Happy New Year - 2024

Rang in the year with Snicklefritz.  Last year we missed hanging because The Hubby and I had the nasty flu, this year, all good and healthy!  She and I watched Harry Potter, played several games of her new Uno game and had glasses of sparkling grape juice.  I'm a light weight because we both hit the bed at 11, ringing in the new year with the TV and NYC.  She was okay with that because she seemed tired too.  

Of course I was up early, as usual but it was the quiet time I like to journal and just be alone.  

It was time to start my new journal of the year.  Last year I went through 3 of them with all that happened.  It was an epic year.

Later I started the dismantling of Christmas and was ready to have her help when she woke up.  She's always such a huge help for me.

These ornaments are my prize collection.  For years now I've worked on them and so far I have 82.  I am very careful packing them away, wrapping them in tissue and they stay in the top box, my legacy to my girls.  We got it all cleared out and even had time to start a new jigsaw puzzle before her momma had to get her.  She will be back tomorrow though.  

Later for dinner we enjoyed steaks, a gift for Christmas from friends and black eye peas, my favorite.

Hello-Goodbye

I just couldn't go away without one last post from 2023.  It has popped up on my FB feed that today is 12-31-23 or 123123.  Kind of funny and eerie all at the same time, and with the kind of year we've had, well let's just say, I'm glad it will be behind us.  We've lost friends, family, weathered, literal storms, and health issues-baby Max and myself, but we've also had good things like baby Max come into our lives.

Here's to GOODBYE to 2023...

and HELLO to 2024!

I'm ready for 2024, a new year, a new start, a new me (hopefully), and new hopes and dreams.  

Happy "Flu" Year

 Happy "Flu" Year

Yes you read that right, flu.  Thursday morning I finally was in the studio and hoping to get some quality time in with my easel when I started feeling, off, just not well.  So I headed home for some lunch and a nap, a two hour nap.  Then again on Friday I got up feeling tired with a tinge of a headache.  I had to go to the office to do payroll then home for yet another epic nap.  As the day rolled on and The Hubby came home it was very clear I was sick and he was too.  I had fever, not bad, low grade but enough to feel like crap.  With my girls encouragement I decided to head to urgent care to get tested for the flu.  I have a huge job to do here in a few days and I NEED to be well to care for our little Min when she comes to stay while Max makes his entry into this world.  

Well, the urgent care said it would take walk-in's so I went in to see if I could get a flu test.  When I arrived there was a lady a few steps ahead of me walking in the door.  At the counter she asked the receptionist for a Covid test for work and another test she would not say out loud.  That had me curious but not my business.  The receptionist said there was only one appointment left at 7 which the non-sick lady took.  She left to return at 7 for her turn.  I stepped up to the window feeling like absolute crap and probably looking like it too.  I told the lady I needed a flu test and said I wish I had been in front of the previous patient.  The receptionist all of a sudden said, "we have a 7:30, would you like to wait."  "YES!"  

I sat down and I waited.  A few minutes before 7 the other lady walked back in for her appointment and all of a sudden they called my name!!! SCORE!  Short story, I have Type A Flu and they put me on Tamiflu and cough medicine.  

I came home to find The Hubby snoring in his chair.  He woke up to my entry and I told him I have the flu and that they said he needs to test too.  He got up yesterday morning and went in where he tested negative yet they still put him on Tamiflu because of me.  He is either too early or more over his than I am.  I suspect he's been sick for more days but because he NEVER STOPS for anything he didn't acknowledge it, possibly infecting others.  What sucks a BIG ONE here is that we both got our flu shots, something we religiously do every year.  The news peeps have been all about touting the effectiveness of the flu shots this year against the strains.  Obviously they are WRONG!  

So last night, New Year Eve, when I have traditionally hang with Snicklefritz, I was in my bed at 7:30 pm and he was yet again in his chair, snoring, not dancing.  Happy Flu Year.

This morning, because of all the sleep I was up at 4 am and The Hubby was not far behind.  Just too much SLEEP!  He fixed me breakfast of eggs, bacon, hash browns and biscuits.  While he was cooking I decided to get some stuff done.  My plans were to change my sheets, shower, do laundry, take Christmas down and put away.  I got as far as change sheets, take shower, start laundry before I was called to eat.  I was so exhausted from the exertion I could hardly eat, didn't even touch my biscuit.  So here I am again in my bedroom, sitting in my chair and trying to finish the laundry and then will rest for the rest of the day.  Whew, I have got to get my energy back to deal with a three year starting tomorrow!

Goodbye 2022, Hello 2023

Just some end of the year fun.  Painting, crafting, eating A LOT, and just general Christmas cheer.

This poor kid got the stomach just before Christmas.  Min had it too earlier.  Poor babies, poor parents!

Playing with watercolors with Min.  Takes me back to Snicklefritz a few years ago when I started her on the watercolor journey.

 

Goodbye 2021(2020), Hello 2022

Goodbye 2021...so long, see you NEVER again...

Gosh, what a couple of years we've had.  I'm hoping the new year is a lot of good stuff and look forward to seeing 2020-2021 in the rear view mirror.  Let's move on to a new hip, more weight loss, maybe getting into some more national art shows and finally RETIREMENT!!!  

I leave you this year with more food pics.  I'm continuing the weight loss journey, albeit it with a few hiccups but I'm still working on it.  

pork chops with mushrooms, chard, white wine, splash of cream

pork tenderloin stuff with cream cheese and jalapeno's, mixed veggies and mashed cauliflower

Today I'm off to the office after a couple days spent at the studio.  I was busy working on a painting for the friend that passed away, Patti.  She contacted me in November, just before Thanksgiving, asking if I could possible paint this blue bird picture she sent.  It was taken in her sisters backyard.  I have no idea if she was giving it to her sister or keeping it for herself but I had it started and it was just staring at me
in the studio, so I decided I had to finish it.  

