White Wednesday...

...it is a rare occasion indeed, that I get to post a true White Wednesday!

This was out my kitchen window last week.

It's all gone now,

only to be replaced with rain,

soggy,

sloppy,

muddy,

rain.

linking to Kathleen at Faded Charm White Wednesdays.  Check it out for many, many more whites!

Time in a bottle...

..."there never seems to be enough time
to do the things we want to do
once we find them..."

how true, how true.   How is it that the time has passed so quickly that we are now coming into the last month of the year.  The last season of celebration before we start all over again.  I really don't see how that can be possible.  Where did the time go, and why oh why is it moving so very quickly?  Or is it me?  It seems the older I get the more I want time to slow down a little but somehow it got put on fast forward and the days are flying be.  This could turn into a melancholy post if I'm not careful so moving on...

Between my house and the river, about 1/2 mile, lies a working Christmas tree farm and although we have lived here for fifteen years we have never gone down there during the tree season.  The rest of the year the farm, which is quite large, is mostly a playground for the neighborhood kids and dogs as we hike the trails down to the river. 

That is, until today.

After our weekly coffee date we decided to drive home the long way (through the neighborhood) and followed the signs to the farm.  See?

In the most bizarre, not-so-well-thought-out, directions the road takes you to the end of the neighborhood and through the side yard and then the children's park, down a rocky hill, through an iron gate, and finally into the tree farm.

I had no idea it was this large or the amount of trees that are available for cutting.  It is solely a u-cut farm with the trees running around $60.  Is that a lot for a tree?

 They've got Nobles and Douglas Fir, big and small, and lots of tall dried out grass to stomp through.  It was quite the muddy mess but as I recall from our days of tree-cutting with the kids, this only makes it more fun.

The road winds around and around, past the saws and twine shack, to the loading zone and then the cashier after which it leads back towards the park and pops you out into the middle of the neighborhood only to shake your heads and wonder what were they thinking here?!  There surely had to be a better way to design this.

Not putting up my tree yet...how about you?

A grateful heart...

google images

The Pilgrims made

seven times more graves than houses.

no Americans have ever been

more impoverished than these who,

nevertheless,

set aside a day of

Thanksgiving.

H.U. Westermayer

...if the Pilgrims, who spent days digging graves while their houses
lay unbuilt, can take the time to be grateful then I, who sometimes gets lost in self-pity, anger and resentment, then I...I must be grateful.

The next few days will be busy ones as we prepare for the coming together of our family and friends to celebrate and give thanks.

Tomorrow, if I can find the woods beneath the snow, I will see what gifts mother nature has for me to use in my holiday centerpiece.

I will find Gratitude in the day and look for 'gifts' that I often take for granted.

Sending you the Peace and Joy that can only come from having a Grateful Spirit.  Blessings to you and yours...

A walk in the park...

(originally posted in 2008, the sentiment remains)

blogger is not allowing a pics to load...sorry.


Thirty-seven years ago today I stood in the doorway, at my father's arm, of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church. Ahead of me, down the aisle, was you...the one. After meeting in college and what seemed like a long engagement we were here, on a chilly November evening, in a church lit only by candlelight, to wed.

When I walked back down that aisle, at the arm of my husband, ahead of me was our future. Our care-free childhood, teenage years behind us as we ran through the rain to our car sloshing through puddles laced with shaving cream. Our future...

Maybe it was the rain, or the fact that we just missed being in a serious car accident, or that our keys were lost and we couldn't get into our apartment, that was a sign that ours would be a difficult journey. (Our paths to this point having been laced with many challenges.) We have been to the depths of pure hell...a place no parent should ever have to visit. And we have found, even to this day, that none of the everyday mishaps of life matter at all after you've lost so much.


We have reached the sky and have known the incredible blessing that our amazing children bring to us. They have been a gift beyond measure and I am so glad that you and I have shared such joy together.


We took a vow that day, before God and our families and friends, to always turn towards each other whether it be in joy or sadness. Turn towards each other always so that we will never have to be alone. Everyday you remind me of what that vow really means. Through sickness and health. Through good times and bad. For better or worse...we turn towards each other. We are strong and resilient, we are best friends and lovers (don't tell my mom!) and I would not change you and me for the world.


Happy Anniversary Baby...

Monday's **snap**...

...there is nary a photo in my camera that has naught to do with my surgery scar so I will spare all of you that miserable sight.  All that to say..no pics this week!

There is a palpable excitement in the air here. Anticipation and excitement growing, laughter and whispered secrets flowing, visions of food and fun and shared memories.  The season is upon us.  Those of you that live in this area know what I am talking about...not the season of giving, no, the season of s.n.o.w.

We usually get one big snow storm a year.  I know, talk about a bunch of babies, but this year with La Nina we are expecting a rather harsh winter and already it has not disappointed.  It's been snowing all day.  Schools are cancelled for the morning and there are huddled whispers of having to postpone the Holiday.  You have never seen such a frenzy as would occur when snow is in the forecast.  Where are the chains??!

Surgery, surgery, where to start.  It started with a quick trip to the operating room to have this infernal thyroid cancer removed and ended with me spitting out my two, new, front teeth.  (The one's I had to have capped after breaking them off biting into a frozen three musketeer bar at Halloween).  Between that and my new-found allergy to latex the surgery was the easy part.

We will know more Tuesday when the pathology is back and I have a follow-up appointment.   Then onward to the dentist for some new, 'new' front teeth and Thanksgiving at my daughters' house...what about you?

