Saturday's Sometimes Just Don't Turn Out The Way They Should

Saturday night and the day is almost done.... not much sun shining our way and no outside work at all was done here... but still a busy day... with some fixing of things that needed to be fixed and I actually decided to finally get the strawberries out of the fridge and do something with them like make jam... and since I don't keep white sugar in the house I did pick some up yesterday but of course not enough to make the jam... so I headed up to do some running around and when I got home not really thinking properly ended up adding 1 cup of sugar to 1 cup of berries... to the second batch of strawberries... you know that one didn't get made... Carl came up with the idea of taking and rinsing them so I put them into the fridge... think they will land of the ice cream I am planning on have sometime before going to bed... but I did get 6 bottles maybe my orange marmalade will turn out better when I get around to doing it.... no running out and losing my going to do some preserving mode....

We picked up our last lobster of the season today as well... well Carl's last lobster since there is a good part of it I still can't dig my teeth into... but he was very nice and shared with me and I had a sandwich after I chopped it all up... not like the ones I do lots more salt...

A trip up to see mom and dad of course... wouldn't be a day if I didn't pop in to see what is going on in their lives... We didn't even go to the Market today.. well we did or Carl did for potato wedges but the line was so long he didn't stay... he will have to wait for next weekend for wedges...

Well that is the extend of what went on around here....

On the final note I have to say .... ha ha Roger you got caught... teach you not to be that way LOL.... Love ya Jo ...

Have a great night... Joanne

Why Do I Start My Day This Way?

I hate it when I get up in the morning being an emotional wreck.... and have no reason for it ... that I know of any way... maybe it is old age setting in....I got on line to read two of my niece's blogs ... one that her daughter's Sarah was going into High School come September and realized that there is so much of this young girl's life I have missed because they live away.... of course the tears started up then... Then the second blog of Monique's was about her mom Yvette and the changes that has come about with her from her trip with Danie to Houston... tears restarted to see how much of a wonderful time she was having with her girls... and then I realized that I am without two of my sisters... for some time now... hmmm should I dare say that I am missing them very much this morning...

I have been very lucky to be the youngest sister of this family because my two older sisters have been great friends to me and having them close by has been a blessing that I guess I have not said to them ever much... Yvette it seems to be gone for ever with her travelling in the last several weeks .. and Pat headed out on Sunday for summer camp for three weeks or so... with both of them gone there is a void in my life... no one to pick up and call and talk to ... make my life more understandable when things are not just going right here... just having a talk about nothing but laughing about it... just being there... so this message is to them... get your butts back here soon... you two have become a bad habit I can't break.... he he

It had been calling for rain for the whole week but something happened...the wind changed and the sun actually came out yesterday which put some kind of step into Carl... because he has been out working in the yard since yesterday morning... trimming everything in site... mowing the lawn... cleaning up... I actually got out yesterday afternoon to get some watering of the potted plants done... the deer flies are out like crazy by the way...I got part of the oat tree trimmed so we can mow under it.... and people that was driving by on their way home from work must of thought I was a bloody nut watering the veggie garden but in truth I was miracle growing it... and this morning I got up to Carl out once again... but this time he is working on the mower since something was making it sound really funny last night... maybe it was telling him it was time to stop ....this morning if I can get the tears in check and get my lazy backside out of this house... I am going to attack the Forsythia .... try to put some shape into it since it is really looking very sad at the moment.. actually Rebecca mentioned that it was very scary looking at night... maybe I should have done it sometime ago.... but better late then never...

Besides that I make sure I spent at least two hours of my day with the knitting needles ... I just finished up my three blanket for our Bean and started a 4th on last night... in between that I am making some booties carrying needles and yarn with me every where I go so if I have a moment a row or two can be done...

Well I should go make something for breakfast I see Carl is out of the garage and I know he has not taken the time to eat yet... a trip up to mom and dad's today is called for... one of the plants fell yesterday and I need to replant it...

Have a great one all... Joanne

Father's Day Photos

Melanson's Place....

Dropped in to give dad his much needed Father's Day give ... he he... a garden hose so he can water his flowers...

And as you see he is loving it...

Of course we need a photo of mom and dad together... couldn't keep her settled down for a photo... she was after Carl because he ate her chocolate.. but she keeps putting it on the table...

so who could resist... lol

Finally a nice picture of mom and dad together...

Nickum's Place

We were invited over to the house to celebrate Father's Day dinner of Chinese... by the way not sure if I said it .. Thanks Karen and Marc for the wonderful meal....

