Day 602

Every two weeks we are reminded how blessed we are for the way things are turning out.

Every two weeks hubby has to go for lab tests to check kidney function. While we don't have the results back from today's test, they have been improving for the last few weeks. But that's not the biggest appreciation part.

It's being at the doctor's office itself.

The kidney specialist shares office space with the dialysis office. And the dialysis place is such a sad place. Patients who look so very ill and worn down. Caregivers who look just as bad. People who are in it for the long haul, most with no chance of ever returning to a carefree, healthy life.

That could have been us. When hubby was first diagnosed in July we were given the dialysis/never return to a normal life prognosis. Now every time we leave the doctor's office we can't believe the gift we've been given. The gift of returning health. The gift of seeing a sliver of normalcy returning to our lives. While not out of the woods yet, he has come so far.Yep, he's missing several months of work. Yep, he's lost a bunch of weight. Yep, his stamina still isn't up to par. But to think where he was - in a wheelchair, unable to walk - makes us realize how miraculous the recovery has been so far.

I wonder if we'll ever have the same look on life. It really has changed our perspective.

As does making quilts for a little boy who has a dad stationed far away from home right now.

Day 601

Boy, how I wanted to plop myself down in front of a fireplace and watch the snow falling yesterday. But I had to be back at work today so that didn't happen. Back to reality. Back to a kitty cat who was oh-so-happy to see us. Back to my work goal.

Last year I spent my time carrying a big bag. Full of binders and folders and papers, I carried/lugged that thing everywhere. This year I'm working on making that heavy load obsolete.

A paperless work environment, that's my goal. Every day I get closer and closer. And thanks to the iPad case I made, I'm just about there.

Padded space for the iPad. A pocket for the cell phone and a spot for a pen and small note pad (just in case). Zippered pocket for my Altoids. Handles for carrying.

Designed by me. (While I'm proud to claim the design I'm embarrassed to claim the uneven stitches.)

Day 600

On Day 1 I took a picture of some pincushions I had made. Other pictures...

Day 100 - a rose in our garden
Day 200 - a giveaway of things I had made for the tutorials
Day 300 - snowman pin tutorial
Day 400 - clouds out the sunroof of my then-new car
Day 500 - Skagway, Alaska

Day 600 - spent in beautiful Sun Valley.

What does one do in Sun Valley in the fall? Take lots of pictures, of course!

Sit in the warm sun outside the Sun Valley Inn.

Head over to the lodge. Take a peek at the swans in the pond out front.

Head out back of the lodge to the outdoor ice rink and watch up and coming ice skaters.

Snap a picture of Mt. Baldy from the parking lot. No snow yet!

Marvel at the beautiful foliage outside the hotel room window.

But, a few hours later...

Try and take a picture of the barn outside Sun Valley.

IN THE SNOW!

Head back to the parking lot to take a new picture of Mt. Baldy. Too snowy.

Find a fence made of skis.

Head to the park to take lots and lots of pictures of fall foliage in the snow.

Poor hubby. No matter how tight he makes the belt, he's lost so much weight his pants just won't stay up. He's spent the last few days holding them up by hand.

Bear with me...I kind of got picture crazy for Day 600! There were just too many beautiful pictures to be had.

 

The best Day 600 ever!

Day 599

Not knowing the next time I'll be in Twin Falls, knowing the wind wasn't blowing too hard, and knowing that it was a gorgeous morning I decided it was time to walk the Perrine Bridge (the one from yesterday's picture).

I looked up river this time.

I spied a couple of waterfalls coming from the canyon walls.

And to prove to myself I was on the bridge - with no fear - how about a picture looking straight down on the Snake River? (Yikes!)

Day 598

Whenever we drive to Twin Falls, Idaho we have to drive over the Perrine Bridge. In all these years of driving across the bridge I've always wished I had the courage to walk  it, but my fear of heights has held me back. Fortunately after my suspension bridge on the Alaska trip (Day 494) my fear of heights is pretty much gone. Unfortunately because of the high winds I didn't think it was much too safe to walk across this time. But there is a viewing platform that hangs over the edge of the Snake River Canyon.

That I did do.

I snapped a picture of the bridge.

I snapped a picture down river.

And to prove I was standing on a platform hanging off a cliff, I took a picture looking back to the cliff.