Is It Almost Over?

 This last week of February probably has many asking the question...Is this horrid winter almost over? The weather has been a bit harsh, especially if you live in Texas and other southern parts that aren't used to cold and snow. Power outages and food and water shortages are not only frustrating and irritating, they are down right dangerous. So prayers for those effected by all that mess and hopefully things will be back to normal soon.  In our neck of the woods it seems we are in for a little warm up. Temps in the high 30's and even some 40's have us very happy.  Throw  in a bit of sun and man I'm over the moon!  This final week of February was always my favorite as a child.  I will call this week my birthday week! Yes, let's celebrate shall we?  Actually I won't be home for most of it. I wish I could say I was traveling to some exotic, sunny beach area but alas, no.  I'm heading off the Chicago on Wednesday to help my sister for a few days.  She's having a little surgical procedure and I'm going to take her and bring her home on Thursday and also help with her new pup...Hope.  Yes, Hope is now in her furever home along with Bella who resides at my nephew's home.  Bill drove out last Friday and picked up both dogs and then turned around and drove right back to Chicago.  I was able to go with him and his 2 daughters to pick them up and also see little Autumn who will be coming to our home on March 1st. (unless I change my mind about doing this puppy thing!) Yes, I'm a little apprehensive about bringing in a puppy with poor old Arnie.  Time will tell! Of course I'll blog about anything on that front next week. So Sunday on my b-day I will be driving back home. Jack is staying here to take care of Arnie and the house.  He's back to work almost at his regular hours!  I know he's happy to be getting back to his old normal!  So to end this post I'll just give a look see at the icicles that will soon be melting away:

Brrrr...now that's a big momma right here! It goes from the house to the top of the garage!

But no fear...as you can see there are signs of melting everywhere!  

Snowy Video Today

 Good snowy morning! I took a video today which is not something I do often since it doesn't work with my blog book, but it's fun every once in a bit to be real.  So here's my quick hello and I hope you're day is going well:

Bye-Bye!

Love Is In The Air

 Do you do up Valentine's Day big?  Is it just a way for Hallmark to sell cards? I guess I feel that any day that celebrates LOVE is a good day.

Perhaps flowers are involved in your V-Day celebration....

Candy in a pretty box your cup of joy?

Maybe a plant that says Spring is not far off after all! 

How about a cozy dinner for two with a glass of bubby? Even if the bubby is sparkling cider. Even if the dinner isn't steak and lobster but stuffed peppers.  If it's spent with someone you love it's a win-win no matter the menu!

How about a decadent chocolate fudge cake sprinkled with chocolate dipped strawberries and hearts? Yep, any day that celebrates LOVE can't be all bad.  Happy Valentine's Day!

The Lazy, Hazy Days Of Winter

 Friends and relatives often ask me how I like being retired.  Well, it's OK...it's different...it's been a good thing with Jack's surgeries and being able to spend time with my sister.  I would love to say I've done a ton of home projects but really this winter I've been feeling lazy. I'm used to a schedule jammed packed with work and home and "adventures" as Jack and I call them.  I will say that I haven't been bored and I seem to find the day gets filled quickly! With Covid the photography classes I thought I would enjoy haven't happened and I was going to work PRN at the hospital but they have been slow and the budget won't allow any hires at this time.  So I'm doing what the day lends itself too...keeping warm, shopping, snow shoveling, mini adventures, and still taking pics.  Here's a few of my lazy, hazy, winter doings:

I enjoy baking and making bread is pretty fun and satisfying.

Those lovely, puffy, yeasty delights go from this to this to:

Pretty as a picture! Now, I don't want you to think we sit around and eat all this every day! Jack isn't a huge bread eater.  I would love to be and could be but that wouldn't be too healthy.  So we enjoy a bit and then I love making some "YaYa deliveries"  to friends and family.

Here's drop off package to my BFF Donna who's at home alone for now while her hubby is recouping in a rehab facility.  Some banana bread along with the homemade loaf and some homemade honey butter to add to a warm piece of toast.  Growing up I remember Mom buying honey butter and putting that on her homemade bread all warm from the oven...good memories!  I decided I could make my own and the taste is pretty close to my memories.  A small project that needed attention was my microwave. 

