Packing Day or April fools

Packing day is always a sad but happy day. We are leaving our winter home, but going home to family. On our way home we are stopping to see our grandson, and his parents, for a week! HA It is nice to have the motorhome so they have a place to visit us and we can also visit them!

 While we are staying at Montgomery Bell, Carol and Jerry, friends we met in FL, that also live in TN, are coming to visit us! This was a hard winter, we were in AZ and all our winter friends were in FL. It is so nice to get to connect with them again! We hope the weather man is incorrect because he predicts rain everyday we are in TN! UG I’ll have to put a plastic bag on my booted foot to go out! We have spent the winter  in Surprise, AZ with no humidity and where it never rains!

Tonight will be our last night of Bingo and I have not won anything, but Duf won $5.00 our first night there. Maybe I will be the lucky one tonight, but I am striving for the $500. Jackpot games!! HA  In this 55+ community we have met so many people and done so many varied things. We now understand why seniors like this life style; there is always so much to do.

I didn’t win a penny:(  

Although I did not win at Bingo I did win at the Dr office. I have progressed from a wheelchair with my foot up 23 hours of the day, to a walker and now to a cane and in a few weeks to just the boot!!

Prescott

We drove up to Prescott where many Phoenix residents go for cooler summer temperatures, it was about 10 degrees cooler today. Our FL friends Bob and Carole have a place in Prescott and it was GREAT to get to see them!  They took us to the old downtown area now referred to as Whiskey Row, and we ate at The Palace, an old saloon and brothel built in 1877. 

In 1877 The Palace was considered a fancy watering hole, election central, cattle action house, and a place where minerals were bought and sold.

In 1996 the Palace was restored to its former grandeur with the Old West still lingering in the air. The wood floors, plaster walls, pictures, tin ceiling, and the massive original oak and cherry wood bar along with the Waite staff dressed as though it were 1877 make for an Old West experience.

To immerse myself in the Old West I had a delicious Bison Burger and a cream soda.

After a huge lunch we drove around the area and into the beautiful Prescott National Forest. This is the Forest that had a huge fire and many fire fighters lost their lies. We drove to Chino where we stopped for some of the most delicious fried shrimp we had ever eaten. This was a little place in the middle of nothing that Bob and Carole had discovered and frequent because of their amazing fish and shrimp. 

If we were not already stuffed we returned to Bob and Carole’s place in Orchard Ranch Resort, Dewey, AZ for dessert! Carole claimed it was very easy to make this angel food cake, strawberry, whipped cream dessert but it looked complicated and tasted amazing!

After talking for hours we finally had to leave for the 90 minute drive home. Our drive down the mountain included a beautiful sunset over the mountains and other scenic views.

Grandma's Car

March, 2018 and Grandma Ainsworth is almost 98 years young and still driving, until the letter from AZdot arrived. The letter stated that she had been a great driver but because of her medical condition and age they were revoking her driving privileges. Grandma Ainsworth is NOT happy with the state of AZ! She wants to appeal the decision!

Fran, Bob and their dog Tess have moved to AZ to take care of Grandma because she is getting forgetful and this allows many solicitors to take advantage of her. Fran has explained that they will be here to chauffeur Grandma to her line dance club and to get groceries but Grandma just doesn’t accept this concept. Fran and Bob are going to have some trying moments, but they will handle it like champs. Their next big step is to sell Grandma’s baby, her 1998 Ford Taurus. Fran has purged many items from the house, but this will be the hardest!

We had a photo shoot to say goodbye to the Taurus. Grandma participated but reminded us that she is going to appeal this decision and she is KEEPING her baby!

The Worst

This is the worst restroom I have ever heard about. Although I did not actually see this restroom if it does exist it is the worst restroom of all time! One handicap bar is in a helpful place but the other is behind the stool and I’m not sure that is helpful. Why is toilet paper falling out of the trash?  The floor must have just been cleaned cause there is a wet floor sign, unless the sink leaks. I’d classify this as a nightmare restroom!

This picture says it all!

Designers Mistakes

I have a new view on designs and designers. Since I broke my ankle I have been in a wheelchair and I am now using a walker. The Dr insisted I must only put 50 pounds of weight on my foot. Trying to decide how much 50 pounds of weight is was a real dilemma. 

I understand that designers are trying to design everything to be handicap accessible, but I have decided they need to try the wheelchair to understand what handicap accessible really means. Beautiful ramps in front of buildings are not easy to use if they are slick!

