Gardening, Cat Raising and Car Maintenance

 And just like that, in one little zap, everything is back in rhythm and everything isn't as difficult as it has been. In retrospect and with a little bit of research my unprofessional opinion is, I think I've been in atrial flutter longer than what the past few months have been like. Flutter can hide and be inconsistent is what I learned in research. My last three cardiologist visits have been with PAs and NPs. All in all internally things looked good but some experiences were dismissed or attributed to whatever things get attributed to. I find it peculiar when no one listens to your heart with a stethoscope at a heart appointment.  

I am easily amused and the amusement continues as our garden produces copious amounts of tomatoes and round two of greasy beans. The peas that are akin to the purple hull peas that I know of in Texas are beginning to produce and oh such joy that brings me. All in all the beans and peas were just for fun with no expectations and no really good trellis but they're thriving in spite of that. Bell peppers are starting to produce mainly the green ones but we see some little red ones in the mix. The blackberries continue but I think we are on the other side of the hill with them. It was a fun afternoon of visiting with a couple of friends as we delivered tomatoes. 

The Trio and The Boys are keeping us diligent in giving attention. Baxter must have listened to the soundtrack from The Sound of Music. He is climbing every mountain cabinet and bookcase. Yesterday he climbed to the top of a dresser and then went to the top of the hutch that sits on the dresser, knocked off a pic of his beloved human parents and then tried to play with the famous sticker of the 80's at HFBC; conserve tithe dollars, use other role first. I rescued the sticker just in time. 

Having some time off from teaching has been stress relieving in that the constant thought of study doesn't hang over my head. Last week we attempted to go to Duckett's for canned greasy beans as well as tomato sauce and salsa. We had to divert our plans when a big ol tractor trailer truck was getting to a place of pulling a single wide modular home up the mountain and all those winding curves. Yesterday, we tried that trip again with no problems. I was hoping that the greasy beans had been canned but just had half runners and blue lake green beans. We did hit the jackpot on salsa and chili tomato sauce. That will work for taco soup this fall and winter. When we returned home we ate lunch and then took out to deliver tomatoes to some friends. The day was so fun but by the time we stopped at the store and then headed home, I was pretty much done. My Houston cardiologist told me your heart doesn't know the difference between good stress or bad stress, it's just stress. No words ring truer than his advice of live within your parameters. They will change over the years and you'll need to make those adjustments. It feels like a parameter shift but I'll wait and see. Bloodwork tomorrow and just keep moving on getting these things checked off the list. 

*****

The bloodwork was quick and painless, although Lab Corp found a bill from 2021 that hadn't been paid. It referenced our Kay address and it was when we still had the most wonderful insurance. Fifty seven dollars later, they took my blood and out the door. Since it was a fasting appointment, I hadn't eaten breakfast but a protein bar took care of the hunger. We stopped at Marshall's and Hobby Lobby before heading over to the Publix with all the other old people and the young people who must enjoy being ran into with grocery carts buggies and have patience with the slowness of decisions over which is the best cantaloupe. Remember those parameters I mentioned, well I didn't stay within them and I was drained of energy before even going into the grocery store. I blame just having a power bar and no coffee. It didn't look like 6 Pigs BBQ would be at their regular spot across from the Alexander Post Office, so much to Roy's delight we picked up hamburgers at Burger King.  He loves their hamburgers and soft serve ice cream or ice cream product. Who knows these days? 

And speaking of bloodwork I already have the results. 

I have enjoyed reading Just As We Were, Prudence McIntosh. It's an old book that I found on Thrift Books. I always loved her articles in Texas Monthly. I may have to go back and read Just As We Were because it is especially poignant to situations and circumstances going on. Her insights of the 70s and early 80s of camp, sororities and Junior League somehow and in someway apply to my non camp, non sororities and Junior League life. Her truthful insights written in a humorous way is engaging but it is also reviving memories of long ago. But none of my memories are in this same vein of thought. 

This morning Roy headed out in the car to go workout and then bring boiled shrimp home for lunch. He called and he was at the tire place by the carwash. The low tire pressure light had come on for the passenger side front tire. Long story short, a bubble in the side wall and a new tire will be in by noon tomorrow. Roy also got some sage advice, putting different rims on the car with new tires would not solve the continuous problem with this whole thing of the last two years. The man told Roy, go buy a Honda. In this little story is such a great story of God's provision. We didn't take the care yesterday nor did Roy take the car on Tuesday to go workout. With very hot temps for the area, it wouldn't have been safe. The tire man said it should be good to go home and return tomorrow to the shop. Another provision of the Lord; we've been thinking about just fixing and keeping the car but the question of buying something new or fixing was answered. Yep, if you lack wisdom, the Lord will give it to you. 

