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Friday, December 14, 2012

BIRTHDAY BOY

Today my grandson turns one ( well the 21 is the official day) we are having the party early so grandma could be here. I have to head back to Tacoma as my father is worse. The cancer is all the ought his body and Hospice has been called. The first meeting was today with my sisters present. I will leave my daughters house tomorrow after a pre Christmas breakfast to spend the rest of my time here with my fatherl





Thursday, December 6, 2012

DECORATING for CHRISTMAS

My younger sister and I decorated my fathers home for Christmas. I will be spending the holiday with him this year. The best gift my family could have given me. I will be going South to Kelso for a week to spend time with my daughter and 4 of my grandchildren. The baby is turning one so there will be a party. My father has Angiosarcoma , it has spread to his lung and lymph nodes, this is the last stage. We hope and pray he will be here for Christmas but also tthat he won't have to suffer to long.







Thursday, November 29, 2012

GRADPA IS KEEPING BUSY

I have been here in Washington about a month now. I left Grandpa home alone. He has been keeping himself busy entertaining some of the grand kids. Sure glad my children are keeping him fed as well as Marie Callendar.
Little Update:
Took dad to the day surgery center at Tacoma General where he had a PET scan. This will help determine what, if any, course of treatment is next . They are no longer draining his lung. It is full and he coughs a lot. He still has his right lung. No cancer there yet. Praying for peace he was an active man and can no longer do much. We will attempt a trip to Costco today for a Infrared Heater. The furnace went out the other morning and some of us are concerned about the use of so many electric heaters. When the furnace man was here he recommended an infrared heater. The part that broke on the furnace will be fixed on Friday and it is working. My dad thinks he is saving money by using the electric heaters. The price of oil heat is high and his old house had no insulation. I am not do sure what the savings are but he is happy so I am happy.







Wednesday, November 21, 2012

THANK YOU

Just wanted to thank everyone for their wonderful and encouraging comments. I don't have Internet at my dads house but I do have my phone. I covet your prayers. The one thing that still amazes me is how people , who you might have not met physically , are so willing to help you with their prayers. I love you all and will remember all those who have asked me to pray. We will be heading to Cedar Pond for Thanksgiving , I know we will have a great time catching up with my brother and sister in law. Although lately she feels more like a sister to me. Thank you Kathy for all you do.

Monday, November 19, 2012

DAD

I am staying with my dad for a couple of months helping him adjust to losing my mom a couple of weeks ago. He has terminal cancer and may not be here much longer. Both my parents have accepted Jesus as their personal savior so I know they will be in Heaven. This time has been good. I feel we are so blessed to have so many grandchildren and great grandchildren . His memory and my mothers will live on . I grew up without grandparents and again feel so blessed that my grandchildren have had not only grandparents but great grandparent. Dad is longing to be with his wife. We just take one day at a time. God gets us through the hard parts. My prayer is he won't have to suffer to much. His cancer ( angiosarcoma) has spread to his lung. Over the last week breathing is difficult and coughing has become an irritation for him he finds hard to bear. He was a very active healthy man and doesn't like having to sit in a chair most of the day. I hope I am making a difference. I couldn't imagine having to be alone at this time. He has been an inspiration to me. I know God will take him home when he is ready. I feel so blessed I could spend this time with him. I love my dad!









Wednesday, November 14, 2012

BLESSINGS

So glad to have children who love and support me. We buried my mother last Week. I could not ask for better children. We may have our differences but they really came through for me. Even though they were not able to see her they let their pain go and helped me through mine. I love you and your memory speech was a true reflection of what Grandma meant to all 3 of you.. I hope I can be that same kind of Grandma to all my grand kids.

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

THANK YOU

Just wanted to say Thank you to all you comments and concerns. It will be a difficult week but I know God will help me through this. It helps to know some if you have gone through this already and are doing well. It takes time but time will heal . Thanks again you are all great.

Sunday, November 4, 2012

MOTHER

I will be gone for six weeks. My mother went to heaven this morning. I will be leaving for Washington tomorrow. It will be a difficult time. I will be back in the new year. My dad doesn't have Internet . Hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas and Happy New Yeat!

