“The RoseBouquet”

I’m late. I know. I’m just back from Ermergency and the Eye Care Dept. at City Hospital. That means a lot of waiting; it was a long day.

On Sunday I thought my glasses were dirty in church, so I wiped them more than once. On the way home I thought the windshield was uncommonly dirty and it wouldn’t clean with the spray washer. Once I got home and thoroughly cleaned my glasses I realized that they were not the problem. My left eye was seeing floaters. A little black spider with an extra long crazy leg, and some bits of threads and lint and some black and grey dots would float by but shift position every time I blinked.

Then I recalled what one eye specialist told me oh, maybe 15-20 years ago, and my current optometrist who last checked me in 2005. That I’m a prime candidate for macular degeneration, and if I ever saw floaters or flashes of light I should come in quickly so they could save my eye. Mom, her mother, and at least two of her brothers had it (Uncle Henry still does), so it runs in our family.

I tried calling my optometrist’s office on Sunday but got a recording, and it recommended calling the Eye Dept at City Hospital. i called there next and got a recording to say they were closed until Tuesday. Only doctors with crisis patients should call the next number. Monday was a new holiday here, called Family Day, so there was nothing to do but commit myself to God and wait until this morning to try again.

My optometrist was away on holidays this week, but they could give me an appointment with another doctor on Thursday but urged me to go to Ermergency and the Eye Dept. at City Hospital, and to take a driver because they would put dilating drops in my eyes.

So… I called my friend Shirley and she was good enough to drive me there, and to pick me up when I called her again. I spent from 10:30 to 1:30 in the Emergency Dept, only getting to see a doctor the last 10-15 minutes. Then I was sent up to the Eye Dept, where fortunately, things moved faster.

I called Shirley at 3 p.m.. and she came to take me home, but warned me to put on my sunglasses. I’m thankful I had my clipons in my purse! I still have them on, and although it seems like past dusk in my house, without the sunglasses, everything is fussy and bright, BRIGHT!

Happily, I know this will wear off in a few hours.

Oh, the diagnosis? My retina does not show signs of being detached - yet, but I’m to see another specialist in 6 weeks, and if I see bright lights, or curtains coming down shutting down my vision I ‘m to call right in fast. Otherwise, get used to the floaters. There’s nothing that can be done about them.

Last week I came down with a sore throat and head cold again. Thinking it over as I tried my home remedies, I realized that it wasn’t like a virus caught from anyone else, but more like a generic head cold without the virus.

Then one morning I woke with a clear memory of a friend, a young mom with three kids, whose middle son was declared allergic to the cold by their doctor. I also recalled that my Mom used to get pneumonia whenever she got a mouth full of cold air. It suddenly came together for me, that this so-called ‘cold’ came upon me last week when I took to walking to my office again, but bucking very cold air and some winds.

Have you ever heard of an allergy to cold temperatures? When it wasn’t a joke?

I stayed in all weekend, (well, I intended to drive to church, but the car wouldn’t start at -36C, with a windchill making it like -48C). and this week I’m feeling much better. My voice still gets rough and scratchy if I talk too much, but I’m feeling more like myself.

Solution, I’m going to drive to the office until the temperatures come up some more.

And Yes! They are coming up this week. Right now it is only -15C and by the weekend it will be a mere -1 or even 0C. Oh that is going to feel so balmy! I think my spring fever is kicking in!

This doesn’t guarantee that we won’t have any more cold days, but hey, mid-February we are due for a temporary ‘thaw’ to give us hope.

Snowflake must be looking for spring too, as she spends extra time at the windows looking out.

About three weeks ago I tried out a new idea to keep my feet warm. With some experimenting I’ve found it works fairly well. I put on small slipperettes of fleece that I made of remnants, then two pairs of socks, and over that I wrap a double layer of heavy duty aluminum foil. Then I pull on my mukluks.

