The Squeaky Wheel Gets - - -

The Oil or sometimes gets Replaced !   Remember, we have become a "Throw Away Society". 😞

As I have persisted in my search to find some answers to some persistent  health issues I think I finally am getting what I would have expected from a Competent Medical System a couple years ago when I started this inquiry .  Today I received a comprehensive medical review from an Oncologist .  It was a different M.D. than who I expected to see .  This doctor is on a temporary assignment to assist staffing at our local hospital.  In my opinion, he is a very straight forward, very knowledgeable , well seasoned (age 67), Hematologist, Oncologist, Internal Medicine Physician from San Francisco/Berkeley area .  His reviews on the internet are quite a rigid dichotomy of "love" (5 score) or "hate" (1 score) and nothing in between .  The consultation dialog went smoothly and then he stated that he would be ordering a LOT OF TESTS !  And, that was music to my ears .  That is what I have wanted !!!   He ordered many lab tests, ultrasound of Abdomen and ultrasound of Liver as well as a PET scan . Oh, and also Colo-guard (you know - the TV commercial) .

All the recent doctors I have seen have asked more than once if I have been a problem alcohol drinker or hepatitis patient .  And, I am not!!!  It seems that the Liver is an organ of concern . And, the Enlarged Spleen is secondary to a diagnosis to be determined .  The doctor stated "We are looking for lymphoma" and I knew that.  There is that C-word again!  However , there is concern of a possible diagnosis of what is called Portal Hypertension which is also a serious issue .  There is so much more info, but this gives a little idea of what is going on .

The When I say many lab tests - - they took 14 vials of blood ! Yes, 14 Vials !!  Good thing I have nice veins !  The Phlebotomist was grateful .  When I returned home there already was a message from the Radiologist office.  Ultrasounds and the PET Scan are scheduled for next  week and the return MD appointment is two weeks from today for review of tests and discussion .

I am feeling very optimistic about my future . Having said that,  I am a realist and have had a lot of time to ponder what decision I would make if I was presented with life saving options .  And, my decision remains the same .  I am 80 years old without any family involvement and really no support system and I see no reason to consider chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy .  Why would I consider subjecting myself to such a catastrophic portentous experience ?  I have lived a long life and I have arrived at a place of feeling Daily Gratitude and Happiness and Living each day to the fullest . And, I plan to go out that way . God Willing .

Love One Another . Life Is Precious .  Until next time .

Mary

Optimistic For Helpful Information

I have an appointment with a Hematologist/Oncologist tomorrow morning as recommended by two doctors to review my recent diagnostic records with a focus on determining a diagnosis of my current symptoms and enlarged spleen .  It is over a year since this process started and I want to be optimistic about gaining more information .  If a treatment plan is not indicated because of no diagnosis I plan to go on doing the best I can in all aspects of my life .  Can't sit around thinking about it .  I've got lots of things to do and I am a young 80 .  Sure, I continue to have physical issues that aren't easy to deal with and the aging process can probably explain most .  I think there are very few people who at a certain age can say they don't have ANY issues .  It is just the way it is .

When I was gathering some of my medical records I observed something I will mention to the doctor.  When the last lab report was reviewed by the doctor he said that the numbers were close to normal range . After I was able to see the report I noted that there are six components that are outside the normal perimeters with some higher and some lower in range. Not by much but none the less as I recall most ALL of my lab work in the past has been within normal range other than cholesterol and occasionally in the past, slight anemia .  On rare occasions if I was being treated for a specific condition the lab work may have had some deviation .

Unfortunately, it seems that these days the doctors don't have access to past medical reports in order to do comparisons or observe change in patterns which is important while determining a diagnosis . 

Hopefully, tomorrows appointment will be worthwhile !

We are having a beautiful bright sunny morning and everything outdoors is freshly watered by a brief thunderstorm that we had in the middle of the night .  Our next few days are forecast to be on the cooler side , like in the low 70's .

I just went out to take a couple photos of the house .  The way the house is situated on the land makes it difficult to photograph .  And, the house is kind of tucked into a lot of trees .

This side of the house is the most visible .  The door is for the garage.

 

We are really liking how it all turned out with the chosen colors .  With the many surrounding trees the colors seem to be just the right intensity . Lots of compliments from neighbors .  They continue to call it "The Happy House".

The entrance to the house has always been rather non-impressive . This is where the patio is. I enjoy decorating the patio with interesting  items to give a little personality . There are no windows on these two sides of the house other than the large bathroom window that you can see in the photo .  I had the window installed when I had the bathroom updated and that was about 10 years ago.  Oh, let me show a photo of the inside !  I really love the bathroom !!!

This is the bedroom side of the house with a lot of trees .

And, this shows how the front entrance of the house is not very visible from the front street .  If I was to design a house for this location it would be very very different .  However, I feel so grateful to be able to live here !!!

Happy Weekend !

Mary

Eighty Of Them

It is difficult to really believe that I actually would need eighty candles for my Birthday cake today if I was going to have a Cake !

