Category: General (Page 7 of 59)

It has been a quiet week here at Heart House. Routine tasks with only a few side projects were the norm.

I continued my twice-weekly physical therapy and my range of motion is improving, but I still have a long way to go. However, since I am in Cresco twice weekly for therapy, I stop at the Fareway grocery store and pick up any needed supplies. The last time home I took the new detour; it will add at least 10 minutes to the commute and is about 5 miles longer than the regular route. The detour is on gravel roads which means the car will get pretty dirty with spring rains in the forecast. I start driving the detour regularly next week.

Medically, Pam is doing OK with follow-ups on her kidney stone condition. The doctor wants her to stay on meds into April, then go in for an X-ray to see if the stone is still in place or if it has passed through. If still in place, non-emergency surgery is scheduled for May 1.

Pam has been working on a plan to remodel the parlour and has received wallpaper samples she ordered. (See below.) Also, as an addition to sleeping capacity in the guest bedroom, I spotted a twin bed frame on Facebook Marketplace last weekend. After a successful negotiation, we took a field trip to Stewartville, MN on Monday to pick it up. So, several home projects are in the mix.

Yesterday’s forceful Spring storm left us with a trace of snow this morning, but before that we had thunderstorms and some hail. Happy April Fool’s Day to us!

The past week reinforces the rural character of our NE Iowa setting. We received the last of our contracted-for propane, 202.2 gallons. We hope this takes us through the summer, as a “summer fill” [usually in August] is always the lowest price of the season. I did not take a photo of our delivery but here’s a typical sample from the internet.

I went to a garage sale in the country near Elma, and was surprised to see numerous Mennonite carriages parked on the road and drive. I didn’t think to take photos of this (my bad), as a visual would have made this post more interesting. However, here is a photo of a carriage going past our home on Main Street back in 2021.

My garage sale spend was $2.00 for a non-working Makita battery-powered craft saw and charger. New batteries are on order and I hope the saw works OK once they arrive. Pam would like to try using it for some summer craft projects she has in mind.

So, aside from PT in Cresco, propane delivery, yard sale, and some work on the guest bedroom and other project planning, it was a relaxed retirement week. The coming week may be somewhat more exciting, as we are expecting a roofing contractor to be here on Monday, looking over the tower and – hopefully – giving us an estimate once he has seen the scale of the work.

That’s it for now. Thanks for looking in!

Pam’s Penny

Well, the samples arrived and left me more confused than before on the way forward with the wallpaper. The first sample (on left in green) is an art deco print with a HUGE scale, so that’s out. The second (middle) sample is a Victorian print that is anything but restful – probably too much. The final sample has a better scale, but may not be dramatic enough – too little? The jury is still out. Pondering. (No rush.)

Happy Trails.

We had an assortment of events and happenings this week. The power company is installing new posts and upgrades, Pam’s godson captained a yacht through the Panama Canal, and work was done in the upstairs guest bedroom. Federal and state taxes were completed and mailed.

Last week our power company, Alliant Energy, began replacing power poles along Main Street in Elma. New post had been laid out; then a truck, equipped with an auger and a hoist, drilled holes for the new posts, and lifted the poles into place.

The next step will be the moving of wires from the old pole to the new one. We have been advised to expect a break in service while this happens but have no time frame when this will happen.

Pam has completed painting the guest bedroom white, but I did not include photos of it as Pam is just beginning to add the ribbon trim where the walls meet the ceiling. I’ll have more in my next post.

As reported in a previous post, Nati had been moved into the guest bedroom. While I was in the room checking on Pam’s painting progress, Nati decided to jump into my lap and get some attention. I was pleased she seems to be a bit more animated and moving around more. Hair is beginning to re-grow under her neck.

One event this past week involved Pam’s godson, Zach Hayes. (Zach and Sakura visited us last summer.) Zach is a yacht captain and had the opportunity to pilot his ship through the Panama Canal. That must be something to check off your Bucket List!

Zach had let us know the approximate time he would be going into the lock from the Pacific end. He is heading to Florida, so the crossing would be from west to east. The western entrance is Miraflores Lock. Here is a screenshot of Zach’s craft; it’s the one closest to the open lock doors, in the approximate middle of the photo.

In this lock the water level has to be raised from the level of the Pacific to the level of the canal as it passes through to the Atlantic. The process takes several minutes. While waiting for Zach’s passage, we also saw the left-hand lock being used to lower a large ship down to the Pacific level. We have seen locks work before, but this was the first time we had looked at them in the Panama Canal.