Foil? Yes, I pull out about two feet from the box in the kitchen, tear off, and fold over so the shiny side is facing out. That makes a square approximately 12 inches by 12 inches. (Adjust for your foot). I lay that square diagonally over my foot’s sole, and tuck up the corners, and press them around my foot. When I wear my boots for a while inside, the body heat warms up my feet and when I go outside the foil contains the heat.

Of course, if my feet are cold to begin with, and I go out in -36 or -41 Celsius weather, this doesn’t work so well. Shiny side of the foil turned in seems to hinder too.

This way I go through about 4 feet of foil each time I go out, which works out to a cost of about $3/week. Fortunately, the temperatures are warming up and tomorrow is suppose to be something like -6C. Hallelujah! Walking is better than sitting still in the car.

Ah, but don’t think the foil is wasted, even when I pick the broken pieces of foil off my socks and up from the floor. No, I ball it up and press it hard so the pieces won’t fall off, and then I toss the balls to Snowflake. She loves to chase them all over the floor! And when she loses them under my desk I get the flyswatter out and fetch ‘em into the open.

Yep. I had to bring in reinforcements for this war with the invader, Mousey, this last week. I am determined to win and be rid of Mousey and his/her army.

I became aware about Wednesday evening I had a bold mouse in the pantry. I laid down dryer sheets around the storage box, and across the door threshold into the kitchen. Later that night, when about to shut down and go to bed, a small mouse came scurrying from the bathroom into the living room and under my far desk. I protested loudly, with threats! Got so hyper I thought I wouldn’t sleep all night, but eventually I did get sleepy enough and went to bed thinking, “I need a cat.”

The next morning, my phone bleated beep - beep, and when I checked it was dead. I chalked it up to a dead battery but could NOT find any place to open it to replace a battery. (It’s plugged in with an adapter but that didn’t register with me right away). I brought back an old spare phone from the office at the end of the afternoon. As I was trying to hook it up, I pulled on the long cord behind my desk going to the wall jack. That’s when I discovered why the first phone was dead - the cord had been chewed down to the live wires!

Believe me, I told Mousey off for that! I’d also bought more traps and set them up. (I still had 8 boxes of poisoned canary seed scattered over the house from the fall episode). Mousey delighted on feasting on several of these - but not dropping dead. I need a cat!

Friday night Mousey shelled seeds under the nearest pillar of filing drawers about as fast as a Mennonite traveler spitting sunflower seed-shells. S/he also came darting near my feet at one point. I kept my two fly-swatters and a broom weapons handy at all times, but somehow was never quick enough for my “enemy.”

By Friday I was ready to get a cat from the SPCA. Not having a phone line I looked them up on the web, only to discover they are re-located way south of the city, and they charge $111 to adopt a stray cat. Humph!

Saturday morning I had silence so I convinced myself that Mousey had curled up and died. I started cleaning under my desks, in the pantry and under the sink in a very thorough way, and told myself it might still be wise to get a cat. ! decided to spread the word at church on Sunday morning that I was open to accepting a good mouser-cat.

The first person I told this to was Barb Wiebe. She hates mice and declared herself on a mission to find me a cat. A few minutes later she came back out of the fellowship hall to tell me she had 10 of them lined up for me already! Except that the man said she had to check with his wife first because she might be attached to some of them. One was pregnant and usually had three kittens at a time.

It was a fun time in the foyer. People were all eager to give advice. (Widow Martha insisted the best answer was to get a tall pail filled half with water and smeared with cheese inside the rim, with a board leading up so the mouse could walk up to the top, reach over for a lick and fall in. And I shouldn’t get a barn cat because they’d leap through closed windows).

Later, when I’d come upstairs again I met Gwen and Diane. Gwen said I should come over and have my pick out of about 6, all litter-trained, and used to mousing in the barn. She recommended a female as they are better hunters, and males will spray… I decided to take this offer and got directions to their farm 2 km north of Hague.

