Today Was A Day Just Like The Day You Were Born

Long title to this post....but those are the immortal words that my Mom says to me every year on February 28th.  She and Midge called this morning and serenaded me with a hearty rendition of  "Happy Birthday".  Too funny girls!  But I feel very blessed to have my 88yr old Mom with us and ready to celebrate with me! I wish we could have been together this year but the weather is not cooperating. 8-10in. of snow is on the way from Chicago to the East with us in it's path.  So  the phone has been our connector and I'm thinking some Skype will have to follow.  Jack celebrated with me by taking me out to lunch, giving me the perfect gift...a certificate to my favorite hair salon, and telling me that my Rueben sandwich and onion rings and the best dang fried mushrooms on earth have no calories on my birthday....thank goodness! I hoping that chocolate shake on Friday night is included in that pack! Ha! It's been a fun weekend of celebrating.  My BFF Donna and her sweet almost daughter-in-law stopped by this afternoon.  I got a lovely basket of goodies:

Tons of fun things in there but the best gift was a ticket to go with her to the annual home and garden tour in Bath, Ohio in May...thanks dearest friend! It's something so fun to look forward to.  And to top it off she put this in the basket:

Her homemade, special secret recipe hot fudge sauce...oh dear....

Not this deer!  This "dear" sauce is to die for! Thanks again Donna! I also got a special delivery today from Edible Arrangements...you know, the yummy fruit people. Midge and Mom sent these:

Again, no calories in this group! Thanks you two crazy Chicago gals! To end the day we had a church social.  It was our annual Chili cook-off and talent show.  There was tons of chili to choose from and we had a panel of experts judging them.

I didn't enter.  I never even tasted any of the entries but I understand from those around me that they were all good!  I brought some chicken to the gathering.

That was gone in a flash! My good friend Brenda brought along a birthday cake for me.

Thanks Bryn...friends are the best! Yep, I did taste this! (Yummo) The talent part of the evening had little ones:

And bigger ones:

All doing something to share with us. We had flag twirlers, singers, karate demos and also a room that had hobbies and talents like photography and painting...we have some pretty talented folks in our church! We really had a lovely evening. My birthday was great and although growing older isn't all it's cracked up to be, I'm feeling good and very blessed to just have fun and celebrate being alive! Better than the alternative!

Any excuse for a party is a good one!

Oh, I forgot to mention the photo booth....my birthday portrait!

Constant Companions

Do you have an entourage? Someone or something that is always hanging around?  Since I've been home, a few things have become my constant companions...

Let's see....my water bottle is always filled and near by...my glasses are close at hand..unless I've left them someplace..(not that I do that a lot..) my Kindle that's usually filled with books and access to blogs and Facebook.  The other item pictured is a rice filled bag that my Mom made me a few years ago. I can throw it into the microwave and have instant warm comfort for my back, neck, legs, whatever.  At the beginning of my recovery I always had ice packs too.  I wasn't allowed to put heat on the knees. Since our temps have been so cold I'm glad I only have to resort to ice a few times when I've been on my feet a lot.  I'm always hauling these items from room to room and in another month I'll be back at work and they will come with me...I can't go to break or lunch without a good book to read and water is always a staple....the rice pack will stay at home.  Along the way I've picked up a few other "peeps"...

A frequent visitor to feeder....Daddy bird

Not so colorful Momma bird is not far behind.

Squeak is hanging around too....finding some warm sunshine during this crazy Winter has been hard but she manages to warm her buns...

Then flips over for her face!  I don't blame her.  If it's sunny out, even if it's cold I'll try and go out and feel the vitamin D on my face too! Another way of bringing some Spring inside are my other fav companions:

Some fresh flowers are nice and cheery.

These tulips are enjoying the sunny window but the outside is still a Winter wonderland.  This weekend finally warmed up to almost 30de...whew, a heat wave! I made a big pot of chicken and noodles.

That warmed the soul and the belly! But my favorite companion this weekend was this little gal...very excited to have lost her first tooth!

Addy said she can now breath since that tooth is gone...she cracks me up!  Hope you have some good "constants" in your day too!

 

It's Frozen Outside, But My Heart Is Melting!

