Walking Around the Block

 This is the view as I am walking back to my house on Horado Rd.  My house is across the street from the house at the bottom and the view is facing northeast toward Ramona.  As I walk up the hill in the afternoon we are looking into the sunset and toward the ocean in the west.  About 30 minutes from the ocean!  

When we lived in Rancho Bernardo in 1988-1996 we were north of the city.  Now the communities have filled in between the first place I lived in North Park and Carmel Mountain, Penasquitos, Mira Mesa, Poway, Scripps Ranch etc are all south of me but there are few open spaces.

I had a Carl Larson picture on a tray which I have used for over 20 years I think but today I broke it on my tile kitchen floor.  No problem I decoupaged it and it is firm and solid and matches the box I use to put all the things I need to walk Sadie (keys, leash, sunglasses.)  I had been using the garage door opener and exiting and entering the garage for our walks.  But I came home to find my garage door wide open (and who knows for how long) because carrying the opener on the waist of my jeans was too sensitive to my movements and who knows when I had accidently opened the garage.  Now I put the keys around my neck and go in and out the front door.

I use the tray when I want to watch tv while eating my lunch or supper.  So far, no spills.  Decoupage is fun and Eden and Kiera and Nico (with Meagan's help) have done a little.

My Doll Collection

For the first time in over 25 years I got out all my dolls...over 26 of them!!

                       I used to have three or four village houses but I only have two left!!!

       Of course I still have all my Shirley Temple dolls which no one can relate to, except me!!!

Cinderella is on the table with Kathy from Germany below.  Kirsten, the American Girl doll from Sweden is by the TV.

             These cute little guys were brought back by Camber from one of her travels.  Just precious.

Of course, Raggedy Ann and Andy.  I made each of the children one so this has to be whose???  Not sure, maybe John's and????

And, of course, my favorite Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, which no one relates to but me either.  I remember the paper dolls from when I was five and I would play all over the living room while the my brothers and sisters were at school.

 

My Mauve Christmas Tree

I found the box of old Christmas ornaments from when we had lived in Rancho Bernardo in the late 80s and early 90s and I put them on my tree on the front porch.  I think it looks darling.

 They were mostly handmade and there were a lot of satin fans, too.  Some things I do are really a little weird.

Health Updates

I tried to get a new cardiologist at the Scripps Clinic in Rancho Bernardo.  Dr. Kim's receptionist said she was not seeing new patients but would check and she never called. I then called the other and the receptionist took all my information and said she would check and call me back.  She never called.   I reached out to my primary doctor at Scripps in La Jolla to see if she could help and explained my situation.  Her only response was to call cardiology.  By then I had realized that the closest emergency and urgent care hospital was 5 minutes away and the big hospital in Escondido only16 minutes away but they are under Palomar Health.

I then decided I should try and get a cardiologist in Palomar Health but if they were not accepting new patients I did not know what I would do.

I thought of calling someone in the ward to see if they had anyone who worked with Palomar Health and could help get in but I was also praying for who to call and as I was flipping through the web about Palomar Health I found the ad to call a number for help in getting referred to a doctor.  I called and she did and I was soon talking to the receptionist of Dr. Rod Serry at Arch Healthcare.  She listened very carefully and took down all my information and even my insurance.  Then she gave me an appointment for Monday, November 16 and asked me to get a release on my medical records from Scripps.  He serves Escondido three days a week and here near the hospital on Monday and Fridays.

I am faxing the request but in the meantime I am copying from My Scripps records and will take them with me.

UPDATE: I was fortunate to be accepted by Dr Rod Serry, he has done more TAVRS in the county that any other doctor and I really like him, the way he explains things, etc.  Very happy to make the switch

Health Update

  On Saturday, November 7, the following occurred. Health Update

James and Camber Hardy took me to lunch at Hunan Restaurant in Rancho Bernardo.  When dropping met off it was discovered I did not have the keys to my house and car which was kept on a long blue ribbon.  James’ car and my purse were searched thoroughly.  I had my emergency car keys and keys to Linda and Gary’s house but not the regular set of keys.  James and Camber went back to the restaurant and the owners searched but said they were not there.  James was able to open the kitchen window and Camber climbed through and opened the doors. I had used the keys to lock the front door when I left the house and Camber saw me drop them in my purse.  At the restaurant I took out my phone and somehow must have pulled the keys out and not noticed I left them on the bench or floor.  James called the restaurant again and I left them my name and phone number.  Sometime later the restaurant called and said they had found the keys and I retrieved them and James and Camber went on with their errand.