And there was so much food... maybe because I couldn't eat most of the stuff he he....

The boys totally enjoying.... themselves...

Linsay and Susan eating together because there was not enough room at the table...

And like most times after having a great meal... we all need to have a sit back and relax...

While Erin entertains us with her piano playing...

Monday And Raining

Monday and I am not alone today... the rain has caused problems with water levels at his job so Carl is home ... hmm the way things are looking he will be home for the week because there is no letting up from what they are saying... though this morning before 8 am it was not raining and someone not saying who, but you all know him, was out on the lawn tractor mowing the lawn... and you know who wanted to shot him it the backside with a salt bullet if I had one he he... instead he got a slap in the back of the head for getting me up that early...lightly of course just wanted to let him know I was a little upset with him...

I have been trying more solid foods today... my mouth is still very sensitive... I did have chicken tonight for dinner but I took and chopped it up before trying to chew it... looking forward to having that I can bite into that is not mushy in the near future...

Now that the news is out I can say that I have been also knitting my fingers off for the last month or so... I made my first baby bonnet tonight while trying to watch Swing Vote only for it to go off the air with about 45 minutes left of the movie ... but the bonnet after several starts turned out not to bad... I also worked on the third knitted blanket as well and as it grew in length thoughts of what the next one was going to be was running through my head... I still have 6 months to go before the baby is born... 16 weeks before I get to see it through ultra sound so I can actually start doing things in either pink or blue... it is not like I am counting here... he he... I also made three pair of booties and three things called cuddle sacks which were way too easy to make and had to stop because the baby would have a dozen of them... every time I am in a store with yarn I am picking more of it up... so this has been keeping me busy and out of trouble if that is all possible... I spend a lot of time on line looking for patterns for different things and still have several that I have not tried yet... but I will be soon I am sure....

Of course I do have a few pictures of Father's Day but have not thought of taking the camera upstairs to download them... I will try to make a point of that tomorrow for those who want to see them...

Have a Great one All.... Joanne

Friday .. day two and all went well with the dentist this morning... still gagging a bit but that is normal... really surprised how there is so little pain after all of this...

Not a lot going on around here today... Carl is home for the weekend... which is always nice... Mom and dad are good.. the nurse was in today and all is good in that department... Hubert was up to visit today at mom and dad's which was nice to see him since I had not seen him since May... and I think he is missing his woman... so Yvette get your butt home young lady...

Well that is it for this day... have a wonderful week end... if I get some photos of Father's Day I will be back then... Joanne

Thursday Ended Up Being Better Then I Thought....

I would like to introduce you to Our Bean... that is what Robin named this photo when he sent it to me last night.... and the reason why...well at 11 weeks old the baby is the size of a kidney bean...

When Pat came down and picked me up this morning we went to mom's for a bit.... ohhhh the memories of yesterday year came flying back when I walked in the house to the wonderful smell of strawberry jam cooking on the stove... after a visit I was taken to the dentist when they put enough in me to freeze a bull.... I still can't feel my nose... but the teeth are out and the plate is in... and not looking all that bad actually.... there was only one little problem which was fixed and a stitch put in... I am still not feeling too much but I am sure in a few more hours that will be another story... but this is what I wanted ....Thanks Pat for taking care of me this morning... you were a great help and support...

Have a great one all... she says with a brand new smile... Joanne

If You Are Going To Be A Grandmother Raise Your Hand

(Hand waving like crazy.... ME ME ME )I have been waiting for 3 weeks to tell everyone the news I got back then but I was not allowed to say a word until this evening when I actually had to call to see if it was okay to open my mouth....

Well it is official... Amanda and Robin is going to be parents... they had their first ultra sound this afternoon and got to see that little miracle we have all been hoping and praying for... the baby is 11 weeks along... and Grandma has been busy for the last three weeks with the knitting needles and will continue to be until the baby comes into this world... Amanda said she loves knitted things ... she is going to have lots of that... I am going to be a Grandma..... the boys are going to be Uncles for the first time in their lives...hmmm going to have to get them up to parr on what a great uncle is all about...

Have a wonderful day because I just did... but the best was three weeks ago when Robin and Amanda told me the news... Joanne

Hump Day/ Wordless Wednesday???

Wednesday... to some it is Hump day... others it is Wordless Wednesday... and to me it is one more day before my dentist appointment and they have already called and I said I was going to I guess I will have to be there...

