A Rainy Good Friday Morning...

 

Mmmmmmmm.....

BBQ season is here again! Pork chops, garlic mashed potatoes and corn....I am in heaven, and Claire actually ate!

OOOPPPPPSSSSS......

It was announced at church yesturday that someones mother had passed away. On going to visit the family the pastor found that she was indeed alive! She is elderly and near death apparently, BUT, for now....she is still with us!

It's that time again.....

Time for the sugar fest! Nanny came over on Saturday afternoon to decorate eggs. Claire managed to do four in the time Nanny and I did one each. We then ate Nanny's egg. They taste just like Cadbury Easter Cream Eggs. If you want the recipe, go to The Walsh Family link on my sidebar, and I think it's in the first month of her archives. It was a great afternoon of fun!!! 

4:41 on a wednesday....

Sam is passed out on the couch. That of couse means that the night will be a late one. This seems to happen on pre-school days. He is tired from all of the stimulation, then he plays hard outside in the fresh air, and as soon as he comes in he needs to find a place to rest his head.

The others are all at the dentist, so I packed them some supper for when they are done as Daniel's appt is not 'til 5:20.

I guess I'll just have a bowl of soup for supper.

Do you ever feel lonely when surrounded by people? Strange how that is. It's even worse when I have not seen someone for ages, get to spend a few minutes with them, then can't get them out of my head for days. that's how I'm feeling right now!

I gave my back yard neighbor Claire's old bike. Hardly ever used but she has outgrown it. I wanted nothing for it as she had received a beautiful new one for her last birthday. Of course she won't ride that either. Anyway, the neighbor brought over the most beautiful little bird bath/feeder as a thank you. I was blown away.

Michael's art and craft store has their grand opening here tomorrow. I plan to get out and get some good deals.

Someone placed three cake orders today for the next couple of weeks. Not sure my hands will be up for it, but we will give it a go.

Evita opens here at Neptune on the 18th. Can't wait to go see it. Hud is not into musicals so I'm going to go with my brother. He loves live theatre as much as I do.

I am hosting a baby shower here on Sunday afternoon. It's an open invitation, so I have no idea how many people will show up. I have a menu sort of planned but I'm hoping it will be enough food. I guess I'll pick up some extras from m&m's just in case.

Well that's my mind on this wednesday afternoon......

We're back.....

After a fabulous weekend away, we are back, energized, bonded and a little bit more familiar with each others lives. The conference actually ended up being rather small, but we all learned alot and came home with some fresh ideas, and a new enthusiasm.

On Friday night we got to Houlton in time to check in and drive around looking for a chinese restaurant. We ordered food as we would here, and were shocked at how much they brought us. We were embarrassed by how much we left behind. We went back to our rooms and hung out talking for the rest of the night, none of us sleeping all that well, learning more about our husbands and each others lives than you can imagine.

Saturday stared for us at 4:45 as all three of us in our room were awake. We showered in turn, and Kylie and I ran off to Tim's to get coffee for everyone. We then went to the conference where we spent the day. Once that was over, we went to Walmart, each loading up on things we don't have in Canada like Toll House chocolate chips. I have cookies in the oven now much to the delight of my family.

When we were done our shopping we came back across the border, and hunkered down at the cottages of the Holiday Inn. We had a great evening of facials, and the like, great food and many more laughs. It was a wonderful time of getting to know interesting things about one another. In the morning only Rosa got the privelege of having a hot shower so we got breakfast for free.

We made the trek home on Sunday, laughing much of the way, anxious to get a good nights sleep in our own beds but with a sense that friendships were deepened and relationships built.

It was good to do "normal" things today, although I must admit that I am tired and am looking forward to an early night tonight. 

It's Thursday!

More gardening today
Bone Density scan today
Physio in half an hour
Tired children
Still need to pack
livingroom smells so fresh as I washed the curtains and hung them out to dry
Claires bedroom stripped and out on the line
her room will smell as good as the livingroom
Cranky children
no one wants to do homework
I leave in 19 hours and counting
I look forward to the break
I'll worry about my kids
I hope they let me cross the border without a passport
I'm past thriteen and I'm hyper......