Have you ever ventured into the interior of your microwave?  I hadn't either and probably never would have if the darn lightbulb hadn't burned out.  I put up with a dark microwave until I went on You Tube and found out how to change it.  How many people does it take to change a lightbulb?  Well, I started the project..Jack joined in to give some good advice and help lift... and the folks at 3 different stores who couldn't get the right lightbulb also joined in.  Good old Amazon Prime came to the rescue with the correct bulb...actually I got two in the package..and delivered in 2 days.

It works! Let there be light!  So that's been the last few days of fun and adventure. I'll throw this last pic in of poor Arnie. Yes, more surgery for the little dude.  He had a growth on his front paw and a few other growths that needed attention along with teeth cleaning and extraction. It's hard being an older dog!

The cone is ridiculous but necessary. When he had his back leg fixed in the Fall he couldn't reach it to bother it.  But he can easily reach his front paw and I feel bad he has to wear this contraption for a few weeks. We do take it off here and there so he can eat. He had it on last night when he went out for his final "to be sure" potty run.  When he put his head down he ended up scooping a bunch of snow in it! I did laugh but took it off before he went to bed.  He's a trouper and hopefully won't need any more surgery! So as the snow continues to fall off and on, and the cold continues to chill, I'll just continue to try and enjoy these lazy, hazy days of Winter and look for some more projects to actually get done!

Brrrr...

    One week in  February done!  I really don't want to wish my life away or have it go any faster than it already does, but this short month is Winter on steroids!   The cold air has arrived and the woodstove hums along to keep us toasty. For that I'm thankful!  The other thing that makes me smile are the days we've had that lets the sun shine down.  I enjoy just sitting outside with my face to the sun and feeling it's rays.  It gives me hope that Spring will arrive no matter what that rodent in PA had to say about it!  Looking back at this week it was filled with the usual and the sad.  Yesterday my son Jackie and I went to a celebration of life for a dear childhood friend of his who passed away.  My son and Tim were good buddies from 5th grade on.  They played basketball together in high school and each spent time at each other's homes.  Tim was tall. In sixth grade he was already 6ft.  I remember my Mom visiting when Tim and Jack came home from school and Mom looking surprised at Tim and wondered if they were the same age! Jackie isn't a super small guy...he's about 5'll...with his basketball shoes on the stats would have him taller! That always made me laugh. As tall as Tim was his heart was just as big.  He and Jackie coached basketball for their kids and they kept in touch by email after Tim moved to Michigan.  It was a shock to hear that he had passed but the fact that he had committed suicide really wrenched our hearts.  You always wonder if there would have been something that we could have done.  Tim and his parents had had a falling out some years ago and I felt really bad to know that that hadn't been resolved.  So hug those close to you. Check up on people and if you notice something not quite right, maybe there could be something you could do.  However, we don't always know what goes on behind closed doors, in folks minds, or hearts.  Yesterday Tim's Mom wanted us to tell her funny stories we remembered about him.  Jackie had a few that made us laugh. I even joked that maybe I should go to the other side of the room so he could tell some stories that I didn't know had happened!  RIP Tim...you are missed by those that knew and loved you.  So as February moves on I'll just post a few pics of our days this week..

I can't take a photo of the cold but here's a shot of the snow from this past week.  I guess you could imagine the cold from a pic but with the lovely sunshine I'll just focus on the snow!

Dinner today consisted of some cornbread.

The cornbread was a good compliment to the ham, green beans and potato dish I threw together. A warm dish on a cold day!

Let's end it sweetly with a peach and berry cobbler made in a cast iron skillet..warm with the addition of some vanilla icecream perhaps?   Now on to week #2..not that I'm counting or anything. 

 On this last day of January we were given a little more blast of Winter with some snow that quietly came in after midnight.  We woke to a few inches on the ground that brought some brightness to the cloudy day and the birds hungry to the feeder.  After a bit of a lull it started up again and we had snow falling all afternoon.  Since it's Sunday and we had no place to go and not expecting any visitors it was quiet, lovely day to stay in, stay warm and enjoy the scenery out the window.  However, I did feel the need to get my outdoor duds on and tromp around the Pines with my camera.