News on the Melanson Front... Dad went to the Kidney Specialist on Tuesday and all his tests were good ... which is always wonderful to hear... the only thing different is that they uped his water pills in the evening... meaning he wouldn't be straying from the house all that much.... I am sure that dad knows where all the good bathrooms are in this town .. .he he... if I asked him... this morning he was in the kitchen making mom's favorite squares... since Yvette is still not in the Province to provide them for Mom... actually I should be saying that to Flo because she usually makes them when she is home... and there is no way I am making them.... the chocolate on top would never make it to the squares... ohhh to have chocolate right there now... not getting in my car and going to get some... I am going to be a good girl ... I am I am... I am going to lose this battle I know the next time I pass a store I will be in to get a bar...

This morning was check up for my car since I had not been in since September of last year... only because I rarely drive it in the winter... but there was other repairs on it because of the lack of smooth roads on this side of town... crossing fingers here they will soon have all the repairs on the road and actually have something worth while to drive on... but then if I know this city they will have it just done and will be digging it up for some reason or another... I have decided to rename Bathurst...Patches because that is what the roads are ....

Last night when I went out to close up my windows I thought I should clean up the car since I am taking it into the garage this morning... make it actually like I am trying to keep the little sucker clean... of course ten minutes after I started it started to rain.... my puppies were not happy with me because they were out side with me while I finished off... and when I went into the house they went into their kennel and wouldn't come out for the night...you think they were mad of me because I let them get wet he he...

As you can see there is not a lot going on around here... so off I go to make a new rope for the puppies... have a great Hump Day/ Wordless Wednesday.... Joanne

The Routine Starts Again

Last night I started the old routine of getting things ready for Carl to head off to work... and boy did the puppies know what was going on... they knew when the bags come out and the clothes get put into it that someone is not going to be around for a while...they wouldn't leave Carl for a second... they knew that this morning he would be putting all this stuff into the jeep and leave without taking them with him... they were not happy last night and at 5 am this morning they were even less as he picked up the last of his stuff for his trip to work... for the next few days Kodak will sit or lay by the door waiting for his return all day long... not understanding that when darkness comes the jeep doesn't come in the yard so they could do their howling of welcome home for him...

It was a busy day yesterday for Carl more then me... he started his morning by going up to the Hills's to till a piece of land for the garden...then we headed out to finish off the touch up job on another job that his company had did last year... home to do the lawn and get things straighten out before this morning... as for me... I did the good woman thing he he... bring him breakfast while he tilled... helped at the touch up and came home and planted some more.... but the body is old and didn't work as much as the day before.. but then the bloody bugs were out yesterday and I don't do bugs very well... while Carl was at the Hills's he found an old log that had the middle out of it... so he took it home... I put it in the garden and planted a wave in it... kind of looks cool.... I am down to 5 waves and have no idea where else to put them so I think they will take a trip up to mom and dad's this morning... Dad has not started his boxes yet... so I am sure he will use them for something...

As for my beds they are pretty well finished... I had decided that I was not filling up the bed I usually do with marigolds this year but the more I look at it the more I miss seeing them out there so I think I am going to get a few to put in it anyway... I do have one bed with nothing in it at the moment and I am not sure what I am going to do in it... it is at the edge of the woods so I am actually thinking of putting a few hostas in it... easy flowers to take care of... and that I like...

Well it is not even 6 am yet so I think going back to bed for a few hours would be a good idea... 4 more days to dentist day... not looking forward to it at all... but has to be done..

Have a wonderful Monday all.. it is looking pretty good out there so far... Joanne

A Wonderful Quiet Sunday Morning

Each year for many years a flower grew at the side of mom and dad's house and I always thought how pretty they were but never asked what they were... and only took the time to find out that they were Columbines when I got into gardening myself...

I thought I would like to have at least one of them in my garden since I had Great grandmother Melanson's rose bush here... Another piece of our history... but in the spring I was always too busy with my flower beds to think of going up and getting one for here... and by the time I thought of them they were in bloom and then someone would cut them down after they were done.. not being able to find them after that...

So one of the first years I started my garden I bought two for myself... a beautiful white one and a pink one... and I left my beds as they were then I started to move things around and some how lost the Columbines... actually they were still there but I was pulling out the leaves thinking they were weeds each spring... so they never came back until this year since I was not in the garden as early as I usually am... they got a chance to grow...

A few years back at mom and dad's I put little fences around the Columbines to mark where they were... and to say to those doing their lawn HANDS OFF... so maybe this year I will get up there... not like I am not there every day already .... and get at least one plant so I can place it in a special place in my beds.. to mark yet another part of my past...

