Ten Things of Thankful, Week 26/2019

 

So I proudly join the TToT-community again. Let’s see what I can contribute this week:

• Tuesday I finished my part of our mosaic! After all these conflicting emotions I was very thankful this part is over. There are still some minor things we need to do – like grouting – but the hardest part is over.
• I am thankful I persevered and didn’t quit working on the mosaic. Finishing something is a really good feeling and good for my ego.
• On Wednesday I met with my father, and we had ice cream! A very good idea, and we both enjoyed it very much.
• The weather was really hot last week. I am thankful my loved ones (two- and fourlegged) are ok.
• Went to relaxation group on Thursday, despite the heat. It was a good session, and I am glad I went.
• My therapist was on holiday, so my single OT session was on Friday, not Monday. I finished a basket another client in OT had begun. It was good to see the completed project.
• On Saturday my husband and his friend worked on the terrace for another ten hours in the heat. They put on the insolation and sealed it. Like always, my husband’s friend was optimistic and improved our mood. There’s still a lot to do, but we like to have everything done thoroughly.
• On Sunday I went with our friend to a summer party of a shelter that helps dogs that are declared dangerous here. Many humans followed the advice and let their furbabies at home, where they were safe from the heat. And that was a good thing.
• I was very grateful I could watch a very heartwarming moment at the party. A female American Staffordshire (very dangerous!) went to a little girl (about seven years old) and gently nudged her. The mother said: “Oh well… I always tell her not to touch a dog first. But if the dog touches her first…” and just shrugged. The dog was so careful, and the little girl was full of love. These are the magic moments I like to watch between humans and animals.
• My friend introduced me to a dog trainer, who will help us with our Sam. She put me at ease instantly, and gave me a good feeling. We will see how it turns out, but it was good first step.

 

Ten Things of Thankful, Week 25/2019

So I proudly join the TToT-community again. Let’s see what I can contribute this week:

• On Friday my husband went fishing until Saturday morning. It was a very successful fishing session, he caught six carps and was very happy. I am glad he had so much fun, he doesn’t have much time to go fishing at the moment. He had to work again today, and this was a good way to end the holidays.
• While my husband was fishing, I cleaned my boots and put them away for the warm months. I surely don’t need them at the moment and wanted to do this for a few weeks. I am thankful I finally did it!
• On Friday evening, I watched Bruce Springsteen’s broadway show. I enjoyed it so much, and my favorite songs were in it as well! It was such a good way to start the weekend.
• On Saturday we had ice cream after walking the dogs in our favorite ice cream parlour. It was so good just to spend time together.
• On Sunday, we went to a workshop to learn more about problematic dogs. I am thankful my friend let me drive with her, because I don’t have a car.
• We had a great time and got along really well. That’s a good thing if you are sitting in a car together for four hours 🙂
• I learned a lot and hope I can help our dog Sam better in the future. In my opinion, you don’t change the dog, you change yourself first and the dog reacts to that.
• We met the head of our local shelter at the workshop. I am glad she wants to learn as well, because you are never finished when it comes to learning from animals.
• Both trainers at the workshop brought their own dogs. It was very hot, and one of the dogs collapsed. But thankfully, she is on the mend now, it didn’t look too good for a few hours. But this taught me I have to be very careful with our furbabies in the heat.
• We came home from the workshop about 10pm, but I had still had the energy in me to take care of my pack. I folded laundry, made bread and cooked. It was late when I finally went to bed, but caring for my loved ones always makes me feel good.

Ten Things of Thankful, Week 24/2019

So I proudly join the TToT-community again. Let’s see what I can contribute this week:

• Monday was a banking holiday. It meant we had a quiet day, and we enjoyed it. The shops were closed and there was no traffic.
• Tuesday I got a lot done in OT group and left very satisfied. No pressure, I just had fun doing it. That was nice for a change.
• On Saturday we continued working on our terrace. I am so thankful my husband’s friend promised to help us in his free time.
• I was very tired Saturday morning and decided to take a nap after breakfast. I am thankful I did, because it turned out to be a very long and tiring day!
• My husband’s friend suggested we start early, and that was a good thing, because things got worse before they got better. So I am thankful he was prepared for everything!
• When we started turning down the isolation, we found out everything was wet, even the concrete… Well, now we know where the problems with the basement are coming from. We were shocked, but my husband’s friend stayed optimistic and promised us we will solve this. I was so grateful for his good mood, it helped a lot.
• I was able to help, and this always makes me feel good. I did nothing spectacular, collecting everything the boys turned down and bringing lunch, but I was part of it.
• After scraping the old and useless isolation from the terrace, my husband and his friend finally could bring on the new isolation. That took a few hours, but the boys were very thorough and my husband’s friend promised us we will never have to deal with this again. Woohoo! What a relief, it was so good to hear this.
• Our plan for Saturday was that my husband works on the terrace and that I walk the dogs with our friend and her dog. I had to cancel, but our friend was very understanding. I am thankful for that!
• My husband’s friend promised us to come back in two weeks and help us again with the insulation. Hopefully we can take it from there, but I am thankful he helps us with the things we can’t do on our own. Our terrace is far from finished. but we are on our way!

