Out Of Sorts

That's the only way I can think to describe the way I've been feeling lately. I was doing so well getting back into the "swing of things" after the holidays. I spent the week between Christmas and New Years cleaning the Turquoise House from one end to the other not missing nary a cranny. I was quite pleased with my work and quite pleased with my plans for the winter. I had begun my exercise program again - I started slow this time because I had gotten so far out of shape and I felt good about what I was doing, that was until this week. Monday I woke up with pain in my shoulder right blade...this is not new, it is a chronic problem that I've had for years, but now it seems to have escalated and decided to share the pain with my entire upper back. It hurts to turn my head, it hurts to put my head down and while working at the computer or practicing, I get an awful burning sensation. I wasn't too concerned, I'm still not too concerned, I've dealt with it before, it's just worse this time. Now lets talk hips. Again, I've had hip pain in the past and have been successful treating them with chiropractic, massage therapy, exercises and stretches. Yesterday I woke up with pain in my hips that I had never experienced before. The only way I can describe it is, I felt as though my body was not my own from the waist down. I called my chiropractor and was able to get in same day. Surprisingly, I did not need an adjustment but she said my hip flexors were very tight and so she did some soft tissue work and I was able to walk out of there without the limp that I walked in with. I felt pretty good when I woke up this morning and went about my chores and errands, by lunch time though I was starting to hurt again and so tonight I sit in pain. I'm hoping my stretches will help ease things so I can sleep. I'm discouraged. It's so hard to get back to an exercise routine when I'm in so much pain. I've been head-achy and tired and I just want to curl up by the fire and forget I have responsibilities. I think the pain is just getting to me. 

It's difficult to keep track of my students these days. Some are quitting, some want to quit but the parents won't let them, some want to increase their lessons, some take every other week, there has been illness, bad weather and deaths in families. I struggle to keep a consistent lesson plan going with any of them. 

Our recently graduated daughter has still not found a job and her car needs a complete engine rebuild. We are going to help her with that, but it will clean out our savings. Trusting God to provide for our needs. 

Nothing new yet regarding Magnabilities. I was hoping to have it all up and running before the 15th as that's the last day for half off the price of the kit. I'm just not sure why it is taking so long to get help.

Do you remember Gordon? He's still fighting his cancer...he's had a tough go of it lately, just getting out of the hospital again after having fluid drained from his lungs. He's been in a lot of pain and began slipping into depression, but praise God, he's home now and is more like his old self again. Please continue to keep him in your prayers for complete healing. 

I've also mentioned my mentor, David from time to time. He'll be having surgery on the 22nd. He has a bone in his neck that is poking into his spinal cord; it's been causing numbness in his hands and feet and we're praying that this surgery will restore that feeling. Please pray for guidance and wisdom for the surgeon - anything having to do with the spinal cord is scary business. I made him a card:

and while I was at it, I made some Valentines to sell: 

It's also ATC time again! This month the theme is "Ethnic Background". I wasn't sure how to interpret that, but one of my friends said she was going to just use some of her photos from her heritage album, so I decided to do the same. The meeting will be at my house this month so tomorrow I'll be making refreshments and getting things prepared. 

Until next time dear friends, 

Tuesday Tid-Bits

Today has been a bit mixed up. Last night a parent called wanting to reschedule lessons for today so she could take another one of her children to the dr. this afternoon. That meant rearranging my day, but it worked out fine. Then I had another one call and cancel due to illness, so it's been a bit odd today. 

Our dog Gilmore is losing bladder control - we woke yesterday morning to him coming to get us, but peeing all over our bedroom floor, then he walked down the hall and into the living room all the while peeing away! We of course got him outside and cleaned it up, but when I did the floors it meant running the steam mop. I'm so glad we were able to put wood floors in this house! 

Yesterday I went down the hill to practice on the pipe organ. It is so nice to be able to do that once in a while now. David and I started work on our recital program, but I still don't know what I need to be practicing for certain. I have been very stressed about the whole thing all day today, not to mention he told me he's considering moving himself and his mother to Arizona! He had such a difficult winter this year that he's thinking of moving. I'm just in shock and I don't know what I will do without him involved in my music. 

Friday I tried a new exercise DVD. I think once I get past the initial problems I'm having it will be good, but my arms and shoulders were so tight when I started that I injured my rotator cuff on my left side. I was afraid I did some real serious damage because it hurt so badly, but after doing the ice/heat treatment and going to bed with an Ibuprofen I woke up Sunday morning feeling good enough to play the organ. I'm afraid to try it again until after I get someone to work on me. 

My son is still looking for work - he has a possibility, but he needs to learn a new computer program that his current computer is too old to run and without a job he can't afford to buy a new computer. SIGH. 

Daughter #2 arrived home safely from her backpacking trip and thank God He protected them when they had a close encounter with a big black bear!

Saturday I had the blessing of talking to my oldest and dearest friend on the phone for 3 1/2 hours! We've been friends since the first day of school when we were in the first grade! We don't get to talk often and she doesn't email much, but when we do get together it's like time has stood still...like we've never been apart. It's marvelous and I know how fortunate I am to have this rare kind of friendship. 

More snow is falling - we're due to get another 4-6 inches between now and tomorrow evening and it's possible we could get freezing rain as well. YUCK, YUCK, YUCK. It's only March, but I just can't take any more. 

