November Recap Part 1

 Where to begin? 

I think I will do a 2 part post and kinda go in backwards order for the month. 

I needed the month off from blogging not only for just quieting the world around me, but to get a handle on the busy and how to handle the busy. Sometimes I feel like I have a full time job again. This one though doesn't not have an order or structure. Things I crave. I don't think it is going to change much, so I needed to rest my mind of anything other than the most important things right in front of me.

I have had 2 plumber days at Mom's in the past 2 weeks just to give you an example of my days. The last 2 Mondays she called around 8 AM to tell me her kitchen sink was clogged. The first one Jeff was off from work thankfully for help. We got a plumber out there and got her a new garbage disposal. We thought all was well. Two days ago, she called again, but this time water had run out of the water hookup for her washer. Water was everywhere. The kitchen sink had gross water coming back up in it. 

I told her what to start doing, 

called the plumber, 

grabbed Palmer.

 and jumped in the truck to head over. 

Even Palmer took one look and knew all was not good. I grabbed towels and mops and proceeded to work on the floor. 

You see when I tell y'all I have no time to blog it seems to be really true. I am just taking care of a lot of people and time is a real prized commodity.

Taking the month off and only concentrating on the important did give me a much better attitude to deal with life's interruptions. 

The only other not so pretty thing to share with y'all is my sinus update. It just so happened Jeff went with me to the appointment after my month long antibiotic regimen. That was a good thing because when he told me I have 3 different kinds of bacteria in there and one was resistant to bacteria and then showed me the scan picture they took after said month long antibiotic ---well, let's just say all my bravado of "I'm not going to have surgery...no way!" disappeared quite quickly and tears filled  my eyes and I couldn't ask questions. Jeff had to do all the talking. My entire side of my head is one big infection blob. I don't have a date yet, because they are so booked up. I am calling a lot to keep my name on their minds:)

So for now Lindsay and I are both on a surgery list and will take the first appointment offered.

Let's change the subject. 

Thanksgiving morning I walked out on the deck and looked down to the lower deck and saw these amazing roses. I have been so busy and it had rained enough that I had not gone down to check on anything. These three babies were smiling up at me.

I quickly grabbed my snips and headed down to bring them up. More about them later.

Let's talk gardening. I usually plant my pansies around mid October. I use holidays and dates such as that as markers for gardening things. By Tucker's birthday, pansies are here and need to be in their pots. This year there were no pansies to be found anywhere. After a couple of weeks of searching, it dawned on me that they must have been messed up down in south Florida from that old Ian. Remember, we call them by their ugly old names when they have been bad.

Finally at the end of the month a few started trickling in. Not many colors, so rather than the white that I love, I went with an orange. (I do love orange though) Not sure how they will look with Christmas, but just glad to have some. They are just now getting a little size on them and starting to really bloom.

The white camellia bloomed right on key. This particular one is an early bloomer and usually comes right around Thanksgiving. This could be last year's picture. Like I said, right on time and oh so pretty and welcomed.

You will need to remember the camellia because, I bought me a new pretty for the house that has to do with them. Wait for Christmas pictures and I will show you.

Christmas decorating has begun and for the most part is up and just fluffing things as needed. I didn't get in a hurry which is how I like it. My tree is pretty and FRESH this year. We purchased from a different location and you can bend the stems and smell the freshness. The shape is so good, it possibly looks fake, but it is real.

The fern that holds the Christmas tree spot has been moved to the bedroom. This fern is simply amazing. It is lush and beautiful and old. I keep wondering how she does it. What is her secret to age? I think she loves her home. She has to go on vacation to the bedroom once a year for a month, but usually fares well.

The roses are still doing well and I cut 2 more to add to them. I tried for a dozen years to grow them in the front and all I got was black spot and no leaves on the poor plants by September from the heat and humidity. I gave up and threw one in a pot on the lower back deck and found the secret to roses in northwest Florida. Sea breezes and pots. Even though I am trying not to add to my large plant collection, you know I will just have to add to it. I am on the hunt for a pink one and maybe a white one next spring. I love cut roses like this about as good as anything you can think of.

Now, if we can just keep everyone well ---huge challenge. I have a post with family gatherings to do to sum up November. I am going to try real hard to get it out later today and posted tomorrow. I am going to close comments on this one and just allow comments on that one. You will get the while month in 2 posts. I am also going to try and pop in to all my people today during Palmer's nap later.

I will leave you with 2 grandchildren pictures for today..

Miles holding his ornament from me.

Palmer trying to be the baby again. He is talking- well mostly jibber, but talking. I think he has to do it here, because Tucker talks nonstop like his Mama at home. Lindsay texted us last night and said she needed to formally apologize for all her talking because 500 words a minute came out of Tucker's mouth. I just smiled.

