Finally Christmas decorations have been put away. After waiting a week for Chemo and then not feeling good for a week after chemo, I finally had the energy today to help Bob go through the Christmas decorations. We had so much more room for them in our large house and now I had to decide which special ones I wanted to keep. It will, in the future, make Christmas decorating and putting away much easier.
Bob has made a CD and many of you will be getting this via mail in the next week. He spent a long time working on it - many, many hours of thinking and creating to compose the work on this CD. I'm so proud of him and the quality of his composition.
As I sit here, I look at the new photos we got for Christmas of Sam and his family. He is so sweet and charming and well behaved and full of surprises. I could just hug him forever (but I won't). He wears an elf's grin all the time and one never knows what he will say next.
Daffodils are about 3" high and I'm looking for peonies to show their pink little heads. Soon the hosta will begin to sprout and we will have to be hot in pursuit as we plan to divide them this spring.
Our yard continues to grow and mature as we add new plants. Soon it will be warm enough to work in the yard again. Little green shoots show on our weigelia and I have finally discovered that it likes to be pruned in the spring after bloom. I thought it was a fall pruning plant. Learn, learn, learn.
We went on a drive to Marysville North of us last weekend and were in awe of the cantaloupe colored willows. There were also yellow weeping willow branches, but the orange ones were vibrant and delicious to look at. All of the trees looked as if they were just waiting for the flag to go down in order to start leafing out. How I love this time of year.
If you are wanting hosta starts, let me know and plan to pick them up when we divide them.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Wednesday, January 05, 2011
NEW PRINTER/FAX/COPIER/SCANNER
I've been watching the price on the HP 6500A all in one printer/fax/copier/scanner/web wireless for nearly a year. It started out at $229, then down to $199, today it was $149. That I could afford. $79 savings! It will take a bit to get it set up and it will probably be housed in Bob's office, but WOW, this will make things much easier and if you have a fax and know my number you can fax me your art or Christmas letter, or recipe. Our printers are going on 10 years old. It was time.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
I'M STILL HERE
Hey everybody, I didn't drop off the face of the planet. I'm sure you don't want to hear my year long health report, so we'll just say I'm here smiling and enjoying rain falling and long naps.
We have three new Japanese Maple trees in our yard to compliment the four existing ones. Last year we planted four Vine Maples and next year we plan to plant more vine maples. On a big property, trees don't make much of an impact at once. Somebody asked how many trees we have on our property. We looked on one side of the driveway and saw at least sixty and that is the small portion of the property, but with smaller trees. Someday we may count, but suffice it to say that we live in the forest.
We saw almost all of the family over Thanksgiving and little Sam was chattering away all the time and the life of the party. His favorite phrase was, "ready, set, go!". His other favorite word is, "no" in a little whine. He's a pretty well balanced kid. It was fun to see him RUN down the driveway to get to the house. It was also fun to see him give everybody hugs on his way out to go home. Quite a charmer he is.
We have three new Japanese Maple trees in our yard to compliment the four existing ones. Last year we planted four Vine Maples and next year we plan to plant more vine maples. On a big property, trees don't make much of an impact at once. Somebody asked how many trees we have on our property. We looked on one side of the driveway and saw at least sixty and that is the small portion of the property, but with smaller trees. Someday we may count, but suffice it to say that we live in the forest.
We saw almost all of the family over Thanksgiving and little Sam was chattering away all the time and the life of the party. His favorite phrase was, "ready, set, go!". His other favorite word is, "no" in a little whine. He's a pretty well balanced kid. It was fun to see him RUN down the driveway to get to the house. It was also fun to see him give everybody hugs on his way out to go home. Quite a charmer he is.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
BABY STEPS
I have discovered the value of baby steps. When I take big steps I need a whole day to recover. When I take baby steps I gain ground. So lately I work for shorter periods of time and then rest. It seems to be helping. In a few days it will be a year since I got sick with what was thought initially to be H1N1.
Looking back over the last year I find that I have learned some things.
1. The body heals as fast as it wants to heal.
2. When the body is really sick, the brain shuts down to slow.
3. People really, really care about me. Thanks folks:D
4. When one doesn't use muscle it converts to fat.
5. When muscle converts to fat, one becomes very weak.
6. Baby steps are very useful.
7. I like to wear pajamas all day long if I'm not going out.
8. Bob likes to be dressed even if he isn't going out and doesn't feel good.
9. Knowing where your comfort zone lies is very important.
10. Staying thankful keeps one's attitude in the right place.
I've learned a lot more, but those are the things that come to mind on this particular day of my life. I'm so happy to be better even if it isn't all the way well. Better means I can go to church, I can drive myself to a doctor's appointment, I can go on short shopping trips, and I can have short work sessions in the yard. I'm still working up to going on walks and daily exercise, but the yard work counts as exercise, so I have begun some exercise.
The final thing I want to share that I have learned is that I am the one in charge of my life and that what I do ultimately reflects in who I am. Becoming stronger is a big goal for me because I want my life to last for a long time. Being strong and eating healthy are two important things that I get to choose. To choose something, one has to take action, and I'm taking action.
Thanks to everyone for all of the love and care over this past year. All of you are why I try hard to do my best, but especially for Bob and Aimee and John and Sam. I love you all.
Looking back over the last year I find that I have learned some things.
