The Good Old Days

Today was a beautiful Spring day with sunshine and temps in the 50's.  It felt great to stroll around the Pines this evening and take Arnie out for a walk this afternoon.  I felt like my last post was a bit on the whiny side so I'm going for a little more upbeat today!  I'm sure many folks are yearning for the "Good Old Days" of a few months ago but there are positives about the "Good Old New Days" happening now.  I think many families are getting closer and without the rushing around we usually do we can take some time to organize, regroup, set  priorities, check on friends and neighbors...even remotely...and perhaps find ways to do more service for others that doesn't involve face to face action.  You probably have many ways that you've found to serve others.  I know lots of folks who have sewing skills are making masks for friends and families.  Food gets dropped off at the hospital daily by businesses that are saying thanks for those on the front line. I was at the hospital today and noticed the chalk drawings on the sidewalk.  I wish I had clicked a pic! The messages of thanks really uplifts the folks working there under more stress than usual.  This time away from surgery has made me appreciate my coworkers from the "Good Old Days" more! We see each other in passing now and then, and can't hug, but the smiles and the "I miss you!" greetings are truly heart felt.  We'll look back on these days and remember how we felt, how we worked, how we survived, and how we appreciated the good moments in every day life.  Today a friend who was cleaning out "stuff" in her home found an old newspaper clipping from 36 years ago.  I was featured as the cook of the week in our local newspaper. I had just had my last son, Jordan, who was around 6 months when this appeared.  Thanks Bryn for the memory!

Ahhhh...the "Good Old Days!" 

Late Easter Greetings

I usually do post Easter happenings here at the Pines but since we didn't do the regular Easter happenings I really didn't have much to post about.  I miss the traditions we usually do but there will be another Easter and maybe we'll be able to have some fun in May.  Seems like a little light is shining at the end of this crazy virus tunnel. Curves are flattening, cases are down, social distancing seems to be working.  I just know that I'm really over it.  I shouldn't be complaining since I'm not at home all day, I'm actually out in public. That can be a bad thing too since the public I'm around are in the hospital or doctor office. But we're good so far and I hope I'm helping in some way. In my real job I don't usually talk much to patients since they are typically getting ready to fall asleep before surgery.  Mingling with the public that's awake has opened my eyes.  I realize the pajama wearing crowd isn't just at Wal-Mart.  Nope, folks come in to see the doctor, go get lab work done, or x-rays in pj's, flip flops, slippers, dirty clothes, bedhead hair, bad attitudes and frequently forget to put in their hearing aides. I have to ask 3 questions when I'm screening patients: (1) Have you been out of the country in the last 2 weeks?  So far nobody has left the USA. I'm glad because I can't imagine going on a cruise with Christmas fuzzy pajama bottoms and an old t-shirt on.  (2) Do you have flu symptoms today?  So far everyone says no...even the ones that are coughing, look like crap, and say: "No, I just have pneumonia and my Covid test hasn't come back yet"...oh and they aren't wearing a mask. (3) Have you been around anyone who has had Covid 19 in the last 30 days?  So far only one person said yes.  Well, at first they said no then said that they've only been around their daughter who tested positive but that was just to leave food at her doorstep.  Huh?  After taking their temperatures I let them enter in.  I've only had one guy who had a temp. I consulted with the powers that be and because he was feeling fine we let him get his lab work done.  I also gave him a mask and told him to monitor his temp and be on the lookout for flu symptoms.  Yes, I have my favorite phrase going through my head daily...:I LIKE PEOPLE...UNDER GENERAL ANESTHESIA!" Yesterday I was on call and we did have 7 surgeries scheduled.  I was on the bowel resection that took 6 hours and was glad they let another team work so it wasn't a repeat of last Tuesday where we were there until the next morning.  Life is going on and I'm sure we will be getting permission to lighten up on lock downs.  I miss my coworkers. I miss doing my job in surgery.  I miss lunch.  I miss my regular routine.  But so many folks are not working, or getting a paycheck, or are sick so I have nothing to whine about. Forgive me! I hope everyone had a nice Easter even if it was a bit unconventional. I made my lamb cake as I showed on my last post and then I made 2 more to give away:

A little herd!

I made a new recipe of chocolate chip cookies.  They are Joanna Gaines's  recipe. I took them to work today and I guess they liked them.  That's what they said anyway!

Did my first mowing of the season.  It felt good last week when it was warm.  We had snow today so I'm thinking it might be next week before it gets cut again.

Last of the daffodils. The cold and time have ended their season. It was nice to see them and welcome in Spring.

I'm not sure if Arnold is getting fatter or just fluffier.  Anyway, I did get to talk to my Mom on Easter and will be talking to her again tomorrow.  She's hanging in there, still a bit confused and asks if she's ever going home. It's been a struggle for her to be isolated from all she knew and hopefully she'll hold out until we can come and see her and also get her home with some home health care. Midge continues to get dialysis and is doing good so far too.  I'm glad she's been home.  Mom has asked about the dogs and doesn't know that we had to get them a new home.  They are living with a nice family. It was a hard decision for my sister to make but necessary all the same.  Take care everyone. I can still say Happy Easter since this weekend is Greek Orthodox Easter.  We used to celebrate both Easters when I was younger.  So Easter Greetings to all...stay safe, stay healthy, and wash your hands!

