Ticks, Santa and record highs

So when I went to see Dr. May, just as we drove up to the clinic I felt something in my hair on top of my head.  It was a little uncomfortable and at first felt like a huge red spot from my meds.  Bug looked at it, and no, it was not a huge red spot, it was a tick.  A tick with its head buried deeply into the top of my head.  great.

Bug tried to remove it but was afraid he might break the head off in my head and that couldn't be good.  As I was getting ready to go in to see the nurses we thought maybe they could use some forceps and remove it.  I took my cookies in and talked to the insurance people updating my newly medicare life.  Then I went back to the lab for blood work.  I sat down in Precious's chair and asked her if when she was done collecting her blood samples and flushing my port if she could remove the tick from my head?  She stepped back and looked confused.  It seemed like simple English, "Please remove the tick in my head."

She looked at the other nurse and asked her if she could help remove a tick from my head.  She looked even more confused.  She said, "Tick?  What do you want me to do?"  I smiled and said, "Nothing, I will just name it and keep it as a pet."  That was just quirky enough to get the ladies looking at my head.  They peered and peered.  They moved my hair this way and that.  They tried to pull it out and squeeled.  "His legs are moving, he is trying to burrow deeper!!!" They exclaimed.  They went got help.  They finally found a pair of plastic forceps.  The crowd of nurses discussed what to do.  One suggested that you have to touch it with fire to get it to remove its head.  I told them that besides possibly having caught my hair on fire once before with an ear candle, I would rather that they not involve fire.  Another suggested salt.  Another gave a good pull and off came the body.......leaving the head firmly attached in the skin in my head.  They picked and poked until I told them thank you, that was enough.  Two heads were better then one anyway.  They love me and my quirky sense of humor.  Now that the excitement was over they all went back to try and get cookies before they were all gone.

We went on to lunch at the Farmer's Market Buffet.  Bug looked at my head and was not happy to see the head still firmly attached.  He said we should have used olive oil.  But once I had mentioned the tick to the nurses, there was no stopping them.  

When I got back I told Ann, my nurse for the day about the tick and could she please let Dr. May know and could she please look at it for me.

Dr. May came in did our business and looked at the tick.  She also said that she could not get the head out and suggested that maybe I should go to the Emergency room and have it cut out.  Whoa!!!!  No, I still think two heads are better then one, and I am not going to the Emergency room for some small black spec in my hair.  That and after everyone had helped my head was pretty sore.

Yep, a tick head in my head.  I swear I can find the craziest things in the world to happen to me.  I wash my hair about every other day or so and I never found it.  Oh well.  Update?  Yes there is still a little bit of tick head in my head.  It is slowly working its way out, so really, no worries here.

We will get to Shireen's house tomorrow.  We have taken our time getting here and have gone thrifting at Goodwill's and other stores.  It has been nice taking our time to get here so hopefully that will help my body to adjust and I should be fine when we get there.  All I do is sit in the passenger side of the car.  An occasional look at a map to verify the GPS.  I open waters, mints and snacks.  I crochet.  Yet, when we travel all day long, I get really worn down.  So taking our time to get her seems to be working so far.  A few complications, but heck, I have a tick head in my head, I am used to complications.  I am a complication.  Shireen's Ken is a Med Tech, so I am sure that he can look at it and if necessary removed any little pieces of head left in my head. 

I finished the latest Rick Rirodan novel, "House of Hades".  It is a series that Christopher turned me onto.  I found "The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus" by Frank L Baum at a thrift store.  Yes, the same Baum who wrote the 16 or so Oz books.  He wrote this story in 1902 and I have only read a few chapters so far, but it is beautiful and as wonderful as his Oz stories.  My Mother read and owned all the Oz books growing up and when Harry Potter came out she read those.  She thought of Harry Potter as this generation's Oz.

So as we have driven north we have brought the record highs with us.  You are welcome to those who are enjoying these record highs.  Tomorrow it will be 70 when we get to Shireen's tomorrow.  It will get cold again for Christmas, but it has been nice so far.  I am getting so excited to see all the kids. 

