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Thank you, Al.  I love the way you apply the Psalms to our everyday life.  It is so hard sometimes not to make our own plans and use our own efforts - and then ask God to bless them. 

Hi everyone.  We had to turn our furnace on this morning to take the chill out of the house but by the time I got back from coffee Pat had turned it off.  Had a nice quiet day yesterday.  Today hasn't started out wonderfully as the apparent gout in Pat's big toe has moved from just pain on the bottom of the toe to the top of the toe.  She e-mailed her doctor this morning and he immediately responded and I just got back from picking up a prescription for her.  Before I went to coffee our daughter called saying she had fallen during the night when her knee gave out and had skinned up her arm an perhaps re-sprained the ankle she had thought was better. She just called from  a scheduled appointment with the doctor this morning and she apparently is OK with nothing broken or resprained  I have my normal Monday men's luncheon at 1 pm and then an activity this evening so it will be a busy day.  However, it is really beautiful outside and the air feels crisp.

Carol, if you library is like mine you need to download another program to use the library books.  The one our library uses is called Overlook and it has the data management function that controls how long you can check it out.  I can download a book directly to my phone using the app and know that the iPad will work in the same way. 

Al, thanks for the fine devotional on the importance of trust in God.  Trust and Obey has always been one of my favorite hymns.

That must be his favourite hymn.......one of my favourites as well.

Thank you Al.

Good afternoon.  Busy day today.  First breakfast and then devotions.  Our church started reading the Bible in a Year again and that started Saturday.  So I read Gen. 1-9 today. 

Then I did my exercises and walked 15 minutes around and around in the house.

I changed clothes and went outside.  First I shut all the vents around the house.  Then I moved about 10 big limbs to next to the lane and a soy bean field.  Too big for me to take to the woods so I asked a young man at church if he would come by and do that for me.  Then I mowed the grass again.

I came in around 1pm and nuked my lunch while I swept my deck of leaves and hibiscus blossoms.  After that I got my shower. 

Now I am catching up online.  Tonight is Church Council meeting. 

I need to go to the 'back room' to see if I am next week or Don.  If there isn't a schedule, would someone tell me this next week or two weeks from now?

Good afternoon. It was raining when I went out to the gym this morning, I did get to the bank, Post Office, the Co-op, Dollar Tree and Ross before I came back home to pay bills online, fold a load of laundry and fix lunch for Keith and I. I was going to go grocery shopping too but I was worn out by the time I got those things done that I did while I was out. Keith one of us slept very well last night, I woke up around midnight with my mask  containing water again. did get beck to sleep until around 4 woke up again at 5:45. So I am  running on empty today, TIRED!! I still have my Doctor appointment this afternoon at 2.
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The schedule's there, Etta Sue.  You're on for Oct. 16.   

Hi, friends, well, I went to have a dental cleaning and ended up with lots more than cleaning done! When I left, I was on my way to having a partial plate and other work was done, as well.

Whew!!! I'm tired.

G'nite, folks,
Ruth Ann

Hi everyone.  It is another cool morning and the furnace has come on this morning to take the chill off the house.  Yesterday was just perfect weather wise and it looks like today may be the same.  I should have a light schedule today with just coffee in a few minutes and then a meeting later this morning and the rest of the day free.  I expect to need to go to the grocery store to restock the freezer and the pantry as things are looking pretty bare.  Pat woke up this morning and said her toe was no longer throbbing.  The doctor did prescribe medicine for her and it is apparently workiing to stop the gout pain. 

Ruth Ann, it sounds like you are going to be making your dentists next car payment with all that dental work.  I guess it is something we have to expect with a little advancing age.  I continue to baby my front tooth and want it to last as long as possible. 

Marilyn, you had a full morning.  No wonder you got worn out.  Hope your doctor's appointment went well.

Etta Sue, the leaves haven't started falling around here yet but some of the leaves are getting a tint to them.  We still have green grass. 

Up at 7am.  While reading the Bible my phone rang.  Rehab called Ivalou saying that the heat pump wasn't working on the pool so the water is cool.  I was thinking....probably not as cold as Monon Center.  But Ivalou told them that we wouldn't be in today.  Later they called and said the pool was closed for today. 

So Ivalou and I...since we were up and dressed...went to IHOP for breakfast and then Walmart.  I told Ivalou to take her time, do and look and buy all she wanted...I was in no hurry.  I looked at crochet things and got a few items and sat down in front.  I checked out Droid and looked at my old Learn How to Crochet book.  Then I people watched.  Ivalou was done about an hour after I sat down with only 3 bags.  She said she looked more than bought!