The welcome stone as you enter our driveway.  The little spot behind it is a quiet place to enjoy in any weather.

I peeked around the fence to see how my animal neighbors were doing.  The chickens had already visited and scratched around the snow in the back yard.  I almost forgot my walking stick!

All was quiet and all the alpacas and Temp the horse were snug in the barn. Not long after this shot I heard the kiddos who live here sounding like they were sledding or just outdoors enjoying the snowfall. Their laughter is good medicine!

I tromped around to the back and had to snap a pic of my neighbor's barn on the other side of us.  I shouldn't covet my neighbors goods but I do love this barn! 

Last weekend my son Jack was over splitting wood and mentioned he really should get this trailer up and running. He got a super deal on it but really has no place for it at his home.  I lovingly call it my yard ornament and have taken many pics of it in all weather!  Good deal or not, it should be used or maybe he should just sell it for a good deal! Ha!

On a cold, snowy day a pot of bubbly chicken and dumplings hits the spot and warms the body and soul!

Throw in a homemade from scratch chocolate layer cake and it's a  homerun! I haven't tasted it yet so maybe it could be a "foul ball"!  Anyway, the house is warm as the wood furnace hums on, and darkness has settled in on this final day of the month.  As a side note, many have asked about my blog book and where I got it printed.  If you look on my blog page in the left hand corner you'll see the "Cutestblogontheblock" sign.  It's where I get my background pics.  They will make a blog book for you.  Just follow their directions and you can also eliminate any posts you don't want printed. Sharebook used to do some books also but I'm not sure if they still do. You can always just google blog books and I bet a million sites will show up.  I've just had good luck with cutest blog on the block site. Hope that helps. I'll say bye bye with my final photo that I played around with photo shopping.

A glowing scene of our homestead here at the Pines.  Good bye January.  You gave us a few surprises and I'm hoping that's the end of that nonsense for the year.....Hello February....a blank slate.  Night all!

A Few Surprises

 January in our neck of the woods can mean cold and snow.  However, looking back at old posts I'm a bit surprised to see that it's been more mild in this month than February. This month has been similar. Although a bit cold here and there.  We burn wood for heat and with Jack recouping I've taken a more active role with the wood burner and wood gathering.  I've learned more about how to keep it warm in the house than I ever wanted to know.  I found out quickly that it's easy to get burned if you don't watch out.

That will leave a mark...and that's no surprise! Yes I use long gloves but sometimes things just happen!

Anyway, Jack is doing better each day and is able to help more with the wood.  We do have a new furnace but wood is a good heat source when it's really cold out.  Our boys have been great with helping keep the wood split and ready for us.  Very grateful for that!  On a better note,  I was pleasantly surprised this week with the arrival of my blog book!

 It's always fun to get my blog in print and see it in a pretty book.  I use my blog as my journal and this year I put a dedication in it to my Mom.  I've given her books over the years and she always enjoyed getting them and reading about my life.  She didn't use the computer so this was a fun surprise for her.  I miss her and will miss sending out a copy her way. Hopefully she's seeing my life antics from the comfort of heaven!  A big surprise this past week was my sister making a quick trip here with her son, Bill.  He came to pick up Jordan's truck that they bought from him for their business.  He was originally going to drive from Chicago, get the truck, and drive back in the same day. But he surprised his Mom by telling her he would take her with after her dialysis treatment on Thursday and then they would stay over night and go home Friday morning.  We had a quick but fun visit.  I called my friend Kim who has Midge's puppy, Hope, and asked if we could come by and see her.  We did and it was so fun to see all the pups and Midge could hold little Hope and start to bond with her.  Then my nephew fell in love with one and he's getting Hope's sister and his family named this little girl Bella!

She looks a lot like her sister Hope but Bella has some white on her chest.  While we were there I noticed a tiny pup..the runt of the litter I guess , and my sister thinks we should get her. 