Life is good.  Yes, travelling does bring a few challenges, but not enough for me to stop or to not spend this Christmas with my grandkids.  And any time with my Bug is a gift. 

Oh, Christmas cards.  I have mailed my Christmas cards.  Well, all the ones that I still have addresses for.  When my hard drive quit I lost a lot of things that I had not backed up recently.  Yes, I know computers should not be treated as imperfect, and I do backup, just not as often as I need to.  Obviously.  When I get home, if I have any cards with lost addresses I can simply send late cards.  So if you are wondering why you haven't heard from me via US Post office, it is because I have lost your address.  I know I have printed copies of these addresses somewhere from last year, but I had not found it when we left.  That is one of the problems with travelling over the holidays I don't have as much time at home for holiday doing.  But for this holiday is different and not doing so much is working out just fine so far.

Tomorrow is the grand kids!!!!  Yea!!!!!

 

Heading North

I had my visit with Dr. May today, and all is well.  Well, as well as I can be.  My lab numbers continue to look good.  I talked to Dr. May about symptoms and pain management.  I have been juggling a couple of different pain pills.  I only take one most times even though I can take 1-2 every 4 hours, 1 is enough if I do it smart.  Go ahead in the morning and take something when I eat breakfast.  Don't wait and make it worse, just accept that these are tools and use this smartly.  Doc gave me a couple other tools to put in my medicine cabinet.  We stopped at the CVS and filled the prescriptions before we leave tomorrow.  I might very well need some on this trip. hee hee

We are pretty much packed, just needs to go in the car and off we will go.  I am taking Christmas cards with me.  If I don't get time to write them, I will write them when I get home.  I am so bad, but really, oh well.  I did find one present for my friend Maggie in Houston that did not get mailed.  I will mail it to her when I get home.  I am sure that she will understand and forgive me for the lateness, she is a dear friend I have known since high school. 

I bought cookies for the nurses, but not enough.  Not everyone got a cookie, so I will have to take them again next time I go in February.  Yep, I do not have to go back until then.  Life is good.  Dr. May loved her shawl, Allison loved her scarf.  Geraldine was off for the day so I left her scarf with Dr. May.  I love Christmas.  Shoot, I love holidays of any kind.

I will be heading to bed pretty soon, I want to get a good night's sleep, tomorrow is a long day.  I woke this morning at 4am and could not get back to sleep, but I laid in the bed and just rested watching the time click by.  I did not get stressed out, I just laid there quietly listening to Bug's regular breath, the familiar sounds of the house, the dogs and cats going in and out of their door.  The darkness of night finally gave way to dawn and I got up and fed the animals and went on with my day.  I am always tired, today was no exception.

Christmas carols playing on the stereo
a chill in the air
hot coco
presents in the mail
cards to write
what a wonderful time of year
 

Being Santa

I love giving presents.  I love searching for the perfect thing, or the perfect yarn or material to make presents.  I made scarves, afghans, one shawl, a couple of pillows with Tinkerbell on them, a berka for keeping your head warm under a helmet and pillow cases.  Lots of pillow cases.  Well, here are some photos of some of the things I made:

Yesterday I wrapped each person's gifts and slipped them into pillow case and tied a bright ribbon.  I went through my list and checked it twice.  I couldn't believe I got every present wrapped.  Then I started putting the presents to be given locally in reusable grocery bags and filled a laundry basket.  For presents being mailed, I divided them up into the boxes and called it a day. 

This morning I got up and walked into a room that looked like it had been hit by the Tasmania devil. 

Harley.

There were some Godiva Santas and Reindeer pops in a couple of the boxes, along with a Claxton Fruitcake and some chocolate covered cherries.  Well, the fruit cake was history.  What is it with that dog?????  This is his second Claxton fruitcake he has eaten.  You would think after the first one, he would have had enough, already.  hee hee  Now he had to eat his way through several boxes of Christmas cards, no where near the fruitcake.  Then it would appear that he did find one bag of Santas.  Not a lot, thankfully.  Again, these were no where near the fruitcake.  I guess the fruitcake monster must have gotten a whiff, because he left the rest of Godiva, ripped the box then the plastic bag holding all the presents, then pulled out the one pillowcase with the forbidden fruit, ate through the back of the case, pulled out the fruitcake from the more than adequate sized hole and left only the tiniest slip of the label.

