{ Loaded on meds, blood work and allergy testing }

Good evening friends :)

I'm so sorry for kind of posting and running this morning.  I really did just come and tell you that I was headed to the doctor and didn't get around to doing a proper post for you all.  But I did tell you that I would be back, and so here I am.

So I got to the doctor early this morning, I still wasn't feeling very well, and I'm still not 100%, but I can say that I'm feeling so much better than I have in the past week.

The doctor asked the usual questions and then checked me out.  She actually felt bad for me because she says I have fluid in both ears, really inflamed sinuses and of course the bad allergies going on too.  She said it's no wonder I've been feeling off and lightheaded with all the fluid in the ears.  I knew something was off, had no clue what, but it makes perfect sense now knowing my ears are affected.

Anyway, she gave me Amoxicillin, Sudogest and Allegra.  She also prescribed some Mucinex but when I got to the pharmacy the Airman told me they wouldn't give me that because the system had flagged saying that I'm allergic to one of the ingredients in there.  I was so glad that he told me, I have no problem being denied something knowing I'm allergic.  Apparently what I'm allergic to is Guaifenesen.

Tomorrow morning I have to return for some blood work.  I suffer from Allergies but I've never had an allergy test or panel done to find out exactly what I'm allergic to, so I'm having that done tomorrow.  Also checking my cholesterol and diabetes because they run in the family and it's been a few years since I've had those tested.4

I'll have to fast starting tonight, but that's fine, I plan on going first thing in the morning and then I can have my coffee when I get home.

I got back home around 10am and immediately took my first dose of the medication.  Within an hour I had already started feeling a million times better.  It's absolutely crazy to think that allergies can be so debilitating.

They have definitely gotten worse since moving to Texas, and I hadn't realized just how out of it I was until the medication started taking effect.  Good grief.

I got some housework done, then lit my favorite Sweet Lavender candle, which smells divine, and sat down with my Atlanticus Blanket.  I am trying to catch up, and just started Part 4, so hopefully will finish it before next Monday when Part 5 is released.

I set the crochet aside after a few rows, so as not to strain my eyes and neck. I don't know about anyone else, but if I crochet for too long, my neck starts hurting and my eyes burning (but that is obviously because of my dry eyes, which reminds me I need to get some more Systane, just wish it wasn't so expensive)



I was working on my 2009 Blog Book when the lawn mower arrived.  This is Curt's Father's Day gift.

He arrived home from work about 5 minutes after it was delivered and he just ran inside, changed and immediately got on it to try it out and get mowing.  He is so happy with his mower and I'm very happy that we were able to do this for him.

It mows extremely well, and pretty fast too.  Within 30 minutes he had done the whole front left of the house and then did half of the horse field we have too.

It certainly helps to have a yard machine like this when you live on 3 acres :)

While he mowed, I made dinner which tonight was Beef Curry.  I ate with the kids because I needed to take my next dose of medication, did the dishes and cleaned the kitchen and took my shower.

I'm just sitting down now to compile this post and then I'll work on my blog book a little more, and honestly by the time I look back at the clock it will be bedtime for me.  Time just flies.

Thank you all for the comments and advice and prayers, I appreciate you all so much.  :)

I don't know if you guys are enjoying my constant blogging, I'm sure I've surprised some of you considering I was a terrible blogger for the past 2 years.  Hahah

I am trying very hard to change that and I do hope you all continue to enjoy and read and interact with me.

Tomorrow is Thursday and I will have a Slow Cooking or Cooking Thursday up for you all.

I'm going to go and work on the book a little more and I also need to reply to emails and review requests and all that other fun stuff.

Have a beautiful Wednesday night everyone.  God Bless!!!

{ Mowing 3 acres with a push mower }

Ok, so I feel like I woke up about 2 hours ago, blinked, and it's 6pm.  I don't know how this day got away from me, but it did.

It was a bit of a quiet, uneventful day.  I got a lot done yesterday and unfortunately exacerbated my allergies with all the crazy pollen and grass.  The allergy tracker I use has literally been shouting at me to STAY indoors, but there's things that need to be done and I can't very well sit around and do nothing.

But I do have pictures from yesterday so I'll share those with you. 

Some people look at all this grass to mow and feel overwhelmed.  I look at it as a blessing that I'm surrounded by beauty, quiet and nature.  And I really do like mowing, if I'm to be completely honest.

Unfortunately our big riding mower broke, like I mentioned in a previous post, so we went out and bought a small cheap (cheapest that we could find) push mower.  It's a huge task when you have 3 acres to mow, but it's doable, for sure.

I turn the radio on, on my cellphone, pop in my headphones and just go for it.

I stop to drink water, every once in a while, but for the most part, I just keep going.  The constant humming of the mower becomes almost hypnotic, and before I know it, the whole front of the house is done.

I got a lot done, unfortunately today I'm paying for it because all the grass and pollen outside completely buggered up my allergies.  I've been absolutely miserable, but you know, I think that there are things that need to be done and I have to put on my big girl panties (so to speak) and get on.

