Rocks, Plants and My Gazing Ball

This is the prettiest this corner has ever looked.  My hostas are bigger this year, which makes the perfect setting for my bright red gazing ball and the addition of my attempt at rock stacking.  The Inukshuk is in honor of my blogging friend AC and his lovely wife Cuppa.  They are from Canada, and AC recently posted pictures of different inukshuks, so I decided to stack one in their honor.  Sorry, AC, but no Canadian flag!

When I say this is the prettiest corner, I am not kidding.  I have not planted flower number 1 this year.  I was gone to TX during the best planting season, and to plant now would be fighting the hot summer sun, which I have found, cooks some plants.  I do want to get something white to put in a bright red pot I found at Big Lots and have sitting right outside my entry door, full of dirt, just waiting.  Otherwise, no more plants.  The perennials that my late wife planted years ago are blooming out front.  I have Russian sage, and something that is yellow, a moonbeam something, and red rosebushes, so I have the primary colors out there, plus some green ground cover and of course some weeds for good measure.

That's it for the garden this year.

Peace,
JE

I'm Not Complaining, But It's Hot!

After the winter we had, I swore I would not complain about the heat of summer.  So, I am not complaining, but it is hot out there.  I usually use 80-84 degrees F as my guide to turning on the air conditioning.  I don't particularly like A C (not my blogging pal, he's a good guy!) but it seems to be a necessary thing this time of year.  Especially as one ages.  I don't do the heat too well any more.  Especially if it is humid, too.  Anyone who has ever been in Indiana in the summer knows that until the heat of August arrives, we usually have high humidity.  That takes a toll on my breathing when outside. 
Today, it's 88 degrees here with high humidity.  The wind in blowing, but that doesn't seem to be helping.  I went out to do some errands earlier and was riding with my windows down and could feel the "wet" inside my car as I rode along.  I wasn't going far, so I just put up with it.  By the time I got home, I not only felt like I was breathing wet air, I needed a shower...again!
But weighing the summer against the "being cooped up in the house all winter because of several feet of snow feeling," I will still take the summer.  At least, I can get out of my garage, I don't have to wear a coat, I can go in as few clothes as decency allows, and wear my flip flops.  I can stay in when it's the hottest part of the day, and still enjoy my screened porch in the mornings and evenings. 
Yes, I will take summer.  And speaking of summer, I think a few hours at a nearby beach might be in order one day this week.  When I get too warm, a quick dip will cool me off.  Hmmmm, sounds like a wonderful idea!

Peace,
JE

My Last Few Weeks

My last few weeks have been a whirlwind!  The weekend before May 20th, sorry I have lost track of time, my sister in law called me saying that my brother was having brain surgery for a hematoma on the left side of the brain.  She was concerned, but said that my brother said that he didn't think it was serious enough to warrant me coming to Texas.  The procedure was to be relatively minor, and the neurosurgeon stated that he would be home in 3 to 4 days and could continue to live as usual.
A few days later, she called and things looked pretty grim.  So, I decided to take off for Texas.  I packed quickly, (forgetting some stuff, naturally) and made a mad dash for the Lone Star State.  When I arrived late in the pm of 5/22, I was really "shook" by what I saw.  My usually strong and vibrant bother was on a breathing machine, was semi comatose, medically induced, and was ashen and lying perfectly still.  It seems that before surgery, he was being given plasma to thicken his blood, due to the fact that he takes blood thinner for his artificial heart valve (now 14 years+ old).  The neurosurgeon's people called and said that Bro's surgery could be moved up a couple hours than originally scheduled, so in an attempt to get him ready sooner, the nurse on duty took it upon herself, without any orders from either the surgeon, or Bro's heart doctor, to speed up the plasma IV.  When she did so, Bro had a heart attack!  Sis in law (now on called Sis) said that it happened almost immediately.  Bro's lungs began to fill with fluid and he couldn't breath.  A pulmonologist was called in immediately and gave to order to intubate Bro.
Well, he was on the breathing machine and kept in a semi comatose state for 5 days until the doctor's all agreed that his lungs were clear, and the heart strong enough for surgery on the brain.  That surgery he came thru with flying colors.  The surgeon said that when they drained the fluid away from the brain, the brain went back right where it was supposed to be.
Bro spent another week and a half in the hospital then had to be moved to a rehab facility.  We were assured that none of that would have been necessary if the heart attack hadn't occurred, causing the delay, and the damage to his heart.  He had to have physical therapy because he laid so long.  The occupational therapy he received was to help with he minor results of the pressure on the brain.  Those things, fortunately, are relatively minor.
In addition, because of the heart attack, when he is strong enough, he will have to undergo some tests,and possible corrective procedures depending on the damage to the heart muscle.
So, I was there for basic support, both for him and Sis, and to help out any way I could.  There wasn't anything I could do buy pray and believe me, pray I did.  And it paid off, too.  I can see God's miracles at work in my Bro.  Medical science is God's work, too. There were many friends and relatives from all over the USA praying for Bro's recovery.
I am happy to say that when I left, Bro was home, and walking with a cane, and on his way to a full recovery.  My hope is that the damage to his heart is minimal when they run the tests.  He came a long way in a short amount of time. 
If anything, this has taught me to live each day fully, tell your family and friends how much they mean to you, and when you go to bed at night, kick those slippers under the bed far enough so that when you want them the next morning, you have to go down on your knees to find them, and while you are there, just thank God that you are alive and given another day!