The most upsetting of this entire situation is the fact that Harley only uses part of his brain some of the time, yet he outsmarted me.  We did have a very unpleasant discussion concerning his Claxton fruitcake addiction.  It does not look like my big brother will get his fruitcake this year.  I sent him the chewed bag as proof that I had tried.  He knows about the first cake, so, I don[t think this is going to happen this year.
Harley has the worst gas.
I am just saying.

After cleaning up the mess, and taking many deep breaths, I marched back out to the barn and sewed another pillow case for my brother and then packed the boxes, taped them up and addressed them to my precious loved ones. 

We loaded the car up, completely filling the trunk and then more went into the back seat and drove into town.  Monticello that is.  That is town to me.  Tallahassee is Tallahassee, town, Monticello. 

I had presents to mail and presents to deliver.  The toy felt like Santa's sleigh and I was so happy.  We carted all the boxes in using one of the handy little folding carrier thing Bug found at the Goodwill for $3.  One trip we were able to get everything in to the office.  Who should be in the Post Office, but Denise.  I was so happy, I drug her outside to the toy and gave her the presents.  She told me I shouldn't, but she had that smile that says, thank you and I see how happy you are giving me this present.  And I am.  I love giving presents.  And these are so fun with the pillowcases.  Most of the gifts are home made, or cashmere or fish shirts.  That is mostly what I give as presents.

After I returned to the Post Office I suggested that Bug might want to wander down to the pawn or one of the other stores.  His face broke out in a wide smile and he disappeared out the door.  It is Christmas, but this is a small town and it probably took 15 minutes to wait in line and then give each box over wishing it well on its journey to a loved one.  The Post Office was busy, but everyone was of good cheer and patient.  Smiles and hugs, thank yous, and she was ahead of me were the murmurs of those waited.  We all knew it wouldn't take any longer smiling and being pleasant and helpful to each other then being any different.

Bug appeared back at the Post Office just as I was finishing, with Ms Moon in tow.  What another wonderful Christmas surprise.  I drug her out to the car for hers and Mr Moon's presents.  She is another one of those dear friends that knows that giving is really what is most enjoyable to me.  The three of us wandered around Trader's Marketplace Antique store.  Mary found a beautiful silk scarf, Bug found me the "sweetest, softest robe".  Sweetest?  It is pretty wonderful and I have washed and dried it and I am currently nestled in it as I sit on my Mother's couch, write my post and eat some chicken veggie soup I made.  The house smells rich and homey.  The Christmas presents are wrapped and mailed.  I should be writing Christmas cards, but after the last few days I needed a night off.  I will work on my crocheting and go to bed early.

I have hung a fir wreath in the living room decorated with flowers and pine cones. a glass acorn, bells, a wooden angel ornament and a beautiful brown/gold ribbon that came on a box of Godiva.  It is a big wreath, and it gives us the smell of Christmas without buying a tree.  I have a poinsettia.  One of those new varieties that has pink and red speckled leaves.  We have our Merry Christmas lights up on the carport and I have my Christmas cactus blooming.  I have two beautiful ones, a pale peach and a vivid red/magenta.  They make me smile every time I look at them.  They are out on the screened in porch so are protected, but have better humidity then in the house.  That is Christmas decorating this year.  I am happy.  I have enjoyed everything I have done this Christmas.  I think I will do a little baking when we get home.  I have not made any nut bread, my family tradition, but I can make it and have it for New Year's.  I always make enough bread to last from Christmas into the new year.  So my need for baking will be satisfied.

I will go and see Dr. May tomorrow.  I have the scarves and shawl and will take cookies or cup cakes or something like that from Publix.  Presents.

Here are a couple photos of my two boys, Bob and Harley. 

