DnD Life Updates...scatter kindness and share some joy and it is TM's birthday!

I just love this photo; too bad most of us adults have forgotten the pure sheer joy of just 'being' in the moment! I need to think more like this instead of all the but, buts and what ifs I've fallen into the past year.


Today is TM's 69th birthday! I think this is the last one he will acknowledge...ha! The birthday bunny left a sack of goodies for him overnight: an orange 1965 Corvette [okay, a model one], a miniature toy drone, a warm pair of house shoes, a big bag of Snickers, and a card that plays Jimmy Buffet music! TM is good to go for a while.




TM and I still have our IL home as he had a total knee replacement this past July and I did not want the extra stress of dealing with a listing and possible sell/moving out while he was incapacitated. Plus real estate is just not moving in our area right now unless you practically give it away.  He also has had complications (of course...hmmmm) and just had a Manipulation Under Anesthesia, MUA for short, on said knee last week and has begun physical therapy all over again. Positive side is otherwise we are both healthy and ready to head for our winter home in Florida in December, hopefully!!!!


Several other bloggers I follow have also bought places in Florida and we hope to arrange a meet up with some of them when we get down there. We also will be looking at smaller RV's for camping around FL, lower GA, AL, and MS during winter months. The plan is to eventually sell our IL home, become FL residents, and use the RV to travel north a few summer months to visit family and escape FL summer heat/humidity/hurricanes.


Speaking of hurricanes, our country has had a fair share of them plus wildfires, floods, and crazed people killing others. As I believe in the good of the human race, good will trump bad (ahemmmm)! 


On a parting note, America is a great country (already, still, and will always be so), our people are inherently good and kind, and we will get through some of the darkness that surrounds us at this point in our history. That is all I will say on the subject...


I am enjoying reading the blogs of those winding their way south for the winter! Have safe travels and enjoy, as if you wouldn't...lol!


All of us must
Remember to Scatter Kindness!!! (and some love and joy)

Life Changes

I know that I am such a nonblogger, but I do add a post once in awhile! I only read a very few blogs myself anymore. It's not that most of you don't write interesting post, it's just that with our life changes I don't have much to write about myself that I think is of interest... therefore I just don't check other blogs much!

Grandkids @ Christmas time

A recap of the past few months: we left home with Jazzy in early November and stayed at Betty's RV Park in Abbeville, LA for a few days. As others found out, we fell in love with Betty and had a blast in the area. Then we journeyed to Carrabelle Beach RV Resort, Carabelle, FL for a week and a half to enjoy the quiet beach. Then on to Cedar Key RV Resort outside CedarKey, FL through January 15th. We saw the kids/grandkids several times and enjoyed our stay at Cedar Key.

Our next stay was back in the Big Bend of FL at Coastland RV Resort in East Point, FL. We stayed for a month and then on to Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores, AL for two weeks and then home to IL.


The BIG news is we bought a home in an adult community in FL!

 

It just had all the bells and whistles for us both so we snatched it up! It is a 3/2 doublewide; has a workshop, shed, and two detached carports, an attached double carport, two lots, and an above ground saltwater pool! A major attraction is no monthly HOA fees. We own the lots and pay a very small yearly association fee. We have been looking in this community for 6 years and wished this place was available; so we did not waste time when it came on the market!

So after we got to IL in late March, we loaded a few things in our cargo trailer and went back to  FL for a month to work on our home. Still lots to do but we'll get it done in time. We are close [but not too] to our son/family in Gainesville and 2 hours from our son/family in Sarasota. Close enough but still far enough...smile!

Our home and Jazzy in IL are for sale...time will tell on those two ventures!

Such life changes; my head is spinning a bit!

TM continues having good days/bad days. He went to Northwestern Medical Clinic in Chicago Wednesday and met with a cardiologist. TM had another stress test and we will get results some time today. Hoping for positive results and just accepting what is!

Hey, you all enjoy the good times and push on through the not so good times...and

Remember to Scatter Kindness!

Wedding went well!

