There is a lot of fingerpointing about the shutdown. One woman I know is afraid for her grandchildren. "We can't let them go without food!" And I understood her anguish. I did. She wants the shutdown resolved.
(So do I, don't get me wrong.)
But, you know, I am encouraged by churches stepping up to the plate, offering food. Free meals. Not every church is full of MAGA evangelical crazy pants, though it easy to forget that fact.
Ordinary people are stepping up too.
Here in my town, people post their address on Facebook, telling people that they have food on their porch for anyone who needs it. Offers to deliver it if needed.
The local Aldi has an offer up for a $40 Thanksgiving that will feed 10 people.
Everywhere you look, you see people and organizations stepping into the breach. It is beautiful to see. Hopeful.
How long will this shutdown last? I don't know. But I think that we need to hold the line. We can feed each other. We cannot provide health care for each other. Simple statement of fact.
So.
That's my thoughts on it.
Our friend came back for cheesy cream of potato soup. I cooked up his squash for him, and another batch of cornbread. My daughter and new son in law and William were coming, so I did up a batch of rolls to go with as well.
No time to whip up a dessert today. I overslept. Tim has a cold and once again it has settled in his chest. He was coughing so hard that he could not sleep. He got up, grumpy and cross, yelling at cats and generally making it impossible for me to sleep.
This coughing stuff always makes me feel sickish inside. It was a stubborn cough that started the chain of events which led to Tim's stroke a couple years ago. Even worse, that cold happened about this time of the year, too. So his coughing makes me anxious. Not a lot of sleeping by anybody last night.
But I had the soup going in the crock pot before I went to bed. All I needed to do this morning was make and add the cheese sauce. I had also made the bread dough last night, so all I needed to do with that was pull the bowl out of the fridge and punch the dough down and let it come to room temperature. I roasted squash, grabbed a shower, and slapped the cornbread together. While the breads baked, I skinned the squash, added butter, brown sugar and a bit of cream and let the mixer do its magic.
Lunch was on the table right on time, and it was a nice afternoon of visiting.
Of course, the big news was the weather. First snow of the season. Maybe. No accumulations expected until suddenly things changed and there was talk of lake effect snow. What was going to happen? The answer varied depending on who you listened to.
(The unattractive thing in the foreground is my small tarped off 'pumpkin patch', set apart from everything because pumpkin vines tend to grow at such an amazing rate.)
Normally you would let nature take its course with a chest congestion but given Tim's history, maybe antibiotics could be good idea.
ReplyDeleteAntibiotics were the first step down a slippery slope for Tim. After much resistance, I finally just made an appointment and told him he was going. His doctor prescribed him antibiotics and Tessalon perles. No improvement. After a couple weeks, I called the doctor's office and said that he never improved and that he was so exhausted he could barely function. They offered him a different antibiotics. I said that he really needed to be seen. He went in and was sent home with a z pack and tessalon perles. Long story short, he ended up with C-diff. He dehydrated so badly his kidneys began to shut down. I took him to a clinic, left to pick up William from school, got back to discover he had been seen. He got a shot of steroids, another prescription of antibiotics and more tessalon perles. The shot put him into shock. It was the scariest time ever. I thought our life as I knew it was done. He knew I was his wife but could not remember my name.
DeleteSeconding Andrew's advice here... although getting Tim to the doc might be the hardest step!
ReplyDeleteFor both of us, really. It did not work out well the last time we went that route.
DeleteI agree with Andrew and gz. Try to nip it in the bud if possible.
ReplyDeleteI'm with the group here, get his to doctors if you can, he will probably moan, mine would, but it's better safe than sorry.
ReplyDeleteYou and Jaycee want to help me lasso him?
DeleteI can't quite get my head around the idea of government services shutting down.
ReplyDeleteI know. And to have people actually fighting to keep benefits from people....
DeleteI agree with the above commenters. Chest infections can escalate quickly so a timely visit could help alleviate it.
ReplyDeleteThe snow forecast made me smile.
That is about as accurate as we get here!
DeleteWe got quite a dumping of snow.
ReplyDeleteI SAW!!!!!!!