Tuesday tidbits....

It's after supper on Tuesday evening, and I am getting ready to head out to a stamping party. The last few days seem to have flown by. The weather has been fabulous so I have been cleaning out the garden beds, excited with all of the new growth I am uncovering. One of the neighbors a few doors down seems to have trouble remembering to tie her garbage bags so, as it has been windy the last day or so, my gardens end up full of her crap. We clean it out and then it happens again.

A friend is having a hard time right now with some news recently received and I wish I could do more to help. Sometimes it is enough to sit and listen, but distance makes that hard. E-mailing back and forth when time permits is something but not so personal.

I am heading to Maine on Friday with a few other girls to attend a Mothers of Preschoolers conference, and we decided that we would stay an extra night and rent a cottage on our way home. No need to push ourselves driving late into the night on Saturday!

I am on some drugs for the pain in my wrists, and numbing in my hands, and one of the side effects is sensitivity to the sun. I guess I should have heeded the warning! I look like a lobster. It seems to be strong stuff that can cause stomach ulcers so if I start vomiting up what looks like coffee grounds, I am to go for help. I start with physio on Thursday, and although it's not my knees this time, I'm not sure how I'll handle Jeff fondeling my hands.......

I am in search of the perfect kitchen door. I know what I want but as yet have not found it.

I have finished the book for bookclub already. I did it in two days. I loved it. Girl With a Pearl Earring is a very good read.

Glorious.....

Sitting on the front porch early this morning, basking in the warmth of the sun, enjoying a cup of Earl, listening to the birds sing and smelling the wet earth, and seeing the green shoots making their way up from their slumber. Spring is here, and although the rooftops acrss the road were covered in frost, my yard was warm and comforting.....

It's Wednesday...

Today is World Water Day. Take a moment to appreciate how blessed we are to have free flowing clean water, and consider how much we take it for granted!

Last night was my book club. They read The In-between World of Vikram Lall. I got to about page three. It sounds like a great book, but I didn't sit down to read it until two nights before we were to meet. They had a great discussion, we ate great food, and when the discussion was over, we all tried belly dancing! Each of us in turn had to run for the bathroom as we were laughing so hard that we were wetting ourselves. Next month we are to read The Girl With The Pearl Earring.

The garden is coming to life more everyday,
and I am getting anxious more and more each day wanting to get in and mess around. Today is cold and damp, so I guess I'll stick to laundry and floors..... There is never an end to the jobs!

The kids are settling back into school nicely and it feels good to be in a regular routine again.

WHY???

Would someone at a nursing home give a granny 5 pills to aid with constipation before she heads out for an afternoon with family not even mentioning that it had been done? The poor woman who walks none too quickly with the aid of a walker gets hit with the cramps from hell and can only call for us to help her get to the bathroom not quite in time. No supplies, no warning, no nothing, only grandmother saying she had been given some pills! I pity the person who sees mother first on the return to the nursing home!!!

I also learned something today. I have a nasty gag reflex now when it comes to helping someone in the bathroom. I guess now that my kids are out of diapers my ability to handle the unpleasant things of life has been compromised.

From our house to yours...HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!!!!!

the girl who won't eat anything was willing to eat green pizza!

Sam of course is always willing to eat as his tummy is always telling him that he is hungry...

and of course we can't forget Daniel....

nor can we forget about dessert!

My funny son....

As one of our activities this week, we decided to take all of the kids to the Art gallery. They had all sorts of things for the kids to do, and we also figured that a little culture wouldn't hurt them. We are walking through the gallery and are in the Christopher Pratt exibit. Sam gets a little ahead of me which is never good, and next thing I hear is him saying, "that looks like my mom" All of the kids are laughing and people leaving the exibit are smiling. I look where the kids are looking and I see this....












