Blahhhhh---tired of cold weather

 Mass this AM, then taking a blog break today.

Stay healthy, safe, and keep in touch.

Love, Mom

On the Go

Yesterday I felt like "Where's Waldo and what's he on?" I was here, there, and everywhere beginning w/Mass, volunteering short while at rectory, home to eat breakfast, then off to run errands (bank, grocery store, neighborhood nursery, etc.),  went by see Vicki and Joe's great new stove, picked up an ordered item, stopped back by the rectory, came home, pulled some weeds from the East pathway (squatting/kneeling/keeping back straight), emptied all the wood blocks out of my garden cart into the trash bin (all weighing less than 25 lbs per trip), visited w/family on the phone, did 2 loads of laundry, swept the tile floors/spot mopped, watched DWTS, and called it a day/night about 11:00pm.

Today  Off to Mass this AM, volunteer at rectory, then home to putz some more. Still another chilly, cloudy day in the forecast. Thinking of doing some minor shrub/ornamental grass pruning/cutting. I am still doing well, feel better each day and glad I had my back "fixed."   Making a list of "To Do" things for the end of April when I am officially released to begin gardening.

Stay healthy, safe, and keep in touch.

Love, Mom

Same Song

Mass this AM, ran errands, home to putz and try to stay warm.  Wet, overcast, chilly at 41 degrees. That is pretty much the forecast for the rest of the week. 

Stay healthy, safe, and keep in touch.

Love, Mom

Brrrrrrrr !!!

Volunteering at Chancery this AM, Mass at noon, run errands, and then home to start another week.

Supposed to be an overcast chilly day. Thirty-two degrees at present and of course still dark. We were all up too early this AM----someone was hungry and being a cry baby----(Not me).

Stay healthy, safe and keep in touch.

Love, Mom

Where is Spring?

Thirty-six degrees and rainy most of yesterday. Went to Mass in the AM and "chilled"out the rest of the day. Was cold clear into my bones and really made my muscles stiff.  Did laundry/dishes and then just took it easy in front of the fireplace most of the day w/the "boys."

Thirty-two degrees this AM. I hope I did not set the clocks so far ahead on the 13th that I passed up summer and am into the next winter. Plan to go to Mass this AM, do some reading, and watch TV by the fireplace this evening w/the "boys."  If anyone finds Spring---please bring some here.

Stay healthy, safe, and keep in touch.

Love, Mom

Yesterday

Yesterday:
Mass in AM, took a walk in PM, removed all the elastic shoe strings from my shoes (can now lift leg to put on and tie shoes w/o discomfort), made some soup for the weekend, Stations of the Cross in the evening, fell asleep in recliner while reading in the evening w/"boys" in front of fireplace.

Also, throw in some some nursery shopping. Bought some sunshade, 5 Sienna Sunrise Nandina shrubs (described as Green, Burgundy/Red/Purple, Good Fall Color), and 8 pots of herbs (parsley and rosemary). Getting ready for the end of April when  I can garden again. Plan to put the herbs in a container on the deck. 

Stay healthy, safe, and keep in touch.

Love, Mom

Sun Shining

Sun shining, cool but sun shining. Everything is getting greener by the day---trees/flowers budding and blooming.  Back field full of deer, neighborhood cats, and barking dogs in the back yard. Mass this AM, then off to run errands. 

Stay healthy, safe, and keep in touch.

Love, Mom

Ma, Matt, Deers, and Dogs

Mass this AM. Matt stopped by (in uniform) to say "see ya later."

"Boys" were on a deer hunt early this morning. They rustled up/or should I say(?), barked them away.

Trimmed some shrubs this afternoon. (w/o bending, twisting, stooping, torquing, etc).

Stay healthy, safe, and keep in touch.

Love, Mom

It will get done

Fifty-five degrees, sunny, windy, dogs barking, barking, barking...(Really annoying)

Plan to walk this afternoon wind or no wind. Excited about having lunch today w/Kevin and his "Spring Break Kids" at Defazio's. Really a treat to have them all together and enjoy a nice lunch. Matt will be returning to FL tomorrow.

Winter projects completed----thanks, Terry! Work began yesterday (again) on the deck to get it finished up and done. Hope the weather holds up. I am really looking forward to spending down time just "chillin" this on the deck this summer. Have deadline set to have it completed before arrival of MN visitor. We'll see. No, we'll do it. IT WILL GET DONE!!!!!, IT WILL GET DONE!!!!!, IT WILL GET DONE!!!!!, IT WILL GET DONE!!!!!, IT WILL GET DONE!!!!!...

