Wednesday, July 07, 2010
My kittycats went to the Doctor
The cats are having a birthday this month, so they got to go to the veterinarian to have their annual physical and update shots.
Mahalia has her diabetes in check, and there is no longer a need for insulin shots. I have only a teensie amount in the bottle, so I keep an eye on her to see if she needs a minimum dose. She still takes a half tablet of thyroid medicine every morning, but her weight is back to normal.
Oscar seems to have a bladder infection. He was given a big dose of antibiotic alongside the vaccinations. I’m supposed to push fluids, especially in the heat of summer. He goes back in a couple weeks for check-up.
Their appts with handsome doctors has been the main undertaking of my week.
Otherwise, I work with yarn while watching videos or JEOPARDY!
It’s been a fine and quiet summer, but it’s about half over already.
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
My ‘Learning Curve’ is Immense
in May, I drove to the Ohio River Valley for my nephew’s wedding. Actually, today is their ONE month anniversary already 
and Allison is finally back at her job after getting sick in Mexico on the honeymoon. I told her the old folks call it Montezuma’s Revenge, named after the chief of the conquered natives.
I’ve been dinking around with memory card pictures, and computer drives whose titles use letters of the alphabet, and web albums in a program called PICASA, and a very irritated In-House Tech who explains 6 things before he actually gets to the task I am trying to do, but says I don’t need to use a piece of paper for notes because everything I would need is somewhere on the screen.
pretty much since I returned from the 10 hour drive across the mid-West
taking time out to crochet and do the ironing
both being things I can hold in my hands and have a something DONE when I set it down and walk away
I learned how to put pictures on the blog several years ago. Apparently the way I “know” is very old-fashioned, not as secure if this exact computer crashes, plus a number of other troubles I don’t really care about until they happen.
I just want to be able to put pictures where I tell ‘em to be.
Plus, I have a whole box of print-outs from Walgreen’s, which is the way my aunts will get some, since they have no idea about the wonders of computers.
So anyway, as I was driving across the flatlands, some of the folks I met at the wedding reception were already sending requests to Friend me on Facebook. I picked up a few just as Summer vacation was beginning, so Facebook is quite abuzz with little tidbits of fun.
A couple of my blog readers are also over there, so they don’t miss anything.
However, according to the date, I have not been writing as MrsDOF often enough.
Ah well, I’m here now, for jistaminitt.
and I’ll show you my favorite picture from the time in my hometown
More My ‘Learning Curve’ is Immense... below the fold
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Girl Cat doing just fine
I’m talking ‘bout my girl cat Mahalia
who had a check-up this morning for doing blood levels lab work
it seems her diabetes has slacked off. I did not even give insulin this morning, as per instructions
yet the level is at the Low End of Normal
we are going to try to keep her stable with diet, as in several snacks of wet food a day
the doc prefers Rx cans, but she won’t touch it, so I bought her favorite flavors from the store
plus a “New Healthy” type from the same manufacturer with its factory in the USA
We go back in a month for routine care.
~~love and Huggs, Diane
ps I’m making Puppy Chow again… this time for a family home for the summer and the mom says they are starting to get a bit bored already. Showing up with goodies otta cheer ‘em up
Thursday, June 10, 2010
When it’s My Turn to Treat
White Puppy Chow in individual cups
Back when my sons were in grade school, there was a tradition for the birthday kid to bring treats for the class. It did not seem to matter that there was awhile when we were income level low enough to qualify for Reduced Fee Lunch, the classmates really made a big deal about birthday goodies.
I do not remember having to do this when I was young, school was out by the second week of June when my birthday happens.
Some parents would supervise a nice party, but I’m a bit lazy at organizing events for other peoples’ happiness.
I managed to persuade my sons that just passing out a candy bar at the end of the day would be fine.
I would buy a box of regular size candy bars in each son’s favorite flavor.
And it worked! My son got to hand over something, kids got a treat to take home.
Years later, as in college age, I saw a former classmate of my kid at a store. He said he still remembers getting a Full-Size candy bar from a Wiman just for himself, and that he did not have to share with his brother because it came as a special treat from school.
