Ahhh!! Sweet Mobility...

It has now been 4 weeks since surgery. Today I actually drove myself to town, visited my mom, took Papa to lunch, then went back to his apartment to help him find something on his computer. Then I hurried back home to rest. Claude will be sooooo pleased I did not wreck my pretty red car. I enjoyed being out again. My problem is that I wear out quickly. This was 3 hours from the time I left home till the time I pulled back in the driveway. But I'm just pleased as punch that I did it and it went so well. Now, if you will excuse me, I'm going to lay down and rest the remainder of the day so I can try Church tomorrow.

My Gentleman Farmer...

Last week we had some really pretty days in Sadieville. Claude took advantage of these to do some yard work. I have always wanted blueberry bushes on our property. Claude found some of these at Lowe's and purchased 3 bushes. When we first moved here, in an effort to keep soil on the top of our hill, Claude built what we call 'water breaks' out of rock from the hill. They are just little arched walls of rock spaced out down the little drainage area between the lot our home is on and the vacant lot we own next to us. Originally Claude put decorative fountain grass in each of the breaks except the bottom one. He determined to move the fountain grass from one of the water breaks and use that water break in which to plant the blueberry bushes. Then he made a new little water break where the water drains from the roof of the house comes out to the bottom edge of the upper back yard. This new water break is where he transplanted the fountain grass. I took the picture from the upper deck. I'm not quite healed enough to tromp up and down our hill. It takes about 3 years (and no deer eating the bushes) before they yield blueberries. I'm really tickled to have these bushes and truly appreciate my 'gentleman farmer' and his John Deere tractor and trailer doing all this work for our home.

Spring Has Sprung, the Grass Has Ris', I Know Where the Flowers Is...

Growing up my father always had little Southern colloquialisms he would toss at us. One of these was a little poem that said: Spring has sprung, The grass has ris', I wonder where the flowers is? Hence the title for this blog post.

Some others were: (When asked what time it was) Time all dogs were dead. Aren't you glad you're just a puppy? (When asked how he felt, he had two versions) Fine as frogs hair split three ways and combed backards OR Fine a frogs hair split three ways and sand papered. I'm sure if given time I could remember more but, suffice it to say, he still uses these little ditties today.

Yesterday I took a little bit of a walk near the house to get a few pictures of spring happening on our hill in Sadieville. It is a pure delight to watch what you planted that is perennial come back each year in the spring. So I stayed close to the house and took just a few photos of some of our spring. Note that the grass has "ris'" for sure. I might should have waited until later in the afternoon. Claude cut the grass for the 1st time then. But I think I like seeing that grass Claude has worked so hard to grow on this hill of ours.

We have PURPLE (I know the picture looks pink but it must be something between the camera and the sun) tulips in our hosta bed by the back porch. Those who know me know that purple has always been this chick maiden's favorite color. So I take particular delight in these flowers. I find myself strolling out to the deck to look down on them. The first picture is from the yard toward the patio. I have a little sign in my hosta bed that says 'turtle crossing'. I love the word turtle and have a collection of these little creatures all over the house and a couple in the yard. The round disk is a gift from the Marx family. There are little pictures of all of my family set in this stone. The second picture is taken from the patio looking down our hill to the creek. You can see the bench on the ledge that Claude built which we call 'make-out point'. Just below the bench and to the left is the HUGE mailbox that was Grampa Ducks (Papa's father). Mimi and Papa used it for their mailbox in Louisiana when they lived in the country. We brought it here and Claude knocked all the dents out, fixed the latch, painted it a nice green with a red flag, mounted it on a tree trunk he stuck in the ground. Before mounting it on the tree trunk we had all the grandmonsters put their hand prints on the outside. It is now by the sand box and we keep kleenex, bug spray, baby powder (to help get the sand off the kids after playing the sand box) and other things in there. I love this section of the hill.

Our little tree in the front yard is just loaded with pink blossoms (yes, these are really pink). This is the first year that we've had this many blossoms on it. When we first moved here we planted a Japanese maple. It lasted a couple of summers and then passed on to tree heaven. So Claude purchased this little beauty and last year it leafed out. But this year it has really blossomed. If you look closely behind, the flower bed under the guest room window had peonies out of the ground, and the one to the right has the lilac bushes that are really filling in again this year. They are under Claude's office window. He had lilac bushes growing up and really wanted them in our yard. The peonies are mostly from Bonnie's garden in Utah and supplimented with a few purchased a Lowe's.

