This was certainly an interesting weekend. Not only was it out 58th annual Watermelon Festival, it was also out 45th class reunion.
Friday night Ann and I went to the mixer after I had dinner with the group of Women I've been joining lately on Fridays at a local restaurant.
When we got there it was in full swing. It's really a hoot to see a bunch old folks with a snoot full acting like they are 18 again! We only stayed a couple of hours, but it was fun. The only thing was I guess we're all getting hard of hearing and everybody talked so loud! I really couldn't hear a thing that was said and my ears rang for hours after I got home.
When I got home the puppies had shredded several magazines all over the house. What a mess!
Saturday morning Nancy came over and we did the Watermelon Breakfast at the Farmers and Merchants Bank. Quite a spread...eggs, country bacon and country sausage, grits, biscuits/jelly, orange juice and coffee. Well worth the $5!
After breakfast Nancy and I went looking for mimosa seedlings. We found 4 really good ones and dug them up. Nancy's wanting to fill her front yard with them. Then we came back to my house and sat on the front porch and drank coffee and watched the traffic go by. And, I mean to tell you there was TRAFFIC! The population of our town triples or better for the festival each year and between the vendors set up all over town (in the streets) and the parade (over 100 entrants) and the gazillion people walking everywhere it was almost impossible to drive any where! After we dug the mimosas up we had to go back through Aucilla and then west on 90 to get back here! Amazing!
Saturday night was our class reunion dinner. We all met at 5:30 and it started with cocktails and once again lots of noise. We had a fantastic prime rib dinner at 7:00 and some class business and lots more visiting afterwards. When the live music started at 9:00 I tried to quietly slip out, but got caught. Had to explain about pooping puppies, etc. in order to get out. It was fun.
Sunday morning was filled with chores (laundry, floors, etc.). Around 2:00 I had just finished cleaning out the refrigerator and the phone rang. It was the Leon County sheriff's office calling to tell me that they were transporting my sister to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital with a back injury. Talk about setting me into a panic! I had talked with her a couple of hours earlier and a tree had fallen across her driveway in the storm and she was trying to get in touch with her neighbor (neighbor's tree). Well, I figured she had hurt her back trying to do something with the tree. Anyway, the fellow that called told me to go to Nancy's neighbor's house and get Nancy's keys and then go to the emergency room. He said he had no information other than it was a back injury and they were transporting her.
Well, getting from here to the emergency room is a total blur, but I changed clothes, got the keys and got back across Tallahassee in 45 minutes (it usually takes 30ish minutes to get to her house from here!). She was on a gurney in the hall rolled on her side facing the wall with an iv going when I got there. It seems that she was trying to get a rug out from under a large marble topped chest while sitting on the floor in front of it. This chest had a 6' solid oak, antique mirror resting on it, but also attached to the wall. Well, a good jerk of the rug topples the mirror off of the wall and smashed down on Nancy! Luckily she had her phone with her and was able to call 911! (She was waiting on a call from her neighbor about the tree!). They had given her morphine in the ambulance and then had injected something for pain in the iv shunt, so she was pretty out of it when I got there. A while after I got there they did x-rays and later 2 CAT scans. It turns out that there are no breaks and no damage to her liver or spleen, thank goodness, just deep bruising. I took her home (picked up some supper and 2 prescriptions on the way), made some calls for her and got her settled in. I stayed with her long enough to make sure she had her land legs back and came home.
Got home at 9:10 to another house full of shredded magazines and puppy poop. Everything I'd taken out of the refrigerator to toss was still sitting on the counter in the kitchen and there were no sheets back on the bed. I tossed the puppies out and tackled their mess first, then the refrigerator stuff and then had to take the garbage out to the road! Put sheets on the bed and collapsed!
Talked with Nancy a little while ago and she's doing okay. Very sore and stiff and uncomfortable, but okay! Thank goodness!
Didn't go to work today. I feel like the mirror fell on me!
Monday, June 23, 2008
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Mother again
Well, it seems that Mother has recovered from most of the symptoms of the TIA she had Monday night. After doing a lot of reading about TIAs it seems the affects usually only last 24 hours. That's a good thing, but often they are the precursor to a larger stroke. She'll be watched. They found that she's also suffering from a major bladder infection...she's now on antibiotics.
Nancy found out yesterday when she went to see Mother that Bert told the nursing home "no more physical therapy". So that means Medicare will no longer cover her stay. A semi-private room is $203.00 a day. Not sure what we'll end up doing...that's not affordable.
Nancy found out yesterday when she went to see Mother that Bert told the nursing home "no more physical therapy". So that means Medicare will no longer cover her stay. A semi-private room is $203.00 a day. Not sure what we'll end up doing...that's not affordable.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Mother
I just got home from seeing Mother. It seems she had a "mini-stroke" (they called it something with initials...can't remember what they are) during the night. She is having a terrible time finding words, bad hand to mouth coordination and her vision has been impacted in an odd way, it's almost like certain random spots of vision are blotted out. Her right foot is bothering her. When I got there today she was dressed and in her wheelchair sitting outside her room door. She was very quiet and still, almost lethargic, very unlike the agitated state she's often in. I think they had her there so they could keep an eye on her. Both her aide and another one were within 2' of her, even while I was in her room with her.
Before leaving town this morning I stopped at Tupelo's and got two huge slices of their wonderful quiche and went next door to Miladies and got her a pink t-shirt that has a picture of a queen on it and says something like "you who think you know everything really bother those of us who do know everything".
