Tag Archives: Baking and Confections

Let’s Go Get Happy

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How many of you are truly happy? Don’t really have any issues going on? Everything in your life is going as planned? I was watching this TV show tonight and the man who was in love with one woman  was going to marry the another  woman.

Yes, you get the idea. I was watching a pre-taped soap opera. I know, but give me a break. I have been watching this same show since I was in the 7th grade. It’s kind of hard to give up habits that make me drool and dream about what I wish was going on in my life.

Oh no, I didn’t mean I want to be involved with someone who doesn’t love me. I am talking about the fairy tale dream that I will live happily ever after with that hunk of a man who makes me melt when I see him enter the room.

When the hunk on the soap didn’t marry his love his daughter from another relationship made the comment that sort of hit home with me. His daughter said, ” Let’s go get ice-cream.” The dad replied back, ” Yes, let’s go, let’s go get happy.”

Is that all it takes to get  happy? Just one frivolous thought, a simple gesture like getting ice-cream? Of course, I could replace ice-cream with any word I want, but is it truly just a mind-set. A turn of the mind and everything is on its way to healing?

If this is true, then why don’t I toss my values out the window and go have some fun. Like getting in my car and going to get ice-cream.

ice cream wallpaper

 

Another Old Day

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Please forgive me for continuing on the same topic day after day. I try adding some variety by writing poetry because I know I am digging the bucket deeper in the sand speaking about Al so much, but it just seems I can’t help it.

This morning I got him up and he had that stare face again. He didn’t motion to try to get up. No body parts moved. I immediately asked him if he was alright and would he like to stay home.

He must have feared staying home because he tried real hard to move but nothing went. It was like someone poured cement over him through the night. I pulled him to the sit position and changed his brief and out to the table we went.

I sang a silly made-up song maybe partially to deter my own sorry mind, but also to try to get a response out of his masked face.mask

Once he was seated at the table the first words out of his mouth were, ” I don’t want any breakfast.”

” Oh bud can’t you find it in yourself to eat something small so you can take your medications on a full stomach?”

He ignored me. I started rambling off a list of things he had choices of for breakfast.breakfast_menu_06 Eggs, french toast, waffles, sausages, fried bologna sandwich, toast, pancakes. Nothing seemed to interest him. Then I had to dig deep, and be creative. I looked to the forbidden sweets list. I named cookies, pound cake, ice-cream, donuts and cherry turnover.

Bingo, he stirred on Cherry Turnovers. I had been to the grocer yesterday and these were on sale so I picked them up for his sweet tooth. I thought, this isn’t good starting off with sweets, but what the hell. If he is wiling to eat it, then so be it.cherry turnover

He ate all of this and a small glass of milk.

I got him cleaned up and dressed.

The weather changed so quickly he had to wear a jacket this morning. I placed him in front of the television so he could bitch about the news. I cleaned up the kitchen and packed his lunch and put his car in his bag for his show and tell and when I put it on the back of his wheelchair, he was sound asleep.

I know there are no real answers about Al’s illness but I have a gut instinct. People say we should listen to our own gut feelings. If I do this now, I would have to say Al doesn’t have much time left. Therefore I will focus my energy trying to dote on him, making him as comfy as possible and I will continue to pray for peace and comfort as we ride this ride into heaven.amber-waves

Daily Prompt; Three-Tenths

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http://dailypost.wordpress.com, DP, Daily Prompt

Scribble down the first ten words that come to mind. Pick three of them. There’s your post title. Now write!

Photographers, artists, poets: show us HAPHAZARD.

I wish I could take a nap this afternoon, yes!

I have been busy since I got up this morning. I got up a half an hour before Al did. I slapped some water on my face to open my eyes. Brushed my teeth. You see it is my fault I am tired today. Usually I can place the blame on caring for Al or my age. Last night my son and his family and a couple of friends came here in the evening.

