It’s been a quiet weekend but that can be good at times. I’ve stayed busy with odds and ends of jobs around the house. Yesterday I did some much-needed cleaning in our basement. We need to get someone out to do a winter check on our furnace this week. I am also planning on clearing some shelves in the basement for food storage of canned goods. We have very little storage space in our kitchen so I’m using a couple of shelves in the basement. I have been slowly adding to our back up stock of canned goods and non-perishables. This winter has the potential of not being the best and I do want to be prepared. There have been some predictions of much more snow and cold weather than usual for us on top of the increasing number of covid cases in the area. It’s funny, in some ways we were much more cautious back in March when the pandemic first started than we are now. I guess because it was new. But actually, now it is much worse where we live than it has been at any time before. We go out for groceries and medical appointments and that’s about it. Due to our age and Tom’s health we can not afford to take chances but it sure does get old fast.
I have also been trying to help Tom with a few changes in his life. Because of his balance problems it was suggested that he start using a walking cane. When you think about it that can be a big step for some people and not an easy one. On top of that, he has failed to have much improvement in his hearing and has an appointment this week to talk to someone about getting a hearing aid. He is not over-joyed with either of these developments and I do understand. I’m trying to help him see the positive side of both and hopefully he soon will realize the benefits of them.
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| Trees on our street are just starting to change colors |
Our Fall colors are just now getting started and no where near peak color yet. There are a few trees on our street beginning to change. In our back yard we have a row of Osage Orange trees and they are dropping their hedge apples or Osage Oranges like crazy all over our yard. These are a strange fruit that is not edible for humans although the squirrels here love them. The Osage Orange tree got its name from the Osage Indian tribe which once lived in this area. They used the wood of the tree for making bows and it is still considered very good for that purpose.
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| Osage Orange or Hedge Apple Trees |
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| Osage Oranges or Hedge Apples |
As you can tell, there is not much excitement here. I hope everyone is well and enjoying a beautiful Autumn!
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| Across the street from us |
What a shame those strange looking fruit are not edible.
ReplyDeleteIt is a shame since we get so many of them each year. I have, with much effort, cut into them and they are very hard and tough on the inside. However, the squirrels love them and eat or carry off every one that falls!
DeleteA word of warning Bonnie, that if Tom's balance is bad or is liable to get worse, then a walking stick may not be any good. I had a stick for a few years, which was fine as my balance wasn't too bad and it helped with the walking. Due to my condition the balance got worse and the stick became useless. I have a zimmer frame for indoors and a walker for outside as I need stability to keep me upright without falling over.
ReplyDeleteHi Joan, it is good to see you here. Thank you for your advice and for sharing your experience. Tom just started having the balance problems this past year and we are hoping this will work for him for now at least. He is pretty stubborn and it took a little effort from several of us in the family just to get him to consider a cane. If his balance does not improve I can see him using a walker in the future. I appreciate your advice and experience Joan.
DeleteJust a thought about the walking cane...if Tom is not crazy about using a typical cane, you can buy adjustable walking poles like those used by hikers. I bought a pair for my MIL when we took a trip to Europe together last fall. They aren't expensive and you can get ones with multiple tips that can be changed out. Helps with balance or walking in places where there is a bit of an incline or perhaps uneven pathways. They are lightweight and easy to store when collapsed. With two of them, he can decide whether the terrain requires one or both. They also are nice to lean on when one has to stand somewhere for any length of time. Best of luck for Tom with finding a decent hearing aid. Certainly don't want him to feel any more isolated than is already the case with the virus.
ReplyDeleteAnd reminder to you--take care of yourself, too.
Thank you Mary, I had not thought about walking poles. I could see him using those if we were doing a lot of outdoor walking especially with uneven surfaces. I appreciate your suggestion.
DeleteWe are lost at choosing a hearing aid as we have no experience with them. He has an appointment tomorrow with someone at his ENT's office to discuss it. I wish I could go with him but this office does not allow anyone in but the patient due to the increase in covid here. Thank you for your kind reminder to me - these have not been easy days, have they? You take care too Mary!
Tell hubby to get that hearing aid. I have hearing aids. They don't cure everything but are a big improvement. Shop around . I have phonak. They are recommended by consumers. Here there's quite a bit of aid to buy hearing aids. I had three different groups chip in to pay for hearing aids and the last quarter I paid for.
