We used to take the three Dackels and Fritz for hikes up Rattlesnake Mountain. The hike was an easy one, and at the top, you have beautiful views of Squam Lake, (known in the movies as Golden Pond). This photo was taken in 2007. The three Dackels are Arnie, Anneliese, and Greta and you can see darling Fritz to the left of Jack.
Here we are, midweek in New Hampshire. The foliage colors are getting prettier and stronger, but we have another two weeks or thereabouts until we have peak colors.
Every day, busses of tourists from all over the world travel through the Lakes Region of New Hampshire and further north to see our beautiful leaves. I have always taken it for granted, but this year, I am enjoying it so very much!
I took this as I came down my driveway today. You can see a little of the change of color, but also that we still have a lot of green around.
I was out today driving around, and I got my hair done. It came so pretty. I’m just loving what my hairstylist Becca is doing for me!
In the next few days I want to slow things down. I have, what I hope are just Autumn Allergies, a slight sore throat, and stuffy nose. Fingers crossed it is nothing at all.
My test results came back. And mostly it is all good news. My Gallbladder is healthy, my Pancreas is in fine form, my Kidneys, and Speen is outstanding. Sadly, my Liver is not.
The problem with my Liver is called Hepatic Steatosis. More commonly called “Fatty Liver”. It’s caused swelling of the Liver and my poor dear Liver has fatty deposits.
I also have been diagnosed with an Acid Stomach. The joy never ends! Ugh!
So, I have started Prilosec in hopes this will work to reduce the acid stomach, and started a slightly more restrictive WW Diet.
No, acidic foods, like tomatoes, peppers, cucumber, and onions. And for the Liver Disease, Low to No Fat foods. So goodbye French Fries, Fried Clams and well, you get the picture.
Because I refuse to feel sorry for myself (well sort of anyway) I am trying to figure out what I can eat, and balance it all out so I can lose the weight that I need to.
Meanwhile, my dishwasher is leaking again, and after the repairman was here and couldn’t fix it, I fear a new machine will need to be purchased. Double Ugh!
So many beautiful thoughts have been passing through my mind over the weekend. As I drove down to Mandy and Matt’s, spent time with my grandchildren, walked the dogs, and just spent time gazing out the window, there were so many really amazing things.
The leaves brighten your way as you drive down the road. It’s my favorite time of year!
And their dog Freya is always full of love and kisses too!
A wonderful Halloween decoration uptown in front of a business. What a Merry Scarecrow!
Welcome to October! Okay, where has the year gone? In just over a month I will be 61, we will have Thanksgiving, and then the rush towards Christmas will be underway!
Here’s what’s happening in my little corner of the world!
1. The week started quite busily, with my doctor’s appointment and tests. I still have no test results, which I admit is quite frustrating.
2. I’ve been enjoying the changing colors of the leaves around me. I am guessing it will be another two weeks until we are at full peak color. Then I will be out taking pictures every day.
3. I am still just heartsick about the plane crash this week. People out for a good time flying in this antique plane and now seven men are gone. I think the fact that I had seen that plane, been inside of it, makes me feel that closer to its demise.
4. It seems that today I have been having one visit after another from Mr. Cardinal. He also brought his Mrs. I’ve been trying to get a good picture of them, but each time I try to Lili moves, which they see and they fly off. But today I finally got a very nice picture of Mr. Cardinal. Isn’t he handsome?
Although this is not the best shot, you can see Mr. & Mrs. Cardinal!
5. It had to be done. Today, October 3rd I turned on the heat. Everything is working fine and it took the chill off the house. After I turned the heat on, our oil truck delivered a tankful. So, we are now $450.00 poorer! Oh well…At least we will be warm!
Today there was a crash of a vintage B-17 Bomber Aircraft at an airport in Connecticut. There is a back story involving Jack and me and this plane. I have written about it below. So far of the 13 people on board and one person on the ground, 7 are confirmed dead.
She was a grand old plane, who served her country well. I’m happy that I had the chance to tour her and terribly saddened by today’s events.
This is the plane today. Aircraft #231909, The Flying Fortress! Here is her story.
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Many years back, Jack and I visited an exhibition of two WW II aircraft. The B-17 and the B-24. We were allowed to walk through the planes and take tons of pictures. Which I did, of course! This was the Flying Fortress all renovated and open for all to tour.
What really hit me was how small the insides of the planes were. How these men were able to get around totally amazed me. Especially the area underneath the B-17, the Ball Turret, where the Belly Gunner sat. I looked and I just knew I could not have gotten in there. Or if I had gotten in, I never would have gotten out.