 And my other two men, Henry drinking water out of my glass and Bug laughing at him.

It is December and cold here, but not as cold as it will be in NJ. 
I mailed my packages
I have my Christmas letter written, the stamps bought, and still a few cards that Harley did not eat.  I can always write them on the road in the car.  maybe
we will see
Jack and Jan called.  They had found their Christmas presents hung on their front door.  They called to tell me how much they loved them.  sigh, I love presents.
life is good
chicken soup good
Christmas presents good
 

Just another happy day

Nothing big to report.  Just living life.  Learning to recognize pain instead of ignoring it.  Learning to recognize when to stop before I drop.  Okay, I am still no better at that than I ever have been.  But now, I stop, okay, I have no choice, but I do stop and rest.  I will not see the doctor until the 17th.  So that is another week I had not planned on.  No problem, just adjusting my perspective.  The weather has been gorgeous, simply perfect.  We broke 2 records for the first week of December.  Not lows, highs, we beat two days in a row records for the high of the day.  The rest of the county is freezing and without  power.  It is snowing and ice every where else, but here, sunshine and warm temperatures.  Okay, it is humid.  Not uncomfortable humid, but it is warm and humid, in December.  I am happy.  So happy

Have I ever mentioned before, I really don't like cold weather?

We have taken bike rides.  Just riding up to Georgia, or just the back roads.  We have been running errands, and on the go, but this weekend, we stayed home.  I simply was exhausted and needed to be home and working on Christmas presents.  I just finished a shawl, an afghan and a scarf.  I have started another scarf, working on another afghan and have 2 scarves going again.  I am also wrapping all of my Christmas presents in pillow cases.   Susan and family were some of the very first recipients, and reasons for me sewing bags instead of decorating with paper.  I wanted to give the kids presents in reusable bags.  Susan has kept them over the years, and now they almost exclusively use my bags for presents within the family.  The previous bags were holiday oriented with pretty ribbons and could be used over and over, but this year, I wanted to make pillow cases this year.  Why?  I don't know

Ever since I found out I had cancer I wanted to make pillow cases.  So finally, all the material I have been collected is being cut and sewn and pillow cases are being made.  I have made about 40 so far, but have been giving them away as presents already, but I am working on a large batch that expands from sweet sleep lullaby to vivid dream cases.  It is simple, and most of it very easy and flexible.  Just the end is important on how careful you are.  I am about at that point with about 40 more cases.  One size, fits most presents.  They can be the presents.  Maybe a mini loaf of banana bread and a pair of pillow cases.  I would love a present like that.  I realize that the colors might not match my friends colors, but I still think they will enjoy looking at the colors and patterns, feeling the combed cottons and smile while they think about a sweet nap in the sunshine, or falling asleep under star light with these hand made pillow cases.  A simple thing in life, but if right, it can will give you a restful nights sleep and a sweeter next day.

Pillow cases
they make me happy
and I am enjoying making them

I made one case today that was tie dyed blues with a border of black with bright colored insects on it.  The brightness of the blue tie dye and the insects went together perfect.  It is like cooking with my eyes.  It is like stained glass, but soft and flexible unlike glass that is rigid and hard.  I have met several stained glass artists that have turned to fabric art and make some of the most fun, beautiful and bright colored quilts I have ever seen.  Their eye for color with the glass reflects through their choice of materials for the quilts and I am in awe.  I just stick to my pillow cases.  I piece the border to the body of the case.  Certainly easier than hand sewing lots of pieces.  Not as beautiful, but the best my brain is capable at this time.

I have scaled way back on what I would normally would try and accomplish for Christmas.  Decorations consist of a poinsettia, a few lights and a wreath, that I am hanging inside instead of outside so that we can enjoy the evergreen smells in the house.  I will decorate the two wreaths I bought tomorrow and hang them up on the hooks my sweet honey bought at the store today.  I had a list of things I needed, but really didn't want to go to town, so Bug did and I sewed and talked to my precious Judy.  I don't talk a lot to people any more, but I still love to have a real talk with my precious friends, so call me.  No, really call me.

