Blog Posts

A Year Gone By

1/22/2017

Family Selfie From 2016 Christmas Top left, Beau, Max, then Wulfgar and Cord and me in the middle.

I can't believe a year has gone by! What I really mean is I can't believe I haven't written a post in a year. So I decided to start with the latest family selfie. More grey hair - that's for sure but we are all still kicking. We were just getting started with the greenhouse build here on the mountain when we left off. Since then Cord has built 3 more client greenhouses and is working on the fourth. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the boys and Cord are working on our new, large greenhouse every chance they get. We have a deadline and I know they will rally and help us finish.
Such boys! The big ones came home over the holidays and we worked and worked. I cooked and cooked while they worked and yelled and worked and yelled some more. I feed them mostly hot meals when they are working in the cold full time FOR FREE for us - I really enjoy it and I've been flexing my cooking muscles all year. My crockpot never had so much action. It was super fun and they got a LOT done.

Latest news on Cord's health.
The last time we saw the cardiologist, Cord's Ejection Fraction was hangin' around 53-54. The doc is happy and says he is back to normal. He does not have to reach 60% as I thought - 50-55 is more like it. He has to take his heart medicine every day and wear oxygen at night. I am so grateful for this treatment - it works and it keeps him going. He seems as strong as ever and I can't imagine him any other way.

Homestead Progress
So here's what they have been doing in their "spare time" - - remember, the two buildings will be attached - making about 70' of continuous greenhouse (!!!!!!!!) and a 24' long SEED ROOM on the north side. I KNOW!!! We've been pouring concrete all winter - I have a floor - I have walls! One day my seeds will have a home. One day I will be planting tropical trees in the new greenhouse - can't wait.

Ahhhhhhhh!!

The Seed Room!

2 Comments

Cord's Heart - 52% and Climbing!

1/25/2016

3 Comments

Happy Parmenter Family!

Oh yeah! That's what I'm talkin' about!! EJECTION FRACTION - 52%!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We just saw the cardiologist and the news was beyond expectations! If you remember, we needed 40% for Cord to take the Life Vest off and 60(+)% to reach normal. So for it to be at 52% in 3 1/2 months is awesome! The treatment is working - the Doc is smart and Cord is an excellent patient. Taking the Life Vest off once and for all was a beautiful thing. In the last weeks, the thing started acting up regularly and it became very stressful. What I mean is it 'bonged' often - saying something was wrong - like 'check the sensors" or whatever but nothing was wrong and it won't stop until you fix it.

It is alarming when the thing goes off - no matter what the reason - and as Cord said, "It's threatening to electrocute me again!"

We finally called the company and they sent out replacement garments and looked it all over. That did the trick and it stopped bugging Cord. By then he could tell that he was getting better and better and didn't need the thing anymore - but our appointment with the cardiologist got postponed and we had to wait. So he wore it diligently while we waited. He started stepping it down at the end, he would wear the vest but not plug in the brain. It is heavy and cumbersome and hangs over a shoulder and gets in his way while he works. So we always knew where the brain was in case something happened and we had to plug him in. WHEW! I'm glad that is over!
He slept with it plugged in every night but near the very end, he would 'take a break' from the Vest and take the entire thing off for a couple hours in the evening. He would lean back in his chair and say, "Ahhhhhh." He did great and it sure paid off. He wears oxygen every night - it is a big part of his treatment and knowing that it is helping is a comforting thing. Plus the 'whoosh' of the machine knocks me right out and I don't hear a thing.
We get to SPOON!!!!!!!!! That is a wonderful thing - spooning should be mandatory! It's so nice to have that simple thing back in our lives.
I am not hating on the Life Vest - it served it's purpose and is a wonderful invention. The staff is outstanding, they helped us many times, including running a battery charger and battery out to Cord when he forgot his on a trip. They also sent a rep to our home when the thing just wouldn't shut up.
But that's behind us now and Cord is happy as pie. I swear - I think he did a jig and said "We're back in business!".

Here's amazing news. While the boys were home over Christmas, we began building our new 50' of greenhouse here on our mountain. The Dream Team was together again and they worked and worked. I cooked and cooked. You won't believe the progress they made. Max was only here from Christmas to New Years but Beau and Wulfgar were here until the 18th! They worked every day on our new greenhouse. We've been salvaging for this thing for years and will pay off the new lumber we need now over time. Which leads me to:

More amazing news. He had a greenhouse consultation here in the area and came home and announced he was breaking ground over the weekend. And he did. He and the homeowners just hit it and got it done and he rented a machine, broke through the 3-4" of frost and excavated the area. They will pour very soon. He is so happy when he is working like this - and this is the one we call "Cord's Greenhouse" - we have plans for sale of this one - and he wanted to get a chance to build it again and streamline it. Not to mention working means paying the bills - old and new. He is a happy man.

He will be building another one here in the Valley in May as well. We are booking classes here and in Denver and we are now booking greenhouse builds for 2016. Cord is back in action - he looks great too.
It's been a team effort to be sure - as you all know.