Ten Things of Thankful, Week 23/2019

So I proudly join the TToT-community again. It’s an anniversary, because TTOT turned six. Let’s see what I can contribute this week:

• I am thankful for every host of the TTOT, past and present, that they make this blog hop possible. It surely takes a lot of time and dedication.
• I found a new recipe for making carrots we both like. I didn’t know adding honey can make such a big difference.
• Our cat Jackie was very cuddly this week. I enjoyed this very much, of course!
• We had a few warm days, and I was able to wear a dress for the first time this year. It sure felt great!
• On Monday I was very thankful for our trainee therapist. She really helped me with my current project (I took over weaving a basket another client started but didn’t finish).
• On Tuesday I realized something very important about myself in therapy (I am often too hard on myself, and that doesn’t help at all).
• On Wednesday enjoyed a therapy free and quiet day.
• On Thursday we were just two patients in our relaxation group, so we enjoyed a session that was made just for us.
• My husband started his holiday on Friday, and it’s always nice to have him around.
• On Saturday I treated my husband to lunch in a greek fast food restaurant. We enjoyed it, and I didn’t have to cook – a big win-win!

Ten Things of Thankful, Week 22/2019

So I proudly join the TToT-community again. Let’s see what I can contribute:

• Summer finally found us, so we had at least a sunny, warm weekend.
• Thursday was a banking holiday and the shops were closed. My husband had to work, but I enjoyed the quiet day at home.
• The most important thing I was thankful for was my birthday. I was born two months early, and back then the doctors weren’t sure I’d make it, but tadaa – here I am!
• So many people on- and offline sent me well wishes. I am very thankful for that, this year started off very well.
• I am thankful for all the support I get on- and offline. I wouldn’t be able to do this alone, and it’s a good thing I don’t have to!
• On the evening of my birthday, we went to a nice restaurant (“we” meaning my parents, my husband and I. My parents in law are on holiday). I am thankful for these nice hours. It was a good way to celebrate my birthday.
• My husband had a very stressful week and had to work full time on the banking holiday and on the weekend. I am grateful he got through that chaotic week ok.
• Because my husband had to work, I had no car at the weekend and wasn’t able to drive to the shelter for our usual walk with our friend, her dog and Truman, the shelter dog on Saturday. But our friend came to our house with her dog and Truman, and we walked the dogs here. This was very kind of her.
• After we walked our dogs, I took the bus and drove to the next town, where I went shopping and just enjoyed myself.
• One of our dogs, Janet, was coughing a lot on Wednesday, and it really had me worried. But whatever it was, she was her old self on Thursday, so I could stop worrying.

Ten Things of Thankful, Week 21/2019

So I proudly join the TToT-community again. Let’s see what I can contribute:

• It was a quiet week, and after having so many appointment last week, I enjoyed this very much.
• The anti tick treatment we used on our furbabies a few weeks ago seems to work, and that’s a very good things. I hope we humans don’t get bitten as well.
• On Monday I started a new project in OT. Another patient started weaving a basket and didn’t finish it. I took over, and we will see how it turns out.
• On Tuesday, I struggled with our project in group OT (the mosaic). But the group helped me, and this was a good feeling.
• On Wednesday, I had much time on my hands, so I enjoyed that I didn’t need to hurry. This can be such a blessing.
• On Thursday, we tried to relax on hard wooden chairs in OT group instead of sitting in comfortable rocking chairs or laying down. It worked, which means we learned a lot in the past months and are now able to relax almost everywhere 🙂 This, of course, was the idea behind our weekly practice.
• On Friday I went to my husband’s GP to renew his prescription. The doctor is on holiday, but since I was up early, I got a lot done. So it was a blessing in disguise.
• On Saturday we worked on the terrace and got a lot done here as well. For the next step we need a longer stretch of sunny weather, because we don’t want the ceiling of the basement to get wet. But this will have to wait, summer hasn’t found us yet!
• On Saturday we formed our usual “big” pack and had a wonderful walk with our friend, her dog and Truman, the shelter dog. His new family is moving to a new home right now, and they want to get him after everything quiets down, what is probably for the best. We enjoy having fun with the little man as long as possible!
• My husband was on call until Friday morning, and it was a stressful week for him. I am glad he had a nice, calm weekend to recover from the last hard days.

Ten Things of Thankful, Week 20/2019

So I proudly join the TToT-community again. Let’s see what I can contribute:

• On Monday I finished my OT project. The basket turned out fine. I worked on it for 10 hours, it was a lot of work.
• I met with my pain doc on Monday. We decided to leave my medication as it is, and she was very pleased. I will see her again in August.
• Tuesday I started group OT in a very bad mood, because making a mosaic isn’t my thing. But I made progress, so I felt better afterwards, and this was good.
• I cleaned the tiles on our terrace. It was hard work, but I pulled through. It was a good feeling to have contributed to this project.
• My husband was able to go ahead and took the clean tiles down, this was an important step.
• On Thursday I met with my psychiatrist. We will leave medication as it is, and I was relieved to hear this. A change in medication can always be tricky.
• Went to my monthly appointment at the podiatrist on Wednesday, and everything went well.
• I will meet with a fellow patient I met last summer during my inpatient stay next Wednesday. She texted me and said she is really looking forward to it, and so am I!
• A nice couple is interested in adopting the shelter dog we walk every Saturday. I hope everything goes well and Truman finally finds a wonderful forever home!
• Saturday we ate out, so I didn’t have to cook. This was very nice and I hade a quiet Saturday.

