Sunday, August 28, 2016

Sunday-1:45pm

Since the family visit a week ago yesterday I've been sick with a sore throat/sinus thing.  Might be what Leah had.  I've been meaning to post but this came with a terrible headache and a bone-tiredness for a while there.  Never felt really full-fledged sick-sick, though.  Could still putter about a bit.  The headache was the most annoying--LOL!  Anyways--hello!  And sorry I didn't get back to comments from last post, but know that I appreciate every single one of them.  :)
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I love this picture Kathy got of my mom and great grandson, Ian.
We had such a nice visit.
Left to right is Leah, Ian in his high chair, Dagan, Mom, Blaine (brother), and Kathy (SIL).
It was a cooler day in the upper 60s--quite chilly for Mom, the Floridian.
We gabbed inside, had dinner from Ole and Lena's Pizza Parlor...
...and sat outside around the fire pit after Ian went to bed.  Blaine and Kathy found a box of books of mine--most of them from grade school!!  Got stored at their place years ago (likely by accident) when I had them take boxes of family pictures I was afraid to store in the garage of someplace I lived along the way.    
I'll show you next time.  Oh, and the saw--Leah forgot on our craft night Monday.  I'll explain in a minute, but first I wanted to show you the pictures Kathy sent me of the cottonwood tree Dad and I planted 60 years ago!  We were wondering if it had survived the wind storms in Minneapolis.  They stopped in Fridley on their way home--just to look and take pictures!!
It's the huge one on the right.
Still towering over the neighborhood.  ;)
Blaine and Mom in a cottonwood gaze.
I guess a big branch did come off--hard to see.
But the little sapling against the foundation of the house really took to being planted and watered...and loved.  It still whispers and sings in the wind.  Makes me so happy just to see it is still alive and flourishing.
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Karma's world has been changing.  But she took to the new litter box set-up better than the new throw rug by the patio door--LOL!  Who can figure the Karma mind.  
Caroline told me about the Litter Genie.
Pretty awesome!
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Monday Leah brought her saw...
...and cut out the Karma entrance in a nice big new plastic tub.
I bought a step that is actually used for humans to get in and out of the bathtub.  I figured it wouldn't move around on her--and it doesn't.
With the step in place we were able to cut the hole much higher so that now she doesn't back up and pee over the entry hole--LOL!  And she has plenty of room to dig and dig!
I haven't had to change the bag yet in the Litter Genie Plus, but I really like it so far.
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Monday night Leah helped me finish off taping together some super simple cards. 
You may remember I got some 12 X 12 scrapbooking paper on sale a while back.  Well, if you have a pretty paper and just cut out a piece for the card front, you can get six cards from each sheet!  So now we are all excited to make some easy-peasy cards and as soon as I am able to go out and about we want to hit all the craft stores for paper shopping!!  :)  I am soooo looking forward to that!  Been so very long since Leah and I have been craft shopping.  Could even be going on two years?  
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Yesterday we had a very sudden, violent burst of rain and hail. 
It didn't last that long, but the grass was green and white speckled for a little while...
...and THIS cracked me up!
All that hail came down the drain pipe from off the roof!  Looks like a white ice pyramid!
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Leah sent me pictures of Ian checking out hail.
(It was luchtime.)



