Ketch~upping... Pre- Snowstorm Francesca-

Monday Morning. Now...

Sure has been a long time since I have blogged about anything even remotely "Flintville" hehehe
Didja miss me?


The Channel 11 picture  to the right was actually taken about 2 or 3 weeks ago already-




Do you remember Casey having that horrible allergic reaction to the meds they gave her in Minnesota last January?

???????

"Anaphylaxis" I think they'd called it...

I even had a little allergy of my own
I've been feeling pretty rough too, even without my fractures, and the rest of it.

Now, toss in a little something that I'm allergic to too; and I've got Casey beat!




By a longshot!

Pretty damned gross, eh?

Nice temps earlier in the month and this beautiful weather gave me a chance to even 'wander' a bit outside -
Picture this: Me out there, with the camera around my neck- and of course, those two canes.  Quite a funny juggling act- (And I can't even juggle).  hehehe

Not to mention that Punk kept bringing me her Frisbee- time and time again. oh- Oh! OH!
She was thrilled for those few days of respite from the cold! As was I. hehehe

There is even a wee bit of green showing up...
 ... It always amazes me- especially after a long Winter-

A little snow left- and a little bit of "life" too.

More life here! These will be this years and next winters chives!
(Hey, "I" see green, even if you don't)!  hehehe

I have a silly question for anyone that might know-
(God knows I surely don't).

Why does gravel always appear to be tinted 'blue-ish' after Winter?

I also found a few 'candies' laying around in the grass-

It's all those brown M & M's that I refuse to eat.
  ~Punk seems to ♥ them though!!   hehehe

She even had to sniff all over to find more...

... and very begrudgingly came back to me after I'd called her-

Then, from somewhere the snowplow had left it, she magically found her Frisbee!



I threw it more than a few times !
(In the meantime she ran a mile or so)!

But then... "O0pS"

And that was it for that Frisbee-
Odd, but once it's near to her poo-poo piles, I seem to lose interest in it. hehehe

Darn fine thing Casey had just brought her a new one-

   hehehe

We had to walk almost to J & J's driveway to find snowbanks for her to play on-

-and in.

!!!hehehe!!!  ...."BUSTED!"

 ~ She HAD been "hiding" on me...

Then off she went, to look for a few lost/forgotten squash...
No luck with that-
(What I didn't freeze, the deer got a long time ago).

But plenty of snow left there for an ice cream headache -

Would Sputty come outside with us?   He did- finally.
See, it's ONLY on HIS terms.

Once out, then he does not want to come back in.
When he does this, I let him sit.
Or hunt- or go poo in the fields- (or whatever it is that cats do outside)-

Like sitting in the sun I suppose...

OR...

.........

    He checks all around the house-  ..............Then sits in the blue gravel


If he refuses, still, to come in with us, he has to wait until Punk gets fed her supper- (She always has to go potty and poo first).

Then, even after all that waiting, that cat still follows her around, and ONLY comes in when she does.
(This, no matter how high/low the temperature is/not).

OK OK-
Then, It's FINALLY time for supper... hehehe

I took this shot a LONG time ago-
Still one of my favorites though.

Sput has taken to moving the heat register cover so that it doesn't blow on me when I am sewing. He adjusts it so it blows on him in his box!!!! Grrr...
And that, my friends, is the definition of "cattitude".


I have been having horrid days/weeks with my back.
The last 2 shots I received did nothing to help.
The h/a last night and this morning added nothing either.

While searching around the net, I found THIS picture- It is the same as MY own brace; which needs replacing.
But I'll be damned if I'm shelling out $780.00 for it! 




I found one on eBay though. hehehe


Tonight though. -When I do go to sleep. I shall sleep in the utmost of comfort!

Thank you Casey-So very, very much!

Not only for this beautiful pillow, but for EVERYTHING you have done, and continue to do for me.


Tonight, she drove ALL the way out here just to feed Punkin her supper.

She knew I hadn't slept a wink last night, & so I wouldn't have to wake up...
(I did anyway).  And it was a darned good thing I did.  Casey had to help me out of my own darn bed! 
Oh well. There are always worse things.

Hope all is well in your little corner of the world.
Been trying to keep up with everyone's news and all- I have found that to be a most impossible thing to do!
I shall keep trying though...
My love to all!

