Monday morning Snowbird will have an operation to fix what has been ailing her for a few years -- her tail feathers. Finally! It has been a long time coming, but doctor determined that L5 needed to be replaced. After many injections and final testing, doctor felt this was the best recourse. Hospital stay will be about four days, two weeks with constant assistance at home and another four weeks to finish recovery. It will take a year for the replacement to totally heal. Snowbirds goal is to be able to walk a couple miles a day again. God willing, I'll reach that goal. Everything with time.
So I'll be out of the nest for a few days, but will be back in again by next weekend and, hopefully, will post again within a few weeks. Who knows, recovery might lend itself to some healthy knitting time. That is if I can knit without sitting for long periods of time. I'll have to think about that and what I can use in my nest to help me knit.
Until the next post.....
Snowbird
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Autumn Has Arrived - Happy Fall !
Okay, I'm a day late, but I'm thrilled that one of my favorite times of the year is here -- AUTUMN. It is a time when God lets the trees rest. That has always been my thought. When they begin their rest, the greatest colors and smells abound. I don't sense it so much in the Deep South, but in Michigan the senses are on overload. I miss this time of year in the North. I use to go and sit in piles of leaves just to take in the smells. Check out Michigan.org and the nice little salute to Fall in Michigan.
My other favorites are pumpkins, apples and all those good Fall bounties. Apple and pumpkin pies. YUMMY! Big sister made a homemade apple pie from Michigan apples last weekend. Too good for words!
I have brought out my little scarecrow to put on my hearth. He has a little chalkboard that he holds that says "Happy Fall" and is fiber-optic. Going to hang my lit Fall wreath in the dining room and take in all that is good for this time of year.
Can't wait for Thanksgiving! A wonderful time to end the colorful season and be thankful for all that God has given me and my family throughout the year.
I hope you enjoy this time of year as much as I do because it also gives me license to go full swing with knitting. I have a few projects on the needles and all will be completed soon for another post.
Happy Fall!
My other favorites are pumpkins, apples and all those good Fall bounties. Apple and pumpkin pies. YUMMY! Big sister made a homemade apple pie from Michigan apples last weekend. Too good for words!
I have brought out my little scarecrow to put on my hearth. He has a little chalkboard that he holds that says "Happy Fall" and is fiber-optic. Going to hang my lit Fall wreath in the dining room and take in all that is good for this time of year.
Can't wait for Thanksgiving! A wonderful time to end the colorful season and be thankful for all that God has given me and my family throughout the year.
I hope you enjoy this time of year as much as I do because it also gives me license to go full swing with knitting. I have a few projects on the needles and all will be completed soon for another post.
Happy Fall!
Monday, September 21, 2009
World Alzheimer's Day - September 21
I would be remiss if I did not post about this very special day -- World Alzheimer's Day. I lost my Father to Alzheimer's in 2005. Nothing can describe losing your parent twice -- once to Alzheimer's and then to death. This disease is not only devastating to the Alzheimer's patient, but also to loved ones, family and friends.
Alzheimer's can rob a person of memories present and past. Minutes on a clock can become hours and vice versa. Colors will become faded and unrecognizable. People who are family and friends are now strangers. Simple things to me and you are tasking to an Alzheimer's patient such as buttoning a shirt, tieing shoelaces or zipping a zipper. Places that were familiar are now strange.
Strides are being made in research to help with this dreaded disease, but it seems like more and more people are being diagnosed every day. Can research keep up with the numbers? Is medication enough? Is the protein that may be at the root of this dreaded disease really the cause?
For now we have to depend on our contributions and funding to assist research scientists and doctors in finding a cure and to provide the best medicines available for our loved ones, family and friends.
SUPPORT ALZHEIMER'S RESEARCH !
Alzheimer's can rob a person of memories present and past. Minutes on a clock can become hours and vice versa. Colors will become faded and unrecognizable. People who are family and friends are now strangers. Simple things to me and you are tasking to an Alzheimer's patient such as buttoning a shirt, tieing shoelaces or zipping a zipper. Places that were familiar are now strange.
Strides are being made in research to help with this dreaded disease, but it seems like more and more people are being diagnosed every day. Can research keep up with the numbers? Is medication enough? Is the protein that may be at the root of this dreaded disease really the cause?
For now we have to depend on our contributions and funding to assist research scientists and doctors in finding a cure and to provide the best medicines available for our loved ones, family and friends.
SUPPORT ALZHEIMER'S RESEARCH !
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Road Trip to the Gulf
Today after attending a memorial service for a dear friend that passed earlier in the week, I took a road trip to Dauphin Island, Alabama. A good trip to say the least. Actually took the car ferry from Dauphin Island across to Fort Morgan, Alabama and drove back home.
