What A Wonderful Day...

My visit with Kathy D. yesterday made for a great day. We shared lunch - I made our favorite mac n cheese, and Kathy showed up with fruit, fried chicken, and homemade cookies! Handsome joined us for lunch and then he disappeared with the dogs to other parts of the house.

Meanwhile, Kathy and I had a great visit. I saw the counted thread sampler she's currently working on from a retreat she recently attended on Madelein Island in northern Wisconsin. I showed her my stalled progress on the bluebirds, and then we just got caught up. 

Of course, I never took a photograph of a single thing while she was here, so that's why you're seeing a silly photo of sleeping Claudette instead.

Late day today, I got a chance to speak with Mum. She's still in the hospital so they can monitor one of her blood levels that's been off the charts. Once that's regulated - thanks to the surgery results - she'll be able to go home...hopefully tomorrow. She sounded really great and is content to wait there, as she's quite sore from all the prodding and poking. It's the best place for her right now. It was so good to hear her voice and know she's okay. I told her I'll speak with her again soon.

Handsome has his last concert this evening. We're hoping there's no rain so it can be open air at the park, rather than indoors at the fairgrounds. The outdoor venue is so much better. 

It's going to be a busy day, too. Physical therapy, a doctor's checkup for Handsome, a scheduled classmate dinner (I'm not sure how we're going to get to that), and then the concert. We'll see. I'm going to make sure I get a good nap in there somewhere, and ice my knee after we get home from the clinic so I can get around for the concert. That's the one thing I absolutely won't be missing.

How are you doing?

 

117º...

Last Wednesday, my knee bend measured 114º. Then, I rolled into my Friday PT with a swollen knee. Jenna said, "I'm not even going to tell you the measurement, because you'll be upset." That told me that I'd backslid in my progress, so I didn't push to know.

I took it easy over the weekend, icing, elevating, and only doing the bare minimum home exercises. When I went in for my session yesterday, we started on the stationary bike. I took one full pedal slowly, and then proceeded to pedal like I never had an issue with that knee. Jenna was surprised, and then smiled and said, "I moved the seat a notch closer today just to see if you could do it." Sneaky kid. lol I completed my five minutes and we moved on to the table where I have been reclining to do my heel slides and leg extensions. She decided to take a measurement first. 117º !!! I got a "you're fierce, girl!" and a high five. I was really happy. We're back on track again.

I did a few more exercises, but with lighter weights and nothing heroic. Even so, when I got home I knew I'd had a workout. I went back on ice and rested the remainder of the day.

Mum made it through surgery and will now have a recuperation period. One step at a time, but her kids are all grateful for the good news. Thanks to all who lifted prayers and good thoughts prior to her procedure. 

 

I'm looking forward to some fun today. Kathy D. is coming out for lunch and a visit. I'm going to make my favorite Emeril Lagasse mac and cheese recipe, and Kathy is bringing fried chicken and a few sides. I'll be able to show her my bluebirds (so far), and she's going to tell me about a retreat she recently attended. It will be so nice to see her again!

 

Hope you have something fun planned today, too. I'll be back tomorrow with photos and let you know what's going on Wednesday. More fun! 

 

She's On My Mind Today...

Mum with two great-grands - 2023

My mum turned 88 in June, and this photograph is from two years ago. She's much thinner and more frail-looking now. Recently her doctor(s) decided that she needed to undergo surgery. She's been having ongoing issues for a while now, and truthfully, I believe many of her problems are caused by the medicine on top of medicine on top of medicine she's been prescribed.

You know. First they tell you to take this pill, and when you have a reaction, they add a pill for that symptom, and so on and so on. Can you tell I don't really trust the people she's trusting? Well, the last prescription was a second prescription for diabetes. What it's causing is severe weight loss, and after reading up on all possible side effects, another is problems for the thyroid...from malfunction all the way up to the Big C. 

