Brighten Up Your Weekend

Hud and I went to run errands today and he bought me these beautiful tulips.

They are just perfect and I can't wait until they open up.

I love the look of the flowers when unopened too.

I bought this Ivy plant at Lowe's today.  There's nothing more fresh to see in your home than a beautiful plant.

I put the plant on one of my plate chargers.  It really makes a great display.  (I think.)

Thanks for reading,

Gretchen

Quick Idea...

This is a wreath that I put together this week. 

This is a small drapery rod clip.  (I had some leftover from hanging drapes and saved them.)

This is a little bigger than some hooks but it is easier to clip on the wreath.

This is the hook clipped on the back.



Here it is hanging on a very small nail.

I love having this wreath at my kitchen window.  I can still watch the birds at the feeder and see out the window.  Each Christmas I have a wreath here too.

Thanks for reading,

Gretchen



I was taking prescribed medication I didn't really need.

I recently found myself taking so many medications for my severe rheumatoid arthritis that I sat back and said "Whoa".

All that money.  Also I've been thinking of the time when my husband Hud retires (in 3 years) and knew the cost of these would really create a problem, especially with my infusions of Remicade.

Here's what I did.  First, I went on the Internet and researched all three.  I was taking Cymbalta for daytime pain and depression, Tramadol ER for night time pain and Clonazepam for sleep at night.  

My doctor and I decided to take me off the Clonazepam first.  I did that suddenly without tapering off.  Dumb, dumb, dumb. By the second day, I was sweating profusely, had a buzzing in my head and was nauseous.  The big change though was that I woke up really clear-headed.  I decided I was onto something.  

Now, let me stop and say that I started taking all these medications while I was struggling to continue working and had just been diagnosed with RA.  That was three years ago or more.  I didn't know if I was in pain because I couldn't feel anything.  As my son Chris said to me, "It's OK to feel pain.  You know you are alive".

Next to go was the Cymbalta.  I had a lot of the same side effects that I did withdrawing from the Clonazepam.  I drank of lot of Earl Grey breakfast tea and a lot of soda crackers.  It was like I was pregnant again.

Now, I did each of these over two week periods so I've been at this for a month or more.  

My doctor wanted me to take one of the Tramadol every other day for 10 days to withdraw.  I did that for 3 days and  when I took it last night, I had skipped one day in between.  Well, I kept waiting to get tired and couldn't sleep.  I must have made six attempts and each time I would lay there for about 1 1/2 hours and sleep just wouldn't come.  I finally tried about 9:00 this morning and slept until 1:00.  Not much sleep but I can deal with it and you know what?  I'm feeling great, even without the sleep.

Let me also say that Hud has been a real trooper through this.  He has been patient and incredibly kind and really worried about me, as well he should.  Haha.

I guess the moral of this story is if you've taken a medication for more than six months to a year, think about whether or not you still need it.

I'm feeling pretty good and looking forward to returning to my new more productive life.  I have not been anywhere over the last 5 weeks but once to the Cracker Barrel near our house.

I guess my point in telling the world about this is that I don't want someone else to get hooked on medications you might not really need.

Hugs, Gretchen 


  

   

Lauren's Birthday

Our granddaughter Lauren had her 5th birthday on February 17th.

I found this pretty little tea set in the Country House catalog.  Prior to getting this tea set, she was using little cups from the bathroom and items from her little kitchen.  Who knew?  I have my original tea set and one that I bought for the grandchildren to use here.

I found this little apron at Hobby Lobby for $5.99.  I could not have bought material and made one for that price.

I haven't yet been to Lauren's house for tea but I hear that she's quite the hostess.

Hugs, Gretchen

Reorganizing Shelves

I have finally gotten around to organizing my bookshelves in the living room. 

I've even alphabetized all my design books so that I can find one when I want it.  (I've even been know to buy one I already had.)  I don't need two of each.

I hope you can look at all my shelves.  I tried to keep collections together but it's hard to do with the space and all the books.

Gretchen

A Special Gift

Papa was at Rick and Noelle's last week to look at their computer.  When he came home he brought me the adorable basket below. 

I found out that Nicholas' teacher had a bunch of things at her house that her daughter left when she moved out.  She brought them all to school and let the kids in her class each choose 2 things.  Nicholas got a crate for himsel and this adorable basket for me.  What a sweet young man he is!  He thought it would look great on our back porch where I have other stars. 

I couldn't put it on the screened porch until the weather gets nicer but I'm showing it off now.

Thanks Nicholas!

Nana or Gretchen to all of you.