Rainbow

Last evening we had the most incredible dark clouds and huge heavy drops of rain and then, surprise a double rainbow! It wasn't in a hurry to fade either so I was able to enjoy it immensely from my deck, running about with camera in the rain, hiding under the umbrellas taking pictures.

I read a book this week - "Freedom Writers" by Erin Grunwald (and classes). We'd already seen the movie and I had looked forward to reading the book and while it didn't flow like the movie it was a powerful experience to hold the students, and Erin's, actual words in my hands. Then when I got to the end I see Erin has written a book entitled, "Teach From Your Heart" - well that would be an interesting read too.

No decision yet by my parents. I think assessments are being made. I realy appreaciate the intrest and prayers.

Laundry today and a concert tonight - The Blind Boys of Alabama. Sweet.

A Room With a View

On Monday, my dad and I spent three hours touring an assisted living place in town here. The physio people are making a recommendation for new flooring (like laminate) or a move. Surprisingly, there is a two bedroom corner suite open right now. This is the view from the suite - like being at the cabin every day. I think I could be happy here. We also ate in the dining room for lunch. One hold back is that the average age of the residents is considerably older than my parents. This feels really odd to my dad. Also the suite is quite small. There is also an independent living building, but they have no openings now although the suites there are quite a bit larger.

Mom is leaving the decision up to dad. She really wants things to be easier for him - yet her preference is to stay in her home the rest of her life. I think the social aspect and the getting out for meals aspect could make for a very healthy change, but whatever choice dad makes for now, I feel very good about the process we are working through. All considerations are on the table, nothing is ruled out, all doctors and physio folks' opinions are being solicited and this is all very good. I pray God, will help my dad make the very best decisions, what ever they may be.

Mom is struggling with a combination of insomnia, fatigue, depression and anxiety all at once and is VERY discouraged. Her shoulder, on the other hand is doing very well. Her emotional and spiritual well being is of great concern to me. It looks like she will be getting some attention in this area. I'm praying there too for a very insightful doctor.

Dress Up Clothes

I'm done shopping and could pretty much pack my suitcase now. I'm posting a picture of two new outfits. The golden taffeta skirt is on the living room floor ready to be cut today. It should be a pretty easy sew. I'm doing the one with inserts - B. I am SO not a model - I don't know what to do with myself in front of a camera and LK is not a fashion photographer either. I want you to know that I feel fantastic, fun, youthful, attractive, and comfortable in the last outfit. The camera angle is odd. In real it is better proportioned and you don't see though the black banding at the neck much at all, plus the top is more flowing and really turned LK's head.

Anna Turns One

Anna tuned one today. What a sweetie. There was a big bash in her honor on Sunday evening at Carolyn's Opa's house - pot luck supper, swimming for the brave, Oscar the grouch birthday cake, ice cream and lollipop's. Anna seemed to like the ice cream better than the frosting although she made a pretty funny face. It was fun to see Steve S. in another place he belongs - with Carolyn's family. For readers just checking in, we have two Steves. One by birth and one who joined us when he was sixteen. Anna is his, and Carolyn's little girl. People are the very best treasures.

Wendy's Gingerbread

Healthy, easy and delicious.

Makes 12 pieces

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. ginger (maybe a little extra - me)
1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 cup wheat germ
1/4 cup oil
1/4 cup molases
1/4 cup honey
1/2 cup buttermilk (or milk with a bit of lemon juice)
1/4 cup plain yogourt
1 egg beaten

Mix all together, bake in greased 8 inch pan at 350 for 35-40 min.
Serve warm with apple sauce (homemade!yum ) and yogourt.

Lately

Well, didn't those young folks look great at the top of the blog for a few days?

What's going on these days? Well, I went to a new dentist to begin the process to straighten my teeth - which were straight at one point but have been moving forward and stacking up in adulthood. I'm interested in getting some trays called Invisalign - amazing nearly invisible (aptly named. It involves getting sets of trays, calculated by computer, and they are worn for about two weeks each. Taken out for eating. I have one lower eye tooth that overlaps slightly more than the typically allowed amount for this treatment. I hadn't even noticed that tooth. Now there will be ex rays and molds taken then the decision can be made.

We've had more rain around here than you can shake a stick at. In fact, it's been the wettest spring since 1948. No wonder I was dragging a bit. I will say that the green is incredible though. One dry day last week I sprayed each of our dandelions in the yard and they are slowly disappearing. I hate using poison on the yard but it seems the most effective so I just spot spray them.

