Happy Sunday all. This month is sure flying by quickly. It has been a cold, cold week here - as it has been in a lot of places. We got a little snow one day - not much. This coming week is supposed to be much warmer! YAY!!! Guess we are just wishing our lives away, wanting spring to get here. It is only about 60 days away. It sure is staying daylight longer - both later in the evening and earlier in the morning.
The birdies and squirrels have sure been hungry! They love the watering holes - it is the only liquid water around - and it is warmer than the air temp. so I am sure it warms them. Poor robin has been hanging out at the birdbath as well.
My week was simple - but accomplished in my book!
- Did a boatload of laundry
- Started the Blazer and let it run a little on a cold day.
- Changed out the furnace filter
- Made sure my portable battery charger was all charged up - in case
- Cleaned the water holes/bowls outdoors on the 'warmest' day this week
- Stayed home all week - never left the property so NO shopping again
- Made a gallon of berry flavored iced tea
- Did a little more declutter and took a load out to trash bin
- Been using what I have and using up all the leftovers in some way
- Made a small pan of cornbread and brownies this week
- I DID get the pantry organized and straightened up!!!! It looks so much better
- I froze several containers of soup for other days
- Now on the using those leftovers and bits and pieces that accumulate
I added the last of a jar of salsa to rice this week.
Made a small batch of soup beans using broth and ham from freezer. Used the last of the beans and made refried beans.
Cooked up a pound of clearance sausage (.75) from the freezer. Used part in my meal and froze 2 packs for future meals
Made a hearty pot of 'stoup' (thick soup) - used leftover green beans/potatoes, tomatoes in freezer, broth from freezer, leftover cauliflower, carrots from veg plate, threw in the leftover rice/salsa, found about 1/2 C of split peas in a jar in pantry - added those, and added a packet of mixed leftover veggies from freezer (for soup), and used chicken I had precooked.
My meals this week:
Soup beans/ham and cornbread
Same as above
Mexican pizza - homemade
Green beans with potatoes and smoked sausage (beans from brother's garden/canned)
Sausage gravy over toast
Homemade soup and crackers
Same as above
Snacks - brownies, oranges, fruit milkshake
How was your week? Are you trying to use freezer/pantry items in new ways? Staying home and staying warm? Please check in and let us know what is going on in your part of world.
I hope those that are having health issues and health issues with family are hanging on. Please know you have my prayers. Life can sure get messy in a hurry - may we all go forward in grace.
Blessings to you and yours from my humble little home.
******************
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.
Ecclesiastes 3:1
Lord, please help guide us through the trials and matters we face daily. Help us to understand that 'our' way is not always 'Your' way. You answer our prayers in Your own time and way. Help those facing sadness and grief and lift them up. We pray for peace and happiness for all. AMEN
It certainly was cold enough Friday and Saturday. Thank heaven for my woodstove. This morning as I was shaking things down and getting ready to lay another fire, I heard something in the chimney... Yes, I have a (flying?) squirrel down there in the woodstove now. Guess I need to call the chimney people on Monday, because I'm not planning to burn the poor critter alive today. :( Must have crept down or fallen down last night as there was a blazing fire all day long. Poor thing trying to get warm? Always something.
ReplyDeleteMaryB
Oh no!!! Poor baby - must have been so cold. Glad you caught the noise before stoking the fire! An unexpected expense for sure. Better safe than sorry.
DeleteHave a good week!
Called my son. He came and caught the little fellow with help from my big kitchen spatula blocking the chimney flue. Carried him outside and released him. Zoom! :)
DeleteWhew. Son said it helped that he'd handled little flying squirrels before (and so have I actually) so he knew how hard to hold without damage etc. Also these flying squirrels are (IIUC) nocturnal and the poor thing was about blinded by our flashlights and the daylight, so it moved rather more slowly than it would have had it been able to see properly.
MaryB
You were busy in the kitchen. My granddaughter once asked, "Grandma, what do you do all day?" My days are mostly filled with the little things that need doing. For example, starting a fire in the wood stove means clean out the ashes, then empty that pail; cut kindling; haul in the wood from the big pile to the wood box. The -40C weather a week ago kept my car from starting. Thanks to my neighbor who put in a new one for me but I was without a vehicle for a week. Even that was an ordeal b/c in order to change the battery, the driver's side front tire needs to be pulled! Crazy. He even left me a truck to use in the event of an emergency. I'm back on the road as of yesterday. My cousin took me to 2 appts on different days this past week after which we came home to lunch (ham, scalloped potatoes, green beans one day & sausage, pyrogies, salad another) followed by games of 11 cent rummy. Great way to spend winter afternoons. I baked bread one day & plan to make pyrogies & antipasto this coming week. I'm housesitting for neighbors who offered potatoes & onions from their cold room. I started watching the video series Call The Midwife based on the memoirs of Jennifer Wroth, a midwife in East London in the 1950's. Excellent.
