Medical System Rant. Enter at Your Own Risk.

As anyone who has followed this blog for a while knows, I have had serious back problems and serious medical care/interest problems. I spent 9 months in physical therapy after leaving my prior provider. The therapist was helpful, I was given exercises that could help, but stopped short of what the underlying problem is. I was too far along, as I have now found, at this point for exercises alone to help. The NP I'm seeing has shown interest but either does not know or didn't care to get into it. I think she doesn't know.

Last week while once again looking for exercises that may help, as the numerous others have not, and I stumbled upon my problem. It is a real thing with a name. The common name is Flat Back Syndrome. Who knew? Not me and apparently not the three different medical professionals or the two PTs. 

This is what Flat Back Syndrome generally looks like.

This is my poor attempt at showing my back. My lower lumbar is not flat. It is curving outward. The cervical spine follows the lumbar, so the more it flattens, or curves outward, the more the shoulders bend forward and the head juts forward. I am thrust forward from shoulder to head. To give an idea what that looks like from the side, standing with my back against the wall my head is 6 inches away from the wall. I cannot bring it back.

I've looked at a lot of YouTube videos from doctors to chiropractors. The symptoms described are what I was describing from the start. A tug, pulling me forward that I could not control. It is like something is attached to my neck and shoulders pulling them forward. It just got progressively worse while I was being told to pull my shoulders upward. Do chin tucks. Etc. Walking and standing is painful and exhausting.

Now there is nerve pain. Surprised? A recommendation is to try decompression therapy. I did find a chiropractor near me who does this. I'm going to make an appointment. If this does not work there is spine surgery, which I do not want. I also don't want to spend the rest of my life like this. The past five years have been enough, thank you very much.

So, how was your week?😉

Flat Back Syndrome 

*Video is a bit over 5 minutes. There are many more going into more detail.

Another Heat Wave.

With 90+ F/30+ C temperatures and high humidity for the coming week I have been thinking of winter. That's where this unbearable weather takes me. Frankly, I prefer the snow. With this thought, a lovely photo of Sir Gatto in the gentle light of a winter evening. He wanted an appearance on Caturday.

Matthew is coming to visit today, bringing lunch. It's been a long time since we have seen him. Life is busy.

We can dream. Right?

Seize the Day. Maybe. Sort Of.

Thursday was actually tolerable, allowing me to play in the dirt and do some mowing.

 

See the catnip? I know, you cannot not see it. It grows wild here and it is everywhere. I sat on the front porch on the rainy day this week and took some photos of the porch flowers and the hollyhock I planted by seed last year. I still have some hollyhock birds graciously planted decades ago. At least that's what I have believed all these years.

There's a tree, I now know it's a tree by the plant identifier, I'm going to plant along the drive. They get tall, produce berries that stay all winter, a perfect tree for the birds that stay here over winter. It's a Hackberry, a soft wood of course, as this is a softwood forest. This autumn we are also going to dig up and transplant some maple saplings growing in a copse of maples along a fence line. There are several nice saplings. 

We also, meaning I, plan to dig up and move several red cedar to the south tree line. Red Cedar grows like a weed. I've provided most of the landscaping in Matthew's yard, including a red cedar, with all the things that grow wild here. 

I believe I have absorbed the 'live for today' mode. At least I'm trying. Life feels very uncertain, like the bottom could drop out anytime, so I am attempting to embrace every day. Not usually my style but as Saint Francis of Assisi said "Start by doing what is necessary, then what is possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible". This applies to me attempting to see something good everyday. Well, maybe one day I will be Suzy Sunshine. One can hope.

Chippy

Chipper little fella.

We have a rainy morning, which is much appreciated. Although it's green out there we are still seriously behind on rainfall. I've been rather blah although sitting outside watching the wild things was a pleasure. I think I'll sit on the front porch with my coffee and listen to the rain. I'll check in with you all later.

Nature

                                                           

Contemplation

I have held the belief that a nation which cannot look honestly at itself, at the bad, along with the good, is a nation which will never evolve. The past couple of days have cemented this point of view.  

Smell the roses while considering this. 

A Little Cuteness.

Another photo of the pampered pup.

They had a nice time up there in the northland. Now back to the hustle and bustle of life.