Today is my own birthday, and I wanted to make some Puppy Chow. However, in the pantry was white chocolate bought on Clearance after Christmas. Eh, have an adventure, I told myself. The cooking and measuring would be the same recipe.
It turned out quite tasty. But there was a huge bowl full, as in—a whole box of cereal goes into the creation.
So I decided to share with my Needlework Group.
And I wrote about it for my Dear Ones e-mail friends. One gal replied “Just wanted to comment on your decision to do a “my birthday, my treat” thing with your group. That is very German!! The birthday person does the treating! So you are right in German culture/style!”
Well, I didn’t realize tradition went back so far. I’m thinking of 20 years ago when I was stressed out about providing my sons with something to be okay about.
Not that I would have carried in containers full of Puppy Chow for a whole class—- You do realize how much stirring goes into the preparations? In those days, I was a bit harried doing the mothering thing.
Today, it was nice I packed the stickiness in cups. Don’t believe a box of plastic wrap when it says it will cling to anything. I had to tie yarn around. Another gal had brought coffee cake from the Farmer’s Market, which we had during our time together, so most of those cups of Chow went home.
I’m having a Happy Birthday! Cards in the mail, Messages on Facebook, e-Greetings. Don’t really need any other sweetness. Something crunchy is fine.
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Tuesday, June 08, 2010
More Bookmarks for Gift-giving Fun
After crocheting 8 bookmarks to send for my mother to give as gifts (she loves to tell everybody that her daughter made it, plus, she doesn’t have to go shopping on her widow’s pension) I tackled my own list.
These bookmarks were done this week.
size 10 bedspread cotton thread, size 7 (1.65mm) crochet hook
Actually, the 3 on the far right are for Baptisms, which happened at church a few weeks ago. Favorite color request came back as 2 for Bright Orange, and Turquoise.
Graduates favorite color question provided answers green, blue, hot pink, orange. There were a couple kids I was unable to ask, so they will be getting the bright Fiesta color. I used something from my own bin, no new purchases this time
Anyway, a friend says I am generous with my talent and time. Thank You!
Actually, things like this are my excuse to avoid housework. The towels have been waiting to be folded for Days, and the bathroom sink has a glob of old toothpaste since Sunday. And we're paying a kid from church to cut the grass.
Priority .... this is what I do.
Hope your Summer is going well. Ummm, Actually, my friend Mary at Momma's Corner
fell while doing yard work and has a broken leg.
Her son is providing updates. We hope she’ll soon be home to tell us all about it her own self.
~~love and Huggs, Diane
didja notice I used Actually at least 3 times? maybe been watching too much tv…
Monday, May 31, 2010
Checked off something on my list
Sending these bookmarks to my mom as the second half of her request for graduation gifts for kids at her church.
Because I am on a deadline production schedule, the patterns are easy for my mind and fingers. Intricate lace ain’t gonna happen this session.
Since these are done for her, I can now commence crochet of 7 to give away with my own signature on the cards.
So very glad School is out. Our start of the Summer has been only so-so thus far.
Mahalia is holding her own, with good times a little more often than wrong. She goes back to the clinic tomorrow for a blood level test. Stubborn little furry beast, we will get her on the best medical path possible.
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Friday, May 28, 2010
Old Enough to Know Better
This morning I pedaled my bicycle all over, while shopping at Yard Sales.
My girl cat is not eating very well. Especially dislikes the new, doctor recommended, pate. So I chopped up some chicken and put a little warm water on it. She ate about 2 tablespoons.
the combination of bike riding and chicken chopping made my wrists very unhappy
So this evening, I decided to go to Target to buy a small food processor. I’ve been wanting one awhile, this seems like a good time.
While I was standing and reading labels, a family passed by the end of the aisle. Dad pushing a cart with a boy toddler in the seat, Mom holding the hand of a girl about age 3. The girl was whining, the boy was whimpering, the dad trying to ask questions about exact item needed.
I placed a box holding a suitable processor in my cart, then decided to look around a bit. As I passed the family again, the toddler was in full screeemm mode.
Having recently been in close proximity with my mother, I had to say something.
