Superbowl is Over

Not much of a football fan here, but usually watch for the new commercials and the half-time show.  Tonight I can say I actually got involved during the second half.  It was a close game and could have gone either way.  Congratulations to the Ravens!  Yet I always feel badly for the losing team who worked so hard and watched their dreams fade away.  And for both coaches to be brothers.  And their parents/sibling watching...what a position to be in.  

Still snowing, blowing and chilly here in Michigan.  But each day is one day closer to spring!!

Painting in on our agenda this week.  Our downstairs family room and game room has been dismantled and I can honestly say this is starting to get under my skin.   By Wednesday the ceilings and walls will be done and everything back in place!!! 

Tomorrow starts my third week of physical therapy trying to stave off shoulder replacement and the progress is slow!  Sure hoping this works!!

Hope everyone has a wonderful week coming up.

Copied from Country Girl (with my own answers, of course)

Copied from Country Girl (with my own answers, of course)

Day book entry 1-31-13

Outside my window it’s dark and cold.

I am thinking that I want to put a log in the fireplace and cuddle with an afghan and hot cocoa.

I am thankful for my wonderful life, with all my aches and pains.

From the kitchen come the sounds of the dish washer. Should have waited to put in the pie plate from cheery pie.  Oh well, there is tomorrow.

I am wearing Gray jeans, white sweater, thick warm socks and comfy loafers.

I am reading Cutting for Stone.  Great read.  Thought provoking.

I am going to talk to my hairdresser tomorrow and decide whether to continue covering the gray  or biting the bullet and letting is grow.  Decisions, decisions, decisions.  Any advice out there?

I am creating a mess in the family room and game room - spackling walls and getting ready to paint.

I am hoping that my husband does not have shingles.

I am hearing an unnamed moving calling me into the living room.

Around the room items on the to do list for tomorrow, return books to library, pick up stamps and mail letters.

One of my favorite things is spending time with my husband. 

A few plans for the rest of the week – hair tomorrow, surprise birthday party of Saturday and perhaps painting on Sunday while listening to the game.  Hubby is working.

Tomorrow is Friday - Happy Weekend everyone!!  Enjoy!!

Life is good - flowers are blooming - things are looking up!

My last X-rays showed signs of bone growth.  Another X-ray on Thursday.  Weight-bearing as tolerated - which isn't a lot.  But at least I have graduated from wheel chair to walker!!  Didn't get the cap, gown and cake, but it was a huge accomplishment for me.   

 My Physical Therapist is a real sweetheart!  So bubbly and such a dear.  We've mastered going outside and going up and down the stairs with the walker.   And most importantly, I have mastered (mostly) my fear of taking another tumble and messing things up again!   Exercises are going well and she is adding more things ever visit.  Which is good - each visit is a visit closer to NO WALKER!

 We've had a few days respite from the hot humid weather.   Sun shining and flowers are blooming...in spots at least.  I did note that I have lost  a few perennials and hope that they come back next year.  In my spin around the driveway I noticed that I have lots of weeding to do....not yet so I just close my eyes and look the other direction.

Amazingly, my roses are doing well - very well.    And truly the flowers have thrived on much neglect for the last four weeks.  I am lucky, very lucky.  Hoping this weekend to get out there and do some deadheading!

Still holding on and practicing patience.........I know my sweet hubby will be glad when I'm about to go and do like I used to....but not nearly as much as I.

Thanks for listening to me ramble.  This has been a real journey for me.........and one that I don't care to repeat.

Stay cool and enjoy the days!

Lighthouses and gentle breezes...

It's still a bit humid and hot outside.  Great day for inside projects - especially since I'm still wheelchair-bound!   And sorting through photos is a great way to pass the time!   I'll have an X-ray on Thursday which will determine how well (positive thinking!) things are healing and will determine whether I have another two or another four weeks of non-weight bearing status.   I've been practicing on my patience and being good - so I'm hoping for two weeks!!!!   It's been two weeks already.