Got to the nursing home a little before noon and found Mother in the hall. Took her into her room and said we were having a quiche picnic. Had to open her gift for her...(Barbara had wrapped the t-shirt in paper with a magnolia print and beautiful sagey green ribbon), she liked it. She ate most of her quiche, but unless I put in on her fork and put the fork in her hand she wanted to use her fingers. It was too big to pick up so it finally dawned on me to break it into chunks that she could pick up. DUH, I feel so dumb when the obvious is slow to dawn! I stayed about 2 hrs., left her watching Mr. Roger's Neighborhood and she loved it and was okay.
You know, this feels like losing her pieces at a time.
Tomorrow RM will be 43. Impossible!!!!!
The damn puppies are determined to dig up the shrubbery I've planted out back. The 1 poor Knock Out rose is really looking poorly! And they are undermining one of the Loropetalums. Sooo, last night in pure desperation I liberally sprinkles about 2 cups of red pepper flakes around all of the new plantings in the back and in the mud mire they've made of my herb garden and let the puppies out. They immediately ran to the line of bushes and started licking the pepper flakes. Licked them pretty good, then all of a sudden started running around with their tongues out and then drank a lot of water! Then the i-dots went and did it again! The 3rd time they headed that way it was with great caution and they stopped short of the bed, stretched their necks out, sniffed and ran to the herb garden. Their encounter there was similar, but shorter and only once. Who says you can't teach idiot puppies!
Before leaving town this morning I stopped at Tupelo's and got two huge slices of their wonderful quiche and went next door to Miladies and got her a pink t-shirt that has a picture of a queen on it and says something like "you who think you know everything really bother those of us who do know everything".
Got to the nursing home a little before noon and found Mother in the hall. Took her into her room and said we were having a quiche picnic. Had to open her gift for her...(Barbara had wrapped the t-shirt in paper with a magnolia print and beautiful sagey green ribbon), she liked it. She ate most of her quiche, but unless I put in on her fork and put the fork in her hand she wanted to use her fingers. It was too big to pick up so it finally dawned on me to break it into chunks that she could pick up. DUH, I feel so dumb when the obvious is slow to dawn! I stayed about 2 hrs., left her watching Mr. Roger's Neighborhood and she loved it and was okay.
You know, this feels like losing her pieces at a time.
Tomorrow RM will be 43. Impossible!!!!!
The damn puppies are determined to dig up the shrubbery I've planted out back. The 1 poor Knock Out rose is really looking poorly! And they are undermining one of the Loropetalums. Sooo, last night in pure desperation I liberally sprinkles about 2 cups of red pepper flakes around all of the new plantings in the back and in the mud mire they've made of my herb garden and let the puppies out. They immediately ran to the line of bushes and started licking the pepper flakes. Licked them pretty good, then all of a sudden started running around with their tongues out and then drank a lot of water! Then the i-dots went and did it again! The 3rd time they headed that way it was with great caution and they stopped short of the bed, stretched their necks out, sniffed and ran to the herb garden. Their encounter there was similar, but shorter and only once. Who says you can't teach idiot puppies!
Saturday, June 14, 2008
More Gardening
Yesterday I was up around 4:30 and waited forever for enough light out to see what I was doing. I planted 4/3 gal. red Knock Out roses, 3/3 gal. Radican gardenias and a 5 gal. oakleaf hydrangea in the bed out front where the nasty lantanas were. They look great! I moved 5/3 gal. pots of loropetalum and 1/3 gal. red Knock Out to the area in back where the aspidistra was and called it a day for planting! It was mighty hot by now!
Today I stayed in bed until 5:30 and got the paper in and made coffee and marked time until the light came. Then I planted the loropetalums and the Knock Out, but both that area and the one I did yesterday out front looked unfinished. So I dashed to town and bought 5/3 cu. ft. bags of cypress mulch. I parked in front and wouldn't you know it, the five bags were one short of covering the area! So I dashed back to town and bought 6 more bags. I finished the front area and the back with one bag left over. There are a ton of places that could use it, but I think I'll probably try to cover the mud pit the puppies made of the herb bed...that sure would help the tracked in mud problem!
Today's newspaper has gone to the garden. It sure is looking good, except for the little weeds that are sprouting everywhere. I'm really looking forward to tomorrows paper as it will cover lots more area!
Nancy came over and we went to Sage for lunch. I brought home enough left overs that I don't have to worry about supper!
Oh, met the group of older ladies for supper again last night. There were 8 of us (we each brought a bottle of wine) and we ate outside. It was great fun! I was asked to join the Founders Garden Circle. I'm told that's a great honor. I think I will join.
Just went out to glance at the plantings out back and found Maggie head down, butt up digging up the Knock Out. I scared her to death, I hope, and got it squared away again. Damn dogs.
The paper said 70 percent chance of rain today. I hope it hurries.
Today I stayed in bed until 5:30 and got the paper in and made coffee and marked time until the light came. Then I planted the loropetalums and the Knock Out, but both that area and the one I did yesterday out front looked unfinished. So I dashed to town and bought 5/3 cu. ft. bags of cypress mulch. I parked in front and wouldn't you know it, the five bags were one short of covering the area! So I dashed back to town and bought 6 more bags. I finished the front area and the back with one bag left over. There are a ton of places that could use it, but I think I'll probably try to cover the mud pit the puppies made of the herb bed...that sure would help the tracked in mud problem!
Today's newspaper has gone to the garden. It sure is looking good, except for the little weeds that are sprouting everywhere. I'm really looking forward to tomorrows paper as it will cover lots more area!
Nancy came over and we went to Sage for lunch. I brought home enough left overs that I don't have to worry about supper!
Oh, met the group of older ladies for supper again last night. There were 8 of us (we each brought a bottle of wine) and we ate outside. It was great fun! I was asked to join the Founders Garden Circle. I'm told that's a great honor. I think I will join.
