Photo Monday

 A weekend get-away on Table Rock Lake - Branson, MO.  I will leave you with a few photos as I head out to take care of the multitude of things that I've neglected while away playing in the Ozarks.  Hopefully all are well and will have a wonderful week.  More tomorrow.

Table Rock Lake

The Fall Colors are not toally gone

The hills of the Ozarks

Muted Fall colors

Sunrise on Table Rock Lake (taken from hotel room balcony)

Sugar and spice

One is 13 and the other 3.  Ten years and two days separate their ages.  They both celebrated birthdays last week.  They both stole this Grandma's heart the day they were born. 
Emily turned into the T word.  You know, the word every mother dreads.  *whispers teenager*.  But she is such a disappointment.  She doesn’t have a teenage attitude.  She is sweet to her brothers and sisters most of the time.  I’ve heard rumors that there is the occasional blow-up but I don’t believe a word of it.  She is the everything nice of sugar and spice  Grandpa calls her Emmalemma (mostly to irritate her).  But I think over the years she has come, if not love the nickname, accept it.  Happy Birthday Emily, I love you very much.
These big brown eyes, dimples, and sweet smile melt my heart every time.

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This three year old knows her way around my heart.  Reagan calls and talks to us, telling us about Tina (her baby sitter) and all of her friends.  Since she talks 100 miles an hour, we usually have to have her daddy interpret the conversation after she says “Bye I love you”.  When she says that, she is gone.  Boom. 
Reagan’s smile is infectious.  When she smiles, I can’t help grinning like the silly grandma that I am.  Whoever coined the phrase that little girls are “Sugar and Spice and everything nice” had to have had Reagan in mind.



She gave every present special attention, but that guitar lit her up like a Christmas tree.



I don’t know if her mom and dad noticed, but I tuned it before I left the party.  Taylor Swift – move over!           



Working on her picture taking techniques. 

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Back to Emily.  Who says you can’t surprise a 13 year old…



I can’t figure out who is happier with the new cell phone, Emily, or her little brother James.  I even sent her a text – and I don’t do text!



Happy Birthday Emily and Reagan!  Love you both very much.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY IGGY

My dear friend, Iggy, was born on this day.  Since he is a dear friend, I won't snitch on how old he is.  Well, that reason, plus I'm not real sure how old he is. 

You know how sometimes you meet someone and you immediately know this is a good person and someone you want to know better?  Well that is Iggy.  No, I've never met him in "real life" but I feel like I have and know I will one of the days. 

If you aren't already following Iggy's blog, then consider checking him out.  I never know what will greet me when I visit him.  Sometimes he reduces me to tears with touching posts of thankfulness and appreciation.  He often takes me on walks with him.  And quite often there is a history lesson on things I not only knew nothing about, but didn't even know I knew nothing about! 

One other thing about Iggy.  He is kind to a fault.  When a person is troubled and down, or just having a bad day and needs a pick me up, he does what he can to help.  That help might come in the form of an email, a card, flowers, or just an encouraging comment on a post.  I've been on the receiving end of his kindness a number of times.

For example, I couldn't grow sunflowers.  And wala SUNFLOWERS! brightened my day.  Then there was the PHOTO ALBUM that showed up in my mailbox out of the blue.  Yea, Iggy is just that kind of guy. 

So please do me a favor and pop over to Intenseguy's place and wish him a Happy Birthday.  You will notice that he is on a bit of a break, having let the weight of the troubles of his friends; the loss of a treasured part of his life, the family dog, Molly; and life in general get the better of him.  He could use a little bloggy love.

Happy Birthday Iggy.  You are loved.

Boo!

I hope everyone has a wonderfully safe Halloween.
It is going to be a quiet one here, which is pretty normal for us.
The Grandkids don't live close enough to trick or treat here.  Just once I'd like to see them in their Halloween outfits!  I think about going to their houses and then remember the hubbub of getting ready to go treating or to parties.  They don't need us in the way.  So much is packed into so little time, and then it is over.  Thank goodness for digital cameras. 
Jim survived his rotator cuff surgery (I think I typed cup last time - even though I KNOW it is cuff.  Sometimes I wonder about me.  Actually most of the time I wonder about me).  Anyway, he is doing really good.  We had the cutest nurse after the surgery.  She was 4 foot nothing tall and liked to laugh.  I'm not good at guessing ages, but she had to be close to 70.  She was refreshingly having fun with her job.  With the name of Mary Margaret, I would be she was a good ol' Catholic like me.
I have an ear Dr. appointment on Tuesday.  I still can't hear, but the pain is gone - so we are making progress.  At Church this morning, as I was walking down the aisle to go to Communion, next to me was this child of age 10 or so.  She had hearing aids in both ears.  I wanted to give her a hug.  Why did I freak out so over the thought of losing my hearing - and only in one ear at that.  It certainly is not the end of the world and could have been (and has been) a whole lot worse.  Anyway, I've given myself an attitude adjustment and what will be will be.  It will be no big deal.  Enough on that.
We are experiencing the most unbelievably gorgeous weather here.  It is time for me to finish this post, grab Jim (gently by his left arm) and head outside for a walk.  I'll bring my camera along and who knows - maybe I'll return with some photos to post. 
Sunday Blessings to all!