Well, to say I was embarassed would be a major understatement, but what could I do? I'm not so sure that I really stand around with my hands on my hips while naked but anyway. We quickly moved on to the Maud Lewis exibit. Of course, we had to pass through the Pratt exibit again to get out, and as we walk through one of Karen's kids pipes up"there's Alison".......

So cultured we are. They did seem to enjoy the rest of the gallery and they got to paint their own Tom Thompson inspired art. We left with dripping creations and delivered them to Grandmother before heading home to the silence...

And so it goes....

On Friday my little sister lost her baby. She woke in the night to her water breaking, far too early, and the wee heart was born. It has been a hard time for her and Pernell and the kids. Although we are not so very close, it is still hard to know that she is hurting and that there is nothing I can do to rectify the situation. I have often caused her emotional pain and even the occasional physical pain (she will happily show you the scars), but it hurts me that I can't fix this. I am thankful that she is surrounded by such a wonderful community of friends and family that can help her to get through this. She has such a good outlook and wrote beautifully of her feelings just the other day. Ok, so I just read her blog again and she is venting. The second post down is her beautiful piece.

As far as our family goes, we are in the middle of spring break. Karen and her kids came in to the city on Sunday and we spent the last few days taking in as many activities as we could. They just left this afternoon, and the house seems so empty and lonely.

CLAIRE ATE SUPPER!!!!!!!!

Thank you...

to all of you who have expressed such care and concern for me here and via e-mail. Although we have never met, it is wonderful to know that we can be such a support to one another.

The visit today was a good one. She apologized for the incompetance of her receptionist who, when I was told everything was fine was reading the other Alison Someone's chart. My results were not normal. In six months I go back again, and then I am likely going to have to see a specialist. There is no real reason for the results to be so consistantly good and then bad then good again. I thus far have no sign of cancer which is wonderful news. We are thrilled and very thankful about that!!!! I do still have however bits where bits should not be.

As far as the numbness in my hands, and pain in my wrists, it is not Carpel Tunnel, rather a problem with the tendon or some such thing. I of course get to go to physio again. She has also given me an anti-inflammatory to try and if that works then I will be all set.

It's sunny again, although a little cooler but we are now off biking again.

Spring has sprung...

...for now anyway. Sam and I spent the whole day outside except for lunch. We both ended up with sunburned cheeks, and I'm quite sure Sam has added a few more freckles. Sam ended up falling asleep at quarter past six tonight, no doubt from all of the fresh air and exercise.

Grandmother is now in a nursing home and although it's not the Ritz, it's a warm and welcoming place. All of the staff seem fabulous, and she seems happy. Since being in the hospital she has managed to gain 5 lbs bringing her up to the grand weight of 69lbs. Her roomate is blind and very quiet. She seems to get herself parked in front of grandmother thereby blocking Grandmother from moving her walker and getting out of her chair. Something they will work out I'm sure.

My doctors appointment is tomorrow and we shall see what the story is with this body of mine.

Hope everyone is enjoying a fabulous week........

freezing cold x many days + a lake = a happy family on skates!!!!!

it's about time.....we spent the afternoon skating on the lovely bumpiness of the lake and now we are in trying to get warm.

for those that want it....

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

Mix the following until smooth in a large bowl:

4 eggs

2 C sugar

16 oz pumpkin

1.5 C vegetable oil

Combine and add to above mixture, mixing well:

3 C flour

2tsp baking soda

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp salt

Fold in 2.5 C chocolate chips

Fill greased muffin cups 3/4 full

Bake at 400 degrees for 16-20 mins

Cool for 10 mins in pan before removing to wire rack

Thirteen Things about Alison

1) I made pumpkin chocolate chip muffins today
2) I got distracted, they got overcooked..they are still edible, just a little dark
3) It's cold again today
4) I had a phone call from a friend who I have not talked to in two years the other day
5) It's crazy to connect after all that time. Neither of us have changed much. Our kids have just gotten older
6) Not sure what to make for supper
7) Alot of days are like that
8) Tuesday was easy as it was pancake day
9) The litter box needs changing
10) Sam is Spiderman again today, and when he disrobes, he will be Peter Parker
11) I drove for Daniel's field trip yesturday to the middle school where he will go in two years. They were putting on the musical Aladin. They did a fabulous job
12) Report cards came out last week. Both kids did really well
13) March Break is coming fast, the kids are excited as we will spend four days with the valley friends


Links to other Thursday Thirteens!
1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)
Better Safe Than Sorry

Leslie

Cori

TNCHICK

Mama B

eph2810

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Wordless Wednesday...

