Bad Idea

Well I had one of those ideas that came back to bite me.  The pharmacy near my house is situated in a mall that has a terribly busy parking lot. So I thought to myself, why not call it in to the pharmacy by the flower shop.  Terrible idea.  First, the flower shop opens at 9 am; the pharmacy at 10 am.  And both close at 6. So I taped a sign on the door and  ran down the hill but the prescription wasn't ready.  I thought I had noted when the pharmacy was closed for lunch, but got there and discovered that it was closed.  And when I tried to unlock the flower shop door realized that I didn't have the keys; they were sitting on the desk as was my cell phone.  I headed to the muffler shop where my friend let me use her phone to call our delivery manager.  He had to drive across town in college football traffic.  First football game of the season.  While I was waiting, I tried again, but the prescription was still not ready. I discovered that the pharmacy was slammed because of a buy out of another area pharmacy!  Bad bad idea.

Celebrating My Birthday

I have much to be grateful for.  In March, I found I couldn't cope with the stress of unraveling my dad's house and selling  it without blood pressure meds. I also have a bit of a heart murmur due to narrowing of the the arterial valve. However, the nurse told me not to worry to keep moving.  I took lisinipril and am one of the few people who cough as a side effect.  I had just renewed the prescription and tried to tough it out, but with 14 tablets left called and asked for a different med.  I couldn't handle the violent cough that disturbed my sleep, my work and caused several other problems.  Now I am taking chlorthalidone and after 2 weeks the cough is mostly gone. And the chlorthalidone works better, my blood pressure is lower.   I enjoy working with Dory, the mini horse I lease and I ride Hope, my mare on Tuesday mornings.  I get together with friends on Wednesday for dinner.  My granddaughter is the sunshine of my life and we have happy adventures.  I like to walk my two dogs although they are ten years old and have slowed down.  I enjoy working at the flower shop.  I do need some time away by myself and am looking forward to a vacation in October and November (by myself).  I am celebrating my birthday with a cookout at the house.  My son, daughter and her family will be coming.  Happy happy birthday to me!

Need Some Alone Time

My daughter is expecting a baby boy in early October.  She will be on maternity leave but when she goes back to work, I will babysit my two year old granddaughter and my newborn grandson.  I have been working in his room to get it ready.  However, there are photos from my dad's house in the room, and I have yet to decide what to do with them.  Probably the best plan would be to digitally scan them, but then I have to figure out how to identify them.  I am storing photo equipment in the garage--a reel to reel projector, a movie screen, old film, and my grandmother's geneaology.  I hurried to remove these items from my dad's house, but now they are stuck in limbo at my house.  Trying to get an idea about my outside plants too.  My friend suggested to let them go and buy new next year.  Seriously considering this idea as the house has little winter sun and the plants will probably die anyway.  Perhaps a small greenhouse? Husband won't be too happy about a greenhouse killing his grass.  I seriously need a gramcation (a vacation for grammie).  It looks like I will take the Escape and sleep in the back.  I would like a small teardrop or box trailer that I can use without help.  My palomino pony popup is wonderful but I can't hitch it myself nor can I set it up easily.  Planning my vacations in October and November.

Vacation

Our family reunion was the last weekend in July. 14 of us--my husband, children, spouses, partners friends, granddaughter and granddog gathered at one of our state's beautiful parks.  Sadly, every time I plan a vacation, someone dies.  This year my mother's sister, our favorite aunt died.  Her funeral was Friday, the day we planned to arrive at the state park.  My husband and I hurry scurried to get packed and ready to leave Thursday after work.  Fortunately my aunt's funeral was in a city 200 miles north and on the way to the state park.  After my aunt's funeral, we enjoyed a delicious meal and visited with my uncle and cousins.  We then headed 60 miles north to the state park.  As I waited to check in, my son and two friends arrived from Chicago.  Rain poured on the tents the first evening, but a nice wind picked up Saturday, drying out clothes and sleeping bags.  We waded in Lake Huron and floated on inner tubes.  In the evening, we sat around a fire roasting hot dogs and marshmallows.  My son, daughter and I attended church on Sunday and were warmly welcomed.  Some family members left for home on Sunday.  The rest of us packed on Monday and headed for home.  A storm system made the drive unpleasant and we were glad to arrive home safely. We unloaded the pop up but had to dry it out on Tuesday.  After settling my dad's estate (mostly) and selling Dad's house, I really needed the time away.  I didn't realize it until I was driving around Tuesday and felt the difference.  I was so much more relaxed.

