Today I ate a Rainbow!

Yum!

Tree

Yesterday a neighbor of ours, around the corner, hired a tree service to cut down a couple of trees. They were evergreen trees and were gigantic. I could see why they were cutting them down; they must have been a nuisance being overgrown and so close to their house.

I watched the tree-trimmers go about their business taking down the trees, branch by branch. They had a bucket that looked like it would be fun to get in and go real high. It must be a tough job, making sure the branches would not hit anything on the way down. It took them all day to cut down those evergreens, and when they were done how different their backyard looked. I could see the house the trees blocked from my sight, and even down the street. Interesting, I thought.


Today, they were back, much to my dismay, taking down another tree. It was a great big old maple tree in their backyard. Their backyard backs up to mine and that tree was like an old pal. I couldn’t watch this tree go down, and I didn’t find it interesting at all. The noise bothered me and a couple of times I found a tear running down my face as I went about my morning routine.



I didn’t know this could affect me so much. I felt for this tree. I told the other trees in my yard they were not going next. Do you think they know? Do you think they are bothered by their friend going? I know I was.

Butterfly

I was outside looking at the flower pots on my porch, and I spotted a butterfly. She was fluttering around between the wheelchair ramp and the house. I went down the ramp and tried to get closer. `She was a pretty orange and black pattern that I hadn’t seen before. She started flying away …”Oh, don’t go!” I said.

I watched her go... and come back! She settled down on the middle of the ramp and waved her wings up and down. It was so neat; I rolled closer and closer to get a good look.
She seemed to like that, and fluttered up to look me over. She flew around my head, under my arm, and circled my chair. She then started flying between the ramp and the house again, going from leaf to leaf on the weeds that were growing between the cracks on the ground. I think she may have been laying eggs. I thought to myself, “Darn, why don’t I have my camera? Oh, maybe I should go get it….”
I went in and got my camera hoping that she would stick around a little longer. When I came out she was waiting at the bottom of the ramp. I rolled down to where she was, but by the time I got there she was gone. I waited for a while hoping she would come back… but no, I guess she was camera shy.

I felt bad for a little bit, until I realized what a magical moment I’d had with one of earth’s littlest creatures. It was a thrill I can’t really describe.
It makes me smile thinking of it. It made my day.

Beth

PS I looked it up and I believe she was a Question Mark Butterfly. I really wish she would have let me take her picture!

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is here and I along with everyone else am thinking of all the things I am thankful for… I am blessed with a great family that will do anything for me. I am in a happy marriage of 14 years and counting. I live in a good neighborhood that is beautiful year round. I have enough money and food. I also live in a country that is the best in the world.
But then there are the little things other people might leave out….

I am thankful I can breathe everyday without the ventilator, and only use it for naps and bedtime.

I am thankful for the bath I get once a week, in the bath tub. It is an effort to get in and out but I can still do it. My wonderful nurse makes it possible, taking over when my strength gives out.

I am so glad for cell phones, when my Paul goes out I don’t worry so much, and he doesn’t worry about me.

I am thankful for my nurses; each one brings their own unique nursing skills to help me each day.

I am thankful for all the machines that make my life easier: electric wheelchair, ventilator, suction machine, and the oxygen packs that I can take anywhere with me.

I am happy that the new hearing aids are getting better and better and they help me enjoy music again.

There are probably many more little things that I am thankful for, just can’t think of them now.

Oh, yes, I am thankful I am Alive!!!

Beth

Plant Rescue!

“Well, I guess I am going to kill it,” my nurse Jojo said last week when she was here.

“Kill what?” I said.

“That spider plant that I don’t want anymore,” she said.

I love plants and I had a plant hanger that was empty. It would be a great place for a spider plant. “Aww, don’t kill it, I’ll take it,” I said.

She gave me a funny look. “Are you sure?”

“Yes!”

I found out about that look when she brought the plant in for me. It was huge. You know, a very large flowerpot crowded with pointed spider plant leaves all over the place. Baby spider plants hanging everywhere. It looked kind of sad – the leaves were all brown on the tips.

