Midweek Reflections: On Leap Day

‘Idál (Justice), 4 Ayyám-I-Há (Intercalary Days), 168 BE – Wednesday, February 29, 2012 about 6:45 AM Pacific Time

Happy Leap Day

Leap Day the extra day placed in the calendar every four years. I hope no one expects me to leap today because I am not sure I could do that without falling down or stumbling when I landed.

Leap Day the day we do not suspend work unless it falls on a Saturday or Sunday. All though, it is special to Leap Babies (people born on February 29) it is not a holiday. Unless you are born on that day, it is just another day in the year and once it is past, the year is shorter.

Leap Day always falls in a presidential election year because, in America, we only elect a president once every four years. Since this leap day happens to fall on Wednesday, I rolled the trashcan to the curb this morning. The only other thing I am planning for today is a trip to the wound care hospital (my left leg is developing issues again) and the grocery store (I ran out of paper towels).

Happy Birthday

to everyone born today

Tuesday Thoughts: An interesting day in Las Vegas

Fidál (Grace), 3 Ayyám-I-Há (Intercalary Days), 168 BE – Tuesday, February 28, 2012 about 3:55 PM Pacific Time

I had an interesting day. I was supposed to have two doctors’ appointments today, but I think God had other plans. I scheduled my first appointment for 9:15 AM on the west side of Las Vegas. However, the daycare bus had a flat, so the driver was about 40 minutes late picking up my mother. This meant that he would not get to the house until about 9:30 AM. I called the doctor’s office, explained to the woman who scheduled the appointments and she concealed the one this morning. Since their computer was down, I had to call back this afternoon to reschedule the appointment.

Instead of driving to the west side of town to pay a bill and then went to my second appointment. That was for an ultrasound of my left leg, while at that office I made an appointment for March 22 to have the vein procedure performed on my right let. In addition, the doctor suggested I go back to the wound care hospital to have them check my left leg because it is redder then it should be and I have a place bleeding.

I have an appointment at the wound care hospital tomorrow at 9:30 AM. Then in March I have doctors’ appointments scheduled on the 6^th, 12^th, 22^nd, and 26^th. I hope I can spend the 1^st and 2^nd of March at home, but that depends on how long the appointment tomorrow last and whether or not they wrap my leg again. If the appointment doesn’t last very long, I have to stop at Smith’s Food & Drug to pick up some items we need; otherwise, I have to go to the grocery store on Thursday, March 1.

I need a lunch buddy in Las Vegas

Mom and I don’t go out for lunch or dinner anymore. If I get food from a restaurant for both of us, then I get the food to go otherwise I eat by myself. I don’t like eating by myself because I have no one to talk to and I can’t use two for one coupons.

There are some restaurants that are so expensive; I can’t afford to go by myself. Mom and I used to go to expensive restaurant and use the coupons, but I can’t do that any more. I miss going to those restaurants. I miss using the two for one coupons. Therefore, I need a lunch buddy so that we can go out to eat together.

Monday Mumblings: The wound on my left leg

Kamál (Perfection), 2 Ayyám-I-Há (Intercalary Days), 168 BE – Sunday-Monday, February 27, 2012 about 7:10 AM Pacific Time

I have to go to the wound doctor again. Late Friday night, a place on my left leg began to run and then on Saturday bleed. I will call one of my doctors when the offices open around 8:00 AM and discuss it with one of the nurses because I cannot talk to the doctor immediately. I give the nurse all the information I can and then talk to the doctor later or make an appointment.

I am not looking forward to having that leg bandaged. I just got all the bandages off at the beginning of the month. Since I cannot get the bandages wet, it is difficult to take a shower or a bath. Even with a plastic bag over the bandages, taking a shower is a test. I have to put trash bags on my grocery list because they are the only bags large enough to go over the bandage.