“My goodness, life cannot be as bad as all that.”
I said as I pushed my cart slowly by.
the mother spoke out, quite strongly
“Oh. Be. Quiett! It’s not your business.”
I stopped and looked directly at her to say
“Well, I can see that being Grouchy is contagious.”
the dad snorted, but hid his lips behind his fingers
the little girl knew something was amiss, staying silent
the mother glared at me. If she’d had a gun, I’d be a goner.
I gave a little half smile and said kindly “I hope your evening gets better” then pushed my cart on toward the checkout.
She will probably tell all her Facebook friends about the old busybody bitch at Target to help herself feel better.
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Not exactly what you want to read
No Wedding Trip Report written yet.
Been very busy with Mahalia the diabetic cat. She had a bit of an episode of confusion on Saturday with Geo, then I got her to a regular appt check-up on Tuesday, and the doctor changed a few things
Wednesday morning, she collapsed in the kitchen, so I wrapped her in a towel, dropped her on the passenger seat of the car, rushed into the animal clinic in tears
They kept her for a couple hours, getting her sugar and insulin levels to balance in her blood
had to take her back this morning to make sure she is still neutral (she’s doing okay)
and brought home 6 cans of special, expensive cat food, meanwhile cutting back on the insulin
the paper pictures were picked up from Walgreen’s where they remain in the box, not sorted, and my camera card has not been anywhere near the reader for me to put photos onto this computer.
When I got this new box a few months ago, my In-house Tech says I should be doing Picasa albums, and changed the drive for where my stuff goes, and I am not so good at figuring out this “newer, easier” different way to do this.
He says to get up-to-date, yet forgets that my kitchen has the same wallpaper from when we moved in lo, those many years ago. I don’t like change, especially when it is only to please other people, who apparently are anxiously awaiting the pictures from my camera card.
In between times, I had promised my mom that I would buy her a sheet of Bill Mauldin postage stamps, and our local building is Sold-Out, telling me to order online. Been trying to do that every so often for 30 hours, but my credit card is rejected. Their Techno Support says my computer is in a loop, so I should clear the history and cache, and do a completely new log-in for the USPS site. “Nothing wrong at their end” I was told. So much for online delivery.
Mahalia is all tuckered out from yet another stab in her leg early this morning, and is sleeping nicely on her comfy chair. Actually behaves better than she did before I left town. She should, my latest paycheck went into her care rather than new shoes for me.
Today is Thursday, which means my Needlework Group meets. Having missed the last 2 weeks, I definitely want to be there this afternoon. Have to work on some bookmarks. My mom put in a request for crocheted bookmarks for 8 graduates, then there are also 5 from my church that I wanna gift. Thursday evening is a meeting at church.
Not sure when the pictures and tales of travel will happen.
~~Huggs, Diane
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Road Trip for a wedding
Time slips by, and I forget to write about happenings.
I’m going on a Road Trip for my nephew’s wedding.
There will be No Comics or Facebook or silly little messages until after I return to this box, since I do not own a mobile gadget.
You All just keep on living yer own way while I’m gone.
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Friday, May 14, 2010
Natural Balance on the front walk
With sad news today, I must report the demise of a bird with yellow and brown feathers. It was found by me on the front walk at 7:05 this morning, with a broken neck and its abdomen torn open.
In what seems to be a freak turn of events, it looked as if the bird was hit in the head by the newspaper tossed from a car stopped at the end of the walk. The corner of the folded paper had a bit of a dent in it, and there was an exact straight mark on the side of the bird’s head.
This apparently stunned the little bird so much that it remained still enough so that Oscar the cat could pounce.
There were no signs of defense put up by the bird.
I took the plastic wrapper off the newspaper, then used it along with a napkin from my pocket, to pick up, bag, and dispose of the feathered corpse. There were no other witnesses.
Oscar was allowed indoors, looking quite pleased with himself, where he sat on the rug in front of the sink to do his morning grooming.
When I got home from work this afternoon, Oscar wanted to be let out the front door. He went straight to the scene of the disturbance, where just a couple small feathers remain caught in the grass.
