Keeping track

Monday, June 12

For June 11 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.26. Events: 2 H, 20 RERA. Time on 7 hrs 35 min with (max = 14 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 88, no events <88% with overall avg., 92.2%. Pulse avg. 55.2, low 50.

John picked weed flower heads, and watered the plum trees. The wind is terrible today. Gusts today started at 26 mph at 6:00 a.m. and reached a high at 6:00 p.m. of 54 mph. It’s supposed to blow like this until TOMORROW MIDNIGHT.

We had a brunch of eggs, ham, and peaches. I am ready to go for haircut at 1:00 around the rural block – 3 miles total, so not bad.

We fixed up the goodies to take to Hearthstone Emeritus meeting in the morning. We are taking some of our own homemade chocolate chip cookies with walnuts and some halved Pistachio muffins.

I had problems from last night through today with low BPs and contacted my cardiologist only to find out he is on vacation for 2 weeks. I was increased to 1.5 tablets Entresto twice a day from 1. It lowers BP. His nurse is going to contact another provider and show them my BP records since the end of May through today.

John took photos for me on the yesterday’s Zentner Field trip into the Tieton Valley to reverse-follow a rock formation that came from an ancient volcano about 50 miles west of Yakima. The rock is called Tieton Andesite. Andesite usually makes steep cone-shaped structures, but not this one. At 1.64 million years and 1.39 million years years ago the volcano – now gone – erupted.
It left evidence and a very pretty landscape. I, Nancy, could not go along because of the length of the hikes required. It was a beautiful day, and I wanted to share several photos, even though I was unable to attend. One hundred twenty people attended, using a lead van (John rode in), and 40 vehicles.At the 3rd stop the group had to cross the Tieton River on metal pieces held up by long cables. The columnar basalt is of the Grand Ronde flow from way eastern Washington* and 10 times older then the andesite in the background beyond the swaying bridge. Note: On the upper-right there is a climber in a white shirt and brown pants. About 5 were climbing but that one is the only visible one in this image.
[* Nick says it is from DNI – damn near Idaho.]
Next collage is of a stop at Rim Rock Lake.I merged these two photos to show the scenery. Most of the explanation is in videos for me, and I have not uploaded any to share. Of the left photo think , “the andesite came from way over there”, and on the right “that’s a hard place to build a highway.” But see below.

Next is a collage of a tunnel on Hwy-12, White Pass Road, that neither one of us remember from past trips across there.This is a short (1/10 mile) and easy tunnel at Google Earth:
46.657175, -121.130323

Tuesday, June 13

For June 12 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.59. Events: 5 H, 1 PP, 14 RERA. Time on 8 hrs 25 min with (max = 12 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 87, 1 event <88% with overall avg., 92.6%. Pulse avg. 54.2, low 50.

We went to Hearthstone for an Emeritus Geographers meeting. We had a great speaking team, led by Casey Cranston who works at the Wanapum Dam Visitor’s Center on weekends, and his friend Kristin Ashley, who just was graduated from CWU in Recreation and Tourism and the Wine program. Casey was in the CWU Geography program and was graduated in 2015. I knew them both from a chance meeting in 2014 at White Heron Cellars Chef’s Extravaganza, and subsequently through the Jobs List I moderate.
His talk was well presented with pamphlets and interesting information about the hydropower and fish issues at Wanapum Dam (primarily), but also with discussion about other regional dams.

Received pix from Crystal Lakes Trail boardwalk project on the very eastern edge of Mt. Rainier N. P., where John worked last Saturday; the WTA crew on Sunday finished it. On the day John was there, only a small crew was present, and Hannah the crew leader only found time to get a couple of photos. So, most of what she took came from the 2 days John was not there.

Below on the left is a National Park trail crew member looking at the old board-walk. What’s he thinking? On the right is the same place 3 days later. The front part – with dirt – is called a “turnpike” while the planked-over part is called a puncheon.Below is work in progress – get rid of most of the old, clean out underneath, insert lots of rocks as a base for the turnpike and the puncheon needs a few big rocks and long logs carried to the site, and put it all together. Lots of pounding of 10 inch nails (spikes).
All the new planks across the top were cut and split just downhill from the structure. A very old, dead, and big Western Cedar.

Wednesday, June 14

For June 13 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=1.08. Events: 2 CSR, 9 H, 19 RERA. Time on 8 hrs 19 min with (max = 15 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 89, no events <88% with overall avg., 93.9%. Pulse avg. 53.1, low 50.

I picked up Gloria, went to the Food Bank for music and lunch, and delivered on way to AAC two packages of wheat grandma rolls to a gal. We participated in the SAIL exercise class. Wind gusts continued with highest 51 mph.

Thursday, June 15

For June 14 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=2.01. Events: 2 CSR, 1 CA, 1 OA, 2 PP, 13 H, 18 RERA. Time on 7 hrs 27 min with (max = 13 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 89, no events <88% with overall avg., 93.4%. Pulse avg. 53.3, low 49.

For a lot of reasons, I spent too much time on the phone and didn’t accomplish much.

Today, I went for music at Pacifica. We had a large and responsive / appreciative audience, and a good number of players.

Friday, June 16

For June 15 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.51. Events: 1 CSR, 4 H, 2 PP, 21 RERA. Time on 7 hrs 50 min with (max = 11 L/ min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 88, no events <88% with overall avg., 92.6%. Pulse avg. 53.1, low 50.

We created notices of ownership for putting into my 3/4 violin case for a loan to Beck Landon to change strings on and use as a restrung viola.

We went to town in the truck. John loaded 5 wood pallets from behind the Rehab, bought gasoline, and dropped me off for SAIL exercise. Afterwards, we went to Petsen$e and to Safeway Pharmacy.

John leaves at 5:00 a.m. tomorrow for Mt. Rainier, for WTA trail work. He’ll find out what they will be doing when he gets there, but it will be near the White River – or maybe helping with a log bridge over it. There are usually 3 logs to get across and almost every year one or more washes away.
He will go with Bill Weir again on Sunday with Bill driving.

Hope your week was fine.

Nancy and John
Still on the Naneum Fan

Monday, June 5

For June 4 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=1.64. Events: 2 CSR, 8 H, 1 PP, 14 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 6 min with (max = 14 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 88, 0 events<88% with overall avg., 93.3%. Pulse avg. 54.4, low 48.