We are going to do the Crochet Group at church...but not only church members.  Friends, family and members.  I think the other girl wants to do hats, scarves and mittens and donate to the Women's Abuse Center in Noblesville.  I told her that first time crocheters should only tackle the scarf.  Some hats and mittens are mighty complex.  Sooo...with that being said...I couldn't go to sleep last night....thinking about how I would teach this class so that everyone will be interested in learning to crochet.  That's what I was looking at at Walmart but Walmart has very little yarn and hardly any books!  I am thinking I may have to print from my learn how book. 

I am having my second cup of coffee and when I get caught up online I plan to ZZZZZzzzzzz! 

We spent time and bought a bagel for our youngest son, who is job hunting.  He remains optomistic
even though he could be in a pickle very soon - they had just purchesed an old house.  Deer are all over the property, even coming right up to the house.  He is growing a beard but will shave for any interview. 

Larry:  I have Overdrive from the library and can get ebooks if available.  It is so popular, that only one is available today and that is on the city of Toronto - not that I wouldn't love to read about Toronto someday. The site I want, requires Adobe Flash and Apple won't let that on their product.   I want free books and can get them on Gutenburg and do not want a stop date (fussy, aren't I).  So glad that Pat has the meds and they are working so quickly.  Gout is painful, I hear. 

Salmon on the grill - we have a tiny piece tonight and I boiled vegetables for a side dish.  Forgot to eat lunch.  Thift shop called my name & I found a new mattress pad that was so expensive full price & $4 today.  We keep looking for a few pieces of furniture. 

Al:  Thanks for your devotions. 

I have  told about my Dr. visit yesterday on my blog, you can read about it there.

   Good evening to all.   I do hope that you are all having a good week so far.

Larry:  We had to put our heat on the other night but will have to turn it of again as it is supposed to change this weekend and get warm again

Al:   It was so nice to talk to you on the phone that other day and to find out that you are so much better.  May the Lord continue to keep you and your wife well.  God's richest blessings.   Gordon and Noreen.

We are still having some rain but my neighbour was able to cut my front lawn yesterday and I trimmed the rest today but my back lawn is a big mess so I hope to be able to get one of the young from church to come and help me.

Well I cant remember if I asked you all to continue to pray for Noreen re: her back problems but I also ask for prayer as I am having a lot of pain with my left hip and sometimes I cannot sleep good lying in bed so I see the doctor tomorrow.  God bless to all.   Gordon and Noreen.

Ivalou called late last evening saying she would like for me to drive her to her land rehab today...her arm and leg didn't feel good and she wasn't confident that she could drive. 

So I was up again at 7am.  We went to rehab.  She has graduated and can now do maintenance.  I told her I planned to get in the water tomorrow afternoon.  If she felt like it, she could go with me.  If not, one day next week.  But I would like to go at least one day a week. 

Then we went to Perkins for breakfast and then Walmart.  I need to stop going there.  One thing I did buy was a pink light bulb for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  My light that I crochet/knit by is kind of harsh.  This bulb is white but it lights up pink.  I like it but it isn't dark yet.  I always find something I can't do without!!

The rest of the day is mine.  Maybe I will crochet a neck scarf to see if it would be an okay project for a beginner crocheter.

Good morning everyone, I didn't post much here yesterday as I was very busy with bathing the dogs and Domestic Engineering. I am still trying to absorb the results of my x_rays of my spine. Apparently i have Arthritis on all my spine some places worse than others. The cervical spine  disc degeneration being severe. and there is some fusing of the vertebrae, C4-5, C5-6 and C6-7. In my Thoracic spine there is Kyphosis, or what I will call slumping.

There is curvature there.  with moderate disc degeneration at several disc space intervals. Heavy calcification around the Aortic arch. Some disc degeneration in the lumbar spine as well as the Sacroiliac spine and the pelvis. hip[  joints appear to be normal. I have the  printouts of all the results. She gave me a book of back exercises and wanted to give me a script of Vicodan but I refused that one for the time being.

I just picked up a script of 180 Celebrex two weeks ago. then she wanted to add the Vicodan one a day and the Celebrex one a day. I still have 5 Vicodan from when I had my hand surgery so Maybe I will try that if the pain gets  too much.  I hate the addition of of any pills to my daily regimen. I take more vitamins and supplements than I do prescriptions.  But the total is 9 in the morning and 11 at  nigh prescriptions included in that number.

