It was quite pleasant outside again today. No precipitation or wind and the temperatures stayed in the low 40s.
I stayed in bed until a bit after 7AM after feeding the cat and helping Dick get up between 6 and 6:30AM. So I was quite rested for most of the day. It is not almost 8PM and I am winding down nicely, but don't feel too exhausted.
Of course, we had no visitors today at all. No VNA on weekends.
Dick did his walking and his standing exercises once each today so that was a good beginning. He looked good doing them too. And I did not have to help him at all.
I spent a bit of today, getting my Ireland pictures from this year and from the time Bart, Barb and I went all labeled. Now I can make up a disc to take to JMKAC for use with a projector. I also have picked several of my CDs for music when live music is not playing. I have several nice traditional and Irish American traditional CDS that should work well.
I also started putting Christmas away. That is a major job, not as formidable as some years, as I didn't put everything out this year. Tomorrow I will do a bit more and will get to work on a couple of quilting projects that I have to have finished by the end of January or early February. I also have a couple that I would just LIKE to work on.
I went to Mass at 4PM. The Folk Choir was singing tonight. This is the last of the Christmas celebrations, The Epiphany- the Coming of the Magi. Fr. Van Beek had a sweet story about this feast. He said that when he was a kid and would hear the story and when Herod would tell the Three Kings to report back to him as to where the Baby King was, he wanted to jump up on the pew and yell. "No. No. Don't tell him. He is a bad man." How fun it is for a child to become so involved in a tale, especially one of such importance. This is after all the feast when Jesus was made known to us Gentiles. Before this it was just to the Jewish people
We had a steak for lunch with garlic bread, beets and a fruit salad. Then we had Chicken Waldorf salad and a piece of gingerbread pudding pie for supper.
Tomorrow will be another quiet day. These days are nice for us to get back into the routine. I hope Dick keeps increasing his walking practices. Each time he does so will make him stronger. He has said that he would like to go away, perhaps up north or somewhere for a couple of days in May. He has that as a goal. I just pray that he will be able to continue becoming more independant.
So rest easy in your bed tonight and wake up refreshed and ready to be fully a part of you day. May it be a beautiful, loving day and all you dream.
Dia Dhuit
Mary
These were really good. I had some oranges that were starting to get kind of old. I even forgot to brush them with the egg and they were still good.
Orange Scones
Yields 12 2-inch round scones
Orange Scones
Adapted from Inside a Black Apple
1 3/4 cup flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 cup white sugar
Zest of 1 orange
Pinch of salt
5 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into small chunks
1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
1/4 cup sour cream
1 egg
1 tablespoon milk
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, sugar, orange zest, and salt. Add the butter using a pastry tool (or your hands) and mix until the mixture is crumbly with pea-sized chunks. Stir in the orange juice and sour cream until just blended. Do not overmix or it will result in tough scones.
Roll scones into a ball and flatten slightly on a cookie sheet to resemble 2 inch rounds. Whisk together the egg and milk and brush over the top of the scones. Let scones rest for 10 minutes before baking.
Bake for 12 minutes or until the tops are lightly browned. Cool until room temperature before glazing.
Orange Glaze
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 tablespoon orange juice
In a small bowl, combine powdered sugar and orange juice until smooth. If too thick, add more orange juice until it is smooth. Drizzle lightly over scones.
Saturday, January 07, 2012
Friday, January 06, 2012
We got to stay home all day today. Of course, that did not stop the stream of people wending their way through the house.
I got up at 6AM with the cat. Got Dick up between 6:30AM and 7AM. Jody came to clean at 8AM and was followed closely by Denise, the RN. She did a deep check on him. All his vitals and changing his dressings (all of the wounds are almost healed.) and helping us figure out how to use the new lung treatment. At Rocky Knoll all of the treatments went into the nebulizer. One of the refills has its own dispensing system. Not hard but very precise. Just enough to be DIFFERENT and we know what we think about different. Anyway, Denise was able to help us and we are feeling pretty good about his progress, except for the possible bladder infection. Denise took a sample and a blood draw to the lab for testing. We did not hear from Dr. Sharon, so I hope all is well.
We were alone for a whole hour before Lauren, the OT came. We asked her for some ideas in helping Dick get dressed by himself. He can do his shirt and all but the shorts get difficult. She showed him what he needs to do to be able to accomplish this and we have determined that there needs to be more practice on balance and standing. He CAN do it, so if I were gone, it would be possible but it is very slow and tiring.
She left and was followed closely by Sara the PT. Sara put him through walking, balancing and some stretching exercises. Now if he will take my reminders or remember himself to do these things, he will continue to improve. I run a fine line between being helpful and a nag.
