Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Endings And Beginnings

There has been some discussion at work about this new decade we're rolling into tomorrow.  Is 2019 the end of the decade or is 2020 the last year of the decade?  We're deep thinkers around the operating room table! However you dice it, it's an end to this year in a few hours and the beginning of the roaring 20's!  I think sounds pretty cool to say the roaring 20's since I'm assuming most of us weren't there in 1920! Do you pick out a phrase that's your moto for a new year? Maybe it's just a word that will define the next 12 months for you.  I've chosen a few in the past but I'm thinking this year the word "CHANGE" is fitting.  Jack and I made out a list a few years ago of things that needed done around the Pines and some other goals.  I still have that list and looking at it I can see we've knocked a few off and still have some to go.  Having goals and projects is a good thing.  2020 could be interesting as I look to slowing down my work schedule.  I was originally saying I was going to retire,  but my boss told me I could just change my status to "PRN"..which means if they need extra help I'll be given a call and have the power to say "yay" or "nay".  It means no call and no weekends or holidays also.  So that's the change I'm planning on that front.  Others will happen I'm sure.  Life isn't about staying the same every day.  I think it's about bobbing and weaving your way each day and hoping for a good outcome or if not a good outcome, at least a good plan B!  I'm hoping for some adventures with Jack and some good family time and outdoor time too.  Today I do have to go to work but it's not until 11:00. Talk about bobbing and weaving through the day....no scheduled cases until noon for some reason. Anyway, I'm on call until 7pm. and then we're suppose to meet with some friends up at church for food and fun.  It's started to snow outside and hopefully it won't make the roads treacherous for any party goers tonight.  Every year I make a Greek New Year's bread called vasilopita..here's my results this year..
It's a sweet bread with a little surprise inside...a coin is baked with the bread and when it's cut the one who finds the coin is suppose to have good luck all year.  Can you see my 2020 carved in the top? It made the house smell like orange and cinnamon and hopefully it will taste as good as it looks and smells!
The snow has started and I don't think anyone wants to sit for long on the front porch today!
Arnie is good with it..he likes snow better than the heat of summer.
And finally, I'm old now. Yesterday I picked up my new glasses...bifocals...or I should say, they are called "transitions"...another word for change.   I'm trying to get used to them.  I guess I'll have all decade to do it!  Have a safe new year's eve....The End..and the Beginning~

Thursday, December 26, 2019

The Unexpected

I blogged about our Christmas celebration in my previous post. The rest of this holiday week was going to be quiet.  That was the expected part and for the most part is was.  I did have to work Christmas day for one case in the AM.  I was happy to get home around 10:30 and just rest and watch movies and enjoy the unexpected....the warm weather! Holy cow it's been so nice.  But first here's  how Christmas Eve looked:
FOG...big time fog that lasted all day and into the night.  There were accidents all around because of it.  Of course I couldn't believe how many people drove without their lights on! Crazy! As I was walking around the foggy Pines taking pics, my neighbor's horse was curious about this goofy gal snapping pics!
Hello Temp! He wisely stayed near the barn. He was probably a bit confused at the fog enveloping his pasture! The beautiful day came on Christmas.
Sunshine, blue skies, mild temps.  Unexpected for December in Ohio!
The Pines...and me...were loving the warm sun. We know it won't last but that makes us appreciate it even more. Last night we drove around town checking out Christmas lights.  This one house goes all out...I mean ALL OUT with decorations.  These pics do not even do it justice:


I think they have every blow up Christmas thing there is.  It's a small house and lot and every inch is covered. But it's fun to see and also to be glad it's them and not me that has to take it all down! In fact, I drove by there today and it was all gone...until next year I'm sure!  I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!

Sunday, December 22, 2019

And So This Is Christmas..