Her doctor convinced her to have a major surgery on her thyroid today. They've also said it's a day surgery! I've had two thyroid surgeries (one when I was 7 and the other when I was 18). I know what it does to a young, otherwise healthy person. I'm deeply concerned about what it may do to my 88 year old mother, and it's inconceivable to me that it could - under any stretch of the imagination - be a day surgery for her.

What that means for me is that I'll go to my PT appointment, and then spend the rest of the day waiting for word about how she is. One of my brothers is her medical surrogate (in the event my 93 year old stepdad can't be - or he hands off that responsibility). He and my sister, Jan will be at the hospital with our stepdad. I've had my fill of medical facilities, so I'll wait at home to hear from Jan.

I have a feeling it's going to be a long day. I hope you have something more fun on your agenda. See you tomorrow.

June Classmate Dinner...

Front row: Jay, Bruce, Deb, Mary, and Lisa Back Row: Janet, Brad, Cal, Donna and John

My "social butterfly" day began with lunch with Mum, Stepdad and Handsome. Our lunch was delicious and we had a nice visit, in spite of the fact that the restaurant was a bit noisy. In the bustle, I neglected to take their photo (bad blogger!), but we did have a lovely time.

I ran a few errands in town, rather than drive back home, but the time passed quickly, and before I knew it, I was due for my classmate dinner date. We chose Thursday this month, thinking more people could show, but the weather forecast warned of bad weather, so folks cancelled to avoid being caught outdoors. As it turned out, the weather was just fine and the restaurant was much quieter than on Wednesdays (when they offer half-price pizza). Our core group showed up, with Lisa joining us this month. I certainly didn't order much to eat, having recently finished lunch!

I was on my way home by 5:30 or so, and spent the rest of the evening with Handsome. It was a fun day with all the visiting! We're scheduled for another Thursday next month, and perhaps those who stayed home yesterday will join us in July. 

It's Friday again! I have an appointment this morning with my primary care provider to start the next process for my knees. Then, I'm going to slide into the weekend with nary a care! Who knows what I'll be doing. I'll let you know tomorrow.

Happy Birthday, Mum...

Mum  2025

 

Happy 88th, Mum!

I hope you have a great day.

Mum's 87th...

Yesterday was my mum's Birthday. Some of our family was able to gather to celebrate with her and my stepdad at their home.

It was a great surprise to learn my eldest niece and goddaughter came to visit for the weekend with two of her three kids, so I spent a little time there Saturday after work. Then I went back yesterday and more of our family had come to celebrate, too.

l-r: Niece/Goddaughter, Jen; her daughter on her lap; my youngest brother's son, Cain; Stepdad; Mum; Niece's son; Cain's son; Cain's wife, Jesse; their daughter on my sister, Jan's lap; me

Me, Mum, Jan, Jen

One of Mum's two little dogs, Jesse, me, Mum, Jan, Jen

 Me, Mum, Jan.

Sorry that my sister, Di wasn't in the photograph. She was home in Minnesota with her family.

Auntie with Goddaughter.

This photo was taken Saturday after a full day of work. It rained all day, and my hair curled up as I was driving to Mum and Stepdad's house, but it's a wonderful photograph of my mother...and well, that's what I looked like. (Jury's still out on this "growing my hair out" thing. Short short is definitely lower maintenance. Opinions welcome.) Either way, I'm happy to have this image of the two of us. It's one for the memory book.

I'm writing this on Sunday night. I'm tired from a full two days, but glad for every moment of it. I'll be back tomorrow, and hoping that I might have a little needlework to share with you. Have a great week!

"Baltimorioles"...

 

 

They sit in line and wait their turn. Shortly before I snapped this photograph, both boys were waiting for a little sparrow to finish his snack. It's a treat for Handsome and me to watch them flit in and away from the feeders all day. Each one's coloring is just a bit different from the others, but there's no mistaking that orange flash when they're flying around in the yard. 

