castoff

I'm feeling kinda naked. **sorry if that conjures unpleasant images**

Yesterday was the big unveiling of my new, mending left arm!!

Sawing off the purple cast.

 The cast was off, and here are the first photos of my liberated wrist.

Free at last......

The arm looked pretty good. Some dead skin and flakiness, but nothing too gross.

Although feeling pretty stiff and sore, the hand gives the 'thumbs up'.

Seven weeks and one day with a cast. Nurse said, 'Do you want to keep the cast?'

Of course! How could I so cruelly discard my beloved purple exoskeleton?

Showed the purple cast to Roxy Doxy.

Doxy: 'It's a shame to throw away something so useful and delightfully smelly. Can't we find a use for it?'

Whadayathink, Doxy?

'We could repurpose the cast as a delightful candle holder? Or, a dog biscuit dispenser?'

'I dunno Doxy. Seems kind of tacky to me.'

'A festive Christmas ornament?'

'A useful head cover for your 5 iron?'

'A toothpaste/toothbrush caddie?'

'Doxy, those are all clever ideas. Maybe we should just leave it in the closet for now until we can agree on how best to recycle the purple cast.'

While Doxy took meticulous notes on possible ideas to reuse the purple cast, I was glorying in washing my face....with BOTH hands. I indulged in a one arm spa treatment with warm water, soap and a washcloth. Followed it up with a liberal dose of lotion. Heavenly.

Here's my new chic arm covering for the next 3 weeks.

Say 'hello' to the lovely black splint!

I'm working through the expected stiffness and soreness. It will take time and a large dose of determination to regain good use of this wrist. Good thing I'm determined and fairly patient. Mainly for now, I'm grateful. Supremely and utterly grateful.

My patience could be wearing thin, however. Caught a glimpse of THIS last evening.

A certain, stubby-legged pooch seems to be preparing costumes for Halloween. It's not EVEN October!

Oh, lawzee. This makes the toothpaste caddie look mighty appealing. help

Celebrating a wristapalooza today!!

Healing love to all.

counting days

Life with the purple cast has gotten easier and I've regained lots of mobility in my fingers and in other parts of my arm. Amazed every day at the healing power that comes from God. So grateful for it, and I wish the same healing power to all those experiencing sickness and injury.

The purple cast has been lifting weights! It started with a 1 lb. weight and it was spotted at the gym today heaving a 7.5 pound weight! It can do shoulder presses, hammer curls and tricep kick-backs. Can't stand to look at the bowl of mush that used to be my pretty-well-defined (for an old gal!) upper arm. The purple cast was unable to lift a gallon jug of milk from the fridge this morning, but look out-it's bound to happen before too long.

Counting the days until purple cast gets sawed off. I know, I know....there's rehab ahead of me, but I'm ready to get to it. Five days, five days.....FIVE DAYS, ELEVEN HOURS!!

Here's how I've been counting down.

Friday night, the Texan and I kept this imp.

who has teeth??

Been feeling really useless as a baby-sitter lately. Baby G is very mobile now and he hasn't missed any meals, if you know what I mean. The purple cast couldn't do a thing for a while. But NOW, I can kinda pick him up and I can change a diaper. Even with two good arms, G can be a challenge. He's coming up on his first birthday. KK loves you, baby G!

This past weekend was spectacular; cooler weather and blessed little wind. Perfection. Took the purple cast out to pull weeds in the secret garden on Saturday. The cast made a lackluster effort to pull weeds, but it was amused by the wildlife.

The butterflies are really loving the lantana, and many of them visit every day.

the handsome black butterfly visitor

While he should have been weeding and working, the purple cast sighted another visitor. Don't know the name of this critter. Do any of you know what these are called?

I call this a hummingbird moth. Guess I should Google the real name.

There were several of these guys buzzing around, while the purple cast and I were weeding. They made us smile.

