Survival Tactics

Ahhhh, the test is over and I am healthy! The preparation period went well, as I scheduled a full slate of things to distract me from the anticipation and the actual "drinking the drink." Here is what I found when I got home from work to begin the process....I'd left a winter sweater on the end of my bed to remind me to put it away in my winter storage box, but Ms G had a better idea. She dragged the sweater to her nest (an old piece of my clothing which I arrange for her every morning). She was highly incensed when the turquoise sweater was taken away...1st diversion.
After that, I spent the after noon ironing the fabrics for the quilt I'm making for Teddy. I did a goodly amount of cutting, too. They look so pretty and Ms G thought they would make a nice nest, too, so they had to be covered, for fear the entire quilt would be gray!
After a night of little or no sleep, due to hunger and stomach pain, I began my next diversions, designed to lift my spirits, now sorely sagging due to hunger. I gave myself a really nice manicure and pedicure, then a facial. A rare treat. LM finally arrived to get me to the facility for the test to be done at 11:30........I was shaking, cold and nervous, and none too happy when it was announced that there would be a 45 minute delay. UGH. They took me in after an hour and nicely covered me with heated blankets. My ability to meditate saved me at this point and I even fell into a nice sleep. It was 2 pm before they did the procedure. I sure was glad to be put to sleep for the duration. It's over and I was so happy to see LM and to get home. Ms G awaited me and we had a nice nap for two hours.
Now to rest up some more and get ready for a full week of dog sitting for my boss....Sammy and Liza, see you tomorrow!

A Necessary Evil

No breakfast for me this morning, except my beloved Earl Gray tea.....Today begins prep for a colonoscopy for moi tomorrow. It will not be fun, but is a relatively short period of discomfort/distress to be certain I am "healthy." The magic potion is mixed up and I will work half a day today before coming home to begin the process. This may seem like too much information to share here, but I hope it will inspire others to have this test, perhaps to save their lives. Being a two-time cancer survivor already, I need to be vigilant with my health, and colon cancer is preventable.....someday there will be an easier test, one would hope.

My wonderful LM will be my driver and observer when I come home tomorrow. I'm in good hands. Ms G will be here waiting to cuddle and purr me back to normal.

Today is the final day an objection can be filed to Bob's will. LM received a call last night which gave us great hope that things will go smoothly for us...tenterhooks still hold us but positive thought rises to the surface often. Strange place to be. It has been interesting to watch how LM coped with this waiting time.....another opportunity to really "know" someone. He has good character.

Primrose Paths, Friends - Furry & Otherwise & Dear Family

As I had written yesterday, a full day was ahead of me, much of it to be spent with old friends and doing some errands. I did get my new sewing machine and it is all set up and one block in the cat-themed scrap quilt I am making for a certain beautiful baby boy, is already complete!
After the shopping, I arrived at my brother's house to pick up some things....there was Bob waiting to greet me on the porch. Bob followed me on a tour around Trish's lovely gardens and through the primrose path she has created in her wooded garden.
Come along with me on the tour. Forget-me-nots in a tree trunk.....
Tulips and grape hyacinths
Spectacular parrot tulipsFragrant wisteria by the garage
The fish pond and garden, all set in rock
Along the wooded garden path
Primroses guiding the way
Astilbe
Trish has created a beautiful peaceful place!

Late in the day, I met up with my friend, Albie. He and his delightful wife, Claire, are back here to attend a HS reunion, so we met up at East Bay restaurant in Plymouth and had a wonderful early dinner and great conversation. Albie keeps us connected with lots of our HS friends and is a very caring and supportive friend. His father was the minister of St Andrew's Episcopal church which was an important hub in our childhood, where we were all christened and grew up to be married, etc.
Mother's Day found, LM, Kristie along with me to visit Jason and Teddy (Alison was working) and go for a walk in the beautiful SUNSHINE. Just as I took this photo, Teddy was about to lurch toward me....he gave me a big smile but I missed it on camera.
We packed Teddy up into his stroller and headed out to the Cape Cod Canal service road, with a very strong but warm wind at our backs. We were bound for a spot I had been seeking for years......Sagamore Hill. It is a high spot overlooking Cape Cod Bay where during WW II, there was an observation point set up by the military to guard against attacks by Germans reported to be dangerously near our coast line in submarines . Remaining today is the site where a huge gun was set up, and some bunkers where ammunition was stored. Hiking for a mile or so through the woods up to this point was so magical....beautiful trees, the only sound came from many songbirds and the wind. We saw, Baltimore orioles, warblers, cardinals, and so many other birds. I was thrilled to see the warblers as they are always migrating through here the first two weeks of May. The Army Corps of Engineers has set up screech owl houses in this area, too. The trails are wide and easily navigated and we saw evidence of ancient stonewalls, as at one time, the area was used by farmers to graze their animals in the summer months. After the lovely walk to the top, this view over the bay on this perfect day was really spectacular.


Dear Teddy, waking as we returned from the walk. I do admit that 3/4's of the way back to Jason's, I found a bench and had to sit....Kristi and I sat and pondered the walk while LM and Jason got the car ro rescue me....not too far but there was a steep hill which I knew would put me over my limit! It's been a lovely Mother's Day weekend!

