just a thot

“In youth we learn, in age we understand."

Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach

schedules

It rained last night so the world was washed clean when I ventured outside at 6 a.m. for my hour walk! It smelled so good - this is becoming my favorite time of day. For years it's been the late-late hours of the night that I loved but I think that's changing! This is the time of day I want to carry my camera every step of the way - sunrise is amazing and wonderful - see what you can learn even when you've been around for a year or two or three or four!

I had to stop and grab my camera when I got home - the flowers were so gorgeous.

Still working with my mom/grandma - she's improving but 'oh-so-slow'! This go-around has been extremely hard on her physically and mentally. Home-Health has physical therapy coming in to help strengthen her and help her to be safe in her home. The therapist wants her walking around the home with a walker as he has another client that fell and they didn't find her until the next day! Scary! She has a nurse coming in twice weekly to help her bathe and take her vitals. We ventured down several days ago and had her staples taken out and the doc said he wanted her doc in town to keep a close watch on her as she's taking so many medications! "This getting old is getting old!" . . . I can hear my dad now - his favorite saying as he was getting close to 90 years old! I slept at my mom's house for two weeks and finally came home the other day to sleep in my own bed - so nice to be home again. She's doing more and more for herself but still relying on food to be brought in as she has no desire to cook - no appetite at all! I call her several times a day and go in and check on her as well.

I've put myself on a schedule! I find myself 'meandering' from thing to thing in the summer time and get nothing accomplished - so decided to get on schedule with exercise, blogging, photography and many other things that just don't get done - like getting out of my 'slob-clothes' and get myself ready for the day early in the morning rather than afternoon! I get more disfunctional as I get older - shouldn't it be the other way around? What's up with me?! At least, for the past two months, we've gotten our eating on track and now must get the exercise in order as well. I've lost over 20 lbs and Bob has reached nearly 30 lbs lost - but he works out like an obsessive-compulsive dude - he's actually training for the triathlon in August!

Well, since I'm on a schedule - I better get going and eat my breakfast and shower. Nice talking to you. You have a GREAT day now, hear!

Take time to 'smell those flowers' . . . and take a few photos!

monster clouds / journal updates

sunday reflections on my world - mosaic monday

It's been some time since I've participated in Mosaic Monday over at Mary's place - nice to be back!

HOME SWEET GARDEN - our flowers are finally 'bursting at the seams' - "Houston, we have flowers!"

NEWBIE - haven't done any macro lately - nice to just walk around the yard with the sound of the waterfall in the yard!

MACRO 1

MACRO 2

SUMMER ARRIVES

COUNTRY ROADS - road out on the 'bench' to let the dogs romp in the fields and caught this sight!

PATCHWORK - a little wheat, a little potatoes - that's what we're (Idaho) all about!

SUNKISSED WHEATFIELD - when the sun sets it gives everything and everybody a little 'kiss'!

WINDMILLS - this photo was taken on Rexburg bench looking south at windmills in Idaho Falls, some 25 miles away!

home health care, berta-style (part 2)

Hope you had a GREAT 4th of July - photo above is taken on my way to town - I named it "Land of the Free and Home of the Brave" - in honor of the holiday!

July 4th and you would think "I" would be at the Independence Day Parade and celebration! No! Remember, "getting grandma back on her feet" is my current mission! This will be the first time both Grandma and I have missed the July 4th parade since 1972 (for me) and 1978 for my mom - but we WILL survive.

4:28 a.m.

Just finished helping mom to the bathroom - she's doing better. I suggested a novel idea to her - go to the bathroom right before you're ready to turn the lights out, that way you don't have to get up as often! It's working - otherwise, she would have been up (3) times rather than once.

In thirty minutes, Bob will be getting up to drive down to Main Street (with chairs) to save places on the parade line - years ago, that would have unnecessary but our little college town is growing and growing so you have arrive early to make 'claim' on your parade spot! I will miss all the fun today. I love Independence Day and all it stands for! My eyes tear up every time I think about the sacrifices that were made for my family and I to live free and independent and worship according to the dictates of our own conscience (or something like that!). That being said, I'm going back to "couch" (bed) and get some well-needed sleep! How peaceful it is this time of morning!

4:56 a.m.