There are a couple of medical updates. My physical therapy is ongoing and I am getting a bit more range of motion in my right shoulder. Pam is feeling better but still does not know if the kidney stone has passed or not. Another CT scan may be scheduled just to see what, if anything, has happened to the stone.

The summer road construction season is upon us. Beginning the first week in April, my trips for physical therapy will involve a detour as Highway 9, the main route to Cresco and the clinic where I get my therapy, will be closed for bridge replacement and road widening. The closure will last most of the year.

Three contractors responded to us this past week. 1) Bob the Builder confirmed his intent to do our upstairs bathroom remodel in the “next few weeks.” 2) A roofing contractor is scheduled to stop by the first week of April to look over/give us an estimate for the tower re-roofing and repair job. 3) The painter we contacted last year, who will be doing the “gable work” in the high peaks, confirmed we are on his 2023 job list.

We are anxious to get these projects completed this year. There are a few porch repairs to be made, including to some of the undereave areas where the plywood is deteriorating, and – of course – always painting to be done. I am hoping to have enough use of my shoulder to work on some of these tasks but it is by no means a given. We shall have to see.

As scheduled, we finished our Federal and state taxes this week. As in past years, since retirement, we tend to owe Iowa a bit of money and end up getting a small refund from the Feds. You couldn’t get a much simpler tax return than ours, but we still have to complete various worksheets, mostly State, to fill in the correct amounts. A tip for seniors out there: Look at Federal form 1040-SR, which is the 1040 form for seniors with limited income sources. This is our first year using this document. It is similar to the standard 1040 but includes the “Over 65” tax deduction tables.

That’s it for now. Thanks for looking in!

Pam’s Penny

As if I don’t have enough home projects going/planned, I recently pondered the color scheme in the downstairs parlour bedroom + office, and it needs a refresh – already. Our first year at Heart House I transformed that room into “shades of pink” — mainly to counteract all the mustard yellow and hospital green paint schemes we found in the house when we moved in. Now I think I might be ready to moderate the “pink” concentration. I’ve ordered wallpaper samples with the intent of finding one that will look good on the lower half of the parlour walls. Maybe by next week’s post I’ll have the samples hung on the wall to “contemplate.”

I’ve been light-handed re: the use of wallpaper at Heart House. Generally wallpaper is a bear to remove, being so much more permanent than plain old paint. So far I’ve added a wallpaper border up the stairwell, and one wall of dog print wallpaper in the laundry room. This would be the third application of wallpaper, if I go that route.

Happy Trails.

This past week was not much fun for us. Doctor, dentist, and physical therapy appointments dominated our time. Here, in chronological order, is how the events of the week went down.

Monday.

I had an appointment with my oral surgeon (in Mason City) to check if I could proceed to the next step in getting an implant for a broken front tooth. The surgeon had removed the broken tooth a few months back, and it was a painful process, mostly because of where the novacane had to be injected. Monday’s appointment did not include any procedures, just an exam. I was cleared for the next procedure, actually implanting the “post” in my jaw. The implant appointment was scheduled for Thursday.

I combined a few other tasks during Monday’s trip. After leaving the oral surgery office I stopped at Great Clips for a haircut. The last one had been in early December so I was getting rather shaggy. A stop at the Mason City Walmart was in order to pick up some supplies. The car needed gas so I filled it up [at $3.099 per gallon], then headed home.

Tuesday.

Pam had been having some intermittent pain in her side. A trip to the Decorah clinic for a CT scan had been scheduled for Tuesday, so off we went. (Pam’s sister, Becky, came up from her home in Greene to watch the dogs and meet Nati the cat. We thank her for that.)

The CT scan revealed a kidney stone as the cause of Pam’s pain. She was prescribed a drug that will hopefully relax the duct and allow the stone to pass. Pam feels better at present, but can’t tell if the stone has actually passed. This is an ongoing situation that will require attention and follow-up.

Wednesday.

I went to my first physical therapy session in Cresco at the clinic. This first visit was to establish a baseline from which to judge improvement in my range of motion. After improving that aspect, strength improvement will be addressed.

The PT therapist indicated my arm was more “loose” than many that had spent 6 weeks in a sling. He seemed to know his stuff and moved my arm through a variety of motions to judge my current range of motion. He prescribed a few exercises I could get started on and all were passive, no lifting weights or pulling, just trying to extend my arm in different directions. Here is one of my exercises:

Thursday.

Back to the oral surgeon in Mason City; I was dreading this day, oral surgery to install the post for my implant. The extraction had been painful due to where the novacane had to be injected, above the front of my jaw and under the nose. This time it was not as bad, but still painful.

