forward, backward, hop hop hop...

 So yesterday I had a small mission to accomplish, which was to drive to the small city north of here to get Sunny's medicine.  (she is not sick, she is an old girl now, and has a "leaking" problem, you know, like when you sneeze?  so she takes a daily Incurin tablet to help with that...)

It's the farthest I've driven in the last several months, and it was quite pleasant.  I managed to get up the curb and up the steps into the vet's office, the things you just don't even think about, normally.  Then on to pick up Evelyn, to go to Price Chopper.  It's a rather large grocery store, and was a bit daunting, but I did drop myself off at the entrance, and she went a parked the car.  Well.  I was going in the big automatic sliding front door, and it started to close on me!  I thought it would sense me and retract, but it didn't do that until it actually hit me!  It was startling.  I was going as fast as I could, but apparently not fast enough.  It knocked me off kilter for a second, but didn't hurt or anything.  Did I like it?  no, not one little bit.  

The rest of the store was rather uneventful, but I like grocery shopping.  I bought a package of burger, some chicken breast, and some top round steak that was buy one get one free.  Steak for $5.35 a pound, not too shabby.  I got it home and decided it would be too tough to grill, so I made a pot of beef stew.  I dredged it in salt, pepper, and oops sesame seeds!  That's what I get for edging in when Camille's making herself ramen with an egg and seasonings for lunch, I thought it was minced onions.  

This fine morning, it's like Christmas.  

Look at that snow.  The whole house has that "it snowed!" glow, the ground is covered, and all the tree branches.  No thank you!  I have to bring Miss Camille to an eye doctor appointment today.  When she made the appointment a few months ago, I was like, I'll totally be able to walk fine by then, of course I'll bring you, it'll be nice and warm then too...

One week from today we leave for Phoenix.  I thought I'd be walking so much better, but here's what happened:  you know I have really bad end stage osteoarthritis in both knees, bone on bone.  Well.  The left knee, the non-surgical knee, has been holding up like a champ, except for when it doesn't.  Sometimes it sticks, sort of locks up.  Now it's doing a new trick, where it really clicks, loudly, with every step, and it hurts.  I think the deep squats/sit-to-stands I've been doing to strengthen the quads are bothering it.  The last two times I got off the exercise bike it was doing it badly too.  ugh.  I burst into tears last night because I couldn't take one step without it really clicking, but it calmed down and got better, and is not so evident this morning. It's just that I want so badly to improve on my walking...and there are a few things to consider...

1. " Let come what may, upon my way, I'll give my life each day!"  This is a line from a song we sing, and it's the goal, isn't it?  To surrender myself to God's will, and be thankful, and work with what He sends me. 

2.  The good old fighting spirit, the WE CAN DO THIS attitude.

It's an interesting place to be, I want to be thankful, yet not content in a way that I am like oh well, with a defeatest attitude.  

blah blah blah, walking.  Sorry!  Here's something to cheer us up: 

Miss Kaia Jean on Easter...:)

Ah well.  I am heading out the door...you all have a good day!  (I practiced walking in the Birkenstocks...not as comfy as I'd like, but I'll get there!). 

happy Easter to all of my friends!

 I have something for you all, a movie suggestion that might just change your life...I loved it so much I want to watch it again, it's called Escaping Esau:  A Ladder To Heaven, and it's on YouTube.  There are some wonderful songs on YouTube also, called Hidden Treasures music.  :)

We had a wonderful day....I saw 12 of my kids today, with their spouses, and most of my grandkids.  

My just-for-fun Easter cake...bunny butts sticking out of the garden...

and some cupcakes...

Sonja holding Maeve, Ruth, Rhys, Jonathan, and Sunny...