Because of my work call schedule we had to gather today at the Pines for our Christmas with the family.  Summer noticed the blackboard in the kitchen was bare so she bid everyone welcome as she and her fiance, Brett, were the first to arrive. It's been a very busy and hectic week as Jack is recouping, yet still trying to do everything to help me with prep for today.  Yesterday we finished the last bit of  shopping and then I worked on food and wrapping those presents.  Everyone seemed pleased with the gifts and dinner was really good too. But hearing the laughter and watching the grown up kids and the grandkiddos enjoying the day was my best present!
Dinner was enjoyed in the dining room...
And in the kitchen!
Do you do Christmas "poppers"? They make a pop sound when pulled apart and small gifts pop out as well...and also crowns!
Nobody is too big to not join in! I'm not sure of the background about poppers but I do believe they are British in origin? Is that why there's a crown? You can let me know! Looking good Phil and Rae Rae!
Summer made me laugh because she was afraid to pop hers! It doesn't explode like a bomb after all!
After dinner the kids were looking forward to the plastic wrap ball game that we played last year and I decided to do again today.
A roll of  the dice, a pair of oven mitts, a huge ball of plastic wrap with inexpensive gifts inside is really a fun game.  I put lottery tickets in too but so far no big winners...darn it!  Lexi was the big winner today by unwrapping so fast and furious...Then everyone shared with those that didn't win much. Since everyone likes it I'm sure we'll do it again next year.
Watch out though...a pair of sticky people could end up on the ceiling! The weather was beautiful today. I know it's the beginning of Winter but the temps were in the upper 40's with sunshine.  It felt like Spring! We went outside and played with the dirt bike and just enjoyed being outside in the fresh air.  I didn't have a camera with me for pics however..too busy at times to click a pic.  But  I did capture some of the players inside:
Cameron..
Jack and our daughter-in-law Evelyn
Rae Rae enjoying her candy cane that tastes like oreos!
Son Phil just chilling
Brett, our almost Grandson in-law. The wedding date is August 28, 2021..seems far away but I'm sure time will pass quickly.  We've known Brett since he was about 16.  Summer and Brett have been together all these years and now even work in the same place.  Brett you are a sweetie and we're excited for you to be forever in our family!  And so this is Christmas here at our home. It was great and I'm so thankful for my family and for our friends that we were with this morning at Church.  We are blessed.  I'm bushed so I'm heading for a long Winter's nap...well, until 5:15am tomorrow anyway! Merry Christmas to all and to all a goodnight

Monday, December 16, 2019

God Bless Us Everyone

As the Christmas season approaches I sometimes find myself like old Scrooge, bahumbugging around the town.  We've had a little added stress with Jack's surgery so close to the holiday.  He's doing good but very sore and restricted with what he can do and that's difficult for him! Work is always a bit crazy this time of year, but we've got it surrounded as they say.  We made the trip to Chicago for our annual gathering with my family this past weekend.  I did the driving and managed not to kill us along the way.  Actually I've done this drive for the last 45 years when it was just Jack and I, Jack and I and assorted kiddos as they came along and many times alone or with just one or more of the kids.  I think I have it down! The traffic wasn't too bad and the weather cooperated so all was good.  As we gathered and greeted my siblings as they arrived by plane or car from all areas of the country I began to feel more like Tiny Tim. All smiley, full of Christmas cheer and ready for that wonderful holiday food and festivities!  All the sibs made it and we did have a great time together.  Mom was feeling good and it turned out to be nice weather too. What more could we ask for? Of course I have pics to prove it, sooooo...here's to another Arends family gathering:
 Friday night we had dinner at Mom's...see her reading her mail in the background? My sister had the table all ready for us.
Looking fabulous Mommo!
My brothers and my sister-in-law Deidra.  My brother Phil (on the end near Jack) came all the way from Panama were he lives most of the year.  The chilly Chicago air was a challenge for him!
Lots of laughter and stories to go around.  The next day had us all together at my niece's home for the big party.  She has a lovely, large home that can accommodate the big crowd of old and young.
She too had the table all decorated for us.  The theme this year was Nutcrackers.
She had many all over the place and she's a police officer/detective so you can see why she would have a police nutcracker!
Jack looking good!
Don't be frightened by the Butler...he has the jello shots to ease your nerves.
Let the festivities begin!
Mom was looking great as always!
But she still will not be kept sitting for long...helping out where she can.
Or discussing important things with her Granddaughter, Vicki.
The littles finding mischief under the tables.
My niece's dog...Thor...big but loveable!
After a delicious dinner, out came the sweets...holy cow..but very yummy as well as pretty.
Pictures by the tree were many and the rest of the weekend was filled with the good times of family. We laughed at the slides I had made into a DVD to sit and enjoy.  We saw our lives pass in front of our faces as we watched and wondered where the time had gone, how young we all were, and how many of the Grandkiddos look like their Grandparents.  We talked of our lives now, some of us are retired or thinking along those lines. We shared photos of those in our own families who couldn't make it there and remembered with smiles, some tears, and great memories of those who have gone on ahead of us.  We left with hugs all around, a promise to make it not only next Christmas but sooner as the weather gets warmer. We prayed for those who are having some health issues and sincerely hope all will be with us next year at a time when we again will be saying: "God Bless Us Everyone!"