A Concert and a Storm

Last night my husband, sister and I attended a choral concert at my sister's church.  It kicked off the church festival this weekend.  A group of 50 male voices blended to sing 'Bridge Over Troubled Water', 'Battle Hymn of the Republic,' 'Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho,' "Come Down to the River to Pray,' 'Awakening' a medley of the songs from each branch of the armed forces and several other pieces.  I could see how much each singer enjoyed sharing his music.  While we were at the concert, a storm with pouring rain and winds blew through.   A tree blocked our road home so we rerouted.  In town, many traffic signals were out.  Once we arrived home had no power.  Fortunately even with the high heat index and no air conditioning the house stayed cool.  I got ready for work with a flashlight and hopefully when I get home, the power will be back on.  My daughter is pregnant with her second child.  The baby is a boy and she wants to celebrate him with a "sprinkle."  We decided on a date in three weeks.  She will invite the same guests who attended my granddaughter's second birthday party in June.  We will have meatballs, pizza, chicken wings, salad, fruit, brownies, cake and cookies.

Organizing my thoughts

Since my dad died in September, organization of my thoughts has been an issue.  I am growing older but I suspect that my brain is overloaded.  My husband, adult children and their spouses or partners, my baby granddaughter are planning a camping reunion next weekend.  The house needs to be cleaned, pets accounted for, camping equipment gathered, clothes packed, some food stowed away.  Not difficult, but  these chores have to be done conscientiously.  Then there is the issue of Dory the mini horse.  To date her skills consist of targeting, walking, trotting, jumping the old standards at the barn.  However I have to teach her to use the standards used at the show.  She is also becoming familiar with a driving bridle and harness.  I was chatting with the owner of a 30 year old horse who can walk and do some trotting.  We both would like to utilize the skills of our horses to the best of the horses' ability.  So, how do we do this?  I've been reading and watching videos and racking my brain.  Finally, I have some financial business I've been trying to deal with.  I am so indecisive. The prolonged period of analysis makes me miss my dad and then I feel the intense grief of his loss.

Show Day!

The sun shone with a few puffs of white in the blue sky. I drove to the horse show and used the time before the arrival of the horses to register for five classes--halter, showmanship, trail, jumps and barrel racing.  Soon after the horses arrived, it was time to walk the three minis--Dory, Deacon and Maple over to the ring.  My horse Dory was anxious and ready to trot.  I walked her in circles.  We walked into the arena and then were told to trot.  I started a third line of mini horses. While we waited for the judge, I walked her in more circles.  She tried to roll in the soft sand, so I pulled her up.  I accidentally unhooked the lead strap with my thumb.  She wandered over to another mini and the shower held her halter while I reattached the lead.  Another mini, a two year old, had enough and reared. Finally, the mini was under control.  Dory did receive an honorable mention!  I wasn't confident to try the showmanship class so Dory and I watched.  After the class, we took the horses back to the trailer so that they could eat and drnk until their classes after lunch.  Trail was interesting--open and close a gate, trot across several poles, walk across a tarp, back up, sidestep, turn a 360 in a box, trot to a cone and exit.  Dory completed the course.  She doesn't know how to sidestep, and I didn't align her neck and body when she backed..  Then we tried jumping.  At the farm we jump with the minis.  These were metal standards.  Dory loves to jump but wasn't used to the different standards.  Of the six jumps, Dory jumped one!  She jumped so high!  Everyone relaxed for the barrel racing.  Dory and I cheered and neighed for the other competitors.  Dory and I were last.  She did awesome but I need some serious sprinting experience!  And I lost my hat on the run back.  All in all a fabulous day!