Ten Things of Thankful, Week 18/2019

So I proudly join the TToT-community again. Let’s see what I can contribute:

• Met with my best friend and had breakfast with her. We had two wonderful hours together just chatting about everything.
• We had our friend and her dog over for a barbecue. Humans and dogs had a great time!
• Visted another friend and her wonderful Rottweiler. It was such a nice afternoon full of warmth. Rottweiler are classified as dangerous dogs here, and you need a special permission to keep them. Well, all Frieda wants is cuddle 🙂
• My husband found out the terrace is broken underneath the tiles, and this is the reason for the problem in the basement. Now we know what is going on and what to do.
• I made an apple tie from scratch, and it tasted wonderful. I am so proud it was a success, because I am not very skilled where baking is concerned. But maybe I just need more practice.
• I felt quite down and very tired last week. But I was able to get lots of rest and tried not to dwell on it too much. I hope next week gets better!
• We rembered to give our furbabies the first tick and flea treatment of the year. Ticks are no fun, and I hope we made their life a little bit better. It’s supposed to last twelve weeks, so they should be safe for now.
• We celebrated my husband’s vacation with having pancakes in a very cozy restaurant. The dogs where allowed to come in as well, and I was so proud of them: They calmly laid down under the table and had a nap while we were eating. This was not always so easy. This was not Janet’s and Sam’s fault, they just had to learn how to behave in these situation, and you surely don’t learn this on the streets or in a killing station.
• Our drier broke, and we just had it for a few weeks. But the timing wasn’t too bad, because it happened in the warranty period. So I think we will figure something out.
• I am so thankful for the many kind people in my life who help me to get through rough times. Don’t know where I would be without them.

Ten Things of Thankful, Week 16/2019

So I proudly join the TToT-community again. Let’s see what I can contribute:

• Monday I had my weekly single OT session with an intern. It was very interesting to hear what someone new had to say. I am sure he will become a good therapist and am glad that I was allowed to be part of his journey.
• I am working on a basket made from rattan in OT. On Monday I decorated it with wooden pearls, and I liked it very much. Often I don’t like what I make and see only the little mistakes (darn perfectionism), but so far the basket turns out great.
• On Tuesday I went to group OT, but something went wrong and they had forgotten to call me and tell me it was cancelled. But the intern stepped in, I and could work on my basket for another hour. I like basket-weaving so much, it makes me feel good, I can’t get enough of it.
• Wednesday was a quiet day, and I enjoyed this very much. This week was another hard one, and I needed this.
• Thursday was relaxation OT group, and it helped me a lot. I felt much better and calmer afterwards.
• Like last week, the dogs took very good care of me. They always do what they can to cheer me up. I can’t say who rescues whom – maybe we saved them from a hard life on the streets, but they help me so much as well.
•  My husband doesn’t have to work on Easter. This is not a given, and having more time together is always nice.
• I made plans for a new DIY-project, I want to make a blanket for our guest bed. We will see how it turns out. But making plans always lifts my mood.
• The quiet easter days were like balm for my soul. It helped a lot that I was with my husband all the time as well. He always has a calming effect on me.
• We had wonderful warm, bright days. The days are so long already, it was almost like summer. Of course it’s too early for that, but it surely was nice.

Ten Things of Thankful, Week 15/2019

So I proudly join the TToT-community again. Let’s see what I can contribute:

• I was in a lot of pain last week, maybe because of the cold weather. But I got through it somehow, and the important things got done.
• Monday my OT therapist was joined by a trainee, a young man. It was very interesting what he had to say. I agreed to have my next single OT appointment with him, because my therapist has a day off on Monday.
• Tuesday I felt very tired and everything felt heavy. But the dogs took good care of me. They always make me smile.
• Because Tuesday was so hard, I was very glad to have a quiet Wednesday. It was what I needed.
• Thursday I had my monthly appointment with my podiatrist. She really cares about her patients, and the staff always tries to make everybody feel well.
• Got a problem sorted out with my health insurance company. The question was if they continue to pay for my TENS unit, or if I have to get a new one. Turns out I can keep my current one. It took me a few days to get through to the right person, and I feel much better now.
• Had my quaterly blood test done on Friday morning as well. I struggle with self care sometimes, so it’s a good thing this is done. I will get the results this week.
• Had an appointment with my therapist on Friday. It was our second to last therapy session. We started in 2015, and we got a lot out of the way. I now feel ready to fly solo again, and this is good. We will keep in touch though and meet every three months.
• Picked up a prescription from my pain doctor. I am grateful this went quick and didn’t take a lot of time.
• Because the week was very tiring I was extremely relieved when I was finished with my chores on Friday. I pulled through, and that’s all what counts in the end.