It's Christmas Time!

This blog entry is overdue because I haven't written anything in a month and an experiment because I'm using Siri to dictate the blog.

The past month has been hard on me primarily hard on my body because of tennis elbow makes it painful to lift things. My job twenty one hours a week involves lifting things as I spend most of my time at Binny's stocking the shelves. My body is looking forward to the end of the holiday season when my arms can recover. I don't have to work Christmas Eve this year, which is really nice. Yesterday, the Saturday before Christmas was my last day on the job before Christmas. Yes!

Sharon has been home for the past week or so and is taking a three-week break from travel which is kind of nice because I like having her around!

It has been nice having her home and we've done things like buying a Christmas tree. And surprise it is not yet Christmas Eve and we already have a Christmas tree up. Now understand, it's not decorated but it does have lights on it and there are lights on the mantle and thereare lights in the front room and there's a wreath on the front porch. Pretty good for the Jordans.

We are expecting a big crowd for Christmas dinner. We have invited Marylin and Bernard and Emma in addition to the Solers though only Katie and Jorge and Aliza will be here. Naturally Kathy and Kevin and Brady will be here along with Christine and Rich and we've been informed that Jessica, JP and the kids will also be joining us. I'm counting eighteen.

We are cooking a beef roast, bone in, as well as smoked brisket that's primarily for the meat eaters in our crowd do not like rare meat. That leaves more rare roast beef for the rest of us!

I hope you're not looking for a Christmas card from the Jordans. We fail to send them out more often than not. This year was no exception. I am however planning on sending out some cards after Christmas. I've missed Christmas and solstice but perhaps I can get them out before Valentine's day! I'm planning on this being a photocard I just need the right photo, something that somehow symbolizes 2013.

Thanksgiving Thanks

On a surprise sunny winter's day in Glen Ellyn after all my errands were completed, I sat outside by the warmth of the fire pit, sipped some bourbon, smoked a Cuban cigar and pondered life at 386 Montclair in Glen Ellyn Illinois.

I am thankful for our home, that for the nineteen years we have lived here has provided a constant source of home improvement projects. I am woking on the basement now and getting close to finishing what I started last winter. We only have one more room to do after this. Perhaps it is time to start over!

I am thankful for our neighbors. We have wonderful neighbors whom we like and who like us. We have had many good times together. Eating, drinking, talking, sharing.

I am thankful for the life Sharon and I have had together. Twenty-four years of marriage and we are still going! We have traveled together in the U.S. and Europe, and China. We've been to Hawaii four wonderful, memorable times. We've been to London, Brighton, and Bath in England on more trips than I can recall. We got to take Kathy with us on one of those trips during the Christmas season. I like London at Christmas. We've been to Paris over and over, walked the Seine, admired the Eifel Tower, been overwhelmed by museums, found outstanding little restaurants, sat in cafes and watched the world go by and generally simply enjoyed ourselves. We've been to many other delightful cities in France and never had a bad meal or a bad glass of wine! We've been to Spain every year for the past four and spent relaxing time with the Solers in Sitges. We've seen Madrid and the Basque region. We ran the bulls in Pamplona - well Lee and I stood in front of a statue of the running of the bulls! We've been to Barcelona and driven across much of the country. Like France, we have never had a bad meal or a bad glass of wine!

We went to Italy with the Dunivan gang and saw Venice, and Florence, and Pisa, and San Gimiano, and Sienna, and Cinqua Terra, and Rome. Wow! In 2012 we went to China, again with the Dunivan gang, and saw Bejing, and Shanghai, and the Great Wall and the Terra Cotta Warriors and everything else we could cram into two hectic, sweltering weeks.

I am looking forward to more adventures with Sharon and of course the Dunivan gang, and John and Kristie, and Avery, and Anika. There is so much more to see and to do.

Thanks!

 

Whoa! Here It Is November Something.