Happy Ayyám-I-Há

This is a leap year, so there are five days in Ayyám-I-Há. The first is today, Sunday, February 26, 2012, and the last day is Thursday, March 1, 2012. There are five days of gift giving, hospitality, charity, and preparing for the nineteen day Fast. Baha’u’llah revealed a prayer for Ayyám-I-Há or Intercalary Days.

Recipe of the Week: Blueberry Bagel with Peanut Butter

Jamál (Beauty), 1 Ayyám-I-Há (Intercalary Days), 168 BE – Sunday, February 26, 2012 about Pacific Time

My mother likes peanut butter on her bagels, so three or four times a month I toast a bagel spread it with peanut butter.

Ingredients:

1 blueberry bagel

1 tablespoon of peanut butter

Directions:

Step 1: Assemble ingredients

Step 2: Cut the bagel in half

Step 3: Toast the bagel

Step 4: Spread the peanut butter, after divide the peanut butter between the two halves of the bagel

Serving suggestions:

Amy type of breakfast food or drink, my mother likes to have grape or orange juice and coffee when she eats her bagel.

Note: You do not have to use blueberry bagels with this recipe, any type of bagel will work. I have not tried this recipe with onion or salted bagels, but please feel free to experiment and be creative.

Inspirational Quote of the Week: Am I losing the pattern?

Jalál (Glory), 19 Mulk (Dominion), 168 BE – Saturday, February 25, 2012 about 1:00 PM Pacific Time

If you see a whole thing - it seems that it's always beautiful. Planets, lives... But up close a world's all dirt and rocks. And day to day, life's a hard job, you get tired, you lose the pattern. Ursula K. Le Guin

Am I losing the pattern or just tired? It’s Saturday, the last day of a long week. On Tuesday, I went to the grocery store and bought batteries for my Mother’s hearing aid. Mom was having more trouble hearing then usual. I thought the problem was the batteries, but that didn’t seem to help.

I went back to the store on Thursday, to buy some Debrox to clean the wax from Mom’s ears. I just finished using the drops and rinsing her ears out. I can’t put the hearing aids back in her ears until Sunday or Monday. The earwax removal should solve the problem or at least part of it. It’s tiring to attempt to talk to someone who has difficulty hearing.

I’m tired. I’m worn out. Perhaps I’m looking too closely at the rocks and the dirt. Sometimes you just have to ignore the rocks, dirt, and hard work in order to keep on keeping on. I don’t think I should feel as tired as I do today, maybe I need to find some time to take a staycation. If I can’t do that then change my meditation time from morning, before Mom gets up, to evening, after she goes to be.

Thankful Thursday: Afternoon Naps

Istiqlál (Independence), 18 Mulk (Dominion), 168 BE – Thursday, February 23, 2012 about 6:55 Pacific Time

This is evening I am thankful for afternoon naps. I get sleepy about the same time everyday, so I stop whatever I am doing and sit on the couch beside my mother. I sit on the couch and doze while Mom sits beside me.

I know a person should not sit up and sleep, but if I laid down on the couch, the love seat, or even my bed then I would not get to sit beside my mother. Mom has Alzheimer’s disease and goes to the daycare center five days a week. I have very little time with her during the week because she goes to bed around 5:00 or 5:30 PM.

It is nice to sit beside my mother and doze. It is nice to spend a little time with Mom when she is not angry or upset. A CNA comes when Mom gets home from the Daycare center, so there is someone in the house to see that Mom is safe while I doze.

Those few moments on the couch after Mom gets home is the only time I can really relax. Mom enjoys sitting on the couch next to me while I take a short nap.

Midweek Reflections: Folding Fitted Sheets

‘Idál (Justice), 16 Mulk (Dominion), 168 BE – Wednesday, February 22, 2012 about 12:25 PM Pacific Time

I cannot fold fitted sheets. I attempt to fold them, but they turn out looking as if someone wadded them up and threw them into the linen closet. It does not matter how many times I attempt the process, my fitted sheets do not look as if I attempted to fold them.

