Learning How To Put Together New Products I Purchase Online

Living alone in your seventies can be challenging at times. No matter what, there are things that must be done and I am the only one to do them. Many times I complain to myself that I need help. Maybe an aide? Later after I have figured out how to do whatever it was I am pleased with myself. I accomplished that chore, job, project, etc. on my own. Learning to count on yourself establishes your independence. In life I have learned you cannot count on anyone else. When I order something and it is delivered I can't wait to start using it. I don't want to wait for someone else to come here to put it together. I need to do it myself. 

Mattress in the box.

In fact, I am tested every time I order something on Amazon that I have to put together. My son did help me with the mattress that came vacuum packed in a box. My bed was delivered by the furniture store so they put it together and showed me how to use it. Other than those things I have been putting my purchases together myself. I follow the directions that come with the product the best I can. My whole life before moving here I was never mechanical. I always had someone else in my life to do those things for me. When I was single it was my father who did those things for me. He kept my cars running and did all the preventative or repairs on them. 

Directions for computer chair

Last year I purchased a good set of screwdrivers. I have been making use of them. Now I am thinking I need to buy a toolbox. The first year I moved here I had a time assembling a shower chair I had bought. Even following the directions that came with it. Was not easy but I did it. I am still using that shower chair and it is sturdy and safe. In the last 3 months I have purchased at least five products that needed to be put together before using. Presently I have a new brake cable assembly to put on my rollator walker. I just have to get brave enough to start on it. It looks easy but if I can't get it to work the walker will not be usable. This walker is my lifeline! It is the first one I got. I purchased a second one but the newer models are not as good as the older ones. So I am hesitant about taking it apart. Yes, I had to put the second one together myself. 

This is not to say that I never put anything together before. I did. In fact, when I first got my pet house rabbit, "Rabbit" I purchased an a-frame cage for him. I had to put that together because I was eager to start using it and did not want to wait for my husband to have time to do it. That cage is still standing and as good as it was when I first got it. Some products come with good directions and others with nothing at all. If they at least have all the parts, including the screws, I can figure it out now. Sometimes I have to find a video on how to put something together. There are usually a few on most products. It is not easy at times but I have to at least try.  

Copyright © 2026 Kathleen G. Lupole

All Photographs Copyright © 2026 Kathleen G. Lupole

I Bought A New Adjustable Bed

Adjustable Bed Frame

I recently bought an adjustable twin size bed. This bed has a remote control and the head and the foot can be raised or lowered. Whichever you need. I need to be able to raise the foot of it to get the swelling down in my feet, ankles and calves. Though I also need to raise the head because I cannot sleep flat and have not been able to sleep that way for a long time. I had been studying them on Amazon for quite awhile. As it turned out I did not buy it from Amazon because I would not be able to get it from downstairs in my building to my second floor apartment. I ordered it online from the local furniture store, Scholet. It is the third item I have purchased from them. The delivery men brought it right into my apartment and put it together and showed me how to work it. Perfect! I didn't have to figure it out on my own or get someone else to help me. It was worth the cost to have it delivered instead of ordering online. 

My son unwrapping the mattress.

The mattress though, I did purchase from Amazon. It was delivered vacuum packed in a box. I was able to get it upstairs by pushing it with my walker into the elevator. Then pushing it to my apartment. My son, Jeff helped me with getting it out of the box and opening it up. He kept telling me to stay away from it while he removed it from the packaging. As soon as it is free it starts to inflate on its own. If you are too close it can knock you over. Yes! It can do that! 

Notice how high the legs are.

One mistake I made when the delivery men set it up was having them adjust the legs as high as they would go. They warned me that when I put a mattress on it will be even higher. I wanted it high because I have a problem getting out of low chairs. Putting the mattress on it did make it too high for me. Eventually I had to take the mattress off and turn the frame upside down to take the legs off and make them lower. Otherwise I had to use a step to get in the bed. Didn't feel safe being that high in bed.