ReplyDeleteFunny how many little things can get done in a day or week. My nephew asks me that all the time - how do you spend your days? Well, they just don't understand doing all the normal stuff.
DeleteSorry about your vehicle - those unexpected expenses are a pain. Glad it all worked OK. Sounds like you had some fun too.
Have a great week.
Thank you for the verse and prayer today, Cheryl. You got a lot done this week! Your meals look delicious and what wonderful ways to use up what's on hand. I wish more people understood easy, deliciousness is right in front of them--it just takes thinking outside of the box. Pun intended. That "stoup" looks fabulous!
ReplyDeleteWe had a lot of soup and breakfasts for dinner this week. Then, with the $1.97 lb. deal on ground beef, I used up the last of a loaf of bread that was stale for two small meatloaves. Also used those condiment packets for seasoning. One was dinner and (for me) breakfast the next day, and the other went into the freezer. Rather than buying margarine, I'm using butter from the freezer one stick at a time. This week I'll make veggie broth from wilted lettuce and other past-prime things for more soup.
Sis, BIL and my mom all have Covid. Sis was feeling better. Mom is on antibiotics for the UTI, but Microscopic Colitis means it can't be full dose. I'll be on antibiotics until we can get the one tooth pulled. Calls for that tomorrow. Another filling on the 30th or sooner if there's a cancellation. And then there's a plan going forward that involves a lot of dental work over the next few months. More motivation to stay out of stores!!! We'll be pantry eating for awhile.
Speaking of using what's on hand, he have a large stack of wood pallets that will be repurposed for raised beds come spring. Yes, in the gray of winter it's hard to imagine spring will be here before we know it, but it will be. Drizzly and cold today. At least no snow is predicted. Blessings to all. --Elise
P.S. Amelia, we're praying for your mom and whole family at my house.
Thanks - There is just so much we can do with what we have and it can be tasty too!
DeleteLove that you used what you have on had on instead of eating out.
So sorry everyone has Covid - I hope they all mend well and quickly.
Good thoughts on using the pallets.
Stay well, good luck with the tooth, and prayers for the family.
Have a good week.
Elise, prayers for your family as they navigate health issues. Dental work is never fun. I would rather go to the eye doctor than the dentist.
DeleteDonna, I skated through childhood and adulthood w/o any cavities. It's weird. Thank you for the prayers. My mom's age (91) and frailty make any illness a concern.
DeleteCheryl, at this time of year I don't like to be out and about too much. No temptation for eating out when it's COLD and icky outside. --Elise
Oh Elise, I'm so sorry they all have covid like that. Please make sure mom has probiotics to replenish good bacteria. : ) Not trying to be a bossy little thing but I see so many people who have reoccuring UTIs because of eating sugar and no probiotics. I feel so bad about that, they don't know what they could do on that. Also, I took you all's advice and made sure our daughter that first night insist on a UTI test for my mom in the ER since we didn't have time to test and thank the Lord the hospital ER was on it and was already doing the test. PTL. So that was a good thing and she did not have a UTI, so that was good, but good to be tested too! Thank you all for that advice!
DeleteOh Elise, aren't these dental things crazy? Our youngest daughter has had issues as I've mentioned and she has had the best diet and none of us can figure it out, she's quite the nutritionist so she's studying and studying up on what the underlying cause is. I will *certainly* be praying, Elise. I think of you often on all of this. I hope your mom is behaving more rationally now? I'm praying my mom will be better too on that. I wrote a novella below. (sorry Cheryl!) But there was no short way of writing the happenings. But God's Mercy and Grace came through today in a mighty way and He is teaching me things. Life is an onion, one layer at a time right?
Thank you, Amelia. Yes, life is an onion that sometimes makes you cry and sometimes flavors the day. Sis does give our mom probiotics for the Microscopic Colitis (that being part of the cause of her UITs, w/o getting too personal). I'm glad your mom doesn't have a UTI on top of everything else!
DeleteAs for the teeth, the dentist said these are odd cavities in that they're right at the roots of the teeth, caused by bone loss in my jaw. Crazy, because I take vitamin D and calcium *every* day!!! And I'm good about mouth hygiene: baking soda and peroxide are on our bathroom counter.
More below... --Elise
I'm thankful for your prayers, I love what you write about the onion. Fantastic thoughts! Yes!
