Wyoming Breezes

stack of “Stealth” blocks will finish @ 6 inches I think these blocks look like colorful Stealth bombers, so I’m going to name the finished quilt “Stealthy.” The blocks are on the design wall but are not sewn together because I want to play with them for a bit to find a pleasing layout. I may or may not use sashing between the larger blocks.  Not much has been happening here recently because I was sidelined by a virus of some sort. It wasn’t COVID, but it left me with a hacking and lingering cough. I’m glad I got the latest vaccinations in September because I think this could have been much worse without them. 

I've been absent from this space for nearly six months, so I'll give a brief rundown on what's been happening. Despite back pain, I've tried to stay socially active by going to the senior center to play games and cards for an hour or two most days. I've tried to keep up with your blogs and comment when I could. Thank you to all who sent emails to check on me. I appreciate your friendship.  January - Severe lower back pain made doing anything of substance difficult as the month plodded along. A lumbar ablation was scheduled for February 7, 2024, and I could do nothing more than pop Tylenol and gut it out.  February - As the ablation date grew near, a small window opened up in the weather and road conditions. I drove to Fort Collins, and Brenda drove up from Denver to be my designated driver after the procedure. Six puncture holes in my back were the only evidence that anything had been done while I was unconscious. Ice, rest, and patience were necessary for the nex...

Toolbox Cowl December 2023 It seems that in my absence I’ve reconnected with my knitting mojo. Several months ago, I found and purchased two bags of wool yarn at the thrift shop. One was $3; the other, $4, a reasonable price for mystery yarn.  Since the colors coordinated fairly well, I cast on a Tool Box Cowl (pattern by adventure DuJour Designs). It’s an easy knit that uses the Diamond Tweed Stitch to blend the colors. close up of Diamond Tweed Stitch I’m still dealing with back pain and a frustrating obstacle involving my pacemaker. I’m seeing a new doctor next week and pray that he will be able to proceed with the nerve ablation. Until then, I’ll continue to take each day and each stitch at a time.

October 2022 I did my best to evade the coronavirus, but it found me last week. Ironically, I had an appointment for the third booster jab on Friday -- the very day I tested positive for the virus.  On Monday, I thought it was merely an allergy flare as it started with a runny nose (typical allergies) and a sore throat. The next day, the hoarseness settled in my throat, and I developed a slight cough. Wednesday, I thought I was okay as the test I took was negative. By Thursday, the cough had turned into hacking and the hoarseness was terrible. Friday morning, I retested and wasn't really surprised by the positive result.  I'm very grateful I was vaccinated because I have no doubt I would have been much sicker without the protection it offered.  This morning, I am feeling almost human again: the cough has all but disappeared and the hoarseness is nearly gone, too. I'll retest on Wednesday and Thursday to see if the virus has moved on.  Beware that some of the symptoms...

A week ago today, my left eye was zapped to remove a cataract. Next month, the right eye will be done. Tuesday's surgery was fast and all went well: I was impressed with my surgeon (Gary Foster) and the staff at the Eye Center of Northern Colorado . My niece and sister came to Laramie from the Denver area to shuttle me back and forth to Fort Collins for the surgery. I appreciated Brenda's help and grateful she offered since it was well out of her way and cut into her schedule.  Nearly twenty years ago I had LASIK surgery, so I had experienced laser eye surgery before and wasn't too apprehensive about the procedure.  replacement lens photo from Google images My eye was dilated and numbed with eye drops. The surgery was painless (I didn't feel a thing): I was lightly sedated but conscious. I arrived at the surgical center at 6 AM and left the building with a new lens and an eye patch at 7:30 AM. By 10:30 AM, the eye patch was removed, and my vision was somewhat clear and...

cloth ties April 2020 Like many other quilters around the world, my sewing room has turned into a factory. I've been making masks for friends, family, and members of my church. So far, I have produced over 50 masks. My community has four confirmed cases of COVID-19. The local hospital has been receiving medical-grade mask donations from businesses and the University of Wyoming, so I decided to donate masks to community members. I anticipate once the pandemic rate has leveled off and the Stay at Home orders are lifted, individuals will be asked to wear masks in public for a period of time.

