Dackel Princess

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. What’s one simple small pleasure on your summer ‘to-do’ list?

I want to go for fried clams. I know it is not everyone’s desire, but I sure love it!

2. Do you have strong feelings or opinions regarding the immigration debate in your home country? Feel free to share your thoughts, but please play nice.

I think that if someone wants to come here and goes through the proper channels, then this is a good thing. Now, that being said, I actually have friends who have come here from other countries and it has not been easy for them, even though they have gone through the correct channels.

So, we need to have one set of rules, and anyone climbing a fence can’t be allowed to stay, especially when people who do the form work, have sponsors, etc. still have to wait and wait.

PS: My Papa was from Germany, and came through Ellis Island. He was just a boy of 9, but loved this country as if he had been born here.

3. What’s something in your home or wardrobe that could be described as ‘star spangled’?

I have a three dish, red white and blue set that I use on the fourth of July!

4. Is your house set up for a party?

Yes. We have an open concept kitchen and family room and this opens onto a patio with an awning.

5. What one never-before-visited city in America, would you most like to see?

I think New Orleans. I have never been and would like to go, see the place, and eat!

6. Your favorite red food? White food? Blue food?

Red food? Boiled Lobster.

White Food? Mashed potatoes!

and Blue food? Blueberries!

7. What freedom do you value the most, and why?

The freedom of speech! I love writing my blog and putting down my thoughts. However, it is a scary time in our country, as more and more people are losing their right to “Free Speech”.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Hubby finished fixing the air conditioner in the bedroom! I have a hairline fracture in my foot. Mom has been moved to a rehab center near my sister. Easier for all. And I am thinking it may very well rain all summer long! Yuck!

Life Goes On

We started the day with no air conditioning in our bedroom. I thought we should just go out and buy a new one, but Hubby felt we needed to clean it thoroughly and all would be well.

We found mus in the evaporator and everything was clogged up, so we used the compressor to blow the crap out, and then used the hope to clean the filter.

Now the problem we have is, in this humidity, nothing is drying out! We have not been able to get it to start again…which of course means we will be sleeping with no air conditioning again tonight! That will be tough.

Hubby, me and the dogs are all in a grouchy mood today, because we did not sleep much last night in the heat!

Oy, please have that sill machine work before bed!

Mom has been moved to a rehab center now. Not that there is much they can do to rehab her, but it is sort of a stop along the road. It is close to my sister’s house and will be easier for her to go to.

Meanwhile, life goes on.

What I Did This Weekend

Our host is Gattina. Come join us and tell us what YOU did this past weekend! After all, you never know when you will need an alibi!

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The last weekend was my trip down to see Mom. I needed to see her, to talk to her, hold her and kiss her. I celebrated her 84th birthday with her, my sister and two cousins, and most of all, Mom and I needed to say a few things to each other. Important words of love.

The drive was long, the heat was intense, but it was all worth it because it made Mom happy. I gave her a little Beanie Baby Monkey with some Birthday Balloons.

Mom liked the monkey so much, that she holds onto it all the time now. She says it makes her feel calm holding it. I am so glad.

Once they decide where she will be going next (nursing home or hospice) I will either send down or bring down a little cape for her, to keep her from getting cold.

It is great to be back and my puppies and Hubby are happy to have me here. But, my heart is torn. I would love to see my Mom each day, but I just cannot do it living so far away. I am there in spirit.

Happy Monday, Everyone!

Back Home

I’m back from Connecticut. I spent time with my mom. I held her, I hugged her and kissed her. I listened to her talk about her life, I listened to her talk about those who have gone before her, and how she has missed those special people in her life.

She is not afraid to die. She has a wonderful deep belief in God, Jesus Christ and the afterlife. She knows where she is going.

I spoke with her doctors, I heard what they had to say, and although I think it is harder for some of our family to hear, mom is not going to get better. The cancer is spreading, she is getting weaker, and soon she will slip away.

My mother and I found a peace with each other. We were able to tell each other that we love each other.

It is good to be home again. The heat has been brutal, and now I am home I am sitting with my feet up, in the air conditioning with a couple of dackels around me. Yes, it’s good to be home!

