Rain, Rain, Rain

Chuck finally got the garden planted. He planted seeds last night for swiss chard, spinach and beets.  Still has more to plant.  Right after he planted a bunch of plants it poured rain for almost a week!  We were afraid that the plants wouldn't survive with so much rain.  We will have a late garden this year.  The vadalia onions are up already.  The neighhbor brought us some onions and cucumbers last week.  I want to make some pickes but need a few more cucumbers.  I have some canned tomatoes that I did last year and want to make some salsa.  The grandchildren love pickes and salsa. 

We took a trip to Nashville last week.  Chuck had a 9:30 am appt. on Saturday for a hearing test.  He wants to see if he can get a disability which is job related to his 27 years in the Navy.  Whatever % they give him his military retirement won't be taxed that %.  He aslo wants to see if they will give him hearing aids.  Luckily he had all of his hearing tests from day 1 in the Navy  till retirement.  The VA rep in Jamestown said Chuck would hear from the VA sooner since he had complete documentation.  We went up on Friday night and stayed at a motel not far from VA facility was able to get a handicap room which made it easier for me. 

I am doing well with getting around alot better.  Last week I was relaeased from physical theraphy.  I still do my exercises every day and when I saw the Dr. on Wed. he said I could start using my treadmill.   He also said that I will have to have pain in the other hip before I can get the surgery done.  Insurance won't pay unless I am in pain even though the MRI shows the damage!  I really didn't want to wait till I am in pain and limping around!  I have been walking with the cane two weeks now and am starting to practice walking without the can.  I still feel like I want to limp when I try walking.  I think I am doing well enough to walk down to the boat next week.  Hopefully we will have some nice days and Chuck won't have to work.  He worked a couple of days last week the extra money will come in handy for the Dr. bills.  I had to make payments arrangements for the hospital bill which our share was $750.  The rest we have been able to pay off. Still owe the Orthopedic Dr. $236.  Paid part of the bill last week.  They will just have to wait!  Money is tight when you are on SS!

Chuck was fianllly able to get the yard mowed on Friday.  All that rain really made it grow fast.  It was raining when I got up this am.  I imagine we are in for more later. Have to make a trip into town to Walmart for a few things we have run out of.  I haven't been able to go grocery shopping as yet.  Short trips is all I can handle right now.  I hate grocery shopping anyway!!

Well not alot of news if we get to go out on the pontoon next week I will post and include lake pics.

Hip Replacement

Kinda been occupied lately with Cathy's recovery process and the physical therapy associated with her hip replacement surgery.  She underwent surgery on 20 May so we're into the 4th week post-surgery.  She's doing great.  Just this week she transitioned from the walker to a cane and occasionally almost forgets about the cane.  Her only major slow-down is getting in and out of the truck but we manage it, just a little slow for now.  Doc says it'll take about 3 months for the surgery to completely heal but that Cathy will determine when she's back to normal.  Daily exercise, aggressive PT and patience will see her through.  She's a little too determined at times so I have to remind her to slow down.  Her current goal is to get out on the boat and get to fishing.  We'll see how that goes.  I have no doubt that within a week or so we'll be out on the boat.  Been keeping close to the house for the past few weeks to keep a close eye on her but as she becomes more and more independent, I'll get back to my old routines - arrowhead hunting, hiking, woodworking in the shop, working away from home etc.  We have an appointment with the Nashville VA on Saturday to get my hearing test for a disability determination.  I had all of my Navy physicals, which included me hearing tests, so the VA rep submitted my disability application as a fully developed case which saved a lot of time.  Will still have to wait for the test and other history to be reviewed by the board to get their determination.  Been putting up with my hearing loss and ringing in my ears for years and figured it's about time I did something about it.  Actually Cathy got tired of me saying Huh all the time.   Finally got the top soil delivered so we can start the garden.  With Steve's wedding and Cathy's surgery, we're getting a late start to the garden this year.  I got a larger load this time so we have a somewhat raised garden which should make the underground crops (taters, carrotts, radishes, beets etc) to grow better.