XOXO
Me

PS:
Tomorrow (maybe)...
The entry about Snowstorm Francesca.  Here's the link-
Tomorrow the pictures.   hehehe

Apple Blossoms. Allergies. (And all else too).

Apple Blossoms (Picture taken 4-19-10).
Wish you could smell them!

NOTE:
I began writing this yesterday (Saturday) morning when Casey suddenly showed up on my doorstep.  And Casey always takes precedence over my silly blog!


Good Morning Everyone!
It is to rain today- I hope they are right. Although my lawns do not need to grow any faster, it is very dry outside, and we SO need these rains.

Punk. She really IS quite well, even though there is still over a week of meds left for her to take. (Yes I will give them all to her until they are gone).

Casey has been having a few lingering problems-
Pain.
Nausea.
And for some strange reason she is anemic always. 
She has been on added iron pills for a while now- She has adjusted her diet accordingly.
Still anemic.
So Friday her doctor had ordered even more blood tests. One of those tests will not come back for a week. (Your little prayers are always welcome).

As for me, my toe is just fine! I am SO happy I had that done.
My back a trial. To put it nicely...
(Really bad these last 3 days and it was SO good for a few days before this?).
My latest MRI showed that I am absorbing the calcium and all- Those fractures are healing!
I am so upset that they still hurt. More~so that the dang pain is so restrictive. When my pills work, they work well. When they do not, I am just stuck with it...
I will never get used to not being fully flexible (and I will not go down without a fight). Grace? Not a chance.
I have already had this lingering, sharp, awful pain explained six ways to Sunday.
I don't understand it all, just enough to know it will just always hurt. Grrr....

Other than that, my hay fever is threatening, but I have never really 'suffered' from allergies either. Not like some. The worst for me being the "bzzzz" stings.

I remember when the doctor had diagnosed me with 'allergies'... I was in my mid 30's and had finally gone in because my face had hurt like heck for about a month.
He took his knuckle, knocked on my forehead, and then on my cheekbones.  OUCH! What the hey?
He looked in my eyes, my ears, and up my nose. (Why must doctors look up your nose anyway, I hate that)!
He then stated 'you have allergies'. 
No.  I proudly reminded him that I was not allergic to anything!
He explained that allergies can/do develop at any point in our lives. That was that. 
Achoo!

So, like many, I do have these darn allergies. I take Claritin when my face starts to ache, and for a few days after. I repeat this in a week or so if they bother me more.
Still, I don't think I am the only person who thinks their allergies are worse this year? I don't know why this would be.  Maybe it's just me...
Perhaps there are more "floaties" in our atmosphere/air now too. Maybe that would be thanks to Iceland.
Sorry. I know I shouldn't make light of that when I know that the wildlife and the farm animals are dying by the 1000's, and there is nothing anyone can do about it. So sad.




When I see pictures like this, it amazes me that anyone/anything can live through it!


As you know, many flights were canceled- Better always to err on the side of caution!
My friend, Mrs. G,  absolutely needed to get from Canada to the UK for her sons wedding. I believe they have arrived safely.

Closer to home are the storms in Alabama- Not sure which part of Alabama, and I have yet to hear back from William... I had written him earlier to make sure that they are all safe and sound. I will add his reply when I hear back from him.

I can't remember if I have shared this with you or not? I believe I have, in part anyway.
Young Lawrence is going to be genetically tested for Marfan Syndrome, and others. But they can't even get him tested until December!  Here is a 10 year old boy, with a potentially dangerous heart condition, and they can't get him in?!?  In the meantime he is not to do sports or the like. I feel so badly for him.

Also I received a note from Charles (Baby Sam's dad). I can't remember if I'd told you about this earlier either...
Charles writes, "I had a E.G.D which is a throat scope. I have Barretts throat which turns to cancer sometimes and can kill you other ways. But whatever will be will be. Other than that things are great. Sam is fearless and fast..."
I am hapy to hear that Sam is doing well.
As far as Charles goes, I believe that this is the same condition as "Barretts Esophagus"?  (Click).

I haven't heard anything further...
But I do have an article to share also.

• Wine May Protect Against Throat Cancer Posted: March 2, 2009

  • Study finds that a glass or two a day lowers risk by more than half

I feel badly for Charles-
(This family of mine is sure giving me one heck of a medical education)!

