSR, 11 H, 16 RERA. Time on 7 hrs 5 min with (max = 13 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 88, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 92.1%. Pulse avg. 55.1, low 50.

I set up my “new” lighter aluminum tripod and connected my camera on the top, wrapped it in protective covering, and put in a carrying case for a folding chair. I got the tripod and the carrier from the Buy Nothing site at no cost. I’m taking it tonight to record the Kittitas Valley Fiddlers and Friends during our performance tonight (dinner music for the 43rd Anniversary Dance of the Blue Agate Square and Round Dance club’s annual event). We have played for them for many years, starting at the Swauk-Teanaway Grange. Tonight we are in the Armory on the edge of the Rodeo & Fairgrounds in Ellensburg.

I rearranged the music changes from last night’s practice session, worked on dishes, did data removal from my medical vital signs recording machines for my overnight sleep, and John managed to spend a little time on outside things. Onions need planting, so he is working on that recently snow covered soil.

We left for town a little before 1:00 to put gasoline in John’s car. The price has gone up dramatically at the cheapest station in town. We paid $2.549 at Circle K, but the normal cheapest station, Sunrise, was $2.759! I suppose I will drive my car back tonight to fill it up, before the price goes up again. We did that.

Our destination was a 90th birthday celebration for Carla Kaatz. We have known her since I arrived in Ellensburg, 29 years ago. I was a colleague with her husband, Marty, in the Geography Department at Central. Others from the department were there (George & Mary Ann Macinko, Ken & Jo Hammond, and Karl & Nancy Lillquist). John, Carla Kaatz, and Nancy

View on the way home – to show snow on Mission Ridge north of us on April 1.Mission Ridge – with a high point about 6,600 feet.

Tonight we leave before 5:00 to get gasoline in my car, and to get to the Armory by 5:20 for setup. After we play, we are treated to our dinner, while the dancers start their dancing.Evie is the standing fiddler.

Blue Agate Dance, 4/1/17 Music Before & During Dinner
Playing and eating

David Kay, solo, Last Verse, Sonny Don’t Go Away or Sonny’s Dream
A Mother’s Song

Sonny, don’t go away, I am here all alone
And your daddy’s a sailor who never comes home
And the nights are so long and the silence goes on
And I’m feelin’ so tired, I’m not all that strong
Sonny carries a load, though he’s barely a man
There ain’t much to do, yet he does what he can
He watches the sea from a room by the stairs
The waves keep on rollin’, they’ve done that for years
It’s a hundred miles to town, Sonny’s never been there
Yet he goes to the highway and stands there and stares
And the mail comes at four and the mailman is old
But he still keeps his dreams full of silver and gold
Sonny’s dreams can’t be real, they’re just stories he’s read
They’re just stars in his eyes, they’re just dreams in his head
Still he longs in his mind for the wild world outside
And I know I can’t hold him though I’ve tried
And I’ve tried, and I’ve tried
Sonny, don’t go away.
Evie & Peter Schuetz Dancing at Blue Agates Dance, 4-1-17

A fiddler tries square dancing

Sunday, April 2

For April 1 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.31. Events: 1 H, 1 OA, 17 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 30 min with (max = 7 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 83 (occurred off CPAP), 10 events <88% with overall avg., 92.2%. Pulse avg. 56.7, low 52.

I worked inside all day and John cleaned dog poop out of the fenced yard – among other chores.

Hope your week was fine.

Nancy and John
Still on the Naneum Fan

Monday, Mar 20

For Mar 19 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=1.06. Events: 7 H, 17 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 37 min with (max = 16 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 88, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 92.6%. Pulse avg. 54.9, low 50.

John left for pruning at 7:30 a.m. He saw a herd (100+) of elk north of I-90 on the way down the hill. Better on the hills than across the road, where they have caused so many accidents that the DOT put up a large number of warning signs on I-90. They are lighted text in large letters (similar to the one on the right below, but with a different wording to watch for ELK on the road, not cute small signs such as this in the middle below. Lynn Davenport sent me the actual picture of ELK NEXT 10 MILES warning near Vantage. Even though it is blurry, it gives you the idea. I found the middle sign on the web, and the one on the right was sent to me by Bonnie Hartman in Kittitas. Now you have a picture of the type of sign I was describing above.

Many accidents have caused them to put up the warning “lights.”
I asked on line (Facebook) for a photo of the I-90 signs and that’s how I got the ones on the left and right above.

