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I'm pondering gardening too, Pinga . . . except I am pondering it still in my jammies. I guess I should get dressed before I go outside - the neighbours might appreciate that LOL!.

I don't have lots of gardening to do, but I like to look at the flowers and putter.

Some of my friends are canning too - not my thing, not yet anyway, maybe someday.

Sad news of what your friends' church is going through. No matter what the outcome/truth, the teen and minister will suffer always.
 
Crazyheart, sorry to hear that. My parents had some issues with water from a pipe to the shower, it affected all 3 levels. That's been over a year ago, and they are still dealing with it, some of it has been slow just because my mom hasn't been happy with the selection of options as it's so different from when the house was built when she picked it all back then. That was at least all clean water, other than some boxes in the basement there weren't any mold issues.

Slightly chilly day here. Chemguy keeps talking about digging up my potato plants, but the ground has always been a bit wetter than ideal. I don't think we'll have any Yukon Gold, or very tiny ones, those plants never flowered and are all dying off now. We planted enough though, I'm sure we'll have a decent amount from the reds!
 
Greetings (and Good Morning) Roomies!

The long weekend in September is over . . . in many places children are heading to school for their first day back (some their first day at school at all) . . . some are returning to work after a late summer vacation . . . some are getting into organized activities and groups and returning to a more scheduled and regulated season.

Some are setting new goals and hopes and dreams for themselves . . .

How about you . . . anything exciting happening in your world these next few weeks?
 
One grandude has finished school and has no plans for further education at this time. I'm biting my tongue as there doesn't seem to be a job in the immediate future either. Another grandude is a preschooler and the rest are spread around various grades.

On the personal front - I keep looking at the calendar and the weather and wondering if it will be possible to fit in a final camping trip this fall. There are several medical trips coming up and various commitments to fulfil too. I could be ready to leave in an hour should an opportunity present itself! My partner just asked "Is it supposed to be raining today?" I replied "Not sure - I didn't check the forecast yet". Quick as a wink he replied "If it isn't maybe someone should go out and tell it to stop?!".

I think it is time for me to find a new hobby or activity but don't feel terrifically inspired. What do other aging folks with health issues do for hobbies? I can't handle the local exercise sessions - can't see too well - can't handle extreme heat or cold or wind. There HAS to be some ideas floating around among the tea and coffee cups.

Yesterday I made some rather yummy and healthy wholewheat bread - I'll slice up a loaf and set it out for sharing
 
Mmm . . . nothing like the fragrance of home-made bread, Kay.

(If you come up with an idea for a new hobby or outing or group, etc. please share - I would like to try something new this fall too!)

Speaking of trying new things . . . fear holds me back sometimes of trying something new . . . how about the rest of you - hesitant, or jump in with both feet?
 
KayTheCurler said:
I think it is time for me to find a new hobby or activity but don't feel terrifically inspired. What do other aging folks with health issues do for hobbies? I can't handle the local exercise sessions - can't see too well - can't handle extreme heat or cold or wind. There HAS to be some ideas floating around among the tea and coffee cups.
Click to expand...
Do the medical appointments count? Some days it feels like a full time job!
 
Yep Beloved -I LOVE the smell of home made bread - as it rises and as it bakes. The taste is great too - help yourself everybody.

New things are approached with different emotions . For me it depends on what the something new is. Anew social activity and fears make themselves obvious. Will it be too hard - will people criticise my efforts - will I just look silly - will my attempt not meet my hopes? A new private hobby I generally think I can tackle - just have to operate around the poor sight and limited mobility..
 
I think mine is more a fear of commitment - as in commiting to a group once a week or such. I always think "come winter, I'm not gonna want to go out any more than I have too!"
 
Chengal - I didn't see your words when I replied to Beloved. Maybe we were writing at the same time?