Decided to cook dinner on the patio, since the weather was unusually outstanding. Grilled steaks, made a crisp salad, and boiled a few green beans (in bacon, of course) for our dinner. While were were dining al fresco, the Texan noticed a visitor.

do you see him?

Fall is the season for tarantulas around here, and folks are spotting them everywhere. Was traumatized when one jumped in my entryway the other night as I was taking the unsuspecting doxy for an evening walk. The Texan saved us and herded the spider outside.

The tarantulas are pretty harmless and it's kinda fun to spy them creeping around this time of year.

Don't ask me where they spend their time during the other seasons of the year.....I've no idea. Hopefully not in my secret garden.

Five days, five days, FIVE DAYS.....10 and 1/2 hours!

I'll let you know how it goes. Probably make you look at pictures, too!

The purple cast is giving all of you a thumbs up.

Rehabilitating love to all.

if ever I loved thee

My Jesus, I love thee

It was an accident and it left me like this.

Radius bone broken in three places

The event floods my memory with the terrible triplets:  coulda, woulda and shoulda. All the things I could have done differently. Trying out a new horse. Obviously, I might have done some things differently. Ortho said surgery was a definite possibility. Regret and disappointment in getting myself so banged up. I should KNOW better.

After two weeks, soft cast off. X-rays taken.

Good news! No need for surgery. High-fived the ortho with my good hand.

I know Thou are mine

This experience left me in lots of pain (special thanks to Tylenol 3 with codeine and the old stand-by Valium!) and relying on the kindness of others to help me perform everyday tasks. I'll remember the 2012 Summer Olympics from a drug-induced haze prostrate on my bed. Did Michael Phelps win any gold??

Anyone who deals with horses has either been injured themselves, or knows someone who has been injured or killed in a horse accident. I've had my share of mishaps-but never have I experienced so violent a mishap as this. A human body careening into a pipe fence is a recipe for disaster. Especially.....a 55 year old body. I keep dreaming about this accident. I wonder why I didn't die. Really. It makes me shiver. Why? Did God throw his heavenly lasso around me to save me from serious injury/death? It feels like it. Luck doesn't begin to describe my good fortune.

For Thee all the follies of sin I resign

I was understandably blue, but then I got this crazy purple cast. I was still in pain, but here was proof I was healing.

Headed to the cabin for a little R&R to regain my strength and enjoy the serene mountains with the Texan.
That's when strange things started happening.....the purple cast was taking on a life of it's own!!

The purple cast reveled in new abilities.

It took a nap on the hammock.

It admired the wildflowers.

As the pincher fingers gained strength, the cast picked a raspberry!

My gracious Redeemer, my Savior art Thou

Ringing the dinner bell.

Admiring the fire extinguisher the Texan installed on the cabin.

Relearning to type.

Painting a door.

Holding the dead man's hand. Apropos.

Gripping the shuttlecock and dreaming of senior, para-Olympic badminton championships.

What?! The cast starts getting sassy and scolds the beloved Roxy Doxy!

The purple cast wonders if it's 5 o'clock. Don't let the Texan catch you in his spiced rum!

The trip re-invigorated me. Gave me a chance to gain strength and ponder what lies ahead for me. Made me realize the power of personal forgiveness. What am I gonna do with this future God has given me? I'm thinking....if you have any ideas, I'm open to hearing them. For now, the reins are in God's hands. After having them torn from my left hand, I gave them to Him with my capable right hand. My steering's not so good at the moment.

If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus tis now.

Along with the druggy Olympics, this song rattled around in my brain as I recovered. Pretty blessed thing to have pin-balling around, right? I sang this with my church choir my first Sunday back at church. I earnestly and gratefully meant every word as I never meant anything before in my life. Be kind to yourself, and take a listen to this powerful song.

Listen right here  Click on the right-hand menu of My Jesus I Love Thee to watch. Sorry to make you work for it, cuz I'm not savvy enough to post the direct link. The video is so worth the effort.