The leaves are changing and patches of yellow, orange, red and gold hidden back off the road with the green of pines and oaks dark and deep seem to hang on.  We  have taken several motorcycle rides lately.  We finish something and hop on the bike and head out for a few hours.  We live in such a perfect location for motorcycle riding.  Quiet, almost empty roads, 2 and 4 lanes, paved slipping in and out of small town bordering along the Florida, Georgia line.  The air is cool and most against my cheeks as we ride through the place that has stolen our hearts.  Roads now familiar as we search for new adventures and possible homes.

We are open to where will we be living in the next year.  My garden is on hold as we determine where it will be.  We are happy, busy, getting ready for Christmas.  We hope that Mother Nature will welcome us up north to be with the grand kids.  We are driving, it would be nice to have some nice weather to get there and get back.  We are watching and hoping.  This would be my first ever Christmas with my grand kids.  I have grand kids.  I can't tell you how happy that makes me feel.  Okay, I took the easy route and married a man who already had kids.  But they are my grand kids.  And I am thrilled.  I have bought Godiva Santa's and Reindeer pops along with wind up toys for Christmas Eve or Christmas morning table.  I love a Christmas table covered with chocolates and toys and presents and ribbons.

This is the first Christmas in my life that is different.  This is the first Christmas with out either of my parents.  I will not be helping Dad with his Christmas list.  I will not be cooking the prime rib roast for Christmas dinner.  I don't eat prime rib.  I will not miss cooking it.  I will not make the nut bread for Christmas breakfast for my brothers.  But I still might make it for me.  maybe.  I will not wake up in my bed room and walk out to the front of the house and kiss my Dad good morning and merry Christmas.  I will not open a stocking that he filled, and I will not watch him open his stocking that I filled with his tradition and favorites.  I really do not mind giving up these long traditions.  I look forward to starting new traditions.  Or maybe, just lowering expectations and really cut traditions to a minimum.  Traditions are wonderful, but memories of new and old traditions are both wonderful.  And to get to spend this Christmas, this Christmas of change with my grand kids, oh joy!!!  I can not think of a better way to have a change in my life.  To try something different.  To celebrate the moment instead of trying to relive the past.  My life is filled with happy memories and funny, crazy stories of past Christmas.

Stories from being the daughter and sister of fire fighters and EMS.  Stories involving DIY.  Do It Yourself.  This involves glue guns, stained glass, hot ovens and pans, glue, glue guns, scissors, in other words, lots of dangers for a gravity impaired klutz.  Happy memories of hot chocolate, Christmas plays, stockings, Santa, reading the bible story on the family couch, trees, wreaths and sparkling lights twinkling and reflecting in the ornaments.  Memories of my Dad standing in the living room, his light bar blinding us as we would run into the living room in our pj's.  Blindly running in the general direction of the tree.  My mother, also blinded in the lights, yelling support as we ran directly into the hot lights necessary to use an 8mm film.  Well, at least that was my Dad's perspective.  Christmas Eve rides to look at luminaries, lights and decorations.  I love the holidays.  And yes, I love presents, but I love making as many as possible, or giving presents that hopefully are useful, but are mostly just reminders how much I love someone.

I listened to Christmas music while I sewed pillow cases today.  It made me happy. 

It was a lovely day
I am happy
Yes, I did have a lot of pain today
but
I have been very physical lately
I am having anxiety attacks
but it is the holidays
and I am anxious about getting everything
that I want to do
done

but in between the anxiety
is happiness
riding behind my honey
wrapping my arms around him
leaning into him
the world flying by

life is so good

Here's to you

Nelson Mandela was 95.  Ninety five years old.  In that life time he saw a lot of things, he accomplished more then the average person, and he is loved for what he did for not only his people, but by freeing his people, he gave hope to everyone in the world. 