Slogging Along

Slogging has been the operative word this week.....it has rained everyday, and each morning I arrived at work soggy and with bad hair!! When the sun came out for a few hours yesterday, we were all blinded by the light....light we needed so much. It was another time of saying good-bye to beloved co-workers this week. Three more people were let go and yesterday the office was eerily subdued as their absence echoed in every corner. This is an all too common event in many workplaces right now and it is traumatic for those gone and those left behind. There is a hollowness in the office and in my heart.

In other news, Ms G continues to make a happy adjustment to being home. She is playing more now and I often find her tucked in beside me in my chair, gazing up at me and purring.
LM came over for dinner on Wednesday night and it took her awhile, but she finally jumped in his lap and gave him some love. We had delicious swordfish, took a walk in the village and then watched a movie...he's the best date!

Also, this week, tenterhooks have a hold as we wait out the period in which someone can object to Bob's will which left the house and contents, etc to LM. What a terribly awkward place to be....Tues is the deadline - 4 more days.

Today is a full day. I am headed off-Cape to have lunch with a friend from many years ago. We connected again at Dad's funeral. Before lunch, I will stop at my brother's to pick up some things of Dad's which I can use at home, and I also plan to buy a new sewing machine today, as it will be needed for the quilts I have in progress. I've been using a borrowed machine and will return it.
After all that, I am meeting childhood friends in Plymouth for a visit. They are in from CA for a class reunion and really enjoying being near the ocean and having fried clams and lobster rolls!

Mother's Day will find LM and I sharing a walk with baby Teddy and his Daddy. Here's hoping we can have some sunshine!

Happy Mother's Day to everyone......Love from Ms G and me!

Home Sweet Home

Ms G all snuggled into the spot just vacated by yours truly!
"Why are you disturbing me! I have waited almost two months to be back in this spot and I have a lot of resting to do!"
We've had quite a wonderful homecoming here. After many hours, she finally came to me on Saturday and once I was in bed, she got herself as close as she could possibly be and never left my side all night. I could almost feel how stressed she had been, and she's just been spending every minute wanting love and contact. It works both ways here and I feel so much better!
On the other side of town, there is a very lonely and sad man.....our dear LM is missing Ms G very much and keeps expecting her to appear.

It turned out to be a nice weekend and I got a lot done. I'm well in to a quilting project which already has a nice rhythm going....photos later. Yesterday afternoon LM and I shared a nice fish dinner and then watched a delightfully funny and tender older movie, "The Kingfisher" with Rex Harrison and Wendy Hiller. It was a loving and enjoyable time....we are so very happy together and so at ease no matter what is going on. In my grief I was testy and unpleasant last week, yet, my dear love just offers acceptance and loving arms.

It continues to rain but everything is very green and pretty. Tonight I've been preparing for our Cinco de Mayo celebration at work tomorrow....I am bringing guacamole and a huge Texas sheet cake with fudge frosting...a fantastic recipe from Pioneer Woman....love her site.

Feels good to be out of the doldrums today, for that I am grateful, and somehow, I am grateful for the lows, too. There is no rhyme nor reason to grief...it just is. This Saturday I will be visiting Dad's grave for the first time but I am looking upon it as an opportunity not an obstacle.

I'm so happy MS G is home!!!

Breaking NEWS

Two posts in one day, but this is important news......
In a sudden turn of events, the sweet, if not a bit wily and wild, namesake of this blog, has been returned from where she was being held captive!! Her captor, a bit shaken and sheepish, brought her home at 3:30 pm today!!

Ms. G is re-acclimating herself and has not come near me yet, but she has eaten some treats and been spotted skulking around checking every inch of her former home.

LM, aka the captor, could only stay a short time after the return and he was, at once, sad and happy, to re-unite me with my sweet girl. They bonded and it was wrenching for him to defy her trust in him by stashing her in the carrier.

Siege is over.
Getting ready to watch the Kentucky Derby!

Fog

It's been very foggy, dark and chilly here the past few days. Now it is raining, as well. Matches my emotions.
This morning, after sleeping 4 hours longer than normal, I managed to get myself out of the house to head for Orleans to do some long overdue errands. As a resolve to get my thoughts on the beauty around me and grasp at recovery, here is a little list of some of the wonderful things I saw and experienced on my two hour excursion:

• Daffodils glowing through fog

• A large Great Blue Heron fishing at a beach on Pleasant Bay

• The edge of the ocean at very low tide...very still and peaceful

• A nesting swan, her mate sitting just to her side
  

• Trees beginning to flower

• The beauty of new leaves

• A snowy egret mingling with ducks at a little pond near my house

• Lots of people out and about shopping AND spending (notably at TJ Maxx where I found myself two nice items in clearance)

• A very busy fabric/quilting store filled with lovely new spring fabrics, and where I was stopped twice to receive compliments on my hair and my purse (a Laurel Burch cat bag)

• A phone call from my love to remind me to read his horoscope today, as it applies to us (quite sweet as I have not exactly been nice to him this week)

I've acquired some pretty charm packs of fabric with which to work on blocks for quilts I've been designing in my head for ages, and a lovely thin soft cotton batt to finish a lingering project. Those blocks were completed back in the '90's!
Today is the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival and normally I am there each year. Alas, I am here, but my creativity is beginning to flow.
Despite myself, things are not quite as bad as they seem.