What doesn't kill you....

I must be getting stronger in some way, shape, or form considering that this is day seven fighting a virus that I can't seem to lick. The coughing and fatigue (from coughing, or any other exertion) are not letting up and I am just so tired of both – yeah, I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired. 😏 Getting sick like this is not like me at all. It is also strange that neither of my guys have caught it, even though they are both shoveling down the holiday sweets from clients and family that keep appearing in our house.

I'm not getting much accomplished other than twice-daily barn chores, occasionally turning the horses out to let off steam, keeping the fire going, and doing a little cleaning. I did open, spin and ply the last two Advent fiber snacks:

We opened our gifts Christmas Eve:

Poppy was happy to get an empty box to shred

And I turned out the horses then rode Stella when my guys went to the family dinner on Christmas Day. When they returned, Brian and I got out the Lego set my sister gave us for Christmas and put it together. Believe it or not, this was the first Legos I've ever played with!

We stayed in the arena because we could hear four-wheelers

On Friday Rick had me meet him at the Verizon store to get my Christmas present from him, a new iPhone. The salesman couldn't get the data to transfer; after numerous attempts over more than two hours, we gave up and he sent me home to try to do it here. I've lost count of how many times I've tried and been foiled here over the last two days, so I'm going to go back tomorrow and demand a different new iPhone; this one has got to be faulty. (Maybe IT caught my virus???) Hopefully the Verizon salesman will resolve things quickly because wearing an N95 mask is another seriously fatiguing experience; it's a struggle to get enough air.

A couple of my blogpals have already shared their 2025 reading lists. Knowing how long it took me to copy my Libby records into a post for last year's reading list, I thought about splitting my posts into half-year reading lists, but obviously didn't. So coming up soon will be one looooonng post listing all the audiobooks I've listened to this year – long, because rarely a day goes by when I'm not listening to something via the Libby app on my phone. And thanks to the new AirPods my guys got me for Christmas, it will be even nicer to listen going forward!

That's it for now from . . .

Settling into 'recovery routine'

I've been home for nine days now, and my recovery has settled into a 'comfortable' rhythm (which I'm sure is subject to change). Time for a comprehensive update!

care packages from my SIL and sister before surgery

taken on the way out the door for surgery; petals are falling now

My time in hospital was trying. In my determination to do all that was needed* before being laid up, I didn't drink enough water the day before surgery, and the morning of I was restricted to 16 oz. of Gatorade.😝 Being dehydrated made it very difficult (for the nurses) and painful (for me) to get an IV started. When I got out of surgery I was so cold (my temp was 96°), and so thirsty. Apparently I overcompensated; my sodium level dropped to well below normal resulting in frequent blood draws to monitor it. On top of that, the day after surgery I could keep nothing down, and was also anemic. All that left my discharge on Friday in doubt, but in the end I was given an iron transfusion and released that evening.  Ah, home sweet home!

my cousin brought this sweet bouquet to me in hospital

fiery lilies from our church family

sunrise from my bed

volunteer #1

volunteer #2

Since then I've been well cared for by my husband, son, and two friends (when the guys are at work). Starting tomorrow I won't have 24/7 help and I'm ready for that. I've been managing my medications from the git-go with the help of a schedule I printed out and alarms on my iPhone; I've been going to the restroom unassisted for a week now; need no assistance for the various exercises prescribed (five sessions on the PortableConnect and three sets of PT exercises per day); and feel ready to tackle a solo shower. We're still being provided with delicious food by our church family, too; what a blessing.

On the list of what I can't do yet:

•  Wipe the dogs' feet if needed after they've gone outside

•  Laundry (the washing machine is downstairs)

•  Barn chores 

•  Drive

using the Romtech Portable Connect

My first PT appointment wasn't until last Thursday evening, a week and a day after surgery. Not ideal, but I started using the in-home therapy device my surgeon prescribed the day I got home as well as hobbling about the house with my walker. The PT was pleased with my range of motion, but of course proceeded to 'torture' me with exercises, some of which are quite uncomfortable. Still, I didn't experience the predicted increase in pain and swelling the first week post-surgery and feel like I am making good progress.