Char and Cam with Ellis

Sonja, Ruth, Rhys, and Jon with his new Emilia

The boys with their babies:  Jon and Emilia, Sam with Samantha

Camille with Ellis

Sonja played matching game with Jamie, Ruth, Rhys

Sam, Darius, Char, Cam, with Ellis

Aunt Kathryn with Kaia, and Jon with Emilia

Grandpa with Jamie

Uncle Sam played Yugio with Wulf, Achilles, and Grant

Camille, friend Amanda, Kathryn, Charlotte Claire, and Margaret sang in church this morning...sorry it's so short!  

We had a spiral sliced ham, mashed potatoes (Evelyn and Sonja peeled them, Evelyn made them when they were all boiled up, mmm!). I peeled several pounds of apples, and baked them with unsweetened applesauce, some brown sugar, and cinnamon, and we had Hawaiian rolls, baked up a little bit.  

Camille made an orange cake, which called for oranges, peels and all, in the food processor...it was so good!  Margaret made carrot cake cookies, Kathryn made chocolate cookies, and lemon with blueberry frosting.  I didn't take a picture of the huge-0 Easter basket, and it's but a memory now.  I let the kids and grandkids take home whatever they wanted.  There is a small bowl of candy there now.  

I filled 48 eggs with candy too, and Margaret and Kathryn hid them around the living room while the kids were in the guest room waiting...it was great fun to watch them search around, Jamie shrieked with joy when he found one!  

The day went by too fast...there was crying and laughing and a few messes, but oh dear, it was a good day.  We have so much to be thankful for.  

This fine Monday morning:  snow.

Against all my lazy will, I got up and got ready for the pool this windy cold spring morning.  The parking lot at the rec center was full.  I drove around and around, no parking spots, unless I wanted to walk a very long way.  I have done that before, but not in a long while, and it was snowy and a little bit slushy, and it's a hike across the parking lot.  I drove back home, dang.  I am going to do some walking today though, so all is not lost...I have some plans...you all have a good day!

no leaps and bounds over here...

You know, I got super excited that I was more mobile, so I got ahead of myself, and forgot how un-linear this process is.  Today I felt like I was walking in thigh deep mud.  I did get up and go to the pool, and I did push myself in the pool.  I did the class work out, then walked forwards, backwards, sideways...I will say though:  it is downright exciting to be able to walk even minimally better.  

Home...that after-pool coffee, ahhh.  Especially today, I didn't have my before-pool coffee, was in too much of a hurry.  It was warm today, I think it was 72, and windy, partly cloudy, but when that sun came out, so nice. Yes, I put on a sundress and sat on the deck.  I didn't call my sister though, and it was hard.  

I finally took the Christmas wreath off the front door and replaced it with a nice pretty summery one, that I bought a few years ago and never put up, still had the tags on it.  (Joann Fabrics, $99, ha, I did NOT pay that much!)

I made cupcakes for Sunday, and a cake.  I will frost them tomorrow, and decorate them all Easter-y.  I put pork in the crockpot, with some vinegar, brown sugar, salt and pepper.  I wiped down the new-to-us grill, Paul grilled chicken last night (bone-in chicken thighs that were marinating in vinegar, olive oil, salt and pepper, oh dear they were good!) 

You can see not too much is going on around here.  The girls were at work today, so it was quiet.  I was tempted to go to the thrift store, but decided to just stay here and hop on the exercise bike a few times, and practice walking, and stretch the knee...PT said I need to keep doing that, or I'll lose flexion.  In between all these things, I had some nice sits in the comfy chair.  :)

I accidentally bought a dress from Target.  I forgot to hit the Save For Later button!  I had four or five dresses in my cart, wishful thinking...decided that even with 30% off, didn't NEED them...so I did a grocery pick up order the other day, and hit the Pay button, didn't know a dress was still in the cart....I picked up the groceries, then yesterday I noticed an email of an upcoming Target shipment!  oh dear, $28 for a sundress!  It IS pretty though...

Well, would you look at that!  I accidentally bought a dress and I accidentally showed you all what size it is, and guess what?  I accidentally do not care.  Like, big surprise, I wear a big dress, ha.  

Camille looks like Ryan Renolds...:)!

Ellis...too cute!