The problems of medical appointments seem to go on and on eh. Phoning to get one often takes quite a while when you get put on hold or get told there are no appointments available for three months! My frustration this week is appointments at a hospital in a city more than a couple of hours from home. One on one day and another the next day! It would be easier to stay in a hotel overnight but that takes cash we don't want to spend (more cash than driving back and forth!). We at least have family members who are able to do the driving - not sure what the elderly or sick without family nearby do! Maybe I should start asking others about this possible future problem?

Sometimes I wonder how much health care really costs when the system isn't responsive to the financial needs of patients. So many things that used to be provided now have to be paid for. Very little thought seems to have been given to the problems of families with a member in the hospital far from home. No cheap accommodation offered. ICU and other waiting areas really aren't set up for those who have children along. A nursing mom can hardly leave her baby at home when another family member is seriously ill and needing an advocate. Their stress isn't lessened when staff and other visitors complain if they hear a baby!
 
It really does seem like a brand new year today, doesn't it? I've been out of school about 20 years now and still September seems to be the new beginning. A lady in my church blogged about this today - it's short but sweet - http://scienceandstory.wordpress.com/2014/09/02/happy-new-year/

My volunteer gig serving lunch at the Seniors' Resource Centre starts back up - I'll be doing it every Wednesday starting next week (it looks like my leg is finally starting to heal). I've just started at 10,000 Villages and hope to do a shift a week. I also have physio, therapy, doc apts and medical appointments galore this month. At the end of October my therapy group ends so I will have more time on my hands - which concerns me, but life moves on. And, it's back to church on Sundays - we have services in the summer but, logistically it seems difficult to get there. Oh and I'm starting a short woman's weight course at the Y on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.

Kay, have you checked with the senior resource centre/community centre in your neighbourhood? Ours has social things and are very accommodating to people with visibility and mobility problems - we even offer rides. I'm not sure how small of a community you live in - is there a mall you could do a walk in (we have clubs at some of our malls and you only walk what you want and then people gather for coffee)? What about bowling (you can sit in a chair and there are ramps for the balls)? I'd like to find a hobby to do at home on my own but keep flaming out - I have tried three times with lessons to knit and just can't "get" it; I tried guitar (not only do I not have any rhythem but I am not coordinated enough), etc

Happy September everyone!
 
@KayTheCurler I just find it tiring how many appointments I have. I had one this morning to pick up my medication and some supplies, I will need to go back before I need more medication to get more supplies though, it's just too difficult to carry everything. I had 4 grocery sized paper bags I carried, plus a smaller one in my backpack.

On my way home I swung by to pick up an insurance form from my doctor's office - thought they would call me sometime on Fri. to let me know it was ready, but they didn't. I'll have to go on campus sometime this week to submit that.

Tomorrow I have a health workshop, last one for this series. Thursday I'm going to an exercise info sessions which is out of the health system sphere. Friday I have my health care system exercise class, plus a classroom thing after.

I have a medication issue with the pharmacy to follow through on, and later this week I will also have to check with a different pharmacy to see if they got a fax from my doctor for something I need to pick up.

I had a call about getting my wisdom teeth out this week due to a cancellation. I had a consultation that cost $100, and I got very little information from it - but was told there would be a meeting with everyone involved beforehand after checking in with my hematologist. When I got the call about the cancellation the person who deals with the hospital schedule (um, I'm getting this done in the hospital for a reason!) wasn't aware of any of the complicating factors, or that a meeting would occur first. I'm really confused why I needed to pay $100 for that appointment if this is how they are handling it - needless to say I am not getting my wisdom teeth out this week!

Next week I know I have other appointments in addition to my 2 exercise classes, but not sure when (they are written down) - I just take it a week at a time.
 
Goodness ... sometimes those health issues can become a full time job - the pay's not so great though! But better health is priceless, right?

Thanks for the bread Kay - it's delicious! Seems baking might be a good hobby! One year my husband decided to learn to bake pies - so out came the cookbooks (pre good internet cooking sites) & we had lots of experimentation going on in the kitchen. Another time, he decided to determine the perfect method for cooking ribs - that also involved lots of experimentation - and the neighbours stopped accepting our dinner invitations ... I think I know why!! Today he's in the kitchen, making pasta sauce from fresh tomatoes - new experience for him to use the fresh tomatoes. He googled how to easily peel them ... gotta love it! I'm looking forward to dinner!

