Today I Saw a Fox

I saw it from by bedroom window. He wasn't really red, but sort of reddish... and bigger than the pair of foxes i saw in the backyard of my old house.

My camera, of course, was in another room!

It's been FIVE months...???? Really?

What's new? Loads!!! Don't even know where to start... but currently wow! Today started with a bang of sorts.

Was chilling out after leisurely breakfast in my jammies when brother, Don, called. Mom was 'sort of' non-responsive and they had called 911. I've never jumped into my clothes so fast... was there in record time.

Saw emergency vehicle still there... slide show of August 29, 2005 flashed through my head... was in the house in record time too!

Sitting in the kitchen... Don, Maxine, and MOM! Three guys standing around getting their job completed (paper work, etc.) How do you spell relief???? Mom woke up this a.m. with blood sugar around 27(?)... her eyes glazey and not moving... sort of dazed! She refused going to hospital... had to sign a waiver saying so... What can you do? She's 94 and still capable of making her own decisions. Anyway, it's really tough on Don & Max.

My bid on the condo is in... should hear by Friday at latest. Need to sell my house. It's been listed since last Friday. Pray... pray..... pray! Stuff happens. Life is good.

...AND..... had a great scrapbooking getaway this weekend! Good fun; good people; and most of all... good accomplishments! 2005 - all done!

Move forward.

I've Already Had Enough Snow!!!

Remember this soft smooshy snow that was too HEAVY to move?

Well i'll tell you... the next day got really cold and it snowed some more! Any snow that i had pushed around turned into ice and today it is still impossible to move. I'm ready to move south for the winter... or maybe for the rest of my life!

I am totally snowed in until the snow melts.

Yesterday Natalie cleaned my house. It's beautiful. She got in just fine. When she tried to get OUT of my driveway, she had problems. Picture this: Natalie shoveling some of the piled up ice/snow, put in my driveway by the snowplow... then backing up and driving in fast forward..... while i, holding onto my cane for stability on the ice, am watching for traffic and telling her when to go... and go fast!

This lasted what seemed like forever. Then Jack stepped out of his garage door. His dog caught his attention to see what was happening outside. I wave at him and we continue our efforts. He apparently left his hearing aid inside when he came out. FINALLY... i tell Natalie it's a go (no traffic coming around the curve)... she gooses the gas and whoopeee.... she's out at last!

Lesson learned. So Jack tells me not to hire somebody to shovel my drive. He will do it for me... BUT he only does it when his driveway needs shoveling too. Fine... but. His wife is out shopping. I am grounded. No more listening to him! I'm hiring the job done.

Love the Holidays?

New shelves i installed over the tv in my cozy newest living room. NOW i really really need a new tv stand - corner style in the same walnut wood tones as the shelves, futon and fireplace in here! I think it will be my 'after Christmas' gift to me.

Yes, the family living great room is decorated too. Fact is i have four Christmas trees around the house... the ceramic shown here; two pre-lighted small trees, one in front of fireplace and one in the greatroom near the wood burner, and my five foot fiber-optic tree in front of the window in greatroom! This is the first year i've actually FELT that Christmas joy in my heart since my life changed drastically more than four years ago.

The Week Began with Dear, Deer Visits

Started the week Monday with a visit from Linda...
As we were preparing breakfast, a doe and two young deer appeared under the 'wild' apple tree in the flats of my backyard! By the time i got my camera, the young ones were off into the adjacent cornfield but momma deer was still enjoying her apple appetizer! Here she is:

She looks pretty healthy, doesn't she? She should be! We grow the best corn-fed deer in Michigan!

Yesterday, Wednesday, i attended a RedHat extravaganza with Jacquie and Donna and met a new friend, Betty. The event included lunch at the Horizons Center and entertainment by Three Men and a Tenor. Have you ever seen these guys? They are amazing! We laughed so hard we cried!

Somehow i still didn't get my 50 daffodil bulbs planted. Today is overcast and supposed to be rainy... and expected to continue through the weekend. Maybe i can get them in today??? ... the last 'warm' day for awhile, expected to be in the '50s... and colder tomorrow, etc.

Better get started, eh?

Good Day...

Some days are better than others. This was a good one. i slept too long... awakened around 9:30 am. The house is comfortably clean. Extra Christmas decorations and emptied decoration boxes are put away. i set up the outdoor decorations that were knocked down by the horrendous winds we had Sunday. i know what needs to be purchased to finish Christmas shopping. i bought a few groceries today and got a rain check on a little tv i want to buy for the bonus room. We had a good dinner and enjoyed watching some favorite shows on tv tonight. My home is warm and cozy.