Mattress on the frame.

The other mistake I made was judging the mattress as too hard as soon as I laid on it. So I bought a topper from Amazon. It was nice but I still felt too high in the bed even with the legs lowered. I hadn't slept in a bed since 2020. Just my recliner. This was like a new experience for me. I ended up taking the topper off, but sadly. It was a really nice topper and I did not want to store it downstairs in my storage locker. Instead I rolled it up and put it between the bed and the wall. I will keep it and maybe use it in the future. 

Bedroom Area

I created a little bedroom for me in a corner of my studio apartment. It is private and even if someone comes in they can't see my bed or the bedroom due to the dressers set up as a partition. I bought new lavender sheets and pillows for it. Put my comforter on to add bright colors to that space. I was comfortable on it except my neck and shoulders would hurt after I laid in it for any length of time. I recently bought a pillow made for people with neck problems. What a difference that made! I love it! 

My new bed all set up!

Now I am still transitioning to sleeping in my new bed the whole night. Presently I am spending time in bed during the afternoon so I can put my feet up for a period of time. I am not a napper so I am reading while doing this. Gives me some good reading time and doing what I need to do to combat the swelling in my feet, ankles and calves. I am happy with this bed and glad that I spent the money on it. I especially like the adjustable options for making myself more comfortable. A good night's sleep is essential for good health! 

Copyright © 2026 Kathleen G. Lupole

All Photographs Copyright © 2026 Kathleen G. Lupole

Limit Doing Too Many Things In One Day

Today I came to the realization that I have to limit doing too many things in one day. Something as simple as taking a shower is now more complicated. Before I can shower I have to use dry brushes and brush my skin to move the lymphatic liquid under the skin. Then I can shower. After the shower I apply the Goldenseal Myrrh ointment to the skin on areas of my legs that had rashes from the Lymphedema. Then I can apply my normal body lotion. Takes longer than twenty minutes now. Okay, I can live with that as long as it is helping me........which it is. Some mornings I will have to shower later than the first thing due to other things going on. I need to be flexible. 

On the day I wash my laundry that is all I can do because I sit downstairs in the laundry room while my laundry is in the machines. Our apartment building is not one that is safe to leave your laundry alone and come back later. Sometimes you come back to nothing left in the machines. I cannot afford to do that. Usually I bring my adult coloring book and gel pens with me so I can color while waiting. Doing laundry tires me out. What tires me out the most is when I bring the laundry back to my apartment and have to put it away. That is because I have been letting it back up. Now my rule is to do small loads maybe twice a week instead of once every two weeks. Make it easier if possible.

Grocery deliveries is another chore that I like to do on a day when I don't have other things to do. I usually order early in the morning and then wait. Wait some more. Waiting for hours for them to delivery my order unless I pay for fast delivery. That makes it hard to do chores that take up more time and effort. Now I order the groceries and then while waiting I work on my computer or some other chore that I can do in my apartment. I also order groceries for my son but on a different day than when I order my groceries. 

Then there is the big chore day. When I do vacuuming, mopping, cleaning the bathroom, dusting and cleaning the counters and appliances in the kitchen. Maybe I should break those chores up into different days but once I get going I want to do them all. So it is over and done with. Turn the music on and get to work! 

Presently I am going to therapy for the Lymphedema three times a week. So on those days I am not doing much at home. I can do some little chores after I come home but these days just leaving home is a big job. Pretty soon I will not be going that often. Once a month when my Social Security check is deposited I have to do errands. I am the "Payee Representative" for my son's money so have to do errands for him also. That is another day that I am wiped out when I get back home. Not doing much on that day either. 

I don't expect to always be doing these same things for years. Who knows? Maybe not or maybe I will. Life is like that. I accept what I need or have to do. Not going to get myself down over struggles in day to day living. Try my best and carry on. I do my best to stay positive no matter what is going on. I lived with negativity for many years and I refuse to let it in my life now. When people start talking negatively I am out the door! Dwell on the good not the bad.

