'Tis the Season

All around I see that Christmas is coming quickly. I’m not decorating, but I’m doing other things. With my husband’s help, the cookies are getting done – five kinds, so far. Today, I’m making a salted caramel one – new for me. I’ll still make a variety, but not as many in each kind. My gift list of cookie baskets has diminished, so I don’t need as many. When I finish, I’ll try to remember to post a photo.

No decorations, but I still need to do a card. I have an idea in mind, but I need to execute it! Otherwise, I’ll just do a computer one. In the cards, I’ll add a note with our new address. Many people don’t even know we’re moving! I should do a little newsletter, also, to let our friends from afar know about my husband’s illnesses. Time will determine that move.

No decorations, but we still do gifts. It’s mostly for the little ones, but we do a family Pollyanna, too. Then, I need something for my son’s girlfriend. She doesn’t want to be in the Pollyanna, so it means a separate gift, and she doesn’t like gift cards. I’ll probably get her some art supplies. I have a list for the boys – now, I just have to get it all!

No decorations, but we still visit. We’ll be seeing my husband’s family on the 21^st, and I’m looking forward to it. We’re also going to get our first look at the new house. We’ll have my sister here over Christmas, and my nephew will come for Christmas day. I’m hoping to have another family dinner, too.

So, the season is definitely here, but I try to keep my inner self in a peaceful mode, remembering why we celebrate. My Advent meditations help me with that. I also sneak in a prayer that my feet and legs will heal. I hope it’s something simple.

Hope you’re starting to get in the mood, too.

Peace,

Muff

Thanksgiving Leftovers

Our Thanksgiving – the last in this house -- went well.  All the foods that I had frozen came out to thaw, and my children helped with preparing everything else. One son worked on the turkey, potatoes, and gravy. The other made fresh veggies. My daughter made her pear-cranberry relish. I had two stuffings, green bean casserole, cole slaw, and two pies – apple and pumpkin. I made three breads – pumpkin, pumpkin cranberry, and pumpkin pecan. I missed Thanksgiving last year because I was staying at the hospital with my mother as she was passing away. Then the kids took my recipes and handled the meal. So, this year was somewhat bittersweet. My mom reminded us that she was still with us in spirit when I forgot to put out the cole slaw. She always forgot one item.

I never did Black Friday, so I just watched all the crazies on TV. Cyber Monday is another thing…Most of the long weekend was spent relaxing, reading, and watching my husband enjoy football – maybe four games a day! We’re also making cookies together – he has become my hands. So far we’ve made four kinds and quick froze them. Today we’ll make two more kinds. We also have to get back to packing/tossing. I’m not decorating for Christmas this year – it would be crazy with the move looming over us. I will miss seeing the house all aglow, though.

This afternoon/evening I’ll be alone. My husband wants to get back to his little job, and I’ll have to fend for myself. I’m a little scared, but I’ll try. The worst part is getting into the bathroom, but I think I can manage. I’ll have my cell phone and life-alert button. Fingers crossed…

I finally decided to see my doctor about my swollen legs. Blistering has started, and I don’t know what it means. If I get an appointment this week, I’m hoping he can fix me quickly. I just don’t want to be hospitalized, though. I have a premonition that such a move would not end well.

I hope everyone enjoyed his/her holiday and you’re looking forward to Christmas,

Peace,

Muff 

Prep Day

I finished several dishes for tomorrow, and everyone is helping. So,I’m resting today.

Is There a Normal?

What is normal? For me, it’s a changeable entity. When we first started this roller coaster ride, I wasn’t doing that badly, and I only viewed a swift decline in the distant future. Now, I’m not doing that well, and I realize that a decline can be close at hand.

I have so much trouble with steps that I was moved to living on the first floor. A twin bed was set up in the family room, and the powder room was turned into an accessible bathroom. Then, I just couldn’t sleep on the bed, so I moved to sleeping in an armchair. Huge mistake! My feet and legs have swelled so much. I also don’t walk enough anymore. I’m moved from chair to wheelchair and back. I need to start getting up and walking more. I know I can’t do it all at once, but every day, I try to do a little more.

