Bright sunshine----Bright future!

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz..............

That is what is happening in this house.  Mother has dozed off, the cat has a whole chair to stretch out in, and Jack is asleep.   Sooooooooooooo

 I decided to bake a pecan pie.  Mother was going to chop the nuts but since she looked so comfortable, I did it myself.  Now in about 40 minutes our house will smell good again! lol

Yesterday I worked with the digital camera that my daughter gave us for Christmas.  She worked with it but could never get the pictures to the computer, well I got them in the computer and actually sent one in an e-mail.  This is a real challenge.

The sunshine is so bright--it is bitterly cold but the sunshine is so wonderful!  We had plans but we are waiting for a longed for call from Jack's daughter. 

Oh, oh everyone is beginning to stir so I need to start the chicken, dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce for lunch.  Somewhere in there we need something green!  Maybe english peas since Mother likes those.

I hope I don't offend anyone but I don't want BLACK EYED PEAS FOR NEW YEARS DINNER!  Perhaps mother will forget that they are traditional.   And she always makes a big pillowcase on New Years Day to hold all the money she will make.................so I need to locate a LARGE bit of fabric so I can make a really big one, too.

I guess everyone has  traditions for the holiday that are a little different from everyone elses.  Peace reigns right now here in Marigold Country Home, and I am away to start lunch.  Wish you could join us!

 

 

Is this a year ending/ or a year beginning?

Sunshine to begin a new year.  Hope that is a positive omen!

The farmers are positively jubliant with the rains.  Maybe a snow flury tonight but even that is welcomed.

I have just cleaned the carpet in our room.  Want to start the new year right.    The new year means starting the income tax work.  Last year was my first year to get Mother's ready for the accountant.  I also set up files and don't have to do that this year.  I have been checking on insurance to be sure we are covered in most eventualities.  I hate this kind of responsibility!!!( frowns and makes terrible face!!!!!)

Perhaps you think I am jumping a day ahead talking about the new year.  But when you decide there is a new year then that is a beginning!  So says this ruler of the Marigold Kingdom!

Happiness and prosperity for all you in the year to come!  Peace in Marygold Country Home!

 

AFTER CHRISTMAS SHOPPING!

Did my  after Christmas shopping today............bought a liquid crystal television, 32 inch I think.

This is for our antiversary, Jack's birthday, our Christmas, etc., for sometime to come! lol

It is big enough for Jack to see it well, even though he is having lots of trouble with his eyes.

Even my legally blind mother says she can see it! I am not sure if she see it well enough to know what it is, but she isn't a great tv watcher.

We wished for it over the holidays but they just didn't get in, in time and we had ask for a plasma, but I think this is better because of no glare.

Will stop this nonsense and watch tv! <smiles>

Peace among the marigolds!

 

Thank goodness Christmas is over!

The wrapping paper is in the trash.

The treasures are put away.

My daughter has started home. (sad for both of us)

The refrig. needs to be cleaned of left overs.

The guest room is already ready for my daughters return whenever that might be!

And Peace of a sort reigns at Marigold Country Home!

AH .....children!

I picked up my daughter at the airport yesterday morning at 9.

There is nothing like Christmas with your kids.

Of course the fact that she is a wonderful cook has nothing to do with it.

And the empathy is the best gift of all.

Merry Christmas from Marigold Country Home.

Peace!

 

 I am learning anew the live of a caregiver!

It generally "sucks"!

Now who is lucky?

Today this little burg had a bit of holiday festivities!

A bit consisted of a visit by Santa and goodie bags for the children.

Drawing for hams and turkeys for the adults.  Only 10 names would be drawn and the people had to be present to win. 

Now who is lucky?  My mother was the first name drawn! LOL  We had talked this all week and mother was really excited about going.  We had said if she won to ask for a ham since we already  had a turkey and we don't care much for ham!  Not liking ham much we could share it and it is difficult to chop off a bit of a frozen turkey.  So she took a ham and when the drawing was over and all the turkeys and hams were gone.  I asked a neighbor if they ate ham and she said oh yes, so I took them 2/3 of the ham.  That leaves us plenty for cooking in beans and making a ham sandwich or so. 

My daughter said, "We don't like ham?"  I said that isn't important, we can eat ham when we go out and not have much but it is salty and pork and not the best for the guys at this house.  She said, " Oh ok, we don't care much for ham!" LOL

Tonight mom asked for a ham sandwich,(she really doesn't care for ham) and I had to tell her I had put the ham in the freezer.  So a scrambled egg had to do............aren't I a meany.

Washed windows late today, just one of those things that needed to be done.  Earlier I had stripped my daughter's bed and washed the sheets so they would be fresh and smell of the great outdoors.  She and I was talking about the smell of fresh laundry and you just can't reproduce the delightful scent of the sheets from the openair.  Laundry detergents and dryer items have tried!

Tomorrow is our last warm day and then the cold weather hits again and perhaps a shower or two.

Peace reigns in Marigold Country Home.

 

CHRISTMAS IS 'A COMIN'

I fear the holidays are upon us!

Over the weekend I did try some new recipies.  I had a very old cookbook.  One of the recipes was picnic cake.  The recipe couldn't be too old because it used a boxed cake mix.  So easy and festive: Make the cake according to the recipe and put in pan.  Sprinkle marshmallows evenly over the top, a few nuts (I used chopped walnuts) over the marshmallows and I added chocolate chips because I like them.  The recipe called for brown sugar too but too much sugar is too much sugar so I left that out.  Just chips, nuts and marshmallows then bake according to the box directions.  When you finish you have the cake already topped and you don't need frosting.   The nuts and chips do drift down into the cake some but the results was rich and moist.  I don't care much for spice cake and that was one way I thought I could use it and get it off the shelf.  Turned out to be a great hit!  My bunch are so easy to please.

Also, my husband is Scottish and the holidays must include short bread.  I find it a bit boring but he suggested that I roll it out and make cookies.  Wow were these great and so much like sugar cookies which I could really pig out on.  Can you get easier than this: I pound of butter ( I use salt free so had to add a bit of salt to mix) I cup of sugar and flour mixed in till it is the consistancy to roll out dough.  Cut into cookies, sprinkle sugar on top if desired ( I desired) and bake at 350 to desired brownness.  I found I liked the thinner and a little more brown cookies but that did not keep me from eating the others! LOL  Turned out to be the best cookies I had baked in a year.....also the first!

We had drop in company at noon on Sunday, which delayed our Asian food we had just picked up at the restaurant in the next town to the South.  But we enjoyed the visit and the microwave helps a lot!  They needed some storage space so yesterday I worked on making the barn a bit more organized and a bit cleaner.  It is amazing how much dirt can blow in at the floor where most of the siding is gone.  The cats are not the neatest or cleanest tennants so I had a lot of do and used a lot of clorox and germtrol....it does smell better.   I need to work on that again today.  I will also move Jack's otheroutdoor cart into the garage so the cats will not have it for a playground and it will be in a better place.  Goodness if I get all of this done I will be miles ahead of schedule! lol

We did go shopping for groceries in the town to the south and I make two trips to the town to the north to leave prescriptions and then pick them up later along with cat food.  We are fortunate to have dollar stores close by since we do lots of general shopping there and does save quite a bit.  Remember this is a depressed area of Oklahoma.

Mother almost fell yesterday coming out to the barn to tell me I had a phone call...of course Jack had told her not to but she admits that she doesn't listen or doesn't hear.  LOL  More of the first I think.  I am learning new ways to torment my daughter when I become 89.  I should keep a list, I might forget some.

I must check on Jack's christmas and birthday gift today,  we ordered a new plasma tv and hoped to have it before christmas but it has been several weeks. 

Enjoy your day, eat something festive, have a good warm drink, and consider one new goal for next year.  Peace from  Marigold Country Home!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas is getting closer!

It is cold!

It is almost dawn, the light is slowly beginning to spread around this small hamlet in western Oklahoma.  

Today there are parades and visits with Santa,etc.