This was a report in January this year, in the Wenatchee World. – A herd of some 250 elk have been crossing the highway to graze in the median, prompting the Washington State Patrol to warn motorists to slow down, especially at night.

In the last couple of weeks, vehicles have struck and killed about 30 elk along that stretch of highway, said Trooper Wright. No people have been seriously injured, but several cars have been damaged.

In 2016, Rich Landers of the Spokesman Review reported at least 65 elk have been killed this winter on a stretch of Interstate 90 just west of Vantage. It’s by far the worst year in memory for elk collisions in the area, the Yakima Herald reports.

Also in ’16, the report was that the herd consisted of 500 Elk.
A few Colockum Elk with Columbia River in the background.

I am supposed to hear from Lindsey D. today about coming for wood. I did not. Later in the week, I heard she was not back in town yet because of a relative’s need to go to the hospital.

I spent a lot of time trying to work on getting fiddlers and others to come to the Senior Center (Adult Activity Center) to play for next Friday’s Special Event, Louisiana Bayou.

Tuesday, Mar 21

For Mar 20 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=1.01. Events: 2 CSR, 7 H, 20 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 56 min with (max = 12 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low was 89, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 92.5%. Pulse avg. 53.2, low 50.

Active rain cancelled the trip to prune today.

I spent almost 2 hrs trying to unravel the problem with no mail delivery – apparently it is because the Post Office will not detour to deliver the mail north of the bridge construction over the irrigation canal on Naneum Road. The spot is south of Bar 14 road and north of Rader. More later.

I sent a few photos to Katrina at the AAC, with higher resolution to see if they would work for the brochure (quarterly) with the schedule. It is going to work and she has loaned me an SD card to put in my camera, so that I can use my camera and not theirs.

I left at a little before 1:00 for town, stopped off at the bread room, finding a loaf of English Muffin bread and a loaf of Rosemary Olive Oil bread. I went to the post office to pick up our mail that has been held and not delivered (with no notification), because the postal carrier was not approved for a deviation from Naneum Road. That should have occurred weeks ago, to get permission from USPO-Seattle to allow him to by-pass the bridge support construction over the highest irrigation canal in the valley. It is down Naneum Road from us almost 2 miles.

There was a long line and no one at the first window for rural non-delivery pick-up. The window was closed (I assume for lunch). I turned around and left, going on to the senior center for my Jazzercise exercise class. It was pouring rain.

Afterwards, I went to one of my normal stopping places on Tuesdays (Bi-Mart), to check my number, but I didn’t win anything today. I continued back to the P.O. When I got in the window was open, but they have done away with the express line to that window, and were taking people in only from the long line to the main counter, where now there was only one person. To say I was disturbed is an understatement. Earlier, I had just been frustrated. At least I finally made it to the counter and got my mail. In the mail was a 3-day priority package with onion shoots that should have been delivered last Thursday – with the notice, OPEN IMMEDIATELY.

Wednesday, Mar 22

For Mar 21 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.36. Events: 2 H, 14 RERA. Time on 5 hrs 29 min with (max = 19 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low was 88, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 92.5%. Pulse avg. 55.5, low 50.

John left just after 7:30 a.m. for pruning at White Heron.

I worked hard on several projects until walking out the door at almost 11:00. I got to Gloria’s about 11:20, and we went on to the Food Bank, where six of us entertained the lunch guests. It was a good meaty chicken w/ cheese pasta today, green salad, grapes in a cluster, and a piece of chocolate covered crispy cake for dessert.

Then we left for Super 1, where I picked up two lemon meringue pies (one for me and one for Gloria). My rain check ends the end of this week. Hers goes until 4-11. So, I used mine for 2, and kept hers. Amazingly, I saw John (back from the vineyard) at the bakery and gave him mine to buy and take home, and I took hers to the counter and checked out. Hers was double plastic bag wrapped and in a paper bag, which we left in the car in the shade while we exercised at SAIL. We had a large class today.

Thursday, Mar 23

For Mar 22 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=1.14. Events: 2 CSR, 1 CA, 8 H, 14 RERA. Time on 7 hrs 52 min with (max = 20 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 88, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 54.1%. Pulse avg. 54.1, low 48.

John left just after 7:30 a.m. for pruning at White Heron. Sadly before he left he found the skunk had dug under our front fence (we had closed the gate), and had eaten all the hard cat food in a large Pyrex bowl behind the barricade for the deer, at our front door. John put a bowl of food on top of the cable table with protecting rocks, and coffee cans, so the noise would alert us if we were home. John had not been gone very long at all when I heard a noise and jumped out of my chair and went to the door. There was a deer eating dry cat food from the soup bowl. I yelled and she went out over the 4′ fence. I picked up the bowl. The entire ruckus warned Woody I was home, and she came to the front door. I gave her some canned food, and put the little bowl of dry next to her by the front door. She ate out of both. After she left, I brought the bowls back inside.

