Freedom from Pain and Suffering

A year and a half ago, I was in a lot of pain and had been suffering for several years. The discomfort in my joints was unbearable. My legs were also filled with discomfort, My doctor thought it was from my sweet blood because it was so high. My skin was red and itchy and I was always scratching.

In March of 2018, a friend told me about a product that had helped her after having a chronic illness that affected her immune system She had tried it the year before and this product had changed her life. It was CBD oil. I decided to try it. She assured me it would not make me high. Within a month most of the discomfort was gone. My skin had cleared up and the itching has stopped. My joints were no longer uncomfortable. My sweet blood was under control.  I was so impressed, I joined the company and am now selling the CBD oil that changed my life. 

If you have any of these problems or those very similar, please check out our products by clicking the link above. We also sell Relief Cream, Renew Cream, bath bombs and much more.

You may follow me on Facebook.com/maryalward Questions, private message me there.

A Long Few Months.

The last 8 months have been difficult for me. In August 2018. my husband passed away suddenly after starting a new job. He was here at home and I found him passed away mid morning. He had been talking to me earlier and seemed to be fine. He did have a long term heart condition.

As if that wasn't difficult enough, my brother went in for heart surgery in February 2019. That went well but he caught pneumonia and passed away. He was my only brother. We talked a few times a week as we were sharing the care of my 91 year old mother.

A week after he passed, I fell and really messed up my right wrist. Of course I am right handed. It still gives me some difficulty but that is to be expected when we are Seniors.

Since then things have been okay. I'm still selling my products and visit the Senior's Center several times a week for an hour or two. I have Dakota still and he keeps me on my toes taking care of him.

I have started a recipe page on Facebook. I call it Mary's Kitchen. I am also very active on Facebook. It helps me keep busy.

I have stopped selling on Etsy and have been sorting the vintage items I had for sale. I will donate them to a charity.

Have a great day and I will talk to you again soon.

Things are Happening

Things have been happening here. I have been using CBD oil for a while now with amazing results. My depression has lifted. The oil has removed the psoriasis from my face. It took the pain out of my back and out of my husband's hands. He has rheumatoid arthritis and couldn't bend his fingers without excruciating pain.

So, On April 23, I began selling Hempworx CBD oil and was doing great with it. So many positive benefits. Besides the pain relief, it has many benefits. It detoxes our bodies and balances our immune system It has given me so much more energy and helped my mother with her weak legs. She is 90.

The benefits to selling are endless. Financial freedom and perks such as a car, trips and others. Please check it out. Hempworx CBD Oil. Find me here: www.hempworx.com/MaryAlward.

The plants are grown in Kentucky and when extracted by CO2, it has only 0.03 THC. It is legal in all 50 states and there is absolutely no problem getting it across the border. Headquarters are in Las Vegas and we have a Conference coming up this fall.

If you are in need of a job and you've had sales experience, this is for you. Just buy the product you wish and click the button to become an affiliate for just $20. Where did you ever hear of investing just $20 to start your own business. Amazing!  This is unheard of and it's all true. The lady who got me involved has sold 5K. Many others are at 10k and 25K.

For those of you who know me well, I had a bad fall and landed on my left shoulder. I thought it was broken but had my husband rub the oil on it. Within a few days, I had relief and it's healing quickly.

If you have questions, please email me or phone me. 519 752-3819. malward @execulink.com

A Long Two Weeks

This has been a long two weeks. Everyone got the flu. First Brandon, then me, then Jordan, their Dad and Mom and then hubby. It included fever, chills, muscle weakness and just feeling blah. I was sleeping hours and then laying down for a nap. I just couldn't stay awake.

At the first sign of sore throat, I used Watkins Medicated Ointment. Great stuff and that was the end of the sore throat. I'm still fighting the symptoms. 

Brandon's lasted a full two weeks. Jordan not quite as bad. Everyone is still feeling the lasting effects from it. 

The weather is a little more mild and the first robin has been spotted. Spring is almost here. 

Enjoy your week. Will add more soon.

Another Busy Week

Well, this week has been a busy one. Monday, Brandon phoned and said he was sick, so we didn't have to pick him up from work. Tuesday, he phoned and asked me if I would bring him some chicken soup. I hardly recognized his voice and when I got there, he had a fever. He certainly couldn't have worked.