The hollyhocks have begun to open so I'll be sharing images of all their colorful blossoms very soon. The hummingbirds love feeding from them, so I hope to catch a few special photos of them feeding, too.

Wishing you a lovely Friday, as another week quickly comes to an end. Wishing my mum a happy 86th Birthday, too. Lots going on today, so I'd better get going. I'll tell you all about it very soon.

Say Hello To My (Not So Little) Friend...

 

Yesterday my almost-90 year old stepdad and I managed to horse this hefty critter into the back of my Explorer so I could bring him home. When we first came back to Wisconsin, this large carved squirrel sat out in front of an antique shop called The Plaid Squirrel. I admired it every time I drove up the east shore of the lake (Winnebago) where the shop was located.

I drove past it three years (or so) ago to see that the shop had closed and the squirrel was gone. On a visit to my mum's, I saw it sitting out in front of their home and recognized it immediately. I asked her if it was  from The Plaid Squirrel and she was surprised that I knew that. They had gone up to the shop when it was closing, and bought it. I told her I loved it, and we laughed at the sign. (On the reverse it says "Go Away") They actually screwed the sign with the "Welcome" greeting facing out, to keep it from blowing away.

 

Right before my Birthday last year, Mum called to tell me that the squirrel was my gift from them, and I could pick it up any time. The weather turned, so we agreed I'd come and get it in the spring. Yesterday was the day. (As an aside, this is officially the longest "extended" Birthday to date - nearly five months! yay!)

Loading it was a real task as it's awfully heavy. Dad B and I barely got it off the ground, and grunted as we slid it into my vehicle. All the way home I contemplated just how I'd be getting it out of my car to place it. As I drove up the driveway, I decided that the bucket on the front of our big yard tractor would be just the ticket.

I opened the back hatch, and brought the tractor around. Once I had the bucket in place, I pulled the squirrel out the back and onto the bucket. Then I stood it up, tilted the bucket back and moved it over close to its intended location. I had a hand cart waiting next to the bucket as it was lowered. Then, I slid the squirrel onto the cart and rolled it into place. Truthfully, I was on pins and needles, fearing it might fall off the bucket during the move, but it couldn't have gone smoother.

Granted, that's one sad planter sitting on the base, but I intend to add some of my large wooden acorns, and as soon as it gets a bit warmer, I'll have flowers potted all around it. As you can see from this photo, the hollyhocks already have a head start over the rest of the flowers (except a few tulips, and daffodils). They do like this protected southern exposure!

I have extra rogue hollyhock plants that have self-seeded, so I'm going to dig them up and take them to Mum. She used to have them in our backyard when I was growing up, and she allowed as how she'd love to have some of these giants. I warned her she might be sorry for asking, but I'll definitely be taking some to her soon.

Now I need to come up with a name for this large squirrel. Do you have any ideas? If so, please leave them in the comments. See you tomorrow!

Surprises From Mum...

 ...and Dad Burt, too!

They sent me a box of souvenirs from their trip to England and France!

 Mum always knows just what I love.

Of course, there was a Diamond Jubilee commemorative publication...

and a Queen Elizabeth II dvd (narrated by Sir Laurence Olivier!).

I had mentioned to Mum that I'd seen an article about this 

line of British face cream that I thought she might like,

and I was tickled that there was a jar for me in the package!

I hope it helps me achieve that British "peaches and cream" complexion.

 Handsome collects (and wears) baseball caps, so there was this

really great (and soft!) cap from their trip to Paris.

 I specifically requested a Jubilee tin to go with another old one

that I have had for years. (I'll show you that another time.)

Mum found this one that came with English breakfast tea.

 The top and sides are also decorated with additional images and words.

It's perfect - just what I wanted - and I love it!

 But, the biggest surprise was a corgi pillow!!!!!

Squeeeee!!!!

I did a happy dance when I saw this beautiful pillow, and now

Taggart will have proof of his royal roots!

