Yesterday's Walk

 I fully intended to post our walk yesterday but got busy cooking, then watching TV, or shall I say YouTube, because we don't subscribe to any TV packages. Quite a bit of news is posted on YouTube now, some as it happens, and from quite a few different sources, so we don't feel "out of the loop". Maybe you can check out The MeidasTouch on YouTube "The fastest growing independent news network in the world. We cover breaking news, politics, law and more. We are unapologetically pro-democracy." Help them get to 4 Million subscribers.

On to yesterday's walk. We went to Pleasant Valley Nature Park, which is listed as a Mountain Bike Loop in AllTrails, but it is also for hiking, just be prepared to step out of the way. It was a beautiful day, partly sunny, mild, light breeze, the last "good" day for awhile as rain moved in last night.

Pleasant Valley Nature Park, Grafton, Wisconsin

This photo speaks "November" to me, with the soft, muted colors that are left after October fades

The address is Grafton but the sign says Cedarburg

This was halfway through our walk. After this point we had to follow a more narrow path back to the main trail. There were a few mountain bikers we needed to step aside for. It was a good walk, about a mile, which is short for us.

In today's news, my Petunias are still blooming!

Frost and Sun

 A good day for a walk! I can't believe my petunias are STILL alive. I love it. Yesterday I cut back the Coleus because they were looking so sad and found a few healthy ones. I will come back later and share where we walked.

The amazing petunias, surviving harsh two day winds and frost!

Little coleus were hiding under bigger ones

The geranium Chrissy gave me in 2016

#NaBloPoMo Better Times Ahead

 First of all....YES hubby got the job. He starts training this month for Assistant Extrusion Operator. After more training he will be promoted to Operator. This seems like a good company that values training and their employees.

Today is calm and sunny. Yesterday and the day before the WIND would not let up. At Walmart the gusts were so strong I had to hang onto the cart and stumble along as it blew me across the parking lot, well, a few yards anyway. They said 50 to 60 mph gusts. At least we were getting some rain so we weren't buried in dust clouds.

I can't believe these Petunias have held up through frosts and all the wind! This picture is from yesterday, and they are still blooming on November 1st! Notice the stormy sky.

I like this bigger picture of the clearing storm clouds

I'm very thankful hubby found a job here in town so we don't need to move. It's expensive and exhausting, and apartments cost more everywhere. The reason we catch a break is because we have lived here since they built this building in 2018. And I love the view.

We are done with Helgesen, but as a matter of record, I wanted to mention a couple things. When my hubby was interviewing with different companies they would ask him, "What happened at Helgesen?" So he explained that Standard Iron bought Helgesen in August and proceeded to change everything. They eliminated third shift, and with it the $7 per hour shift premium. Well, companies are allowed to take away shifts with premiums, but they also eliminated all the merit raises my hubby received through the years. He ended lower than he hired in! So many sad people who used to enjoy working there. Another fallout from the mess is a company across the street that was connected to Helgesen is going out of business. So, that's what happened in a nutshell.

On to better things. Hubby and I are taking advantage of this free time. Planning to visit my daughter this month before he starts the new job.

Here is my stuffed south window. I even have some Coleus cuttings.

Double decker plants lol 

Might take a walk tomorrow. Since this is November I will try to post every day. I think I'm supposed to tag this post....?

Hopeful

We are hoping for a good offer from a company in Hartford. 

More details if it pans out.

Oh... the suspense 

LOL

In other news, the WIND WAS INSANE yesterday and today. It finally let up and now, thankfully, it is raining. 

Today we drove up to Sheboygan to buy chicken. That might sound weird, but we don't like the taste of regular store-bought chicken. We keep trying different brands and we eat a little and throw the rest away. We hate to throw away food. We have been buying chicken from different meat markets and so far we like Miesfeld's in Sheboygan best. It's only a little over an hour's drive so we stocked up. The wind was horrible all the way there and back.

Medication updates. I'm still weaning myself from the heartburn medication. I haven't taken any omeprazole but I am still using the famotidine once a day. 

I tried stopping the Jardiance. Today is five days out and I'm noticing a slight puffiness in my ankles and a tightness in my chest. Well, dammit. At least it took five days this time instead of three. That's my heart. No, I'm not dropping dead, but it hampers me without medication, apparently. The low carb way of eating has helped to heal my body in many ways, but I guess I still need a little help.

Let me explain. I have Left Ventricular Diastolic Dysfunction and Mitral valve disorder. What that means is the left ventricle of my heart is a little stiff and slow to empty and my mitral valve is a little leaky. Back in 2021 when I was diagnosed I was having issues when out walking on the trails. I would become short of breath to the point I was having some chest pain. I would get dizzy and because I thought I might be having a heart attack, I got checked out. After all these tests I got the diagnosis. My cardiologist told me to eat whole foods and low salt, not "no salt", and continue taking Jardiance. He said there was nothing about my heart that would give me a heart attack, I was just out of shape and with the issues, need to stop and let my heart catch up. I had problems with heart palpitations, but other than that, I continued to walk with hubby.

Fast forward to the ketogenic way of eating. Electrolytes are very important, and once I started them the palpitations went away. I use salt, as much as I want, and little by little I got healthier. But the Jardiance is like a thorn in my side. I take it for two reasons, diabetes and for my heart. The way it works is by reducing fluid retention and by making me pee more and pee out sugar. It makes it harder for me to stay hydrated. I already ended up in the ER with dehydration and a bladder infection. The last thing I want to happen is for fluid to start building up in my chest around my lungs, which could happen with the dysfunction. So I'm seeing slight puffiness in my ankles and my breathing is tight. So...back on Jardiance and drinking extra water. I want to continue doing climbs like we did up Gibraltar Rock with no problems, no shortness of breath. I'm not slowing down just because I'm 74! Wait....did I say that?

It's late. Heading to bed. Goodnight.

 

Fall Leaves October 26, 2024

 I didn't want to forget to post these, from beautiful Quarry Lake at Harrington Beach State Park.

In other news, my hubby had a very good job interview today! More details later.

Gibraltar Rock State Natural Area

 We decided to try a new place on our mini vacation. We have become quite good at this. We pack a bag a drinks and snacks and head out for a destination that can easily be reached in an hour or two. It's amazing how many destinations there are in Wisconsin! We are essentially only spending gas.

We drove back to the Driftless Area and visited a place only a little southeast of Devil's Lake called Gibraltar Rock. It was a climb but the path meandered around and made it easy. We took the direct (steep) way down. Here are a few pictures.

"You Are Here"

Walkway made of thick, heavy planks

Rocks near the top

More

There were many rock pathways and steps at the top. I see a nice Baraboo Quartzite

The view from the top

The Memorial

Rocky cliffs

I am not sure which outcropping is the Gibraltar Rock. Some people go out to the edge. It's a 200 foot sheer drop. No way!

Our walk. We had a mild elevation gain but the climb was not too difficult. I noticed a lot of people of all ages use a walking stick and I have begun using mine. I love it for uneven surfaces.

Here is an informative website Gibraltar Rock State Natural Area Area

Interviews and a Walk

 Hubby has two interviews next week! One is in Germantown, the other in Hartford. 

We took a walk in the woods around Holy Hill. The colors are not as vivid this year because it's been so dry and the trees are stressed. It was still great to get out and walk. We did about two miles. The last time we walked this trail I was struggling. Since changing what I eat and taking electrolytes all of those problems have disappeared! Here's to better health!

My favorite picture from today