Pioneer Life

 Today is a busy day.

It's my daughters 37th birthday.

So I'll be making her a birthday dinner that she can take home after she picks up the kids.

Homemade Vegetable Tortillini Soup

Homemade Skillet Bread

Homemade Cherry Crisp

It's also Friday which means scrambled eggs and toast and bacon for the grandkids for breakfast.

It's also bathroom cleaning day, changing our bedsheets and catching up on laundry.

I need to salt the front sidewalks which are very icy and I'll need to check the dryer vent and furnace exhaust to make sure they aren't buried under a snow drift next to the house.

The snow is almost 3 feet deep in our backyard so I have started a Squirrel feed box.

I watched as one Squirrel tried to climb down the tree into the snow and as soon as it's little paw hit the snowbank and sunk, it quickly turned around and scrambled back up the tree.

So I'll need to check on that Squirrel box too. 

I keep it loaded up with peanut butter crackers, sliced apples, sliced oranges, and sunflower seeds.

The bird feeder looks frozen solid so I better check that out while I'm out there.

Feeling like a real pioneer wife today...lots to do on the homestead.

Except that I don't have to chop wood or break the ice in the river to heat and make water, you know...like those folks in Texas.  (too soon, eh? sorry)

Don't mean to be flip. I laugh and crack wise to alleviate my anxiety.

Hope Dan Tucker brings home something good for supper.

Thanks for reading,

Love, Lolly

Waiting for March

 It snowed glitter today.  Bright, silvery, shiny, glittery flakes. It looked so beautiful.

The snow is drifted 3 feet deep in the front yard and looks like it is covered in diamonds.

Temperatures have been brutally cold for the last few weeks with many days being below zero.

Today the real feel temperature is -10 degrees but the sun is shining so it looks warm outside.

This winter feels like it is never ending and more snow is predicted over the next few days.

Covid, remote learning and shopping for groceries on-line have kept me virtually housebound.

There's nowhere to go anyway so the weather hasn't really been an issue.

In two weeks my husband will be having Thoracic spine surgery at RUSH in Chicago.

I hope the snow lightens up so we can safely drive in to the city. 

To be honest I'm more concerned about driving in the snowy weather than his surgery.

We found one of the best surgeons in the USA for this type of surgery and I am thrilled.

Dr. Kern Singh teaches other Orthopedic Dr.'s how to do this rarely performed surgery.

Our son is coming home from St.Paul for the week to help us out and he has a friend with an  apartment just 3 minutes from the RUSH Medical campus just in case we need a place to stay.

Our daughter took two days off of work and will be in charge of our Chihuahua back home and will also be doing the remote learning with the grandkids (her OWN kids).

Our son-in-law, a firefighter/medic, also has a few days off after the surgery in case we need his help.

I want the surgery to be over already and to be back at home playing nursemaid.

(Remind me of this when I next post about him being a horrible patient and him accusing me of acting like Nurse Ratchet....both of which will be true).

Hope you are all staying healthy!

Thanks for reading,

Love, Lolly

Auld Lang Syne

There comes a time when one must get up out of her chair and do something.

Should I join the resistance? Or just watch the whole world burn outside my window?

Should I pray or Meditate? Or have I done enough if I just get my kitchen cleaned?

Will today be the day that I start my new Yoga practice that I told myself I'd start in January?

Or did I already overexert myself by bending over to put on my socks?

Maybe I should pick up a book and read something.   

(my god! When did I stop reading???)

My gratitude list took a huge hit these past four years. I have to force myself to write in it.

Sunrise? yeah, yeah, it's pretty and all, but....meh. How many sunrises can one be grateful for?

My mind cannot settle on one thing. It is hard to be still and know. 

Jesus, who saved me so profoundly 10 years ago, is silent in my mind and in this world.

I miss Him with a passion that I cannot quite name. 

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Living in todays society as an Empath is becoming harder to bare.

I am isolated but truly that is ok with me. I am not lonely.

There is a lot that is broken in my world, and in the world at large.

The dog injured her good eye and has been to the Vet twice for treatment and care.

My husband has had a herniated disc in his T-spine since October. The pain is driving him mad.

The dryer and oven are not working and both need to be replaced.

Covid is raging across the land and I am fearful for my family members.

There is a lunatic in charge of the United States and he needs to be removed....NOW.

I've gained more weight than I care to talk about and I haven't cut my hair in a year, so, you know, I'm looking pretty fly right now.

I miss the sound of the ocean, riding our Harley on country back roads, and camping in our RV.

I miss the smell of my grandsons head and I miss pinching the tiny little butt of my granddaughter as she runs up the stairs squealing with glee.

I miss the smell of the library and strolling the aisles looking for a good book to read.