So there you have it. My magnolia tree is beginning to leaf out. The deer have already eaten the little flowers that came up first in the back yard. The hydrangeas are coming up. The burning bushes on the side of the house are all leafed out and healthy. The weeping willows are leafing out. So Spring is officially 'busting out all over' on the hill in Sadieville.

Chiara...I am mindful of your post about missing your flowers because they have to repair your home from the hurricane. I hope these pictures bring you a little joy.

Let's Go Trippin'

What a great weekend we had. Saturday we left around 8am headed to Chelsea, Michigan. We were taking Katelyn back after spending her spring break with Claude and I. We checked into the Holiday Inn Express in Chelsea and found that I was once again the 'guest of the day'. We called Jake to tell him we had arrived and he could join us. We spoke with Nissa and their van arrived shortly thereafter. We had 2 rooms. One was the 'Kid's Suite'. This is a great room when you have a lot of family. It has a huge sitting area with a TV and a kitchen area with a table and chairs. This provides lots of seating for the adults. There is a portion of the room sectioned off as a little fort with bunkbeds and a TV with Play Station attached to it for the kids. Then there is a sleeping area for the adults. We used this same room about 2 1/2 years when Jake was in the Escanaba in Love play at the Purple Rose Theater. We had another room for Claude and I so I could go rest when needed. It didn't take long for Aubrey and Paul to want to head to the swimming pool. Nissa and I took them and Katelyn joined us. We all met back in the Kid's Suite at 5pm and ordered pizzas. After a great dinner we opened birthday presents and had cake for Jake and Todd. Then we made 'Pitter Fudge'. I truly wish I could remember all the great jokes made while making this fudge treat. Then I took the kids back for another swim until 9pm. Sunday morning Katelyn gave Paul and Aubrey Easter bags we made for them. Then we had breakfast together at the hotels breakfast buffet. We waddled back to the Kid's Suite and visited until lunch time. Then we went to a nice little Chinese Garden restaurant and all ate from the lunch buffet. Then before the Thompson/Tyler contingent loaded up and headed to Muskegon, I was able to snap a few pictures of them.

Jake spent the afternoon with Claude and I visiting. I wanted to go for a walk so Jake directed Claude and we drove to the Chelsea cemetary. I really enjoy strolling through a cemetary and checking out all the headstones. I think the oldest death I found on a gravestone this time was 1864. We did find an above-ground tomb that had 'James Taylor' carved on the side in big letters. Claude took a picture with his Blackberry and eMailed it to Andie. She responded saying how nice it was to share that on Easter Sunday but she saw him the day before on Oprah. Dinner for Claude, Jake and me was Kentucky Fried Chicken and a stroll over to Big Boy for a piece of pie. Jake stayed until later and visited.

This was just a really nice, laid back visit with family. What a blessing we can see each other a little more often than when we worked full time. Claude and I commented several times on the drive home Monday what a nice weekend it was. We had a great family!!

Mimi-ism...

This afternoon we went to see Mimi at the nursing home during lunch time. Papa feeds her each day at lunch time. The game plan was to visit while she ate and then take Papa with us to lunch so he could have a little time to visit with Katelyn. While eating her lunch, Papa leaned over and said to Mimi, "I love you." Mimi leaned over to Papa and said, "That's nice. But you better watch out for Vernon!!"

Da-Da-Dump, Da-Da-Dump, Da-Da-Dump, Dump, Dump...

We did it...We went to the races!!!

What are these...John Deere Tractors...hmmmm!!!

We did NOT go to see the John Deere Tractor Races. We went to Keeneland to see the horse races. But between each race on the dirt, the row of big John Deere tractors turn up the dirt and make it ready for the next race. I just thought it would be very appropriate to publish it since we are definitely a John Deere family.