Besides that the weekend was quiet... as this morning is with Carl up at the Hills's working on their garden... and the puppies are with him... yesterday was spent in the flower beds.....enjoying the warmth of the day... the breeze that kept the bugs away... getting so much more done then what I have done all spring long...

Saturday morning is of the usual... to the market for eggs and anything else we see... then off to visit Carl's parents for a bit... then a drop in for a visit with mom and dad ...as Roger was working.. Pat was off for the weekend ...and then home to play for the afternoon in the earth and make things looking a little better around the yard....

Just a few notes here.... 1. Welcome home Dan hope to see you this week some time.... 2. Mark and Karen I am sure you are already left Bangladesh but have a save trip home ... we will see you one the weekend...3. As of today I do believe Danie, Yvette, Connor and Karmer are in Huston safe and sound... To Yvette get your backside back home I miss our hour long talks on the phone he he...

Have a wonderful day all... Joanne

How Blonde Can One Be?

Yesterday Carl got a pay check and of course we went to deposit into the bank... and like normal I do it through the ATM machine... I also don't take a slip but I do check the balance when leaving... why should I, I do most of my banking here... but when I checked the balance it kind of took me back... there was not as much as I thought there was in the account but then I did wrote out a few check and was expecting something to come off.. maybe I didn't have as much as I thought there was in there... but thought I would check it out when I got home... and off to do out business in town... when I got home a few calls came in... (Big wave to Yvette, Danie, Connor and Karmer) and it took me a bit to think about the bank once again....

Now here comes the blonde moment of the day... I actually punched in several hundred dollars less then what the check was actually... and you know I called the bank the minute I found out what I did... the correction will be made today... and the lady on the other end of the phone said that I shouldn't feel all that bad... there is an average of 4 people that actually do this daily... so I really didn't feel as Blonde as I did when I made the call... thank God someone checks what I do some time...

Have a great one all... Joanne

The New Mom in Our Lives

We all seem to have learned over the years that mom has a very good sense of humor though I have only came to know this when I returned from Thunder Bay and started to spend some time with mom and dad….

For the last three weeks or almost three weeks mom has been taking airecept and with it there are many of her life have changed for the good… which we are all very happy about… though we know that this is not cure but it is a helping tool… the one think I know is that she has not stopped talking since this medication has kicked in….

I don’t normally write about things that are going on in the house but Pat and I were talking this morning and realized that we have been experiencing mom’s sense of humor big time these days and I just wanted to share some of these with you….

On Monday Pat came for lunch like usual and as she was leaving she took her travelling back with her and told mom that she would not be at the house that night… that she had to go back to the convent after being away for a week… after kisses and hugs Pat left and I am sure she was not out to her car when Mom turned to me and asked if I was coming back up that evening… I said I didn’t think so why… well she informed me that if Pat was gone and I wasn’t coming back up she didn’t have any more to talk to…. I pointed out that dad and Roger would be there…. Ohhhh she said they don’t talk enough for her…

Yesterday was a day of mom being on the ball about everything… Pat once again came in for lunch… Roger was working that morning so they both were happy to see her come in… they had lunch and once again Pat was getting ready to go back to work… Mom asked her where she was going… and Pat told her she was going back to work for the Bishop… that is when Mom informed Pat that she was calling the Bishop and telling him that she wouldn’t be in to work because she had to stay at the house with her because she was alone and she was scared to be alone… Pat tells mom that she can’t be telling lies to the Bishop and mom came back with Yes I can if it means she was going to stay for the afternoon with her… Dad was standing behind mom busting a gut while this was going on…

Last night I went to visit since I was not there since Tuesday morning…before I continue this I have to say… that Roger, Carl, Flo and I still smoke and we do it in the back porch… just to set the stage here for this one… when I am alone with mom I don’t normally go out to smoke… but last night I had to talk to Roger who was out in the porch … we were there for about 10 minutes and out comes mom… it was not that warm out last night so I asked mom what she was doing outside… she announced that she decided after 12 years of not smoking that she was going to start… Roger handed her his smoke not thinking for one second that she would take it… but she stuck out her hand took the cigarette and took a drag off it… blow the smoke out and then laughed at him see I told you … then into the house she went… between being shocked and thought the whole thing was just too funny Roger and I had a good laugh only to have her come out with a box of pot of gold… of course Roger and I are not allowed to have these things but that was ok to her she wanted to share… until Dad came out to see what was going on… and as he came out we told mom that the lady that was in for Dad’s diet that afternoon said that he was not allowed to have any of those…. She closed up the box and put it under her sweat shirt so Dad wouldn’t see it and want any and as he was coming into the porch she passed him and went and hide the chocolates...

