Writing whatever pops into my mind...Cloudy/sunny

Yesterday was an inside/outside day...The house was cool so I kept going outside to warm up but couldn't really settle on just one project...I noticed the vacuum, still sitting in the living room, needed to be emptied...Hmmm, never had to worry about that before because Herb always did that job among many others, little/big things he did, without prompting...A few days ago, while in the bathroom, the toilet paper was almost empty, I changed it, then realized I probably hadn't done that in the last 20 years, yep Herb always did it...Just like he regularly changed the oil in my car, washed it on a regular basis, made sure the tires got changed winter and summer...For many years he took over the job of doing the laundry...Which meant that in summer he hung the clothes outside on the clothes line and in winter hung them downstairs to dry by the wood stove, because that was how I wanted it done..I think the dryer ruins your clothes and why not take advantage of solar/wood heat!..Up until the last two/three years, he did those things and many more.

On one of my trips outside yesterday to warm up, Rusty had the "push mower" on the lawn and said "Mom, come see how easy it is to start this lawn mower." Well I suckered for that and before I knew what was happing, I was walking/running/trotting behind the mower as Rusty (big grin on face) watched from his chair on the deck, and when I was done, he said, "What do you think of your new exercise program?" Such a good son, always thinking of my health and well being...He also gave me a lesson in emptying the vacuum cleaner.

It just so happens that Rusty is going to Jim Creek with John for two days, bringing out horses and mules from their winter pasture...I have a lunch date today and i'm thinking about possible other things to do while he is gone...Maybe take naps, eat bonbons', read a book, sit on the deck and drink wine with a friend and watch the grass grow, hmmmm, wonder if I will remember how to start the lawn mower!..Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Two Houses, one guy...Sunny/cloudy

 Every other Monday, Connie arrives at 9am ready to clean house or work in flower beds...Spring has always been a time to clean the house, so while she starts the vacuuming, I start moving "clutter" out of her way...She concentrates on the front porch, so we can move the indoor plants outside for the summer...But first I must wash the big picture window, that is my view every morning...We do this dance for a couple of hours, before I need a break...I leave her cleaning the kitchen and bathroom area, and I take a break with Rusty on the deck...He has been in the garage/shop making screens for the basement windows in his house in Enterprise...On these little breaks, we try to prioritize jobs at his house and jobs here on Barton Heights...Back in the house Connie is finished and waves "goodbye" as she dashes for her car...Whew!

.....After that hospital stay, Herb did regain strength and was able, with the walker, to get to the bathroom, for a shave/shower and took care of his personal needs...Also he looked forward to either a massage or acupuncture each week and somehow managed to get up stairs and onto the treatment table...He loved "the girls" and we will be forever grateful for the care and healing they gave him...At home, in one short month he could no longer remember how to sort his daily pills into AM and PM slots, nor could he figure out the solitaire game that he had played for 2 years, and telling time was a complete jumble as was the day of the month or week...And to compound all of this, a part of his mind still told him that he could do everything that he had always done, such as walk to the mail box, back the car out of the garage and navigate our basement stairs...The job Rusty and I had, was trying to explain that it was no longer safe for him to do these things...That only increased his frustration and agitation...We walked a fine line.

Why am I writing this? First it needs to be talked about and hopefully it will help me get through the days ahead...Second, many people are going through this same thing and I've been asking for two years, do we have a support group in the county? NO, we had one but it went away with COVID...I have a busy day ahead, must figure out what we are having for dinner, which brings up something I did yesterday...When setting the table for dinner I picked up "3" napkins, folded then and put them on the table before my mind said, "Della, you only need "2"...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Working at making our days productive!

Always in the back of my mind or any "housewives" mind is the age old question, "What is for dinner?"...Not enough leftovers in the fridge to make a meal, no meat out of the freezer thawing, lucky for me, our cellar has home canned pork, turkey and beef...Still in the mood to play in dough, I cracked 4 eggs, added flour and soon had noodle dough, resting in a plastic bag, on the counter...Pork and noodles was the answer.

A storm brewed on the mountains behind our house, hoping for a gentle rain later, I sorted through packets of seed...Peas, carrots, lettuce, spinach, chard, beets, basil, squash and cucumbers...We have a relatively small garden with potatoes and onions already planted...Peas, squash, cucumbers and carrots get their own spot, while the others either get half rows or are mixed together and scattered for summer salads...I forgot about tomatoes...Bobi and I planted them last week in a corner, with cages and plastic bags to protect them from frost...(We hope.) I got everything planted except the cucumbers before the downpour started, it lasted about 15 minutes and gave everything a good soaking.

......Herb slowly gained strength after COVID, and we celebrated Thanksgiving/Christmas when our girls came from Portland in early November...He was able to sweep snow from the front walk, early mornings, and put the flag out...His iPad was used to play solitaire... A thermometer, chair side kept him advised of inside/outside temperatures and month and days of the week...An intestinal bug, a trip to the ER in December, set him back again so it was back to PT, to keep him moving, but his memory and thought process became more jumbled...Through it all he never gave up.

