So, how's it goin?

Tonight it is raining ice at my house. This is the view from our cameras. Since we are trapped inside, I thought I would post a catchup. 

When I went to the hospital, well when I felt better at the hospital (I was not thinking in the ambulance or the first hour in the ER), I really had not planned to mention this little episode to anyone. But we were expecting grandkids at 7am for breakfast  so I had to let the parents know.  My text said "Long story short, I'm in the hospital, but your dad will be home to get the kids at 7. Will anyone be around town in the morning to pick them up so he can come back here?"

Well that started it. Kids calling off work, One driving in from out of town.  I had a board meeting the first afternoon - I sent a message that I was calling off AGAIN and understood I might be fired (from my volunteer job).  They joked that next time I would need a doctor's excuse. Surprise, when I texted a few days later that I would be off for at least a few weeks and that I did have a doctor's excuse. 

Word spread around town and as much as I am not crazy about people in my business, it has brought tears to my eyes the amount of people who have called, texted, sent cards and even flowers.  I was on a few prayer chains.  I have had so many people offering to bring food or go shopping for me.  I do tell them I have a freezer full of those dang healthy meals, please don't bring food. I also have a healthy husband with time on his hands, but it is so nice of people to offer.  I feel like I have a lot more friends than I realize.  

This week everyone wants to know how I am doing. The truth is I feel better than I have for months and it really makes me feel like a fraud. Losing all that fluid in my lungs allows me to breath better than ever and I lost a lot of swelling especially in my legs and ankles (I wasn't fat- I was puffy!). Of course I am basically doing nothing so I am well rested, lol.  We did stop at the Cancer Thrift Shop on the way back from a doctor's appointment and I found this fabulous lamp. It didn't accidentally come home with me, I was actually looking for a lamp. 

My best friend forever (since fifth grade) came to town to take me to lunch. She just wanted to see if I was telling the truth about doing better. A local restaurant has a new owner and the interior and ambiance is wonderful. The food and service so-so. 

We have been going to doctor's appointments and even ran errands. We bought passes at the city recreation center and are using the walking track. Mr Merry is walking along because he is still on edge about letting me out alone. 

Today I visited the cardiologist and he increased the dosages on all my new medicines. So even though I feel fabulous, I have to remind myself that we, or me, are dealing with issues. Unfortunately the drug store texted me that my insurance doesn't want to cover one medicine which is $1032 a month. Since it is Friday night, I am planning on checking with the drug store Monday morning, calling the insurance company next and if I finish those calls and don't have a solution before 5pm, calling the doctor's office to see if there is a substitute. 

He is sending me to cardio rehab and said he doesn't want me to do any heavy activities until we work that out since the insurance company may not cover that either. (My refractory is one point over the qualifying number). Meanwhile I have the okay for walking.  

I kind of feel like I am in a holding pattern. I go to the pulmonologist this week and the cardiologist in 2 weeks to see how I am doing and at this point, I just want to get back to normal. Whatever that is.  

What's Cooking

 My nightly dilemma of coming up with dinner ideas has been temporarily solved with my beef producer having another recipe challenge. 

This time it is a slow cooker challenge and to make things more exciting - I am changing the recipes to low-sodium as directed by my new doctors. 

This would have been easy except that I had to make the meatballs, find a low-sodium recipe for dry onion soup, find a low-sodium recipe for gravy mix and find salt-free beef broth in my small town. 

I did find the broth and it was three times the price of unsalted and tasted like water. My solution in the future will be to use the broth from the unsalted beef roasts I cook myself. Here are my recipes:

And here is our version: 

I'm not going to lie, it needed salt.  My next mission is to find a salt substitute with a salty flavor. 

And today we did week 2! 

My changes were to use round steak since that was in the front of the freezer, I added carrots and celery to the mushrooms and onions since I had some in the fridge to use up and I used the rest of my salt-free beef broth and gravy mix.  Cornstarch has no sodium. 

And here is our version:

This is Mr Merry's plate. I had a smaller piece and salad instead of potatoes (which could have been sodium free except I used instant). 

There is enough leftover for two more meals so I hope Mr Merry meant it when he said he liked it! 

I am hoping next week doesn't involve the beef broth/gravy mix pattern, especially with as many times as we will be eating this week's recipe! 

Monday Memories

Please meet my Aunt Patty.  She was born as Pearl May at home in a nearby rural township  in October of 1896 to my great-grandparents Daniel and Wretha.  She was the middle child; my grandfather Louis was born in 1894  and her baby sister Elizabeth (Betty) was born in 1903. 

The fun part of my family is that everyone uses the same names over and over. Pearl May's cousin, who lived on the same road was born in August of 1896 and was named Pearl (same last name) too.  About five Daniels (her dad's name) were living in that township at the time, all named after their grandfather Daniel. 