Got to share a dinner exprience - A Toda Madre in Geneva, Illinois. Sharon and I had lunch there this summer and loved it. Last night, well kind of night, was dinner. Geneva must be in a different time zone. When we made reservations, 5:30 pm was the only available time. We thought we would be there way early before the crowd. Wrong. The place was packed. Who ever heard of having dinner at 5:30 on a Saturday night? It is even early for Glen Elllyn where everything seems done by 9:00 or so. Regardless, the dinner was outstanding from the pre-dinner cocktails through the postre. If you don't mind driving to Geneva, you have got to experience the wonderful small plate Mexican dishes available here. A sample - smoked trout tostadas with guajillo mojo lemon aioli with serrano slaw. Check it out here.

All this was after a wonderful dinner Thursday night at Bistro Monet. It was a wine dinner with Cass winery. I was not as pleased with the wine as I was at previous wine dinners, but Chef Michel out did himself tonight. Outstanding from the butternet squash soup through my wife's dessert of chocolate tart shells filled with chestnut pureee and pastry cream. Get yourself to Bistro Monet. And yes, my wife does the desserts there.

Other than wonderful dinners this week I did my usual stint at Binny's and also spent time working on putting laminate down and painting walls in the laundry room, practicing my ukulele, and practicing singing. Sharon was home all week and not in Fairlawn, Ohio, Nice to have her around

First snow of the season is due tomorrow. Oh boy. I have not gotten the snowblower ready to go yet, but this should be a small snow and melt quickly. The snow tires are on the Miata though so I suppose I am ready.

Required Cat Photo

Fall in our yard

 

Sharon's Home!

Sharon did her ususal Monday to Thursday in Fairlawn, Ohio but then had to tack on three nights in Atlanta. Her brother passed away on Monday and Sharon joined with his family for a service. Sharon had not planned to go, but one of her nieces requested and Sharon, forever the good aunt and friend, said yes. I missed her and was thrilled when I got to pick her up at O'Hare this morning. I am a new man this afternoon with her in the kitchen with me. I can deal with her gone Monday through Thursday but adding a Friday and Saturday was too much.

What is that in the photo you ask? Sweet potatoes grown in a container on our patio. I use sweet potato plants on the patio because they provide beautiful foliage displays in planters. Little did I know I was also farming sweet potatoes. We will cook them and see how home grown sweet potatoes taste.

The photo above is our cranberry liqueur in process. The cranberries have been in the vodka for a week and today I am straining and bottling. After straining I will add some simple syrup and then bottle it.

• Want the recipe?
• 1 pound cranberries
• 1 cup sugar

Add a little water and cook the mixture, stirring, until the cranberries begn to pop. Take off the heat and let this cool for a while.

Put the cooked cranberries in an large glass jar and add:

1.75 Litre bottle of vodka

Zest of 1 orange

Cover and let it sit for a week.

Strain and add simple syrup to taste. Bottle and enjoy.

Required Cat Photo

 

After a Couple of Stone IPAs

Why are people around me at the bar drinking Miller Lite? Water beer, not really beer, no flavor, low alcohol, blah. Why don't they drink real beer? Is it because they don't know what real beer is? Is it a challenge to their taste buds? All their friends drink water beer and they want to fit in? Is it the only beer they have had since they were 15? Makes no sense to me. But I suspect if you looked at the rest of their lives,  there are no challenges and everything they think and do and eat and drink is as blah as their beer.

Caught Me!

Sharon commented the other day that I had not blogged in a while. My reply, "Yep, not since October 6th." I am past due.

Random thoughts. This summer has been the best for my pond. The water lillies have bloomed more than in the past and have produced more leave. Also, the balance in the water between nutrients and waster, and bacteria, and plants, and fish must have been just right. I have not had to clean the filter as much as usual and have had little or no algae. Everything just kind of came together. Next spring I will learn if and baby goldfish survived their parents appetites.

The house and yard are another matter. I was on top of the yard through the spring and early summer but slowly let it get the best of me. I suppose I just do not enjoy yard work as I once did. (Did I ever?) There are also house projects that have languished. I am back to doing laminate right now and hope to finish the laundry room in a couple of weeks. Perhaps then I can take on the front room. In the meantime, there are winter preparations to do - putting down the storm windows, checking gutters, pondering the state of the chimney, firing up the snow blower and moving everything around in the garage.