DeleteDo you take magnesium and k2 with the calcium too? Just something I've learned. : )
Have you ever heard of Dr. Ellie Phillips? She is very good on some of this that you are suffering. She has a teeth cleaning mouthwash system that is *totally* from storebought things you can find at Walmart etc. I like her a lot. She's on youtube and is in Austin, Texas. Maybe you would receive encouragement from her in some way? Don't mean to pry, it's just when I have information that *might* help I like to give it instead of keeping it in when it could help in some way. : )
You are so sweet and I'm praying for your family and covet your family's prayers too! We need them so much. The nurse called for my mom at 5am, she's been having to do this every early morning. We have to calm her down over the phone. And then when we all go visit during the day hours she's fine cognitively (sort of, her better self these days) And then as you probably know around the afternoon she get's a bit loopy.
God will help us, Elise. The messaging here on Cheryl's site and with Cheryl's care is a Godsend. (((((hugs))))) ~Amelia
It is definitely cold that's for sure! I'll be glad for it to at least warm up to the 30s. LOL I've seen birds this week too - I saw two beautiful blue birds yesterday. I'm sure they are looking for water that isn't frozen too. Your meals sound and look delicious and so similar to what we eat here. I also made brownies here this week - it's been a while since I made those. I hope you're having a great weekend and a wonderful week.
ReplyDeleteYep - it has been cold. We might hit 50 this week! Poor birds - they have to get thirsty.
DeleteI do think we have similar tastes - your menus always look good to me too.
Have a wonderful week.
I forgot to mention... LOVE that Blackie and Bits are sleeping with you!!!
ReplyDeleteMe too!!!! It is cozy!
DeleteI am flat-out envious! :) Allie won't do anything like that, but Blackie did, and I miss him so much. Allie is sweet, but so skittish.
DeleteMaryB
Excellent devotional! So many people are facing sadness and grief. Three of the ladies I follow on Instagram have recently passed away. Obviously I didn't know them IRL but had developed a friendship. The 25 year old daughter of a school chum of Alana and Erin's died of Rett Syndrome.
ReplyDeleteThe stoup looks delish! May make an encore of the broccoli and cauliflower soup from a couple weeks ago. Nice and thick and very hearty with cut-up meatballs in it. The Farmer has been making pizzas from tortillas in the evening. He doctors them with all kinds of stuff.
Looking forward to warmer temps! The Farmer is building a planting table for herbs and will make it waist high. He needs more supplies but we'll go when the temps are a bit warmer so he can work outside. I'm going to look for some stair tread carpet so I can put it under the bench in the hallway to keep boots from dripping on the hardwood floor. Still doing a bit of mending. I've lost bone so my robes are dragging the floor. Mending some of the Farmer's socks too. Now all I need to do is find the Skechers boots I bought last year so I can wear them. Probably in the garage behind something.
Cute about your kitties taking over your bed. Alana used to have a cat that would sleep on her husband's head.
Enjoy this beautiful sunshine!
Yes, seems so many are going through so much right now. Sorry for your losses.
DeleteI just love a hearty soup. Mmmm - pizza sounds good.
Time to start thinking about spring projects. The table will be nice. Hope you find your boots.
Love the sun!
have a great week.
Donna,
DeleteGo to a carpet store, they usually have carpet samples they will give you, free.
Donna, ditto Anonymous--carpet stores regularly have scraps and some might be big enough to work for you. I need to pull out my sewing basket to mend a few things. Thanks for the reminder! --Elise
DeleteMy week. Washed all the towels in hot water & baking soda to remove soap build up, worked on cleaning the floor grout, made vegetarian stuffed peppers with corn, beans, rice, (using pantry items) made my own cappuchino mix rather than buying a can, did birthday celebration for youngest chickadee.
ReplyDeleteStill traveling to the big city for medical testing for Hubs.
Dreary and raining here. About fifteen deer are roaming our neighborhood when I walk Chez the dog. He tells them a thing or two. They aren't impressed.
Ellie
Central Az
Sounds like you had a productive week. The peppers sound good. I love how everyone is using UP instead of buying!
DeleteChez demands his neighborhood be a doggy hood! LOL That is a lot of deer.
Have a great week.
Deer having been coming through our property on a regular basis, Ellie. The dogs go nuts. --Elise
DeleteHi Cheryl! I'm happy to hear the cats have found the joys of snuggling. It took Binx awhile but he's pretty good at it now too. Your meals all sound delicious. I love a good hearty soup or stew this time of year and yours looks really good. It was a roller coaster of a week here and I'm just glad we made it through and can still count a few joys from it. Stay warm and enjoy the warmup later in the week. I love winter but even I'm ready to thaw out a bit.
ReplyDeleteIt seems they have really gotten into sleeping with me in the last week. I love it.
DeleteThanks - I love soup as well.
Sorry you had a roller coaster week. Hope this coming week goes better for you. Look for all the little blessings!
