Best/worse/What did I learn today? Chat with friend old & new..all welcome..

My brother is doing better. He is in good spirits. Dr. told him today that he may be able to go home first week of January. He is a 14 hour drive from here.
Glad to hear the remodeling is coming along.

Glad to hear your brother's doing better and he's in good spirits. He's where he should be, to get healed.

Heading to Calgary on Wednesday, to straighten out Doug's phone issues (needs a landline). Had an "interesting" conversation with him - he thought Telus was coming out to hook him up tomorrow. They're not. I think he may have his cell phone with them, but won't know until Wed when we're there.
This is SO frustrating, living an hour away from him, and knowing he's not understanding what he's doing or hearing well enough to know what people are telling him.

Susan, I understand what you mean. I live IN THE SAME house with Ben and struggle to be understood!
Linda K, glad your brother is doing so well! Making great progress.
Carpet in the 2 bedrooms. Kevin's room we have done the "Tetras" thing to get everything in.
The wood dining room table COLLASPED today!!! We had Kevin's boxes on it and apparently that was more than the antique to handle. It's going in for repairs tomorrow.
2 batches of Chex Mix, 1 Muddy Buddy and the sugar cookie dough chilled. THAT's it for today, I'm bushed and have work tomorrow.

*Gentle Hugs* Pat - we try, but when they go off on a tangent, it's difficult, to be sure.
I continue to pray for you.
I spoke to Doug's brother in NS today, and he understands how I can get so frustrated with Doug, so he's not concerned that I blew up at Doug on the phone. Doug's & our friends, John & Ann, were begging us to come to Calgary to help them.
I'm glad that Doug's nephew, who lives an hour north of us, will come & see what can be done to get into a group placement of some type where he has lots of people around to keep him company. Doug feels so lonely, and goes to the mall and of course that's where he got the idea to get a cell phone......... and so it began!

Afternoon all, only 28f but the son is shinning

Had goodies, mostly sweets with the girls this morning, am sure I’ve put on 20 lbs..love trying all the different baked goods.

I made a pillow with a snowflake I had embroidered when trying out patterns and decided to use left over scraps from my snowlady quilt, wasn’t finished and June said she wanted to buy it so I finished it and home it went with her..

Had a few more Victorian squares so made them into pillows..I should be a store opened Christmas Day for those in need of gifts because I’ve so many extras ol

LIndakay glad your brother is doing better, too bad he couldn’t be home for Christmas but I’m sure family will be visiting.

Susan will be nice to see your friend and help him out, must be frustrating for him as well..safe travels



This message was edited Dec 18, 2018 2:02 PM

Oh goodness Pat, you must have had one heck of a heavy load on that table..great you found someone who can do repairs.

Karen, prayers being said for your great granddaughter, must be quite serious for them to do surgery before Christmas and not wait till after..you must be fretting.,here is hoping you have good weather for the drive,

Betty, have you thought of opening a store? I bet you would make money.

Perhaps if I was younger..nope not in the cards

Just having spaghetti then to town I go

This message was edited Dec 19, 2018 6:15 AM

When you sell, it becomes, "How many hours do I have in this" and "can I make a profit"... I think it would stop being fun.

Yeah, we had a LOT of boxes on the table.... I know better now. What was I thinking??

Morning all, will be a high of 41, yowzer, oh happy days..

You relight Pat, I’d rather be giving what I make vs selling and thinking of supplies used and hours spent making items but then what to heck do you do with the rest that you have left over when you’ve given everyone you know a gift lol

I’ve about 4 quilts in line to keep me busy this winter, am sure I’ll find other projects as well.

Relaxed this morning, nothing on agenda other than vacuum living room scatter rug,5 minute job so what to do, what to do..guess I could get my scrap bin out and reorganize.

Wish I lived closer Pat that I could help you out

SHARON May come tomorrow or Friday so that will look after that day ...

Good morning.Sunny but cold here.

Chaos went through the ice yesterday on Mosquito Creek. There is a beaver run through there so I rarely take them that way. There were too many new smells for the TH to resist. It was a short walk.

It is very difficult to make a go of it with handmade items in a store front.Sewing, quilts, pottery, stained glass and the like is labour intensive. You cannot factor your hours into a piece or your prices would be too steep for many to buy. You just have to figure out what the market can handle. We found that the show circuit was the best way for us to go.... yes we had booth fees, hotel costs etc but our studio was in the house so we didn't have the overhead of a store front.

Cleaning lady was here yesterday and worked her magic.

Doug is very lucky to have you as a friend Susan.Hope you can get things sorted out for the guy. My parents moved into a Seniors' Apartment building and that helped with their isolation. The only down side was the ambulance and hearse pulling to the drive .