I've been practicing the ukulele quite a bit but, I have not been good at practicing my singing. Shame on me. I do better singing in the car, perhaps I should drive more so that I can sing more. I got my old clarinet refurbed. My mother bought it for me in 1960. We went to a music store in downtown Houston to pick it out. I can still play - but it will take me a while to get up to speed and beyond just scales. A Benny Goodman I am not.

On the neuropathy front, I had been improving quite a bit but for the last few days. My fingers are really bothering me and my feet are not far behind. My new symptoms of soreness in my arms is bothersome also. The soreness is in the muscles and tendons above and bellow my elbows. Melody, my Naturopath recommended castor oil wraps and heat. Have I done it? No. I do have the castor oil so I am part way there, and I did get out the heating pad this evening.

Sharon's Best Ever Carrot Cake

Another recipe from the archives of ColbyJ.com

For the Cake
1 tbsp unsalted butter , softened
1 ½ cups plus 2 tbsp flour
1 cup sugar
1 ½ tsp  baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp ground cloves
½ tsp grated nutmeg
½ tsp ground allspice
½ tsp salt
2/3 cup vegetable oil
3 eggs, lightly beaten
1 ½ lb carrots, peeled, trimmed, and grated (about 4 cups)

For the Frosting
12 oz cream cheese
7 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
1 tbsp vanilla extract
3 cups confectioners sugar


For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350°. Grease two 8" round cake pans with butter, dust each with 1 tbsp of the flour, tapping out the excess, and set aside. Combine the remaining 1½ cups flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, allspice, and salt in a large bowl. Add oil and eggs and stir until smooth. Add carrots and mix well. Divide batter between pans. Bake until toothpick comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Set aside to cool on a rack, then remove cakes from pans.

For the frosting: Beat cream cheese, butter, and vanilla in a mixing bowl with an electric mixer on high speed until smooth. Reduce speed to low and beat in sugar.
Put 1 cake round on a cake plate and spread on third of the frosting on top. Set the remaining cake round on top and ice cake with the remaining frosting.

Get Your Affordable Insurance Here!

Affordable health insurance under the Affordable Care Act is here despite the teabagger's efforts to prevent it. If you are not insured, get on board!

 

Hop Growing Lessons

This is my second year of hop growing and I learned more this year than last. My biggest lesson - hops LOVE sun. I built a trellis this year but made the mistake of orienting it from north to south. There were more hops along the top and the south side than on the north. And rougue hop vines that escaped to the south side of the garage, around the corner from the trellis did exceptionally well, producing many hops.

Next spring I will rebuild the trellis into two free standing poles with ropes or wires running from the top to the ground. This should allow more sun on the northern pole. I may also add a pole on the south side of the garage. I think I also need to pay more attention to pruning the hop bines. Too many large bines not producing hops.

Finaly, when it is time to harvest, I should have a beer maker already lined up and ensure they have some skin in the game with them helping to harvest! This year I also could have harvested a week or two earlier.

 

An Old Recipe From ColbyJ.com

Another Indian winner - this time from Curried Favors, Family Recipes from South India, Maya Kaimal MacMillan, Abbeville Press Publishers. This cookbook has a combination of wonderful recipes, well-written text, and beautiful food photography. This one is easy, quick, and tasty. I served it this evening over rice with corn tortillas on the side, and we cut the quantity quite a bit to serve just the two of us - just over ½ pound of shrimp. I used green onions in place of scallions and upped the quantity a bunch. It made a very attractive color combo on the plate.

2 pounds large shrimp 1/4 cup vegetable oil 2 teaspoons minced garlic 1 teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice 2 tablespoons finely chopped scallions Spice mixture: 2 teaspoons ground coriander 1 teaspoon ground cumin ½ teaspoon ground red pepper ½ teaspoon ground turmeric

Shell and devein shrimp, rub with mixture of garlic and spice mixture. Set aside for 30 minutes.