Be back soon,

Sandy

A Little Break

 Yesterday was one of those days. There have been a lot of them lately, but it was particularly troubling to me. At the end of the day, I sat there kind of depleted and talking to God. I couldn't sleep so I sat with the Lord and I had peace about the little break I am about to take from the blog.

Mother is good in many ways. I was looking at pictures taken at Tucker's party and she looks good. She is so photographic and no one can see in a short period of time what I see. I see things that I saw with my grandmother, her mother years ago. She can fixate on something and nothing I say can help alleviate her worries or her troubled state. Yesterday was one of those days. If she goes down as much in the next year as she has the last 12 months it won't be a good thing. Aging can be hard people.  She has gone back on the idea of going to assisted living. Well again, aging is hard. I am glad she is near me, but it takes a lot of energy to care for her and I am just really at the beginning of the hard.

I read a book, actually I have read a good many lately, but I just haven't felt like blogging about them. The book called Retiring Well, by John Dunlop, MD has been one that has had me thinking in a good way. The author is a retired geriatric doctor and Christian. He writes about his practice and things he has seen people do well in retirement and not so well. One thing that was particularly helpful and put my mind at peace was this big old house. I think there is retirement at more than one stage. There is the retirement that comes in your mid sixties and then there is retirement at an older age as things change in your mind and body. I have wondered if we should downsize, but I think we are in a good place that is home to our kids and a great place for grandkids to come and enjoy the water. I am so blessed to have my kids here and watching the oldest grandson now is quite fun. He owns the house and loves it here. But, I know there comes a time when smaller will matter. The other chapter that really hit me was taking care of your body and mind.

Jeff and I have both been reading it and discussing it since he is planning to try and make it 3 more years. We both see the need to remain physically healthy for ourselves and each other. But mental health is important too. I have a lot to tax me at this point. I did start at the beginning of September to drop the 8ish pounds that I had let creep back up on me. 8ish pounds doesn't sound like much, but they were making a difference. I have one more to lose. It has made a huge difference. I also am committed to my gluten free diet even during all of the Thanksgiving and Christmas. For me it is a BIG DEAL. It would be hard to understand if you don't have the issues I have.

Mother has an appointment with the PA next month and I doubt it will be much more than jut a visit to go over bloodwork which for the most part will come out very well. 

Lindsay was due to have surgery on the 15th of next month for the issue gained with the birth of Palmer. She really liked and trusted the doctor and all was set to do it then so that she would have the holiday to recover. She received a call on Monday that the doctor has had some kind of medical emergency and can't do it. They were not even responsive to if he would be back at all. My strong girl cried her little eyes out. WE regrouped and prayed and have found another doctor in Pensacola that is new. I am going with her next week to meet him. I don't know how that will go, but it is a step in forward motion. We can always look to Gainesville if this is not an option with this doctor. It is not a surgery you want just any old doctor to do. And his misfortune whatever it is, is  a reminder to savor the good in life.

I am finally getting a little relieve from my sinus infection. I don't know if I will be over it by the end of my month or not, but I have learned that I simply must take care of myself if I am going to be of help to anyone else.

The past few years I have taken January off from blogging and kind of fasted from so much input from social media, video, etc. I love the Internet, but don't you just kind of miss the old days of one magazine a month and not being able to look up and know just everything at once or reading so much to clog up the brain.

After talking with the Lord, I really decided that I needed that break now rather than January. I love November. It begins to look and feel like fall here in north Florida. I have always loved Thanksgiving. I don't like how Christmas comes so early these days. I like my Thanksgiving mindset which I think enhances Christmas. 

I am such a type A personality and even with Scripture reading I can make it too complicated trying to be too scholarly. I am finishing up the book of the Bible I have been studying today and plan to use December to focus on old familiar passages that bring me comfort rather than a reading plan that almost stresses me out trying to learn and gleen so much.

Yes, I am taking that fast of blogging. My mind is not going to think, "Oh I need to record this or that," but I am going to unplug and just live the days taking care of me and my family. IT is really all I can think of right now. The things right in front of me that are important.

I am going to use November to regroup, praise Him who has so richly blessed me and prepare my heart for the upcoming season. 

WE will be less 2 this year at Thanksgiving. OF course, Danny, but my niece Kristan lost her father in law 2 weeks ago. They have joined us for Thanksgiving ever since she and Torrey married. It was a bit of a shock. I knew he looked poorly last Thanksgiving. He had Covid before then and then just had complications from then on. But, you know what else we have little Miles celebrating his first Thanksgiving. IT is life friends.

I am taking the month off rather than waiting until January and will be back after Thanksgiving. I hope it will be refreshed.

Take care everyone. Hug your loved ones and count your blessings.

See you in a month.

Sandy