Tomorrow there are musical  tributes to the holidays.

There is a growing shopping list...and a list of things to do.........and it is cold and a good day for doing nothing but drinking warm things and trying out new recipes..lol

I went out early to feed the kitties in the barn and found them stretching and yawning.  I don't blame them for sleeping in!  They have stacks of boxes and old wool blankets to snuggle into.  Where the outside cats snuggle I wonder.  But they show up in the morning full of vinegar for something to eat.

Time to get on with the program, everyone in a good mood this morning including me! lol

Peace at Marigold Country Home!

Things that smell good..........

Baked pumpkin bread today..........makes the house smell good.  Makes residents happy!  Residents brag on cook........makes cook happy!  Cook bakes more good holiday stuff!  MAYBE

And I am winning, another day without a Christmas Tree!   Have wreaths in windows, no trees with lights twinkling in the night!

Very cold and windy here......it was 19 when we went out today to visit the doctor.  I kid you not it is a social affair.....the nurse asks is there a problem or is this a regular "visit"...not office call, or appointment,etc........just visit like a social call.  We took our clinic staff their Christmas rememberences today, hoping to not see them till next year.  <smiles>

Marigold Country Home, Peace!

 

 

Trees-----------

Trees, I think I shall never see a poem as lovely as a tree................

Both Jack and my Mother have been teasing me about a Christmas Tree!  I don't have the time or energy to put up a tree and then take it down!

They have the best time finding trees in places where we shop and asking if we are going to get one.....what is it about NO TREES that they don't understand!

The trees in the yard are as bad as the Christmas Trees with needles everywhere.........the yard trees have small and large limbs everywhere.  Mother has gone out on two different days and picked up the limbs.

OH Well, I am putting my foot down and watching that I don't put it down on a cat...No Christmas Tree!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Love this winter weather!

All my bad habits I learned from my Mother! LOL

Like not dressing right for cold weather!

She and I just had to go out in the yard and do stuff. She picked up twigs and limbs from the storm and put in a barrel that she uses for that and I did the flower beds.  But both of us went out without head coverings.  Now that is usual for me but the cold wind was blowing and my mother didn't have anything on her head! She got cold in a hurry!

I pulled out all the dead Marigold plants and used them as mulch in all the other flower beds.  They were covered with seed pods and will reseed the other flower beds I am hoping.  I used bricks and rocks artfully placed (lol) to hold down the dead plants.  I clipped off the hollyhocks and let them become mulch also.  Now a few leaves to cover the whole thing and winter can arrive anytime!

Well, the wind is cold and the cats are all fed and back to the places where they spend their days.  I am thinking about Christmas shopping.  This is done at the bank and with a check book!  I go shopping and then put the stamps on and be glad I don't have to worry about sizes or gift wrapping.

We did put wreaths in the windows.  That is about my limit.  Don't talk about trees.

Marygold Country Home is warm, cluttered, cosy, and comfortable.  PEACE!

 

Christmas is coming..............

Daughter is trying to get reservations  to be 'Home for Christmas'.

Most of the kitties have checked in but a few have either changed their dining area or moved on to other places to live, and this happens I understand with the little Hobos! lol

I am busy cleaning out Mother's freezer and cooking up good things for the hungry little creatures.

The snow is still hanging on in a few places and the temps go up today to almost bearable!

We received our Christmas package from Scotland last week and inside were long scarfs or mufflers.  I have never had one and never had a use for one but I love this thing that goes over my head and around my neck several times!

I asked Mother's chiropractor to recommend that she have a physical just because it must have been years and years since she has even seen a doctor except in the emergency room with an injury.   This has to be her idea, we will see if he had any effect.  I told him who our doctor is and he said that is the first doctor he ever heard say he only wanted to serve.  This is a most impressive man.  He looks like a professional football player, is as gentle and soft spoken as a priest or minister, and as human as they come when he will get down on the floor to see a patient's legs.  Mother's  chiropractor was as impressed when he met him as we are everytime we go in for a visit.  His staff is equally as thoughtful as he.

So far there is peace at Marigold Country Home but the Marigold plants fell to the cold temps but there will be plenty of seeds to start again next spring.

Sunshine and Sadness..............

The wayward felines have not all checked in and I am afraid the frigid temperatures (9 degrees) or the dog packs have not done well by these creatures.

The barn doors were frozen shut and it took two buckets of hot water to get the doors open where four cats are renting box space! lol Their water was frozen with a thick slab of ice.  Despite some more residential  snow four little faces watched to see what was for breakfast!  Wonder if there is a law saying I have to provide better accomodations!  Or keep better repairs on this place.  I can guarantee there are no mice.

This year we have lost a small smoky grey kitten, Hisser cat with the bad leg(the grey kitten was hers too). We lost small yellow kitten and a big yellow kitten.  That's four, but after this week we are missing: Momma Kitty, Big Blue Fuzzy, Sassy, and Baby Black.  Already I miss them.  None of these cats were ours!  They just came to be loved and fed. 

 I went to the city hall and complained about the packs of dogs roaming the town.  It seems we have a leash law that no one observes.  Others  are equally disturbed.

We have talked about fencing this yard but it is so large and doesn't lend itself to fencing.  Why should I have to fence the dogs out--the law, if inforced would take care of the problem. 

 The kids are almost as bad as the dogs! LOL I have had to ask them not to ride their bikes in our yard.  I  know it looks like a park and is as big as a park, but it isn't a public park and I don't wish to take out insurance that covers a public play park. Mother does not recognize the children and panics that someone is out there in the yard!  They cut though a lot and they forget that I have  asked them not to cut through, I can over look that situation but riding their bikes just for fun in the "park" won't work with me. 

The have already bent the steel bars that mother had put up to prevent the cars from driving through our yard (they thought it would be more convenient to just drive across the yard), with the bars bent just so they can ride their bikes through without  bending over very far or getting off their bikes.  That  I fixed and am fixing more permanently.  But the dogs are a real dirty mess to clean up after!

Not much peace here today! LOL

 

Oklahoma Cowboy!

In a letter to friends I mentioned that I had purchased several flannel shirts for Jack. 

 We are not for big coats since we are from the westcoast where it doesn't usually get too cold.  So Jack found that he needed a light pull over last winter.

  I order a big flannel shirt  this fall to see what it would be like and He liked it!  To dress to go somewhere Jack just slips a  big shirt over what he is wearing and is ready to go...We also got him a lined flannel hoodie, but I have the feeling we might have to go to something warmer for outerwear. 

We will see.  He has been wearing his flannel all day, furnaces come and go but that toasty shirt keeps the body happy.  Now the biggie is that Jack has never had something so casual as flannel shirts. 

 So this Oklahoma move is really a cultural change.. I quickly went to denim and loved the ease of dress here, it has been slower for Jack.  He wore those ties and shirts too long.

It did snow all day.  Tonight the wind is blowing and we have drifting and I may have to move some snow to get the garage door to open.  

  Mother gave me a pair of boots last winter and I used them today to trudge around the place looking for cats and feeding barn cats.  Most cats checked in today and ate and had their usual affection.  A couple I snuggled up in my great coat and brought in for Jack to scratch their ears.

It will be interesting to see how the night and tomorrow progresses.  The news bespoke of our bad weather so we will see how high the snow stacks.  It was drifting up to the windows tonight on the south side of the house.   Now when the wind and snow is from the North, that seemed strange to me!

Anyway, warmth and  peace reigns at Marigold Country Home tonight!

SNOW~~~`

Last day of November-----first snow!

Decided the cats are snow bunnies not cats at all, think it was the first snow for many of them! They act just like children, rolling, jumping at the snowflakes, racing through the snow, then running up to shake off the snow and nibble on something.  I did not fix hot chocolate for the bunnies(cats)!

Snow didn't start till just before daybreak, and it is just enough of a dusting to make things pretty.  I will take pictures because things look so clean when it snows.

