Dreary Day, Bill Leaves, Puzzle Time!

The Ridge

Bill and I enjoyed the lounge time this morning, sleeping and resting with Clemson who was snuggled up to Mama this time. It was 6:45 when we finally got up on Thursday, June 20^th. We read a few blog posts with our morning drinks since as soon as I went to step out the door for a walk, it started spitting lightly. Nope, don’t want to get caught in it so I accepted the ‘want your tea?’ offer from my sweetie.

Goodbye Sweetie

He hopped in the shower and I began making him eggs and mini sausages. When he doesn’t have to leave so early to go to work, it is nice to get a good meal in him. Cereal or toast is fast for a 6 am departure but it doesn’t stay with him and by noon he is starving. After he loaded the cooler, suitcase and jacket in Ptooties we said goodbye until tomorrow night. I did the dishes and sat and relaxed for another hour.

Hmm, now what can I do with this empty table

Then………with a cleaned off dining table, guess what? Puzzle time! This one is a 500-pc. so hopefully I can finish it before he returns and if not, the puzzle mat will come in handy again. We are expecting company tomorrow afternoon but when Bill was offered a 2-day work stint, we figured it wouldn’t hurt for him to accept it since he’ll be home after supper. I can get them set up and if they are up for it, maybe get a campfire going.

And the border pieces are all pulled out separately

I texted my two sisters to make sure they weren’t going to see Mom today and then got cleaned up nice to go and visit at 11. I found her in the hallway, just sitting, quietly. She was happy to see me and after hugs she said ‘let’s go for a walk’. We walked down the halls a few times and then I began checking rooms for a table. I had a bit of a ‘test’ for Mom but something positive with the result perhaps being something we could do together.

The sky this morning

We found a table by ourselves and I brought out my colouring book and pencil crayons. She showed interest, good but then I realized the interest was only in looking at the pictures on the pages. Then confusion as to what to do. When I showed her the 3 pictures I had coloured, she was reminded of how we used to all colour together. As it turned out, after I started on a simple picture, she couldn’t get her fingers firm enough to hold a pencil. ☹

and the purple irises are bursting even more
Yesterday there was one open

She has had difficulty with her index finger on her right hand for some time now but generally it is good and if it isn’t, she can straighten the crook by herself. Oh well, it was worth a shot. Now, I know that Mom is not even able to write letters or sign her name. One small bit of further decline due to this nasty disease. I’m sad about that yet knew it would come. It was about 11:40 when she indicated she had to go somewhere so I mentioned lunch and we walked back to her room where I could sign in as a visitor on her white board. She recalled the room as some where she stays. 

She always giggles at the camera
I didn't notice her eyes were closed or I would have taken it again
Love her pink sweater and blue beads

She seemed to remember Gayle being there but instead of yesterday, when she actually was, she thought she was still there and had asked Mom to look after her hat. Cute, and she did have a small straw hat on her cart along with her breakfast bib and a spoon. 😊 I left all 3 pieces on the window ledge of the room we were in, knowing it would get collected by staff. Mom often brings her bib back to her room.

As we were about to leave her room for lunch a gentleman resident, who saw us in there, brought the hat to Mom and slyly indicated to me that he would return the other 2 items. I guess they are used to her picking things up. I don’t know where the hat came from but I put it on one of her dolls and we took the elevator down to the dining room. When we arrived at her table I couldn’t get her to sit down. Hmm. She kept coming around her walker as if to walk with me.

Breakfast/Lunch with a coffee

After about 5 tries and many goodbye hugs and kisses, she finally said that she wasn’t sitting but instead going to first walk me to the door so she could wave at me getting into my car. LOL She has never done that before so eventually I gave in rather than causing an upset. I motioned to a staff serving drinks that Mom might need guidance getting back to her table. (translation: Mom WILL need help) So she took my hand and we zig-zagged to the big glass doors. One more hug, or was it two? And I left. As many times as I turned, she was still there waving.

No outside work being done today

I know the staff is busy enough especially at meal times that I hated to leave her like that but………..what do you do? Another indication that things are going south in her mind. I loved the hugs and kisses, over and over, but find it harder and harder to be persistent without being persistent, if you know what I mean. It wasn’t a bad visit but not the best either. She makes no sense now, conversations are like jigsaw puzzles  – even less sensible, really.