Baby Samantha, also too cute.  

All right, I don't have anything else to bore you with this fine evening, so have a good one!!!!

it's all the perspective!

 So not to brag, but...I just went to the Dollar General all by myself.  Can you even believe it?  Now, if it had happened several months ago, as it should have, would it be as sweet?  It's like spring in the northeast, we appreciate it all the more because it takes SO long to arrive.  

Some grandchildren are visiting today, and we didn't have much bread.  The girls went out and about last evening, so I asked them to stop and get some, they forgot, and they're at work today.  So, I sucked it up, and went to the store.  I wandered and meandered, too.  I mean, all the effort to go there, I'm going to look at the spring stuff.  I bought bread, turkey, some really cute plates for Easter, some watercolors for the kids, and brushes, and one toy marked down 70%, a flat wood cut out doll with tons of cool wood clothes.

As I exited the store, parked the cart, carried the bag and walked with the cane, I had to make a decision:  step off the curb, or go down the ramp, which was longer and involved navigating a puddle.  Hmmm.  I chose the ramp.  I inched down it, and noticed out of the corner of my eye a man turning around and walking back towards me.  He asked if he could help, or carry my bag.  I thanked him and said I could manage, but it was so nice of him.  Small town living, the guys in camo with their ball caps on, driving those pick up trucks, can be so thoughtful.  

Home...I made it up the stairs and into the house with the bag, and put the things away, put my clothes in the dryer, and here I am, landed in the comfy chair.  I am going to get up and vacuum soon...

My goal is to practice walking, forwards and backwards, sideways, and to go faster.  Another goal is to put the Birkenstocks on and learn how to walk in those.  I know, it's not that big a deal, but it kind of is.  My trip to Arizona is in less than two weeks, and I don't want to wear my wool sneakers, or my water shoes:)

You all have a good day now, off I go to clean this place up!  (Oh, and thank you for the kind comments!)

it's no joke!

 Today I am happy.  I had a good physical therapy session, and feel that I am on the right path, FINALLY!!!  It won't automatically be smooth sailing from here on in, one thing I've learned is this journey is not just linear, it's more like the bunny hop:  forward, backward, and now finally...hop hop hop. But still, let me have my moment of exhilaration!  

This was the first time going to PT since my appointment with the surgeon last week.  I was totally honest and told the therapist how that appointment was awful and humiliating, and I have done some crying.  But, then I really examined my walking, and knew I had to get that bend in, and by the grace of God, I was able to, and the knee hasn't buckled in days.  My cane is not as necessary, and I can see, for the first time, that I won't have it forever.  I can picture myself walking normally in the future.  I still have work to do, he gave me specific things to work on, and the surgeon was right, I have to walk more.  But, now at least I have it figured out...you think it's natural to just walk until you can't do it!  

I did go to the pool this fine morning, and yes, it was a struggle to get across the wet pool deck and down the ramp into the water, but I did it.  There is a joy in that, even if I barely did it.  

So now I am beat.  Yes, I am tired.  I drove myself to PT, came home, poured a Diet Coke on ice with some lime, and ahhh, here I sit.  We're having bacon and eggs for dinner, so I don't have to start cooking yet.  

Grace is coming over with her kids tomorrow, maybe Kathryn will come too.  

And...wow, I am rather tired, can't even think of anything to blather on about!  You have a good evening!

thunder and lightening!

I woke from a dream last night...a dream that Paul was driving, and there was a flash so bright he was blinded, and stopped right in the road...then we heard the crack of thunder.  I woke up from the dream then, when I heard the crack of thunder in real life, in the night.  That lightening must have been pretty bright if I saw it in my sleep!  

I got up this fine morning, reveling in the dark and scary thunder storm and the rain drumming on the metal roof.  I like a nice dark storm.  I got my coffee, and ahh, it was great.  I placed a Target pick up order, then Sonja came over with baby Kaia, and Camille and I got in her car and met Kathryn at Target with her four little ones.  Sonja and Cam took Jamie and Rhys so Kathryn could shop easier, with Achilles and Ellis.  I rode around on the driving wheel chair, which I love/hate.  It's kind of embarrassing, but you raise your kids not to care what people think of you.  right?  I can walk a bit better, but walking all around Target is not happening, the last few times it was so painful. 

