First let thank you for your kind words and prayers.  I will take time to talk a little about Daniel in a few days, with your permission. 

But for today I prefer to talk about Sunday and Monday.

Sunday Jay and I worked on trimming some to the low branches on the trees in the front yard.  When I mowed out there I kept getting whipped by them and my arms were covered bruises and scrapes.  We used the loppers and the Alligator to clear the problems away.  Then Jay cut the larger branches up for the neighbor to take and we loaded the smaller stuff in the trailer to go out back on the pile.

We had five trailer loads that Jay dumped on the pile.

On Monday morning we went to Dr. Webb’s office to check out Jay’s arm.  There was a problem with the dialysis procedure.  It turned out he had a blood clot and we ended up at Oakwood Hospital so Dr. Webb could correct the problem with surgery.  We never got back home until after 5:00 pm and that was when I discovered the call on my machine about my brother. 

This morning I went to have an ultra sound for the liver and gall bladder and should have results in a couple of days.  It has been a busy and some what stressful weekend but we made it through. 

I hope all is going well for you!

I received a phone call this afternoon from Florida with the news that my baby brother died at 12:49 pm.  I can only think that he was so tired of being ill that he gave up. Daniel had turned 65 on the 15th of this month.  At least he doesn’t hurt any more.  He will be missed.

I finally got to pickup my hook this morning and work on the afghan.  I am now into color # four.

I watched Biography until Jay’s car programs came on then decided to bring up some supplies from the basement and possibly see if I had loaded my weed whacker correctly.  I had, so I tackled some overgrowth around the garage door area.

Some before and after pics of my work. 

I worked until the sun got too warm for me and the trying to climb the side of the banks got to me.  I will give it another shot in a day or so.  Then when this area is cleaned up I have the whole main floor area around the the outside of the dome to clean up.  Damn I hate getting older because that turns a one day job into a major project!

Oh well one foot in front of the other is how things get accomplished!!

Tuesday while Jay was at Davita I managed to mow the whole back half of the property.  It was warm and I didn’t wear long sleeves so I bruised up both arms on branches.  But I didn’t suffer with aching arms or shoulders later that evening.

In the nineties on Wednesday so I turned on the truck air conditioner for the first time since we bought it in April of 2001.  The trip to Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit was uneventful and the doctor was very pleased with Jay’s progress.  The pressure in the left eye was 15%.  His normal eye was at 18% so progress is being made.  We will be back to see him again on the 8th of July.

On the way home we stopped at Harvey’s restaurant in Ortonville.  This place was closed for a while and reopened a couple of months ago.  We have been passing this business since before the new owners reopened it ( some almost 10 years ) and never stopped in.  We were delighted with food, served hot, service was more than satisfactory, and it will be on stop to eat list whenever we are headed home from a Detroit or Southfield doctor’s appointment.  .   

Yesterday I got out early and went to the grocery store for some odds and ends ($ 53. worth),  After I got back home I curled up on the couch to crochet a bit because the last two weeks have brought some pretty painful moments.  I finally decided to call my doctor for an appointment after Monday of next week because Dr. Webb is going to see Jay on Monday.  I explained to the receptionist what my problems were, that yes I was having pain, and why I needed an appointment after Monday.  She asked to call me back.

About two hours later I was told to come in now.  So in my shorts and old tennis shoes I hauled my sweaty self down to his office.  After some probing of the abdominal and stomach area an x ray was next.  After having seen the x ray he told me I was full of crap to start with.  (I said you mean I’m full off sh**?)  He said, “Mary we don’t talk like that in a professional office”—but he was smiling broadly.  He said I would be scheduled for an ultra sound to check the liver and the gall bladder.  Then depending on those results we might test further if it is necessary.  On the way home I purchased the old standby, Magnesium Citrate and have been in a close relationship with the porcelain throne ever since. 

At around 6:30 pm yesterday the heat broke with this.

The white particles are hale stones that were an added bonus with the cooling rain.  The air conditioner got turned off, doors and windows were opened, and cool evening was enjoyed.

The ultra sound is scheduled for Tuesday next week and I’m feeling a little better today.  Now if I could get a break from being Queen for a Day (the porcelain throne thing) I want to go start mowing the front part of the property again. 

The news from daughter, Cindy, is that the swelling in her knee is going down without the tap.  She just has to take it easy and avoid the stairs.

I hope this weekend will bring you some pleasant moments and that you remember to laugh loud and long!