Thank you Mr. Mandela
Thank you for all you gave to all of us
Thank you for your life
Blessed be
Blessed be

And it was REAL

We watched FSU beat the Gators, 37 to 7.  I am proud we were able to score against this amazing team.  I was way impressed that we kept them to less then 40 points.  We looked pretty good the first quarter, almost like we might actually make this a real game instead of the normal slaughter FSU has been forced to leave behind them.  I say forced because, well they have just been that good, that even with second and third string players, they still run over their opponents.  However, I think the many "force" has been that when FSU actually tried to not slaughter a team they were rewarded by loosing ground in the National standings.  What?!?!  That is right, one week FSU actually tried to not bully up on the opposing team.  They tried to ease off a bit and the ranking reflected a drop.  After that, FSU had no choice but to go full throttle.  And they have, and their QB is amazing is only a freshman.  Amazing.  But Florida played as well against them as any other team has done this year, and well, that has to be enough this year.............

wait until next year..........................
hee hee

But then we watched the Alabama and the Auburn game.  That was the most amazing game ender I think I have ever seen.

In fact as Auburn was running down the field I actually asked Bug if it was real, was it really happening.  Yes, yes, this is real!!  My heart is still pounding with the unexpectedness of it all.

Then Georgia lost in double over time.

Tomorrow morning is going to be very interesting to see how the rankings reflect this Thanksgiving weekend of rivalries and conference winners. 
Wow
just wow
I enjoyed that so much
That moment where all of us watching or listening to the game
experienced something so
so
magical

Happy Thanksgiving

It is Saturday and the annual rivalry of UF and FSU has been played.  FSU won.  No surprise there.  But UF did not lay down and get run over.  FSU did not score 8 touch downs.  Florida scored a touch down.  FSU won, but as a Gator, I can hold my head up proudly and give the famous year end mantra, "Wait 'til next year!"  Congratulations FSU

It was a wonderful Thanksgiving.  The first since Daddy died.  I really never thought of it.  I kept myself so busy and going the few days before Thanksgiving, the Day of and until this morning, I have been going.  I deal better by doing.  That is my comfort zone, the human doing instead of a human being.   Keep going, walk it off, just focus on what is in front of you.  Those are all things my parents would tell us.  My big brother Rob and his sweet wife, my sister (in law) JongAe and their daughter, Jessica.  For the past few Thanksgivings, Rob would meet me half way between here and Palmetto and we would do the trade off with Dad.  We would always meet at a Cracker Barrel and Dad would order chicken and dumplings, but not too much chicken, more dumplings......"the chicken is dry"  The waitress always looked at him like they had never heard anyone make such a request. 

Then Dad would spend a week or so here with me and we would go through the process of picking and ordering his Christmas presents.  Rob and JongAe would then drive up Wednesday night along with every other American travelling for the holiday and it would take 6 hours or more.  Everyone would be tired and frustrated by the time they got here.  It was not a great way to start the trip.  This year, there is no Dad.  He is missed, but at this age, it is nice to still have Thanksgiving dinner with your big brother and his family.  Rob would have liked to have Thanksgiving in the woods at the National Park, Lake Dor.  That is where we would have Thanksgiving every year as children.  There would be 5 families all together.  It was cold and the food was cooked on open fires, pits and Coleman stoves.  Everyone slept in tents, Five families, five tents.  A perfect childhood.

Very happy memories. 
Well mostly.
There is the pig incident when I pretty much quit eating meat
and of course there was the Thanksgiving where Vicki's parents were killed. 
We were older by that point, and actually the last Thanksgiving I remember going on with the family. 

Rob and family drove up on Thursday morning and it took them 4 hours.  When they got here they were relaxed and happy and they quickly unpacked into the 5th wheel.  They were so excited about getting to "camp".  This is as close as Jessica has gotten so far in her 9 years.  I had the turkey in the oven roasting away.  I had watched several Thanksgiving shows and had a plan of attack for the turkey, the dressing and the pumpkin pie.  JongAe brought acorn squash and broccoli casserole.  The potatoes were set in the pot waiting for the turkey to come out so that JongAe could mash them.  The pecan praline pumpkin pie and soufflé looked beautiful.  JongAe watched the food in the oven and baked the rolls while I finished the gravy and Bug and Rob carved the bird.  Football was on the TV.