What two comfort foods were on your  COVID-19 confinement, shopping list? I purchased microwave popcorn and Tootsie Roll Midgees.

disinfecting dominos used each week at the Eppson Center March 2020 Every week a group meets at the Eppson Center (senior center) to play Mexican Train dominos. We've been playing together for over a year and have become friends. Last week, I started disinfecting the dominos so we can continue playing as long as possible. So far, Wyoming has three confirmed cause of COVID-19 and others pending confirmation. The virus has not hit my community yet, but I'm sure it will be here by the end of the month. Until COVID-19 became a part of our life, I didn't think these uniform pieces of plastic could harm anyone. Now, I'm not taking any chances.

Medtronic pacemaker interrogator May 2018 Every six months, I find myself sitting in a small exam room hooked up to this machine: it's what my cardiologist uses to interrogate my pacemaker to see if it is functioning as intended. Since 2013, my heart has been paced by a dual chamber Medtronic pacemaker: it is not MRI compatible. Technology has changed a lot since 2013 and pacers are getting smaller and smarter. Now, some pacemakers can be interrogated wirelessly via an app or a device similar to a smart phone. I asked my cardiologist about the small devices, and he said they are currently only for single-chamber pacing and are leadless (no wires threaded through a vein and into the heart chambers). My pacemaker has approximately 8 years of battery life remaining. Since the pacemaker is a sealed unit, when my cardiologist feels it is close to losing power, the entire pacemaker will be replaced and attached to the leads (wires) that are embedded in my heart's chambers. ...

Sheri H. stopped by with chocolate covered cinnamon bears (my favorite), and as you can see, Marilyn and I enjoyed them. I'm rationing the rest.  Sheri also brought some freshly baked scones for a special treat.  I have been blessed with good wishes by email, by mail, and by personal visits. I am truly blessed to have such caring blogger and local friends. Your caring words and actions are appreciated. The first card I received in the mail was from Dee K. ( Pointy Little Sticks ) Her timing was perfect: it arrived day after I returned home. The bottom card is from Connie H. ( FarSide of Fifty )  I love that Connie makes her own cards.  The UPS man arrived with a package mid-week, and the contents made me laugh out loud: Vera L. found some bubble gum cigarettes and some wax bottle candy that I mentioned in the Candy Time Capsule post. Vera also included a lovely stitched pincushion. Everything was wrapped in bubble wrap, that I love to pop. c...

source click to enlarge Even though Winter and Spring are still having a tug-o-war, and the weather ranges from cold and snow, cold and rain, or blue sky and sunshine, my allergies know that green grass and blooming plants are just around the corner. I try to get a jump on the allergy season by starting one of my medications in early to mid-March and the other one a few weeks later. I must have started taking the medication at the right time this year because my symptoms have been tolerable. Do you suffer with seasonal allergies?

Perspective and attitude play huge roles in our daily lives. In the photo above, some may see beauty; others, litter. By perceiving only the negative in our surroundings and life, we push aside the beauty in the ordinary: we push aside the joy in simple things. By embracing an attitude of gratitude, we soon notice more and more positive things around us, and the negative things and thoughts recede into the blackness from which they crawl and hide. Our attitude plays a huge role on our health, longevity, and quality of life. Don't believe me? Check out this article from the  Mayo Clinic  or this article on the Benefits of Positive Thinking . *   *   *   * "The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than the facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more...

Cardionet Heart Monitor August 5, 2013 August was an interesting month, filled with medical appointments and surprises: August 1 - annual cardiologist appointment - Dr. P was concerned about my Easter Sunday fainting episode. I've fainted previously (years apart - long-time readers probably remember this post ), but since the episode in March occurred while I was seated, Dr. P ordered a 30-day heart monitor - my fourth or maybe even fifth in the last 10 years. August 5 - UPS delivered heart monitor (part of which is shown in the photo), which I activated and began wearing. August 9 - Dr. P's nurse left two messages for me to contact the office, a third message told me I had an appointment the following week to see Dr. P because he had seen "something" on my heart monitor reports. I can assure you that message got my heart pumping! August 15 - Dr. P explained my heart rate was dropping too low (28 bpm) and a pacemaker was needed because it appeared that my ...