 

Flittering and Fluttering, A Whole Lot of Shakin' Going On

 Once again fog has rolled down the mountains and across our valley. I had a prime seat from the upstairs front room. Just as Mike was finishing up with our yard the rains came down giving flowers, tomatoes and greasy beans a good refreshing. Rumor has it we will get rain this afternoon. We didn't quite know what to do with ourselves last night because our routine is watering everything and I dead head roses when I can. The stupid Japanese beetles are back just taking room up on this earth with their destructive appetites for food and for s3x. 

I cannot tell you how flattered I am by all the job offers and yes, several Who's Who chances I have. When Best Buy is interested in what I can offer in this tight business season, you know it is a scam. I could understand Target thinking I had the best to offer this work from home opportunity with maternity leave. I wonder if that would somewhat cover dealing with feral cats? Now TEMU will pay big bucks for me to work just 15 minutes a day. As the old joke reminds us, I would think What's That would be more interested in me than Who's Who.  

Why is always seem like every important phone call I get comes when I go to Ingles. Wednesday, we were in Weaverville doing the grocery thing when my phone rang. Actually, it buzzed cause it was on silent. I was surprised because texts and calls seem to never get through when at Ingles. It was from the cardiologist office and I struggled to find a spot where I could hear what they said clearly as well as a spot where my responses could be heard by them. I have a couple of decisions to make concerning the next step but I do believe I will go the familiar route I taken before. So again, after our communication through the patient portal I am awaiting a call. Maybe I should head over to Ingles except I don't think it works when you're trying to get the call back. 

Good news, I didn't have to go to Ingles to make the call happen. The call came Friday afternoon. I am scheduled next week for a cardioversion. My nick name for the procedure is, Chaka Khan.

 I believe this is my seventh or eighth one. Good news, I don't have to do the TEE thing the day before. I just saw there is a TEE appointment included with the cardioversion. Ugh, but I do feel better they will do that. In Houston that was the way they did it, before the procedure itself. All this caught me a little by surprise. The heart monitor reveal, I was in continual arterial flutter the whole time. Seems I can detect afib better than aflutter. No wonder I felt at times like my heart was shaking. Just like afib for me, the night time was the right time to experience those thumps and now knowing, flutters. There have been more than I want to count nights that I get up to help everything inside slow down a bit and not have to work so hard. After a couple of hours with things calmer it is back to the bed. I noticed tiring quicker and circulation not as good as it has been. Some of that has to do with my nocturnal early mornings. I was just a little tempted not to have the procedure done but while waiting for the call back my time was spent researching why this wasn't caught with the echo or the EKG in the Dr office. Mayo Clinic to the rescue answering all the questions that had been popping up. This aflutter is usually caused by stress and I internalize a lot of stress related matters. So...that's where all this is of now. 

Friday, I did something that I haven't done in a long time. I ordered a few things from the Anniversary Sale at Nordstrom. Got Roy some new shoes and a pair of dressier pants for me, well, dressier than jeans. Ordered Roy pants from Macy's. He doesn't need nicer pants too often but wow such a deal. We are attending a wedding in Sept and it is dressy casual which we love, so a great time to find things. 

Last night I went out to the greasy bean trellis and low and behold I saw one bean pod. Then much to my surprise I saw a few more. I called out to Roy and asked if he would bring a basket to me. It is nearly filled and told the beans will be de-stringed. So thankful for friends who gave me advice on how to fix them. Good ol' Facebook to the rescue again as well as texts and messages. The purple beans didn't do as well or they might be purple hull peas but we will wait and see. Meanwhile he was picking blackberries and they are full and plump. Must be all the rain and sun we've received this summer. 

A quick note, The Trio and The Boys are trying to find some kind of truce and it seems to be working. Willie, took himself into timeout for a couple of weeks but he is back with the crowd. Baxter, who is willing to leap tall buildings or so it seems has been a bad boy. No cat ever in the history of cats in our home have ever jumped up on the industrial catch all table in the middle of the kitchen. His job to procure cherry tomatoes and a few blackberries for soccer practice in the kitchen. Sprayed him with water and told him no. Then the great idea of putting Vicks around the edge of the plates came to me and that welcomed fragrance of the good old vapor rub helped us breath better and deter any cat ideas of absconding with said tomatoes. Since they all know the kitchen counters are off base Baxter found a loophole. The Trio still have some teenager in them but we have noticed a few more naps and praise be, longer naps from them. 

