HAPPY THANKSGIVING

     The year is going so fast and I would like it to stay a little longer instead of going so fast it is almost like a blink of the eye. 

    I know that it has been a while since I have been here. It has been a trying time for me with losing my hubby in March, adjusting to apartment living, and continuing to rehab my leg. I have come quite a ways since the 17th of August, 2017 when I started putting weight on my leg to walk without a cane or anything. I even took a trip with my family to Branson, Missouri. I walked at Silver Dollar City and made it up the hills. I didn't walk the biggest and steepest hills, but what I did I did it.  

   Another first for me will be having a Christmas Tree for the first time in a long time. Decorating my apartment will be another first because I don't usually do that. 

    I did a craft show which I haven't done in over a year and have another one scheduled for the 1st of December so the fingers have been busy working on things for it. I let my inventory go down because for a while I didn't feel like doing anything. Then I made up my mind that I was going to start doing things because nobody would do them for me. I still have my crying spells while I grieve, but I know he would want me to do some of the things that I like to do. 

    I am still involved as much as possible with my grandsons who are taller than me. My youngest who is 13 stands 5'8" inches tall. He is probably going to be the tallest of all three boys. Both the younger two enjoy music and play in the band. One plays drums and precussion instruments and the other plays the tuba and trumpet. I am looking forward to going to their music concerts. 

     Thanksgiving will be spent with family. We will get together then on Saturday evening with all of the family. Thanksgiving day we will be missing my daughter and her family. She is spending the day with her in-laws.  We aren't having the traditional turkey and ham for Thanksgiving. My son is smoking a brisket and I don't know what else is on the menu.

    I have been looking for a cookbook for one or at least two people where I could cut the recipe in half for one person.   

     If you travel, please be safe on the highway. If you can't be with love ones give them a phone call if possible. Take care. Hugs and Prayers. 

ANOTHER DAY OF SUNSHINE

   We have sunshine today which makes you feel good after the rain in the past, but we have more on the way. I hope they are wrong. It was warm over the weekend, but the Southside festival was a success and my grandson's scout troop did a good job with their booth. 
  Grandma stayed home and worked on projects for my up coming craft show. I haven't got to do one for over a year so I am looking forward to it. My middle grandson is going with his mom and me to help us. This summer he learned how to turn little baseball bats on the lay. He was really proud of himself and so was grandma.The people in the woodworkers guild are willing to work with him. They are amazed at him wanting to learn at his age. His whole family make different woodworking projects out of walnut, cherry, cedar, and oak just name a few. He doesn't want to be left out. At least he is not in front of the computer playing games or watching television. 
   The tea towel was a custom order that I did for a child's teacher. It is something that is very useful and will remind the teacher of that child. I enjoyed being part of it.
   I am working on a baby quilt called "Baseball Buddies". It is getting closer to being finished, have a set of pillowcases in the works, plus some new tea towels. The fingers have to stay busy. I go to see the eye doctor and my primary doctor this next Monday for checkups. I made my appointments the same day so my daughter would only have to take off one day of work to take me since I don't have a car and drive anymore. That has been the hardest for me to not being able to go get in the car and go where ever I wanted to go. It might be just as well with everything that is happening in our city. I didn't think about going by myself and now I don't feel comfortable because of the shootings, vehicles stolen, and everything else. 
   The first band competition is this next Saturday for my middle grandson. I would like to watch, but I don't think that will be possible. 
   It doesn't seem like it, but I have lived in an apartment for over a year. I got to go see my old house and what they have done to it. It looks nice and I understand why it was necessary to move because I could no longer take care of my home. It is all part of getting older. I still don't feel comfortable on the steps especially coming down them. I keep being told it will get better. 
    Prayers for all of those affected by the hurricane Florence. Take care.

SUNSHINE

   Another day of sunshine, I just wish some of my friends were getting the same thing. I am praying that Hurrican Florence will turn and head back out to sea or at least lose it's strength so that it won't be so bad for my friends in the Carolina's and the East coast. 

