Category: Friday Five

Tell me how this is happening. It’s already the end of April. In fact, this is the last weekend in April! Oh my goodness. I think I must quickly pass along this information…As you get older, Time Goes By Much Faster!

Thursday was a lovely Spring day and I tried some new things on my cell phone camera. So this week, here are the five pictures of life around my home.

1. These pretty flowers sprouted again. I planted bulbs years ago on Max’s grave in our yard. These bright blue Chionodoxa ‘Glory of the Snow’ come back every year! I love them.

2. Another pretty flower bulb, a Crocus, I planted years ago. It’s lovely. Only two sprouted this year. Time for me to get crackin’ and plant some new bulbs this year!

3. This is my first time using a special method to get a widescreen shot. That’s our stone wall and my neighbors home. The blur at the bottom of the picture in the middle is Arnie!

4. Our lake. I walked down the hill and stood across the street from the beach to take this shot.

5. Our home. Our shrubs haven’t woken up yet, and the grass is not a rich velvety green just yet, but this is our home.

So here we are, another week has come and gone. I’m actually feeling like Spring has finally arrived, as we have not had any snow and on the lakes, the ice is finally melting!

So, without further adieu, here is this week’s Friday Five!

1. 1. I wanted a nice quiet week, and once we filed out taxes on Monday, things got blessedly quiet!
   2. I got the results of my yearly bloodwork. My numbers aren’t looking so good for things like A1C and Cholesterol. Crap! It means more restrictions with my diet and really paying attention to my sugars.
   3. I do not like that! Jack told me that I need to accept this stuff because I’m getting older. The body may be 60 but in my mind, I still feel incredibly young.
   4. Our snow has all melted in the yard, and now we are just waiting for the ice to melt off the top of our Lake.

5. It’s almost Easter! This means, grandchildren, daughter, and granddog! The whole family is getting together at Mandy and Matt’s house for dinner. This should be fun!

The week is over. I’m still amazed that we are almost in the middle of April! OMG! How did this happen?

While I contemplate an answer to this question, let me write out this week’s Friday Five!

1. 1. The week started out with our anniversary, doctors appointments and continuing work on our Income Taxes. Oh, how I hate April 15th, which is coming up very fast!
   2. We had snow!

3. And Icicles, just like I place on my Christmas tree, only those are plastic and not really like these were. These were real!

4. I got my hair cut!

5. And lastly, I spent a lot of time setting up and programming the Tablet. And I love it!

I start my post each week with, ‘ another week has raced by’, and truthfully, it seems that this is the case. I wonder if time does go by so much faster the older we get. I think we become aware that life is finite and we have to go for it and put in as much good stuff as we can.

Although my week wasn’t full of wild and crazy things, I did accomplish a few things I am exceedingly proud of.

1. I made the most awesome St. Patrick’s Day Dinner and I posted the recipe, so feel free to make it. You will be happy you did. I think also, you could make the recipe with just a plain brisket. Using the same cooking method.
2. I went to Weight Watchers again this week. It’s the story of my life. I have begun so many diets, only to fall off the wagon.  This was my second week back and I have lost a total of 8 pounds! I am being very mindful of what I am eating. Making very good choices. I have a long way to go, but I am determined to practice good, healthy, eating habits.
3. After 20 years of having two cupboards for dog food and dog supplies, I cleaned out the larger of the two and now have all the dog items in one place.
4. I also took notice of the Flea and Tick items during the move and ordered a supply of these products from 1800PetMeds. I have used them for several years and like them. Greta needed a special medication that my Vet didn’t carry and I was able to get it through them.
5. I have now planned a vacation to visit a friend, in June. I’ll be going alone, and I’ll be gone for six quiet and yet fun-filled days!

So as I close this off, I want to wish you all a very Happy Spring!

May the Melting be with you!

Another week has gone by. I was supposed to travel this weekend but opted to stay home. I have been so tired and run down, that I felt the need to rest up this weekend.

But here are this week’s Friday Five.