My sister sent me an email today with something pretty cool.  She had torn apart her home office at Mom's and in the redo she found a letter.  It was from my Dad.  Now you may remember his sweet letter to my Mom at Christmas that I posted here.  The letter Midge found is a bit earlier in his life.  It's a letter he wrote to his Mom when he was about 8yrs. old.  It's very simple, very childlike in the handwriting with misspelled words and all.  What struck me as amazing was the fact it was in such great condition. Yesterday would have been Dad's 95th birthday. He passed away in 1976 at age 56.  To think that the letter is 80 plus years old and still together is really special.  I couldn't get the letter to download here from my email so I took a pic of it from the computer.  It just didn't turn out clear enough to print it here. I'll have to take a nice photo of it next time I'm home.  Dad tells his "Momma" about his time spent with his Aunt Jo.  He tells her he's having a good time and going down town with Aunt Jo lots of times. He asked how his mother is doing and then asks sweetly if he can stay until Sunday..."Can I Momma?" Then signs his name, Carlyle.  Dad may be gone but I think of him everyday.  I usually post about him on his birthday, but this year I think there was a reason I waited until today.  The memories I have of Dad have held together like the paper that letter was written upon. They've become sweeter and more meaningful.  I don't know why out of all the things Grandma had that this letter was kept.  However, I'm grateful that a small piece of his childhood was preserved all these years.  Happy Birthday Dad!

Can You Feel The Love?

Valentines Day 2015 came in like a lion and left like an Eskimo!  Thankfully we celebrated on Friday with a lovely dinner with our good friends Gayle and Greg.  The next morning after a load of wood was dropped off we headed into town to stop at Jack's office for a minute. While he was inside the weather was getting nastier and nastier.  I snapped a few pics of course!

The snow was mixing a bit with icy rain.

Our parking lot looks very snow covered and messy! No patients on Saturday thank goodness!

We took off for the grocery store and you can see how sloppy the streets are getting and the snow and wind are picking up. It got so bad that white out conditions were had and we were under a level 2 snow emergency by the late afternoon.  To make matters worse, the temps started falling like a hard rock.  Minus 5de this morning and keeping the wood stove going to keep our home warm was a task indeed! But we were cozy and comfy on Saturday night when our Grandsons, Anthony and Cameron, came to spend the night.

Anthony claimed his chair and cozy blanket while watching the slam dunk competition on TV.

Cameron made his nest complete with his tablet for games and snacks to stay nourished...as well as cheering here and there for his fave dunk!  We sure enjoy those cuties.  They are the nicest kiddos around.  They requested pancakes and sausage this morning and I couldn't refuse! The weather was so bad that Church was cancelled for our area.  That hardly ever happens and as cold as it is I was thinking that maybe hell actually did freeze over!  Tomorrow looks a bit warmer...hopefully up to about 17de. February can be the worst month of Winter and this week will be an up and down temp fest.  But through it all we had fun with the Grandkiddos and friends.  We saw Jordan and Eddy today for lunch after they were rescued by Phil.  Jord's battery on his car died.  It reminded me of my childhood. Memories of the worst, snowy, cold day and Dad would be either under the hood of a car fixing something or under the house fixing pipes! He would be proud of his Grandkiddos!  I made some pulled pork sandwiches and coleslaw and a follow up of homemade donuts.  Jordan and Eddy headed back to town with his car running great and his laundry done.  So all and all I could feel the love this Valentine weekend....maybe not all hearts and flowers, but love none the less!

Twinkle Toes

I have been a bit behind in my blogging.  You would think that since I'm home until March  I would have tons of time.  Well time is one thing and blog material is another! However, I was a little excited about the idea that Jack and I were going to a barn dance last Friday.  Finally something to blog about! Then I threw my back out.  I had a few moves at physical therapy that did me in.  (really, it wasn't the furniture moving!) Lucky for me I have a Chiropractor hubby who got me on my feet...but sitting in a car for a long ride and then trying to dance....no way. Dang it! Besides having some blog material, I wanted my blog buddy Rick (Life 101)  to see that  he was right. He's been saying I would be dancing by Valentines day...and I would have! Oh well.  Here's a pic of a couple of cuties who did get to show some twinkle toes:

My son Phil took Lexi and Addy to a Daddy daughter dance over the weekend.  They had a great time!  In the mean time, the snow seems to keep coming.  It was actually warm on Saturday and Sunday...in the 40's! A little melting happened, but the driveway is an ice covered nightmare!  Snow is on it's way tonight and by this weekend the high on Sunday will be 1de....yikes!