Life is good.

Yesterday..... Sunday

Busy busy day for this ol' broad! Weather warmed up to the 40's so all that snow on the decks loosened up enough to be pushed away. It wasn't windy so felt pretty comfortable with a coat on.

i cleared a section on the back deck... took about 20 minutes..... then took a break. Remembered to 'cool down' those upper muscles (the ones i used in pushing all that heavy wet snow). Repeated this method until most of the deck and all the stairs were cleaned off! The stairs are no longer lethal... not until the next freezing rain or snowfall anyway.

The cool downs really paid off because today i'm feeling pretty darned good! Also, shoveling wet heavy snow qualifies for some good, productive aerobic exercise and strength building, and 20 minute sessions are something i can handle.

Did a bit more holiday decorating and helped sister move her big chair into the 'bonus room' so she can enjoy her Christmas tree. That is the new room off from our bedrooms (created during my little renovation completion project two years ago). i've been encouraging her to use the bonus room as her living room ever since she moved in with me in July.

i'm more comfortable in my old 'lived in' living room and this gives each of us our own space. You would think i'd know my own sister but we've both learned a lot about each other in the past five months. i'm thinking our mom's 'too long' stay in hospital and rehab facility was instrumental in the learning process.

Sometimes our bad times together overpowered the adjustment period because we had the added conflict of getting to know each other again... adjusting to two women in one house..... AND having a 93 year old mother fighting a physical crisis.

First of all mom won! She is back home with our brother and his wife. All three of my sisters helped mom until she could do more things for herself, thus relieving our sister-in-law, who is (in my humble opinion) a saint for having mom there. Sis#2 spent two weeks living with them... having weekends off when the other two sisters relieved her. This week is the beginning of life back to 'normal' - whatever that is.

Today i want to finish holiday decorating... just touches here and there..... and put away the containers. Planned to go shopping but the wind is horrendous and weather cooling fast. I'm staying in the house. There's a whole week left to finish my shopping and i'm sure the sales will continue and if anything, get even better.

Beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Today i put up my tree... and my sis put hers up too! It's looking mighty pretty around here. Already had a few new decorations outdoors on front porch. Life is good and getting better. Will arrange a few more decorations tomorrow and that's enough.

Dear daughter cleaned (my monthly cleaning) and it sure feels good around here. She also brought up the boxes of decorations because i'm still having some pain and planned on doing less decorating because of it.

Winter Whites

Picnic anyone? This is the way my back deck looked a couple of days ago when i took this pic. It still looks that way today.

Michigan... gotta love it... either that or be a bit crazy, eh?

I thought they were dogs at first...

...then of course i knew! They are the foxes my neighbors have been watching from afar! They invited me over to watch them one evening... and they appeared 'way over near the river and we could barely see them!!! But this!!! This was great! They were in my backyard - a total of three..... and i was able to get 4 shots all together. The camera was set on macro & i had to use my telephoto so they're a bit grainy... but there they are! Aren't they beautiful?

Day 3...

...not really but got a thing going here! Had two graduation parties, a daughter visiting from California, and a 'moving away' potluck in the past few weeks and somehow managed to lose 8 pounds anyway. Now that's not bad at all, is it? I'm giving Sparkpeople.com loads of credit for this, coupled with the fact that 3 daughters & my grandson's fiance are members as well. Mostly two of the girls & i are currently very active there & that continual support, coupled with the free Sparkpeople tools, is a very very good thing. Check it out. You might like it!

I signed up for a daily motivational email that encourages the blogging portion of the program. This includes a quote & i'd like to share the quote from this morning here with you.

'There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as if everything is.'
Albert Einstein, physicist

My house has a deck that spans the entire back on the second level. The first level is a 'basement' - partially exposed with windows & doors from the ground up. It is a beautiful deck.
From the deck you can see my back yard. Beyond that is a field, farmed annually by a local farmer. Beyond that is a row of trees & the river. Although i can't see it i know the river is there. Somebody recently commented as he stood on my deck - 'This is a million dollar view.'
Funny, i never really looked at it that way. I've lived here all of my adult life & i guess i just took it for granted.

Recently i've learned to enjoy & appreciate this 'million dollar' view. I've had breakfast on the deck - in the morning before excessive heat takes over the day. I've sat for a while & listened to the sounds. Yes, there is traffic driving past my house but mostly they are hardly noticeable. Across the river is a state highway, but as it goes through town traffic must slow down.