Have a blessed week.
I sure liked the image of you surrounded by your kitties ;). My 15 year old schnauzer sleeps in bed and gets one half of it, of course. My flooring is installed, and next week the balance of my furniture comes out of storage, so I am very close to being done! Yeah! Today we are having rain so I am in now for the day. Maybe 0.1 inches but the weather folks in Phoenix, as usual, are astonishing to watch….one of them said that we are in “weather action mode”. It is beyond funny to watch this ;). Have a good week, Hilogene in Az.
ReplyDeleteSo happy to hear your flooring is done. I bet you couldn't be much happier than to get all moved in finally!!!! That is wonderful. Pets sure do get spoiled don't they? Got to love them.
DeleteIt is funny as we always think because of degrees the weather people should be knowledgeable. Yeah, not so much. Always hit or miss. Everything is a STORM any more!
Have a wonderful week.
Hilogene, we have family in the valley. It *is* too funny. The weather out of Flagstaff regularly makes jokes about the weather; some of the state gets actual weather! LOL! --Elise
DeleteNice to hear the cats have literally found their place. :)
ReplyDeleteI made up some chicken and rice soup using 1/2 a leftover chicken breast and a partial bag of baby carrots. It made enough for three lunches for me. There is some leftover sausage I'll use for a pizza later this week.
Stay warm!
Yes they have found home and are very content.
DeleteThat sounds good - I just love all the posts about everyone using leftovers up and in a new way.
I'll be warmer after tomorrow. Hope you are warming up.
Have a good week.
My goal is to minimize grocery shopping as much as possible for the next 6 months including "deals"! Then I start getting garden produce and produce from farmers. I need to make room in my 2nd freezer for 2024 summer produce. I also want to make more meals for the freezer for busy days. So far this month I haven't bought much. Yesterday I bought a can of orange juice concentrate for hub's breakfast. A couple weeks ago I bought some bathroom tissue, almond milk and a few other fresh items and a couple of canned goods for the storage pantry so I feel like I'm doing pretty good at cooking from the fridge and pantry. I don't have any fresh produce now except oranges but there's some vegetables in the freezer. Fortunately I dried onions & carrots when they were super cheap so I have that for when I make soup.
ReplyDeleteI have no bits & bobs hanging in the fridge to use up this week so I'll probably be using some of my dehydrated vegetables to flavor my dishes this week.
I pray everyone has a gentle and blessed week!
~margaret
Great plan. Getting ready for the summer produce. That is such a warm and nice thought! I just need to use things before they get too old. It is wonderful that you have spent so little this month. You should be proud.
DeleteThat reminds me, I need to get a can of OJ out of freezer. I have been craving some.
Keep up the good work.
Have a blessed week.
I am all for just going right to the heat of summer! We don't dare put out food here to feed the birds because of bears. Someone nearby actually had one try to come in their doggy door!
ReplyDeleteI am ready for summer - but spring is my favorite time. Love seeing the rebirth of things.
DeleteOh my - that would be scary. Glad we don't have such critters around here.
Have a fantastic week.
Cheryl,all your meals look yummy. It's still frigid here too. Between the two snow storms we got about 8 inches and the high winds caused drifting. It's supposed to warm up here but with the warmth rain is coming that will be on and off all week. I too was longing for summer to get here, but then I remembered how hot it was last year. Seems like there's no happy medium, at least where we are.
ReplyDeleteOur use it up meals this week were Annabel's Impossible Pie ( crustless quiche) , stir fry and a pizza whose crust was made with rice, eggs, cheese, and water all pureed together in a high speed blender and spread onto a parchment lined pan and baked, after which toppings were added. It was firm enough to eat with hands as we would a regular pizza. It was really quite good and I will make it again. Not a use it up but I did bake 4 dozen three ingredient peanut butter cookies, and 4 dozen gluten free sugar cookies for myself and for one of the children of the people who own the farm that we shop it. Cookie
Rain is coming all week here as well. One thing or the other. For me I prefer rain over snow!
DeleteIt does seem we are never satisfied. Hot we want colder - cold - we want hotter. Oh well.
Your meals sound good. Love the idea for the pizza crust. Sound very good. I bet the cookies were yummy!
Sounds like a yummy and busy week.
Have a good week.
Slowly warming up here which is lovely after the bone chilling cold. Today starts a new week of trying to get my monthly goals/projects completed. I am hoping for some sun in order to work on my embroidery, not happening today.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Glad you are getting some warming up that way. I hope you get your projects done - hoping for your sunshine!!
DeleteHave a blessed week.
You have accomplished a lot this week and saved some change because of it. I love making do and not burning gasto go shopping.
