Considering what's best for Winsome Cottage

The initial blogs you have read are actually from journal entries I started when we first moved into our cottage so I could note the renovations and progress. But as often is the case, "the best laid plans...often go awry" and life gets in the way.

The first two years here, we worked when not at our other jobs. For Sir, that meant weekends and holidays as he commuted eight hours from a different state while working on a PhD in chemistry and as money permitted. A wonderful position in his field became available locally, a new start up with exciting opportunities. He decided to take it and write his dissertation in the off time from the new job. It was wonderful to welcome him home each night. The extensive work on the house was set aside for the duration. I did what I could to make it more livable and attractive, inside and outside in the landscape, knowing the "winsome" in our cottage name was being postponed "for the greater good".

Again, a change in plans occurred. Many of you have experienced something similar in the last few years. The company decide to close, a temporarily stop of operations, due to the economy. We assumed it would improve and all would be right again soon. However, several years later, my husband is still unemployed. 

That is not the worst of it all. During this time while going to get his eyes tested for a new pair of glasses, he assumed he needed because of all the reading and computer work, we learned the cause was related to a diagnosis of Type II Diabetes. He is an atypical diabetic, small of frame, not over weight, no extensive thirst or frequent urination. During blood tests his sugar was never an issue. The specialists believe he may have had it for up to ten years!  He is under treatment at the VA in Tampa, Florida, going every two weeks for injections. The medication is actually originally a cancer drug used to stop the development of the capillaries which feed a tumor. Similar to macular degeneration,  the diabetic retinopathy, is under control and the physicians are able to stabilize and slow further vision loss at this time with laser treatment and the injections. He is legally blind, seeing a bit peripherally. I praise the Tampa VA eye clinic physicians and the care my husband has received!

I have had my own issues as the result of a serious fall at work. Though I am much improved, the road to recovery has been slow. Following a few weeks in a rehabilitation hospital and home health care for several months, my husband has been my primary care giver. Though he had always been helpful about the house, this was a huge change for him! Instead of taking wash out of the washer and putting it in the dryer, he learned to spot treat, hang up, fold laundry and put it away. He cooked meals and did the dishes. Along with help from our sons to shop (hurray for them, too, since he cannot drive) He has done an amazing job. I have one more surgery ahead of me.

All the plans for the cottage have been modified somewhat. Our sons have helped with a few projects in order to make living more comfortable and accessible. A closet was relocated to make work space for the computer and apparatus' the the Center for the Blind and the VA have made possible.

Thanks for being so very patient with this Blog. In the months to come, you will see the Winsome Cottage projects left for another day completed, and new ones begin. Wait until you see what's instore for the kitchen. I'll share Ideas with you, and please, share yours with me!