Christmas with the boys was beautiful - the best ever. We even had hilarious and wild times with my big brother who was here from Alaska. He knows how to laugh and laugh - it was raucous good fun.

I will leave you with pictures to feast your eyes on. (I am still knee deep in tomato goo....seed season is starting!)
Optimistic. Positive. Happy. Love On The Wind.
Penn

This is the new addition to the old! Seed Room along the back.

Beauregard

Cordin

Wulfgar's first time with the nail gun! He's 13!

3 Comments

Cord's Heart - A Month Later

12/14/2015

1 Comment

Another Crash? No Way!
Good grief a month has gone by. And a lot has happened - you won't even believe it. Another crash! This time someone else ran into Cord while driving Big Red - our old, F350 work truck. He was pulling a borrowed trailer and skid steer!!! Oh man, I couldn't believe it. Luckily, it was a sideswipe and of course - the neighbor lady's vehicle had it much worse - she is okay. So another episode by the side of the road while trying to get stuff done. He was bringing the skid steer here to move soil from behind our greenhouse site in preparation of starting the framing this Christmas!
The truck is injured - smashed on the driver's side and a leaf spring broken. It looks hilarious - a foot lower on one side than the other. We had to drive it until the insurance got us a rental. So now we have a big rental truck so Cord can continue working and I can do what I do plus find a car. Our dear friend Mitch's trailer is injured and the car nicked a tire on the skid steer - boy - it could have been much worse. Oh - she slid on the snow on a curve into Big Red about a mile from where I crashed the car.
Cord, of course, was unhurt. He came home and unloaded the skid steer and moved the soil in the nick of time - he reloaded it on the trailer with the headlights on. He had put on a leaky spare tire on the trailer to get it home and so he loaded the compressor to return it to Mitch and added air along the way.
So now we dance with insurance companies. I will just say it. Sigh. This kind of stuff sucks the life out of you while stealing away your day as you wait for them to return your call. It will all work out though - love continues to conquer.

Greenhouse:
Cord and Beau finally returned to Evergreen to finish the greenhouse there. He has one more trip back - and a vent or two and it is done. That will feel good. He's been working on it here - Wulfgar cuts his wood for him and stocks the pile in the shop.
Cord has worked on designs, trucks, greenhouse parts, emails, phone calls and the class we taught last month.

Denver Event:
Speaking of that - if you remember, we were prepping for our big event up at Denver Botanic Gardens. Cord built the most amazing model of our greenhouses. I told him it could teach the class by itself. It's so cool - it comes apart so they can really see how it works. It actually saved the day.
Right up until we left, Cord was busy creating sellable plans, building the model and preparing vent parts so he could build a vent in class. I was busy preparing the slideshow for the evening presentation and madly packaging new 2016 seed. We both worked and worked to get it all done in time and even got there early enough to check into the lovely Bed and Breakfast DBG put us up in. We went over early, I set up seeds, friends came to help - all was great. DBG gave us a wonderful introduction, we thanked everyone so much for everything and then we began. I was really proud of the presentation - it told the story of our greenhouses and how they evolved and how the design kept getting smarter and smarter. It showed the boys growing up in front of their eyes. It ended with the current greenhouse and where we are today. I was gonna have 'em weepin' in the aisles.

Instead, the tech system at DBG and the huge concrete walls, (or the Ghost of Gates Hall), suddenly scrambled the presentation and dumped about 200 pictures. They were just gone. The slideshow had about 30 pics left - all scrambled and out of order.
So we had to stop and save the day. I had to suddenly start looking for original pictures on my computer and while my heart was pounding in my chest, I started scrolling through my pictures, forgetting that the audience is watching the screen show ALL of our pictures, with plenty no one wants to see. Once I realized that I just started pushing buttons until I got us into another slideshow and out of that embarrassment. While this was happening, Cord grabbed the greenhouse model and started teaching principles. That prompted Q & A and once I was finally ready to show bits and pieces of things I could find - no story now - no through-line, just random pictures of greenhouses, we had 5 minutes left. Crap. My heart was in my socks. I'm sure the same was happening to our program director whose eyes looked pretty big to me at the back of the room.
I waited to cry until I was in the truck.
Everyone gave us great kudos for handling it as well as we did but I was pretty disappointed. The next day was a workshop class and we did very well that day. Of course the greenhouse model was so cool and the students put on safety glasses and helped Cord put a home-made vent together. It was cool. Our friend and program director Sarah said that this has been happening quite a bit at DBG and it keeps her up at night. We shall look forward to their new classrooms. DBG is always awesome - even with that!
It has been a busy month to be sure.