ReplyDeleteMary B, you can get the squirrel out of your stove by wearing some good leather gloves so that the teeth can't penetrate. A couple years ago my son noticed the cat looking at the glass door of the woodstove; there was a very dirty and bedraggled squirrel looking back. Son picked up the squirrel and proceeded to give it a bath in the bathtub to get the creosote off its fur. Put it into a cat carrier and gave it water. It drank and coughed out brown fluid. Then when the water stayed down, he fed it. After a couple days, it was released and promptly returned to its usual activities about the yard. He wore leather gloves while handling. I have removed two black squirrel carcasses from the same chimney in the past; they must be looking to nest. A big surprise to fall three stories to the basement!
Nice to read about others who have woodstoves. We have two going these days as it's been cold. The kitchen stove burns for months on end. That is our heat, hot water and cook stove in the winter, by choice. We have other options but prefer the wood. If the power goes out for days on end, which it has, we have no worries. We use a generator to charge the fridge and freezer and a 12 volt battery and inverter for lights. Would love to go solar but a little old for making that change.
Moose meat for supper ( a gift from friends) and my stored root veg. Blueberry pie! Happy hour with homemade wine. Life is good for me. Wish it could be the same for all.
Oh life does sound good for you! Gosh, I read this and kind of just sigh. It sounds good to me.
DeletePoor squirrel - so glad your son could save it. How kind. Those poor things are just trying to find a warm spot - so sad when they don't make it.
I would love a fireplace or woodstove. I just love the smell. Food cooked on fire - is scrumptious!!
Enjoy your meal and happy hour!
Have a great week.
Yes, big leather gloves will work a treat, but my thick ones make it almost impossible for me to bend my fingers - too stiff, too thick. Son got the little critter out, and everything is ok. That's quite a story about your creosoted squirrel, poor thing. This one looked very clean. :)
DeleteLast fall when I set up the woodstove for winter I found a dessicated gray-squirrel skeleton in there. Odd that I never smelled it going "off" and there were no hints from the cat either.
MaryB
Great that you have kitty warmers on your bed, they must feel well at home now. Well done with the decluttering, sounds like that is going well.
ReplyDeleteOur renovations are not going to plan so we moved to a different holiday let on Friday. It's pretty quirky, it was an old dairy, the owners live in the main farmhouse. It had very thick walls. There is a roll top bath in the main bedroom and a bottle of bubble bath in the wine cooler. We could have done without the expense but have to 'go with the flow'
Meals have been quick and simple for the past three weeks. We went to dinner at our daughter's house earlier today, our grandson and his girlfriend were there so it was good to catch up with them. We brought back some left overs for a main meal tomorrow. Our granddaughter is all excited, her and our daughter are going to Thailand in August with our son and his family, he works in the travel industry and is kindly paying for our daughter. Think we will be going to 'our gate' and enjoying views from our garden :-)
Strange weather here, last week, two nights went down to minus five, dry and frosty, today it's 11 degrees, blowing a gale and pouring with rain.
Great devotion, thinking of everyone who is going through hard times through illness or loss of loved ones.
Have a good week Cheryl.
Sorry the renovations are going according to schedule. But at least you have a fun place to be. I love quirky! Sounds like a fun place.
DeleteWhat a wonderful vacation that will be for them. How nice to get a trip like that paid for by someone else! I am afraid I would be like you - just enjoying the view of the garden!
I have had gardening on my mind today. I am so ready!
Oh the kitty warmers are great! Blackie even snores lightly. LOL
Hope you have a good week and things get going for you!
Aww! Those kitties have got it made! I'm so glad they are doing great! I snuggled with mine just about all day today. Your meals look delicious! And yay for getting your pantry cleaned out! It sure helps when trying to decide what you need more of when shopping time comes. Take care!
ReplyDeleteYes, they do - they have mom trained quite well already!
DeleteThanks. It just makes me want to open the pantry door now, instead of never looking and finding what I want.
Have a great week.
Cheryl, your meals all sound great! I made meatloaf last weekend and ate it all week either for supper or as cold meatloaf sandwiches for lunch. Sure beats Stouffers! I need to grocery shop this week to pick up some things I haven't kept on hand the past few months. I need to start cooking again instead of nuking frozen entrees.
ReplyDeleteI got a chuckle out of Heather's term "kitty warmers". The one thing I miss about owning a cat is the nice warm, purring "kitty warmer" snuggled up next to me in bed.
We had about 6 in. of snow on Friday. The first 3 in. were from the storm system and were light powder. The last 3 in. were heavy, wet snow and came from lake-effect "streamers" coming off Lake Erie. Only about 10 miles wide, when one of these came through it was continuous heavy snow for hours. Just south of us got 10 in.! I shoveled out a couple of inches at a time and was VERY careful, not wanting a repeat of the broken wrist of 3 years ago. We're to have temps into the mid-50sF this week with plenty of rain.