Today was Drs. appointment. All went well there, except I had to wait an hour, which is usual for this Dr. A very busy man. Then an errand tonight after hubby and I had fried bologna sandwiches. Something we don't often have but it was quick. 

Tomorrow, hubby, Brandon and I have to go to the family Dr. Jordan will be going with us. We will get the boys' some groceries and Jordan has another matter of business to attend to. By the time it's all done, it will pretty much be an all day venture. 

I don't know of anything for Friday, but who knows. It seems there's always something.

Mom  went today for an ultra sound and I'm hoping it shows why she ended up in the hospital and why the UTI's continue to return. Hopefully, she will not have to suffer with that particular ailment again.

Water Everywhere

This has been an interesting winter. First we got buckets of snow and minus temperatures that I haven't seen in a few years.  The ice on the river was really thick. Often the river stays open and has thin ice but not this year. 

The mild spell that followed broke up some of the ice on the river. Since the river runs for about a 100 miles north of us, that is a lot of ice. We had ice jams coming out our ears. This is what it looked like here. 

The ice was almost up to the bridge. It continued to be jammed but some broke up above us and made the build up even worse.

Then it started to flood. It got so bad that 5,000 people had to be evacuated from their homes. Water filled the basements and was about 4 feet up the 1st floors. 

The Canadian Coast Guard blasted the mouth of the river and the water started moving. We have 3 bridges to get across the river and 2 of them had to be closed, as well as the pedestrian bridge. 

This is what the farmer's field looked like near the 3rd bridge. 

The photo below is of the river. It goes from the bank to the trees in the background. Beyond is another field owned by the farmer. 

The last time I saw anything like this was in 1974. The City has no estimate on the damage as yet. They kept the bridges closed but we did see that the main one has opened. They had to be inspected to see if they were structurally safe, so that one is good. 

Many people were in shelters and living with relatives or friends. They are allowed to go back to their homes now, but the homes will take a lot of restoration. 

Many people will be feeling the effects of the flood for months. Time will tell if they will get help from either the government or insurance. Very sad. 

A Horrible Week

It's not been any fun around here lately. Mom is 90 and she called last Tuesday night and told me she had a pain in her head. This, she said, had been going on for a couple weeks and it was worse. 

Hubby and I took her up to the hospital because she didn't want the expense of an ambulance. It took about three hours for her to be looked at. The nurse wanted her to take Tylenol and she refused. So, we sat and sat and sat. Finally at 2 AM, I told her she Had to take the Tylenol. She was not happy about it. Immediately after she went to the washroom and spit them into the toilet. 

The only thing that happened while we were there was that they took blood tests about 1 AM and it took them until 5 AM to come back. Even though I told them right off that she had a UTI, they never did take a urine sample. I was furious. 

If you refuse treatment, this hospital just let's you sit until you do what they say. Mom has been a handful ever since. No help from the siblings, I'm afraid. 

Canadian Black History Month

Each year in February, Canada celebrates Black History Month. This is when we pay tribute to Black Canadians who have made a difference in the lives of those who live here.

Today, I'd like to pay tribute to Thornton and Lucie Blackburn. The couple fled Kentucky on July 3, 1831 and took a steam ship up the Ohio River. They left Louisville and traveled to Cincinnati where they boarded a stagecoach to Detroit. Two years later, they were recaptured by their owner, which started the Blackburn riots of 1833. The Black community helped the Blackburns cross the border into Canada. 

Michigan's governor sent two extradition requests that were refused by Lieutenant Governor John Colbourne. The couple then moved to Toronto.  There, they built a house on the corner of Eastern Avenue and Sackville Street. They lived there for approximately 50 years and the house became a stop on the Underground Railroad.

Thornton became a waiter at Osgoode Hall and noticed that the City had little transportation. He instructed a horse drawn conveyance to be built that would act as a cab and transport four passengers. The taxi was built in Paul Bishop's workshop, which still stands at Adelaide and Sherbourne.  The taxi was the first ever for Toronto and was named The City. It was red and gold, the same colours the TTC use today. 

Thornton died in 1890. He left Lucie a small fortune he had saved from the business.

In 1985, archaeologists found clues as to Toronto's part as a terminal for the Underground Railroad. This is the only dig of its kind ever conducted in Canada.

Thorton and Lucie Blackburn were named  "Persons of National Historic Significance," by the Department of Canadian Heritage in 1999.

The River Has an Ice Jam

This is just off the bridge. The ice was almost up to the bottom of the bridge. We have 3 bridges over the river in our city and all of them looked the same.