In wok or large frying pan over medium high heat, heat oil. Add marinated shrimp and cook, stirring continually, adding salt while stirring, until shrimp are almost entirely opaque. Add lemon juice and continue frying for another 30 seconds or until shrimp are cooked through. Remove from heat. Do not overcook shrimp.

Stir in scallions. Serve hot.

 

Voice Lessons and Neuropathy

Yesterday I went for my first voice lesson. Christian Fernandez Larumbe is going to try to teach this old man a few new tricks. Woof, woof!

The first lesson was encouraging, Christian is a very good and very patient teacher. My goal is to be able to sing along with my ukulele and not be an embarrassment to myself or those around me! If I can improve my singing to keep up with my improving ukulele skills I will be happy. Don't expect me to get up on stage but perhaps I can make a few bucks on the street in Glen Ellyn as a busker. I've got the ukulele, the kazoo, and a little chair. All I need is a battery powered amplifier and I am set.

Did I mention I got a new ukulele? I got a new ukulele. It is a tenor size from Mainland Ukes of Nashville, Indiana. One of the resons I picked it was the fact that the company is in Indiana and the ukuleles they sell are finished there. It is hard in this price range to find a uke not made in China. Mainland's are, but they are completed here. It makes 'em "kinda local." My Mainland uke is, as you can see from the photo below, very pretty, solid mahogany, with purfling around the body and the head. Glossy goodness! And it sounds great. It is not as loud as my all koa soprano Koaloha but it does sound great. Turns out it is a bit easier to play because there is a little more space between the frets which gives my fingers a little more room.

Neuropathy and other things. My son seems to be allergic to foods in the nightshade family - potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, and such. He has had severe reactions and his arthritis does flair up with these foods. Last week after having potatoes on Sunday my hips started hurting. Then on Wednesday I had some roasted red pepper soup and that night the tendons and muscles from my elbows down my lower arms became tender. These have me thinking that I might suffer from some nighshade allergies also. Now, you would think I would avoid nightshade foods? No, I have tomatoes, and baked potatoes and fries, and put hot sauce on eggs. These are foods I enjoy eating and therefor I must make a conscious decision to avoid them. Not as easy as it sounds.

On the neuropathy front, my fingers and feet seem to be in improving and backsliding in waves. Some days better, some days worse, but overall improving. A few months ago I could not bear to walk barefoot outside. Now I can. A few months ago I could not bear to touch the strings on my ukulele, now I can and am practicing daily. I continue to see improvement.

This weekend we went to Davenport to cheer on Kathy in her marathon relay bid. She did well and we enjoyed seeing her and Kevin and Brady. It was also Rich Brady's birthday and he and Christine were in Davenport also and we got to sing happy birthday to Rich.

 

Chicadees and Congress

As I sit outside this evening I am surrounded by the voices of chickadees talking to each other. It is a happy sound. We had chickadees nesting in our yard this spring and their voices were constant, and then the young ones fledged. Then there were no more chickadee voices for months. Now they are back. Where did they go and what brought them back?

What in the world do the Republicans in Congress think they are doing? They are simply irresponsible. The vote today to cut $40 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) was unconscionable. They also want to defund the Affordable Care Act and shut down government. Does it not matter that SNAP helps families? Does it not matter that the Affordable Care Act helps families? Apparently not. All that seems to matter is opposing the President. Let's see some defense cuts. Let's see some reduction in corporate welfare. Let's see something to bring jobs back, increase the minimum wage, support the economy and people. Got an alternative to reduce health care costs and ensure people an afford insurance? Put it on the table.

From Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II - "Cutting $40 billion from SNAP hurts children, seniors, and veterans. It is not reform, it is not responsible, and it just isn't right."

Don't Go Kazooless

While I was in Oregon I began reading the "Uke of Wallington: One Man and His Ukulele Round Britain" by Mark Wallington. A fun read about a guy about my age who toured Britain with a ukulele and a kazoo performing at open mic nights in England, Wales and Scotland. Even if you are not a ukulele player this is an enjoyable book.

