HELLO!!

I keep trying to come back to regular blogging - things to post run through my head everyday, yet it just doesn't get done.  I love the community I developed here, and feel so bonded to you all, STILL. 

Here is a little attempt to catch you up with life in my little worlds. Yes, I am still living with my son and family, and loving every minute of being Nana to now 8 years old, Teddy.  In the past year I have become much more involved with volunteering at Teddy's school, a very rewarding way of bonding with Teddy. He loves knowing I am there, even if we don't always see each other. The Bournedale School is K-4 and small enough that everyone is so friendly and inclusive. Teddy, being so gregarious, is known and loved by everyone.

Until Thanksgiving I had been working with a personal trainer at a small gym in our neighborhood. Thinking I was a lot more able than Super Woman, I spent 5 hours raking, filling barrels and toting them all to the brush pile at LM's house (I still spend most weekends with my love,  LM, and this blog's aging namesake, Ms G).  It all felt great to be outside in cold crisp air but when I returned home that night, I began to feel the pain in my left hip and leg and was hobbled in screaming pain for almost 3 weeks.  All I could do was take ibuprofen sparingly, rest and do a few yoga stretches to loosen the piriformis muscle which was affecting my sciatic nerve.  Just before Christmas, I got hit with the flu, and it turned in to near pneumonia and pleurisy.  I am still coughing, but the blessing in disguise was the course of prednisone I took to enable me to breathe.....it finally kicked out the pain in my hip, too!!!  So next week, I hope to get back to the gym.  I need the energy that exercise creates to keep up with myself. 

In other, very exciting news, this house has been blessed with 2 kittens!!  After losing their dear cat, Sting, last year, my son and wife said no to  more cats, but in mid-November, son, Jason came to me and asked me to cruise Pet Finder and find some local kittens as a surprise for Teddy.  We found the most wonderful brother sister duo, Betty and Bosley.  They are the most fun, and are also a 2 man wrecking crew.  We were taken by them at first meeting.  They were in a shelter and had been fostered from tiny babies in a home with children, dogs and other cats. They are afraid of nothing, purr instantly when you even look at them, and are equal opportunity loves with all of us.  Bosley has become very attached to me, as I am home so much of the time, and if I do not pick him up to cuddle, he is climbing up my legs to reach my shoulders and drape himself around my neck.  Right now they are 4 months. Stay tuned for a lot of photos!! 

Betty (black) and Bosley (black and white) were very adept nurses during my recent illness.

Bosley loves to cuddle with Nana

Bosley and Betty curled up on the afghan today. Betty seems to disappear.

March will find me in FL for most of the month, and I am so excited.  I'll be attending my grandson, Jared's wedding to his finacee, Jennifer.  It will be held at Silver Springs in Ocala.  Such a beautiful true-Florida place.  The week after the wedding I'll be headed a bit north to just outside St. Augustine to spend some blissful time with my dear dear friend, Sue. 

I cannot write without sharing how deeply emotional I have been about the turn in our country's administration. It is heartbreaking to go from the civility and grace of the Obamas, to the crude, crass and abuse behavior of  "he who shall remain nameless" in my world.  It makes me realize how very fortunate I am to live in a progressive state. Many friends and family are feeling the same way....and we are committed to working to make our demeanor even kinder and caring with all we meet, and to build a stronger community in every way.

May peace, love and gentleness be strong in your communities, as well!!