A New Toy

I found this on Craigslist for $100.00 and then I found one for $50.00, I will have to check into it when I get home, they are both available. I have always wanted one, it makes perfect mulch in 14 days. They run $350.00 brand new, so whether I pay one hundred dollars or fifty, it will be a great deal. Can't wait to use it. One less thing for the boys to build for me. A great garden awaits me this year.

Happy Birthday Barry

My Big Bear will be 61 years old tomorrow. It's crazy, where did all the time go? We've had some life together, a great family, lots of fun times, wonderful vacations, grandchildren, graduations, and marriages-- and we've had some challenges, some sad times, hard times, successes and failures, heartbreaks and hearts bursting with joy. Well, you old man, we've hung in there together, through thick and thin, just you and me. I'm glad we did, it's been worth it. Thanks for the memories and here's to making more together. Happy Birthday Honey!

Homemade Lemon Curd

So good and so easy. Here's the recipe if you want to try it.

INGREDIENTS:

3/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon grated lemon zest
3/4 cup sugar
3 eggs
1/2 cup unsalted butter, cubed
DIRECTIONS:
In a 2 quart saucepan, combine lemon juice, lemon zest, sugar, eggs, and butter. Cook over medium-low heat until thick enough to hold marks from whisk, and first bubble appears on surface, about 6 minutes.

Takes about 16 minutes to make and makes 1 2/3 cups of curd. I made a double batch and put them in small jars.

Is Spring Time Near?

This is what I am working with, it will be my "before" picture.

Last night I was saying goodbye to Brandon and heard "honking" I looked around and then up and saw a flock of ducks/geese flying. They were going northeast. Do they migrate? Are they returning from wintering in the south? I think maybe so. Spring must be right around the corner.

Which causes me to "spring" into action, as much as I can, with my cold. I am going to try to weed the garden and get it ready for planting. The rain has really done a number on my yard. It's green alright, but mostly really healthy weeds. Yuck!

It's a perfect day to work in the yard, sunny, yet cool. Now I just need to get myself going!

Kadence's 2nd Birthday Party

Wow Wow Wubbzie cake made by gramma and Jess
Ethan and Emma take a break

Jess and Harley enjoyed the party too.

Emma and Jess, two pretty girls

Max "somehow" got the bow right on Wubbzie!

Pin the bow on Wubbzie

Party guest, baby Abby

Kadence batting Wubbzie pinata

Max took Wubbzie down

She loved the whole party

Ring toss on the candle cake

Ethan putting his bow on Wubbzie

Max holding Abby, he was so sweet with her.

It was so fun to celebrate Kadence's birthday. It was much more low key than last year. The cousins had a blast playing together and they were all sent home exhausted from a severe sugar high.

Thank You God

Today I was sitting outside, not feeling like myself, and God sent a little flock of yellow finches my way. Thank you God for thinking of me and knowing what I needed. They made me smile.

For Amanda ~ Holiday Traditions

As I told Amanda, I remember the very day I realized you could extend the holidays so that you were celebrating continuously all year. So since I missed New Year's and Valentine's Day, I will tell you what I did for those days too.

New Year's Eve: Kids stayed up and banged pots and pans along with the neighbor kids. Can't remember much else, hope that doesn't mean I was a drinker (LOL).

Valentine's Day- It was always fun to go to the store and let each kid pick out their own valentine's to be addressed to the class. The boys didn't like doing this that much, I remember writing their names for them on the backs of the cards. It was always fun when they came home from school with their little sacks of valentines. I even have fond memories of myself as a child doing that. Anyways, valentines were always strewn about and the candy eaten.

As time went on and I grew as a mother I did more things, pink milk, pink pannycakes with sprinkles, parties at school and the making of sugar cookies, even matching homemade shirts for Jess and a friend. Now I make holiday pillowcases for my G-kids.

Always, always there were decorations and they were left till the next month, the next holiday.

If my kids remember anything else I/we did or which will be more likely the case, if I need corrected, please post. Thanks

I Love a Holiday

The next one coming up is St. Patrick's Day. Do you do anything special to celebrate? I always make corned beef and cabbage. Put green food coloring in everything from the milk to the toilet water. Make elf visits to the little ones, sprinkling green sugar trails and leaving a little pot of treats (sorry kids, elf couldn't do it last year, but will for sure this time). You have to get up early to be an elf. Sugar cookies have been done in the past and an elf trap at times were made by kindergartners. We always wear green and decorate the house. I put out the holiday books and we read about elfin magic.

Share your family traditions and if you don't have any, use some of mine and make it a fun holiday for the kids, you'll enjoy it more too.

Write me if you want a recipe!

Grandma Pat ~ Post Op

A little update:

Grandma has had good days and some that were not so good, but she continually getting stronger and her body is adjusting really well. She is finally unable to keep herself awake and talking all day and night. Brandon just told me she slept for 3 hrs one time and 2 another. She is afraid to sleep, afraid she won't wake up. She feels so much better when she does though. She refuses the sleeping/relaxation meds. It must be so scary to be in her situation though. She doesn't want to be left alone and hasn't been, not for one second. It's been best that way, I can see that. Anyway, she is doing her breathing exercises, walking, eating, pooping...generally all that she needs to do in order to get better and get home. She was back to her old self pretty quickly after surgery, telling everyone how it was going to be and pretty much that's how it's gone. The boys have some good stories to tell, actually keeping a little list and will post it soon. Everyone is really relieved to have this behind her and to now help her recover and spend the next 20, 30 years with us.

