White Christmas 2012

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas!

I know I haven't been blogging very much lately but wanted to take this time to wish all my readers a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Oatmeal Raisin cookies

Fall Wreath

Yellow marigolds

the color is very vibrant - of course they may freeze tonight ;-(

Pelicans

Biloxi

Mobile, Alabama

Approaching Mobile, Alabama

An incredible bridge in Mobile

Orange Beach, Alabama

Never Forget 9-11

My health

My health is better - thank goodness I do not have Rheumatoid Arthritis but do have the beginning stages of osteo-arthritis in my knees. That can be managed with exercise. The plantar fasciitis is also manageable. Other than that - I am healthy and things couldn't be better.

Finally the temperatures in my state are what they should be this time of year. We've even been lifted of that burn ban. We have gotten rain and is very much needed and appreciated. I can see the grass turning green and some bushes are springing back. Awww, but we lost 3 azalea bushes ;-(

Stay focused friends.....

Still very hot!

With no rain in sight the heat is really grating on my nerves. I water, water and water...it seems that's all I do. Still praying for some rain...any rain!!

...I have spoken....

Finally got rain!

And, it was very much needed. Everything is dying...the grass, trees and bushes are wilting. It's been very dry and hot in my area. 100+ temperatures and no rain will do that. But, I'm happy that for the past few days we've been getting some rain. It's not enough but it's a start. I don't know if we'll ever get caught up on our rainfall but I know I'm grateful we're getting some.

Until next time...

What a morning!

Not in too much pain this morning but I think finding the frog in a sticky bug box this morning really perked me up. I remember a frog escaped into our garage and this morning you could see the back end of that frog trying to maneuver inside that bug box.

The bug box is a cardboard sticky surface that catches bugs, spiders, etc. Kind of our way of pest control LOL! Anyway, apparently the frog was stuck. So, I put on my garden gloves and took it outside and with scissors tried to pry it loose. After much effort (and sweating - humid morning) I was able to get the frog out and he hopped away.

Then of course I couldn't find Jack! Yep, he got out of the fenced in area and was in the process of pulling at the netting we have to catch snakes. Ohhh poor Jack - mommy spoiled all his fun. I yelled "get to the house" and he growled all the way back. 

It's always something at my house....

Baby Copperhead

Found a dead baby copperhead in our driveway this morning. Thank goodness it is dead...and a baby!

Celestial Spiral ring

Purple Coneflowers

A Step Back

Just when I thought things were going great it seems a step back is what has happened. Two weeks ago I stopped taking the steroids as the treatment has ended. I was very happy. Then the muscle and joint pain started. It's a  result of withdrawals from Prednisone. Since I took Prednisone for 3 months and two weeks who knows how long the withdrawals will last.

A step back but not all hope is lost....

Purple Coneflowers

A few flowers have opened up...slowly but surely

A young plant that bloomed this week

Hosta

No more - freedom at last!

Tuesday (May 22) was my last day taking Prednisone. So far no complications or symptoms. Perhaps a cough here or there - coincidence? Let's hope not.

My appetite has slowed down, I'm sleeping without waking up but still only five hours. That could be because I go to bed late, who knows? Don't tell me to get to bed at 10:00. I simply cannot do that. 11:00 or 11:30 sounds more like it. Of course, I still get up at the same time each morning - 6 or 6:30.

I'm still waiting for the "puffiness" to go away. Puffiness GO AWAY!

And, I have spoken....;-)

Daily Inspirational Quote

“Finish every day and be done with it. You have done what you could; some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; you shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson

Purple Coneflowers/Marigolds

The flowers haven't quite opened up fully. It's still too early.

Marigolds are dwarf yet very colorful.

William J. Clinton Presidential Library

On 5/16/97, President Clinton formally apologized to & held a ceremony for participants of the Tuskegee study & African Americans as a whole.

It's a good day!

Another beautiful morning - sun is bright and shining down on me. I think I will plant more marigolds on the patio.

I'm down to 1/2 pill a day(steroids) - by this time next week I will be TOTALLY off of steroids!!! I've waited for this moment and it's finally arrived. Hopefully no complications or symptoms returning. I feel great!!


