Monday~ monday

Isn't this a song? Monday, Monday.............. got my car cleaned and washed.

When they say that Oklahoma is the home of the RED man they say that because the poor man is covered with red dust or mud.... the dirt here is truly red.

I had to shampoo the carpet in my car because of all the mud from the last few weeks... I am taking it to be serviced tomorrow and hate to take a dirty car.    But the mud inside was RED .  I went then and had it washed in Frederick, Oklahoma.

I made oatmeal raisin cookies with walnuts this afternoon.   My mother wondered WHY?  My answer was because I just like to make cookies even if I give most of them away.    And of course I did! lol

It was cold today but I got two bags of leaves, pecans, and twigs in the dumpster today.  The yard is a mess and will take several days to get it ready for the spring growth on the grass and the man who will spray for weeds... I don't like to mow when there are pecans everywhere...They tend to  hit things even me!

We had a big black dog, probably  a lab mix in our yard today.   He wanted to help me in the yard, and followed me everywhere.   I walked to the postoffice and took cookies and he went along.   I tried to discourage him but he was friendly!  <frowns>

No other news, tried to make a phone call to friends who are seriously ill and could not get an answer.  That worries me..........take care!

  Peace in Marigold Country Home.

 

SNOW FLURRIES..............

It did snow...............but melted as soon as it touched anything!

The sun is bright and hopefully it will bring some warmth with the day.

This is Sunday but we slept too late to make it to church that starts at 9:30.   Sometimes we move too slowly in the mornings! lol

Peoples fed, cats fed, dishes in washer, laundry almost finished, bathing finished, medications finished, wound treatment finished, it is 9 am and my day has certainly started.  Thank goodness that Mother did not want to try to get to church this morning!

Yea, there is time to think good things, dream good dreams, and do something happy!   Peace at Marigold Country Home!

BRRRRRRRRRRRR

It is cold and the temps are dropping..Rained over night and 70%  chance of more rain today.

We went to our culturally different place for breakfast: complete breakfast $4:00 which consists of 2 pieces of sasuage or bacon, two eggs, two big pieces of texas toast, hash browns, and drink.  Mother and I shared and she had most of a half order of biscuits and gravy.  Jack had a ham and cheese omelette with texas toast, hash browns.  The whole bill was $10.91.  Now I don't have to fix lunch, hee hee that is what I like best about going out for breakfast.  This gang usually gets one little thing like a bowl of cereal for breakfast........going out is a really big treat.

Mother went back to bed, tummy full, nice and warm, just go back to sleep! lol  Jack is watching Sat. morning tv and I am sitting here thinking whether to read or play a game.....work can wait awhile since I have already taken a field trip this morning!

Peace at Marigold Country Home!

 

and if you don't like the weather.................

..........just wait a while and it WILL change!  It was a lovely 60 degrees today and now it is clouding up and turning cold with a promise of rain/snow tonight! lol

I have mentioned in the past that this is a very depressed part of Oklahoma.  The economy is poor and jobs are difficult to find.  To show how this works, I have a neighbor who has 3 boys and a older/taller boy who is her husband! lol  Feeding these guys is not an easy task on a budget such as hers.   They are well fed, baking is done at home, no store bought, etc.   The oldest boy turned 15 this week.  I didn't know and wanted to do something so I had two large bags of potato chips that we had purchased with entertaining in mind when my daughter was here.  I took those two bags of chips and a jar of cheese dip down to the neighbors.  The birthday boy was excited and took the chips right out of my hands carrying on a conversation with his dad about who would get which bag!  The next day the mom said birthday boy took a large ziplock bag of chips to school in his lunch.  That is when she told me that she never ever bought chips...... that this was a real treat and the dip went so fast they might as well had soda straws!  Most 15 year old boys in California would have thought the chips a dumb thing to bring to him.

Living here is really simple.  We had really good soft tacos for lunch from a little grocery store that has a corner for lunchers.  When there are no restaurants in a town the businesses find ways of stretching.

After our visit with the doctor today, we decided that there were some advantages to having a private doctor and not an HMO.  Jack has had a medical condition that took months to handle in California, here the doctor prescribed without having to check with the powers that be....and Jack was on the mend immediately.  Our doctor is a young man who looks like he might have been a linebacker.  He is so kind and soft spoken.  When he wanted to check Jack's back today, he politely asked if he minded?  Blood tests are: Do you feel up to it this morning?  And this is the doctor who sits in the floor to look at the ulcers on Jack's legs.  Yeah, the insurance is huge, but the benefits are wonderful!  And this smalltown/country doctor is a jewel!