My goodness, Marilyn!  No wonder your back hurts!     I'm praying for relief of our pain. 

Hi, friends, I'm rejoicing in that 2 commitments didn't work out today. How WONDERFUL to have the day to myself!

Now, I'll be eating with friends about 4:30 - it's senior day at Captain D's, so I will enjoy being with them there, then on to the church across the street for a 6 pm meeting.

Larry, I finished the statistical analysis, then did the supporting graphs, so it should help our church administration in their work for our Lord. Oh, how thankful I am that I could be of assistance in His support!

I'm so sorry, Marilyn, I've had spinal arthritis since age 17, so I can only imagine how difficult it is for you right now. And, Gord, I'll be remembering y'all too, for pain in either region of the body makes life quite difficult.

Etta Sue, thankfully you could drive your sister to therapy. I know you felt much more secure being behind the wheel. You might want to check this out for help with teaching crochet: http://www.shopredheart.com/default.aspx?PageID=62&CategoryID=104&ProductID=2745&RootCatCode=05000

Looks like the costs aren't too high. Also search on the internet - there are many websites there to check out also. Most likely YouTube has free videos about how to learn to crochet.

Well, must go - lotsa things to do in about an hour!



Love to all y'all,
Ruth Ann

 Hi everyone.  It was warmer here yesterday than the last couple of days and it suppose to be another beautiful day today.  We have been able to open up the house this afternoon.   I did go to the grocery store yesterday to do some major shopping.  I was thankful for the cellphone as called my wife several times to "get the word" on a certain purchase.  She had made a list but questions still prevailed.  I wasn't able to get everything I needed at this store so will go again to Walmart and try to finish the shopping probably tomorrow.  The appliance lady is scheduled to come this afternoon and fix our ice dispenser little door that opens when you dispense the ice.  It hasn't been closing correctly and let the ice at the bottom of the bin melt.  Pat was able to get her shoes on this morning and we went to  Bible study with our pastor.  She hadn't been out of the house for a week and really enjoyed getting out.  We went to the social time at Dunkin Donuts and then to Applebys with three others for a nice lunch.  No need for supper tonight.

Etta Sue, your crochet group at church sounds like a very useful endeavor.  Hope there is a lot of interest.  Too bad about having to miss the rehab in the pool but nice they let you know before you got there that the pool was too cool. Etta Sue, that pink is appearing everywhere this month, even on the uniforms of the pro-football players.  Some even have these shocking pink shoes they wear on the field of play.  When does your crochet class begin.

Carol, we have the same problem finding available book from the library.  Can you put in request and get into the line to get some of the books you want to read from the library.  We can do that here and it seems if I have more than one request in they will become available at the same time.  This has happened a couple of times.  I didn't understand your comment about a "stop date" in regard to ebooks.  I know about the restriction on the Apple products for Flash as encountered that on the iPod Touch I used to use.  My Android phone has some restriction but can play YouTube videos and am not sure about flash but know it hasn't been a problem.  If you haven't done so do a Google search for free e-books and you will a number of site where you can download ebooks. 

Gord, hope you can get some help with that back yard.  So sorry to read of Noreen's continued back problems.  How is your back doing?  Hope the doctor today had some encouragement regarding your hip pain.  Aren't the "Golden Years" tarnished a bit with all these health issues?

Marilyn, it sounds like your back is a mess.  Hope the pain doesn't become too bad.  Is there any treatment other than exercise that will help?

Ruth Ann, nice that you had the day free and are probably eating dinner as I write this since I am late reading and posting here today.

Tonight is choir in a couple of hours.  The appliance lady called a bit ago saying she has bronchitis and was it OK to reschedule until tomorrow morning.  Of course that was fine as would rather have her feeling better when she has a job to do.  I am having difficulty getting in touch with my roofing company as they are not returning my calls.  Sure hope they have gone out of business. 

Gord:  It would be nice if you could get a teen from church to help with yard work. 

Marilyn:  All these doctor appointments, they are bound to help with your pain.  Take care.