Peace,
JE

It wasn't a vacation this time.

Hello fellow bloggers!  I 've been away from the blogger world for the last few weeks.  I made a rush trip, and I mean "rush" driving 85 mph sometimes, to be near my seriously ill brother.  I am glad to say that he is better, is back home after narrowly escaping the "grim reaper."  I just arrived back in Indiana from Texas,  literally "just arrived" this evening.  Lots to do around here to get things back my semblance of normal and order.  I even had poison ivy growing up one of the posts on my front porch!!  But right now, I am tired after the emotional turmoil, and then the trip home which consisted of two days of over 9 hrs each of mostly interstate driving.  So, bear with me, and when I get it all together again, I will fill you all in on what happened.  Maybe I should say y'all after being in Texas for 3 weeks!  G'night all!
Peace,
JE

Turning the Page

Yesterday I turned another page in the book of life.  I turned a ripe old (grrr) 69.  It was an interesting day, but a good one.  I had a quick visit from my daughter in the morning. She was in town on business and stopped en route.  Then, my quartet sang at a church member's funeral.  It wasn't the most pleasant way to spend time on my birthday, but when the deceased, who was a cancer patient, planned his service, he didn't know it was going to be on my birthday.  Some things just happen that way.(While I was at the church, I stopped in the preschool classroom just to see what was going on, and 20+ smiling 4year olds sang "Happy Birthday" to me.  How grand was that?)
In the afternoon, I went to my craft group at the local senior center.  There, my good friend, Curley, who is in charge of the group, provided home made cupcakes with butter creme frosting, for all of us.  Delicious!  We had a lot of laughs, even if our projects went more or less untouched.  One of the gals in our group brought an electric yarn winder and she and I played with that gadget for about an hour!  Fun! (I want one)
Later, I treated myself to Asian cousine at a local place, with some friends.  I also rec'd many phone calls, a card, and lots of well wishes on my facebook page.  All in all, I decided that turning 69 wasn't so bad after all.
Peace,
JE

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all of you moms out there who read this blog.  My mom has been gone for 21 years now.  I have to say that not a day goes by that I don't remember her in some way.  She loved family.  She loved to laugh and have a good time with us.  She loved yellow roses.  She was gentle and kind, honest and honorable.  And she was loved.
This morning in church, our Pastor asked us to think of one thing that if someone asked, we could tell others what was special about our moms.  I remembered when Mom taught me how to drive.  I was 12.  We lived in "b f egypt"  (think way out in the country) on country roads.  She used to take me out in the old Chevy and let me drive.  She would sit right beside me "just in case," but that's how I learned to drive.  Driver's Training in school was just a refresher course, and needed to get my license early and a discount on Dad's car insurance.  By the time I was 16, I was driving up and down the country roads, and Mom had moved over on the other side of the front seat!
Many memories come back on Mother's Day.  You see, I was born on Mother's Day,  so that made the day extra special to both Mom and me.
So, I lift a glass (of Iced Tea) in memory of Mom.  Miss ya, Mom!