This mess is my back deck...help!

The other evening, as the sun was setting, it looked like fire behind the pine trees. I was going to go down to the road and snap a great sunset shot except that driveway and all the ice.  I wasn't going to ruin my new knees!  Speaking of knees...weren't we? I got the final check up with my Doc and all is good.  Now all I need is time. These puppies are going to be dancing soon....maybe by Valentines day!

Now you know me from the inside out!

February Is Like Indiana

To get from my house to my Mom's in Chicago we have to go through Indiana...it's seems like it's the longest part of the journey....and we frequently encounter the worst weather.  In Winter we come up on snow squalls in South Bend because of the lake effect. In Spring, Summer or Fall it could be anything from torrential rain to fog to road work. (you know, orange barrel season).  February is a short month but boy it feels super long to get through to March and the beginning of Spring.  Yesterday Chicago was hit with a blizzard and 19in. of snow.  We had snow, rain, ice, and today more snow with wind that has blown drifts into the road.  Welcome February!  Yep, just like Indiana, you just have to get through this month to better climes, times and more sun.  I used to love this month because it's my birthday month.  Just to make it more interesting though, Mom had me on the last day.  Again, torture for a kiddo who can't wait for their special day.  Now however, I can wait for that "special" day....being a year older and all.   So I hope this month calms down and the trip to March gets smoother, and hopefully warmer! Yesterday was Super Bowl Sunday.  We didn't watch the game or even the commercials but I felt compelled to make some SB snacks:

Very yummy! Just to keep up my "fowl and food" trend, I caught these little guys at the feeder:

But that's not all I've been doing.  I've been moving a few furniture pieces around.

This table used to be in the hallway.

This used to be in the foyer where the above table is now...Jack walked in and saw this and a few other changes I made and said: "Man, you have to get back to work".  Ha! Just wait, I have plans for the rest of February....I guess we'll all just have to get through it like it was Indiana.

Get A Life

I was talking with my sister yesterday and she said that she had just read my blog posts for this month....she said: "You need to get out more".  Yep,  I know the pickins has been slim.  I've resorted to photos of blurry deer and flowers.  I then had to confess that yesterday I also had just taken a bunch of pics of a bird eating seeds off the little pinecone feeder that Addy had made for me for Christmas.

Chubby little guy has stripped it clean.

Here his beak is covered with snow....maybe it's a she?  Of course I could show the pics of all the snow we were given from Mother Nature....or perhaps it was Old Man Winter who left it:

Back deck is loaded.

Haven't even bothered shoveling the front steps. Come through the garage if you're planning to stop over.  So if I'm not shooting the weather or fowls,  I have to resort to food...

Fruit pizza I made last week.  Atleast it has color!  There has been the opportunity to throw in a Grandkiddo shot:

Addy  had cheerleading for the little kids basketball games...she loves her outfit! Yes, Midge is right...I do need to get a life.  Until I'm out and about in a more active way I guess I'll have to keep posting from the Pines with pics from the computer room window:

Or some artsy shot through the front door wreath:

Hey, maybe by Valentines day I'll have found that life! Wish me luck!

YaYa Here!

It's been a while since I've posted..I don't usually let things go by this long.  I guess I figured I really didn't have a ton to blog about.  So I had to get my thinking cap on and look back to see where I was and where I'm going.  I've spent much time with ice and the recliner which sits by the large slider in the living room.  I saw this big gal lurking up at the Creepy Woods looking for some snacks.

These are some of the things I'll see being home during the day....so exciting...yawn.