Larry:  What I meant about an stop date is that ebooks on the iPad downloaded from the library have borrowing settings and I inadvertently set the first ones for seven days and after that time, I could not read the books.  Now, I have reset the time to the longest period of 21 days.  But - the free Gutenberg and one other source does not show any time limit.  My concern is that I would want books to read on a long trip and would not want them to freeze before being totally read.  I know - just do not want to spend any money on buying a book.  Our church has a great library and the public library has the history or mysteries I also like. 

We leave in the morning for Glenwood Springs and that will be heading straight into a winter weather alert.  It is a really nice old-fashioned town in the hills and Don procured reservations before a son told us about the possibility of 18 inches of snow.  We will take it easy and go late morning when the storm is ending & carry winter car necessities in the back.  The aspen leaves are falling and this is the only time we could go because of so many VA hospital appointments for Don.  So, we hope to drive there and also to the cabin for 4 days.  It sure looks like the cabin won't sell this year - still, not one person has walked through.  We know a family with a cabin right on the lake & their place has been for sale for at least three years. 

I am bringing yarn and will pray that I can knit a nice prayer shawl.   

Good morning everyone.   Writing on my smart phone while sitting in the car waiting while Pat gets blood tests and an xray of her knee. That is about all on the schedule for today other than the appliance repair lady coming as she was ill yesterday.  I may also go to Walmart.

Carol I understand what you are talking about on the stop date for books from the library.

Marilyn, I read on FB and your blog about your back.  My, you are a mess!  Sorry!  Is exercise your only alternative?  I don't think my back is nearly as bad as yours...at least, I only hurt when standing for a while.  But I know the water therapy helps tremendous.  The land therapist said my sacrum is turned when I have pain.  She can put it back.  I have found that I will have the back pain now but once I go in the water and do my exercises I am good again for awhile.  I love the nice 92 degree water anyway!

Ruth Ann, thanks for the link for a CD for crocheting.  I think I saw some of them at WalMart.  But yesterday I printed pages out of my 1975 Learn How book and made a 16 page booklet.  I can print that for everyone.  If they want to purchase their own book, WalMart has a book that is also for left-handed gals and guys.  I crocheted a Neck Warmer yesterday afternoon that I think would be easy enough.  I want to start a Hat, Scarf and Mitten set this afternoon when I get back from water therapy.  I am anxious to get started.  Also want to call the other lady this afternoon about her thoughts on when to begin. 

Carol, I love the ebooks but I have found I can't read them fast enough.  I like to read a chapter or two before going to sleep at night.  My routine!  With everything else I do, there isn't much time during the day to read. 

Larry, glad Pat is getting out and about.  How did her blood tests and x-rays turn out?

Ivalou and I are going to water therapy this afternoon.  She is going to sign up for maintenance and I need to renew my maintenance.

First, I will answer the question:  Where did Janet go this time?  She went to Hoover Dam, Las Vegas, and the Grand Canyon!  Well, Las Vegas was the really minor part, thank goodness.  I do not care for Las Vegas, as am not a gambler.  And we didn't have an opportunity to see the free shows in front of the casinos on the strip.  We did go to Fremont Street, yuck.  It reminds me of Bourbon Street in New Orleans.

We went with the Seniors Group from Hugoton; there were 49 of us on a big bus.  Our driver was a lady, and boy! was she ever a great driver!!  None of the guys have anything on that gal!  It was a really laid-back trip, we didn't do or see nearly as much as we are used to doing and seeing, but that was probably a good thing, since things are so hectic here at home now.  In fact, I think Darrel and I each read two or three books on the trip.  (So much driving rime.)  So we rested quite a bit, I guess.

God really smiled on us the day we were at the Grand Canyon!  Weather was cool, just perfect--then a light sprinkle of rain, then the sun came out, and with it came the most perfect, most brilliant, most beautiful rainbow I have ever seen!!  A double one!!  And yes, I did get great pictures of it!

The day after we left Vegas, it flooded there, can you imagine?  They really were needing rain in that whole area of Nevada and Arizona, well, New Mexico, too, so I'm sure they were happy to get the rain, if it didn't get into the buildings.

We got home last evening, and this morning the carpenters, the carpet layers and the people to hang the blinds were all here, and it seemed each was asking, "Janet, do you have a tiny screwdriver?  No, I need a Phillips one."  "Janet, do you have a small ladder?  A big broom?  A dustpan?  Where are the cover plates for the plug-ins and switches?  Do you know where the roasted sesame seed paint is?"  And so forth.....whew!  And, believe it or not, I was able to find what each one needed!  But don't ask me where anything of mine or Darrel's is!!  Everything in this house has been moved!    Maybe in two years or so we will find our stuff again.....I hope!

