BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE

In Monday's post, I was sharing my concern for John.  As I was writing the post, he was sleeping.  He took a four hour nap.  Nap?  Even babies don't sleep for four hours straight!  

When he awoke I told him that we were going to head directly to San Diego area to find an internist.  

Promptly, he declared that he was fine and invited me to go for a walk and to explore one of the foothills behind our motorhome.  

Off we went.  John began making his way up the "mountain." He was searching for interesting rocks. 

Assured that he was okay and being the rock hound that he is, I let him explore.  I follow him for a bit just to check his balance and breathing while moving around on the rocks.  He seemed fine.  I left him to his own pursuits and I started my own exploration.  

In other words, I decided to see how high and far I could not climb before I would "chicken out."  I needed to clear my mind and this was the way I was going to do it. 

On the way up, I set small goals.  Let me see if I can make it to the barrel cactus.  Yep, I made it.    Now, let's see if I can make it to that pretty rock over there.  Yep, I made it.  Further and further I made it up the "mountain."  

About half way up, I stopped, looked down to check my progress and to see John.  John was no where in sight.  I called to him and he answered, so I knew that he was fine.  

After more climbing, I took a photo of the motorhome and Blair Valley in the background.

The valley was so quiet, so still after days of blowing wind and sand.  It looked so peaceful.  Well, it was right then. 

Up and up I climbed. Some of the upward progress was more horizontal to assure a smoother passage to the top.

This  group of rocks was at the top and my goal.  Would I go left or right?  I had no idea.  Here, I encountered agave plants.  One time I had to go directly between two nasty plants and the so enjoyed their sticking their razor sharp points into my legs.  

Thank goodness for long jeans that day.  I decided that their roots really needed to be harvested for Tequila and I was about ready to volunteer for the harvesting job.  Think Margarita.  

Finally, I made it to the top!  Whooo - hooo!  I called out to John,,,,,no answer. He could not hear me.  The views of Blair Valley and Little Blair Valley were breathtaking!  Did I use my camera?  NO!  I was too spellbound to remember to photograph it.  

Surprisingly enough, the top of the "mountain had a nice flat area where I could walk around, take in the views, and photograph a Beaver Tail Cactus in bloom.  When will I remember to take  ALL the photographs????  The views were so breathtaking.

The sun was quickly dropping closer to the horizon.  I decided that I'd better work my way down.  

Going down was easier than going up, especially with my new hiking sticks for additional balance and pushing off or securing my foothold as I would go down "tricky" locations.  

One spot was a challenge since I have bilateral total knee replacements.  I think I may have increased the bend in my left knee!  It sure did give me a jolt as it bent.  

But that is not the "best part."  Not long after my "manipulation" of the knee, I was trying to step over another rock and the next thing I know I am down, face first in a crevice in the hillside and my head was trapped.

Not only was my head between a rock and a hard place, but my left arm and shoulder were underneath me.  (Sorry Dr. D.  I know you told me not to fall on my shoulders!)

I  could not lift or turn my head.  I could only wiggle my hand and arm.  It was trapped!  Panic started to take hold.  I knew that I did not want John to know what predicament I had put myself into.  I did not want to endanger him.  

I relaxed.....wiggled my arm from under my body.  But I still could not get my head dislodged!  I pulled....no luck.  I tried to move my head left and right....no luck.  I could not get a foot hold for leverage.  

Relax some more....think....I am not sure how I did it, but pushing into the crevice and turning my head just a bit, I was able to twist and turn and back out, little by little. 

Okay, I was out, but still had maneuver into a sitting then standing position.  It took a while. But since I am writing this, you know I got out.

Going down the rest of the way was much slower and even more careful.  I was less confident, the sun was setting and John was now calling for me.  I answered.  I  knew that I also had to explain the blood on my arm and legs.  

Needless to say, I am here.  I have bumps on the front and back of my head.  My left hand, elbow, upper arm and hip will attest to the fun I had that sunny Monday on the "mountain."

Would I climb again?  A resounding YES!  Would I be sure of my foot plant...another yes!  

I love this life of full timing and the adventures it affords.  I think I am living my second childhood and it is sooo much fun.  

As I close this saga, I do request that you forget about my silliness and all pray for Kelly of the Bayfield Bunch.  She is having medical issues and we want nothing but the best for her and Al.  

May God bless you all with his abundant love.

  

TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS

I haven't posted for a few days for a couple of reasons....maybe three... four or more.... a lot more.  

I have have had knee replacements with the first being fifteen years ago. My doctor said I was too young, but the quality of life was stinky.  He scoped it first and that was successful for about a year then, we tried Hyalgan shots in the knee.  That was wonderful until I went on a home tour, walked up and down stairs all day and walked from home to home.  By the time the tour was over, my knee hurt and looked like a balloon.  