 

These photos were taken on a trip to the Upper Peninsula.  My hubby and I are in love with lighthouses and waterfalls and never miss an opportunity for a quick trip to visit one.   I can only imagine how the lighthouse keepers spent their days and nights.   They had to be of such strong character and mind.  I am always reminded of the luxuries we so often take for granted and their life was not an easy life.  Would I be  strong as they were - I would hope so - but I wonder!

  It is a solitary life most of the time.  Such responsibility for lives and safety.  The breezes were not always gentle and I can only imagine the ice during those frigid winter months.  Must have seemed like an eternity at times.

All of the lighthouses are so different.  Some with more modern conveniences and some so rustic.  Can you imagine living in a lighthouse?  As I child I always thought it would be so much fun - as an adult...I admire those who did.

This one is in Traverse City, Michigan.  The red roof always draws me in.   If you are in the neighborhood, there is always so much to see and do in TC.

The ones which are located along miles of beach are so appealing.  They are truly beacons of light in the darkness.  Can you imagine being on a ship seeking the light to guide you safely in?  

I feel cooler already - those gentle breezes are so refreshing.  There is something so relaxing about being outdoors, hearing the water lap against the shore , rustling of the leaves and the smell of fresh air. 

Hope  you have enjoyed!

My Goodness - Such a Sticky Day Out There!

 It's another sticky warm day - 101 degrees at 11 a.m and I'm told the humidity felt that high was well.  Since I'm housebound for the time-being, I can only take someone else's word for it.   Physical Therapy came this morning and I was exhausted after a short while.   I've been doing real good but the last two days, lots of pain and discomfort.  They suggested I spend more time laying down and resting and that wasn't hard to do!       Hubby was working this afternoon, got up at 12:30 for a quick bite and the power went out.   Grinned, kissed him bye as he headed to fast food for lunch and went back to bed with my Nook.  This may be the longest short book is history ....I keep falling asleep!

Not sure what time the power came back on, I did briefly wake up as I felt the fan gently blowing a breeze in my bedroom............ah, so nice!  So nice I fell back asleep.

Finally got up for a bit, grabbed a bite to eat, caught up on emails, and Words with Friends (am I the only once addicted to this game?) and decided to sort through some pictures.  Today, the water pictures seems appropriate!   Oh, what we could do with a gentle soaking rain. We had predictions, some wind, television flickered, but that was about it.

Practicing patience........sometime I've never had an abundance of!   But I am thankful, so very thankful for all that I have been blessed with.  My heart goes out to those who are suffering this terrible heat without a method of cooling off, and for the many many who are having their crops and livelihood destroyed by this drought we are all suffering. 

My prayers is that it ends soon!!

In The Blink of an Eye - Plans Change

 These were some of the plants I was taking care of.  Some crepe myrtle had taken over a flower bed so I decided to pull it, rearrange flowers, put new edging down and breath a breath of fresh air into the existing bed in front of the house and to the side of the house.

I know this is a bad time of year to think about doing this type of activity, but unfortunately, that is how my mind works.  Plus with all the time watering during the drought I really started noticing how badly they needed work.   Two beds down and two to go - not bad.  Would give me something to do during the early morning hours and late evening hours - before the sun hit full.

Crepe Mrytle all pulled and that was a job!  Shovel a zillion loads (or so it seems) of mulch and took to the compost pile.  Dug up some of the plants and replanted into other locations or into pots for the "duration" of the project!

Then it happened - walking across the kitchen floor to fill a plastic bottle of drinking water and I fell - apparently tripped over my own feet!   Took me an hour to get up.  Doors locked, just me and the dog. Finally managed a poorly executed one-egged shuffle to the bedroom and collapsed on the bed thinking it would get better when I got over the excitement and got myself calmed down.  It was then that I realized I couldn't move my leg on it's own.  Long story short - trip to hospital, x-rays and cat scans, and diagnosis -broken hip.  Just got home and am trying to figure out which way to turn. I am lucky in that there is little displacement therefore they have recommended non-weight bearing for 4-6 weeks and we'll take it from there.  I'm thankful that at this point surgery is not required but very fearful as patience has never been in my vocabulary!!!  And am just now realizing what my limitations are.............arrrrrrrrrrrrrgggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

I know I am not the only person who has ever dealt with this - and I will survive it.    I've begun collecting books to read, pictures to scan and thinking this will be a good time to review plans for those flower beds since obviously this will now be a fall project!!!  

