My Mums are starting to bloom. This is the 3rd year for them. By moving them to a cooler and shady part of my yard during the hot summer months, they won't burn up and die. I've learned the hard way. I have 2 more Mum plants that haven't any buds yet - they are a brownish-orange tint.
I've done the same thing to my primroses this year - although the Husband thought they needed more sun and moved them and a few died. I explained to him that they are a cool weather plant and cannot take our Redding summer. I have a few that will keep.
That Mexican sunflower has its first bud.
I feel like an expectant Mommy...
The other sunflowers I planted too early and didn't do a second planting,
so this will be it. Just waiting on these newbies - They took an awfully long time to sprout...
Now on to other things.
I saw this sign at the Mall - No Mall hours are posted. You have to get out your phone and aim your camera. Now that's when technology is just dumb. Plus it disenfranchised those who do not have a smartphone, the elderly, the seeing impaired - they used to have a braille sign.
Yesterday I attended the first day of my bible study. After the lecture, we gathered into our smaller discussion groups. I'm pretty much the oldest in my group - but the young gals were nice and I enjoyed them. They are homeschool moms - one gal has 5 children and both of them drive down from the mountains to join in. Fall River Mills and Shingletown. My folks used to live in Shingletown.
Homeschooling is very popular in this area. I know more families that homeschool, than those who send their children to public school.
I always enjoy driving out to this little country church - I remember the first year after we moved up here from the Bay Area, I was charmed by the farm atmosphere - a relaxing drive about 15 minutes from my house. It's not uncommon to hear the sound of cows - while we're inside and one time a couple of bulls got out from the neighbor's pasture and we all had to stay inside until they were wrangled up.
I remember, smiling and thinking how special this was - I'd never see this in the Bay Area.
I know I am going to really enjoy the fellowship and the study.
My husband wouldn't want me to share any of this but, I'll just say he is having more problems with his stomach and the inconvenient consequences that go with that. I told him, if it were me I would get back on the phone to the VA and insist they do more tests. They told him he was not scheduled for another colonoscopy for another 2 years. So they need to do another test. It could be his gallbladder...it could be a lot of things and at our ages, we can't just let these things go. Let's rule some things out.
I have this old friend who I have known for decades - we went to each other's weddings, had babies at the same time, and experienced all the stages of life - For a few years, her husband used to have stomach issues and diarrhea. He was under 40 years old and Kaiser Permanente would send him home, telling him to eat more fiber and that they don't do colonoscopies at his age. Finally, my friend had enough - went with him to the appointment and demanded more testing. He had stage 4 colon cancer. He died a year and a half later at age 41, leaving a wife and 4 children.
Between you and me, that is what is what is fueling my insistence that he get further testing. I am aware of how we have to be our own advocates. No one ever knows unless they press on those "powers that be" who can do the tests and find out what is going on.
Sometimes the VA can be the worst. There was a time in 2020 when he asked for an MRI, and the VA physician actually told him, that if he got an MRI, he would be taking it away from another Veteran who needs it more. If you know the character of any Veteran - they care for each other and would never, take away from another needy Veteran - so of course, he elected to not get the MRI.
When that Doctor said that to him, first I was dumbfounded and I usually would speak up but I was shocked that this Doctor was being so disrespectful. But I was thinking,
"What? He's a Veteran, doesn't he count? He certainly earned that MRI after 20 years of service."
I wish I had said that - I wish I had reported this Doctor.
I believe that these VA Doctors are told to say things like that - to weed out the ones who have a true need and those who don't. It's all about MONEY.
He is still going on his mission trip to Dinuba next week. (South of Fresno) but if he doesn't feel well, I have told him I will drive down and get him.
He's just not feeling himself - he's quiet, and not sleeping well.
Has medical always been this complicated or is it because we are getting older?
Well, tomorrow is Friday and I can't believe this month has flown by as fast as it has. Foodie goes back to work on Sunday, and Navy's birthday is the 25th. Before we all know what hit us, it will be Christmas.
Until Next time -
Debby