1. I finally got all 8 loads of laundry done. Much of them were blankets and towels and I just got way behind!
2. We had the twins Arnie and Anneliese out several times this week. They really love going for car rides and they really love going to visit the clerks at the State Liquor Store! Especially Rebecca!
3. I made a new soup. Roasted Vegetable Ratatouille Soup! Wow, was that good!
4. I got Anneliese a new bed. At first, she didn’t like it and lay next to it. Now she is finally used to it and sleeping in it constantly.Thank you, Tommy Hilfiger and TJ Maxx!
5. I have been glued to the Internet watching April the Giraffe as she is in her last days of labor. I’m going to link up so maybe by tomorrow there will be a baby calf Giraffe!

Here we are, the first weekend in March and tomorrow night we will turn the clocks ahead one hour and “Spring Forward”! Ah yes, the first signs that Spring is on its way even if the weather isn’t cooperating.

So, here is this week’s Friday Five!

1. I found out my hairstylist had a cancellation on Thursday morning. I immediately sent a text to secure the appointment! It’s funny because I had stopped in to see her on Wednesday so we could plan what we were going to do with my hair.
2. I had gotten up on Wednesday and decided to go to WW. My hair was a wild bedhead mass of curls, and I was not feeling ‘the pretty’, so to speak. However, so many people commented about my lovely long locks, I began to doubt my decision to go short.
3. So, I came home and talked to Jack about it and he told me he likes my long hair. Maybe it’s the shape?
4. I decided to wash my hair on Wednesday night to get all of the product out of it. Then it was all set for my Thursday appointment.
5. And here we are! The new hairstyle! So what do you think?

So another week, another month has come and gone. It’s been a very mixed month for me, full of great happiness and great sadness. But that is life, right? One must go with the flow. And so it goes…

I could write a novel about the things that happened this week, but instead, I will sum it all up with the usual, Friday Five!

1. Well, I am still loving my new loveseat, and so is Arnie. He is right by my side almost all the time when I am sitting here. In fact, he is by my side right now. The seat is so comfortable and has helped with some of my back and neck discomfort!
2. I’ve been cooking a lot. Even last night after being gone all day, I came home and Jack asked for spaghetti and meatballs. He would have been happy with a jar of sauce and frozen meatballs, but that is so tasteless. So I chopped some onions and peppers and used some spices and before you knew it, a rather tasty sauce appeared on top of the spaghetti.
3. I spent the day on Thursday with Savi and Quinn.

   We had such a wonderful day. We played on the floor, Savi and I read some of her early reader books, and we worked with her flash cards, and Quinn and I had several long conversations.

   

   I was calling him honey, and he stopped me very sweetly and told me to call him Quinni. I nodded my head and assured him that I sure would do this! It was a wonderful day with the two children. These two, who I love with all my heart and soul.

4. Anneliese’s eye is not doing well. But we are stuck. If we agree to surgery, she will lose any vision she still has, plus the actual surgery only has a 50/50 chance of actually working. It would be better if we can keep her quiet, and allow more time for healing. Of course, we must watch for a problem with her eye where it may let go. We must watch and if this should happen, she will need immediate surgery and will not just lose the vision, but possibly the eye. We are praying that the ulcer heals up naturally. At 12 years old, we do not want her in pain. Most of all, we want her to have as much vision as possible for the remaining years of her life.
5. I had the joy of watching the documentary called “Mr. Rogers”. He was a man who worked for PBS on his own show, “Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood”.

This show was designed to teach children to love themselves, other people, and to thrive in a crazy world with gentleness and with love. My daughter, Katie, loved this show. She never missed it. Fred Rogers was a beautiful man, and he truly loved and cared about the kids in the world.

So that was my week. Welcome to March.

Maribeth

I’m finding that the days are going along neither quickly or slowly right now. Each day comes and plays out. That’s fine. I do what I must and then try to take a little time for me. Here is how this week went.

1. Anneliese is doing very well. Her eye is looking amazing and she is running around like a puppy once again. I am so pleased that this is the case and so far we have avoided surgery.

Anneliese smiling! You can see the small ulcer on her eye, which really has shrunk and healed well. She goes back next week for a check up.

2. I’ve discovered the joys of making fresh salad dressing. So far I have two favorites. Blue Cheese and Greek Vinaigrette. Both are so easy to make and are a joy to use on a fresh salad! I will post the two recipes tomorrow.