But.  I did walk around Aldi, and it was not horrible.  I was in a crowded aisle though, a worker was trying to stock and had two big carts of merchandise, I made my way around him and his stuff, and was looking at the garden bed things, pondering one for the front yard.  A lady wanted me to move so she could get by, I couldn't move quick enough, I was apologizing and limping and she smacked her cart right into mine, muttering....  she had no idea that I couldn't move quickly!   Pardon me, but I put all this effort into walking around in Aldi, I am going to browse the Aisle of Shame!  

Home...ahh, home.  Afternoon coffee, Sonja visiting with Kaia for a bit, so nice.  Then...what's for dinner?  I had bought a veggie cauliflower crust pizza from Aldi, Char added pepperoni and put that in the oven.  I chopped up a five+ pound package of chicken breast, froze some in lime juice, salt and pepper, and fried some up in olive oil.  The girls also made pasta and Alfredo sauce for their dinner.  

My walking is definitely not there yet.  It's still especially rickety when I first stand up.  I have learned to walk with a slight bend in the knee, and it feels steadier, but I still need to work on form, not limping, and stamina.  I go to PT again tomorrow...

It does feel never-ending.  One day I'll wake up in the morning though, and forget all about my knee.  :)

Charlotte Claire told me today that this is just a season...:)

All right...time to get up from the comfy chair and clean up dinner...you all have a good evening!

oh, ya know....

On Saturday, Paul cut down the pear tree in the front yard.  I loved that tree, but it stopped producing pears a few years ago, and had a lot of dead branches.  It had a disease that pear trees get, which was beyond my talents to fix.  

Char and Cam braved the freezing cold day, and the snow flurries, and helped load up the branches.

Mariel Joy with baby Kaia, and Jonathan with his new Emilia, and Achilles:)

Jon was just telling me the other day that I take awful pictures...

   We had Evelyn and Nate over on Saturday night, Nate grilled burgers on charcoal, Evelyn made a nice salad, I made brownies, and they brought Girl Scout cookies:  thin mints and Samoas.  I can't even remember the last time I had them, but they were pretty good.

Newton loves balloons!  
 

Yesterday afternoon, we had Margaret and family and Kathryn and family over.  The weather was milder, so the kids went outside and enjoyed it.  

This fine morning, I got up and went to the pool.  It's school break, so there were some kids in the pool, which makes the pool deck wet and slippery.  That nice lifeguard was trying to wipe up the water for me so I didn't slip!  I didn't.  :). 

When I got home, all I wanted was a hot coffee and a blanket.  The pool water was chilly today.  Char and I had a mission though:  a grill from facebook marketplace!  

We drove over hill and dale to get this, 50 minutes to the west.  The rolling farmland of New York is gorgeous in the spring time.  There are Mennonites and Amish farmers, and so many old brick farms, lots to see.  The man selling it said he had two more people coming to see it before me, and I knew they would buy it, so I asked if I could come earlier...he nicely said yes, and I bought it.  I didn't even offer less, because it was well worth $125.  It's missing one side tray, but the grates and inner parts are still nice, it was kept in the barn, so it's in good condition.  They are $550 new.  We needed a new grill this year, so it was this or go to Walmart or BJ's and spend two hundred dollars on one that will last a few years.  

We got home, I vacuumed, made another coffee, and here I sit.  I have no idea what's for dinner, I mean, I made dinner yesterday, I have to do it again?  (We had chicken in the instant pot, browned up in a frying pan in some olive oil, with taco seasoning...then olives, onions and peppers, all the fixings for fajitas last night)

Ah well.  You all have a good day!  (shh, I did a whole post without mentioning my knee!!!)