NEW WASHER

 Our almost 4 year old washer was leaking a little, mostly when we washed the sheets. We have a warranty, so a repairman came out looked at it. We realized the basket was hitting the floor, the bracket holding it was broken. He was going to order a part and fix it, but the warranty company said it wasn't repairable and that they would replace it or give us our money back. We went to Lowe's and ordered a new washer. 

Larry had seen on YouTube how to connect the dryer hose with a magnet connector.  I had always worried that the hose was really bent and would get filled and cause a fire. So he ordered the Magvent and when we had the washer out he installed it. 

There has always been a space between the dryer and the wall so he build a shelf.

The washer was delivered yesterday. The only problem the lid didn't clear the cabinet to stay opened. So back to Lowe's and find a hook to hold it open. So with a little help from an employee and some ingenuity on Larry's part we have a hook to hold it up. He fixed the cabinet door so I can open it when the lid is up, for that is where I keep the detergent. 

The closet doors are rehung and three loads of wash have been done. No stopping Larry, it is good to keep busy.

EYE STROKE

 July 25 Larry was fixing the edge of this puzzle as I started getting dinner. He went to set the table and said  "I feel dizzy, is there something in my left eye." Before I could really look he said " I can't see out of my left eye, it is all black."  We called 911, they had me check for the usually indicators of a stroke while they sent the ambulance.  They took him to South Lake Hospital where it was diagnosed as an eye stroke. A tiny piece of plaque blocked the artery to the retina in his left eye and when that happens the eye dies. So he is permanently blind in that eye.  The blessing is he didn't have a brain stroke that could have left him paralyzed or unable to speak.

He came home the next day, taking Plavix and baby aspirin to thin the blood. On Friday August 2 he went to Orlando Regional Hospital and had an operation to have plaque removed and stent put into the left carotid artery. It was a little more major surgery then he was thinking, every thing has happened so fast. Some of the purple is the glue they used to close it, the line the nurse drew to watch the swelling and some bruising from the operation. I stayed the night with him and he choose to stay until Sunday before I brought him home. 

Through Medicare there has been a nurse at the house a few times to check on him and a woman for occupational therapy.  His biggest need is getting use to only one eye, especially when reading and typing on the computer.  This was his scar three weeks later. He is still a little stiff and sore from the position they had to keep his neck in for the operation. His throat was a little sore for having a tube down it during the operation and the swelling caused him to have trouble  breathing when he laid down to sleep, but it is improving. He saw the surgeon on Monday, he never met him before the operation.  He was pleased with the healing. He explained to Larry that it is like sharks. You know they are in the ocean but you still go in. Then you are bitten by one but you survive. Now everyone is more aware of the sharks and looking out for them and being bitten again aren't very likely. 

He is doing well getting adjusted to the lost of his eye. He is allowed to drive, but up to now I have been doing all the driving. I did take the RV out and drove it a few miles locally, but to drive to Texas for the Nomads annual meeting in September would be too much. We have decided not to attend and everyone has been supportive. Many prayers have been said and we appreciate all the caring that has been shown. 

He is getting help for his vision with the VA. He has been enrolled in a blind and partial vision program. Hopefully they will help provide ways for him to see the computer and phone better. Or it just may take time and getting use to it. He also may need to get a new prescription for his glasses. He has a bubble on his right eye, and a cataract forming but nothing will be done to that eye until it absolutely has to. 

BACKYARD NATURE

The swamp milkweed has bloomed. The bees and butterflies like it. 

It is called Swamp milkweed but does not need to be in wet soil. It is a native plant of Florida. Lori at church gave us native plants at one of our meetings. She is a master gardener.

 We have had a lot of rain the the pond is full. The hurricanes have mostly missed us.

In June the pond was low enough for us to see the concrete ledge.  Now only once in a while do we see the heads of the turtles in the pond.

WELCOME HOME , MISSION U STUDY

Went to Mission U July 19 to July 21 at the Westin Lake Mary. I roomed with Linda Welander. There were about 10 women  from the east central district that attended.  Some of the ladies  were from the units in the  Atlantic Central District and North Central District that are now part of our district. 

The mission study was entitled Welcome Home. The kin-dom of God.  He doesn't rule as a king on earth rules, different use of power.  In God's kin-dom we are part of the family. 

 Dr. Kate Pravera was the key note speaker. She is very socially active. 
 

There were activities to part take in for  Soul Care. Mary Ann and I went to Haitian dancing. We were  given skirts and head scarf to wear and there was even some food to taste. It was lots of fun.

Tracey  also danced with us.

This group provided the music and singing during the plenaries. They were good.

Another soul care activity was playing chimes. I did not do it, I went to chair yoga. Linda,

Tracey,

and Paula played chimes. They then played the songs they learned at the Sunday morning closing.

The mission study was very interesting. 

 Our  mission study leader was Dr. Robert Ladner. It is interesting how each of the leaders teach the material a little differently.  Our class always opened with each of us telling our name, what church we attended and some thing else we were to share. Many of us in the class went to churches that disaffiliated, some stayed some left. All of us belong to God's family. 

We had a nice weekend, delicious food and  good fellowship.