Well, I finally got the cane that fits and I have it on the doorknob so I will not forget to take it with me when I go walking, shopping, skipping, jumping or dancing. I must say it does slow one down a good bit. Glad it is only temporary... probably for about 6 months.
I also got one of those chairs that go into the shower with you. I am slowly getting ready for the big event.
But what do I do with my dog?
Will climbing to the second floor even be possible?
Last night the kitchen drain sprung a leak. Jim fixed it today. The cabinet is drying now. So the kitchen is a mess with stuff scattered about the floor.
We also enjoyed a nice fish fry in the community room today. There were 10 of us. We had a good time.
Ed and I were outside this morning and saw a huge convoy of geese headed north. Just a few minutes ago another convoy went north. I wish I was a goose.
Someone posted a beautiful blue Eiffel Tower. I must add to blog.
And another thing... I got ringworm! I've been using real bandages but it gets costly. So I tore a sheet and rolled some bandages. I will wash them in the sink and hang them in the shower. I felt like Scarlett O'Hara when she was rolling bandages for the civil war.

Thunder in His Wings has changed format and text. Also reorganizing differently. Haven't added much new just trying to get it into shape. I got tired of scrolling and moving stuff. Got it all mixed up and turned into a mess. Tomorrow I will start fresh and see what develops.
I'll make a list so I can see what needs to be moved and where it should go. I don't want to print it as it takes so much ink. I am a penny pincher.
Been swelling up again. Big ankles and big feet. But less pain in knees so that is nice. Brace supports knee so I can take the stairs with more confidence.

Went to see Doctor Kane today and got an injection in right knee for pain management. I have an appointment with Dr Gibbon for pre-op talks. I am going to ask that he do both knees at the same time. If that fails I will request that he give me grasshopper knees so I can cover all the ground that will be lost during such a long recovery.
I had the most delightful visitors today. They came from Racine WI. They came with gifts. One very nice picture of Elvis on tin! Then a beautiful stone carving of a wolf. The alabaster stone came from the Black Hills. It is an incredible work of art. I can almost conceal it in my hand. It has a most fantastic feel. I know it is going to talk to me. The rather rosy stone has dark red blood stains dripping over it.
I believe it is here to help me with all the things that I am facing at this time. Also, to be with me as I write the  memoir of Brandon, Thunder in His wings. Accomplished very little today. But yesterday saw 13 pages completed.

The stone wolf loves to be touched. I put my finger between his shoulders and he trembles with delight.

Today is the day I have chosen to undertake a project to raise funds for the Brandon Humphrey Memorial Scholarship. It is my intent to read my old journals written when he was with us, edit entries and publish a gathering of thoughts and anecdotes concerning his brief and beautiful life. It will be entitled Thunder In His Wings. I have already begun and upon reading two paragraphs of one journal I sat down to weep. I know this is a journey that will break my heart a million times.

When it is complete I will print the pages and bind into hand stitched volumes. It will be a labor intensive project. So the product will be quite limited in number. Who will purchase? Maybe YOU.

I hope I can get the bugs out of this blog spot. It is such a turkey! I have more trouble signing in to my blog that you do when you visit.
Speaking of knees... I got the cane today and it is too tall. I borrowed it from Dorothy who is going to the walker. It is adjusted to as short as it will go. So I think I must just bite the bullet and purchase one that fits me better. I will probably need it for quite some time. So it is a worthy investment.
I should also say that I've been taking a pain pill to get going in the morning and one in PM to get to sleep.
We have been under clouds for so long I can't remember what it looks like under Pigeon's Roost when the sun is shining bright on the new green leaves of summer.
I moved some photos from the phone camera memory card today. I got a disc and a few photos. Tried to figure out the instant photo machine. Had to get assistance 3 times! I didn't feel like a dimwit... I felt like a tenacious wolverine.

Gosh! I see that 54 people read or visited my first entry but only one left a comment! I find that very exciting. In fact, I am wordless!
My plan was to get  my nook book, Maggie Makes Soup, to press and add cover photos to my kindle books. They are all on the bookshelf now. I also wanted to start on Roundup #48. However, the day has grown short due to a spontaneous spaghetti luncheon that got a lot of prime time activity. Now I am baby sitting my favorite child for about an hour.
Today on Facebook I discovered that one of the children I used to babysit has passed on. Yes, it was the ever sweet and beautiful AndyPaul Favorite. I always said his name like it was one word so that's how I spell it now. I have lost a lovely friend and a dear cousin.
Last summer he planned a surprise for me at an archeological site near Crosby. He didn't tell me he was coming.  I was only told that a big surprise was waiting for me. When I opened the door... there he sat grinning from ear to ear. He wrapped me in his big bear hug and laughed like a mountain.

Well, I really must say something about knees. It has been a painful day but nothing like Mary's broken heart. She and AndyPaul were high school sweethearts and spent nearly their whole lives together. He left some very large shoes behind and a great emptiness in the Native American community.

This is not the beginning of my journey toward new knees. I have been walking in this direction most of my life. But the last three years have been progressively more painful. So, I have determined that it is time to explore the idea of replacing two old friends with something less organic but more liberating.
I met with Dr Bernice Kane, Deer River Clinic, to look at x-rays and was sent home to consider how to remain upright for the rest of my days. She gave me two weeks to think about my limited options. Almost immediately I choose to be a mobile pedestrian.

With the aid of two physical therapists I have begun a regimen of knee flexibility exercises. They are simple and not at all exerting. However, I am also working on strengthening some forgotten muscles that have been on a long vacation. These muscles are waking up to the reality of a new and useful existence. They strongly object to being called back into service. But I promised them full retirement in 25 years... if not sooner.