Hello again, hello

hello?  you still there?  

I'm actually sitting down at the computer to blog.  

hello?

is this thing on?

Come back, please...I'll try to be more regular.  Of a blogger that is.  

Miss you.

Love you. 

Mean it.

Anything But a Face

One of my favorite sites, I Heart Faces, is having another contest.  Usually their contests have to include a face, but this time they said no no no, anything but!  So, I immediately thought of this photograph:

It is my mother and her newest grandson.  I just love how both hands have wrinkles on them.  Circle of life.  As you may remember my mother is suffering from Alzheimer's so this photo is a little extra special.  I just love that she got to hold her grandson, even though she won't remember.

xo

It seems I was on hiatus

Sorry, it wasn't intentional.

Our darling dog, Hoss, was diagnosed with bone cancer.  He was given a prognosis of about 3 months, but I feel that he will last longer.  I hope and pray that I am correct.

My darling mother is living with/suffering from Alzheimers.  It's a horrible disease with no cure.  All we can do is be patient, kind and loving.  And pray for her everyday.  It's interesting how people think Alzheimer's is just forgetfulness.  I did too to a certain degree.  But, when we were all in the middle of it--my brothers, sisters, father--all of us--we realised that it is so much more than simple forgetfulness.  It is so much more heart-breaking.  And there is nothing any of us can do.  Sad sad sad.

So, I guess I was on an unintentional hiatus.  Blogging just seemed a little narcissistic at the time.  I couldn't bring myself to sit at the computer and blog about anything.  It all seemed so unimportant.  But, then I realised that life goes on.  Love goes on.  So, I have rallied and am starting to see posts all around me.  Hopefully you'll enjoy them too....

Hug your loved ones today.  Everyday.
xo


www.alz.org

Menu Planning

One of the things I love to do is read blogs.  I don't know how I was turned on to the world of blogs, but I am thankful for it-however it happened.  There are so many great blogs and websites out there with tons of wonderful tips and information.  Most of the blogs I read (actually, probably all of the blogs I read) are authored by women.  Mothers.  A few of the ones I was perusing this week were talking about menu planning.  Apparently there is a huge subset of mothers who plan out their family's weekly menu (mostly dinner) and even have a budget for the grocery store.  I would like to study this subset of the population more and maybe partake in a few of their rituals.  This 'menu planning' (is that how you pronounce it?) sounds very intriguing and I think it may be very beneficial to my life.  My whole entire life could change.  So, if any of you have any tips or advice regarding menu planning and budgeting I would love to hear them.

Isn't this pretty?  I love how the berries are still clinging to the branches and the contrast with the snow.  It was a little tree in a bank parking lot on some road on our way to a skating rink.  I made my husband stop so I could take a picture of it.