Just went out to glance at the plantings out back and found Maggie head down, butt up digging up the Knock Out. I scared her to death, I hope, and got it squared away again. Damn dogs.
The paper said 70 percent chance of rain today. I hope it hurries.
Friday, June 13, 2008
My new watch
You may remember my favorite watch, multi-colored beaded triple strand band with animal charms. Well, it's about to hit the dust. Some days it works, some days it doesn't. It was used when a friend of mine found it in a thrift shop years and years ago and said she saw it and knew it was me! I took it in to have a new battery put in, but they said it's not the battery, it's age...just like me! I sure will miss it! The really good news is I did a major search on the internet and found a gazillion sites for beaded watches. I looked at them for days and found a watch. It's wonderful! Green glass leaves that move with my movement and make a little tinkling sound. But the best part is the little glass lady bug nestled among the leaves. The craftsmanship is excellent and the watch so pretty! The site: www.craftsmyths.com you owe it to yourself to look at the wonderful things they make...not just watches.
Just earlier this week I was complaining about how dry it was...well, now it's just the opposite. We have gotten rain every afternoon and evening for 3 days now with the same in the forecast for the next week. The area in the back where I had the aspidistra taken out is a mire and the puppies have made it their favorite spot. The only thing in the house that isn't muddy so far is my chair and I guard it like a hawk...after all where would I sleep while I watch tv if not my chair?
Just earlier this week I was complaining about how dry it was...well, now it's just the opposite. We have gotten rain every afternoon and evening for 3 days now with the same in the forecast for the next week. The area in the back where I had the aspidistra taken out is a mire and the puppies have made it their favorite spot. The only thing in the house that isn't muddy so far is my chair and I guard it like a hawk...after all where would I sleep while I watch tv if not my chair?
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Bits of this and that
I'm posting this morning from my Thursday job. Not much to do yet, however HWB tells me that there will be some things to do later...hope so...just sitting KILLS me!
Got a call from Bert this morning. He said the nursing home called him early in the evening last night to tell him that Mother fell out of her wheelchair, but was okay except for a skinned knee and there was no need for him to come over. Every time I visit her lately she tells me that she can walk. Bert said that yesterday she actually stood up by herself from the wheelchair. We think she was probably trying to walk when she fell.
Got a call from Bert this morning. He said the nursing home called him early in the evening last night to tell him that Mother fell out of her wheelchair, but was okay except for a skinned knee and there was no need for him to come over. Every time I visit her lately she tells me that she can walk. Bert said that yesterday she actually stood up by herself from the wheelchair. We think she was probably trying to walk when she fell.
Saturday, June 07, 2008
I have planted!
Yesterday I planted my garden. It's awfully late in the season to be planting and awfully hot & dry, but I had the bedding plants (and had started some seeds) and had a tilled plot and a day off from work...so what the heck! I did it!
I ran out to the office rather early Friday morning and planted some annuals and a few pots of perennials, checked on the 4 dogwood trees I'm tending and checked the planters I planted on Thursday (Jasmine on a trellis with salmon colored impatiens underneath/2 planters) and was home by 8:30! Then the real fun began! I put out 18 peppers: ceyenne, jalapeno, banana, red bell and green bell, I think that's all, 18 tomatoes: cherry, big boy, some hybrid I can't remember and a bunch that Nancy's neighbor's father started in a cup. Then I put out some green beans (once again the name eludes me, but they're another hybrid and are somewhere between being a bush bean and a pole bean...should be interesting!) and some straight neck yellow squash. I started both the beans and the squash only 1 1/2 weeks ago and they're 6-8" tall already with true leaves! The beans sprouted and came up so fast that I covered them with an inch of soil 3 times! I also put out some basil, parsley and spearmint. I have some cucumbers blooming their heads off in a hanging thing on the fence...unfortunately, the foliage is almost as yellow as the blossoms! Think I need to feed?
I finally planted the banana tree I got a week or so ago and it really seems appreciative. It's not in the garden plot.
I had the plot tilled in an area that gets full sun from early until about 3:30 or 4 and so far the hand watering I've done twice a day seems to be enough. Our current temp is 96.3 degrees and I sure hope this isn't an omen for the summer.
I met Nancy this morning at 10 til 7 and we went to the Village Inn for breakfast. I had the most wonderful bacon and mushroom omelet topped with holaindaise(sp) sauce, hash browns cooked to perfection and 3 fluffy, luscious pancakes! Ate about all of it!
Then I went to see Mother. Took her a biscuit and sausage, but she didn't eat it...nibbled at it a bit. She was in a rather difficult mood. I only stayed an hour.
Went to Big Lots and went slightly nuts...my best buy was a 45 gal. garbage can on big wheels! It actually fit into the back seat of my little car with floor room to spare. Pretty good!
I've been reading so much about how to extend your gas mileage. There are a few of the things I was already doing like not parking so you have to back out and avoiding left hand turns, etc., but I really thought the bit about coasting was hog wash, well, I've been coasting for a few weeks now and I really can tell a difference. As of today gas is still $4.09.9 a gallon here, but it seems that it goes up on Mondays...we'll see. I got gas in Tallahassee today for $3.97.9 and was thrilled!
The dogs are sound asleep under my chair in a wad and so cute and sweet. I'll have to be so careful not to wake them when I get up from here, they turn into hellions!