She is going to be coming to my house for a couple of weeks. We were going to go to her house, but I don't feel comfortable down in the canyon, far from help if needed. Andy moved out so we have an extra room and Dustin is bringing a bed and tv for her. She will have a home nurse visit every day, I'm glad of that. She shouldn't have any dressings, but i will be glad for someone to ck her out each day. I can take her temp and feed her but the heart does scare me. So it's good to be close to emergency services and hospital. I think she may be released, if everything continues the way it has, probably Tues or Wed.

I must say she has had the best care from all of her medical team and the most loving family and friends...a steady stream and I am not exaggerating, who love this women. We are most grateful to all of those who have extended her life and shown care and concern for her. We can't imagine life without her. I am grateful to God for this is a marvelous blessing.

Me, Grandma, and Brandon

Grandma, Sister Bunny, Brandon and Chris her CNA getting her up and walking

Cardio surgical RN Cathy telling us about after home care. Dustin is covering his nose due to the cuckoo behind the curtain...I'll let you just assume the reason for the covered nose, not pretty. We moved rooms soon after, for the 2nd time.
Elaine visiting. Look at the pic of grandma on the bed behind Elaine. Jess brought it from home so everyone could see what her gramma really looks like and she gave her the rose. The teddy bear is what she hugs when she coughs to take some pressure off of her chest.
Jess and Nikki visiting Grandma. The girl's gramma's are best friends and they didn't know it for years until Nikki was saying that her gramma's friend Pat bought her some bedroom furniture and then Pat mentioned that she bought her friend's grand-daughter some furniture...anyway, 2 + 2 and they put it together. For years the girls were talking about Pat not realizing it was the same one.

Andy taking a turn at watching over Gramma.

Grandma and Physical Therapist, Jenessa. Walking around just a day after surgery.

Grandma Pat

Most of you know that Pat went into the hospital with chest pains early Sunday morning. They found she had had a mild heart attack but wanted to do more testing. In doing so they found she needed a valve replacement and two bypasses. One being 99% clogged. So after she postponed surgery one day, it was finally performed today and she came through it with flying colors. Surgery took approx. 6hrs, she was on a heart, lung bypass machine...completely keeping her alive. Just amazing that these types of surgeries are available and routine now days. We are grateful she had a good doctor and surgical team, which she liked and felt comfortable with.
She had the support of family and friends who love and care for her. I must say, she is such a lucky woman to have so many grandchildren who love her as much as they do. My boys hardly left the hospital and Dustin stayed overnight several times sleeping in a chair or the chapel to be close by if she needed him.
This has added many, many years to her life. She is on the nicotine patch and hopefully won't go back to smoking. We are thankful everything has gone so well so far.
I'll post updates as they come.

Things I Need The Boys To Make For Me~ASAP

My Treehouse
A chicken coup, I found chickens on Craigslist, 6 for $20.00

Raised Garden Beds

My Mulch Maker

You know who you are and when can you get started??

Southern California Weather

Boy is it beautiful out. I have been couped up with my cold and computer work for most of the week. I can't believe how beautiful it is, blue skies, warm sun, mild breeze. It looks like spring, even my apple tree is confused, it has blossoms on it already. I wish I felt better I would go out and start digging up my garden area. Today is the 5th day of my cold and I have the predicted cold sore now. I should look especially lovely as I deliver my talk on Sunday. Chapped and chaffed nose and now the dreaded cold sore, luckily I have Abreva, miracle drug for cold sores. I finished the talk and feel the weight of the world (an exaggeration, for sure, maybe the weight of my van) lifted. Good feeling, glad to be asked actually. It forces study and learning.

Anyway, I am grateful for the weather, for apple blossoms and a finished talk.

Stuffy, Fever, Achey Feeling

I got sick again, third time since last September! It started off not too bad, in fact, I spent a quiet weekend reading and watching t.v., kinda a nice break. But now it's not better, my nose is raw, I will be getting a cold sore or two any minute now, and I have a really busy week ahead, so I just need it to be over already. I am babysitting Kadence, teaching a class on Wednesday to the young women at church, and giving a talk on Sunday, which I need to research and put it together. Ugh! I am going to will myself better by going on with life as though I were well, plus, medicating myself up. An aside, don't take Sudafed in the evening, I was up till 4 am wide awake.

I am going to google, runny noses, where does it all come from? Don't you want to know?

They Did It, The Deck Is Done!

Kadence was there every step of the way, she sure spent a lot of fun times with Gramma Bee

Barry and I were amazed at the beautiful job the boys did, really first rate. It's going to out last all of us.

Gramma and her crew, check out that custom deck, they completely redesigned it and made it more functional.

Many weekends were given by these hard working guys.

By the way Jess, Cheri and I helped paint all those boards!

Now everyone has a list of things they want the boys to do.

We really think they can do anything and do it well.