Back home, it felt quite cool and I knew from our weather station that it was dropping in temperature. I had started my puzzle before I left so when I returned just after 12, I made a coffee and put together a breakfast/lunch plate and sat to work on both. My stress reliever. These pieces eventually fall into place and I’m sad to think that Mom’s words will get to a stage where they won’t, ever again. The one good thing is that she has no idea how confusing her words are as we will always smile and go with the flow.

I love the picture of this attic - too bad there was a piece missing

I didn’t think it would happen but I finished the puzzle. That’s what happens on a rainy day. Clemson slept through most of it and finally came down around 3:30. Just in time to be a pest again. I put him off until 4:15 when I fed him. Yes Master! I chatted back and forth with my sisters on email. Plans are coming together for our LadyFest in July. We have a wonderful new experience booked but you’ll have to wait for it. I’m so excited!

Madame Instant Pot building up pressure

I had pulled a pack of 2 chicken thighs out of the freezer this morning. It will be an IP supper tonight with leftovers for tomorrow night. I do love my chicken. At 5, I started the process and turned tv on for background noise. I can only take so much of the radio, even if it is SiriusXM. NCIS reruns are on every evening so works well while I’m busy doing other things. 

Bill called at 5:30 indicating he was done work and it was almost the same time that Madame IP beeped. With 5 minutes of release time, my supper was ready.

I had cooked some asparagus in the inner pot on top of the chicken and then made gravy with the onions and liquid in the bottom. Supper was yummy. The asparagus was a little over done so maybe next time I’ll steam it instead but it still tasted good. You can’t serve me bad asparagus unless it is underdone and crunchy. I enjoyed my meal and have the same leftovers for tomorrow night. Bill won’t be home to eat with me so that will work out perfectly.

Delicious, quick and easy

With the dishes out of the way, I sat and finished my post. Surely not much to take pictures of today so I apologize for the long narration. This wasn’t a great weather day but the rain is good for the gardens and my newly planted radishes. A visit with Mom is always nice and I managed to complete another puzzle. I hope you had a good day too. Clemson is out of sorts again, trying my patience and I have to remember how much I love the little bum. 😊

The awning wasn't out because of sunshine
Each time Clemson went out, i took shelter here
Good night everyone!

Thank you for your visit!

Goodbye Again, Quick Sale, Happy 4th of July!

I woke at a few minutes before 5 on Wednesday, July 4^th but not fully awake by any means. I sensed Bill getting up around there for his shower and prepping for work. We shared a nice evening last night with a rum and coke while reading, dozing and watching tv. I waited until he was almost ready to go before coming downstairs to sit for a few minutes and say goodbye. “Look after Mom and keep her company” he says to Clemson.

Rise and shine you sleepy heads!
The day is young, get out of bed!

I snapped a picture of him pulling out in Ptooties after taking one of the sunrise. Another hot day coming our way and hardly any breeze again. The awnings are out but Bill said the winds are supposed to pick up later so I’ll keep an eye on them. I sat in my chair instead of going back to bed and finished the last 4 chapters of my book. It was good, as I’ve said. I’d located 4^th of July by James Patterson for Bill to take with him (how fitting!) so he has something to read in the evenings.

See ya, Sweetie! Drive safe!

When I closed the book, I slipped out and took a leisurely walk down the lane, down North Line to Baptist Church Road. I know how far I have to go for ½ mile and when I turned back, I realized I should have left my book for later and walked at 7. It was already too warm to be out in the hot sun. I veered up the lane to the United Church near the corner and took a couple of pictures of the beautiful, tall hollyhocks.

I love the colours of these

 Back home, I made my tea and moved outside with my laptop and big camera with the zoom lens. I love the peacefulness up here and although I love the quiet alone time, I often think of a couple of my friends in the big city who would love hearing what I hear, seeing what I see on a summer morning. I do have friends there also who would find this boring, no action, but Brenda and Randy, you would love this. No traffic, no sirens, nothing but chirps from Chippy and our fine feathered friends.

They grow so tall

I put ‘Funky tripod’ to work this morning, after a rest period in the cupboard and took some selfies. Some on my walk and some relaxing. Bill contacted me just after 8:30 that he had arrived safe and sound so my body can fully relax now with that off my mind. There isn’t a lot to get into today with the exception of dusting the Suite. Inside jobs. I sewed a button on a cardigan Bill has that we are sending to the donation store. He has a couple of other nicer ones of his Dad’s now that we’ll hang onto.

Selfies!

