It stinks to get older

 As a kid, why in the world did I wish to be older. How little we know that it can be so tough. This week was one doctors appointment after another. Check ups, follow ups and tests.

Mark is waiting for his test results from an Echo and I'm waiting for an appointment with a surgeon. Yesterday I went in to the doctor hoping to get cortizone shots in my shoulders and hip to help with the pain. Little did I know that that is not in the cards for me. My hip has bursitis so I was given several PT exercises to do. The pain is too much to do alone so Mark has to help me until it isn't too painful to do without his help.  I was told that the injections would or could do more harm than good in my shoulders. There are too many tears in my upper arms (rotator cuff) so surgery is in my future. After we talk to the surgeon I will or will not make a date for the procedure. Mark is insistent that I have the surgery so that I get his help with daily tasks now  incase something would happen to him later and I would have to rely on outside help and no one here to help me at any given time. He always thinks of me. If I should go ahead with the surgery, it would be in the fall. Summer I like to spend in the pool where as in the fall and winter I hibernate anyway. Too many snowbirds around for us to have any fun anywhere. It's almost impossible to even go out to eat.

Update: As I looked and read what my x-rays show, it is not bursitis in my hip. I'm going to another doctor for another opinion. As well as for my shoulders. My previous visit does not seem to be correct.

Done

 We are finally done with the major updates to our new place. The last of the sunscreens were installed today. So we are as ready for summer as we can get. Well the house is ready anyway. 

 We chatted about all that we needed to do to a move in ready house. If you weren't going to live here full time it was move in ready. Or if you didn't cook or bake, it was ready, or if you were really short and didn't need to replace the very short toilet, it was ready.  But isn't that true with anyplace you move into? Is there not always some things that you need to have done to make it work for you and your lifestyle? Mark really could use a new shed too. The floor is about to give way and it is so small it's hard to turn around inside.

We have been having some hot summer days already this spring. This week it has been in the mid and upper 90's. And along with the high temps the high winds have also been an issue. Dirt and debris wickedly flying all over. It would be good days for a dip in the pool but the last of the snowbirds are winding down with their drunken pool parties. Let them have at it, we will get our turn shortly for much longer enjoyment.

From an old shoe to a glass slipper

 When we picked Mandy up at the human society we were proud because she looked so tough that we though no one would want her. But....... after trip to the groomer to get all cleaned up, she went from an ugly old shoe to a pretty glass slipper. The first picture is the day we brought her home and the second pic is after the groomer. 

Mandy is a "typical" little girl....She loves to put on her pretty dresses and cute shirts. Yep, she puts her head right through the head hole as well as her legs in the right ones. She is also not real happy when it's time to take off her dress or shirt. What a Diva. LOL

She prances down the street like the queen of the RV park. I'ld say we made one little dog very happy. And she has made us happy too.

More beautification.

 Mark really liked the wood blinds that we had put up in our other home and wanted them in this place too. He put up 7 blinds, living room, dining room, kitchen and bedroom, and they do look very nice. But at first it was very hard for me to look at without reflecting on our loss. A lot of things trigger the day of the fire and all that was lost. Baby steps. We also have the sunscreens on the outside being installed. They measured several of them wrong so had to take them back. We also noticed that some were put on wrong and will have to be redone. This all will be a great help in keeping summer sun and heat out. Hopefully the job will be completed before the big heat is here.

We purchased another storage cabinet for on the porch from Sam's Club. There is quite a bit less storage in this place  than in our other home. Not even having half of what we lost and not having storage tells us how little storage is here. Our laundry cabinet has also become a pantry for food. Not much for cabinets in the kitchen unless you don't cook or eat at home. This home is about 6 feet shorter too. But at least we have a carport to protect our car from the sun, a dishwasher, and washer and dryer. 

Mandy is doing very well and has decided that we need protecting. Yep, she has found her bark. And she lets anyone who comes here know that she means business too. We are trying hard to break her from too much barking.

Mark has gone to the gun range a couple times with a friend. He took what was left of my gun along and they tested to see if it was still working.  Mark worked hard at cleaning it and working on it to make it function again.Yep, it does. It looks tough but is functioning . Nice to have our guns firing properly. Mark also installed security cameras again too. And they are working very well. Some are visible and some are not.

Yes, it's looking more like our place every day. Maybe some day soon it will feel like home to me. With none of "our" original possessions I just don't feel at home. Our son, bless his heart, has been sending us photo's via text so I am planning on making copies to hang on the walls. Maybe having some family pictures around will help me adjust. I really miss all of my quilted table runners, placemats and quilts. They were my pride and joy. Thanks to my wonderful sister in law, I have one table runner that I made. She gave back the one I had given her years ago.

The weather has been very spring like, temps going up and down. Winds the last few days have been just wicked. The warm weather has had the pool filled with snowbirds but the recent wind has kept them inside. It's no fun eating dirt even while in the pool.  Quite a few of the birds have left for home so the park is slowly thinning out. All of us full timers are anxious for all of them to leave. And like the winter weather they will be gone too.