Since we were having snow days, I decided to "quilt 'til I wilt" and finished 3 Project Linus NICU baby quilts over the weekend. Going to the workshop tomorrow to sort through a large fabric donation that came in last week.
I went to the monthly caregiver support group sponsored by the hospice last Tuesday. There were 3 of us besides the facilitator; all of us dealing with dementia with other co-morbidities. It was good to talk to others who understand.
Husband gave us some concern on Wednesday when he appeared to be having a TIA (warning stroke) while I was there at lunchtime. An aide said he had been having symptoms earlier in the week, too. The hospice nurse was called in the evening when he said he wasn't feeling well (he never says that). His vitals were fine, so he was checked on frequently during the night. By the time I visited and the regular hospice nurse came the next day, he was back to his baseline normal. We're treating for a UTI just to be safe. I saw him today, and he was having a really good day, very lucid, not as weak or fatigued, able to carry on a conversation. The good days are such a joyous gift!
My mother will be moving from assisted living to memory care tomorrow. Her behavior and demeanor took a very sudden drastic downturn in mid-December and have only gotten worse. I last spoke (briefly) on the phone with her on Christmas, but now she can't even use a phone. The facility thinks she may have had a stroke. A CT scan was performed on Thursday, and we're awaiting the results. My brother drove from NC to Wichita to handle everything. I'm so grateful that he is in charge of her care (and holds her medical and general POAs) because I could not handle both her and Husband's care.
Prayers for everyone going through medical challenges whether themselves or their loved ones.
--Frances
Frances, I pray for you and hubby every night. I hope you have many more joyous moments with him. Cindy
DeleteYes, Frances, the good days sure are joyful gifts! Praying for you and your husband, and for your family as you mom transitions into memory care. (((Hug))) --Elise
DeleteHello Frances. Good to see you post. Ick on the snow - it sure is scary when you are alone. People wonder why I stay home so much in the winter - well, I am no spring chicken anymore and it is just different as one gets older.
DeleteGlad you will be warming and the rains will wash away all the nasty!
Meatloaf sounds yummy. Glad you are getting back into cooking. That sounds scary with hubby - maybe it was the UTI - they can do strange things. Glad he was back to his happy self when you visited. So sorry to hear that about your mom. I too am happy your brother can take care of that situation. Geesh, you have a lot on your plate.
I read a quote the other day - If we have time to worry - we have time to pray. I like that. I pray for you and your hubby everyday. Take good care, be safe out there, and have a good week. ENJOY looking through all that material!
Hi Frances, I'm so sorry about your husband's scare like that. That is all you need. Thank God it passed to some extent. I can sure understand your mom's situation, my mom also took a sudden downturn we noticed last summer and then again this winter. It just blows our minds. I'm so very thankful that your brother is taking things and is in charge in a good way, it's good you have a brother like that. Thank God.
DeleteI'm glad you are going to quilt til you wilt! I like that! : ) I make finish one of my skirts today, and relax in that way. I need to make a little jingle for making skirts! lol I will admit to feeling I'm in a Twilight Zone program intro when I've had too much sewing for the day, I am pulled into a sewing vortex! haha!
You take care of yourself dear Frances, praying for you, and I appreciate your prayers too. So very glad the support group is helping and several of you can relate! Isn't it something that support and the Lord is found in such unpredictable places! Thanking God for your good experience there and I reiterate, prayers. ~Amelia
Hello Cheryl, Well God sure knows what He is doing! : )
ReplyDeleteWe went in to hospital this morning after much prayer. Stayed with Mother in her room. The Orthopedic surgeon came in room around 10:30 am. We sat there with our facts in our heads. He turned out very nice but not candy-like, nice but poker face and candid, very honest and good communicator. Candid but polite giving plenty of details of what he would do and that he could do it in approximate one hours time. The anesthesiologist was one of the best on call today he also relayed. I asked about intubation, I did *not* want that for my mother. He said there may be another way...It sounded to us like the future was bleak for my mom without the surgery, and he didn't push surgery just gave facts, very nicely. I do believe his face would have cracked though if he smiled. I think we were dealing with a dry personality, we learned later he also had a dry sense of humor! If I saw this guy at the store I would think he was a clean-cut motorcyclist with his tye dyed surgical cap and round face. He just did not have the stereotype look. He was patient with us, told him we'd let him know. We then talked to the same doc who was the physician in the er yesterday. He said she only had a year to live without the surgery but he totally understood either way. Without the surgery she would not be able to go to the potty on her own etc. She may develop bed sores etc. and have to be turned and it just sounded lousy to us. My mom was coherent today (totally the Lord!) and we talked about it, hubs called all the girls on family conversation. We all made the decision to proceed, my mom said she was fine with it all and wanted to proceed, talk about a plot twist (God)! We all had the Peace of God about it, it was amazing how God worked. God must have quite a sense of humor with us. Within 30 minutes they were taking her into prep where we met the anesthesiologist, he was equally amusing but smiled a heck of a lot more. ; ) Wore a big cross necklace. The nurse administering drugs to prep was a Christian and a delight. (Keep in mind, In the meantime I've told all hospital workers my mom was the Italian Queen in the city in the big Italian club in 1948. Everyone loves my story.) ; ) She said the anesthesiologist was going to put her to sleep with an IV. (Thank you Lord!) No intubation of *any* kind. not even partial as the surgeon described. He was not going to put her under for *any* longer at her age then necessary. Thank the Lord my mom was back in her room within a few hours doing great. She said she dreamed of happy things when she was under, what an answer to prayer!!! More than we could ask or think! We're pretty worn out but thanking the Lord for His great Mercy. Our second born and hubs came in so we were able to leave the hospital, she just texted and said my mom was not talking in circles any more, and told her and my son in law to go home and get the boys some sleep! So as you all can imagine, I am thanking the good Lord for His GRACE & MERCY.