I ran out to the office rather early Friday morning and planted some annuals and a few pots of perennials, checked on the 4 dogwood trees I'm tending and checked the planters I planted on Thursday (Jasmine on a trellis with salmon colored impatiens underneath/2 planters) and was home by 8:30! Then the real fun began! I put out 18 peppers: ceyenne, jalapeno, banana, red bell and green bell, I think that's all, 18 tomatoes: cherry, big boy, some hybrid I can't remember and a bunch that Nancy's neighbor's father started in a cup. Then I put out some green beans (once again the name eludes me, but they're another hybrid and are somewhere between being a bush bean and a pole bean...should be interesting!) and some straight neck yellow squash. I started both the beans and the squash only 1 1/2 weeks ago and they're 6-8" tall already with true leaves! The beans sprouted and came up so fast that I covered them with an inch of soil 3 times! I also put out some basil, parsley and spearmint. I have some cucumbers blooming their heads off in a hanging thing on the fence...unfortunately, the foliage is almost as yellow as the blossoms! Think I need to feed?
I finally planted the banana tree I got a week or so ago and it really seems appreciative. It's not in the garden plot.
I had the plot tilled in an area that gets full sun from early until about 3:30 or 4 and so far the hand watering I've done twice a day seems to be enough. Our current temp is 96.3 degrees and I sure hope this isn't an omen for the summer.
I met Nancy this morning at 10 til 7 and we went to the Village Inn for breakfast. I had the most wonderful bacon and mushroom omelet topped with holaindaise(sp) sauce, hash browns cooked to perfection and 3 fluffy, luscious pancakes! Ate about all of it!
Then I went to see Mother. Took her a biscuit and sausage, but she didn't eat it...nibbled at it a bit. She was in a rather difficult mood. I only stayed an hour.
Went to Big Lots and went slightly nuts...my best buy was a 45 gal. garbage can on big wheels! It actually fit into the back seat of my little car with floor room to spare. Pretty good!
I've been reading so much about how to extend your gas mileage. There are a few of the things I was already doing like not parking so you have to back out and avoiding left hand turns, etc., but I really thought the bit about coasting was hog wash, well, I've been coasting for a few weeks now and I really can tell a difference. As of today gas is still $4.09.9 a gallon here, but it seems that it goes up on Mondays...we'll see. I got gas in Tallahassee today for $3.97.9 and was thrilled!
The dogs are sound asleep under my chair in a wad and so cute and sweet. I'll have to be so careful not to wake them when I get up from here, they turn into hellions!
Monday, June 02, 2008
Yard progress
The young fellow who's doing my yard clean up has worked on it for 3 full days! Bless his heart it's so very hot and dry right now and the main part of the yard is full sun almost all day. I do have good heavy hedges on 3 sides and those usually are quite shady and that's where most of the work is. Saturday he hauled off 8 trailer loads and today several more! He took out all of the Lantana and the Aztec grass...it's wonderful seeing all of that gone. Tomorrow he'll clean the roof and tidy up a bit and then he's done. Nice guy and very good at what he's doing.
I went to a graveside service for the mother of a long time friend of mine this afternoon at 3 o'clock. The cemetery is in an old pine grove and is beautiful...but it was hot! There was an occasional small breeze, enough to make you acutely aware of just how hot you were! There was a very large turn out and I saw people I hadn't seen in 45 or more years! Saw lots of folks that I've seen more recently. It was very much a reunion of sorts! and I rather enjoyed it.
Stopped on the way home and got a pint of butter pecan ice cream. There's something about a funeral that makes me feel the need to "do it now, who knows about tomorrow"!
I went to a graveside service for the mother of a long time friend of mine this afternoon at 3 o'clock. The cemetery is in an old pine grove and is beautiful...but it was hot! There was an occasional small breeze, enough to make you acutely aware of just how hot you were! There was a very large turn out and I saw people I hadn't seen in 45 or more years! Saw lots of folks that I've seen more recently. It was very much a reunion of sorts! and I rather enjoyed it.
Stopped on the way home and got a pint of butter pecan ice cream. There's something about a funeral that makes me feel the need to "do it now, who knows about tomorrow"!
Sunday, June 01, 2008
Dog Days of Spring
The computer shows 93 degrees as out current temperature, but the thermometer on the carport in the shade is showing 95 degrees! Whichever is correct, it's HOT!!! Our humidity is in the mid 70%, I guess it could be worse! Week before last I had to wear a sweater on the way to work as it was in the 40's. This morning I went out at 7:30 to rake out the new garden plot and had to come in at 9ish. The humidity was higher and it was in the 80's!
When I came in I got on the computer and began a new posting to my blog. Lost it when the power went out around 10:00. Power was back up in about 5 minutes, but I was already away from the computer. Tried again to post around 1:30 this afternoon...almost made it, but, you guessed it, the power went out. This time it was out for a little over an hour. I put a batch of sun tea out on the patio and camped out on the front porch. There was a lovely little breeze the entire time and I read the Sunday paper from cover to cover and did the crossword. I missed the power coming back on and was only aware of it when the phone rang. That was a nice little break! I think it's going out due to usage being mighty high.
Speaking of high, I got gas Thursday morning at the station I mainly use and paid $4.09.9 per gallon! On my way into work that same station had it for $3.99.9. It went up that much in 3 hours! The week before at the same place I was paying around $3.79.9. Wow!
I have some pork spareribs in the oven. Was going to do them on the grill, but it's just too dang hot!
I have the thermostat for the A/C set on 78 degrees, but it sure does run more often than I'd like.
I went to see Mother yesterday morning early. She was still asleep when I got there at 8AM. I woke her when I knocked on her door. She was so clear and sane and pleasant...I exhaled! I'd picked up a couple of country sausage biscuits at the meat locker on my way out of town and we both enjoyed them! Her breakfast came as we were polishing them off so she drank her milk and ate her bacon from the tray. We visited for over an hour. When I got there I told her that I had a 9:30 appointment across town and to not let the time slip up on me. Reminded her several times throughout the visit and when I did leave she was perfectly fine with it. Nicest visit we've had in a while.
