" Hi , Come on In !! "

Where there are friends .
there is joy...

Well Hello !
Come on in .

It's Tuesday morning and I suppose that I should be busy doing
household chores and such . But I'm not . No here I am with you !
There are many things that need to be done around here but I simply chose to put my feet up , grab a cup of coffee and have a chat with you all .





I did manage to leave the house this morning however .
My bank made a little faux pas with my checking account . Isn't this wonderful news?
Really , I am being totally serious . It wasn't me this time !
There is still hope for my aging brain , I can still add and subtract .

The lovely ladies at the bank realized there mistake as they were exactly the amount over on their count last night . Why this is a cause for celebration !
So I went and worked out . Two mornings in a row .






Miracles do happen after all ! So to reward myself , here I sit visiting with you.
There couldn't be a better reward.

I will get up and do some things that need to be done when we finish our coffee.
I have already trimmed the long threads on Katie's frayed denim quilt this morning,
and then I threw it on her bed. O.K. first of all I washed and dried it
three times and it still has not frayed enough. It certainly doesn't look like the one in the photo from the internet . Am I surprised ? Not really .
But it really doesn't look too bad and Katie loves it . That's the most important thing.

I also haven't put a backing on it yet as that requires a 40 mile trip and some extra cash. The latter of which I do not have , so I will put a backing on it in a few weeks.
This is the photo of the one that I got off of the internet.



I will post the photo of mine next . Yes you can clearly see that I am an amateur.
The squares don't appear even because it hasn't frayed completely .
I have a feeling that's going to take several more washings !
This was my very first attempt at a quilt. It was pretty easy so I am moving on to another one for my grandson Jack. I will not be doing another frayed one however.






It is a cold and rainy day here today . The thought did occur to me that at this time last year we had our first few flurries already. This November has been unseasonably beautiful this year. I am done going out for the day.
Tomorrow the work days start !






Tomorrow I have to go clean my peoples basement in preparation for their
Thanksgiving dinner this coming Sunday . Thursday I will be working at church .
Friday I will clean my peoples upstairs of their house in preparation for their Thanksgiving dinner . And then Saturday morning I will be filling in at "Curves"
for a few hours.

So it will be a busy week for me. This is why I thought that we needed some time to chat ! Oh dear my coffee has gotten cold . I guess that I talked to much. I must apologize for not letting you get a word in edgewise, it is a bad habit of mine.
One of which I am constantly trying to rectify !

One last thing before you go that I would like to mention. As you may or may not know, times have been very lean for us around here lately . I was in desperate need of a haircut as my hair grows very fast.

You know what they say about desperate times and all , right ? Well I decided to let my 14 year old have a go at cutting my hair . Hey , I figured if she messed it up I could just wear my bandannas until my hair grew out .

I told her that I wanted it VERY short otherwise I have to get it cut every three to four
weeks . So I gave her my good pair of hair cutting shears and let her have at it !
Was I nervous ? You bet . But I just kept reminding myself how fast my hair grows.

It took her an hour . It was a nice hour . We had a wonderful mother daughter
talk. I learned many more things about her and she learned many more things about me . It was a pleasant hour yet an itchy one.

And here are the results........

I think it came out pretty good . Maybe I won't have to go out for a cut anymore.
It feels great .

So there you have it . I would love to talk with you some more over coffee but I'm afraid I must get busy now . This house doesn't run itself you know !

I'm so glad that you stopped by . We must do this again soon !


Note : I tried to post this in the morning but Blogger said no.
So just pretend it's Tuesday morning k ?
Thanks.

" Finally , Finally , Finally ! "

It has been a long time coming, well at least it feels like a long time .
Today was THE best day that I have had in over a month !

If you read my previous post you will find that this past month has been ,
for lack of a better word , Crazy !

I also haven't been feeling well at all for a few weeks , what with the strep throat , constant headaches and just feeling very strange the past few weeks ,
I was beginning to wonder if I was having medication foibles.

