Sprucing things up

Front porch view

 

 

   We have had over 8 inches of rain in the past week! Luckily, we are not in a flood area... I feel for those that are. Our IL home is just 45 minutes from Hannibal, MO and they are preparing to put

in their floodgates this weekend. [Don't know why that sentence is formatted funky!]

 

 

   Fortunately, TM and I have finished most of the outside work in preparation for the upcoming wedding reception in July.

Love my new birdhouses!

 

We have a crew coming in this weekend to build an island deck where an old garage was torn down.

Island deck will go where gravel is... 16' x 16'! Potting/storage shed and fire ring in background...

 



Photo doesn't show the worn floor and banisters...I don't like painting...waa waa waa

 

 TM started scraping the front porch banisters today before we paint, and I worked inside continuing to clean out closets. We took four large bags of clothes to Salvation Army earlier this week. Today I filled two more and still have one more closet to clean. I am purging most of my 'business' clothing I wore while teaching...that is what most of those bags are filled with!

 

 

What an improvement from a few weeks ago! Well, those downspouts aren't too cute but necessary.

 

TM and I drink coffee in these rockers every morning.

 

TM painted my old bike for me. Our sunflowers in the background are growing fast.

 

Deer Valley...

 

 

My hardworking TM just keeps on going and going! Behind him are boards for island deck. He is NOT tackling that project!

 

 

We do have a deck at the back of the house but what the hay; one more can't hurt!!!!!!

 

We are excited about the wedding and reception - can't you tell? Lots of work going on but we can take our time and rest when needed. Loving those naps we sneak in once in awhile, too.

 

 

Remember to Scatter Kindness!

 

 

 



 



TM has heart!!!!!

 

Yep, I must guard the laundry room; it's my job!

 

 

   The above photo is a few years old, but 'The Dawg' is still as cute today! He most definitely is our spoiled fur child. TM and I have had him in our lives since 2002 and he rules us...lol!

 

 

   TM had another nuclear stress test last week and we got the results yesterday. He is scheduled for another heart catheterization Tuesday. We pray it shows no major blockages, but if so at least one(s) that can be stented. TM has been a real trooper the last two and a half years; heart attack and two stents in November 2012, triple bypass in November 2014,and a third stent in January 2015. We know others have worse health problems and we look on the positive side. However, I must confess my emotions hit at the doctor's office yesterday and I cried as he discussed the test results and TM's options.

 

 

   As TM's oldest son's wedding is July 25th [church next door to us and reception on our lawn], TM was thinking about holding off with any procedures right now. We discussed this privately and with my persuasion he decided to go ahead with the cath. We will go from there when we get those results!

 

 

   We both have been working our butts off getting our lawn and house ready for the wedding/reception and the kids/grandkids. Both of us are enjoying the results and are looking forward to seeing the family as we have not been with them in two years!

 

 

   Hey, we are hoping to be able to head south this winter; cross your fingers for us, please and

 

 

Remember to Scatter Kindness!

My Momma , Lela Mae

 

My Momma and some of her great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren...

 

 

 

  A lot has happened since my last entry. First and foremost, my sweet hard-working Momma passed away March 4, 2015. By golly, she hung on to see her 90th birthday February 26th. We had an open house planned but she had another heart attack February 15th and went to the hospital - even though there was nothing they could do as she had decided a resounding NO to any invasive procedures. Her body started shutting down as her heart weakened and several more heart attacks occurred. I have 6 siblings and we took turns being at her bedside 24/7. We did have birthday cake on her big day, and Momma did enjoy a piece of cake. We called hospice on March 3rd and the decision was made to take her back to her residential room in the nursing home. Mom had gone there in October and loved her room. Also, the nursing home is practically in the backyard of my parents' house {Dad passed in 2005}. One of my sisters and I stayed with Momma when we got her to her room the afternoon of the 3rd. All siblings had met with hospice and were instructed on her meds, etc. After everyone else had gone home, Connie, Momma, and I settled in but things went downhill quickly. Momma rested until around 9 P.M. and then became very restless with severe abdominal pain [organs shutting down] - NOT heart pain! As I tended the best I could to Momma, Connie was on the phone with hospice and we administered meds as instructed. Finally, around 11:30 I called the other siblings and told them they should get back to the nursing home. Momma passed away around 12:30 A.M. with several of us at her side. So sad to lose her but glad she is not suffering. Lela Mae, we love and miss you, MOMMA!

 

  On a happier note, we are getting our home/lawn ready for a wedding and reception July 25th! TM's oldest son is getting married in the church next door, and the reception will be on our front lawn. TM and I call Katie our daughter-in-law already, and she and Eric have two sons, so we are excited for them. We'll have both sons' families here for the week from Florida plus other family members will stay in B&B's and area motels as they travel in from Alabama, Missouri, New Jersey, Oregon, and South Carolina. TM's sons' late mother was raised in our small town as was TM - they were in the same class - and her family is all here in the same town or surrounding area, including her mother. We expect 70 - 80 people for the wedding and reception; it will be fun! I definitely need to post some photos of our hard 'landscaping' work. TM tires easily but takes his rest breaks frequently. Do we both ever feel our old bones and muscles complain...HA!

 

  It is darned cool around here lately for this time of the year. We even turned our furnace back on and have used our electric blanket the last couple of nights. How nutty is that? Oh well, in a few days we'll complain about the humidity and mosquitoes!!!!! The rain has sure helped my flowers and plants take off.

 

  I look out at poor neglected Jazzy [our 5th wheel] and think....a few more months old girl and we will head south for the winter...to be continued...

 

 

Remember to Scatter Kindness!!   (and some love,,,)