Not sure if I will name it but I do plan on giving it to her husband at some point when I know he's in a better place.  It might be too much right now.  

Happy New Year my friends, till we meet again next year, 2022

Carla

 

Happy New Year's

A very quiet New Year's we had this year, but not without drama.  We scooted off to the cabin on Thursday afternoon with Snicklefritz on board for a weekend of absolutely nothing but laughter, a warm fire, lot's of playing Uno or Connect 4 and reading.  Oh and a little beauty shop.  I learned to make a fishtail braid on her beautiful hair.  We enjoyed a bit of black-eyed peas for good luck and she said that usually she doesn't like them but that this time they weren't that bad.  Good luck for us in 2021 hopefully.  

Sadly the time was not without the drama or exhaustion.  Our little Clayton, oh this guy.  He is really having a rough time.  Remember he had been having been having those spasms and we upped his meds to help and he truly got better, was sleeping and not having them quite as bad.  Well, bad me decided that maybe cut back again, WRONG MOVE doggie mom!  Oh man, he started having the spasms so bad again on Thursday and the weekend was horrible with him not being able to sleep because of them and wondering around at night causing me not to sleep.  You see we have stairs down to the garage and because he can't see that well and his body contorting and trying to stand on 3 legs I was terrified he would fall down them.  So every movement he made or yelp I was up and once before I could move fast enough, sure enough he was on the edge.  Scared me to death.  The stairs are right next to the door that goes outside and he knows to go outside.  Sleep was not in the cards for me this weekend and it was starting to effect me.  I told The Hubby yesterday that it would be better for us to head to town where he could go outside by himself and wonder to his hearts desire in the house.  I think the wondering around helps to get the spasm to settle down.  

We packed up after a hearty breakfast and headed home.  As it turned out we were needed in town to watch the other little lady in our lives, Min.  A grand time was had by the girls, they so love each other and it's easy to watch her with Snicklefritz around.  They play and play and play.  We did have an accident with a bump to Clayton while he slept on the floor.  Anything that startles him sends him into an episode and screaming and yelping.  He was screaming and yelping and it scared little Min so she started crying and screaming.  EEK!  When he has them so bad I either soothe him while he is on his bed or scoop him and he snuggles in my neck.  Poor guy, all day long I kept thinking we are going to have to "do something," if you get my meaning.  Worried me all day long.  That being said I started the meds back on every 8 hours again.  Last night The Hubby brought him to bed because he wanted to but it didn't last long because he got restless and wanted down again.  I put him down and just went to sleep and he didn't wake me up until about 1:30 when we heard him him screaming/yelping in the living room.  I ran in there and soothed him and he went back to sleep not to wake again until 5:30 when I heard the family three-legged limp into our room.  I got up, fed him, and went back to bed not to hear from him until about 7:30.  He seemed to be just fine, not all crooked and in pain.  Thank goodness.  It's funny how he rallies from these episodes.  I need to make a vet appointment now that I have some video of his episodes to show the vet.  

Happy New Year everyone, more tomorrow on my journey to TRY TO LOSE THIS DAMN WEIGHT!  It is the new year, resolutions and all. 

 

MY Year in Review

First and most important for me was the loss of my Daddy.

Yes, there is much bigger news in the world but in my tiny world the year of Covid, the year 2020 brought about the loss of Daddy.

The loss of a parent and the loss of our old homestead and all the memories that have rushed through our conscientiousness.  It has been an unnerving year to say the least with Covid, mask wearing, virus warnings, death...EGAD...

but first and foremost for me was the last time I told Daddy, "I love you!"  

We said goodbye to Daddy and to the house that we grew up in but we are stronger as siblings than ever before.  We are still family!

It has all been a whirlwind and I can't wait for the year to finally end and hopefully we have brighter days with a vaccine in play. 

It's not been all bad because sadly for our youngest and her family, living in LA was just too scary and money wise too difficult during pandemic (HATE THAT WORD!)  So they packed it up and headed our direction.

So we get to hold this darling anytime we want now.  Get all the kisses and hugs, anytime, as long as one of of is not in quarantine.  I get to watch another granddbaby grow up.  

I will reflect back to my first post of the year, 2020 and not even realizing what was in store for us this past year.  I again was prattling on and on about losing weight, dieting, the story that never ends, me losing weight.  Of course, the dreaded pandemic set in and shut down all my ideas of working out and left us basically stranded at home, close to a kitchen and no desire to get out and about for fear of the virus.  Fear of illness, fear of spreading the contagion, fear of DEATH!  Everyone in the world has had these fears, except for the doubters who don't believe it.  I do because I have friends who have lost family members, I have family members who have caught the virus and survived.  It is real and frankly I DO NO WANT TO DIE!  So the new accessory to our daily attire is a mask, which I wear proudly.  We've learned how to shop for delivery or pick-up, take-out food on a daily basis.  Yes the world, our world has changed, probably forever.  Weight loss, dieting, frankly that is not high on my list of worries right now.  Staying healthy and alive is.  I think I'm eating better and my one foray back to the workout world led me to be possibly exposed and having things poked up my nose, Covid test.  So, I'm just staying put until more people are vaccinated at this point.  

Here's to 2021, may we start getting the world, our world back to spinning like it's supposed to be.  

Happy New Year