Actually I was a bit scared that it might be something more serious.
However when I woke up this morning I felt wonderful.
This really eased my mind as I was dreading a visit to the doctor and
the inevitable tests.
I am thinking that I may have just had a touch of the flu.

Since I was feeling so good this morning I decided to go back to work on Katie's
Frayed Denim Quilt. My first try at quilting. I worked diligently on it for seven hours
and managed to get it done. It is at this moment being frayed in the
washer and dryer. I will post a photo of it after it's on her bed.

Katie is very happy with it and now wants matching pillow cases.
I agreed but only after I make one for baby Jack, my grandson.
I'd like to have his done for Christmas.

In between all of this quilting I did manage to make Katie and I a few good meals.
My only regret for the day was that I didn't attend church .
Today was the first day in over a month that I didn't have to leave the house to work
or run errands. I actually stayed in my P.J.'s all day!
I missed going to service but I so enjoyed the relaxing day.

I even was able to listen to some Christmas music while quilting.
This was like being in heaven for me today.
Why even my teen was in good spirits and we enjoyed our girl time today as well.

As an added bonus, my son , daughter-in-law and my grandson stopped by
for a visit. Pinch me I am dreaming!

The day has drawn to an end now. Katie has just went to bed and the dogs are
asleep. The house is clean, the quilt is done and I am feeling all warm and fuzzy inside.

I do believe the Lords face has shined down upon me today.
Oh and by the way, I am finishing up this wonderful day by watching
" The Wizard of Oz " !

I can't remember the last time that I had such a good day.
I am feeling very grateful right now.
Thank you Lord!

Goodnight and God bless us one and all !

" I'm Baaaaaack ! "

And aren't I lovely as ever !
Wow that was one long month.
Shingles , bacterial cellulitis , Strep throat twice , hospital stays , outpatient visits , inoculations , dealing with insurance companies
( isn't that always fun !) , filling out forms , faxing , waiting for checks ,
cooking , cooking and more cooking , cleaning , laundry , working ,
praying , not sleeping much , pharmacy visits , more cleaning ,
cheering up , more cleaning , more praying ,
well you get the idea and I am absolutely positive that I have left something out !

I've been busy. What can I say ?
Today I dropped my husband off at his truck . For the first time in one month . I am still praying for him . And I miss him already .
That part never goes away . However I am enjoying my alone time right now . My daughter Katie has company so she doesn't care if I am here or not right now .

Something else that's been on my mind today . It was one year ago today that I had my first stroke followed by a second "mini " stroke in February. I didn't want to mention it really but it's just there .
I try not to think about it much and I try not to worry about it happening again , but the simple fact is that I do .

It is the reason that I started my blog per my Daughter Ginny's
advice . I do believe she was trying to get me to relax .
Thank you dear .

It's hard not to think of it when there has been all of this stress floating around lately . But here I am , one year later , one year older and perhaps most importantly , one year the wiser for it .

And that is all that I want to say about that day .

Yes this past month for us has been challenging to say the least.
It has been very stress filled and full of worry .
Worry is something that we all need to avoid .

Matthew 6:27
"Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"

It's not quite as easy as it sounds at times. But my husband and I
continually remind each other of these words .

And while I know that our stress and worry will continue
over the next few months , and maybe even years ,

I am here today and I am alive .
For this alone I am grateful.

I am back.

" The Autumn Of Her Life " by Diana

The wind was cold and dry as it brushed against her cheeks .

And even though she quickly felt the shiver of the wind flow over and around her skin,
It felt wonderful . It felt refreshing .
It made her feel alive .

The moon hung low in the sky,
glowing in beautiful warm shades of amber.






It was the harvest moon .
To her , it was the most splendid moon of the year .

She closed her eyes beneath the moonbeams
and she could hear the yellow, orange and red leaves
rustling past her silhouette.






One or two of the dried leaves touched her skin as she took
a very deep breath .

She imagined what the warm flames of the wood fire looked like
that someone unknown to her had lit in their fireplace.

