Our Journey

 At the end of August 2023, my husband found out he has a type of leukemia.  They called it 'pre' leukemia.  It meant traveling to the city for blood tests and treatments.  Fortunately, he was able to drive himself and I did not have to be there for every treatment. Some weeks he had to go every day.  

Wednesday, they called to have him come in Thursday afternoon to get the results of the Tuesday bone marrow test.  We met his new doctor and nurse practitioner.  They are both very nice.

We were told he has leukemia.  They wanted to admit him on Friday to start his new treatment.  He had planned to golf Friday morning but he cancelled that and we waited for the phone call which would tell us when to come to the hospital.  It was supposed to happen by 10 but it was noon.  (He could have gone golfing.)

We drove to the hospital and he was admitted.  The hospital is about 40 minutes from home.

The doctor came in and we learned that they couldn't start the treatment just yet because the pill they wanted to use had to be paid for somehow.  Our provincial plan doesn't cover it.  Much of the weekend (these things always seem to happen on weekends) was spent contacting people to find coverage.  On Tuesday (June 18) we got word that the money was there.  They started treatment as soon as that was confirmed.

Sunday was Father's Day.  He got a pass for a couple hours and our son picked him up from the hospital so he could enjoy some time with family.  Daughter had come home for the day and we took our little dog, Wiggles, with us so she could spend some time with her dad.  She had a great time.  Our son's dog is the same age (14) and size and they had met before.  I think both dogs liked seeing another animal the same size as they are.

Our grandson drove him back to the hospital.  Everyone was pleased with how nice the afternoon was.

I have been driving into the city every day to spend time with my husband.  Yesterday, I asked him if I could have a day off.  I have been getting more tired every day.  With cell phones, we have the ability to talk whenever we want to.  This morning when the nurse practitioner came to check on him, we had his phone on speaker could I could hear too.  Anyway, I stayed home.  I planned to get caught up with things that have been slipping but I ended up doing nothing and sleeping when I could.  

My purpose for sharing this is to help me remember.  I have read blogs about others who are experiencing different issues.  Already things are getting confused in my brain.  If you are a person who prays, we appreciate prayers.  

Eclipse

 I am back at home.  I arrived around 7 p.m. Sunday night.  I decided not to wait until Monday because I knew traffic might be busy on Monday.  

I was quite busy all morning.  I had been away for two weeks and there are things that got neglected while I was away.

This afternoon my second son called to say that he was bringing his youngest daughter and her son here to watch the eclipse.  I think we had a very good spot to watch - our backyard.

We all had the special glasses and the baby was safe under the gazebo so he couldn't look up accidently.

It was interesting how the afternoon proceeded.  We noticed it starting to get cooler and as the sun disappeared, I had to go into the house for a sweater.  Son did an experiment with the binoculars to get an image on the ground.  As the darkness was taking over, I noticed that one of my solar lights had started to shine.  Later, in the darkness, they were all glowing.

And then it was dark.  I didn't attempt to take a picture because I knew I would be disappointed and I figured there will be lots of pictures from people who know what they are doing.

And then the light started to return.  The birds started to sing again and sounded like they do in the morning when the day is beginning.  The solar lights went off again and we just talked about what we had seen.

I expect there will be lots of conversations in the days ahead about where we were and our reactions to what we saw.  

This is a picture a friend of mine (who is usually taking pictures of birds) took.

Prominences
The solar flares visible during totality.

Thursday Afternoon in Aylmer

 I can't believe it is two years since I made an entry in this blog.  It seems I am in the same spot as I was when I last wrote - my daughter's.  I am dog-sitting two labs and a cat.  I have known for a few weeks that I would spend the week here while they are in Florida golfing and celebrating their 19th wedding anniversary.  In the original plan, I was coming on March 30 and staying for a week.  What actually happened is that my husband saw a bike on Market-place that he wanted to check and so we came to Aylmer on March 22 - for the weekend.

After deciding he liked the bike and having the seller deliver it to daughter's, he also decided it might be a good idea for me to stay when he went home which he did on the Sunday.  The problem is that I packed for a weekend and by the time I am home again, I will have been away two weeks.  (Daughter brought me some new underwear. 😁)

Husband came back on Thursday to get the bike and leave me the car.  He had a nap and then drove the bike back home.  (We live about 2 1/2 hours away.)  It was a bit cooler than he likes but he was dressed for cold and made the trip successfully.  As it turned out, he chose the best day of the week for a bike ride.