Grit Magazine:
We are thrilled to be in Grit Magazine in January. The article is already online. The writer, Bill Giebler, and his lovely son Simon, came and stayed and learned for two days - remarkable. He also got it right. It's a really hard thing to write about - and this is about the nuts and bolts of how it works. Very exciting to be in a national magazine. So as this was happening, we were approached by Mother Earth News to add a picture of one of our greenhouses to another greenhouse article they were already writing. So that was great. But then I discovered that our friend and Seed School brother Josh Thayer of Native Sun Gardens had already mentioned us in Mother. So when I discovered that 800 people had visited our website in one day, I started looking around and found that these articles had hit cyberspace.
Check out the Grit Article here;
http://www.grit.com/farm-and-garden/greenhouses/passive-solar-greenhouse-zm0z16jfzreg.aspx

The Life Vest
Okay - it is official - Cord does not like the Life Vest anymore - especially because he doesn't think he needs it. It drives him crazy, it hurts his back and mostly - it pisses him off. If he moves too much or if he doesn't move too much it is buzzing him on his spine or it starts beeping to say something is wrong - like a sensor out of place or a low battery or something - even when it's not! The problem is it beeps more and more, we try everything they tell us to do and it doesn't seem to matter. One of the sensors on his back buzzes him and he doesn't like it - it's not a zap but it is a buzz. Hard to describe. The point is - he's been wearing this thing for months against his skin, strapped on his person and putting pressure on his ribs. There are two zapper paddles on his back so when he sits back in a chair - he is leaning on those paddles and it makes his back sore. He has to wear the brain on a belt he wears over his shoulder. It is quite heavy and drags on his neck sometimes.
So these are the complaints for a device that could save his life if he has a heart attack. Since he feels so much better it's hard to take as he feels like he is fine and he doesn't need it. Not much longer. In 2 more weeks it will be 6 weeks since we saw the cardiologist and got Cord's new numbers. If he keeps improving like he is, he should be out of the danger zone by then! So we shall call and see if he can get an ECHO to prove what we already think - that very soon he can take the damn thing off. The next visit to the cardiologist is mid January. Oh - I didn't mention this - the brain sleeps in between us in the bed. I'm not complaining - I hope he never needs it - and I have been grateful for it. Easy for me to say right? I don't have to wear it!

Max returns from Scotland soon - just in time for Christmas - I can't wait to see pictures and hear stories of his adventures. Beau is finishing up his first semester in Colorado Springs and we will have him back too. It will be so good to all be together again.
So much love on the wind to all of you - and so many thanks. This will be a very special Christmas.
Happy Holidays!
Penn

Cord building the model - it is now finished with paint and polycarbonate.

Cord teaching the vent section of the workshop. Notice those thick concrete walls?

Cord in Mitch's Skid Steer. Progress on our greenhouse!

This is the latest pic of the Evergreen GH. Upper vents to go and it's done!

1 Comment

Cord's Heart - EXCELLENT NEWS!

11/14/2015

3 Comments

Hello!
Yesterday was our first visit to the cardiologist. Love on the wind and brilliant minds who know things about hearts are doing the trick - Cord's heart is on the mend!!!!!!!!!! We were thrilled when the doc agreed to do a quick ECHO - to check for improvement of Cord's Ejection Fraction. This doc is chill and doesn't like to rush - he warned against checking too soon so we wouldn't be disappointed - but after talking to Cord and hearing how he sets off the Life Vest by running - or how he wants to start exercising - the doc agreed to check because he could tell Cord was improved. And you know it's true, his Ejection Fraction was 10% at the hospital - it is now around 25-30%!! We were out of our tiny minds. Cord was smiling from ear to ear. I started whooping and hollering just after we cleared the doors of the lobby. WOOOOOOOOOHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!! And once we got in the truck it was, "Yeeeeeeeeehaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
So we are happy. It is working. The meds are working and the prayers are working. Please don't stop sending that love on the wind - it is all around us and gives us strength.

The doc adjusted the meds after a nice, long meeting with Cord. He is very cool and seems confident all will go as planned.
Cord still has a long way to go and will continue wearing the Life Vest but once he is up to 40% or more - he "can kick it to the curb and never look back" to quote the doc. The doc could see the problem with Cord's heart - and how it throws the beat off - or how the 'left bundle' wobbles. As the meds work, this will diminish and as his heart gets stronger, could correct itself enough to operate on it's own. If not - and after we give the meds a chance to work - a pacemaker could be in order. But not yet - the doc is a positive guy and seems to think Cord could heal all the way and not need one so we shall be patient and see.
We were so encouraged to get this news and will continue on course.

Denver's Coming Right Up!
As you know - last month - the Denver Botanic Gardens postponed our greenhouse event until November 19/20. The time has come and we are working madly on a two day event. We would love to see you if you are near Denver this Thursday evening, November 19th, for a photographic story of our greenhouses and how it all happened. The next day, November 20th from 10-3, is a nuts and bolts workshop on sustainable greenhouse design. Both are beautiful affairs and a part of the Bonfils Stanton Series - this year's theme being, "Heroes of the Front Range" - and we are honored to be speakers for it.
The lecture is Thursday evening with a meet and greet from 6-7 - then the talk from 7-8:30, along with catering both days. It is inexpensive and always lovely to attend an event at Denver Botanic Gardens, again, we hope you can come.
Seeds
I am buried in seeds. I hope to have as many new varieties ready for these events - especially new tomatoes - all I do is squeeze them all day long. I will have seeds there - some saved by firefighters and some saved by me!