That inviting scent mixed with the smoky scent of burning leaves
lingering in the air , filled her lungs and brought a smile to her face.






And while all of this was a special treat to her senses, she was getting colder now and realized that she would soon have to go back inside.

These magical days of this season were fleeting now
as were the magical years of her life .

The days grew shorter as did the years.

Yes she was getting colder now as well as older.
It was time to come in out of the chill to warm her body .

But her mind would always remain warm filled with the thoughts
and feelings of this beautiful season
and this beautiful life.

" An Experiment In Delirium "

If you are in fear of catching a virus or bug of the human kind ,

via the internet stop reading now !


I am doing an experimental post today. I can not think properly so I am curious as to what the absence of my usual thought process will produce.






Let us see shall we ?
Follow me , or at least try.


My husband and I had thought that Katie was getting better but then we discovered that we were wrong . Katie has strep throat again .
She is taking antibiotics , drinking tons and tons of water and sleeping.
And when she is not sleeping she is trying to make me laugh , those hysterical fits of laughter , or she is being a snotty !#! teenager .


It's really pretty outside . I am freezing . No fever , my skin is ice cold .
I keep getting bad headaches .
It's strange . I am having pretzels and a diet coke for lunch .
I really don't feel like eating . Besides whenever I do it sounds as though
there is a miniature lion in my intestines (intestines pronounced with a long - I , as I like it that way ) roaring and roaring .


Jake is feeling well enough to take care of Katie and I . At least good enough to walk the dogs and fix food .


And I just got through telling him that he didn't have to be such an ass when I told him that we had buns for his pot roast sandwich.
He was having it on an English muffin. I was trying to be nice .





I am tired of being nice . I am tired period . I think that I am cranky too as I have just yelled at Katie and Jake again. I don't deal with being sick at all. It makes me angry because I don't want to just sit here and do nothing . That is stupid .



And I don't want anyone taking care of me . It makes me feel like I have a slave . I don't want and I don't need a slave . As a matter of fact ,
unless I start having to vomit I am not going to have people taking care of me. It's ridiculous .






I am feeling angry . I should just go upstairs to my apartment and be alone. Yes I think that is an excellent idea .



I was supposed to meet at the coffee shop with my daughter-in-law today. Since she has had baby Jack we haven't really had time alone to talk. I had to cancel . This really didn't sit well with me.






Yes I am an angry woman today.

" Willy Nilly "

My thought process is somewhat scrambled this morning thanks to the time change. I woke at 4:15 a.m. unable to fall back to sleep.

I wonder how long this will last ?

Thankfully though I don't have to be anywhere today, at least not that I can remember ! I am waiting to see if Katie gets up for school this morning.
She was feeling better and then started to lose her voice a little. She is sort of up and down. I had to visit with our doctor yesterday and they seemed to think that it wasn't the flu. Which Dr. Mom had also suspected.

The doctor put her on some antibiotics which is also what Dr. Mom thought she needed . Since Katie was a little one, she has always been horrible at sharing. I believe one of the reasons is that we lived out in the the middle of nowhere and I knew no one with children her age. My other two children were in high school and weren't too much into
" Barney " ! I tried taking her to classes that involved other toddlers.
That didn't work either.






She got a little better at it once I was able to enroll her in preschool.
This was before we had found our church, if we had been going then, I think that it would have helped.

But things have changed now , yes she has decided to share her bug with her Mommy . But not to worry , I am still able to take care of everyone and everything. Why I even managed to sneak a nap in yesterday,
measure and cut several squares for Katie's quilt, and cook a pot roast with twice baked potatoes!






I had one bad day but it didn't last long as I do believe that God watches over us mom's. He doesn't let us stay down for long ! There's too much to do.






That was all of the willy that happened yesterday.
Now I will get to the nilly.

I went to Jake's doctor appointment with him yesterday as I always do.
The news was all good. He will finish out his I.V. antibiotics,
the last dose being Thursday night. The infection looks so much better .
The doctor is giving him an extra week off of work after that to make sure that it doesn't come back.