By 1900 Pearl, her mom and dad and brother were renting a house in town on the same street as my husband and my  first apartment. Daniel is listed as a delivery man.  By 1910 the family had moved to another rental house closer to Main St.  Daniel is listed as a laborer at odd jobs, Mom Wreatha  is listed as a laundress at her home and my 16 year old grandfather is listed as an office boy. My grandfather was supporting the family at this point and Miss Pearl had perfect attendance in the eighth grade and made the honor roll with a 93.2 in 1910 (I can access local newspapers on line). Later that summer she visited friends in a nearby town. 

As a high school senior in April, 1914,  Pearl and a classmate competed in the Northwest District of our state's High School Oratorical Contest with a vocal duet of "In the Dust of the Twilight".  The Medicine Show, which was in town for a week in June of 1914, had a contest for most popular girl. Pearl placed second.  Later in June, Pearl (with her middle name spelled Mae) graduated from our local high school and had a part in the "commencement" play as a maid in waiting. Pearl went on to take a two year Normal course at Miami University in Kent, Ohio. She came home to spend Christmas and Easter with her family. 

In September of 1915 Pearl returned to her studies at Miami University.  Again she returned home for a week at Christmas.  There is no mention of her graduation, but in July of 1916, our local school board hired Pearl for a position at the same grade school my children attended, as a fifth grade teacher. In  October she was a speaker at the Methodist Church anniversary presenting a paper "The Harvest of the Years".  She was a member of the Sunshine Class at the church and was hostess for their meetings. 

In 1917 Miss Pearl directed a large musical show at the elementary school carnival showcasing the students. She spent Easter week visiting friend at Miami University. And in May 1917,  "Scarf dancing, patriotic drills and singing comprised a program by fifth grade girls in green and white dresses at our local theater.  The result showed careful training by Miss Pearl. She continued hosting the Sunshine Class at her family's home. At the end of the school year she prepared high school students for a program of folk and interpretative dances. Pearl was rehired as a teacher for the 1917-1918 school year at a yearly salary of $550.  

In December of 1917 her cousin, the other Pearl Mae O'Dell got married which made my genealogy search of MY aunt much easier.  My Pearl spent the holidays with friends in Indiana.  In May of 1918 the school thanked Pearl for her help with dances for the Patriotic Decoration Day Celebration. In December 1918 Pearl was on the list of persons ill with the influenza.  She recovered to help with a school production with 250 students in May of 1919 and was given a bouquet of pink roses.  Her yearly salary for the 1919-1920 school year was $870. Pearl and another teacher started a dance class for high school girls in December. 

I thought I wouldn't be searching about which article was about which Pearl O'Dell after the marriage of her cousin, but oh no.  Another Pearl, living in New York state and aged 18,  married an O'Dell and they decided to horribly murder her ex-boyfriend. Now to sort through out the articles of the accused murderers who were quite the topic in all the papers, including my local paper. 

In the 1920 census they are renting on another street near Main Street and it says Daniel is a house painter, Wreatha is at home, My grandfather is a jeweler and Pearl is a teacher.  Betty is still a student.

In May 1920, Pearl was the hit of the Eastern Star entertainment as a featured dancer and bit player in the show.  Later in May she helped direct a high school performance.  In June Pearl advertised aesthetic dancing classes. She and friends danced at the Eastern Star banquet in later in June.  Her September salary would have increased by $106.25, but Pearl resigned from her teaching position on July 21, 1920 and accepted a job as a physical training teacher in the junior high school in Las Cruces, New Mexico.  It looks like a year later she is living in Cleveland, Ohio.   Pearl returned to town to "spend a week with her parents" in 1922.  By July 1924 it seems like she is living with her parents. 

In June of 1926, ANOTHER Pearl O'Dell in our county pops up.  She is 18 years old and there is a marriage announcement.  Also in June 1926 my great grandmother (Pearl's mother) and my grandmother (her sister in-law) traveled to Seattle Washington to visit MY Pearl. She changed her name when she went out west and was now going by Patricia Ann, but not in our local papers. Aunt Patty was married in King County, State of Washington in June 1927. I do not believe any family was present as they did not serve as witnesses. 

In August 1933 Aunt Patty and her husband were visiting in the area, "the first time Pearl, a former teacher, has returned in ten years."  She is mentioned as visiting again in 1936 and 1937 and 1938. They would have traveled by train from the state of Washington to the state of Ohio.

Aunt Patty died in 1961 at age 64 in the state of Washington. Her obituary states she was recently teaching classes until her illness.  

Aunt Patty never had children and I like to take the responsibility that she is remembered. 

Here is another photo I found when researching some dates for this article. I believe it is her first year at university.