The post has a “healing cap” on it so I have to be careful not to disturb the area. The cap will be removed when the tooth is built on top of the post. Below is an internet photo of a screw in place with a tooth built on top.

I needed to stop at Walmart to pick up two prescriptions to be used during the next week, an oral rinse and some Amoxicillin. When I got home I took a couple of Ibuprofen to help ease the discomfort, and another dose on Friday so I could get some sleep.

Friday.

My second PT was scheduled for Friday. This session began a series of stretching exercises aimed at improving my range of motion. I can’t lift very high with my right arm which makes washing my hair a one-handed job, and getting stuff down from second-level shelving is a left-hand task. I hope the exercises done at home and the PT will result in better reaching capabilities.

So that was the week. Doctors every day, and none of it fun.

Pam accomplished several other tasks during the week. The storage shelves were rolled out of the guest bedroom, two coats of paint put on the walls, and Nati the cat was moved into the room and given more area to run around in and explore. Here are photos of the room and Nati.

Speaking of cats, here are a couple images of the “terrible two” – Stirling and Vienna.

That’s it for now. Thanks for looking in!

Pam’s Penny

Rural healthcare in NE Iowa is a patchwork of frustration. Since we moved to Iowa in 2019-2020, Himself and I have scheduled appointments at six providers – clinics, specialists, hospitals. Their locations are anywhere from blocks away to 75+ miles away. Of the six providers, only three of them are on the same medical records system and can “communicate” with each other. The other three need to have paper copies of records FAXed back and forth. This is the real “pain,” putting responsibility for records transfer on the patient rather than the institution(s). Not to mention filling out endless forms and medical history at each location.

I was pleased the facility administering the CT scan on Tuesday was part of the medical records network. And also that pertinent medical information was actually reviewed prior to the scan. The wonders of technology.

Happy Trails.

Our week included some good news for both myself and Nati, the cat. A winter storm rolled through. A new cat video was created.

For me, the highlight of the week was a trip to the Mayo Clinic to get a 6-week inspection of my rotator cuff surgery. That went well; the doctor is pleased with the results so far. He had me do some hand exercises and movements with arm and elbow to test pain levels and strength. All seems well, and I was given the go-ahead to shed the sling and begin using my right arm for a few more tasks. (Restrictions on the weight I can lift or pull remain in effect.)

I can now eat with my right hand, brush my teeth, and get dressed without Pam’s help. I can’t raise my arm very high so washing my hair is still a one-handed affair, but I hope to see improvements over the next few weeks that allow me to do more with my right shoulder. As it is, this week was a big step forward. I am glad to be rid of the sling.

Nati the cat had a vet appointment. It has about 3 weeks since her operation and she was due for a follow-up inspection. The vet indicated that Nati is doing well and is ahead of where a “normal” cat would be at this point. Make no mistake, Nati is still something to look at with great chunks of hair missing from the side of her face and neck, but new cells are forming (red in color) and there is no evidence of infection. She continues to eat and eliminate, but has low energy levels and does not seem to be interested in what is going on around her. Only time will tell if she can fully recover and have a good life.

Due to requests, I have created another kitten video. Stirling and Vienna play with Mr. Spring, one of their favorite toys.

We received about 4 inches of snow from the latest storm, but melting is already underway and the sidewalks and paths we cleared are already melting off. I was able to run the John Deere LX 176 with the snow blade and clear off the sidewalks, but it was a bit of a chore as I had to operate the blade raise / lower lever and steer with my left hand instead of using both hands. Good thing the snow was fairly light and easy move. In addition to our walkways I clear out around two sets of mail boxes so the carrier can deliver the mail without any problems.

Note the ‘cat paths’ to the right of the above photo. We clear several of these to allow the cats access to the heated water bowls and food Pam puts out. Another series runs to the east of the garage to the alley and back to the oak tree water dish.

We had mild weather early in the week and the yard was almost bare of snow. Both of us got outside for short periods of time, enjoying the spring sun and warmer weather that – almost – felt like spring. The only drawback was mud tracked in by the dogs after their outside excursions. Pam had to trim the dogs’ footpad hairs and put some old paint cloths in the laundry room to keep mud from being tracked through the rest of the house.

We have not heard from the contractors we spoke with about this year’s projects so I will have to start calling again this next week. We would like to get the outside tasks done this year, but will have to see how that goes. In addition to the “tower project” we have some under-eave repairs that need to be done. A few spindles in the porch railings need to be replaced along with some porch floorboards. Some of that I may be able to do, but the tower and eave repairs will be beyond what I can do this year.