Carpenters left as they couldn't work around the carpet layers, blind installers (they can SEE!)    left; now just have the carpet people.  We are wondering if they will be finished so we can put our bed back together for tonight.  Well, if not, we can sleep upstairs, as it isn't too hot.

What is is here, is WINDY!  And I do mean WINDY!  It takes both hands and all my strength to open the storm door and hold it from ripping off again.  Yuck.  My most UNfavorite weather.  (Bad word, but you get my meaning!)

I heard from my publisher, the second phase of publication has begun.  And they said the only mistakes they found in copy editing was a few questionable capitalizations!!  NO misspelled words, no incorrect grammar, no wrong punctuation!    WOW, I was surprised (and pleased.)    They also said they will try to condense this phase and get it done in two months rather than three, which would be a really good thing.  Beth was so happy to hear that, as was I.

Okay, I will hush now.  talk to you later!

Janet, it's grand to have you home, safe and sound.  It must have been a wonderful trip and it was a break you certainly deserved...  and needed.  Of course, we're going to be waiting to see your rainbow pictures.  If you need any "refresher" help getting them posted here just let me know.

Marilyn - I have heard fairly extensively about a kind of chiropractic/osteopathic treatment.  It's radically different than the average.  It's one in which they place you on a table in a very special way that actually pulls your vertebrae apart slightly.  They leave you that way for a certain length of time (I don't remember how long).  The result is the discs actually pull back  into  alignment.  It may take several such treatments to accomplish everything that needs to be accomplished.  There aren't very many doctors who are trained in this and have the equipment, but it is a growing number.  There are some in the Bay Area for sure, and some elsewhere also.  You have to talk to a fair number of chiropractors to find out about it and who does it.  If your discs haven't been fused too long it even fixes them.  It might be worth looking into.
Our chiro. here, Dr. Derk Luoma, is somewhat acaquainted with it and may be able to direct you.  His number is 707 443 0695.

Thanks Al.

Hi everyone.  I got up a little earlier today as my morning is going to be very full and know by afternoon I will be ready to call it a day.  Right after coffee I have someone coming to the house to work with me for an hour or so and then at 11:30 we have the ROMEO men's luncheon.  We did get our ice maker fixed yesterday, certainly not inexpensively but it now works.  We decided to pass on repairing the microwave as the repair was going to be right at $300 or more and that will go a long way in getting another one.  Pat has never really liked the last one we bought for over the stove. 

Etta Sue, she had quite a time giving her blood yesterday and it took us about 90 minutes or more for the x-ray and then having two different people trying to get her blood drawn.  I don't know the results yet.

Janet, sounds like a wonderful schedule for your trip.  I agree with you on Las Vegas and was glad to have the chance to see it but don't care about going back.  Good that you got some rest.  Isn't it strange that the paid workmen often don't bring the tools they need to do the job.  I have experienced the same thing a couple of times.

Well, my lower back is hurting so much I can hardly walk around, so I'm supposed to go to the chiropractor this morning.  Pray he'll do me some good.

Janet is back!  I could almost hear her!  Glad to see you are back.  Glad to hear you got some much needed rest.  Glad you had a great time.  And wish it was me instead of you at the Grand Canyon.  I agree with you on Las Vegas.  Didn't leave anything there that I would go back to see.  I don't think I could ever tire of seeing the Grand Canyon.  And a double-rainbow?  What a treat!!

I was up at 7:30am.  The furnace man was here by 8am.  Now I feel safe in turning on the furnace but plan to do that only every 5th night.  The other nights I will let the heat pump work...saves on the gas bill which is much higher than the electric bill!

I need to get some photos ready for Photo Guild Monday night.  Our bonus photo is Architecture.  Maybe I will look in my still photos and see if I find any.  I can scan it and present it. 

The colors are getting vibrant in Indiana.  Lots of oranges, reds and yellows.  Love it!!

And the temp was above 80 yesterday and to be that way each day for awhile!

Thanks for the welcome home messages.  It's always good to get back home!  I want to watch an hour of TV, then I will be back and tell you the next chapter in our little drama here! 

Al, by now you've been to the chiropractor and are back home.  Did he help?

Janet, we're waiting for the next chapter! 

I'm surprised at how little color we have so far this year - much later than usual, too.