Tea with Brenda

My goal is to host at least one person a week for tea...small groups allow for social distancing. Distance is "mostly maintained"...Hmm that famous line from Princess Bride leaps to mind..."Mostly dead is not the same as all dead." ::snort:: OK - except for the photo and maybe one brief hug, social distancing is maintained.  I am clear to let people know there are no hard feelings if they are uncomfortable meeting in person, and  we CAN wear masks if they'd like...with all disclaimers in place... 

Today, BRENDA joined me in the nook, the sanctuary. Again, like a broken record, it's been a year since Brenda was here at the house.  To sit, reminisce, collect our thoughts for now - is good. God has blessed me with so many dear friends and rich relationships in this season. 

I'm loving Mom G's "Hutch." I'd never considered the need for a "tea hutch" but it is great! The front pulls down to make a little table, and closes to hide tea "stuff". Today featured fruit, peanut butter (for the apples), chicken salad, milano cookies and someone to share it all...a small slice of contentment on this bright winter day. 

Sugar free syrups - I KNOW what you say
about sugar subs - works for me. ::wink:: 

Love this little sign - looking for one for each season. LOL 

I am enjoying my weekly "breathers."  I'm thankful for women willing to drive out to sit with me. Summer, with non-stop work and activity will be here soon enough. I'm content to savor the last bit of winter - as long as I stay away from spring social media.  We plan to share our home with other families at least once a month. 

Hello, March

 

What just happened? 

It's March 1st. 

March 2021. 

A year ago our state/country went into lockdown. Community which was building in so many areas (church, county, family) was wildly disrupted.  In some ways, I feel like I lost a year. Though we are "back" things still feel disconnected in many areas.  I turned the page in my planner, spent some time reflecting, and confirmed, "Yes, we, the Gherkins, are done." 

We are alert, cautious and will social distance as wise. However, we are DONE with the disconnect. The church is called to be a community. Jesus called us to relationships. We are commanded to show hospitality....we have done what we could during COVID...we have loved by distancing...but it's time for us to take wise steps to getting back to who we are called to be, doing what we are called to do....

To be clear there were many benefits to being locked down, to our months of quarantine....slowing the schedule is good, recognizing how important relationships  are is good, I discovered walking and walked MILES,  there was peace and margin and joy in the midst of the unfamiliar....

The winter has been long and we're a long ways from spring (you know GREEN spring) up here, but I've turned a page. It's time. I'm done isolating. 

February was hard in many ways....I haven't been able to work out for a month due to plantar fasciitis, Grandpa is getting cabin fever, four months of 24/7 caregiving and we are wearing down and out, a month full of family celebrations led to too much sugar consumption....

I'm turning a page. 

Hello, March! I welcomed you too casually last year, I welcome you with respect this year. 

Let's do this! 

Sunday spent in Silence and Solitude

Grandpa woke up with a headache and sore throat about 5:30.  He was concerned he had COVID again and was more worried than he had been when he actually HAD COVID.  Krista was drilling at JBER. Michael and Stacia headed to church. Nolan's schedule was such he was able to make it too.  Grandpa slept. 

I suddenly had a morning of silence and solitude. I sat in the nook, with tea and my Bible. I set the Bible down and simply sat, watching the mountain out my window and talking to Jesus. 

A few magical snow flakes began to fall. They weren't "falling,"  as much as floating in the air.  It reminded me of standing in the midst of swirling cherry blossoms in Hirosaki.  I told Jesus they were pretty amazing...

...and then we began to get a lot of flakes...swirling outside my window. I decided to simply sit with Jesus. 

Everyone got home about the time Grandpa was waking up and we moved into an afternoon of  being together.  Grandpa said he was fine when he woke up....

It's hard to believe it's the last day of February 2021.....

Way to Go, Nolan!

 What can this mean?????

