Snail Mail Surprise and other Tidbits

 

I went to the porch to get the garden cart, to fill with wood, and found 2 boxes delivered.  One contained sugar cookies and chocolate chip cookies, which were sent from Daughter K's boyfriend's mother and grandmother.  What a nice surprise (sent due to the passing of Mom/Grandma).

The other bigger box was sent to Daughter K from the business she works.  It was a grant that they had for employees getting covid.  They were a month late, but it was mostly food, but also contained disinfectant wipes, tissues and chapstick.

We woke up to a very cold morning, snow and a lot of ice.  Lovely.  

My green bell pepper seeds are finally sprouting, as well as some of the hot pepper seeds.  I am looking forward to spring.

Thank you . . .

 

(Mom and Aunt J at her favorite place - the beach)

Thank you all for your condolences, kind words and prayers during this difficult time.  I really do appreciate you all.

I know there will be things/places that will come across in my future that will bring back memories of Mom.  Her favorite travel spots, foods, books, flowers, popcorn from Amish country trips, wine, color....all good memories.

If any of us missed a family get together she would be mad for a few days, but I can guarantee you'd make the next one (ha ha!).

I know there will be things/places that will come across in my future that will bring back memories of Mom.  Her favorite travel spots, foods, books, flowers, popcorn from Amish country trips, wine, color....all good memories.

 

If any of us missed a family get together she would be mad for a few days, but I can guarantee you'd make the next one (ha ha!).

 

It's been a huge whirlwind of grief and emotions.

 

She absolutely loved the crocheted lap afghans I made her and always told me she got so many compliments.

 

I will be donating them to the home where my husband's (recently passed) sister used to live.  Many of the residents are in wheelchairs there.

 

She also bought (because she refused to take anything without) anything I crocheted in heart.  She encouraged me to crochet new things like the XL hotpads, thick dish scrubbies, the newest was the jar openers....just loved anything I made.  

 

One of her friends told me that Mom's purchases filled a drawer, where her friends could come if they needed something to gift (did not know this, ha ha!).

 

 

Heaven Gained an Angel

 My mother passed away on Saturday, February 19th.  It's been a whirlwind of emotions.  I'll be back when I am able to.

Ice Storm ~ New Recipe Tried

Here are a few photos from the ice storm.  The sun was shining and everything looked so beautiful.  These photos do't show the true beauty that it created.

I finally made dinner for us three.  I tried a new recipe too, and it was delicious  - Creamy Garlic Mashed Cauliflower (Ahead of Thyme).  I used home grown garlic and it was so good.  I can't wait to make it with summer bounty and add fresh herbs to it as well.

It's only going to be a high of 20 degrees today.  Our low around 9 degrees.  I can hear the nasty wind whistling outside already.  I tried to sleep in, but yeah 7am was it.  My husband however, is snoring.

 

Ice/Snow Storm ~ Hanging On

Our rain turned to ice, sleet and snow.  It's an ice rink out there today.  Windows are frozen over and we can't even see out them.  There is a level 1 road emergency in place today, and roads are slick, some schools closed, and many, many power outages around our area.  Thank goodness ours is on.

Daughter K has secured an apartment with her boyfriend (until they buy a house of their own).  I hope I'm not repeating myself, but my brain is over loaded with emotions right now.  She's been filling up her car with items to donate before the big move.

We are literally hanging on emotion-wise.  Hospice is taking good care of Mom.  I have been up to sit with her almost daily, and all of us are overwhelmed with a roller coaster of emotions.

Most nights we don't even eat dinner.  I still haven't made dinner, but tonight I will use every last energy zap I have to make something.  I was reminded to take care of ourselves, and eat properly, take breaks, take vitamins, drink kefir (or eat yogurt), and hang on to our health right now.

I was once told that giving can keep your mind at peace, so I have printed a few patterns and wrote a few notes on what I can be giving as a random act of kindness.

On a side note, I discovered one of the employees that works in the nursing home salon, is a friend from high school.  Yesterday I met someone that has worked there for 29 years, and will be there 30 years this coming April.

This and That

The weather is typical for us right now.  It's 55°F and 100% rain. Tomorrow high is 26°F.  We still have snow.  In fact, I had a horrible time trying to muck the coop yesterday.  The huge snow drifts turned into icebergs.  It was halfway done until the snow melts.

I'm gifting my niece and nephew (my younger brother's kids) a crocheted tic-tac-toe game.  It will keep them occupied, and is great for traveling.  The board is a bag that holds the pieces for the game.

It's Finished! Next Project?

The "has been in the closet for years" project is now finished!  I love the border.  You chose yellow for the last round.  It has been washed and is drying to pack up for the next grand child.  It was a fun pattern to do, but a long project.  I am just glad it's done and off the "unfinished" list.

Daughter K picked this yarn out for a house warming gift (full size blanket).  I'm not sure her boyfriend will like it, but ha!  I will need to go back to the store for more, but first need to calculate how much will be needed.

I think I will also buy them a wine rack and some wine.  I have some time to think about it, but the blanket must get started now, as we are heading into the garden season next.

I have a lot to knock off the to-do list, but first outside stuff.  Rain is on the way, and in a bad way.  We  need to cut more wood and get it split, and I promised to cook dinner tonight. 

There is literally so much going on in our minds, we are mentally overloaded.  I wrote down "notepad" on my shopping list, so keep in my purse.  I went to the store and did not mark it off the list, went home without it, and wrote it down again.

I need paper and pen in my purse when visiting Mom.  That way I can write down what she wants to eat if the nursing home doesn't have it.  She has been very nauseated lately. Yes, I know I can put a reminder note or whatnot on my phone, but I forget that it's on the phone.  I'm old school I guess, when it comes to note taking.