Update:

Started the tractor at 11am and finished the front section at 1:45 pm.. Not too shabby if you consider all the trees in the yard.  I have just washed the twigs, leaves, and bugs off in the shower and got Jay’s chicken salad for sandwiches made. 

There is a nice little breeze out in the yard and the big thermometer reads 80 degrees but with the living room and the kitchen doors open slightly there has been no need yet for the air conditioner.  So on with the TV and pick up the crochet hook—this momma is sitting down!

Just when you think all the flowers are gone more spring into view.  This morning my walk around the dome and time in the swing with Brandy brought more color to admire.

This rose bush was one of the the miniature plants I received as a gift.  The size of the blossom and two buds would indicate it loves being outside. 

This Honeysuckle was here when I moved in.  I change the support for it but it looks like something larger is called for.

Sitting in the swing I spotted some clover blossoms and memories of childhood came flooding back.  Lazy summers, laying in the field, and sucking the sugar out of those purple blossoms.

I so long to pull one today but I’m sure it couldn’t taste as sweet as my mind recalls.

I believe this is one of the Snapdragons Cindy gave me to plant but the garden is such a tangled mess that I can’t be sure. 

Now on to the unknowns

Please feel free to educate me on these and I’ll try to remember them. 

My last picture was of an unknown on the leg of the swing.

My first thought was a mutated bee.  Next thought was kill it.  But I opted to take a picture instead.  Anybody know what my creature is?  I’ve never seen one of these before. 

Well I must close for now because an appointment with Dr. Imami at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit is scheduled for around 1:00 pm today.  I’ll let you know how Jay’s eye is coming later. 

Also if you get a chance Cindy of Cindyisms is having problems with her knee. She is home today and could probably use a couple of words of comfort. 

Remember to smile!

It has been a stressful couple of weeks.  The quest to regain the balloon twisting ability in time for my grand daughter’s graduation party has hung over my head. Every day I would think today I will practice but instead I mowed the yard.  The next day I will practice but I chose to clean house. Two days of canning jam took practice time away. 

Last Friday I said I will practice while Jay was in dialysis but a power failure at Davita made rescheduling of the appointment to 5:15 am the morning of the party.  That Friday afternoon we had company which was very welcome.  Les came up to check out a couple of computer problems and brought Zilch with him.  If you are an SEB reader you know that Zilch is a commenter on that blog and is from Vienna, Austria. What a pleasant visit we had and what a delight to meet this man in person. 

Back to the morning of the party—I drove Jay into his appointment then came back home to sleep another couple of hours before picking him up.  Jay did not do well in dialysis and decided to stay home and rest.  I packed up Brandy, the memory board,  the gifts from Les, Mrs. Dof,  us, and the balloons and pump.  I drove the forty mile to my son’s home to find myself in the midst of several people I didn’t know and some I did. 

That is what happens when you get older and move away.  I did however meet Anne and Steve, who are daughter-in-law Debra’s parents for the first time.  Also Debra’s sister, her husband, and son.  But basically I sat with my daughter, Cindy, Brandy tied to my chair,  and our family friend Richard, 

It was a beautiful day, not too warm, with a slight breeze.  Wes and his friend Greg were busy finishing the grilling and Debra was busy with making sure everyone had food and drinks.  (Mine was a can of A&W root beer).  In the process I forgot the camera I had bought along so the pictures are few. 

This is the happy Grad!  The picture of her in her cap and gown is nonexistent due to the temperature outside (and I don’t blame her). 

As to the balloons, with Cindy’s help we made a total of maybe 8 or nine animals and a flower on on a stem. 

All that stressing out for nothing!  But I figure that we tried any way.  I wouldn’t have miss the party because it was in Jasmine’s honor. 

I have spent that Saturday evening and today trying to regain a sense of normalcy.  Jay has taken care of the meals and I have sat and stared or slept the whole time.  But it will straighten out soon because I have to be ready to start driving Jay to doctor appointments again.

I hope you had a good weekend and that you remembered the fathers in your life on Father’s Day. 

It has rained most of the day here so I never got out to fill the bird feeders until just a bit ago.  The temperature is 63 which is great sleeping weather so I don’t think I’ll have much trouble sleeping tonight.  That and if you read Jay’s Jammin’.  this evening you already know we canned 26 1/2 jars of jam this afternoon. 

