Ups and Downs

September has felt very autumnish with cooler temperatures during both the day and the night. Even on days that reach 80 degrees, the mornings start out cool so a jacket feels comfortable. I dress in layers so I can shed jackets or sweatshirts over the course of the day. At this time of year, however, 80 degrees doesn’t feel as hot as in the summer months.

EJ’s spirits had been good mostly. Luke, his physical therapist, gave him a few exercises to help with his balance but after two sessions, he said he wouldn’t need to return. So he took EJ to the next room to sign up for the gym membership at the hospital. The benefits of exercising at the hospital gym are that they customize the exercises for EJ and monitor his health as he exercises AND if there is a problem, he’s already at the hospital. I’m continuing to look for and experiment with new recipes. Two of them we really liked. One–a butternut squash soup–we gave a thumbs down to. It was too sweet and not filling enough.

EJ got a little discouraged yesterday. He has to take his blood pressure several times a day to try to get it in the “normal” range. Yesterday his blood pressure was very high and he ended up coming home from work after a few hours because he didn’t feel well. Today his blood pressure is good and he’s feeling much better. Because his blood pressure is up and down, he can’t always manage to work a full day yet. I think he’s worked about four full days so far. EJ’s sister said that her husband was extremely tired for a month after his stroke a few years ago.

I’ve peeled and froze three-fourths of a bushel of apples so far. I listen to an audiobook while I work so it’s quite enjoyable to sit at the kitchen table working as Hannah Joy sits underneath and gobbles up any peels that fall to the floor. I still have to do some pears that our friend gave us, but I’m not sure what to do with them yet. I’ve never dealt with pears before. I’ve also seeded a few more heads of sunflowers. Today I’m thinking about cutting up bell peppers from our garden to freeze and also making butter.

Our one hen is still sitting on eggs in her nesting box. Our nesting boxes are actually kitty litter boxes filled with straw. They are the hens’ favorite places to lay their eggs. The boxes are on top of one of the sturdy wooden doghouses that are inside the 12×10 shed that is THE COOP. Chickens like to roost and nest on the roofs of the little houses inside THE COOP. EJ was concerned that if chicks hatched, they’d fall off the doghouse. I was concerned that the hen wasn’t leaving the nest to eat and drink. So yesterday evening, when the chickens were beginning to drowsily settle down for the night, I put a jacket over the hen’s nesting box so she wouldn’t peck me and moved the box with her inside into the other doghouse. It’s the same doghouse I called “hospice” when I put White Feather in so she could die in peace. Now I am calling it “the Maternity Ward.” I put food and water inside for the hen and shut the door. If she is broody and we do get chicks, they will be safe until they are old enough to join the adults.

Our son is heading back to work on his Great Lakes bulk carrier. I’ve been learning a lot about bulk carriers–both from his stories and from videos I’ve found on YouTube (I’ve shared several of the links on my Everything Links page.) I’ve always enjoyed learning about various jobs–they are always more complicated and interesting than you might think. I’m also learning about trains, airplanes, and other things but I now have a personal interest in ships. I’ve learned about what the ships look like inside, what different crew members do, how ships are loaded and unloaded, how holds are cleaned, what crew quarters look like, and about the foods that cooks serve crew members. Our son tells us the more personal stories of life aboard ship.

Our son has said that cooks are rotated between ships. Some cooks are bad, some are good. The cook last month didn’t go out of his way to cook good meals or accommodate the crew. He had set an hour time frame for meals and if someone didn’t make it in time, too bad, he had to scrounge. Our son said that the cook on one ship he was on served macaroni and cheese for every meal for several weeks and the crew members got bound up and couldn’t poop. However, one cook was once a strong contender on the cooking show “Iron Chef.” He went out of his way to provide very delicious meals for the crew. I believe our son said the Iron Chef cook is scheduled to be the cook on his ship this month.

Our son said that at some ports, it’s possible for family members to come aboard his ship, get a tour, and eat with the crew. That sounded awesome! I’d love to do it! Except there is no elevator or helicopter to get us aboard. Instead, we’d have to climb up a long ladder on the side of the ship. I thought our son said it was an 80-foot climb; EJ thought he said it was less. But regardless, it was a long high climb and we declared “Thanks, but no thanks.” I’m sure neither EJ or I could handle the height or have the strength and energy to handle the tiring climb. Maybe if we were younger. Sadly, we have to pass.

We have a rule in our home that we can’t get to work until the coffee pot is empty. I’ve just emptied it so I guess it’s time to get to work.