Sure do miss him!

But, he'll be home soon!

Hanging around

Nothing specific on the agenda today. The daffodils are blooming and the other spring flowers are about five inches out of the ground but no blooms yet. The roses have new growth and the trees are budding. Spring has arrived in southern Nevada with temperatures in the low 70s during the day. It is beautiful time of the year and my favorite.

Alex has been on spring break - different than Easter break - she attends year round school. She'll be heading back to class on Monday. I promised her we'd have one more day of jewelry making so I'm hoping I can remember and take time for us this afternoon. The last time we made jewelry she made a necklase and she wears it all the time. She wants to make a bracelet to match. She is so creative.

Son Kevin may have to have back surgery, yuck! He hasn't gone to a surgeon yet, I think he's scared. I would be too. Our oldest son has stopped by for this weekend. He is passing through on his way to LA. It's fun to have a houseful.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend. May God bless you and fulfill your every need.

Meatless Friday

It's starting out to be another beautiful day in southern Nevada. The Heating and Air Conditioning guys will be here in an hour. When we bought this place back in 93 we put in new units - we have two - and also a humidifier for Brian because of his respiratory problems and being on oxygen. It never worked! The lines are stretched from one end of the lo-ceiling attic to the other and tied in the middle somewhere behind the sink in the kitchen. So, we'll having all that taken out. Bob turned the water connections in the attic off many years ago because they were leaking in the attic. It'll be an expensive job, but one we have to do since we're selling - also, if they were to corrode it would be even more costly. That's what's happening here today. We did change companies to service our units - the other got to be more like a telemarketing firm and not so courteous. Our neighbor is in the business and he is a nice guy so why not use someone from the neighborhood, and that we did.

Soldier Tom called from Iraq yesterday - what a fantabulous surprise!!!! It was around noon my time. It was fantastic to hear from him because we haven't received any emails or I-M messages in a long time. They will be leaving Iraq very soon and going to Camp Liberty (Baghdad) for a while, then heading on home to Ft. Bragg. He plans to be home in either May and June. Once things get settled for him back stateside he's going to take Airborne classes. His MOS doesn't require him to have airborne but its something he'd like to do. Ft. Bragg is an Airborne base - big time!! When we visited Bragg, unfortunately, we missed the demonstrations the troops have, that would have been awesome to experience. Hopefully we can make it back there when Tom jumps.

I hope you have a wonderful Friday and all is well at your home and your family is healthy. Take good care and God bless.

Ash Wednesday repentance

I missed the ashes yesterday and I feel guilty, but we did fast. Isn't guilty the prime feeling during lent anyhow? Joking! I have little self-control when it comes to giving up chocolate and goodies but I'll try. I know people who fast and do all sorts of religious sacrifices during lent but I'm not there.

It is an old familiar tradition to go back to the meat-free Fridays. It was sort of fun to think of new ideas with the old style meatless recipes for all the Fridays of Lent. Ash Wednesday is suppose to be a light eating day, we had mac and cheese and tuna for supper. I do make a great mac and cheese from scratch and the tuna sandwich was tasty, with applesauce - haven't had that in a long time. Maybe that was too much for the traditional Ash Wednesday meal, dunno! For those not knowing about the Catholic traditions these habits may seem weird, but it is helpful to our spiritual soul to sacrifice. I'll buy some cod from Costco next week - I love cooking cod fish - its a fast dish to prepare and lo calorie too. Mom use to make salmon patties - so easy and cheap to prepare - a can of good salmon, no expensive, with egg and cracker crumbs and a little onion - fry in a little oil until done and eat, with some ketchup, uummm yummy! Then there's tuna casserole - I have a quickie recipe not out of a box. Grill cheese sandwiches and a salad - there's so many oldies but goodies from the past I love to bring back during Lent.

I know it's not all about food but our spiritual renewal. I haven't decided how I will proceed there yet. I know, I should have figured all this out before Ash Wednesday, but God knows my mentality and I hope HE gives me a temporary pass on this one for now.

Have a great day and take care.