JongAe had used the broccoli they had grown, I used our sweet potatoes and made two kinds.  The oranges in the cranberry sauce was from my trees and as we melted like gravy as we ate bite after delicious bite.  Everything was wonderful.  You could tell the difference in the fresh grown veggies versus the canned or frozen ones we normally used.  We ate in the living room, on my mother's couch, it was her mother's couch at some point, it is now mine.  Rob, JongAe and Jessica all admire the couch over and over and commented on how different it looked.  I told them the story about the different layers of material I had found when I recovered it.  Rob laughed as we remembered Mother's choices.  The burlap covers were the most memorable.  We ate food that recipes my mother taught me were followed, or with full knowledge I tweaked them to our taste.  The five of us came together as one family.  We missed the parts of our family not there, but knew that they were family, and that everything was right.  Maybe our last, maybe next year Rob and family will get to go camping.  maybe

Jessica is 9.  She will be 10 in January.  She has a lot of energy.  She talks so fast I had to keep asking her to slow down and look at my face when she talked so I could try and keep up with her.  I told her I did not mean to criticize, I really did want to talk with her, but Aunt Kathleen moves very slow now a days and she would need to keep that in mine.  She was very sweet and tried.  I tried very hard to get the gist of her conversation, even if I didn't get most of the words.  Did I mention she has a lot of energy?  They got here around noon on Thanksgiving day and then left this morning.  In that time, we finished putting the stain on the rocking chair I have been refinishing for Jessica.  Then we drew pictures, worked with paper maichee making Christmas ornaments, another family tradition, we made embroidery thread tassels and then made someone of them into angels.  We made felt flowers and ornaments, Jessica wrote the sweetest Thank you notes to Bug, me, the Dogs and the entire family.  They had pictures as well as the thank yous.  Oh, and we cooked and ate and watched football.

And each morning we walked up to the exit for breakfast.  Friday we walked to the Huddle House, today we walked up to McD's.  It was so much fun as a family to get up in the morning, wrap up in scarves, hats and heavy winter coats and walk through this beautiful area with leaves changing and deer prints on the road.  We walked up and down the road and into civilization, then we would walk back home, into the quiet and the woods. 

I did too much, and today I have not answered the phone, I have not answered anyone, or wished happy Thanksgiving, and missed my cousin Lori's birthday.  I have lived my life in my way, doing too much.  Doing so much that I am worthless when I crash.  I just sit.

But tomorrow is Sunday and I can rest another day and watch football.  There is plenty of leftovers in the frig, a perfect Thanksgiving Sunday. 

I am thankful for
my sweet husband
my family
my beloved animals, Bob, Edna, Harley, Henry, Marina, Stella and Luna, John C Bennett, Buttercup, Dewdrop, Rose, Daisy, Magnolia, Camellia, Brugmansia, Hyacinth and Gladiola, the Bubba, and Big Bunny, may she rest in peace.

We found Big Brown Bunny in the pasture.  She was laying on her back, she looked like she had been grabbed by an owl or some other big bird.  The bird had dropped Bunny and she looked like she had watched the clouds and sky and was gone.  We were happy to know where she was, and will miss her dearly.

I am thankful for
my dear and precious family
for my cancer because it has helped me to savor every moment.  Looking over at my 9 year old niece and watch her animated face as she tells story after story about her girlfriends in her 9 year old language.  Eyes sparkling and the self assurance of a little girl as she acts like her peers.  She is growing up so fast.

I am thankful for
Christopher and his sweet sense of humor and view of the world. 
Nathaniel as he and Desmond strutted their stuff across the football field, seniors
already heading out into the world

I am thankful for our parents
and growing up with the love of holidays
and football
and what a wonderful world
and I am Thankful for being here at this very moment and feeling the cold air in the morning on my cheeks, and the sun on my back in the afternoon
to curl up at night on our dear comfy bed under our down
warm and snugly
sweet moments

happy Thanksgiving