Thank you, Mum and Dad Burt.

What generous gifts - and wonderful surprises.

I know (Shell)...S.P.O.I.L.E.D...again

Memory Lane Mondays - Generations...

George Newby Family

I love this photograph. It's the family of my great-great grandfather, George Newby. I never knew him or his wife, but my great grandfather, Percy is third from the left. His sister, My Aunt Ethel (she hated being called "great" aunt) is next to my great grandpa, Percy (fourth from the left).

My great-grandpa was a colorful man who I loved. He and my great grandmother owned a trailer court in Plover, Wisconsin and worked hard their entire lives. I have fond memories of our visits to my great grandparents house with I was a kid.

Aunt Ethel (Newby) Mills was an educator, starting in one of the first one-room schoolhouses in Wisconsin. She lived in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, within a couple of blocks of the house where I grew up. I was able to spend much more time just because of her proximity to our home.

Manners and grammer were always paramount with her - a trait I guess I inherited. She would correct grammatical errors when she heard them, and I find myself doing the same thing now. I'm usually the person who corrects the improper uses of "myself" and "there's" in sentences. (Most times "I" should be used where people now say "myself", and "There's" lots of [multiples of anything] should be "There are".) Sorry. Incorrect grammar is a pet peeve. Thanks, Aunt Ethel! Blessing or curse? You decide.

She held a position placing graduates from the Marian College Education program long into her actual "retirement". Her whole life was dedicated to teaching others. I admire her for that.

Laverne Newby Family

Fast forward to 1955 or early 1956 and here's another five-generation photograph. (l-r: back - my father, my beloved Grandfather Laverne. front: my great-great grandmother Boushley (Dora's mother, I think), my great grandmother Dora (married to great Grandpa Percy) and me!) Please ignore that the photo is crooked and the top of my father's head is cut off.

I don't look very happy, but I'd only been in America with my parents a short time and really only knew my father and Mum at the time this photograph was taken. (I even had a sweet British accent at this time!) My little sister was born in July of 1956, and I believe it was taken prior to her birth.

See the mirror on the wall? That's my pretty Mum reflected in the mirror. I don't know who's standing next to her, but I think that's so cool to have her in the picture, too...smiling at me. I love that.

My younger sister always remembers jumping on "Grandma" Boushley's" feather bed. (Her name is pronounced like "Bosley".) I don't remember that, but I remember much more time spent with my great grandma. I remember her wearing plaid shirts more often than not, and she always had that gorgeous smile on her face. I think my grandpa got his smile from her, and I'd like to think that my smile and laughing eyes are her genetic gift to me, too.

Handsome and I have photographs of generations of our family, too. The contemporary images are some of my favorites, but I'll always have a soft spot in my heart for all of the "oldies".

Do you have generations photos of your family? Do you display them or are they in boxes? I love the digital frames. You can store all kinds of images on a thumb drive and them load them into the frames so that they rotate through the display. One frame with many photographs. One frame to dust. That's a good idea, too!

Thank you for joining me on another stroll down Memory Lane. If you have a special memory posted on your blog this week, please come back and link here so all of us can read it, too! I'll be back with another nostalgic post next month!

Mum and Dad Burt are on a plane Monday morning to spend a whole month in England. They're both so excited about seeing family and old friends while they're there, and Mum can't wait to show Dad all around her homeland (and stuff British food in his mouth!). They're going to have a ball, I know.

Please say prayers for their safe travels and an incredible time overseas. 

Memory Lane Monday - My Mother's Garden...

Nanny and Mum with Billy. 1953

My beautiful mother is British and for many years I believed she was actually royalty! In fact, she came from humble, but honest beginnings, the daughter of my grandmother (who I called Nanny), Irene and her husband, Douglas. My grandfather deserted Nanny shortly before my mother's birth, so Nanny raised my Mum on her own until she met my Granddad Young and had two more sons.