Marigold Country House is warm and cosy tonight!  Peace!!!

 

 

 

 

Pot holes in the roads................

Well, I stopped this week for speeding.  I started the conversation with, " You are absolutely right! I was flying.  I was going home to a sick husband and my mind was there, not here."  The patrol man laughed and said if you will tell me what year this car is, I will write you a real quick warning.  I could have hugged him right there!

Yesterday, Jack surrendered his drivers license and received an Oklahoma ID card.  He now proclaims that he is "legal".  Giving up the CA drivers license was very difficult, another sharp and painful turn in the road of life.

I have had some bad days this week, Jack has had some down turns in medical situations, and Mother  is increasingly frail and forgetful.  The ice is still with us in sheltered areas and I am not weathering the emotional storms very well. 

 You would think a year would make a difference, but I miss my home and my friends so much.  Of course my home is gone, my things has been given away or sold, and my friends have lives there.   And try as they may, they just don't understand the empty homeless feeling that smothers me from time to time.  We are trying so hard to make a new life here, but even adventures and challenges such as this has pot holes in the roads.

Speaking of pot holes:                                       Lawton, Oklahoma, estimated that the streets in the city suffered 90 thousand dollars damage during the recent ice storm.  AND I THOUGHT I HAD PROBLEMS!

Marigold Country Home is working on becoming a home.  <smiles>

 

CABIN FEVER

The weekend forcast isn't good, but it isn't the first time a weather man was wrong.  Rain/sleet/snow mix doesn't sound friendly!

Friends went out to shop last night and I sent $$$ to get two coleman rechargable lamps.  One has been loaned to us and having a couple would be wonderful in case this weather persists.  I tried on line and most were sold out, so hope they were lucky.

I used a shovel and hoe yesterday and cleaned off our sidewalk.  Didn't want snow on top of ice.   Hoped it would be finished by the time the Schwan's Truck came, sure was because the Schwan's Truck never made it by.  Maybe today!

We had a lot of melting yesterday but the melt just refreezes each night making slick black ice.  I tried to clear ice on paths that I travel everyday so hope it is safer today.  This has been a week now and I am getting tired of this cold. It makes for 'cabin fever'.

We had our first water problem last night.  We had become so accustomed to no problems in that area that it surprised us.  Found that there were of course breaks in the line.  We will be getting new water lines in the spring.  The town has a grant to put in some new lines and hydrants.  The line in front of our home will be the first one that is started.  That means it is the worst!

One of the highschool boys brought by some wooden boxes that I had asked him to make to hold Mother's sound equipment.  She had used regular cardboard boxes covered for years but they had begun to collapse ever once in a while sending records and things across her bedroom floor.  Now we can set it up and she can use it if she likes.  She had mentioned that she liked to listen to music in her room.  We will see what can be done.

I am becoming increasingly alarmed from time to time about my mother's bravery and judgment.  Noticing the cats doing a "what's going on" thing yesterday morning, I went around the house to find my mother skating across the ice to get the paper out of the box. EEEEEEKKKKKKKKK was my first reaction.  Boy did I give her a talking to. To put all of us in jeopardy because she was impatient with me for not going after the paper for her.  I have two patients here and if she broke something I could probably not take care of her and she would have to go to a .................................that was enough to scare the 'bejebbers' out of her I think.    The melt was so slick on Thursday morning I got the car out and drove around the house and took the paper out of the box and then put the car back in the garage.  I will continue to do that as long as the ice is unsafe.

None of us got enough sleep on Wednesday night.  Mother got up at 3:30.  I had been up a few minutes helping Jack with a problem.  She complained that she hadn't even shut her eyes all night.  I think she was basically hungry.  She had a slice of apple pie with milk, as the English do and went back to bed. 

We are warm, have lights, and water this morning at 3 am and I think it is time to go back to bed!  Things are OK at Marigold Country Home this morning. 

 

 

yea one night with no power failures!

I think I got about 8 hours sleep, broken in parts but at least 8 all together!  I feel human again.

Tried the roads and made it to the closest town and replenished the pantry and the cat food supply.