Joyous!

On Friday we went to the hospital and set up to celebrate the birthday of our mother. Mel had baked an Angel food cake, and our cousins, Janet and Larry came, and we had flowers and balloons and sat telling stories and jokes. We laughed and we cried, but it was a good day for Mom. She was the belle of the ball! As it should be.

Her doctor and the Physicians assistant brought her flowers and a card. These two women have been truly wonderful and respectful, caring for Mom. They have made her feel special.

I showed her videos of Savannah as well as pictures. We got her a meal from one of the food trucks outside the hospital. Have I mentioned how much I now love “Food truck Food”?

After singing Happy Birthday and eating cake, the nurse came in to put a heparin lock in Mom’s arm. I was scooting my chair forward and slipped and landed face first on the bedside table! Yes, it hit my scar and yes, it hurt so badly that I couldn’t breathe, talk or move! The nurse just about fainted, I think and ran off to get ice. She also wanted to know if I needed a doctor.No, but the ice helped.

I managed to take some pain medication I had with me (I wasn’t driving), but still have pain tonight! Everyone was teasing me that I should have been named Grace-less!

When I left, it was with bittersweet feelings. But Mom knows how I love her and that I hope to see her in a couple of weeks when they settle her in hospice.

This birthday was not perfect, but for Mom it was joyful!

Last Birthdays

Last Birthdays, unlike First Birthdays, are really overwhelming. Today is Mom’s last birthday. We are all gathering at her room at the hospital to surround her with love.

It’s so hard, even if she says it’s okay and she is ready. So much time…lost.

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Sometimes…

Sometimes computers just make me so mad!

You see yesterday I turned on the computer and the little icon for my speakers disappeared from the task bar! I looked and all the little boxes were checked and it ‘should’ have worked, but it didn’t!

So I tried a number of things to ‘fix’ it, and nothing worked. I sat down again today and gave it another go. I unchecked the boxes and saved that. They I rechecked the boxes and the icon appeared. So I very quickly saved the set up and then held my breath and closed the program out and waited.

Well, so far, so good. I’m hoping this has done it.

Savannah had her one year old photo shoot done. Here are my two favorites!

You know, it is just the most wonderful thing to have a daughter and a granddaughter that I am this crazy about! I am blessed!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Summertime is a season of reunions, weddings, and other family celebrations and gatherings…are any of the above on your calendar in the next two months?

Not really. My mother’s birthday is on Friday and as many of the family as can, will gather to wish her a Happy Birthday.

2. June is National Iced Tea Month…are you an iced tea drinker? If so, how do you like yours (sweet, flavored, etc)?

Love iced tea, unsweet (but I add Splenda) and with a little lemon. Not much, just a hint!

3. When were you last nervous? Looking back, was the ‘event’ actually nerve-worthy?

I have several things making me nervous right now. My mother’s illness and my face. Mom is not doing well. Her kidneys seem to be failing and I think she has given up her desire for life. It’s so sad.

And my face, well, I am still disturbed at my appearance and the scars. In fact I had another hematoma on the nose today that broke. The doctor in Boston told me that this is quite common.

4. The bristle toothbrush was invented in China on June 26, 1498…not sure how that date was pinned down so precisely but, on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being sick to your stomach and 1 being not at all, how nervous do you feel when you’re headed to the dentist? Do you see your dentist twice a year?

Ten +++++++. I get so nervous. You see we had a terrible dentist as a child and he caused me so much pain. I even bit him once and he slapped me. Then when my mother came to get me he told her and she slapped me too!

My dentist now is a lovely man. I have told him my tales of woe and he totally understands and works hard to make sure I have no pain at all.

5. What’s making news in your town this week?

Last night, while a huge thunder and lightening storm went through here, three towns away a troup of boy scouts were camping and as they huddled under a tarp, lightening hit the tree near them and the electricity hit all the boys. Luckily, no one was killed,a d the last two boys will go home from the hospital tomorrow.

6. Curtains, drapes, blinds…your window treatment of choice? Are there any bare windows in your house? Is that by choice or because you haven’t gotten around to covering them?

Curtains. I think they give the place a warmer look. The curtains are quite old now, but they still look nice.

