June 2009 Archives

Thursday, I was driving down to see Elegante Mother. I'd been to exercise, stopped at home long enough to water plants, and was on my way. I was about a third of the way there when I realized I was having trouble staying awake. That alone should have scared me into waking up, but I really needed to close my eyes.

I was passing the parking lot of a very large park district sports field. It was almost empty, so I thought I would pull in and take a quick nap. I've never done this before, but it seemed to be the best of the choices open to me.

I left the car running so that it would stay cool. I was parked so that I was facing away from the sun. I tilted my head back and was gone in a flash. About ten minutes later there was a loud knocking at my passenger window. A young woman was there, asking if I was all right. I'd fallen asleep with my mouth open, and she must have assumed that I had had a heart attack.

I was mightily embarrassed to have been caught like that, but comforted that a stranger would stop to check up on me. I reassured her that I was fine, and both of us left the parking lot. It seems that just ten minutes made all the difference. I made it to my destination without any problems.

I used to be the original sleep anywhere kid, but as I've gotten older my sleep patterns have changed a bit, and not for the best. I have a bad knee that makes it difficult to find a comfortable position in which to sleep, and it wakes me several times during the night. It addition to that, despite the fact that I want to be up at 5:00 in the morning, I still don't have the smarts to be in bed at 9:00 at night. I really need to work on that. Short changing myself of sleep when I'm already deprived is just stupid! (Don't tell my step-daughter I used that word. I'm supposed to be erasing it from my vocabulary for the sake of our granddaughters!)

At any rate, all's well that ends well.

Yup, I'm yet livin'! I've been busy, but no busier than most of you. I've had a flurry of obligations followed by the calm of low tide.

I made a two day trip to Iowa, with my sister, Frankie, of Just My Opinion. It was a voyage of remembrance for me, and one of discovery for her. Our grandparents and their children lived in Iowa. My sister had heard stories of "the farms" all her life, and it was time for her to go see them, and get to know those who farm them better. I enjoyed the trip down memory lane, seeing the houses where my aunt and grandparents lived, and the house where my father was raised. I was astounded by the generosity of everyone we met in Iowa. They were generous with their time, their information, their smiles, and concern. This was perhaps the best quick trip I have ever made! Thank you, Iowans!

Monday, just past, I was scheduled for an insurance audit. I was prepared, but just to be on the safe side, I skipped exercise to be sure that everything was ready. Eleven o'clock came and went with no auditor at my door. By 11:22 I called, to see if she was lost and needed directions. No answer. I have still not received a return call. I believe a letter to the company is warranted.

I've started a new quilt top. I have a small wall-hanging-size quilt that is bands of four patches on point alternated with strips of solid fabric. I have it folded into quarters and Ed, the cat, lays on it when I am at the computer in the living room. I've always loved that little quilt and decided to make a larger version of it. True to form, I may be making two larger quilts. I started cutting up scraps and ends of small pieces of fabric before I had the design planned out. Of course, now I have more squares than I need for one quilt, so I may put together two to use up all the cut pieces. Pictures to come, sooner or later.

I have a great deal of weeding to do. I thought I was going to have help from a grandnephew, but that's fallen through. I'm going to try to work tomorrow morning while it's still cool, and the sun is not overhead. I may even work at it this evening once the gardens are in the shade of the house. If I can't keep up with the weeding, I may see if my favorite landscaping company can give me a couple of hours. I'm going to have two willow trees planted this summer, so perhaps they can do it then.

Our exercise guru's daughter gave birth to her second baby recently. Lynda will be going to spend a week or so with them, and I've been invited to take over the class next week. I need to spend a little time reviewing the music and the moves and create a new cheat sheet, if necessary, before Monday morning. I really enjoy working with the class, and they seem to be willing to have me lead them.

Thank you notes. I have a stack of thank you notes I need to write. Frankie puts me to shame with her beautiful, hand-written, notes. I think I'll print up a list of the notes I owe, and do a few now and then through out the day. This is one obligation I really want to get done!