We have not heard from Bob the Builder who, last fall, said he would tackle the upstairs bathroom this spring. We would like to get this last major inside project done this year – it would sure be nice to have a shower upstairs.

I have a dental appointment in the upcoming week which means a trip to Mason City. This trip will include a stop at Super Cuts as my hair is getting pretty shaggy. A stop at the Mason City Walmart is on the agenda as well. It will be a busy day.

That’s it for now. Thanks for looking in!

Pam’s Penny

Two robins arrived at the bird feeder this morning. Come on, Spring!

Happy Trails.

Our attention has gradually shifted to upcoming events of some note for us. Appointments for both myself and Pam are on the docket for the upcoming weeks.

Pam tried out a different medical clinic located in Decorah. This group is affiliated with the Mayo Clinic. As is the [usual] case with rural medicine, local clinics cover very basic family medicine and anything else is referred to specialists. Meaning one hour drives to different clinics.

I have a couple appointments of note. The first is this coming Monday when I have a 6-week checkup of my shoulder. I am hoping to get clearance to expand the use of my right arm. I plan to drive myself to this appointment in the truck. (I describe my method of doing this with an arm sling below.)

My second appointment concerns the implant for a broken front tooth. I need to verify I have recovered from the initial extraction of the broken tooth and can proceed to the next step, actually getting the implant post inserted in my jaw.

This week I did a few more tasks with my arm, including driving the Ford F-150 as it has an automatic transmission and found I could get around OK driving with one hand. I also took the ATV out for a short spin. It has the gear shift on the left along with brakes on the floorboards and left handlebar. Biggest problem is the right-side throttle, which I operated by crossing my left hand over to that side. Very awkward and a trial run, just a spin around the block, but it was good to get out even that bit.

I had another advancement this week. I went back to sleeping in bed as opposed to sleeping in my recliner. While I had to experiment to get a couple comfortable positions, right side and left, I am more comfortable now. It felt strange, though, the first couple nights after having slept in the recliner for almost 5 weeks.

In other respects it was a quiet week. Pam made chocolate chip cookies one day, a real treat.

Pam did some designing of a color scheme for the tower re-do. I had created a line drawing of the tower using a photo and PhotoShop Elements that she was able to use as a pattern. We hope to have the existing painted cedar shakes removed and replaced with colored architectural shingles.

If you first landed on my home page, you will have seen a “spring” cartoon where a trio of flowers bloomed early. Well, it looks like something is coming up in the Mary Lynn bed, which we consider to be too early for blooming plants. Does Mother Nature know something we don’t?

Finally, I thought I would include a photo of the cats and dogs getting their breakfast. In the following photo you can see JoJo’s and Blondie’s butts at the right. (Bru is out of sight in the laundry room.) Stirling and Vienna are at left and Elmo is under the table. KitKat does not normally participate in this routine and is not in the photo. She occasionally eats a bit of wet cat food separately.

And that is about it for this post. Thanks for looking in!

Pam’s Penny

Trying to get on a contractor’s schedule to have the tower redone is a big pain. Himself needs to recontact two people he connected with in January to see if either will get us a quote and put us on their schedule. I sincerely hope those corbels along the top tower edge aren’t rotted, as I would like to reuse them in the new design. (I’d say the odds are not good re: the rot, but hope springs eternal.)

We also need to touch base with a painter who was here a YEAR AGO for confirmation he can paint the trim in the eaves this year. I want house exterior projects we cannot do ourselves to be done this year. Considering Himself’s shoulder recuperation, pretty much all projects on the house’s east side are ones we can’t do ourselves. (Again, hope springs eternal.)

Happy Trails.

This is going to be a short post as our activity level has been curtailed. Not much noteworthy happened this past week. However, a few items are documented below.

The biggest event of the week was weather-related. The “big storm” that passed through the Midwest by-and-large passed us by. We did receive around 4 inches of snow and a light coating of freezing rain. This combo resulted in a “crusty” new layer of white that Pam had to shovel from the sidewalks. The upcoming forecast has temps getting back onto the low 30 degree range so most of what we received will melt in the next few days.

Before the storm we drove over to the Walmart in Decorah to stock up on supplies and pick up a few groceries. We try to not stay for prolonged periods in the store; we have a list of items to get and don’t dally longer than necessary.

As a treat, we stopped at the Culver’s restaurant for lunch on the way home. We don’t leave the house much these days and it was good to be out and about. Pam did the driving and it was a treat for me just to sit back and look at the passing scenery.