1. The body heals as fast as it wants to heal.
2. When the body is really sick, the brain shuts down to slow.
3. People really, really care about me. Thanks folks:D
4. When one doesn't use muscle it converts to fat.
5. When muscle converts to fat, one becomes very weak.
6. Baby steps are very useful.
7. I like to wear pajamas all day long if I'm not going out.
8. Bob likes to be dressed even if he isn't going out and doesn't feel good.
9. Knowing where your comfort zone lies is very important.
10. Staying thankful keeps one's attitude in the right place.
I've learned a lot more, but those are the things that come to mind on this particular day of my life. I'm so happy to be better even if it isn't all the way well. Better means I can go to church, I can drive myself to a doctor's appointment, I can go on short shopping trips, and I can have short work sessions in the yard. I'm still working up to going on walks and daily exercise, but the yard work counts as exercise, so I have begun some exercise.
The final thing I want to share that I have learned is that I am the one in charge of my life and that what I do ultimately reflects in who I am. Becoming stronger is a big goal for me because I want my life to last for a long time. Being strong and eating healthy are two important things that I get to choose. To choose something, one has to take action, and I'm taking action.
Thanks to everyone for all of the love and care over this past year. All of you are why I try hard to do my best, but especially for Bob and Aimee and John and Sam. I love you all.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
TO MY FANS
It has been a long time since I've posted. I've spent much of it sleeping and not understanding why my body hadn't healed. The last visit to my doctor indicated that I had 10 times more inflammation going on in my body than the highest normal level. I guess that takes energy to heal which is why I needed so much sleep. Time will get me back to creativity.
We have planted a few new items in the yard, the most pleasant of which is a hardy gardenia. As we walk by the path to the front door or get out of the car near the garage the fragrance is overwhelmingly lovely. It seems to like its new home and is busy making new blossoms. It is evergreen which will be a nice change in the spot in which it is located.
I love you all - you already knew that- and especially to my niece Jennie I express condolences on losing her lovely pink hair because of a woman that doesn't understand the beautiful individual that she stands in authority over. May you shine pink inside Jennie.
We have planted a few new items in the yard, the most pleasant of which is a hardy gardenia. As we walk by the path to the front door or get out of the car near the garage the fragrance is overwhelmingly lovely. It seems to like its new home and is busy making new blossoms. It is evergreen which will be a nice change in the spot in which it is located.
I love you all - you already knew that- and especially to my niece Jennie I express condolences on losing her lovely pink hair because of a woman that doesn't understand the beautiful individual that she stands in authority over. May you shine pink inside Jennie.
Monday, August 02, 2010
YARD WORK
Whew! Yesterday was planting day. I know, August 1 is the WRONG time of year to plant, but this body couldn't do it before this. I began by digging up some Hostas and replanting a hardy Gardenia in a sunny spot. The Hostas on that side of the garage got too much sun and burned every year. Then I had Bob dig up more Hostas for planting three large Hydrangea bushes. They will be semi shade and should be a beautiful color for this time of the year for years to come. Then we headed to the back yard and replanted all of the Hostas into the shade around our back patio. We already had some there and wanted to fill in a lot of open space that was always invitation to weeds.
We have hundreds of Hostas in our yard and all of them need dividing. Fall is a much better time for that project. I also rescue baby Sword Ferns from the drainage ditch at the top of our driveway every year and transplant them to useful areas. With the right conditions they can grow into large shrubs.
Little by little we make progress in our yard. Cut back lilacs and rhododendrons. Cut down dying fruit trees, plant more trees that can survive the conditions, plant day lilys (hundreds of them free from Craigslist), divide Lily of the Valley, transplant ferns, cut back Camellias, sweep off the deck, sweep off the deck, sweep off the deck, rest a little, sweep off the deck again.
Today I'm going to paint some medallions on our front door that is plain Jane dark brown. I'll use some metallics to give it some punch and I'm pretty sure BLUE will be involved. For those who don't know, all of my planting pots are blue. I'm a blue freak. I always thought my favorite color was purple, but it is becoming evident that my favorite is blue.
This morning - sore muscles, but I'm getting stronger all the time. Thanks to all who have prayed for my recovery from a long illness.
We have hundreds of Hostas in our yard and all of them need dividing. Fall is a much better time for that project. I also rescue baby Sword Ferns from the drainage ditch at the top of our driveway every year and transplant them to useful areas. With the right conditions they can grow into large shrubs.
Little by little we make progress in our yard. Cut back lilacs and rhododendrons. Cut down dying fruit trees, plant more trees that can survive the conditions, plant day lilys (hundreds of them free from Craigslist), divide Lily of the Valley, transplant ferns, cut back Camellias, sweep off the deck, sweep off the deck, sweep off the deck, rest a little, sweep off the deck again.
Today I'm going to paint some medallions on our front door that is plain Jane dark brown. I'll use some metallics to give it some punch and I'm pretty sure BLUE will be involved. For those who don't know, all of my planting pots are blue. I'm a blue freak. I always thought my favorite color was purple, but it is becoming evident that my favorite is blue.
This morning - sore muscles, but I'm getting stronger all the time. Thanks to all who have prayed for my recovery from a long illness.
Monday, June 28, 2010
CALENDAR
I looked at my calendar tonight and I have (for now) nothing scheduled for the next three weeks. NOTHING! That means I can garden and sew and do art to my heart's content. I could even start cooking again!
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