Wednesday's Hero

Spc. Ross A. McGinnis19 years old from Knox, Pennsylvania1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry DivisionDecember 4, 2006His mission was to patrol the streets of Adhamiyah in northeast Baghdad and find a place to put a 250-kilowatt generator that would provide electricity for more than 100 homes. But it's a mission he wasn't able to accomplish.Shortly after Pfc. McGinnis's convoy left the compound, and less than a mile from FOB Apache, an insurgent standing on a nearby rooftop threw a grenade into the sixth, and last, Humvee. "Grenade!" yelled McGinnis, who was manning the vehicle's M2 .50-caliber machine gun. He tried to deflect the grenade but it fell into the Humvee and lodged between the radios."McGinnis turned and looked down and realized no one in the truck knew where the grenade was," said Capt. Michael Baka, his company commander. "He knew everyone had their doors combat-locked and they wouldn't be able to get out."Instead of jumping out of the truck to save his own life, like he had been trained to do, McGinnis threw his back against the radio mount, smothering the explosive with his body. The grenade exploded just as Pfc. McGinnis covered it. The blast filled the vehicle with black smoke and debris and blew the driver's door and right passenger's door wide open and blew the machine gun off its mount. The explosion hit McGinnis on his sides and his lower back, under his vest. He was killed instantly.The other four soldiers in the Humvee suffered relatively minor injuries.On the morning of December 4, 2006, before his convoy had left, Cpt. Baka has signed a waver promoting Pfc. McGinnis to Specialist and he was posthumously promoted to E-4.For his heroic actions on that day, McGinnis was awarded the Silver Star and was nominated for a Medal of Honor which he received on June 2, 2008.All Information Was Found On And Copied From MilitaryCity.com These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People LivedThis post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday

It is the beginning of Lent for Catholics tomorrow and we celebrate the beginning as noted on Ash Wednesday. This link will share an explanation.

One down and a kazillion things to do next

It's a gorgeous morning. The hummingbirds are busy at their feeders and the little chickadees are flitting all over the place. We have a large sliding glass door in our living room that looks out to our patio and while we were watching the news a herd of about 20 quail flew up to the patio area and were walking around. This area is is prominent with Gambriel Quail as seen in the photo. They are beautiful creatures although very aggressive when it comes to destroying a freshly seeded lawn or flower garden. Our population has decreased over the years probably due to the local cats on the prow. At first I enjoyed having them around until I realized they were the ones eating my freshly planted pansies. Spring is showing her beauty everywhere - the lilac bush is budding ever so slightly as are the trees and roses too. Our yellow daisy bush has blossoms, it is faithful every year. We do have a flowering plum which resembles the redbud - in the south the redbud, dogwood, and forsythia are a few of the first budding. They are beautiful especially if you are walking through the woods and the dogwoods in bloom caught you eye.

Have you ever looked forward to doing something but you wish you didn't have too? Well, that's the way I feel about selling our home. We've been in this place longer than any other but there are things we have to do because of our health and situations and because its just the best thing to do.

We met with Gus yesterday afternoon. Gus is a real estate agent for a Century 21 office in Las Vegas but he lives out here in our neighborhood. He puts out a monthly newsletter that is very interesting about a variety of things, such as Vitamins which is this month's topic, and there's more. He also gives you the opportunity to win a pizza from the pizza place of your choice if you answer one of his questions. Gus has been a real estate agent for 10 years, but originally was a pilot in the Air Force. Our conversations covered many topics and were very interesting which also included the tour of our home, of course.

You know how trends change for just about everything in our life and the advice of today's top real estate people if you are buying a home is to interview several agents, and that was my intentions. I got to thinking after meeting Gus that I never interviewed anyone, I called one and we always hit it off and the first was the one to sell our property and find us another one to live in. So, that's the way it will be again - Gus is the man. He knows his property and he has a lively personality. Bob and I both felt very comfortable with him and he answered our questions honestly and completely.

Having settled that number one on my agenda then next and most importantly is where will we go - I mean, what if our house was to sell immediate. I would have never planned on that and we aren't in a huge hurry, we don't have to move, or any of that stuff, so I panic. I keep thinking of Bob and his baby chicks and moving to a Texas farm near Fredericksburg, and Luckenbach, so Bob can play with Willie and the boys. Well, you know what, I do but don't want to go back to the country, I do love it, I really do, but I'm old, and what if something happens to Bob, that's what I think about today. We've been there and done that and I know deep down how wonderful it is in the country - really, I loved it, but well, this ole gray mare ain't what she use to be like it was down on the farm in Kentucky. Ain't no way I could chase those cows again. I would have no family nearby. Bob says they'll probably follow us, but I couldn't bet on that. And too, our wonderful doctor, talented hairdresser, and humorous dentist is here - I just don't want to start all over. So, we'll see if Gus can find us a place here that we can feel comfortable in and we'll go to Fredericksburg in our travel van and stay a couple of months.

Hee Haw! It really is cool in Luckenbach - check it out here!

The Best Made Plans can go assunder!