After church I took “my refugee family” for a side trip to a farm. In the shed/barn Gwen handed me a lovely white cat with a pretty face. A young, but adult sized cat. Her son Timothy said her name was Snowflake when I asked. Seemed sensible enough so I’ve decided to keep that name. Meantime, Dennis was preparing a box with holes punched into it in the house. They put Snowflake into it, and they brought a half bag of cat food along to the car. I put the box on Es-so’s lap and I think the boys were a little disappointed that they didn’t get to play with my new cat.

Snowflake explored my house and mewed with a pitiful cry, as if murmuring, “I don’t know… this isn’t home!… I don’t know about this…!” I set up her litter box and some food and mixed some powdered milk, at which she lapped a bit. She sniffed and prowled all around my desks, but seemed absorbed in her homesickness.

After my lunch I tried bonding with her, but finally she wandered into my bedroom and spent the rest of the day on my sewing desk there, beside my old DOS computer, near the window. Maybe she needs to see snow? Maybe she needed time to grieve her sudden upheaval? I don’t know.

When I was getting ready for bed after midnight, Snowflake came around look for caresses and attention. I tried to show her that she could sleep on my old housecoat, but she prowled around in the dark and leaped up on places. I may have missed some instances, but I did yell at her when she leaped on my dresser at 2:30 am and brought down my mug of Calcium water, and my journal, getting my socks and slippers all wet. I feel like I had a short and light sleep through the night.

When Snowflake was out of the room at night, I heard Mousey, and when I got a flashlight and checked under that desk, there was a box of poisonous canary seeds I’d forgotten, and Mousey had definitely been snacking there! But Snowflake seemed not to care when I bought this to her attention.

We did some bonding yesterday, but Snowflake also slept away a lot of hours. After she hid so well I could not find her without praying for guidance, I put on a collar with a gold bell. Now I hear her when she moves. However, I still need to get her to eat, and to become a mouser. She’s only taken liquids so far. Please, Snowflake, you’re suppose to hunt down Mousey. You’re my re-enforcement army!

This morning I set up Martha’s pail trap. At least it doesn’t cost anything. (Yesterday we had a storm and today it is bitterly cold outside!)

Do you have this much variety happening at your house too?

Yesterday I stayed home all day, intending to catch up on my backlog of emails. I managed to do that last week Monday and Tuesday. However, I ran into a problem with my emails. I could receive but not send any out. So I spent hours in contacting Support at my hosting service, and called my ISP trouble-shooting dept twice. No go. I did research online to see what other options I had. No go.

My favourite online radio, BBNradio was acting funny too. At first no audio, then while I had another channel tuned in, they came on, but seemed to hiccup, stutter and echo and break up whenever I clicked to do almost anything on the computer. What’s with that? I decided to just tolerate it as I had my hands full.

Finally, late in the afternoon I decided that I would have to turn the matter over to the Lord, and I should just work my way through the emails, and trust that sometime soon the problem will be cleared up.

At midnight I shut down and just committed it all to the Lord. My emails will get out eventually.

This morning when I stumbled to the bathroom I suddenly knew that in all the talk with techies about changing ports to reach the mail server, no one had thought about checking the firewall. It may need those ports opened there too. So I have an idea about where to focus my trouble-shooting today, however, I know it could take a while, so I’m right now focusing on getting this RoseBouquet out to you, and I’ll deal with this later.

(Judy, I’m happy to say I solved your ftp problem yesterday! But you’ll have to wait for the email).

On second thought, I recall one fall when I had just installed my first otherwise well-functioning SUSE 9.3 operating system, but my emails would NOT send. It stymied everyone. So I had to go online to send out my emails for about a month. Then one day, after prayer, I stumbled upon the small setting change needed to get everything working again.

Here’s hoping that kind of solution comes to me early today! My mis-adventures turn out to be learning curves which give me knowledge or skills I can use to help others later. But the part about being a guinea pig in the lab isn’t so much fun.