One victim of the storm was our daughter, Felicity. She had been visiting friends in Portland, Oregon and her flight back to Tulsa, Oklahoma (routing through Denver) was delayed a couple of times. This proved not to be a problem as she just stayed with her friends a bit longer than originally planned.

Son Toby has an offer on his South Bend home and has started refereeing ball games in Las Vegas. Apparently softball and baseball games are a nearly year-round activity in that part of the country. While this will not be his main income, it will give him some funds while looking for a full-time job.

Nati the cat seems to be doing OK. While she is not very active in her cat condo, she is eating and eliminating just fine. Nati will butt her head into Pam’s hand when Pam feeds her and Nati tries to purr, but the sound comes out a bit strange and gravelly. There may be some damage to the vocal cords, or it may be that the damage to Nati’s neck is inhibiting her sound reproduction. Pam has been able to rub some bag balm on the bare spots on Nati’s neck and chin in an effort to help keep those areas a bit more pliable.

I continue to have minor improvements in the use of my right hand. The stitches in the incisions – there are two incisions – appear to have absorbed OK. However, if I make a careless move I can feel it! I quit taking any Tylenol or Ibuprofen last week as the pain level has subsided to a dull ache, not bad enough to keep me awake at night but still there.

We continue to enjoy the antics of animals both inside and outside the house. Birds, who had not frequented the feeder during mild temps, returned with the snow. The red Cardinals and Blue Jays sure make a splash of color when they are around. The corn cob and suet feeders attract other birds, such as red-headed woodpeckers, and squirrels.

The cats and dogs offer up entertainment as well. The cats run and play with each other, except for KitKat who could care less, and the dogs mostly sleep and ignore the cats. Here is a photo of Bru in her ‘road kill’ sleeping position.

All the cats enjoy sitting in the morning sun in the library, including KitKat.

And that, my friends, is about it. We have begun gearing up for tax season by downloading state and federal forms and putting the various tax statements together. (Tax prep is always a PITA.)

Photo Archive

I did not take the following photos of this steam-powered rotary snowplow on the Toltec and Cumbres RailRoad, but wish I had. Familiar with this line from our time in Colorado, we had driven to the top of Cumbres Pass to see the train running in the summer on one of our trips. These are screen shots of footage taken in February, 2020, and the rotary is being pushed by other steam engines. The sight may never be repeated.

That’s it for now. Thanks for looking in!

Pam’s Penny

Notes from the infirmary:

Himself’s shoulder incision is healing nicely. Removal of the tape stitches revealed no red skin or any nasty infection.

Bru dug a mole (or something) out of the side of her face and had to be encouraged to “leave it.” Now it’s clotted/scabbed over and hopefully she will “leave it” that way.

Nati continues to heal. The raw redness of her facial surgery is starting to subside. Additionally, Nati rolled over so I could check out her spay area. All good. She [unexpectedly] allows me to touch her while giving her care, pretty much without hissing or scratching.

Happy Trails.

Little went on this last week that is worth noting in this blog. In some ways, life has been suspended. You know this when the week’s greatest excitement and activity involves receiving a Chewy box, a trip to the vet, and going to the library.

Pam will have more to say about Natalie the cat (formerly Nat until the vet visit) and the trials and tribulations of that poor animal. After extensive work Natalie is in the house in the “cat condo,” a multi-level enclosure, until she is well into her recovery.

I am recovering a little use of my right hand. I can now carry very light objects (maxed out with a banana) and type a bit, but I cannot move my arm left to right or up to my mouth, so am still eating using my left hand. The one exercise I am allowed to do is called the “dangle” and is done 3 times a day. Pam helps remove the sling and, while I sit, I let the arm drop straight down between my knees for 1 minute. It feels good to get the arm straight and allow free blood flow through the elbow.

We have had a stretch of mild weather which has allowed me to get outside for a bit of fresh air a few times. I have one coat that I can zip up over the arm; other coats are draped over the shoulders like a cape. I appreciate getting some fresh air and the ability to do minor tasks such as adjusting the catch on the gate so it opens and closes easier.

And that is about it. As I said in the intro, there is not much else is going on. I have read a few books and watched some YouTube videos. In a few weeks I will have a follow-up appointment at the Mayo Clinic to see how the shoulder is doing, and at that time I should be cleared to begin physical therapy. Other activities will pick up once I am cleared to do more than dangle my arm 3 times a day.

Photo Archive

Here are a few more photos of old mine sites in the Colorado Rockies near Telluride.

