A Big Difference…

There has been a difference in my sister’s attitude lately, which is great!  She’s gone from feeling desolate to feeling hopeful.  You can see it in her photo.  And no, she doesn’t mind the photos.  She says maybe her story will help someone else.  The look on her face in the first shot just grabbed my heart…We think she’s beginning to come around to the fact that it’s going to be a long battle and she needs to get on board...and the Zoloft has helped, as well.

She just had a birthday on Wednesday…76th.

For her special day, she wanted to eat burritos…so, I carried her to a little place she likes to order from, to take home.  I ordered four burritos with a small bag of chips and a small cup of salsa.  Two for her and two for me and my husband, Larry.  Hers were potato, egg, bacon and avocado.  Mine were potato, bacon, cheese, and egg…The man handed me the small bag with all that I had ordered.  He says, “that’ll be $48.65…😳😳😳 Then, after I picked my chin up off the floorboard…I said, “HOW MUCH???”

Long story short, I apologized for being rude, but the amount shocked me.  Then he also apologized for having gone up on his prices.  I gave my sister a stunned look, shifted the car into drive and, holding onto the bag of gold…off we went.

I’ve not been shocked like that in years.  Almost $50 for BURRITOS?

I’m still upset…Ruth Ann was bewildered.  Just a few weeks ago she’d ordered burritos and it was about $15…. for two, with salsa and chips.

Can you say recession?  And gouging??

Much better!

I made bread…

Our little SloaneyGirl turned 6months old on Wednesday, as well. 💗🎀💗

We enjoyed sweet potatoes for lunch…

This is a yummy recipe for tomato sauce!  We add cooked hamburger meat.

I made a cherry cobbler…

SO good served hot with cream!

Any takers?? Lolol

Big Hugs,

Donna 🌷

A Slow Sunday…🎀

Good afternoon…just checking in.  My sister begins her chemo treatments tomorrow morning.  She’ll be staying 4 to 5 hours…Chair #1.

Not sure what the chair numbering is all about because the day of orientation, Samantha needed a babysitter for baby Sloane…I couldn’t say no.  It’s like Spring when she comes…warm and comforting.

Samantha, Sloane’s mom working her magic.

Our Miss Sloane

I’ve started the Carnivore way of eating…again.  I’d started several months ago but 

with the way things started happening in my life, I had to stop.  The call of carbs was just too strong.

The above photo is fried pork roast, shredded.  Delicious with salt. 

This is fried hamburger patties…Gouda cheese slices on top with heavy cream gravy.

Just wow…

These are bacon, cheese and onion scones.  

Now you understand why I needed to start the Carnivore way of eating…😂

There’s a volunteer company in town that builds ramps for the elderly.  They built one for my sister.

I think, when she saw it, it drove home the fact that she’s not that young girl any longer.  That sometimes, with aging, comes big life choices.  

You can't fight Father Time.

Grilled steak and buttered garlic shrimp…

Must be a sign…a reminder perhaps?

Bought our little Sloane a walker.  She had a bouncer, but it became a bit boring.  She looked at me the last time I kept her, and I believe her eyes were telling me she needed wheels…cross my heart! Lolol…I ain’t changing my story…

May the miles she travels be safe and blessed ones and may God hold her in the palm of His hand.

Hope you all are enjoying your weekend.  Be safe, hug your loved ones, a lot.

A Big Hug,

Donna

Getting To Know Me a Little More...

Good morning, friends!  It's still busy around here but thought I'd do an update.

We'd bought Ruth Ann (sister) a dishwasher.  Her old one hadn't worked in probably 25 years.  She needed one...so, adding to her money, we pitched in and got the purchase done through Best Buy.  Lordy, what a trip that was.  They now have to order your purchases...shipping containers are just sitting on the Pacific and Atlantic Coast... We had to wait 36 days for it and, getting the installation done was itself, a nightmare. But it's now in... thank You, Lord! 

