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mimiandrews · 10-11-2019, 01:20 PM

Prayers will be offered.

Lily&Me · 10-13-2019, 06:18 PM

Thank you, Mimi.

Please keep them coming, as it’s not over yet.

Someone ratted out Lily’s presence here, so my son on Friday hopped in the car and came up to get her.

But, it’s okay. She was excited to see him and to go, loving him almost as much as she does me.

Great niece is better every day, starting to eat a bit more and her friend in their new neighborhood here has been coming by every day to visit.

Sister in law and I are getting some things pulled together, and in spite of the stress it’s the most time we’ve had together in many years...and, we’ve enjoyed it.

Onward we go, forward and through, whacking down whatever obstacle pops up.

A good thing.

Maggie

OTRA15 · 10-14-2019, 04:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lily&Me

. . .
Onward we go, forward and through, whacking down whatever obstacle pops up.
. . .

Well said!

Someone here has a signature which goes, I think, "Remain calm, and carry on . . . "

Best wishes for good outcomes all around.

Peter

Lily&Me · 10-14-2019, 11:47 AM

Thank you, Peter.

Ingrained case management skills come in handy.

As the man says...I know how this works.

Maggie

Lily&Me · 10-15-2019, 07:03 AM

My dear sister in law is a classic lesson in the old saying...“there’s more than one way to skin a cat”.

Not that I’ve ever skinned a cat, nor would want to.

But, I watch her and it is so clear that while she doesn’t run nor manage her home, or generally do things the way I would, she gets all the essentials done.

And, she is so tuned in to her granddaughter and her needs that they are almost a mind meld.

A good thing, and I am proud to know this woman and stand beside her.

Maggie

Lily&Me · 10-17-2019, 06:53 AM

We are home for a few days, and enjoying this morning the first fire of the season.

I was scrambling to get fall service things at the little house done before I had to be gone, and at the top of the priority list was getting the chimney cleaned and wood delivered.

My wood guy came while we were gone, and three loads are stacked nicely on my patio.

Security for coming cold weather.

Left yesterday morning, having been gone 8 days, with the little family mostly on their feet.

Groceries gotten in, laundry done, a few meals prepared, and the granddaughter up and moving around a bit on her own.

Be back up early next week for a bit, after which they should be ready to be fully self sufficient.

There has been an absolutely appalling situation the last few weeks with the bio mom and some other family members, which is not over yet, but I am reminded of this saying...people will always show themselves.

Lily&Me · 10-17-2019, 06:56 AM

Have I mentioned how much I looooove my little wood stove?

mimiandrews · 10-17-2019, 06:34 PM

I know about the wood stove. We had one back in North Texas and really loved it. In this warmer part of the state, I just couldn't justify the expense. I did put in a fire place, though. I know it's not as efficient, but there are cold, damp days when I just have to build a fire. The damper stays closed the rest of the time.

Lily&Me · 10-17-2019, 06:39 PM

And a beautiful fireplace you have, Mimi!

You will enjoy that this winter.

Although my furnace was on at 65 degrees when we got home, it still felt colder in here than a welldiggers ass, as Doug would say.

Until I built the fire this morning, which took the chill off very nicely.

Got all the laundry done up and the little house tidied, and tomorrow intend to vacuum the Interstate and winterize.

No more travels planned for this year.

Maggie

Lily&Me · 10-19-2019, 11:19 AM

Tea.

Making it, sipping it, looking at it in a pretty mug....it’s a calming and centering ritual, which has nothing to do with the type of tea.

Tho this is Earl Grey, my favorite.

The Interstate has been cleaned, winterized and put to bed in storage for the next few months.

I had to just take hold of myself this morning, and do the winterization, because I didn’t want to.

I am emotionally fatigued, tho a couple of days at home have been good and restful, and I’ve gotten some things done.

Great niece is up and about, still weak but better every day, and Monday we go back to the Dr. in Chicago.

Soon she will be back to school, the dust will hopefully settle at their new place and they can get about the business of just living.

The last couple of months, and particularly the last couple of weeks, have just been nuts.

I have been more than glad to help, but can’t take off their shoulders what they have had to deal with, and it’s been ugly.

Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again...

Lily&Me · 10-20-2019, 06:33 AM

This is a great article about teachers in West Virginia, creatively pulling together resources to meet the needs of their impoverished students.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local...758_story.html

An education is a way out of poverty, and teachers provide front-line social services.

Here’s to teachers!

Maggie

tallytwo1994 · 10-22-2019, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lily&Me

This is a great article about teachers in West Virginia, creatively pulling together resources to meet the needs of their impoverished students.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local...758_story.html

An education is a way out of poverty, and teachers provide front-line social services.