Her color is totally different than any of the other 14 from the litter.  She's red in color and pretty small. I'm just not sure if Arnold would like another dog in the house and I'm not sure I want to take on a pup. But the jury is still out so that means it could end up as a surprise in our house. My sister even thought of a good name for her.  Since her color is so red and fall is my favorite time of year.....Autumn would be a perfect name for this little gal.  Hmmm....still thinking!  So my nephew loaded up the truck:

Then we all sat down and had a nice dinner and fun conversation.  Well Midge and I had lots of talking to do! Bill headed up to bed and Jack retreated to the living room to let us yak the night away.  

It was a fun surprise and even if it was only for one night we had a good time.  Not sure if she'll make it out again for a bit and I'll probably take the pups to them at the end of February so we made the most of the time we had.  It's good to get surprises as long as they make you smile.  We've had a few in the last couple of months that haven't been so fun so you appreciate those small moments.  I hope everyone has a good week filled with good surprises.

Home Again With Hope

 It's been a week since Jack made the ER visit that landed him hospitalized once again.  On my last post we were going to surgery and hoping for a good scenario.  He did have lots of adhesions that caused a blockage in the small bowel. It wasn't just a band that needed snipped,  it was a whole belly full that took 3 hours to clean up. It's something that just happens as some folks heal.  We probably would never win a lottery but when it comes to the weird and unexplained we soar!  However, the surgeon was able to do this and not take any more bowel out which was the real concern. That could lead to a lifetime of challenges. They started out doing it with the laparoscope but Dr. M decided to make sure they were getting it all cleaned up and freeing the bowel so she opened.  Being at my previous workplace where everyone knows us was a comfort. I was allowed in the hospital and the staff came out and gave updates and even brought out photos of what they found. I'll spare you seeing those! I was so thankful for the good care Jack received and yesterday he came home.  He's pretty sore having his belly opened again is such a small time frame. He was just getting back to normal with work and every day things but he'll get there again. I'm just grateful for all the prayers and good thoughts again! Thanks everyone! Now on to healing, probably holding my breath every time he looks at me sideways!  In other news we did get a little snow last night which makes everything look bright and winter like.

This early morning shot suggests we might even get some sunshine today. Yesterday was sunny and that just lifts the spirits up.  Today we will again watch history being made as Washington gives another try at getting the country up and running with a new President.  Many are not happy but it is what it is and we as citizens in this great country need to be the best we can be in our communities and our homes and try and make good changes where needed.  I want to be part of the solution, not the problem.  This pandemic is still raging and with more vaccines being given perhaps that will help.  Like the change in leadership today, many are not happy...However here you have the choice to say yay or nay.  Me? I'm already on the list to get it sometime after February 8th.  So as this day unfolds I go back to my word for the year...HOPE.  Hope that there won't be any trouble with the inauguration today.  Hope we can come together as a nation and move in positive directions.  Hope that the pandemic will start to slow and the vaccines will be the solution.  Hope Jack continues to heal and get back to his real "normal"! To give a face to hope I'll share this photo:

This little lady is my sister's new dog.  My friends' dog had 14 puppies and Midge got this one and named her......HOPE! Hope was born in December so she won't be ready to go to her forever home until February and since she's here in Ashland my sister won't get to see her for a while.  I'll go out and play with her in a few weeks and give Midge more photos and videos.  My sister has been living alone since Mom passed away and dealing with her health issues hasn't been easy.  She has been wanting a dog and I promised that if anything happened to her I would take Hope.  However, her kids live near her and her one daughter and family live in the same neighborhood.  Her grandkiddos are as excited as she is to get Hope home. They will be a big help with the puppy.  So with that cute little face I'll say bye for today and  HOPEfully, it will be better days as the year marches on.

Same $#!+ Different Day

 Jack is back in the hospital.  He formed adhesions from his surgery and that caused a bowel obstruction.   We are in the hospital in Ashland... thankfully. It's where I worked so we know everyone. That's comforting but it's still stressful not really knowing how this will shake out. They were hoping it would clear up on it's own but that wasn't happening. Next best scenario is it's just a band of tissue that they can cut and free it up with no loss of bowel and doing it as a laparoscopy.  So prayers please and good thoughts welcome.  