Stay healthy, safe, and keep in touch.

Love, Mom

Ma's Day

Windy, cloudy, but 64 degrees, w/temps expected to reach 78 degrees. Mass this AM, volunteered at rectory, and now home to pick up, do some laundry, and possibly do a little reading. May even throw in a nap before the day is over. Too windy to walk (gusting up to 29MPH). Really having to work on the restriction thing as I am feeling better each day.

Stay healthy, safe, and keep in touch.

Love, Mom

Warmer Days

(A month away from gardening)

Wonderful day yesterday--slightly windy but sunny. Actually trimmed some shrubs w/great posture, no lifting, torquing, etc. Noticing trees/shrubs budding, more flowers blooming, and doing it at the right time--First Day of Spring was yesterday. Went to Mass in AM, took a walk in the afternoon, read later in the day (snuggling w/the "bobs"), and just enjoyed the sunny day.

Matt is in town for a short visit. Nice visit w/him and Brittney on Saturday. Plan to have lunch out w/him, Brittney, sibs, and Kevin on Wednesday since they (sibs) are off for Spring break. Nice phone visits w/family and all in all a nice weekend.

Plan volunteering at Chancery this AM, Mass at noon, run some errands, then home take another walk and enjoy another sunny day. Might clip a few branches off some more shrubs (w/great posture, no lifting, torquing, etc.)

Stay healthy, safe, and keep in touch.

Love, Mom

Rainy Day

Back from Mass and volunteering at SLC. Plan to spend the rest of the day/weekend inside, staying warm and dry. In fact, plan to also take a weekend blog break.

Stay healthy, safe, and keep in touch.

Love, Mom

Just Stuff

Crocus taken on 03/18/2010

Almost hit 80 degrees yesterday, a bit windy but just great to have a sunny day. Kept the back door open as well as back and front deck windows and pretended it was summer. "Boys" lounged on the back deck most of the afternoon. Patches of perennials popping out of the ground and bunches of naturalized purple crocuses all over the flower beds. Neighbors kids out playing all evening----by jove I think it is Spring!!!

 Planning on a quiet weekend. Mass, Stations of the Cross, volunteering a couple of hours at the SLC tomorrow, reading, take some plant/flower pics, maybe a walk, work on more activities (limited) to try and get some of this stiffness out of my back.

Have watched more TV this winter than in my whole lifetime---documentaries, reality/cooking shows, might catch the final basketball game----all in conjunction w/use of the heating pad.  It is really difficult to hold a book on your lap and sit comfortably w/Moi and the 3 Dogmingos stuffed into a recliner. Terry fixed my recliner so I can adjust it w/o putting strain on my back. Will not take pics of it---It must be seen in person--in fact, all are welcome to come see it in person. Just come and plan to spend several days for the viewing---it is quite a site to see.

Stay healthy, safe, and keep in touch.

Love, Mom

Gardening Time

Terry left Saturday and arrived safely home. Will never be able to thank her for all she did for me during her stay. It is overwhelming and I am so thankful to have had her 24/7 x 7 help. Thanks! The "boys" also miss her and are listless w/her departure. Almost hate to tell her they have slept in daily until 6-6:30am (DLST). 

Changing my schedule and going to noon Mass at the Cathedral for awhile until the AM back stiffness subsides. Moving slower in the AM and being the chief cook/housekeeper and dog sitter finds me a little short on energy. I am up and around and building up stamina each day and know I will be a force to reckon w/come gardening time. Finding it is easier to drive and sit at noon rather than rush in AM and pay for it later. Who'd thought one would get a little smarter as they grow up?

Speaking of gardening time. Joe aired up the tire on my garden wagon yesterday. Promised I would not be using it---noticed the tire was low (full of approx. 200lbs of top soil) and want the wagon operational when I am. Thanks, Joe! (Also thanks, Vicki and Joe for the delicious smelling Thai food---plan to dig into it this evening.) Have ordered some native grasses and expect them to be delivered the week before my MN guest (AKA Kat) is expected. Hope the weather is great as we are planning on some outdoor gardening time.