Marython participant #129 In 2011, I decided it was time to get serious about losing weight and exercising. Since making that decision, I have lost 86 pounds, but my journey is far from over: I need to stay focused and keep moving forward toward my goal. To help me stay motivated in 2013, I have enrolled in the  Marython that begins January 1st. My participant bib number is 129. The program is not a traditional marathon; instead, it involves a 26-week commitment to exercise and to live a healthy life. By enrolling in the Full Marython, I have committed to exercising 30 minutes five days a week for 26 weeks. (A Half Mary-thon is a commitment of 30 minutes of exercise three days a week for 26 weeks.) The woman who organizes the program is named " Mary ," which is partially why it is called a Mary-thon. Even though I've been exercising regularly for over a year, my motivation has waned since July. I need to try shake things up a bit and try something new, challen...

Today I want to share some health/exercise sites that I am currently using or have used. All of these sites are similar in that they require free registration (you can determine how much you want to share) and they track your daily exercise and/or food intake. Some send motivational emails, reward coupons, or daily reminders. SuperTracker - affiliated with My Plate. This is an excellent exercise and food tracker. I particularly like that I can save favorite exercises/activities, making it easier to track my level of activity. This tracker will also send motivational emails if you make that selection. I have one complaint about this site: it doesn't remember log-in; thus, I must enter my password, etc. every time I want to enter data. Start Walking Now - affiliated with the American Heart Association. If you live in a more populated area with walking trails, this site will help you find them. Unfortunately, it doesn't list any trails in my area, but I do like the activity...

Don't forget to get your flu vaccine. I got mine yesterday because hand washing alone is not enough to keep the flu bug away. The flu bug doesn't play fair: he doesn't care if you have are busy with your family or your job. When he hits, it is hard and quick, and you will be down for the count.

Over the last two weeks, I have gained a new respect for anyone who has Shingles . I thought that I was tough and could handle pain until I met this foe. I could almost hear the chuckles from the spreading rash and the nearly debilitating ache in my hip. I was unaware that Shingles could cause joint pain , but it DOES! The ache and pain in my right hip felt like it was right to the very bone, and even minor movement caused extreme discomfort. Thankfully, my doctor prescribed an antiviral after I saw him on Monday, and by Wednesday morning I could walk without hobbling like an ancient person. For a week, I'll gladly take the HUGE pills three times a day if it means I can walk, sit, or even lay down without pain. The photo was captured online: trust me, you would not want to see my rash even if I could get a photo without turning myself into a pretzel. Several years ago, I tried to get a Shingles Vaccine but was denied because I was not over 60. When I qualify, the vaccinatio...

My mammogram on Friday was anything but ordinary: it was downright scary for me and for the technician. The technician had taken all but the last two images and continued to position me on the machine. I was doing well until the room suddenly turned warm, and I became light-headed. I asked to sit down. Once I had regained my head, the technician took another image, and only the final image remained. She kept asking me how I was doing, and I said, "okay." I just wanted to get it over with and leave; however, my body had other plans. When I came to my senses, I was on the floor with my head on a pillow, a cool cloth on my forehead, and two people huddled over me with great concern on their faces. I answered their questions and rested for a few minutes. When my color returned and my dizziness disappeared, they allowed me to stand up. I refused to be taken to the ER, but promised to inform my doctor. I sat in the waiting room for about 10 minutes under watchful eyes. L...

Since Monday, I have been experiencing the madness surrounding healthcare that is going to become even more prevalent in the future. On Monday, I ordered prescription refills online and noticed that one of my medications was listed as nonrefillable, which was odd because the bottle clearly stated I had one three-month refill remaining. I called customer service and that is where the madness began. I was told, as of January 1, 2010, the drug needed prior-authorization. I would need to contact my doctor who in turn had to contact the insurance company and file a pre-authorization request. Okay, I know this process is understandable for speciality medication, but I don't see how extended-release nitroglycerin capsules would qualify as a speciality drug. I had checked the formulary I received in November to make sure all of my medications were listed and they were. There on the list plain as day was "Nitroglycerin"; however, my error was not digging deeper and seeing...