Marley is a big baby, and the whole time I was mowing, he was at the front door whining and crying for me.  He is terrified of the mower, but at the same time wants to be out there with me, which is hilarious.

I finally let him out and he sat at the edge of the driveway watching me mow, but soon got tired of it and begged to be let back in.  He sure makes me smile with his crazy antics.

After all that mowing, I came inside and immediately knew that I was in trouble with my allergies.  Runny nose, sneezing, itchy eyes, itchy roof of mouth....oh boy.

I took my allergy meds, which I lovingly refer to as my happy pink pills, and I tell you, after my shower last night, I crashed on the couch around 6pm.  I didn't even try to lay down all comfortable, and to be honest I don't even know how it happened.

One minute I was sitting on the couch watching TV, and the next I'm waking up half dazed, laying on my side.  I think I literally just leaned over, placed my hand under my head and went to sleep LOL

I'm becoming strange in my old age. 

Today I fully intended on finishing off the back yard, but folks, it's been cloudy and grey and very windy all day long and I really did not want to go back out there in AllergyVille.

I stayed inside, did inside jobs, cleaned the carpets, worked out, baked bread and watched some shows.

Oh and speaking of shows, I'm not sure if any of you are aware of Jamestown?  It started in the UK on Friday, and it's by the same producers as Downton Abbey. 

I watched the first episode and enjoyed it so much.  I've always been fascinated by Jamestown and you know how much I love British shows, especially Period dramas so this was one I was not going to miss.

You can watch on Sky TV in England, or you can catch it online.  Go here to watch the first episode.

Made a delicious dinner of Chicken and Dumplings, have already had my shower, and now I'm going to try and watch a quick episode of Once Upon a Time and then get some reading in for my next book review.

Oh and speaking of book reviews, I'll have my Summer Reading List up tomorrow, if any of you want to join in, go ahead and get your books together and be ready to share your lists tomorrow too.  I love looking through other people's lists, it's how I often find new books to try. :)

{ A mowing we will go.... }

As a military wife, I learned to do a lot of things on my own.  I had to, I was left with two young children while my husband deployed or went away for training, and I really didn't like to have to ask anyone for anything so I quickly became independent, doing it all, holding down the fort etc.

One of the things I always had to do while he was away, was mow the yards.  It's just one of the hundreds of things that I'm ever so grateful for learning in our many years as an active duty family.

Living in Texas now, as most of you know, we have a country house with 3 acres, which means lots of mowing come spring and summer time.  It wouldn't be a problem if our riding mower worked, unfortunately it doesn't.  Guess it's one of the issues when buying anything from Craigslist right?

So that leaves a huge yard to mow and a push mower to push around.

It takes us a few days to get it all done, and so what I usually do is get started early morning when the sun is not yet scorching hot, and there is a cool breeze blowing through.

It gets me outside in the fresh air, it gives me some exercise and hey, I can even work on my tan.

Yesterday was mowing day.  I wish I could describe or even begin to explain here on the blog, just how much I enjoy being out there.  Everything looks magical, and there are certain corners of the yard that make me feel like I could easily step through a doorway into the Secret Garden.

It looks magical, it feels magical.  When I first took this picture above, it almost felt like I could be a tiny little fairy, weeding my way through the tall grass.  Can almost picture a beautiful little house in between those.

I think it's part of the Spring magic, it makes everything soft and pretty, I'm pretty sure it is meant to bring insane amounts of joy into a person's life.  Or maybe it just does that for me, who knows.

I mowed for an hour, got the whole right side of the house done and smiled through it.  Is it hard work?  Of course, a riding mower would have been a lot easier and faster, but the birds were chirping around me, the sun was shining down, the breeze was blowing through my hair and there was no busyness around me, no cars, no people back and forth, no sounds other than nature.

Pretty blissful to be honest.

Curt mowed most of the back of the house when he got home from work, and this morning I do need to get started on the front left side.  My lower back is hurting though and I'm waiting a little in hopes that the pain subsides and doesn't interfere with what I need done.  Not that it matters, if I can't do it today, I'll get on with it tomorrow.

Right now my tummy is rumbling, so I am heading into the kitchen for another cup of coffee and breakfast of some kind. 

You have yourselves a wonderful Thursday :)

Spring

By Gerard Manley Hopkins

Nothing is so beautiful as Spring –

When weeds, in wheels, shoot long and lovely and lush;

Thrush’s eggs look little low heavens, and thrush

Through the echoing timber does so rinse and wring

The ear, it strikes like lightnings to hear him sing;

The glassy peartree leaves and blooms, they brush

The descending blue; that blue is all in a rush

With richness; the racing lambs too have fair their fling.

What is all this juice and all this joy?

A strain of the earth’s sweet being in the beginning

In Eden garden. – Have, get, before it cloy,

Before it cloud, Christ, lord, and sour with sinning,

Innocent mind and Mayday in girl and boy,

Most, O maid’s child, thy choice and worthy the winning.