If I had known how things were going to work out, I would have packed my sewing machine and some fabric so I could have been working on a quilt all week.  Instead, I did three jigsaw puzzles, read my book and checked websites on my laptop.  I am thankful I brought my book and laptop.

Daughter and son-in-law got up about 4 Sunday morning to drive to the airport for their 6 a.m. flight.  Everything went well.  I know they have been golfing a couple times but it is possible they have done more.  They do enjoy golf.  They will come home Sunday.  I think it will be 2-ish when they get here if all goes according to plan.  I haven't decided if I will head home after they get here or wait to leave Monday morning.

Now I am wondering if I will remember that I have this blog and could write more often.

March

The season comes when, from her three-month's trance,
The Earth awakens: already her deep heart
Begins to stir, and send its life abroad.
–Thomas Buchanan Read (1822–72)

Here we are in the last days of March.  My daffodils are very similar to the above picture.  This morning there were snow flurries.  It seems that March is leaving like a lion.

Last Sunday, Himself and I gathered the dog and cat and a change of clothes and headed to daughter's 2 1/2 hours away.  She is our pet-sitter when we go away and we were planning to travel to Hamilton on Tuesday to see Shen Yun that evening.  We booked a night at Days Inn.  It was about 18 minutes from the venue.  I was pleased that Himself was willing to walk with me.  It was cold.   It had been quite 'springy' on the weekend but not so much on Tuesday.  I was glad I had my winter jacket.  We both enjoyed the show.

Wednesday morning we checked out and headed back to daughter's.  It was an uneventful drive (the best kind) and we arrived at her house before she left for her afternoon shift.  We decided that I would stay and travel home with her when she came for her friend's birthday.  Himself loaded the cat and dog and headed home.  He plays darts on Wednesday night and he didn't want to miss.  I, on the other hand, enjoy a break in my routine.

When I stayed, we were unsure whether Daughter and I would be coming home on Friday or Saturday.  Often Daughter is not scheduled to work on Friday but she doesn't usually find out until Wednesday or Thursday.  She was happy to find out that she was off on Friday.

We had a leisurely morning.  We watched a movie on Netflix and then we walked her two black labs at the fairground which is a couple blocks from her house. 

The cold weather is really hanging on.  She made us poached eggs and then we loaded her car for the drive home.  

We drove through heavy rain, light showers, and sunshine before it started to rain again.  It think it is Spring.

 

Family Day

Today is Family Day in Ontario.  I understand it is President's Day in the United States.

Family Day is not a national statutory holiday, it is only observed in New Brunswick, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Saskatchewan and in British Columbia. Other provinces have holidays in February on the same day but these holidays aren't called Family Day. In PEI Islander Day is celebrated on the 3rd Monday in February and in Manitoba the 3rd Monday in February is the Louis Riel Day holiday. In Nova Scotia this day is called Heritage Day.

Right now the sun is shining (approx. 12:30 p.m.)  I hear that we might get more rain tonight.  After the rain we got last week, many fields and other places were flooded.  Fortunately, we are okay.

This morning we had breakfast at a diner that is usually closed on Mondays.  I think they are trying to make up for some of the business they have lost over the past few months.  Since many of the places close on Mondays and because they have many faithful customers, they were busy.  They have all their tables back and ready.  (During the shutdowns, they had some tables shut off so that they were separated and to help keep their numbers down to the permitted level.)  It is a husband and wife team who run the place.  Today their 3 teens were helping.  I expect they will have to re-learn their routines after working with reduced numbers for so long.  They said they are open because it is Family Day and they consider many of us family.

The sun is shining the the sidewalks are mostly bare, I think I will sign off and go for a walk.  Tomorrow it might be too wet if the predictions are correct.

The picture is from one of my recent walks.

February

 

Poor robin redbreast,

Look where he comes;

Let him in to feel your fire,

And toss him of your crumbs.

- Christina G. Rossetti (1830-94)

It is hard to believe how quickly time is passing by.  It is over a month since I posted a blog.  This morning, I finished reading a book (Love, Lists & Fancy Ships).  