This is just off River Road. I have never seen the water and ice so high since they put in the dykes about 20 years ago. This year it's really bad.

This is also along River Road. It was coming up the bank of the river and wasn't that far away. Gilkison Street was closed because the water and ice were covering it. That lasted about a week.

It melted some and we had water everywhere and then it got cold and we all needed ice skates. Last night we got about 6 inches of snow, so hubby and the neighbor were out at 7am cleaning everyone's sidewalks. Hubby does ours, the lady's next door. She is 89 and the middle aged couple next door who both work.

This is certainly an old fashioned winter. Here are some farmer's fields that are going to wreck havoc on spring planting.

This is the fruit and vegetable market's property and they grow every kind of vegetable imaginable. They also have apples, honey, strawberries etc. I hope their crops aren't ruined.

This is a farmer's field close to the small village of Lynden, Ontario. Those fence posts are just off the road. It always seems to flood in that spot.

Well that's all the news for now.

Update on the move of my daughter's family. Things are slowly getting put away. Brandon and Jordan both seem to like it and I am proud to say that Brandon did well with it.

Talk to you soon. Have a great week.

Moving is No Fun

Moving is never any fun. This time it wasn't us who moved. Daughter and her husband sold their house just before Christmas and now it's time to move. 

Barry went yesterday morning to pick up the U-Haul so they could move all the boxes. At 9:45, Brandon called to ask if we could come and drive so they could use our van. When his Dad took the U-Haul to fill it with gas, the gear shift disengaged from the transmission. He waited there 3 hours for a tow truck to come and to get a different truck. That didn't bode well for his mood and I can't say I blame him. The place he rented it from told him he could have a discount on his next rental from them. He said there would never be another rental from them and they either gave him a discount or he would sue. That changed their mind. 

In the meantime, the boys and hubby and I had loaded 2 loads and taken them up to the new house and unloaded them. So we did make progress. He took 2 loads with the U-Haul and we took one more. Today they took more but hubby and I were in rough shape. We are too old for this. 

Everyone is exhausted and I'm sure the grandsons and their parents are pretty much done in. They have all the boxes done and the moving company will come next Friday to move the furniture. So glad they had 2 full weeks to move. 

Well, that is the news for today. We will see what this coming week brings. 

Have a great week. 

A Busy Day

It was a busy day today. I slept in a little and had to get ready quickly to take Brandon to get his hair cut. If it gets too long, it annoys him and makes him frustrated, so we try to keep it quite short. In the summer, he's almost bald. In winter, he wears it a little longer.

We got the hair cut and he needed groceries, so we headed to Walmart. I'm really not fond of the place but they always have the things he needs at a good price. It took us about a half hour. The place was full of seniors and he started to get frustrated. I told him to have patience, but like him, I'm not much of a shopper. 

We got out of there and he wanted to stop at Microplay, the electronic store. He needed a couple of things. We've been going there for years and when he goes in, everyone calls him by name. That makes it nice for him and he's a very loyal customer. 

Jordan didn't go with us today. I'm not sure what he was up to. I do know that Brandon will be easily frustrated until the end of the month, as his parents sold their beautiful house and bought one in the north end. Moving day is a week from Friday. 

Not much other news from this end. Hope to hear from some of my old friends. I know some have passed. I miss Carolyn, Shorty Bear and Anne. Not sure what happened to Pebbles in the Stream but he hasn't posted for a long time. 

Frigid Winds and Minus Temperatures.

This winter has been quite cold. I was raised with Fahrenheit and therefore, do not do well with Celsius, though I can figure it out. When it gets to -15 F and lower, it is cold. Add that nasty wind to it and it's even worse. 

It warmed up for a few days but then the cold came back. We've also had a fair bit of snow but by no means record breaking. I wish I had the picture of my brother standing on the snow plow ridge touching the telephone wires. He was about 16 years old, so that would have been 1962. 

It's not as cold the last couple of days as it has been, but cold enough with the wind. Right now, it's 14 F, feels like 12 F with a light wind. Overnight, it's to get windier with gusts up to 11 mph or 18 km. Not fun for Brandon, who has to work tomorrow morning.  It's to get up to 19 F through the day and on Tuesday, when he also has to work, 25 F. 

