The Day AFTER

This.

THIS my friends, is what it feels like on the morning after an extremely WONDERFUL birthday party.

Suddenly, it is no longer all about you.

And you are TIRED.

She did perk up nicely and enjoyed the rest of the Monday after her birthday.

Shadow

 A shadow of Hertjse swinging at her cousins birthday party.

I do like shadows.

Friday? Friday. Already.

Time flies when one is hibernating. I haven't left the house since I cannot remember when.  That does not mean that I haven't been busy.  I've just been busy at home.  Lots of lively people pass through my doorway,

Kado built this house with the new blocks I got for Christmas.  Now whenever he builds a house, this is EXACTLY what it has to look like.  He is funny that way.  To him, THIS is a house.  We have also been building long roads for the cars to travel on.  And barns for all of the little animals.  Even beds for dolls.  Soon maybe Feintsje and Hertsje won't be bent on destroying everything we make, but when they do we applaud them loudly.  This doesn't help, but we do it anyway.  A common phrase heard around here is "You are lucky you're so cute".

One of the advantages of a snow-free January has been that my sister and her grandson have been able to come visit us.
In the winters of yore, this would never have happened.
Anyway, this week when they visited the three boys discovered the octave of bells I have.  The three-year-olds are taller and stronger than when I put the bells away.  They could easily reach the drawer and pull it open without aid.
If Blogger would let me download videos, I would show you.  The three boys walked in in a line, handed two bells to Hertsje stood in front of my sister and I and played their little hearts out.  Great-nephew even managed to blow on a recorder while playing two bells.
It was very noisy, but they were having fun.
Most of my videos now end up on Facebook, as I have no trouble downloading videos there.

Everyday I've put away more of the Christmas decor. What you can see on top of the piano I'm planning to keep up for awhile.  At least until tomorrow, when I reserve the right to change my mind.
Usually we play the piano every morning.  I've sort of got the Linus and Lucy tune down.  This impressed Kado, as he could recognize it.  That says a lot to me. Now I'm moving on to an easy rendition of "Memories" from Cats.  On my list of dreams is to have my piano tuned and have that one key that doesn't play fixed.

At night I've been reading a little paperback Laura Ingles Wilder's biography that fell out of my "donate" box.  It's been interesting.  Since it is supposed to be extremely cold here next week, I plan to haul out my copy of "The Long Winter" and read that.  It certainly does make one thankful for things like food and heat.
After that I might pick up my Civil War books again.

Maybe, that is.  Like so many other people that I know I tend to get depressed in January/February.  Although I like the part about hibernating, I do not like the early darkness, and with no snow, it seems so much darker than snowy winters ever seemed.

And has there ever been a winter filled with such bad news?  Ugh.

Did you catch that story about women who suffer from migraines with auras?  Well so did I.  And it did not make me happy.  Apparently for women, 'migraine with aura' is more of an indication of heart disease and stroke than are high blood pressure and diabetes.  I have all three of these.  Besides, I am fat, so there is that too.  Although if my scale is correct, I have lost weight, but you can't tell that from looking at me.

Anyway, I'm choosing to look at all of the GOOD around me, and that is considerable!  So, on that thought I'm going to turn on my reading light, tuck the blankets under my chin(s) and find out what is happening in Walnut Grove.

Wow.

After over eight hours glued to TV news reports, I think I shall go to bed. The murder rampage/hostage situation in Grand Rapids is over. Thank God.
I'm still rather dazed about how close it came to so many people that I know.
Grand Rapids is such a great city.
I feel so badly for the families of the victims. What a tragedy.

My New Boyfriend, Hoover

I'm not sure if I told you this before, but I DO love vacuums! Some of my earliest memories are of riding around on the gold Hoover my mom used when I was a kid. And then there was that Rainbow vacuum THGGM's grandmother left us. It was gross emptying out the water, but OH, how it cleaned!

Perhaps I also never told you how I do not mind getting things like vacuums as gifts.

So you can imagine my surprise when THGGM ordered a NEW vacuum for me on Amazon! And it wasn't even my birthday or anything!

Seriously.

When Hoover first arrived THGGM put it together and tried it out. I'm hoping this was just to be sure that Hoover was good enough for me.

Today? Well, since THGGM did all of the floors, I spent the morning introducing Hoover to the furniture.