I’m going to start out this week with photos of my dog, Cedaridge Kip’s Camelot Shay Tre’ (call name Daisy), in California. These photos are from the past couple weeks, but I left them out of last week’s blog because of lack of space. Now you get to see them. Some of you with Facebook accounts already saw them when my co-owner, Jeri Conklin, shared there. Some of the photos were taken by Daisy’s trainer’s wife, Deanna Beals-Azevedo, and the others were taken by Jeri.

First are from Deanna, taken 5-30-17 So cool the point with the bird (white Coturnix quail) in the foreground, and another point on the right.

The next few were taken by Jeri, June 3, while out in the field training.Nice point These droplets in mid air photos always make me smile.

My chore every day is dish washing, and it’s the best thing I can do to thank John for doing all the cooking. I can take care of my breakfast and lunch when he’s not around.

I sent photos and videos to the AAC from last Friday’s program.

I went and picked up 4 pieces of music from Dave & Janet, “Before the Next Teardrop Falls,” “Golden Star Polka,” “Wednesday Night’s Waltz” (which we are having trouble with matching notes to the way Gerald & Charlie do it), and Nancy’s Waltz, which Janet threw in for me. Now we have to put all into the SongWriter 2012 version. Dave & Janet did not have “Pass Me By” in their collection (except as a DVD), so our musical guru, Evie, plans to transcribe it from the Johnny Rodriguez video on line.

Tuesday, June 6

For June 5 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.12. Events: 2 CSR, 1 H, 11 RERA. Time on 8 hrs 9 min with (max = 15 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 89, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 93.3%. Pulse avg. 54.2, low 48.

I worked on my records report to give to my cardiologist, Dr. Kim, at tomorrow’s appointment. It will include my daily blood pressure readings log book, my Pulmonary Function Test, with a Trend Report calculated for the past two visits. I have printed results (graphs) from my CPAP and Oximetry devices (particularly for SpO2 and my pulse), throughout the night, and my last INR & Potassium labs, because I forgot to request copies sent to them. I have made a summary table of the important parameters from the blood draws, since the start of the year, so he has it right in front of him and doesn’t have to search the records. I put these things in it: INR, potassium, BNP, magnesium, BUN, Creatinin, and Uric Acid, for all 8 blood draws I had from 1/3/17 – 5/25-27.

I completed printing the cello music scores (in the base clef) that Evie kindly created for me using SongWriter 2012 to give our new player (who can only attend on Saturdays now because of having a full time job). I’ll drop them off when in town later this week, so she can play with us on the 17 Sept.

I checked the cost of meds for Annie and for me – I recently picked up my 90 tablets of Coumadin that cost $31.62. I knew that was higher than previously, so I found the best price of $15.58 is at Safeway; I changed my pharmacy on that one.
I had just recently changed my dog Annie’s Phenobarbital to there from RiteAid, to save another bunch of money. The other neat thing is I can use my Chase Amazon.com card there at Safeway Pharmacy, and save an additional 2%. On a $137.95 purchase (180 tablets), that is a savings of $2.76 ! The reason my normal Pharmacy, Super 1, doesn’t give me the 2% discount, is that the total is titled as Super 1 Grocery, not Super 1 Pharmacy. The credit card company will not give a bonus for groceries, as they will for pharmacies.

Wednesday, June 7

Tuesday, June 6 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.36. Events: 3 H, 1 PP, 10 RERA. Time on 8 hrs 15 min with (max = 12 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 90, no events <88% with overall avg., 92.1%. Pulse avg. 56.9, low 50.

Today was the doctor’s appointment. I drove my car, and we stopped in Yakima for lunch. We ingested a lot of calories at Burger King at a lower price with coupons. We went to Costco, picked out frames, and paid for John’s new glasses. He will get them in 5-7 business days. There, in the optical department, we saw our good friends (Suzy & Bob West) from west of Yakima. We grabbed a few things we needed and some sale items, and left. The double package of Acetaminophen (Tylenol) was on sale for $2.00 off the normal $8.49 price (before tax), which isn’t bad. We also got some pears, nuts, plums, and mushrooms. We did not buy gasoline at Costco as usual because for some unknown reason, the price/gallon is $.36 less in EBRG!

John and I went to see Dr. Kim, arriving at 2:55 for check-in. I had an ECG and we spent ~ 1.5 hours with him. He upped my dosage of Entresto, so I have to watch my BP carefully for 2 weeks after the switch. I’m being scheduled for a couple of new tests, and an echocardiogram, because I haven’t had one since 2015. I requested a person there at the Yakima Heart Center, named Angie. She did my exam in 2014, and I found out her daughter plays the violin, so I shared some music. I need to remember to send her the July music, because of all the patriotic songs included. I’m not sure yet when my appointment will be. The scheduler’s first suggestion was July 12, but that’s a Wednesday, and normally I have two things to do on Wednesday and our anniversary, so I requested another date. Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays are supposed to be my scheduling days for appointments in Yakima.

Today, I had to miss playing music at the Food Bank, and going to SAIL exercise, because my Dr. was not available on the pre-arranged day, Monday this week. I was happy that my friend Gloria, went ahead and drove with her sister, attended both the Food Bank music and lunch, and then they went on to the SAIL exercise class.

Thursday, June 8

For June 7 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.46. Events: 1 CSR, 1 H, 4 RERA. Time on 2 hrs 10 min with (max = 17 L/min). I misread the time and turned off the CPAP at 1:15; I thought it was 7:15. Once the machine is off and unplugged, it cannot be re-started. Oximetry: I did not calculate it.

John left about 7:30 for bottling at White Heron, where they bottled Malbec. John brought home 3 bottles. After bottling, they stick around and share some wine with things brought by the participants. John’s contribution today were apples and Dry Salami. Others brought cheeses, breads, Pistachios, and two kinds of deviled eggs.