Last weekend we went to the Arizona MarketPlace. I have not gotten much of any clothes since losing it all. So I now have 7 new t-shirts, which is what I much prefer to wear and Mark got 2 new muscle shirts for the summer. I've ordered 4 pair of capris's from Walmart too. Unless I need something really dressy I have all the clothes I need now. I absolutely hate shopping for clothes and women's shirts do not fit me. Another reason I like t-shirts. I buy mens t-shirts since they are longer. I'm too old for the women's midriff shirts. Why are women's shirts so much shorter? Larger sizes are  wider but so short, it makes no sense. Another question.... why aren't women's slacks sold by waist and length like mens?

End of February

 Time stands still for nobody. The end of February is just a week away and that means in a month or less most of the snowbirds will be leaving. Some of them it's none too soon for them to leave. Some are kind and thoughtful people.

Our little Mandy was given a cute name by my cousin Patty. She referred to her are Miss Mandy Houdini Benton. Yes, Mandy is some escape artist. She got out of her crate last week by knocking the door off. Guess those cheap crates from Walmart weren't meant to keep her inside. Or any dog for that matter. She is so good overnight without being in the crate, but if we leave her alone, she goes nuts. Yes, we are still dealing with separation anxiety with her.  Since she is so small we do take her most places that we go. The exceptions being eateries, and stores. We don't shop inside stores very much nor do we eat out often anymore due to the trump virus. So she is with us the majority of the day. Yesterday she snuck out the gate with me, but didn't run away. She stopped at the bottom of the stairs and looked at me and turned to walk to the car. She loves to go for rides. I picked her up and just brought her into the house. It seems to me that she knows she has it pretty darn good here. 

Tis the season for fresh citrus to be at its peak. And we are getting our share of the fruit. Mark has been busy with his electric juicer making grapefruit juice, orange juice and lemon juice. Our freezer is  filling fast. The season comes to an end quickly so we are contemplating going for another run to pick up two more bags of fresh fruit. The groves are all selling at great prices to sell their over abundance from their groves. All of the fruit has been very good too.

Last of the indoor renovations.

 Today we are getting a new kitchen sink and faucet put in place of a shallow, narrow porcelain sink. The old faucets are all coming off of the sink since they were only put on with putty and the old sink is only 6 inches deep and 3 inches narrower than a regular kitchen sink. That made for difficulty in washing dishes especially kettles and plates. Water splashes everywhere but in the sink.

This should be the last of the major inside renovations of our new home. In 5 weeks or so sun screens will be put on the outside of our windows. That helped so much during the summer months in our last home. And since these windows are just single paned and no screens it will be double nice to have in place. 

A new addition

 Good morning on yet another cold windy morning. Well to me 53 is cold especially with wind too.

We had an eventful day yesterday. Morning started out as it usually does with the two of us having coffee in front of our computers. As usual we check out the Humane Society for small dogs incase one would pop up touching our hearts. Around 11 we headed to WM to pick up our grocery order. After quickly putting the cold foods away we headed to the Humane Society to check out a couple dogs with no intention of bringing one home. One they said was a Shih Tzu and one a small terrier. Well the Shih Tzu was not what they said and the terrier was a scruffy looking stray of mixed breeds. The stray, Mandy, was so loving and looked so lost that our hearts just went out to her. She loved being close, held and petted. So yep, she touched our hearts and we decided we would fit well together. Having nothing for a pet anymore, we told them we needed to do some shopping and then come back for Mandy.
Once the paper work was all done and she was microchipped, we headed home with Mandy sleeping in my lap for a bit and then watching out the window. We got her and her things situated. We found out she is a runner!!!! She jumped through and over the gate on the porch and took off. I in my stocking feet, without my cane, took off after her while Mark worked at getting the golf cart to help catch. Thankfully God had a man and his dog walking, close to the exit gate of the park and Mandy stopped to say hi to the dog. Another gentleman, he had to put on shoes, helped by getting to Mandy before me and bring her to me. By then Mark had caught up to us so I didn't have to walk back home too. Or I should say hobble back home. By then I could hardly walk I hurt so bad. But I had to keep Mandy in my sight so I just kept tailing her.

Today Mark will be going to Lowes for lattice to put up higher than what was previously here so she can be on the porch but not escape. It will take her some time to realize that this is a better place to live than on the streets. It looks as though she was once groomed and taken care of. Her teeth are nice and white, and her fur was just scraggly like she was over due for a groomer and not matted or snarled. Some people just around here just let their dogs go when they get tired of them or can't take care of them anymore. So sad. She was so good when I gave her a bath and cut some length off of her coat. Today I will call a groomer and make an appointment. No picture of her yet. She is so black that it's hard to tell which end is which unless you see her tail wag.  Mark will take some pictures with his good camera later.

When I woke up this morning, Mandy was not in her kennel but curled up on the couch next to Mark. She saw me and slowly walked over with her tail wagging at full speed. She is still cautious but happily accepts the affection.

Well that was our day in a nut shell. I hope that today has less active excitement.