The ferry ride which was about 45 minutes gave me time to reflect on the day and the future. It also gave me some much needed perspective. Being at the water usually does that for me. I spent some time at Gulf Shores State Park watching the water and the waves. I don't know what there is about the sound. It seems to fixate me. I could of stayed all weekend, but other plans would not allow. Just the short time on the ferry and being on or near the water helped me to wrap my arms around things that have been bothering me for a few weeks. In particular, my upcoming back surgery. I can honestly say I'm ready to have the doctors proceed. Recovery of six to eight weeks seems like a long time, but the older you get, time flies by faster.
Sometimes I wish I could be nearer the water, but not a good thing on the Gulf Coast from June to November. But I will plan more trips to the water in the winter.
By the way, I saw a wedding on the beach at Gulf Shores. How happy that couple must be. I actually clapped from the pier when I saw them kiss. Starting a new life together. I wonder if they knew that others were watching with the serenity of the water and waves as the background music? I hope they have a happy life together. This event kind of made my day better especially with the early morning memorial service.
Snowbird needed the road trip and the water/waves to soothe her soul....
The ferry ride which was about 45 minutes gave me time to reflect on the day and the future. It also gave me some much needed perspective. Being at the water usually does that for me. I spent some time at Gulf Shores State Park watching the water and the waves. I don't know what there is about the sound. It seems to fixate me. I could of stayed all weekend, but other plans would not allow. Just the short time on the ferry and being on or near the water helped me to wrap my arms around things that have been bothering me for a few weeks. In particular, my upcoming back surgery. I can honestly say I'm ready to have the doctors proceed. Recovery of six to eight weeks seems like a long time, but the older you get, time flies by faster.
Sometimes I wish I could be nearer the water, but not a good thing on the Gulf Coast from June to November. But I will plan more trips to the water in the winter.
By the way, I saw a wedding on the beach at Gulf Shores. How happy that couple must be. I actually clapped from the pier when I saw them kiss. Starting a new life together. I wonder if they knew that others were watching with the serenity of the water and waves as the background music? I hope they have a happy life together. This event kind of made my day better especially with the early morning memorial service.
Snowbird needed the road trip and the water/waves to soothe her soul....
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
What Is a True Friend?
What is a true friend? I've found different definitions over the years, but for me, personally, I've divided the people I know into two categories: (1) acquaintances; and, (2) friends. Acquaintances are those who may know you, but do not know your intimate thoughts or feelings as does a friend. I've been told through the years that a "true friend" can taste the salt in your tears.
This past weekend, I experienced the knowledge of categorizing a person as either an acquaintance or true friend. It all revolved around a telephone call with a question and the receipt of three text messages as I was leaving MI to return to AL. The text messages were revealing to say the least even though cryptic or coy. The messages helped me throw the stone over my shoulder so to speak (see previous post). So for now, I have added another to my list of acquaintances. How long are our list of friends versus acquaintances? I guess that's something to think about. Does it all really matter? I like having both.
This past weekend, I experienced the knowledge of categorizing a person as either an acquaintance or true friend. It all revolved around a telephone call with a question and the receipt of three text messages as I was leaving MI to return to AL. The text messages were revealing to say the least even though cryptic or coy. The messages helped me throw the stone over my shoulder so to speak (see previous post). So for now, I have added another to my list of acquaintances. How long are our list of friends versus acquaintances? I guess that's something to think about. Does it all really matter? I like having both.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Folk Lore and Change
Snowbird made a quick trip to her home state of Michigan this past Friday and returned on Monday. It was a whirlwind trip driving up, making a u-turn and coming back home. Trip was dual purposed and all was accomplished.
The trip actually made me stop and think about where I've been, where I'm at now and where I'm going. It's interesting how things really change in 32 years or even 7 years ago when I was there last. It reiterated to me that you can never go home and expect everything to be as you remembered. The home place, schools, streets, stores, roads, to name a few, have all changed. For me it was a realization that time waits for no man and certain things sometimes can not be had again. You only have your memories.
When I was leaving Michigan, it reminded me of a lore I read once: You stand at the seashore with your back to the sea and facing the shore. You throw a stone over your shoulder into the sea to leave everything behind so you can move forward. I essentially did that when I left Michigan, not literally, but figuratively.
Everything that kept me in knots, with the exception of my family, has been left behind. I will visit, but my thoughts and expectations will be different.
I left the red roses to now change to white....
The trip actually made me stop and think about where I've been, where I'm at now and where I'm going. It's interesting how things really change in 32 years or even 7 years ago when I was there last. It reiterated to me that you can never go home and expect everything to be as you remembered. The home place, schools, streets, stores, roads, to name a few, have all changed. For me it was a realization that time waits for no man and certain things sometimes can not be had again. You only have your memories.
When I was leaving Michigan, it reminded me of a lore I read once: You stand at the seashore with your back to the sea and facing the shore. You throw a stone over your shoulder into the sea to leave everything behind so you can move forward. I essentially did that when I left Michigan, not literally, but figuratively.
Everything that kept me in knots, with the exception of my family, has been left behind. I will visit, but my thoughts and expectations will be different.
I left the red roses to now change to white....
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