I met Nancy at the hair dressers about 15 til 10. Popped in, said "hi" and went next door to Publix and got my shopping done. Popped in once more and said "bye"! Had time to put groceries away, walk in the yard with dogs and of course, picked up poop.
Then Nancy got here. She's no longer a red head. At the moment she's a med. brown/blond with honey colored highlites. It needs to be cut a little shorter as it really will not spike. I had mine cut again yesterday for the same reason.
When she was here Thursday she bought a nice, comfortable 4-piece patio set at the Humane Society pulled pork dinner and was to pick it up Saturday. The plan was for both of us to go get it and what couldn't fit in her car could stay here until she could get it. We both have little Hondas. Anyway, we got there and she and a couple of the ladies took the legs off of the table and with a bunch of trial and error got it all in her car. A love seat bench thing (with a back), a round dining table and two dining chairs! All in her Honda! Amazing!
Then we went a ate lunch and she went West and I went East.
It was a tired evening.
When I came in I got on the computer and began a new posting to my blog. Lost it when the power went out around 10:00. Power was back up in about 5 minutes, but I was already away from the computer. Tried again to post around 1:30 this afternoon...almost made it, but, you guessed it, the power went out. This time it was out for a little over an hour. I put a batch of sun tea out on the patio and camped out on the front porch. There was a lovely little breeze the entire time and I read the Sunday paper from cover to cover and did the crossword. I missed the power coming back on and was only aware of it when the phone rang. That was a nice little break! I think it's going out due to usage being mighty high.
Speaking of high, I got gas Thursday morning at the station I mainly use and paid $4.09.9 per gallon! On my way into work that same station had it for $3.99.9. It went up that much in 3 hours! The week before at the same place I was paying around $3.79.9. Wow!
I have some pork spareribs in the oven. Was going to do them on the grill, but it's just too dang hot!
I have the thermostat for the A/C set on 78 degrees, but it sure does run more often than I'd like.
I went to see Mother yesterday morning early. She was still asleep when I got there at 8AM. I woke her when I knocked on her door. She was so clear and sane and pleasant...I exhaled! I'd picked up a couple of country sausage biscuits at the meat locker on my way out of town and we both enjoyed them! Her breakfast came as we were polishing them off so she drank her milk and ate her bacon from the tray. We visited for over an hour. When I got there I told her that I had a 9:30 appointment across town and to not let the time slip up on me. Reminded her several times throughout the visit and when I did leave she was perfectly fine with it. Nicest visit we've had in a while.
I met Nancy at the hair dressers about 15 til 10. Popped in, said "hi" and went next door to Publix and got my shopping done. Popped in once more and said "bye"! Had time to put groceries away, walk in the yard with dogs and of course, picked up poop.
Then Nancy got here. She's no longer a red head. At the moment she's a med. brown/blond with honey colored highlites. It needs to be cut a little shorter as it really will not spike. I had mine cut again yesterday for the same reason.
When she was here Thursday she bought a nice, comfortable 4-piece patio set at the Humane Society pulled pork dinner and was to pick it up Saturday. The plan was for both of us to go get it and what couldn't fit in her car could stay here until she could get it. We both have little Hondas. Anyway, we got there and she and a couple of the ladies took the legs off of the table and with a bunch of trial and error got it all in her car. A love seat bench thing (with a back), a round dining table and two dining chairs! All in her Honda! Amazing!
Then we went a ate lunch and she went West and I went East.
It was a tired evening.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
New hairdo
Saturday I was transformed...well, at least my hair was. I now have white-blond hair with dark blond roots and it's rather "punk"...sticks up in lots of places. It's a fun do and elicits lots of comments. Nancy and I went to the Seinyard for lunch after I got it done and people sure looked! Nancy liked it so much that she's going to get hers done like it this Saturday!
After lunch we went to a really special nursery, "Just Fruit and Exotics". We didn't have enough hours to see everything. Nancy bought a pear tree and I bought a banana, a couple of pepper plants and some seeds. We'll go back!
The puppies are growing up! They are just as bad as ever, but are hitting the puppy paper most of the time or going outside to potty. Hope this gets better and better!
Mother has her good days and bad ones. Saturday after we finished our running around Nancy got a call from the center Mother's in. It seems she's learned how to propel her wheel chair with her feet and was running from outside door to outside door opening them and setting off the alarms. Nancy fixed that by putting the breaks on...simple fix, you'd think the staff there would have thought of that! She was also hitting and scratching and spitting. That's our momma!
Today a young fellow is coming to do some major clean up on my yard. He's going to get the dead wood out of my trees and hedges, remove some plants and till me a garden. How exciting! This is mighty late to be putting in a garden, but better late than never!
After lunch we went to a really special nursery, "Just Fruit and Exotics". We didn't have enough hours to see everything. Nancy bought a pear tree and I bought a banana, a couple of pepper plants and some seeds. We'll go back!
The puppies are growing up! They are just as bad as ever, but are hitting the puppy paper most of the time or going outside to potty. Hope this gets better and better!
Mother has her good days and bad ones. Saturday after we finished our running around Nancy got a call from the center Mother's in. It seems she's learned how to propel her wheel chair with her feet and was running from outside door to outside door opening them and setting off the alarms. Nancy fixed that by putting the breaks on...simple fix, you'd think the staff there would have thought of that! She was also hitting and scratching and spitting. That's our momma!
Today a young fellow is coming to do some major clean up on my yard. He's going to get the dead wood out of my trees and hedges, remove some plants and till me a garden. How exciting! This is mighty late to be putting in a garden, but better late than never!