At the height of my husband’s illness, my boys took turns staying at the house. In the middle of the night, I’d call them on their cells, and they’d come down to help me. No complaints were ever made – they were so giving and caring. Now, my husband and I are trying it alone, and we’re making it work.

I don’t want all of this to be my new normal. I need to try and get better. It will help me both physically and mentally. When I accomplish something, the frustration and sadness go away. 

On a side note, for those of you who knew Herrad Ford, she passed away last week. It’s so sad – she was such an inspiration!

Peace,

Muff 

Climbing Out of the Rabbit Hole

It seems more like Odysseus’ journey to Ithaca than Alice’s to Wonderland, though. I’ve been gone for such a long time, but I’m trying to get back to normal again. My husband had two heart procedures, and he’s now on the mend. My stress level was through the roof, and it greatly affected my MS. I went into a swift decline. Now, I’m trying to get back to my baseline. I’ll get back on schedule with my writing, and I’ll be reading all your blogs. Just be patient with me, please.

We’re planning our move for the beginning of January, and I have lots to accomplish.

Thank you for your comments and private contacts. I really appreciate it.

Peace,

Muff 

Short Note

I’ll only be on here occasionally. My husband is in the hospital, again. This time, it’s his heart.  I’m petrified. My wonderful children are stepping in as before. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

Friday Fragments

I realize I was away for a while, but it was busy-ness, not sickness that kept me off the computer.

Change in Plans:  My daughter and family came home from Disney World on Tuesday, and she called me to tell me all about it. While we were talking, she asked me to move at the same time they are. I told her that our apartment wouldn’t be finished. She assured me that they had plenty of room, and I could oversee the construction. I readily agreed because this living downstairs here is driving me nuts. So we’ll be moving on Thanksgiving week. I told my daughter that we could pull together and make TG dinner together – even if it isn’t as elaborate as other years. The little guy begins in his new school on the 30^th, so they have to move the week before, despite the holiday. Of course that meant I had to get things packed in a shorter time. Anything worth keeping is getting boxed and labeled, and if we can’t use it in the new place, we’ll chuck it then. My wonderful sons said they’d help by fixing/cleaning after everything’s gone.

Years of Accumulating: The packing of which I wrote above is tough on the heartstrings. Realistically, I know I can’t keep everything I’ve amassed over the years, but it’s hard to say good-bye. I’m fortunate that my children want to keep so many things for themselves. On Wednesday, the boys wandered from room to room, tagging with Post-It’s the things they want. I have a box started for my daughter, too. We also have a lot at the curb on trash days! I just try to envision how nice it will be in our new home!

Food: For Wednesday’s dinner, I made a slow cooker pot roast. It was simple but delicious. It amazes me that with adding only four tablespoons of liquid, I end up with so much gravy! The aroma wafted through the house all day, and by dinnertime, I was starving! The boys made up their doggie bags, and the clean-up was easy.

Kasey Sitting: We have our favorite fur baby here again. My son is running in the Detroit marathon on Sunday. It seems like a long way to go just to run, but he’s excited about it. He flies out tomorrow, will sightsee in the afternoon, run Sunday, and come home Monday. The race route also takes them into Windsor, Ontario, Canada, and that’s great. Kasey will miss his boy, but we have lots of doggie treats!

A Star:  My little guy was chosen to play the “Beast” opposite Belle in a rendition of Beauty and the Beast at Disney. My daughter sent me the video, and I got such a kick out of it. He wore a cape over his shorts and tee, and ‘danced’ with a full-sized Belle. At the end, he takes a bow. I know I’m a doting grandmother, but I thought it was adorable. I hope he catches the acting bug and wants to perform again.

Have a great weekend.

Peace,

Muff