I went to play music at Meadows Place, and we had a good number of folks: Amy & Haley, Sharon, Anne, Gerald, Charlie, Maury, Kevin, Dean, and me. We expected two others, but they must have been rained out. We had some heavy rain before the gathering, and once inside, another downpour occurred. A dry spot allowed us to leave without rain, but I went for gasoline, and the bottom dropped out right after I left. I was pleased to get gasoline for $2.249/gal, and John also did the same on his trip back, because he must leave early tomorrow for Mt. Rainier and needed gasoline. I had stopped by my pharmacy to write a check for 20 days worth of my increased dosage of Entresto, so they would feel okay with opening the bottle to halve the pills so I can take 1.5 pills twice a day. I tried myself this morning, and with my pill splitter, it is a tough job to get an even split. There is no mark indentation on the pill in the middle, as is common with other similarly shaped meds. Then, if scored, I can break the pill in half with my hands.

I’m able to get 20 days worth of Entresto tablets for $10 (limit is 60 pills). Previously, I was only taking two/day, so 60 lasted a month. The $10 is a special co-pay I applied for through the pharmaceutical company for a drug that can cost up to $400/ month. We believe they will end that offer Dec. 31, 2017, so whether I can reapply is debatable. They probably want to get people hooked and then raise the price. I will have 300 left on the refill after this time. At least my insurance’s normal co-pay for 60 pills is $40, so that’s not excessive, but as long as I can get the same amount I need for $10, I shall.

Today’s photo on bing:© Karsten Schneider/Science Photo Library
Satellite-based graphic showing ocean currents off the Americas
It’s easy to think of satellites as technology for observing the realms beyond our planet. But many satellites turn their data-gathering instruments back toward home. That’s how this ocean-currents map was created. The purple and pink swirls represent warmer ocean currents, while the blue and green are cooler currents. Maps as this aid in weather forecasting, determining the temperature of our oceans, and long-term analysis of the oceans’ health.

I wish I had had this last week to combine with the write-up about the lecture on the Global Ocean. Knowledge of this came from Elise, my friend in New Jersey.

I put a request out on 3 Facebook sites for help with a low-calorie diet cook book. See my success below.

I had Glucerna & Yogurt for lunch, 190 + 90 calories.

Today, the crew leader LeeAnne Jensen from Jan 3 Saturday’s Franklin Falls and Wagon Trail work party sent photographs of the day’s work on National Trails Day.

First, here is her thank-you note to the crew:

Thank you so much for coming out on National Trails Day to lend a hand on the Franklin Falls and Wagon Road trails! It was a very beautiful day and we saw a lot of hikers out there! Trail work is just one of the many ways WTA works to promote and protect Washington’s trails, and we very much appreciate your being a part of that effort! Even though there were crowds of hikers we still accomplished a lot for both trails. Grady, Tracey, Debbie, and Diane made an awesome team moving gravel from the trailhead down to the turnpike project, where Kim, Toni, Kannan, and Dick did a lot of smoothing and tamping of the gravel to complete that section. Linda and Joe tackled a big rock, which they flipped out of the drainage and placed it to extend the rock water bar. Jay, John, Anthony, Susan, Fish, and John spent their time on the trail installing a culvert on the Wagon Road trail as well as clearing drainage and removing a down tree from the side of the trail. All in all, a lot was done to help the trails get ready for the summer hiking crowds. A heartfelt thank you to the assistant crew leaders for sharing their trail knowledge and for helping to keep everyone safe out there. See you on the trails again soon! – LeeAnne

Here’s John’s addition to a few of the photos from his crew’s project:John circled the ends of a small culvert that wasn’t doing the job, and the right is the new one Jay and John’s crew put in. Jay is the other orange hat in the photos.Left shows rocks added over the culvert, middle shows a side view with the fill over the rocks and culvert, and right shows the two orange hat assistant crew leaders on either side of the rest of the crew (green hats) for this project. Another dozen people worked nearby.

Friday, June 9

For June 8 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.18. Events: 1 H, 13 RERA. Time on 5 hrs 25 min with (max = 10 L/min). Slept an additional 2.5 hrs. Oximetry: SpO2 low 87, 3 events <88% with overall avg., 91.9%. Pulse avg. 53.3, low 50.

John goes to Mt. Rainier for trail work. home 6:00 ish ? He called from Naches at 4:40 … heading home but still just over an hour away. Highlights were mud and carrying big logs, oh, and it was cool. He saw a young bull elk on the way. Went via White Pass and came back Chinook Pass to avoid snow melt on the higher one in the morning.

Today, Gloria and I went to town. First, we went for lunch at the Food Bank, because we wanted to visit with mutual friends who provide the main dish on Fridays. They are twins, Marilyn and Carolyn. John and I know them from our past association with the Kittitas Valley Trail Riders. They have horses, and live near mutual friends, George & Julie. We had a good meal with Enchilada Casserole [the ground beef had the fat poured off], Mixed Green salad, and I skipped dessert.

From there we went by and dropped off the Cello music I had printed for our new player.

Then we went on and went through SAIL exercise class with Erica leading, and visited with many of our friends we don’t see on Wednesdays when we’re there.

I drove Gloria home, by way of two stops. First, was in west Ellensburg to pick up 3 books on weight loss from Maggie Manthel on the Facebook site, The Free Box. Check to Saturday to see the collage of hers and another set I picked up that afternoon.

On the way back to town to Super 1 Pharmacy to pay a $10 co-pay, I gave Gloria a tour of the west side, down Anderson road and by Anderson Hay & Grain, telling her about the covered bales of hay, the containers bound for Seattle, and about the different sizes of bales going different places in the world, from our valley.

Once, back home, I sent pdfs for July 29 and 30 music, to our fiddlers and friends Thursday group, with more to come. Those who can run their own will save me the effort of making copies. This packet only had 15 songs, plus the playlist order.

Saturday, June 10

For June 9 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.15. Events: 1 H, 13 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 38 min with (max = 12 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 88, no events <88% with overall avg., 91.6%. Pulse avg. 54.5, low 50.

We arrived at the start of the noon party graduation for Andrew Lamb at 4th Parallel Road at mom, Tanya Myer’s, house. They had quite a nice setup, and the weather held out with storms all around but not on us. At times, it was quite windy.Grandparents in left foreground, 2017 balloons that didn’t want to stay. Food, soft drinks, and various waters were under the tent.

My views from under the tent:

Michael playing with balloonFood still covered. Pot of Pulled Pork, Rolls, Watermelon, Strawberries, Sandwich Wraps, Veggie Tray, Cheese & Salami, pineapple, grapes, Chips & Dips, Mixed Salad, and an awesome dip by Tanya’s Dad, Bruce.