Gawd! I miss reading!!!  I hope that desire comes back soon.

I miss walking the grandkids to school, family get togethers, and using my dryer.

And I miss normal, whatever that is.

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Wanna know what I don't miss?

Grocery shopping. The humidity of Summer. Small talk at after school pick up. Weeding gardens. Old friends that we used to hang out with who are now avid supporters of that nincompoop in DC.

Hmmm...maybe I don't miss normal that much after all.

Thanks for reading,

Love, Lolly

On a Friday in October

The dog has an appt. to go to the Vet. Her left eye is watery and squinty. She is blind in her right eye.

The Vet gave me an "Emergency Appt" slot at 6:15 and will charge me $100.00 in addition to the cost of the OV, eye exam and probable prescription.

They told me to bring a book, that I must remain in my car and I must remain in their parking lot and that I would be waiting in excess of one hour.

I feel their Emergency Appt fee is excessive and also I feel like they are penalizing me for my dogs emergency. It feels wrong to me. And I'm a bit salty about it.

******

There is a dead mouse somewhere in my basement and the smell is slowly taking over my house. Ack!

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My 7 yo granddaughter pee'd her pants twice today. The second time she ran past me the odor of foul urine almost knocked me backwards.

She has an emergency appt at the pediatrician's office today at 3:00.

FYI- They aren't charging an extra $100.00 for that appt.

******

Neither one of us slept very well last night. Today we feel a bit grouchy. Early to bed tonight (I hope).

******

We haha HE winterized our RV last night while I watched Joe Bidens Town Hall on TV.

Please Dear God...if YOU are up there in Your heaven...PLEASE. Please save us from this nightmare.

I just don't know what I am gonna do if Biden/Harris don't win November 3rd. Seriously. It scares me.

Birdie? Make up the spare bedroom. Oh wait. I forgot. Canada is closed to the USA.

Well shit.

*******

I also found out today that my grandson hates the smell of chocolate. 

He likes the taste, but hates the smell. He said that he holds his breath the whole time he eats it.

Uh...that's funny I thought to myself.  I eat chocolate the exact same way.

Oh. Wait. No I don't. I inhale it. That's not the same at all.  LOL

******

I think that's it for now.

Love, Lolly

Morning Meditation

 Every morning I light a candle and turn on my salt lamp...

Open one living room window no matter the weather...

Turn on Spotify and listen to Yiruma or Helen Jane Long...

Drink my coffee with way too much creamer...

Write down 3 things I am grateful for...

Read my devotional...

And remember to breathe...just breathe.

Love, Lolly

Sweet September

The temperature outside this morning was a lovely 66 degrees.

I had a scheduled grocery pick up at Walmart for 7:00am. 

The grandkids would be here at 7:30am  for E-Learning.

I dressed myself in a T-shirt and yoga pants and headed out the door.

It wasn't until I was driving that I realized the humidtiy outside was 97 %.

Gah!!!!

Welcome to my version of pergatory....September and it's humidity level.

September and it's cobalt blue skies, yellow leaved trees, lower temperatures,

And humidity levels that'll kill me one day.

September with its apple orchards and sunflowers and first days of school,

And it's humidity levels that render me useless.

September...my birthday month, cheerful Mums on porches, Labor Day picnics,

And it's humidity level that ruins my attitude and my outlook on life.

Not really but....oh who am I kidding! Yes it does.

I've got stuff to say, nothing earth shattering 

but I feel like my voice is coming back.

As soon as I can peel my hot sweaty self off of this couch, I'll be back.

Love, Lolly

Look and see

• The crystal blue/clear color of pool water
• The smell of chlorine and sunblock on skin
• Green iridescent Hummingbirds feeding on my red Bee Balm
• White puffy clouds floating overhead as I laze in my sister's pool
• The sound of a lawn mower and the smell of freshly cut grass
• The hilarity and laughter of happy grandchildren
• McDonald's Happy Meals for lunch with extra fries and apple slices
• A bright yellow Finch with a coal black stripe on it's tail feathers
• Rain pouring so hard it obscures the houses across the street
• White Chocolate Ice cream with a Raspberry Swirl
• The lime green color of leaves in direct sunshine
• The sticky burning hot acrid smell of fresh tar being put down
• Puddles on the porch and the scent of rain still in the air at dawn
• Romaine lettuce, Parmesan cheese and croutons for Caesar Salad
• Beach towels dried with wool balls scented with lavender & lemon e.o.
• Cool and creamy Caramel Macchiato coffee creamer in my refrigerator
• Homemade Bread & Butter pickles brining in a quart size Mason jar
• Black storm clouds moving in with flashing lightning and thunder
• Answered prayer and favors granted...even tho Jesus is still as silent as stone.

Love, Lolly