Hobbies - I have done many - usually involving learning of some sort. I find I stick with them for some years, then move along to something new. Hard to do many handcrafts when vision becomes problematic though. Lately I've been enjoying reading again - just finished a huge trilogy re vampires & witches & magic & time travel!

A recent challenge for me was learning to do the sudoku puzzles (or is soduko? or maybe sudoko? I can never get it right!!). An elderly patient actually taught me about it & after doing a few online (easier than print) I bought myself an EASY puzzle book & stretched my brain everyday for a while. Reminds me I haven't done any lately - must get that going again!

I like participating in our prayer shawl ministry at church - the group is drop-in when you can or want to on a twice a month basis; lots of people just knit on their own too, without coming by for tea and fellowship. No imperative to attend, which is nice.
 
@Justme - glad to hear your leg is healing! I'm sure those lunch attendees will appreciate seeing you again.
 
Wow, you gals all have an awful lot going on.

Medical appointments - we have been going to the city for specialist appointments for my daughter since she was almost 4 - that is 24 years. At first she was having lots of tests and we were going a couple of times a year. Now she only sees two doctors and goes once a year. The doctors are all in the big city - we are 8 hours drive away (one way). We are a "down and back" type of family . . . and we try to co-ordinate as many appointments as we can - but it is not easy, as few specialists have clinic appointments on the same day. Sometimes they try and accommodate us, and sometimes they don't. We get some travel money from the regional health authority, but it does not come at all . . . we are lucky, we can afford it.

As for myself, I am seeing a naturopath doctor in the city - nothing is paid for by the RHA. That is okay, it was my choice to do that route. We go down one day, have the appointment and come back the next. 16 hours travelling, sometimes in a 36 hour period. I go to see the naturopath doctor once a month.

So, I hear you about medical appointments.
 
Carolla - we have to be related!! My hubby's mom used to make us homemade pies. She passed away a few years ago and when hubby retired he decided he was going to bake the pies. He researched everything. Made the pies (because I wasn't eating them he usually gave them away). Doesn't do it in the summer, but I'm sure he will start back up in the fall.

Love sudoku also!

But, alas, no prayer shawl knitting - I'm just not that good of a knitter, perhaps I need to do some practice knitting, and then give it another go.
 
Justme - 10,000 Villages must be interesting - are you a volunteer? They used to have one in Winnipeg that I used to stop into a few years ago, haven't been for awhile. Hope you enjoy your weight class.

ChemGal . . . I hope things become less extensive and stressed for you in the days ahead.
 
Things aren't that bad. It's just that for now, this is kinda my hobby :)
The exercise program is something I wanted. The workshop is a stand-in because it's the best I could find, I did want more of a support group.

Some of the other appointments make it harder to deal with things, especially as a few offices tend to have to reschedule me every other appointment it seems. I don't know about working full-time though - some of these things will be ongoing and it makes me wonder how people who work fit them in! Especially when some of the hours are so limited and they end up running behind.

I do enjoy those logic kinds of puzzles. I haven't touched sudoku in a while, I found too many were too simple and got boring. Ken ken is good, I should pick up a book. I really enjoy nonagrams, a WCer plays something similar on FB and I had totally forgot how much I enjoyed those! I wish difficult books of those could be come by more easily. I play a few online, but it's not the same as sitting down with a really difficult one and working it all out yourself with little notations as needed.

I need to find a hobby for when it's cool out to take the place of gardening. Nothing too difficult or time consuming!
 
@Tabitha or anyone else who knows-
Why are teachers throughout BC on strike, instead of it being one local school board like when I was a kid?
Is it a different setup in BC, or did something much bigger happen that got all the boards involved?
 
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