Nolan has finished his first college course, "Fundamentals of Business" and tested for it. He passed with flying colors. He has earned his first 3 college credits in his first month of enrollment. 

 His new course (another 3 credits) is "Best Practices of Management." 

I like the premise of Western Governor's University. It's a good fit for Nolan. 

Random Shots and Thoughts

Rather than write a few more posts - here's one post with random shots collected this week, and the thoughts they prompt. 

Nolan is now working mostly closing shifts. This means he is home and up in the late morning, early afternoon. It has been nice to have him around to sit with Grandpa when we need to run an errand etc. It's also been great to have more time for conversations and to have him around when Arielle and the boys stop by. 

 Danny looks more and more like a little Scottish lad. He now has brows and lashes coming in - and they are ginger. 

I strained the broth and set it out to cool down so I could sim the fat...and when I got back out there...it's frozen SOLID to the table. I guess it's fine there. 

This girl. She sets her alarm for 5:30 every morning and hits the school books. This allows her time to add things to her schedule that interest her and to work 2 days a week. She catches naps where she can. 

I believe this is  a bud on the lilac bush....

Alaskan forager....

Grandpa woke up with a headache and sore throat. I'm home with him while the others are at church. It's been nice to catch up on the week....now let the new week begin. 

Blazing a Trail

You know it's springtime* in Alaska when it warms up enough to get outside and play in the snow. ::snort:: Seriously, it's NOT break up yet, we're a good month away from seeing many buds...but the days are getting brighter, some of the birds are back and singing loudly in the morning, the sun is back, and the temps are up in the high 20's even low 30's. 

I kept hearing talk of cross country skiing. I was feeling sick. I think it's because of the massive dose of anti-inflammatory I've been on for 5 days. I'm cutting it out.  The dog began to go BEZERK! Investigation showed the crew had not LEFT the property and Millie knew she was missing the fun. 

These three blazed a trail in our yard for cross country skiing.  We've talked about it. I'm excited to see it come to fruition....Stacia and Allie are newbies at the whole thing and seemed to enjoy it.  They are working up to a ski-in-forest-cabin camping trip in  mid-March. 

I am SO excited to have an outdoor work out in the yard....I plan to locate a pair of boots and get out there myself as soon as my foot is "workable" again.  The trail goes into the woods, out of the woods, across the side yard and ends in the driveway. 

No moose were disturbed for this activity. 

*I really am not sure it IS spring time yet - but it is the last day of February. One can hope. 

Mental Noise

 Dad had a dental appointment today.  There are so MANY aspects to consider with his care. It's mind boggling. I think we've come up with a plan which  takes all factors into account. He needs a lot of dental work. He's put it off for years. He's at a place now where the oral surgeon doesn't want to remove teeth for dentures... We had to fight to have 4 abscessing teeth removed. Ideally I'd spread the work he needs over 3 years to minimize the amount he'd have to pay out of pocket....but since he has put this work off for at least 6 years...we are most likely going to have to do it all in the upcoming months...meaning he will have a lot of out of pocket expenses. 

Safety protocols continue to be a challenge. We understand why we are told to provide 24/7 supervision. We understand why the risks of walking unaided outweigh the benefits. We understand sun downing and the need for precautions. Dad, however, is not happy with these protocols...and sometimes I wonder if the struggle....well...we've been told by doctors and home health care he is in the best situation for him....and so we are working hard to keep him in this situation... Finding respite care continues to be a priority. We're making a bit of progress, at least defining what may be helpful....all this is noise in my head....

Dad crammed a pen into his hearing aide. I don't know why...but I am going to have to take the hearing aid in again. Hearing Aides just may not work out. He is MUCH more alert and engaged when he wears them but he doesn't like to wear them. 

Michael has a unique way of relaxing these days...evidently this is mandated by the chiropractor. 

The day was not all about dental appointments and noisy thoughts. We also had some good conversations, played Farkle after dinner, and enjoyed our warming temps...high 20's.