Have put on the pot of beans and will probably have stew, too.  Called a neighbor last night to be sure they had everything they needed and she said she had bought beans, chili meat, stew meat, etc.  Another neighbor said where he was from everyone rushed out and bought bread and milk, and I laughed and said I had pancake mix and syrup so we were all set! LOL It is interesting what everyone thinks   of when they know there will be bad weather.  

Mother kept worrying about others in town to see if they were warm and had plenty to eat, now the snow is like a dusting, not piled up at the windows!

We had hot oatmeal with raisins and brown sugar.  Of course Mother also had some toast and Jack and I had shared a small roll earlier so he could take his medication.

Mother asked me why I was putting on a pot of beans(crockpot/takes about 3 hours) and I said someone might come to the door hungry or we might enjoy them.  Standard fare in  Depressed Western Oklahoma is fried potatoes, beans and cornbread.  Really healthy food! LOL  I don't do fried potatoes, however, if Mother's hungry nephew comes to the door I might be tempted to fill him up with fried potatoes!

I can't believe it is still snowing, so good on the wheat because this is wet snow.

 I decided to brave the snow and went to feed the barn kitties.  It had blown in all the cracks and crevices and it was snowy inside in places.  But the tracks I made were so much deeper than I expected. 

 I had been commenting how heavy the cat's coats were and one of the farmers said his cattle had heavier coats than usual, so guess Mother Nature was preparing  the animals for a colder than usual winter.

I know this sounds silly going on so about the cats and the snow but coming from California where there is so little season change, this is really exciting.  I am relearning about nature and enjoying being out in the open instead of concrete everywhere. 

In California we fed the wild animals, coyotes, rabbits, squirrels, raccoons, lots of wild birds.  We went to a place right on the edge of the wilds where the neighbors and I took lots of kitchen scraps and that sort of thing.  On a summer evening you could count the bunnies as they came out to feed on the green areas of our community. One neighbor bought huge bags of carrots and cut them up for the bunnies.  Now I didn't go that far, but she bought lots of wild bird seed and all kinds of food for the "wild ones". She had her 2 inside cats as  well.

There is Peace and beautiful white snow falling on Marigold Country Home.

Last of the beautiful days.........probably!

Things started so well this morning, we were able to get to the bank, fill up the gas tank, pick up lots of kitty food, and go out to lunch!

The afternoon started out with leaf raking to cover up the strawberries and some of the more fragile plants. 

Wore my mother out with the rake........ she does everything with such vigor... we had to quit before she make me feel years older! lol  She sweeps the floor the same way...watch out for that wicked broom!

Then we played Christmas CDs till we all  mentally decorated with green boughs and covered with  paper  chains.  Jack has been teasing me about a Christmas tree and mother started it, too! I have said positively not!  I hope I don't lose this battle!

The wayward felines enjoyed the warm sunshine this afternoon and draped themselves all over the sidewalks.  Walk to walk furry ones.  The cat  tree house will probably be occupied this weekend when the cold temps hit.

Peace at Marigold Country Home- home of Blue Fuzzy, Mama Kitty, Curley Ears and her three babies, Scalawags and Black Baby, Sassy and Brown Annie's Kitty, and Big Mean Black Kitty.  No, they are not all here at the same time!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not qualified for this job!

Caregiving is not an easy job..............the qualifications are many.  I am not sure I am qualified for this job!

If it were not for a good husband I would have given up months ago!  This morning my husband took the next step in independence and while I slept he took his bath and did all his grooming activities without any assistance from me.  Only when he reached the point that he needed to complete everything did he call me.  Wow, I was so impressed that he could go this far.  We had talked about what ifs in case I needed to ever take Mother to the doctor or hospital.  So he tried out his abilities and he was of course very pleased with himself as was I.

We had the most delightful thunder and lightening show last night... a little shower but the prelude was so wonderful!  Now this week the temps will drop to below freezing and the promise of a winter mix of freezing rain and snow is in the forcast!  So will stock up and just wait out the rest of the week! LOL

I have decided that Marigold Country Home sounds like a home for wayward cats! LOL 

 

AND THE WEEK HAS ONLY JUST BEGUN!

Thanksgiving--We have talked to the girls, both had great plans for the day. (they are 1200 miles away)

We have had a great Thankskgiving Lunch.  We had a three pound butterball turkey breast, yams with marshmallows and brown sugar, cornbread dressing and gravy, cranberries, and rolls.  Pumpkin pie for dessert.  This was the easiest Thanksgiving meal I ever fixed,  and just as easy to clean up. 

My daughter just returned from her cruise through the Panama Canal, and she sent us a package of coffee, etc. from the tour to a coffee plantation.  Really delicious goodies!

Jack's daughter is taking her mother to a steak house for lunch today, you can tell how traditional that generation is! lol 

My daughter is going to a friend's home on one of the Indian Reservations in California.  She is their expert cornbread maker using the secret recipe from her grandmother! lol My daughter is one-quarter Mescalero (sp) Indian, according to her father's family history. 

The weather is beautiful day............cool, sunny and a little breezy.  A great day to celebrate!

Peace at Marigold Country Home.

 

Thanksgiving..................one of the finest things you can have are neighbors.  The kind who comes into your home, looks on top of your ref. sees cookies and asked for one...lol  I thought it was the greatest compliment that she felt so comfortable in our home to ask for something like a cookie. 

Her reason for being in our house was....I had asked if her boys wanted to make some money by building a cat tree for the furry four-legged felines that frequent our patio.  A little family of a mother and three kittens had moved into the storage garage and the other residents had moved out!  I am not sure why they were not compatible.  But the evacuated felines were looking for a safe warm place to spend their nights.  Safe is the operative word....so the neighbor showed me the 30 gallon plastic barrels she had and she had some creative ideas...I gave her the carpet I had and about a month later she arrives with this great cat perch, tree, apartment house..lol...maybe just a cat house would suffice.  Anyway the barrel had two floors, one entry way carpeting inside and out, a large top about three by four feet.   She had to have more carpet so found some and the top is carpeted quite fashionably with white high-low carpet, the rest is multicolored beige and browns.  It looks quite nice on the patio because it matches the colors of the brick! 

I was not sure how the kitties would accept this addition but they love the large flat top where they can eat in peace and sit in the sun.  Several have checked out the apartment floors, but have not put down a deposit for renting.  Of course I don't stay up to see what happens when I go to bed!

We went to church, out to eat at Furr's Restaurant. then to Sam's Club, so all in all it was a busy but good day.  I am learning so much about caregiving.   It isn't something that comes naturally.

 

Peace at Marigold Country Home!

 

HELLO OUT THERE!

To all our friends in California,  oh my do we miss you.  One of the things we lost was the companionship of friends.  We are so glad you still keep in touch but we miss our long visits and good times.

Another thing we gave up was the visits of the girls.  Jack's daughter and mine.  They didn't come so often but they were as close as the phone and would come if we needed them.    We left them in California.

We gave up so many of our possessions.  Jack gave away all of his musical equipment and much of his music.  It was like he was giving up his second career and his ability to perform for others.  He had not been able for a while but this erased it from his future also.  The girls and I told him that he would need new equipment anyway when he would be able to sing  and entertain again.

I have up the furnishings of my home, keeping only five items which were medical related pieces.  There were some items that I had shopped for and loved, the antiques, crystal, little keepsakes and just those things that represent a lifetime.   Little things you get used to using, baking pans, a certain wooden spoon, those kinds of things I do miss,slso.

We did bring some of our clothing, but when you don't have a place to put them, they stay secure in a cardbox in a storage barn!  I feel like I have no wardrobe except my jeans and one outfit which I wear to church or something special.

I do have some pictures, those were too special to leave.  Most of these I have already secured to the walls in our room and am getting ready to put up some more.  They seem to give us a feeling of belonging.

When you give up so much of your personal life and move 1200 miles then something has to shift.  A lot of shifting has been going on and this week there have been some down days.  Looking on the net for nervous breakdowns I was surprised to see they last short periods of time and sounded rather familiar.  I must be having these on a regular basis! LOL

This next paragraph just jumped in our of order but so what!