Oh Pat I hope you can get that table fixed to your expectations. I had my parents' dining room suite refurnished and the guy did a fantastic job. Unfortunately I had to get rid of it last year after over 25 years of enjoying it. This house in open concept and I heat with wood.. It really took a toll on the wood. My dad shovelled coal after working all day to pay for the set. None of my nieces or nephews wanted it which really upset me. I should have know as we are not a very close family - some of my nieces and nephews I haven't seen in person for at least 20 years.

Safe travels Karen. Sending positive thoughts and prayers for your girl.

Migraine is better but just won't go. At least I can puddle around and do a few things then lay down for a bit.

Sending positive thoughts and prayers for your DB LK.

Stay safe and well

Hope you are nearing the end of migraines Dianne.

Sad indeed but kids are not interested in antiques, think we are the generation loving things of old.you are so right about selling our wares wafers has had same vendors for ions, maybe it’s time to get new ones..have a few girls who would provide wares..idea to think about.

Quiet day, made a few pillows, a garbage bag holder for Melanie and had company, Dianne dropped 8n with a Santa panel she has had for 15 years, thought I’d make use of it..,might work on it tomorrow and give the finished piece to her..

Having my sister day Friday..

My brother now has aspiration pneumonia, due to him swallowing food and liquids that went to his lungs. They have him on antibiotics, but may have to put a drain tube in his lungs. They are keeping a close eye on him.

He sure is having a time of it LIndakay, sending prayers and hugs for you.
A
Guess I should get off the couch and eat something, then bath and call it a day

I admit, I like what I like, not necessarily an antique. I do know what it is like to have antique not wanted by family. I have my grandmother's silver dinnerware I didn't want it... tried to give it to an aunt that had the same pattern but she rejected it due to having had a recent burglary and was afraid she would have it stolen.

We have a cross cut oak table that my son is using that has been in the family for over 60 years and it was old when my parents refinished it 60 years ago. It will be heartbreaking when there is no longer anyone in the family that wants it!

My Dad and DBIL also were very prone to pneumonia and had to have percussion done on their back frequently.

I want to go to bed!!! I think after dinner I am headed to guest room to get a head start on sleep. It takes Ben f-o-r-e-v-e-r to get to bed and he always keeps me up /wakes me up while he gets ready for bed. I am dragging.

Afternoon, drab day today, not snowing, just overcast..calling for rain tonight and tomorrow.

Was having a leisurely morning, playing, did a little 12” snowman pillow and a no sew Scandinavian 3D pillow..mom called awhile ago, and there it started..

She said her van wasn’t working, it’s really falling apart, told her time to get a car vs van, something dependable, said she has no $$$, knowing why she has no $$$ I asked her why??

Her grandson 51 who has been living with her since a child, doesn’t work,stole mega $$$ am sure over 50k..she started to complain about him, I said I had no pity for her seeing she could have had him charged and if not charged then out he goes but no, still living with her..she said she tried to kick him out, I said yes, when SHARON made efforts to get him out she cries, doesn’t want to live alone sooo her fault..

She then said she tells her friends that I say it’s her fault and they ask what kind of daughter am I saying it’s her fault..she started to cry so I told her I’m not about to argue, would talk later and hung up..there goes my day.

Not understanding how someone who stays in their home, minding her own business can get into such drama...big sigh

Sorry to hear about the drama. Can't you or Sharon file charges against him?
I would have hung up too.

Apparently when it happened SHARON toldmom not to lay charged as he’d spent 10 years 8n jail..I don’t talk to SHARON about it because I don’t want to get in the middle..I believe it’s moms fault for not pressing charges and after him taking all these dollars she wants him living with her

That is pretty sad.

Too sad Betty, it's very difficult to be in the middle of such a mess. I can understand you trying to stay out of it. It sure sounds like a no-win situation. Folks sure do get blind spots sometimes.

Have everything wrapped and ready to go. The food is ready too. On our way early in the morning for our family Christmas in MI.

Drive safely Karen.

Oh Betty... surely in Canada there is something like our Adult protective Services? ANYONE who is suspected of financially abusing a vulnerable adult can be reported and APS investigates.

I understand your not having a lot of sympathy/understanding for the predicament that your mother willingly continues to put herself in. Is Sharon also an Aunt to this grandson or … his mother? I did not press charges against a secretary that embezzled from my Ex & I, and I still wonder if it was the right thing to do (or not do). She did pay it all back (her family bailed her out) but I worry that I allowed her to 'go free" and possibly exploit someone else.

HER family tried to guilt me into feeling bad for the embezzler "because she was so depressed" that they were worried about "what she might do"!!! (OH HE... NO! Whatever she choice to do or not do about her feelings SHE could own, NOT me!!) I am not sure we do anyone a favor by not pressing charges.