A hot pile of sheets fresh from the dryer and a tired Sam....

 

HAPPY PANCAKE TUESDAY

It's monday.....

What a whirlwind weekend! Well not really but it seemed crazy. Daniel went to the Valley on friday night until Sunday. Saturday we hung around here piddling at this and that. Sam and I got into wrestling. When I had enough I stepped aside and went on to my next activity. Sam decided to tackle the dog. The dog who has a very sensitive hind end whipped around and left small bite marks on Sam's face surrounding his eye. He didn't growl, instead he yelped in pain. For this reason the vet said he did not need to be put down. He was being defensive not aggresive. We are happy with this, but things are changing around here. The dog will remain in the kitchen and we are having a trainer come into our home to work wth us and Jake.

We had a friend in on Saturday night and he and I cooked Taiwanese and Korean food. He then entertained us at the piano, while the kids danced all over the place.

Sunday came and went as Sundays always do. Daniel returned home safe and sound, and the three kids decided to camp in the family room for the night as they didn't have school today.

I took Samea for groceries this morning, then spent a couple of hours with grandmother. She was in great spirits and shared many MANY sories from years long ago. I'm so glad that I am able to spend this time with her. She ate a huge lunch, and I left her with the anticipation of gardening in pots for their afternoon life activities.....

Thanks to all of you who have been checking in. I'm doing fine, just have not had much to say.

Anxiety here we come...

So all those tests I had a while ago that I thought were normal are not so much. I called a while ago and was told that they were fine. I got a call today from the office to say that I need to come in to discuss the results. I told her that I had called and been told that if there was a problem I would have been notified. She said well....they have just come back and you need to come in. I'm going out of my tree. My appointment is for the 8th of march. That's two weeks away. I even made Hud call to see if he could find out anymore but she couldn't tell him anything.

I can't wait to find out who I talked to previously. Here I was thinking all was well and really it is not. I need to get a grip but suspense and I are not the best of friends!

Monday come and gone....

The day is winding to a close and nothing shocking has happened. I suppose I should be thankful.

I had a moms group meeting this morning as Samea was not up for groceries, then I went and spent some time with Grandmother. They have moved her to a restorative care unit at another hospital where they actually get her up and dressed and have activities and things. Daniel and I went on the weekend and she kept calling him Robert. This is not anything new but he has decided that to her he is Robert and that's that.

Had a chance to talk to a couple of friends today which was really nice. One I talk to almost everyday, the other not nearly that often. Either way, it was good to connect.

Supper is over and cleaned up and I'm now sitting while Daniel gives me a massage, and corrects my grammar. He is quite distressed that I don't indent my paragraphs!

We got more snow today and although it wasn't reams, it was enough to cover the brown dirty ground and add sparkle to the air. I'm almost inclined to say it's beginning to look a lot like christmas....

Well...that was fun

We had a huge wind and rain storm last night. I don't prefer the wind. It sort of frightens me. A good breeze to dry my sheets I can handle but "damaging winds" I don't get into. I had just finished talking to Ffamily of Five when boom, out go the lights. I had only moments before told her it sounded as though my house was being torn apart. I was downstairs in the family room and the kids were all upstairs on the other levels. Hud of course was at work. I stumble up in the pitch black trying not to trip on cats and dog and got to the kitchen where Daniel met me and we lit all the candles. Aside from enjoying the main floor looking pretty, I was anxious. Tracey from next door came over with glow sticks for the kids and they promptly went down to the family room to make a huge fort. After an hour of such entertainment we all blew out the candles and went up to my bed where we all tucked in and I read to everyone. Of course the wind sounded even louder upstairs and I was freaked. One by one the kids decided that they were heading to their own beds. I was pushing the safety in numbers card and no one was biting! Around ten o'clock the lights came back on so I watched the news. Soon after Hud came home so I was able to sleep somewhat peacefully. It's still windy but not like last night.