Steve's Wedding Day

Well - It's finally over.  Stephen got married May 7th at Glen Lakes in Spring Hill, Florida.  Mom and I left Tenn on Thursday morning and arrived in Spring Hill that same evening.  Got to bed late, as expected, the up and at em on Friday morning to play catch-up, attend rehearsal and rehearsal dinner.  Turned out to be another late night but fun.  Up again on Saturday to hustle around doing last minute stuff and pull off a wedding at 4PM.  What a day.

Wedding Photo Album

These are pics of the wedding photo album that we made for Lisa, Stephen's fiancee, for her wedding shower.  Even though Cathy wasn't able to be in Florida for the shower, we thought we'd give her something special so we're taking it to Fla with us when we go for the wedding.

Wedding's Coming Up

Well - Next Thursday we saddle up for the trip to Florida and Steve's wedding.  Gonna be a long drive but are looking forward to it.  Hopefully the weather will hold as we hate driving in the rain.  Love to sleep to the sound of rain and tend to get sleepy after awhile of driving in it.  Anyway, it's a 12 hour drive so expect to be there late Thursday evening.  Wedding is on Saturday and we leave for the return trip on Sunday.  Plan to spend an overnight south of Atlanta on the way back so we won't get so tired, so we should be back by early afternoon on Monday.  When we get back, will have to schedule Cathy's hip replacement surgery in Cookeville.  Not looking forward to it but hopefully it will eliminate another source of pain that she has.  I'm really hoping we can get back into walking like we used to cause we both need the exercise.
     Tomorrow we gotta head for Ft. Campbell, Ky to do the shopping for our summer visitors.  We usually go there to buy our meat cause it's some of the best around and the price is less, plus we don't pay sales tax.  We buy in quantity so when we get home we separate it into smaller amounts and vacuum pack it so it'll last longer.  We just finished eating the last of what we packaged up last spring.  It's nice to be back on a military base.  Our overnight room is only about $45 which includes two dbl beds, mini kitchen with fridge, free breakfast, large screen cable tv etc.   It's a relaxing overnight for us, which we don't get to do too often.
      Before we head out for Florida, I hope to get a couple more fishing trips out on the Dale Hollow Lake.  That's another way we relax.  It's soooo peaceful and quiet out there, especially during the week days. 

Garden Time

Took Cathy to the Orthopedic surgeon last week to check on her hip and knee.  Not good news.  Seems her hip joint is deteriorating to the point where the actual joint is bone on bone.  No wonder she has trouble getting around.  It wasn't so much the knee as the hip.  Anyway, she's going to have hip replacement surgery when we get back from Florida.  The surgeon explained that they well replace the ball on top of the femur (looks like a ball joint on the tie rod end of a car).  They just cut off the top of the femur and drop this stainless steel joint into the top of the bone.  The ball sits on top a six inch shaft that fits into the femur.  When they put it all back together, the hip socket fits onto the ball joint and all the muscle holds it in place.  No screws needed and no rehab either.  Just recovery for healing from surgery.  He said she'll be up walking, with a walker, the first day.  Cathy ain't too good with surgery and definitely don't do very well with the pain.  So hope they got some good drugs for her.  Maybe when she gets healed up we can start walking again like we used to do a year ago.  We were both in better shape and need to get back to it.

Well we should have the ground plowed and topsoil on but the weather just isn't cooperating.  Joe came down last week to check on the status of the ground to see about plowing and we both agreed that it was still too wet.  Then, for the past couple of days, we've had more rain.  Just can't seem to find a dry period when it can be plowed.  Joes has his plowed but then he's higher up the mountain and it drains before mine.  In fact, his drains into mine and keeps it wet, at least for now.  Will just have to wait and hope the weather cooperates.  I want to at least get it plowed and prepped for planting before we leave for Steve's wedding in Florida, May 7th.

Stallion Attitude

I couldn't pass this up. My horse gets an attitude if I am late feeding him. He was really ticked yesterday when I fed him at 6 PM. We were late cause we were out on the lake most of the day. He picked up his feed pan and threw it toward me. Not sure if he intended to hit me or just get my attention. He does this all the time and no one except my wife believes me. Now I have pics of it. GOTCHA JIM!!!