Copyright © 2026 Kathleen G. Lupole

All Photographs Copyright © 2026 Kathleen G. Lupole

 

kat's Studio Apartment - Apartment Life

I am not sure how I manage but almost everything I plan to do I eventually do. After many years of starting and stopping......Atkins, low carbs, keto & finally, ketovore. Ketovore is a cross between the carnivore food plan and keto. Mainly meats but some other keto friendly foods as well. Now I am definitely on it and stick to it at least 90%. I figure that is good enough for me. I do feel better on it and that is the main reason I eat this way. The other reason is that it is so good! Easy to shop for, easy to cook and easy to clean up after. What more could you want? After years of cooking for others this is a relief for me. Especially since I cannot stand in one place (at the sink or the stove) for very long. My doctor said don't stand longer than five minutes in one place. I try not to.

Cat Collection in curio cabinet

Another thing I have been doing over a bit of time is getting rid of all my excess things that I do not need. There is free table downstairs in my apartment building and I try to set something on it every week. If I see someone picked that item up I put another one down. Kind of interesting to do. Because I figure if I don't use it I may as well give it to someone who will. I don't know if I will ever get brave enough to start putting my ceramic cat collection on the table. Maybe not. Maybe I will wait till I am in my nineties to do that. The same with my dolls that I have had since I was a child. I don't know if "uncluttering" or downsizing as it is sometimes called is an aging thing or not. I see a lot of videos with young people doing it too. Maybe it is trending that we bought too much stuff and now need to get rid of it. I tell myself if I ever have to live in an RV or a van I could never do it with all the stuff I own. 

The best I could do for now.

Since I am following the "ketovore" food plan I have found a lot of gadgets I own for food preparation I no longer need. Basically everything I have out on my counter I use often. I have too many other items that are just taking up room. I am thinking of getting rid of those items. It is funny how someone said on one of the "decluttering" videos that the more you get rid of the more you want to get rid of. Yes, that is definitely true for me. I am seeing that in myself every time I see something I put on the free table is gone. Makes it so much easier to clean or find what you are looking for. I removed as much as I could from my counter so it would not look so cluttered. It also gives me plenty of room to prepare my meals. 

Oma Lisa, my childhood doll

As I get older I find I don't really need so much stuff. If I can use it for other purposes than what it was meant for then I do that. I would always rather use that than purchasing anything new. When I write down my lists of what I need to do or what I want to eliminate from my life I can analyze it further. The key is to get started. Experts are always telling us to find our why. My why is to make life easier now. Not work around it until the day I die. If it is not serving any purpose now is the time to rid myself of it. As I said before there are some items I will never part with. One being my childhood dolls. They still bring me pleasure and I just cannot part with them. At least not yet. 

Copyright © 2025 Kathleen G. Lupole

All Photographs Copyright © 2025 Kathleen G. Lupole

Fall Is Here! Enjoying it!

 I love fall! I look forward to it every year eagerly. Most people who live in cold climates appreciate summer. Since I don't have a garden anymore to work in during the summer I stayed inside in the air conditioning. I was rarely outside this year unless it was to go to the dumpster. The hot weather just gets to me. I was out in the parks only a handful of times this year. When I did go outside I walked within a short distance of my building. Sometimes just going along the block in front of the building. I was afraid I would get too far away and get overcome by the heat. 

Grand Union parking lot.....I made it!