Maybe, it would look something like this !

 

Not like many women, birthdays have never been an issue for me .  I don't know why .  Maybe, I was very busy doing my best and trying to get from one day to another !   I don't think it had anything to do with the fact that I am a twin !  However, it is quite sad that my twin brother and I were never close .  And, now he is the only living relative that I have other than my adult children and  granddaughter.  Much to my disappointment my life journey did not include much family activity and no extended family .  My childhood family members were not the least bit close !  My brothers did not like each other and did not enjoy going home to be with family.  I do not remember many celebrations of any kind through the years .  Just because I do not remember does not mean that there weren't any.

The family did not get together very often and reminisce and make more and new memories .  I think a lot of memories come from those reminiscing times and family reunions.  Through the years I have been blessed with many wonderful friends .  But, now they have passed on .

Well, that is that !!!  And now I am going to focus on the tremendous blessings I live with day after day !   And, I may go downtown to one of our nice restaurants and enjoy a Birthday Dinner Celebration for myself .  Happy Birthday To Me .  Life is Good .

May your days be filled with love of friends and family .

Mary

Morning Invasion

In the morning after I am dressed I frequently walk around my house with a cup of coffee surveying what the new day may bring .  My house is surrounded with a nice sidewalk next to the foundation that makes for a nice little stroll and look see of the garden .

This morning there were many black hawks flying low just above the roof .  I don't think I have ever seen hawks that close .  However, it is not unusual to see hawks flying above in the sky most days .  With closer observation I could see at least ten hawks on the roadway in front of the neighbors house .  I was looking against the sun and did not want to scare them away . When I returned from getting my camera there were even more hawks and they were moving about very quickly  jumping and fighting over road kill .

I took some photos but they are very poor quality but the best I could do .

They were very serious about what they were doing  and there were lots of full wingspans as they were fighting - over breakfast ?  With closer inspection  I was happy to see that it WAS NOT a neighborhood cat or dog !

The quiet early morning was awakened with a little neighborhood squabble !!!

Living in the country brings nature closer to your doorstep.

Oh, the painter finished today .  Photos coming soon .

Happy Day to Everyone .

Mary

So Soft And Precious

What a JOY it has been for me to share my home and life with this adorable bundle of fur that is as soft as a marshmallow .  She has convinced me that she is very happy even though occasionally she reverts to previous undesirable behaviors .  She continues to amaze me that she ALWAYS lets me pick her up and hold her close as she starts to purr .  As I recall it was many weeks after bringing her home before she started to purr .


Ivy is a healthy seven year old Lynx Point Siamese cat ( can be cross mating of Siamese and Tabby).  Lynx Point refers to a cat with stripes on the forehead, tail and sometimes on the legs .  Ivy has the blue eyes of the Siamese with wonderful white eyeliner to set off  her eyes  and make them seem bigger and more scary to prey.  Her pink nose draws attention in  her grey cream coloring .  Yes, she is my Precious Baby . 
This is where I go to buy her cat food .  It's a fun store if you like to look around at products for a small ranch or your lovable pets and everything between . Their pet food products are "higher end" than the grocery store .  They have been in business 41 years and currently employ three generations .

And, this store is certainly interesting .  It reminds me that I am the kind of gal that always enjoyed a Hardware Store .  And more so prior to everything wrapped tightly in plastic .  There is something different about a gal that likes a Hardware Store !!!  Perhaps , my interest is a result of being curios about most everything in the world !

I don't think I mentioned that Ivy has started partying all night and wakes me up around 4 AM for food even when I put food in her bowl at bedtime . She runs around the house and crawls under a small throw rug at the front door and spends time crumpling it this way and that way . I don't know why she started doing this . But, it could be this - -  -

OR it could be that she has not had access to her catio while the house painting is going on . When I open it up for her I sure hope she won't be so bored!

Mary

What Would You Do

If a Mountain Lion came in through your screen door ???

This happened a few days ago in the area where I go to shop in the next county .  I go there when I want to shop in larger chain stores that we do not have in or near my little town .  Can you imagine having to make fast decisions about how to remain safe if there is a lion in your house ? The family took shelter in the basement and called the sheriff .  Through the help of the officials breaking the upstairs bathroom window the lion jumped out the bathroom window and hasn't been seen since .

This week in this county a car was damaged when a bear ran into the roadway .  Look at the extent of the car damage !  No person was injured .

The Sierra Foothills are seeing an increase in large wildlife entering into areas that we have not seen them during the past .  New bright yellow signs warning about bears have been posted on the roadside going up to the higher elevation from my home .

There have been several bear versus automobile accidents in our county . The wildlife habitats are being harshly threatened by the wildfires , bark beetles and land developments .  Changes of the Times !!!

Mary

It Is Happening

A few more days and my house will be painted the colors of my inspirational photo .

(google image)

The colors chosen are Chickadee (yellow) and Bodega Bay (blue) .  It is next to impossible to show you the real colors on the monitor .  But , this will give you the idea .  The house color is the yellow and there will be shutters and front door in blue .