ReplyDeleteRed, I told Tom what you said and I know it is encouraging to him. Neither one of us have any knowledge about hearing aids so this is all new to us.
DeleteThe basement is on my list to do some organizing. I started last week but after gathering up my unwanted items, I was reminded that Good Will is no longer taking donations. So now I have a big box of “stuff” that has no home. I will beg my children to take some. I fear that will not be successful either.
ReplyDeleteMy Retired Man has hearing aids. He put it off for years but finally acquiesced and he is very grateful that I hounded him to get them. You husband’s quality of life will improve quite a bit when he gets his.
Basements can be a problem can't they? I only got some surface cleaning done on ours so far. I have a lot of organizing to do and a lot of items to get rid of when I can. I have an on-going box of items for Goodwill and I need to add much more to it. I have so many items I had planned on passing down to my children but these days they are all into minimalism and don't want anything extra.
DeleteI will tell Tom about how your husband was grateful to finally get the hearing aids. It should help him to see that they can improve his quality of life. Thank you!
You fielded a lot of good advice for your husband! Looking forward to how it works for him.
ReplyDeleteOur colors are way ahead. The leaves are lovely, and falling fast.
There are a lot of helpful people on blogger! I'm hoping some experience from others will help him. Men can be stubborn you know!
DeleteI always love the Fall colors and get anxious for them to appear. We had a lot of rain this summer and I think that helps the colors? I hope so anyway!
When our son broke his hip and was just starting to walk again we got him walking poles to make it easier to balance himself.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
You are the second person to relay a positive experience with walking poles. Thank you Jackie!
DeleteOur leaves are almost gone! I hope Tom will use hearing aids if they can help him hear. A cane can be a good thing! Of course men are men and you know how that goes:) The hedge apples I have seen in the grocery stores if I recall right people put them in their closets...I am too old to recall! Hope you have a good week and enjoy the leaves changing!
ReplyDeleteYou are correct about men! The word stubborn might fit in there. ; ) A couple of months ago he would not even discuss hearing aids but now he is will to talk to a professional about them, so good progress!
DeleteHedge Apples are supposed to keep bugs away. I have put them in my basement but I wouldn't want one in my closet as they get sticky and yucky after they sit awhile! I never knew they had been sold in grocery stores! Enjoy your week Connie!
I've never heard of hedge apples. You have shown me something new.
ReplyDeleteI hope whatever the hubby decides to use works well for him. Looks like you got a lot of good suggestions I should keep in mind for when my day comes. ;)
Hedge apples are a strange fruit but the squirrels love them. They are supposed to keep bugs away and sometimes I will put one in my basement.
DeleteTom will talk to someone today about hearing aids. We both have a lot to learn when it comes to that. He is trying to get used to a cane. Changes like this take time to adjust to.
Dear Bonnie, what you say about the adjustments Tom has to make, and especially your reply to Joan (Devon), reminded me soooo much of my Dad! His health issues are different, but he can hardly walk and we all know it would be so much better for him to accept a walker (we call it "Rollator", like a Zimmer frame with wheels), but he won't use one, no matter what we say, and for some reason does not understand that we mean no harm but only have his wellbeing at heart.
ReplyDeleteIn some ways, it feels like we're back to late March/April in terms of COV-19, only without the long daylight hours and beautiful sunshine we had for most of spring and summer. I am working exclusively from home again, after a period of weekly visits to my client's office, and will only see people other than my parents, my sister and O.K. if absolutely necessary.
Shopping has to be done, of course, but I will keep that as short and basic as possible.
Still, there is much to love about life - your beautiful trees are just one!
I'm sorry to hear about your Dad. I think many people have a hard time accepting that they may not be as strong and capable as they used to be and see such things as canes and walkers as a sign of weakness. It can be hard to accept such changes for some.
DeleteIt does seem as if we are back to where we started with covid and that is discouraging. I love that you maintain the positive attitude of acknowledging that there is still so much to love about life!
I do think once Tom gets used to the cane, he will be glad to have it. I brought up a rollator walker to Roger. He did not like the sound of it. I told him it would be nice to have one with the seat till when we are out he could sit down when he got so tired. He runs out of energy quick.