Be still my beating heart.

I hope we get to spend many wonderful years together.

The old Hoover, the one who could no longer navigate depth changes, has been retired to the basement where he will live out his life in relative obscurity aiding me as I attempt to keep things tidy in my basement rooms.

Thursday? Seriously?

My sister came over yesterday. Not only did she bring her darling grandson to play with my darling grandchildren, she brought produce fresh from her garden!

Zucchini, summer squash, green beans, and green peppers - what to DO with those?

I had an onion, a tomato, some garlic, and some mozzarella cheese...

This was VERY good!

I could eat it every day.

The only spice I add is a bit of black pepper on top!

The green beans shall remain in the colander for a crunchy snack all day long, as I like them better raw than cooked.

Filling In the Sink Hole

Today as I was tamping down the sink hole I dropped about six inches.

Two more bags of dirt went into the hole.

How many men does it take to fill a sink hole?

None. Famke's got it covered!

(and notice how she lifts from her knees.)

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I took this picture last July, one of the last times my parents were together.

They'll be together again, soon.

Today my mom was moved back to her room at the nursing home and is receiving hospice care.

She no longer is responsive, but however 'aware' she may be, her surroundings will be familiar to her.

Morning Light

Sometimes the morning sunlight shining in my eastern bay window FORCES me to take pictures.

Other times it reminds me to dust.

New Profile Pix

It was time.

And, I just got a hair cut.

I don't have far to go, THGGM cuts my hair. But I have to sweep up.

My oldest sister and I have the same hair. She kindly gave me some tips on covering up my thinning spot. The entire top of my head is my thinning spot. Sometimes I wonder if my hair is really thinning, or if my head has just gotten as fat as the rest of me.

Oh, I haven't gained weight in about ten years, but it's probably a lot of both.

At times I thought it would be easier to just have my scalp tattooed (i mean too tah).

Just keeping it real.

Actually, I'll never keep it so real that you would see what I REALLY look like.

I'm not too terribly vain, but I do not like to scare my friends.

Bird Sightings

Anyone been wondering if I've had any more hawk sightings at my house?

Well. Since you've been wondering, yes.

It was December 1st when a knock to my seldom used front door caused me to answer it, only to find a hawk sitting on my porch.

Since then, I have seen it many times. So has THGGM, which is helpful as I now have a credible witness.

Sunday, when we pulled into our driveway the hawk was sitting at the back door feasting on one of our feathered friends.

It's claw print shows in the picture, as compared to the toe of my shoe. Zooming in one can make out bits of bones and feathers. This was not the big mess. No. I didn't take a picture of that. Yuck.

I did get a better look at the hawk, as we pretty much had it cornered. It had to fly straight up, which was interesting. Cooper's Hawk? Red Tailed? I'm still not sure. But it is VERY big.

For the rest of the day every time the wind blew, a whirlwind of feathers spiraled upwards.

Monday when Jonge, Famke, Kado and I were eating breakfast at the kitchen table it flew past the windows, made a sharp turn and then hit the window. Of course, that made ME jump. First, because it cast such a big shadow, second because I want to SEE it and awnings on the south side of our house prevents me from looking skyward from the inside.

It scared them.

I asked THGGM what we should do? Stop feeding the birds? His ever-helpful response was to quote "Finding Nemo".

"Fish gotta swim, birds gotta eat!"

I Hear It's Thursday Today

After TEN days of being housebound, I actually went out today!

I hope this means I'm ALL better.

Although, I am awfully tired.

THGGM and I went to see Disney's "A Christmas Carol". Loved it!

This outing also included breakfast and thrift shopping. Note the thrifted mirror over the fireplace. Just what we were looking for, but didn't think we would ever find.

Tonight, Jonge and Famke came for a sleep-over. Not Kado. Not yet. He's had what I've had. We both need our Z's.

All sleep-overs MUST include the before bed reading of "Good Night, Richard Rabbit".

Soooo glad am I that I took pictures of Famke YESTERDAY.

Because today Jonge took a scissors to her hair. Mommy was waiting sooo patiently for her hair to grow. Mommy was NOT happy. I am thrilled to report that this did not happen on my watch. Although, I'm sure it could have.

Anyway.., maybe that asymmetrical look will come back.