The painter and his assistant have been wonderful workers . I can't say enough good things about them .  It is so refreshing to have quality service .  The assistant who is 18 years old is being trained and he is one of the nicest teenagers you could ever find .

We have had a lot of fun with the people who have walked by and commented .  I think I may have a name for my house even though I wasn't looking for one !  The talk has been that it is a happy color !  What about "The Happy House" ?  Can you see that on a little discreet sign at the front .  Many houses in the neighborhood have been named by the owners and have little signs !

Today the shutters and front door are being painted . 😊

It's getting pretty exciting around here ! I am really liking the color combination . What do you think?

 I have two large new blue flower pots for each side of the front of the garage .  And , they are planted with the 'Lemon Swirl' Bush Lantana that I recently purchased.  They like a lot of sun and the front of the garage certainly gets a lot of afternoon sun.

This is where some of the neighborhood noise is coming from .  I am not sure what their end goal is !  It looks like they are removing some of the existing rock that is natural for this area .

In this photo of the front of my house you can see the size of the boulders that were moved into their current location when the house was built 46 years ago . I think they are a nice border around the corner lot and they have been quite a "conversation piece !

And look at the size of those tree stumps they have already removed .  A few weeks ago they removed a lot of very large and old trees . Look at that equipment !  That has got to be the "Big Daddy" of all jack-hammers !

Hope your Weekend is a Good One .

Mary

If You Like Artichoke Hearts

This might be a recipe for you to try and see if you like it .  Most of the time, I think casseroles taste the best the next day when you reheat them . The blend of the flavors seem to improve .

This is called Artichoke Chicken Casserole and you will find the recipe by clicking here .

After adding the cream sauce and Mozzarella cheese and baking you will have this delicious casserole presentation .

Asparagus or spinach can be substituted for the artichokes .

Now - - - how about some Creamy Homemade White Bean Soup with Broccoli . Recipe is here .

I like the addition of the white beans .  The addition gives the soup a nice texture and nutrients .  Getting ready to puree the soup with immersion blender .

Nice and blended . The flavor is good .  It will be finished after I add a small amount of cream !

With the change of season and the chill in the air it just feels right to work in the kitchen .  A nice bowl of hot soup along with some crunchy  bread  just can't be beat especially at the beginning of the season change .

After a relatively mild summer it is beginning to feel like it won't be long before it will be time to turn on some house heat .

I hope you are having a Good Week .

Mary

Why Is There So Much Noise

The noise in my little corner of the world has been unbelievable lately .  How can that be when I live in a "quiet (most of the time) little country town" ?  Yesterday (Sunday) morning I was awakened with very very loud "air traffic" above my house . Helicopters were circling above and seemed to be quite low .  On Saturday there was a similar situation about five miles north at a Residential Gated-Community that prompted lots of questions on social media.  Reportedly , the air traffic is PG&E (Pacific, Gas and Electric) who are surveying the power lines throughout the area . I have heard the helicopters in the past, but not this intensely.  California has certainly responded to the serious need for fire prevention !

And, if you follow my blog you most likely know that there has been an overabundance of tree cutting with chain saws and wood chippers .  Soon the pile of logs across the street will be split and the power equipment will be screaming some more !

And, to add insult to injury ,  three houses down my street the jack-hammers have been working for days removing a cement foundation !

HELP, HELP my ears are hurting !!!  No , not really . 

The Clematis on the fence is in full bloom . Such a beautiful  sight .

This has been the strangest day !  Earlier this morning the Painter left me a message that he won't be able to paint today because his mother passed away this morning .  And , twenty minutes ago while the sun was shinning it started raining very heavy and doesn't look like it is going to stop soon .

And , I think I will stop now and return another day !

Mary

Do You Remember This Oleander Hedge

- - -  And How it met it's demise?  See Oleander Hedge .

Eventually, the hedge was cut down to the ground .  The growth that was starting to grow was looking quite unsightly with lots of bare branches .  

So I decided to have all of them cut down to the ground on both sides of the gate .  

If they didn't grow I would deal with it - - - perhaps consider an attractive fence of some sort ???

But much to my surprise and delight , WOW , look at them now ! Every single plant is growing nicely and looking strong and healthy .

It amazes me how healthy they are .  I had a little issue with the one side getting aphids .  But, I think they did not like the water I was giving them .  So , I stopped all watering of all of them .  And, with a little organic spray the aphids no longer are a problem .

It will be nice to get a privacy hedge again .  They are growing fast.  A couple of them have even started to bloom .  I took this photo today and you can see some of the newly painted garage .  It should be completed in a few days .  I am anxiously awaiting to see the blue shutters !

And - - - yes, yes, yes , the CORRECT tree across the street was cut down ! There will be a lot of wood for people who still use a wood burning fireplace .

The weather this weekend has been lovely .  There is no question about it , FALL is definitely visiting.  Hope you enjoy your weekend .

Mary