To chase away the chill, I made chicken and dumplings tonight. We both love them and it's an easy meal to prepare. There is a trick to it though and if you aren't careful, the dumplings will be heavy. These weren't bad but weren't the best I've ever made. Hubby said they were really good. We will have the leftovers tomorrow night. Two very inexpensive meals. 

Now, I need to put my thinking cap on to figure out what to have the rest of the week. Talk to you soon. 

                                                                      Happy New Year 2018

Hi everyone. It's been a long time since I've been here to update you on what's going on. That is because I couldn't remember my password. Now I have a new one and I've made a note of it and put it in a safe place. Probably safe from everyone including myself. 

Life goes on and I'm another year older. We are still in the place we moved to in June 2016. Like everywhere you live, it has it's pros and cons. The only cons is the amount of rent we pay and that the laundry room and bathroom are freezing cold. 

This has been a cold winter, even for Ontario. We haven't had minus temperatures like these for a few years. It's a good old fashioned winter, that's for sure. 

I had a rough year in 2017. Hubby turned 65 and our income dropped, which is no fun. We struggle month to month, like many Seniors in both Canada and the USA. Now they are charging us for our meds on top of everything else. At one time we got all of our meds for $2,00. Makes sense that our income decreased and the government now says we are high paid Senior and the prescriptions went up to $6.00 each. I made out a form in September and they put it back down to #2.00 and now I have to fill out another one. 

In August I had 3 mini strokes in 2 days. There are no lasting effects. I am blessed for that. 

Well, at least I got back in so now I can blog once in a while. We've been abundantly blessed over the Christmas season. 

Talk to you soon.

Mary

What's Been Happening

Well, it was a hot summer and it cost us a fortune, but at least we had central air. I'm not sure what we'd have done if we'd still been in the other house. We didn't get the gardens done fully, but at least we planted a few things. My morning glories were lush with leaves, but not one blossom. We were sorely disappointed.

Brandon is working part time. This year once the garden centre closed, they hired him for inside. He is working at that and is hoping for a promotion next year. He will still be doing the garden centre through the summer and that is his forte. 

Jordan finished his Victory Lap year at school and has found a job in the meat department of another grocery store. He starts his training this week. 

Hubby was in the hospital in August. They did an angiogram and he has another artery that is partially blocked. Not good news, but so far, so good. He's been really tired and for a while, so was I. However, the Dr. cut my meds down and some I'm no longer taking. I feel so much better. I hate meds. I'm either allergic to them or they have severe side effects. Glad that's be fixed.

Take care. Just wanted to touch base. Tomorrow is the US Election, which we Canadians always watch closely because it affects our country and our currency.  

Slow and Steady Wins the Race

Time is flying by and it will soon be moving day. Not looking forward to it. Our move date is June 7th. We get the keys on June 1st or maybe late next week. We're not looking forward to it.

We have boxes stacked to the ceiling and still a long way to go. This is a small house to being with and now, with all the boxes, it's getting even smaller. Dakota (dog) doesn't know where to go. Wherever he lands, he's in someone's way. When we are downstairs, he prefers to be outside. When we're upstairs, he stays downstairs. He still does lay beside the bed at night. Poor dog, that is his only peaceful time.

The movers are paid for 3 hours in advance. This is the minimum they will book. If it only takes 2 hours, it's the same cost. They are very reasonable though. We also bought a brand new box spring and mattress from the same place and they will put it on the truck before they come to move us. No delivery charge that way and it was a great deal for an orthopedic. 

We took a bit of a rest today and didn't do too much. We are exhausted from packing boxes day in and day out, but it's coming along, slow but steady. 

A Surprise Move

On the 4th of May, our landlord's real estate agent stopped by to tell us that the house would be going up for sale. When we moved here, the landlord promised us he wouldn't sell it out from under us. So much for promises. 

We've lived here for 3.5 years, never been late with the rent and kept all of the promises we made. So, I told him then and there that we would be moving asap. The next day we saw a house that was perfect for us and it was for rent. The landlord there showed it to us. It had a dining room, living room, kitchen, laundry room, pantry and mud room all on the same level. No more stairs, which is perfect for me with my severe knee and leg pain. 

The landlord phoned 2 days later and told us that he and his wife had talked it over and they were going to rent to us. So later that day, we went and signed the lease. It's in a quiet area near a park and it has both a nice front and back yard. 

The last few days, we've felt our age. Packing and getting ready to move is not easy when you both have heart, back and arthritis problems. Feeling my age like never before. 