Katie & Eric on our front steps

Katie & Eric with our grandsons

 



 

 



 

 

 

 

TM and I enjoying the moment!

The wedding of TM's oldest son took place without a hitch last July in the church next door. All the guests needed to do was walk across the lawn to our house for the outdoors reception. They have two sons who were the life of the party. We enjoyed a full week with all of the family under one roof; this included TM's youngest son and his two children and Eric, Katie, and their two boys. It was a whirlwind week full of action and errands. Everyone seemed to really enjoy the whole event!

 

 

The farmers are winding down with their harvest around here, the leaves are just beginning to change, and the air is definitely turning cooler. It is 44 degrees this morning,,,,brrrrrrrr! Hopefully, we will soon be able to begin our southerly trip......BUT...

 

 

Darn it all to heck, TM's last test was abnormal again!!!!! So, we have a round of doctor appointments next week before we'll know what our options are. TM is in the best physical shape I've ever seen him in, his heart muscle itself is strong with no signs of his heart attack two years ago, but his "plumbing"/arteries are a mess. We are keeping our fingers crossed!!

 

 

TM took our 'outside' cat to the vet this morning for his leukemia shot. When he got the little monster home, I opened the carrier door, he scurried out, and took off as if we had done something wrong! What's up with you guys is the look he gave us.

 

Be safe in any of your travels, and those of you with medical concerns...stay positive and

 

Remember to Scatter Kindness!!

 



Winter plans...crossing our fingers!!!

Winter plans made [sorta'], Jazzy has been gussied up [sorta'], TM's baby [not me...his truck] has been checked over, and we are READY to get going!!! However..........................TM is having another nuclear stress test this coming Tuesday so we are keeping our fingers crossed all results will be positive!!!

Our plans are to visit www.bettysrvpark.com first week in November; we'll be there for the World's Biggest Omelet Festival...whatttt??? LOL. Then on to Alabama for a few nights, Florida Panhandle for a week, and then down to www.cedarkeyrvresort.com for the duration. Hoping we will still be there when The Caves www.dennisdonna.blogspot.com are across the road in March at www.anglersrv.com - maybe share a few adult beverages and swap Illinois stories!

TM is still in cardio rehab 3 x a week after his last stent in July... makes the 80 mile round trip on his motorcycle when he can! We both took off on our bikes a few weeks ago for my first ride all summer. Guess what happened? Yep, my lil' Dyna decided to get stubborn on me. TM and I lucked out as Dyna quit at a nice shady spot on a 90 plus degree day. A nice rural mail carrier {she and her hubby both ride} stopped to offer assistance - went and got us some bottled water and left her number before continuing on her mail route; we so appreciated her stopping and bringing us water [of all days for me NOT to put bottled water in my saddlebags]! Others stopped to ask if they could help; it is nice to still see that in the rural area in which we live. We were only about 45 miles from home, so TM's cousin [lives in same town as us] brought our cargo trailer, they loaded Dyna, I rode with the Cuz and Frank [his dog], and TM followed us back home. Next day TM dropped Dyna off at our favorite cycle cranker shop...www.meanstreetcustomsmc.com and $1500.00 and a few days later she purrs again!!

We spent a few days in Jazzy early September at www.rvonthego.com/indiana/horseshoe-lakes-rv-campground to be close to my family as my 44 year old nephew {his wife is manager at Horseshoe Lakes} died of a heart attack September 8th. Wade was the maintenance guy at the campground, his parents [my brother] are annual site residents and have been for years, his sister/my niece and family are there as much as possible on weekends on their annual site, and as stated Wade's wife manages the campground. His death was so unexpected it just blew us all away! However, everyone has gotten right up and are carrying on just as Wade would expect.

Another niece is expecting her first child late November/early December; we are all super excited over that! She and her brother are twins and today, October 3rd, is their 27th birthdays! Happy birthday, Critters!!!!


 

Cory and Beth [lil Momma to be]



 

Remember to Scatter Kindness!

 



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,,,)