3. I’ve begun to plan my trip back to Florida to attend Candy’s Memorial Service. Part of me still cannot believe my dearest friend is gone from this earth.

4. My cousin, Janet, was in a horrific accident on Thursday morning. A woman in an SUV broadsided her car after the woman ran a red light! I am so grateful to God that Janet was not badly injured. Her car, a Prius was totaled.  But, she was able to walk away with bumps, bruises, and scrapes, but no broken bones or serious injury.

5. Arnie has decided that since Anneliese has taken over his bed, he will simply take over the sofa! This is his winter look. I let both of the dackels have a bit more of a coat in the winter. Helps to keep them warm!

A little gray, but not too bad for an old man of 12 years old!

I’m not sure where 2019 is going, but so far the road has been bumpy and it vacillates between time going very slowly and then time racing by. It’s been filled with sadness, happiness, and incredible poignancy.

If I tried to write down everything going through my mind, I would fill a book the size of War & Peace! But for expediency, I will keep it down to the top five.

1. Since returning to New Hampshire, I have kept myself busy by taking care of the little things here. Making meals, doing laundry, and tending to sick pups. The meals have been good, the laundry got done, and Anneliese’s eye is so much better. Still, I admit to feeling just slightly off balance emotionally since coming back.
2. A young woman that I babysat for, many years ago, passed away on Sunday. In her youth, she was the twin of my Katie. Really. People thought they were twins as they both had the same beautiful red curls and blue/green eyes. She was a delightful child and an amazing young woman. At just 39 years old, her death was not expected and hit everyone she knew very hard. I am devastated.
3. I think that many people do not realize how very precious life is. How one minute all is well, and the next it is gone. I find the lack of caring and kindness difficult to understand or to take. A person I know is a member of the Clergy and recently that person exclaimed outright hatred of the Presidency, the New England Patriots and several other things, even calling for someone to just do them in. Whether they were serious or not, I do not really care. That type of hatred, I do not understand, nor do I need it in my life!
4. I’ve begun to read one of my favorite Authors. Dr. Leo Buscaglia. Or, as they called him back in the 1970s and 1980s, “Dr. Love”!
   Reading his words of love and how often love is lost in this crazy world, gives me hope. Hope that someday people will realize that hatred gets us nowhere, and real love and kindness will truly conquer the world.
5. My darling friend Candy passed away a few minutes ago (Thursday). She was one of the finest women I have ever known. She gave of herself constantly and never asked for anything in return. She was one of my constants in life. One of those people that I depended on just to be there.

Candy and her darling Aurora.

Candy and her beloved husband, DeVere.

I’m not sure how I will ever “get over” losing this wonderful friend, who was more like a sister to me. I think perhaps I will not. I will learn to live with it.

So that’s what’s happening right now in my life. I guess we all go through times when life is very hard, where perhaps we do not understand why certain things are happening, and when our emotions are pushed to the limit. Right now, that’s sort of where I am at.

If the last few days are any prediction for 2019, I can already tell that this year is going to fly by us! Here we are just one week away from departing for Disney! Then the adventure begins!

So, here we go, this weeks Friday Five!

1. 1. I guess the biggest news this week was our big snow storm and power outage. I won’t forget this anytime soon. As grateful as I am that we have a generator, it is so loud when one is attempting to sleep. Wednesday night I did not get much sleep at all.
   2. Anneliese and Arnie went in to get their stitches removed. Arnie was fine, pop-pop and out they came! Anneliese has a small infection and so she must stay on antibiotics and wear this cute little turleneck shirt I made for her, until Monday. Then she will be all set.

3. It is very cold here. It’s also due to get colder. It makes me yearn for the tropical warmth of Florida. I sure hope we have nice weather. Nice, warm, weather!

4. This weekend will be filled with laundry, cooking, and doing the last minute things getting ready for next week. Can you tell I am excited?

5. My friend entered Hospice Care. It is breaking my heart. I do not know if she will still be alive when I reach sothwest Florida, but I have faith in God. If it is her time to go home with him, then I will accept it. Meanwhile, I send her texts, and prayers and love.