I want to leave you with the most hilarious commercial I have seen in a long time.....http://www.becel.ca/brokenescalator I tried to post it right to my blog but Castpost is down again....both the tv commercial and the directors cut are great!

It's Thursday...

and I don't have thirteen things to say today. (Believe it or not....)

Hud was helping Sam get ready to go outside the other day, and Sam was asking for something. Hud said just a sec. Sam asked again. Hud said give me two secs. Sam replied Dad, do you need lots and lots of secs? We couldn't stop laughing and of course Sam had absolutely no idea why we found it so very funny.

The weather is so spring like again today, everything is melting fast. I have some windows open trying to freshen up the house. I almost think I should hang the sheets and towels out. I am itching to get gardening. We are thinking about redesigning our front porch so that the steps come down on an angle. If we do that, then the gardens will need to be adjusted but it would look 110% better.

Grandmother is as fiesty as ever but becoming increasingly confused. I have not been in to see her since monday as I have a cold. I talked to her on the phone last night and she was talking about the fisheries and all sorts of other non-related things. So sad seeing her lose herself.

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

Other wordless wednesday-ers....

Crazie Queen

MamaB

HAPPY LOVE DAY

Nothing much....

Things are pretty mellow here after the weekend away. Spent some time with grandmother this afternoon. She was angry with me because she thought I was keeping her daughter from coming in to see her. She was sure she had seen her pass by in the hall. She gave me a good tongue lashing, and so the nurse changed the subject and convinced her to let her wash her hair. She made the nurse understand in no uncertain terms that she was not to cut the hair, only wash it, and for heavens sake, she mustn't get the pillow wet. Grandmother fell asleep during the hairwashing and I slipped out.

Hud is out tonight same as every monday night for floor hockey. I think I'm going to tuck the kids in early and head to the tub with my new book. Perhaps I will relax so much myself I'll fall asleep in the tub and wake up frozen solid!

Claire and Sam thrilled with the fact that they can "walk on water". Pretty cool huh mom?!? 

As far as the eye could see there were huge chunks of ice that the ocean had heaved up on shore. Hard to believe that it is the same beach that we run up and down in the summer.... 

An eagle devouring one of the casualties of the tides. There have been lots of baby seals washing up on shores all over, not strong enough to survive. 

The frozen ocean this weekend at camp. 

The snow fort made by Tracey and the kids in the front yard during and after the last big storm. 

Thirteen Things about Alison

1) Grandmother is still in the hospital

2) They now say she has a fractured pelvis

3) Yesturday she was so confused she thought that the hospital was the train station

4) I'm taking Claire in today so they will all have seen her before she fades anymore

5) We head to camp tomorrow for the weekend

6) I have tons to do today to get ready to go

7) I was given a Kitchen Aid mixer for my birthday by my birthmom and brother and grandmother.

8) It does mighty fast work of kneading bread dough

9) Saw someone the other day that we have not seen in a couple of years

10) My brothers girlfriend has joined me in the card making addiction

11) I'm getting excited about new garden plans and other outdoor projects

12) I still miss my best friend desperately

13) I have another headache....



Links to other Thursday Thirteens!
1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

Better Safe Than Sorry

Ramblings of a Transplanted Frog

Mar

Kimmy and Jacob

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Well then.....

The last few days have been an absolute blur! For those that were wondering, yes it was indeed my birthday on Sunday. Saturday Hud was on a football field all day and Karen and the family came up from the Valley so we could exchange kids and have a birthday supper together. We ordered in Chinese food and we had cake and all. Thanks to everyone who has been asking where I have gone....