This afternoon, I took a nap. I am also gathering things to take to Danika ant KMJAC for the Irish Family Day. I want them all together by Tuesday when I have a doctor appointment in Sheboygan. I am trying to group my traveling. The gas bill should go down some now that Dick is home. Of course the grocery bill will go up, but not by much.
The weekend looks very quiet. I will be going to Mass tomorrow evening, but that should be the only time either of us have to leave Tallgrass.
Have a wonderful vacation yourself.
Dia Dhuit
Mary
I got up at 6AM with the cat. Got Dick up between 6:30AM and 7AM. Jody came to clean at 8AM and was followed closely by Denise, the RN. She did a deep check on him. All his vitals and changing his dressings (all of the wounds are almost healed.) and helping us figure out how to use the new lung treatment. At Rocky Knoll all of the treatments went into the nebulizer. One of the refills has its own dispensing system. Not hard but very precise. Just enough to be DIFFERENT and we know what we think about different. Anyway, Denise was able to help us and we are feeling pretty good about his progress, except for the possible bladder infection. Denise took a sample and a blood draw to the lab for testing. We did not hear from Dr. Sharon, so I hope all is well.
We were alone for a whole hour before Lauren, the OT came. We asked her for some ideas in helping Dick get dressed by himself. He can do his shirt and all but the shorts get difficult. She showed him what he needs to do to be able to accomplish this and we have determined that there needs to be more practice on balance and standing. He CAN do it, so if I were gone, it would be possible but it is very slow and tiring.
She left and was followed closely by Sara the PT. Sara put him through walking, balancing and some stretching exercises. Now if he will take my reminders or remember himself to do these things, he will continue to improve. I run a fine line between being helpful and a nag.
This afternoon, I took a nap. I am also gathering things to take to Danika ant KMJAC for the Irish Family Day. I want them all together by Tuesday when I have a doctor appointment in Sheboygan. I am trying to group my traveling. The gas bill should go down some now that Dick is home. Of course the grocery bill will go up, but not by much.
The weekend looks very quiet. I will be going to Mass tomorrow evening, but that should be the only time either of us have to leave Tallgrass.
Have a wonderful vacation yourself.
Dia Dhuit
Mary
Wednesday, January 04, 2012
It isn't going to be easy. I seem to have sprained my ankle. When we were getting Dick in the car to take him for his appointment with Dr. Sharon, I had to go back into the house to grab his med list and I apparently hit the ramp on an odd angle and twisted my right ankle.
That was at 11:00AM. I thought I had walked it off actually. It was tender when we were at the Clinic. I was doing just fine when I went to the wake for Uncle Bob Finger.
That was a great experience. I know that funerals are not supposed to be happy, but we have such a marvelous family. Bob had a perfect death. He basically just fell asleep. And I got to see all of my Ayers first cousins, their spouses and lots of beautiful second cousins. Aunt Kathleen is so brave. We all agreed that she and Bob were truly blessed. This was the second very special marriage for both of them and they had 24 years of joy and companionship. What a guy he was.
My ankle was still OK, but then I went to the meeting at JMKAC. When I got up there, I knew I was in trouble.
The meeting went VERY well. I have several things to do but will be able to do most of them sitting at my desk with my foot up. I am more worried about what I will be able to do as far as taking care of Dick. I can reheat several meals and he can just do some more but I am needed. Tomorrow, we will have a nurse and a therapist during the afternoon, which will be a big help.
I still hoped that if I got home and iced the ankle it would be OK. No such luck. I finally called Bobbie at about 4:30PM to ask her to come and drive me to Urgent Care. They don't open before 8AM but do stay open until 8PM. Perhaps they can wrap it or something.
Bobbie will be here any minute and I will finish this when I get back. Isn't it strange, that I expect you to follow my conversations, even on the blog?
We are back from Aurora. Bobbie heated up dinner for Dick and I and has headed back to her own home. I am so grateful that she could come to take me. The injury is to my foot, not the ankle. Fortunately, there is no break. I have a neat ankle brace and it is wrapped with an ace bandage which is really helping the pain. I am also taking Tylenol for the pain and inflammation.
Dick and I will really have to be a team for the next few days. But I will heal quickly, I know.
Love and Dia Dhuit
Mary
That was at 11:00AM. I thought I had walked it off actually. It was tender when we were at the Clinic. I was doing just fine when I went to the wake for Uncle Bob Finger.
That was a great experience. I know that funerals are not supposed to be happy, but we have such a marvelous family. Bob had a perfect death. He basically just fell asleep. And I got to see all of my Ayers first cousins, their spouses and lots of beautiful second cousins. Aunt Kathleen is so brave. We all agreed that she and Bob were truly blessed. This was the second very special marriage for both of them and they had 24 years of joy and companionship. What a guy he was.
My ankle was still OK, but then I went to the meeting at JMKAC. When I got up there, I knew I was in trouble.
