We’ve been home almost a month now and I am pleased to say that I feel I have managed to retain some of the sense of relaxation I discovered on th road. I am sadly back on the full complement of pain medication. Spending long hours in a truck may not have been good for my health but it sure gave me a break from the pain of the degenerative disc disease. I am if possible even less able to stand or walk for any length of time so chores are accomplished in tiny, frustrating increments.
Ed’s away right now at the semi annual swap meet we attend north of Barrie every June and September. I had decided before we got home that I wouldn’t be going this fall. Not only am I reluctant to go anywhere but it was too soon to leave the dogs alone again and too much to ask of my beleaguered daughter. I miss Ed and find myself going up and downstairs far too many times a day, letting dogs in and out, but I am quite enjoying a few days of solitude.
I spent a week (of two prescribed) on a diuretic to reduce the severe swelling in my legs and feet, going off it when it became clear that the side effects were outweighing the benefits. Fortunately I dropped all the excess fluid. My legs still swell but recover overnight, a chronic situation but one I can handle. I would obviously profit from weight loss but dare not risk the extra I inevitably gain following any effort to reduce.
I got all my regular maintenance done on the truck and myself with the addition of a couple of new tires, ball joints and an alignment (on the truck!) I wasn’t expecting plus the necessity of replacing my printer which balked sensationally at the suggestion it print on transfer paper. I am beginning to whittle away at the credit card debt I accumulated on our trip, a job that will require all my self control and the remainder of this year.
I thought about going up to Kitchener for the Knitters’ Fair tomorrow but doubt I will. The weather is rather damp and gloomy and I shouldn’t incur more expenses. I will probably eschew the American Sewing and Needlework Show later in the month as well though I’m keeping my options open. I will make it as far as London a week from Monday but will attempt to exercise restraint. For the most part I am more than happy to remain in my pleasant cave.
I am reorganizing and sorting and doing the sort of chores one is moved to do in the fall which ought to be the “new year” as far as I am concerned. I am oh so gradually beginning to bake and cook again after a brief hot spell when turning on an oven seemed sacrilegious. I am so grateful to have missed the extreme heat here earlier this summer! I have even been preparing more or less ”proper”meals for myself while here alone and went so far as to make hamburger buns (in the bread machine) yesterday.
My daughter and I have been talking about cooperating on her currently dormant etsy site and perhaps selling some unique bags. I have completed one and have a couple of ideas for others from “vintage” fabrics. I like making bags but have far too many of them, this could be a practical outlet for my compulsion and it won’t cost much to try. Perhaps we will be noticed by Regretsy and become infamous!
I need to get organized for Christmas ere long, filling in great gaps in my gift list in spite of months of purchases and fabrication.
So I am pretty much where I usually am at this time of year, perhaps a little “poorer” but happy enough. “Content” I believe would be the appropriate word. How many people can claim contentment with their lot?
Have a great fall season. Beth has been doing well on ‘etsy’.