Lots of things and people on my heart tonight...I'm feeling overwhelmed. I'm not sure how I'll spend my evening...I do wish I had someone to just sit down and talk with.

Here are a few cards I made recently. Most of you have probably already seen them on Facebook. I may work on some spring/Easter ideas tonight. 

Remember if you want to have a conversation to click the Notify Me box in the lower right hand corner of the comment area. If we can all remember to do this, it will be more like Multiply. 

Until next time my friends~

Sharing Some Snow

I don't have a lot to say tonight - I've been teaching and practicing and working on this old, tired body this week and that's about all. I have another appointment with my chiropractor tomorrow. I did make a couple of special people some special cards and they both liked them very much. Thank you from the first friend:

Your card arrived yesterday and WOW is it ever nice/neat/cool !! You did a great job on it, and it couldn't be more appropriate. Thanks

Thank you from the second friend:

I have a feeling you knew how much I needed some attention.....  Well, it worked.  Everything about that beautiful card is perfect; It will be displayed and will serve as a reminder...

Thank you.. thank you. thank you.

I love the feeling of knowing I was able to cheer someone up just with just some paper and glue.

Daughter came for a visit yesterday and the sun came out so I got outside to take a few photos of the snow.

This first one is our street; it's nearly impassable now...note the stop sign - standard height for a stop sign by the way.

 This is normal snowfall...by that I mean it hasn't been blown by a snow blower or pushed up by the plow or front end loader...it's just the natural snow accumulation in our back yard. Notice the neighbors van.

 This again is normal snow accumulation and natural blowing and drifting in our back yard. If you look hard you can barely see the top of the 6' privacy fence and that's the top portion of my clothes line pole.

 While Daughter was here she shoveled off the roof of her car. I wish I had got a picture of it before she had removed it all. There was quite a bit up there!

 I wanted to take a picture of my Daughter in front of this snow bank for a reference point, but she wouldn't hear of it so I had her take my picture. I'm 5' 4" tall.

 I'm wondering what the Little Turquoise House will look like by Saturday? Here is our forecast:

..BLIZZARD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY EVENING THROUGH
FRIDAY EVENING...

HAZARDOUS WEATHER...

* SNOW WILL DEVELOP LATE THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND BECOME HEAVY
THURSDAY EVENING. THE SNOW WILL GRADUALLY DIMINISH LATE THURSDAY
NIGHT INTO FRIDAY MORNING.

* STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL OF 8 INCHES OR MORE IS POSSIBLE BY 
MIDDAY FRIDAY. 

* WEST WINDS GUSTING TO 45 MPH WILL DEVELOP LATE THURSDAY NIGHT 
AND CONTINUE THROUGH FRIDAY. THIS MAY PRODUCE BLIZZARD 
CONDITIONS WITH NEAR ZERO VISIBILITIES AND SEVERE BLOWING AND 
DRIFTING SNOW. 

IMPACTS...

* ROADS MAY BECOME SNOW COVERED AND HAZARDOUS THURSDAY EVENING.

* STRONG WEST WINDS WITH WHITEOUT CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE LATE 
THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY. MANY ROADS COULD BECOME 
IMPASSABLE DUE TO THE BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Somewhere I saw accumulation expected to be 8-12". UGH. 

Our son and his girlfriend are coming to visit on Saturday, hopefully the system will be gone by then and they will have safe travels. I'm looking forward to seeing him - I guess it's time to get to know her better...it's sounding serious. 

Afternoon By The Fire

It's not often and by that I mean it's rare that I get a chance to spend an afternoon leisurely enjoying the warmth of the fire and a cup of hot chocolate. Too bad I had to come down with walking pneumonia to get it. 

Yes, I've been sick all week. It came on suddenly during the pastors message at church on Sunday. As soon as I got off the organ bench and sat down in the pew my nose started running and I began sneezing etc. I could hardly keep up! It's a good thing my mother taught me to always carry tissues!! Then came the headache and by the time we got home, the body aches came. By nightfall I was on my back and the next day I did nothing but sleep and cough. Every time I cough I sound and feel as though I'm going to hack up a lung. Hubby did some research and diagnosed it as walking pneumonia and it seems he's correct. Tuesday I felt better so I got up and did up the dishes etc., by afternoon I was down again. Wednesday was spent watching favorite shows via DVD and sleeping and today I'm at least able to stay awake for longer periods of time. 

I have canceled all piano lessons for this week; I probably could manage to work on some cards this afternoon, but it's cold upstairs even though the sun is shining brightly today so I'm downstairs by the fire...spoiling myself just a little. 

The weather, like everywhere it seems has been cold and snowy...'nuf said.

Saturday a very special gift arrived in the mail!! My college piano professor...Gordon...the one who's fighting cancer, sent me a set of his music that he composed for organ!! I'm so thrilled and honored!! I can't wait to be healthy enough to practice again so I can try them out. Please continue in prayer for him if you would. Here is another pic of him that I just love. It's hard to see in the smaller image, but his smile here is priceless!

Before I got sick I spent several days working on cards. Some I'm attempting to sell, others I have made for the church ministry. One in particular I made for someone special. Here are a few of my favorites. Click for the larger image to see the details. 

 As I was typing this my son called. It was so good to hear his voice. He's been laid off from work again and is getting quite serious with his girl. They've moved in together...financially it was necessary, but I'm still not a fan. I don't yet know how I feel about them together, first impressions weren't the best. I pray...a lot. 

Well, that's about all for today...