Peace,
JE

A special Mother's Day to my daughter and daughter-in-law, too.  Thank you both for giving me my wonderful grandchildren.  And to another great mom, Curley.  You and your family are very dear to me!  Love you all!

The Day After the Night Before

  Because she can't be here for my actual birthday later on in the month, my daughter came into town last evening to treat me to a celebratory dinner and an evening out.  We did our downtown's "First Friday" thing where all the stores and shops stay open later.  It was fun, but chilly walking around and popping in and out of interesting boutiques.  It was also fun seeing many friends on the sidewalks and in the stores, one of the perks of living in the same small town most of our lives.
  Afterwards, we made a quick stop at the local "dollar store" for necessities, then we traveled the 15 miles to another town to my very favorite tavern/restaurant for dinner.  The "Main View" is situated on Main Street in the middle of the downtown area of this quaint, Victorian Era town.  This tavern serves many wonderful dishes, but my favorite is the breaded pork tenderloin sandwich.  Last night I splurged and had their home breaded onion rings with it, and a beer (1).  I followed this meal with a piece of peanut butter silk pie.  When our waiter brought the check, my daughter mentioned that it was my birthday.  The waiter said that it is the custom of the bar to serve a "shot" of anything to the birthday celebrant.  I chose a shot of "Crown Royal" at my daughter's suggestion.  I have never had "Crown" before.  Man is that stuff smooth!  Wow!
  After we got home, (with darling daughter driving, of course) we stayed up until the wee hours visiting.  I rolled into bed about 2:00 AM.  At 4:30 I woke up with a pounding headache, my stomach roiling, and feeling generally like hell.  I tossed and turned, and fought the covers.  Sometime around 6:00AM, (I heard the court house clock chime 6 times) I fell back to sleep, waking at 9:30.  All day I have felt, as my dad used to say, "about a half a bubble off plumb."  I ache, my stomach is still roiling, and I have a head full, enough to make my eyes water and become crusty.  Now, I didn't have that much to drink, and I am wondering if it is a result of too much rich food.  (Could it be the Asian food that I had for lunch yesterday when Curley and I did lunch?)  Anyway, it's a yuk feeling and I don't like it.  Hopefully, I will be feeling more chipper tomorrow.  Meanwhile, I think it calls for a cuppa tea, my favorite "bankie" and my recliner!  (I'm getting too old for this s**t!)

Peace,
JE

Book Talk

This week I have finished reading two new novels.  The first one is "Missing You" by Harlan Coben.  It's a gripping novel about murder and mayhem, of course.  Interesting take on internet dating sites.  But it was Harlan Coben at his best, and I recommend it to anyone who likes mysteries.  Of course, Coben is on my very special list of mystery writers, and if you haven't read any of his works, please run, don't walk, to your nearest book dealer, whether it be library or book seller, and try some Coben.  You won't be sorry.

The second one is "Power Play" by Danielle Steel.  I haven't read anything by Steel for years.  I used to read all of her novels, but after the death of her son, her novels turned dark and I just didn't want to read them anymore.  On a whim, I picked up this new one at the library.  I thoroughly enjoyed it.  It is a romance, with a twist.  No murder or mayhem in this one, but lots of twists and turns and surprises.  Steel has style of writing that appeals to me.  It's kinda like "Gone With the Wind" that lead us to the bedroom door, and the reader knew what was going to happen behind the door, but we didn't need all the lusty details.  This book is like that in some ways.  I have read a lot of Steel's novels, and while "Power Play' is good, my favorite by her will always be "Fine Things." 

Read on my friends!

Peace,
JE

Trying Something New

Today I actually tried something new.  As most of you know, I love to craft.  I always have.  I have never sold a piece of my work. I usually make things for others or for myself.  But, today that changed.
Our town is the county seat of our county.  They have a visitor's center for people coming into town.  The visitor's center has a gift shop.  Need I say more?  I now have some of my "stuff" for sale on consignment at their gift shop.  I know I will not get "rich" putting things there.  But the main reason for me doing it is self satisfaction and knowing that what I do is being enjoyed by someone.  I am not pricing my things high.  I want them to sell and I want people to enjoy them.  That, to me, is what my artistic ability is all about.  I will still create things to gift to people, for that brings me the greatest joy, and  putting a little of myself out there in the public, might bring joy to someone I don't know.  How wonderful is that???

