Friday, March 22, 2024

Catching Up

It's hell to get old:  12 medications per day-6 for B, doctor appts, new prescription on glasses for me, cataract surgery for B's right eye (his left was done two years ago) followed by mine for both eyes, blood tests for me and since a mistake was made in one collection of blood, I had to go to the hospital for another blood draw (oh joy), a 24-hour urine collection which if you have never had to do this-be thankful.  All of this in the span of two weeks.  

Telephone bill has gotten much lower.  We removed a lot of extras from our phone plan and that brought the monthly cost down.  Speaking of lower bills, because of the "Lost Winter" we experienced this year in the UP, our electric bill was almost half of what it is normally this time of year.  This was a great surprise because our whole house is electric and our bills can get high in the winter running electric heaters all the time.

Buds on my lilac bush, maple tree and rhododendrum bush

chickadees, woodpeckers, morning doves and blue jays visiting the feeders daily

Reading on my nightstand:


 


Using up my stash of yarn by crocheting small blankets for the local pet shelter.  My fabric stash I have been using to make aprons, pot holders and napkins for my local thrift store and making Christmas ornament gifts with my embroidery thread stash.

Using up what's in both freezers

Waiting and waiting anxiously but not patiently for Spring

Pulled a muscle in my back on the 17th and have been in pain ever since.  Between a heating pad, hot showers and Aleeve, I am surviving. Thursday was the first night in 4 days that I slept without pain.  It was wonderful.

It seems March came in like a lamb and is going out like a lion.  It has done nothing but snow since the 18th and I am so sick of it!
 


Sunday, March 3, 2024

March comes in like a lamb


 We had, it seems, the last blizzard of our winter on 2/28 & 2/29.  This has been such a strange winter in the UP.  We have set record breaking high temperatures as well as record breaking low amounts of snow.  Many of our sled dog, snowmobile and skiing events have been canceled this year because of lack of snow.  A great many businesses that thrive on our winter tourism are also hurting.  The weather people are calling this "The Lost Winter".  Personally, B and I like the "Lost Winter" and hope it turns up again next year.  Our temperatures have been in the high 40s and low 50s.  Saturday 3/3, we made it to 59!  Wow!  This has definitely lifted my spirits.  As you can probably tell, B and I are not winter people.

Unfortunately, my oldest son and dil, who live in Reno, NV are getting the weather we usually get.  Since Friday, they have gotten 2-4 feet of snow.  My son is not happy since he has to shovel it.  I tol him he should get a snowblower but he says this is a rare occurence and will probably not happen again.  I said that I thought Mother Nature was trying to tell him to get the snowblower anyway.  He laughed.  My grandpuppy, Buster is loving the snow.  They had to shovel a path front the back door to the yard so he could go out.  He loves it!  They sent us a video of him jumping, running and having a great time in the snow.  I am happy someone likes it.

Buster enjoying the snow in Reno
 

Health issues are plaguing B and I.  I had a bone density scan last week and they found osteoporosis in both hips and my spine-more pills for that.  B has to have his other eye cataract surgery done this spring and then it is my turn to get mine done.  It is hell to get old (as my fil used to always say).

We got our taxes done and were happy to get a refund, which has already come in.  We didn't get anything from the state of Michigan but then again we didn't have to pay either which is just fine.

With so many changes going on with Medicare, BXBS and Tricare, we have been having problems getting our medications.  So we have decided to just go thru our local pharmacy.  The costs are not bad (knock on wood) and we are able to get the medications and refills in a timely manner.

I am so looking forward to Spring.  I am jealous of those of you who can open your windows, have blooming flowers and can sit outside.  Hopefully, I will have that soon.
 

Al waiting for spring and the birds and squirrels at the feeders here at home