In the story, the main character was blogging about a list of 30 things she wanted to do before her 30th birthday.  It was light reading but it reminded me that I also have a blog.

 

 So, what has been happening? - on January 18, Himself finally had his upper teeth removed and a denture put into his mouth.  I dropped him off at the hospital that morning and then spent time with my daughter-in-law while I waited for the call letting him know I could pick him up.  Mostly things have been going well once the bleeding stopped.   We are still eating soft foods and probably will be for a few more weeks.  He has been back to the denturist for adjustments but for now it is just waiting for healing while we learn how to handle this change.

From January 3 - February 13 I took part in a 6-week Step Bet:  https://waybetter.com/stepbet.  It got me walking on days when it would have been easier to stay home.  I thought I would be able to use the treadmill when the weather was bad but the treadmill quit so I had to make sure to walk no matter what.  Unfortunately,  the bet was finished, I have been using bad weather as an excuse to not go out for a walk.  Once the weather starts to improve, it is my intention to walk more again as I really enjoy that quiet time.

My weight hasn't been moving.   I go up and down the same one or two pounds.  My husband tells me to stop being concerned about weight but I have spent my whole life trying to lose weight.  It is hard to just stop thinking about the numbers.  I would really like to get out of the obese classification on the BMI charts.

Ontario is starting to open up again.  On March 1, we won't have to show our vaccination certificate to eat in a restaurant.  Let's hope everyone continues to stay well.

January

 

Then came old January, wrapped well
In many weeds to keep the cold away;
Yet did he quake and quiver, like to quell,
And blow his nails to warm them if he may.
–Edmund Spenser, English poet (c. 1552–99)

We are one week into January.  I am doing well with my walking.  Today was a nice day but I took the day off.  I am working on a jigsaw puzzle.  This is the one I finished last week.

Himself has a new date for getting his upper teeth removed.  His first date was December 22.  That was canceled and he was given a date for January 12.  Another call moved the date to February.  This week he got another call.  He thinks this one could be the one - January18.  We just want the whole thing to be over.  He has to get a blood test (because he has problems with his blood) to make sure he is okay to have the surgery.  He will also need to have a COVID test before we go to the hospital.  After the last call, he had another piece of tooth break off.  I said that was confirmation that getting the teeth out is the right move.  I am dreading having an invalid in the house.  He isn't a good patient. 

The other day, I checked the treadmill to make sure it was ready in case the weather is not good for outdoor walking.  It was working fine last winter but I cannot get it to run now.  Son #1 knows more about electrical things than the rest of us.  He is coming out this week to take a look.  

Happy New Year

 “Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.”

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

January 1, 2022.  

Back in November, I signed up for a virtual Reboot Run.  Today was the day.  Last week, I received my toque.  The medal will come later.

About 11:41 a.m., I left the house for my 5 km walk.  I made up the route as I walked.  I was connected to both Runkeeper and MapMyWalk.  Runkeeper gave me 3.72 miles and MapMyWalk recorded 6.03 km.  I had over 10,000 steps.

I know I won't be doing 5 km every day but I started the year strong.  Only time will tell how I progress.

After I got back home (the walk was an hour and a half), I finished a puzzle I have been working on.

The year has started well.

Winter Has Arrived

 Winter is officially here.  It is a lovely day (40*F) and I did something I haven't been doing lately - I went for a walk.  It is my plan to continue and built up a streak like I had going last year.  I was out for almost an hour and covered 4.29 km.

December

Like most of 2021, December is flying by.  On my last blog post, I was preparing for a week in Nova  Scotia.  A month ago, I was there and I haven't even written about what a wonderful time we had.  I want to write about it before I forget but not this afternoon.  I read this little verse today and it expresses how I am feeling.

How did it get so late so soon?
It's night before it's afternoon.
December is here before it's June.
My goodness how time has flewn.
How did it get so late so soon? 
–Dr. Seuss (Theodor Seuss Geisel), 1904–91

The Excitement Builds

Friday at 8 a.m., my daughter and I will leave Hamilton, ON headed for Halifax, NS.  We will spend a week with my sister and brother.  We are hoping to see other relatives but one week isn't very long.  Daughter is disappointed that she will be unable to see her friend in Saint John, New Brunswick because that area is experiencing an extended lock-down and outsiders are not permitted in.