It is windy here.   SO very W~~I~~N~~D~~Y...
The "hold onto your hats and your small children" kind of windy. My screens are up on all the windows, and they whistle like the dickens when the wind comes from the SE. Sounds like a blizzard out there! Such is NOT the case I assure you.
It is currently rainy and soggy. Nice to have that moisture! I can relax a bit now knowing I don't have to water anything.
But I'll bet my chives have all blown over! hehehe  I will go out next time Punk does, cut them and get them dried.

I have last nights dishes to do, and still to get in the shower.
Much wash to catch up on also.

What a great morning so far! I have been emailing back and forth to both Casey AND to William (now that he's up).
All is well at the Gaither household! YAY! Truth be known, they are getting ready to go fishing! (Wish I was there, I haven't gone since I went with my dad).
William had no idea what I was even talking about- But he did say they were under a warning all night long. Said the sirens were going off- (He added they don't even hear them anymore because they go off all the time).  Not me, I told him, being that I am so paranoid about Mother Natures fury.

I'd better close for now and get busy. 
The wind is still blowing fiercely, (and I haven't heard that much whistling in years)! hehehe

Love to all.

XOXO
Me

Hay-fever sufferers, know your enemy:
Scanning Electron Microscope pictures of grains of pollen

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Grains of pollen come in all shapes and sizes. The large object in the centre of this image is pumpkin pollen; the tiny speck just below and to the right of it is forget-me-not pollen.

Cool picture, right?

This article from the UK states "The number of hay fever sufferers could reach 30 million [people] within 20 years as city living, pollution and climate change exacerbate symptoms, experts have warned."  Read more.
I believe there is my explanation. And I am sure this is applicable worldwide.

Also our Green Bay records and averages
  

Records and Averages

   

Daily Records and Averages at weather.com

____ 

Month	Avg. High	-Avg. Low	-Avg. Precip	Rec. High	Rec. Low
January	24.0 °F	7.0 °F	1.21 in	56.0 °F (01/26/1944)	-31.0 °F (01/30/1951)
February	29.0 °F	12.0 °F	1.01 in	61.0 °F (02/26/2000)	-33.0 °F (02/10/1899)
March	40.0 °F	23.0 °F	2.06 in	82.0 °F (03/29/1910)	-29.0 °F (03/01/1962)
April	55.0 °F	34.0 °F	2.56 in	89.0 °F (04/22/1980)	7.0 °F (04/03/1954)
May	68.0 °F	45.0 °F	2.75 in	99.0 °F (05/31/1934)	21.0 °F (05/09/1966)
June	77.0 °F	54.0 °F	3.43 in	101.0 °F (06/01/1934)	32.0 °F (06/06/1958)
July	81.0 °F	59.0 °F	3.44 in	104.0 °F (07/13/1936)	40.0 °F (07/06/1965)
August	79.0 °F	57.0 °F	3.77 in	100.0 °F (08/24/1948)	38.0 °F (08/22/1967)
September	70.0 °F	48.0 °F	3.11 in	97.0 °F (09/10/1931)	24.0 °F (09/29/1949)
October	58.0 °F	37.0 °F	2.17 in	88.0 °F (10/06/1963)	12.0 °F (10/30/1925)
November	42.0 °F	26.0 °F	2.27 in	74.0 °F (11/09/1999)	-9.0 °F (11/29/1976)
December	29.0 °F	13.0 °F	1.41 in	64.0 °F (12/05/2001)	-27.0 °F (12/19/1983)

____

Hope that all turns out...

Have a good one!

Thursday Stuff... ;-)

We'll take that 60° mark with smiles on our faces!
hehehe

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Good Morning!

I have to get Punk out in the sunshine today! (Me too)! It is too nice out there to stay inside.  I had an appointment for my back early on Tuesday.
She wanted to "up" my meds for my back... But I will wait on that decision.
Kind of a "put~up and shut~up" move. (Not really, I plan on whining as loud as I can).

Casey called early yesterday morning- She had tried to go to her classes and had so much pain she had turned around.
She was here by 8AM.
.
.
 
Casey. Sick.
.
.
Even through her pain, she did her homework- Actually was studying for a test she has today or tomorrow.
Punk did not want her to write at all.
.
.
 
Every time she would jot something down, Punk would just press harder.
.
.
By noon she was raring to go once more. So back to classes for her.
She is my rock. My inspiration.

Not a lot going on- After we get our exercise today I have to run into town. If I have enough energy, and only a little pain, I will stop at the library. They are having their book sale today, tomorrow and Saturday.