My Asian Lilies are in bloom - see the side bar. They have been multiplying nicely and make such a pretty show. Also my pin cushion flowers, small purple blooms on long stems, are blooming. They are one of my favorites.

I haven't started sewing my skirt. It turns out the pattern has more pieces than I thought. This is not a problem except that I don't know how so many seams will look with the crinkled taffeta. I wanted to make skirt B. I didn't know from the picture that it had additional triangle pieces sewed in to make the hem fuller. Not sure how this would look. I like that the pattern is fitted at the top and flares at the hem. The taffeta is fairly light weight. Now I am wondering about adapting the pattern so it is still full but not use the triangles. Or maybe make skirt C without the inserts and without the ruffle on the bottom. Would that be full enough? I saw one crinkled taffeta skirt that was way too straight for my liking so I want to avoid that. Here is a sample of the fabric and a photo of the top.

Here are pictures of skirt B - the one I wanted - sorry for some blur.



You can see from the photo that the inserts aren't really visible at all eh? Here's skirt C.

Not as full - but maybe full enough. Remember, no ruffle and no lace at the bottom, no lace inserts either.

OK any fashion designers out there - log your advice here. Jennifer? Fashion Designer Kate from Vancouver, are you reading?

Update on my mom. She was not accepted at G.F. Strong because she is too weak and needs too much help, so they put her in Holy Family, which has an arthritis wing and specializes in older clients. BUT now they are saying she cannot participate in enough of the physical activities and so they are thinking of moving her again. She does not want to move. The thought is, when she gets a bit stronger, she could come back. This is all very difficult. She asks my dad sometimes if he could just hire someone and could she come home. That's a lot of work for my dad - but the driving back and forth to the big city is also exhausting for him. Thanks for your prayers.

Grad Weekend

The big news around here this weekend is that Steve's girlfriend, Courtney, graduated from high school and Saturday night was prom. Here are a few shots taken at Courtney's home before they went out for the evening. I particularly liked the bead work on Courtney's dress, which is kind of fun when you see I've taken a picture of her flowers but the bead work is what's in focus. Steve got his brand new brown suite on eBay - what a guy. You can see they may be looking great in formal wear, but they have their relaxed attitudes all ready for a good time.

Ageless?

Our cruise to Alaska is coming up and we received more details in the mail. The one detail which has resulted in the most action for me was that there are two formal nights. Formal. I am not a formal person. I have no formal clothes. I'm thinking how formal are we talking about here? Once I went to a 'ball' with LK and some of the women were wearing ordinary dresses and cardigan sweaters - so I decided to try to find two pretty outfits that will just barely qualify for formal.

Not being much of a shopper, I decided to hit all the stores in town that I never go in - beginning at Winners. No luck. The problem seems to be that I have acquired a grandmother's body, with grandmother skin, and the usual everything getting soft and heading south. This is normal. Skip the strapless gowns. In fact try to skip the sleeveless gowns. How hard can it be to find normal fancy clothes for young at heart grandmas?

Speaking of young at heart I don't think clothes have ages. Do you? I think,' dress for your body type and you're good. If it looks good on - you can probably wear it just fine (modesty assumed). Well, I'm in the first of the fancier shops and I spy a skirt that is above the ankles, fitted at the waist, peasant style, graceful and fun, with some 3-d type embroidery (embellishment) on it. I ask about it. Perhaps it is not formal enough. No that's not it, the sales person tells me, it is not the right age. Maybe it is OK for 30 year olds. My goodness - why ever not for any age. Long, graceful, subtle colors. I tried not to let it rock me but I never even really know what's in style and now to be given the information that clothes have ages. Oh dear.

The next stop was the mall. I went into some of the youthful stores. I found a satin top, wild pink black and white, with short sleeves, crazy random hand painted polka dots, scooped neck and a black band around the hips. I thought it could be great fun with a black skirt and fun jewelry. I doubted my judgement. I wondered if the sales people thought I was silly for being there. But then I could be shopping for a daughter. I tried it on, a tiny big maybe. I carried it around longer and finally hung it up.

I continued through the mall dropping in all the small shops that might have dresses. Many had their sportswear in the front. I passed the sportswear in one small shop looking quickly for the dressy lines. Hmmm, all boxy jackets, large but conservative floral prints, elastic waists on everything. What kind of shop was I in? Pausing and looking about carefully I notice that all the other shoppers have short white hair and the little lady next to me is pushing a walker. I'm out of there with haste. There is a conspiracy - these ladies need more fun and variety in their shop. It was a uniform being sold with very little variation. Yikes.