I've broken my rule of a "no bloggin" until Sunday twice. Can't help it. Actually we've all been under the weather with a cold bug and it has attacked each one of us. I am feeling well enough today to get some stuff done around the house, gads, I hate being sick especially when there's nothing on TV. The cost of cable TV is ridiculous and its seems even more ludicrous when you actually want to watch TV which I never do during the day. I can fall asleep with the TV on even when it's a program I love - hate that when I miss the last 10 minutes of a good show.

Speaking of TV - we've gotten hooked on NCIS, we've gone from CSI-Miami, to Las Vegas, then NY. And, then there's NUMBERS on Friday night. I was determinted not to watch NCIS because of Mark Harmon - he was married to Ricky Nelson's daughter and there was a big stink about their kids. I love Ricky Nelson, so became biased and lead easily negatively when I read the gossip about Harmon. But, the ratings for NCIS has been very high and we decided to try it out. The acting is terrific, good plot on every show. I especially like role Cote de Pablo of Ziva, she has a great singing voice too. It would be difficult for me to pick out one favorite because they each play a good part. The show is always interesting and entertaining.

I postponed the real estate agent's visit until Monday because we all are sickly. I think I am calling in an agent too soon. If the President's stimulus plan won't hit until April, it will still be a couple of months after that before anything will be felt in the economy. We have a lot of things to do in the house before we can sell - paint the interior and new floors in the kitchen and den, and I still have loads of packing to do before I can have the painters in, so the timing may work out - - unless the stimulus doesn't work for the economy especially affecting house prices and increasing jobs. We have a low price point set that we won't sell below so we will set the price so we can be flexible. Some houses are selling higher than I expected up here in our neighborhood. Our neighbor is selling her home too. So I will watch the progress of the sale of her home with great interest. She has less interior square footage, but other amenities that we don't have. This is a area with lots of horses and our property is perfectly suited for raising horses.

I received an email from Soldier Tom this week. They may be leaving Iraq earlier than expected. But, he may not be home until June rather than May - but, he may have a 30 day leave. He is very anxious to get back to the states and to come home. I wish Bob and I could make it to Ft. Bragg to see him get off the plane, but we can't do it right now. We have been to Ft. Bragg. We hauled Tom's car to him. It was a great trip and we enjoyed visiting the base. We have been fortunate to visit every base where he has been stationed. I enjoy seeing the museums and other historical monuments on all of the bases. We have been fortunate to have contact with Tom often because of the computer. He has a video cam so we can experience his presence first hand.

Daughter Suzanne is settled in the group home. She's having her struggles with the people, but that's the way it is with Suz. She has difficulty adjusting to other's rules. She has been on real high powered medication, one in particular. She had an appointment with her physician yesterday, so I'm hoping he could help her. We moved her out of her apartment and got her stuff into a storage room. We have met some of the others who live in the group home. Each one has their own problems, each different from the other. A difficult situation. Distressing when it's your daughter.

Hope each of you are well and life is good for you. There's been some good news on some of the blogs that I visit. I give thanks to God especially for the blessings He has brought into your lives. I may not comment in your blogs but I do pray for your needs to be fulfilled. God bless you all and God bless America in this difficult time. Especially, God bless our leaders, may he give them the wisdom to make good decisions and protect them from harm.

Fallen Soldier

I would like to share an email I just received from our Gold Star Liaison of Southern Nevada:

It is once again my sad but profound honor to inform you of the loss of another American Hero.

Army SSgt. Sean Diamond, 41, was killed Feb. 15 in As Salam, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. He was assigned to the 610th Engineer Support Company, 14th Engineer Battalion, 555th Engineer Brigade, Fort Lewis, Wash.

Sean's mom is Sally Willey who is an active member of Blue Stars in Northern Nevada. She lives in Gardnerville, NV. Sean will not be listed as a Nevada casualty because he never lived in Nevada, and he and his wife and four children lived in California prior to his assignment to Ft. Lewis. He will be buried in California, and the Northern Nevada Chapter will be responsible for the Gold Star Banner presentation at a Memorial Service on March 17th, to be held on what would have been Sean's 42nd birthday. In addition to his mom, Sally, he leaves behind a Dad, a Step-Dad, a twin brother, Michael, and another brother Jason, and of course his wife, Loramay and children, Taylor, 5; Madison, 8; Sean Riley, 9; and Athena, 13.
Sally has asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Sierra-Nevada Chapter of Blue Star Mothers. Memorials may be made to the Sierra Nevada Chapter of Blue Star Mothers, P.O. Box 714, Minden NV 89423.