Happiness to all - thank you for your incredible support - Cord is on the mend!!!!!!!!!!
Penn

Cord working on a greenhouse design in the shop while Beau builds vents nearby.

Squeezing a big ol' 'Delicious' tomato - to ferment the seeds in time for Denver.

3 Comments

Cord's Heart - Life Vest Data - Black Tomatoes

11/7/2015

3 Comments

Hi again! We are so busy - days are just blending together. Cord seems to be busy all the time. He has been doing lots of finishing work in our bedroom - right now he's using beetle kill to create a wainscoting around the bottom of one of the walls. It is really shaping up - the room feels like another place - like a place we are visiting - or a hotel room we are staying in. We haven't moved anything in yet but our bed and our overnight bags from our trip to hold our clothes. So I hang my robe on the hand truck and leave my shoes by the bed.
I had my birthday this week and my first gift in the morning was a soft little rug for my side of the bed. Ahhhhh! When you've only lived on bare OSB for 25 years - you never go barefoot - it's way too dangerous. So this is like a dream - and the little rug is just right. We had traveled all week and I wanted to stay home on my birthday so we did. It was lovely - I did what I wanted. I am in the middle of massive seed production - the whole house is full of melting tomatoes - and bags of seed heads - I can't keep up! It's time to call in some help. But, that day - I processed and photographed tomatoes and wandered around drinking bubbly water and counting my blessings.
Since the crash we both got sore enough to start seeing a chiropractor. Soon we will start seeing the wonderful Melissa Harth - our local massage therapist. Thank goodness for insurance. My car is covered and I will work on replacing it asap. Our bodies are covered too - so this maintenance will be good. My old ribs are a bit angry. But I am fine and it is amazing how little there is to fix. Cord too of course. The day before my birthday we went to the Reef - our favorite local hot springs. Cord dropped me off to go birthday shopping for me and I got to soak for a long time. He came back and joined me - taking off his Life Vest is a treat for him and he relaxed and soaked and watched the shooting stars. Now there is some therapy for mind, body and soul.

Speaking of the Life Vest - here's news. Occasionally they want Cord to send in his data - the vest keeps track of his heart - constantly. We need cell service to send in the data so we have to do it in town where we can plug in and do it on the phone. When I called them to report about the wreck, they reminded us that we had not sent in data yet - for 24 days and they wanted to see it. So we went to town and plugged in and sent it. While it was coming in the man on the phone could see it and he told Cord that there were no arrhythmia's - not one bump - for the whole time - including during the wreck! His heart has been steady and not doing any unauthorized tricks!!! The heart meds are really working - I can feel him responding to them. Steady as she goes!!!! Great news!! We were so happy - this confirms our suspicions that the meds are working. When we first got to the hospital - he had three arrhythmia's in two days but once he started the meds - it stopped. So getting this report from the Life Vest folks was affirming!
Today we wake up with both Wulfgar and Beau home. They will work on greenhouse vents together. Cord is starting the fire in his wood stove in his shop as we speak. This is for the greenhouse in Evergreen that has been stopped in its tracks. The homeowners are wonderful and understanding but of course Cord thinks about it a lot and wants to finish it. We are prepping for our big presentation and workshop in Denver on Nov. 19/20 and building a vent in class is one of the things he will be prepping for. So they will prepare that today as well.
One more thing, last week we attended the funeral for our young, beautiful friend Cindy (fly free, girl!) and we drove our big truck because that's all we've got. The night before we left, our $50-found-it-in-the-paper-refrigerator crapped out. We madly started moving everything into the deep freeze and the little shop fridge. Some produce just got put in the shop where it is cold. The week before my friend told me about the Sears Outlet Store in Denver and how they got an incredible deal on a new fridge. This is another thing on our list to get for the remodel of our kitchen. So when this happened and we found ourselves in Denver with the truck - I told Cord - well, we are going to the Sears Outlet store! So we did. We had such fun with the sales rep - she was great and we found a perfect fridge with a ding or two in it and the price was incredible. The best thing though, was the financing - we can pay it off over 18 months - no interest. So even though it is always scary to take on another bill, (sheesh), we had to and it was perfect and we both feel very optimistic about next year - we will pay it off early! I know this stuff is personal - but I am reminded that an open-heart is the only way to go.
Cord figured out how to unload the new fridge with the chain hoist! It and the truck are so tall he had to let the air out of the tires to make it low enough to lift it with the chain hoist. Brilliant! So it is in the shop and running with some stuff in it as we need muscle to move it in and the old one out. I've never met a fridge that doesn't pee on the floor but I have been assured this one won't - I will believe it when I see it. Ha!
I will leave you with some pictures of the Life Vest - it is doing it's job beautifully and even though it is a pain in Cord's butt - it is so smart and helpful. He ran the other day - just jogged to answer the phone or something - it did not like it - it beeped at him! No running yet Cord!!!
We see the cardiologist on the 13th - I will have a news then for sure - we are making a list of questions.
I can't say it enough, please keep the love coming on the wind - we obviously need it - and it is working it's miracles on both of us. Thank you all for your love and care.
Penn

This is the Life Vest - I change the hardware out while Cord showers - into a clean harness. It is all color-coded and only fits one way. Super easy.