You have heard me refer to down days before and I always bounce back, but instead of getting stronger I am getting tougher!  And my language is peppered with some vocabulary that I didn't know I had stored in my brain.   Wow, maybe I will be come sweet and kind and thoughtful!  DON'T YOU BELIEVE IT! LOL

Jack had to give up his driver's license.  The doctor here refuses to give permission for him to have a legal  license in the State of Oklahoma.

We gave up the medical doctors and insurance we had there and had to purchase much more expensive insurance here and find new doctors,etc.

We gave up our home and became homeless.  We are actually "roomers" now when we examine the conditions we live under.  I am a live-in caregiver, housekeeper, laundress, hairdresser, gardener, driver, and personal business consultant and secretary.  I have some job security however! LOL

In "Marigold Country Home"--let there be Peace!

 

 

HOW DO YOU EAT AN ELEPHANT?

How do you eat an elephant?  One bite at a time!

I found this quote in an article about a lady that had undertaken a project and often became discouraged.  Her friend told her this to just remember each day.   Jack reminds me it is just one day, one hour, one minute at a time this walk we are taking.........but sometimes I wish to run and feel I have lead weights tied to my feet!

This is National "Caregivers" Month. ( http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/10/20061030-14.html)Why did it take 14 days for me to find this out.   I could have been celebrating for two weeks and now have to make up for it in the last two weeks!   I am going to bet that Patrick put this in his journal and I missed that entry for some reason.  He never misses anything so vitally important!

Well, Jack and I had a wonderful day yesterday.  We were invited to a Vet's Day celebration but we were mistaken on the time so instead of dinner from 5 to 9 we went for the lunch at 11.  Vets there said they came to have lunch together to avoid the crowds in the evening.  This was a very nice restaurant that we have visited several times but mother doesn't like! LOL  The restaurant was feating the vets in the evening but we enjoyed a lunch instead. 

We also went to Hastings.  This is a book and music store that is popular locally.  We had not been in so went on Monday.  The big soft couches and chairs, hot coffee, hot chocolate, etc. and time to puruse the books, magazines, and other offerings makes for great ambiance.  Jack didn't find the music he was looking for but I found two new  books by one of my favorite mystery writers "Stuart Woods".  Goodness I have read the books my daughter has sent me so long that I shudder at paying $10.00 for a paperback! Guess all of them are not that expensive.  I can read a book in a short time usually if the evening isn't too eventful.  Then I will send them to another friend that got me started on reading these mysteries.  He had all 30 some of his books so I read them straight through from the first to the latest and just can't wait till a new one comes out.

While we were out my mother fixed her own lunch.  She informed me that she was perfectly capable of taking care of herself.  I left her food all ready to pop into the microwave.  She fixed herself something totally different, which tells me to not worry so much about her.  She might not be able to hear, see, have no teeth to speak of,  and be somewhat forgetful at times, but when it some to her lunch she had it all together!

This morning I had a few tears over a small situation.  I was out potting some flowers because it is supposed to freeze and mother and I had talked at length about what we would do about these plants over the winter.  While I was doing this Jack had called me, needed me and I was not available.  I came in to find him somewhat disgruntled with me because I was 'busy with stupid flowers'.  I told him the flowers were my way of getting out of the house this morning because Mother had hurt my feelings.  He understood this and laughingly said why didn't I do like the rest of this community just let them freeze and get new ones next year.   And I replied yes like the farmers, when a piece of equipment broke down, they just left it where it was and bought something else.....................you can't believe the junk that is left just where it was dropped!

Mother needed her hair cut and didn't want to bother with going to the hairdressers.  So I cut it last night and she shampooed it this morning and it looked really great!   She said it was because She had a girl working for her that knew how to do hair!   It was supposed to be a compliment but sometimes I feel like  unpaid girl that works for her for sure!   See how easy I can get my feeling hurt when I should accept the compliment and just go on.  Will I ever learn?

Well this hired girl went after a doctor's prescription this morning, to the bank, to a tiny grocery store for barbeque, and now that lunch is over I can go get the prescriptions!   Peace in this country place!~~~~~~~~~~~

I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE IT!

The day started with several down notes but.................

We did get off to breakfast at the culturally interesting restaurant.  Found friends there and had a lovely meal and good visit.

Went to the cemetery and found our beautiful but artificial flowers from the 16th of October still there and still great looking.  The keepers had decided that they were ok to stay and had left them right where we put them last month! Yea! We added a big bunch and the whole thing still looked wonderful.  The extras we took to neighbors who were buried there.  Put out the flowers and took pictures for their granddaughter.  She will be pleasantly surprised I think.  And all the little flags had been put out and look so lovely.  The driveway into the cemetery was lined with American flags and the whole  place looked so festive.  Mother was pleased.

The next stop  was Sam's Club.  We always enjoy the samples.  Mother enjoys the goodies we bring to her waiting spot and she enjoys watching the people.  We always come away with lots of stuff we don't need but will enjoy sharing with others.  I have decided that baking cookies is a job for someone else most of the time.  They have a bakery that makes cookies to die for and we just can't leave them there!  Apple pie for the holiday will be nice to have too.

When we got home Mother realized that she had lost a highschool class ring.  She didn't get to have a ring and her sister had given her, her own  class ring.  We made calls and looked everywhere but guess it might just be gone.

All in all it was a good day.........Jack and I talked about how high our expectations were when we came 11 months ago.  And I laughed about saying we were taking baby steps in many directions, but not sure we are often back to crawling in reaching our goals.  These are not big goals, just things like bringing the house up to a cared for condition.  The yard needs so much work.  The trees need trimming and the yard needs to be leveled and the driveway rescued from years of dirt settling after rains.   I could go on for lines and lines!  LOL  It is still a day at a time....and more often than not.....hour by hour.  Jack told me I had lots of guts to undertake what I have done, and yet I don't see that I had any choices.  You don't abandon your family.

Peace!

TAXES-VOTING-CLEANING SKILLLETS!! AGAIN!!

Tuesday's subject demonstrates how frustrated I have become!

Warning!

This entry involved WHINING so don't read farther if you can't handle it, but I have no one to really talk to when my day starts like this!  Jack has definite reactions in blood pressure and other things when I get upset so I have to bottle this all up!  Mother gets all weepy if I try to explain that I can't function without sleep and then she goes into the 'I'm Sorry' mode which is worse that any other.  It is also called 'make the daughter feel guilty' mode.

Tuesday's entry:

I can't finish what I start without at least one interuption!  But that I can cope with usually.  But when I go back and see that I have gotten off the track so far without even noticing I really begin to worry!!!!!

Yes, we paid the taxes.  I had to go to the courthouse to check to see if Mother received all the exemptions she was entitled to with the warrent  deeds including me on the titles.  I found out that all was in order and she was able to write the check for the taxes.  Not all the tax bills are in yet, so we will have to go through this again, I am afraid.

Cleaning skillets!   She takes a knife and scrapes and scrapes and it sounds like fingernails on a chalkboard! LOL Yep, she really goes after the skillets and I have stopped her putting the old iron skillets in the dishwasher because they come out rusted and brown with no seasoning  at all.  Iron skillets are unique in their treatment that allows them remain clean but seasoned.

I guess I did cover the voting! 

Yesterday we went to get groceries.  The local stores have fliers in the newspaper and Jack reads everyone and knows where the "bargains" are located.  Since the holidays are coming we decided to stock up on flour and sugar and other baking needs.  I hope I decide to do some holiday baking now!!  Mother could only handle one store.  She really gets tired walking around.

I did some baking for the weekend.  A couple of casseroles and a meatloaf.  Mother asked if we ate meatloaf well?  And I replied that it always disappeared so we must do something with it! LOL But she and I worked in the kitchen together and had fun.  These times are few  now. 

 Example:  I am not at my best at 4 in the morning.  Jack said she had been up since 3.  Yep, we are going out to breakfast, to the cemetery, and then to Sam's Club.  So to do this she must take her bath at 3 so she will be ready.  Then she goes back to bed at 5:30 when she has everyone up and going.  She refused to eat anything............so she will be starved and complaining when service is not instant at the restaurant!