Yesterday was a red letter day in my house. The Inspector for the RRAP program of our provincial and federal government finally came! He was very polite, and professional and even friendly. He took time to explain the program from the basic premise on up. It looks like I’m a real candidate for this forgiveable 5 year loan. I just have to commit to staying here at least five years to pay it off.

He said he was required to check all structural, plumbing and electrical systems to make sure they are (or shall be) sound and safe. They have only $16,000 for this, so if my total expense comes to more than that, I’ll be required to pay the overage. It’s an all or nothing deal. (Someone else had needed $70,000 worth of work so they had not even taken on that person).

I will be getting the official report in the mail very quickly, but told told me that I definitely need new shingles, facia boards, and eavestroughs. I will need a new furnace and water heater too. He is also putting in that I need a whole new frame and door at the back of the kitchen, going to the back porch. The man said he’d put down windows as well, but then my project would go over the limit, so I’ll have to replace them on my own some day when I can afford it. Some electrical and plumbing work will be required too.

I had prayed that he would be fair and reasonable, and I feel he was certainly that.

Once I get a package of documents in the mail called the “Estimate Package” I will have six months to get quotes from various contractors as to how much they would charge. Then I must send them in, and once okayed, the approved contractors have a year to complete the work - and I am to see myself as Project Manager. All their office’s contacts will only be with me.

If that seems a long time period, hear this; he said that they have been so swamped with requests that some people are put on hold for a year so that the gov’t can get at the next year’s funding out of the tax pool. I am to consider myself fortunate to be at this stage of the game!

This morning I find my mind swirling with renovation daydreams. I thought last year was busy; maybe this year will top it?

In case you’re wondering about my rib, I’m happy to report that it is healing nicely. As of Saturday I have long stretches when I’m not aware of any pain. Just when I stretch out my left arm to do something more strenuous. I thank God that our bones usually do mend with time.

Over New Year’s I promised myself that I’d go to a doctor about my throat/laryngitis problem. So first thing the next morning I called a doctor I had seen some years ago (more recently from Hague I was using Dad’s doctor). I was able to get in that same afternoon. He thought my throat didn’t look bad. I agreed, it had improved considerably because of some old anti-biotics I had found at home. But I knew it was not good to stop suddenly and I had run out. So he prescribed some more and asked me to go to a lab for some blood work.

I haven’t heard the results of that yet, but my voice is back to normal. Everything should be hunky-dorey now, eh?

Well, on Friday afternoon at my Azaleas office, I bent way down and reached sideways to plug a cord in behind a bookcase. As I did I felt a soft pop in one of my left ribs. Oh no! I’ve cracked a rib, was my first thought. It has hurt with a low-grade pain since.

Did I forget to tell you I’m a little ol’ lady with osteoporosis?

About ten years ago, after Mom died, I rolled over in bed one morning and cracked a couple of ribs. That did end up a screaming pain and I got help at the chiropractor’s. However, unless it is dislocated, there is nothing that can really be done about a cracked rib except to eat painkillers for a while. I’m glad this pain isn’t as bad as then, but it sure is a nuisance. Especially when I pick up a computer or monitor, or reach to open or shut the car door when driving.

So what else can I do but UP my calcium intake dramatically? (Now up to three kinds). Sitting still at the computer is not too bad, but I seem to be doing a lot of other stuff too. Hmm… how long do you suppose this will take to heal?

First off, I want to wish you a Blessed and Happy New Year, with enough prosperity to meet all your needs and to share with others. Even if big changes should come, may they all turn out for your good!

I hope the Christmas season has been very special for you too, with both good things and people happening to you.

In my case, I’ve been battling a head cold and what I now think is infected tonsils. I’m feeling much stronger this week, but my voice still sounds raspy and awful. Last week I managed to get out to do a bit of shopping on Christmas Eve (I really only had one brother to shop for). Then I took elk meatballs to Tom’s place for supper, and cleaned up his muddy bachelor floors before we drove to his church for the candle-light service.

On Christmas Day I drove all the way to my home church in the morning, and then dropped in on my dear prayer friend, Kathy. We exchanged gifts.