Rest in Peace, Oh Brave and Faithful Warrior.

It is wrong to mourn the death of men like these. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.
US Army General George S. Patton

Unwanted Visitor

Well, you know how the best planned projects can run amok and they sure did for me this week. This ugly green gooey guy came to visit our family members this week. I'm not sure which is worse the effects of the cold pills or the symptoms but needless to say the grand pu-pa of getting something accomplished as planned went down the toilet - or into the trash can whichever is most appropriate. I'm calling the real estate agent in a couple of minutes and postponing his previewing of our home from tomorrow until next Monday when I hopefully will feel more like a human being.

It was difficult not blogging especially when family/friends inquired "did you blog?" I'll have to admit right now its easier to type than clean and move boxes with a Puffs tissues in hand. So that's where I am - no exciting news well, except one thing on my mind - a complaint letter.

I am very upset and will have to wait until my thoughts are organized and my head stops hurting to write a reasonable and comprehensive letter. I pay my bills online and have done this for years without any problems. Unfortunately, I had my first situation where I screwed up and when I realized I did and tried to correct it, the company wouldn't help out - wouldn't check back through their computer files to correct my screw up. I had to pay a penalty, and realistically, it was my obligation, but it galls me they wouldn't even check it out. "We can't do it" they would say and I know that is a pile of crapola! I am still very upset about this and will go into more detail when I "chill" out. Well, on second thought - every other company that I pay on line with has the verify information window after you type in the check/credit card information for paying a bill but this company doesn't. Then, after paying my bills, I always check my bank accounts to see when the payments have cleared and check that off in my spread sheet, so when this payment didn't post after a reasonable time, I realized that I had probably typed in the wrong number, and as you know - one number off will screw up the complete batch. This company was Cox Cable. As I said, once I have settled down and can think straight enough to organize my words appropriately to explain then I will write several letters. I will be nice - nice gets more done that a rant letter. They can check or trace a payment but wouldn't and this is something my bank couldn't do - - - it was a debit online payment, and since I have the confirmation number they could have pulled that up and see what account the payment went to and I could have cleared that up immediately. Cox Accounting department seemed to be "stupid" about the whole thing. My bank said they just didn't want to check.


I know perhaps it seems a small detail but they should have a "verify payment" window so you can check what you have typed in because we all do have one of those days where we are NOT paying attention and can make an error which will result in a penalty.


Ok, that's all for now - RANT OVER! I'll be around to pick up the pieces for a few days. Hope you all are well and life is good for you!

Quiet

I am in a quandary with time now and I must punish myself by taking away my time to blog. I have become obsessive - there's so much to read, to write, and to learn. My grandchildren, husband, children all shout out in their waning voices "where are you?" and "it's time for dinner, what's to eat?" or "can we bake a cake" and so on, but I can't pull myself away from the alluring, tantalizing, amazing, exciting, descriptive stories and opinions of the kazillion posts. I have boxes, empty boxes, waiting for me, silently shouting out to be filled and marked as job completed - they are behind me as I speak, I can hear their desperate calls for attention.

In a couple of months Tom will be heading back from Iraq. He will go to Ft. Bragg first then is expecting to come home in May - - - he is bringing a friend! We are conservative believers and I say that for lack of a more appropriate term, so his friend will be sleeping here in my office - not in his room. This office is our forth bedroom. Since we are getting the house ready to sell anyhow, I must get it back into a bedroom state except I won't/can't take all of my computer machines to another room in this house. I have more books, family photo albums, stationery, etc, to pack and then to get the photos off the wall too. I'll bring in a comfortable rollaway bed for Tom's friend and make the room accommodating for her.

In Soldier Tom's email message this morning, they are packing up their equipment and getting things ready to pass of to the next group moving in to the base in Iraq. He is very excited to come home.

We almost have Suzanne's apartment packed up. I called the DAV (Disabled American Veterans) and they will pick up her furniture on Tuesday. I was pleased to know they do that at "your" convenience. I know when we are ready to move, I have plenty of furniture to donate. Not many associations will come at your convenience. I have donated financially for years to the DAV and I am glad I can in this case as well. Suzanne can't take any personal items to the group home or they will keep it - we did put her prized possessions in storage. It is heart wrenching going through this with her again. Her medication is "over-done" but she will see her physician on Friday. Mental illness is a difficult illness to understand and at times to deal with. Suz has surely had her struggles in life. In case you don't know, Suz is our third child, our only daughter.

