Thursday, October 31, 2013

Confessions of a Nurse - Knock, Knock

Who's There?

One thing nurses are taught to do is to knock. We knock a lot. All day long we are in and out of rooms with patients in them and we are to knock before entering. So, I knock and I knock and I knock...all day long.

Not too long ago I knocked before entering a room. It is just automatic for me. The weird thing was, I was at home and the room was our bedroom. Mike was inside. He just looked up at me as I entered and said, "Well, that's new."

This week I over-knocked yet again. I was in PACU (Post-Anesthesia Care Unit...formerly known as a recovery room) and as I was going from that unit out to the hallway, I knocked. No one answered. I'm not sure who, if anybody, saw me knocking before entering the hallway, but I burst out laughing at myself. I thought it might tickle you as well. 

If I made you smile, my mission is complete.


Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Handicap Accessible?

My sister, Tina, has always been physically handicapped. Because of that, I grew up being aware that there were places she just could not easily access. It is wonderful that now so many places have made their businesses more handicapped accessible. It has made life a lot easier for her and others for whom mobility is a challenge.

I'm thinking not everyone quite understands this whole accessible thing, though. As it turns out, just putting up a sign saying a place is accessible does not make it so. I don't want you to think I'm just some weirdo that takes photos in bathrooms but I did it once again. I couldn't help myself! 

This is the view coming out of the women's restroom. Down and to the right goes to the restaurant. The other step up leads to the men's restroom.  Either way, it is a small passage, around a corner and with two steps involved.



This is the sign on the bathroom door.


Duh?!

Sunday, October 27, 2013

lullaby

All Through the Night
(click title to hear song play in a new window)

Old Welsh Lullaby

 



Sleep, my child, and peace attend thee,
All through the night
Guardian angels God will send thee,
All through the night
Soft the drowsy hours are creeping,
Hill and dale in slumber sleeping
I my loved ones' watch am keeping,
All through the night















           







 Angels watching, e'er around thee,
All through the night
Midnight slumber close surround thee,
All through the night
Soft the drowsy hours are creeping,
Hill and dale in slumber sleeping
I my loved ones' watch am keeping,
All through the night

Saturday, October 26, 2013

The Princess and the Ball

Last night my son-in-law, Eric, was performing with his band at a masquerade ball. Doesn't that sound fun?! I went to their place to spend the evening with Cordelia and Elise so that Maria could attend as well. Eric was already at the ball when I arrived at their home but I did snap a couple of cell phone photos of Maria before she left. I loved that Cordy wanted to do the poses for the camera as well.


I was just kicking myself for not bringing my good camera, 
but I think you can get the idea that she looked pretty amazing!
Check out Maria's blog, Little Things are Big to see better photos.


Later, when I was putting Cordelia to bed, we were discussing her mother's beauty and our expectation that everyone at the ball would be looking at her. Cordy said the others there would be jealous of her mom. I said I hoped they weren't jealous but I did believe everyone would notice her mom when she arrived.

After so much discussion of Maria's beauty, I thought maybe I'd better make sure Cordy understood that true beauty isn't just what you see on the outside. I commented that her mother was indeed beautiful, but that the really wonderful part was that she was also very kind and fun. Cordy pondered that for just a second and then remarked, "Well, she isn't very much fun when she puts me in time out!"

Friday, October 25, 2013

My Favorite Month

Do you have a favorite month? Mine has always been October. Why? Because it is so crisp! It is also nice that it features the color orange, my favorite color!


Apparently I like "crisp". I'm not really talking about the crisp air, but rather the crisp colors. 


The greens are greener; the blues are bluer.


It seems the shadows are sharper and the colors are more intense.  Does this shadow make me look fat?


Something is different about the sun.


Even after all that snow we had, there is still a lot of color in our yard. It will only be there a few more days, though, as we are expecting a lot lower temperatures and more snow next week. For now, I am going to enjoy the crispness.










Thursday, October 24, 2013

Feel the Joy

No, I am not talking about last night's World Series Game.


As it turns out, even grocery shopping can be fun with those you love.
I know it isn't a great photo but I think you can feel the joy, right?

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Go Cards!

Happy 1st Day of the World Series 2013


Makes us proud, Cards!
(By "us" I mostly mean Mike but what makes him happy makes me happy.)

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

One of Those Days

I've been thinking lately that maybe I won't be posting every single day. One of the things about posting every day is that if you miss a day, people worry. This was one of those days. My day began in an ordinary fashion but first one thing happened and then another thing happened and pretty soon the day was almost over. So, if I made you worry, sorry about that. It was just one of those days.


This photograph has absolutely nothing to do with this day; I just liked it.

Sunday, October 20, 2013

Seat With a View

This is the view from where I sit each Sunday morning. I enjoy having a view of the congregation. I have seen children growing up and adults growing older. I think I have watched a few budding romances.  I have seen some faces come and go over the years. I have been witness to some tender acts of mercy.  I just thought I would share my point of view.

Saturday, October 19, 2013

Confessions from My Kitchen

Before I show you this, I want to tell you that I have potholders that are new-ish. I also have the capability of making as many potholders for myself as I could ever want. Still, in my potholder drawer, there is this...


Yes, I still use my Strawberry Shortcake Potholder. Most of the time I just grab it, thinking nothing of it. This week, however, I really looked at it. I'm thinking it is starting to show some wear and tear. What do you think? Well, I guess that is to be expected. I've owned this particular potholder for 37 years. No, that is not an error. I did say 37 years.