Thank you!

A quick thank you to everyone who commented on my last post with encouraging words, prayers, and personal stories.  My blog friends never disappoint me, lifting me up when I am down.  Thank you!

The weather here has been wild.  Rain was promised earlier this week, but never materialized.  We did, though, get the wild winds that streaked across much of the US.  Jim has been blowing leaves off the drive so we can tell where to drive.  After today, though, it will be awhile before he can do that again.  Dr. fix-it is going to go in orthoscopically tomorrow morning to fix a tear in his rotator cup.  I swear we are falling apart!

Freeze warnings tonight.  Our weather gal is wrong more than she is right, but I do believe she is going to get this one right. 

Tuesday is election day.  I hope everyone has researched the issues and the candidates and know how they plan on voting.  Our vote is our voice - so get out and vote!  Peace and good thoughts all.

Can you ear me now?

Who wants to hear about my troubles?  I didn’t think so.  But this blog is about me, and it is my method of documenting what is going on in my life.  So, this post, as much as I don’t want to write it, needs to be written.  Feel free to skim over it – I’ll totally understand – because I’m mostly writing this for me.

Over three weeks ago I started getting severe ear aches.  After a false start with an incompetent Dr., the cause was diagnosed as a yeast infection by a well respected Ear, Nose, and Throat Specialist.  He treated it in the office, warning me that it would take time to clear up, and sent me home with an anti-fungal cream.

The pain has continued to the point of insanity.  Along with the pain I now have a constant ringing (Iggy, how have you put up with this all these years?) and almost total hearing loss. 

The good news is that I no longer hear Jim snore if I lay with my bad ear towards the sky.  The bad news is that he is not so lucky.  He still has to put up with my snoring.

Yesterday, I returned to my specialist.  Now that some of the infection is cleared up, he could see for sure what he already suspected - a perforated ear drum.

Okay – that would explain the sharp stabbing pains, constant throbbing, ringing… and on and on.

Dr. Marty is giving it a week on another ear drop to see if there is improvement.  I could tell from his body language that he doesn’t hold out much hope. 

If he doesn’t see improvement next Tuesday, then we are looking at an MRI and referral to a Dr. in St. Louis that specializes in only ears – and probably surgery.

I had questions. 

What caused the infection.  “There is no way to know for sure” 

Did the infection cause the perforation?  “There is no way to know for sure.  It could be the other way around – the tear in the ear drum could have caused the infection”

How did my ear drum get perforated?  “There is no way to know for sure.  It is possible that the injury is from child hood or it could be new.” 

Will my hearing loss be permanent?  “It is very possible.  Surgery may help.” 

I had tons more questions, but it finally made it through my thick scull that he really didn’t know what the future would hold and I just need to stay tuned for next week’s appointment.

In the meantime, I’m scared.  We don’t appreciate our senses until we lose use of them.  A number of my blog friends deal with the permanent loss of senses.  Two quickly come to mind:  Intenseguy, who is able to relate to my current fear on a very “intense” level, since he has been battling with this very issue forever.  Tori lives in a world of total darkness.  She has faced her fears and challenges with bravery and strength that I can only dream of. 

Here is to all my friends who are faced with day to day challenges of mind and body – that you find the strength to stay strong and continue facing the challenges of each new day with a smile on your face.

 

This current challenge may be a thorn in my side, but I promise you that I will come out of it smelling like a rose, no matter what the final outcome.  It can only win if I let it.  I actually found myself asking the question, “Why me Lord” and immediately responded, “Why not me…”  God will never give me a challenge greater than I can handle.

My Sunday Snapshots

Here is a glimpse of my world during this beautiful Fall. 

Friday’s day trip along the tree canopied highways of Missouri

A stop at one of the many Missouri River accesses

The stark white nakedness of the river bluffs, topped with the bold colors of nature

Pumpkin orange, russet reds, golden browns and rich greens of Fall

  Road kill anyone?

Corn and bean fields in the shadows of rolling hills

Farms dotting the way

Grape vines framing silos of a distant farm

 

Bees not only inhale the scent of lavender, like I do, but also the taste

A last valiant rose bloom

    Back home again to the view from my front porch

BFF’S – Lucy and Radar

Have a blessedly wonderful Sunday everyone!