Is It A Bird? Or A Plane? Nope, Just Blue Skies!

 We had lovely blue skies today...the sun was even visible!

Blue skies above the pines.  The temps were mild in the 30's.  Phil did come over and split wood. Jack and I did lend a hand.

Our son Phil loading the gator with wood to split.  He's been such a wonderful help to us these past months while Jack recoups.  Jack and I helped stack and run the splitter while Phil did the heavy lifting. It was so nice out that he didn't even need a coat and worked up a sweat in the 37de heat! Just being outdoors was a pleasure today.

Our neighbor's chickens enjoyed the sunshine too. They visit daily and enjoy the various selections of bugs...like ticks...eat up guys and gals!

Wait! One thing is not like the others...but do they care? Do they fight with him? Do they get upset over his different color? Hair style? Big ears? Nope. We could learn a few things here folks. Just sayin'. Plus Jack concluded that that's where we get Cadbury eggs. Hmmm.

Here's a pic of my attempt at homemade bagels. They are good! I'm going to make cinnamon raison next.  Just my way of bringing joy to the world...and it keeps me off the streets.

So as the sunsets slowly in west here at Whispering Pines I do hope next week is calmer in our country. I don't post political stuff but it's not because I have my head in the sand or don't care.  It's because I choose to keep my blog full of peace...quiet...and of course....HOPE.  Night all!

Week #1

 We're almost one week in on this new year. I thought I'd better blog something but really don't have a ton to write about.  I did get all the holiday decor down and put away and that always makes me think of projects we need to get done this year.  With Jack feeling better each day we'll soon be able to start to get a grip on those.  I have the itch to paint some walls.  I just have to decide on colors.  I don't want to change things a ton, just give things some brightening up.  Our snow has melted again and we did get some flakes yesterday but the worst thing is the grey skies!  Cloudy every day.  When it snows at least it brightens the outside a bit! I think we're suppose to have sun on Saturday and our son Phil is planning on coming out to help split wood again.  Just to be in the sun will have me helping! I finally got to my doctor for my usual checkup.  I have some projects to do there too! I went yesterday and had some x-rays and an ultrasound of my abdomen just to check on my aorta since my sister had an aortic aneurysm...my brother has one too...my doctor thought it would be good to see if I had one. Thankfully all is good! It's easy to put aside or "forget" to take care of ourselves.  Usually things end up more of a problem when we do that.  I ordered my blog book yesterday. Getting 2020 into print so it's not ever forgotten...even though it was rotten! I shouldn't be so harsh.  We did  have some good things happen and many blessings also. I need to remember to be grateful for all things..even trials that can teach us so much.  So that's all I've got. I read yesterday that the world is spinning a little faster.  I can agree with that so let's all hold on for the ride! Here's a little sign I bought a few years ago:

  Blessings for sure.