I called the first real estate agent to come in next week. I plan on interviewing several agents before settling on one. I will begin calling painters to come in and give me estimates for painting the interior, then we have to go over to Lowe's to pick out floor tile for the kitchen and den area. You know what I regret the most is taking down the photos of my family. Today's house selling theory is making the home look sterile and impersonal. I've sold and bought several homes in my lifetime, and having personal items around never had an effect on whether I bought. We will have fresh paint on the walls, I won't put new nails in the wall and put my family photos back up. I will diligently and sadly pack them in a box until we are settled in a new home - whenever or where ever that may be.

We have been in this home longer than any in our marriage and I cry as I think of leaving it - but we change as we get older and must go with the time. There are many very good reasons why we need to move on the most important one is our health. This is a wonderful family home and very close to elementary, middle and high schools, and parks so any family will enjoy living here. It is large and needs a younger and more energetic hand to care for it.

Anyhow, I must take some time away from my blogging so I may only be here on Sundays, the Lords Day and our official day off from servile work.

I hope you have a wonderful week. Please take good care and God bless you with all the graces and strengths you need.

Yikes! It's Friday the 13th, I'm stressed! Where did he hide that Valentine candy?

The Price of Love

In keeping with the theme of "Love" the thought came to me of how expensive Love can be. Just take oysters, or not, my mom made "Thanksgiving dressing" using oysters but that was so long ago I can't remember how they tasted, if I tasted them, or what they cost. And, I think, I would only want fried oysters. Then there's chocolate, the lady on the TV program this morning said that dark chocolate was the best, so I told Bob I needed to put dark chocolate on the Wal-Mart list for shopping tomorrow, and I'll make some from scratch hot chocolate. Or, how about those chocolate covered strawberries - aren't they cute?

Personally, if I had a choice I would go to Hawaii and have dinner on the beach, but I can't leave home right now. Isn't there always something? The thought is nice! I'm not sure what we'll do, but I did see him buy me a box of chocolates. Which brings up another item - diamonds, although my personal choice is sapphire and pearls but actually I'd rather have a new HP netbook with 160 gigs or a new big computer with a terabyte or a Canon Rebel camera, we haven't been going out enough to wear diamonds, pearls or sapphires. Good thought though!

Then there's perfume, there's so many scents to choose from today! What do you like? Bob does have his favorite, but with our children and grandchildren still living with us - what's the point? If you keep your good perfume in a dark cool place, it won't evaporate and will be there for that extra special moment. Otherwise, Bath and Body Works have great every day scents that are refreshing. Finally, there's the flowers - roses? I prefer carnations because they last longer, does that mean I'm a cheap date? Oh well, practical perhaps. But regardless, it is the thought that matters, isn't it. So, whatever we do I know we will have fun, I am fortunate and blessed to be married to a guy that has a great sense of humor which I think is one of the most important requirements of any relationship - faith in God being the first. So, I hope you have a wonderful sweetheart day too, I know I will.

What's Love's All About

Best Friends

Suz, Brian and Kevin cleaning their catch from the pond on the farm

Kevin's catfish

Kevin and Honey and her pups

Kevin and a few of many of our farm kittens

Don and his calf he raised for FHA
Suzanne and Pee Tee

This is Angel, she passed away two years ago. She was a wonderful family pet. We adopted her from the shelter, and she was old then. She fit right in with me and Bob and our naps. I really miss her!

SWEETHEART COUPLE

Forty-five years ago & still celebrating Valentine's Day

Tom and Yahoo Messenger

I finally caught Tom on the yahoo IMing thingie last night when I was on the computer. He had bought Suzanne an iPod nano and because her computer is an older model the Apple software for the iPod is obsolete so I have been loading the nano on my computers with photos and her music - - and that's what I was doing when I caught him on the IMing thingie.

We typed back and forth for about an hour mostly about taxes - he was filing out his income taxes online. I was thinking this morning how much I miss him and can't wait to see him. He said they were packing stuff to be sent to headquarters somewhere - they will leave Camp Taji, Iraq, in April. The time is passing quickly.

Tom is the type of presence in your life that you really miss when he's not around - some people come and go and they don't make a difference, but he does. He comes home quietly because he respects us as old people, but I know with his friends, he is loud and funny. He is and always will be the class clown. He has finally found the weaker side of "his grandpa" and can make him laugh - I don't think Tom realizes that yet. He is a pleasant person and I can't wait to see him again in May - not soon enough!

Today is the Day the Lord has made!