(Pictures from previous visits back home.)

I will leave my Ontario home tomorrow afternoon and drive to daughter's about two and a half hours away.  She lives closer to Hamilton.  We will have to leave her place very early Friday morning.  Neither of us has been to that particular airport but we are not expecting to have trouble finding it.  We will each have a backpack since we don't want to pay extra for luggage.  I am hoping the packs fit the requirements as laid out by Swoop (the airline).  

This morning I had my annual visit with my optometrist.  My glasses are still okay for another year.  My eyes have slight changes but nothing earth-shattering. 

Today I am finishing up tasks I need to take care of before leaving, like freezing the rest of the pumpkin from cooking up the pie pumpkins from my garden.  It was my first time growing pumpkins.  I was very happy with my harvest of 15 pumpkins.  It was fun to watch them all summer as the vines tried to take over the back yard.

I will relax at daughter's on Thursday.  Her husband is working days so he won't be home until after 3.  She leaves for her job about 2 and gets home before midnight.   We will meet one of my cousins for lunch shortly after we land on Friday.  She moved back to Nova Scotia after teaching in British Columbia for a number of years.  I don't remember when I saw her last.  

I haven't been home since June 2019 when my sister and I spend some time in Newfoundland.  What wonderful memories we have of that vacation.  It seems like a very long time ago but I know there are other families who have been separated for much longer.

New Beginnings

 Here comes September, a time when many of us make a fresh start.

Good Bye SparkPeople

This morning I got up about 6 so I could delete my SparkPeople membership.  I waited until then to be sure that no one else had commented or left something for me.  SparkPeople has been a part of my life for almost 17 years.  I feel like I have lost a friend.  I knew that the end was coming but I still feel like I am in mourning.  

My special friend died in December 18.  When we got together we would talk about everything with our husbands being near the top of the list.  We would unload about the quirks and things they do that annoy us.  Many of those things were common traits in both men.  (I have a feeling those annoyances are similar in most men but that is beside the point.) Sometimes when I am feeling particularly 'pushed down', I wish I could talk to Carol.  SparkPeople was like that for me.  So many of us had similar problems with food and our eating habits.  We could 'talk' to others who understand and sometimes that was all that was needed to help us get back on track.

Later, I went to see SparkPeople.com to see what it looked like and this is what I found. 

SparkPeople closed in August 2021. Visit SparkAmerica.com for our free new experience.

Life will go on and I will adjust but today I am feeling sad.  Thank you SparkPeople for being there so I could find the people who became a special part of my life.

I will remember:

Saturday Update

It's time for an update.  Life is trying to return to what we think of as 'normal'.  We have been inside a restaurant for a meal (actually we have done that about 4 times since that started to be allowed two weeks ago).  I was inside Wal-Mart for the first time since everything shut down in March 2020.  I haven't ventured out to get some needed clothing.  Shopping is not something I enjoy so I continue to put it off.

Today is my nephew's 35th birthday.  When I sent him his birthday greetings, I told him that I hope we will be traveling to Nova Scotia before the end of the year.  We are considering a trip in September.  It is my hope that crossing the provincial borders will be easier by then.

This week when I was puttering in my garden, I made the mistake of lifting a small log that has been sitting in one of my gardens for a couple years.  When I lifted it, a swarm of yellow jackets flew out and attacked me.  I consider myself lucky to have escaped with only 3 stings.  Those three stings have been causing me misery since the event.  Thankfully I am not allergic but the sites are extremely itchy.  The first night I did not sleep well because I kept waking up to scratch.  Last night I took something and enjoyed a more restful night.   

I have been harvesting cucumbers.  I need to find a way to use them.  I can eat only so many cucumber slices.  We have also had green beans and a couple green peppers.  I am trying to be patient as I wait for the tomatoes to ripen.

After Birthday Thoughts

Monday was my birthday.  Always, around the time of my birthday, I start to think about the past and how I might have done things different and what I could change to makes things better in the future.  There are times when I cannot believe I am as old as I am and then I try to rise from my chair and remember that I am definitely as old as I am.