That’s it for now. Thanks for looking in!

Pam’s Penny

Poor “Nat the Cat” is actually Natalie. She survived surgery at the vet on Monday, which involved removal of a substantial portion of her rotting left facial area from her nostril to her cheekbone. (I also authorized a spay, assuming Nati would make it through the facial surgery.) Nati nows looks like the Phantom of the Opera – sans mask. Her face is disturbing to look at (so no photo); one hopes for improvement over time as fur and skin recover to some extent. Per usual in rescue, no good deed goes unpunished — I wait and watch and keep her indoors in a pen, while I see if I made the right call in choosing life. Nati’s a tough little nut.

Happy Trails.

This week I will cover several items, including a visit from son Toby and his girlfriend, Sarah. I have a short video of Elmo in packing paper, photos of deer in the neighborhood, and an update on my turntable. Life with an arm in a sling is developing into a routine with a few adaptations. Take a look!

The highlight of the week was a visit from son Toby and his girlfriend, Sarah. Toby listed his home in South Bend, Indiana, and has moved to Las Vegas. This was the last trip, moving the few items he had left at his home, and he wanted to drive through the Colorado Rockies on the way home to show Sarah the mountains.

We enjoyed meeting Sarah and wish Toby luck in finding a new job and selling his South Bend home.

We had noticed deer tracks around our yard, and the other day I was able to get a photo of deer in the neighborhood. This one was across the road from us, eating corn the neighbors had put out.

Our local library has moved into a new location, and we decided it was time for a field trip to get our library cards. (It was also a chance for me to get out of the house.) Not very large or sophisticated, the library is clean and neat and offers a little of everything. I found a few books by my favorite author, Clive Cussler, and Pam found a book as well.

The book check-out brought a trip down memory lane as the library cards are simple and books are still stamped with the due date on a little pocket inside the cover.

Pam had received a box that included some packing paper. Elmo and the kittens had to check it out. I had hoped for more action, but the cats seems satisfied just to sniff and examine this unusual material.

I am going to take a moment and talk a little about the turntable I am using in my LP to digital project. The Bang & Olufsen Beogram TX is one of a number of linear (or tangential) tracking turntables produced by various manufacturers during the ’80s and early ’90’s. Linear tracking keeps the needle at a right angle to the record grooves, mimicking the way the record was pressed. There is no “skating” to the center of the record.

The TX was B&O’s “consumer” level turntable, and B&O produced ‘audiophile’ tables as well, most notably the 8000 series. I am very pleased to have the TX which was given to me by our good friend from DeBeque, Cindy Farris. Cindy reads the blog from time to time and I just wanted to say “thank you” and let her know the table is still running and in use.

Life with arm in a sling is developing into a routine. A few small accommodations have helped, things one may not normally consider. For example, I have to take a few meds twice a day. Previously I would put these in my left hand and raise my water bottle with my right. No can do now, so I snagged a couple of those little pill cups frequently used in clinics.

I put the pills in the cup and use my left hand to take the pills then raise my water bottle. Additionally, I have found that a small slit at the top of a banana makes it much easier to peel. One does what one can to make one-handed life easier.

The upcoming week has few planned activities. Pam will continue to work in the guest room and I will continue with my LP to digital project, but right now life is slow without self-imposed deadlines.

That’s it for now. Thanks for looking in!

Pam’s Penny

I opened the door to the back (south) porch yesterday and found an injured cat looking up at me. I had my eye on this little black youngster [when looking at the outdoor feeder] earlier in the day – something seemed off. Appears to be the end result of a cat fight with facial injuries. I scooped the animal into a cat carrier.

It was Friday afternoon and (predictably) zero helpful response from the vet. Time to go to the basement and pull up one of the metal pens, haul it out to the catio. Set up bedding/food/catbox. Mix up amoxicillin (from powder on hand) and squirt some into the cat’s mouth. Transfer cat into pen. Wait and watch. All weekend.

There is a responsibility assumed when putting out food for neighborhood cats; I accept that. And, generally, rescue is perceived to be a good thing. But, as a rescuer, it sucks. Anxiety, sadness, expense predominate. My experience in Iowa is that vets don’t seem to “get” rescue, an added layer. Time will tell if “Nat the cat” makes it through the weekend to a vet appointment next week.

On a positive note, it was lovely to meet Sarah and talk to Toby face-to-face about his relocation plans. The detour to NE Iowa did lengthen their return drive west, making the overnight visit doubly appreciated.

Happy trails, Toby and Sarah.