Surprisingly I walked one day from my building to the Grand Union to get food for Rabbit. It was a cooler morning and I went early. I am always at my best in the earlier part of the day. I walked all the way there and back. It was the farthest I have ever walked since living here. So proud of myself for doing that! Except that the next day and ever since walking has been extremely difficult for me. Needing the walker even in my apartment. My feet have swelled up and stayed that way since. Yesterday was the first day I didn't turn my air conditioner on at all. It felt good with my window open and a slight breeze coming in. I like cool days with the sun shining. It is a gray morning and could mean rain. Gray or rain, I don't care as long as it is cooler. I mean in the sixties or lower, but I doubt it will be that cool yet. I am looking for temperatures in the fifties. Shhhh! Don't tell my friends! They don't want that kind of weather. 

I gave these canners a work out over the years!

This time of year is our harvest time in upstate New York. Past years I would be a canning fool. Working nonstop from early morning till I was the last one up late at night. Two canners going constantly. I always canned everything because I didn't have a freezer and we needed the food. I did not want to waste even one vegetable so I never threw away or gave any away. Even then though I was not adding sugar to fruit, pickles or anything else. Once I learned the dangers of sugar I was able to eliminate it easily. Now foods with sugar do not taste good to me. I enjoyed those years of gardening and canning but am glad I am not doing it anymore. It was a lot of work and I want life to be easier.

My freezer is just big enough for ice, ice cream, popsicles & meat

Now I don't have to stock up on much food. It is just me and my bunny here. I do not eat much in the way of vegetables. No fruit at all because it is all sugar. I have a regular refrigerator with a freezer and don't really need any more room than that. I still like to cook. I will make a casserole or some other dish and have plenty of leftovers. Freeze the leftovers for another time. That way I don't get sick of it. For some reason I have gotten tired of chicken and am just finishing up what I have in my freezer. Not going to buy it for awhile or until I get the urge for it again. Beef, fatty fish and some pork is all I need. Oh yeah, dairy products too! 

Meat, dairy & produce

People wonder how I can afford so much beef? Since I do not buy any vegetables or fruit except what I have to buy for Rabbit that cuts those expenses off my budget. Then the same with all grains, sugars, processed boxed or frozen foods. No snack foods or expensive breakfast foods like cereals or baked goods. No ingredients needed to make those foods. I have had people say to me "I could not give up whatever it is." The difference is, I could when it meant I will be able to improve the quality of my life. Once I stopped eating the vegetables and fruit I noticed a big difference in how I felt. No more bloating or constipation issues. I am still working on my health issues. Especially the Lymphedema which makes me miserable. I could probably live with bad knees if I could at least walk better. 

Fall on my street!

I will never be the type of person to just give up or settle. I am not going to say I have Lymphedema and osteoarthritis and I will live with it. Nope, not for me. I will always strive to improve my health probably until the day I die. I have never been a follower. Just because a medical "so called expert" says this or that does not mean I will do it their way. I do my research and from sources I can trust. We have been fed so much propaganda in our lives that it is hard to believe anyone else no matter what credentials they have behind their name. Right now I am still working on my dental issues which have taken over five years. I imagine that will be a big change for me when it is done with. I am very much aware of the fact that food is our medicine and that is where you have to start on your health journey. I did. 

Copyright © 2024 Kathleen G. Lupole

All Photographs Copyright © 2024  Kathleen G. Lupole

Every Day Life In My Apartment

 I cook and I clean every day. Really not much different than I did when I lived on my homestead. The differences are that I am living with my pet Rabbit only. So he is the only one I need to feed and look out for besides myself. I spend time on my computer the same as I did back then too. The main differences is that I now have all the conveniences I didn't have back then. The ones I thought I would have eventually. Like running water! Like air conditioning! I suffered horribly there in the summer time. I hated it and was miserable due to the heat. At my age now, I think the hot weather would have killed me. I cannot take it even now but at least I have the relief of a cold apartment.

My household chores would not be so bad if my knees weren't as bad as they are now. I was walking outside with my walker regularly and that was doable. Then this hot weather struck early this year. In June. So much for me walking outside. The last time I walked outside was to my hair appointment and the walk there was not too bad. Coming back though, in the hottest part of the afternoon was a killer. I doubted several times on the way back if I was going to make it. I did. It is not that far. 