When I was 18 years old, I packed up my car in Turner, Montana and drove to Moorhead, MN...all in one day and all by myself. Mike, who was then just my boyfriend, was already in Moorhead, MN going to college. I went out there and moved into my first apartment. I actually moved in that same night, after driving 15+ hours. Aaaaah, youth! Not long after that, I found a job and a roommate. It was my first real venture into the grown-up world. What better way to start my grown-up life than with a Strawberry Shortcake Potholder?

That day that I left my family in Montana I made my first stop in Malta, MT. I believe it was around 6:30 a.m. when I arrived in Malta. I was going to say "good-bye" to two of my friends from high school, Karla and Valerie. They were sharing an apartment there and I remember thinking their place was pretty cool. Anyway, they were up and waiting for me. I don't remember much about that visit. I'm sure it was pretty short as I had a long way yet to go that day. I DO remember that they gave me a gift for my new apartment in Minnesota. Yep, it was a Strawberry Shortcake Potholder, along with a matching towel and dishcloth. It was sweet.

Now do you get it? That silly potholder reminds me of two sweet friends as well as the day I struck out on my own. It is a silly thing to save, isn't it? Still, it makes me happy so there you have it.

Friday, October 18, 2013

Sick and Tired

Cordelia has been sick the last few weeks. She had bronchitis, felt better for a few days, then developed a wicked sinus infection. I think she is over the worst of it, though.

Maria mentioned that Cordy has a history of getting sick about this time of year. I guess it is true. I browsed through some photos from last October and found a couple of her when she was recovering from another illness. I smiled because I remembered how she was trying to play, even though she was pretty worn out.


Do you ever feel like that?


Thursday, October 17, 2013

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Pounding the Pavement - Again


These guys got in my way as I tried to go home yesterday. I'm kind of getting used to it.

LET ME RECAP...

The road in front of our house was redone this Summer. That meant weeks of difficulty getting out of and returning to our property. We didn't mind too much as we were grateful they were making our street all pretty. I was home the day they had the big pounder machine (that may or may not be the technical name) doing what it does. It felt like a series of earthquakes in our house! The paintings on our wall all ended up crooked that day. It was a weird feeling to have the house keep shaking like that.

THEN,

a short time after all that one of the neighbors decided to take up the old cement in his driveway to be replaced. When he did that, he discovered seepage under his driveway. It turns out that all that pounding likely cracked the water line that went under our street. 

SO,

they had to break open that brand new pretty street. It was sad, really. They dug a big hole but didn't find the crack. They dug more. They had to keep digging until they'd gone all the way across the street. After fixing the leak, they put new dirt in the hole and smoothed it out, presumably to soon be resurfaced later.

BUT,

we had that giant snowstorm that broke nearly every tree in town. People were going up and down our street at all hours for days. They were driving big trucks pulling large trailers loaded with amputated tree parts. Each time they crossed over that broken place in the street we could hear bangs and crashes as they hit the sharp edge where the surface abruptly ended. With all the moisture and traffic, the broken part squished lower and lower.

ONE DAY, 

the city crew came and added more black pebbly stuff to the hole. We appreciated the effort as it made it a bit less noisy around here, but the trucks and trailers kept hauling the branches and that band-aid job didn't last long.

SO,

today was the day the road crew came back. Once again we couldn't drive home our usual way but once again, we were grateful they came to fix it. They did all the stuff they did before...even the pounding.

EVEN THE POUNDING!


Does that painting look crooked to you?

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Movie Review - Captain Phillips




Mike and I BOTH had yesterday off. It was appreciated as it is kind of rare. Anyway, we decided to go to a movie together. We chose to see Captain Phillips. Have you heard of it? Here's the trailer for it.



Do you remember the news clips from the time Captain Phillips was actually being held by Somali pirates? I remember thinking it must have been a scary experience. His ship had been boarded by Somali Pirates. Although no one on that ship had firearms, they did have some clever ways to protect themselves. It wasn't enough, though. They were still boarded by the pirates.

Eventually, Captain Phillips was taken captive as they left in a little escape boat. It was a miserable situation that went on for days. There is controversy about Captain Phillips. Some see him as heroic while some crew members felt it was his fault this mess happened in the first place. I don't know who's right but I will say, the movie was worth the price of our tickets.

I have to give this movie a high rating as it really made you almost feel like you were there. Almost. I felt pretty tense throughout the movie. It was not relaxing, but it was exciting and fascinating to think about what you would do if you were ever in such a situation. I don't think I'd be remembered for any kind of bravery. I'm thinking I'd probably curl up in a fetal position and will myself into a fantasy world of peace and security. Insanity seems better than being terrorized.

How about you? Do you feel you have the makings of a hero?

Monday, October 14, 2013

Held By His Hand



I am watching big sloppy rain/snow drops/flakes come down right now. You know what I'm talking about, don't you.


It's more than just raining right now, but not quite solidly snow yet. It is, however, very wet outside. It is messy.


Life is messy!

Right now, our back yard kind of represents life. There is a lot of beauty there but there is a lot of mess as well. Sometimes the storms keep coming, even before you've healed from the last one... kind of like our poor tree in the background. It is rather scarred and battered right now, but it is still out there, still accepting moisture from the ground. Still reaching toward the sky.


This morning I am thinking about the messiness of life. We can make plans and aim for goals, but stuff comes up, storms come along that change everything. I know of a lot of friends and acquaintances going through some difficult times. Their lives maybe have taken some unexpected turns. Sometimes it is overwhelming. Maybe they are wondering if God is paying attention to their lives.

While thinking about the uncertainties we all face, both hopeful and worrisome, I stumbled upon a great verse this morning. I think I need to memorize it. I just felt like maybe some of my blog readers would find peace in this verse today as well.




Psalm 37:23-24  The LORD directs the steps of the
 godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. 
Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the 
LORD holds them by the hand.




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