The cake: (we missed getting a piece to know what the inside was). Cupcakes were for the kids, and those who preferred. The cakes were made by a friend, Bradleigh Best. She did a nice job.Family collage as we were leaving the party for Andrew Lamb, 2017 graduate of Kittitas High School.Tanya, Andrew, Jessica, and Michael hugging a friend.

We left and drove 20 miles across the valley to our next graduation party for Isabel Hackett, 2017 graduate of Ellensburg High School.

They had a Croquet game in process, and the smell of BBQ chicken permeated the scene. We were already full, so we just had a piece of carrot cake.

Here’s a collage of the last stop. We had a nice visit with Jennifer Hackett’s parents from Boulder, with others there, including Rex Wirth and Stephanie Wickstrom from CWU.Croquet game and the half-eaten carrot cake.

On our way home, we drove by Jody Reed Davey’s place 4 miles out Reecer Creek Road to pick up low calorie books and Weight Watcher materials (for the entire class experience). That last bit is in the right photo below, in a black container at the bottom, below the hard back low-calorie cookbooks.

This collage goes back to yesterday and shows the free items I received this week. Thanks to those folks.Maggie’s bunch on the left and Jody’s on the right. Much info.

Sunday, June 11

For June 10 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.59. Events: 1 CA, 2 H, 2 PP, 10 RERA. Time on 5 hrs 5 min with (max = 9 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 87, 2 events <88% with overall avg., 92.6%. Pulse avg. 53.8, low 50.

John went on Nick Zentner’s Tieton Andesite (volcanic) Field Trip. Too much hiking for me to be able to attend. He left about 9:15, the trip leaves at 10:00, and will be back about 6:00. I expect him home after 6:30.

I had brunch at noon and nut snacks in the afternoon.

Much of the day I spent on finishing the blog.

Hope your week was fine.

Nancy and John
Still on the Naneum Fan

Sunday, May 28

For May 27 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.71. Events: 4 H, 13 RERA. Time on 5 hrs 40 min with (max = 15 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 87, 1 event <88% with overall avg., 91.9%. Pulse avg. 53.2, low 50.

John managed to get a placeholder on the blog site, stating the computer issues we were having last night, and being unable to post this week’s blog, which was otherwise ready to go.

He left at 6:30 a.m. today to go work on a WTA project at Ira Springs, about an hour and 20 minutes from home, across Snoqualmie Pass and north of I-90. Sadly, he left his lunch behind, so I hope they have drinks and snacks for him to get by John Clark (another Orange Hat) donated a banana, and the crew leader had water and multiple mini-bars of candy. He could have received more but did not need more.

Here are some of the photos from the day’s work:Before and after turnpike work – 10 years of wear, fixed.The middle photo is John giving the tool use & safety instruction at the beginning of the workday. Either side of that are photos of his team of 3, plus him. Tina left, Katerina & son Samuel, right.Whole crew with finished project; John & Katerina, & Bill.

Finally, the funny shot of the day:After lunch, Travis, Evonne (the crew leader), John and Bill – both from Ellensburg (Orange hats – Assistant Crew Leaders).
I worked on sending videos up on “WeTransfer” to share with the CWU Recreation & Tourism folks and their professor, David Rolfe. I also worked on doing all the other needed things on my computer, particularly the July music prep to get off to Evie (my cohort music score checker).

I spent time on the phone with friends, sending birthday and anniversary wishes via Jacque Lawson’s UK card site, washing dishes, and eating lunch. Mostly, I worked on music the rest of the afternoon until John got home. We ate supper, and then tried to post the blog. WordPress was choking. It is out there now, but only partially proofed. At first, not all the photographs would “go in,” and then we kept timing out. I tried fixing a few things, and with prayers and his help, we got most of it in, we think. Now I just finished going through the whole thing, and it will remain as posted. I think we got the major problems fixed.

I have been working on the July music, on both laptop computers, and will continue tomorrow.

Monday, May 29 HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY

For May 28 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.13. Events: 1 CSR, 1 H, 1 PP, 17 RERA. Time on 7 hrs 25 min with (max = 11 L/min). Oximetry: no report.

Thanks to all our military personnel who have protected our freedom throughout the years.
Sadly, this morning, our dear friend, Paul Swanson, passed over the rainbow bridge. His birthday was the same as John’s, but many years earlier. He was a veteran and a schoolteacher. I got to know him in our exercise class at the senior center, when I met him and his wife, Gloria, in 2010. She is still my sidekick every Wednesday, when she accompanies me to the Food Bank Soup Kitchen for music, and then afterwards, we go to SAIL exercise class.

John spent the morning before it got to 90° watering our garden, plants, and trees. I alternated between music prep for July, washing dishes, and killing flies (they’re coming in through the doggie door).

Tuesday, May 30

For May 29 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.00. Events: 13 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 54 min with (max 14 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 89, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 92.5%. Pulse avg. 59.8, low 50.

I sent the AAC Wild West BBQ dancing videos to the WeTransfer site. They went up while I was in town. When I got home, I sent the download site to the people at CWU and will send to the AAC.
Changed my nancyh@cwu.edu password. Yes, I still have an email there that I have had since 1988. I am one of the few in the University ever to have such a short “name.” My reason was interesting, but multi-nice. The names used to be the first 7 letters of your last name and first initial if less than 8, so mine would have been hultquis@cwu.edu. Luckily, I had to transfer across BITNET (precursor of the INTERNET) my data from the University of Idaho, where I was for 15 years. BITNET limited me to a username of only 6 characters – hence, nancyh. I was not the only Nancy “H” at CWU, and many times I got emails intended for Nancy Howard, whose username was howardn, not nancyh. She was never happy about that, but it amused me, with her being on the administrative side. Now the system has advanced, and while the same old usernames still exist, I can now be reached at nancy.hultquist@cwu.edu (and everyone in the university has access to their full name, 1st and last, connected with a “dot.”)

We plan to go to the south side of town to pick up rubber bands from a friend, and boxes for another friend. The RBs are to give to our newspaper delivery person to put on the papers, particularly when wrapping with plastic during rainy or snowy weather. We ended up with 11 unfolded boxes piled in the back of John’s car for our friends moving to Eugene.

We checked our number at Bi-Mart. Checked and nothing, bought some eye moisture drops, and looked for dye for doing John’s orange shirt, but they did not have the color in stock. We have decided against trying to dye the shirt. It is sun-bleached and likely would not look any better for the effort.