I had finished the memory board for Jasmine yesterday afternoon but then this morning I remembered one picture that had to go on it. 

It was taken after we had marched in a parade in Pontiac, Michigan a few years ago.  The King and his court from the Renaissance Festival were there also.  We were lucky to have seen the Fairy Princess in the parking lot afterward and she graciously agreed to have her picture taken with Jasmine.  It took a little bit of rearranging but I got it on there.

As to the balloons I am sadly falling behind in my practice and honestly I think it is a full blown avoidance tendency.  But I will try to reaffirm my task and work hard for the next two days.   

Just here to say that this mess was cleaned up yesterday.  Along with the vacuuming, the clothes folding and the mopping (except for the utility room) every thing got accomplished.  Of course last night I pulled another load of laundry from the dryer and that is on the table this morning.

As to the progress on the balloons and the memory board.  The balloon practice as of today is three hours behind.  Last night I made one dog and the head of a poodle (which lost air in it’s body).  I then proceeded to break eight balloons so I folded the whole thing up and put the balloons in the fridge.  I had gone out earlier in the day to pick up poster board, green construction paper, glue, white crepe paper, and a marker pen.  I ended up with everything but I chose a Tri-Fold display board for the poster board.  All that remains on this project is to pull photos out of boxes, scan them with the computer, and mount the whole thing creatively.  That job will begin tomorrow.  Yeah right—-piece of cake——Not!!!!

Today is my baby brother’s 65th birthday.

Daniel has been fighting cancer and several other complications, in and out of hospitals,  for months now.  But he is cancer free, as far as doctors can tell, and still with us.  So for me this is the biggest Happy Birthday I could wish for him.  If you would like to add yours I will happily e-mail a print out of them to his wife Peggy to take to him in the hospital. 

Jay and I are off to Dr. Ross’ office in another four hours so she can check on the progress of his eye surgery. 

I will close for now, take a deep breath, and jump back into the projects at hand.  Remember to laugh it is good for the lungs!

Good morning, it is 48 degrees outside, and the sun has just starting to shine in the Eastern sky.  It looks like it is going to be a beautiful day. 

Yesterday, late afternoon, I could take the guilt trip no longer.  I had Jay get out the tractor for me and I mowed the front half of the property.  I came in tired, dusty, but somewhat satisfied that at least the front area looked a bit better.  I have managed to load the weed whacker finally so I’ll trim the needed areas and mow the back half soon. 

When I came in last night I managed to blow up and knot four balloons but my arms said no twisting.  I picked up the afghan but that was the same problem.  So I have two hours of twisting practice due today.  I can work on the afghan when I take Jay to see Dr. Ross tomorrow. 

The dining room table is piled high with clothes to be folded and I think I’m going to run the vacuum this morning right after I mop the kitchen, utility, and bathroom floors.  That will satisfy the inside guilt and maybe I can get on with the balloons and the memory board. 

Have a great Sunday and hug those near and dear to you today.  See yah! 

It is a cool 58 degrees outside with a light rain falling.  Brandy and I have just walked down to the mailbox with a letter.  On the way back I refilled the bird feeders in the Crab apple tree, checked the rhubarb, and the Peonies.

The Peonies in the back East side garden, between the trees, have just started to open.  But the ones in the East garden out front are blooming all over.

The yard is so bad that my neighbor Steve said, ” It looks like you moved away”  I’m way behind on the mowing, weeding, and trimming and Jay can’t work outside while his eye is healing.  My projects included relearning the balloons, gathering photos to create a memory board, putting a couple of rows on the afghan, and still catching up on household duties.  The inside of my house looks steadily crappier each day.  The only thing I can do at this time is to prioritize the items by due date and dive in. 

Speaking of balloons—

I devoted over an hour yesterday to learning a new way to tie the balloons,  Then I started working on twisting dogs.  I finally got a couple of decent ones plus I made a poodle.  I attempted a giraffe but it unwound on me.  I did however make a sitting rabbit.  With my flower on a stem the blossom was good but the stem was wrong.  I have got to be able to pick up a balloon and picture how many bubbles I need for each animal without the book.  A little ways to go my friend!

Now for the last two attempts to post I have screwed up and lost them just as I was finishing—too much to think about!

I’m taking Jay out to find a new pair of slippers after his car shows this morning—he is not my father but I can’t have a barefoot hubby on Father’s day. 

Hope you manage to make your fathers, hubbies, or significant others happy this week end.