I cook all my own meals in my small kitchen. They do not heat up my apartment since I use counter top kitchen appliances. Such as the Duxtop induction stove top burner and the NuWave convection oven. Both are energy efficient and do not put out much heat when in use. The Instant Pot is also a major part of my small kitchen. I have other kitchen appliances but these three are my major every day sources. I like to cook so I have no complaints about making meals for myself daily. 

My apartment is designed for a disabled person and is perfect for me. I know a lot of people will tell me, "Oh I could never live in a studio apartment." Yet there are many advantages to doing so. Especially as you age. For one thing, it is cheaper. My rent is very low. Due to the small size of a studio (mine is 338 sq. ft.) you are forced to downsize and get rid of your clutter. Less stuff makes it easier to care for it. Easier to keep it clean. Nothing for you to fall over. I am fortunate that my studio has a completely separate kitchen. Some just have a kitchen built along one small wall area. My kitchen is U shaped. It enables me to reach from one side to the other. This gives me a way to hold on if needed while working in it. I find it to be the perfect design for me. It is also big enough to use a wheelchair in it. Though I do not need one presently. 

The dining area of my apartment that would normally be used for eating, I use for my computer and related equipment. It comes in handy since I cannot stand longer than five minutes at a time in the kitchen. I will start something cooking and come sit down and can still keep an eye on it from here. I do not use the table for eating. It is a kitchen/dining table but it makes more sense to keep my computer on it. I bring a tray table to my chair when I am having a meal. It is easier and more relaxing. 

I find that the more I get rid of things the more I like it. I also find that the more I can do for myself the better it is for me. Privacy in my apartment is important to me so at this time I do not have anyone helping me. There are certain ways I do things and I do not want anyone trying to change that or me. Maybe my way of doing something is not the easiest or the fastest, but it is my way. I plan on keeping it that way.

Copyright © 2024 Kathleen G. Lupole

All Photographs Copyright © 2024  Kathleen G. Lupole

I Do The Best I Can

 

Day by day I watch and wait for what I do not know. As my years go by and I edge toward the end of my lifetime and what lies ahead I still do not know. It would be easy to slip into a depressed state. Just going through each day closer to my last day living this earthly life. Instead I have decided to focus on life. My life. Others' lives. Doing what I can to make my own life meaningful and active. Maybe not too physically active due to my mobility issues but as much as I can. Doing things every day. Making a difference in my life that otherwise I would not be doing. 

Presently the activity taking up most of my time is something I have been doing for a very long time. Decluttering! Yes, my word editor still alerts me that word is misspelled. I spell it that way anyway because it is a word to me now. It is not like I have a lot of knick-knacks and stuff around my apartment. My problem has been that I have too much stuff. I have made my way though a lot of that by now. So I keep going. Getting rid of more things as I can. Right now I have been working on my storage locker so I can store my mobility chair in there instead of my bathroom. I plan to drive it up here to charge it after using it. Then take it back down there to park it. 

Epsom Printer

I am really an introvert and my time alone is never boring. In fact, my time alone is my favorite way to spend my time. I get into my projects. I find that when I have a problem I am trying to work on or fix that is when I do it. It took me forever to get a working printer that my operating system would work well with. The new Epsom printer works perfectly with the Unbuntu Jellyfish operating system. I was so proud the day I set it up and had it working. Now I am able to scan, print and copy with no problems at all. I spent a little more to have a printer that does not use cartridges. They were always dried up before I had a chance to use them up. In fact many times the ones I ordered directly from Brother came already dried up.

Cooking steak bites

I am still cooking meals from real food and not buying prepared stuff. Not that it is a age related chore because most people regardless of age have to eat. I enjoy cooking and creating healthy food for myself. Not so much into cooking for others these days. I eat mainly a "ketovore" type of diet. Ketovore is mainly meat, dairy and some seasonings (carnivore) and a little of low carb vegetables (the keto part). Eating this way is low cost and less clean up and very healthy. So I will stick with this from now on. I no longer miss those processed high carbs, fruits, grains or sugary foods. As long as I keep them out of my life I am good.

