Oct. 14 - Nada no Kenka Matsuri Festival

 

Picture No. 1

 

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No. 13

Aug. 26

Dr. W would be the surgeon who runs a clinic which is located the closest from our place. 
I have felt pain in my right hand as I wrote my previous article.  The pain has been lasting for one month already so I finally dicided to go to the doctor. 

I have been afraid because I am already 50 y/o so there might be some bone structure changing because of my age.  Another reason is the fact that my mother had rheumatism and I might had inherited it.

I walked to his clinic and it took me 10 minutes last August 16. 

I told him about the pain in my right hand, and he examined it.  He diagnosed it
tenovaginitis.  He added that I should massage the right hand while I am in the bath tub filled with hot water.

But actually I had a friend who has been working as a nurse for 30 years, and she said so earlier.  I tried the massage as she told me and I felt terrible pain.
So, I told him that doing massage is painful and I don't want to do that
more.  

I suggested to him I may do bandage instead.  He told me it is pointless.

Then, I suggested to him I may wear some supporter or glove to protect my right hand.  He said it doesn't work at all.

I asked Dr. W to have my right hand X-rayed.  But he declined saying it was not neccessary.  But I was not satisfied with his explanation.

He suggested to me that I may take steroid injections  several times.  I was so scared and I declined his offer.

On arriving home, I told my husband what Dr. W had said.  My husband suggested that we go to another surgeon the next day.

* * * * * * * * * *

Then, we went to Dr. K's clinic for a second opinion.

I told Dr. K the same things which I had told Dr. W one day earlier.

Dr. K was willing to have my hand X rayed.  After taking the X rays, we both looked at the photoes very carefully.

I found out that there are no existing symptoms of aging bone structure or rheumatism symptom are present.  I was very relived to know the fact.

He examined my right hand and found that it is de Quervain's disease.

I asked him if I should wear glove or supporter.  He said wear it if I feel better.

I also asked him if I should put on the bandage.  He also said, "If you feel good, do try."  He was kind enough to show me how to do the effective way of putting on the bandage.

I felt that Dr. W was pushing me too much technical thesis while Dr. K listened to me very well and helped me a lot to solve the problem. 

I will not go to Dr. W even though his clinic is located close to our place, I would definitely choose Dr. K.

Jul. 29

My husband had an appointment with one of his doctors at the national hospital  last Tuesday.  I accompanied him because I wanted to take pictures of Himeji Castle which is located next to the hospital.  

(Red arrow) 

The board says "National Hospital Organization Himeji Medical Center" 

(Bue arrow)

My husband is walking towards the enterance of the building.

* * * * * * * * * *

My husband and I went back to the parking lot after seeing the doctor.

Himeji Castle stands beautiful behind him. 

It was raining slightly, so the road was wet.

* * * * * * * * * *

In my previous article, I wrote about I felt pain because I stretched my muscle in my right wrist.  

One of RJ tutors suggested that I buy an ice tray with cap, so I bought one the other day.  

The RJ tutor also suggested that when I pick up ice cubes, I turn the bottom up the ice tray and run the water for a few seconds. 

It became much easier to pick up ice cubes!

Nowadays, I cannot enjoy crochet because I still have pains in my right wrist.  However, I can still enjoy coloring books.

I finished one of the pages, and I went to a convenience store (7-11) to make a photo copy of it.  I put it into the frame. 

I hung the frame at the enterance of main door of our place. 

I already have several coloring books. 

This is my most favorite book among them. 

Jul. 15

I went to Seria, the 100-yen shop in my neighorhood this afternoon.

Today, I was very happy to find the tenugui, Japanese traditional towel which has illustrated birds named Budgerigars and Cockatiels.  I bought the same pattern with two different colors: one in brown, and the other in deep green.

 

Last month, I found the same pattern at the shop but it was sold out quickly.  I missed the chance to buy it at that time.  I had been waiting for the pattern coming back on sale. 

Immediately after returning home, I took up my sewing box and made a compact bag. I made it by hand within 30 minutes.

Jul. 14 - I feel pain in my right wrist.

Our Japanese Apricot tree has been shading our garden these years.  Some of the twigs started to be obstacles when I pass under the tree.

 

The Japanese Apricot Tree is seen at the right side in the picture.

I began to cut down the long twigs with scissors one week ago. 

They were very hard and I felt a pain in my right wrist.

* * * * * * * * * *

Also, we have hot days as high as 30 degrees Celsius. 

I am enjoying iced soda nowadays.  

When I took ice cubes a few days ago, I also felt a pain. 

Maybe I strained the muscles in my wrist.  

( strain (verb) to cause an injury by working the muscles too hard )

My wrist is not swollen, but it's painful. 

I was wondering if I'll use a poultice.  Hopefully, we have them in our house.

Loxoprofen Natrium Plaster

( plaster (noun) a bandage on which a poultice or liniment is spread for application.)

I wear cotton glove to avoid the plaster from being taken off.

When I wash dishes, I wear a rubber glove.

Sometimes it might be better to position my hand higher
than my heart to improve blood circulation.

* * * * * * * * * *

Last month I started making a light blue shawl with summer yarn. 

The pattern is so complicated, so I had to undo some parts. 

However, I am taking a rest because I feel pains in my wrist. 

It may take a few years before the shawl can be finished.  

May 12 - Shirai Ohmachi Fuji (Wisteria) Kouen (Park), Hyogo

May 5 - Hiokayama Park, Kakogawa city, Hyogo

May 5th is children's day in Japan. 

My husband and I forgot about "things to do" and stayed at Hiokayama Park, Hyogo Prefecture to watch wild birds. 

We left our place at 9:00 a.m.  We drove to the park for about 30 minutes.  We stayed there for all day about 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

I would like to show you several pictures of birds that I took there.

This bird is named Varied Tit in English or Yamagara in Japanese.
The parent bird is taking care of their chicks at the nest.

Long-tailed Tit or Enaga

Oriental Greenfinch or Kawarahiwa

]

Great Tit or Shijukara

It was a national holiday that day, so we met several birdwatchers waited for their chances of taking the pictures of the beautiful bird named "the common kingfisher" or Kawasemi in Japanese. 

You may see that this bird, the kingfisher, has black lower beak (the bottom of lip)  which means that this is a male kingfisher.   For female birds, they have red lower beak.    

This bird has a small fish in the beak.