Keith is coming over to remove (pull up) some metal stakes and will trick him into digging up my leaning the wrong way Oak Leak Hydrangea.  Have given that shrub more than one opportunity to "straighten up" and feel it is time to remove it once and for all. Have commissioned Allie to be my official lawn mower (under the guidance of Kevin) this summer. Thinking Alex might take over when Allie makes her yearly trip to VA.

WOW, a few days off has left me bloggingly verbose---sorry. Stay healthy, safe, and keep in touch.

Love, Mom

Time Off

Taking a blog break.

Stay healthy, safe, and keep in touch.

Love,  Mom

Flowers

Forty-one degrees, no wind, still dark, and expecting a sunny day. Did some trimming of plants, shrubs, and vines yesterday. Could do it all w/o bending, twisting---just a little straining. Do NOT call it gardening but am aware I am "out of shape." Also, took some pics of Crocus plant w/bee busy at work while Robins and Cardinals provided my favorite outdoor music. 

Mass this AM, then home to enjoy more sunshine, visit w/family, and just ad lib the rest of the day. (Did I tell you lately that I am improving (great) each day and will find it very difficult to restrain from activities? Have some Spring organizing projects that will not require lifting, bending, stretching, torqueing, etc. Have been through too much to mess it up over doing.) Terry will be leaving in the AM. Would not have recovered so well w/o her help----thanks Terry!!!!

Stay healthy, safe, and keep in touch.

Love. Mom

Same Song

Twenty-six degrees, still dark, no sound coming from wind chimes or "boys"---nice. Saw some green sprouting out from under the leaves in the flower garden this week---even saw some purple Crocus blooms.

Plan a quiet day, Mass this AM, then home to visit w/family and possibly snuggle w/"boys" in front of fireplace this evening.

Stay healthy, safe, and keep in touch.

Love, Mom

Stuff

Feeling better each day. More sunshine would make it even better. Bring on the sunshine!!! Thirty-nine degrees, still dark, can hear the wind chimes ringing--Brrrrrr. 

Boys are lounging. The were groomed on Monday and still in a recovery mode. The trip to the groomer really traumatizes them.

Off to Mass this AM (beginning of Lent), run a couple of errands and then settle in at home and visit w/family. Terry and I have become Wheel of Fortune groupies---set it to record on the DVR then watch the entire show later in 15 minutes time (sans commercials).

Stay healthy, safe, and keep in touch.

Love, Mom

Blog Break

Taking some time off---still doing well and getting better each day.

Stay healthy, safe, and keep in touch.

Love, Mom

Mass for Pop

 Forty degrees, still dark, quiet...The "boys" are moving slow this AM. They are spending more time outdoors w/the warmer weather.

Kind of find myself in a blog block this AM. Plan to attend Mass, volunteer at rectory, then home to spend time w/Terry and the "bubs."

FYI: Mass being offered for Pop at St. Patrick's Church this morning at 8:00am.

Stay healthy, safe, and keep in touch.

Love Mom

Driving

Off to Mass this AM. Planning to drive to Church. Am anxious to get back behind the wheel. Watch out Wichita, hang on Terry!!!!  Taking things to recycle bins this afternoon and then just letting the day happen. Anticipate warmer weather for the next few days.

Stay healthy, safe, and keep in touch.

Love, Mom

Back in business

Off to Mass this AM and then to MD appt. Appt went well. Released from care and can begin "normal" (e.g. gardening) activities on 04/20/2011. For now, can resume driving, lift no greater than 25#, and just use common sense to not over do activities that cause discomfort. Now, I need to work on what is "normal"---Humm---almost an oxymoron used in a sentence relating to me. Terry is planning on returning home 03/08/2011. Mentioned to Keith she would be leaving the day before the start of Lent. He remarked she was giving me up for Lent. I have recovered so well thanks to all of her wonderful help. Thanks, Terry!!!

Will start back to regular volunteering at the rectory on 03/08/2011 and begin volunteering at the Chancery on Mon and Fri AM on 03/14/2011. All sedentary work but will get me back in the swing of being more active.

Stay healthy, be safe, and keep in touch.

Love, Mom

On the Go

On the go most of yesterday--shopped to restock  dog treats (from stair training), esp. on dog food and heavy items. Some cabinets rearranged to avoid lifting, reaching out/above/down, torquing, etc. Was a busy day.

Mass this AM and then back home to putz. Putzing is my thing---in fact, must say--I putz real well.

Stay healthy, safe, and keep in touch.

Love, Mom