Miss Katelyn, Claude and I bought a program and settled in for a most delightful afternoon. The program helped us learn a little more about how the races are set up and about the horses and about betting. They had 9 races that afternoon. We watched 8 of them before heading home. Since this our absolute 1st time ever to go to the horse races, we started at the ticket counter asking for help in knowing what kind of ticket to buy. The nice man explained that we could buy a general admission ticket and if we wanted to upgrade to reserve seating we would go to another counter, give them our general admission tickets, and for a nominal fee they would upgrade the ticket to reserved seating. The general admission is ground level and beside the race track. These would have been wonderful tickets. They have benches and you can sit where ever you choose. Or you can bring your own lawn chair and sit in it in this section. You are in the sun all afternoon but a nice hat would have made that quite bearable. The general admission seats were $5 per adult. Claude paid the $5 for each of us and we headed to the next counter for reserved seat upgrades. I'm not ready to chance not having a nice place to sit. The nice lady here upgraded all of our seats for an additional $3 each. She made sure we were in Section F where she said we would have a good view of the racetrack finish lines. She was right and we were very happy with these seats. The 2nd tier of seating is the box seats. Then behind them are the stands of reserved seat (where we sat) and these are under the roof. No sun. On a hot day, this would be great. Yesterday was not that hot. We were in sweatshirts and Claude supplied us with hot chocolate to break the chill after a while. We were very impressed that for the price of a movie ticket we had an entire afternoon of fun. Our program listed each of the races and the horses that would be running. We each picked the horse we wanted to win. I picked by the name I liked. Katelyn was doing about that same strategy but a little more study. Claude studied the program well and picked the one he felt best about. Alas, Claude never picked a winner. Katelyn had a couple that were in the top 3. I picked the winner of the 8th race. We dined on barbecued brisket. Katelyn tried the general admission seating so she could be close to the action. We stayed in contact via cell phone and waves from Section F in the reserved seating. She was all grins. She did purchase a very cool light green t-shirt to remember this moment in history with.

The 8th race Claude and Katelyn decided to bet on their horses. Katelyn picked her horse to place. Claude picked his horse to win. He put $5 on each of their horses. Gramma chose not to participate but got a great kick out of watching these two cheer on their horses. Katelyn's horse was the favored to win. As they came around the track and closed in on the finish line, Katelyn's horse was in the "win" position. She was the only one at the track going yelling, "slow down, hold back". We had explained that for her to win the horse had to come in 2nd, not first. When the race was over, her horse came in 2nd. She was jubilant. My camera ran out of batteries and I missed the arms in the air waving. But the grin was still there after I put new batteries in the camera.

I totally enjoyed being outside again in the fresh air. It was a perfectly beautiful day and just lots of fun. From watching the horses warm up, to them entering the track for their race and staying warm with the jockey on their back and the beginning and ending of the race horses being led by men on beautiful horses in proper English riding attire, to getting them in the starting gate, to everyone cheering for their horse as the run to the finish line, to the John Deere tractors clearing the dirt for the next race. The food was great and the company greater. It felt great to be out and about for the afternoon. But I did get back to the car and topple over on the back seat and sleep as we drove home.

Two Weeks Today...

This time two weeks ago today I was in the little cubicle awaiting my turn at the surgical table. This morning I came downstairs and looked through the back door windows to my hosta bed and the row of purple tulips buds just waiting to open up and I felt good. I've progressed well. I have 6 more weeks of not lifting anything over 5 pounds but I can do that.

My surgery was Thursday, March 26th, Happy Birthday Nissa!! I stayed in the hospital Friday, March 27th, Happy Birthday Paul Man!! Then I was released and came home Saturday, March 28th about noontime. Claude spent the first night in the hospital room with me. The second night I was moving around on my own a bit so he came home to have a good nights sleep in our bed. He was back at the hospital bright and early and shared my breakfast plate with me. I'm not a egg eater and he polished those off for me in fine fashion. Dr. Elvis came in and wanted to be sure I could walk. So I donned my pink bathrobe I purchased 9 years ago for the hysterectomy and Claude and I waddled down the hall to the nurses station and back. Dr. Elvis was very pleased and said I could have all things removed and Claude could take the patient home to his care. Central Baptist Hospital was a very nice facility to be in. The entire staff treated me very well and helped me progress so I could go home as quickly as possible.

I was sent home with at least 4 prescriptions for different things. So we stopped at CVS in Georgetown and got those prescriptions filled before heading to our home in the country. Claude also got me some tacos to take home for lunch. I needed flavor. We were home and I was in bed again around 2:30pm. Claude fixed up my little retreat with the baby monitors (see the picture of the flowers) Andie uses so that he could move around the house and still hear me. He also placed a TV tray by my bed so I had plenty of room for necessities at an easy reach. He put the little bell there for extra measure to call him if I needed him. He made a 'med' chart so that we were sure of when I took what medicine. I curled up in my wonderful bed to heal.

Monday Claude had a dental appointment and an oil change appointment for my car. Papa and Tiny came out to sit with me. I awoke from a long nap just before they got there and was sitting on the love seat in the living room. Poor Tiny could not understand why she could climb up on my lap. She did sit beside me some and that seemed to help. About 3:30 I assured Papa I was going to take more meds and head to bed for another nap and that he and Tiny could head back to Georgetown. I was sure Claude would be home before I woke up. Papa wouldn't leave until he was sure I had taken my meds and was really headed to bed. Claude got home just as Papa and Tiny were getting in his Jeep to leave.