I finally stopped at the local upholstery place to start looking at fabric samples. Of course, I've waited so long that the color I want, spruce green, is no longer available. There is a sea of moss, tarragon, sage, basil or even lime green to be had. I think the people who choose what colors will be offered each year must have been very hungry. I had originally planned to have two chairs and an ottoman done in a solid green, but now that I think about it, It might be a better idea to have a chair and the ottoman done in a floral print, and then have the couch and loveseat done in a solid green. There are SO many variables, it makes my head swim. And this is going to be done piecemeal, so I can't just order everything at one time, which makes it even harder. This is one chore I'm not enjoying.

I have finally repotted three plants that have been waiting for months for just a little dirt! Two plants for my bathroom, and a geranium that I wintered over are now the proud possessors of new homes! There's a plant in the green room that needs to be killed off. It's grown oddly and can no longer get enough food and moisture from the pot it's in. It's too leggy to save, so I'm going to have to do the unthinkable and cut it up. There is also a euphorbia, that I'm going to take cuttings from. This plant has grown so well that it can't hold itself up in the little pot that holds the roots. Luckily, it's an easy plant to propagate, so I'm going to get new pots and soil, and get started on that. I think I may give one to my Mother.

And the last bit of news...I cut off half my hair. I walked into the salon for my appointment and said...."Shave my head!" My hairdresser smiled, and said, "We can do that." I back tracked a bit, and we compromised on cutting all of the lower length, and most of the sides. Now, I look a bit more like my sisters, who all have short hair. I don't think it was a mistake, but if it is, it will always grow back.

I hope you're all having a good day, and wish you the best for the weekend!

It's a brilliant Sunday in Buffyland. We had rain Friday night and a good part of Saturday, and it's perfect weather today to be working in the gardens. I'm going out very shortly, but I wanted to blog first.

Have you ever done something with the best of intentions and had it turn around and bite you? I get into that position now and then. My people skills have never been the best, and I rarely know what someone is thinking. I can put my foot in my mouth with the best of 'em, and I did...with one of my siblings. Another of them counseled me to let it go, and stop "looping." It was good advice. There's no point in wallowing in it. I might as well get on with life!

So, it fascinated me that an on-line friend had run into a very similar problem. The advice I had been given was perfect for her, too, and I shared it. Was this a coincidence? Pre-destination? Fate? I haven't any idea, but I'm glad that I had a little growth spurt and was able to share it. *S*

Dear Husband is off boating. Second Son is at a convention. Edward Scissorhands and I are on our own for the weekend, and it's been very quiet, but fun. I finished a ton of filing in the office (of course there's more to be done), and read for a bit. I went to see "Angels and Demons" last night (a good pot boiler, that was fairly faithful to the book.). I'm going to play in the gardens for a bit, and then do a little grocery shopping. And then, I'm going to start making four-patches for a new scrap quilt! Yea! It isn't often that there are so few demands on my time. I better take advantage of it!

Monday and Tuesday I will be traveling to Iowa and back with my youngest sister. This is a trip for her to see places that we have all talked about but she was too young when she was there to remember. My grandparents lived in Des Moines at the time Frankie was born. I can remember that she slept in a dresser drawer when we visited the summer after her birth. *G* So....we're going off on a memory trip.

I hope you all enjoy a relaxed Sunday, and have a great start to your week!

For Bod, who asked about my mention of golf balls in the following post.

My niece has just graduated from high school. She is the youngest of my mother's grandchildren, so Elegante Mother and I made the trip to Indiana to attend the ceremony.

We were seated toward the front of the gymnasium, near the raised area the graduates cross to receive their diplomas. There are a number of dignitaries seated behind a table, a teacher who reads the names of that row of students, the Superintendent of Schools, the President of the Board of Education, and the High School principal. The students shake the hand of each person who is standing, receive the diploma case, and leave the risers. While we were sitting there, I saw a golf ball fly across the floor. I laughed about it, but it was neatly palmed by one of the seniors, and I didn't think about it any further.

When we got home, I mentioned the golf ball to my niece, and she told us that each of the seniors had carried a golf ball with them into the gym. Somehow, despite the girls wearing incredibly high heels, and the boys having to learn to negotiate stairs in a graduation gown, they managed to get onto the stage, cross to and shake hands with the Superintendent and President of the Board of Education, and accept their diplomas without dropping the golf balls.