Peace,
JE

On The (Right) Track

Today is the first day of the rest of my life. It was time to get back on the walking track.  (See entry of March 31!)  I got up early, even if it was 01:25 AM when I went to bed.  I got dressed and went to the "Y" and walked my mile on the track.  I will have to work into the "work out" equipment again, but I did walk.  I think it's the first time since winter set in after the New Year that I have been there.  I am so out of shape, once again (unless "round" is a shape.)
I am tired, and my joints feel the stress, but I have to admit I do feel better.  Maybe it's because I actually accomplished something besides sitting in my chair and drinking coffee!  (I did stop at the local coffee shoppe on my way home...and the library.)

Peace,
JE

Birthday Blog

Yesterday, my late wife would have been 66 yrs old.  She would not have handled it well.  She so dreaded growing old. 
I have learned that life goes on .  Oh, I wish that she was still here, yes.  But not in the body she had.  She was not well, not happy, not satisfied with the lot that life had dealt her. 
I woke up yesterday thinking about her as I often do.  I decided to honor her birthday by reading some of her favorite passages in my Bible.  I have to admit that I am no Bible scholar, and don't often open it.  Shame on me.  But I wanted to do something different that visiting her grave and putting more flowers on it.  So, I thought this might be a good thing.  I opened the Bible to the 23rd Psalm and what should be stuck in that same page but the little folder that I got from the funeral home.  I don't remember putting it the, but there it was!  I wonder if she was trying to tell me something from the Great Beyond! 
I had a brief conversation with her, one sided, I might add.  I mentioned to her that if she had taken a bit better care of herself in life, maybe she would be her to celebrate number 66 with me.  Then I felt a little guilty for feeling that way.  But it's true!
So, I went on with my day, pausing once in a while to remember the many good time, and some no so good times that we had.
My daughter called me last night and said that she was missing her mom.  More that she had in the almost 7 years since she passed away.  I didn't know exactly what to say, but I just listened.  I can see that she is still grieving, maybe more that I.  We all grieve in our own way, in our own time. 
The memories do still live on.  Especially the good ones.  Who cares anymore about the bad ones.  They are insignificant.
So, Happy Birthday, once again, Tilly.
We Miss You,
JE

More Old Age Maladies

I have oft times said that this growing older is not for sissies.  I firmly believe that our golden years are called that, not because they are so golden and wonderful, but because it costs our weight in gold just to survive!  Last week I visited my family doc because of a problem I was having.  He was unsure about said problem, and said that in all his years of practice he hadn't encountered anything quite like it.  So he sent me to a specialist. That specialist, whom I was lucky enough to catch with a cancellation the very next day, checked me out and deemed that my problem was minor and prescribed a 10-day run of antibiotics.  Problem #1 is much better and healing.  Yesterday morning I woke up with a horrible tooth ache in one of my lower front teeth.  So, I called my dentist, who could see me this morning.  So took ample Tylenol yesterday to get by and this morning bright and early went to the dentist.  I found out that a tooth in front lower was infected down below the tooth into the gum line.  I asked Doc what my options were.  He said that I was out of options on that tooth as most of it was filling and there was nothing to fix, and it needed to come out.  So I had him pull it right then.  I already wear a partial plate on the top, so now without it, I will look like a jack-o-lantern.  I have to decide by next month how or if I want to fill in the gap.  One choice is an implant which is over $3000, and bridge which is slightly under $2000, or another type of bridge which may or may not last several years for just under $500.  Wow!  I certainly need to do something.  I noticed already that I "hiss" when I talk.  So, not only is the body beginning to fall apart, this surviving old aging is getting damn expensive.  (I do have some insurance coverage for the extraction but not to fill in the gap, but it only pays 80% of "reasonable and customary charges, yeah right!)