After all the things to do during the day.......... I went back and picked up some more supplies and got gas.........can you believe $1.97 per gallon. 

Well our visitor came for dinner and I fixed our standard what shall we do thing......... hotdogs, chili beans, cornbread, corn, and peaches and cake for dessert.  Of course in the dead of winter, ice tea! lol

 He is always so sweet and says everything is wonderful....guess if you were single, lived alone, and didn't cook, just about anything would taste good!

The Ice is still with us!  Temperatures hoovered around 27 all day.  Some melting and then of course black ice tonight.  I called in some prescriptions today so will make that run probably tomorrow afternoon...........Take care all of you!

Peace reigns at Marigold Country Home!

 

 

still cold...........and power outages!

There is no new information except more and more power outages.  Most are 5 to 6 hours.  After the first at 10 hours we are coping better.   Last night we lost power at 11 and Jack and I were in our electric lift chairs in sleep mode! lol   Well when the power went out Jack had to get up and we managed to get him out of the chair.  Then sat up until 3 am until the power came on so he could get back in the  chair...The time was spent sitting upright in his power chair.  It was been almost 2 days now with about 5 hours sleep at the most....... I am exhausted and need some rest. 

People  have been helpful but now I am getting tired of this no electicity and no heat!  We are thinking of doing a generator, power thingy for the future.  To just start a motor and at least have enough power to change the position of chairs and give out some heat would be wonderful!

Sometimes it would be easier with just Jack and I but mother gets really upset when the power goes off and wants to know  WHY AND WHERE  is the line broken!   And after she spent one night in the big room with us she wanted to stay........ we just have to have some privacy but she thought the togetherness and knowing what was going on at all times was great.   We didn't invite her back the next night.  I think she was miffed!

The ice has begun to melt so we are developing black ice but the roads are almost clear in our area.  Walking outside which I did on numerous occasions today means slippery and hazardous.. I have been carrying a cane to assist incase it is a bit treacherous.

Tonight is quiet in Marigold Country Home and we are all tired, good night! Peace.......

 

COLD

We lost power yesterday at 2:30 and had no heat or lights  until this morning at 12:30.  After an hour there was a power surge that started a fire at the juvenille facility one block from us, we lost power at 1:30 and only regained it after 4:30 this morning.

You can believe that the coffee pot is going and the kitties have been fed, the furnace and electric heaters are going full blast.  I kept my extra denim shirt and flannel lined denim coat on all night.  I was afraid this would happen and thought I had all bases covered.....NOT!    Need batteries of all sizes not just the big Ds.  Need oil for Mother's old oil lamps. And more importantly wooden matches to light the electric stove burners.

Our little town has recently hired a new young town maintenance man.  I wondered how this would work out because he had been associating with some young people of unsavory character.  I knew he was trying to help them and be a good influence.   Well, those young people had installed 3 sets of speakers in their car and had turned them up full blast.   Jack's former work on and near a runway with big planes had caused him to be especially sensitive to certain tones.  Yep,  the beat of that music would drive Jack nuts with pain.  I had an occasion to mention it to David and he talked to the young people.  It immediately improved.  I walked over several evenings ago and thanked the teens for their courtesy in keeping the music down.    They were very pleasant and understanding.

When the power went off the new maintenance man came to the house and told us what was happening and that they expected power in an hour.  But he was concerned about our trees and had a work order in on them and when he could get help with the bucket truck he would work on our trees.  He realized the branches ladden with ice were laying on our power lines.   

The old maintenance man called us last night about 3 hours in the power failure and said not to worry about our lines to the house, those could be handled if they went down, they were more concerned about getting power to the town and hoped it would be soon.  This gentleman is now on the town board.

Later the town mayor called and said she knew we had central heat and we could go to the city hall which had gas heat if we wanted.  I told her without power the garage doors would not open and without the van Jack could not be  transported.  Others called and asked if we needed anything, they had 4 wheeled drives and would get anything we needed.    Small towns take care of each other!

Peace and warmth now present at Marigold Country Home!

 

ICE HANGING FROM EVERYTHING!

Cold and wet outside, warm and smelly inside!  Been in the kitchen baking this morning.  Of course the old standby Cornbread!  And a new casserole that was so easy and quick!