Friday, November 2, 2012

TRICK OR TREAT

BOOTS IS WAITING FOR DORA TO BE READY

SPIDERMAN IS WAITING FOR EVERYONE TO HURRY UP

GRANDPA IS TRYING VERY HARD TO GET FOUR TODDLERS TO HOLD STILL FOR A PICTURE

There was so much excitement they could hardly eat their dinners. We all hurried and ate the chili , barely had time for a cinnamon roll or a bite of cornbread and we were off to see what the neighborhood had to offer 4 little trick or treaters who where having a hard time holding down their excitement. We had Dora and Boots ( sister and brother) We had Spiderman and itsy bitsy spider (brother and sister)

UPDATE:
I will be leaving for Washington on Sunday November 11 to be with my mother who is not doing well. I will be helping my sisters to give her the 24 hour care that is needed now. We are trying to keep her at home as long as possible. My dad is losing more weight and will get a drainage tube for his lung. This will help his breathing. The cancer has not spread past the lung yet but his health is failing also. Malignant Angiosarcoma  is a rare cancer that spreads quickly. It typically spreads to the lungs and then the liver or lymph nodes or both. My prayer is that neither parent will have to suffer. It is difficult for my dad, in his condition, having to watch my mom fail and not be able to help.
 We appreciate your prayers.
Thank you all for your support.

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

BUTTERSCOTCH FUDGE RECIPE

BUTTERSCOTCH FUDGE

1/4 cup butter
1 1/2 cups sugar
2/3 cup evaporated milk
Melt the butter in a heavy 3 quart saucepan add the sugar , stir together as best you can, then add milk and mix well. (after melting the butter take off heat and mix the other two ingredients) put back on medium heat, bring to a boil , keep stirring, boil 5 minutes. Take off heat and...
ADD:
1 jar (7oz.) marshmallow cream
when this is mixed in add

1 12oz. package butterscotch chips
(I used Nestles)
stir until melted and add

1 teaspoon orange extract
1 teaspoon orange rind (fresh)
1 cup chopped walnuts

pour this into a foil lined, well buttered, 8 inch square pan. Chill until firm(about 2 hours)
MAKES ABOUT 2 POUNDS

I realized after I posted yesterday that I had not included the recipe so I figured I would wait and see if there were any requests and there were so here it is. Now off to prepare for my party:)

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

HALLOWEEN FUDGE


BUTTERSCOTCH FUDGE

This is the fudge I make this time of year. It has orange extract and a little orange rind added to the mixture so the butterscotch doesn't become to overpowering. It is still a very sweet rich fudge so you will not be able to eat the whole pan. Your friends or relatives will be happy that you will have to share this. It goes well on your Harvest Buffet and I like the color. We started a new tradition last year now that the the grandchildren are old enough to do a little trick or treating and we moved into a really nice neighborhood where you can trust most of your neighbors to give safe candy.  The kids last about 3 or 4 blocks so it works out just about right, not too much candy! First we all gather for dinner,this year it will be at my house, last year it was at my son's house who lives in the same neighborhood. Chili is on the menu as well as cornbread with honey-butter and homemade cinnamon rolls. We will also have a little "hotdish"as they call it out her on the prairie for the little kids who find chili to spicy. 

HAPPY HARVEST 

Saturday, October 27, 2012

FALL CARAMEL

I love making caramel !! This year I am trying to make some dipping caramel for Apples. I will be serving this on Wednesday when the family and gran kids come for our Halloween Supper. This is the first one in our new house. Last we had it at my son's house in the same neighborhood. Our house was still in the closing process. I have been keeping busy with baking and preparing for our special dinner. I did get a little good news, although my mother will need 24 hour care she is maintaining and I won't have to change my plans just yet. God is gracious and God is good I am so glad he has control .