Today is our day of rest and to give special homage to God our Father! Not only has Sunday been a special day for me because of the Day of Prayer, but because my workaholic husband actually takes the day off and relaxes. As he has gotten older he does relax more often during the week days and is a firm believer in naps. He consistently quotes our physician saying "naps are good for us" I suppose as an excuse for his routine of several naps whenever the urge hits him. He deserves all the naps he wants - he was a very hard physical working male. It is a relief to have the day off officially now - not to have to compete with his aggressive motivation of completion of all sorts of jobs done throughout the day - I couldn't keep up with him - although birthing and raising four kids, then a grandson, then care for a disabled son, now helping with a granddaughter, I guess in retrospect maybe I didn't chop down a tree for firewood or build a fence or rebuild a hydraulic braking system, but I suppose my job was just as fulfilling - you think! But, here we are on the official day of rest and giving honor and thanksgiving to God - something we do every day anyhow, and we don't need to say only on Sunday because everyday is the Lord's day here. We may struggle with our disappointments and health problems and daily conflicts, but we thank God for our blessings and they are great.

I am watching the hummingbird feeder for the Precious hummer from yesterday - but she hasn't appeared. The feeder has been visited by several energetic male hummers but not Precious. I watched her until almost dark - I kept the shades open to watch as she held on tightly to the rail of the feeder and would drink of the sweet nectar to sustain her energy. We have three other feeders, but this one is the only one with rails and this one is where I would expect for her to come. I am too sensitive I suppose to be worrying about one creature. Never mind that - I will continue to watch through the day when I come back to this room, but I am doubtful she made it through the night because it was very cool and damp and she was weak.

Yesterday, granddaughter Alex and I made jewelry - a fulfillment of something I've wanted to do forever!!! I was in seventh heaven. She had made jewelry with her mom a while back when she was much younger so she couldn't remember a lot. She made a necklace and I lost count on how many times we dropped the string and the beads and cross fell on the floor and she had to lay out her pattern again. We worked well together and I felt like I accomplished a grand job working with her - I can't wait for our next project. I need to buy more "string" and more colorful beads. I know NOTHING about this so its all trial and error, but I feel privileged to have Alex to show me - she has great design ideas and this is marvelous for an eight year old. I am also anxious to teach her how to sew - I want to teach her to hand stitch although I am not that good, but that is what I did at her age making doll clothes for my dolls and those were very primitive looking. I think you can teach a child the basics and give them a taste of life and they will go from there. It's a good idea to try if not, you may never know the joy in a task.

Dreary Saturday

As I look out my office window I can see a hummingbird on the feeder but there's something wrong. The hummingbird has a broken beak. I brought Bob back to see - our poor resident hummingbird has damaged it's beak and is having problems feeding. It seems very lethargic. It's puffed up and quiet which is quite the opposite of the metabolic active makeup of a hummingbird. We speculate how it could have broken it's beak but knowing first hand the whizzing and zooming the hummers are so famous for it wouldn't be difficult for an accident to happen. Just yesterday a couple of doves flew into our sliding glass doors in the living room.

This photo was taken last summer and is a of the feeder outside my office window, and the hummer is a male hummer. This is NOT the sick hummer with a broken beak.

It is raining now but the feeder is under the eaves and is protected from the raindrops. This hummer looks like a baby but it's too soon for babies to be hatching. Bob says its a female. We do have several hummers that stay around our neighborhood through our mild winters. The hummer is sitting too quietly. As you can see, there is a rail around the feeder so the hummer's two tiny claws are holding on tightly. It's raining harder now but so far it's out of the reach of the rain drops.

We are expecting rain for several days and supposedly a lot of the wet stuff. Our Mt. Charleston snow lodge already got 10 inches of snow on top of what was there - good for the ski business. The lodge is about an hours drive from our house. We are way over on the other side of Las Vegas. We are grateful for the rain - we need it.

As I do experience the chills from the cold rain and humidity which is unusual here in our desert valley, I am reminiscent of a blog comment a couple days ago from the grandma in Pennsylvania and she wrote the temp at her place was 2 degrees!!! I will not complain.

The hummingbird has left the feeder. We'll be curious all day and checking for its survival - there's nothing we can do. Moments later - - - - it's back. It has flown away and come back to feed. I'll try to take a photo but I don't want to disturb her while she is feeding.

I took this photo from inside my office window a few minutes ago - the feeder is about 18 in. from my window, I did not use a flash, I was afraid I would scare the hummer. I used my telefoto lense the closest I could to the image - I know if I had a Canon I would have gotten a better photo, but this will do. As you can see, the hummer's beak is split. She is inserting the lower beak into the feeder hole and evidentally she is getting something because she continually feeds. She has flown away several times and come back. We'll continue to monitor her presence.

