Routine Therapy

This week has been about getting back into a routine. Lew went back to work on Wednesday and I attempted to get caught up on some stuff.

"Stuff" included exercising, reading, paying bills, preparing my parents' tax returns, following up on some correspondence, etcetera, etcetera. I did not finish everything but I did make good headway.

Lew and I had not done our weekly weigh-in since July, so we resumed that today. Lew didn't do too badly, but I weighed the most I have in seven years. (Too many York Peppermint Patties, I think!)  We even weighed the cats. Jerry was about the same but Kurt had gained a little bit.

I just did Verlie's 2014 taxes. Since she will have only a couple months of income for 2015, we shouldn't have to file for her ever again. The thought makes me sad.

Lew and I are slowly adjusting to our new reality. Lew says that driving by the nursing home every day is similar to wearing a black armband; it's a constant reminder of our loss.

Returning to routine has been therapeutic, but we also are enjoying a new toy: the Amazon Echo. It is an amazing gadget and I will not attempt to explain it here. But you should check it out.

Weather forecast: Cold. Snow. Cold.

Paper Laundry

Writing prompt: Nemesis.

 

I was going to write something of a serious nature, but I don't have the energy. It is so cold that I am using all my strength just to keep warm! (Cold weather... now there's a great nemesis.)

 

My mother's most-texted question to me is, "Wash?" (She lives in the same house as I do, but she often uses her cell phone to communicate with me. LOL! It works.)

 

Anyway, I got said text this morning and went over to my parents' side of the house to get Mom's laundry basket. The laundry machines are upstairs on our side, so it is easier for all if I just take her laundry upstairs and throw it in myself.

 

I am finally getting to the "nemesis" part of this story.

 

Tissues.

 

My mother has a habit of stuffing tissues in the sleeves of her shirts, especially sweatshirts. (I'm not sure why a trash receptacle is not her storage choice, but who am I to judge?)

 

After picking tissue remnants off of three consecutive loads of laundry, I have learned that I must check the sleeves of my mother's garments. When I checked today's load, I found one tissue. I hope that was the only one. The load is going through the washing machine right now, so I will know soon.

 

Wish me luck.

 

(PostScript: Another suggestion for my mother is to use her sleeve instead of a tissue. It works for little kids and for a lot of men, and plus it would save money.)

(Post-PostScript: I spent more than five minutes writing this post, but the subject matter demanded it.)

(Post-Post-PostScript: The wash just finished. The verdict for today's load is "Tissue-free!")

Remembering Verlie

It has been one week since Lew's mother passed away. The adjustment has been hard. We will miss her always.  Love....

Verlie at age 16.

Her wedding day, December 31, 1947.

Our wedding day, July 20, 2000.

Emily & Matt's wedding day, September 4, 2010.

Dad 241: Down With Snow

("Derf Wednesday" is a good day to start blogging again. Enjoy Dad's post. ~ Tracy)

 

Derf Here! From the snowed-in Northeast. The sun is out. The temperature is climbing to double digits. We might reach 20° today. What a joy. I'm ready for April!

 

Well, today's blog will be short. Why? Because the weather is depressing. I don't recall ever seeing so much snow in such a short period of time. One town "down east" received 99 inches of snow in 20 days. Over eight feet of snow in less than three weeks. Hard to believe, but true.

 

As you can tell, I'm thinking about the weather constantly. Lew spent several hours Friday shoveling off the roof above our living quarters. However, we received about a foot of snow the next day and we are awaiting another 6 to 12 inches tonight and tomorrow. Then our forecaster is telling us it looks like another Sunday storm.

 

I'm sick of winter! I hate snow! I'm ready for April. I refuse to write anymore. I'm tired! Sooo....

 

Until next time!

 

Toodle Pip!

 

Derf!

Hiatus

Taking a break from blogging for a few days due to the passing of Lew's mom today.

 

We love you, Verlie.

Dad 240: Snow Won(s)

("Snow" backwards is "wons". The snow does seem to have beaten us this winter! The runner-up for today's title: Snow S'Now. Enjoy Dad's post! ~ Tracy)

 

Derf Here! Finally, a sunny morning in the Northeast. Not snowing but a bit chilly at 12°. Snow scheduled for tomorrow night (only 1 to 4 inches) then possible snow on Sunday and Tuesday (no amounts predicted yet). But we will be in the last half of February. I'm ready for April! (Have I said that before?)

 

Perhaps you have figured out the big news here in the Northeast is the snow cover. Well the landscape is covered. I think we may have enough to guarantee a 2015 white Christmas! We have sooo much snow that any plowing area is about one half of the original area. I have a path shoveled across Lew's deck leading to the stairs to the garage for anyone not wanting to walk down the driveway. The rest of the deck has snow up to the house windows and the top of the deck rails. I'm ready for April. (Have I said that before? Do you see the pattern here?)

 

Just a little more about the area storms. Boston has set records in snowfall the past couple weeks. They received about 6 feet of snow in a two-week period. Enough to cancel school for eight days over the period and close down the transit system. It has been a problematic two weeks. Please turn off the snow guns. Thanks!

 

As you can see, the weather is about all I'm dealing with right now. Received a couple calls from sister Deb in Florida telling how the temperatures are in the high 70s. That would sure melt the snow. Later, maybe.

 

I sit here waiting for next week. Why? Because it is school vacation week and basketball tourney time. Tournament games are on television and I try to watch them. It is a good way to pass a week in winter. Hope I'm not plowing too much.

 

Enough about the weather. Sooo....

 

Until next time!

 

Toodle Pip!

 

Derf!

"Asian Lily" by Phyllis C.

(I'm switching "To-Do Tuesday" and "Throwback Thursday" this week. I hope that doesn't confuse anyone's schedule!)

 

Today I am sharing a beautiful framed photograph I received as a gift on my 40th birthday – almost 12 years ago if you can believe it. (I barely can.)

 

The photo hangs on our dining room wall and is in the line of sight as you enter our home.

 

It is a picture of an Asian Lily.

 

Phyllis, the lovely woman who gave me the photo, tended the lily and was also the photographer. She passed away a week ago. Lew and I attended her memorial service today.

 

We grieve with Phyllis's family, but we rejoice with her. She is now home with her Lord.

 

I wonder if she is already tending another Asian Lily.

A life well lived.