I do so agree with you Pat. I didn't press charges for my parents sake, they promised he would have counceling, and you know what? What he did at 12 he continued to do as an adult and now is in prison doing 10-15. and there are other little girls he has damaged. I cannot forgive myself for it.

yes, we have an Elder Abuse line, and law enforcement for abuse of many kinds - emotional, financial, physical, etc. There is a zero tolerance, BUT it takes someone to report it. If the senior is unable to accept what's going on, a witness of the abuse can report it. Most often it's a family member who's doing the abusing, but it can be anyone who's in constant communication with them. So sad that it happens to our vulnerable seniors.
We were talking about scams against seniors at our Crafting group Tuesday - emails, letters, and phone calls, all geared to make seniors feel sorry for someone & that they Have to help someone out.
Education is the key.

Yesterday I spent 6 hours on the phone getting our friend's phone issues resolved. Not completely done yet, and actually some hours were spent chatting online with one of the companies. On the plus side - I am now on his account as authorized to speak for him - cell phone, old landline phone company, and new landline phone company AND the crossed lines where someone's phone was coming through to him ("no, Janice doesn't live here, Doug does. This is Janice's dentist? We hope that Janice's phone # rings through to her tomorrow. Please try her then").
We went to the mall for awhile, and I walked through the mall on my cell phone. Then we went for dinner and I was on the cell phone then, too. They did a "call back" to me, and yes, I was sitting down in the restaurant when they did - I ate dinner through the call.
Another plus - Doug took full responsibility for the complete mix-up. He knows he can't hear well enough, and he's too proud to admit that he doesn't understand what's being said by fast-talking salespeople.
We were away from home for 12 hours - 2 of driving, 6 talking to people to resolve his issue, and 2 shopping for ourselves. By the time we got home it was 10pm and I was drained.
Because I'm on his account, I could deal with the rest today, at home without him having to be present. Poor Doug though - HE looked emotionally drained, but he was also very thankful that we came to the city to look after this for him. He knows he couldn't straighten out this, and he didn't know anyone else he could trust to have his best interests at heart.

Glad you went to help him. Must be so frustrating for him.

Morning,yikes if it keeps raining this hard there will be nothing left of the snow..they are though call8ng for flurries Sunday and Monday so at least if ground is covered will make Christmas that little bit festive.

As for mom, no sense getting involved. Will call her after Sharon leaves and see how she is making out with vehicle..guess I could be the good child and drive to the city to pick her up then drive her back after Christmas..see what transpires when I call.seems like many of you have experienced much the same, not doing anything sure doesn’t help the individual most of the time. Hugs

Sharon should be here any moment, then my day begins. Hoping she won’t be too late here so I can go to town and get a few things done.

Sat here this morning and made a schedule and activity list then made a supply/grocery list and round each event..guess late Sunday or early Monday will be pie day.

Safe travels Karen..
What is on your days agenda?


This message was edited Dec 21, 2018 8:27 AM

Not a good night. I would guess Ben probably has another infection in spite of the antibiotics. He promised to have his caregiver take him to Urgent care today and call his Infectious disease specialist. I would not be surprised if he doesn't spend another Christmas in the hospital. I feel bad for him AND feel angry. The choices he is making will lead to an earlier death and there is nothing I can do about it. I am constantly exhausted.
Off to work I go...

Good morning everyone.

The Weather Liars struck again and I woke up to snow. It's not just a dusting either. The trees look like they should be on a Christmas card. I will toss my chain saw into the Escape if I have to go out. There will certainly be trees hanging over the lane or even down.I'm in for as long as I want which could be 2 weeks.

Snow for you Betty ?

Oh Pat sending hugs your way. My DH neglected to tell me about a mass found on his lung. That was about 10 years before he was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer everywhere in his body. I too was angry.. Actually very pi$$ed off is closer to what I felt.

Karen I hope the surgery went well for your loved one. Have a good Christmas in MI. Right back home then, right ?

Susan I can't remember but do you have POA for Doug ? Especially for medical reasons.

Deb do your dogs let you subject them to Christmas antlers and such ? The TH would give me the stink eye if I tried to do that.

Have puppy fever. A litter of Rottis was just born on the other side of Mosquito Creek. Be still my heart.

LK how is your brother ? Do you host Christmas or travel to your sons ?

I am a sloth. I am dressed but sprawled across the bed.

Stay safe and well everyone.

This message was edited Dec 22, 2018 10:09 AM

Brother is slowly improving. Test showed that he did not have pneumonia. Thank God for that. It will be a long road to get his muscles re trained, but he has the will power.

Good morning everyoone, almost afternoon isn’t it?

No Dianne they were calling for snow, so far a few flakes, maybe you got it all..hope there is no need for you to go to town unless of course you want to get there before the snow they are calling for tomorrow and Christmas Day.not amwonder you were angry re Warren not saying anything about his health issues..men..ohh went to town and forgot angift for Ziggy, will have to make another trip lol..don’t think I’d get away with antlers.

