Friday Feast #95

Friday, May 26, 2006

Feast Ninety-Five

Appetizer - How old were you when you got your first credit card?

18 years old

Soup - When was the last time you felt out of place?

Tonight, at my daughter’s Open House

Salad - Did you have a curfew when you were a teenager? If so, what time did you have to be home?

Odd—I didn’t have one until I was 17—then it was 10:00pm. I rarely got home on time; but I did at least call. All was usually forgiven.

Main Course - Name a person from history with whom you feel you have something in common.

Thomas Jefferson—we share a birthday: April 13th. I’ll go no deeper philosophically than that.

Dessert - When you read a newspaper, which section do you go for first?

The California section, ‘cause that’s where I live.

Wow. I love my kids!

Wow. I am such a proud mommy today. My little girls, aged 9 and 5, washed my care for me yesterday! They did a great job—no streaks, the windows are clear; they even cleaned the tires and wheels!

I have beautiful daughters! I am so proud!

We attend Open House tonight for Sarah. She turned in her science project that will be on display at the science fair. Her project involved demonstrating the process to find your blind spot. Did you know you have a blind spot in your vision? It’s a cool demonstration she did. For her display her dad took pictures of her performing the process, and they attached the photos to the display board along with a description of what she did for each step. They even made the 3x5” index card and the ruler.

We have good kids (no matter how I complain about them sometimes).

The Big Girl's Birthday Cake!

This is the cake that Mommy made for Emily's 5th birthday party, held on her Aunt M's birthday, May 20th. We had such a great time--the cake was double fudge, with chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream filling and buttercream frosting. Mommy was pretty proud of this cake, especially when, at the end of the party, it was all gone!

So, uh, I was busy last Friday

But I like this Friday's Feast, so I'm doing it on Monday, May 22 instead.

Friday's Feast #94

Appetizer
What is the last thing you had to have repaired?

My car--fortunately, at least 1/2 of it was covered by warranty

Soup
If someone gave you $2,000 with the stipulation that you had to spend half of it on yourself and give the rest to charity, where would you spend the $1,000 and which charity would receive your remaining $1,000?

Charity: The local shelter for abused women and children

Me: $1000 ??? either Jewelry or a trip to Hawaii--maybe I'd go to Hawaii and buy jewelry!

Salad
What is one of your favorite songs from the 1980s?

Steely Dan's Babylon's Sisters


Main Course
You enter a pet store. Which section do you go to first?

dog food--then puppies

Dessert
On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being highest, how athletic are you?

at one time, an 8; now about a 4

My Aunt Nana

Aunt Nana is a quiet, dignified, beautiful southern woman. She has taught me all the good things about being a true southern woman. I’ve had tremendous respect for her all my life, knowing that she has endured hardships with grace and a deep faith in God.

In my mind, she’s always been there for me. Not loudly, or here physically, but quietly, in the background, but with a strength that few other women I know have.

I write about my Aunt Nana (she’s my Aunt Amanda, but my children call her Aunt Nana), because even though there are probably 1,000 people praying for her right now, she could probably do well with a few more. She has become quite seriously ill.

She’s been in an Intensive Care Unit with a “dangerous infection” to quote my dear sweet Uncle Papa

She has an infection throughout her blood system, potassium is very low; she was dehydrated and very weak. She had a gall bladder infection with large stones. One of the large stones found its way into the duct between her bladder and pancreas. A tube was inserted into her liver to relieve the pressure and drain it.

After returning to the room she went into a heavy sleep for the rest of the day and Sunday. Sunday my uncle requested the doctor check her. He immediately sent her to the ICU thinking she’d had a stroke. It turned out she didn't have a stroke and they were able to revive her and when we went in to see her an hour later she was smiling and talking.

As of this afternoon she is very weak and can not move her legs or arms. She can squeeze your hand and wiggle her toes but that is about it. They added another feeding tube today into her arm to build her strength. They also sent in physical therapist to work with her. I feel sure she will soon pull out of this. They are going to keep her in ICU for several more days.