In my mind, I am semi-planning what to pack for our Sisterfest on Monday through Thursday. I believe the warmth will still be with us so not as much needs to be considered. Easier to pack for hot weather than cold or even a bit of both. Shorts, capris, top choices, sandals, jacket and swimsuit. Voila! It is never that easy for me since I have many options and wouldn’t change that for anything.

I wrote a bit on this post and hunted out a new book to read. I’ve decided on Dead in the Water by Stuart Woods. Another mystery with lawyer/ex-cop, Stone Barrington. I’m staying inside for the time being, only going out with Clemson when he has the need. With only 5 ½ hours of sleep last night, late night, early morning, I foresee a nap later on this afternoon.

For now, at noon hour, I’m ready for a bite to eat so I scrambled a couple of eggs with butter and had a yogourt and a second tea along with them. I don’t like preparing meals for one but this way, my nutritionist (me) will be happy. I’m eating and I’m eating well. So far. As I was sitting at my laptop earlier, I posted our paddle boat on Kijiji and Letgo for sale. You never know what kind of response you’ll get but I put some nice pics on and was up front about the cracks in the plastic top of the boat.

Something as easy as deadheading my petunias was almost too much
on this heated day

No one was more surprised than I was when at 12 noon my phone rang. Unknown number to me but a person’s name popped up. She wanted to know if I’d take a certain amount for the boat and if so, they’d come right now and get it. We’d advertised it at a price or best offer but had a ‘no less than’ price in mind. She offered $50 less than our price and I could hardly contain my excitement that I sold our boat!! Yay!

Coming from Collingwood, Judy and Steve arrived before 1 pm and were very happy with their purchase. The 3 of us loaded it into the back of the F150 bed and had a nice chat about their retirement, our lifestyle and their plans to take it to Manitoulin Island. This island has come up so much in conversations lately, yet most of the names of the towns I can’t pronounce let alone remember. I feel a weight off our shoulder and some cash in our holey pocket. That will go towards the repair of our generator.

SOLD!

Only outside for 20 minutes likely and the heat drove me inside to the a/c. This one in my sister’s words is a ‘scorcher’. Clemson slipped upstairs to the bedroom for his afternoon siesta and I remained in my chair with my book. With my lesser hours of sleep last night, I tried to doze off but that didn’t pan out. I guess it will be an early night for this gal tonight! When Clem next needed outside, I also used the outdoor facilities and we walked down to the end of the lane. No mail today but it was good to stretch our legs.

At 6 I pushed myself to find something to eat. I had some cooked grilled chicken strips from Foodland so put together a lettuce, egg, onion, tomato, spinach salad. It filled my plate and I knew I wasn’t that hungry so I can put half into a container for tomorrow night. I’ll just add the dressing or mayo then. I cleaned up the dishes and settled back in our chair.

We need rain badly again
Our ponds are really drying up

This book is just as sit says on the back cover by Detroit News: ‘One of his best…..Woods is a pro and this goes by like a summer breeze, with just enough heat to make you sweat’. I could use more breeze today and less sweat but you the meaning. It is a page turner and I’ll finish it quickly. Bill called at 7 to say he finished his long hot day. Lucky that he had his stuff moved into his ‘overnight’ trailer and had the a/c running. He said it was nice and cool when he returned to it.

I went out with Clemson and just as I was putting him back inside, out of the corner of my eye I spotted a heron. I think I’m a bit of a hawkeye, not much gets past this evil eye with a camera. By the time I got my zoom lens, he had moved but I found him back further. I stood out in the heat for about 15 min. hoping he would take flight but nothing was spooking him. He can obviously stand still longer than I can so I had to give it up and move back into the cool of the Suite.

Mr. Heron tests the photographer's patience

Time for ice cream! I dished up a scoop of Vanilla fudge and a scoop of Black Cherry ice cream and drizzled some stewed rhubarb over top. That makes up for just having a salad at supper. Unless it is a caesar salad, salads just aren’t my go-to food. I enjoyed the dessert and Clemson got an offer to lick the bowl. Sometimes he takes us up on that, other times turns his head almost in disgust. Go figure!

I downloaded the day’s pictures and sorted through what to post. I hope you like my choices today. This has been a lazy but productive day, the dusting on the downstairs level is done and Clemson and I sold a boat! I hope your day has been awesome too. I believe some relief in the weather will come tomorrow and hopefully some rain showers so I don’t have to water the gardens. To all our American friends, I hope you have had a fantastic Independence Day!

Good night
Perhaps this means a cooler day tomorrow
But I hope it means rain!

Thank you for popping by. Your comments are always appreciated.