I got a shower and it felt really good – especially to get all the guck off my hair and neck. Kelly changed my bed sheets and washed them and we remade the bed. After breakfast Mark came over and replaced the boards on the deck. My front porch looks like a skunk – all dark gray except the one tan board down the middle! It will be ready to be painted in the spring.
We took a small trip to get out of the house. I bought myself a surgery gift: Snoopy slippers! And there is another pair just like them – a set! HaHa Warm and cozy.
I have another pair JUST LIKE THESE!
While Mark was here Kelly and I made candy cane cookies for Thanksgiving – but we didn’t shape them into candy canes. We made pressed ones, then had one just now with a cup of hot tea! I feel spoiled!
I don’t plan to do anything else this evening except eat supper later. I’m so thankful for the dear people who have already brought us food. Yummy and easy – so thank you! We did notice that the neighbor behind me was putting up his Christmas inflatables. It looked for a while like the giant nutcracker was having seizures. He’ll be better by dark!
November 5 – This date asked for a picture of the engagement – and I don’t have one – but here are the rings —-
Mom’s rings from my dad
Calendar inspiration – Good things can be achieved anywhere – but sometimes take a little extra effort!
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Scripture –
Random Photo –
Some of the Skunk Hollow Girls at my mom’s – Left to right back: Gail, Karen O, Kath, Sue, Colleen, Connie Front – Aunt Joan, Mom, me 2009
We slept until about 8am. I had a pretty good rest, considering I was propped up with pillows and on my back. I was concerned that I would get the drain caught on something – but all was well.
Pesky drain
Kelly made me oatmeal for breakfast and she had scones. Things still pretty much tasted like straw and I didn’t want to waste a perfectly good scone! We grabbed a quick lunch then went up to the ENT office, and Molly (PA-C) took my drain out. It was sort of weird how they just pulled it out! It sort of gurgled when It popped free! It’s so much easier and more comfortable with the tube gone.
Really messy looking but drain is out!
Yesterday when I was in surgery Kelly crocheted me three fall dish cloths – Sunrise Ombre. So now I have a second surgery gift! She is working on Summerfields – we thought it looked like a Christmas print but turns out it really doesn’t. But I like it!
Sunrise OmbreSummerfields
Kelly was hungry for Chicken soup – so we got the ingredients at Walmart and it is simmering now. Kathy brought us supper and I feel like royalty! Chicken rice casserole, Aunt Joan’s corn, and deviled eggs! What a feast! I’m going to be spoiled and need someone to bring me dinner every night!!
Chicken soup – ready for the Acini de Pepi noodlesKelly and KathyChicken rise
November 4 – Tell about how my dad proposed marriage to you. “We were in the living room & he got down on his knee and asked me if I would marry him. I said yes. Russ asked Mary Jane to marry him the same night. They had planned it that way.”
Calendar inspiration – Work hard & plan ahead now so you can relax later when the world grows cold.
Mark is going to play outside tomorrow – he’s replacing the bad boards on my decks! He doesn’t have red hair or own a Bison – and I don’t have any donuts!! Ugh. But we’ll celebrate anyway! God bless…
This morning I got a shower and dressed while Kelly had breakfast and got snacks for waiting. She had a long day too! I am SO THANKFUL she was there, all day, sitting in those uncomfortable chairs and memorizing the TV monitors in the waiting room. My patient number was 6695 and she could tell exactly where I was the whole time. Almost like tracking an airline flight!
I’ll just recap surgery – that will be today’s post.
I’m obviously feeling good enough to sit at my computer desk and type! It was a long day but successful. The worst part was waiting in the morning. My mind was all over the place! I was a little fuzzy when I woke up, and when they drove my bed back down to recovery I felt like I was on a roller coaster ride!
(Stock photo)
The procedure was called a parotidectomy – surgical removal of the left parotid gland, or salivary gland. There is one on each side of your face, right under the ear. I was glad I didn’t look it up BEFORE the surgery – I would have really freaked out! Not for the faint of stomach….
Dr. Bosley wrote her initials on my left hand – top – and her initials are the same as Nate’s. So that was fun. I felt branded. Joe (part of the anesthesiologist team) was very fun, knowledgeable, thorough, informative, and helpful. I was glad he was part of the team. Krista was my short-stay unit nurse, and she couldn’t have been kinder. Molly – Dr. Bosley’s P.A. – was also very thorough, and I was so glad to have these people in my court. Dr. Bosley was friendly, helpful, and encouraging. You really have to have confidence in your surgical team, and I did, 100% all the way.