I am grateful for so many things.  Most of my memories are good ones.  Perhaps I have blocked the bad ones.  That is a possibility since I sometimes have difficulty with what I remember.  It used to be that I could ask my husband and he would come up with something but I have been noticing changes in his memory too. 

Yesterday we enjoyed green beans from my garden.  They were so good.  The cucumber and tomato plants are doing well.  Soon we will be eating more fresh produce.  I am grateful that I can still putter around in my garden.  I am learning to be careful so that I don't pay for my actions later.  Sometimes that is hard because I see so many things that I want to do. (I miss Spark emoticons but now I can use bold print and italics, something we couldn't do on Spark.)

We finally called about the water on the floor that seems to be coming from the furnace/AC.  The serviceman is coming on Thursday.  Let's hope he can fix whatever is wrong.  I am tired of mopping up water only to have more come. 

I like watching clouds.

Monday

 It is Monday evening.  So far the weather is calmer than it was last night.  There was a thunder storm that kept returning and it was quite violent.  Then at 10:15 p.m. we started getting tornado warnings.  Fortunately, those ended.  I woke up around 3 a.m. this morning because the thunder and heavy rain started again and it was loud.  I got up and went to the kitchen.  There was water on the counters and floor.  The window was closed.  We cleaned up the water but we have no idea where it came from.  There was no more water when we got up this morning.

Sunday afternoon, I got my second Pfizer vaccine.  I can now state that I am fully vaccinated.  My husband had driven me to my appointment and from there we drove to our son's.  It was the first in-house visit in such a long time.  Sunday was not only Father's Day but it was my son's 29th anniversary.  

Here is a family picture from that cold June 20, 1992 day.  Before the wedding I was concerned I might regret wearing a long-sleeved dress since quite often it is very warm in June.  We couldn't believe how cold it was.  (It was an outdoor wedding.)

Today my husband had an appointment for a massage.  Usually when I have an appointment, he will ask if he can take it.  I was teasing when I asked if I could have his appointment and surprised when he said, 'yes'.  He had an appointment in the city and so, I had my first massage since March 5, 2020.   It was so good to see Jennie after so long and the massage felt good too.

I have been feeling a bit more tired than usual and my arm is slightly sore but knowing that I am fully vaccinated takes care of those things.

Saturday

 Over the years, I have been inconsistent with writing in this blog.  I wrote in my Spark blog.  I would read random blogs (not Spark People) and think I wanted to do the same thing.  Perhaps now that I am not writing a Spark blog, I will.  Only time will tell.

Yesterday morning, we drove back from our daughter's.  We went down Wednesday afternoon.  She was already at work (working afternoons) when we got there but we knew she had Thursday and Friday off.  She and her dad planned to golf Thursday morning.  It was a perfect morning for golf.  It wasn't too hot or too cold and there was no rain.  They had a nice time together.

I spent my time on her patio enjoying the outside, reading old blogs and listening to the cherries fall.  Every spring the tree in their neighbor's yard, drops cherries onto daughter's patio.

The birds are quite happy to help with the clean-up.

When son-in-law got home, we had a nice barbecue supper and then everyone watched a hockey game on TV.  SIL has to go to bed early because he gets up about 4:30.  Daughter is on steady afternoons but SIL alternates between two weeks of days and two weeks of afternoons.   There are some weeks when they barely see each other.

Friday morning it was raining for part of the drive home.  It stopped about half-way.  Traffic was light.  We have made the trip so often that there are certain places I watch for.

This morning when I looked out the bedroom window, I saw that the cactus is in bloom.  I think the flowers are pretty.

Caught Up

 On June 6, just two weeks ago, we got the news that Spark People is closing up shop on August 17.  They are working on a new platform that is not open to Canadians and other countries.  Perhaps that will change in the future.

After the shock started to wear off, most Sparks started making plans about where they will move.  Personally, I had joined other sites in the past just to see what they are like.  There is https://loseit.com/; https://www.myfitnesspal.com/; 

https://www.fatsecret.ca/;

https://cronometer.com/; https://www.mynetdiary.com/ and others I haven't checked yet.

I haven't decided which one I will use consistently.  

