Do You Love a Good Mystery?

If you're a mystery buff, I have a good one for you!  It is also very important that we solve this one.  It has baffled learned men and women for several years.  However, I have the utmost confidence in blogdom.  I'm pretty sure there will be some very interesting theories and perhaps, even a super sleuth to solve it!!

It started about 4 years ago.  My 67 year old husband called me from work, saying he felt terrible.  He was dizzy, "sweating like a pig" (I've heard that pigs DON'T sweat, by the way.  But I digress...), and he had intestinal issues".

I jumped in the car and by the time I arrived at his job, I was concerned enough to insist he go to the emergency room.  Once there, they did all the tests that they felt were necessary based on his symptoms, and declared that they couldn't find anything out of order with his heart, brain, blood sugar, etc., and sent us home with  "Might be some virus".  Right.  He continued to have these spells occasionally for months.  His personal physician did more lab work, checked his ears and another CAT scan. 

By chance we were discussing these "spells" in a group of friends, and a girlfriend mentioned that she had a relative who had the same symptoms.  It turned out to be his blood pressure medicine, Lisinopril.

Ah Ha!  Guess which blood pressure medication my husband was taking?  Yep, Lisinopril!  The doctor changed his medication...no more spells.  All's right with the world.

Fast forward to the present.  About 6 months ago, the spells came back.  Same symptoms, same diagnosis.  Changed BP meds again, but this time, spells continue.  Grrrr!  Doctor has again done all the tests done previously, and can't find anything.  At this point, he is taking no BP meds and the spells continue.  One change has occurred.  The spells instead of lasting long hours and knocking him out for 2 days, are of much shorter duration and he is usually feeling well again after a few hours.

He has been to the doctor numerous times and has lost confidence that they can figure this out.  I believe he isn't making enough noise!  The last visit, his doctor said "at least your dizzy spells aren't life threatening". 

IF HE DOESN'T KNOW THE CAUSE OF THE SPELLS, HOW CAN HE BE SURE OF THAT? Yes, I'm yelling!

So here are the facts & a few clues.  Let's hear your theories.  I'm willing to try anything....

• DH is now 72 years old, is generally very healthy, and is taking no meds except Zyrtec for allergies
• His symptoms are dizziness, profuse sweating and intestinal distress during the spell, followed by a time of feeling "really tired".
• He has had a couple of CAT scans, fasting blood work and blood chemistry labs
• Been to a ENT to check for inner ear problems.  (He does have hearing loss and has hearing aids which he won't wear.)
• Eating when he first feels dizzy sometimes helps, sometimes doesn't.
• Soda, and an occasional beer is his hydration preference.  He is now getting at least 4 glasses of water because I take it to him and say "drink".
• He is active.  Works in his shop and on his tractors every day.

Because the spells have become less severe and shorter, and the fact that it has only been about a month since he quit taking the BP meds (doctor approved), maybe that's it. I don't think so.  I believe there is something else going on. 

I am putting you, the Family of Blogger Investigators, on the case!

Hopefully, Chris 

A Suburban Garden

I promised to show you a few photos of my sister's and bro-in-law's garden.  Their lot is NOT large, but I think they have made the most of it!

Click HERE >>A Suburban Garden

No captions necessary, the garden speaks for itself. (o:

Been Gone a Few Days

I've just spent the last 4 days where I grew up, in the San Francisco South Bay Area.  I was at my one of my sister's homes.  We've had a couple of rough weeks in our family.

On August 22nd, my brother-in-law, Ron, lost his 8 year battle with leukemia.  The very next day, Ed & I had to put down our 14 year old Lab Mix, Dusty.  These were very sad days...

But, this weekend was time to celebrate Ron's life with family & friends.  As is the way with our family, we gathered as many of us who loved Ron as we could find, and ate, drank, told stories, looked at photos and an amazing memorial video, put together by one member of his girl's basketball team.  Many tears were shed, and laughs were had.  Healing has begun.

The bro-in-law in whose home we stayed is a wonderful gardener.  I have taken loads of pictures of his garden to show you in a couple of days.  I wanted to leave you with a photo of the table in their backyard pavilion.  This greeted us as we arrived.  Don't know why, but the color in the table cloth & place mats looks brown. It is really more purple.  I just loved his creativity!  What do you think?

P.S. Please excuse his cigar...bleech!  I didn't even see it until I looked at the photo..

I Love Fall Mornings!

Yesterday was blustery.  There were plenty of grey clouds, lots of wind and even a light shower in the evening.

Happily, I woke up this morning to a cool, sunny, beautiful Fall morning! I took my coffee onto the back deck and watched my neighbor's cattle.  There are several calves, and they run & hop & head-butt with great joy!  I was thoroughly entertained.

Took a couple of photos to share.  This is the view from my back deck to the east.  The cows are about 100 yards away.

What Do You Think?

My girlfriend & I spent Saturday shopping for fabric for her living room.  She has already purchased gold silk drapes & plaid fabric for for relaxed roman shades.  She wants to upholster two bergere chairs, similar to this one at Ballard Designs, which will sit near the windows.  Her thought was to cover them in a solid fabric, thinking that the plaid was to prominent to use another pattern. 

Bolderdash, I say!  I helped her choose 3 fabrics that "might work", to quote her.  She likes them all, she's just not yet comfortable with the mix of patterns.

I've included pix below.  What's your opinion?  Do you like the idea of adding another pattern"  Which one do you favor?  I'll keep you posted...

BTW, the third combination is my choice.  I think it almost "reads" as a solid and still adds some playfulness to counteract that serious plaid!

From the Frame Shop...

I thought you might like to see what's been going on in my frame shop.  My girlfriend Patti & I framed some prints and fruit-packing box labels for ourselves.  We are our own best customers! *Ü*

This first print is mine.  It is called "The Emporer's Horse".   I think it is destined for my sitting room.

Next are two fruit-packing box labels that Patti will hang in her den which is right off the kitchen.

Finally, this small "poster" from Santa Cruz, CA Beach & Boradwalk is for her son-in-law.  He purchased it years ago, and it's been in a drawer ever since.  It's going to be a birthday gift!

Have you framed anything lately?