April 2 2008

Ducks on the East Fork

Panorama Photo - At the Gate Yesterday

Our gate on the left and Richies on the right.

That is their backhoe which they are using for

transportation to navigate through the mud and ice

right now. They leave their trucks at the gate when

they come every morning to feed and water the cattle.

SO... I figure I'm lucky to be able to drive the SUV

instead of a backhoe!!

Yesterday was another trip to Jackson for the weekly chemo treatment. Maxine went along with me again, and she also had an appointment up there. Started off before 8 and wish I'd looked out to the distant road because the snow plow was clearing out the road and just getting to the gate. I would have waited a few minutes for Bill to come on in. There were some medium sized drifts in the lane to get through and did just fine in 4WD but would have been less stressful to wait a couple of minutes and have the drifts plowed. He had the rest of the road to the mailbox cleared out too, The county road was bare this time because the gravel trucks have just beat all the snow and ice off. It looked like a gravel truck had overturned on the curve where the dirt meets the pavement, so had to use caution there, as well as a mysterious big bump before that.

Stopped at the East Fork River for a few photos, because the trees and willows were all frosted and there were some ducks on the open water, but they weren't that cooperative and just kept swimming out of sight. Saw some herds of deer along the way and I supposed they are beginning to migrate back into this area as they can get to the feed. We still have piles of snowdrifts and all white over our way though. The closer to Boulder the less snow, and between Boulder and Pinedale the ground is getting bare. Heading north it gets deep again, and is over the fences all along the Hoback. I stopped only for a couple of minutes to say hi to Kay on the way past. She was taking paintings up to Jackson to be considered for a new gallery there. Hope it worked out as a good opportunity for her. Met Maxine about 9:30 at 40 Rod and we were on our way. She had some fresh chicken eggs to give us and we will enjoy those. Thank you Max.

This was a gorgeous sunny day and no wind. There aren't words to describe how beautiful the early morning light was on the smooth new snowfall. This was probably the best driving day we've had. It was overcast at Jackson though.

Maxine wanted to stop at a vacuum cleaner place for a new cord, but needs to bring her vacuum in and have the salesman see if he has one to fit it. Next door was a saddle shop, and what a place! There were hundreds of saddles in there, and every other kind of horse thing you might want. So I went in to look and bought a new rustic pole saddle rack for the new saddle that Tom made for me. Joe brought it home a couple of weeks ago now. It is so wonderfully crafted that we want to have it in the house to admire for a while. It is a work of art.

Got to Chemo right on time. Everything went fine. I forgot to say last week that the liver function tests are good. They didn't take all the blood tests today, just the white count to know that I was good to have the treatment. Carol said the fatigue is cumulative, and that's why I continue to feel so tired.

Maxine had brought her knitting last week, so I brought the sweater I told you about, but didn't get too far beyond figuring out where I was in the pattern and figuring out how to knit again after leaving it sit for 15 years or so. Had to undo what I did twice before it looked right, I was knitting backwards for a while. While the treatment dripped we ate our lunch there again, and it was delicious. Then Maxine went to her appointment. I was soon done and waited in the lobby where they have a computer, and got rid of all my junk email. She was back right quick, and we headed on home, making a stop at Smiths for some groceries. I got some of their nice produce. We stopped at Hoback Junction market for a Mexican chocolate for the drive home.

Back at 40 Rod let Maxine off and got her groceries into her car. In Pinedale I got gas (uh-ohh Maxine forgot her coat and knitting) and the rest of the groceries I needed at Ridleys/Falers. I am not liking that store much, but will wait to judge it until they get their rearranging finished. It just looks junky and dirty at this point. Everyone's mad at the pharmacy.

The drive home was relaxing through the early evening, and there were more deer. Turning onto Richie Road it was slushy and muddy, and half that and icy on through our gate. The picture shows what it was like arriving home. In the lane the snowplow had piled the berms up even higher. It's just awesome. Joe had eaten. I got the groceries put away, and pooped out, too tired to even try to eat so waited a while and had some cereal and a banana. We brought the new saddle rack in, and Joe seemed to like it o.k. although we don't know yet where its going to fit, but I'm suspecting the living room.

Maxine had called before I got here, and I'd just finsihed the grocery job when she called again. We had forgotten to get her coat and other personal stuff out of the car when I let her out and it had her new prescription in it. So she is going to come over tomorrow and perhaps have lunch to pick it up. I kidded her by saying they asked me today if I had chemo brain. Although crushed, I was honest and told Carol I had tried to call Mary Caroline yesterday on the TV remote, and when I made spaghetti sauce and kept asking myself what went in it, what was I forgetting. It simmered for 2 hours and when I went to serve it I realized I'd never put in the hamburger. So quickly browned some and put it in. I told Maxine NOW I had an excuse to loose my memory but reason did she have?!! I wish I'd thought at the gas station to call her but I was about half out of it.

Although I sat up in the middle of the night a couple of times, I did get some sleep. Today I'm feeling pretty darn good, and don't know why since last week was bad all week until the last day and a half before I went back. Perhaps the reason is that Kay asked them to do a 5 o'clock Mass for me at the Catholic Church, and I would have been on the way home when they were saying it. My symptoms started but never materialized as usual. I've been blaming doing so well on that. What a wonderful thing to experience. Thank you Kay, and all who send such prayers and blessings. I'm very grateful.