A fire was started in the pit. Watching the glow caused conversation to flow easily and with checking on Al and snacks, medicine and good times I never crawled into bed until almost 1 in the morning. This is definitely against my body clock. Even when I went to bed I could still hear the chatter and laughter outside my window as the gathering still was in gear.

I got dressed and started the coffee. Then turned on the TV for Al so he could find something to bitch about besides his illness. I got Al up and washed him. Put a clean brief and clothes on him and pushed him in his wheelchair to the kitchen.

Then Rhino, our fat cat heard voices and he had to be a part of our breakfast club. He mewed and I kept saying, “not now, later, no petting during cooking breakfast.” I think he was ignoring my request. He is so impatient when it comes to him.

Al wanted pancakes and sausage and one glazed doughnut. Along with orange juice and milk and his medications he and the cat ate their breakfast. Al wanted in his recliner after brushing his teeth.

He has been sitting and dozing for about two hours now. While he was taking it easy I dumped the cat box and put new litter in it. I swept the kitchen floor. I cleaned Al’s bathroom and made his bed.

I made those two recipes this morning. Remember the ones I posted last night? Sausage Casserole and Chocolate Chip Gooey Cake. Those took a while but they turned out looking pretty.

Now I am here taking a few moments to check-up on you and write this. Next I will be in changing Al’s brief and considering lunch ideas with him. After lunch he may try to squeeze a short nap in. This is where my wish comes in. I want to take a nap this afternoon too. Yes, it would be perfect timing, but alas, I will not be able to.

I will be getting Al’s clean clothes and brief out and getting clean clothes on myself because he has an eye doctor appointment this afternoon. We shall figure out how much more vision he has lost since last October. I know it is going to be a difference as he can not see handwriting anymore.

When we get home he may want to take another nap and then I might get lucky as they maidsay and take a few winks myself.

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The 24 Hour Kid In Me

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English: Off road gas golf cart.

I did something last night I have not done in so long. I laughed so hard I almost peed my pants. My son and his family came down a bit before dark. We lit a campfire and everyone but me made  smores. It was so much fun to watch the kids light their marshmallows and burn them. Watching them go up in flames made the four-year old giggle until he tasted the charred. Then he didn’t care for it much and gave the roasting stick to his Mom.

We chatted and laughed for a couple of hours. Most of the time my mind darted to Al and wondered how he was doing that evening. It wasn’t as if I hadn’t seen him lately. I had seen him actually that day at noon.

For some reason I feel guilty when I am laughing. I know that he is sad and depressed, so how dare me know this and put the sadness aside for a while. I couldn’t help but get involved with the innocence of kids and join in when they laughed.

After a while I did something else I had never done. I let my son talk me into a midnite ride with his family through our addition on a golf cart. Now I have to be honest, there really wasn’t room for me. I begged not to go, partially because I forgot how to have fun, and I knew that only one butt cheek of mine was going to fit comfortably. My son and his g/f scooted close together and then I gave in and took a seat.

Oh my gosh, the smell of wood burning and the fresh air must have turned me back into my childhood. As we rode through the fresh air, I could feel breeze hitting my cheeks. I felt free. Free from the world, free from problems. Free from myself. We rode all around and every time I turned around I heard my name,”Grandma”.

It was awesome. I was connecting with young people. I am not usually good at that, but for this night I was. Seeing their innocent faces, their unrehearsed laughter, listening to all they wanted to tell me, engulfed me with what I have craved for so long. A family, one of my kids and their kids. It was Over the River and Through The Woods to Grandmother’s House We go. But there was no snow, nor coats, hats and boots.

Today we celebrated my youngest son’s birthday. It is actually the 29th, but that is a work day so we had a cook out today. My son smoked chicken and steak with mushrooms on the smoker.