I did head home with a lace skirt with a tiny pink, brown and off white print, a ruffled brown slinky blouse with cap sleeves and a off white jacket in case it's cold. Not very formal but pretty. From the shop where I was told clothes have ages, I brought home a sheer top and shrug. Yesterday I picked up some fabric for a fun skirt. Crinkled taffeta with gold stems and leaves embroidered over all. Pictures later. I hope it turns out great and is not too stiff making me look like a bell. I think it will be beautiful, and ageless, and not boring.

I talked to Aimee the same day that I was told about the skirt being too young for me and she was wonderful. "Mom, not for people like us. Not you, an ex hippy." Smile. Not for people like us. Walk (dance) in freedom - do not be enslaved to the opinion of the fashion judges.

Footsie at Breakfast

Seven Random Things About Me

Tagged by Barb, who I know through the blogging community.

1. I love the sound of waves lapping at the shore or the side of a boat I'm in. The sound alone relaxes me.

2. My family had a cabin in Wisconsin when I was growing up - my favorite place in the world. We spent every weekend from early spring to late fall at the cabin - plus many weeks in the summer. I spent my time swimming, floating on an air mattress, water skiing, fishing, driving the boat about, biking, and reading.

3. My favorite household chore is laundry. The least favorite is cleaning the kitchen.

4. I went to a Jr. College in Mpls. and took every art course they had. Then I began the process of applying at the Minneapolis School of Art - but lost my courage to go to school with 'real' artists. Drawing realistically was very difficult for me - sometimes I would cry from the effort to do what others seemed to do effortlessly.

5. When I was a child I wanted to dance and figure skate - but I never told anyone - not even my parents - but I did lie about taking dance lessons.

6. I've always had a very compassionate heart toward others.

7. My favorite movie genre is - plausible drama with a redemptive theme especially biographical. (Please post recommendations in the comments.) Redemption is my current favorite word.

I tag anyone who read this blog who would like to volunteer.

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Update on my mom. The surgery went well - her bones were strong and the new shoulder went in well. She is, however, having some erratic heart rhythm - which may have already begun at home. Hopefully this will be properly investigated while she is in the hospital.

Three Ps and Some Bling

Pancreas - who starts their blog with that word? Gratitude overflows and I want to tell everyone that the last CT scan showed I have a "thin" pancreas whereas before, when I was really ill, it had been "fat" - ya it felt fat too, like carrying around a log inside. This means it has been healing. I live with the hope it will continue with this trend and stay healthy. I plan to never aggravate it again. Low fat diet - no more alcohol ever - not even an occasional glass of wine, which is funny since we only started drinking a little wine for our health regularly a couple years ago.

People - We had a lovely May long weekend with Lando's whole immediate family - about fifty of us. We went to Naramata resort in Penticton. This popular, much loved event is looked forward to all year - especially starting in January as Steve S. said. We had all our grandchildren together in one place - what fun. See Cara's link and Steven's link for more pictures.
Immediately following the May long weekend, Aimee, Lance, Eva and Elijah came back to our home for a week long visit. From empty nest to high action - gotta love it. We so enjoyed their visit and while they were here we celebrated Aimee's 27th birthday and Eva and Elijah's first birthday. One thing the kids especially enjoyed was playing on the old cars I have in the back yard - their first time driving I believe.

OK - so it might be fun to submit CAPTIONS for the shot of Eva standing by the yellow car with her hand up. CAPTIONS please?!!

My mom is in for her shoulder surgery this morning. The risks are greater for someone at her age and as weak as she is. It is a huge decision to go through with it but our hope is that she gets some relief from pain - but this is only one of three major sources of pain. There is a wrist and a knee which also need attention. There will be months of rehab where she will not be living at home - also hard but my hope is that she regains some strength. Here's a shot of us on Mother's Day. Last night when I talked to her on the phone she told me she loved me and that I was the best daughter in the world. So, if any other daughters that they were in the running - sorry :)

Passport - IT CAME. Hurray. Yes, my procrastinating husband got his faster and first but mine came though in plenty of time. More gratitude.

Bling - I got my first crown and I chose gold - not platinum covered gold. It's a molar, and funny to admit, I like the subtle addition of bling to my smile. Watch out if I aim a big grin at you out in the sunshine!

Thanks to those who comment and who harrased me. I don't know that I've been harrased before :) Mrs. U - is that C. U. married to M. U. or J. U. married to C. U.?

I've been tagged by Barb - I'll do that in my next post.