Gran Torino Trailer

Bob and I saw Gran Torino yesterday afternoon. Bob said it was one of his best Clint Eastwood movies. I absolutely loved it especially because his best sidekick was a yellow lab just like my Angel who passed away last year, or was it two years now.

I loved Clint facial "snarles" as you will see if you click on the YouTube video I've included below. Word of warning if you go to see the movie - keep the Puff tissues handy. There's also some really great humor!

This is an awesome movie and if Bob would take me again, I'd go, and I will be purchasing this when its out on DVD. Great acting by all - and terrific plot!

Go Eastwood!!!!

Mom

The past couple of months, I have corresponded with three very special women who each have had to care for their moms - each mother in a different stage of life. These ladies live in different parts of the country, nonetheless, their concerns and needs are similar. Two moms have been very ill and both daughters have struggled getting them the care their mothers need. They all three worry about fulfilling their mom's needs, of being there by their mom's side and one has been separated by bad weather recently. One friend is struggling and concerned with her own health and elevated blood pressure, while the other's time is also shared watching grandchildren during the week. One friend worries because her mom isn't entirely happy with her environment. We all eventually have to face the fact our parents they are not who they were only years ago and we are faced with the reality of being the one in charge - the reality of reversed roles.

My mom died in 1986, I didn't have the responsibility to care for her although I was able to visit with her a couple of times before she died - we lived in Kentucky and she and dad lived in Vegas. It may sound awful to say, but I do envy those daughters who can care for their mothers in their old age. I do pray for each of those special friends who are caring for their moms because it is a special task which requires a lot of commitment and caring. My mom was wonderful, she was my very best friend forever. I trusted her indefinitely, she had the best sense of humor - was so much fun to be around. I learned so much from her, she was kind, and honest and genuine. She love my children and did not worry about housework when the kids were around - they got her full attention, and they did simple things together like walking across the field on the farm and sitting on a log and feed the neighbor's horse or just talk about the birds or some silly thing.

Mom use to say this poem, and I can hear her voice and see her face as I read it - - - -

A Poem to Me Mudder

When me prayers were poorly said, Who tucked me in me bed,

And spanked me till me butt was red? Me Mudder.

Who took me from me cozy cot, And put me on me ice cold pot, And made me pee-pee if me could not? Me Mudder.

And when the morning light would come, And in me crib me dribble some, Who wipe me tiny widdle bum? Me Mudder.

Who would me hair so gently part, And hug me gently to her heart, And sometimes squeeze me till me fart? Me Mudder.

Who looked at me with eyebrows knit, And nearly had a king sized fit, When in my Sunday clothes me shit? Me Mudder.

When at night the bed did sqeak, Me raised me head to have a peek, Who yelled at me to go to sleep? Me Fadder.

This photo was taken Christmas 1975 - my mom, Helen, my daughter Suzanne, and me.

The first crocus

Not much happening today, I think I have spring fever. I saw our first yellow crocus this morning as I was out front waving good-bye to Alexandra as her dad drove her off to school. Bob is out front fertilizing the yard. Our weather is typically pleasant this time of the year - not too cold and not hot at all, these are reasons I hesitate moving from here. The last time we visited Ohio, it was rainy and humid and I thought to myself as we were running hurriedly from the grocery to the car - "what am I doing here?" I was chilled to the bone. I lived in the midwest and east coast but once you settle in the west your blood thins and any bone chilling weather is the most miserable experience - and I am not sure that any pleasure or satisfaction of home sweet home would make me leave this weather permanently. We'll see........

Suzanne is scheduled to be released from the hospital but we don't know where they'll place her. It's a difficult situation and I feel helpless. This is one of those times a parent has no say so and really, you don't want to, it's better to let the professionals handle it for the sake of her benefits and they know more than I do and have the upper hand. She turned 40 on the 30th. We'll take her out to dinner if possible once she's settled in where ever. Most of the times when patients are in the group homes they can leave for a specific time.

Kevin's work hours have been cut completely - he works at one of the big hotels on the strip. The economy is hurting the tourist trade of Las Vegas. Even Steve Wynn is cutting back his employees work time.

I'm anxious to see what the big deal stimulus does for our country - there are more stupid money projects buried in the plan - like a neon sign for Vegas and a Frisbee course in Austin, Texas. Have people gone mad????

The Las Vegas area is suppose to be the number one spot for home foreclosures, and here we are thinking of selling. Duh! The house values have dropped over $100,000.00 in our neighborhood. Now is the time to buy! We don't have to sell, thank God, so we can wait this out, but I've promised Bob I'd test the waters for his sake. We need to down size for our health sake.