The meeting went VERY well. I have several things to do but will be able to do most of them sitting at my desk with my foot up. I am more worried about what I will be able to do as far as taking care of Dick. I can reheat several meals and he can just do some more but I am needed. Tomorrow, we will have a nurse and a therapist during the afternoon, which will be a big help.
I still hoped that if I got home and iced the ankle it would be OK. No such luck. I finally called Bobbie at about 4:30PM to ask her to come and drive me to Urgent Care. They don't open before 8AM but do stay open until 8PM. Perhaps they can wrap it or something.
Bobbie will be here any minute and I will finish this when I get back. Isn't it strange, that I expect you to follow my conversations, even on the blog?
We are back from Aurora. Bobbie heated up dinner for Dick and I and has headed back to her own home. I am so grateful that she could come to take me. The injury is to my foot, not the ankle. Fortunately, there is no break. I have a neat ankle brace and it is wrapped with an ace bandage which is really helping the pain. I am also taking Tylenol for the pain and inflammation.
Dick and I will really have to be a team for the next few days. But I will heal quickly, I know.
Love and Dia Dhuit
Mary
Tuesday, January 03, 2012
Dick had a very successful PT session with Sara this morning at about 11:00AM. He walked twice, quite a distance, and stood by the cupboard and practiced going from side to side and balancing. We are also working on ways so that he can sit himself up in bed without a leg for "balast" and without my help. We are going to have to do that because I can't be straining my ribs and back too much.
I did the grocery shopping today. That went well. I also went to the bank, mailed Jim and Michelle's Christmas (Aren't you glad, Jim and Michelle? Christmas isn't over yet.) and picked up a few supplies.
Aside from that I am still picking up loose ends and trying to keep up with the daily grind. I will be glad when it becomes just part of the routine and I am not forgetting things. It took a half an hour or more without Dick and he has added a lot. Today was trash day too.
I am reading about leprechauns and fairies for the Family Festival Ireland on January 21st. I will be doing two half hour storytelling times. I intend to spend a half hour on each of the small people. I will end each tale by letting the children or whoever know that the fairies and the leprechauns came over with the Irish people and are still here. The tricky part is finding stories that are not to grim. I want to make a little "purse" to put a shilling in for the leprechaun. They carry a magic coin, you know. When somebody does get their money, it comes right back to the purse.
Tomorrow will be very busy. I have an MRI in the early morning. Dick sees Dr. Sharon at 11:00 and then I will go tot he viewing for Uncle Bob and to a meeting at JMKAC. I should be home and ready to settle in by 3PM. I am hoping 2:30PM so that Dick won't be alone too long.
Be safe and pray for Uncle Bob's soul and for Aunt Kathleen and the family that will miss him.
Dia Dhuit
Mary
I did the grocery shopping today. That went well. I also went to the bank, mailed Jim and Michelle's Christmas (Aren't you glad, Jim and Michelle? Christmas isn't over yet.) and picked up a few supplies.
Aside from that I am still picking up loose ends and trying to keep up with the daily grind. I will be glad when it becomes just part of the routine and I am not forgetting things. It took a half an hour or more without Dick and he has added a lot. Today was trash day too.
I am reading about leprechauns and fairies for the Family Festival Ireland on January 21st. I will be doing two half hour storytelling times. I intend to spend a half hour on each of the small people. I will end each tale by letting the children or whoever know that the fairies and the leprechauns came over with the Irish people and are still here. The tricky part is finding stories that are not to grim. I want to make a little "purse" to put a shilling in for the leprechaun. They carry a magic coin, you know. When somebody does get their money, it comes right back to the purse.
Tomorrow will be very busy. I have an MRI in the early morning. Dick sees Dr. Sharon at 11:00 and then I will go tot he viewing for Uncle Bob and to a meeting at JMKAC. I should be home and ready to settle in by 3PM. I am hoping 2:30PM so that Dick won't be alone too long.
Be safe and pray for Uncle Bob's soul and for Aunt Kathleen and the family that will miss him.
Dia Dhuit
Mary
Monday, January 02, 2012
So here we are. Two days into 2012 already. With the first of the year being on Sunday - the Packers playing on Sunday then the Rose Bowl Parade and the Badgers playing IN the Rose Bowl today, Monday, it seems like there were two New Year's days.
We did have two health aids from the VNA come today. The nurse, Rachel, and the home health aid to give Dick his bath. Aside from that, we were home alone today.
I did go to see Mother after lunch, as it is Monday and I like to keep the Monday visit as regular as possible as this is the day we check the bills and visit. She seemed a bit weaker today but was in good spirits. Shortly before I left, Uncle Pat and Aunt Joan came to visit her. They stopped on their way to see Kathleen. A couple readers might not know that Uncle Pat is Mom's youngest brother and is only about 6 years older than I am. He looks more like my Grandpa the older her gets. A handsome man. I stayed for a short visit with them, then left so they could really visit with Mother.