Ideas anyone?

Gerber Daisies

Every year I tell myself - "easy on the flowers".  Today I made a "quick" trip to Meijers and there calling my name through the plant garden were pot after pot of Gerber Daisies.   I don't know what it is about them, but I absolutely love them!   The colors are so vibrant and soft and happy, if flowers can be happy!  But alas, it is Michigan and we are still having freeze warnings.   I gathered up all my willpower and left them waiting for my return!

Check One off the "To Do" List!

The guest bathroom upstairs looked like this when we bought the house...and we knew at the time we would be making changes.   The color and design are pretty dated, don't you think?  It is a tiny bathroom but it does serve it's purpose.  I don't know what materials were used on the walls ..we took a sander to the wall to smooth them out.  The master bed/bathroom has a similar texture.  If anyone out there has any ideas (other than a sander) to smooth out the texture, please share!!!

This is the remodel (minus the picture being hung above the commode or a sconce with candle - still undecided).  Much cleaner, fresher and definitely updated.   Formica counter top replaced with granite and under-mount sink, new faucets, shower curtain and 13" porcelain tiles.


Feels good!!  I've already started one of the guest bedrooms.  My goal is to get these projects done before spring!!!  The master bed/bath will be my last project if my stamina (and my husband's patience) last!!  Wish me luck!

I'm linking up to Debbiedoo's Newbie Party!

25 Things

My 25 things

In no particular order:

1)    I love watermelon.

2)    I put up seven trees for Christmas.

3)    My birthday is 9/25.

4)    I love to watch old HGTV.  And why do home projects take more than 30 minutes like on TV?

5)    I’ll be 63 in just a few months.  Amazing, I went from 39 to 63 overnight.

6)    I once took a ride in a hot air balloon and it is one of my favorite memories.

7)    I’ve moved to a new state after living 30 years in the same house.  And I love it!!!

8)    I am technically challenged -  multiple remote controls drive me crazy.

9)    I talk mostly to my daughter and son, stepdaughter, and in-laws.   

10)  Fall is my favorite time of year! The colors make me happy in my heart!

11)  I love yellow and red - anything yellow and red.

12)  My favorite thing to make is ....reservations!

13)  Singing is not in my forte - not even in the shower.  And how I wish I could carry a tune.

14)  My hubby and I took dance lessons from Arthur Murray.  I'd love to continue.

15)  I listen to Eric Clapton, Michael Buble, Rod Steward  and  soft jazz on my Ipod.

16)  I am a news junkie.

17)  I love spending time with my grandkids!!!  They bring such joy to ordinary days!

18)  I love to play cards and games with my friends/family.

19)  I received a Nook for my last birthday and have yet to read a book on it.

20)  When my daughter comes to visit, we alway take a day to watch "Classic" movies.  FUN!

21)  My mom passed away this past September from complications of Alzheimers.  She had lived
       with us the last four years and I was her caregiver.   This house is lonely and I miss her terribly.

22)  My half sister and I are extremely close and yet we only got to know each other after she was 
        married.

24)  I fondly days, not hours, spent basking in the sun and getting that perfect tan.  Those were the  
       days when that was your biggest concern!

25)  I’ve always wanted to play the piano. Am I too old to learn?

Wow, that was much easier that I thought it would be.  I think I could go on an on.  Must be in one of those moods.  There are days when I sit down to write and my mind is blank!   One of my goals for the new year was to make regular entries on my blog - haven't followed through on that one yet!