Almost Out Of Here

 2020 is coming to it's final hoorah.  I'm sure many are actually saying HOORAY! for this day.  I read my post from New Year's Eve 2019 and read the optimistic outlook for what I called "The Roaring 20's".  Never in my imagination did I think that statement of being roaring would be so dang true.  I always pick a word to focus on in the new year.  Last year it was CHANGE.  Again I never imagined how true that word became.  My sister's illness, surgery, kidney failure, and near death experience along with my dear Mother's falling and breaking her leg, rehab, eventual homecoming, and then her passing all made our family go through change in heartbreaking ways. My job as a  Surgical Technologist went through the changes that Covid 19 brought on.  Surgery was closed and we were reassigned to new areas and new job duties that were out of our comfort zone and, for my RN co-workers, scary as heck.  We missed our surgery "home" and friendly faces.  When we did get back the supplies were limited and we had to change a few things to help preserve them and yet keep working day to day.  In the early part of the pandemic I thought it was a bit over blown and figured it would be over soon.  Boy, I was wrong!  Soon masks were everywhere. No visitors in the hospital and nursing homes.  Not being with my Mom was the worst thing and really challenged her in her 90's to be separated from all she was familiar.  I'm glad she was able to come home and that she was able to be surrounded by loved ones, family faces, at her passing. We miss her every day.  I can't imagine how hard it would have been on Jack and I if I wasn't allowed to visit during his 17 day hospital stay.  The family being there during those stressful times can be a life saver.  When I used the word change for last year I was really focusing on my retirement plans.  I mentioned in that post I would go PRN and not truly retire. Well those plans changed as I found out I would be leaving money on the table if I did that.  So retire I did with the idea of going back in January.  That may not happen unless the hospital gives permission to have a PRN person in surgery.  So not sure about that in 2021.  I did learn many things from 2020.  I was reminded again how fragile life is and how quickly things can change.  I drew closer to God in so many ways even though Church was closed for a bit and we did more studying in our home. That was an eye opener.  You have to find your faith in Christ in yourself and not rely on others to supply it.  It's nice to have a Church meeting along with the good people who become a church family but truly you have to have your own testimony to rely on. I found out there were so many good people willing to offer up prayers in our behalf and then I was able to witness the power of those good thoughts and prayers.  Yes, I can say I have seen miracles preformed in 2020.  I have been blessed in 2020.  I have learned some wonderful lessons and have made decisions for the future that needed planned. My biggest lesson from this year for me was that "I CAN DO HARD THINGS"!  We all can when we put on our big girl..or boy, panties and get it done. So what's the word for 2021?  I'm choosing "HOPE". It's
hope in my heart that it will be a healing year for the world.  That the vaccines will indeed move us into a better place so we can gather with family and friends again.  I have hope that my sister will continue to improve as she has done since her illness happened...that a new kidney will happen for her.  I have hope for good health for Jack and I and our family.  I have hope that whatever comes our way in the new year, challenges or trials, that we can get through them with the help of God, the love of family, and the support from friends.  I wish everyone a very Happy New Year!

Making Merry!

 I've watched about every Scrooge movie there is this year. Jack and I have stayed in and not gathered with family like usual. This post won't be filled with photos of our gang making quite merry as Mr. Cratchet would have said.   Jack is doing quite well in his recovery but we decided not to push the envelope on Covid.  2020 has not been our best year in many ways. However, we did have a delightful day of quiet filled Christmas spirit. We opened gifts, ate good food, listened to beautiful music and watched a Christmas stocking full of Christmas movies. We watched snow fall gently and abundantly...7--8 inches...all day long.  I hope everyone has had a lovely day today.  I know there are many who did not and are struggling with feeling that Christmas Spirit. It's been a different year for sure. So I guess I'll just say: "Merry Christmas from our home to yours" and hopefully next Christmas will be better.  I will throw in a few pics though...sorry!

A few weeks ago this was the weather...sunny and 60de! Our son Phil came and split wood. See that pile to the side of him? Gone into nice split stacks and warming our home as I type. He's a sweetheart! Love this kiddo! 

Jack was even feeling good enough to come out and thank him and get a few rays! Notice he's wearing a heavy coat? He has lost a lot of weight and is cold quite often. But still getting better each day! 

I made a little change in my kitchen.  I moved the bench that was here and put my old singer as a desk for my laptop. I like it here!

The bench our son Jack made for me for Mother's day a few years ago is now in the foyer...come on in and sit a spell!

As the snow fell all night and day you can see the accumulation on the bird bath.  But we did have some entertainment watching the birds come to the feeder.

Like this little dude.  I went outside to get some snow off the feeder and it fell and broke open.  I scooped up as much of the seed as possible and put it on the deck railing until we can get a new one.

The broken feeder didn't stop them from enjoying some food on a very cold Christmas morning.

The cold didn't stop Arnie from enjoying the snow. He doesn't mind it at all. He loves to rub his face in it but as you can see it's up to his chest! 

This evening I made a couple of little peppermint milkshakes...yummy....

They helped make our spirits brighter! As Tiny Tim would say: "God Bless Us Everyone!"