The author's use of a kazoo piqued my interest and I began to research kazoos. During that process I ran across Doc Kazoo of the Aswego Kazoo Factory.

Doc Kazoo makes buying a kazoo a fun and entertaining adventure. I got e-mails from Doc, FaceBook updates, and YouTube videos showng the progress of my order. I've now got my kazoo in hand and am loving it. It came in a little velveteen case (my kazoo gig bag), extra membranes, a tin of Doc's Kazoo Wax, and some felt pads to protect the kazoo when in a harmonica holder. I need to spend time with my new kazoo to best learn how to use it, but here is a sample:

Requests?
Advanced kazoo lessons available here!

iPad Blogging Frustrations

The iPad keyboard has been frustrating me for a long time. I tend to hit either the N, M, comma, or period when I intend to hit the space. Because the on screen keyboard is not tactile and is small, it is easy to hit the wrong key. The solution has always been out there, but I had personal issues with spending up to $100 for a keyboard and then having something else to carry around with me, so I resisted. Until this week. I ordered a bluetooth keyboard through Amazon. It is a Sharkk  brand and was only $24.99. UPS delivered it Wednesday and I am delighted. It is small, came with a velvet case, has a USB rechargeable battery, and the keys have a very satisfying feel. It works. And it has another advantage, because a keyboard is no longer displayed over the screen as I write, the editor I primarily use for blogging is a bit easier to use.

Notes on blogging editors - I use Blogsy most of the time because it handles photos well. It has a major failing though - no spell checker. I need a spell checker for all of my typos. I can use the Blogger editor which does have a spell checker, but doesn't handle photos as well. Generally I find myself going back and forth between the two. If you know of a better editor that works well with posting to Blogspot.com and handles photos well, please let me know!

First Day Back At Work Blues

It's my first day back,

And my feet are killing me.

I've got the back to work blues

and I need some IBUs.

The songwriter in me is loosed! All I need now is a tune and the right cords.

This evening during my ukulele practice I went to the YouTube page of Ukulenny.and watched his video teaching ukulele blues in C. I have looked at other ukulele blues tutorials and can strum some, but this video instruction demonstrated picking - and it was a well done tutorial and made sense. I can now do a little improv blues in the key of C.

Part of learning to play is being comfortable with the chords and the strumming. Strumming was what was holding me back the most. I am now comfortable with a number of different strums as I go through the Ukulele for Beginners Strumming Lessons. I am now on lesson 10 and doing well. Lesson 9 frustrated me and I will have to revisit it. The lesson and the strum and the chords is not the problem - I think it is the song; Take Me Home Country Roads, which I have never particuarly enjoyed!

A final update. I finished my pratice for the night, went to put my ukulele away and found Shelby was laying in my case. One of Shelby's rules is that if it is black, unattended, and you don't want him in it or on it, he will take it over.

And Then Home

Wow, this has been a good interlude with the grandkids and with John, Kristie, and Kendra. Now I am on the way back to normal routine. However, I am going back with improved ukulele skills because of constant practice and with well exercised fingers from tying a variety of things from paracord.

The best about this past two weeks was spending time with my grand children. We had good times. I hope they can treasure this time together when they are adults and I am gone as I remember my grand parents. We just hung together, fished, caught and ate crawdads, tied paracord, laughed, talked, vegged, ate, drove, played with frogs. What could be better?

Enjoy my videos. Yes, I have a long way to go and my singing has issues I know. Just enjoy them! Any requests?

What? Still in Redmond?

Yep, still here and still having a good time but I am winding down. On Friday afternoon, after Anika's soccer practice the kids went to Kendra's and John, Kristie and I have been enjoying adult time. But before I get into that...