Linking to: http://www.perfectlyimperfectblog.com
 25 things linky party @ Perfectly Imperfect

Cookbooks and Longaberger Baskets...

One project always leads to another, right?   In the midst of redoing bathroom, I found myself searching for a "special something" to hang in the bathroom.  In the process of searching I realized just how many cookbooks I have.  And Longaberger Baskets.  At one time the house I lived in had all the little nooks and crannies that perfectly displayed the baskets.  Since I've been in this house, the only baskets displayed at in the kitchen.  And I'm ashamed to say how many cookbooks I have.  Some are like new -  collected, not used - and it is hard to part with them.   However, with the internet being so easy to look up recipes, what is a person to do.

How many is too many?  Am I the only one who seems to collect them?  What do you do with yours and how many do you have?

The weather is delightful...

We finally have our first snowfall (measurable one) of the season and it is absolutely beautiful outside.  Our abode is in a wooded area and the branches on the trees are just glistening.   I love, love, love the first snowfall of the year!!  The time between the splendor of the autumn colors and the first snowfall is long...very long...and so blah!

Many life changes have occurred in our family the past four months.  My mom passed away  the end of September after a long journey with Alzheimer's.  We were fortunate in that we were able to keep her at home with us the entire time.  She was such a lovely lady and we were so blessed to have her touch our lives.  The first Christmas was empty without her presence.  We lost our dog and faithful companion just two weeks before Christmas.  So we are adjusting to our new "normal".  Life goes on and I keep reminding myself of all that we have to be thankful for.   That being said, it's been rather lonely at times.

Christmas decorations are down and as much as I love the trees (we had three big ones and four little ones for each grandchild), it is nice to see the open space and freshness as we begin to welcome a new season.   Just three months until spring weather!!!

I haven't decided whether I will go back to work or not.  Thought I would see how the winter does and then decide.   There are many, many projects that I've put off for a while.   First one we are tacking is a redo of the guest bathroom.  Installer is coming this afternoon to measure.  New counter top is sitting in the bedroom floor.  This weekend will be spent removing border (yes, it's been there for a while) and sanding walls from the texture paint that was applied when the house was built.  (We bought this house six years ago and just moved in four years ago.  Mom was with us so we did the minimum updates to keep things as calm as possible.)  Have the paint color picked out - now do I paint before or after the floor is installed?   What is your opinion?  I see pros and cons to both.

This post is all over the place so bear with me.  I need one of those shirts this morning that says "I'm talking and I can't shut up!". 

I was watching the Today show this morning and saw Kathie Lee Gifford do the hula-hoop for what I thought was a long time.   Do you remember the days when we did that for hours as kids?  Well, I happen to have one in the garage so I ran out and tried it - couldn't even begin to make it happen!!  When was the last time you tried it?  Can you still do it?

I've lived in two homes my entire married life(s) (I'm 39 and holding!) and just noticed that coming down the stairs this morning, there are 13 stairs.  The same number of stairs that was in my home in Illinois.  I've always considered 13 to be my lucky number, but the same number of stairs in each home just dawned on me this morning.  I'm wondering - is that a standard number or just a fluke?  Do you have stairs?  How many?

I didn't do New Year's Resolutions this year - I've compiled Projects for the New Year!  Mine include the bathroom redo, painting two bedrooms, and if I can talk the honey into it, redoing our master bathroom.  Scanning the scads of pictures I have in the closet, scanning/sorting the boxes of 35 mm slides that belonged to my parents, viewing the old VHS tapes and putting onto DVD's.  Oh yes, getting into shape.  We have an "exercise room" that until yesterday was a dumping ground.  It is now nice and clean and ready for use!  My goal is to use the treadmill and lose about 20 pounds.  Anyone care to go on this journey with me?  For so long, my care-giving duties provided an excuse not to tackle this goal...now it's just me and the mirror! 

And most importantly, I want to become more active in blogging, getting more followers and developing my blog into one that everyone enjoys reading.  Any suggestions are welcome.   I feel like I'm taking a long breath and starting all over again.

