Bruce walked 175 steps in the harness and the brace (Herman). Bruce is getting stronger! He stands up at home with the brace and the help of two ladies for 7 - 12 min in the morning. As you can see, he has been spending time in the garden, that man is still tracking dirt in the house!     I have joined the Diet Doc here in town and am learning how to eat healthy. Bruce loves the new recipes we are trying. I was eating too many carbs and wanting to sleep all the time. I eat protein with every meal, some carbs and healthy fats. I've lost 17 lbs since Dec.     T ..read more

What a difference the sunshine makes! I feel alive again. We began the week with accidents that include washing the sheets daily and one mid day change. I am grateful the ladies come M- F and every other weekend.   Tuesday was Lunch Bunch with four friends at Jax Dog. I had the black bean soup and homemade bread. I don't see how they make it with their limited selection, beet salad or baked yam does not appeal to me.   Wednesday was Quilt Questors meeting and I showed off the three quilt tops I worked on on my retreat stay cation.    Duncan traveled to visit 3 community co ..read more

  I am back to writing. I am exhausted from caring for Bruce. I have anxiety, sleep deprivation and other things I don't want to talk about here. I do take time for myself, I give service, I went to a therapist, I just need uninterrupted sleep for a month... We had the renovators in to put cabinets in the pantry and a desk/work area for Bruce. It is really nice. I want to caress the wood just like I do my fabric.    I went on a three day staycation quilt retreat at a local hotel with a hot tub with a friend. I sewed three tops, ate out, slept in, exercised and talked with fr ..read more

   Yesterday my friend Chris donated a huge garbage sack of quilts to Greenwood School for their Santa Mall. There was a corduroy quilt, an embroidered quilt, a monster patch quilt no several large quilts. She said her mom had made them and never got around to donating them to any one. I took them over to the school and they were delighted to have them. I suggested they do a raffle for the larger quilts.     I picked up two friends to go to our churches women's social group called Night Relief Society. We had an ornament exchange, a cocoa bar and some yummy treats I ho ..read more

I suppose it is time I update on Bruce's shenanigans.    As you are probably aware Bruce is doing most of his driving by himself now. He usually goes to therapy and returns promptly home. Alas, he made a side trip to the dry cleaners and while transferring he fell forward out of his wheelchair. The nice lady in the shop saw him and came out. She said she knew what to do to help him as her mom falls all the time. She called 911 and requested "lift assist". Two very nice young men arrived and lifted Bruce while crouched in the van to his chair. Bruce then drove home and did not tell us ..read more

There is a doorknob on the steering wheel Bruce uses. They want his dominant hand to steer which is his right hand. The left hand controls the acceleration and brake. At first he had trouble getting the gas and brake mixed up but he is doing better ..read more

Trip to Boise    We were able to get the hand controls in the van. Alas the owners got the message mixed up and a chair is going to have to be ordered. They didn't realize Bruce has recovered as much as he has. They will also find our shotgun chair and put that in. We will return Sept 8 when Bruce gets his leg braces.    We were able to get Bruce's wheelchair arm repaired, it was broken off and we found a Nu Motion store in Meridian that replaced it for FREE. Yeah Duncan got a new pair of shoes and socks.   We ate at a marvelous restaurant called Panera, a bread restau ..read more

    Bruce said he woke up this morning and both hands were really warm. It stopped and he could move both Hands and had touch sensation in his fingertips. The numbness was gone. What a miracle! He is still healing. Thank you for your prayers.   Bruce won a blue ribbon in the fair this year. I, alas, got two reds. I'm blaming it on the long arm quilter. bah humbug. Next year   We leave Friday for Meridan. We will get the van changed over to hand controls and  Bruce will be doing in town driving to and from therapy and to his Stake meetings. A big step to independen ..read more

  Last Saturday I did some compassionate service with a friend, we went to an estate sale in Union to purchase fabric for $2.00 a pound. I came home with a few bags of good quality fabric for baby blankets, and lap quilts for dialysis and maybe something for me.  Meanwhile Bruce was in the garden picking the raspberries. One of his wheels went off the bricks and he was stuck, apparently he was there for 2 hours. Andrew was still in bed, remember he doesn't get up until the crack of noon and I left before I could ask Duncan to keep an eye on Bruce.   Bruce had his hat on so he ..read more

  Bruce was measured for leg braces on Friday! They will be here in 4 - 6 weeks. We will go to Boise to have them fitted. Bruce said I need to go to learn how to put them on him.    We will go to Boise for the weekend soon for the van to be changed over to hand controls and Bruce will be driving himself. Duncan is making preparations to leave. He is working on a plan.   The hinges are happening here, slow but steady.      This might be what the leg braces look like. He will use them in therapy. I don't want him using them at home if I am here by myself, the ..read more