All right, perhaps that last paragraph was an exaggeration. I just finished folding a fitted sheet and it did not look like I wadded it up. Neither did it look as if I folded properly. It looked as if it had wrinkles in it and I know that is not how it is supposed to look.

I have read how to fold fitted sheets. I have had people show me how to fold fitted sheets. I have seen the way they should look when folded properly, this is not the way my fitted sheets appear when I finish folding them.

I begin by finding the corners. I put my right hand in one corner and then find another corner. I put that corner over the corner in my hand. After that I do the same thing with the other two corners. Now I have all four corners of the sheet over my right hand. This is where I run into problems; continue to fold the sheet by folding the whole thing over itself.

Perhaps I am over reacting. When I put the sheet on the bed, it looks fine and there are no wrinkles. It is just in the linen closet that they weird, like they have wrinkles in them. Since I keep the linen closet, door closed no one except myself or the CNA who makes my mother’s bed sees them. None of the CNAs has said anything about the way my fitted sheets are folder or look in the linen closet.

Monday Mumblings: New batteries for Mom’s Hearing aid

Kamál (Perfection), 14 Mulk (Dominion), 168 BE – Monday, February 20, 2012 about 2:15 PM Pacific Time

I put new batteries in Mom’s hearing aids this morning, but I’m not sure how well they are working. Normally, when I put the batteries in there is a squealing noise, but I didn’t hear that when I put the new batteries in. I kept the old batteries and will put them in tomorrow if it turns out the new ones aren’t working. I’ll find out tonight when Mom gets home from the Daycare center.

I have to go to the store tomorrow to get laundry detergent, so I’ll get some hearing aid batteries then. I downloaded a $2.00 off coupon for batteries on Friday or Saturday that I can use to get the batteries. I have the change those batteries about every week. I also take the batteries out at night because if I leave them in the hearing aids they run down quickly.

Sometimes I wish the hearing aids had rechargeable batteries, but then the batteries would cost more then what they do now. Maybe I should clean the hearing aids tonight as well. I’m not sure when I cleaned them, so that may help. I’m never sure precisely how much Mom hears with or without the hearing aids.

Mom doesn’t like to wear them and she gets upset when I put them in her ears. It would be nice if she could put them in herself, but she won’t and I have to put them in for her.

Sunday afternoon and no recipe to post

It’s Sunday afternoon and I don’t have a recipe to post. This week we eat soup poured over rice. I cooked the rice last Sunday and had planned to fix it another way. However, when I put the soup over some rice and heated it in the microwave, I like the way the soup and the rice tasted.

It’s easier to fix soup and rice in the microwave during the week. Mom eats it and then takes her evening medication. Some of the tablets require Mom to eat before she takes them and sometimes it is difficult to get her to eat before taking the medication. Sometimes it is difficult to get Mom to take the pills without chewing them; the problem is one of the tablets is time released and those she isn’t supposed to chew.

I know Mom doesn’t understand why she has to take the pills without chewing them. Mom doesn’t understand why she has to take the pills. The Alzheimer’s disease and short-term memory prevents her from remember or understanding. She doesn’t know she has Alzheimer’s disease and wouldn’t believe me if I told her. All Mom knows is that she doesn’t want to take the medication because she doesn’t think she needs it.

I’ll have a recipe to post next week. I’m not sure what it will be right now, perhaps something with rice. I may even post the rice and soup recipe, but I have to measure the rice to see how much I use with the cans of soup.

Saturday in Review

Jamál (Beauty), 13 Mulk (Dominion), 168 BE – Saturday, February 18, 2012 about 7:15 PM Pacific Time

Mom is asleep, so I have a chance to sit down and focus on other things. I still have one pill to give her, but that has to wait until 8:00. I will have to wake her up and there is an advantage to that. Mom does not resist taking the 8:00 pill and I think it is because I have to wake her up to give it to her. Mom just wants to get back to sleep so she takes the pill without a fuss.