I covet all of your prayers, and I just would like to give you a great big bear hug, Cheryl! Please keep praying everyone, and big bear hugs to you all too! You all are angels!
Thank you all from the bottom of my heart, I cannot tell you how I appreciate everyone! ~Amelia
P.S. Wonderful blog, Cheryl. Love your prayer and scripture of course, I'll have to check into those mexican pizzas...That sounds easy and good too! I need easy and good! AND I'm so very happy to envision those kitties inside of your warm home and on your bed! That is GREAT. Who would have thought? That is a wonderful thing...So the Lord.
God certainly goes above and beyond mere human expectations! I'm so glad that they were able to do what needed to be done with a minimal procedure. Continued prayers for a good recovery. Don't forget to take care of yourself, too.
Delete--Frances
What HUGE answers to prayer, Amelia! Thank you so much for sharing the details! Isn't it just awesome the way God works? We fret, and yes I do, too, but HE has it all under control. I could do a little happy dance with your news. Still keeping you all in prayer. Your mom will have some recovery ahead. She sounds like a feisty one. God bless her!
Delete:-) --Elise
Well Amelia that is wonderful news. What a difference a day can make. I know in my heart that the Lord puts us in the path of those we need in our lives. He gave you those special people at the hospital to calm you and mom. Sounds like you had a wonderful team working with you all.
DeleteI am so glad your mom was coherent and could assist in making decisions and that she is recovering nicely at the moment.
We are not to understand God's ways - just learn from them. Every step through this - good and bad - were learning moments in what you can handle and do. Please take care of yourself as well. Continued prayers for all involved.
Get some rest and have a blessed week.
Frances, thank you so much. Yes, you are so correct, we are resting today here at home and daughters at least one of them will go visit my mom today. My mom has been having the nurse call me on hubs phone every early morning, it was 5am this morning. She's in a panic and thinks up things. We try to calm her over the phone. Then later she is fine. I guess it's the nature of it all...
DeletePraying for you, Frances. Yes, thank you so much for continued prayers. ~Amelia
Hi Elise, thank you soooo much for your prayers, haha...yes, she can certainly be a feisty one! : ) You never know....Haha.
DeleteI know it's going to be several months plus but as I know you agree, she at least has some chance of her winter years at this point. She still had the nurse call us at 5am. Very confused. But I'm almost getting used to it but am tired today. : ) We will stay home today. : )
I'm a real worry-bug and need to stop but it's so hard for me! I don't worry about some things but on this...I fret. Hubs told me on the way home..."Now see? You did not need to worry!, all that worrying for nothing!" He doesn't worry, he just rolls with stuff for the mostpart. I think I've had some bad experiences with various things and it sure effects how we perceive and with good reason too! : ) I appreciate you!
~Amelia
Thank you Cheryl, God sure works in mysterious ways as Sergeant York said in the movie. Oh dear me! : )
DeleteAs I've mentioned above mom had nurse call at 5am. We had to calm her down on phone. I'm sure the narcotics at this point are not helping. We're almost getting used to having to calm her down any where from 3 to 5 in the morning on the phone. So please keep praying, and it sure was the Lord that she was very coherent yesterday, and understood very well, even saying to me...Ya'll have changed your mind haven't you?
Yes, it's so true, everything we can learn from if we listen. Thank God for His patience with us and His love for us to teach us gently.