Thursday we were off to a very late start because I was sitting outside practicing my ukulele and the kids were watching videos. As a nanny, I do have my failings. We finally made it out of here around noon for a delicious lunch at Smith Rock Brewing. This is the place in Redmond with the best onion rings in the world, or maybe the U.S., or at least Oregon - but the best ones I have ever had. Then back at home we attempted to get two inflatable tubes into a Kia Soul along with two kids and me. We eventually partially deflated the tubes and brought a pump,with us. As comfortable as,the Kia Soul is for four people, there is not a lot of room for anything else. We headed for Cline Creek Falls with the intention of riding the tubes down the Deschuttes River over and over. But the river was running high. Avery declared that he was not comfortable with the depth or the speed of the current so we moved on. We tried Tumalo State Park about twenty miles away and upstream from Cline Creek and though running a little high, much more manageable. We spent some time there with Avery playing in the water and Anika trying to lure in chipmunks with treats. I just laid back in the grass and relaxed. Our next stop was Goody's Candy and Ice Cream in Bend for cones. Their ice cream is delicious!

Friday morning was "cake for breakfast" morning and Anika took full advantage. Avery stuck with peanut butter toast and I had eggs. We were out of the house by 9:15 and headed form the hills - Mt. Bachelor. We ended up at Sparks Lake Recreation Area which included Sparks Lake. Anika harrassed frogs and Avery fished. I watched and grabbed some photos. This is a beautiful spot and perfect if you have a kayak or canoe. Great paddling location. Though we were afoot, Avery, wading in a little bit was able to hook into and land three fish. They were small but frisky trout. He had a number of other bites but did not land them. Anika found a friend and commenced to catch and harrass the small frog population. We had a nice time there and then left for Bend around 12:30. Our goal was the Deschuttes Brewery and Public House for lunch. I enjoyed an Armory XPA and a burger while Avery had a burger and Anika pizza and fries. We all had a good time and then it was time to get back to Redmond. Anika had to get to soccer practice after having more cake. That cake came back to haunt her after practice.

After practice it was back to Kendra's for the kids and then an adult dinner for Kristie, John, and Colby. Mexican food and margaritas. Yum!

On Saturday Kristie, John, and I visited some. garage sales in Redmond and then some antique stores. I scored a cool fish shaped bottle and wine opener for $2.95. Then we headed for Redmond for The Little Woody. This was a barrell aged beer tasting which was also supposed to include a whiskey tasting. We never found the whiskey but enjoyed the beers. A lot of fun. Then we did a quick Costco run for some beef and then home to Redmond for steak, potatoes, and whiskey. Ummmm.

Sunday took John to work and Kristie and I hung out doing very little. Krisitie did house cleaning and then crocheting and I read and practiced the ukulele until we both got hungry. We had a tasty lunch and beers in Terrabone and then came home to veg. More crochet work for Kristie and more ukulele playing for me.

Winding down in Redmond. I am on my way back to Chicago on Tuesday. Happy Labor Day y'all!

And more Redmond.

Sunday afternoon brought severe thunder storms to Redmond. I have never seen so much rain here. There was lightning and thunder and hail and wind, oh my! We did have a beautiful sunset when it was all over.

With John's and Kristie's schedules not cooperating so that they could carpool and give me one of their cars, I rented one. Monday morning the kids and I went to the local Fred Meyer for groceries and a resupply of paracord. Avery and Anika have both been paracord tying fools.

When we got home, Anika and I started making a cake but discovered we had run out of eggs. Off to the big Wal-Mart for eggs and cereal (just try to keep Anika away from the sugared cereals.) On the way home the car beeped at me and told me there was a tire with low air pressure. We pulled into the driveway and Anika heard a hiss. Avery looked and saw a razor blade sticking out of the tire. Avery and Anika then learned how to jack up a car and change a tire. Everyone pitched in and we had fun. If you are in need to tire changing skills, these two can help you out. Oh, we were surprised when we pulled the never used spare out of the trunk that there was money in the well. We collected it all and Avery counted $2.40 plus a pack of pencil leads. Score!

With the tire changing interlude, a cake to bake and ice, and a trip to the airport to trade in our car, our plans for the day were altered. But we had fun never the less. First, our new car is a Kia Soul - like the ones in the commercials with the fat hampsters. We took advantage of the car for some posing. I must admit the this funky looking thing is comfortable and fun to drive.

