I'm Back!

I have returned - not actually from the dead, but from the heap of dead computer land. Mine died, rather suddenly, a complete and final gasp, leaving me in severe withdrawal pain. I have had withdrawals from prescription meds that were not as bad as this was. I would go to the library and use their computers, but time was limited and not always comfortable if I got one of the ones on a stool.

So to catch up the past few months - I am slowly still healing from the broken leg - able to walk with a cane and my brace. Have healed from my eye surgery - but have little functional healing. Very little sight in the eye and no one knows why. Very discouraging after 5 surgeries, much much pain, and money to have almost no sight in it. But God knows and holds my future, so am waiting to see what the future holds.
Do have a computer, a cast off from my future DIL, but it runs and after de-bugging it, and ordering more memory it is up and running. Am now in process of ordering software and installing and all of that stuff.

The wedding plans are coming right along - will be Sept 6 so already have dress, wishing I could wear pretty sandals, but am happy I can walk down the aisle. Hope I can dance at the reception - at least once or twice.

Many everyday things have gone on - but will stop here - all are happy and healthy - and getting skinnier - have lost about 30 lbs this winter and spring - being home and not grabbing fast food and cokes while out, I think has helped.

Have a great day - weather here was great - 75 today!

Family Matters

I have been a little behind in keeping posts going on here. Have had a lot of family matters going on that have taken up my emotional as well as actual time. Have had my share of doctors appts - they always seem to fall together for the 3 mo, 4 mo and 6 mo checkups. So have been on the doctor merry-go-round recently.

Also have had to deal with family issues in Texas. My beloved grandmother passed away Feb 19 at the age of 99 years, 9 mos of age. We were so hoping that she would make her 100 birthday. But in the last few weeks of her life, it became evident that she probably would not last that long. I was able to catch a last minute flight from Chattanooga to San Antonio via Atlanta. My sister picked me up and we drove an hour to her house where I spent the next day until she finished her day teaching and her daughter finished class and drove up from TAMU Kingsville. Then we hit the road northwestward, spending the night in Fredricksburg. Would have liked to have gotten there earlier to have seen some of the historic town, but was glad to just have a bed to fall into. Got up the next morning and drove another 2 1/2 hours to Abilene. Just throwing in some town names in case anyone reading is from Texas - gotta share my Texas roots! The service was nice - about 3/4's of the chapel was family. After the service one of my cousins had reserved a room at a local restaurant, and a fajita buffet. There were 3 step-sons left of 7, 29 grandchildren, 36 great grandchildren, and 29 great grandchildren. All but 2 of the grandchildren were there - my brother who was in Hawaii - he isn't getting home until today - and one other. It was so nice to see cousins I haven't talked to in years and years. And to see their families, and pictures were flying all around of various families. Everyone wrote down email addresses, and completed family trees so our book can be updated with new additions, new spouses, and all. It really was a celebration of a great family.

I have now come on out west to Andrews, to spend a little time with my dad and step mother. A chance to visit my mother's grave, and just a time to be with my dad. He isn't getting any younger. And we just got word that his brother that was unable to make the funeral, has pneumonia and isn't expected to recover. He lives so far away, they are deciding if another trip is in them right now or not.

Valentine's Day

This past week as I mailed a few Valentine's cards it brought back memories that I think all of us have had at one time or another. Sometime along second and third grade, was the time we really got into Valentine's. Making the boxes that each student put their cards in, but also the anticipation of that one special card - that one that surely was chosen especially for me, as I looked over all of my cards - over and over before picking out the one that would go to that certain person! Surely he was doing the same, then debating whether to write, I Love you, as I too made the decision. Risk writing it and being laughed at? Or finding that he too, at least for one day, felt the same way?

As I received my Valentine's last week, I remembered all of the young folks going through the same agonizing selection. Hopefully someone found their "true love" even if only for one day.

Eye surgery

Well, been there and done that, again! For the 4th time. When my mother told me not to run with scissors, I would fall and poke my eye out - I should have listened. I had my surgery the day after my daughter's birthday (see last post. I would have put it off as long as I could, but knew I had to bite the bullet and go ahead and get it done. So it is done! And hopefully it will be the last for this particular problem. I have a little sight in the eye, but just enough to cause problems. Last night I was going to make a dump cake, and re-read the recipe before going to the store - and I thought it said to put cornflakes in the topping - so like a cook, who hasn't done this one in a while, I bought some cornflakes. When I got home, I used the ingredients for the topping, and realized that it said a cup of something else, and a cup of coconut flakes - not corn flakes! Yuck! I did it again! These things are common for me - and as I sit here and write this, I realized why it was so dry and kinda yucky - I didn't melt the sticks of butter and pour over it before baking!! My brain just doesn't kick into gear sometimes, especially on days I don't feel well and yesterday was one of those. Since I began to get more ill, it is crazy, the things I think and do. My family has to suffer along with me on my crazies. So this is my dear diary entry for today!

Well the sweetest Carebear I have ever known had her 22nd birthday birthday on Jan 21. I was busy getting ready for surgery and didn't have time to post that day. Here's wishing her another 22 and another 22 and so on forever. Maybe someday, and not soon enough for her liking, she will drop the carebear label, but never in my heart. She has been called that all of her life and I still do half of the time when she says hi on the phone.

Yarnfloozies Anniversary

For her blog anniversary, she is having a contest to come up with a rectangular stole to use up some lace weight yarn she has in her stash. I immediately thought of Sivia Harding's Moonshadow Stole. There is a KAL on her Yahoo site featuring this stole now. I wanted to start it, but have waited because tomorrow I am having my 4th surgery on my right eye, in 9 mos. Not knowing the outcome, and how much it will impact my life for a while, I have held off on buying the yarn kit. But if it goes as the dr thinks, I should be back up and running soon. Keep me in your prayers.

Dishrag or dishcloth - topic of the week

When I was growing up, we always called them dishrags. Using that word now, brings back memories of when I was a child running around in the house, and being called to get a dishrag and clean off the table, or set the table, or help with the dishes. I often, when not concentrating on it, use the word still today - college education put aside! My MIL used the word all of the time, and so does my husband. So I think it is a Southern word that is used still today in many households. Would be interested to read a Northerner's blog and see how they feel about the word.