It has been a long and somewhat difficult day. Normally, Saturday’s with Mom are easy. However, today was a little different. I am not sure why because Mom slept later then usual this morning. Mom does not like to get up before dawn, so today I let her sleep until the sun was up. I can do this on Saturday and Sunday because she does not go to the Daycare Center.

Monday through Friday, I have to get her up before dawn because she needs to take some meds before the CNA arrives to get her ready to go to the Daycare center. Mom enjoys going to the center, perhaps that was the problem today. She did not get out of the house. I think I will try a different approach tomorrow. Instead of setting her on the couch I will set her in front of the living room window. That way she can get some sunshine. In addition, when she walks down the hall she has to walk she has to walk further then when she sits on the couch.

I want to go to a movie

It’s been several years since I went to a movie. The last time I went to see a movie my mother and I went together. Mom can’t go with me now because she spends the day in Adult Day Care, so when I go now I have to go alone.

I haven’t been to a movie by myself; therefore, I’m not sure if I like going alone or not. I will find out because I am going to a movie this year. The movie I want to see is John Carter. I remember reading the Barsoom novels by Edgar Rice Burroughs when I was a child and I loved those books. The movie, a Disney Production, will be in theaters on March 9. I am looking forward to seeing it.

Thankful Thursday: Afternoon sunshine

Istijlál (Majesty), 10 Mulk (Dominion), 168 BE – Thursday, February 16, 2012 about 12:05 PM Pacific Time

Afternoon sunshine
Follows a chilly morning
Wind blows through the trees

Midweek Reflections: This is a Leap Year

‘Idál (Justice), 9 Mulk (Dominion), 168 BE – Wednesday, February 15, 2012 about 1:25 PM Pacific Time

This is a leap year and that means there are 29 days in February, which gives 2012 366 days. This is an election year and oddly enough, I am not sick of the political commercials. Normally, in a presidential election year I get sick of the commercial around February 15. Not only am I not sick of them, but I am beginning to find them amusing.

I am not sure why I find the political commercials amusing. Maybe it is because I am 65 years old and, for the first time in my adult life, have some type of health insurance. I can go to the doctor or a specialist, knowing specifically what my co-pay is and not have to worry about how much the entire bill will cost me.

I could find those commercials amusing because I realize just how fragile the human brain and memory really are. My mother has Alzheimer’s disease and short-term memory issues. Until this year, Mom has voted in every presidential election since she was 21, but this year, because of the Alzheimer’s, she will not be voting because she cannot make an informed decision.

A third reason I could find the political commercials amusing is stress. As my mother’s caregiver, I am under a great deal of stress. I learn a long time ago that the more stress I am under the odd my sense of humor becomes. Whatever the reason, this year I find the political commercials amusing.

Happy Valentines Day

I just want to wish
A Happy Valentines Day
To humanity

Monday Mumblings after sunset

Fidál (Grace), 8 Mulk (Dominion), 168 BE – Monday, February 13, 2012 about 6:15 PM Pacific Time

It’s after sunset and another solar day has begun. It’s colder this evening because the wind blowing. We also had a little rain, which means that when I go out on Valentines’ Day I’ll have to wash my windshield. This happens every time it rains. It rains just enough to spot my windshield, but not enough to wash my car.

I need to go to a car wash. I’m not going to wash the car myself because that would be a waste of water and there is the possibility of getting a ticket for wasting water. Besides, I like the idea of having someone else wash my car. There are several carwashes close so I will have the car washed at the beginning of March. That way I can begin spring with a clean car, besides by that time, I will have the inside of the car cleaned out so that I can get it vacuumed.

I also need to take the car to my mechanic. I’ll have to do that in March as well. I’ll get the car washed and then take it to the garage.