My uncle is so sweet—he’s been rubbing her hands and feet, to help her circulation, rubbing her back and exercising her legs and arms every hour. She cannot manage to administer her pain meds, so he pushes the button for her when she needs it.

They love each other very much; it’s plain to everyone that they are still in love, after 53 years of marriage.

Above is a picture of them, and I truly think they still look as happy and young and beautiful as they did 52 years ago on their first anniversary, especially when they are in each other’s presence.

So, continued prayers and good thoughts will be deeply appreciated.

New Hummingbird Pictures!!

Some major adorable-ness going on at our house! The hands belong to my daughters.

2 editions in one: Ten Things on Tuesday

Last week's first: (It's so appropriate, not only b'cause of Mother's Day, but because it's been exactly 3 years since my sweet mom passed away.

10 things that remind you of your mother

1. Turtledoves
2. Rigatoni
3. Mobile home parks
4. My Father
5. A ring I wear--it was hers
6. Roses
7. Lilacs
8. my dog
9. Peanut Butter cookies
10. The voice(s) in my head

And Now, this weeks':

10 things you do every day

1. Kiss my husband g'morning
2. Make coffee
3. wish my husband a safe drive to work.
4. read 3 message boards & my email
5. think about what needs to be done that day& complete at least one thing on the list
6. Make lunch for DD#1
7. Walk my dog--or let him walk himself
8. make my bed ( nearly a religion)
9. think & worry about my father
10. hang out with DD#2

The Nest!

The hummingbird nest!

If you click on it, it will enlarge, and you'll see the soft spider-web lining, and the tiny little bird inside it, just emerging from its egg.

Friday Feast

Friday, May 05, 2006
Feast Ninety-Two

Appetizer
From which country(s) are some (or all) of your ancestors?

Italy, France, England, Ireland.

Soup
How would you describe your sneeze?

Build up, more build up, climax, then pure, blissful relief!

Salad
What is the last thing you cleaned?

My kitchen

Main Course
Who made the strongest first impression on you?

My old friend Mike

Dessert
Name one thing you want to accomplish in your lifetime.

Getting to know my grandchildren and having health good enough to do things with them.

Hummingbird don't fly away--don't fly away!

We are so excited...

Our rather puny back yard often hosts many hummingbirds. We love to see them; the whole family runs out to watch them and see if they light onto a branch and stop flitting their tiny little wings.

We've learned that one little lady (My oldest named her Emerald) chose our backyard tree in which to build her nest!

Oldest called to me to tell me about the little hummingbird she saw, and when I went to her, we found a beautiful, cozy nest--the smallest nest I've ever seen! (well, duh!). I couldn't resist--I lowered the branch, and inside, were two very, very small eggs. The were barely 1/4" long if that. The nest is maybe 1-1/2" in diameter, and perhaps 2" deep. Emerald made it of sticks (of course), and spider webbing from the home "next door" to her of a rather large spider, who looked able, to me, to eat those little birds. However, the nest was well hidden. At first we thought it was just a knot on the tree branch it's so well camoflauged.

We've been watching them every day; oldest reports the progress of the little mommy and her eggs, and just Monday, the eggs hatched. All four of us watched with amazement the little birds, halfway out of the eggshell and trying to finish the job of hatching.

Such small little things. It's truly wondrous that hummingbirds survive in this huge world.

Yesterday, oldest told me that she stands with her index finger held out next to the nest, and Emerald will land on her finger to feed the babies. Can you imagine?!? A hummingbird landing on your finger? Let alone to feed the tiny little hatchlings that need so much protection?!

Oldest seems to have made friends with Emerald. I hope the new mommy returns for her next nesting project.

Pictures to follow, as soon as I figure out my new camera (a Nikon 200D! for my Birthday!! Thank you DDH!)