We were scheduled at our eye doctor for an annual exam at 2:15 and 2:30 at Valley Vision on Dolarway Rd. We got there ahead, in time to fill out a lot of paperwork, but we were still late getting into the testing. I was first. We have known my left eye would require after-surgery work, but now we are nearing the time to schedule it. My surgery was 20 years ago, and I now have clouding showing in my left eye’s vision and my eyesight is down to 20/30 in that eye. The Optimap screening shows a floater, but it is out of my vision. My capillaries are in good health. I will use the Internet to try to explain below what is necessary. The “operation” is simple, requires no sedation, and is a permanent fix to restore the sight in that left eye. The longest part of the procedure is the dilation (with drops) before laser beaming. It is an in-office procedure using laser beams to break up the membrane, while eye is dilated. The actual “beaming” only takes about 15 minutes. It is covered by insurance and apparently an easy fix. No restrictions on lifting after; maybe only a day or two of administering eye drops.

I looked on line and found the following information. I have rewritten parts and copied others, without notation. I’m practicing, “omit needless words.”

Why is laser treatment sometimes needed following cataract surgery?
Developing posterior lens capsule opacification (PCO) following a cataract surgery is common. Opacification means, “becoming opaque.” PCO is a complication that causes the back of the lens capsule (holding the artificial intraocular lens in place) to thicken and creates cloudy vision. Laser treatment is the fix.

The PCO procedure makes a hole in part of the back of the lens capsule such that the light can once again pass directly to the retina. This procedure is called Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy. The type of laser used for this treatment is an Nd:YAG; sometimes it is just referred to as just ‘YAG’.

How does the laser work?
Lasers are beams of energy that are very accurately targeted. The Nd:YAG laser uses very low energy levels and can delicately cut the lens capsule without any risk of damage to other parts of the eye.

What are the risks of laser treatment?
The laser procedure is considered very safe. Although there are some risks, serious side effects are very rare.

For some people, laser treatment for PCO can cause eye pressure to rise (mine is currently 18). Rarely, laser can cause a retinal detachment that can happen days, weeks, or months after the treatment. These risks are extremely rare complications. The vast majority of people get an excellent improvement in their vision following laser without experiencing any issues.

What happens during laser treatment?
In most cases the doctor will use an eye drop to dilate (widen) the pupil before laser treatment. This usually makes vision more blurry. Once the pupil is dilated, one’s head is placed on the headrest of the laser machine to keep the head and eye still while the doctor uses the laser to remove part of the capsule. The doctor focuses the laser exactly onto the back of the lens capsule in order to cut away a small circle shaped area. This leaves some of the capsule to keep the artificial lens in place (as a cuff around the lens), but it removes enough in the middle to allow light to pass directly through to the retina.

The very small part of the lens capsule cut away falls to the bottom of the inside of the eye where it eventually breaks down. The laser uses a wavelength of light that cannot be seen, but one may notice a red light that helps the doctor focus the laser beam. Each laser pulse is over in a fraction of a second and one should not feel any pain or discomfort. A person may notice a few flashing lights or hear some faint clicks coming from the machine as the laser works.

What happens after laser treatment?
It may take a few days for sight to become clear again, and ‘floaters’ may occur after the laser treatment. Floaters are harmless clumps of cells that move around inside the vitreous (a jelly-like substance that fills the inside of the eye). Because the laser treatment does not require any incisions or stitches, returning to daily activities is normal.

What about my sight?
After this treatment, sight should be restored to the level existing after the original cataract surgery, provided no other problems have developed in the eye.

Changing subjects to an inanimate one: The Handle Saga

The top part of a 2-piece lawn mower handle broke where it bolted on to the bottom section. Sears stores do not stock such things. It had to be ordered and shipped. It was shipped from a Sears facility in southern Idaho. The town was not one I, or John, knew. That’s why I say “southern,” ’cause I know the towns in the north. It was shipped via Sears – but the web site did not explain, and now, it no longer shows the town name. (Or maybe not – no one seems to know.)

It went to Salt Lake City – that is the wrong direction, but next, it went to Colorado – Denver area. Still wrong!

Next it went to Dallas, TX and on to a suburb called Mesquite. Sears transferred the package to a UPS truck. It is now 1,600 miles from its destination.

Now the “backtrack” – It went back to Dallas, and on to Vernon, TX. That is 175 miles northwest of Big D. Then through NE New Mexico, I think, but that’s a guess. Englewood, CO is the next stop, just south of Denver. On to Commerce City, CO. , just north of Denver. Now back to Salt Lake City. And on to Heyburn Idaho, south-center of ID, and then to Nampa, 24 miles from Oregon. Next stop was Hermiston, OR. {Cantaloupe country} This is about 125 miles SE of Ellensburg via Interstate 82. But, the next stop was Spokane, WA – 170 miles northeast of EBRG.
Finally, to Ellensburg. Then out to the Naneum Fan, 11 miles northeast of the UPS facility. It took 8 days to get here: ordered May 22; arrived May 30. GUESS WHAT ! It was the wrong part.
John reordered, but the replacement part, while it came faster, is also wrong. I had taken the first part and shipped it back from the UPS store (at Sears cost). John has printed the label to return it. [While the Sear’s site showed it going on a return trip, it might not have. It could be the initial posting was the reverse of the expected trip, starting in Dallas. Odd.]

Thankfully, we were given another lawnmower by friends who are moving to Eugene when their house sells (see that story below). John has been able to continue mowing, but he is many days behind.

Wednesday, May 31

Tuesday, May 30 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.34. Events: 1 CSR, 2 H, 10 RERA. Time on 5 hrs 48 min with (max = 15 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 89, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 92.8%. Pulse avg. 53.5, low 49.

I spent time on the phone with several people but the last was the longest and most frustrating, trying to get Satellite Radio on John’s car. Turns out the Crosstrek model he has is not equipped with the possibility to receive it. We now have to find an XM Radio Kit for an affordable price. I did talk the person down to $25 for a 6-month subscription, but currently we have no way to receive it.