Dr. Says Easy Peasy

I have been having a LOT of trouble with my osteoarthritis. The Dr, recommended a shot of cortisone to my knee. It worked great for hubby in his hip. I told her I would think about it.

I was in so much severe pain over the next 2 weeks that I decided to give it a try, even though I have reactions to almost every medication I try to take. The shot was easy enough. Didn't hurt at all and for 4 hours, I was pain free.

As the freezing wore off, my leg began to swell and it became incredibly painful. I have a very high pain threshold and usually pain doesn't bother me too much, but that night I didn't sleep at all. I would doze off and as soon as I moved my leg, I would be wide awake and trying to get some relief. The pain radiated from my ankle to my hip. By the next day, my hips were both swollen and my back was also painful.

I am now avoiding most everything she suggests because this is 3 reactions I've had in 2 month. The reactions have certainly taken their toll and I've been exhausted.

I wish spring would give us a little warmer weather. Still cold and windy today. Hopefully tomorrow will be nice.

Will update when I find out anything about my tests. Still have a couple more and no results back from the ones I've had.

Talk to everyone soon. Hope all is well with each of you.

A Bit of News

I have a bit of news. I had the ultrasound on my heart and everything is looking good in that area. Thank goodness. No more signs of stroke, though I do have the odd off day. Many people are praying and that is good. 

Brandon started his summer job today and really enjoyed it. He worked the afternoon shift for only 4 hours, but got most of the tables set up for the plants. He will work again on Wednesday, morning shift, which will be 9 to 1 pm. That is his favourite shift. The supervisors who gave him such a hassle last year are both gone and the manager is really glad to have him back. He's working with the same young man who he's worked with the last two years. Tuesday we have to go and get our taxes done. We barely got in under the deadline, which is April 30th. We'll both be glad when they are done.

Hubby and I are planning a HUGE yard sale, so we have been working on that. Not exactly sure what weekend that will happen, but have to be prepared. We are also going to take some stuff to the community yard sale at my daughter's for June 4th. Hopefully we will be able to see our floors after that and the little shed will be empty, except for the things we are keeping. That will be only our most precious keepsakes and some furniture. 

Our purple hyacinth bloomed beautifully even though it was on the cool side and we had a little snow. I love them. We didn't get much fragrance this year because of the cold weather, but enjoyed them anyway. 

Our tulips are beginning to bud and I see there is one red one out. Our Oriental poppies are growing. We have two red ones and a white one. Will try to get pictures when they bloom. I love them. 

We will be busy working on polishing up the yard sale goods and sorting boxes that haven't been unpacked since we moved from our house five years ago. Guess if we haven't needed it this far we don't need it at all, so lots of things to sell. I'm sure I will come across a few things to keep. Haven't found the large family Bible yet, but will come across it. This house is packed to the roof and so is the storage unit. Hope we can get rid of it all. 

Talk soon. Take care, everyone

Finally!!!

Well, after we got the new computer, I couldn't remember my password. I finally remembered it.

Things have been rough here. The beginning of March, the Dr. gave me a different statin and it reacted badly on me. I ended up in horrific arthritis and muscle pain, which was the side effects she neglected to tell me about. For three weeks I was in horrific pain. Then it started to ease and last Wednesday night, I had a mini stroke. I'm wondering if it was also from the effects of the statin.

Not much other news except it took me two days and three service men to get the hot water tank fixed. The car has to have a safety, I broke a tooth and have to see a dentist, which is not a favourite thing of mine. Tomorrow a doppler test on my neck and a CAT Scan.

Hope that does it for a while. My friend has been going through the same kind of hassle. Must be the stars or the moon.

Now that I have my password, I will be posting more frequently. Brandon is going back to the garden centre to work this summer. We will see how that goes. More news soon.

Brandon's Latest Project

I know I've promised more photos of Owen Sound, but first, I want to show you Brandon's latest project. This one is delightful. I hate to see him sell it, but this is his goal. I love it, but have no place to put it. I have way too many figurines and such around here now and will be selling many of them in a yard sale this coming spring.

He took a bunny planter I had that had never been used. Put some felt on the bottom to keep it from sitting directly on furniture and then worked his magic.

I think he did a fantastic job and it will certainly sell in my Etsy Shop

Now he is working on some Sleigh Bell wreaths. We will see how that goes and if they turn out well enough, I will post some photos. 

Talk to you again soon. It's so nice to be back blogging and checking in with my old friends.