Karen, congrats, saw photo of that precious little one, well worth the trip to get to ahold her in your arms. Can’t get a better Christmas fpgift than that.

Pat how did Ben make out yesterday?

Was in town at 7 a.m., Lordy I wish all would get with the program 🤣

Walmart was open, not a lot needed there but I felt bad that theatre wasn’t a homemade piece under the tree foray the 4 grands so bought some pillows to make inserts, still have time to make them a pillow, shaking my head! Then on to grocery store, mostly baking supplies, then to the bank, was open at 8, needed $$$ for envelopes, dropped off a gift, Chinese restaurant also does breakfast so I decided to drop in and make my order for Chinese for Christmas Eve, paid that, delivery at 5:30, last think on my list was wine, at their door 9:10 and they don’t open til 10 so came home..did some cleaning and now on the couch waiting for doctor to come,said any time after twelve, watch me be the last house call.

Caregiver did take Ben to Urgent care, they treated him for sciatica, gave him a shot in the hip and pain pills. It was such a long day the caregiver got him into the house and left. I got the joy of "cleaning him up".
I slept in the guest room again last night. 2 nights of sleep, that is a good start. If this keeps up I will need to discuss hospital bed for Ben and separate bed (and bedroom?) for me. I can't keep on being short on sleep. I wish I was a more sound sleeper. Maybe if he wasn't in the SAME bed with me he wouldn't keep waking me up as often. Frustrating, I know he doesn't mean to and some of it he can't help. Some of it he CAN, if he would be more considerate. I don't have a choice but to work, I at least deserve a decent night sleep.
Betty, hope your MD comes & goes so you are free to decide what to do with your day.
Ohhhhhhhhh puppy fever.... I hear there is ONLY one true cure!!! I pray I never get it cuz I just don't need another demand on my time and energy. Maybe I would feel different if I thought I could get one already potty trained and the sweetie would be safe from Ben's wheelchair.
Linda, have they changed your brother to thickened drinks? to avoid the possibility of pneumonia?

Oh Pat you made me laugh about getting a puppy house trained already. We had a gorgeous Lab Tasha .When we added a new pup to the pack it took a real dislike to Tash. Tash was about 4 then. Our choice was to have the pup euthanized or rehome Tasha. I took Tasha to the office the first day of school. One of the other consultants had her dog hit by a car in the summer. It was just a puppy. Long story short Carol and her DH came that same day to meet Tasha. Out walked the 3 of them without Tasha looking back. After Tasha crossed the bridge Carol and her DH decided to get a puppy. After about a month she called me in a state - her comment was I had no idea how much you needed to do to raise a puppy.In jest she said could you take he puppy for a month.

Well at least Ben is home for the holidays Pat and that is a relief. Yes getting a pup would be quite an undertaking for you. So long ago since a had a puppy I cantremember how much work they were.

Too cut Dianne, likely hinting for you to train.

I often thinki should get a little kitty for Ziggy but don’t thinkhe’d Adjust to another in the house.

No doctor yet, sure hope I’m not on the naughty list and he passes me buy.

Sure screws up the day. I’m upstairs because if I go downstairs you can’t hear if someone is at the door..do have battery operated door chimes but they don’t always work in frigid temps and I don’t want to take a chance of missing the doc.

Won’t have energy to go out if he gets here much later.

Did embroider 5 Santa’s though. Last time I was inBuffalo I bought tone on tone white, faded pine trees in background..perfect setting for Santa’s

Snowing amd blowing Dianne, your storm is headed this way..

Doc just came, he was on a mission, was going to give me Tylenol 4 to get the pain under control but I said I’d rather take Tylenol 3 twice a day..to see him after the holidays when we can discuss further avenues. He said he was delivering poinsettia to all his house bound patients, looked around the living room and she 2 plus flower arrangements, told him the thought was there but maybe he would be short for the rest he was visiting and I appreciate his thinking,of me...what a doctor!

WOW Betty, you get SERVICE!!! A visiting Doctor and he BRINGS FLOWERS!!!

He is adorable, lucky indeed! Gave him a gift for him and one for his secretary, he was thrilled.

You could tell he was. On a mission today though, didn’t sit but looked around...lol
When he left he said have a great Christmas, smiled and say no doubt you will..

Put red then white border on the Victorian Santa’s but paining so left them for tomorrow, not really a must to have, if I can do the 5 hurrah, if not, oh well

Glad to hear the Dr. showed up.
Pat, yes, they come in several times a day, hook up a machine like a tens unit to his throat, and have him drink thick beverages. He is doing pretty good.

I received my Santa gift from Linda Kay today.
Just sooo happy! A moon globe. I will take pics tomorrow. She remembers I always say ,"I love you to the moon and back" Also delicious Baileys Fudge DH got into and cute slipper socks

Thank you sooo much!