I managed to finish assembling music that I had printed last night for two people by sorting & checking for the order, plus punching three holes in it.

I drank lots of water to go for a blood draw at KVCH. I got there but had to wait about a half hour, only to find out the paperwork on my standing order was not corrected as requested 2 weeks ago. It was supposed to have additional blood drawn for my potassium measurement. She went ahead and drew it. I called to report it to my PCP office.

From there I went to Hearthstone, with my several packages of stuff for different people I would see there. I left some in the car to distribute at the end of our playing. We had a huge bunch there, and played from before 2:00 until after 3:00. Everyone in the audience had a good time. We had 13 players/singers: Sharon, Maury, Dean, Kevin, Gerald, Charlie, Evie, Nancy, Amy & Haley, Anne, Rita, Dave, and Janet. Haley sang to Cockles & Mussels and danced to Irish Washerwoman. (She’s almost 4 the end of April). The residents, guests, and we absolutely love her. I’m sorry I don’t have a video.

Friday, Mar 24

For Mar 23 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=2.07. Events: 2 CSR, 1 CA, 11 H, 3 PP, 15 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 18 min with (max = 9 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 89, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 93.1%. Pulse avg. 53.3, low 48.

John did not go pruning as it has been raining (still is at 11:00 a.m.) since midnight. He had to feed the animals in the rain and put on his old green hard hat to do so.

I printed music and contacted the person needing it. In fact, I worked much of the afternoon on music for next Friday’s Louisiana Bayou performance at the senior center. Now I must work on music for Saturday night for the Blue Agates Square & Round Dance Dinner music.

The sun finally came out so John could do some outside work in the sun. Meanwhile, he also changed filters in our furnace and vacuumed two others. The other two larger ones require the dishwasher to wash one at a time, but it was not empty and not as much of a concern as the ones that when dirty, prevent airflow.

I squeezed in time to unload the dishwasher and start on a new load.

It took me 4 times to get the data from my oximeter into my graphing software. Now I have to move it to the CPAP software for comparison. In all the finagling, my software quit working so Saturday will be the time to load the new version of SleepyHead on my new computer. This one is a new one that we never included in the system before a few months ago. You can see the new package on the left and the dirty one on the right. We were able to buy a case at Ace Hardware at a decent and lower price than any other place in Ellensburg or Yakima. John vacuumed two of the other metal filters, and we left the two large ones (with better airflow) to be washed later. They have to be done one at a time running the cycle of the dishwasher.

I need to change the filter on my CPAP machine.

We had a visitor the past couple of days, and today I got his photo. We have had to move our dry cat food out of the place on the front porch because he finished it up two nights in a row, with the gate closed, and John barricading the holes where he was coming under the fence. He made another and came in over night, but the only thing available was a few shells of sunflower seeds under the feeder. Not nearly as filling as the dry cat food.On another stinky subject, John’s Letter to the Editor was published in the Daily Record today.Saturday, Mar 25

For Mar 24 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=2.05. Events: 12 H, 1 PP, 17 RERA. Time on 5 hrs 52 min with (max = 2 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 87, 1 event <88% with overall avg., 93.1%. Pulse avg. 52.6, low 47. Those results look very good, so the missing data are okay to wait for and not worry about.

Today is Stephen Brazeau’s celebration of life. I am not going to be able to attend, but I sent a nice note following up on my original sympathy letter. This one contains all my memories of the happy early childhood memories of what my father taught his “tomboy” – including playing Mumblety-peg, fishing, shooting guns, passing a football, throwing a baseball and softball, and working on cars. He died when I was in the 9th grade, but his teachings have followed me throughout my life. I am sure I inherited his musical abilities, as well as his brown eyes.

My next project (completed tonight before this was published) is to complete adding the newest version of SleepyHead software to my new laptop, because my version on my old one quit working this morning. I talked to people on the Australian Facebook site, a friend in Idaho, and a newly found friend in Germany!!!

Here is where I’ll start with the new computer: Download from here: https://sleepyhead.jedimark.net/
This is free software for anyone using a CPAP machine, and it is excellent.

Hope your week was fine.
Nancy and John

Still on the Naneum Fan