   It is getting closer to the first day of fall or autumn which ever you prefer to say. I love that time of the year when the leaves start to turn. I will miss looking out the back door seeing the trees turn in the back yard of my old home. The kids will take me to see the color and I plan on taking my camera.
   I don't know about you all, but I love to do picture puzzles especially Thomas Kincaide's. They have so many pretty colors. The last time I went to Branson with the kids we went to his store. I saw so many things that I would love to have, but I didn't. The kids think that I need a Christmas tree this year. It has been a long time since I have decorated a tree.
    I thought I would show you my chair for my apartment. It is comfortable, but I think I like my recliner better. I know my recliner that is close to my windows make it so easy to take a nap in the afternoon if I am not careful. I am gradually getting it to look the way that I want it.
    My middle grandson is going to to their first 8th grade band competition. He is in the percussion section.and my youngest grandson plays the trumpet and he is learning to play the tuba because they needed onein his band. He still plays his trumpet besides the tuba. He is in the 7th grade. 
     The month is flying by and I don't really know where the time has gone. I wish it would slow down so that we can enjoy it better and smell the roses. 
     Enough of this and that, I need to go do my walk. Take care.
    

LIFE GOES ON

   It has been a while since I have been here in blog land and so much has happened in my life. I had a car wreck the 23rd of 2017 which I had a broken leg. It took two surgeries and I am now walking without using any cane or walker. It has been a struggle for sure, but my goal was and is to walk like I did before the accident.
During that time I spent 94 days in a nursing home, then moved to what was a retirement home, but it was more like assisted living or a glorified nursing home only without 24/7 nursing care where I had a small studio apartment, Then I moved to my one bedroom apartment. I may have to do my own cooking, but

 it is on my own timetable. 
   I got to go watch my grandson ride his horse even going to the State 4-H horse show with them. I had so much fun and he placed in 4 of the 6 classes that he rode in. You couldn't have asked for any better weather and it wasn't really that hot. I did a lot of walking and stairs and was tired when I got home, but I would do it all again. 
   I thought I would show you some of what the fingers have been doing getting some ready for my Etsy shop and a craft show. It will be the first one in over a year and I am looking forward to it. 
It keeps my mind busy and gives me something else to think about. 
I am sorry for the long post and for be missing from here, but after I lost my hubby in March I just didn't feel like it. I know it was a blessing, but you are never ready for it to happen. We had over 54 years together which was a long time. Life is like a roller coaster you go up hill and down hill.  
I have popped in a few times and left some comments and I am looking forward to another adventure getting to watch my youngest grandson race his go-cart which will be interesting. They were waiting for the weather to cool down so it won't be so hot. 
   Take care everybody and enjoy your day.

IT HAS BEEN A WHILE

     It has been a while since I have been here in blog land. One of the last posts that I did was when my husband passed away March 5th. We knew it was going to happen, but you are never ever are really prepared.  I have been learning a lot of things being the surviving spouse. 

    I  sold my home because I couldn't afford to keep it. I had close to two acres of ground with it. It had been a little over a year since I had been inside because of my accident that left me with a broken leg. Steps and I are still a work in progress, but I will get there. It hasn't been a year since I started putting weight on my leg. I am now walking without a walker or cane. It will be a year on the 17th of August. 

    I had three offers on my house with it only being on the market for a day and a half. After all the paperwork was done, my daughter took me to say goodbye to a home that we built almost 53 years ago. Our oldest son celebrated his first birthday there and he turned 53 in April of this year.  We saw a red bird sitting on the gutter which means my guardian angel aka my husband approves of the decision I made. 

    I have lived in a nursing home for 94 days, then assisted living for about 5 months, then moved into a one bedroom apartment where I live at now. My apartment building has a fifth-mile track, swimming pool, and an exercising room.  My apartment is on the first floor of a 6-floor apartment building. I do steps going to the second floor where the track, swimming pool, and exercising room are located. 

    I do my own cooking since moving to my one bedroom apartment. I can sleep as late as I want, stay up late, or basically do whatever I want to do. I spent the afternoon yesterday at my middle son's. My daughter-in-law and I baked cookies. I had bought some cranberry white chocolate chip cookie dough from one of the kids. I baked those, she baked a cookie called sweet surprise and a blueberry breakfast bundt cake. Supper was cooked on the grill. 

     My youngest grandson learned about putting up hay. He is earning him some money to go on an equine tour this next summer. He is hoping to have all of his money earned. He had to be 14 to go. He will turn that in October, 

      My youngest is learning to race go-carts. I haven't got to see him race yet, but that is planned for the month of August. He goes to Boy Scout camp this next year. It will be the second year for him and he is looking forward to it.  I may go out the night they have the family night. I am not sure if I will or not it will depend on the weather and how hot it is. I have been able to watch my middle one ride his horse. 

    I have been putting puzzles together along with my embroidering. Well, I better close for now. Have a safe 4th of July. 

  

 

Where is the sunshine??