When Rivers Run Through Things

 My heart breaks for the families who have lost loved ones in the central Texas flash floods. We are so familiar with all those areas. Dude ranch vacation when we were kids, went to college in San Marcos, when Roy was in law school this is where we would take our limited funds vacation days, and my parents lived in Georgetown TX for several years. So many friends live in that area now and it is good to have FB to keep up with their situations. All are safe so far. The pictures are too familiar because Helene left WNC in that same torn up condition and the aftermath that continues on nearing the year anniversary. Camps in the Hill Country are like the camps held here in Montreat and Black Mountain area. I never went to Camp Mystic or Waldemar or Heart of the Hills. We were firmly invested in camps through the church, GA and junior camp. Well, invested is not the term I would have used but those were my camp opportunities. I wasn't too fond of those week long camps held at Peach Creek Baptist Assembly which now goes by another name with no Southern Baptist affiliation...I think. Just looked it up and that land is part of a state park. Comments were interesting so many talking about attending camp there over the years in the 1960s. I started enjoying camp while in high school. I started going to church where my friends attended and had a blast. Making friends at Westbury Baptist was difficult for me. Our family attended the off time Sunday School and service, so when there were youth group activities that my father forced me to go to, I didn't really have anyone to hang out with. Also, I was a strange and offbeat type of kid so even if we went to the popular time for Sunday School, I don't think that would have helped. Oops, I kind of got off track but these hill country camps have been life-changing for generations of girls. The introduction of those who you'll meet later on in college etc...is the foundation that networks, alliances and sororities that will come later on in life have provided an advantage because of the chance opportunity to meet beginning at age 7 in the hill country at camp. I am praying for those families and for all who have lost so much over the July 4th weekend. 

I found the link to Texas Monthly that I read a long time ago. Published in 1975 and written by Prudence McIntosh. I might still have one of her books on the Dallas area. 

https://www.texasmonthly.com/being-texan/the-greatest-experience-of-your-life/?fbclid=IwQ0xDSwLYBHdleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHq_WiXNHavXDXb_FPEFch1YS2Pm1LeZKZOUSsG90yC6X3tsh7GNfY1ep2MH_aem_v5Sr2issopUtPuGgBTjV7w

The link may or may not work but you can go to the Texas Monthly website and look through the archives. It is worth the read if you like stories, traditions and the like. I remember a family that lived on our street while growing up. The dad was an architect, home filled with children, and always covered in chaos. It was a loud home and it was so interesting to experience this because our home was quiet, little rowdiness tolerated and our mom didn't shut her bedroom door on the mess happening in the rest of the house nor did our mom drink to ease the edge of her nerves of a house in pandemonium. My mom didn't drink although I fear her two kiddos might have made her think about a drink. Ha! This home of what some neighbors called, the "itinerate Catholics" was a main topic of neighborhood gossip. Then, this dad put the house up for sale because he had bought a home in Memorial (wealthy part of Houston) and now the kids could go to a better class of parochial schools. My dad at our dinner table one night said, well, they'll be house poor living there and they won't be able to furnish their home like they ought. He continued that he and mom had decided they would rather have nice furniture than live in a fancy house. Okay, y'all, there is so much wrong with that statement. Even as a kid who spoke her mind, I knew not to contradict what he believed, first of all because we didn't have "nice" furniture. Well, it was nice but it wasn't Ethan Allen nice and that is what he was referring to. The living room furniture didn't match being a hodge podge of early American. With the exception of our parent's bedroom furniture which now would be called mid century modern, we were a hodge podge , what was on sale, home. When the architect family moved, the daughters began going to camp in Kerrville but don't remember which camp. I had heard through friends they had loved going to camp but felt they needed to upgrade themselves before the next year. Funny how things come to mind from the long ago while keeping up with coverage of the recent tragedy. 

Through the years I've known many women who are the results of going to camps in Kerrville. Even the most edgy woman who didn't quite fit in the mold that maybe grandparents and parents wanted to instill in her to consolidate her comfortable future; they carry themselves differently than from the rest. One such friend made some very poor decisions in marriage partners. Last I heard she was on marriage number four, but each time...except maybe for the third one, she married well and while selective in her "requirements" to others she was able to withstand her wayward dreams and mostly lived a dilettante existence. Like I said at the beginning of this post, camps in Kerrville were not on any list of what would I like to do kind of thing. Nothing like attending Baylor or anything. 