Cold!
Well, the headache seems to have finally taken a hike as of yesterday.  I had so much to do that once I got going I couldn't stop!  No lie!  I was up till after 5am this morning!!
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Balanced the checkbook, wrote out bills, worked on the bullet journal and set up the basics till 2017!  Went through the new cookbooks...
...to make a list of ingredients.  Been working on my grocery list for Caroline for September but not finished yet.  Plan to spend more on groceries this coming month so that I can do more experimenting with recipes.  Can I really make something sweet and satisfying without butter, eggs, oil...?  Can I actually give up my coffee...one day...in the distant future?  (That's even more doubtful, isn't it? LOL!)  Success or failure...I'll let you know.  Not jumping into a new way of eating with both feet ever again after that last horrible fiasco.  Just sticking a toe in the water.  :)  
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I figure that if I even became 50% WFPB (whole food plant based) that would be a vast improvement, right?  If I ever made it to Vegan, that would be a miracle in the first place--LOL!  And WFPB is a step beyond Vegan.  Just trying to eat healthier.  Would like to get off of my blood pressure pills and feel better.  I've seen the WFPB diet work for people I know, so that's the motivation to keep heading in that direction.   
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Okay--I do have some McFamily videos and pics from Leah, but this is enough for today.  I was going to make it really short and sweet--just to tell you I've been sick--but can I ever make a short post?  LOL!  Well, you're basically all caught up.  I'm doing laundry and diving back into the food list and recipe books.  Need to climb a stool and inventory my spices.  Busy--busy!!  Even being sick, well--I wasn't as wiped-out-sick as I used to get this past year.  Wasn't even as sick as Leah, I don't think.  (*knock on wood*)  So, that's a real plus.  I even got all caught up on letters owed this week, too.  
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Well, Karma's sleeping in the chair beside me at the kitchen table.  Morning doves are out pecking at the remnant seeds.  Back up into the 80s today, but I was able to have the place opened up for most of the week!!  Fall is definitely in the air.  My favorite time of year.  :)  No matter where you are on this big blue ball the seasons are probably beginning to change.  The world keeps on spinning...and we keep on smiling!!  Have a fabulous week!!  :) :)
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“Love is the substance of all life. Everything is connected in love, absolutely everything.” 
Julia Cameron 

22 comments:

TexWisGirl said...

glad you had a good family visit! your mom looks great. the new litter box set-up looks quite handy for karma. the hail pyramid is funny. glad you're doing a bit better!

Halle said...

What a great post. I'm glad you send these to FB as well....sometimes I forget to swing by my usual haunts to visit without a reminder. School starts tomorrow for my kiddos....summer is over.
Loved the pyramid of hail by the downspout...made me laugh. Ian is getting so big! Man, times flies!

Jenny Woolf said...

That's a nice post, with your family all together and Ian looking so angelic at the head of the table! :)
That hail - incredible. We had very, very heavy rain yesterday but it was so hot I guess it didn't get the chance to freeze even high up in the sky!
Ian looks so hilarious wondering what the hail is! what a great world isn't it when everything is new and interesting?
Glad you have the cat litter box sorted now. When we had 2 indoor cats I can say that this was definitely my least favourite aspect!
I am really glad most of all that you are doing better, and hope the improvement continues. Have a good week, Rita!

AliceKay said...

I'm glad you're feeling better. There's no fun in being sick.

Loved the pictures of Ian and the hail. Makes you wonder what he was thinking when he touched the hail stones. :) And that is a great picture of your mom with Ian. Nice to see her looking so well. Looks like a nice family gathering, too.

We've had some pretty wicked weather in our area lately. It's been very hot and humid again for the past few days after a couple of very nice days. We can never get very many nice days in a row. It's beginning to rain outside as I type this.

Friko said...

At first I thought Karma’s litter box was meant to be her home, you know, with four walls and an entrance door. I thought “she’ll never get her to stay in there”.

Glad to hear that your virus has abated, these buggers can be very nasty and there’s not really anything you can do about them.

Get crafting, stay busy and happiness will follow automatically.

Unknown said...

That was nice, I don't think I've ever seen my grandmother before.

Jo-Anne's Ramblings said...

How handy is Leah, she is such a help for you and Ian as always is adorable and how nice your mum looks

Serena Lewis said...

I was worried by your absence that McLap had finally given up but, while I'm glad that wasn't the case, I'm sorry to hear you haven't been well, dear friend.

Loved the family photos! Your Mum is looking wonderful! :)

The cottonwood tree is beautiful! Precious memories.