Recipe of the Week: Rice in the slow cooker

Jamál (Beauty), 6 Mulk (Dominion), 168 BE – Sunday, February 12, 2012 about 11:55 AM Pacific Time

I am fixing rice in the slow cooker today. The first thing I do before cooking the rice is to put water in the Brita filter pitcher. When the water filters through, I use a 1-quart glass-measuring cup to make sure I have enough water in the cooker to make sure I have enough water to cook the rice. I pour the water into the slow cooker and then turn it on. I let the water get hot before putting the rice in to cook. After the water is hot, I pour a package of rice and let it cook.

Since I am not using the rice as a breakfast food this week, I flavor the rice with shrimp bullion cubes. Once the rice finishes cooking, I will divide it into two microwavable safe casserole dishes. One of the dishes, I will mix with canned vegetables and chicken to make a main dish. The rice in the other casserole dish I will remain shrimp flavored rice for now. Tomorrow I will either freeze it for use as a side dish later or mix a can of beans with it before putting it in the freezer.

I have to check to see how many cans of beans are in the pantry. I also have to see what types of canned beans I have. I know I have green beans in the pantry, but I do not want to mix the rice with green beans, because I may want to use green beans as part of the main dish containing the chicken and vegetables.

Family History Friday: Grocery Shopping with my Grandparents

I remember going grocery shopping with Grandma and Grandpa. My grandparents went grocery shopping once a week. On Friday, Grandma would make the shopping list and then on Saturday, when Grandpa was off, they would go to the “grocery store”.

On Saturday, morning Grandma would get up and make breakfast. After breakfast, she and Grandpa would go grocery shopping. They always went to Safeway in Blackwell, Oklahoma. I can’t remember for sure, but I think Safeway was the only grocery store in Blackwell at that time. There was another privately owned market in Blackwell, but Safeway (I think) was the only supermarket in town.

When they arrived at the grocery store, Grandpa would push the shopping cart while Grandma picked the items from the shelves and put them into the cart. They would start at one side of the store and go up and down every isle until they had bought every item on Grandma’s shopping list. Since Grandma always wrote a complete list, they didn’t have to buy anything that wasn’t on the list.

The only exception my grandparents ever made was when one or more of their grandchildren went with them. Grandpa always bought something for the kids, even if it wasn’t on the list.

Coupon Epiphany in Las Vegas

Istiqlál (Independence), 4 Mulk (Dominion), 168 BE – Friday, February 10, 2012 about 5:25 AM Pacific Time

I’m attempting to save money by using coupons. I clip my coupons, place them in an expanding coupon-size file and sort the coupons by month. There is only one problem with this method. I can’t remember the types of coupons that I have in the file. If I can’t remember the coupons I have then how can I use them before the expiration date.

I have to make some changes to this method. In 2011, I listed the coupons I had in a spreadsheet and sorted them by expiration date. This method worked all right, I simply did not keep it up. I’m going back to that method, with some slight changes. I’m setting aside an hour or two on Sunday to sort the coupons and make my grocery list for the week. This way I can decide which coupons I need and use them before the expiration date.

Thankful Thursday: The bandage is off my left leg

Istijlál (Majesty), 3 Mulk (Dominion), 168 BE – Thursday, February 9, 2012 about 4:55 PM Pacific Time

I am thankful that the bandage is off my left leg and I am wearing both of my thigh-high compression stockings. I did not know anything could feel so good, but they do.

I am thankful that today’s ultrasound revealed no blood clots. I still have to get up every hour and walk around, but that is easy to do. I have many things to do so it is not a problem to walk for ten minutes every hour. I gave another ultrasound scheduled for March and I am praying that it does not reveal any blood cloths.

I am thankful for KFC. I bought a six-piece dinner before coming home today because I did not want to cook anything. I still have a great deal to do this evening and tomorrow before Mom returns home. I do not have to worry about making Mom’s bed, but I do have to take her clothes off the drying rack and hang them in her closet. I also have one more load of her clothes to do before she gets home tomorrow evening.