Wednesday and Thursday (April 1 & 2) were hard days. I was trying to run a fever so we watched me close and I spent more time in bed. I do not run fevers. My normal temp in below the 98.6 that is the average for most of us. We were able to keep in down and by Thursday evening any feeling of fever was gone.

Friday (April 3) Claude was to drive to Michigan to pick up Katelyn, our oldest grandmonster. We had planned to take her on a road trip over her spring break. The surgery meant no road trip but we wanted her here with us anyway. Claude left in the morning. Andie drove over from LaGrange in the morning to be with me. She stayed until Saturday afternoon. Papa and Tiny took over when she left Saturday until Claude and Katelyn got here. It was great to have an evening with Andie and me. She made me a pan of brownies. We watched 'The Secret Life of Bees' and I totally enjoyed having time with my daughter. Michael, bless you for coming home from a business trip on Thursday night so you could watch the mini-Marx's and Andie could come and sit with her mom. We received pictures via eMail from Michael's Blackberry of the mini-Marx's at Waffle House Saturday morning having breakfast and at Walmart in the shopping cart Saturday morning. Hayden called and talked with Andie about taking her car to the car wash. It was great fun to hear of the fun they were having with daddy while mommy was gone and to get the pictures was an added measure of pleasure. Papa and I watched the Saturday morning session of general conference together.

Katelyn wanted a down day on Sunday (April 5th). We watched both session of general conference. Grampa fixed great food for us to eat and we just enjoyed our time together. I saved Katelyn needlework projects she started last time she was here so her fingers and my fingers flew doing cross-stitch. How fun to share this love of mine with her. Sunday night we pulled an 'almost' all nighter. When Katelyn stayed after Christmas, we stayed up all night on New Year's Eve and watched the Lord of the Rings trilogy back-to-back. Now her pick was all 4 Indiana Jones movies. So we did that and finished at about 2:30am. Katelyn and I crocheted through all the movies.

Monday (April 6th) was homework day for Katelyn. We all agreed we would get it done and then enjoy the rest of the week. Claude had meetings in the morning and evening.

Tuesday (April 7th) Claude and Katelyn drove to LaGrange to visit the Marx family. I had my first day at home alone. No sitter this time. After they left I came to my basement hide-a-way and did eMail's and made my computer puzzle 'o the day. Then I headed up to read book 5 in the Work and the Glory series. I spent the remainder of the day in bed reading. It was good to just rest and read. I took a long nap in the afternoon then awoke and finished my novel. Then began the next book I wanted to read while recuperating. It is the Middle something or other. It is by Kelly Corrigan. Andie read it with her book group and loaned it to me. I'm really enjoying it and almost finished with it. Claude and Katelyn enjoyed picking up Hayden at pre-school, taking the mini-Marx's to McDonalds for lunch, then have a time to play with them for the rest of the afternoon. Andie sent home made granola mix home with them. They stopped and got me a Subway sandwich for dinner. It was a good day.

Wednesday (April 8th) I made reservations for us to take Katelyn to the Glitz for lunch. We took Bonnie there in December so I've told you all about the unique place. She very much enjoyed having a very grown up meal in a really nice restaurant. She loved looking through all the antiques and trying to find out if "that was what you used as a kid Gramma and Grampa"? I was worn out after our outting and stretched out and slept in the back seat of the car all the way home. Claude took his nap after we got home and Katelyn and I watched 'The Secret Life of Bees' while she sorted Grampa's big mug of coins and rolled them for him. This is a tradition when Katelyn comes. The rolling of Grampa's coins. Claude had a meeting at the Church in the evening so Katelyn and I watched some TV and did some more needlework. We also fixed our own dinner this time. Katelyn lifted everything I needed to make grill cheese sandwiches. What a team we are.

Today (Thursday, April 9th) we are going to Keeneland. Claude and I have lived in Kentucky 4 1/2 years and not been to the races yet. They are having races at Keeneland this week. So today we are going to go to Keeneland and see the races. Hopefully they will have wonderful seating!!!

I'm grateful for well wishes, flowers, prayers and love from friends and family. Thank you all for these. Especially the faith and prayers. I'm making steady progress and am now starting to venture out a little. I wear out easily but the little forays help build strength. I appreciate so much the care of my hubby. What a guy!!!

Now, I'm off to get ready for the races.