I wrote last month about my Uncle Johnny, who still lives in England with his family. Their brother, Richard moved to the U.S. with his wife and two children when I was in junior high school and they've been here since.

My nan was a loving and hard-working woman, who I only remember through treasured photographs, stories from Mum, and the precious letters she wrote to Mum and me after my parents came to the United States.  (My father was an American in the Air Force, who returned with a pregnant wife and a year-old daughter - me - when his tour ended in 1956.)

Nanny and Mum with me in the middle. 1955

What few photographs I have of us together are worth gold to me. I can see from those images of Nanny that she was a proud and refined woman, but you can see in her eyes that she never had an easy life. I do know that she loved her children, and her letters to me are filled with deep affection.

Nan died when I was seven years old. Mum was only twenty four. She was taken from us far too soon by cancer. I remember the pain in Mum's eyes when the telegraph arrived to tell us that she was gone. I still have the message with her letter.

I know that Mum wishes that they could have been together to the end, and there are many times when we talked about the fact that we could have both been "brolly-carrying Brits" had we stayed behind.

I often wonder what it might have been like to have spent more time with Nanny - to have been able to have known her well enough to actually remember for myself her smile, her soft voice and her loving eyes.

Nanny and me, her first grandchild (looking for my sock!). 1955

Mum is in her seventies now, but we talk frequently about my British heritage - my birthright - and she tells me that Nan would have been proud of me and the woman I've become.  I've always been comforted and happy in that knowledge.

One of my published designs.

When I was actively designing counted thread samplers in the late 1980's and early 1990's, I created the sampler called "My Mother's Garden". It's actually a loving tribute to my mother and my nanny. The verse is one that I heard often as a child, and Mum told me that her mother used to recite it for her. I love the verse:

"If you've a mother with silvery hair,

love one another and treat her with care.

And as you grow older the least you can do,

Is to do unto Mother as she did for you."

The bottom of this sampler was designed to have a family record stitched into it. I stitched mine with my grandmother's name, place of birth and birthdate, then Mum's and then mine. It's one of my first and favorite pieces...to honor two women who I love and admire.

I so appreciate you taking this stroll with me down Memory Lane. I think this story shall remain one of my favorites. I hope you enjoyed it, too.

If you have a memory that you'd like to share on your blog, please link back here so that we can all visit and read it, too! (You can link your story below up until March 30th.)

Before we part today, please hop over to The Raspberry Rabbits and wish Shell a

Happy Birthday!

A Secret Revealed...

Today, I'll share a secret with you. Some of you know, but perhaps most of you do not, that I write my daily blog posts late at night the day before they appear on my blog. Sometimes, but rarely, I'll write them and schedule them to appear on a certain day, but usually it's just the night before.

I write them as though I'm writing them the day of the post, but now you know. I cheat...except for today.

Today - Sunday - I've spent on the road in my Explorer. I've left Handsome, Tag, hearth and home to go to Wisconsin to be with Mom Grace. She's been quite ill, and those of us who love her are concerned. Out of respect for her privacy, I will not go into detail, but I felt compelled to travel back into cold weather and possibly snow, rather than wait until summer, when we'd planned to go back again.

I left home at 7:30 this morning and drove over 800 miles to Nashville, TN. As I write this (7:42 pm central time - an hour earlier than home), I'm in my pj's with my laptop on my...er...lap...exhausted. It seemed that there was heavy traffic all bloody day for every. single. mile. I drove! The photo above was mostly stopped traffic in Atlanta. (There was an accident about 2 miles ahead.) Grrr!

I got to do the stop and go traffic two more times, but mostly there was just lots of humanity on the road...on a Sunday! What the...? I had expected an easy day of driving and found something quite different.

I'll drive the rest of the way to Wisconsin today, and hope to arrive early enough to get to the hospital for visiting hours. Mom said she wants me to stay at her home, so I'll accept her gracious offer. About 600 miles to go and I'll be with her.