*On the list of needful things done before surgery:

•  Prepare some food in advance

•  Clean house

•  Wash sheets and towels

•  Gather some boredom busters to have at hand

so far, I've only spun more of the black roving

•  Set up a lambing 'jug' and companion quarters

Haunted by the memory of the disastrous start of lambing three years ago while I was away in TX, the last item on that list was a top priority. I took photos for Rick and Brian of the pregnant yearling and the two sheep who would make the best companions, divided the middle barn stall into side-by-side quarters, and added straw, hay, and water buckets.

yes, those are tool boxes sharing the stall; I told you stuff is everywhere!

Looking out our windows at the views and ewes has been one of the nicest things about being home. While doing that Tuesday, I noticed Bernice exhibiting some symptoms of being in very early labor. Instantly overwhelmed by my helplessness and knowing my 'Tuesday friend' wouldn't be able to manage the situation, I called the friend who helped me shear. She had her hands full dealing with an unexpected lamb herself, so I called Rick. Thankfully he and his field assistant were available and drove out. A bit of a sheep rodeo ensued, but eventually the three were moved into the barn and the rest turned back out on pasture. Of course nothing has happened since, but better too early than too late, right?

the expectant one

lady in waiting #1

lady in waiting #2

pregnant Bernice in front

Chuckie lolling on the deck

Rick tilling up the middle pasture before reseeding it

another 'nicest thing' – having my pupper close again

That's it for now from . . .

Daily gifts

We had a record-breaking January dry spell that ended last night. Today looked like this (from the clinic in town):

Talk about monotone!

While the clear, cold weather was a wonderful mood-enhancer, we need rain to make the trees and shrubs and flowers and grass grow – to make this part of Oregon look like Oregon. And we need that moisture to fall as snow in the Cascades to feed rivers, lakes, and reservoirs throughout the summer. This week should help those needs, according to the forecast.

I hope it makes our grass grow; the ewes have pretty much eaten it all.

Frost so heavy it looked like snow; we turned around.

A view of Mt. Hood from the saddle.

As the weather started shifting, we awoke to fog and heavy frost in unusual places yesterday morning. 

By this morning . . . well, refer to the first photo in this post.

Besides recent scenic blessings, there have been other gifts as well. Last week a church friend surprised me with this lovely antique piano chair that I had admired at her house. It made a great staging piece for my nearly finished Advent snack scarf.

Unfortunately, I ran out of the yarn I was using for the bind-off. It was one of the holiday snacks, and I have nothing the same color in my extensive stash. So I asked the others who had participated in the holiday snack exchange if they would be willing to part with that snack if they still had it in fiber or yarn form. Someone was, and her singles arrived today. I quickly plied it up tonight, and may finish my scarf yet tonight, too.

Other daily gifts have shown up in my IG/FB posts, shown below.

"Almost 180° of  color this morning! A bit past its prime because my phone was dead, but still glorious."

"Chuckie, begging for attention (he got some.)"

"Our God is so creative!"

"My black beauty has filled out a lot since I got her!"

"The sarcococca is powerfully aromatic all around–and INSIDE–the house right now."

"Good night."

"I love our downtown!"

The big news of the week is that I met with an orthopedic surgeon on Thursday who is willing to replace both my knees in one big operation. He says I meet his requirements of age, health, and fitness for doing it, and sent me on for labs and an EKG immediately afterwards; I meet with an anesthesiologist to go over the results next week. I don't have a date for surgery yet; the surgeon said March or April. I'm going to vote for April or even May, as my mom thinks her move-in date is May 1 and mentioned she'd appreciate me driving her in her car from TX to NE. And I really need to get my flock of 15 sheared and skirted before then, too. Now if Rick would just find someone else to run his office and a place to move it to....

ETA the other good news of the week: DS is gainfully employed again. Hallelujah!

That's it for now from . . .