   My grandson Matt with Hot Rod winning the high point in his age division at the first horse show of the season. I wanted to go but it was cold, windy, and really damp even had a few snowflakes thrown in. Where was the sunshine? It is only 41 degrees and cloudy today. The sunshine makes the body feel so much better.
   I went to my youngest grandson's band concert last night. It doesn't seem like he should be going to middle school this fall. He is so tall and only 12 years old. He will become a teenager this August. All grandchildren just grow up to fast.  
  I rode with his other grandparents who live not far from my apartment. When coming home one of the parkways here in town we saw seven deer. It was drizzling as I walked back into my apartment. 
   Matt's love is his horse and he has his first track meet the Tuesday after Easter. I am going to get to go to it and I hope the weather cooperates. He and his mommy are coming Friday to take me to lunch and go with them being I didn't get to go to watch him ride. They have a new puppy at their house a border collie named Bode. He is cute and adorable. They had had a rough year losing both their corgi and blue healer. Their mommy said that she didn't want another dog, but they think she will fall in love with him given time. The corgi was her dog. 
   My oldest grandson started a new job. He decided that he didn't want to go to school. I don't think that he really knows what he wants to do. I know when I was his age I didn't really know what I wanted to do. 
   I have so much to do with the death of my husband. I knew it was coming as his liver was shutting down and it finally happens. I know that you say you are prepared, but you are truly not. I can only take it one day of a time and one step at a time. I don't know if I will eventually go home after I get through completely rehabbing my leg or not. A lot of unanswered questions.  

  Take care and I hope you all have warm weather and sunshine. I hope the weather man is right we are supposed to get to 60 degrees tomorrow.

Sad News

  My love of my life for a little over 54 years passed away on Monday.  You all know that he had been sick for a long time and how he had struggled. He doesn't have to struggle anymore. I was with him when he passed. We are having a visitation and prayer service this evening then he will be cremated. We will be back together when it is my time as we will be buried together. 

   I am keeping this very short. All of your prayers have meant the world to me and know that I love each and everyone of you. Take care.

HURRY UP SPRING

Spring can't come any too soon. I want to be able to open my window and enjoy the fresh air. I haven't decided if I want to try to raise a live flower or get an artificial one to decorate my apartment with. 

A boy and his horse. You probably will get tired of seeing them. He has no problems catching Hot Rod, but dad has a problem catching him. They have really jelled and he is already talking about how to pack the trailer to go to state this year.  I am working hard so that I can go watch him ride this summer. They are already riding when the weather permits. They build him a shed to where he can get in out of the bad weather.  My grandson is getting taller and thinks that it is funny that he is as tall as me. He sure does have long legs. Aren't the little FedEx trucks cute? My daughter-in-law made them for a little boy whose dad works for fedex.  Well, it is time to go do my walk and ride the bike so I will be back later.

 

Checking In

    This was the view outside of my window when I lived in a studio apartment getting physical therapy. I have gone from a wheelchair to a walker, to using a quad cane in 5 months. I haven't got to my goal yet where I want to walk like I did before my accident. I still haven't got to go home. I can go up steps better than going down using the cane and hanging on to the railing. I will have to have my knee replaced down the road, but I want to postpone that as long as possible.

I am still apartment living but I get to do my own cooking, cleaning, working on getting ready to go home. Where I  am at now has an exercise room where I can ride the bike, plus a walking trail which is a 1/5 mile around. I started at once around the track than riding the bike. I will do that for a while then increase it. My apartment is aways from the outside door so I also get exercise there. They even have an indoor pool.
    My picture of my door was made by my 13-year-old grandson. He told me that it was really easy to make. It is made out of card stock, folding and cutting it. It took him no time at all to do it. He is looking forward to Spring and riding his horse again. We have had some nice weather so he has ridden then, but not during the cold weather.
   My family has been a god sent for me. They helped me in more ways than I can count. I just know they still determine that I won't get another car. They have brought me food, taken me where I needed to go.
   I have still been embroidering to help spend the days. I started a baby quilt. I don't know how long that will take me to do it.
   I know it has been a while since I have been here, but I haven't had my computer and then it went down. I don't like typing on a tablet. I have to be careful typing on the tablet because what I think I have typed doesn't turn out that way.
   My grandsons are officially as tall as me or taller. I will soon have to look up at all three of them. They think it is funny. My oldest is getting to be my chauffer when he isn't working. He went to school for a semester, but it wasn't like he thought it would be. He is working that is the main thing.
  Sorry about the long post but it will give you an idea of what I have been doing.  Take care.