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Some pictures
The first one I'll try to attach is one I took of Mother a week or so ago before her last move. The rest are just fun ones, maybe even the kitchen...who knows? Well, here goes....
They aren't in the order I down loaded them in...I'll have to work on this. The shots of the kitchen don't really do it justice. The blender in one of the kitchen shots is the same blender I've had since Christmas 1965! Still has all the original parts and works like a dream every morning when I do my protein shake! The one of Jazzy is after a hard session of trying to dig under the patio, that's why she's covered in mud. The cats eating are, in order, Goodness, Bandi, Mercy and Smokey...cute shot I think!
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Just a continuation...Mother
Friday, was it only yesterday?, Nancy was able to finagle her schedule at work and got off before 9am. I met her at her house at 10am. It was a dark and stormy morning. We went to the last nursing home Mother was in as our first choice, and without any groveling (which we were prepared to do) she was accepted back and we were able to move her yesterday! Thank God.
Nancy and I went over and told Bert the wonderful news (however, he said he didn't remember them saying in the meeting the day before that she would have to move and that we should try to do it quickly). We told him that we really thought this was best for her and he didn't have to worry about the move, we'd pack her up and make sure she was moved comfortably.
Well, we had lunch and then went to pack Mother up. (Do remember that it was storming this entire time & we shared one umbrella.) Every place we parked had rain water running through it and puddles and we were both in sandals. After the first and only run with the one umbrella we just dashed and dodged the rain and by the time we got to Mother at about 1pm we were both quite wet. The van didn't come for her until after 4pm. By the time it arrived I had packed her things (a large suitcase, a valise we couldn't even zip, a big shopping bag and a couple of small bags) and we'd walked her to the rose garden and Nancy had checked the ETA of the van often. We kept Mother entertained (I do think we even sang) and in good spirits the entire time. She didn't know about the move or need for the move until we told her. That was touchy, but worked out okay. We got Mother outside and her things in the car and just waited. We were all so tired and ready when the van finally arrived. I rode with her and Nancy followed with all her things which I hung up or put away when we got there. (Bert's paying extra for a private room.) Nancy called Bert and let him know the move was over and when he got there we passed the torch and left.
It was after 7pm when I got home and arrived to a house full of hungry animals and dog poop.
Nancy called and we rehashed the day and both being sooo tired it didn't take us all that long. When we hung up the dogs and I went to bed! I was asleep shortly after dropping my head to the pillow. Nancy called a little after 9pm and told me she'd gotten a call from Uncle Buddy and told him about the move. She'd told him the night before what the committee had said about needing to move her and what we'd hoped.
anyhoo...
Nancy went to see her this morning early and called around 9ish to let me know that Mother didn't remember anything about why she was in there or how long she'd been "sick", but other than that she was okay. Well, a couple of hours later she called back, the nursing home had called and Mother was creating a major disruption. She was screaming "Daddy" again and again and again and again, etc.. So Nancy called, asked me to bring fried chicken and went there. When Nancy got there she could hear Mother screaming from the front door and people were talking about her. She even screamed in her face! Well, by the time I arrived they were outside and things were rather level. I almost blew it when I castigated Mother mightily, but Nancy made me stop and Mother forgot and we ate fried chicken, french fried and slaw and fussed over Maria and just visited. Took her in around 3:30. Stayed with her until close to 5pm. Was almost 5:30 when I got home.
I hated the feeling that we were feeding into her tantrum and even though she promised not to do that anymore I don't believe her. She gets what she wants when she does things like that.
Hungry puppies and a house full of puppy poop!
Leah Jane called and was going to have wine and cheese and crackers at Norma's and would I join them and I did (you know I usually don't)! Really needed that. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
I'm holding my breath that we don't get calls tomorrow!
Nancy and I went over and told Bert the wonderful news (however, he said he didn't remember them saying in the meeting the day before that she would have to move and that we should try to do it quickly). We told him that we really thought this was best for her and he didn't have to worry about the move, we'd pack her up and make sure she was moved comfortably.
Well, we had lunch and then went to pack Mother up. (Do remember that it was storming this entire time & we shared one umbrella.) Every place we parked had rain water running through it and puddles and we were both in sandals. After the first and only run with the one umbrella we just dashed and dodged the rain and by the time we got to Mother at about 1pm we were both quite wet. The van didn't come for her until after 4pm. By the time it arrived I had packed her things (a large suitcase, a valise we couldn't even zip, a big shopping bag and a couple of small bags) and we'd walked her to the rose garden and Nancy had checked the ETA of the van often. We kept Mother entertained (I do think we even sang) and in good spirits the entire time. She didn't know about the move or need for the move until we told her. That was touchy, but worked out okay. We got Mother outside and her things in the car and just waited. We were all so tired and ready when the van finally arrived. I rode with her and Nancy followed with all her things which I hung up or put away when we got there. (Bert's paying extra for a private room.) Nancy called Bert and let him know the move was over and when he got there we passed the torch and left.
It was after 7pm when I got home and arrived to a house full of hungry animals and dog poop.
Nancy called and we rehashed the day and both being sooo tired it didn't take us all that long. When we hung up the dogs and I went to bed! I was asleep shortly after dropping my head to the pillow. Nancy called a little after 9pm and told me she'd gotten a call from Uncle Buddy and told him about the move. She'd told him the night before what the committee had said about needing to move her and what we'd hoped.
anyhoo...