It has been just over a week since my rotator cuff surgery. I am doing OK and driving Pam a little nuts. Adapting to doing tasks one-handed has been frustrating. Sleeping is an issue as I am normally a side sleeper and that will not work when your arm is in a sling. (Excuse me, “mobility restraint.”) Most of this post will focus on my Mayo experience and the few mementos I picked up and brought home.

Over all, the Mayo experience went well and I was well taken care of. My biggest complaint is that I had to call in after 8:15 PM on Wednesday night to get a check-in time for the Thursday surgery. Turns out I had to report at 6:30 AM. Pam and I left the house at about 4: 45 AM to meet this deadline, an ungodly hour for a couple of retirees.

Other than that, the process went smoothly. This type of surgery is routine for the Mayo Clinic who has three full-time surgeons who do nothing other than shoulder work, including replacement of the entire joint.

I found out why I was kept overnight. Mayo doctors use a pain blocker, a specific injection, administered after I was knocked out by the anesthesia. The injection was administered in my neck just above the shoulder. It takes around 18 hours for it to wear off and the Clinic does not want to send anyone home until then.

To find the best place for the pain blocker to go in, a tech crew used what looked like a modified ultrasound to locate the nerve cluster in my neck. The same crew marked my shoulder with the doctor’s initials just to make sure the correct shoulder was identified. At almost every step the staff asked me to verify my name and date of birth, either to confirm they had the right patient or to confirm I was cognizant of my surroundings and coherent.

So, I checked in and was prepped. Pam stayed through this part of the process, but left for head home once I was rolled down to pre-op where I went under and received the pain blocker.

The surgery took about an hour and Pam was kept in the loop through e-mails and a call from the doc once the procedure was completed. Pam appreciated this communication and the chance to speak directly to the surgeon. At this point she had more information than I did since I was still sedated.

I was moved into my recovery room and “woke up” around 1:00 PM, early afternoon. With the pain blocker still in effect I did not feel too bad. A therapist came in later with my sling and a second (shower) sling and fitted them both. I was hooked up to an oxygen monitor and still had a port open on my left hand for injections of other pain controls as needed.

Still groggy, I dozed and spoke to the staff as needed. Later in the day I was asked if I wanted to order dinner. Expecting some generic hospital food, I was surprised to see a very complete Food Service menu. Many restaurants don’t have anywhere near the choices the Mayo offered. I had turkey with Herb Jus topping, mashed potatoes with chicken gravy, hot tea, steamed carrots, and Italian Ice (cherry) for desert. Below are a couple of photos of the menu.

Click on the menu above and have it open in an enlarged view. The offerings are quite extensive!

The pain blockers had worn off by Friday morning and I was on Tylenol and another drug, name not recalled, for pain control. I ordered a breakfast of pancakes, apple juice, and a blueberry muffin, all of which tasted great.

After that the therapist came in and we discussed the exercise (I am to do only 1) and other restrictions on using the arm. I was up and out of bed to demonstrate I could walk under my own power and use the bathroom. Dressed again in my regular clothes, and with my overnight bag packed, I had a check-out interview through an in-room virtual nurse and was pronounced OK to be moved (by wheelchair) to the pharmacy to pick up my prescription oxicondon. A nurse arrived to wheel me downstairs to the pharmacy and then to an area near the entry doors that served as a pick-up spot.

Meanwhile, Pam and Becky were enroute through a nasty snowstorm with wind that created white-out conditions and drifts across the roads. Very poor driving conditions! I read a paperback I had brought along until they arrived. The trip home was not as bad, thankfully.

Now I am trying to get used to doing tasks with my left hand or one-handed, not an easy thing to do. The overall pain level has decreased and I have not had to use the oxicondon prescription. I alternated Tylenol with 600mg Ibuprofen tablets instead. Now I am just taking Tylenol with the Ibuprofen as a backup if needed.

I will have in-house therapy for the next 5 weeks then will begin physical therapy at the Howard County Regional Health Services in Cresco, visiting them 3 times a week.

The biggest problem for me has been the lack of physical activity. I can no longer do chores such as shoveling snow, grocery shopping, filling the bird feeder, taking a daily walk, and even driving (the RAV-4 is a stick shift) and this has left me a bit at a loss. It is even hard to read when you can’t hold the book in both hands to turn pages. Sleeping has been affected as I don’t feel tired at the end of the day and, with one sleeping position, I don’t fall asleep easily. Still, these are relatively minor problems and I feel that I am doing well.