When I don't go to bed  till after 11, 4 comes early and when I find that Jack was awakened at 3 I get real testy!  When everyone is up, the cats are up too and want to be fed and will begin to quarrel if they are not fed! LOL  Then Jack needs a bit of something with his pills, if he is awake his system is ready for medication.  Mother has taken her vitamins, etc., but she refuses food with these. I  have made the coffee and she is ready to have the paper read to her.  Just the obits.  Of course this involved a voice next to shouting.  Not when I am tired and at 4 in the morning!  But I do it and then whine to Jack and YOU! 

One of our friends knew that we had wanted our lawn sprayed for weeds last spring.  But our little town is so far out and no one wants to come this far.  But she had found someone to come to her place and we were only 10 miles farther.  We did get the lawn sprayed at a very good price and we asked him to come back in the spring.  This might get the nut grass and most of the stickers!  I like to go barefoot and the stickers are hard on the feet.........also they stick to the shoes and get in the carpet.

The spraying was scheduled on Friday.....so he came to spray on Thursday!  This is life in Country USA.  If the mood hits then do what you planned, even if it has been pre-scheduled at another time! However, it worked well for us and hopefully for the other parties.

I had managed to mow the worst parts of the lawn on Wednesday evening.   I still wanted to finish before the mowing.  But now I have an excuse to wait another few days!  Remember our lawn is huge as is most everyone's in a small town like this.  I don't have  a riding mower but that might be a good investment in the future.  Right now it is time to be alone and think while I am getting exercise walking around the yard.

It is now 6:30, I have been able to finish this with only a couple of interuptions, and since I have already been reminded by Mother to take water for her, the flowers, the camera, etc., I need to get up, get dressed, get Jack ready, and then watch the sunrise.  The rest of the day will take care of itself.  And I was able to go through the stored boxes and find Jack's AMERICAN LEGION cap which he wanted for today.  See I can be all things to all people!

Jack keeps reminding me that only today, this hour, these few minutes, are really important.  Do not move ahead and worry or borrow trouble.  I keep trying.  I have to stay well.

PEACE at Marygold House...and HAPPY VET'S DAY.

 

 

Taxes, voting, and cleaning skillets

Last week we had lots of drop in visitors.  Seems Jack and I are soothing tonic for some people! LOL

A friend who has several strokes finds visits with Jack and I good for her nerves.  Others find us a good substitute for a boring football game.  But we are enjoying the drop in traffic.

We have found the culturally different restaurant a good place to meet friends and have breakfast.  It has become a weekly thing.  Mother looks forward to it.  Saturday (Veteran's Day) we will go out for breakfast and then to cemetery.

Today we went to vote, this was a big undertaking for a 20 minute stop.  But I went back later and visited with the workers.  All friends and neighbors of mother.  Some did not realize she is legally blind.  One had seen our 'CIRCUS' at  grocery store last week. 

Peace from the country~

 

Trunk or Treat was a success. (This was going to a location and everyone opening their car trunks and giving out treats, the location was the local church.).........we didn't go because of the cool temperature of the evening.  We had a few  here at the house and that was plenty for this first year!

Winter is upon us it looks like, since the temperatures have dropped dramatically.   The kitties have heavy coats so it looks like a cold winter if that is an indication.  I wore what I called my  'Oklahoma Coat'  last year.  This year it probably won't be warm  enough, but for California it was considered heavy.

Until the goblins return.....Peace!

 

Monday.........busy as usual.

We all went for our flu shots and Jack has a visit with the doctor.  Doctor was reluctant to think the chest pains were heart.......more likely indigestion.  He was very thorough and I am feeling much less worried.

Mother thought flu shot was another social event, lots of people came over to visit with her at the doctor's waiting room, and the shot was so quick, she had a nice morning! LOL

Did more legal clean up today, we had some minor errors on last week's work.

The afternoon as been lazy.  Since we got up again at 4!  Mother's inside clock isn't changed yet to the time change!  We enjoyed some afternooon rest.  Early hours are nice if you get to sleep through the night.  No plans for tomorrow, maybe another pleasant day.  (smiles)

HALLOWEEN!  Looking forward to giving out treats!

PEACE!

Sunday, a bright and beautiful day.

Mared by the excessive pain that Jack is having.

Have been working in the barn, trying to put empty boxes away and find out what I might do with others.  Also, cleaning up some cat trash! lol

Have the CD's on that Mother loves so she is happy.  We didn't go to Church this morning.  Jack really not able to be left alone.  Chest pains always alarm me.  He refuses the any emergency help or hospital so we wait the day out.

Have a beautiful day ..........................Peace!

Between the two of us (mother and I) I have completely lost track of the week! LOL

Funeral on Monday, Legal paper work out of town on Tuesday, More legal stuff yesterday, and today planned spontaneity.  That means that Jack and I decided to go out for lunch today.  About a 20 mile drive.  We can't say anything to Mother about this till about an hour before, because she really gets in high gear and is READY to go!

 This is a "culture shock" country restaurant. complete with flies but very clean otherwise.  Flies are a commodity that the federal government has yet to tax!   In the country with all the animals, etc., nature produced an abundance of flying things.

It is also Schwan's Day!  Yea for good stuff.  We can't find good steak at the markets here.  The public demand a much lesser quality of meat cuts.  I ask for some good cuts the other day and they told me no way.  They didn't get them so offered something else.  I bought it, and had to make stew out of that steak.   We eat beef seldom, but we want something of quality when we have steak.

Mother also likes Schwan's fish, biscuits, fresh frozen veggies (instead of the canned stuff), and most anything we buy! lOl This food service is so helpful here in the middle of "nowhere"!

I finding more and more places that are not wheelchair accessible.  When reminded that it is a federal regulation.  They respond   "So What!"  Guess they figure the responding agencies could not find them anyway.

I have been observing a farm implement store for a while, someone told me they had school flags.  Well, I stopped and was absolutely amazed!  It was the most gorgeous gift shop with upscale items that I have seen in the whole area!  The farmer items like gloves, tools, boots,etc., were all shoved over to one wall, and the rest of the store ( which was once a farm implement store) is beautiful gift items.  The Christmas Open House is Friday.  Right on schedule before Halloween.  FARMER'S WIFE POWER!

Well, Mother got up at 4 and went after the paper.  She said it was time.....I asked why?  "Because it was there!"  She has a cup of coffee with me and went back to bed and obviously went to sleep because it is almost 8 and she is not up!  

The cats are fed!...........The trash is out!......... A beautiful way to start the day!

 

tuesday's times.............

The week is passing so quickly...........today we notarized some more papers and made copies of everything.  This is wise advice from my daughter.

We have a full week coming up but tonight and tomorrow is forcast for rain.  In this country it is an 'event'.  We plan a sleep in and a lazy day.  My mother woke us up at 4 this morning looking for her clock, she had forgotten it when she went to bed. 

The reason the clock was forgotten was the unscheduled visit from her nephew. He comes about every week or week and a half for a meal.  He just comes in and waits till the next meal.  ( smile) I have learned that this is an 'opportunity' to share what we have and he is always so hungry.  He will eat anything and praise even the simpliest food.  Last night it was a thick soup and cornbread with big hunk of cake and peaches for dessert.    He kept saying it was so good, and he accepted seconds, actually he is just hungry for home cooked  food.  He lives mostly on microwaved frozen stuff.  As I said it is an oppportunity to share.

 I had already taken food this week to a family who had lost their mother.   I always take the simple things  like this week it was bread, tuna salad for sandwiches, cantaloupe, a big cocoanut cake, bacon, baked beans and potato chips.  I know that was an interesting combination.  But the lady came to me at the funeral dinner and told me, what a gift of love and how much it meant to all of them.  I had been taking food for quite a while.  It seemed to me  to be a thing to do when you know people are hurting too much to take care of themselves.