Here’s to teachers!

Maggie

Maggie,

Thank for posting that article. Makes me wish for a do over and to be a teacher this time.

Carol

Lily&Me · 10-22-2019, 05:29 PM

Many years ago, I recall dropping in to see a child at a south side/rough part of town grade school to catch the principal organizing with teachers their own breakfast program.

If the kids were hungry, they couldn’t focus on school, and this was before the federal lunch program began to include breakfast.

So, the teachers begged some donations, but mostly purchased themselves food for their kids.

Making a difference, one child and one meal at a time.

Maggie

Lily&Me · 10-26-2019, 06:31 AM

This is a great article about a woman who buys unfinished needlework projects at yard sales or wherever, finishes them and then donates them.

What a great idea!

This particular project was an embroidered quilt of the United States.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifes...one-them-knew/

I have a niece who possesses a quilt made from fabric made from cotton grown on the 200+ year old homestead in southern Mississippi.

Started by my great grandmother, finished by one of her daughters about 150 years ago.

Maggie

tallytwo1994 · 10-26-2019, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lily&Me

This is a great article about a woman who buys unfinished needlework projects at yard sales or wherever, finishes them and then donates them.

What a great idea!

This particular project was an embroidered quilt of the United States.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifes...one-them-knew/

I have a niece who possesses a quilt made from fabric made from cotton grown on the 200+ year old homestead in southern Mississippi.

Started by my great grandmother, finished by one of her daughters about 150 years ago.

Maggie

Oh no! Just reading that story convicted me. I must have at least a half dozen unfinished craft and sewing projects, maybe more. I still have every one of them sitting in a bag inside of a tote just waiting for someone to come along and finish them. Guess I better get started. I’d hate to go before they’re finished. 😆
Thanks Maggie,
Carol

Lily&Me · 10-26-2019, 02:31 PM

I agree, Carol...that’s how I feel about my now-dwindling yarn stash.

It is a rainy, dreary day here, and we are just home from the second trip north this week

...me and mine made a final trip to the storage unit where sister in laws kids dumped her things and then took them on to their little apartment.

Great niece goes back to school on Monday, their little place looks more like a home every time I see it, and I think they are doing very well, all things considered.

I like listening to the radio in the car, where I have spent an inordinate amount of time the last few weeks, tho I still find it very, very difficult to put “our” music in the CD player at home. I just...can’t.

Our music brings up too much emotion, my shadow life then wanting to overtake the present, and I can’t handle it. Call me avoidant, but there it is.

I love “Whiskey Glasses”, “One Man Band”, and “Old Town Road”...the kind of songs you can crawl inside and feel. I like them, and they make me smile.

Maybe more so because they are new, there’s no feelings attached to them.

5 1/2 years out, and the best-of-times memories still seem just below the surface, waiting to knot up my stomach at the slightest provocation...maybe that’s Doug, letting me know he’s still around, or maybe it’s just grief, I really don’t know.

I miss slow-dancing in the kitchen, Willie Nelson in the CD player the beginning of every trip, the way he’d reach out for my hand, kiss my fingers and say “I love you, baby”.

The way we could look at each other and just know exactly what the other was thinking.

I’m glad to have had him and our relationship in my life, and know that I am better for it.

Rest In Peace, Doug.

Sigh. It’s one of those days.

Maggie

Lily&Me · 10-29-2019, 12:40 PM

Trees are turning, temps are cool and we may actually have the first snow of the season on Halloween.

I made 48 firestarters yesterday, covered my woodpile with a brand new tarp and got my yard overseeded this morning.

Need to cut back some shrubs and do some tree trimming yet, but it is too wet for the former and will wait for my son’s help for the latter.

Wielding even a small power saw above my head is just not something I want to do, and he already being about 9” taller than me helps a great deal.

Soon, there will be leaves to rake.

I’m not sure my beautiful red leaf maple out front will even fully turn this year...been such an odd weather year, and it’s only about half turned with a hard freeze coming, so we’ll see.

Fall is in full swing at the little house...my favorite time of year.

Hittenstiehl · 10-29-2019, 12:52 PM

The comfy cozy hearth (heart) of the home.

Msmoto · 10-31-2019, 06:26 AM

Just a "hello". Missed seeing you at Alumalina.... Tommie

Lily&Me · 10-31-2019, 07:07 AM

Hi Tommie!

We are hunkered down here at home, got our first bit of snow overnight and temps are fixin’ to drop.

Interstate is in hibernation for a few months, I have my tickets for Paris and just got a great deal on a room a couple of blocks from where my friend is spending the entire month of February.

Enjoy the fall.

Maggie