A Changing Rhythm

 Immediately upon my accident,

my rhythm changed.

My resting heart rate immediately jumped.

Upon surgery, it jumped some more.

Change, pain, and discomfort led my body to speed up its rhythm.

I need more blood to the wrist to heal it.

In fact, the research shows that I need more calories during this time, even though I am not as active.

Not only has the rhythm of my body changed,

but the rhythm in the home has changed.

There is a rhythm of an electric dishwasher after lunch to spare hubby a few dishes and drying out his hands even more.

The kitchen often has 2 cooks now.

The workouts are slower and more thought out.

I am glad that this rhythm does not have to be indefinite.

And I am trying to speed things along.

The 6 week timetable may not change, but I want my wrist to heal strong.

So, I am thinking of nutrients:

protein, calcium, healthy fats, vitamin D, Potassium, Magnesium, and Vitamin C.

All are working together to heal my body.

So some of my meals have become more like medicine than enjoyable meals.

Daily I drink a green smoothie.

Almond milk - protein and calcium

Spinach - calcium, potassium, Vitamin K

Banana - potassium

Flax Seed - Iron, protein, healthy fats

Peanut Butter - Protein

Matcha Powder - antioxidants, anti-inflammatory

Maple Syrup - just to make it drinkable

It is actually a good smoothie anyway, but I have upped the flax seed which makes the texture a bit thick!

It is also great because I can actually make it myself.

Take Nothing for Granted

 I can procrastinate with the best of them.

My life is fairly simple (isn't that my goal) which makes tasks fairly easy to juggle.

Last week, I mentioned that I was glad that I had finished painting a dresser.

It would have been terrible to see it staring at me for 6 weeks  ....

and hubby would have definitely wanted the space back in his garage.

So often, we think of not procrastinating in the realm of fixing relationships.

You never know what the next day will bring ...

death, illness, mental troubles.

But there is also the simple matter of just being deligent.

Get todays work done.

You never know what tomorrow holds.

I am "flying solo" again this week.

Hubby took his work back to the office.

I never would have imagined that I would be doing my everyday work with primarily one hand.

I am glad for the work that I stayed up on,

and sorry for the projects that I pushed to "tomorrow"

which may now be 5 more weeks.

Update:

I am one week into my healing.

I am primarily without pain except when I make a few odd movements without thinking.

I am actually using both hands to type this blog.

I have my first follow-up next Tuesday.

The surgeon said that he will remove the splint and cast the arm then.

I assume that there will be another xray - and I hope to hear that we are running ahead of schedule.

The 4-Year Old in Me

 Being restricted is a challenge.

My independent self does not like to rely on others.

I am often found making life "easier" for hubby in the kitchen.

This usually involves me trying to be independent, but instead making more work for him because of the mess I leave behind.

It involves me struggling for 15 minutes with tongue out and brow furrowed trying to button a shirt with one hand.

It involves strange scrawling on a grocery list or menu plan.

I am having to slow down, to think about the simplest tasks, to make extra trips.

One such activity is card writing.

It is one of the activities that I value as a special ministry.

While I might have to stop playing the piano for 6 weeks,

surely I can write a letter :)

You may receive one.

Please give grace.

The 4-year-old is trying.

This one is headed to Oregon.

The day after surgery, I filled the whole morning with a card and balancing checkbook because it took so long to write anything legibly.

My Right Hand Man

 My dear one has always been a hard worker,

but even more so this week.

While working from home, 

he has taken on ...

lawn care,

cooking,

dishwashing,

shopping,

and general help when I get "stuck."

Just hours before the event which we would like to forget,

I bought two bags of Macintosh Apples.

They are my favorite and are quite difficult to find in the PNW.

I told hubby that I had planned to make him a pie and some apple sauce

(as well as just enjoying them as snacks).

I should have bought them the week before to "keep the doctors away."

Yesterday, hubby decided to tackle some mini pies.

He did just great!

Here they are ... ready for the oven.

I may be out of a job when this is all over.

On The Mend

 I am so grateful for all the people who prayed for my surgery yesterday.

We arrived at the hospital at 1:30 with surgery slated for 3:30.

Well, surgery didn't happen until 5:30ish,

but I was out of the hospital by 8:30.

I am thankful for a skilled surgeon.

I am thankful that my new splint ends before my elbow and is only hard on the bottom making it more breathable.
I am thankful that hubby has been able to work from home.

I am thankful that I have been able to manage pain with Tylenol only.

I am thankful for the cool temps outside so the house is cool and comfortable.

And today, I don't feel too bad.