A box of stovetop dressing prepared.   A can of chicken gravy hot.  A couple of chicken breasts microwaved.  Spread half of the dressing in a dish, spread out cooked chopped chicken breasts, cover with hot gravy, spread rest of dressing on top and then add some cheese to make it look great and taste good!  Popped all in the oven to let it bubble and brown and the cheese melt, 350 degrees!  Since all is precooked the baking time is up to the delight of the eye!

The coffee is still hot and there are still chocolate chip cookies from yesterday.....you are welcome anytime! 

Marigold Country Home

 

Winter forcast..............yucky weather!

The forcast of freezing rain and winter mix brings thoughts of hot chocolate, pots of tea,  fresh coffee, newly baked cookies and a good book!

Well, one out of 5 would be good! lol I have spoiled my mother in making pots of tea for her in the evening.  She drinks till the pot is empty and then laments that she drank it all up from me! lol  And I assure her I can make another pot if I want some.  But she is really enjoying this particular new thing.

I baked chocolate chip cookies before breakfast this morning, with lots and lots of chocolate chips and nuts!  Of course I had to make biscuits for mother's request of biscuits and gravy.  In  California, it was cereal or occasionally a roll. This country living is something else.

A teenager I was talking to across the road this afternoon said he was really a "country boy" and he told me about going to his grandfather's house where they had a big hay barn, and all the fun they would have this weekend even tho the forcast is for bad weather.  He was one of the teens I had complimented earlier this year when he made the honor roll.  He said tonight he had made the roll again with "A's".

One of our neighbors has acquired a horse and the whole family is really having fun with their new toy.   In fact the mother said she had to get her schedule better arranged so she could go out and "play" with the horse! lol  She grew up in the east where she had access to opportunities to ride often and she wanted her boys to have the same experiences with a horse.  Just because this is a small country town doesn't mean they have riding opportunities.

I had to make a trip later this afternoon to the next town to pick up a student who stayed for tutoring after school.  Mom was working and dad was on overtime.  This is one of the nice things about this little town.  People take care of each other.

I planted a pot of narcissus and a pot of  blue dutch iris.  Even though the weather is cold and disagreeable I thought it was the right time since spring will be arriving soon.  Also, they had started to sprout!  I dug deep, covered well, and covered with lots of leaves.  Hope they stay warm enough!  I really needed some Steer M. to warm up the soil.  Guess I could have begged some Horse M.  Would the plants know the difference???

You can tell that I am feeling much more positive!  The reason is I have been to town every day this week and one day I went twice!  Yea, it worked wonders to get away even for an hour at a time!

Hubby is having lots of excessive pain and went to Morphine this afternoon.  He always has a reaction, and today I asked how he felt after the morphine.  He said it helped the pain but I had grown to about 6 feet tall.  As long as I was tall and very slim that was ok........anyway it is usual for him to have visual as well as other reactions.

Tonight peace comes to Marigold Country Home and I plan to sleep late tomorrow morning! lol

 

 

 

 

depression.............

Depression..........there are no words to describe the total lack of control of ones situation.   I am not unhappy,  not worried, not ill, just this strange feeling that lacks description.

Will a good night's sleep help?  Will sunshine of the morning bring a brightness to my feelings?   Is it caregiving 24/7 causing this? 

Happy New Beginnings...............

I am trying to get pictures from the hiding place to my journal, this is an exciting challenge.  After about a week it will be a frustrating situation! LOL  But I want to do it myself!  You have heard that before!

This has been a good day.  We rejoiced because we think we now have a person who will take one of the properties off of our hands and out of my responsibility basket!  This means we have to clean out a house, find places for clothing and such, get a dealer to come pick up furniture which is probably priceless antiques or attic and basement variety stuff.   Then take care of the transfer.   This is so different than California when even the most insignifigant piece of property has to go through escrow.  Here you exchange $$$$ and record, and the deal I made doesn't include $$$$.  Everyone is happy and no one as delighted  as I am.

We didn't make a pillowcase to hold our money.....oh my,  hope that doesn't bear a bad omen.  We didn't eat blackeyed peas either.   But we did have a guest for our evening meal and bless his heart he always gets a hasty offering.   Slabs of ham,  whole kernal corn,  red beans, fresh cornbread,  yellow cake, and of course iced tea in the dead of winter!

Now does anyone else need a two bedroom home in a small town?  LOL  This one I have to clear an estate that quite a few years old.   What a mess, but I will get it done. 

Well, Peace reigns at Marigold Country Home.  We are warm, dry, full, and contented!