I picked up Gloria and went to the Food Bank Soup Kitchen, for music and food, and on to SAIL class. I left class early to meet friends in the parking lot to deliver 11 boxes for their moving needs. As we were moving the boxes, Phil offered me their self-propelled push lawnmower. At Gloria’s house I visited a bit with a mutual friend who had come by to express her sympathies and to bring some goodies for her to give other visitors. The celebration of life will be in Kittitas, at the New Life Assembly Church Saturday at 11:00 a.m.
I came home by my neighbors and had a short visit with folks there.

Came in and tried to relax after a restless night’s sleep. John spent a lot of time in the yard today, planting, cutting, watering, and trying to fix the broken handle on the mower via a splint. That worked, but not well. The one Sears sent did not fit, so he talked to the repair people and they will pay the postage to return the wrong part they sent (took 8 days) and hopefully send the correct part. We now know they again sent the wrong part.

Meanwhile, I told John about the offer of the lawnmower and he accepted – so I called to set up a possible pickup tonight. We did. It’s an older but very nice machine. See below on Sunday.

Thursday, June 1

For May 31 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.50. Events: 1 CSR, 4 H, 10 RERA. Time on 7 hrs 56 min with (max = 9 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 89, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 92.7%. Pulse avg. 54.4, low 49.

I went to the UPS store, sent the box back to Sears, and got a receipt of proof.

I went to the Rehab for music. We had a great turnout of players and audience, with 6 folks participating singing in the audience, and several without lyrics, from memory. I don’t always take a lot of copies there because most residents are not able to be very involved. We even had a visitor, who walked over from next door at Meadows, where we will be next week. She is Mary Lou Gilmour (whose family used to own Mr. G’s grocery store) kitty-cornered from Lind Hall where I had my office for 9 years until moving to Bouillon.

I went by AAC to see Erica and deliver a package.
We went to a great presentation tonight by an Oceanographer:
John Delaney, University of Washington.Here is a summary. The well being of all life on earth depends on our planetary ocean. The ocean also plays a key role the health of our global economic framework. Yet, most citizens of the world do not appreciate the ocean’s interactive complexity, the diversity of its utility, and its underlying influence on past, present, and potential future, cultural-societal changes. The powerful roles the ocean plays in terms of human history, trade, commerce, resources, hazards, science, education, warfare, defense, the arts, entertainment, modulation of our climate, and the search for life beyond earth, are largely unrecognized by most members of our global society.
Since Herodotus (440 BC), humans have looked at history as an ensemble of stories about city states and nations vying with one another for dominance, using warfare and trade to punctuate the signal events viewed as turning points over the millennia. With few exceptions, human history focuses on unfolding events on continents, yet as far back as the origin of life on earth, the ocean has profoundly influenced the evolution of life, as well as culture, on our home planet.
This presentation explores and expands on these and related themes with the goal of developing an integrated awareness of the central, interconnected functions that our global ocean basin plays in our planetary society of nations and individuals.
If you want to download the videos, you only have 7 days, until June 8th from this link. It won’t cost you anything but time and an Internet connection. It has taken my computer over 4 hours to transfer the data, but it will not take that long to download it to your computer. I’m doing the upload while I sleep.

Download:
Link-DO THIS DOWNLOAD BY JUNE 8 when they’ll disappear
There are 5 files there, almost 3 gigs, and the last two are missing a tiny bit because my battery ran out and I had to replace. It will take about 50 minutes to download unless you are on a faster connection than I am.

Friday, June 2

For June 1 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=1.65. Events: 11 H, 1 PP, 10 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 39 min with (max = 14 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 88, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 93.6%. Pulse avg. 51.9, low 47.

11:30 Father’s Day lunch at AAC. We had a baked casserole of French toast with blueberries (warm) compote, fresh strawberries, peeled hard-boiled eggs, granola, and yogurt. A storyteller and her son joined us for the program afterwards.

A collage of the food: Granola, Yogurt, Strawberries, grapes, Cream Cheese on mini-bagels, Baked French Toast, with warm Blueberry Compote.

Elaine Bleggi Storytelling about a Beautiful Cockroach
Link

Before my SAIL class, I went down to deliver and pickup some stuff from a friend. After exercise, I dropped by the front desk at the hospital to get my recent medical records of the blood draw to take to my cardiologist next week.

I took some stuff by to Gloria’s, and ended up staying awhile to help her get on her email and also onto Facebook to check for things from her niece, who started an account for her on Facebook. She hasn’t been able to access her email recently. I sent myself a photo sent to her and printed off to take to her tomorrow at the celebration of life, along with my other sympathy letter.

Saturday, June 3

For June 2 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.28. Events: 2 H, 7 RERA. Time on 7 hrs 8 min with (max = 20 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 87, 2 events <88% with overall avg., 92.6%. Pulse avg. 59.7, low 49.

11:00 celebration of life, Paul Swanson, New Life Assembly Kittitas Church, 210 Main St., Kittitas, WA. Clearly, this was the best Celebration of Life service, I have ever attended.

It started with driving to Kittitas and looking at the clouds on the horizon. I saw some wave clouds and tried stopping for a photo, but did not succeed in getting the view I wanted. I proceeded into town, and when I got to the church, there were the wave clouds above the church ! Wave clouds (bottom left) and above the church (right), 6-3-17.

Compare this to a photo I put in my sympathy letter to Gloria & family and what I wrote beneath it.December 22, 2007 from the Naneum Fan of the Kittitas Valley _ Special Waves

Love, hugs, and sympathies from Nancy & John Hultquist in Ellensburg, WA – please remember the good times, as that’s what he would want! Great memories shall abide with you and us all, forever, with his spirit always close by. There are many hours you shared over the years, with fun travels, stories and family events, and many other happy memories, reflections, experiences, and especially laughs and smiles shared through your lives with him. Those happy memories and recollections will help tide you all over the rough waves, although it will be difficult. He will be with you always in spirit and in your memories, and he will have reunions with those relatives and friends whom he loved and have preceded him to heaven. He will be there to greet us all, when we arrive, and will show us around the clouds, as the angel he is. Much love and wishes for happy memories.

I have noted Links numbered below 1-3, which are my picks for people who only want highlights of the service, but the whole list is for family members.