But the whole incident must have stressed me out.  It was a cool, rainy day and toward evening I began feeling chills and turned the furnace on, however it did not work so when I went to bed, I layered up in clothing and added more blankets to the bed.  However, I was having shortness of breath at that time which only had affected me occasionally heretofore and no matter how I situated myself I could not get comfortable or breathe well enough to sleep.  Several times in the night I had to get up and pee but it came so fast and so much I could not get there in time and even though wearing a pad, had to change my clothes at least three times, the urine appeared darker and I  knew I was not drinking enough water to account for all of that.  (I later read that in chronic heart failure in a shortness of breath attack the oxygen goes to the life sustaining organs and so the kidneys do not function well, I assume that is what was happening.)  My temperature was 100.8 at some point in time that night.  By morning I was able to breathe better and stayed in bed and slept all day except to get up and feed the dog and let him in and out.  It was not until 5 pm that I rose and had a protein drink and watched television for a while. I felt rested and bathroom breaks were normal.  Temperature was down to 99.4. I felt well.

Definitely feeling back to normal.

  

Rose Bush, an Added Plus

With a little fertilizer, trimming and water I have returned the three rose bushes in front of the house to their glory.  Hope I can keep it up, they were all yellow and yucky when I arrived.

 

Tanner and Marissa

Taking time off from work and schooling in Iowa!

 

Rancho Bernardo House

The living room couch table became a lovely place for me to keep my cds and portable cd player.  If I played it enough, I would get daily danciing done.  It also turned out to be a great place to display Brian's picture  of Salt Lake Temple and wedding pix of grandparents Larson and Mom and Dad!

The third piece of the three piece shelving has become the China Cabinet and that works fine!

With the doll gifts from Meagan and Quinnie dancing whenever the cooling or heat fan is on, it is in a perfect place.  When we had these top two reversed it just did not look right and Linda said quickly, trade places, and that worked so great!

The furniture couldn't fit better in here if we had planned.  I had to leave one of the rockers behind but there is no room for it anyway.  We went with the yellow because of all the sunflowers I have, and it is perfect for spring and summer.  

They even sell fresh sunflowers at the grocery store and they are usually in Vida's pot on the coffee table.  That is another picture of Brian's which I asked him to paint my Dad in the stream fishing and he did.  I like the Family Sign that Camber gave us on the fireplace, too.

I did bring my bird bath with me and all the rocks I had gathered when living at the beach two summers ago.  The Massey children wondered where I had gotten all the clear rocks, at the beach, of course.

Since I did not bring the dining table with me, I bought a new one from Amazon.  Meagan came over and helped put it together.  I extends to seating for six..  Paid to much for it but it will be perfect if I need to move to a smaller place.

I also did not bring Richard's big desk with me.  So I bought this one from Ikea and Meagan helped put it together.  The nice thing is that it comes apart and if I am living in a smaller place the drawers can go in a closet and readapt.  I use it every day, love it.

Another plus to this house is the lovely covered patio I have.  It is so large and just perfect if anyone drops by.  There is nothing growing on the hill and since I have been paying for the water I am very glad about that.  

I did bring my alligator and Linda had stuck her cement blocks in just before they closed the truck and then could not find a place for them at her house so they are in the raised garden which will probably not have anything in it growing.  I left the little corn stock to grow, the birds love it, so that is fun to watch.

I also watched a hawk kill and eat a little grey bird.  He peeled all the feathers off all the way holding it down on that wood wall.  So gross to watch.

 

Vitamin Box

I enjoyed making a new decoupage box for my vitamins.  With the big table in the kitchen and lots of natural light, it is easy to do.

 

Clear Creek Branch

Jean sent me a picture of the Branch doing social distancing as they are meeting for Church during Covid.

 

Rancho Bernardo House

 

We had a hard time deciding how to place the furniture

 in the guest bedroom but both Meagan and Amy agreed it should be like this and Meagan suggested a lamp to fill the space left on the bureau.  Roomy bedroom.

