reminiscing ....

Where has the time gone? Can't believe it's been about 3 weeks since writing anything on this blog...
Anyway to recap the past 3 weeks, here goes:

Sunday Nov 15, After visiting Greene for their Branch Conference, fed the sisters one more time before they were to transfer out, so sad to loose them in our area. Their loveliness, spirituality and dedication toward working for the Lord will be greatly missed. :(

Monday Nov 16, Packed for our 2 day (tues and wed) trip to Newburg, NY. Dad had to take a class for DocuWare for 2 days. I read scriptures, searched facebook, chatted with Elaine and Trina on my laptop, went shopping at a mall across the street from the class and bought a fine linen blouse for $12, went for a long lunch time walk with Dad and enjoyed association with the employees in the office there. Dad was frustrated with his computer's lack of memory which kept causing his program to crash, preventing him from completing his course with ease. But,,,,,, upon returning home, he found out that he could upgrade it inside the space below the keyboard. :) Now it works great!!!

Fri shopped for the supplies for the 2 thanksgiving dinners on the weekend.

Sat Nov 21. We went to Tommy and Cherie's for a pre-Thanksgiving dinner on Nov 21st. Left early so there would be lots of time to spend with their family and planned on calling Trina for her birthday upon reaching Tommy's so they could all sing and wish her a happy birthday. Alas, as usual things got quickly "carried away" and she called as we were leaving, so it was only Dad, Tommy and I to sing our happy wishes. Next time we will do our contacting on the way to make sure it is done in a timely manner. Sorry Trina...... We took part of the dinner up with us: red, gold and regular potatoes for mashed potatoes with LOTS of butter, cranberry/orange relish like Grampa Siglin used to make, cider from the Cider Mill, and green bean casserole. Cherie made the turkey stuffed with an apple and onion, glazed ham, stove top stuffing, sweet potato souffle, pumpkin surprise, and Zach made the cheese bread rolls. Hillery brought apple pie and a veggie platter. Needless to say, we were stuffed!!
While waiting for dinner, Dad took the dogs for a walk each separately. Shadow was a dream to walk, but toward the end of the walk with Maddy, she dragged him sideways off balance, across the road and onto the sidewalk, bruising his side and gouging out several knuckles on his left hand. As of today, his fingers are starting to fill in and his side hurts much less. Thankfully there were no broken bones. All the children who saw the accident, were very upset with worry and concern for him and came to tell us. Previous to the accident, she had bruised his arm from hitting it with her paws, while he was attempting to keep her under control on the leash. Needless to say, he plans to not walk that dog anymore, as I previously had decided for the same reason, while they were still in VA, only I luckily landed on grass.

Sun Nov 22, The next day, we drove to Gramma Ford's for another Thanksgiving feast!! I took cranberry/orange relish and apple crumb pie. She insisted on making all the rest herself: turkey, ham, stuffing, baked sweet potatoes, coleslaw and butternut squash. DELICIOUS!! She is terribly afraid of not having enough money to care for herself, because of the economy and government spending. We attempted to reassure her, as did Ed, that she will be cared for by all of us. I wonder if her biggest fear is loosing her independence and freedom to travel whenever and where ever she wants to....... just a thought. I try to imagine loosing that privilege for myself; it would be difficult to give up.

Monday Nov 23, ?????

Tues Nov 24 ahhh yes, now I remember, I went looking for split peas at 7:30am to make soup for dinner, which I was sure were in the food store in the basement, under Dad's work bench, behind heavy boxes and equipment, or under the stairs behind some of Dad's "stuff" in storage boxes. The garbage can lids had no room to be removed to inspect the contents, so had to puuuuuull, with much difficulty, the cans out from under the bench to inspect them.

No split peas in #1. And the thought of returning it to it's place under the bench brought dread of back pain beyond ability to force myself to do. So the contents were each removed and brought upstairs to be replaced into the can after it was washed and placed on the front porch semi-under a table with room to remove the lid.

On to #2, same thing; #3 same thing, #4 my back is beginning to fade in its ability to continue, but now I'm on a mission! Empty, took it outside; #5 only one small bag, brought it up and cleaned it; #6 2/50lb bags of wheat, as also were in cans #7, 8,& 9. Brought can #6 and contents [individually of course] upstairs and cleaned can. AFTER ALL THAT, NO SPLIT PEAS!
Went to the store to buy Campbells split pea soup for dinner..... Back tired, difficulty sleeping that night.....

Babysat in the morning for Dilan Drake 4yrs and Ryan Cengiz 4 1/2yrs. Last week while we were gone on Tues, Dilan discovered that Ryan lived across the street from us and wanted to play with him again, so we invited him to come over, both are from the church. They played wonderfully together.