Link 1: Intro to Service

Slides, Paul’s Life with music

John Strong, Gloria’s sister Shirli’s son

Mary Ann Walling’s memories of Paul

Paul’s Niece about his Thinking Outside the Box

Thanksgiving Wars in the Southern California Desert

Rita Fadel’s and Dave’s Memory

Woman, blue blouse, family member

Shirli Strong, Gloria’s Sister with Paul’s Pyro Story

Woman about Anniv. Pix Viewing

Grandson: Daniel Coffey

Play BINGO with Paul

Sean Hamilton’s Devotional

Relative’s napping story about Paul

Link 2: Gloria about Paul, her hubby of 67 yrs

Deanna Hamilton-Another girlfriend

Link 3: Gary Bye – Awesome Eulogy

Sunday, June 4

For Jun 3 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.98. Events: 2 CSR, 8 H, 1 PP, 14 RERA. Time on 8 hrs 15 min with (max = 16 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 89, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 92.9%. Pulse avg. 52.9, low 50.

New this week: Evening Grosbeaks at the feeder.Just after taking that, I went out with John for him to lift the canopy so I could take a photo of the wood we picked up last night from Evie in Kittitas. They tore down an old deck and wanted to get rid of the lumber, mostly 2x4s. Filled the back of our truck.

Later in the day, John mowed in the wind. We had gusts to 40 mph.On the left is out front in our orchard, where you can see not all has yet been mowed. The middle and right are behind the house, with the right showing the entire cutting back toward the creek (over the hill), and around Jay’s Folly. John wishes he had some youngsters (not really; androids maybe) to help with the chores around here.

We have to defer our Brittany report to next week. We are out of time and energy and space, but we have had some wonderful training shots of our Brittany, Daisy, in CA. Those of you on Facebook have been able to enjoy all week, so next week here will be a review.

Hope your week was fine.

Nancy and John
Still on the Naneum Fan

We are having serious problems with getting things into WordPress, including photographs. Some John tried 6 times.

Monday, May 22

For May 21 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=1.46. Events: 2 CSR, 8 H, 15 RERA. Time on 5 hrs 29 min with (max = 13 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 87, 1 events <88% with overall avg., 92.4%. Pulse avg. 53.9, low 50.

Today was our 3-month regular trip to our foot doctor for toenail inspection, maintenance, and repair. I’ve had no sign of fungus for many months. It is a benefit of Medicare that we appreciate having. From there we went for beans and beef to make a nice addition tomorrow for our end of year CWU Geography Awards ceremony and potluck with CWU Food Service burgers and hotdogs (wieners, frankfurter, frank or whatever you call them).

This afternoon we left for CWU to attend the Recognition Ceremony & Reception to celebrate promotion, tenure, senior lecturers, and distinguished faculty members (in teaching and research), where several of my colleagues received awards. It was a wonderful event. I am so proud of my friend since 1994, Elaine Glenn, who teaches Geography, as a Senior Lecturer. She received the Distinguished Non-tenure Teaching Award. I wrote a recommendation for her 3 years ago and again this year. She has deserved it for a long while. John and I enjoyed sitting with her family, sharing the award ceremony, and dinner afterwards. Do watch her acceptance speech below. Others from Geography honored we knew there were John Bowen and Elvin Delgado. As well, Patrick Lubinski (Anthropology) won the Distinguished Teaching award for tenured professors. Be sure to watch his acceptance speech below. One other person I know, David Douglas, was promoted to Senior Lecturer. In addition, Clay Arango, formerly our student, was promoted to Associate Professor of Biological Sciences.Stage for presentations – the Glenn family, Eliza, Elaine, & Dana

Elaine Glenn, CWU Distinguished Teaching Award, 5-22-17
EG Link

Pat Lubinski, CWU Distinguished Teaching Award, 5-22-17
PL Link

Elvin Delgado, CWU Awarded Stole for Promotion to Associate Professor of Geography, 5-22-16
ED Link

John Bowen, CWU Awarded Stole for Promotion to Professor of Geography, 5-22-17
JB Link

Clay Arango, CWU Awarded Stole for Promotion to Associate Professor of Biological Sciences, 5-22-17
CA Link

The geography faculty members had several people there supporting them. I don’t have photos of everyone there, but I recall seeing, the Bowen family, the Glenn family, Diane & Jim Huckabay, John & Nancy Hultquist, Karl Lillquist, Craig Revels, and Monica Bruya. The promotion and tenure awards are recognized and presented a lot differently from when Morris Uebelacker and I received our tenure and promotion to Professor, and that was in this century!

Here is a collage photo of the Geography honorees, with and without, their scholarly hats.
Elvin Delgado, Elaine Glenn, and John Bowen in Regalia

Tuesday, May 23

For May 22 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.13. Events: 1 H, 1 PP, 13 RERA. Time on 7 hrs 59 min with (max = 6 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 88, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 92.1%. Pulse avg. 56.1, low 49.

Today we did chores in the yard and house, and very early morning, John put beef in the slow cooker with tomatoes and BBQ sauce to cook. Later, he added onions, black beans, corn, and other beans with the cut up tender beef. It was a great addition to the table to go with burgers and dogs. People brought salads, cheese, dips, crackers, beans, asparagus, and there was a nice cake the department provided, with chocolate and carrot cake, covered with white and raspberry icing.Our offering on the left, middle cookies & salads, salsa, and right, mixed green salad, asparagus & eggs, and another veggie dish.

We ate first and then had the scholarship awards. $7000 worth of scholarships was awarded, and five students received their GIS Certificates.

I took some photos, but ran out of memory part way through and needed to delete some from last night (that already were on my computer).

The Macinko Award
Link

The Brooks-Shaw Award
Link

I am sorry this was the one I was taping when I ran out of memory on my SD card. I only got the first awardee’s descriptive comments on the video. My apologies to Madison Smith. Recipients of this award are Madison and Emma Leonard. Here they are afterwards displaying their awards, with the donor.Emma Leonard, Lillian Brooks, Madison Smith

Finally, our award was presented to two students, one a Cultural & Natural Resource Management graduate student, Savannah Bommarito, and the other, an undergraduate Geography major, Emma Leonard, from New Zealand.

The Hultquist Distinguished Service Award
Link

John and I fund this award for two students each year, preferably a graduate student and an undergraduate, who have demonstrated excellent service to the Geography department, to CWU, and/or to the broader Ellensburg community.Emma Leonard, Nancy, Savannah Bommarito

Two more awards occurred while my camera was not working, the Stoltman award and the Kaatz award. I did not get a video of either of those, but I did get a photo of Megan presenting to the Kaatz award winner, Savannah Hutchins. Carla Kaatz was there, but had left before I got her picture at the end with the winner.Savannah Hutchins – winner of Kaatz Award, with Megan Walsh

One more video for you:

This is Jennifer Lipton and John Bowen announcing the Geography faculty awards this week.