 

So far it has worked.  The snowflake bedspread turned into a Swedish motive and that works, too.  The rattan chest with extra blanket had to go in the closet once the desk was moved in.

So many of the family came over to help with the move-in it was really incredible, I wish I had gotten everyone's picture.

Carole spied this chest which is perfect for my little tv in the bedroom.

I chose to use the guest quarters as the Master Bedroom and I had to turn my side tables the other way for it all to fit but I can see the front area from my bedroom plus have plenty of room for all my things next to me.  For the first time in 21 years I can put the mirror back over my dresser.

But the guest bathroom is so much more practical because the other bathroom is long way down the hall and the shower in the front bedroom is really roomy with a place to sit if you want plus room for all my stuff.  Love it.

This area is really incredible for all my books I still need to go through and get rid off, so many things about this house that has made it perfect for my needs at this time in my life.  I really know that there was devine help in putting all of this together and making it work, the sale of my house, the move, the new house, all just as worked so, so well..

 This is the front area I look out on.  A front porch thing I have not found a need for but a gardener keeps it raked, they come once a month to cut and blow and sometimes weed but they love to chop up all the plants mostly.  Big light on the corner which I like and I can see garbage trucks and anything else I need to without opening my garage.

Linda and Amy in Linda's Kitchen

Before Amy and Joe moved to West Virginia they would come to Linda and Gary's house almost every week for a delicious dinner.  It was so delightful to live in this beautiful home where everything has a place and  looks so beautiful as well.  They have done so much work to make it very lovely and the whole family are good cooks so very wonderful food as well. 

 

Moving Day

Linda and Gary picked up a truck in Chico I think and drove it up.  Joe and Monica and the missionaries came over and what amazing work they all did!!

 Nevertheless, we had to leave some things there.  I left one of the rockers, the dining table and chairs and corner cupboard to match, the glass shelves, gave the twin bed away and all the shelves and desk in that room...still the truck was bursting.  Joe said he wished he had encouraged me to get a bigger truck.  As it is we could not have found a place for it all but we could have used the dining table and chairs.  I really appreciate the hard work of all these people.  Carole was there helping, too but did not make the picture.

Last Time at Buffalo Chips

We had to do the traditional thing and have one last time at Buffalo Chips.  Buffalo Chips has wonderful  pizza and is quite near the Clear Creek Branch.  We enjoyed all of it, though forgot to take a picture of what we were eating!

Carole flew to Reno thinking we were leaving sooner than we are.  She has been such a tremendous help in preparing to leave and will drive down with me and stay until she can help me move in.

Linda and Gary will be driving the truck with all the furniture.  They flew up and rented a car to get the truck rental.

 

Leaving Lake Almanor

In Spring 2020 I was diagnosed with Aortic Stenosis and it was decided I needed to sell my Lake Almanor home and live closer to the children.  

The first weekend my house sold and this is one of the last pictures of Sadie and I at Lake Almanor before Carole and I leave for San Diego.

 

Meagan turns 40

Meagan is the first granddaughter and we gave her so much attention you would have thought she would turn out very spoiled, but so not, just delightful.  What a fun baby and what a beautiful woman, so blessed to be her Grandmother.  

Masseys Go to Silvergate Cabin

Meagan sent pictures from their rainy week at the cabin and their 4th of July in Vernal, Utah.  They were driving home from the cabin and stayed in Vernal.  The celebration was so fun, she said they would love to go there again for the 4th.  Parade and good food!!!

 

CRAZY

This is how I feel sometimes.  It will only get worse as time goes on!!!!!

 

Another Grandchild Graduates!!!

James (Jimmy) Hardy graduates from high school and takes the plunge into the future.  Jimmy is the one who has always been willing to lug my luggage up and down the stairs and help me in any way he can.  He has a truly sweet disposition.  Jimmy is also an amazing skateboarder and can spend hours perfecting his talent.

It amazes me how these Hardy children with the Carlston genes are all so talented and coordinated in all kinds of sports...it certainly did not come from the Hardy side, although we can't forget that Grandpa Anderson had some good genes to hand down in the sports department.  He was an ace football, basketball and track star.  And Jimmy kind of looks like him, too.

 

My Sister Carole

Carole sent a picture with her friend from Glendive.  Looking good!!!