The last person they were to shake hands with was the Principal. Apparently, as they shook hands, they palmed the golf ball off on him, and beat it for the stairs! R.L. told me that he must have been on to them, because he would shake hands, get the golf ball, pitch it behind him (I assume into a box), all without giving a hint of what was going on.

Frankly, this was the kind of prank you hope for, rather than something that would impede the progress of the commencement. I went to three of my step-children's high school graduations, which were out of doors, and beach balls batted from row to row were a popular diversion in that era.

I'm sure there are loads of variations on this story. It was a gentle giggle, something that did no harm, and gave the graduating class something to share at reunions in the future.

Our trip to Indiana was spectacular!

We had a good trip down. I tried a slightly different route, and we stopped for a meal in Watseka, Illinois. We lucked out and chose an American/Mexican diner for lunch, and received exceptional service. Elegante Mother likes to drink iced black coffee. I don't know why that seems so odd, but we tend to have a lot of difficulty getting it right. The waitress brought what we wanted in a styrofoam cup, and I asked her if she would pour the contents into a regular glass with more ice and a straw. She did....it was perfect, and she seemed to be right in tune with our needs from then on. We had a great meal, and I made sure the waitress knew it!

We arrived at Frankie's home around four o'clock, and made our way up the hill, into the house, to sit in the family room which has windows on three sides. We were able to enjoy all the plantings, and the trees, and the deck, and most of all, the family.

Frankie's oldest daughter was home from college, and she and Frankie were still hip deep in organizing things for the party. The graduate was making the icing for a Texas brownie, and the house smelled wonderful. After dinner we sat together for a bit, catching up, before we headed off to bed early. Frankie had one last project to finish for her daughter and was up until 2:00!

Graduation day bloomed bright and sunny. It was a perfect day. Commencement was brief and to the point, and nicely organized. One hundred and forty young men and women were recognized, and comported themselves with grace (and golf balls for the principal) as they received their diplomas. There were lots of hugs and kisses, and not a few tears. Lots of pictures, too. I hope I'll be able to explain to Frankie, how to post some of them on her blog, Just My Opinion.

The family pulled together to prepare fruit, veggie, cheese, and salami plates, and assorted nibbles in beautiful array. I confess.....the Texas brownie drew me in several times. The open house ran from four o'clock to well past seven, even though the invitations said 4 to 6. Teachers, church friends, neighbors and schoolmates, all came to celebrate! It was lovely. Elegante Mother and I sat out on the deck and chatted with family, enjoying the perfect day. EM had not had a nap Friday OR Saturday, so while I pushed us back and forth in the glider, she had a little snooze.

When the last of the guests had left, and Frankie's oldest daughter had said her goodbyes, we sent Frankie off to bed. She deserved some rest! We followed very shortly.

Sunday, we had breakfast together, Frankie's famous baked French toast casserole! Frankie's husband had to go off to work. R.L., the graduate, showed me her new computer, and showed me her play lists for her iPod. She introduced me to Michael Buble several years ago, and I, in turn, introduced Elegante Mother to him on he trip to Indiana. R.L. has ALL his CDs!

Frankie made French onion soup for us (It seems it was a French kind of day...) and it was time to go. Neither of us really wanted to leave, but it was going to be a long trip home, so Frankie helped us to pack up and we were on our way.

Elegante Mother was awake the entire way home. I could tell she was saddened when she realize that I was going to return her to her new home. It's very difficult for me to cope with that separation. Her memory is so short these days, she can not keep in mind why she needs round the clock assistance.

The good of this trip......Mother communicated more. She was happy, and pleased to be among people she remembered and loved. She enjoyed getting out and seeing new things, and we challenged her to be more physically active.

For my part....I have some more memories to squirrel away. I'll be able to see my Mother interacting with Frankie's family, and sharing memories we thought she had lost. I'll be able to remember seeing Frankie's family together. As the girls go off to college, that will happen less frequently. R.L. is the last of EM's grandchildren to graduate from high school. It's a blessing that we were able to make the trip.

And...next year, two of EM's GREAT-grandchildren graduate from college. I hope we'll be able to build more happy memories.

The trip was wonderful. No....it was SPECTACULAR!