Peace (and quiet; my mouth is sore),
JE

A Tough Decision

I had a quick doc's appointment this morning.  I started some new meds last month for an internal neuropathic tremor, and Doc M wanted to do a followup today. (Some success, but not there quite yet!)
When I signed in, the receptionist asked me if I was interested in a "living will."  I asked her to explain just what that involved.  It meant "no heroic life saving measures in a terminal situation."  If there is a chance for survival, everything that can be done would be done, but if, say in the case of a car accident, or a massive heart attack, etc, I was not going to make it, then, in other words, "let me go."
Since I had to make that kind of decision for my wife, who had no living will, and for my mom, who had no living will, but had expressed that she didn't want "heroic measures," I signed on the "dotted line" this morning.  This is too hard of a decision for a spouse or children to have to make.  Emotions are scrambled, and it's hard to think straight.  So, now the decision is made.  There will be no guilt or regrets for them to have to deal with. 
Now, I don't intend to use this for many moons, but it is now in place when the time comes!

Peace, (of mind)
JE

The Book

   Last week while Bro and Sis-in-law were visiting, we began talking about family as one is wont to do as we age.  I mean our ancestors.We talked about late grandparents and uncles that we remembered fondly.  I dug out Mom's old record of our ancestors, which we always called "the book."  It is a meticulously kept record of my mother's mother's family, the Dilts clan.  Opening it to the first page, we were confronted with Henry Dilts who married Anna Diels.  There were no dates here, but a list of their 8 children, the youngest being Jacob Dilts.  His name was ** with a note that said, "our line of descent."
Turning the page, I found that Jacob married Sarah Heath in 1782 and they had 9 children.  And thus the story began. (With their son, Asher.)
   We followed the line of descent to our grandmother, Sarah Martha Dilts, who was born in 1880 and died in 1961.  Bro and I remember her well.  A small, quiet lady who tended her kitchen and hens, and never said too much.
   Mom had kept "the book" up to date until her death in 1993.  I had entered my eldest grandson's name in there some time ago, but that was as far as it went.
   So, Bro and I updated it adding pages for my children and his, and listing all of our grandchildren.  There are a lot of updates that need to be made, but I am not sure who to contact anymore about births, deaths, marriages and etc. 
   Little is known about my mom's dad, James Elmer Burdge, but we do know that his parents were William Burdge and Eliza Jane (Ware) Burdge.  Born in 1874, Grandpa grew up in Indiana and  worked on the Dilts farm, near Lafayette, Indiana, as a hired hand, where he met, courted, and married my grandmother in 1902.
   It's fun to look how names were passed down, too.  My grandmother was named Sarah Martha, probably after Jacob's wife, and  Martha Jane was passed on to my mother.My grandfather was James Elmer, his son was Harry James.  Harry had a son named James Ross, and my mother named me James, and I named my own son James.  His son is Riley James, and the "beat" goes on!
   Such an interesting thing this family history, and it's all there thanks to Mom and "the book."
(Oh, I have a complete history of my dad's side of the family, too, but that's blog fodder for another time.)

Peace,
JE

Back in the Saddle ( or treadmill) Again!

I was doing so well.  I was getting up early, going to the local YMCA, walking on the track, then working out on some of the available equipment that wouldn't kill me.  Then, after Christmas, it was so cold, and I had one ailment after the other, mostly in the form of ear infections, and a cold.  And it was so damn cold outside!  O did I just say that?  Well, it was. I lost all desire to even step outside, except to bring in the mail.
Now, it's getting warmer, we did spring forward to "daylight savings time" a few weeks ago, so now it's light out by the time I arise.  I have gotten in the bad habit of staying up until the wee hours, then sleeping in.  I have to get back in the habit of getting up and getting going.  My ambition is not there like it was.  I would rather stay home, drink a cup of coffee or two or three and read a good book or craft or watch Netflix..That's the habit I have fallen into during this past super cold winter.  And my waistline is showing it.
So, in the near future, I will be forcing myself to rise earlier and go back to the Y.  I know it will be like starting all over again....and I was doing so well.
But not tomorrow.  I have a breakfast date with two good friends, and then we are going to do some retail therapy.  Maybe the day after that or the day after that.

Peace,
JE

Weather!