We are spending the winter at an active resort with a beautiful bathroom that is completely handicap accessible, NOT!  The shower area is huge and my wheelchair fits easily into the area. The towel and clothes hooks are abundant BUT they are so high I am not able to reach them. These hooks were hung by a standing person and they are about eye high, way to high for me to reach. The sink and mirror are way to high for me to reach without being able to stand. The shower is large with a seat, but there isn’t a bar on the wall to help steady myself while pulling myself to the seat. The seat is not securely on the wall and I was afraid if used it might just pull off the wall. Luckily there was a portable seat to use. The stationary seat was at the back of the large shower making it impossible to reach the water control, but I was able to position the portable seat in the correct area.  In front of the shower was a large no slip mat making it very difficult to get my wheelchair onto it without a struggle and then it was very hard to push my chair away from the shower once I got in. The water control was in the perfect spot and next to the control was the removable shower head, but the shower head was positioned for a standing person to reach it! Luckily I had Duf with me the first time so he could hang the removal head down where I could reach it. 

When water is turned on it usually comes out cold for a few seconds and then gradually heats up and the proper temperature is selected. The shower head was at the normal height and covered the normal shower area BUT it did not turn off so when I turned on the shower expecting water to only come from the removable head it came from both heads! I had what seemed like hours, but was only seconds, of ice water pouring down on me to begin my first after hospital and much desired shower! My cast was encased in waterproof plastic, but it was still a shock to be hit with ice water and then realize my cast could be getting wet. Finally, the water warmed and I was able to quickly shower while worrying that my cast was getting wet because the shower head being turned off was not an option. Dashed my desire for a long hot shower!

Duf was a doll and hung my clean clothes and towels on the hooks, but when I was ready to dry off and dress I could not reach them. I did not want to try to stand because the floor was moist and so was my good foot. I was so happy to take a shower, but in tears over the problems!

So designers get in a wheelchair before you design handicapped assessable items!

Our solution was to get a new shower installed at his mothers so I could take a daily shower when he went to check on her. Plus she needed a new shower for herself. Everything in her shower is perfect for handicap accessible except there is a 6 inch front on the bottom that I must scale to get in the shower. Six inches doesn’t seem like much until you have one leg BUT we had two hand rails installed in just the right places so it is doable! 

I love taking showers again! Her shower is beautiful and I needed the extra toilet height because her toilet is so low! I also use the potty chair as my height when I get into the shower! A total win for everyone!!!!

Dad's birthday!

Friday, 16 March 2018

Today is my father’s 91 Birthday!! 

Today Duf and I are headed to my cousin Tamara and her husband Keith’s house, about 15 minutes from where we are staying in Surprise, AZ. They came to visit us when I was not able to get out and now we get to visit them. I am now using the walker and putting about 50 pounds on my ankle.

Their neighborhood is a circle around a golf course and we got a bit turned around prior to finding their home. Their home is the perfect size, on a golf course, and they just recreated their yard with a beautiful pool and seating area. Their decorations are from their trips during their military life and fit perfectly into the home. 

We had a great time talking and eating her delicious hors d’ oeuvres! 

 Keith introduced Duffey to his favorite beer.

Pie on Pi Day

Pie

Duf played golf today and as soon as he finished we were picked up by Harry and Sandy to head to Rock Springs Cafe for a piece of their famous pie. We all started by ordered the same sandwich, Brisket Philly Cheese Steak. Sandy and I split a sandwich, French fries and a salad while the guys had their sandwiches and the cheese burger soup. Harry had hot berry pie a la mode, Sandy had bourbon pecan pie, Duffey had banana cream pie, and I had hot rhubarb pie a la mode to complete our meals. We waited to order to pie after we ate our sandwiches and they were starting to run out of certain pies. We ate early and when we left there was a long line  of people that were not going to get any pie! They advertised large cinnamon rolls but were out of them before the dinner crowd arrived.

This destination was cute on the outside but not very well organized on the inside. I felt the soup was greasy so we had the salad and it was a bit wilted. I will not denigrate the sandwich by commenting on its taste. The pie was good, but not outstanding.

We felt that the Rock Springs Cafe was at one time an amazing destination for pie but is now living on its reputation. Rock Springs Cafe is advertised as a destination for amazing pie, and there was a waiting line, but I do not think the pie was as amazing as it once was and many could be disappointed because we arrived early and they were already out of some pie flavors.

Teaser

My good friend Carole decided to make me miss FL even more than I already do! She sent me pictures from the restroom in Ding Darling! Beautiful!!

Dr Justin Wong

Today I visited Dr Wong to check on my ankle and after x-rays we met for over 30 minutes.  Dr Wong said my bones were growing together as expected and the titanium parts were in place. They removed the remaining stitch and it was really in there tight! OUCH!!  He told me therapy would be a waste of my time and money and I should continue to follow his plan for me. I am now to keep my ankle up and rotate my ankle as much as possible. I must also decide how 50 pounds feels and use the walker to move about, but only put 50 pounds on my bad ankle for two weeks. Then I will add another 50 pounds for two weeks and then my entire weight for two weeks and then I should be able to walk. After I am walking I might need to have therapy.