And especially because of my prayer warriors, those who cared beyond reason, including my precious family and closest of friends! And the team was headed by my Dad – God himself! Once again I felt his peace and comfort and cannot say enough great things about that.
The reason it is so tricky is that the nerve runs through it. My surgery was a little over 3 hours in itself. We got to the hospital at 7:38am and left at 4pm. When I get nervous I have to use the bathroom – I drove the nurses crazy for almost two hours, every 15 minutes!! Even once in the operating room! So embarrassing…
But everything went well, no bumps or issues. I have a drainage tube that hopefully will come out tomorrow.
There is no dressing or bandage and it’s very weird! My hair and face by my ear are sticky and yucky. And I’m restricted on showers until cleared by Dr. Bosley. Again, hopefully more info tomorrow.
No pain, no issues, just tired and have a VERY dry mouth from the surgery and the patch they put on for nausea. I ate a small bit of soup but everything tastes like straw. So I ate a Klondike bar!
November 3 – What qualities first attracted you to him? “He liked to have fun & enjoy life. He was very kind and loving to his mother.”
Calendar inspiration – Beautiful moments can be found every day – look for serenity and you’ll find it.
It was fairly early – right after breakfast – when the first hospital representative called to get updates and information on my health records. She was very nice, and encouraging as well. I cleaned the upstairs before lunch then went to my dentist appointment for my implant. It was less than 30 minutes and I was out of there, with little distress. My mouth does taste a little like metal, though! Then someone called back at 3pm and confirmed!
I stopped at Walmart to grab a toaster. Mine just suddenly quit working! I just bought it about 20 months ago so I was very disgusted. It was NOT inexpensive, either. So I went back to purchasing one that was more basic – 2 slice, one button. I did send an email to Oster to inform them of my displeasure!
Old toasterNew toaster
When I got home I finished cleaning – di the downstairs. So now my chores are all up to date. I have to be at the short-stay unit in the morning at 8am but surgery won’t be for a bit after that. There’s a routine before that. Don’t be surprised or concerned if there is no Word Garden for a few days. I’ll post once I get moving around and have something to write about!
Words growing in my garden
TOMORROW is Peyton’s birthday. Seventeen! WHERE did the years go. He’s so grown up, and responsible, and hard working, and a very nice young man. I’m so proud of him! Love you, Peyton – wishing you a great celebration and a wonderful year!
Welcome Peyton!Steeler fanHe already knew what he wanted to be.Early start at drivingPlay ball!My Morgan Wallen look alike!
November 2 – Tell about your first date with him. “It was in the fall of 1947. HE was discharged & came out to see me. He came as often as he could get his father’s car. Sometimes he came & brought his friend Russ Brown & his girlfriend Mary Jane Keister.” (Mom and Mary Jane were best friends until Mary Jane passed away.)
As is typical, I finished reading the ARC copy of Liz’s newest book, and always like to post it here for review. It’s sometimes hard to review a book without giving away key points – but here is my thoughts on A HOMESTEAD HOLIDAY by Elizabeth Bromke. I hope you’ll consider reading it!
Publication date November 15th
The thing I love best about Liz’s books, and it’s true in Homestead Holiday, is the communication between the main and primary characters. The conversations are true to life and deal with believable circumstances. Both Liam and Molly have strong feelings about not only what is happening at Liam’s ranch but also in Molly’s classroom. The struggles, relationships, and joys are all very real. I also love the fact that Molly’s passion to teach Culinary Arts stems from her French grandmother, and her focus is heartfelt and all-consuming. She wants to share her love for cooking and baking, and it’s important to her that her students, and the community, understand that passion. She wants them to share that passion within themselves, as well. Liam also loves what he is doing, although he struggles with coming to grips with a personal tragedy and how it will affect his life moving forward. Molly and Liam, their friends, family and co-workers, all come together to strengthen their relationships, have successful programs, and give back to the community and to each other. We need each other, every day, and Homestead Holiday brings that to light and lights our way, as well.
I helped Rege with a problem deal this morning in Jeannette, then had to notarize a paper for Mike P’s business partner. From there I went to L&L just to browse, and saw several cute, different things!
A lot of venders were in the process of taking down Halloween items, but there were a few still up! Pirate pup!Probably the nicest Santa I’ve ever seen.Papa and Mama goose – with several extra outfits.Never saw a blue Santa Snoopy!We had an ice cream spoon like this when we were growing up.
