Playing Hostess

Thursday we had a surprise visit from Mom and Da. It was a wonderful surprise! We had a nice opportunity to chat (thanks for the help and good perspective....it always helps to talk with you guys!) and then headed to the store for supper stuff. We had a fabulous salmon supper with oven roasted potatoes and a plum upside down cake for desert. It was so nice to see them, spur of the moment, and I was really sad that it was such a short visit but glad to have seen them anyway. Today has been a long sort of day. Don's friend C and his son are in the area this weekend for some league soccer games and so are staying at our place tonight. I did not sleep well last night (this has been a common occurrence as of late) and was not really ready for the day. This morning I got up and went to work, then came home and cleaned. Once Don got home he and I went to the grocery for supper stuff. After getting groceries put away I headed out to quasi work again while Don went to watch C and his sons game in a neighboring town. I am doing some house/pet sitting for my boss this week and went up to check on the outside dog, make sure and give him some people time and playtime with the inside dog (who is staying at the clinic). Then it was back to town to do kennels. By the time I was done there, Don, C and his son were nearly at the house. I helped get supper ready (they had steak and corn on the cob, I didn't eat yet...my stomach is punky) and made the coffee cake for breakfast tomorrow morning (since I have to go in for kennels and C and his son are leaving pretty early). Now the boys are all sitting on the couch watching college football (loudly). I have finished cleaning the kitchen and the coffee cake is cooling pending getting turned out. I didn't really feel ready for non-family company today and the turbo cleaning sort of put me in an out of sorts mood. I am pretty much ready to just have some quiet time with my partner and have an early turn in tonight.

The Quirky Kiwi

Finally! I have been working for a while now on getting an online shop set up to sell my handmade jewelry. I have been jumping over hurdles, and through hoops and getting my stock ready and finally finally finally my shop is up and running!!! Currently I just have earrings listed, as this is all sort of an experiment. I will see what the response is like and may broaden my stock later....so...check it out! www.thequirkykiwi.etsy.com And let me know what you think!

Cobbler and Wine

On Tuesday we went over to visit D and J to see how the Hospice visit from Monday went. We went over after work, so it was a little late. J made a wonderful peach and mixed berry cobbler with gingersnap biscuit on top. It was delicious. D was doing pretty well, he seemed a little less weak and we had a good and lively chat. He told us some funny memories of his time overseas during the war. It was a lovely day and we were all able to enjoy the late summer warm. D had us "do him a favor" before we left (his words) and told us to go out to the shed and open the wine cellar and pick out some wine to take home. It was very bittersweet, knowing that D is going through this process and still wanting to share with us. Sharing wine and going wine tasting with D and J has been something we have enjoyed very much. So, we will cellar the wines we selected and have them to enjoy and remember with.

Hospice

The past week has been a whirlwind week. I was hormonal and stressed about work last week. Also, our dear friend D was back in the hospital in the ICU. On Friday he decided to begin hospice care. He has said numerous times that he wants to be at home, that he hates the hospital and does not want any more procedures. Over the weekend the Hospice intake staff got furniature and supplies (like oxygen, wheelchair, sanitary items, etc) delivered and set up at D and J's home. The intake nurses talked with them both about the process and what Hospice entails. The Hospice care nurse, OT and PT were all coming today to get their schedules and care set up. We were able to go over for a short visit yesterday to see them both. I was very nervous since I had no idea really what to expect, what Hospice looks like, what D's health would be like. Once we were there I was not so scared, just sad. We had a good chat and were able to help out with a few tasks. D is very very weak and I can see that his body is begining the physical process of shutting down. It is very hard. I respect and accept D's choice, yet at the same time I am not ready for him not to be in my life anymore. I did some research on Hospice, one of the things that is very important is to be accepting and supportive of your loved one's decisions. Death is not only a physical process of the body shutting down but an emotional and spiritual one too. It is important to help the person in Hospice to go through the process in their own way and in their own time. I feel very torn, very sad and it is hard to not be selfish. I know how blessed we are to have had them both in our lives and I am thankful for all of the time that we have shared with D. D is very weak so we are planning short visits as often as we can and as often as D and J would like us too. I have never been so close to someone who is dying, nor have I experienced going through the emotional process of loosing someone I care about. It is difficult to know what to do. So we are doing what we can. Visiting, spending time while we can, running errands, offering meals and help. Just being there.

A Week Away...

From blogging, that is. How terrible. The past week has been a little rough for me, hence the lack of postage. After my wonderful sunny day off last week, I returned to work Friday feeling terrible. I was achy, sore, and just generally feeling sick. I made it through the day and came home to crash. I was running a bit of a fever, so that explained some of it. I went to bed really early and did feel somewhat better Saturday. I was able to sleep in (Don had to work) and then be productive in the afternoon. He and I took a little walk around our town and had an early supper and then headed home. We watched some bull riding and...wait for it...I went to bed early. Sunday I was feeling less sick and more hormonal (not the best of trades let me tell you). I ended up spending the majority of the day on the couch and then...went to bed early. So far the first part of this week has been getting better each day. And now it is my day off again. I am working on laundry and have done more fun house chores like paying bills and balancing the check book. Whoohoo. It does seem like it is going to be another sunny day today and that is nice. I was thinking earlier it might be a good day for chili for supper since it was sort of cloudy, foggy and cold. But now the sun is out, so I am not sure what we will have. I have also been working on a pretty big project that is nearly completed. It has been a long time in getting put together and I feel nervous and excited about unveiling it here in the near near future...so... stick around for that news soon. The laundry is calling my name again...perhaps another post later today...

Sunny Day Off

This has been a long week despite being short. I talked to my friend Ang this morning before heading out to do some errands. I had hoped to be able to do all my running around in town...but couldn't find what I wanted and had to go to a neighboring town. I also did a some geocaching this morning and it was pretty exciting to log my first solo find! I logged 2 of the 3 I attempted found. The third one I did not have luck on and was feeling pretty conspicuous, so I decided to abort and attempt again another time. I also had a good chat with my sister. I also did some house chores and even made time to work on some of my creative endeavors. Tonight I succumbed to a hankering for chinese food and we had take out (I know! Seriously! We have not had ordered chinese take out the.entire.time.we.have.been.together....not that we have not eaten it elsewhere...but actually ordered it....never! Ha!). We both ate too much. Don is currently watering the lawn as it has gotten rather warm again and I am just hanging out. I am feeling a little tired today since I got up just after Don left for work this morning and didn't make time for a nap today. C'est la vie...early to bed tonight I suppose.

Laborious Labor Day

Labor day was another day of lack of communication and frustration between my partner and I. We did manage a good, constructive conversation...at the end of the day. It sort of made for a crap weekend and I did not feel ready to go back to work today. I had a headache this morning, but worked through and felt better this afternoon. Don and I both had long days today, and I got home first and threw together some supper for us. Now the dishes are done, and we are both finally relaxing. It is a good thing we both have a short week.