“OK,” I said, “put it in my craft room and when I get up in my wheelchair I will take a closer look, and see what I can do.” Jojo also brought me a pot of begonias that were still blooming on her outside porch. She knew I love begonias and keep the bulbs from year to year. She says they have lovely yellow flowers. I got up later and looked the plants over. The spider plant I was going to have to take apart and put in smaller pots. The begonia would need to have the bulbs dug up and replanted in a pot outside.

“I know what I am going to be doing tomorrow,” I thought to myself.

The next morning I was digging in the begonia pot getting out the bulbs while I was telling my morning nurse Daisy about how I received the plants. I really didn’t feel like ripping the poor spider plant apart right then, and I said that to her. “Beth,” she said, “if you don’t want it, can I have it?” I grinned. Another plant rescue!! I love it.

I gave the spider plant a makeover, taking my scissors and pruning all the dead stuff off. Then I trimmed the ends of the leaves and shaped them into new points. I took a bunch of spider plant babies for myself and planted them in a new pot and hung it on my plant hanger. Then I gave the big Momma spider plant to Daisy and watched her take it home, so happy.

One nurse found a home for her plant.

One nurse got a big beautiful plant.

I got a bunch of little spider plants to nurture and some begonia bulbs for next spring.

Everyone’s happy!

Beth

Hail today, look fast!

It hailed today, so I got my camera and took a couple shots out my door:

It lasted all of 5 minutes, and then the magic was gone...............

Beth

Roasting a Turkey Breast

Today I roasted a turkey breast; it came out perfect! It had better have come out perfect, after all the time I spent with it. We were on a first name basis. It takes me more time than the average person to do many things but I seem to have the turkey cooking down pretty good.

You might think I was prepping for surgery when I start. I had my nurse get the turkey breast out of the fridge and put it on my counter, right before she left today at 1 PM. I got out my knives and sharpened them good. I doubled a garbage bag for the turkey wrapper and fat and skin I was going to toss. I am real careful of poultry and wear gloves working with it now. I have to stop and suction my trach a couple of times when I work, and it is so much easier to roll the gloves off, turn on my wheelchair, and go suction in the other room.

I got the roasting pan out and then I can go at it: wrapper off, fat and extra skin off, and into the garbage bag. Then I took my special rub and rub it all over under the skin. Man, did it smell good.

Oh, I forgot, I got out the book I was listening to on cd and put that in. It takes me longer to do things like cooking because I get short of breath and have to stop a lot. The book takes my mind off the waiting-to-recover time and fills up the boredom.

I got the bird in the oven around two. Found my basting bulb, oh darn, I forgot to get the nurse to put it together before she left..... well, maybe Paul can do it for me, I know he could hardly do it last time. Hey, I gave it a little try and it went together. Yea. I went to find Paul and waved it at him… he didn’t seem as thrilled as I was by my superhuman feat of strength! LOL

I have a timer I wear on the front of my shirt that I set to remember to baste the bird. I have to take it with me ‘cause I don't hear so well, and who knows what I will be doing next.

I helped Paul with some of his medical care for the next hour, and then was I tired. By then it was 4 o’clock and when I checked the temperature of the bird, it was perfectly done. I got it out of the oven and that was it for me. I was pooped. I got into bed and let Paul take over.

Paul took the turkey breast and the drippings and put it away in the fridge. I will make something with it tomorrow. The turkey breast came with gravy so that didn’t have to be made. We were having rigatoni and mixed vegetables, so that was set.

Later, at dinner time, I cut up the meat and Paul made the rest. It was a nice dinner and we have lots of turkey leftovers to make for many more dinners this week. And if we get sick of it we can freeze it.

It seems that all I did today was cook, but I feel a great satisfaction, especially when it turns out so good. I won't have to put a lot of time in for dinner for a while.

I like to cook, and I love to eat what I cook!

Beth