His g/f made home-made mashed potatoes and macaroni and cheese. There was also fresh green beans and fresh corn. I  provided a relish tray with dip, a Birthday cake, complete with ice-cream{Birthday Party Cupcake Flavor}, nuts, whip cream and Hershey’s chocolate. After all that we still chowed, well the little ones more than me. I have to watch my sugars. But they chowed down on home-made banana graham cracker pudding.

It wasn’t an hour after we cleaned up the kitchen the kids were back at eating again. How do they do that and where do they put it?

After their tummies were finally full we pulled the badminton set out from last summer and set it up. We all played and laughed hysterically as we each missed the hit. I have not laughed so long and so hard for many months. My cheek muscles were sore from smiling so much. My stomach hurt from laughing.

I just know that for me, it was the best 24 hours I have spent in I don’t know when. Don’t worry Bud I will be there tomorrow. A regular day once again, a regular routine for the week.

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Interesting Day

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When I arrived today to see Al, he was crying and so upset with the staff. He and I had talked yesterday about him trading his diet hot cocoa in and drinking a glass of apple juice instead since it is warmer outside.

He evidently tried doing it for lunch but they wouldn’t let him. Two nurses showed up at his table once they saw Al trying to explain to me what was going on. They didn’t know why he couldn’t have the juice. Maybe it was too much acid with the daily orange juice at breakfast. Maybe he couldn’t have the hot chocolate and the apple juice.

Both nurses told Al and me that they would ask the proper person on Monday. I begged them to let him have the juice. This was his birthday party after all and one glass would not hurt or kill him I thought, but they would not budge.

So it didn’t make a real good start to Al’s birthday party. Eventually he gave it up when he began eating his cake and ice-cream. I didn’t hear anything else about it as he was opening his gifts I gave him. I bet the facility hears about it at supper tonight though.

Al smiled a few smiles for me and then he got tired and started to hurt. That ended the party and I cleaned up while an aide helped him go potty. I sat with him while he and I watched TV and then he fell asleep.

I told him I would be back later and that I loved him. I think all in all he enjoyed his special time. Here are a few photos I took of him today.

al's birthday cardA singing birthday card that got a good smile out of him when he listened to it.

al's birthday partyGetting ready to open a gift after eating some cake.

Al's carOne of his gifts that got another smile.

Al's car 1His other car that got a big smile.

After I left Al sleeping I stopped at a local laundry mat and dropped off my winter comforter to be cleaned. I couldn’t believe they were or are going to charge me $15.00. The prices sure have risen. But, I can’t fit it in my washer at home so I guess I will pay it.

I also stopped at a yard sale that was close to my house. I found these and placed it on my website for sale. I will give you the link if you would care to look at anything. Everything is negotiable if you are interested. If you want to pay the S&H for your area, I will be glad to mail it to you.

black vaseWell I guess you get to see a bit of background of my house in this.

An oval photo of a military man in a bubble glass frame

the immigrantsA small paper book about immigrants.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/483462575009756/

If any of you can help I would appreciate it. Even a donation of a coffee would help.

http://www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/too-much-pain-and-too-little-money/55964

 

oval picture

 

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Golden Glow

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Photo of Rosa 'Gold Glow' at the San Jose Heri...

Did you see her walking by

A twinkle in her eye

The stride in her feet

Grabbing the ground to meet

I saw a glow from a far

I wonder who you are

What brings that smile I see

I want one for me

Please tell me who did this

To give the spring of kiss

I stop her in her track

And I tap her on the back

Please tell me I have to know

What gives you the golden glow

Oh this is easy to say my friend

What gives me this I will lend

It is such a piece of cake

I walked around the lake

I saw a group of people

They formed a sort of steeple

There was a man inside

Who had absolutely nothing to hide

He said please believe in my word

You can trust me he assured

I am the son of God

I have been here sent with my rod

To gather all around

To bow down to the ground

Please ask for your sins

To be let go to the winds

Then I will remain with you

I will help you in all I do.

Terry Shepherd

03/13/2013

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