NOTE: Dawn is just over the horizon - up until now there was utter and complete silence. At the first crack of dawn the bird population is coming to life - chirping everywhere - started with just one, now the entire population is joining in! Sweet - need to take a lesson from nature and arise early as the early bird gets the worm!!!!!! Good morning but actually think I'll get some shut-eye!!!

8:00 a.m. - CONFESSION:

You may find this a strange way of celebrating the 4th of July (looking at cars!) but in my own way, it's what America is all about - free enterprise, entrepreneurial spirit, creativity and passion! Several weeks ago, Bob and I went to a local car show in our small town. I'll bet this is something you didn't know about me, I LOVE CLASSIC CARS AND CAR SHOWS! Love them! Always have. While raising our family, we had two 57' Chevys in our garage - at one time! Those were ONLY two of possibly hundreds of cars we've owned! That being said these are a few of the many cars we saw!

The photos below are, by far, my favorite in the entire car show - they were totally restored mechanically but not cosmetically. They caught my eye immediately upon seeing them and I fell in love! I usually give my photographs a name, thus you see the label above the photo - fyi!

"TAYLOR" the CHEVROLET



TREASURED


FRIENDS


HONEY

SOME CLASSIC HOOD ORNAMENTS

home health care, berta-style (part 1)

“This ain’t fun.

But you watch me, I’ll get it done.”

― Jackie Robinson

I AM NOT advertising in any way, fashion or form, but for the past week I have been doing "berta-style-home-health-care" for my mother who had emergency surgery Monday of last week. Dude, at this point, I am ready for retirement, ready for greener pastures! My rational is that I spent 37 years raising 7 children and I'm DONE - so I thought. Guess what? Life throws you a curve and I'm right back into 24/7 caring for another human being, namely - my mother!

I won't sugar-coat it - it's been hard and even harder on her! Life is a B*%CH sometimes (I'm not a searing-woman) but actually, that's what life is all about - twists and turns! I think I was feeling a bit too comfortable lately - getting to exercise, getting a new mountain bike, making plans for my July vacation from guitar and wedding in California in August - and so most, if not all, will be put on hold until Grandma Alice is up on her feet again!

My mom is 87 years old and I have suppressed, for some time, what will eventually come - thinking she would continue on as usual being her independent, feisty self! Things can change in a heart-beat, in an eye-blink, in a nano-second! This blood clot that found it's way to her leg has been a bugger - recovery-wise. The will to come back and fight for what remains of your life is hard. Blood thinners, twelve different kinds of medication and lack of appetite (I think I would be exaggerating to say she is getting 200 calories a day - if we're lucky!) plays havoc with a body - not to mention the 29 lbs of fluid she picked up in the hospital thanks to IV fluids.

I feel fortunate that my 87 year old mother has a good friend she walks with each and every day - her name is Ruth and she's 93 years old! Ruth called my mom tonight and she (Ruth) sounded like a young 65 year old on the phone full of energy and life! How cute is that? Ruth is computer-savy and has a Facebook account! Well, I think the conversation was a good one as they spoke on the phone. My mom decided to come out of her room, sit in the wheel chair in the front room and read a book on my Kindle. She hasn't read a thing for over a week and now she's got her head buried in the 'pages' of the Kindle with renewed interested! A big shout-out to Ruth!

where on earth have I been . . . .

(SEE UPDATED POST BELOW)

Good question! I don't know what happened to me - just taking a break (I guess!) and I've missed blogging immensely and yet I got so many things done - got to bed early, exercised (yes, exercised). Many things have happened in the last month. Will try and catch up but I may have to grab my calendar and do a few updates.

6 of our 7 kids are showing up for our little family reunion and July 4th celebration but I won't be able to interact with them a lot as I'm with my mom until she perks up. Griffin and Katrina are the only ones not able to make it as they are in Utah with her family. I'm a little sad about missing everyone - but you do what you have to do. Cort and Ash will be leaving in the morning to head to her brother's wedding in Washington. Tyler and Nicole arrived from Reno and will be with us through July 4th. Cameron showed up this morning with Leah - Whit and Schuyler will be here tomorrow evening and head to the parade for some real fun!

Still been shooting LOTS AND LOTS of photos and have some exciting news to share - more magazines calling to use photos in their publications - so honored and humbled! It's been fun. More on that later.