Surgery was scheduled and I did marvelously!  Physical therapy (p.t.=pain and torture) worked wonders.  That knee has been perfect until now.  Now, standing is a problem.  And what do I do?  I stand to do much of my art work and stand to work with customers.  

A knee replacement will not happen until I am totally miserable.  The surgery is ok, but the physical therapy is hard, hard work when I am working with a physical therapist.... maybe physical terrorist!  

Also, I am having problems with my back.  Let's think about this... hummmm.....no more comments here.

Also (again) the arthritis is in my hands.  This makes my art work hard, hard, harder.  Three years I had my left thumb repaired.  You don't want me to describe it.  The procedure sounds worse than it is.  But..again there was three months of occupational therapy on my hand.  (another terrorist!)

Tomorrow, I go to the doctor for my right thumb.  Dumb thumb.  Here is a video of the surgery he will do, hopefully next week. Pretty soon, I am going to be the Bionic Woman with all new joints!

St James Court Art Show in Louisville, KY is Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  I should, do ya hear that S.H.O. U. L.D. have a huge inventory for this show as it is a great show to sell my artwork.  

I do not have what is needed to provide the income that I desire.  Every time I make something, I'm out of commission for days on end.  Frustrating.  Right now, I have three hats that need to be embellished and I have no strength in the thumb, but plenty of pain.  
I am going with what I have done and be thankful for what is finished.  I'm going to stand there and smile as I sell whatever people purchase from me and other vendors.  I WILL be thankful for what income my work generates.  We may travel this winter with less money, but I WILL be thankful that we are traveling.  

OK, enough of that...next crisis.  I started the washing machine to, of course, do laundry.  Out comes thick BLACK water!  I immediately shut off the washing machine.  At the same time I hear John calling out to me, "do you have the washing machine on?"  He was getting BLACK as he was washing his hands. 

To make a long story short, the black, gritty water was only coming from the hot line so we drained the hot water tank until the water is now crystal clear.  Panic for a little while, but simple reasoning saved the day.  Now, we will see if the water stays clear.  

Now I am way behind.  I've laundry to do, dishwasher to run, etc. etc.  We will leave directly from Ortho Indy after my appointment, so I really don't have much time....and here I sit and whine.  

OK, back to work.  Be safe in your activities out there and

God bless and keep you!  

Gentlemen, Get Ready to Start your Engine!

With the holidays over and the hardwood floors installed in the house, we are a few steps closer to leaving the Indianapolis area and heading on to warmer country. The Motor Home is at Edmundson RV, located in Taylorsville, IN for it's oil change, brakes, new water closet and a few other minor repairs to make our road trip worry free, (we hope) and more comfortable. Since we are new to this lifestyle, we are learning new things every day as we read the blogs of those more experienced. Oh, what a learning curve!

As of today, our first stop will be Savahna, Ga. Then on to Florida to watch the launch of the last space shuttle. Once we have experienced that, we are off to Gulf Shores, Alabama to meet up with family for a day or so then to New Orleans. After that, it is off to California to visit with daughter #2. After this, we hope to spend time in south west TX before heading home for the Smoky Mountain Fiber Festival in Townsend TN March 18 -20. From there, we head to Bowling Green, OH for the Black Swamp Market Day on March 26.

During all this time, we will be stopping off at antique shops and yarn shops seeking our dreams. We dream of any fiber related item, and John, also, of coins. Since I have discovered the antique circular sock machines and knitted my first sock, I'm on the look-out for more sock machines. Oh, my gosh, what fun the sock machine is....and when good at it, I will be able to knit a pair of socks in an hour....did you hear what I said???? AN HOUR!!!! Holy cow! I'm on one pair of socks I started knitting at the Michigan Fiber Festival in August of 2009! These sock machines were popular in the late 1800's and early 1900's. Many were sold or given to people to knit socks for the soldiers in the war. Now, these machines make socks that exceed the quality of any sock made in China or wherever.

John has started weaving on his birthday present I purchased at the southern Indiana Fiber Festival in Corydon, IN. He is learning to weave on a rigid heddle loom. I have a 4 harness loom, but he wanted to "start small" and work up...He's about to get hooked!

The drawback to this trip? My niece, who is more like a sister (6 yrs diff), is having total knee replacement. I wish I could be here to walk through the experience with her since I had my first TKR 12 years ago and my second 4 years ago.

Enough for now, but as the "blast off" date grows closer and arrives, there will be more.

quote of the day: "Success if the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." Winston Churchill