The round sensors you see are right against his skin and the zapper pads ride on his back and one just under his left pec. See the color-coded velcro and the snaps and the pictures?

Birthday tomatoes! Set them up and take their picture. As you can see, I am trialing LOTS of black tomatoes.

3 Comments

Cord's Heart, Penn's Heart, A Bedroom and a Car Crash

10/26/2015

5 Comments

Hello Friends, a lot has happened this week. Whew!

Cord is going strong and we are in our bedroom! As of last night - thanks to Beau and Kris and Wulfgar and CJ completing the last push - we are truly home. We are short 4 boards still but the floor is wonderful! This is the first time we've ever had floor other than OSB. It is like a dream. Not long before dark - I called CJ and he came over and he and Beau and Kris and Wulfgar wrangled that crazy huge, awkward mattress out of the tent in the woods and into the back door to our bedroom. I didn't let myself believe until it finally flopped down. No pine sap either! It was precarious through the woods...
I ran to wash sheets. Bedtime was so exciting! We slept like babies so long and so peacefully that we never heard the poor home health nurse at the door!! YIKES! It was her last visit too and we missed her!
I just wanted to keep sleeping.

Car Crash?
So - the other big news sucks so bad I don't want to tell. But I have to. On Friday night we left here for New Mexico - to attend a wonderful seed event and hopefully - to stop at Ojo Caliente on the way and grab a nice, healing soak. 5 minutes down the road, cruising along at 30 miles an hour, we came up out of Dead Mule Gulch and hit some mud and started sliding. We both thought we would be fine as we were seemingly moving in slow motion. The car slid and seemed to get faster. We both thought we would end up in the ditch and be done. Instead it rolled. Then it rolled into a small ravine on it's roof. We went over 1 and a half times. So six slams - it sucked so bad. We were talking to each other the whole time. We never thought we would roll so we were so surprised when it did! I know I said, "Cord, I'm so sorry!" He was bracing himself with his hands on the roof and he yelled back, "I'm okay - I'm fine!" WE HATED IT!!
On the last slam, the roof caved in just about 6". Scared me half to death - "We need to get out!" "Right now!, I said." Cord was so calm and collected - he was fully in charge. A man had appeared immediately and asked how to help while the dust was still settling. Cord was handling it and the man called the police.
I was so worried about him - I was so upset and still hanging upside down. He released himself immediately and turned over. His Life Vest never peeped or said or did a thing - including malfunctioning or accidentally shocking him. He then released me and I fell with my legs twisted up in the pedals and my thighs hanging over the steering wheel. He reached in and untangled each foot from the pedals and helped to guide me down. He helped get me out through the glass and through the jagged windows. This is how you get cut up. Once we were out it really got surreal. We were so shocked. I was so worried about Cord. The ambulance and the firefighters seemed to get there so fast. All I could say was "Check Cord, check Cord - he needs to be checked." I was the bloody one but I barely felt it or noticed it- that came later. Cord's blood pressure was only slightly raised - he checked out perfectly. He walked away virtually unscathed. Bracing himself on the ceiling was the trick - he rode it out very well. I was thrashed back and forth because I was hanging onto the steering wheel so I am pretty torked from the waist up. Glass cuts and bruises on my left side. Ribs bruised - stuff like that. Obviously, we were protected - we are aware of God's Grace.
The Seeds
Here's another amazing part of the story - pictures to prove it too - I couldn't believe it. Once we were out of the ambulance and back at the car, the firefighters were all there and I was looking at the hundreds of seed packets that were churned in the car with every thing in there as we rolled. I was taking packaged seed to the Seed Temple in Estancia, NM as a gift, along with bags of bulk seed. I knew when the tow truck got there and flipped the car that all the seed would spew out the broken windows and get wet in the rain and I would lose it all. The firefighters said, "You want your seed?" I said, "Yes, but I can get it." He said, "No, let us, do you have a bag or something we could put them in?" I was flabbergasted as they all dived into the broken windows and started filling bags with hundreds of seed packets!! They gathered the seed while Cord was finding his medicine and I was standing there crying with amazement. Talk about 'saving seeds'!

Heroes and Angels:
These guys are heroes in every way - above and beyond. Oh - and they were cheerful and kind and supportive. I will never forget it.
Everyone on the scene treated us with kindness and respect. They had so many crashes that night they said they were spread thin and some of them were called away long before we were done. It was a nasty night. They were all so relieved we were alright. Me too. My heart was pounding in my chest - and not in the good way.
Beau was on his way home to take care of Wulfgar while we were in NM and so we managed to call him with the police phone and have him come straight to us. He helped us and brought us home. They brought me home and then went back to wait for the tow truck guy. They had a hard time getting the car out so the guys finally came home and the truck arrived here around 11pm and dropped off the car. Totaled. But the roof didn't cave in - good on ya Toyota! And also - good on ya Angels!
So how's that for a scary story? I went 35 years before I had my first wreck and now this is my second - I want to yell curse words right now so fill in as you see fit. Cord and the officer said guys have much more practice sliding in mud because they do it intentionally - for fun - women tend to avoid sliding in the mud but men like it - so they are better at it. ;)

Bedroom:
Did I say we are in our own house - our own bedroom? Cord went and got his oxygen and stuff from our neighbors and told them we were in - I will think up ways to thank them for years to come. Thank you PB and Ron!!!!