The scenes along the river and throughout the hill country are so reminiscent of the damage and destruction of Helene. Because I was so sick during all that time I knew it was bad but I didn't know how bad until later. Clean up is moving along in Texas and it took some time for that to begin here. I just saw the number of missing people has risen to 161. Be so close to Texas, Lord. 

 

Pet Peeves (Again) and Other Assorted Thoughts

 Over the years I have written on my pet peeves that have to do with doing everyday life. Grocery stores, parking lots, mini vans, various options and experiences at churches and the like. I've written on authors I like, books I've read and those on my TBR list or in many cases my TBR stack. Some things are excessive in that there are five desks located in various rooms for various purposes. There used to be more because there were desks in each of the guest bedrooms. Quickly the realization that not all love a desk came to me, so the excessive desks went to Habitat store. One of those remaining is a secretary kind of thing that I haven't used as a desk for quite some time, since our Rancho de Five days. Now we store cat toys and such so The Boys and The Trio can't get to things. I do believe that God, who is Holy and Mighty, has a sense of humor. So, below are things that bug me, but came to me as funny when we did this last Sunday at the Presbyterian Church, it didn't bug me.

• Let us stand to honor the reading of God's Word is said a lot at the beginning of a sermon yet we don't stand if he adds some verses to reinforce the point he is making. What, we don't honor God's Word then? Let's be consistent, not part of a show. Standing for the reading of God's Word has been a long standing practice in most Presbyterian churches. We participated in that tradition Sunday morning. No one had that more spiritual look on their faces, it simply was this is how we do it and have done it for nigh these many years. 
• Kyle Lake taught on prayer years ago and he was tragically taken from this earth too early due to the baptistry not being wired correctly. He said you can add to the list of taking the Lord's name in vain, besides cussing, church people over saying His Name every other word. We don't treasure, respect and hold sacred His powerful name. He also wrote about praying His Name in vain when someone from the stage wants to move from opening to offertory, pre preaching, post preaching, invitation, after invitation prayer and closing dismissal prayer. I've known people to use prayer to quiet a room, then pray one minute later. Which one was the real prayer? EM Bounds, a prayer warrior and author, calls those prayers professional prayers. We had a lot of prayers on Sunday but each one was more than moving to the next thing in the bulletin, there was a purpose not a proposal of praying cause you don't know how to handle the moment. We had responsive reading and we said scripture together. Nothing new under the sun but it was refreshing.

Like I wrote in the first paragraph these are things and yes there are more, but two is enough, have bothered me for years and years, even pre North Carolina. Just reminded with the plethora of visiting speakers at church before the interim guy came. 

I was thinking this morning about characters that would need to be in a novel based on church people. Ya gots to have all the kinds, for sure. The insecure, the gossipy,  You need a character, male or female, that knows the scripture that sizes up their practicing beliefs and productive legalism, and knows Robert's Rules of Order by heart. Procedure and Patriarchs, Pastoral Epistles and passion...light on the passion is all this saint needs to equip a meeting. See how Baptist I can be, alliteration is always welcomed for points and emphasis. This is not a well thought out character needs list but wanted to get this down so I wouldn't forget. It is more like a running character list of foibles and qualities. Over the years there have been a few works of fiction where a pastor or deacon or leader does something to almost ruin a church but then the miraculous happens, repentance and rejoicing to carry on after a setback. Being sneaky doesn't win the day. Another option in this genre is, the pastor's wife doing underhanded stuff...then repentance and rejoicing. 

*******

This morning I got up a little bit after 5:00 am. We have found that if Roy brings me coffee I will stay upstairs and not disturb his quiet time. So, Roy brought the coffee and I was mesmerized by the changing scene of the skies from my view in the front room. The prettiest formation of clouds combined with pink skies changing into grayish blue and capped off with a rolling fog that was mere minutes instead of hours like usual. I used my new Bible to read and mark verses and I also learned a few new phrases, studies and updates from X. Baxter, Mr Mo and GMoey kept me company. In fact when I opened the bedroom door this morning all six were sitting at the door. Immediately, I checked on Roy cause they usually hang out with him in the early mornings. 

  

July 4th from years gone by...twenty years ago I was in the process of preparing for a hysterectomy the next day. We usually spent the 4th at Lake Bain, the end of cousin's camp for the family. Always so much fun to be with Peggy and the extended family, related and non-related. I also didn't know if the tumor seen on the ultrasound was malignant or benign. Twenty years later I know, benign. Last year we kind of knew that Sister probably wouldn't make it. Sister was one of the siblings to The Trio, we actually brought her in first. She  didn't and we found her partially in a blanket with one paw stretched out, like she was reaching for the hand of Jesus to take her to kitty heaven. The Feral Family has two in the garage, Beanie and Coco. Fido was in there as well, but he left after breakfast. Beanie and Coco are catching up on food and rest. 