We'll be staying home today, I'm so tired. lol
I appreciate you! Please keep praying, we still need them but are greatly encouraged! : ) ~Amelia
One of our poor daughters and husband are at the hospital with their litlte boy and she texted and said my mom is very angry with them but her little boy, our little granson is still in her good graces she says with a wink. smh I'm thinking the narcotics they are giving her are not helping the dementia.
DeleteAmelia, It may be the type of narcotic they're giving her. 5 years ago an office chair on wheels slipped out from under me and I landed on my left hip had the same injury as your Mom's plus my femur was fractured in 3 places. I have a rod and three screws from my left hip to my knee. I told everyone I had a skiing accident. It was over July 4th weekend (lol) . I am nowhere near your Mom's age, but I can tell you the post surgical pain even with good pain management can be excruciating.
DeleteWhat I was given for pain was Tramadole because
most pain medications have the side effect of making me incredibly angry and mean. Tramadol, while a controlled substance, didn't do that. The dose on Tramadol is every 8 hours but at the 4 hour point I was given an extra strength Tylenol. This worked very well for me. Please take very good care of yourself . All of your family are in our prayers. Cookie
Thank you Cookie, that is very good information. Yes, I know her being mad during the day must be caused by the narcotics, she was doing better during the day and now she is not...The last time she was given narcotics, at the end of the bottle she was seeing double and she stopped taking them, (15 years ago ). I will definitely keep the Tramadol in mind, and that is a great idea to combine with the extra strength Tylenol. She is upset tonight too being mad at our eldest daughter and her husband...I must say, their 18 month old baby girl cuddled up with my mom like a little angel and my mom finally dozed off. She's also had the nurse call us between 3 and 5 am so we can calm her down, that part is normal for her since she entered the hospital but now it's during the day too...And she is definitely seeing things as well. It's awful.
DeleteThank you so much for your prayers and valuable information, Cookie. I appreciate it greatly, more than you will know. ~Amelia
And to all who prayed for our family please read above, I so *still* covet your prayers! Thank you all SO. MUCH. I could feel your prayers. ~Amelia
ReplyDelete(((BIG HUG)))
DeleteJust saw urgent prayer request on FB for Annabel of The Bluebirds are Nesting on the Farm…..she lost Andy unexpectedly and suddenly this am……we need to be praying for her and her family:
ReplyDeleteAnd I thought of you right away because you understand and there are prayer warriors here!
DeleteOh my gosh. I am so sorry to hear that. I have talked with Annabel for years. Prayers going out for her family. Thank you for the heads up.
DeleteSo sorry to read this. Prayers for Annabel and her family. --Elise
DeleteANON: Thank you for the thought and thank you for letting us know. YES, we have a lot of prayer warriors!
DeleteI do not know Annabel but will pray! I'm so sorry. ~Amelia
ReplyDeleteShe writes The Bluebirds Are Nesting at the Farm blog on my side bar. She is Australian and quite a lady. She can do about anything she puts her mind to. I have been acquainted with her for several years through her blog and on FB groups.
DeleteThank you for your prayers.
Oh. That poor lady...Will definitely be in prayer for her.
DeleteMy goodness, there is so much everyone is going through. prayers and wishing you all peace. And then to read about Annabel losing her Andy just breaks my heart.
ReplyDeleteThe frigid weather has really kicked my butt. It's hard to do anything because I'm struggling with frozen and achy bones! I swear that I feel every injury I suffered in my youth lol! We're warming into the 40s this week so that should help a lot.
Cheryl, I love that you're the center of a kitty sandwich! I had a cat that used to sleep wrapped around the top of my head. Another would sleep on my chest if I was on my back. I forgot to warn my *new* husband about that lol. Our first night home after our honeymoon, my kitty was happy to welcome him by laying on his chest. Hubs opens his eyes to giant golden eyes staring right at him, 3 inches away!!! He lets out this, "AUUUGHHH!!!!!!" and kitty bolts off and I jumped out of bed like a samurai warrior ready to fight lol. We still laugh about that. I so loved that kitty. I found her in our yard, nearly feral, but she turned into the most lovable cat I ever had.
Hi Debby. Yes there is so much going on right now in people's lives. I guess there probably always is - just many keep quiet about their lives. It is all so sad. Seems some are having some better days, and then we hear about Annabel & Andy. Just so sad.
DeleteI am soooooo glad the super cold is leaving for a week or so. Over it.
Kitty sandwich - that is cute! Oh I bet that scared your hubby to pieces! LOL. Each kitty has such a personality. Some like heads, some chests, some bellies, some just want to snuggle...... they are just so sweet.
Glad you are getting some warmer temps. Enjoy the week!!
The Mexican pizza looks BETTER than anything Taco Bell would have!
ReplyDelete