This is something that my mother would say.... if someone would just bring her a sandwich or something already cooked, and no one did.  I do it because I know it helps to ease the loneliness and hurt.  I am learning  how important it is to share the simpliest things in this little town.  It is something that I would have been very reluctant  to do in the area where we lived in California. Another reason we are here.

I understand we will be doing "Trunk and Treat" on Halloween.  Drive to the church, open your car trunk, and give out  treats in a safe environment.  New concept for me.

I am saving marigold seeds to share.  This place will be known as Marigold Country Home.....we are planning banks and banks of marigold around the house and  in the landscaping.  Hope our plans work out.

Happy autumn from Marigold Country House and peace and contentment from all of us.

 

SHOULD BE A WEEK IN OUR LIFE! LOL

This has been a busy week.  Jack's new chair was delivered.  It is a wine or claret color and fits well in the no match room we occupy! lol  I laughed when the gentlemen delivered the chair and asked how many people did they know that had three "lift" chairs in their living area.  The said they thought we held the record.  But Jack needs a chair and a spare when one fails to operate (and that does happen). 

 These chairs are for sleeping as well as sitting.  We don't have beds.  Mother likes the third chair quite well and sits in it when she is with us.

Mother mentioned a month ago she wanted her will cleaned up and rewritten.  I called her lawyer and did not receive a return call for a month. So I made an appointment with another lawyer. 

 The night before the appointment, her attorney called and say he had been away from home and was sorry to be so late returning her call.  Over night he rewrote her will, durable power of attorney and deeds to take care of her property. 

Thursday the papers arrived.  I called three of her friends, and we met 30 minutes later and signed, witnessed and notorized the papers.   She was very willing to do anything the attorney said she needed to do, as he is an old family friend and she has great confidence in him. 

This was quite a big step and I was greatly surprised that she was in such a good mood to get it done.  In fact she enjoyed seeing her friends so much that I think she thought more of it as a social hour.  lol  It needed to be done and I was proud of her for taking care of business.

The FFA students from the highschools around have been selling sasuage and bacon, well I bought from several.  You have to in a small town, or buy from no one. 

 The sasuage is ok, but we are not really fond of pork, the bacon was too salty for us, and we will be sharing it also with others who care for breakfast meats.  Mother loves the sasuage so will keep some for her! lol

 

Mother's 89birthday was this past Tuesday. We had so much company in and out for the week, she even had a neighbor bring a cake with candle at 7 in the morning and sang Happy Birthday to her. 

We took her to the National Cemetery where my stepfather is buried.   She wanted to  take flowers and spend a few minutes there.  We had intended to go out for lunch but took a scenic drive instead and had lunch at home.

It has been an eventful week for Marigold Country Home.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The thunder started about midnight and it has rained and rained.  Such lovely weather!

We just watched the rain and did only the necessary today. 

Lunch was a big pot of homemade soup we made this past week in anticipation of these rainy days.  Homemade cornbread, biscuits, and birthday cake finished out the meal.

Mother really didn't want to go to church today so we just curled up in comfortable chairs and napped. LOL

What a lovely peaceful day.  Jack has on a TV ministry and the sermon was about our jobs.  Some things were said that really pulled my strings and I think I will feel better and not so depressed this week...lets hope!

Peace.................

 

 

Desperate X

In a act of desperation, and I do mean desperation I loaded everyone up and took off!

One afternoon this week, Jack and I went driving, found the airport, and Sonic for soft icecream.  It was so much fun that I mentioned to Mother that we found a place for icecream and that we thought we would take a drive to find a town that Jack had been reading about in the newspaper.

This morning she was all dressed and made up,etc. ready for an outing.  I asked where she was going....she said to Chattanooga! 

We hadn't planned on going this morning...........oh well in an act of desperation to ease the DEPRESSION I have been having I loaded everyone up and we went on a drive.  First to the lake that is about 6 miles east of us.  There were lots of picnic tables, shelters, and really a nice place.  Then we  traveled on East for a while till the road turned really bad and narrow.  We then went South for quite a ways.  I knew where we were going, but this road was just a country road and somewhat rough, dusty, but interesting things to see.  Mother began to complain it was taking too long,etc.  We finally got to Chattanooga and it was an interesting little town.

We then went North to a little town of Cache where Quannh Parker has the Indian White House.  We didn't find the  place nor did we find a place to eat that was wheelchair assessible.  This is more common here that I like to think.  Then we went on to Indiahoma and found a place called "Whistle Stop Cafe".

This place was truly unique.  It was like a small mall inside an old grocery store.  The city hall, comunity center, tanning salon, beauty shop, the works but down the middle was the restaurant.  Much like our malls in California in many ways. LOL  The special of the day was mexican food.  It sounded good, the price $5.00 and included the drink and homemade pie for dessert.  Well we were wonderfully surprised by the huge platter of delicious food.  Of course we could not do justice to it, and took the homemade cocoanut pie and apple pie home, LOL

On the way home Mother complained about the length of time we were out, and how long it took to get to Chattanooga, etc. And she didn't want to go down one particular road again!    I told her that her lists of dislikes was getting so long that soon she would not be invited to go with us, because we would be probably going someplace she didn't like or on a road she didn't like! Oh well that didn't go over very well.  THE FUNNY PART WAS SHE WASN'T INVITED YET TO GO WITH US, WE WOULD HAVE ASKED HER WHEN WE DECIDED WHEN WE WERE GOING.  I guess it is getting to me when she decides where we are going and when we are going.  

Do you ever wonder what you will be like at 89?  I hope my daughter is patient with me! lol

Let there be Peace in this country home.

 

Four tomato plants and four pepper plants that we loved all through the hot dry summer bore no fruit...... no blooms, nothing!  NOW WE HAVE TOMATOES AND PEPPER!  go figure!

That is sort of how things are going......so I will be not making journal entries for a while unless something wonderful happens.  I am exhausted!

Another day in my life........................

Some bad news, the primary physician has decided that Jack should not have a driver's license.  He doesn't drive---but giving it up was giving up another part of one's independence.  This was a real blow and is taking its toll.

We all went to see about our eyes and glasses.  The doctor said that Mother's should not be changed.  He coud do nothing to improve what she had and she was legally blind.  He said he would help in securing the information for insurance that provides for someone to come in to help....wow we are getting closer to that so Jack and I can do somethings by ourselves.

Jack's glasses were too strong and will have his changed and the cataracs are getting a little worse.  Mine were fine but I wanted new ones so the prescription was sharpened up a bit.  All in all it was a good day.  The doctor was so patient and talked just loud enough and distinctly enough for mother to respond to his tests.

We are off to get van serviced....Mother woke the house up at 4  and has been dressed with coat on and purse at ready for two hours.....guess it is time to go...peace for all of us!

 

...Patrick in Caregivingly, Yours jiggled my thoughts about dreams and what to do about dreams we have created over the years.

First, dreams are the material of  great deeds, great art, great accomplishments, and most of all great lives. 

Sometimes we actually feel like we have played out some of our dreams and do we feel a void where those dreams were located?   I am not sure.

My dream of being a teacher that would touch lives was in many ways accomplished.  After more than 40 years of teaching, related activities, and receiving awards and recognitions from students, parents, and administration, I feel like that dream has been really played out.  I don't even desire to tutor now, even thought I have volunteered to do so in an emergency.

The dream I had of travel and exploring the United States and Europe has also been accomplished to a certain degree.

The dream to accomplish a great deal of family research for myself and others has been part of my life and I am tired of that activity at this time.

I guess right now my dreams are things I might like to accomplish in the future, but they are just that dreams.  I would like to make my home comfortable and very organized.   But right now I really don't have a home and doing things to it is out of the question.  Even organizing the closets is not a opportunity that is available to me.

The dream I can hang on to is making our one room comfortable and organized. 

The dream I can hang on to is making those entrusted to my care comfortable, happy, and secure.  That would be a great accomplishment.  It isn't a grandiose dream but an important one and one I hope someone someday will dream that dream with me in mind. 