Tomorrow I will be apprehensive but I will need to begin the weight bearing! Wish me luck!!

What a day

We are doing a bath remodel for Duf’s mother. In the beginning Duf was going to do the work but then I was on the net and found that these baths are referred to as ‘Del Web Specials.’ Del Web, the builder, raised the tub and put the plumbing above the flooring. To replace the tub with a shower includes digging up the cement and redoing all plumbing. This made us decided to get quotes and ideas.

We found our contractor, agreed it was a two and a half day job, and the contract was signed. The promise of a two and a half day job was lost as it became a five day job. In the end the shower looks amazing and makes the bathroom look so much larger! Everything must set for 20 hours so no showers until after noon on Saturday!

Saturday was shower day! I had to force Grandma to take a shower, she wanted to just look at the shower and save it! After her maiden shower I was able to enjoy the shower for a long shower!

We had been at Grandma’s house all week because she did not want to be alone with the ‘worker.’ After showers and lunch we decided to return home!

Our drive home is about 15 minutes. I am still using the wheelchair and unable to put any weight on my left leg. About 8 minutes into our drive I felt something moving in my shirt! I got a bit upset and told Duf to pull over because something was in my shirt and I had no idea what it could be! I might have been a bit vocal and hyper about him pulling over because something was crawling all over me. He pulled over, quickly came around, whipped opened my door and ripped my shirt off of me. He was greeted by a bee the size of a dime!  I am allergic to Bees!!!!! Duf examined my shirt and we wondered where the bee came from. I put the shirt back on and we drove on for another 3 minutes with him saying it was probably a killer bee with zero antidote known for its sting. As he was teasing me I again enter hysteria because something was in my shirt again!!  Duf pulled over and again ripped my shirt off and another huge bee was in my shirt!! Where are they coming from??? Duf quickly got out my wheelchair and I got out of the Jeep so he was able to examine my seat and the inside of the Jeep. No Bees! Again I put my shirt on and off we go for home.

We get home, Duf backs in so I am able to get into my wheelchair on the patio. As I usually do, while he gets the wheelchair ready, I stand/lean against the Jeep to stretch my legs. As I am standing there my good foot begins to burn and is on fire. I start saying, in a loud voice, my foot, my good foot is on fire and black. Duf runs over and my foot is full of biting ants!! I jump back into the Jeep as he tries to wipe the ants from my foot. OMG what pain that was. 

I waited in the Jeep while he poured boiling water on the cement crack to get rid of the ants. When I finally got in the wheelchair it was so nice out we decided to stay out on the patio.

Duf went in to get us a snack and bottles of water and I waited alone.

 There are copious amounts of rabbits around here and five of them walked out from under the lemon tree toward me. Many times when there is a group of rabbits they are avoiding either a coyote or bobcat! With my luck I figure either a bobcat or coyote is about to appear and I am unarmed. We have walking sticks laying by the RV so I wheel over and get one for defense. When Duf returns I am armed and he looks at me and the rabbits and laughs but agrees I could be in harms way!! He chased the rabbits away.

Cathy, Carole and Jerry———I can hear each of you laughing at me! Cathy you know how I love Bees!

Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show

Today we attended the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show. These amazing horses were competing in indoor and outdoor arenas around WestWorld. The jumpers were amazing although we did see one horse decide to just stop and throw the rider. She did not get hurt but she did not look real happy!

At the indoor arena we were amazed to see how swiftly riders were able to adjust their horses canter from walk, to jog, to long canter to short canter and all the other types of movement. The riders are so poised and wear beautiful outfits and the horses are perfectly groomed with very long tails, they drag on the ground, and meticulously braided manes.

I sat behind Duf and his mother in the handicapped area and began to confabulate with a lady that owned a huge horse farm and many of these horses lived and trained with her. My friend was in a wheelchair because she twisted her ankle working with a horse!  We did not realize we were in reserved seats until she arrived with her daughters and they rather rudely told people to remove themselves from their reserved area. I explained to her we did not know the seats were reserved and that I would tell my husband that we need to move BUT she called her daughters off and said we were welcome to be seated in her reserved area. We had a long conversation that was often interrupted with people walking by and wanting to say something to her. She was so polite and introduced me to everyone and then they were real friendly to me, not what you know but who you know! HA Many of her horses were festooned after winning their event. So when we decided to leave people that we passed acted like I was someone to know!

We stopped at Rio Mirage Cafe on the way home. Duf’s mother is 98 years old and so set in her thinking. She feels bottled water is poison so the waiter had to pour it in a glass for her to drink it. She refuses to eat beans but she ate the rice mixed with beans! She refuses to eat tomatoes but she loves spaghetti and sauce! We love to hear what she Will Not eat and then watch what she eats!

We had a great day for my first time out at an event in a wheelchair.