Jake drives for 10 to 12 hours a day with his leg down. So we must make sure that the pain doesn't come back as he cannot take pain medication at all while he is in his truck. Driving or not driving. So he will start using Ibuprofen in hopes that it will do the trick.







The doctor also told my husband that he can start doing more things.
He needs to start working on getting his strength back.
He can do the dishes! And walk the dogs! And cook dinner!
I am ticked pink! Although I am sure that I will have to remind him of this fact, believe me I will remind him!






I felt such relief after the doctors visit yesterday. My husband felt happy.
He is still somewhat worried about the shingles pain that he is still having in his hand. It's the hand that he drives with. But I just keep hoping and praying that it fades more before he has to go back to work.

So the mood in the house was much lighter yesterday. I am waiting to see if Katie is feeling well enough to go back to school today as my servants have all quit. They just couldn't handle all of the work.

It's so hard to find good help these days !

" The Sick Room "

Preface : The following is an excerpt that I found as I was skimming through a wonderful book called " Common Sense In The Household ".
It was authored by Marion Harland, pen name of Mary Virginia Hawes
Terhune. It first appeared in 1871.

While reading this excerpt it in someways rang true as to how I have been
feeling as of late. It also gave me a good laugh. I would like to share it with you.

" The Sick Room "

The sick-chamber should be the most quite and cheerful in the house-a sacred isle past which the waves of domestic toil and solicitude glide silently. This is not an easy rule to obey. Whoever the invalid may be, wheather the mother , father, or the sweet youngling of the flock, the foundations of the household seem thrown out of course while the sickness lasts. You may have good servants and kind friends to aid you , but the hitch in the machinery is not to be smoothed out by thier efforts. The irregularity does not annoy you : you do not notice it if the attack be severe or dangerous . All other thoughts are swallowed up in the all absorbing , ever present alarm . You count nothing an inconvenience that can bring present relief , or possible healing to the beloved one ; disdain for yourself rest or ease while the shadow hangs above the pillow crushed by the helpless head . But when it passes , when the first transport of thankfulness has subsided into an abiding sense of safety , the mind swings back to the accustomed pivot , and your eyes seem to be suddenly unbound . You find , with dismay , that the children have run wild , and the comfort of the whole family been neglected during your confinement to the post of most urgent duty ; with displeasure , that the servants have , as you consider , taken advantage of your situation to omit this task , and to slur over that ; - in fine , that nothing has been done well , and so many things left altogether undone , that you are
" worried out of your senses " - a phrase that too often signifies , out of your temper .




And it is just at this juncture-when you are called to fifty points of attention and labor at once , and are on the verge of despair at the conglomeration worse conglomerated arising before you ; fidgetting to pick up dropped stitches in the web you were wont to keep so even-that the invalid becomes most exacting . " Unreasonable," you name it to yourself , even though it may be John himself who calls upon you every third minute for some little office of loving kindness ; who wants to be amused and fed and petted , and made generally comfortable as if he were a six-months old baby ; who never remembers that you must be wearied out with watching and anxiety , and that everything below stairs is going to destruction for the want of a balance wheel . The better he loves you the more apt he is to fancy that nobody but you can do anything for him ; the more certain to crave something which no one else knows how to prepare . And when you have strained muscle and patience a little further to get it ready , and with prudent foresight made enough to last for several meals , it is more than probable that this fickle taste will suggest something entirely different for " next time." " Just for a change , you know dear . One gets so tired of eating the same thing so often!"





Epilogue : I have always been somewhat fascinated with Victorian times.
However after reading this excerpt I can say with the utmost confidence that I am so grateful that it is not 1871.

I am grateful for myself and for my husband. Poor dear would be dead.

Katie is feeling much better . I am hoping that this was just a little virus and it has nearly ran its course.

Jake is feeling better although his leg still appears to be infected and he is still having pain in his arm. We will be seeing our family physician tomorrow and should have some more information then .

Thank you to all for your kindness . God bless .