Then I stopped at Giant Eagle for Cranberry Ginger Ale. I may need it to keep my stomach settled when I get home Thursday! The lane up the hill was lined with trees – and fallen leaves!
Tree lines laneThursday’s drink of choice
I had a piece of my meatloaf for lunch, then made Cream of Potato soup, also for Thursday. Since it was damp and cool I did not attempt to tackle the leaves. They will still be there when I’m ready to rake.
I know – you are tired of seeing pictures of potato soup!
I just kept putzying around doing little things all day. Nothing note-worthy. Maybe tomorrow!
This just in! Kath stopped and brought me a surgery present. I’ve never had a surgery present before. I love it, and I do, indeed, feel beyond blessed – love you, MY FAVORITE SISTER!
November 1 – Tell about how you first knew my father. “Your father used to stay with his Uncle Chester Brown who was married to my cousin Hazel Crooks. We knew each other as young kids. When he joined the army his Aunt Hazel Brown told me to write to him. I did & we became friends through our letters.
Calendar inspiration – We never know what lies ahead, so treasure the good relationships in your life.
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These are precious treasured relationships! Beth, me, Karen O, Gwen, Gail, Connie, Kath, Holly Back: Susan, Colleen, Karen V
I’m not going to Ohio; too much traffic! There is a bit of stress scrambling around in my head right now but I’m trying to keep it under control. In the meantime I do like deviled eggs! Autmn and Logan LOVE them! God bless…
I guess I should admit right up front that it didn’t seem like Halloween. I usually love to take a walk through the neighborhood during Trick or Treat, but it was damp and cooler and too wet for me this year.
It was a very gray, cloudy morning, but I noticed before I got in the shower that the sun was peeping through a hole in the clouds! It never really did come out today at all.
And after all that work yesterday raking and bagging leaves, today it looks like I never touched it. When I got home there were quite a number on the ground, but by late afternoon it was completely covered. Ugh. Pretty sure they won’t get done for a few weeks, now. They look sort of quaint out there so if the neighbors don’t mind I guess I can manage.
After workTwo hours later!
I had to stop at the bank on the way to Greensburg, and their fall decorations were really nice! And they also solved my issue…
I have been looking for an inexpensive button-down shirt with no collar to wear on Thursday – found one, very unexpectedly, at Burlington! They have some really good prices in that store but I seldom think about going there!
Hard to tell, but it’s black and white thin stripes
I managed to tuck myself away in my downstairs family room to avoid Trick or Treat. I usually pick one thing to spend candy money on: Trunk or Treat, or Trick or Treat. So I shut up the house, locked the doors, and turned off the lights upstairs. Then I finished laundry, did the ironing, ran the sweeper, went through the mail, checked emails, looked at a magazine, and paid a few bills – plus baked at meatloaf and had a slice!
I also took down the Halloween decorations (not the fall ones) and then added my Thanksgiving things. So that’s done, too.
GIVE THANKS tea towel and wooden plaque. Turkey Mom made decades agoPut the witch away and got the pilgrims outSwitched lights from purple to orange…
October 31 – Do you have a special Halloween memory? “We used to go out & throw corn at the windows of the neighbors. It was always chilly weather & we would run from farm house to farm house. It was fun to think we frightened these ‘old folks’.”
Todd’s message was very direct this morning. We’re still studying the sermon on the mount (Matthew 5:27-30). He presents things in such a way that you just have to take them to heart. And I love the little stickie notes on the rest room doors!
I stopped at Panera Bread after church and bought 4 bagels – had one for lunch (Cinnamon Crunch – yum). Also got a new bar of scented soap at Barbara Ann’s. My black slippers were defunct, so I bought new ones – just inexpensive ONE SIZE ones. They are warm with little rubber dots on the bottom to prevent slipping.
Kitty slippers
After lunch I bundled up, gathered my equipment, and finally tackled the front yard. All the leaves (that were down) are now raked and bagged. Then I cut the grass. Should be the last time! Made a small slider (burger) for supper. Once I post this I will hopefully listen to one of Greg’s sermons. I’m behind a week!
Used the blower and the rakeLeaves all bagged and grass cut.
The answer to the puzzle yesterday as to what my ‘favorite artifact’ is: It’s a curling iron, but not for your hair. It’s made to freshen and fluff the ruffles on a man’s shirt that went under his waist coat for formal wear! Love it!
Ruffles!
October 30 -What did people do at Halloween? “WHOLE families dressed up in old clothes & went from neighbors to neighbors. Each family would arrange to go on a different night so we could be home to try and guess who each person was. Our mother made popcorn balls to give as a treat.”