ReplyDeleteHe has had hearing aids for probably 12 yrs or longer...he was glad to get them and I sure was glad. He used to drive me out of the house with the TV so loud. Now I tell him I am going to have to borrow them. And I am half serious. So praying that Tom will find that he is glad he got them.
I have started letting Roger go shopping with me, so yeah, I am more relaxed with it all. Our county was real slow to get cases, and just a couple weeks ago had its first death.
I need to find a place to store food cause I sure don't have much room. I have been buying toilet paper and paper towels ahead....but did that some before Covid. they are just so bulky I like not having to deal with them in winter.
I think changes like canes and hearing aids do take a little time to adjust to. I sure understand what you mean about the loud TV! It is also frustrating to him to not hear people clearly and misunderstand what they say.
DeleteI am so glad to hear that your county does not have too much covid. That is a blessing. Unfortunately we have quite a bit here and it does make things difficult and a little scary at times.
Our kitchen has very little storage so I've started using the basement for items I stock up on. There are still a lot of items we can not get here and yes, I think we have all learned to stock up on toilet paper!
I resisted getting hearing aids, finally got them 7 years ago, and I am so happy I did. Now I have great hearing with them. Also my friend uses a cane, which she calls her stick; it was hand carved by her brother. Getting a nice looking cane might be an incentive to have one.
ReplyDeleteHi Terra, I'm so glad you have found the hearing aids to be helpful to you. I keep telling Tom about people I know that are happy with them in hopes that he will see the positive side of getting them. He just has a basic cane now but he is hoping to find one that will suit his "style"! Thanks for your helpful comment!
DeleteWe have heard the rumblings that winter might be not so pleasant around these parts. Yuck. Not what I wanted to hear. Take care and hope Tom learns to love the cane and the hearing aid.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right, a hard winter would just add to everything else wouldn't it? At least it might keep people at home! You take care too!
DeleteI use a walking stick at all times...and have done so for a few years now. My hips are the problem...and falling is not a problem I want to have to deal with. I live alone...I have no one other than my own self to depend upon...so my own safety is my highest priority (as is, of course, the health and welfare of my two furry mates).
ReplyDeleteActually, I have a couple of walking sticks...a couple of "just-in-case" ones....just in case. I do not want to ever find myself in a situation when I need one, and don't have a viable one at hand.
As for food back-ups...I've always lived by this rule. I think it is how I was brought up. We never had much money to spare during my childhood, but we always had a well-stocked cupboard/pantry. And I have lived by this rule throughout my life. I guess, in lots of ways, I've always been a "just-in-case" person.
Living on islands, feeding guests, not being able to run off to a supermarket at will, and also cooking professionally in restaurants etc., made me this way, too.
My best wishes and thoughts to you and Tom, Bonnie...take good care. Tom will quickly grow to love his cane. Surprise him with a top hat for Christmas! :)
You are smart to keep a back up walking stick and equally smart to be extra cautious that you don't fall! What might seem like a minor fall can sure do a lot of damage as we get older.
DeleteThank you Lee for your always kind thoughts! Tom and I both appreciate it. I love your thought of a top hat for Christmas!
I can understand Tom's feelings about accepting the use of walking and hearing aids. I hope he will agree to give both a fair shot, and see how of an improvement it makes in his life. And I hope it's a great improvement!
ReplyDeleteHugs to you both. ❤
Thank you Jennifer. I can tell you do understand. He and I both are working on facing the whole age thing gracefully but some things are harder than others, especially for Tom. I hope all is going well for you and Gregg.
DeleteOne should never say no to hearing aids if hearing is impaired and can be improved; they are vital to enable staying in conversations and starting conversations and one's whole wellbeing. X
ReplyDeleteYou are absolutely right Rachel. He has just had a lot to deal with in the past few months. He did have the first appointment to arrange getting the hearing aids and now we have to set up an appointment for him to get fitted and to buy a pair. They are very expensive so we are working that out as well. Thanks for your encouragement. xxx
DeleteIt's amazing how quickly the seasons change. The leaves are falling and it's getting cold.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to accept that we are getting older but if the cane and hearing aids improve your husband's quality of life then that will be a good thing. But I understand his disappointment.
It's not always easy getting older but it's better than the alternative! I love Autumn but it sure doesn't last long!
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