I had put a 12 lb turkey in the oven at home in the morning. When I turned my key in the back door I realized that I should have hurried home a bit sooner. the bottom of the turkey was rather crisp and dark. Well, a well-done turkey is easier to take out of the roaster in chunks. It fell apart. When I had that in a warming tray and had mashed the potatoes cooking in the crock I phoned Tom and told him to get his veggie on, as I was going to be there in about ten minutes. I made the gravy and packed all my food stuff and gifts in large bags, and got into the car.

We were eating our Christmas feast by 2 pm. It tasted fine, but I was nursing a cross-eyed headache, and because Tom smokes (when I’m not there), the air in his apartment was very dry. He loves all the Christian TV programming he gets now that he has this MAX deal from Sasktel, so we watched some good Bible story dramas.

But about 4 pm I said I really would like to go home and put my feet up in my recliner. That’s a treat I usually only allow myself on Sunday afternoons.

Once home I did some dishes and put the rest to soak. By 4:30 I was in my chair and I slept right through to nearly 11 pm. An eight hour nap can do wonders!

Now when anyone asks me if I had a good Christmas I reply sheepishly, “Yes. I had a nice meal with Tom, and a good, healing eight-hour rest.”

This is strange. I ought to be in a panic, and when I allow myself to think of it all at once, a bit does rise within me. This December has been unusually busy, and it looks impossible to get everything done that I’ve taken on, yet, day by day God provides for the next step, so if I just focus on what I need to do for now, somehow I keep moving forward.

Producing my Christmas card, cum story booklet is a large job in itself. I was blessed in that last week Joe spent a day printing out 100 copies of my pages filled with photos, and I’ve been busy over the weekend, addressing my mail, however, I can see that I’m going to run out. So much as I think it will disappoint some people, I’ve just prepared an online version. I’ll give you a link here, and if you click on it, and follow it, you’ll be able to read the whole booklet online - or, if you choose - download it.

Hey the colors in the photos will be more true! You can print it out if you like, and if you don’t, you have nothing to throw away afterwards! Clever, huh?

My annual Christmas story is my gift to my friends and family, but this year it is a photo story of my very Eventful Year 2007

Well, did you notice my absence the last three days? Yes, I had a computer crisis since Saturday. So if you sent me any email - if it was already in my inbox, it will hopefully show up when I get that part set up. If you sent it later, it will download once I have my email addresses set up again in KMail.

Yesterday I was wondering whose computer I could borrow to send out a quick announcement today that I was NOT able to produce the RoseBouquet for this week. However, miracles still happen. (Pretty well weekly for me, right?)

See below under WHAT’S NEW for the details.

Are you in the midst of a winter storm too? I heard yesterday that most of Canada was having winter storms and large sections of Eastern USA too. It doesn’t look too bad right now, but the forecast is for more snow tomorrow.

I guess this is par for the season, but I’m having trouble with cold feet in my house. Also in my boots when I got out. On Sunday morning, after spending half an hour breaking into my car because of the frozen doors, my feet were curling into pretzels in my boots with a rather painful cold. Yesterday I picked up some thinsulate lining material. I want to make booties I can wear in my boots (or at home). I recall once my sister Elsie gave me some and asked me to sew some oven mitts. She said this stuff keeps cold out and heat in.

Last week my friend Shirley got me some “hand warmers’ little packets you can keep in your mitts to keep your hands warm. i tried them in my boots on Friday and found them too lumpy and uncomfortable there. Hence my search for other alternatives for my feet. I’ve already tried some little sockettes made of natural cotton. That tends to stretch out of shape; I think the thinsulate might do better.

Here in my house, the floor is especially cold under my desk, so I’m wearing over my regular socks, those thick black alpaca socks Dad knit for me a year ago. That helps! But then my boots don’t fit me.

Got any other feet-warming ideas? Sugar, but I miss that warm furnace in Dad’s house!