Sunday, December 8, 2019

Surgery Update

A quick post to update on Jack's surgery.  All went well although it turned into a much longer surgery than anticipated. 3hrs later and he had 3 hernias repaired laparoscopicly.  So he's a bit sore to say the least.  He came home the same day and today is the first day that he's finally got an appetite back and feeling a little better.  He was sort of planning on going to work tomorrow but smartly decided he would wait until Tuesday.  Hopefully he'll be able to do that since he hates sitting/laying around!  We're also planning on going to Chicago next weekend.  We've got Christmas surrounded I believe. The decorating is done and most of the shopping is too.  Just those few last minute things to cover. I do a lot on line so that will get completed this week.  We have to have our celebration early because I"m on call Christmas day.  That makes the pressure to have it all done even more urgent I guess.  So I hope everyone is getting into the Spirit of the season. It's been a bit different this year but in the end we enjoy all the music and the general goodwill this time of year brings. Here's a few pics of our decorating:
Outside...done
Dining room ready
Kitchen done
I found these on LTD site and thought they were cute for my kitchen.
Tree up and sparkly.
Even our neighbor's dog comes to our place with a Christmas sweater on! He comes and barks until Arnie comes out.  They sniff each other and that's about it!
End of another weekend.  Night all!

Sunday, December 1, 2019

And The Race Is On!

Good-bye to the quiet month of November and hello to the jam packed month of December! Actually, November wasn't quite as quiet as usual in our neck of the woods.  It sure flew by fast and ended with a weird Thanksgiving holiday. I had Friday off of work because we didn't have any surgeries scheduled.  Most of our Docs were out of town.  That's also a weird happening but I'm sure not complaining as Jack and I were able to do some shopping for Christmas and also decorating the outside of the house.  I started the inside today and just have a few things left to do.  We'll put up the tree tomorrow and I'll be doing cyber Monday shopping too.  We'll be celebrating Christmas with the kids early because I'm on call Christmas day.  That just means I'm pressed to get it done asap!  Jack will have surgery on Thursday so he'll be out of commission for a bit.  So I guess the race really is on!  One thing we did do this weekend was buy our Christmas gift to ourselves.  This is something we don't usually do but this "toy" is one we've looked into for a while.
You may be thinking that we're crazy for buying this bike but it's a good way to get around the Pines and up into the woods without taking out the Gator.  Sometimes we just need to check on some things and don't need to haul stuff up there.  Whatever the reason...it is fun to ride!
Woohoo! As long as I don't hit a tree or some other dumb thing!  In other news, Arnie is giving us some reason for concern. He's been limping very bad but not having any pain that we can tell.  He can get down stairs but not up them. He has a vet appointment on Tuesday for shots but I think more needs to be checked out.  He's had 2 surgeries on his right front side and the growth is back. We were told he couldn't have any more surgery on that side so who knows what's in store for him. Poor little guy.  So I'll be praying for him and for Jack this week!  Hello December...we're getting off to a fast start in this race!

Monday, November 25, 2019

A Turkey Sat On A Backyard Fence

I don't have any turkeys sitting on fences here at the Pines.  My title is the first line of a Thanksgiving song Jack always used to sing to the kids when they were little.  It's about a turkey who sings a "sad, sad song"...Thanksgiving day is coming, gobble, gobble, gobble, and I know I'll be eaten soon....whoa, that sounds so morbid now that I write it down! Ha! Poor kids! Anyway, we had our Thanksgiving dinner with the kids yesterday.  I prepared everything on Saturday and just had to pop the sides into the oven.  Even the turkey was done the day before, sliced and then put into a roaster and warmed up yesterday. All the food turned out great and we gathered together as planned minus a few kiddos who couldn't make it because of work or were out of town.  I took a few pics but somehow I managed to lose them somewhere in my files.  Oh well.  The weather yesterday was great and after dinner we gathered in the living room to look at some photos and talk and laugh.  My son Phil noticed my hubby wasn't around and wondered where he went.  I found him upstairs.  He was in excruciating pain. It appeared to be an incarcerated hernia.  Jack had complained of some pain earlier in the day but it went away and all was good. After dinner all wasn't good!  So he got up to go to the hospital but then proceeded to lose all the dinner he just ate..poor guy!  I took him to the emergency room where he was checked out.  Yes, he had an incarceration but thankfully it reduced itself while we were there.  After some lab work we headed for home.  He sees the surgeon tomorrow and we'll see what happens next.  So turkey day didn't turn out the exact way we planned.  The kids were great and stayed and cleaned up and put all the food away and Jordan stayed with Arnold until we got home.  A little disappointing but still we had lots to be thankful for.  A great family that we did get to spend some time with yesterday and their love and support for their Dad and me as we dealt with an unusual turn of events. Today is our oldest son's birthday.  We had an usual Thanksgiving when he was born 44 years ago.  He was 2 months premature weighing in at 2lbs, 10oz....15in. long. To have a baby that little 44 years ago and have a good outcome is amazing.  Just like Jackie is!  Happy birthday son...we love you!
Then
Now...Time does go by fast! So we'll have a quiet rest of this week, hopefully, and who knows what we'll be doing on Thursday. Counting our blessings? For sure!  I wish everyone a very happy Thanksgiving and hope you're counting all your blessings too.  And if you see a turkey on a backyard fence....well, just let him go!