Thursday, October 25, 2012

SNOW

Our first snow has arrived in the early hours of the morning. I poured myself a cup of coffee, went into the living room and opened all the blinds to watch. I sat in the bay window listening to the flakes hit the window. It is a wet, icy snow. We may only get an inch but you rarely get what the weatherman predicts. First the flakes are large and seem to float in circles to the ground. The wind picks up and they turn to what looks more like ice crystals piercing their way to the ground. This time has given me a chance to figure out weather I should change my airline ticket to go out west and be with my mother. My sister from Chicago is leaving tomorrow and will keep me updated as to what I should do.
You might have noticed I have the weather on my mind as I misspelled it in an earlier sentenced.

Tuesday, October 23, 2012



Here are the reasons I may be gone from blogging for awhile or at best a little sporatic. My Parents are both in the final months of life here on earth. My mother may be just a few more weeks. I need to go back home. I made arrangements to go for the month of December but now I wonder if I should go sooner. It is a difficult decision I have obligations and responsiblilities here in my new home. I will more than likely never see my mother alive again and this ways heavy on my mind. The one comfort I have is knowing I will see them again in Heaven. My mother suffers fron Type 2 dieabetes complications. Her red blood cells are no longer working and she has started suffing strokes (mild) in the last week. My father has malignant Angiosarcoma. He had a tumor removed a year ago when we were there on a visit. It is now in his lung. I will trust God to know what is best and hope to be back to blogging in a few months.