Looks like she found a few goodies.  My days have been filled with exercises and trips to physical therapy.  I'm doing fine in that area.  I can walk without the cane most places but I still take it with me to the store or any outing...which hasn't been much more than the store! Today I did go to Church...and man I was exhausted the rest of the day.  I couldn't even put together a meal that was worth eating...I ended up throwing away a casserole that just didn't turn out right.  I decided it was time to give it up and retreat back to the recliner! However, I did do something I probably shouldn't have done. I know you won't tell...right? I drove my car on Saturday.  Just a little test run to see if I could....piece of cake!  I remember asking Dr. B how long I had to wait to drive. His answer was: "I have to tell you 4 weeks...(pause...looks me in the eye) but knowing you, 2 weeks...." Well, I held out for 3 so I guess I'm good to go!  I'm driving myself to PT tomorrow...wish me well! The other stuff going on has to do with flowers. I've received some real beauties.   Thanks to our friends Stacy and Kyle:

Lovely! Then on Saturday my son Jack arrived with his gang and they brought me these:

Cameron told them that's what YaYa would like! He's right on! Thanks so much! I also had received some beauties from Craig and Amy after coming home from the hospital but didn't get pics except with my kindle..and it wasn't the best pic...take my word for it, they were awesome. Every visiting nurse and PT person commented on their beauty and how nice they smelled.  So I'm here getting along just ducky and maybe I'll have something interesting to blog about after being let free! Ha!

The Color Blue

I was tired of looking at the color purple from the last post...those lovely hamhocks called legs!  I'm posting the blue, blue skies and if I could I'm sure I would capture the blue, blue lips of anyone hanging out in this weather! It's dango cold out there! Schools were closed today and staying indoors is a good idea.  Of course today would be the day I had my post-op visit and got my staples out.  At 7:30am no less! Anyway, everything is going fine...he said I was a "rock star"...Ha! I feel more like just a "rock".  But in 2 weeks I can drive and then I'll feel truly on the road to being me.  Anyway, if you live where it's warm...enjoy! If you live where it's -27 like it was here today (wind chill)...you can fill in your own words!

Blue skies... and no matter what the temps are, sun is always welcome!

Squeeze in between those giant pines and come visit.  I'm appearing daily!

The Color Purple

I don't want to gross anyone out...so feel free to pass this post by!  My blog is also a journal for me. With that in mind I wanted to grab a pic of my lovely bruising.  This is my worst leg and this actually looks better than the other day.  I've gotten into a routine. Jack and I get up together at the same time I always got ready for work.  I've been going up and down stairs since I got home last week, but never alone. Once I'm down stairs I'm here for the day. PT had me using just a cane today...slowly moving forward. I see the surgeon on Thursday so he can remove the 35 or more staples per leg. So I'm hoping to sleep through the night one day and walk unassisted...sort of like being reborn! Except for these ugly specimens! I hope purple is in this Winter.

Zero To Ten

I haven't missed a January 1st post in many years and I didn't want today to be different. We celebrated the same way we've done in the past. We cooked ribs on the grill and threw in the sides that are supposed to bring good luck.Most might shudder at the menu, so let's just say it was good and move on!  I didn't take any pics of the food or of Jordan,  Phil, or Eddy who joined us. So what to post about was kicking around my cranium. I kept coming back to something that happened while in the hospital.  There was a question that I was asked as much as I was asked my name and birth date.  "How would you rate your pain on a scale of  zero to ten." Just in case you couldn't figure it out, a picture was shown of the zero with a big smiley face and ten with a big crying face. Funny, the only time I would have said ten...nobody asked! (Maybe it was my vocabulary). Having worked in healthcare for a few million years, I understand that the goal is pain management...or actually pain free. People do not want to feel pain...really, who does? But is that realistic?  If hospitals don't do the most they can to insure a comfortable stay, well there are enough government watch dogs to make sure we do!  This  thought had me wondering how we would rate our lives on a daily basis with that scale.  See, we want our patients pain free, but I'm not sure a pain free life is ideal. I've learned a lot of lessons between zero and ten.  Trust is built, faith developed , love is learned...as well as earned, and that can't happen on a constant zero. We all know the lesson of tasting the bitter to appreciate the sweet.  2015 will have it's share of tens...and it's blessings of zero. But I don't want to discount the two through nine...that's where the character of our souls is waiting.  

Shuffling Out Of 2014

Usually I'm  thinking that the old year slides out and the new year slips in.  This year I'm more into the "shuffling"  mode.

These have become my good buddies. But the real gems have been good friends and my wonderful family. Jack and the boys are always ready to help and encourage my shuffling . Each day brings improvements.  The physical therapists are pleased.  Me? Glad to move forward and thankful for the offers of help and meals sent...but most of all, the prayers offered.  Enjoy your celebration tonight.  Good bye 2014...It's been an interesting year!