In all of this I discovered that dreams don't have to be big just very important to the person dreaming and they can be accomplished.

Thanks, Patrick, I needed to realize again what I am doing is extremely important to me and those I love.

Peace! <happy smile>

 

Drop in traffic.....

Drop in traffic is wonderful for Jack!

When we first came just over 9 months ago, Jack sat here for days before he saw anyone except my mother and I.  He would comment that he didn't know anyone here but us.  Now we have quite a bit of drop in traffic.  This is good!

A new neighbor who was managing the country store, dropped in one day last week to announce we were the first to know that he was no longer associated with the country store.  He made the comment that one should never work for friends.  This little store has changed owners about three times since we moved here.   But........

He made a comment that he had only found one other small town like this, in that no one liked each other????  Well, we knew that this town had a personality of its own! lol  But where he was in the store, people would come in for coffee or something to eat and sit and TALK!  He said he often felt like a priest taking confessions because people poured out their hearts to him.    He said he knew when families were having domestic problems, which had outstanding warrents, and lots of simular problems.  He also said we must be"FLYING UNDER THE RADAR", because we were the only people that someone had talked about not liking!  Well, we are new in town!

Small towns means you don't lose yourself in the masses.  Everyone sees you and what you do.  People often comment on me mowing the yard, that it looks good,etc. 

 They ask about Mother because she  would walk to the postoffice.  This stopped in the winter and then it was too hot in the summer and the mosquitoes were very bad.  So that bit of exercise is gone, but she has fallen some and she doesn't walk far anymore and when she does she does hold on to me for support.  Heaven forbid that she would use a cane.  She uses the broom when she goes after the newspaper. LOL  Of course she does this about 2 or 3 in the morning and I am usually asleep.  I have tried to talk her out of this but she is determined.  The newspaper is in a container at the road and is a bit of a walk.

Well, today is going to be warm, and we have a funeral to go to.  We have done lots of funerals since we have been here.  Peace...............

In country town USA.

 

 

Sometimes I wonder where the days go

Did a little extra cooking today and took dinner to a family across town who have a very ill family member.  This is the nice thing about small towns.  You know your neighbors and sometimes you can made a little difference.

Didn't accomplish much today but am learning it isn't necessary to  build Rome in a day!

We ordered Jack a new dual motor electric lift chair last Thursday.  His has been fritzy a couple of times in the last 10 days.  It is time for a new one, and then he can have a chair and a spare!  This will make three but that doesn't seem to be a problem.  I can have one to sleep in! lol

It is warm again and we would like the return of the cool days and nights.  But will have to wait I guess till Mother Nature gets in the mood!

The tech to install my new  computer will be here tonight or  one night this week.  I am anxious for a computer that is reliable.  Like the chair we know that it is time to replace the communication tools.   I thought that the computer would be a great thing for Jack to enjoy also but it bothers his eyes and especially the games quickly makes him uncomfortable.

Entertainment here is limited: highschool ballgames seem to be the number one event here but you have to drive a hour and a half usually to see a game away from home.  The parents  seem to be very supportive and go to most of the games.

I am looking forward to Trick or Treat----hope we have some wee visitors.

Peace in the country and especially small towns.

 

 

 

Sometimes I wonder where the days go

Did a little extra cooking today and took dinner to a family across town who have a very ill family member.  This is the nice thing about small towns.  You know your neighbors and sometimes you can made a little difference.

Didn't accomplish much today but am learning it isn't necessary to  build Rome in a day!

We ordered Jack a new dual motor electric lift chair last Thursday.  His has been fritzy a couple of times in the last 10 days.  It is time for a new one, and then he can have a chair and a spare!  This will make three but that doesn't seem to be a problem.  I can have one to sleep in! lol

It is warm again and we would like the return of the cool days and nights.  But will have to wait I guess till Mother Nature gets in the mood!

The tech to install my new  computer will be here tonight or  one night this week.  I am anxious for a computer that is reliable.  Like the chair we know that it is time to replace the communication tools.   I thought that the computer would be a great thing for Jack to enjoy also but it bothers his eyes and especially the games quickly makes him uncomfortable.

Entertainment here is limited: highschool ballgames seem to be the number one event here but you have to drive a hour and a half usually to see a game away from home.  The parents  seem to be very supportive and go to most of the games.

I am looking forward to Trick or Treat----hope we have some wee visitors.

Peace in the country and especially small towns.

 

 

 

....this has been a busy day in Jack's life, Mother's life, and my life!

The day is coming to an end.

I did go mow some more.

I did water.

The gardener who mows at mother's other houses finished his mowing and came by for his check and dinner.  Aunt Louise always feeds him.  Now it is my job to fix a meal for him.  < it is ok>

I  made some phone calls for Mother, she doesn't do well on the phone because of the hearing.

It has been a busy day in our lives..........

 

PROGRESS..........

MONDAY AFTERNOON...........

Called about washer.......just needed to stop a syphering cycle....easily done!  I did it myself without knowing what I was doing..called to cancel service call! LOL

Went to doctor's office--he wrote all the prescriptions and said he didn't need to see Jack for 2 or 3 weeks! 

Went to get prescriptions---doctor is in a small town 10 miles away. Then you go home and later go to a small town 11 miles away to get prescriptions.  But this pharmacy has a gift shop to beat all gift shops!  Lovely shopping!

Mowed the large field next to our lawn....this will become part of the lawn as the bermuda grass expands.  Will go out later and mow some more and will water while I am doing that!

For me I took a long nap after mowing!  It felt wonderful but I was really stiff and sore....must get out and mow more often or do something that exercises those muscles!

Doctor said he had talked to eye doctor in California....that doctor would not give out the details of Jack's eye exam! Wow getting this Oklahoma driver's license is really becoming a job!   So the doctor recommended an eye doctor here that everyone likes.  Just happens to be mother's eye doctor.  That is the next thing we have to do.

Mother has decided to update her will.  We called her lawyer last Thursday and as yet he has not returned her call.  Some how I am getting annoyed!

Called computer tech and left message to see if he has time to install new computer and change over information from old computer......now what else was on that list!

Oh! I am not washing the car today!  (smiles) And I didn't call about car service..well, I had to leave something to start tomorrow!

Peace in country USA....autumn is here!

 

Monday morning!!

                                                                                                 Washing machine is on the fritz..must call this morning!

Jack's prescription for nitro tablets needs to be renewed (only fresh for 6 months!)

Need to  make appointment for Jack--pain pills run out this week!

Need to call for car appointment--regular service and recall notice letter!

Need to call for computer installer!

Need to wash car!

Part of the lawn still needs to have some fresh mowing done!

Gardener will come this week to mow the other three places that mother owns in this town! (gardener is nephew who mows and then expects lunch! lol)

Need to water, strong winds dried out a lot of the flower beds.

Need to take care of me, too! lol

 

A double dose of duty!

We have had a full week. 

Jack has had lots of chest pains beyond the usual indigestion.  I have stayed close and tried to keep things real pleasant.  Oh well I have tried! <smiles>

When you are doing a double caregiving event--------you find there are things that are present that you would never expect.  Both individuals need my time and attention.  Jack is doing so many things that helps free me to give time and attention to my mom, but then he needs his fair share of my time, also.  Balancing this isn't always easy.

For example: Jack and I love to go out to eat, and just sit and enjoy the people around us and chat about all kinds of things.  Mother wants to put in her order and then eat asap.  I have spoiled her, by having her meals ready, hot, cut into comfortable bite sizes, and she doesn't have to WAIT!

 I am becoming more and more aware of the aging process and  WAIT is not something that is comfortable for those who are older.  Time is relative!  When we went to lunch on Saturday, I explained that it was at the noon hour and the place would be full and busy and we would have to wait!   Mother didn't enjoy our lunch out.  It took too long.    She doesn't like to go with us when we get the car serviced because we have to WAIT on it! <smiles>  At Sam's Club she does WAIT, but I  bring her samples  while she waits! lol

 

I bought myself a birthday present---A new hp computer.  Mine is 6 years old and ready to be replaced.  The new one is still in the car and I am going to get someone to install and change over the things I need to take from the old computer.  I feel perfectly capable of doing this, but the last two things I have put together and installed, I had so much HELP that I had  to do too much over, because I was distracted! lol   That is another item of the aging process that needs to be a part of caregiving........they need to feel needed and helpful.