Link

Finally, the 2017 graduating Geography class:
Left is the photo of the graduates; here trying to display, C W U

Ending with our future Biogeographer, Lyndie, there with her mom, Megan, who presented all the awards.Megan (mom) and Lyndie – Future Biogeographer

Wednesday, May 24

Tuesday, May 23 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.65. Events: 1 CSR, 5 H, 16 RERA. Time on 7 hrs 43 min with (max = 10 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 86, 2 events <88% with overall avg., 92.0%. Pulse avg. 55.5, low 47.

Today was music and food at the F.I.S.H. Food bank and SAIL exercise afterwards.

Thursday, May 25

For May 24 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=2.53. Events: 7 CSR, 18 H, 1 OA, 19 RERA. Time on 7 hrs 31 min with (max = 13 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 87, 1 event <88% with overall avg., 92.7%. Pulse avg. 52.2, low 49. Although the AHI is high, the SpO2 is excellent; my only concern.

I’ve been working on photos and videos taken Monday night and Tuesday nights, and still have to finish some made last Friday to send to the participants of the CWU Recreation & Tourism program.

I went for my blood draw today and lucked out getting my favorite phlebotomist, Kim. My results were reported to me before I got home by a message on my cell phone, while I was playing music. My INR was right on at 2.5, so no dosage change and will come back in a month; my potassium was okay too at 4.9. Good to have this in time for my June 7 appointment in Yakima with my principal cardiologist, Dr. Kim.

Hearthstone today in the front room was cozy and nice, with good acoustics, room, and comfortable over-stuffed chairs for the audience. We enjoyed ourselves too, and had a nice program, with many people singing along and giving us a bunch of thanks at the end. We had the following players there: tambourine, flute/penny whistle/washboard, bass guitar, mandolin, fiddle, 12-string guitar, 6-string guitar, fiddle, banjo, Dobro, guitar, harmonica, and our young 4 yr old singer/dancer, Haley. Wow, a Baker’s Dozen! The residents absolutely love Haley, as she is outgoing, participates in the music, and is helpful with handing out and picking up music.

I received a gift from Peru from my friend Anne Engels, and brought it home to share opening with John. Then I left it in my music bag in the car. So will have to retrieve tomorrow and see what it is.

Friday, May 26

For May 25 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.32. Events: 1 CSR, 2 H, 16 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 15 min with (max = 15 L/min). Slept another 2 hrs w/o CPAP & Oximetry: SpO2 low 88, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 93.0%. Pulse avg. 53.0, low 49.

Received a call from John’s sister, Peggy, that their brother Richard (Dick), in California, was not doing well, and after a brief stay in the hospital, is in a rehabilitation center to have professional help with physical therapy. His wife, Kit, called Peggy and asked her to inform family members. Their four kids are close by and can help with visiting him, so all the stress is not placed on Kit. He’s 11 years older than John, but his health has been complicated by Parkinson’s.

Otherwise, today was a banner day, as Jeri Conklin’s photos made it to the banner of the Lancaster Photography Association’s web page. You saw her winning pictures, and the one of our Brittany, Daisy, in a field of poppies, in last week’s blog.

Nothing planned here today, except household and yard projects. We have plenty of those, and need to take days like this to stay home to accomplish them. I worked on dishes, medications for the week, organizing bills, and John watered plants, planted some, and kept busy with Annie helping. He came in and fixed a grilled ham & cheese sandwich, which we had with a Honeycrisp apple. While he was in the house, I went out to the car to get my gift from Anne. What a beautiful surprise! As you can see below, it is a lovely colorful woven winter hat, complete with ear muff-like covers. It was in a cool-wrapped package I waited to show John before opening. THANK YOU! Anne and Glenn for the memory of your Peruvian trip.The package had an interesting ribbon on it, and inside was a Peruvian knitted hat made with fine wool from an Alpaca, with designs including birds (Condor probably) and Alpacas. Come next winter, I will be the hit of EBRG.

I am continuing daily tasks with creating my CPAP and Oximetry data reports, and working on the blog, which we have to publish tomorrow night, because John will be gone all day Saturday and Sunday working on trails. Actually, I need to finish working on the photos I took this week at two CWU events.

If you have a Facebook account, you can visit an interesting educational video about Wine grapevine “Shoot Thinning” by Paul Vandenberg at Paradisos del Sol in Zillah, WA located in the AVA, Rattlesnake Hills. Paul’s wife, Barbara Sherman, posted the video this morning.

Shoot

Saturday, May 27

For May 26 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.54. Events: 1 CSR, 3 H, 15 RERA. Time on 5 hrs 34 min with (max = 11 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 87, 2 events <88% with overall avg., 92.3%. Pulse avg. 53.7, low 49.

John left very early to be in Ellensburg to meet at 5:45 with a WTA friend, Bill, to travel to Dorothy Lake. Bill drives a comfy Chevy truck. The trip off the highway to the trail head is 13 miles in on a potholed gravel road. They’ll probably be early, but not likely get home until after 6:00 p.m.

John did not expect to see Dorothy Lake, but they did get to view it. The area near the Lake is still much snow covered with meltwater covering many of the open spots. They found a sunny dry place at the top of a knoll for lunch. I pulled this off the web last night. Apparently, the trail is very rough and wet and has a lot of high steps, making it hard going uphill and downhill. John’s legs wanted to cramp at the end of the long drive home.
Dorothy Lake in the Alpine Wilderness, ~3,060 ft. elevation

I slept in and have started the day with washing clothes.

I also have to work in time this weekend on music for July that I must have ready the end of June so we can play at the Adult Activity Center for their annual 4th of July celebration we have done for over a decade. This year it is on June 30.

I meant to put the following links in last week’s blog (goes back to April 1, but I just received it last week).

Music:
KV Fiddlers (&) Friends 2017
Link

You can get to that anytime on your computer (or smart phone) ,

Dancers: Blue Agate Round & Square Dance Club

Link

Hope your week was fine.

Nancy and John
Still on the Naneum Fan

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