I can sense where the plate and screws are,

but I have done two small loads of wash

and made a tuna pasta salad with hubby's help.

I hope to take a walk later on this beautiful fall day.

Did I Mention that I Have to Paint?

Today is surgery day.

It appears that I get a plate and some screws.

And ... quite the lengthy recovery.

Hubby has been great helping his one-handed wife and just taking on a second job.

There are still some extra projects that have been going on.

I am glad I finished some projects that were already started.

In fact, I finished the dresser the day before the big fall.

One project was refinishing a dresser for our bedroom.

We sold 2 dressers that we had purchased when we married.

I had refinished them in OR, but we just needed to downsize.

We still have 2 dressers from hubby's grandmother.

But ...

we were tired of the French Provincial style.

this one is waiting its turn :)

So we turned it into more of a farmhouse look.

I was confused as to how to get the look I wanted.

I love the look of a wood top,

but the dresser had a laminate top.

I tried to sand, but to no avail.

Then I found a paint online that is made of wood chips.

I ordered it (again with survey money),

and it actually worked.

The top of the dresser was painted and then stained like regular wood.

I used "Coastal Blue" chalk paint and then distressed it.

And I spray painted the handles.

The other project was a console table that hubby made for the living room.

I so wanted a place to decorate for the seasons and a place to set things on the way in or out of the house (ie phone, wallet, bag).

It also is a good place to set a drink at night while relaxing on the couch.

Hubby quickly put this together using some leftover wood from the closet project and $12 of additional wood.

Stained top and shelf

Chalk paint on legs and aprons.

Simply

 Perhaps you noticed it on the SideBar ...

Perhaps you didn't.

Hubby has a new blog ...

He wanted something with a little more variety.

And he gave a little nod to his wife.

My blog is "Simply Keeping the Home."

His blog is "Simply a Working Man."

The Left Handed Blogger

 So...

I am all about making new experiences.

New homes, new friends, new churches ...

but I am making a first that I never expected to have at 47.

Yesterday, I decided to clean the siding in my entryway.

Shoulda, woulda, coulda says why didn't I just use the car wash brush ...

but I did not ...

and I tumbled off a step ladder, caught myself with my hand

AND...

TADA

It appears that I could not just break neatly,

I had to shatter it

and so ...

on Monday or Tuesday, I will have surgery including pins

and start on the road to recovery.

And at 47, I have experienced my first broken bone.

Now if only I were a southpaw like my father.

Making Friends - Do You Want to Play?

One of my goals when getting settled after a move is to make friends.

I usually find it easiest to make friends with "little" people first.

This move was no exception.

Early in our time at our new church,

we made friends with the children of the church.

They liked to play hide and seek.

And they wanted us to play as well.

They liked to hide in cupboards,

between cupboards,

behind tables,

all places that grown-ups can't really fit.

We played a round one day,

but then I decided that we needed to change up the game.

Enter - the little wooden people.

I made some wooden people to stand in for us.

The children even call them Mr. and Mrs. B.

We hide them so that at least some part of them is showing

and then we have to be found.

It is a lot easier for us, for they can hide in a lot better places.

Yardwork May be Dirty, but It's Not A Dirty Word

 There are few things that I enjoy more than working in the yard.

While I did not like weeding the red clay in preparation for the sod,

I love mowing, tending flowers, enjoying the outdoors.

We are not truly to Fall weather but after 3 days back in the upper 90s,

today's mid-70s weather was perfect for some mowing.

You can see a few spots where the grass was "drowned" or "matted down." 

Still some maintenance to do, but making progress.

When we moved to Oregon, hubby would always ask prospective landlords 

if I could mow or if they hired the lawn care out.

After nearly 6 months off, I am now back to mowing.

On Saturday, and then again today, I mowed our new yard.

It is a peaceful activity and usually very satisfying.

It takes a whopping 33 minutes and it is just perfect!

Hubby bought me a little battery-powered mower in OR.

After 3 years, I am thankful that it is still running well.

And now we are adding to the family of battery-powered tools.

2 weeks ago, I ordered an edger to keep the sidewalk, patio, and driveway neat,

and in the first week of October, I hope to order the string trimmer and blower.

Why wait for the order?

Well, I have been able to use survey money to provide for a lot of the extras in our move ...

Curtain rods, curtains, lawn care.  

By the first week of October, I should have what I need.

I am thankful that just this week,

God provided 2 online interviews (for 2 hours total) for $68 in gift cards.

Atypical, yes, but a blessing nonetheless.

Then 2 weeks ago,

a survey company sent me a Galaxy Smartwatch to evaluate.

When I finish the survey - on the marketplace it goes!