Calendar inspiration – Find something positive in whatever mood this day brings you.
When I was laying in bed this morning contemplating getting out of it I noticed that the ceiling fan was very dusty around the edges. I didn’t have time to clean it at that moment, especially since if that one was dirty, possibly the two in the kitchen and the one in the hallway were too. So when I got home this afternoon I got the step stool, filled a bucket with hot water and Top Job, and set about cleaning all the fan blades. All done!
DustyClean
We had to be at Hanna’s Town by 10:30am. That still gave me time to walk around and take pictures. I started my first shift with a ‘shadow’, a new volunteer, Mary Ann, and we were upstairs in the tavern. We were very busy until almost 2pm, then we went to the second shift. I was in the Lefevre house with the coffin and the tombstone, handing out candy!
I used my new back pack today!My favorite artifact in the tavern – can you guess what it is; what it’s used for? Answer tomorrow!There is a black caldron on the left by the coffin – filled with candy! They were making soup over the hearth in the Lefever house.
I wish I would have had a break in my day – Louise was doing candle dipping and I would have loved to make one. It takes a long time and a lot of drips to get it perfect!
Candles drying
Proctor’s militia was there and put on demonstrations, and a local farmer gave hay rides.
Scott – in the tricorn hat – explaining the drillsDrillsHay rides
The Klingensmith House was festive…
Table displayHearthBenchWindow ledgeGhostly room
There were toys and games, and Michael who helped with the Tea last week was a helper again today.
Kids’ games
I like taking pictures through the older window panes.
Orange tree – and bench with ‘guests’.Lantern at the entranceBenches by the spring houseI love this picture!
Here are pictures I took of the site today. The sun was shining and bright, and we had a lot of people come through. All the kids – and even some adults – were dressed in costume. Still a few events left in 2022 so check out the web site and come out and join us!
Hairy pumpkinCat pumpkinWitches hat mobile Pretty yellow leafGames in the tavernTavern set up to entertainPlaying cards and drinking ale in the tavernTavern hostessesSeats in the tavern barWelcome pumpkinsTwo of our guests
October 29 – Do you have a good ghost or haunted house story to relate? “Our Grandmam Eakman said the house she lived in when she was very young & married had a woman that would appear & then disappear when she spoke to her. Those that lived in the house before she did also saw the same woman but in different clothes.
It was a good day to take my time getting up this morning. I read Gwen’s daily devotion, my five chapters in Psalms and one in Proverbs, a chapter in Liz’s book for review (second read through!), checked the weather, and scrolled through facebook. Next was Diane’s daily song (theme is Halloween this week!), then shower and oats for breakfast. I checked my emails, and it’s always a little disconcerting to see the subject line on an incoming email as “HELP!”. Actually, Kathy just needed to borrow a movie and a CD, so that was an easy request!
The sun was shining, and again the leaves looked golden and glowing. I really wanted to get out there and rake them, but it was colder than it looked and the wind felt cutting. I’m going to avoid playing in wet leaves and cutting wind for the next week, I think! Instead I am posting the Word Garden and snacking on a few bites of Ritz crackers!
Just a few bites.
I cleaned the house and alternately read chapters of Liz’s book for the rest of the day. I did find a stow-a-way under the end table. Looks like Chase or Logan will be missing a piece of their electronic puzzle! Kelly can take it back to them next week since she’ll be up here to stay with me for a few days.
My cousin Mark just stopped to take inventory of my ‘squishy’ deck boards. He is going to replace them for me so that in the spring they can be painted to match the new deck color. So wonderful to have people willing to share their time and help out. And that, my friends, was my exciting day! Laundry, cleaning, book reviews, and a walk up to the empty mailbox was it. Maybe not exciting, but definitely comforting!
Four boards and one spindle.
October 28 – Did you ever tell ghost stories? “Yes. We loved to tell stories that would scare ourselves as well as others.” The cousins would all love it when Grama Crooks would tell us ghost stories – about the footsteps in the attic and the lady in the blue berry patch…
Calendar inspiration – Take a leisurely walk through the neighborhood – and see the delightful things along the way!
There you go, Jen! National CAT day! Feed them oatmeal then take them trick or treating… Tomorrow I will be at Hanna’s Town’s Fall Family Fun Day from 11am until 4pm. Stop out – so much to do! God bless…
![A Homestead Holiday: A Prairie Creek Romance (Prairie Creek Sweet Romances Book 3) by [Elizabeth Bromke]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51Ay0wDJWgL.jpg)
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