We must pray that the bird was not a parent trying to support several babies in the nest in the maple tree.
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
A few minutes in the middle…
This week has been quite busy in real life!
And yet, I cain’t ‘member zaktly what all I’ve done.
Haven’t bothered to step on the scale at all, cuz I’ve been eating some weird food. Yesterday’s chili dog/ school lunch at a junior high did not sit well with my innards. Although I’m doing sit-ups each morning, and love to be able to walk to a job two days this week. My weight loss efforts get shoved way down the priority list. Also, in case you haven’t noticed, writing for the blog is kinda hit-or-miss. Right now, I’m just waiting for the dishwasher to finish a cycle so I can go take a shower.
Last evening I made up a batch of Puppy Chow, let it cool, then packaged and labeled it for a bake sale at a nursing home. This morning, I baked Oatmeal Chocolate Chip cookies. They are cooling on racks now. I’ll pack and label them later, after my Half Day afternoon TA Sub job at a junior high.
A buddy is the Auxiliary President, and a different friend works there in an office, so I like to help them out with some small stuff every so often. Baking is a hobby I love, so iffen I give away the products they are not sitting in the pantry calling me, plus more worthy causes might benefit.
Husband’s birthday, and Mother’s Day came and gone, with a few cards to show they happened. We, as a couple, did not do anything special, just the usual Saturday breakfast.
On a shelf in my crafts room is a line of projects on my list. I’ve got colors of yarn and patterns all chosen and in bags, now for the time to sit and enjoy the handling. Meanwhile, the potholders pile grows.
Once school is done, and my trip outta town for nephew’s wedding is over, I look forward to the summer handcrafts.
If I were marking this paper for a grade, I would say that the paragraphs are not in focus with each other. I love having my own blog to do with it what I want
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Tuesday, May 04, 2010
Peaches-n-Cream Goodness
Awhile back, someone brought a delicious fruit salad to a church potluck. I asked for the recipe, which she said was quite easy, and it is. However, I noticed when I used the canned tropical fruit salad (my favorite) then I would bring home the bowl still half full of goodies.
Or, perhaps, give the leftovers to a gal who runs a home daycare service. She said her kids love it.
Therefore, I did a bit of altering to make it mine own.
Here’s the recipe, the way I make it anyway
You need: a big restaurant size can of sliced peaches, drained of the syrup
3.4 ounce cheesecake flavor instant pudding, mixed according to directions on the package
use 1 1/2 cups pudding in the recipe then enjoy the rest all on its own1 1/2 cups vanilla yogurt
stir the creamy items together with a wire whisk
Fold in the peach parts.
Put into a pretty bowl, chill until ready to serve
I don’t have leftovers at a church potluck these days. Just as well, the nutritious peaches offsets the empty calories of the pudding.
that glass bowl is Made in USA, which I found on Clearance at a big box store about a month ago. I didn’t really need another bowl, but it is so pretty…
Yesterday, I saw the shelf is full again, of a similar design, but the bar code sticker says its glass is made overseas
Too many workers lost a job making something good….
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Friday, April 30, 2010
Another one of those wonderful days off :)
Today is a School Improvement Day, which means teachers must do some planning time in their buildings, while students, and us support staff have the day free. Cain’t argue with that!
At 8:15 am, I had a fried potato and cuppa tea for breakfast. Tried to have second cuppa and read the newspaper while out sitting on the porch, but the wind is blowing so much that I had to retrieve a page from the bushes!
Stripped the bed, sorted piles of laundry
had a shower, started the washer
then sat at the table and did a bunch of paperwork
Went off to run errands, first thing being putting the envelopes into the blue mailbox along the side of the post office building. Love that new set-up for drive-thru.
It has been open only a few months, but my peace in mind is paid for.
It being a day off, I wanted to go to a craft store. The latest 40% off coupon was melting in my wallet. I ended up buying a nice cream color 3-ply sport weight, which will nicely match some skeins brought in as a donation to the activity center (and I called dibs on)
Once I get the blankie done, I’ll donate it back.
Then off to the DMV to buy license plate sticker. I had the papers and checkbook in my purse, and want to be sure to have the new one in place when I travel out of state for nephew’s wedding.