The purple cast sends spiced rum love to all.

still standing

Just returned from our delayed vacation. We traveled to the Colorado cabin after the evacuation from the Waldo Canyon fire was lifted. We didn't spend any time in Colorado Springs (where the damage was severe) because we were interested in our 'neck of the woods'. We could see the scalded hillside along Highway 24 headed to Woodland Park. We were stopped by some foreboding law enforcement officials questioning us as to our intentions in the forest.. The Pike National Forest was closed to the public and we had to prove we had business in this area of the forest.

The cabin was still standing!

I kissed the ground. I hugged every neighbor. I skipped through the forest. I thanked God in my prayers. This mountain neighborhood is precious to us. Entering the cabin feels like a warm, comforting, pine-y embrace.

We chatted with our friends about the fire and where they stayed during the days of evacuation. There was a renewed sense of appreciation and happiness around the lakes.

The Texan did some fire mitigation (professional forest service word) around our house.

Clearing around the propane tank

He and the Son-in-Law sawed and sawed and made big piles of limbs to be chipped later. I kept telling everyone who would listen, "The Texan has piles, the Texan has piles!" No one found the humor in that, can you imagine?? The Texan kept confusing his fire 'mitigation' with amelioration or some such nonsense. It's mitigation, Texan! Living in the middle of a thick forest, miles from town....well....there's only so much one can do to prevent a fire. Our cabin has a metal roof. It was built in the early 1950's and it's covered in ugly asbestos siding. Pretty is, as pretty does...right?

Get this. One of the residents had a special fire trailer made and donated it to our neighborhood.

It holds 1000 gallons of water. It's designed to pump water out of the surrounding lakes and it is a marvel of modern engineering! We are overwhelmed by his kindness and his engineering brilliance. A hearty thank-you to Mr. B! Now, at least, we have a tool to battle a blaze should it break out around our lakes.

The cabin is a comforting place....a place where history seems to repeat itself. I took this photo of the Grandson on our patio. Prepare yourself for cuteness.

Mom's hand is holding him securely.

I warned you about cute overload! Here is another.....sorry.....

This baby has the goofiest open-mouthed smile. Hope he doesn't choke on a hummingbird.

History DOES repeat itself.

Our Sprout #3 back in the 80's, hence the bad socks.

Life has a calm rhythm at the cabin. GrandBob feeds you gruel in the morning.

Sometimes, a picnic in the forest is celebrated.

Sometimes, a wild mountain bichon hovers as you devour your mum-mum. Be very careful, baby!

We are multitudinous gratitudinous. We had a fine time savoring the mountains and counting our blessings for salvation from the (too close) monstrous fire. Our prayers continue for the city of Colorado Springs and for those so devastatingly affected by the fire.

What's that, you ask?? You are wondering about a certain canine? A very stubby-legged, long-torsoed animal?

Oh yeah, SHE was there. Thanks for asking.

No chipmunk got within a half mile of us!

Blessed salvation love to all.

lord of wind and flame

I, the Lord of wind and flame
I will tend the poor and lame
I will set a feast for them
My hand will save

Singing these words of the hymn Here I Am, Lord choked me up yesterday. I was thinking of all the folks affected by the western wildfires. My heart particularly breaks for the folks around Colorado Springs as they deal with the Waldo Canyon Fire.

I've written many times of our summer forays into Colorado to escape the West Texas heat. The post Mountain Mysteries recalls the crazy creatures living around these high country lakes. The area around Colorado Springs, particularly the little town of Woodland Park is dear to our hearts. This land is intricately woven into the tapestry of our family history....all the way back to the Texan's grandfather.

our summer community

Our friendly fishing community has been evacuated because of the current fire danger. Makes me think of being there just a week ago and of a serene evening walk with the Sprout and the Grandson.

Mom, can you smell that smell? (after a light, evening shower) Can you smell the dirt mixed with the pine trees?

Inhaling deeply. Sure can....there's no other fragrance like it.

We strolled silently enjoying the beauty of nature and the wonder of that smell. Could we bottle it and bring it home with us?