Keeping informed and staying in prayer for Kerrville and the Texas Hill Country. Scenes from along the river and water intrusions into downtowns and neighborhoods reminds me of what we saw happening from Helene here in WNC. 

Sleuthing and Stuff

 Nancy Drew Monarch here and my sleuthing on the patient portal through appointment notes gave me a sense of direction of where health-wise things might be going. In my unprofessional opinion. Anyway, I got the doctor's review of the notes and I wasn't too far off in my findings. Not dire but not good, not normal but not abnormal.  Ned Nickerson I mean Roy and I celebrated the "gray" news by picking up lunch while out and about. Well, we were going to do that anyway. Definitely, there is work to be done and I am waiting for my lab approval to get bloodwork taken care of. A lot of stress has been relieved and that is always a key part of the puzzle in all these years of a heart journey. Oh and heat but I am trying my best to stay cool, you know like a cool kid. 

Since Willie has taken over my project desk, I have gone a new direction. Amazon to the rescue with a small rolling/adjustable table by the day bed. Got things moved around a bit last night and also went through stuff for another trip to drop off at Habitat store. With Willie using the project desk for all naps and down time, it has helped with his going to the bonus room at night with GMoey and Mr Mo. I think The Trio gets on his nerves. He used to get on GMoey and Mr Mo's nerves. It's all cyclical. 

After supper last night, we planned to go outside and continue tying up tomato plants and cages, water a few things and pick up some yard cuttings that we let dry out. Our plans changed when the rain showers began, they picked up and added hard rain to the mix and not to be left out, the wind came in blowing things and plants thither and yon. Lots of thither and yon. Blew over the bean trellis and some of those unsecured tomato plants. 

******

Yesterday, we went to First Presbyterian Church in Weaverville. We had been there a couple of years ago for a Christmas program and then for a Christmas Eve service. Architecturally, we've seen it but God added a little extra to it. As soon as we parked the car and started for the church, they began ringing the bell. A rock/stone church right out of a Hallmark movie, complete with the musical accompaniment. The church is very near Main Street so the surrounding homes are older homes that reminded me of my Grandparent's home and their walking to church. The music meaningful to the sermon and beautiful. The sermon was good and came with fill in the blank type notes. Roy filled his out I was so focused on the sermon I didn't want to break that with note taking. The people very friendly and of course the inside of the church itself, beautiful. Saw a couple of friends and got to visit with them a little. Roy even dressed Presbyterian, translated dress pants, wingtips and pressed shirt. We were Bapterians Roy's last year and a half in law school. His study group was on Sunday mornings so I attended church alone. Every Sunday the same question with that look of, are y'all still together? Got tired of it so we attended Grace Presbyterian because the pastor was such a good Bible teacher and nobody knew us. That way whether we were there together or me by myself, no questions. Oh, but then I discovered the organist at the church was awesome and loved her prelude and postlude. This coming Sunday we haven't decided where to attend, but we are working on that. 

Today is the day we brought in The Trio, just temporarily of course. They stayed out on the back porch in a little play pen meant for cats. So little and oh so cute. We gave them numbers because we knew as soon as we named them, they would be ours. We searched for fosters but everyone was full so we began the adventure with some little two and a half or three week old kittens. Round the clock bottle feedings, getting the fleas taken care of and the all important rear end help all young kittens need from their moms. Buster and Chubola exceled in taking to soft food and liquids. Baxter brought up the rear in finally eating from a dish and once he began he hasn't stopped. As you can see we named them eventually and they claimed us as waiter and waitress. Mostly, they are good cats but every once in a while the call of adventure reaches out and there are messes to pick up and temptations are placed in a drawer. The Trio get on Willie's nerves and his reaction is usually an upset stomach. Several weeks ago it was an all nighter with him but he has settled down and for this we give thanks. Baxter and Mr Mo are the jealous cats, Buster loves taking naps by me in the afternoons when I read, GMoey gets along with everyone and Chubola, she gets her own description but she is the only girl. That about says it totally. She loves to play and she is getting more comfortable jumping up on our laps for pets but she does not stay long. Buster follows her around but lately he has let up on the constant patrol. Baxter loves Roy and Roy made Baxter his own sleeping spot on his desk. 

We are having foggy mornings of late and it kind of reminds me of August mornings.