Hope you all are well and are keeping warm! I know what it's like to live through ice storms, piles of snow and below zero weather, so I do feel for you. I talked to my Uncle Dick in Ohio last night and he told me they had just gotten six inches of snow - I told him it was sunny and 65 degrees here - he told me to shut-up (all in the spirit of jest, of course)!

God bless and take good care.

1989

I've been in a shroud of big time stress for a few months, not the normal routine type everyday stress. As an optimistic person, it would seem that I should naturally believe the stress will go away at some point or I will handle it relatively easy. While I may "believe" optimistically - in reality I have constantly been deceived, and the stress has only gotten worse. Granted the economical environment hasn't helped but there's more to it. I do adhere to the belief we make our own day by how we handle the situations placed in front of us. But, as I am flying in space faster than a speeding bullet to the age of medicare, 65, I can't help but wonder that getting older presents a larger challenge to accept the stress of every day.

In the year of 1989, I was 45 - it was the year of Brian's accident and the death of my father. I was taking college classes at night and working full time, even had a membership at a health club. Prior to those times, I had been a full time mother, and even full time farm wife, working at part time jobs occasionally and taking some business classes at schools in our area - but it was my age of conviction and can do anything - and did. We had four children, and after two left, we even took in foster children.

The year of 1986 my mom died, we moved to Vegas to help my dad, he passed away in 89, and two months to the day dad died, we got the call from the Army in Germany that Brian had a serious accident. My life completely changed on that day. August of 1991 we brought Brian home from the VA hospital in LA - the treatment there was horrendous - he had serious brain damage and respiratory problems, I committed to care for him full time 24/7- he survived and looked wonderful, but never recovered from his brain injury or the respiratory problems. Within a few months after we brought Brian home, our daughter became mentally ill, and she brought her son, our grandson, Tom, and dropped him off on our doorstep - they had lived with us but I insisted she try to live on her own and raise Tom, I even paid for her apartment. Her mental illness was so severe, she couldn't care for Tom. It took us months to persuade her to commit herself to the mental hospital. Meanwhile, caring for Brian and raising Tom wasn't easy. It would take a whole blog to explain, someday I'll put it there.

We did raise Tom as one of our own. We saw him through all 12 years of school and some college, then he choose the Army, and this will always be his home. He has grown up to be a very fine person, with a great personality and sense of humor. It wasn't easy for him to be separated from his mother - he really loves her, nor was it easy for us caring for Brian and raising another child, plus dealing with our daughter's problems.

Today, our youngest son and granddaughter are living with us; and our oldest son, the truck driver who was living with us and recovering from unemployment and a motorcycle accident is now back to truck driving so he is on the road but stops by every couple of weeks.

We grandmothers are a generation different from our mothers. We would never have expected our mother's to do what our children expect of us - although my husband says - we could just say no. Our relationship with our grandchildren is no longer visit, spoil, then send them home. No, we usually have "borderline parental responsibility" for them now. It is difficult because when you look into their beautiful innocent faces, you know its not their fault their parents are having financial difficulties or other problems but nonetheless, it isn't any easier being a senior citizen and not having the patience or the endurance when we were 41.

There is no answer to this day and age, and as the economy gets worse, will our responsibility become more? Will our plans for a grandiose retirement as my parents had become more hostile and a fear of heading to the poor house instead? I have resentment and guilt daily for my feelings and fears. We want to run away with no forwarding address or telephone number. No more handing out spare keys and no more extra food in the refrigerator. It sounds so ridiculous that it's almost funny, especially when we make excuses to go out to eat just to be alone. There are times when we do take the kids out to eat on special occasions or prepare extra special meals at home, but its too expensive to eat out with a bunch these days. And, I don't know about you, but it has become very difficult on my body to prepare a grand meal for my bunch even with help from my husband.

So, I ask you grandmas - is this our legacy? We are the era of Aquarius and bra-less parades, and equality, is this what we earned? Hey, just to set the story straight I didn't go bra less in public ever, and I'm a true Leo, Equality - boy did I know better, I learned the truth about "equality" a long time ago!!!! So, hey, whats to become of our generation of grandmas? I surely don't want to lose sight of heading off to Maine and sitting on the beach for hours on end reading a good book. We did that a couple of years ago - just he and I - oh, Lordy, Lordy, the clam chowder was super duper and the lobster, ooooo lalala! Dreams and memories - right now, that's all there is!