 
 
~~~~~~~~THIS JOURNEY CALLED LIFE~~~~~~~~

Saturday, October 13, 2012

FALL TABLE (in progress)

I am working on my Fall table decorations. No one is coming to dinner this year as I will be leaving just after Thanksgiving to spend a month with my mom and dad. They are both at the end stage of life and will not be here much longer. I do hope they make it until I can get there. I bought a new table cloth and turkey plates to change out what I had last year. I will be using the other salad plates on the Buffett.

Sunday, October 7, 2012

FALL LEAVES and PIES

We have a Maple tree in our front yard. It will be almost one year since we moved into our house. This will be our first Halloween and Thanksgiving. I was excited to see our tree ended up with pretty red leaves. I was going to pick a few and put them in a frame behind glass but realized it was only special to me and no one else would really care.
I have been practicing Pie baking as the Holiday's will soon be here. Peach pie is one U don't make often enough. It was delicious. Wild berry pie is another one I like alot. These just might find there way to my Holiday table would you care for a slice?

Friday, September 28, 2012

FLU BUG STRIKES


 
  • We had a fun week planned to go up North and see some of the Fall colors. We have been wanting to do this for sometime but never had the time before. Sorry to say we didn't get our chance. We went to pick up our grandson Sunday night so he could come with us. After dinner he took his bath , had his stories and tucked into bed with a Peter Rabbit Movie. He loves how Peter is a naught bunny and Mr. McGregor chases him around the garden. Somewhere around 1:00 AM he was crying for gramma and then it started...The Flu Bug....his mom was able to pick him up around noon, after finding a work replacement ,but it was to late for us.We had been exposed to the germs. Good thing we decided to take a day before heading back to the plan. I got sick..ugg..Hubby not so bad but he developed a toothache so we spent our week recovery and next week a trip to the dentist will be in order, I did get a picture of the tree in our yard. That is all the Fall color I will see this week.
  • Thanks for stopping by Hope to be well soon!!

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

ALMOND-PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES

I have a favorite peanut butter cookie recipe I use but today I thought I would change it up. I was at SAMs Club a few weeks ago when I stumbled upon a jar of Almond Butter. It is usually very expensive but this 26 oz jar was just a little over 6 dollars so I thought I would try it. We eat a lot of peanut butter in our house so I thought it might be a nice change. We were not diss appointed. Today I am trying it in my peanut butter cookie recipe. I used half peanut butter and half almond butter .ot produce a much more mild flavor of both. I think I like it. I will have to see if Hubby likes it too. Oh yes I will be sending some off to my test group USPS . Let's hope they like them too!!

Saturday, September 15, 2012

AUTUMN BROWNIE COOKIES

I was playing around wit a recipe I have for chewy brownie cookies. I bought the new M&M's they have out for Fall, candy corn m&m's. They are a little to sweet for me but I tried them in this recipe anyway. It was a good match but still a little to sweet so the guys and hubby's work were happy. I send all my extra baking there. You might say they are my test group when trying new recipes

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

PRAIRIE MORNING

this morning is a little cloudy but I love to watch the sun rise on this cornfield from my livingroom window

this is what I see from the windows on the otherside of the livingroom(or if I step out my front door)

I am decorating for the Fall but not sure if you can see it here. The 3 barrels are newly planted with mums.
I have been watching the sunrise on this cornfield all summer and was wanting to capture a picture of it. Today I went out but the weather is a little cloudy this morning  so the effect is not quite the same. I am hoping to get a really nice camera soon but it is been placed lower on the list. We live on a budget here at Prairie Point and when needs come up wants get pushed down on the list. You may have noticed I live in a housing developement but what you can't see is it is truley on a prairie between several farms. I am hoping to get more information about this plot of land but this is what I know so far, it used to be a farm and I believe the owners still have the original house nearby that is what I am still trying to find out. It seems that the more big corporations take over and expand the little guy has to sell out just to survive.

Thanks for stopping buy and feel free to comment.

Saturday, September 8, 2012

STILL LEARNING.....

 
 
 
WELL HERE I AM TAKING A WHOLE AFTERNOON TRYING TO LEARN HOW TO BLOG ON A LAPTOP. I REALIZED I HAVE TO DOWNLOAD ALL MY PICTURES FROM MY OTHER COMPUTER SO THAT WILL TAKE SOME TIME. I AM CHALLENGED BY ALL THE CHANGES BLOGGER MAKES AS WELL AS FACEBOOK ETC. I AM OVER 50 SO LEARNING IS A LITTLE SLOWER PROCESS THAN BEFORE. I PROBABLY SHOULD CALL MY 4 YEAR OLD GRANDSON TO COME OVER AND HELP HIS POOR OLD GRAMMY , THEY SEEM TO KNOW SO MUCH THESE DAYS. JUST WHEN I FIGURE OUT HOW TO NAVIGATE SOMETHING CHANGES AND I GET ALL CONFUSED. I WAS SURPRISED HOW DIFFICULT IT WAS JUST TRYING TO CHANGE FROM A COMPUTER TO A LAPTOP. DON'T GET ME WRONG IT WAS ROCKET SCIENCE BUT IT WAS A LITTLE BIT OF A STRUGGLE AND I STILL  MAKE MORE MISTAKES THAN I LIKE TO ADMIT. I SUPPOSE THE TRICK IS TO PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE, AS MY TEACHERS USE TO SAY.
 
Thank You for the visit and hope you return to see how I progess.
 
{Maybe I will have some pictures downloaded by then...hehe}

Monday, August 20, 2012

PROGESS IN THE BEDROOM

here is the lastest addition

I have moved this three times and here is where it will be

I bought these for the outdoors but they are so comfortable I put two here. I may just use these permenantly
I have been in our new home about 9 or 10 months but progress has been slow. I have stopped babysitting which has given me some more time to figure out what we will do. I am going to work on some plans this winter as the snow blows about 6 months here. This has been the best August in the 12 years that I have lived in this state. Humidity has been low and it feels a lot like Fall is in the air. We had our usual visitors which takes up some time in the summer months and our budget. They are 4 of my grandchildren so I like to spoil them if I can. I am  trying to decide what colors to paint in my bedroom or maybe just the wall behind the bed. I think Red would be to much so I am leaning toward a brown tone or maybe two colors top one color and bottom another color. I found the lamps at Big Lots and now they blend into the wall color so I need a darker color behind them. I have not found fabric for curtains yet and will want to recover the cushions in the chairs if they stay. I found a lamp for the dresser but was thinking maybe two would be nice. I think I would also like a mirror but was not liking the one they sold with the dresser. I could use artwork on all the walls and maybe a bookcase behind the left chair. The wall that you cant see has the door to the bath and closet and to leave the room there is a small space where I have a TV and would like a fireplace TV combination cabinet there.
Thanks for Visiting and come again!

Monday, August 13, 2012

PARTY CENTRAL

Hunters 4th Birthday was Sunday. It was at Mound Lake where his other grandma has a cabin. I think his favorite gift was the Dune Racer he got from his parents