Both Monday and Tuesday I took a cuppa out on my back step and sat in the sunshine and listened to the snow melt.  It was 60F out there.  I put on a hat, but was in my shirt sleeves.  This morning I woke up to about a kazillion inches (6") of new snow and temps hovering around 28 degrees, with promise of it plummeting to single digits tonight!  What is with Mom Nature.  Someone in the Midwest really pissed her off!  The wind is also blowing making travel hazardous and once again schools were canceled.  The snow is so heavy, many homes and businesses are losing power due to snow bringing down the power lines.  It's a good day to stay home and just look out the windows, those that aren't crusted with blowing wet snow.  And to think, there were patches of grass just becoming visible in my yard!  Can't see them now!  Stay warm and safe, everyone!

Peace,
JE

Spring cleaning has begun!

Several weeks ago, my daughter decided to move* to the state capitol where her BF lives.  I haven't ventured into the "attic" as she called it, since she has been gone.  It's really the upstairs, which is all one big room.  So, with the impending visit from my brother and his wife in the near future, I decided to get the upstairs room in order.  Curley, my wonderful friend, came in and helped me. 
Maggie was neat and clean, but you know how dust collects and windows need washed etc.  Well, Curley and I moved all the furniture, cleaned blinds, swept, rearranged everything, put up new curtains, and generally just made a nice room look even better. 
This room is 15' wide and 34' long.  Much of what Maggie left behind is stacked behind a decorator screen in one end, leaving the rest of the room a nice size.  After doing all of that, when we came downstairs from working, I told Curley that it made the downstairs look sorta like it needed a good scrubbing.  Plenty of time for that, though, but now I really have Spring fever.  It got up to 60 degrees this afternoon, so after Curley left, I made myself a cuppa tea and went out and sat in the sun on my back step.  I think I could actually hear that 3' snow drift melting.  My yard has lots of shade, even when the trees are bare, so the snow is slow leaving.  But, Spring is definitely in the air and I am so ready!

Peace,
JE 

note*  Maggie's move was a success and she is fully employed and happy!

My Desktop Screen

This is what I see every time I sit down at my computer.  No wonder I spend so much time on here!

Peace,

JE

Saturday Thought

As I sit here with my Saturday cuppa, I have been thinking about my life, as one who is aging is wont to do sometimes.  I know this is not too profound but here's what I have come up with.

    When I was young, going out into the world, I was a "half" looking for someone special to make a "whole."  I found that someone and had the "whole" life for almost 40 years.  Now I am a "half" again.  I am not especially looking for another special someone to make me a "whole" again.  If I spend the rest of my life as a "half," I'm okay with that.

As I reread this, it makes me think that I might be more profound than I thought.

Peace,
JE

All the Insanity

Many states now are going into legislature on gay rights.  Gay marriage is the big topic here in Indiana.  I really don't care what sexual orientation a person is.  Does it really matter?  If people are nice to me, I am nice to them, gay or straight!  I have relatives that are gay.  I have many gay friends.  We all get along.  I think they should have the same rights as straight people do.  Two gay people living in a house together, whether married or not, if they share the mortgage, expenses, and their income, they should have the same tax breaks as straight couples do.  And so on, and so on!
I was watching TV today and there were two gay men talking.  One man was trying out "straight" life, was very unhappy.  His friend finally told him, and the conversation went something like this: (not word for word, my memory isn't that good!)
"You are made in the image of God.  God put you here just as you are.  Just as he did every other person, plant animal, fish and fowl...and gay person.  He loves all of his creation.  God doesn't make mistakes, so you know he loves you, too."
After hearing that, I thought how true this is.  God loves us all, no matter what race, creed or orientation we are. 
Okay, I know this will probably cause an uproar, not everyone will agree with me, and I don't expect them to.  But I have an opinion and I felt, after all the AZ turmoil, that I just wanted to express my opinion.  My blog, my right to speak out.  Fortunately,sanity prevailed, and Arizona's gov. vetoed the bill.  But did she do it because it was the right thing to do morally, or did she veto the bill because it would hurt the state of AZ financially if she didn't.  We won't ever know.  I am just glad that it got vetoed.

Peace,
JE