Nancy went to see her this morning early and called around 9ish to let me know that Mother didn't remember anything about why she was in there or how long she'd been "sick", but other than that she was okay. Well, a couple of hours later she called back, the nursing home had called and Mother was creating a major disruption. She was screaming "Daddy" again and again and again and again, etc.. So Nancy called, asked me to bring fried chicken and went there. When Nancy got there she could hear Mother screaming from the front door and people were talking about her. She even screamed in her face! Well, by the time I arrived they were outside and things were rather level. I almost blew it when I castigated Mother mightily, but Nancy made me stop and Mother forgot and we ate fried chicken, french fried and slaw and fussed over Maria and just visited. Took her in around 3:30. Stayed with her until close to 5pm. Was almost 5:30 when I got home.
I hated the feeling that we were feeding into her tantrum and even though she promised not to do that anymore I don't believe her. She gets what she wants when she does things like that.
Hungry puppies and a house full of puppy poop!
Leah Jane called and was going to have wine and cheese and crackers at Norma's and would I join them and I did (you know I usually don't)! Really needed that. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
I'm holding my breath that we don't get calls tomorrow!
Friday, May 16, 2008
Take nothing at face value!
Well, it seems that Mother will have to move yet once again. Bert was so wrong to move her out of the last place. This past Sunday Nancy and I found her living will and her appointment of medical surrogate and her blanket do not resuscitate order. Nancy is the appointed surrogate and we have been running on the assumption that Bert was, because he told us he was. Had we found this sooner she would never have had to do this last move. Nancy and I are meeting later this morning and visiting several long term care centers. We are hoping to get her back into the last place, but that's a long shot.
Oh, the reason she'll have to move...we, Nancy, Bert and I, had a meeting yesterday with the evaluation team at the place she's in now. It was to have been a 15 minute meeting and ended up lasting almost 2 hours. The one thing they did say was that Bert was told when he moved her there that there is no opening in their long term care facility and that there is a very long waiting list and that when her 100 medicare days were over she'd have to move. The director spent a long time explaining how the remaining 54 medicare days are bargaining tools and the more we have available to bargain with the more likely we are to find a place for her. Isn't that the pits?!
We are sooo dry here. My yard is crisp...but at least I'm saving money on the mowing! It's been over 2 weeks since we've had rain and I am watering containers, but can't afford to water the lawn. Thank goodness none of my neighbors are watering either...I'd stick out like a sore thumb! We had rain in the forecast for last night, but it fizzled out before it got here...it's in the forecast for today and I will take my umbrella to Tallahassee, but I'm doubtful.
The puppies are baaad! Jazzy and Maggie have done away with all of my basil and are tunneling under the patio. They have about 20 feet to go...I suspect they'll be surprised when they get to the other side and are still inside the fence! I'm planning to fill the starter hole with gravel and maybe cement. Don't know what else to do...maybe pepper in the hole.
Oh, the reason she'll have to move...we, Nancy, Bert and I, had a meeting yesterday with the evaluation team at the place she's in now. It was to have been a 15 minute meeting and ended up lasting almost 2 hours. The one thing they did say was that Bert was told when he moved her there that there is no opening in their long term care facility and that there is a very long waiting list and that when her 100 medicare days were over she'd have to move. The director spent a long time explaining how the remaining 54 medicare days are bargaining tools and the more we have available to bargain with the more likely we are to find a place for her. Isn't that the pits?!
We are sooo dry here. My yard is crisp...but at least I'm saving money on the mowing! It's been over 2 weeks since we've had rain and I am watering containers, but can't afford to water the lawn. Thank goodness none of my neighbors are watering either...I'd stick out like a sore thumb! We had rain in the forecast for last night, but it fizzled out before it got here...it's in the forecast for today and I will take my umbrella to Tallahassee, but I'm doubtful.
The puppies are baaad! Jazzy and Maggie have done away with all of my basil and are tunneling under the patio. They have about 20 feet to go...I suspect they'll be surprised when they get to the other side and are still inside the fence! I'm planning to fill the starter hole with gravel and maybe cement. Don't know what else to do...maybe pepper in the hole.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
A change in life style
Beginning this week I'll only work 4 days a week, from 7:45am to 2pm. I'll be off on Fridays. How nice is that? I got my first Social Security check last month...not enough to live on, but with a part time job I'll be just fine...no frills however.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Mother's Day
Nancy & I met at the nursing home yesterday at 9am. Mother was still in bed when we got there and hadn't had breakfast. She said she didn't see any reason to get up or eat, but would since we were there. We sat with her for breakfast and then went out to the putting green/rose garden and visited for a couple of hours. At one point Mother introduced us to an aide as "her two pets"! We got tickled. Went to Berts house after that and stayed until 4.
When I got home at 5 the house was a total disaster! Can't leave those puppies that long. There were little pieces of styrofoam everywhere...no idea where they came from...and puppy poop!!!!!
The highlight of my Mother's Day was a call from Rosie. She is so centering and bright.
When I got home at 5 the house was a total disaster! Can't leave those puppies that long. There were little pieces of styrofoam everywhere...no idea where they came from...and puppy poop!!!!!
The highlight of my Mother's Day was a call from Rosie. She is so centering and bright.
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Yesterday
I visited with Mother for about 5 minutes yesterday. She was just frightful, angry and very verbally nasty. After just a few minutes of it I told her I had to go let Shirley out and left. Spent about 30 minutes with the head nurse of the unit and then she & I went down to the therapy department to talk to them about Mother. It seems that most days she refuses to even go to therapy and when she does, she doesn't do anything. Things are just not working out for her there. Today they are having a psychiatric evaluation done on her with the probable out come of moving her to a psychiatric facility.