This is our oldest grandson, Tylar and his sweet bride, Sara.  It's her birthday Feb the 8th, they are stationed in Hungary...he's in the Air Force.

This is grandson number Two, William.  Air Force, stationed in Tucson, Arizona.  God, how we miss the boys.

This is our granddaughter, Samantha, Baby Sloane's mom...she's a stylist and does quite well for herself!  

  

My Larry and I helped run the family business, (we are now retired, Larry's brother is now at the helm) a plumbing company, well known in our area...reputation, built on service.  I was working as an LVN but was needed at the family business so...off I went after 15 years of nursing.  Pipes, you know, are basically the same whether they are in the body or the ground.  

We have tried to educate the public on what to call water heaters when ordering...Lolol...you say, I'm possibly needing a Water heater...not, a Hot water Heater!  That's redundant!  A water heater heats the water...thus, hot isn't needed in the description.  I was guilty of this being a newlywed...but was quickly schooled.  I don't know of a plumber anywhere that doesn't laugh about this.  

How do you say it? 

Our greatgran, Sloane

Our daughter, Crystal (Lolli) and her granddaughter, Sloane, yesterday.

Larry roasted coffee beans for us because we were nearly out...Fabulous flavor. 

My sister Ruth Ann (76 this month) last Monday at the IHop...the day she felt great...and myself 71). 

She spent the next few days "stoved up" in her shoulder and hand pulling herself up into the truck that's as tall as a Dooley (2 tires on each side of the rear.)  She's better now thank goodness because tomorrow, Monday, she gets her chemo port installed on her upper chest.

Our "sister" Laura, 55 (laughing with another customer who had just told a joke) ...married to Ruth's Ex...a huge help in our lives and no, there's no animosity between them...they both know the guy has issues....but she's  

So giving...kind.

Well, this post was more or less a "get to know me" a little more, for my new friends.

Hope you all have a sweet week ahead!  Stay warm or cool wherever you are.

A Big Hug,

Donna

Bread...Soup and a Plan

Happy February

Things have been a bit quieter here lately.  We saw the colon surgeon Monday.  He has advised us that he doesn't want to do surgery on Ruth Ann...at present, on the tumor that was left behind on the ureter (carries urine from the kidneys to the bladder).

 The urethra (carries urine away from the bladder and sends it to be expelled from the body).  I know, probably too much information but, we need to know how our bodies function. 

All this information went straight over Ruth Ann's head...all she wanted to know was how much longer she'd have to wear the colostomy bag...give me strength...

(at least 6-8 months IF all goes as planned)

But!  She showed up to the appointment (Laura drove her) without her buggy!  Walked all on her own!  Hey!  That's a big deal around these parts!Lol

And...she had a sweet demeanor!  Of course, she started on Zoloft Saturday...Hey, I'll take anything that helps her depression.

So, we are waiting for a callback from the cancer specialist to set a date to have her port "installed".  Upper chest area.

Will let you know.

 

A roast I made in my Instant Pot...Wonderfully tender!  Ninety minutes under pressure...fantastic!

Sam and Sloane...love them SO much!

Loaded Potato Soup....it was Heaven!

I call this Blow Out Bread...lolol...I think I accidentally added too much yeast...I lost count...but it was yummy!  A sweet breakfast bread with added walnuts and crasins.

Laura, next to me and sister, Ruth Ann.  They didn't care if I posted them on my blog.  Laura is such a huge factor in our lives!  Remember?  She's Ruth Ann's Ex-husband's Wife...lol...and she's amazing.  An LVN like me, so we "get it" when the doctors talk to Ruth Ann about her condition, treatments, etc.

It's a waiting game now...the long journey is about to begin.

Sautéed onions I added to the bread below.  I added the onion too soon (at the beginning of machine kneading) instead of waiting until the second rise) because they disintegrated, but it was great, anyway.

 

Here is a toy box Larry (my husband) made for our SloaneyGirl!  Turned out precious!

And lastly...The Rep was most understanding!Lol

Until next time,

Hugs

Donna