Yesterday, Mom was trying to remember the name of the boat that Phillip King's parents went down on. It was the Lady Elgin. I think I have discussed this before in the blog. When Phillip's parents died, he was taken in and raised by Timothy Clifford who would be my 2nd great grand uncle. Then Phillip married my great grand aunt Charlotte Bowser. That was why I got such a pleasure out of A Rising Wind - The Lady Elgin Story a play presented by the John Michael Kohler Art Center. It may be on public television soon. They were negotiating at the time it was presented in Kohler. It is an amazing play. On the order of Driving Miss Daisy on stage or Our Town. Very little as far as sets. The actors tell the story.
When the Lady Elgin went down it changed whole political landscape of Milwaukee.
Mom had gotten the Phoenix disaster in her head, so I brought her the book by my friend John Textor, Phoenix, the Fateful Journey for her to read. John was in the Sheboygan Writer's Club. He died a couple of years back but his book is great - about the disaster that occurred withing sight of the Sheboygan Harbor. A couple of hundred settlers of Dutch ancestry died in that sinking.
So this is my day. The Rose Bowl game is still on. It seems to be lasting at least as long as the Packer game did yesterday. Don't know what is wrong with these Wisconsin players.
Dia Dhuit
Mary
We did have two health aids from the VNA come today. The nurse, Rachel, and the home health aid to give Dick his bath. Aside from that, we were home alone today.
I did go to see Mother after lunch, as it is Monday and I like to keep the Monday visit as regular as possible as this is the day we check the bills and visit. She seemed a bit weaker today but was in good spirits. Shortly before I left, Uncle Pat and Aunt Joan came to visit her. They stopped on their way to see Kathleen. A couple readers might not know that Uncle Pat is Mom's youngest brother and is only about 6 years older than I am. He looks more like my Grandpa the older her gets. A handsome man. I stayed for a short visit with them, then left so they could really visit with Mother.
Yesterday, Mom was trying to remember the name of the boat that Phillip King's parents went down on. It was the Lady Elgin. I think I have discussed this before in the blog. When Phillip's parents died, he was taken in and raised by Timothy Clifford who would be my 2nd great grand uncle. Then Phillip married my great grand aunt Charlotte Bowser. That was why I got such a pleasure out of A Rising Wind - The Lady Elgin Story a play presented by the John Michael Kohler Art Center. It may be on public television soon. They were negotiating at the time it was presented in Kohler. It is an amazing play. On the order of Driving Miss Daisy on stage or Our Town. Very little as far as sets. The actors tell the story.
When the Lady Elgin went down it changed whole political landscape of Milwaukee.
Mom had gotten the Phoenix disaster in her head, so I brought her the book by my friend John Textor, Phoenix, the Fateful Journey for her to read. John was in the Sheboygan Writer's Club. He died a couple of years back but his book is great - about the disaster that occurred withing sight of the Sheboygan Harbor. A couple of hundred settlers of Dutch ancestry died in that sinking.
So this is my day. The Rose Bowl game is still on. It seems to be lasting at least as long as the Packer game did yesterday. Don't know what is wrong with these Wisconsin players.
Dia Dhuit
Mary
Sunday, January 01, 2012
The New Year came in with a whisper.
We were mainly just HOME. I left to take Mother her dinner and eat with her at 11:30AM. I fed Dick before I left so that he wouldn't have to mess with anything. Mother and I enjoyed our dinner together and the nice visit. She looked beautiful.
Home again, we just watched the Packers win and puttered. I went downstairs to find a couple of quilt patterns and pull out some fabric. Otherwise, just rested as much as I could.
Tomorrow, we will have the nurse and the home health aid here and I want to go to see Mother to take care of the bills and bring her some information. Still a rather quiet day as some of the work with Dick will be taken out of my hands. I will be glad when we finally see Dr. Sharon on Wednesday.
“Athbhlian faoi mhaise! which means Happy New Year in the Irish.
Mary
We were mainly just HOME. I left to take Mother her dinner and eat with her at 11:30AM. I fed Dick before I left so that he wouldn't have to mess with anything. Mother and I enjoyed our dinner together and the nice visit. She looked beautiful.
Home again, we just watched the Packers win and puttered. I went downstairs to find a couple of quilt patterns and pull out some fabric. Otherwise, just rested as much as I could.
Tomorrow, we will have the nurse and the home health aid here and I want to go to see Mother to take care of the bills and bring her some information. Still a rather quiet day as some of the work with Dick will be taken out of my hands. I will be glad when we finally see Dr. Sharon on Wednesday.
“Athbhlian faoi mhaise! which means Happy New Year in the Irish.
Mary
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