Good Saturday to you from the upper Midwest where seasonal temperatures have returned making it possible for Joel to get in a 10 mile ride yesterday. Quite a difference from much earlier in the week when I glanced outside to see him mowing in his fluorescent orange parka that alerts hunters and car drivers of his human presence when he rides in the fall. He was mulching leaves while it was snowing!! The next couple of days will be in the low 40's. Yesterday we opened the back door to get in some cool fresh air. So nice to enjoy the last few days of Fall.
Speaking of Fall, Thanksgiving will soon be upon us. Joel will preach his last sermon the evening before at a community service. His Interim will end Dec. 1st. He has had three calls to either fill in or serve other churches, but he is taking a much needed break and plans to do so at least until radiation ends sometime in January. Radiation in Rochester should began about a month after chemo ends.
Speaking of chemo, this last one really knocked me off my feet for the past week. Today I feel more human again and plan to just keep getting stronger day by day. I dropped nearly 8 lbs in 6 days, but know from past experience that it will come back. (it is not needed nor wanted but it will return!)I am looking forward to leaving chemo behind.
We now have gone over 2 weeks without a microwave and I confess it is has been more than a little difficult. We usually like to fix a good amount of food....meat and veggies......and then warm them up in the microwave at mealtimes, saving time and energy. So no microwave? No quick warm-ups. After too many meals of yogurt, eggs, or even smoothies, our bodies were needing meat protein so we made a good meal and tried warming things in the oven......it dried out the ground turkey. Live and learn. Joel has searched high and low for a replacement as it is a small over the range space and most stores have to order ..........a friend is trying to fix the old one. IF not, for now we will by a inexpensive counter model to tide us over. Also, our appliances are white and you pay more now for white! What is up with that?
Joel's cousin Charles died this past week. Joel and his two brothers grew up with Charles and his two brothers and often spent time together as kids. Joel's mom and Charles mom were sisters. Harriet is still alive at age 107 I believe. I remember visiting the "M." farm when we were first married. It is where I saw my first cow milked the old fashioned way.....sitting on a three legged stool using hands. We went squirrel hunting in their woods one fall day and I kept hearing rustling in the fallen leaves when we walked. As we stopped, all around us snakes lifted their heads up from the leaves! Garter snakes were out sunning themselves and we were disturbing them. It freaked me out!!! That is the one and only time I ate squirrel too. Yes, it tasted like chicken but I would rather have chicken. Enough said.
Joel has many fond memories of swimming in the river by their house, sliding down their big hill in the winter, and skating on their pond. They spent many many hours outside year round together! We went on to connect in other places and stay good friends with Joel's cousin Luther, Charles brother, through the years. He holds a special place in our family's hearts. We pray for them all in their time of loss.
No reading done this week. Chemo brain and eye issues made it hard to focus. Hope you have all had a good week and are looking forward to another week of fall weather!
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