Saturday, March 31, 2007


Hi everybody -- Well, as to my health, it is really looking up. Finally problems with medication have been straightened out and I have been starting with the cardiac rehabilitation. This starts out with blood pressure measurements, then I get a heart monitor mounted on me, then I climb on a treadmill and am given a schedule to follow. This goes for about 25 minutes. In between Blood pressure is taken and heart rate is constantly monitored. Then comes the rowing machine which is used for about 15 minutes. Finally specific stretch exercises are to be performed. At the end of all this torture bloodsugar measurement and blood pressure again. Finally I can go home again. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 9 a.m.


Of course all this after I had first taken care of the two dogs with their morning walk which lasts about 30 minutes.


Had a wonderful walk in Cook Park (picture) and found trillium ovatum in early bloom and late bloom. It seems the plant starts out white and with age slowly turns pink and then a darker maroon color. The local plant society members don't seem to know about it, because last year when I found this nobody was able to clear this point up. When I went onto the net I only got messages that the maroon color had been seen, no further explanation. Very puzzling to me, because I did know of this behaviour from observations with trillium grandiflorum.


So, here we are, I feel so much better and am finally able to take nature walks which I love so dearly again.


Have a wonderful day!

Monday, March 26, 2007

Early spring flowers are fading away, and others are replacing them. We planted a row of pansies in the front and are discussing additions to be put into the empty places. Hopefully summertime will reward us with a lovely variety of colors.

I added pictures of a magnolia, azalea, and a viburnum on the flickr site.

On the other front of our well-being or not stands the important fact that today (26 March) I felt really well for the first time since February 15 when the stents were put in. It took some time with the new medications and some trial and errors to come to the result, which I am happy to report today. Yes, I am feeling so much better and I am very happy about it. Also today was the first day of me being in a cardiac exercise program. Three times a week form 9 till 11 I am going to a class where the instructions are given. Had no problems with the session today; actually one is hooked up to a heart monitor and blood pressure and pulse are monitored.