No hustle and bustle here. It's hot and humid, which means it's yuk. 

Little Miss Suzy Sunshine signing off.

Too Much Information?

I know I've posted this photo a couple of years ago. I am going through photos to clear a bunch of them out and I saw my truck. We are not people who buy new things when the old is working just fine. My 1997 Chevy one ton diesel dually works as well as it did in 1997. It was primarily used to pull a horse trailer and to pick up grain so the milage is relatively low, especially considering it is a diesel. 148,000 miles. With the price of diesel I am very happy it is now used to pick up grain and little else. Young men nearly swoon over this truck. It really is sort of humorous.

My bedroom furniture, minus the bed, is from the mid 1960s. My living/dining room furniture is from 1981-82. I have many furniture pieces which have passed down a few generations. I'm the last stop for those items. My son has no interest. I don't replace if I don't need to. I've even hung onto Mark!

Here's a real surprise. When my mother died I inherited her car, a 2005 Buick LeSabre (my parents would only own Buicks). I had a 1997 Jeep that is still in very good condition and now belongs to neighbor Bill. The Buick has 48,000miles on it. Yep, you read that right. It looks new. 

Now you know another of my proclivities. Or is it peculiarities?

Is it possible to have too much Homer?

I thought not.

They are going Up North for a weekend cabin stay on one of the seemingly million lakes we have in Minnesota. New York says Up State. We say Up North. Which for me, probably not all of us, means the eastern part of the state along Lake Superior. Likely because, except for a few exceptions in adulthood (am I an adult?), that is the only part of North I knew, including Canada. I've skied in Canada often. I went to the Arabian Canadian Nationals, which was held in Regina. It got moved sometime in the 2000s. I had to look up where it is now. Brandon, Manitoba. 

I certainly got off topic. So, as long as I went there we will jump from Homer to Zing (WF Last Roses) and his trip to Regina. He did very well considering he probably was the only horse in the ring who wasn't owned by a person with wealth. Which is a problem, likely in all breeds but this one in particular is dripping with $$$$. One of the judges was a performance trainer who liked him very much, which made him a contender. I bred for beauty AND athleticism. This was the 3 year-old futurity. He came in 5th out of the Top Ten.

Anyway, this is what I used to do for a couple of decades. Sorry, Homer. I didn't mean for you to share the stage.

***His name comes from his dam, who died at his birth. Her name was LF Diamond Rose. He was her last. Zing came from her habit of 'zinging' her teeth on the stall door bars when she wanted something. I called her 'jailhouse mama'.***

Shrub

Not the bush…..

a kind of fermentation.

A much younger long-time friend old me about this a week ago. Where has it been all my life? Delicious! I made mine with dried mango and it is so good. I use sparkling water only, as I cannot have alcohol due to medication. It is so good. I also tried with tap water and this is also good. I have read it may be used as a vinaigrette using a couple of spoons-full added to olive oil.

Fresh or frozen fruit:

Shrub

A dried fruit shrub is a vinegar-based syrup made by rehydrating dried fruits in a mixture of sugar and acid, offering a deep, concentrated flavor. Also known as "drinking vinegars," they serve as complex, sweet-tart mixers for cocktails, mocktails, and sparkling water. [1, 2, 3]

The Dried Fruit Method

Unlike fresh fruit shrubs, dried fruits need time to absorb liquid to release their sugars and flavors. Because dried fruits are highly concentrated, they require slightly more liquid in your recipe.

• Base Ratio: 1 cup dried fruit, 1 cup sugar, 1 cup water, and 1 cup vinegar.
• Method: Combine the dried fruit, sugar, and water in a saucepan. Simmer over low heat for 10–15 minutes to soften the fruit and dissolve the sugar. Once cooled, stir in your vinegar. Let the mixture steep in a sealed jar in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days, shaking daily.
• Straining: Strain out the fruit solids using a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth, pressing gently to get the last drops of syrup. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Flavor Combinations

Certain dried fruits pair beautifully with specific vinegars to elevate your beverages:

• Dried Figs & Balsamic: Creates a dark, earthy, and rich syrup that pairs perfectly with bourbon or drizzled over vanilla ice cream.
• Dried Cherries & Apple Cider Vinegar: Produces a bright, tart, and fruity profile ideal for gin or seltzer.