Battle of the beiges

 Hi folks.  First off, the little tree.  I purchased it a few years ago at JoAnn's 75% off sale, no previous photo.  I didn't remove any branches, just cut them because they were all very long.  The top were extended as far as the bottom branches, so I used the snips to shorten and shape. 

 

This very small tree was full with single branches coming from the main trunk and I cut/removed more than half, used floral tape (or brown electrical tape) to then wrap the trunk.  If there are smaller branches coming off each limb, it takes a while to shorten them all.  But I've done that too on a six footer.

I am creating unnecessary work on Elizabeth as more Ecru is used.  It does show if the work is in my lap or close, but I taped it to the wall and can barely see that beige on this Winter Brew.  Sort of looked like a vine without a bud.  So I used 3865 to stitch ELIZ and it shows better but is stark.  I moved on to 712, warm like Ecru but a little lighter and more noticeable.  A few areas would need to be changed if I choose this option.  But....

Another option is outlining the large buds with the gold thread.  I used the Paint program on the left border and I like it. But the gold buds not being outlined would bother me.

Bud is eating very little, sleeping, enjoying a soft brushing.  Petey has gained a lot of weight and is trying his best to sneak into the house.  Nit and even failing Bud attacked him, Missy runs and hides.  She used to swat him but since he "caught up" with her this summer, she won't get near him.  I can't have cat fights in the house.  I'm careful when petting him, can sense when he will strike and haven't been scratched in a while.

Carole is feeling and breathing better.  You asked why she didn't question the change.  Not something she does, ever.  It's like she is afraid of insulting doctors, and especially Cleveland Clinic, they can do no wrong.  I wasn't there because the Clinic did not allow family during Covid.  She was taken from our hospital by ambulance, and we picked her up at the door after discharge.  She told me they added a baby aspirin back to her list, but nothing else.  I need to see her paperwork on release because she has hearing loss, and at 82, does get things confused.  Her PCP (I can't go in with her) will check those records when he hears of this I'm sure.

Hope your weekend was pleasant.  My snow melted and I moved the lighted wire tree to the front in place of the grapevine.  Love it.  

Be careful.  Carole's friends are all still sick along with several of our friends.  Some very sick, others not as much, all testing positive.  We've been wearing masks for almost nine months, staying home, and distancing.  And the world having been shut down for months only delayed the spread.  There will be a lot of people with immunity in 2021, and I wonder if we will be required to test for those antibodies before receiving the vaccine.  

Stay safe friends!!

***********************

Snip

That's better.

*****************

An explanation?

 Carole called her doctor and has an appointment Monday.  She said she feels a little better today and took another half of her 40 mg Lasix. Ahhh, excuse me, what did you say?  A half?  It seems the other doctor that cared for her in Cleveland this summer regarding the carotid blockage, changed her heart doctor's prescription dosage.  She went from two 40 mg lasix daily to a 20 mg half tablet.  I just found this out and cannot understand this doctor's reasoning when she had her chart from previous visits and diagnoses.  No wonder she is having issues.  First of all, she had no business changing Carole's primary cardiologist's orders.  The cardio she just saw a few weeks ago here, did not question it.  Well I am.  Her wonderful PCP called her personally when he saw she made an appointment, to see if she needed treatment before then.  He told her to follow her sister's advice and take two 40 a day for two days to remove fluid and then one a day, he will see her then.  I'm sure this is the problem and honestly, am surprised she hasn't had a crisis on only 20 mg for months.  That may be a good sign that the meds are helping her heart failure.  But I'm not a medical professional, most crabasses don't qualify.  But we do like to give orders.

The sun is out today and snow is melting.  I think I will move the grapevine to the back and bring that little lighted twig here to the corner.  I found brown wire light strings on Amazon and purchased two sets, just in case I make another tree.  I do like the brown strings much better on any sparse tree and haven't found them in any stores.  So much nicer on the mostly brown German twig trees.

Have a great day folks!!

************************

Distress and stress

 And I'm running out of Ativan.   Didn't have many to begin with, took several trying to calm the palps.  I mentioned that Carole is having difficulty breathing again at times, and it's been constant for two days now.  Has she called her doctor?  No.  She doesn't want to go to the hospital, and if required, only in Cleveland.  Go get an xray to see if your CHF is causing fluid in your lungs and can be treated.  No.  She will wait another day.  It's fricking Friday and the doctor leaves at noon.  We'll see.  So wait until I hear you panicking on the phone at 3am that you can't breath and have an ambulance take you to a Covid filled hospital.  She had all week to get help.  I thought I was jittery before.  Will I sleep?  No.  Memories of those weeks of mid night calls and panic are flooding me, I knew it would happen again, that's CHF.  But with all the new meds that seemed to be helping, this is troubling.  It's always in my mind that her failing heart will soon give out, and every episode of distress reinforces my fear.

I worked on the body of Elizabeth a little during the palp jitters but there is no way I can hold a steady needle until I have some answers or calm down.  I'm not expecting either anytime soon.

Hope you have a nice weekend.

*********************

Damn

 Monday night

Tuesday morning

Tuesday at dinner

Tuesday at 9 pm

AUGH!!!

From the past

While looking for old blog photos of my trees and how I decorated them in past years (I never remember to use labels on posts), I came across this.  Seven years ago!!  Will menopause ever end?

*********************

With all the Christmas music playing, it's easy to have one get stuck in your mind.  Mine is Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. Sinatra, Taylor, Garland, Carpenter - anyone's!
I have my own version so hum the tune while you read mine.

Have yourself a merry little menopausal Christmas

Let your mood be blue

From now on, your hormones

have control and rule

Have yourself a menopausal Christmas

Make the yuletide fun

From now on, your emotions

tend to sharpen your tongue

Here we are in our olden days

Sane and youthful days long gone

Faithful friends who are dear to us

Now do fear us and move on

Through the years, we all will be together

If the mood allows

Hang a hormone patch upon the highest bough

And have yourself a menopausal Christmas, now

Here we are in the Santa line
With our wishlist in bold pen
Youthful dreams dancing in our heads
of tighter skin and estrogen

Through the years, we'll all become impatient

Fighting tears somehow

Hang a warning sign upon the highest bough

I'll have myself a menopausal Christmas, now.

**********************