Sunday we were to have dinner at my birthmom's house. Upon arriving we learn that Grandmother had fallen getting ready to come to the party. My birth mom had found her on the bedroom floor when she went to get her. Ambulance trip to the emergency center near her home. They say she fractured her hip. Ambulance ride to the hospital in town. They say no fracture but they want to keep her. Large man enters emerg, grandmother gets booted from cubicle to hallway. Birth mom left at 1:30 am, grandmother still in hall. I get there at noon on Monday as I had to go to the moms group and show the ladies their craft instructions for the day. Grandmother still in hall all alone. Mother and aunt and two cousins have gone to get her some lunch. They returned and then fed her and then left to get some rest. Both mother and aunt are sick. I told her that I would stay with her 'til they took her upstairs.

Four in the afternoon and we are still waiting. Ten minutes the nurse says. Finally they call over the speaker they need the patient in the hall transferred. No one came. Next call they came and up we went. They settled her and I waited in the hall and was joined by my birthmom again. We then went in to her and just caught supper. She ate like crazy. She hadn't really had anything other than soup since breakfast the day before. When she was done eating she was quite sure it was time to go home. When we told her she couldn't go home she got annoyed with us. She tried to get off the bed, demanded her keys etc. She does not realize that she will never go home again. She has had incident after incident and has been waiting on the nursing home list for five months.

I finally decided at 7 pm that I needed to go home to my family. I kissed her goodbye and as I was putting on my coat she asked what would happen if she expired while I was gone. I told her that I would miss her very much and that I would want her to go knowing how much I loved her and then I left. I think that was the hardest thing I have ever done.

Sam and I went in this morning to find that she had had a rough night and when she woke had been calling for Wendy. Everyone was asking if I was Wendy and I kept saying no. I'm the grandaughter. She had been trying to climb out between the rails on the bed. She was angry with everyone. I was taken out by the social workers who wanted to know if her confusion etc was a regular thing or a result of the fall. Sadly that's grandmother. They agree she cannot go home. Ever. Thankfully. We stayed for awhile, watched her walk with the physiotherapist and then tucked her back into her chair in time for lunch. I'll go again tomorrow, I'll go as long as I need to, as long as she is with us.

Thirteen Things about ALISON 1) The storm is over 2) I moved the van today only to find another driveway worth of snow underneath 3) While driving Hubby to work noticed the van started shaking 4) Perhaps there is too much snow stuck in around stuff and it's causing problems 5) I hope it's better tomorrow as I am supposed to drive to the valley for a visit because the kids have no school 6) We finally got snow so we were set to hit Martock this weekend but it is supposed to rain on Saturday 7) Sam is snoring away on the couch so I need to get the neighbor to watch for Claire after school 8) I have no idea what to cook for supper 9) Daniel has an orthodontist appointment this afternoon 10) I have looked into going back to school but it's a little scary 11) I'm not sure I could juggle the house, kids and school 12) I miss my best friend desperately 13) I'm heading to book club tonight Links to other Thursday Thirteens!1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!) Leslie Better Safe Than Sorry

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Well....

I asked for snow and BOY did I get snow! Who even knows the accumulation at this point, and we are supposed to get another 15-20cms by the end of it today. Everything is shut down in Halifax as the wind is sooo strong we are under a blizzard warning, and the RCMP are asking people to stay off the roads. Of course having a husband who is incapacitated is just perfect on a day like today with huge amounts of shovelling to do. I have made it from the front door to the driveway so far and am now in enjoying a cup of tea. The driveway will get done a bit at a time, and that's that. The kids are soo excited although with the wind it's not quite as enjoyable. A perfect day for fort making, movie watching and popcorn eating.

I'd post some pics, but the memory stick is missing from the camera.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU Colin and Tracey from next door who helped me dig out. Amazing how fast a snowblower and an extra set of hands makes a big job go.