Visiting with a lady recently I admired her home and said I was really into beautiful homes, since I was now homeless.  I really am homeless.  When those who need extra care are religated to a nursing facility they must really feel homeless.  Most are aware that they will never return home, and therefore that "room" is all they have.  Jack and I actually only have a "room" that is "sort of" ours.  We don't have a lot of privacy and those in nursing facilities don't have much privacy.  This situation  makes me so aware of the elderly and infirm who need 24/7 care.

Peace from the country in autumn.............

 

 

 

Jack has finally been released from the home nurse and therapist that he has had for several months.  The leg wounds are healed and he has lots of exercises to do to build up his stamina to walk.

We are thrilled with the progress he is making and he seems to be stronger than before we came to Oklahoma.  This is real progress.

We had a real date yesterday.  Went out to lunch and spent an hour at the casino.   We were surprised at the restaurant when they met us with the doors open and a big spacious place with a table where Jack could be comfortable.  Crowded restaurants are a real NO NO. 

  We received the same VIP treatment at the Casino.  Jack found a group of patrons at the Casino all in power and wheel chairs and they invited him to stay and have a drink with them.  (smiles)

Jack was having chest pains this morning.  I needed to go to the bank, so just gave him some tums and took him with me.  The doctor's office was around the block from the bank and all we needed to do was check with him if the tums didn't work. 

 Having an enter van makes going somewhere much easier than getting into a car.  Jack has a power chair and just buzzes right in and buckles up.  

One thing about this "country" place is the power chair picks up lots of sand, dirt, gravel, on driveways and entries.  I have now gone to carrying a  tiny whisk broom and dust pan. 

Peace.............

I received a call this weekend from my daughter laughing about the incident of the nude tatooed lady posing for internet pictures. Of course this town is about 10 miles away.  My daughter thought I had moved to the quiet Bible Belt!  Well, we did! lol

Peace.................

double dip of stress on a slice of busy pie.............

Car registration notice for my mother's car arrives by mail!

I think, good we will return this by mail------------wrong!

There  is no amount to send so it must be taken to the tag office with the offending card  aka as the official VA card.

I do a really stupid thing and ask Mother if she knows where this information might be..........yep! In the cellar!

No, I am not going there!   I look in the car and fail to find it so decided to take the second step and find the insurance card that is kept in the car..........nope! Not there!  I have established an outstanding file system for mother's business and so I go right to the files and find  NOTHING!  That says it for my system.  Well, I finally checked our file and found it filed in error!  Went  back to car to put insurance card where is should be and guess what--the offending card is right there!  Need new glasses--what? 

It is tough enough to keep all the files, records, and bills  paid and filed for Jack and I---------But the double dip of  secretarial errors keeps me in an ample stock of grey hair!

I am just into the 9th month of this  mad mad world....there is more to come!

evening of the rising moon, ...morning of the falling rain

...when you think you have it all together, then beware of a gathering storm!  And it isn't always the weather that brings seasons to our lives.

 The clouds gather, disperse, and gather again. 

The rain falls, then stops, then falls again. 

 The sun brings warmth, brightness, and hope.

Then disappears to reappear with  autumn in a paler and weaker version of itself.

Autumn's colors cover the travesty that the scorching summer has reeked.  Some trees already are approaching the bareness of winter, the withdrawing of life in its limbs.

This year has rushed from season to season without regard to the calendar.  Winter was brief rushing into Spring without opportunity to  put away the  winter threads.  Spring because Summer before  sandals could be found and bare feet became cooler than shod feet.  Summer didn't even wait to be announced and now Autumn slipped in on a three day rain.

Sometimes the opportunity to reflect can bring too many comparisons to life and the weather. 

Care giving puts you so close to those you love.  You see the gains and deny the losses.  You seek to maintain the integrity of a confident full life.  You close your eyes to slipping memory and unsteady limbs.  You weep when you can blame a bit of dust or the peeling of an onion.  You smile and laugh and hope you help them through times when all you have at your disposal is love to ease the pain or the frustration of forgetfulness. 

And now I can't blame the onion I sliced at lunch.

Peace..........

 

 

 

Yippiiiiiiiiii

We did get a bit of rain and I have not watered for a couple of days, what a saving of energy------but now I have started mowing!  Wow there is no end! lol

I took Mother to get a perm today and Jack had a couple of hours on his hands......he had a small crisis but handled it and didn't even mention the problem until I stumbled on to the evidence!  Wow again I was impressed with what he was able to do and how much this handicap area in our wing of the house is so wonderful, and how much he is able to do now on his own.

There is peace in Happy Valley tonight!

 

 

This morning is beautiful Scottish weather.  The damp overcast sky and the slow easy day.

  I spent the morning baking and cooking for the week because the weather put me in the mood to be in the kitchen.

Jack is so much more able to do things that are seemingly small but they take time and multiple steps for me.    This is such a big help and I am constantly being surprised by some task that I had been doing for him and now he usually does it for himself.   He even gets through the night and days with tasks of a personal nature without my assistance.  This really frees me up to do other things, I am not less busy but busy with other tasks..LOL

Is there a rule you can't wash your car in the rain?  Well, I did and people passing by honked at me! smiles  ( maybe because it was Sunday in a small town?)  Car washing for me is like lawn mowing therapy.

This afternoon I am doing as little as possible.............or at least try to.

I wish I had the facilities for putting pictures in this journal.

Today we went to a local small town fair.  This is not a county fair but a town fair.  We missed the jams and jellies on Friday because we were not sure of the date, but a friend's grandson was showing livestock today and we made the effort to get to the "fair".

I think every pickup in the 25 mile radii had to be parked around one building in this small town.  It was really just a shelter with one side boarded up and the rest fenced.  There were bleachers for sitting but it was warm and we sat on the outside watching through the fence.  Actually Jack sat, I stood, and I seated Mother inside with her friend.

 Parking was random, you find a place grab it quick kind of random.  This was actually in a residential neighborhood and driveways were fair game. 

 We did see some beautiful cattle, not many but the highschool students and 4-H club members had prepared the animals and groomed them beautifully.  We saw  the "showing" of some of the cattle and the beginning of the sheep/lambs.  Some of the participants were both so small and young that you couldn't believe they were attempting to show.(one little girl looked like maybe kindergarten/1st grade and her lamb wasn't very old either)   

This event was truly family.  From the toddlers playing in the sandy walkway with his truck to the grandparents strutting around beaming their pride in their offspring. 

 The air was filled with animals voicing their disgruntled opinions of the morning's events, the microphone used by the judge, excited voices of the audience, and the usual traffic on the main highway nearby.  Because it was getting rather warm we didn't stay long but it was  an outing that we might try again for the county fair.

Our next stop before coming home was the "HOP and SACK".  Jack had not been in one of these convenience stores so we decided to see if there was something in the store we "needed". LOL  Of course we did come home with a bag of "stuff".

Here in the country----our outings are not too exciting, but we make our own fun!

 

.......................peace............

Picked up the great blood pressure digital thingy. 

 This was not one of the rather inexpensive ones because they have small wrist wraps, this one should do the trick cause Jack has thick wrists. 

 Have had a lot of fun trying to make it work.  If you know what your blood pressure is normally then it is easier to see if the device is working properly. So far it is just fun! lol

Peace........(it has been a better day)

wet stuff

I think that wet stuff was rain!

I think I recognized the great lightening and thunder display and sound effects at three this morning, as part of that wonderful wet stuff!

I think all of us will feel better and not so cranky with the easing of the heat.  Me especially!

Gas prices down to $2.85, that made me feel better!

I am counting today as an "off" day........let's see if I can made it work! LOL

Peace......