Been reading everywhere on the internet lately.
And since Veterans Day is coming up on the 11th, I thought this was an appropriate "How~To" to include here...

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Please teach your children (and yourselves) how to properly fold the flag.
I do not remember when I learned to do this- Probably my parents taught me when I was real young... Might have been Girl Scouts too.

Those darn Girl Scouts, right???
.
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It's funny to me. I do not mean to offend anyone.
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Now, on to your health...
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I post lots of recalls, but for some reason the FDA isn't updating as frequently.
And I do not post those recalls that are for allergies.




FAAN works to build public awareness of food allergy through the media and through education, advocacy, and research efforts.
The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network

• Education.
• Advocacy.
• Research.
• Awareness.

The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) was established in 1991. FAAN’s membership now stands at close to 30,000 worldwide and includes families, dietitians, nurses, physicians, school staff, and representatives from government agencies and the food and pharmaceutical industries.
. .

• Allergies, A risk factor for Suicide? (Click).
  

Special Allergy Alerts- CLICK to receive alerts by e-mail:
http://www.foodallergy.org/mailinglist1.html

These are the most common allergens:

• Nuts
• Soy
• Wheat
• Milk
• Shrimp
• Fish
• Eggs
• Gluten

I don't have (m)any- allergies- Lucky that way. For those of you that do, the links above will give you lots of info, not only on recalls.


Another Thought at Random here
There is something really wrong with my Yahell mail today...

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In school, (ALL those many moons ago), I always had a problem converting to the Metric System.
Am posting this for my Canadian and UK friends.
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And for me too!
Fahrenheit to Celsius:
To convert temperatures in degrees Fahrenheit to Celsius, subtract 32 and multiply by .5556 (or 5/9).
    * Example: (50°F - 32) x .5556 = 10°C


Celsius to Fahrenheit:
To convert temperatures in degrees Celsius to Fahrenheit, multiply by 1.8 (or 9/5) and add 32.
Maybe I will post this on my top page for Winter...


Casey's Greg uses a "Neti Pot" lots, and swears by it.
So I did some reading on Nasal Irrigation also...

From Wikipedia:
Nasal irrigation or nasal lavage is the personal hygiene practice in which the nasal cavity is washed to flush out excess mucus and debris from the nose and sinuses.
It has been practiced in India for centuries as one of the disciplines of yoga.

• Daily nasal irrigation with salt water is recommended as both an adjunctive and primary treatment in such cases and is preferable to the use of antibiotics or corticosteroids except in the most serious cases of acute bacterial sinusitis which should be immediately referred to an doctor.

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Very interesting, no?

.
 
From PubMed, "CONCLUSION: Nasal irrigation is a simple, inexpensive treatment that relieves the symptoms of a variety of sinus and nasal conditions, reduces use of medical resources, and could help minimize antibiotic resistance."

More CONCLUSIONS: Daily hypertonic saline nasal irrigation improves sinus-related quality of life, decreases symptoms, and decreases medication use in patients with frequent sinusitis.
Primary care physicians can feel comfortable recommending this therapy.


This, from UW Madison (Includes a link to "You Tube" demonstration).

Safe for kids too.  Do all the clicks when you can, you will be amazed!
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CHEWING GUM to ward off infection?
This, for ear and upper respiratory infections
Studies have shown that xylitol chewing gum can help prevent ear infections (acute otitis media).
The act of chewing and swallowing assists with the disposal of earwax and clearing the middle ear, whilst the presence of xylitol prevents the growth of bacteria in the eustachian tubes (auditory tubes or pharyngotympanic tubes) which connect the nose and ear.
When bacteria enter the body they hold on to the tissues by hanging on to a variety of sugar complexes. The open nature of xylitol and its ability to form many different sugar-like structures appears to interfere with the ability of many bacteria to adhere.
In a double-blind randomized controlled trial, saline solutions of xylitol significantly reduced the number of nasal coagulase-negative Staphylococcus bacteria.
The researchers attributed the benefits to the increased effectiveness of endogenous (naturally present in the body) antimicrobial factors



How the heck I went from sick kid to Chewing Gum and douching your nose is beyond me.  ...And Holy Crap!!! it's after noon- I have got to get outside!

Now go have a "wunnaful" day, and be uberhealthy!

Love to all

XOXO
Me

Oh and for the Ohioans among you; CLICK HERE for some Haunted Judicial stories.