What i hear is the birds... so many birds. They love the trees my husband & i planted throughout the past 47 years. We wanted to create a wild life haven. We did.
There are bunnies & chipmunks. An occasional frog from the nearby county ditch (we refer to as the creek) visits the little pond my husband created in the garden the year before he died. I see an occasional little garden snake... helping keep the grasses insect free. They rush away when i'm around, sometimes startling me as much as i startled them.

The yard is green even in the driest of seasons because it is more than grass... it is a neatly mowed meadow. When I mow there is a smell of clover & mint... and in the closer yard - the smell of lemon balm gone wild.

Yes, i am learning to enjoy, to appreciate this miracle... the beautiful natural habitat that grew with our love... right here in my own back yard. In this day of weed killers, insecticides & the chemically perfect yard, my backyard is truly a miracle.

Now I know...

...the best reason to TIVO Letterman! Today I played two nights of David Letterman Latenight while folding laundry and other mundane tasks around the house - without zapping through the commercials. I would guesstimate that at least a half hour of each hour is commercials. If I tried watching it real time I'd probably fall asleep during the first set of commercials.

Hey kids! Go visit Foggybloggy - and don't forget to leave a message. She blogs more regularly than any of us. Go, Patti!!!

Not a Diet...

...it's a lifestyle change; first time since the biggy when the husband left his earthly body. Here's the plan:

• Count calories - only thing that ever worked for me. Found a great place on line that does it all for you. It's called My Calorie Counter and my blog & journal is here. It keeps track of calories (input and output) and charts your progress! You don't have to show all that info but it works for me so I do! It helps to have a buddy so if anybody wants to go it with me, join up and let me know!


• Use exercise equipment - formerly used for extra clothing storage and coatracks for company. Yes, I have a stationary bike and treadmill and will start using them every day. Might possibly make exceptions on days when I'm 'out and about.'


• Cook for myself and, in general, use the kind of recipes I used for Frank. Honest!!! We ate healthy, even when I didn't lose weight! I controlled the fats & used more veggies and fruits for balance. Since he's gone I've begun eating out again and eat more fats and less veggies and fruits. Looking at my daily food journal will definitely help accomplish this goal.


• Get a life! He died; I didn't. I know he doesn't want me to vegetate.

Had a break from cabin fever earlier this week. Went out for breakfast with Jack & Jacquie and the same day took mom out for dinner. It was a full day but yes... loads of fun! Good people, good food - what more can one ask for? I guess you might say it was the big binge that made me decide to try to get back to reality! No, not gonna stop going out... just plan to be more realistic with every day eating. I think I've been adjusting (or not) to my first time ever living alone by doing what lots of people do when they're 'on their own' for the first time. The difference is... I know better!

The kitty in the pic? No, I didn't acquire another!!! It's my mom's! Isn't she a beauty?

...and oh yes, Monday Madness - today mine shows up on Friday. OttO (Monday Madness) says, 'Sorry, folks! I'm running a bit late (again)! Hope all is well and you all have a wonderful week. Thanks for playing Monday Madness. The following 2 questions come from our friend, tricia... Thanks, Tricia, and thanks for the idea!'
1. Do you ever use all caps when typing online messages? no... I sometimes use caps on one word... sort of shouting on purpose. ;-)
2. Does it bother you when other people use all caps in their messages? not really because I don't think they know what it means.
3. Do you use abbreviations (i.e. lol, brb, etc.) when typing email messages or text messages? not usually because I don't know what most of them mean... but I DO use fyi and btw quite often. Does that mean I should have said yes?
4. Do you ever receive faxes or other correspondence from a professional office that are typed in all caps? If so, what do you think of that? actually, no.
5. Do you rely on the computer program to catch your typing errors, or do you proofread your material before sending it out? My spelling and grammar are actually pretty good so I usually ignore what my computer program corrects... unless it's a business letter or document. Most of my casual 'errors' are actually done on purpose. ;-)

Merry Christmas!!!

Last year I did not feed the birds in my backyard. Fortunately my neighbors had just built their new home next door and Jack feeds the birds faithfully. I think I was overwhelmed with my new position in life... and afraid to use the deck stairs in wintery snowy conditions. Earlier this year, when I was down with the 'creeeping crud' - I even considered giving all my bird seed to Jack!

Well Friday I finished Christmas shopping and while in town I bought four new feeders. Yesterday I loaded them up - moved my other 'shepherd's hook' from the garden and placed it with the other. Less than two hours later Mr. Squirrel arrived. He looked up and left... I guess he didn't figure he could get up there easily. He was pretty plump so I think he has easier targets in the neighborhood. Shortly after he left the chickadees began stopping in!

This morning - loads of birds!!! What a beautiful surprise on Christmas morning!
Merry Christmas!