...just a little note to let you know that I have returned home after my adventure surgery.  Things went fairly well with the exception of a few minor complications.  Thanks for all your prayers and well wishes.  I must go nap now...

Save a prayer...

...'till the morning after. (who sang that song?)

I started last week with a two-day stress test and ended late Friday with a pneumonia shot.  In-between I saw four doctors, talked to one over the phone, went to two pre-op appointments and "donated" several vials of blood.  Phew! 

 This week I will start my day, bright and early, checking into the hospital at 5:45 am for a 7am surgery.  Finally I will get a little nap!
I will be back to update as soon as possible, hopefully Wednesday.  Please stay well and know that I am anxious to get back here, I carry you all in my heart.

(for those of you who don't know, I have thyroid cancer with metastisis.  They will be removing as much of the c as possible)
If you've got an extra prayer or two, or a good thought, please hold it close for me.  later...

The best laid plans...

...=a lesson in futility.  (the leaves are supposed to fall into the buckets!)  Sorry I left the impression that the dog/cat were supposed to use them!

Pitter-pat...

...I had an hour and a half between doctor appointments on Monday.  Not long enough to go home but just long enough to leave the building for awhile.  I decided to grab, literally, some coffee as I was caffeine-free for 24hours.  Also, I needed a bite to eat.  I drove around a little looking for a place to stop and walk but for some reason or another (dog agility class) there were no parking spaces downtown.  So I went to the next best place to walk and rest my weary little head...the thrift store!

Mondays are the worst day to go to a vintage-thrift store.  The weekends are usually busy and the shelves rather bare.  As I wandered around though I did see a few things that made my heart go pitter-pat. (or was that due to the fact I had just come from a stress test, having to run fifteen minutes on the treadmill??

old books get me every time.  Especially when they are inscribed.  "Mrs. Horton, 1933."  Except for the yellowing of pages and the torn jacket cover, this was in fantastic condition

...and then there is hob-nail milk glass.  Four ten-ounce tumblers with nary a chip.  Oh yeah, baby!

BIG chunky glass pieces fascinate me.  Look at all those little air bubbles!  This will soon be filled with coffee-beans, cinnamon sticks and a big candle.  Tied with some burlap ribbon and set on the entry table.
I also have, for many years, in my possession, a glass battery case.  It is quite large and extremely heavy and the next time I climb up on the counter top to dust it I will get some photos.  It dates from the 30's also.

and last, but not least, for today...mismatched dishes.  This is called "Tea Rose" and just looked like Fall to me.  Someday, I would love to have a dinner and serve each person off of a different place setting of China I have collected over the years.  It's a small collection but it would be so much fun.

It isn't the actual object or the having of material things that gets my little heart happy but it is the memories that are attached.  The memories that I have created of my childhood and family functions.  It's always sunny in there.  What gets your heart to pitter-pat and smile?

Monday's **snap**...

...where I give you a snapshot of my wild and wonderful weekend, whether it be an actual snap or a figment of my imagination.

these are the blueberry fields near our home.  The old home and barn are empty and dilapidated and the fields abandoned.  Until recently I didn't know they were even here.  I took my chances and explored a little but it was rather muddy so I will keep it in mind for next summer and see if I can get some sweet blueberries...yum.

I feel rather 'nesty' lately.  I can only assume that it has to do with my upcoming surgery next Monday.  To say that I have real concerns about this surgery is quite the understatement.  Some of the possible complications are quite severe and have me reeling at the thought.  I prefer to be an informed patient but I think that having a medical background is not always to my benefit.   

Although I don't want this to become a medical blog, this is a huge part of my life right now and the support I get from you can make all the difference in the world.  I also have an upcoming post on this kind of cancer and the treatments thereof.

I have a doctors appointment every.day.this.week.  grrr...
by the time Monday comes I probably will be glad to get the rest!

Whenever I have a surgery, vacation or the like planned, I always feel the nesty need.  I must get my house cleaned and things in order.  Not in case I don't come home but in case I have visitors. Besides, I like coming home to a clean house.  I must get some meals cooked and in the freezer, shopping is done, laundry will never be done.  Most things are under control at this point...except me.

In an honest confession that I can only reveal here; I am so very uncertain about all of this.  I am uncomfortable with the entire situation and if I had my choice I would not have the surgery.  I realize it is cancer but I would rather take what time I have left enjoying my family and waiting for my grandbabygirl to get here.  I regret telling my children about any of this as I know they would never forgive me for being too tired to fight anymore.  I wish they could understand...I wish I could.

take care peeps, thanks for the well wishes, and PLEASE no lectures.  I'm just not up to it.

Heartfelt Friday in the month of Gratitude...

little mama 'popped' in the month of six

Every great dream begins with a dreamer.
always remember, you have within you the strength,
the patience, and the passion
to reach for the stars to change the world."~

~Harriet Tubman~


Happy Friday y'all, take a moment this day to give thanks for one special blessing in your life...

Ode to October...

...Oh, my dear October, my favorite time of year.  Thank you for the beauty you bring, for cooler days and crisp clear nights.

The show was magnificent, as always.  And even though we were quite soggy you did not slow down or hide your beautiful charms.

 The reds, the golds, the greens and brown, the everything in-between have reminded me to slow down.

 To be patient as I look around and watch your splendor. To savor every moment that is given to us.

Rest well, my sweet friend, until the next time around.  I will be waiting.

November: please be kind.  We have not always had a good relationship, in fact it has been quite hostile.  Please be gentle with me this go around and I will be forever grateful. 

Blessings to you all as we roll into another month, may it be a kind one to you and yours!