And I have spoken...;-)

Azaleas and Purple Coneflowers

Did some planting on Mother's Day. We planted 5 azaleas - ok, I know they're not blooming yet LOL - give it time.

The 5 purple coneflowers we planted also are young plants and have not quite bloomed yet. Will post more pictures when they actually bloom!!

A rainy day...

Love the rain today and we need it. Now, I don't have to water! We need more rain like this.

Friday's Inspirational Quote

We only go around once. There's really no time to be afraid. So stop. Try something you've never tried. Teach it. Do it. Risk it

Spending the morning outside...

It's another beautiful day in Arkansas. The air is crisp and cool, sun is shining....and I've been watering all  the plants since no rain in sight. I've watered the herbs Sam planted on the patio.

Another beautiful day in Arkansas!

The temps are cool, sun is shining and I woke up with a slight backache. I guess I can blame it on the position of the pillows.  Oh well. I just love this weather - great for working in the yard but will I? The gardener is here so I'll leave it up to him - at least the mowing.

I have other things to do anyway - the church bulletin, laundry, a little cleaning.

Have a great day everyone ;-)

Happy Cinco de Mayo

Be safe and have fun!

Woke up with a headache...

I think I'm grinding my teeth in my sleep again!!

Daily Inspirational Quote

Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy.
(Anne Frank)

Daily Inspirational Quote

Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.
(Martin Luther King, Jr.)

Had an awesome weekend!

It was too short but productive...and I'm pleased I was able to work in the yard and not get so tired.  Baby steps!!

stay tuned....

--All things are possible if you believe--

Daily Inspirational Quote

Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.
(Martin Luther King, Jr.)

People don't pay much attention to you when you are second-best. I wanted to see what it felt like to be number one....

Florence Griffith Joyner

Daily Inspirational Quote

The best way to cheer yourself up is to cheer up somebody else.
(Mark Twain)

Daily Inspirational Quote

Wrinkles should merely indicate where the smiles have been.
(Mark Twain)

Daily Inspirational Quote

We only go around once. There's really no time to be afraid. So stop. Try something you've never tried. Teach it. Do it. Risk it.

(Jon Blais)

Had a good doctor's appointment yesterday - hopefully I will be off steroids in 5 weeks (praying for it)

Pope Benedict XVI turns 85

Today Pope Benedict XVI turns 85. He is currently the sixth-oldest pope in recorded history. He will also mark his seventh anniversary of his election as pope Thursday. Happy birthday and happy anniversary pope!

We aren't what we ought to be. We aren't what we're going to be. We aren't what we want to be. But, thank God, we aren't what we were.

(Anonymous)

Need more sleep

If I could get just more than 4 hours of sleep each night - I would be happy!

Doctor visit

Doctor visit last week proved to be positive. I still have "stuff" in my right lung which proves the steroids are working -  just not fast enough for me. The x-rays are a big improvement. So -  another month of steroids and then hopefully see how things are improving. A good doctor visit! And, the steroid dosage was reduced so hopefully I can sleep at night ;-(

Until next time...

Violets and Daffodils

Recovery continues to improve

I have to say - my recovery is moving along. Pain is not too bad (although I still have to take pain meds). My stamina and physical strength isn't quite up there yet...but it will be. I still get tired easily. Still on steriod treatment and that may be for a few months.

I'm still blessed ;-)

Recovering from illness

It's been a while since I've blogged. First, I came down sick with a cold, bronchitis and then pneumonia. I was hospitalized for two weeks with what is called "bronchiolitis obliterans with organizing pneumonia(boop)". I had a bronchialoscopy which didn't help diagnose anything. Then finally an open lung biopsy which the doctors were finally able to diagnose. 

I'm home now and recuperating. I will have 3-6 months of steriod treatment and hopefully I will be overcome. It's funny - during this time I have re-evaluated my life. My health is more important right now...I'm grateful to be on the path to recovering and I will never take my health, my family for granted (not that I have)....friends and family came through to comfort and help me...I will never forget that. My husband was there and he's a great husband! I love him so much and we're closer than ever!


Thank you God for all the blessings ;-)