For now, I'm tired, cold and a bit weepy (I know. Just like a little kid.) I already ate a little something hot and will close this note to you with a few notes of thanks...

Thank you, my Quilt shop Coffee friends - Kathy, Nora, Betty, Brenda and Flo (Faye wasn't there yesterday, or I know she would have helped, too!). I saw you on Saturday, a bit completely frazzled because I had things that I needed to finish for the quilt show next week. You took my quilt submissions for the show. You added a sleeve to the one quilt that needed one (because I did it wrong), delivered them to Joan today because I wouldn't be home to do it, and took a huge load off my shoulders. I love all of you and thank you again from the bottom of my heart for caring for me.

Thank you, Farmer's Wife QAL girlfriends for taking care of each other by answering questions and helping solve problems while I am unable to do so.

Thank you, Handsome, for understanding that I had to go - and for supporting my decision to drive. Oh, yes...and for caring for Tag while I'm away. I won't say more. You already know.

Thank you to my own mum and my beautiful sister, Diana for calling me on and off throughout the day to break up the tedium with stories and news.

Thank you to all my friends, near and far, for adding your prayers to mine that Grace will be alright.

I'll close for tonight before I get further "soppy".  I will tell you that I brought those scrappy plates with me so I can continue to stitch centers on the blocks once I settled in in Wisconsin. That way, I'll have some crafty posts while I'm away from home. More tomorrow. I have to turn off my brain and my lights now.

Memory Lane Monday - A Box of Photographs...

 This is the house where I grew up. When I was five years old, we moved into 184 E. Division Street in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. It was a large two-story home with three bedrooms upstairs, and one more tiny room with a closet that I convinced Mum to let me move into once I became a teenager. (I mean, who wants to share a room with their sister for-ev-er?) If I close my eyes, I can still walk from room to room, seeing every little nook and cranny, as though it were yesterday. (This picture was actually taken to showcase our shiny, new station wagon out in front, rather than the house. Just make believe it's not there, ok?)

See those three windows behind the balcony on the second floor? Well, the two on the left side belonged to the bedroom that I shared for many years with a messy, younger sister. Being more of an anal OCD organized person, I constantly picked up after her so that Mum wouldn't trash the room empty closets and dresser drawers (that we shared) in her ongoing efforts to teach us how to be tidy. Ah, yes, how we spent many a Saturday morning...but, I digress.

What I really wanted to share today was this photograph. A family photo taken on the front porch of that old house, with all the memories that well up inside me when I look at it.

I see my grandparents (my beloved Grandpa with his arm around me in the front row), little cousins, my younger brother next to me and that messy little sister (she still is, by the way!) right in the middle of the group with our grown cousin's (her godmother) hand on her shoulder. I see my Uncle Larry (right behind Grandma on the left with his arm on her shoulder) who passed about eight years ago. He was only five years older than me and the closest I'll ever have to an older brother, and I think of him often. My father (Don't smile at any cost!) in the shirt and tie on the right. Aunts and uncles smiling for the camera - and Mum (up in back) looking down the stairs to be sure her kidlets were being good little angels.

I have a special fondness for these old group photos. Between Handsome and me, we have a lot of them. Memories of days when families took the time to travel to be together. When they cared and looked out for each other.

Many of the people I love(d) in this picture have gone. But there are still people who shine in my life like brilliant stars in the night. I'm grateful to still have them to share some of these precious memories.

Life goes on. Change is inevitable, but those memories of meals, laughter, happier days spent with people I loved are seared in my memory - and will last forever, thanks to a box filled with photographs like these.

Thank you for letting me share another Memory Lane Monday today. I apologize that it's late, and thank Marydon from Blushing Rose for reminding me. (Ah, yes. Senior Moments. I've come a long way from that picture, Baby!)

I'd love it if you'd like to share a memory, too! My link will be open until a week from now, so just write your post and add it back here. See you with another memory next month.