I am thankful for chocolate chocolate chip cake; I bought a cake at KFC as well as chicken. I think I will have another piece after while and then save the rest until Mom gets home tomorrow.

Midweek reflections: My online routine

‘Idál (Justice), 2 Mulk (Dominion), 168 BE – Wednesday, February 8, 2012 about 10:05 AM Pacific Time

While I waited at the doctor’s office Monday, I read “On the Net” by James Patrick Kelly in the March edition of Asimov’s Science Fiction. Part of the discussion concerned activities on the net. It got me thinking about my online routine.

My routine consists of checking the bank accounts, the ones that belong to my mother and then mine. Then I check the IZEA websites for opportunities, followed by writing.com, and my e-mail accounts. Next, I post to my blogs and do other writing activities. Since my daily activities consist of working online, writing, taking care of my mother, doing the housework, and shopping, I encounter many interruptions when I am online and I don’t always do things in the same order.

I get all the online work accomplished. I get some housework either started or finished. If I am lucky, I get to bed before the virus scan begins running on my computer at 11:30 PM and if I am luckier, I get a little sleep before the alarm goes off at 4:00 AM.

Tuesday Thoughts: Compression Stockings

Fidál (Grace), 1 Mulk (Dominion), 168 BE – Tuesday, February 7, 2012 about 1:55 PM Pacific Time

I bought a pair of therapeutic thigh high compression stocking today. I already have a pair of knee-highs, but they are uncomfortable because they go only to my knees. I used to wear regular knee-highs and I stopped wearing them because they made my leg it just below my knee. The compression knee-highs did the same thing.

I could also have gotten the compression stocking in panty hose style; however, I did not like regular panty hose when I wore them. The problem with panty hose was different then the issues I had with the knee-highs. I never did like the fit of panty hose, so I stopped wearing them when I did stopped having to wear knee length or shorter dresses.

I think I am going to like the way the thigh high compression stocking feel. I know they will be a bit difficult to get on at first, but I expect that with compression stockings. The weird thing is that when I was younger, under twenty-five, I did not expect to have to wear compression stockings when I turned sixty-five. However, that is life. When you start to age situations occur in your life that you never expected when you were young.

Monday Mumblings: Walking at least ten minutes every hour

Kamál (Perfection), 19 Sultán (Sovereignty), 168 BE – Monday, February 6, 2012 about 1:45 PM Pacific Time

I went to the Desert West Surgical Center this morning to have the vein procedure on my left leg. I received a local anesthetic, so there was not very much pain. I arrived home about 11:30 PM.

The doctor said I had to get up and walk at least ten minutes every hour. I will not have trouble walking for ten minutes, all though I may have trouble getting up, but that has nothing to do with the procedure. I always have trouble getting out of chairs, except those in a doctor’s office waiting room. I think that is because those chars have arms I can use to push myself up.

I need to buy some new chairs for the house, but that will have to wait for a while. In the mean time, I will just push myself out of my chairs the best I can and do laundry or some other household chore every time I get up. Most of the things I have to do that does not require lifting anything heavy, if there is something heavy I have to lift it will just have to wait until after Thursday.

Recipe of the Week: I bought a new cookbook

Jamál (Beauty), 18 Sultán (Sovereignty), 168 BE – Sunday, February 5, 2012 about 11:10 AM Pacific Time

I bought a new cookbook a couple of weeks ago, Once-A-Month Cooking by Mimi Wilson and Mary Beth Largerborg. The book contains instructions about cooking enough meals to last once a month or two weeks at a time. I am beginning with the two weeks instructions and work from there.

I like to cook and normally do not mind spending time in the kitchen; however, taking care of Mom and doing housework takes a great deal of time and energy. I can find the time, but energy is the problem now. Maybe I need to eat better or there could be something else wrong. I will have to discuss this with my doctor at my next appointment.