Hoping you are having a wonderful day!!!

Happy New Year!!

 

And may your New Year be filled with love, laughter and memories to last a lifetime!!

Thanksgiving.

A time for reflection of all that we have....freedoms that come at great sacrifices.  Blessings of family and friends.  Prayers for strength and forgiveness during challenging times.  The grace to hold it together when you are falling apart on the inside.  Despite anger and hurt, to take the higher road and do the right thing.  And the ability to forgive and in doing so, be able to move forward.

Nothing like a warm fall day spent at Meijer Gardens!

This week is heavenly weather - in the 70's and then the forecast is back to "normal" October weather.  Keep in mind this is Michigan - stick around for 15 minutes and the weather will change!  Mums are everywhere, sun felt warm on your face.  Amazingly, it was not crowded at all!  Great day for exercising and taking lots of pictures!

Hope everyone is enjoying the sunshine...while it lasts!!

My favorite time of year!

 There is color everywhere and it absolutely takes your breath away!   Today was almost 80 degrees....it just can't get any better.  Now if it would only stay this way until April or May...well, we can always dream!

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!!!

Rest in Peace

Tomorrow we will say our final good-bye to my mom.  She was such a lovely lady and beautiful person.  Sleep doesn't come tonight - so many thoughts swirling though my head.  I miss her so much.  She fought a hard battle with Alzheimers and in the end, cradled by those she loved and who loved her, she peacefully slipped away.  To a better place I know.   My head and my heart are in such conflict.

Reach out to all that are still here and love them, hold them, touch them......while you can!

Rest in peace, mom.  You will always be in my heart.

Remembering 9-11-2001

 

I remember the events of 9-11-2001 and it still brings chills just thinking about it.  Today we visited The Healing Fields and it is an amazing tribute to those brave men, women and children who lost their lives on that horrific day.   There were 3,200 flags displayed with a brief bio of all but 200 (those have not been identified as of this date).   It was impossible, both physically and emotionally, to read all of the bios.   A beautiful ceremony was given in their honor and I left with a sadness in my heart for them, their families and loves ones, and for our country.   Also, a renewed faith that our country will continue to be strong!

I'm linking with Mary at Little Red House for Mosaic Monday.  It's been a while since I've been able to join her.

Meet Breann Nicole!

This is our two-week old new grandbaby - Breann Nicole.  And she was born on her Grandpa's birthday - yes, we are very excited to welcome her.   Such a perfect little bundle of joy!  And that hair - isn't it amazing!

What happened to the weather?

Goodness, what a brisk fall day.   It was difficult to drag myself out from under the covers this morning.  Windows were open last night so that we could listen to the "critters" and the soft breezes.....well, even the "critters" were too chilly to chirp this morning!

This Labor Day is the first, ever, that we haven't had a get-together or a project to at least begin.  Hubby purchased a new I-Pod for him and a Nook for my for my upcoming birthday....so as you might guess, the day was spent putzing and playing with the new toys.   The search is on for a handy dandy cover for the Nook Color.  Does anyone have any recommendations?   He is the computer savy one in this family - and thankfully he enjoys figuring these gadgets out! 

What did you do on this Labor Day?   Hope everyone enjoyed!!!

This is the face of an Unhappy Camper!!

Thought it was a tad stuffy at zero-dark-hundred.  Jumped up and went in the living room to cool off.  Leather furniture always feels cool when one is blessed with those lovely "Power Surges"  from hell, as that condition is not-so-lovingly referred to in this household!

Things just weren't cooling down as they should....guess what?  On this lovely Michigan day, when the weather is nearing recording-breaking temps again....the air conditioner apparently decided to revolt!   Must be male because nobody else could possibly find the humor in that! 

So the motto for today is "When life gives you lemons - make Vodka Lemonade!"

(Not really, but it sounded good!)  

I'll just wait impatiently for the repairman with a tall glass of peach tea - that is more my speed.

Hope everyone has a wonderful AND COOL day!!!