the remaking of a kitchen

i just returned from 5 days in lincoln with my auntie lee. she was diagnosed with terminal cancer 3+ years ago and she has been actively maintaining her "quality of life" just like she stated she wished to do. it has been becoming more difficult and she has confessed that she is just exhausted after a simple outing, and more than exhausted after an afternoon of bridge with her friends.
the photo was taken with my cellphone, and i actually figured out how to get into a file on the computer so i could use it today. sarah sent a photo on thursday evening, and then lee and i texted her and sent a couple of photos. she got a big charge out of that.....couldn't believe it was possible!
she has been asking me when i would visit again and i promised to come in august. she suggested that i should stay with her. this was unusual....i stayed once when taking pat back to university, and 3+ years ago when lee and her sister vi were in the hospital. so, i knew this was a special invitation/request. so i drove to omaha on sunday and then on to lincoln on monday. we had a good time. there were no demands on either of us. we made one outing for breakfast at her fave place where she downed 2 eggs, 4 pancakes with maple syrup, 3 pieces of bacon and hashbrowns. she has a good appetite when food is easily available. cooking is an issue, altho she fixes herself an occasional egg, gets breakfast cereal, drinks lots of oj and always has a stock of ice cream. one night i fixed us some fried gizzards and mashed potatoes. we had a big laugh about that as we were in a storm warning, and she decided she could not go to the basement for shelter, so we located pillows and blankets and decided the bathroom would do. i told her she could have the throne and i would get the chair in the tub and the laugh was that if the worst happened, we could go happy after such a grand meal. :)
other than that breakfast, she stayed in.....was too tired, just didn't feel well or some other reason. she is taking lots of naps....some for several hours. i got to meet her favorite nurse jackie on thursday and she is a good one. they obviously like eachother and have a great rapport. jackie is able to say things that i would have difficulty with and lee listens.
when i left on friday, she wanted me to stay and it was hard to leave. i talked with her friend at the apt complex and she is going to check daily and call me if she thinks things are changing. i will call her if i can't reach lee by phone or if i am concerned after talking to lee. i am planning to return soon and will call more frequently so i can try to ascertain what is happening. i have asked that the nurses call me after each visit, and hopefully all these things will help us to assess her needs. last evening when we talked i mentioned the hospice facility and she said she is thinking positively about it. i suggested that the next time there is a bed it seemed like it was time for her to take it. she accepted that, but i know it is difficult. that will be a big step, but a necessary one for her to take. this is not easy for us....one step at a time. i hope i am helping her along the way, and i try to let her make the decisions, but i'm afraid that her safety is at risk, and we may need to push soon. being a grown up sucks sometimes.

Labels: auntie lee

this is too funny....note that everyone's mouth is moving at the same time!!! thanks to blogger for making this possible.....i was considering youtube with great trepidation!

Labels: in motion

we had a heckuva storm last night. really big sky show of lightning and amazing booming thunder to follow. the talking heads were going crazy with excitement and dire predictions. we were incredibly lucky......no downed trees or limbs, no power outage, no flooded basement. AND my baby maple was a star and made it thru with flying colors. we did mention that jewlee would have loved the storm.....she was wishing for thunder boomers and lightning when she was here, and we are sorry to have disappointed her. she missed a doozey.
when i drove to the y for body flow (i am so dedicated to this) i saw a utility truck about 2 blocks from us and about half a tree lying into the street. there were other downed trees and branches on the way....again we lucked out. the current forecast is doubtful for rain this evening, but a good chance of more storms breaking out wednesday night.
i heard that the southdale parking lot flooded last evening, and east i-494 was closed at hwy 100 due to deep water at portland ave. tv showed a car with water above the tires, and then a major jam behind.....hundreds of cars, unable to go forward, and then it was all the cars behind them. eek we really need the rain, but egads.
i picked 5 cukes today.....4 of them bigger than i planned-to-let-them-grow size. i guess the rain is sending them into overdrive.
yesterday i trimmed dead stuff off the trees around the shed and removed all the volunteers that shouldn't have been there. there is still more to do, but it looks considerably better. there are a few trees that need to meet up with a saw.....the loppers, at least under my control just wouldn't do the trick! i filled a large garbage bag with all the trimmings, so i am feeling virtuous!

Labels: cukes and onions, rain, storm

this feels like a giant leap of faith, but we just went for it. we just planted a bloodgood japanese maple in the backyard. thinking positive, following the planting directions to the letter, it's up to gardening karma! it could grow as big as 20 feet tall and that wide too, but with our climate i doubt that will happen. however, we will baby it along and all systems go!

Labels: japanese maple

this tomato was a gift from across the street. it's a glorious golden yellow and they taste as good as they look. gary is smiling about his success in the garden as well he should!

Labels: gary, golden tomatoes

this is a good shot of the entire family in gorgeous color. it must be noted that the fish eyes are the parents who really really tried to keep things under control :) it's pretty neat, huh?

Labels: tat