Next it was cake icing time. We had baked it in a 13x9 pan, so after it cooled I cut it in half so that we could have a layer cake. Anika did a great job applying the icing to the cake, and the counter, and herself. That evening everyone agreed we had done a good job.

Tuesday was a lazy morning with Avery and Anika watching iCarly videos and me taking care of the routines of bills and phone calls. When I was done with the chores I got out my ukulele to practice. The kids told me to be quiet so I moved out to the front porch. It was rather nice. to sit out there inmthe sun and strum away. We then headed to Bend for lunch with Kendra and then a movie - Despicible Me 2. I loved it!

 

Redmond

I arrived in Redmond on Time a little before midnight last Tuesday. My bag did not arrive until 11:30am on Wednesday and the. was delivered about 1:30pm. It seems that Alaskan has a problem getting bags off and on their flights. In my past four trips between Chicago and Redmond, my bags have not made it twice on the trip west and once on the trip east. Other that that annoying issue, uneventful traveling.

On Wednesday I hung out at the house all day, and did little beside practice my ukulele and nap. The kids were in Boys and Girls Club and John and Krisite were at work and I was without transport. That was O.K. by me.

Thursday was a big day with the highlight being Anika's talent performance - she is a hula hooping diva.

On Friday, Anika went to Madras with the Boys and Girls Club for a day of swimming. Avery and John and I went fishing in the Deschuttes River. John's "short walk" to the river wasn't and involved climbing over downed tree limbs and though bushes and cat tails to get to the river. Once there and in the river I promptly fell. Fishing was a bust, like.y because the water temperature was 66 degrees. Pretty warm for trout. The kids were successful catching crawfish though. They collected 17 of them and we took them home for dinner.

 

 

Redmond in August.

 

Headed out to Oregon again to spend time with John, Kristie, Kendra, Avery, and Anika. Sharon was generous and we used her miles to fly me first class. Ain't she wonderful?

Uneventful flight from Chicago to Seattle and then on to Redmond. My bag didn't make it though until Wednesday afternoon. There seems to be a problem for me getting myself and my bags from Chicago to Redmond and back. On three of my last four flights here my bag has not made it. Once going west and twice going east. You would think the odds of this happening 75% of the time would ensure it would not happen.

I spent my first night on the couch which was just fine. The rest of my time here I will alternate between the kids bedrooms. No one wants to share a room with be because I snore! Fancy that.

Today, Wednesday has been a down day. I made a few phone calls and waited on my bag. Practiced the ukulele. I am getting better. Did some dishes, took a nap and have been planning dinner. I'm making Arroz con Pollo. Consider this a day of rest to prepare for full days with Avery and Anika! They were at Boys and Girls Club today.

 

Neuropathy Update

Happy Left-Handers Day!

Neuropathy. The worst bane of my recovery from chemo. I felt that my recovery from neuropathy had hit a wall. My fingers continued to hurt every time I touched something and were sometimes numb, sometime tingly and my feet gave me a combination of numbness and pain. The combination of pain and numbness in my feet makes it sometimes both painful and difficult to walk. The combination in my hands made it difficult to pick up things and made it impossible to play the ukulele!

In July I finally did something about it. I have been seeing a Naturopath since about mid June. She has recommended exercises, which I am not following as I should (surprise), a couple of supplements that I am taking, and she has a machine, an Ondamed, which I am thinking is magical. I don't know quite how it works but it does work. Example - when I first visited Melody she was in the process of using this machine and my left hand began to cramp. I have been having cramps in both hands for quite a while and they have become worse and more frequent. Melody pointed what I call her magic wand at my left hand and the cramping eased. She used the wand on both hands and the cramping which had been a problem multiple times a day is now almost gone. I now have minor cramps less than once a week. The fingers of my left hand, while still experiencing some tingling, are no longer painful and I have been playing the ukulele almost daily since these treatments began. The fingertips of my right hand are still tender and a little painful but not as much. My feet are much improved and I have been feeling all of my toes and the numbness in the balls of my feet is slowly going away. I even walked barefoot in my driveway and in grass recently. Bottom line, I've seen progress since seeing a Naturopath.