I discovered home delivery from my local grocery stores is perfect for me. Since I do not own a car my transportation has been a hard thing to figure out. I hate to ask anyone to drive me somewhere or to pick up something from the store for me. Riding the bus has turned out to be a good way to shop. It does not take very long to go to Walmart and I can get my shopping done myself. Most of the time though I use the grocery deliveries. Once you get to know the shoppers they do a good job as they learn what you like. 

Doing as much as I can for myself no matter my age or condition is important to me. I am not someone who goes crying to others about what I cannot do. I do the best I can. One thing I have learned is that if I cannot do it all at one time, it doesn't matter. Do it the next day or next week. It will be there when I get back to it. I do not let things pile up so I have to do a lot at one time. Do little jobs while they are little. Otherwise they might get out of hand and take a long time to complete. I make time for other activities other than indoor projects or chores. I have four parks within walking distance of my apartment. I enjoy time spent outside in the parks. Going outside has always been my favorite thing to do. It refreshes me. I can be in the middle of big job and just have to get outside. It always makes a difference. 

Copyright © 2024 Kathleen G. Lupole

All Photographs Copyright © 2024  Kathleen G. Lupole

Precautions For Staying Safe

Aging in place is the trend now for us older adults. And why shouldn't it be? Getting to a certain age and then being told you have to do this or do that is not something to look forward to. Thankfully, I have an apartment I can do that in. I was not able to do that in my previous home. It was impossible. Even though back then I could walk better than I can now. A house can be set up for aging if you get to work on it before you need it. In my opinion, all houses should be built that way no matter what the owner's age is. The last few years of living in my house I had to sleep downstairs in the living room. First on a couch and then finally when I could afford it, I bought a single bed. I hated sleeping in the living room because I had no privacy. 

I feel safe here even though it is downtown and there are homeless people, druggie people and bullies here as well. No matter where you live they will always be present as well. I take safety precautions constantly and am always aware of my surroundings. It may sound like I am not friendly but I discourage strangers coming up to me when I am out. One guy who hangs out at the grocery store would come up to me when I am in my mobility chair  and grab my hand. I do not like that and I have avoided him and if I do run into him I do not talk to him or respond to him. Now he leaves me alone. He may very well be harmless but I do not like strangers touch me even if it is just my hand. Who knows where that hand has been? Or who else he has touched? Spreading germs from person to person. 

I do not carry a purse when I go out on my mobility chair or walker. I don't carry cash unless it is just a few dollars. Normally I carry a debit card and use that for any purchases I am making. I recently changed from a large wallet to one that is small enough to fit in my hand. I conceal it in the seat of my walker which is safer than having it on me unless my walker is stolen. In all my time living here, I have never had a problem with anyone. In fact nobody has ever approached me to ask for money. There are many different products I found on Amazon that are made for protecting yourself when you are out. A senior or disabled citizen is an easy target for someone to rob you. I always study any person near me so that I am aware of what they are doing. Especially if they seem interested in me or what I am dong.

Keeping my apartment locked even if I am just going downstairs to get my mail or going across the hall to speak to a neighbor. A stranger can get into our building by visiting someone they know who lives here. That is always a possibility. The best thing I can do is to always be aware of others on my hall or in one of the public areas. Public areas are always watched by the video cameras through out our building. Another thing I do is to limit who I let into my apartment. A number of them have wanted to come in to see "Rabbit" but I still limit that until I know them better. I don't mean to sound paranoid but I lived a long time with barely any interaction with others. After moving here, I was cautious and remain so today. 

Copyright © 2024 Kathleen G. Lupole

All Photographs Copyright © 2024  Kathleen G. Lupole