DeleteWe have 27F here in Toronto this morning and got our first snow yesterday, about 3 inches. They are calling for a bit more today but the temperature is expected to go back to normal in a couple of days. I agree with all the others who think Tim should get checked out by a doctor. It’s not the time to be stubborn. Gigi
ReplyDeleteI am trying to keep him inside as much as possible. This is not working.
DeleteUgh, the coughing is a damned nuisance, and a scary indicator of what can come next. I rely on those precious pills (I hoard them) from my Dr., Tessalon perles. They STOP the cough dead, especially at night, and they make you sleepy too. I only pull them out when I have the cough that won't quit. I love that you are able now to make and bake and do the things that you do! Now that you aren't building a house, you can build your retirement! First snow here in Illinois as well, cold AF, but temps to go back up soon. I love the cold better than the damned oppressive heat.
ReplyDeleteThessalonikperles were no help at all for Tim. they work well for me, but had no effect on Tim's awful cough.
DeleteStupid auto correct!
DeleteI agree with everyone else about getting Tim to the doctor! In the meantime, no more milk/cream based soup ... it causes the mucus and phlegm buildup in his lungs! Clear broths ... chicken soups!
ReplyDeleteHowever ... that meal sounds fantastic and delicious!
Plus ... 10 Democrats joined the Republicans and signed that CR last night to get the country opened back up!
DeleteToo many people suffering, so something had to give! The Orange Bastard seems to enjoy killing people, so he's probably not happy!
Sorry ... it was 8 Democrats!
DeleteIt all will resume in January. The good news is that at least Grijalva will be sworn in this week.
DeleteI hope Tim's cough passes uneventfully, but I can see why you would worry.
ReplyDeleteWe had snow here on Friday and it's all gone now thankfully. I can finish up my yard work.
Our snow will probably be gone by the weekend. It is supposed to be in the fifties.
DeleteMaybe checking in with Tim's doctor would be good. Worrying is stressful for both of you.
ReplyDeleteHe is stubborn. I am trying to keep him inside. It is not working.
DeleteThat cheesy potato soup sure sounds good this cold morning... I am so sorry to read about our guy Tim, I hope he gets better real fast. I want to do something for others less fortunate too, the church next to my apt building has a food pantry every other Thursday, I'm going to ask.
ReplyDeleteWe can all play a part.
DeleteI hope Tim is feeling better today! Soup was perfect for a snow day. I know my grandchildren put on pjs backwards, flushed ice cubes and slept with a spoon under the pillow, but we only had about an inch. I honestly think our forecast is 1"-12", lol.
ReplyDeleteWe have just a scant amount. we don't encourage snow in this house!
DeleteI've never grown pumpkins. Is this late for you? I grew late watermelons. Watch for my post later this month!
ReplyDeleteSomething I noticed is 'volunteers'. In a garden, you always have volunteers plants, things that sprout from last year's seeds. I brought home the guts from my granddaughters' Halloween pumpkins. I spread them in my pumpkin patch and covered them with a layer of mushroom mulch. I covered my raised beds, all of them, to avoid picking up blight. I don't know if this will work, because I have never tried it before. We'll see. If worse comes to worst, I will just buy a package of pumpkin seeds next spring. But the long an the short of it is that this spot is the pumpkin patch because it is out of the way and the fines can sprawl everywhere.
DeleteTwo grocery stores here in KC are offering free meals for 12 and under... Hy-Vee and Price Chopper. Hy-Vee is also offering $3.00 meals for the over 12's and adults. Plus little free libraries have switched to food.. plus large and small food banks. We decided to donate money to Harvesters and CSL thinking they could purchase food and essentials at lower costs than we could...weather cold but sunny ! Liveable for now!!
ReplyDeleteMy husband used to cough for sometimes an hour nonstop. I read to rub the bottom of your feet with Vicks suave and put socks on at night. His cough almost stopped the first night. We talked to his doctor, and he said yes it will work usually but he did not know why. I looked it up and most doctors that were ask why it worked said the same thing, I don't know but it does work. My husband hated the smell of Vicks from his childhood but agreed to try it. We were both surprised. Please Tim go see your doctor. If it is just a cough at least it will ease all of our minds.
ReplyDeleteGosh! I hope he feels better soon. That cough/head & chest cold I had lasted 5-6 weeks so I really pray he hasn't gotten that bug that is going around. Positive thoughts!!
ReplyDelete