Well, the line for stickers was all the way across the room, out the door, and along the side of the building! The last day of April is more important. Why would people wait until the very last day of the month to take care of being legal !?! As you can tell, I worry about this kind of thing, since I’m a whole month ahead myself. I did not stick around, I was getting hungry.
As I left, I noticed a couple kids and a man waiting in a van in the parking lot. One waved to me out the window, so I said “Of course I know you!” and asked if they are liking having a day off school as much as I am. One boy said that waiting for Dad was hard. I told him the line was really really long, so I’m going to go another time. The other had a little electronic game to play.
On the way home, I stopped for a nice roast beef sandwich. Did not eat meat the last couple days, so I was kinda craving some.
Just a block from home, I spotted a lime green sign with a written address for a yard sale. Turned out to be at a house where lives a family whose children went to elementary school with my sons. Standing in the sun chatting for a half hour, while my sandwich waited on the front seat of the car.
Ah well. Finally ate lunch at 2:20pm, feeling fine about it.
Laundry load #4 went into the washer. When it gets done in the dryer, I should be able to get the bed all made up again.
And now almost time for JEOPARDY! I’ve got a shades of green and blue baby hat on the peg loom to work on, too.
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Oh Look, it’s another baby hat….
knitted on peg loom of BERNAT SofTee 3-ply acrylic yarn
This hat got done last week, and was dropped into the bin at the activity center, and will be taken to the hospital Newborn Nursery.
The hospital grounds are having some parking issues because of extensive growth and construction, so I have decided I don’t want to deliver my stuff on my own, for awhile anyway.
One of the Needlework Group members does volunteer work at the hospital on routine days, so she is real nice about taking stuff in.
I haven’t given the doll a name yet. When I do, I’ll know she has become much more than a model for hats.
I miss working in the baby room of the daycare center.
I love babies, when everything is new and hopeful. When I’m older and out of my mind wandering the halls of the nursing home, I should be clutching a doll to remind me of the better times of life. For almost 6 years, I earned wages to play with babies.
This latest illness tells me why I shouldn’t miss the little germ habitats. All my family was sick some time or other while I worked there.
Not sure which way these latest germs got passed, but I had TA Sub jobs in 2 elementary schools last week, and now I’m paying a price.
Anyway, I wanted the pretty hat picture to be what comes up first on the blog. Those 3 rows of purl in the middle are something I’m quite proud of.
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Day 3 and still in the house
Felt sick enough to make a trip to the Walk-In Medical Clinic last Saturday afternoon. Exam and Test came back positive for Strep germs. So I’ve been home being Sick for 3 days, missing church on Sunday, cancelled an already arranged TA Sub job for Monday (the position did get snapped up), and today of telling the system to leave me alone, I’m still sick and tired.
I sent out an e-mail message to my Dear Ones List, which is a nice way to get back some caring responses.
One gal says she learned she is her own carrier for Strep. This could be likely for me, I had rheumatic fever when I was a kid, so maybe the germs just use my body as a hideout until I think I’m in a good phase, then they jump in to make sure my schedule gets messed up.
My sister Denise tells me she doesn’t ever recall having a case of Strep, so she doesn’t know what I’m going through. She’s had other health troubles, such as a cyst on a tendon of her foot which required surgery and crutches, so I don’t begrudge her much. I don’t wish illness on anyone, and especially not one of my sisters who looks after our mom and her property, allowing me to live the comfortable distance of 2 states away, making the occasional phone call.
Side effects of antibiotics has—Inability for Concentration—on the list. I expected the nausea and other dismays of the digestive system, but my brain isn’t making connections quickly enough. It’s like I stand there an extra several seconds before my hands can do the task.
Cutting the girl cat’s pills in half was quite an event. The skin on all my fingers remains intact, but the effort to get ‘em done properly just wore me down and out.
Reading, yarn, blogging. I’ve tried with mixed success.
Taking naps is top contender for what keeps me occupied.
It ain’t easy being me being sick.
I’ll do my best to not burden anybody else.
~~love and Huggs, Diane