What Are The Pines Whispering?

 When it's windy...like it is today...the pine trees do seem to be whispering.  What's on their minds?  First,  work has had it's moments this week.  Tuesday was a bit of long haul.  After starting work at 7am and finishing at 3:45...called back at 6:30 (I wasn't even on call but they needed some help)..home by midnight...up on Wednesday morning to get to work by 6:30 am...home early only to be called back at 1:30-5pm (I was on call this day)...up today and back at 7 to do Covid19 screenings until 1pm...and so it went.  It matched the crazy weather this week.  The Cleveland area had 3 honest to goodness tornado touchdowns on Tuesday night into early Wednesday.  This morning started out raining...then hail..then snow...then sleet....then rain...then sun..then sun while it rained...need I go on?  The whispering was coming out like a shout!  Stop the madness!  So I'm happy that tomorrow is Friday.  Good Friday to be exact. Because virus or no virus it's still Easter weekend.  We're joining our Church and others across the world and participating in a world wide fast and prayer day tomorrow for an end to this Covid19 mess and for the health of our families, friends, healthcare workers and others so we can get back to normal soon.  I hope our Whispering Pines send that message to the Powers that be heavenward.   Here's my pics for this week:

Anyone missing an Easter Bunny?

He's hiding in our Whispering Pines.  Sort of friendly but not friendly enough to catch him. I do believe he lives next door so hopefully he hopped on home!

I made this Easter lamb for my Granddaughters..Lex and Addy .  Since we can't be together I can leave this with their Dad for Sunday.  However it did remind me of something...or someone...or some Arnold:

A little Easter grass and candy, throw in a bow..just sayin' !  The Pines are whispering that it's time for bed...night all!

April has brought the Spring season closer to us.  Our weather has been mild with only a few really chilly days sprinkled in here and there.  Rain was pretty strong last week but thankfully we've had some sun to dry things up a bit. Here's a pic of the farmer's field near us that turns into a lake every Spring:

That's the field from my car window. Surf's Up!  Makes it hard to plant without a submarine I guess! On the covid 19 front we're bracing for the surge that's predicted to hit us this week. My son, Jackie, works at a hospital in Wooster, Ohio just about 30min. from us.  They have 5 cases of corona and a couple of them are nurses.  I heard that they are suggesting we don't wear our scrubs out of the hospital because some weirdos are blaming healthcare workers for this virus and are attacking nurses when they are seen out of the hospital.  Like I always say: "You can't cure stupid".   In the mean time I'm doing health checks on folks going into one of our facilities that has lab and x-ray along with doctor offices. Most people are pretty nice about having to do a screening before going into the facility.  Then there's the jerks who act like I made up this whole thing and the virus is a conspiracy. Yep, I'm thrilled that I worry daily about my family who are healthcare providers, my Mom who's in a nursing home and can't have visitors and is getting more confused as the days go by.  My sister who's going to dialysis 3 times a week and is a perfect candidate to catch this. Yep, I just love not going to my real job like normal.  I'd much rather beg you to let me take your temperature to make sure you're OK. 

Here's my little desk..yep, I read while waiting.  I do this for 6hrs a day and it can be a bit boring...but hey, it's a paycheck!

Wear a mask!  One of the things that does make me smile is when I ask folks for their phone number.   Maybe my male blog buddies can clear this up.  How come most men don't know their phone number?  They have to think about it, hem and haw, check the phone, and one man had it written on a piece of paper in his wallet.  Women just rattle it off, no problem.  Just a little mystery here!  So that's what's happening in my world.  This weekend had nice weather and I did get outdoors and work on my flower beds.  Jack and I cleaned up the yard a bit and hopefully I will get the first mowing done next week.  We need some maintenance on the mower first.  I managed to bake some pies:

Strawberry..don't laugh at the crust.  A little whip cream made it look prettier!

Dutch apple.  I'll have to find someone to give a pie to.  That's really more than we'll ever eat! But it's fun to bake and it makes the house smell good too.

I ordered this Easter Creche and it came in the mail the other day.  I thought it was different and a good way to decorate that brings the real meaning of Easter.  It's not all bunnies and candy!  This is the week before Easter and usually I'm getting ready for the kids to come and have a nice dinner and an Easter egg hunt and going to Church on Sunday morning.  Not this year, but I hope we can celebrate in our own quiet way and not get too sad that it's totally different.  Please pray for an end to this madness and for the safety and well being of your families and friends.  For all those that are sacrificing in any way and helping everyone cope.  We will get through this.  I know that I will look back on posts and remember how it was and be so glad it's over.  Take care everyone!