Hodgepodge Wednesday: End of Spring Time.

Joyce has been very busy with life (we all have that happen at times right?) And yet, she has come up with this weeks questions for us all to have fun with. Thank you Joyce.

1. What is one thing on your bucket list? If you don't have a bucket list let's pretend you do.
I really want to travel more, in the USA but also want to see Nigrura Falls from the Canadian side. I've seen the American Side.

2. What makes a good dad?
Laughter! My husband has the best sense of humor and so he see funny in EVERYTHING. Our kids have this gift and believe me it's a gift. But other things are needed as well. Things like play time with the kids, helping them with homework, taking them to a ball game, time spent with the children. Showing love to the wife and mother shows children what it is to be part of a family and to show love to the wife and mother of children allows those children to know what to expect in there own marriages.

3. Are you afraid of insects? Which ones?
Up where we live, there are no poisonous insects so they can't kill me unless you count the heart attack they give me when I see them. I guess spiders are my biggest fear. I have woken up my husband to kill a spider in the shower so that I can get ready for work. Oh Yes I Have. I am a scaredy cat when it comes to spiders.

4. We're barbecuing...what's on the grill at your house?
Chicken, steaks and veggies. I'm a simple girl.

5. Do you believe that playing is more important than winning?
Yes. I'm a little of both. I love to play but if I don't win sometimes, I will quit and walk away. I don't mind a challenge but if it's too hard, it's not fun.

6. Do you tan? Use self tanners? Visit tanning salons? See your dermatologist at least once a year?
I only tan if I go to the store and bye "Tan-In-A-Can". You know the stuff you spray on and pray it doesn't turn orange or peel off. I have gone to a tanning salon but it was for the heat and heeling power of that heat against my arthritis and yes it works. I have not seen a dermatologist in years!!! When I have my physical if I have a concern I show her and she decides if I need to see one or not. So far, it's been NOT. I do sit in the sun, but it never really takes.

7. Five years ago I would never imagine that today I would_______________.
I saw this question on Marla's face book page and I thought it was perfect for the Hodgepodge. Everyone go say hi to Marla...she has an E-book launching this week.
Have grandchildren here in NH. I was not sure our daughter would ever have children, so it was a great surprise to find out that she was going to give us a grand baby. Now she has given us 2! I am on cloud nine!


8. Insert your own random thought here.
Spring has been a bit of a downer here, we have had a few nice days and a few really nice and hot days but most of it has been damp, very cool and gray. I wonder if Summer will be better, it starts in 5 DAYS. I wonder if I can fit into the swim suite?  No photo on that one people...

Mary Mary Quite Contrary. How Does Your Garden Grow?

Well I don't know how Mary's garden is doing, but ours is doing quite well!

Our seedlings are up and reaching for the sky

Radishes are up and growing, carrots hopefully will grow in soon

I hope to enjoy these soon, I love sliced cucumbers don't you?

Peas are just breaking the ground.

A green pepper flower, can the pepper be far behind?

How is your garden growing? I've heard some of you are already eating the fruit of your labor!!!!

Weekend Review: A Reward and A Challenge

Friday night Hubby took me to The Lobster Boat so that I could get my 1200 mile reward - a Lobster Dinner. I had planned to rewarded myself with a lobster dinner if I made it to 1200 miles on the 400 Mile Challenge. I didn't think we were going to do this soon because of Hubby's work schedule but he took me here. Ice Tea with extra lemon and an appetizer to share started off our meal. 

This was the medium! The waitress, Mary, told us the large comes with a warning! I believe her!

I mean look at the size of these!  I only had a few and they were really good, we took home what we didn't eat.

My meal - Lazy Man's Dinner. I don't like to fight with my food so the whole bib, and nut cracker thing is not for me. A side salad completed the meal.

Hubby had the chicken tenders - he's allergic to fish!

After dinner we headed out for dessert, at a soft serve place not far from the Lobster Boat. 

A small Peanut Butter Soft Serve was what Hubby and I had.