Love On The Wind:
Without of all of you - we would not be this far along. We can feel the love - I feel like miracles are happening already. I can see a change in Cord already. He is feeling it so much. He is smiling! Please don't stop sending it on the wind - it is working - it is!
We are sending love to all of you on the wind as well - I hope you can feel our gratitude and sheer amazement at the good in the world.
Many thanks,
Penn
PS - Go Angels!!
PSS - The following picture is us Facetiming with Max in Scotland just before we left for New Mexico - he liked the picture and took it while we were talking to him - it's a little blurry but you get the gist.

LOVE

Love heals.

HEROES

Firefighters Saving Seeds!!!

The Poster Child For The Seed Movement! This guy is above and beyond...

And then they were gone! They got another call and split! Thank you!!

THE SILVER LINING

The Silver Lining: Beau is home and they begin. Beau is testing the feel of the new floor - it feels great!

It went so fast. Thanks to Beau's girlfriend Kris too.

Wulfgar finishing the clean-up from the paint job. Shelbel left him with a to-do list and he cleaned up every little thing - good job Wulfgar!

Cord supervising - the meds sometimes make him lightheaded.

From the tent,

to the bedroom.

FLOP! Oh yeah!!! We are in our newly rebuilt bedroom! Thanks CJ and to all who helped!

5 Comments

Cord's Heart - Sweet Sleep and He Won't Be Stopped

10/18/2015

1 Comment

Happy Sunday To All

Cord has slept for three nights now! The first night he only thrashed for an hour, but the last two nights - he went to bed and slept - like people do! He comes home smiling.
Thank goodness - let's hope it continues. His belt has no more loops left on it to tighten. He is working on the bedroom - he is enjoying it and after 'the roof incident' - he has been working mostly on the ground. He installed a couple of working windows he had stored away - the originals didn't open so this is an awesome upgrade.
Shelbel - our mighty-mighty friend - finished the walls yesterday - she is so good and fast and super upbeat and we love her so. She came 5 times and worked for a sammy and a cup of tea!
Today, on another absolutely beautiful day on the mountain - Cord trimmed in our bedroom with the leftover beetle kill. He wants to just go and go - I presented him with a smoothie - with lots of bananas. He is enjoying getting to work on our house - he is always building greenhouses and rarely has time. This allows him to work at whatever pace he can and I can tell that this is like therapy - he enjoys building and he gets to do it without any stress.
After being on the roof - he did have sore legs - he was rubbing his thighs but was glad for the muscle improvement - it's hard to spend 9 days in the hospital - you lose muscle so fast.
He is weighing himself every day - and taking his blood pressure and his oxygen level. The home nurse has been coming - she is very helpful - but scared of bees - which means she jumps occasionally. :)
He's managing his meds - it's getting easier I think and he's getting used to a routine. Every afternoon at 3 - I have a cup of tea and this is when he needs to take a pill so I help him remember with that one. Otherwise, he is on it.
I have no doubt that in a month or two, when he gets another ECHO to see if his heart function has improved, anything better than 10% will be terrific - his numbers are going to be outstanding and once his heart is over 35-40% - he can carry on without the Life Vest. So that's what I'm asking for - that it all goes as planned and he continues to improve.

Here's some pics of our bedroom - on a high-speed build - Shelbel even told me about a paint sale in Canon City and I saved $20 per gallon - what a score! We have just the floor to go.

Oh and by the way - to our snowy friend way up north, thanks to you Annie - the ceiling is gorgeous! I can't wait to lie in bed and look at the beetle kill patterns in the wood - it's way beyond our wildest dreams!
Love on the wind to you all,
Penn

Walls are finished - thank you Shelbel!

New windows!

Cord trimming away.

1 Comment

Cord's Heart - The Latest Progress

10/14/2015

1 Comment

Hello Cord's Friends and Family,

We want you to know we read every note, every email, we hear every message and I read them all for Cord. Thank you - it helps so much!

We have been moving along, with meds, with symptoms, with a big fat COLD, with calls to the doc, with that ever-loving' cough and with finishing our bedroom. Our friends and boys have been incredible - working their butts off to get it done. While the guys were putting in the ceiling, our friend Shelbel was prepping the drywall. "Tape and float, sand and mud. Etc. She is amazing and works so fast. Meanwhile - thank goodness for the guest room at our dear neighbors!