Melody did try a couple of new things on me last week - a toxin cleansing foot bath and a vibrating platform. While I felt better immediately after our session I lost ground within hours. I will not do either of those treatments in the future. If you are in the western suburbs of Chicago and having no luck with traditional medicine for a number of issues, go visit Melody Hart! You will not be sorry you did. I do not pretend to understand what she is doing but it is working and I trust her.

Sharon has noticed an improvement in my energy level and my walking - and she also notices immediately when my feet are hurting. Interestingly when my feet hurt, my knees and eventually hips hurt also as I try to compensate. We were able to make a trip to Ann Arbor recently to visit Audra. Sharon thought my being willing to make the trip was a positive step! We had a great time.

My feet!

 

A Brady and Kathy Visit

Kathy and Brady came back through Glen Ellyn on their way back from their east coast tour of Kingston, Canada, Pittsburg, and Washington and other spots in between. We always enjoy having them visit. And, I enjoy photographing Brady as she grows. I have in mind doing a collage of Brady photos from the beginning. Get to work Colby!

My Cat Is A Brat.

Yes, my cat is a brat. Cute and loving, but nevertheless, a brat. He has his own water glass in the bathroom and I keep it filled for him. But, when I go in there he is all over my sink because he wants me to run fresh water for him. No matter that I just refilled his glass, he wants my water.

Shelby loves lettuce and other greens. Today I was fixing a salad of arugula and spinach. He started begging when I got the greens out of the refrigerator. As I put some in my bowl he tried to stick his head in. I put some greens in front of him. He put his head in my bowl. I pointed him to his greens and gave him more. He put his head in my bowl.

Brat. But you have got to love that face!

Summer is Here!

Yesterday I posted the following on Face Book:

"Tonight I had a major milestone moment in cancer recovery. For almost three years I have been unable to walk the length of our driveway barefoot. For someone who grew up going barefoot and who has always loved the feeling of being barefoot, the neuropathy resulting from chemo has been a major challenge in my life. Though I still experience major numbness and a lot of discomfort, I walked to the end of the drive and back twice this evening, slowly, but successfully."

I didn't mention a couple of other changes in my cancer recovery. First is that I am now able to pick up and play the ukulele again. My finger tips have been sensitive and it has been too painful to fret the ukulele since chemo. I have tried gloves that have helped but they are not easy to use. Now I can fret the ukulele with no pain! I still have to toughen my finger tips but daily practice will take care of that. The daily practice will also bring back all the cords and strums I have forgotten.

Also, Sharon says I seem to have more energy. Perhaps I do, and I may feel a bit, but she says the change is noticeable. I'll take it.

Catch up time now! We have had a number of visitors this summer - starting with the Lobbes clan. John, Carol, Tim, Margaret, Nicholas, Sara, Rebecca, and Anika. (Hopefully I got the last two names spelled correctly.) We had a house full the weekend before Independence Day. Sharon and I were both expecting the visit to be stressful but thankfully it was not. We all had a great visit.

We had a major surprise visit from Kendra, Avery, and Anika this past weekend. On Saturday Sharon and I were on our way to have dinner with the Soler's at their condo in Chicago. Kendra called and said they were stopped at O'Hare on their way from Connecticut to Oregon but their flight would not leave for Portland for 24 hours. Less than 30 minutes later they were all in our car headed for Chicago! We had a very nice dinner at the Soler's and were able to watch the Navy Pier fire works. Then it was home to our house and to bed. On Sunday Sharon and Anika made biscuits and Anika made scrambled eggs then we headed to the Arboretum for a few hours of fun. We bought a late lunch and snacks at Whole Foods then packed everyone up and headed to O'Hare. The kids were excited to ride the train from Kiss and Fly to the terminal. Sadly, their flight was delayed more and they missed their connection in Portland to take them home to Redmond but United did put them in a hotel in Portland.