Becke had a Kiddie cone in a dish, it came with a dog cookie which she gobbled down while I was trying to get the camera focused!

I was asked to show off the new body now that 35 pounds are gone and the belt I wear really does hold up the pants so here it is. I don't do this much, I'm pretty camera shy! But I told Anu that I would so here it is for her. She can shut up now. Love ya!!!

I know my shoulders are up to my ears!! Told you I was camera shy. Still, since I'm in my late 50's, not bad at all....

So what's next? Well, up till now, I have moving forwarded in increments of 400 miles and that has felt comfortable, I am jumping out of the comfort zone and will shoot for 2400 miles by December 31 2011. That is really a reach for me as summer with it's  breathing issues are lurking as summer gets closer. In fact Summer starts in a mere 7 days! With my allergic reaction I didn't do as much as last week, but I still managed to do a total of 66.44 and a grand total to date of 1253.27.  I only rode the stationary bike once this week, my leg just hurt too much. So a lot more weights, and yard work and a painting project that is really working my arms!   Do you have a personal challenge? Don't give up, take a break if you need it (or if your doctor tell you to) and then continue. Don't just stop, get back to it. You will be stronger, wiser, better and feel prouder for it.  

THANK YOU SO MUCH

Thank you all so much for you kindness, thoughts of concern and advice concerning my reaction. I especially want to thank Katie from Blessed Femininity who gave me great advise on what to be aware of and to seek medical help if anything on the list either started, continued or got worse.  She felt that another option was that I was reacting NOT to the Latex Free bandage itself but to the adhesive (I never knew that a person can be allergic to the adhesive). This makes a lot of sense since to me now, especially since my good friend and reader Anu (no it's not a typo, that is how she spells her name and it's pronounced Ah-noo), over at More Bark for you Buck, contacted me with a great tip to keep my reaction clean and get the latex bandage off my leg. Yup, the outer bandage that sticks to itself has latex in it. When I took it off there was no reaction to the rest of my leg, just where the original band aide was!  So I made a note to mention this to my doctor next time I go there.  So thank you all - I am doing better. The swelling is gone from my ankle and the rash is not as raised.

Swelling is gone but the redness remains, this will take a while to heal I'm told but I am watching for all the signs that Katie told take seriously

 My new "cover up" as advised by Anu. The washer had eaten it's mate (Why does that happen!) So I cut off the foot part and have a perfect cover up to keep anything from getting in. Great Advise! I love frugal women.

Have a wonderful weekend, and Thank you All again.  Visit both Katie's blog and Anu's website - you will not be disappointed at all.  See you Monday!

Oh No! Not Again???

Remember when I had some kind of allergic reaction to my thumb? Well it happened again only this time I know what I was reacting to. Well I think I know what I'm reacting to.

Can you make out the outline of the bandaged? Boy my leg looks fat when the camera is so close to it taking such a flattering shot!    So here is the story: I had a itch on my leg and found myself scratching it so I got up and put on this:

Notice that it says "Latex Free"

Well, after a few hours my leg was itching again and so I took off the bandage and saw this:

Yes, the ankle is swollen! So am I allergic to the Latex Free Bandage or the Itch Relief! Since I have the shape of the bandage I'm going with that.  Anyone else allergic to Latex Free bandage's? What do you do then, when you need a bandage?   This is what I am doing now.

Hoping this stops the itch and keeps out any germs. It's also a different brand, just in case you know. And I got Maximum Strength because it was the same price and figured for the same price, I want the stronger stuff.

This will also fight infection - well that's the plan anyway.

With nothing to stick to my skin, I shouldn't have a reaction, right? RIGHT?

This bandage sticks to itself so again with nothing sticking to me I hope there is no reaction!

So to all my readers out there, ( all 4 of you) any ideas on what else I can do?  I am also taking 4 meds to help with allergies. A pill, a nasal spray and two different  inhalers to keep my lungs open so that I don't have a full blown Asthma attack. I love Spring!! It still is Spring right?