After a day of playing in the dough and dirt (washed hands in between) for me and Rusty digging, hauling, attacking weeds and checking on the irrigation ditch, we sat down to our dinner of pork and noodles with fresh asparagus from the garden...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Noodles 

Rainy days are perfect for making bread.

 Waking up to the sound and smell of a gentle rain, put me in the bread making mood...I have a Bosch mixer that can make 10 loaves of bread, but yesterday I opted for a smaller batch and hand kneading...Kneading is a great stress reliever, calming and satisfying for me...By 3pm the smell of baking bread chased away the smell of rain, the sun peaked through for a few minutes and Rusty fixed us a margarita that we enjoyed, while sitting on the deck...Then we sat down to a dinner of home canned chili and rolls, hot from the oven.

.....Our bout with COVID, left Herb weak, more confused and frustrated...Bobi came home to help, Rusty was still moving "stuff" from Bend to Enterprise but we all pulled together and made it work...We were gifted a walker, making it easier for Herb to walk and he signed up for physical therapy, to strengthen his legs...This was a bump in the rocky road of dementia...Bobi returned to Portland and her family, we continued through the winter with acupuncture and massage, doctors appointments and grocery shopping...With Rusty only 6 miles away he became our snow plower, chauffeur, part time cook and care giver...Winter seemed like it would never end...to be continued.......

Looks like another rainy day, with sun breaks, here on Barton Heights...We have a list...What's for dinner, planting garden, cleaning house, irrigation system, to name a few...Hugs to All...OWAV:)

Can OMA make a comeback?

I started blogging in January of 2011, on a whim...Just a way to record memories of everyday life such as, visits from our children, travels, and holidays, what we had for dinner, photos of my baking projects, our flower gardens and the garlic patch...Most of the time I tried to keep it light, even funny...Even though my "writing" leaves something to be desired, people made encouraging comments, started following me and if I didn't write for a few days, I would get a call from my sister Mona, asking if I was sick?...So I continued my blathering for many years up until a year ago and then it was difficult to write, we still had good times but I had to concentrate on other things, writing didn't come easy...Now I think I'm back and some of my writing will be redundant, but I have to move forward and maybe this will help.

Four years ago Herb had a couple of small strokes that landed him in the emergency room and he was hospitalized for a couple of days...The doctor recommended more testing and aa appointment with a neurologist...Things changed gradually, the neurologist said he really shouldn't be driving and that was a hard pill for him to swallow...But he could still mow the lawn in summer and plow snow in winter...Also until a year ago he did most of the heavy stuff for me, in the yard and garden...We spent more time at home, only going to the grocery store and doctor appointments...I now did all the driving and we had friends who drove us, if need be...We began to treat ourselves to acupuncture and massage, something to look forward to every week!..Over those years our kids came for visits, helping when and where they could, giving me a break to leave for a few days of R & R...We traveled less but continued to keep active at home, summer yard work and winter shoveling snow...Then COVID arrived, we opted for the vaccinations and we kept it at bay until October 2022, when Herb was hospitalized and in quarantine for 5 days...I had cold symptoms but didn't get sick, even though I tested positive. To be continue......

My goal is to start posting a blog again, maybe not everyday but at least once a week...Hugs to All...OWAV :)

Garlic in April

Daffodils

Herb Allen 1937-2023

2015

Herbert (Herb) Russell Allen, 85, of Joseph, OR passed away peacefully on May 16, 2023 after a prolonged battle with dementia.

Born on June 9,1937, the only child of Elmer and Frances Allen, in Moira, NY, Herb was the light of their life. After graduating from Poughkeepsie High School in 1955 and Wanakena Ranger School in 1957, his parents followed him in a move across the country to McCall, ID, where Herb studied Forestry at University of Idaho, in Moscow. During that time, he met Idella Ashton and they wed on June 10,1961. Over the next four years 2 children, Bobbi and Rusty, were added to the family.

After graduation, Herb went to work for the US forest Service, a career that would continue until he retired in 1994, and took the family from Idaho to Utah, finally landing in Wallowa County, where he has lived and played for the last 50 years. An avid outdoorsman, her enjoyed hunting, snow and water skiing, boating, camping, "gittin" wood, mowing lawns and plowing driveways.

In his retirement years, he and Idella traveled across country to New York visiting family and friends. For many years they explored Western US national parks, the Oregon coast and numerous campgrounds in Wallowa County in their RV. Herb loved helping people. He volunteered at Fergi with the local ski patrol, Air life of Oregon and Hells Canyon Mule Days.

At Home on Barton Heights, Herb worked diligently doing all the heavy work, hauling manure and wood chips, planting trees and maintaining the irrigations system, so Idella could have flowers blooming all summer. which he also enjoyed.

Herb was preceded in death by his parents, Elmer and Frances Allen, and in-laws, Joe and Blanche Ashton. He is survived by his wife, Idella, daughter, Bobbi Wall (Stan), son, Rusty Allen and granddaughter, Cienna Ashton Wall.

Herb requested that he be cremated and for his family to spread his ashes in the places that he worked and loved in Oregon. No services will be held but the family welcomes friends to stop by for a visit in the coming months.