Then there were old blogs to check.  I have been re-reading all those I had written.  Some got deleted but many were saved.  Some are about vacations I have been on and some are about the various walking streaks I have had over the years.  I have written about my husband's hospital stays.  A few of those I had forgotten about.  Some blogs I saved because of the pictures I shared.  I lost track of how many times I was re-starting or writing about a fresh start (aren't they the same thing?).  This afternoon I finished with the task.   Many of those blogs got saved to this blog until I figure out if I can insert them in the right order of events.  

This exercise reminded me how much I appreciate reading about things that happened in the past.  I started to write in my paper journal again so that the things I want to remember are down in black and white and won't end up in the recycle bin at the whim of someone else.  I suppose some good might come from the closing of Spark.  Time will tell.  

We were in Amherstburg one evening last week, looking at the water.

Point Pelee 2021

 

Point Pelee

Wednesday, June 02, 2021

This morning I got up to the sound of my daughter's voice talking to the dog in the back yard below my window. She is on vacation this week and drove down yesterday afternoon to go golfing and spend the night with one of her friends. She had not told us she was coming.

It has been years since she visited Point Pelee and wanted to go. Point Pelee is one of Canada's national parks. Point Pelee is about 34 kilometers (approx 21 miles) from us. My husband and I have season passes and sometimes go there for a drive.



www.pc.gc.ca/en/
pn-np/on/pelee

It was a good time to be there. There weren't many people around. The towers are closed because of Covid but we could walk on the boardwalk and we saw some wildlife. There was a light rain falling but it wasn't miserable. (Later, after we were back in the car, it was raining much harder.)









As we were leaving the Boardwalk, we saw another little family.

Ted

 

Update

Wednesday, February 17, 2021

I know that some of you have been praying for my husband. It is time for an update. We are in limbo right now. He is still in hospital. His blood is too thin for them to do a procedure they want to do. They are trying to improve that. (Our son made him laugh when he told that when the stew is too thin, we add flour.) His pancreas is swollen and his liver is not healthy. They don't want to send him home because he isn't ready. Of course he is bored but we both know he is in the right place. That's about all I can share right now. Thank you for your good thoughts and prayers. I sure could use a hug but that is out of reach too.

Looking Ahead

Saturday, February 20, 2021

Ontario started to open on Tuesday. Today I made an appointment to visit my husband in the hospital Sunday afternoon. Since his next procedure isn't an emergency, we don't expect it to happen until Monday at the earliest. He is happy I can visit and bring him a new book. No food or clothing allowed yet.

Things are starting to look more hopeful.

Wednesday

Wednesday, February 24, 2021

Since the restrictions started to be lifted, I have been visiting Husband every afternoon between 2 and 4. Currently, I am the only visitor he is allowed but that's okay. He has been moved to a different room a couple times. We aren't sure why but it has been good. In the first room, he was always cold. Now he is comfortable and doesn't have to wrap himself in a blanket.

Thursday morning, they will take him to the hospital in the city for another scope and then bring him back. If all goes well, he might come home on Friday, two weeks after he was admitted. He will still have to get his gall bladder removed. We don't know when yet.

Our little dog, is missing her dad. Mom just isn't as much fun and doesn't give in to her begging like Dad does. Wiggles is a 12-year old Shih Tzu mix. She was scheduled for a haircut the day of the storm. Her appointment hasn't been rescheduled yet and she is looking quite shaggy.

What a Day

Sunday, February 28, 2021

Today was the day when my husband finally had his gallbladder removed. He has called me a couple times. The first time he was barely coherent; the second he sounded a bit better. We have been told he may come home tomorrow.

This afternoon was also when I was scheduled to receive my first shot of the vaccine. I wasn't sure where I was going but I managed to find the right place. I received my shot before my actual scheduled time. What a set-up. Everyone was so kind and helpful. My second shot is scheduled for April 4.

It was raining when I got up but stopped before I went for a walk. It gave me something to do rather than worry about him or about finding where I was supposed to go in the city. I carried an umbrella but I didn't need it. Right now the sun is shining.

These painted rocks were in the garden outside the Sportsplex.

March 1

Monday, March 01, 2021

The gall bladder was removed on Sunday. About noon today I brought my husband home for the first time since February 11. We are both happy to have this chapter finished. Let the healing begin. Thank you for your prayers and good thoughts during the process.