Today I received a “thank you” card from the Mayo Clinic team that looked over me after the surgery. I’ll add it to the “sipper cup” I brought home as mementos of this event.

I completed digitizing a few more albums. My new record cleaner system just arrived so I will have to give it a go and see if it does a better job than the pad I have been using.

I managed to get this 1:01 video of Stirling grooming himself. There is no audio in the clip as I did not want to interrupt Stirling during his grooming routine.

That’s it for now. Thanks for looking in!

Pam’s Penny

Himself surprises me in his pain tolerance and the things he actually can do for himself with one hand. This pleases me, as I am not now and have never been a candidate for Home Health Aide.

Kitten update: Vienna and Stirling are pretty much young adults. Shredding and chewing needs frequent discouragement – nothing new there, based on our many past cats. The two are very loving and talkative with me, maintaining a bit more distance with Himself.

One of Vienna’s and Stirling’s favorite toys is pictured below — Mr. Spring. Simple, inexpensive, effective. Right up there with Ms. Cardboard Box.

Happy Trails.

Pam has already updated some friends and family about the status of my rotator cuff surgery, but I thought I would add a few notes. We did a few other things during the week as well.

First, a big shout-out to Becky who drove up to the Mayo Clinic, with Pam, through a snowstorm to pick me up. Becky’s car is quite a bit more comfortable than our old RAV-4 and gave a comfortable ride home. I appreciated the gesture!

My right arm is currently in a sling and will be for many weeks and months. I did get through the night with a few hours of sleep using only Ibuprofen and Tylenol for pain control. (I am trying to avoid using the oxycodone prescription I received.) I slept in the recliner in the Media Room. Pam and Becky added an extension to the recliner’s handle making it possible for me to recline using my left hand. That was thoughtful and is working well.

Getting used to doing tasks left-handed, or with only one hand, will continue to be a challenge. For example, my water bottles have screw on caps and I have had to come up with novel ways to hold them in order to unscrew the tops.

The therapist gave me only one exercise to do three times daily for the next six weeks, then physical therapy will begin. For the short term, I am to avoid putting any stress on the arm.

The procedure itself went pretty well. In addition to repairing two tears in the rotator cuff, the surgeon repaired a number of tendons. At least 5 of these were on the front side of the joint. As a result of this additional work, I am looking at a 6 – 8 month long period for a full recovery. That will certainly inhibit my summer activities!

I will have more on the entire event going forward, but let us turn to other events of the week.

Pam had previously mentioned a plan to replace our existing kitchen cabinet hardware – knobs – with handle pulls I had received from my brother Jon. This project was completed and it changed the appearance of the kitchen. For us, the new handles are easier to use than the old knobs and feel much more solid in use.

In the photo below, look at the new hardware at the top-left cabinets. The old pulls can be seen behind me on the lower cabinet doors.

We had light snow a couple of days which required shoveling and are expecting to get 4 – 6 inches later today. Pam will have to take over snow removal and plans to do the minimum required for us to get around to the garage, mail box, and dumpster pick up spot. I will miss this, as snow removal gave me the chance to play with my “big boy” toys and provided outside activity.

Work progressed in the guest bedroom. Pam continued to put spackle where needed to repair wall damage and got some detail work painted. I replaced a small crumbling section of sheetrock with some wood. It looks like the old window had leaked on one corner and caused the damage. With a light coat of spackle and paint the repair will not be obvious.

I managed to convert a few more LPs to digital files. Those of us “of a certain age” will remember Carole King (Wrap Around Joy,) Cat Stevens (Greatest Hits) and Air Supply (Greatest Hits.) While the $25.00 cleaning kit I ordered does a good job, it does not remove crud deep in the record grooves. I have ordered a slightly larger kit that consists of a tub with brushes mounted on both sides which is designed to do a more thorough cleaning job. I will have to see how that goes.

With my arm in a sling and restrictions on what I can do I suspect the next several weeks will be slow in the project work arena. I will try to put up a post or two, but there may not be a lot to report. As Rachel Maddow says, “Watch this space.”

Photo Archive

Just a few miscellaneous photos.

That’s it for now. Thanks for looking in!

Pam’s Penny

Murphy’s Law at work. Somehow I knew the week of Jer’s scheduled surgery there would be snow, blowing snow, white-out conditions, the works. Bingo. (Becky and I do NOT want to repeat another one of those journeys.)

Also Murphy’s Law. This is the third day in a row of snow. Himself is incapacitated and I’m on snow shovel duty. Predictable.

Blondie, in a new sweater that she absolutely hates, looks like I feel. This again?

Happy Trails.