We've been blessed to have a little summer home in the mountains. Sure, I worry about it....but I have no real cause for complaint or sympathy. I've relished every moment spent close to God in the mountains. For those folks who live and work there......my prayers and thoughts are with you. So far, so good. Godspeed and God bless the brave firefighters.

Safe love to all.

secret garden

Last summer+big, fat drought=pathetic landscape around my house. I TRIED to garden last year, but between the deadly combo of extreme heat and wind, most every plant died or was stunted in it's growth. Never savored my homegrown tomato with juice streaming down my cheek.

This year, I wised up. For my patio....I planted solely succulents or cactus. Take that West Texas heat and wind! I can be gone for a week to Colorado and the iron-man plants on my patio survive. I'm kickin' bad weather in the face!

View of patio from my breakfast room window

I realize it's not exactly colorful, but at least there are live, green things on my patio. One of the most interesting and LARGE succulents is this plant. Don't know the real botanical name, but I think this is called firesticks.

This genial plant enjoys the weather out here! In the fall before the first freeze, I spend lots of time repotting the succulents/cactus and I bring them inside for the winter. They are happy to go back outside when it warms in the Spring. Easy peasy-saves time and moola. This plant is so huge, I don't think I can fit it through a door to bring it in this Fall. Not sure what I'm gonna do.

What does one do with a big hole in another patio? A hole left by a decrepit inground hot tub?

One fills the pit with gravel and buries a few aloe. My humble version of a zen garden. Sorry about the weeds-don't judge. Again....not much color, but at least some living things.

Another plant that does pretty well in the heat....as long as it gets a little water is Russian Sage.

This sage is near the zen garden. I haven't put anything in those pots-ran out of succulents. Look at the dead tree in my neighbor's yard. Sadly, this is a common sight around town right now.

The bones of the flower beds in my front yard consist of nandina, decorative yucca, sedum, and some creeping juniper.

The little flowerbed to the right of my front door

I had a few petunias that were originally in pots. They were getting too dry, so I stuck them in the ground. They've done OK, and they provide a little pop of color in the front yard.

But, I wanted to show you my secret garden! This is where I have attempted to grow vegs the last couple of years. I just got through weeding this little spot and I thought you'd enjoy seeing it. shhhhhh-for your eyes only

It's secret cuz it's behind the garage. Can't see it much from the house. One must walk outside to see it. If you came to visit, you wouldn't see it unless I took you out there. You walk out the back door of our garage

like you are walking up to the Texan's shop

or like you are going out to play a big game of rock with Roxy-Doxy,

and it greets you with fun pops of color. I know it's nothing special....just some stuff from the walmarts, mainly. The flower bed is brimming with colorful moss rose, dusty miller, lantana,

An easy, colorful grower-pink mandevilla!

and very happy mandevilla. I put in a little micro-sprinkler with a timer on the faucet next to the bed, so it gets watered several times a week. So far, the plants have held up very nicely to the heat and the wind. We've had more rain this Spring than we had the entire year last year. The rain helps and I'm grateful for the beauty.
Can you spot my rockhound tearing up the grass?

she's in the shadow

Couldn't totally give up my dream of fresh food/produce. I found these funny little bags at a garden store for growing potatoes. You put in the seed potatoes and fill 'er up with dirt. I used some sort of red and white seed potatoes for this experiment. Just add water and sun and in the fall, when the plant starts to die back, you open up the little velcro window in the bags and out fall plump, fresh potatoes. That's the idea, anyway. I'll let you know....best be prepared for coming hard times. At least I'll have a starchy food substance for sustenance.

It feels positively decadent to have the prettiest part of my yard hidden away from public view, but this humble flowerbed makes me grin. Don't even mind weeding it occasionally. It satisfies the hummingbirds and butterflies, too. If you come over, I'll share it with you if you want. But I'm warnin' you....don't try to grab a potato. You might lose a hand.

Colorful love to all.