the more it snows... 01/21/01

Yesterday was grey and wet and nasty.  This morning, the scene outside is bright and beautiful.  Yesterday's nastiness turned to snow after dark and it looks like we got around three or four inches.  The roads seem okay - I hear cars heading up and down Pheasant Run at a pretty good clip.  

 A good morning for a nice hot mug of Maxwell House Columbian Coffee (decaf) - "Good to the last drop!"

The Christmas mugs, which took place of honor for the past six weeks on the kitchen mug rack, were honorably retired to the basement - where the Lockhart mug collection hang from the beams.  A new lot have taken their place, all cleaned up and ready for use. 

Sad to say, I cannot use most of our beloved mugs.  They are too heavy.  I use a light-weight plastic mug that Elsa got when she worked for Cory Coffee Services - the mug was the only good thing she got out of that experience.  

 Joy of joys, Elsa found another light-weight mug to use - a plastic mug with "Bermuda" blazed across it, a souvenir from my trips to Bermuda with my dear friend, Consuela Rosenquist.  I look forward to using it, remembering the happy times we had and the warmth of the island and friends like Mrs. Tucker. 

Mrs. Tucker was a lovely woman.  She was not a native Bermudian, although most people thought she was.  I remember mentioning detecting a suggestion of southern cadence to her speech.  "Zounds!" she said, "I am discovered!"  It turned out that she was from the South, Virginia or Kentucky as I recall.

Among the mugs I cannot heft is one of the two ironstone mugs that Pete and I brought back from London - we found them at Scottish House (right name?).   

There is the "Sacramento" mug that Scott gave Elsa as a thank you for taking him to visit the Ripley ranch and an overnight to San Francisco.   

 

I was horrified to discover that Elsa was 100% behind Scott not tagging along with us in San Francisco.  A college sophomore, who knew not hide nor hair about the city, alone in San Francisco?   I caved in, but was nervous - not Elsa, who said that he would be bored tagging after us and fine on his own.  He proved her right - that lad traipsed hither and yon like a native.  Pete would have been proud. 

There is the mug of Henry VIII and his wives that Scott brought back for the mug collection from a later trip to England.  Scott is a born globe trotter.

 There is the mug that one of the girls found in the 1980s that proclaims, "Never trust anyone under 30."  The mug with Nipper, the RCA dog, listening to "his master's voice" on a Victrola, a mug that Peter donated to the collection fairly recently, a momento from when he worked in the 1960s for RCA out in Bloomington, Indiana. 

 

 There is the mug emblazoned with "You can't beat the System" with a map of the London Underground, a present from Gretchen Lee (Glover) to Elsa after Gretchen's trip to the UK  with Brenda Rydstrom.  

 

There is the handsome "rustic" mug with "ER II  1952-1977" that Elsa brought back from an earlier trip to the UK with Gretchen which coincided with the Queen's 25th anniversary as monarch of the realm. 

There is a mug from Candy and Dave with a "Brambley Hedge" illustration - very cozy looking.    

 

There is one mug with bold colors that I cannot place, which Elsa says she bought at some place or other, she does not remember where.

It is time for this Gramster to head downstairs for breakfast and a hot mug of coffee.  I wish steaming hot mugs of whatever for the Northern Hemisphere portion of my circle and tall, chilled glasses of something wonderful for those in the Southern Hemisphere.  A special toast to Scott and Kimberly, who celebrate their first wedding anniversary on Monday.

Love to all on this beautiful morning -  >>Scott & Kimberly's Nan<<

Crab cake, cole slaw and french fries 01/15/01

(oops - skipped this treasure!  elm  01/19/15)

My right eye started acting up just before my appointment with Dr. Litt and things got worse with it while I was in hospital.  Today was a 1:15 p.m. appointment with my eye doctor, Dr. Miller.  Once again, I had the joy of being chauffeured by my oldest son, Peter.  I cannot tell you how I felt introducing him to Dr. Miller and watching as Dr. Miller extended his hand to shake Peter's with a warm, "It is good to meet you." 

Peter sat in on the appointment.  Having him near by helped me to remember things I might otherwise have forgotten.  Dr. Miller is none too happy with the condition of the right eye, so he gave me several bottles of eye drops which hopefully will take care of the problem. 

As we strolled out of the office, Peter asked if I had already eaten lunch.  I had not, so he asked if I would rather go straight home or toddle off to "put on the old feed bag" (my words, not his).  As you can guess, knowing me, off we went in search of lunch.

He took me to a place we had been to before - I think it is called Mike's York Street Bar & Grill.  It is near the intersection of Old York Road and Street Road (hence the name).  I was one happy Mom.  Peter ordered a heaping helping of nachos and I ordered crab cake, cole slaw and french fries - oh, and a glass of wine.  What does it say about me that the food was tasty, but what I remember most is the wine?!! 

I am feeling a bit tired this evening, but happy.  I am sad to miss this evening's gathering of Caritas (people who are interested in discussing the role of women in our church), especially since Peter Buss and Alfred Acton, our current bishops, are attending.  My spirit was willing, but the flesh was just too worn out.

It is loverly to feel fussed over, cared for and cherished.  This weekend, I had John & Elsa, friends at Daddypop's, Shannon and Louise.  Today, it was Peter. 

Best medicine this Mom - Mum - Gocky - Nan - Grammie - Gramster - Aunt Kay - Kay - CyberGram - TechnoGram - Grandma L' - Gammie et al could have.  

Nite nite and God bless from a blissful - >>KRL<<

Perks, parties & priorities 01/17/01

One of the good things to come out of my hospital stay - and there have been many good things - has been the perks I have received and I did not have to feel truly rotten in the first place.   

Because I was in the hospital for as long as I was, a physical therapist stops by and a home nurse.  Yesterday, one of the supervising nurses used Squirrel Haven as a meeting place with one of her "reports," who was scheduled to check me over.  I was Queen of the May!   Patty took my vitals and Kathy gave me a tip-to-toe "bath."  Steve, my physical therapist, stops by today.   

Feels good having all this attention and care without having to pay a stiff physical price first.

"Hank" Gholson brought my classmate Rachel Acton over for a visit yesterday afternoon.  They were literally a party ready to happen.  "Hank" brought a bottle of wine, yummy tidbits, crackers and cheese spread, salsa and chips, even their own pretty napkins.  I had to pass on the spread and salsa, which were too spicy, but enjoyed the other tidbits and lapped up the company.  It was a loverly afternoon.

A young friend just sent me a posting that mentioned my comments about the importance of older people maintaining their sense of dignity while receiving care.  You should be aware that a lot of older people are not aware of what is happening - I was not, at first - and just submit to it and feel bad without knowing why and feel bad about feeling bad when they are getting such "good" care.  I am blessed to be surrounded by family and friends who are aware and who make it a priority to help me develop and maintain the highest level of physical and emotional care possible. 

I am one lucky - and happy - lady.

May your day be merry and bright (right now, it is still dark out, since it is around 6:30 a.m.).

 Love to all - Grandma L'