I was intrigued by the Litter Genie so ended up on YouTube watching how it actually works. hehe A very clever design.

Well done to Leah on cutting a good-sized hole in the new litter-box for Karma! I like the look of the new set up.

The cards look lovely!

Do you ever get large hailstones there? How funny to see the little hail pyramid. I remember, as kids, we would race out to collect the hail in cups to keep in the freezer...no rhyme or reason why except that it was fun to do! I guess Mum would throw it out after our interest waned. :)

My new B5 Leuchtturm 1917 journal arrived through the week. I'm keen to try some vertical columns for my weekly task lists.

I'm sure the cookbooks will be very helpful. I have lots of vegan cookbooks that I often pore over. Yes, you can make lots of yummy things without animal products in them...I can definitely attest to that. I have a vegan cookbook that is oil-free but I still use a little oil when I feel it's needed. I am vegan which is different to the WFPB diet. YouTube is a great resource for recipes too.

Our spring officially starts on September 1st which is only days away. It wasn't much of a winter, I'm afraid. :(

Have a beautiful week and I do hope you feel much better very soon. By the way, I mailed off a letter on the 26th so keep your eyes peeled for it. ;)

Love and hugs from Brissie xo

My name is Erika. said...

You've been busy. Love seeing Ian. That hail must have surprised him. And love seeing more of Karma too. She is getting her whole world flipped upside down, isn't she? And love your cards. Hoe you are feeling better. Have a good start to this new week. Hugs-Erika

DJan said...

Such a newsy post, Rita. I'm glad you're feeling better, and thanks for all the family pictures, especially Ian. What a cutie! :-)

Far Side of Fifty said...

Glad you are feeling better and that you had a nice visit with your Mom! I liked seeing your tree, how awesome is that!!
Oh Karma...she is quite the kitty:)

Anonymous said...

I'm glad you feel better. Hubby and I have been feeling the same way. headachey, really tired, but not sick sick. Just want to sleep, but the headache hurts too much to make it restful.
I love your tree!! That made me so happy! your posts often make me happy.

Janie Junebug said...

That Leah is a wonder. I wish Jacksonville had a "Buy or Rent a Leah" program. Ian is his usual adorable self.

Love,
Janie

Victoria said...

Hi kindred, happy you are feeling better! wow, lots of wonderful photos and so lovely to see, thanks for sharing such special times and memories!
enjoy!
always fun to see Karma...
have a wonderful week ahead!
Victoria

GrandmaG said...

Love using scrapbook paper on card fronts! I think my Halloween cards are going to be simplified, again, that way this year like I did last year. Besides, I especially love the Halloween scrapbook paper and hate covering it up. Sounds like life is busy good in Fargo. Glad to hear it :)

Carol said...

So glad you had a great family visit ♥ Ian is just getting so big :) That hail pyramid is a stitch ! Take care of yourself and get better.

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

Glad to know you are feeling better, and things went well when your mother and rest of the family was there. Seems you had a great time, and I noticed your red coffee mug, too. Give up coffee? Maybe you can, but I never will.

Ian looked so cute playing with the hail. He is a doll.

Nicely done on those cards. That's a smart and economical plan, too.

andi filante said...

That's probably the coolest cat toilet I've ever seen. Love the pics of your family, and of course, Ian! I'm still impatiently waiting for my little grandgrub to arrive. But it will be any day now!

-andi

~*~Patty S said...

What a fun gathering of the generations.
Ian is growing up fast and such a cutie.
I bet your Mom was chilly at 60 degrees
Glad you're feeling better Rita.
Happy September oxo

Lady Fi said...

Fun shots of the gathering! I hope you are now feeling a lot better.

IntenseGuy said...

I'm digitally hugging "your" tree!!!

pearshapedcrafting said...

What fabulous post! Love the family photos and that huge tree ! Love seeing Ian with the hail! Glad you are feeling better by the ned of this post! Hugs, Chrisx