Wed Nov 25 - did laundry and packed for our trip

Nov 25 - 28 to the Toronto Temple to celebrate our 43rd anniversary. Dad had made reservations in a hotel about 10 miles from the temple, which made attendance and finding our way quite easy, especially in the dark and through construction. We walked around the block and visited the free gym room in the hotel for exercise. One advantage of a full service temple is the ability to go through several sessions without appointments. After 3 sessions and dinner at Dad's favorite Chinese restaurant, we were on our way home on Saturday. The border crossing at Buffalo were we usually cross, was crowded, so we took a turn south to Erie and crossed the middle of Buffalo only going out of our way about half an hour with no wait at the border. Must remember that for the next time.
Upon arriving home and unloading the car, my back gave completely out.............................

Sunday must attend church to receive a blessing!!!! Can hardly stand let alone walk.......
Comfrey helps the pain, but the legs still want to crumble. Also the wrists/thumbs... too much sitting and riding after over-doing last Tues.
Dad, Br Cashman (2nd counselor in the bishopric) and Pres Beck (Stake Pres) gave me a blessing and by the time I got home it was beginning to feel better. That afternoon we had dinner and FHE with a sister, whom we home teach. Later took her to attended a Missionary Farewell openhouse. Was feeling MUCH better, so decided to take this same sister touring to find Christmas lights. It was quite a peaceful experience and spiritually refreshing.

Monday Nov 30 did laundry and got the house in order. Guarding my back which wants to slip out again at the slightest wrong move. Also, helped a sister who is going to the temple for her own endowments to figure out which her garments and ceremonial clothes she wants to purchase.

Tues Dec 1 - can't remember.... Oh yes, Tues. Babysat in the morning for Dilan and Ryan, and asked Ryan's mom if he could come over every Tues when Dilan comes over. To have these delightful boys over once a week has helped, a little, with missing playing with Gabe and Sam.
After they left went to Linda's to help her purchase the clothes for the temple.

Wed. Dec 2 took dinner to a friend after spending most of the day with her and her children at the hospital. She had surgery again for female problems and this time hopefully all will be well. Sat most of the day, must needed rest for my back.
Dad had an appointment to see the orthopedic surgeon this morning for his shoulder, at which time he got a cortisone shot and will start physical therapy tomorrow morning.
Went to the Family History Center to have Sister Pettengill help me with New.familysearch.org. SUCCESS! Now I have some names to take to the temple next Thurs Nov 12th

Thurs, Dec 3 took another friend to the foot doctor; she has an ulcer on the bottom of her foot, complications from uncontrolled diabetes. After the appointment we went shopping! These once a month days with her are actually therapeutic, because I learn more about these complications, how to care for them and how to prevent them happening to Dad. Also, it is fun to have a friend to shop with. :)

Friday Dec 4 was clean the house day, catch up on a long list of e-mails, laundry and attend the Owego Christmas Celebration in the evening for out date. We missed the parade, but the fireworks were awesome, coming from the river and falling so close to us!!! As you can well imagine, Dad LOVED the loud booms!!!
One e-mail message told about a dear friend, whom I do not see much anymore, died suddenly while visiting her daughter in NC. Dad looked for an obituary notice on the internet but didn't find one for her in the Star Gazette, which covers several counties now.
Also, the Stake President's Christmas Party was canceled due to a death in his family requiring he and his family to travel out of town. His 7 yr old nephew died of brain cancer after a long illness. A very sad blessing.....

Saturday Dec 5 morning - we helped some friends load a moving truck, return a damaged car trailer, and exchanged it for a new one.
Called Gramma to chat and possibly discover which Willow Angels she has, SUCCESS, and she never suspected why I asked, hehe.
While talking with her, I told her about loosing my friend, who lived in Painted Post, and she suggested looking in the Corning Leader. I did and discovered that I had not only missed the viewing but the funeral as well. I was sad, but also relieved (another funeral so soon and someone I cared for so much has been hard to take). Left a message on the newspaper website for her family.
That evening was the wedding reception for Patty and Don Ianuzi's granddaughter, Britney (daughter of Bill and Tawny Ianuzi). It was an Italian feast: lasagna, tossed salad -with hot peppers, cheese, lettuce cucumbers, olives, and carrots-, roast chicken and potatoes, Bavarian Cream Cheese cake, and Baklava, YUMMMMMM!!! There was a live DJ with music, dancing and talking with lots of friends and meeting Tawny's parents. Just happens that her father is a "ham"!! Dad was interested because it gave him someone to talk with about something he was most interested in, hehe.

Sunday, Dec 6 Learned that my friend who died last week, had recently learned that she had fast growing terminal cancer. They had only known for about a month. She must have gone to NC to say good-by to her grandchildren.....
Tonight is the First Pres. Christmas Devotional at 8pm EST. Dad and I will go to the chapel at 6:30pm to set it up.
The First Pres. Christmas Devotional was superb!!! Just what we needed to start of a typically hectic month, and reminded us of what this life is all about: to learn about the Savior Jesus Christ and share that knowledge with others around us, especially those close around us. :) May His peace be with us throughout this season and the coming year.