Before I start cooking, I have to check my pantry and make a grocery list. Then I can begin fixing meals for two weeks at a time. I am looking forward to making something new. I am looking forward to the excitement and adventure of try new recipes and doing something new.

Inspirational Quote of the Week: Surprising Discoveries

Jalál (Glory), 17 Sultán (Sovereignty), 168 BE – Saturday, February 4, 2012 about 11:50 AM Pacific Time

“One of the advantages of being disorganized is that one is always having surprising discoveries.”

~ A.A. Milne

I always knew there was an advantage to disorganization. Until now, I thought it was to increase the bottom-line at stores. If you cannot find an item, you have to buy another one. I have an example of this.

I need to grate some cheese, but I could not find my old cheese/vegetable grater. I decided the best way to handle the situation was to buy a new one. I did not remember where I put the old grater. I bought a new cheese/vegetable grater. After I bought the new grater, I found the old one. Now you may think this was an unnecessary expense, but that is not true. Because the new grater was, a higher quality item and it matched my kitchen décor much better.

A little disorganization is not a bad thing because it leads to surprising discoveries and encourages you to upgrade your equipment. A lot of disorganization is not good a little disorganization has its advantages. What one has to remember in this case is moderation.

Family History Friday: Searching for my roots

Istiqlál (Independence), 16 Sultán (Sovereignty), 168 BE – Friday, February 3, 2012 about 4:50 PM Pacific Time

I am searching for my roots, so I suppose the first thing to do is to write down what I know and work from there. My mother was born Marie Pearl Newland on a farm in Oklahoma on March 19, 1921. Mom’s dad was Frank S. Newland, I am not sure of his birth date or what the S. stood for. Mom’s mother was Mary Florence Chaplin, I do not remember her birth date or where she was born.

My father’s name is Melvin Fay Darbe and he was born in 1921, somewhere in Oklahoma or Kansas. My grandmother on my father’s side was named Belva and I think her maiden name was Lancaster, but I am not sure and I do not know where she was born.

My father served in World War II in the Army Air Core and was stations at Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas, Nevada. My parents lived in Las Vegas right after they were married and Mom was a maid at what is now University Medical Center.

My grandfather on my mother’s side was too young to serve in World War I and too old for World War II. Grandpa Newland’s brother Roy Newland served in World War I. That is all I know at this time, so I will have to do some research to see what I can find.

Thankful Thursday: Grateful for the wind in Las Vegas

Istijlál (Majesty), 15 Sultán (Sovereignty), 168 BE – Thursday, February 2, 2012 about 1:10 PM Pacific Time

I am thankful for

Wind blowing through winter bare

Tree limbs and white clouds.

It is a beautiful windy day in Las Vegas, while there is no cloud cover there are clouds moving from east to west as the wind blows. I think the wind will blow the rest of the day, so I am staying in the house as much as possible because there is no use aggravating my allergies.

Midweek Reflections on Winter in Las Vegas

Winter is almost over. Tomorrow, February 2, is Groundhog Day and we will find out if spring is “right around the corner”. It has been a mild winter in Las Vegas. The temperature drop to zero during the first two weeks of December 2011. I think that Mount Charleston had a little bit of snow, but not much.

The first day of spring is March 21. After that, I can wash the winter blankets. I can also start looking for someone to pull the weeds in my yard. Because of the mild winter, the weeds need pulling or cutting right now. This year, I may have to cut them myself, especially the ones in front of the house. Those are tall enough to attract bees and other insects.

I saw a few small bees yesterday flying among the weeds in the front yard. The weeds in front of the living room window are almost tall enough for me to see them when I am inside the house. I will have to begin cutting them down after February 14 or 15. I need to get a pair of gardening gloves before attempting any weeding.

This coming Monday, February 6, I am going in for outpatient surgery on the veins in my left leg. I give the leg about a week to heal and then I have to begin cutting the weeds. It would be nice to have someone else do it, but that is out of the question because I have to save money for tree removal.