Cord struggles with sleep. He thrashes around coughing for the first 3-4 hours and then finally falls asleep and then sleeps late and feels groggy and out of sync. We both felt like we got a cold the day we left the hospital - and it was true. It has complicated matters for Cord of course, because when one of the meds causes a cough, it's hard to tell if its a side effect or if its the cold. No matter what - it keeps him awake for a long time. He's hoping the cough will finally subside with the change of meds. Sleep is the thing. Some other things that were bothering him are getting better - symptoms that came from the edema and were messing with his life.
He needs to weigh himself everyday so he can monitor the Lasix - the diuretic. This is one way we make the call on when it is time to back off of it - he keeps losing weight and we want the fluid off of him - but not go overboard. That has to be managed.

The home health nurse came again yesterday and is watching Cord closely about his cold. He needs to not get pneumonia. Right? He may go on an antibiotic to address it.

We see the cardiologist a month from when we left the hospital so somewhere around two weeks. That will be a good day - to make it a month on the meds and to be able to ask another million questions. Also to adjust the medicines if need be. I made it clear we wanted to see the same cardiologist - not the partner or the nurse or the on-call doc and he said he would make it so. I'm glad I asked.

Cord's color is good - and he is 'walking and talking'. On Sunday - when our friend's came over and built like crazy on our bedroom, Cord was out there measuring and cutting. Beau was carrying and helping Cord and Lex and Rob were installing the beetle kill on the ceiling. Shelbel was taping the drywall and Wulfgar was assisting her. I was non-stop cooking. Everyone was in high spirits and laughed and talked while they worked. Cord loved it. He wanted to keep going but he ended up driving to town and getting his new meds - he needed to go himself, (or I would have), and when he came back, he was pretty tired. Of course by then the meds had set in so he rested some. The boys and our friends just kept on going, and they finished it right about dark. I cooked all day and we all shared a feast afterwards.

I'm trying to bring in the seed - I have a long way to go and will need to leave him to collect it. I'm trying to talk him into coming with me, but he seems to be happiest working in the yard and the shop, and planning his next move. Wulfgar is a great helper and the weather continues to hold.
I don't even want to tell you this, but the last two days, Cord has been on the roof. I know - it is horrifying to me. He insisted on installing the ridge cap before the rain and snow come. I said, "Are you seriously going on the roof?!!!" I truly thought he was joking. At least today he waited for me to return from the Farmer's Market.
He does not listen to me. They say, "Activity as tolerated." Except chainsaws and jackhammers. That will set off the Life Vest so thankfully, we won't be doing any of that. I checked on him constantly. As soon as Wulfgar got home I sent him up there and he assisted until it was done. As if. AS IF!!!!

When Cord sleeps - there will be a celebration. I will post it immediately. Here are some pics of the progress. Can't believe how helpful our friends and family are - we are so humbled and so grateful. Thanks to all for making this possible!
Penn

Shelbel working on the drywall.

Cord and Beau measuring and cutting.

Lex and Rob installing the last boards!!

Ceiling done and walls getting textured.

Cord in clothes that no longer fit him and Wulfgar is, of course - King of the World!

1 Comment

Cord's Heart - Max Leaves - Beau Returns

10/10/2015

2 Comments

Hello Again.

Max is on a plane right now - back to Scotland and his studies. He helped us so much - in so many ways. What a good son. Beau is here now again, much to our relief, after a week of mid-terms. He is such a good son. Today the guys prepped more materials for our bedroom - we are trying so hard to get it done as soon as we can. We have our wonderful friends coming tomorrow to put up the ceiling and prep the drywall to finish and paint. Wulfgar painted today too and then helped clean all the tools and debris out of the bedroom in preparation for tomorrow's work. What a good son. We are so lucky.
Lots of people coming tomorrow - I intend to cook and bake my brains out. Heart healthy food of course. Low salt and low fat are the name of the game - but it is a bit intimidating - hope I'm doing it right.

Cord is adjusting to the meds - it is a tricky business. They fine tune them as you go so it is good to report changes as we go along. Before, Cord couldn't sleep because his lungs would get fluid in them at night and when he laid down it was very difficult to breathe, which kept him up. The Lasix which is draining out all of the edema has worked and now his lungs are clear and he can breathe better a night. We were hopeful he'd be able to sleep after they solved that.
One of the heart drugs he is on has a side effect of coughing. The problem is - it happens at night and is a rip roarin' cough which keeps him awake for hours. He sleeps late because many hours into the night, his throat and lungs are too tired to cough anymore and he finally sleeps for a few hours. He called the heart doc a few days ago because this symptom was listed as one to call in for. We called and they didn't respond. Lesson: Why didn't we call again? Next time we will.

So we finally called today and the heart doc on call decided to switch him to another option that might not have that side effect. From what the cardiologist originally said, we will be fine tuning the drugs and increasing them gradually as we go. Everyone reacts differently so we go along each day as best we can.

But he is very tired. He wants to sleep so badly. We have been trying things like Melatonin and our main doc prescribed him some 'for adults only' cough medicine. We shall continue to try these things. Even though the on-call heart doc has changed the medicine that is causing the cough, it will stay in his system for some days. We will get the new meds tomorrow. Along with all the things we forgot at the hardware store.