7. Summertime is officially here (in the Northern hemisphere anyway)…what one song is a must-have on your summer playlist?

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Here are a few tidbits. I burned my arm cooking. Anneliese was bitten by some bug near her eye and it caused a swelling. It’s looking better. Cherry trees are all netted against the birds. I have not had to water the garden in several days due to the heavy rain. Lastly, I will be glad when this week is over.

Off I Go…

I’m heading to Connecticut today. Mom has taken a turn for the worse and I want to be there. She has stopped eating and it seems her kidneys are shutting down. Although she has said all she needs is my sister, I’m thinking that this is probably not true any longer. I think she does, at least, need me to come and see her again, before she starts her journey to the other side.

Even if our mother doesn’t need me, I know my sister does, so I will be going down more to be with her than anything.

It seems very sad when you realize that when she is gone Mel and I, along with my cousins, (formerly known as the kids of our family), will be the senior members of the clan. All those beloved Aunts, Uncles and Grandparents, gone from this world. And soon, Mom.

On Monday I worked like mad on Laundry, cleaning and packing. Hubby will have to manage himself and the dogs. I hate leaving them, but it’s important that I go.

I’ll be keeping you all posted.

What I Did This Past Weekend

Our host is Gattina. Come join us and tell us what YOU did this past weekend! After all, you never know when you will need an alibi!

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The last week I simply have not slept well. Thus, all weekend, it was much the same. Me crashing late at night and then up with the dogs at the stroke of 7 AM. Have I mentioned, I am not a morning person?

Coffee and quiet has been the saving grace. Except then Sunday morning I woke to a long, hard, thunderstorm! None of the dogs would venture out, not even Fritz, who will almost always go out.

But, let’s work our way back to Saturday.

I spent most of the day running errands, doing laundry, and cleaning the kitchen area. Why is it that I cannot ever seem to get it done? I feel like I am always cleaning or doing laundry. The cooking part, I love, so no complaints there.

Around three we got a call from our next door neighbors, for a last minute cookout. With Lamb, Spanakopita and salad. You would have to be crazy (or my cousin) to turn down a meal like that! We, naturally accepted!!!

Since I hate to arrive without something in hand, I quickly whipped up a gingerbread cake. It was a new mix I was trying and all I can say is ‘WOW’! It was a mix I’d gotten at the King Arthur Museum and shop and it was fantastic! I need to get a few more boxes of that to have on hand just for this sort of last minute cake! It took me 45 minutes and at the end of the meal half of the sheet cake was gone!

Then, as we were cleaning up two families arrived with their kids. I think there were 5 kids, but 5 kids under the age of 10 made it feel like much more! It all made me smile.

The adults also were quite interesting. A man who owns a gym in Pensacola, FL and Erik and Ellie Weihenmayer. Erik holds the record for being the first blind man to climb Mount Everest and Mount Ararat. He has written several books and has not allowed his blindness to limit the possibilities in his life. His amazing wife, is a sweet delightful woman, who treats Erik like anyone else. I found myself feeling awkward at one point when we said good-bye, and I wish I was so cool that I could be as terrific as his wife.

Their two kids were also delightful, and I was so please to become acquainted with their entire family!

You see, it made me realize that we are the only ones capable of ‘letting ourselves down’!

The night ended very late, and since we all know my brain goes to sleep at 9:30 PM, when we got in at 11 o’clock, I was totally wiped out.

I was up early due to the hard rain storm. Once again, Hubby slept in, and I kept the dogs quiet for a while.

After Hubby woke, we did breakfast and I started the laundry part of my day and the cleaning.

Now he is getting the nets ready for the cherry trees and I am continuing to work on meals, laundry and writing. The usual!

My cousins, Janet and Dave stopped by with both Rainbow and lake trout! Yay! It will be for dinner tonight and again in a few more days. I just love fresh fish!

The week ahead will be a busy one. Hubby will be staying home with the pups, while I drive down to see my sister and my mother. I’ll also be going to a baby shower for my nephew’s and niece in law’s twin boys. They were born on May 31 at 32 weeks and are both doing well.

Have a wonderful week!