Saturday, May 03, 2008
Mother update
Mother was moved Wednesday. Thursday morning I had such a feeling of dread or fear or something and by the time I got off work it had really intensified. So I headed to Tallahassee. I'd never been to this new place and was thrilled to find it about 15 minutes closer than the others. When I finally found Mother she was in her wheelchair sitting at a dinner table with 2 other women and their caregivers. She had her hands folded in her lap, her head down and was crying. When she saw me she thought I was there to rescue her. She said the place was evil and they wanted to kill her...wouldn't touch her food as she was sure it was poisoned. I spent a little over 3 hours with her. Took her outside and talked with her about where she is and why. Met her new speech therapist and was able to talk with her alone and told her of Mother's fears. Bless her heart, she made sure to tell the head nurse who made a point of spending time talking with Mother with me there. Mother had been refusing to take her medicines and did finally while I was there. She had calmed down a lot by the time I left.
Nancy went to see her yesterday and got there in time for her lunch. She actually ate quite a bit and was fairly calm.
I've got to run as Nancy is coming this morning for breakfast at 7:30 and to see my kitchen.
Nancy went to see her yesterday and got there in time for her lunch. She actually ate quite a bit and was fairly calm.
I've got to run as Nancy is coming this morning for breakfast at 7:30 and to see my kitchen.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
No Pictures
Went to see Mother yesterday. She was in OT when I got there and being very nasty. When she saw me she got worse. I moved across the room out of her eye sight and watched a few minutes. Ended up leaving the area completely for unlike last week I was a total distraction. Went to the parking lot and waited for my sister...am still unsure why she was there. Bert showed up around 3pm. They are moving Mother today to another facility. To quote Bert "She'll be with a better quality of people"...what the hell does that mean? I think this move is a big mistake as far as her recovery goes...but a semi private room is $6800.00 a month and she's going to have a private room, but you know what value she places on costly things. Nancy and I told her that if she doesn't work at it she'll just vegetate in the wheelchair for the rest of her life. I'm so close to washing my hands of her...know I won't and even that makes me mad. Possibly it shows this morning that I'm quite angry about this whole mess. Took my camera, forgot to take pictures.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Life as I knew it
Well, it seems that life as I knew it is over! I woke up this morning at 4am to find Shirley, Mercy, Smokey, Maggie and Jazzy all in bed with me...and it's only a double bed. Goodness and Bandi had chosen to sleep out last night! Thank goodness! What a way to wake up!
I'll visit Mother today. I put my camera in my purse last night and hope to get a picture or two of her. Will post after I get them developed...I've been getting a cd burned when I have them developed and am posting from that...it's not as easy as I thought it'd be and is a new learning experience each time. You know, it's that old dog, new trick thing.
The missing counter top and knobs were installed in my kitchen yesterday. The knobs have been discontinued and the building center ordered them from somewhere. The ones that came in are slightly different, same shape (oval), same material (porcelain) and same color (white), but slightly different. I said to just go ahead I can live with it. The counter top is a different story...it isn't installed right, it's not even and sticks up above the level of the stove. I don't know what the answer is, but this really hasn't been a good experience...I feel like I've been experimented on. It's my guess that the fellows who did the cabinets and counter tops have never done it before. At least that's how it seems! The kitchen floor was supposedly jacked up from under the house, but it still dips. And the puddle I thought was coming from the dishwasher is in fact coming from my refrigerator. That never happened before they moved it around a bunch.
I'll visit Mother today. I put my camera in my purse last night and hope to get a picture or two of her. Will post after I get them developed...I've been getting a cd burned when I have them developed and am posting from that...it's not as easy as I thought it'd be and is a new learning experience each time. You know, it's that old dog, new trick thing.
The missing counter top and knobs were installed in my kitchen yesterday. The knobs have been discontinued and the building center ordered them from somewhere. The ones that came in are slightly different, same shape (oval), same material (porcelain) and same color (white), but slightly different. I said to just go ahead I can live with it. The counter top is a different story...it isn't installed right, it's not even and sticks up above the level of the stove. I don't know what the answer is, but this really hasn't been a good experience...I feel like I've been experimented on. It's my guess that the fellows who did the cabinets and counter tops have never done it before. At least that's how it seems! The kitchen floor was supposedly jacked up from under the house, but it still dips. And the puddle I thought was coming from the dishwasher is in fact coming from my refrigerator. That never happened before they moved it around a bunch.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Mother's birthday
We celebrated Mother's 83rd birthday today. Actually it was Wednesday, but we have always done something either on the weekend before or after if it falls during the week.
Bert got hamburgers and fries from Wendy's, Nancy P. furnished tea and plates and cups and ice and I had Tupelo's (new bakery here in town) make sugar free cupcakes with piped cream cheese as icing. Nancy and Mark B. joined us and it was quite festive with cards and gifts and a balloon. Mother had her hair done in the nursing home beauty parlor yesterday and looked quite pretty. I could kick myself for not taking my camera!
Mother told me that she wanted to run away...and cried when I told her she couldn't yet, but that as soon as she was able we'd take her to the mall and go eat and see a movie. She calmed down a bit after that. After we ate and opened cards and gifts we sang old songs and she joined in on some of them. It was a pretty good time.
Bert got hamburgers and fries from Wendy's, Nancy P. furnished tea and plates and cups and ice and I had Tupelo's (new bakery here in town) make sugar free cupcakes with piped cream cheese as icing. Nancy and Mark B. joined us and it was quite festive with cards and gifts and a balloon. Mother had her hair done in the nursing home beauty parlor yesterday and looked quite pretty. I could kick myself for not taking my camera!
Mother told me that she wanted to run away...and cried when I told her she couldn't yet, but that as soon as she was able we'd take her to the mall and go eat and see a movie. She calmed down a bit after that. After we ate and opened cards and gifts we sang old songs and she joined in on some of them. It was a pretty good time.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