I spoke for a long time to the Belly Gunner of that plane, Smitty. He told us the story of when the plane had been shot down, and how he had lost his arm. He spoke kindly of the German Nun Nurse who cared for him. He told us about the struggles that the men went through.
I shook his hand with thanks, and by the end of the talk, I hugged both him and his wife.
I thought of all the young lives lost and also of all the lives saved by these heroic men. What a terrible time in world history, and yet these machines that flew through the sky, primitive as they were, flown by these fearless men, conquered overwhelming evil and restored freedom to many parts of the world.
I was so pleased that I was able to hear about Smitty’s survival. He was a real American Hero.
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So today The Flying Fortress died. She will not fly again and all that remains are pieces of her wings and tail and a pile of ashes. Over 70 years old and this was how the life of this great plane ended.
I had my last Physical Therapy on Tuesday. I knew even before I sat down with the therapist what he would say.
I think we all hope to live in a pain-free body, like the ones we had as a teenager, but this is not to be the case.
On Tuesday the doctor told me that this is it. This is the best we can hope for after all the surgeries, infections, and weakness. When I went to him my pain level was extremely high. I could hardly lift my arms and my left shoulder and neck ached all the time.
Since seeing Dr. EK and doing the exercises and needle therapy, I have gotten so much relief. But the pain (down to about a 2-3) is there all the time.
Today I faced the fact that this is as good as it gets.
At first, I was pretty sad about this. Then I began to think that it could be worse. Instead of having the pain I do, I might be paralyzed. Feeling nothing. Being able to lead my life and play with Savannah and Quinn and my doggies, well, that is just really good news.
Everyone gets old and everyone has their aches and pains. I simply refuse to let the pain define who I am and what I do in my life.
I think sometimes you need to find peace with what you have in your life, understanding that there is no perfection, simply understanding, and acceptance.
I think one of the hardest things to do when you feel no desire to eat is to cook good food for other people.
I do not feel like cooking or eating or anything. I go through the motions. Last nights casserole was dry and almost inedible.
So, today I decided to make Jack a good meatloaf. I took my time, followed my recipe and it will go in the oven soon.
I have thought about my cooking and I believe that if it were just me here, I would be making decaffeinated tea and toast. As it is, I am just baking a plain potato for dinner for myself.
Tomorrow is my ultrasound and we shall go from there.
Oh, yes, today the phone rang and it was the Technician that will do my test. She went over the pre-test instructions.
Nothing by mouth after midnight, not even a sip of water!
Now, this confused me. I’d gotten written instructions telling me I could eat breakfast, take my pills, etc. Add to this that I had to drink a quart of water 1-hour before the test!
The Technician looked up my orders and said I had been sent the wrong instructions! I was so glad she called. Had I followed the other instructions I would have been sent home with no test. It’s a 100-mile round trip drive! So this is a very big deal! I’m glad it was caught.
I decided this morning to make apple sauce. We certainly have enough apples on the trees, but I must tell you, without proper care and fungicides, the apples are small, mottled and sort of icky.
What this means is that you need to peel and core every apple and discard anything that looks bad. I worked for nearly two hours doing this, at times alone and at times with Jack.
I was trying to keep up with the cleaning and things and I checked on the cooking apples and the apples had begun to burn to the bottom of the pan! Fortunately, I caught it in time and avoided yet another kitchen disaster.
The apples are slowly cooking now and will need a lot of sweetening. I tasted the apple mash, which is cooking down and it sure is tart!
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I cooked a turkey on Friday and then made Turkey Soup on Saturday. After boning the turkey on Friday evening, I put all the bones, a couple of onions and carrots into a crockpot with a little bit of chicken stock and enough water to cover all the bones, and cooked it overnight to make the soup base.
If you have never made your soup base this way, give it a try. I find you wind up with incredible tasting soup broth!
So, tonight I am taking some of that broth and making a turkey casserole. Turkey seems to sit well with me this day. Although I am sure Jack will complain. (He did!)
Our darling Anneliese shows more signs of blindness. She startles easily and sticks to me or to Jack and to her brother Arnie.
You know, one of the most beautiful things to have watched the last 12 years, is the love that Anneliese and her brother have shared since day one! Imagine how lucky we feel to have shared in their lives. Brother and sister, and we have owned them since the very day Greta gave birth to them.
At birth, Arnie on the left and Anneliese on the right.
Anneliese left and Arnie, right. About 7 weeks old.
Yes, raising your very own sibling pups right from birth has been an experience of a lifetime.
Arnie left and Anneliese, right.
We are blessed, that’s for sure!
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Also, today is the birthday of my dearest friend, Uschi! I wish her a Happy Birthday and good health and much joy in the year ahead!!!