I am sleeping on an air-mattress on the floor next to him so he can have all the freedom he needs to get comfortable. I'm still pretty sore from 9 days on a hospital fold-out bed with big ol' springs. Last week Max spent the night one night so I could sleep in my bed and it helped so much. Tonight Beau will do that for me too. It feels like the right thing to do to have one of us there every night. Once we are home - I'm sure we will relax into a routine. Our lovely neighbors are upstairs, but we don't want to leave them with the responsibility of the Life Vest or a middle of the night issue. So far - it's all working out and progress is happening at home.

It's been a hard couple of days because he hasn't slept well. I'm sure it will get better as they continue to respond and make adjustments. I am making adjustments with meals of course. I'm trying to be on time with three heart healthy meals a day - I need to get into my cooking chi - I always feel behind. I'm blessed with a family that cooks so we are used to taking care of ourselves - but this is different, and crucial to his recovery. Luckily it is the perfect time of year to stock the coffers with gorgeous, locally grown fruits and vegetables. I better get cookin' for tomorrow's work-day!

Until next time, thank you all - the wind is wonderful - and full of love.
Penn

Beau, Wulfgar and CJ clear coating in the afternoon sun - what a beautiful day!

2 Comments

Cord's Heart - On The Mountain

10/8/2015

4 Comments

Thursday, October 8th
Cord heart is home on the mountain. We are still settling in and getting comfortable. Max is a building machine and uses his time well - to build and build. Friends are coming to help - and will continue to until we are back in the house.
I'm trying to learn about freaking sodium. Salt, salt, salt, good grief.

Cord is fuzzy, he feels strange yet is trying to communicate what is happening to the docs so they can adjust his medicine. He just called about a dry cough is has been getting - a symptom they asked him to report. We are constantly learning and our brains are fried but we are doing our best. We're still figuring out the med management - it's a tricky amount of pills taken throughout the day. We are trying to establish a system so forgetting or second guessing is not a problem. When you are fuzzy - it doesn't help. I was away last night but when Cord has a meds question - he has no problem calling them to be sure.

Cord has lost a lot of weight taking a diuretic. It's amazing - he looks very different, and the diuretic often makes him look gaunt. I know it is working though and they will step it down once he loses the last of the edema. He weighs 191.2 as of a minute ago. He is usually 215 or more. For a while his face felt numb but that has passed. These are hard-core drugs - I imagine there will be many adjustments as time goes.

Thank you so much for those of you who have written and told us about your personal experience with this condition - and have come back to health. It helps make us feel sane. Thank you to you professionals who have answered our questions or sent us helpful information. And thanks to those who helped us ask the right questions - it's all helped so much.

We are sleeping at our neighbors house and last night Max took a turn so I could sleep in my bed. As well as unload and put away the carload of groceries I got last night.
I started at the Westcliffe Farmer's Market and put the hurt on Lippis' Farms veggie supply! There is only one more week of market in Westcliffe - next week I will get even more heart-healthy veg to feed him. I got a small amount of Sangre's Best delicious and lean Valley grown beef - and even though we don't eat a lot of beef, I am so happy to have Elin's - I know it's healthy and pure and a little goes a long way.

Next I went to Colon Orchards in Canon City and got huge bags of apples and lot of other goodies - their winter squashes - excellent storable food - are beyond. Then I hit the grocery stores and squinted at labels for hours and hours. I thought I'd pass out when it was over. Salt! Salt!! Did I say salt!? I thought the HFCS (High Fructose Corn Syrup) addiction was bad - it's all about salt! Everything that says "Low Fat" - has extra salt added to make up for it.
So I read and compared and read and chose and then changed my mind and then put it back and then read again. It took hours but I pushed through because I wanted to finish the list - so I didn't have to do it again for a while. I didn't get home until 10.
After being gone for 9 days - the next step was to empty the fridge to make room for the fresh groceries. So I made compost - into the night. The stars were incredible, everyone else was sleeping - it was quite soothing. I slept in the tent in our bed like a baby - it was so peaceful.
I thought about finally having a good cry in the woods yesterday - while I was having my afternoon cup of tea but the breeze was fantastic, the sky was that killer blue and I felt all of the strength, love, and support around me lift me up right then and there and fill me with resolve to keep going. I thought on my way back to the house, "What do I have to complain about? Cord is going to be okay." Thanks to so many.
Penn

Cord finding it hard to not do something! He's making a drawing for Max regarding the building. The Life Vest brain is attached to the strap you see across his chest.

Beautiful, brand new drywall!! Go Max!

4 Comments

<<Previous

Forward>>

Author

Penn Parmenter is a high altitude gardener, seedswoman and student of the earth. She is married to Cord Parmenter - an awesome gardener, gorgeous man and a master blacksmith. Together they own and run a sustainable greenhouse design company, Smart Greenhouses LLC and Penn grows seed for her seed business, Miss Penn's Mountain Seeds. She is a mother of three sons and an outdoorswoman. Penn forages wild food, hunts big game, fishes, preserves, maintains a huge organic forest garden and occasionally makes dinner. At home you can find her in her greenhouses as well as in the wilderness - nose to the ground, butt in the air, trying to identify Colorado natives.

LOVE

HEROES

THE SILVER LINING

Author

Archives