This is what we are dealing with each and every day… and that is not a complained that is for sure… I know that it is suppose to slow things down with memory lose but this airecept have brought back part of our mother that was lose for a long time… she smiles more… doesn’t stop talking when we are around… there is life in her eyes that had disappeared it is so nice to see a part of her come back… even if it is for a little while…

As for Dad his appointment went very good …. The water blisters that turned into sores are not infected… so the ivs worked at it was suppose now if we can get the swelling down in his legs we will all be happy… and as I mentioned before there was someone in yesterday to talk to him about his diet… and there was not a lot that could be said because there are hawks watching him and there is little chance that he can put a grain of salt in his mouth without one of us knowing about it…

Well that is it for now… have a wonderful Thursday… Joanne

The Weekend Is Over...

Well the weekend is over and it was a busy one... though today was no better... but let us start with the important stuff... Dad is off his iv as for this morning but sad to say there is not much change in his legs... tomorrow he will be going to see a dermatologist...if that is the write spelling... I will let you know what is going on after that...the good thing was he was able to get out of the house this afternoon for a drive since he has not been driving since last week...

No fancy dishes for this meal... I bought these trays at the good old Dollar Store some time ago and am still using them...
This is Donna and it didn't take all that long for her to get into the groove of how things are done around here and lobster...
Pat, Donna and Rita all enjoying....
And Saturday was spent with Pat and Donna once again at the Faith First Conference... this is a photo taken with the Bishop... The Conference was very successful as well... Great job Pat... for all the work you put into it...

But the surprise was when I got home from the day and Carl had a visitor... not the two legged kind like the last time he took someone he rescued off the side of the road... He named this one Herman though I really think it was a female but not really sure of telling that... any way on his way home from Fredericton he spotted Herman on the side of a four lane highway heading towards the fours lanes so he stopped and took it home with him... Herman is a wood turtle and this evening though we really would have liked to kept it we took a walk with him and released him back into the wild in one of the streams back of the house... wishing her/him the best of luck...a photo of his release is in project 2009....

As for us today we spent the day together raking and seeding an area where the company he works for did last year but didn't get to put it back to what it was before the work was done... I have to say it has been quite a while since I have been out in the fresh air that long... and I was doing the seeding while Carl did the raking... I have a funny feeling my legs are going to be feeling all the walking I did in the morning... when Carl gets me up to finally get some of the garden planted... though I am not sure how much of a help I am going to be since I expected up at mom's while dad is at the hospital...

Well that is about it for us tonight... have a great evening ... Joanne

The photos at the end of the blog are for Carl actually... he is away this week and was having some other work done for the company he works with and wanted to see what they did... so I took photos and posted them for him... 

There is not a lot that has been going on around here new... dad is still on his iv and will continue until Monday morning... actually they will be coming in to remove the iv on Monday... his last bag is on Sunday... 

The house is empty but I have been busy since Carl left on Tuesday night... Pat is having a conference this weekend with a guest speaker coming in tonight on the late flight... Welcome to Bathurst Donna ... I hope your stay is a good one and my sister doesn't run you ragged he he... Tomorrow night she will enjoy this time of the year menu here at the house... and if some of you don't know what that is I will tell you... lobster that will be caught tomorrow morning... brought home and cooked by my little hands... (don't laugh at that statement my hands are smaller then my father's he he) with garlic butter, and wonderful potato salad... I do hope she will enjoy it... and of course great company of two Melanson girls... what else can one hope and want in their life LOL....

I have to say the our puppies are missing Carl like crazy... Kodak has finally left the door... he has been laying on the mat with his nose to the door hoping and waiting for his return... if anything every happens to this relationship I know where our puppies will want to go if they could speak any way.... 

I am off to watch some tv before getting myself to bed... so have a great one all... may have photos of those great lobsters tomorrow night for you all.... he he   Joanne 

(and Carl the photos are below this)

Questions asked, Answers Given and News from Home

Before I start my blog today there were a few questions asked about the camp ground... one Lise it is up in Petit Rocher and it called Hachey's.... Two Flo yes there is a picnic table in the second last photo of the blog I am standing right near it when I took it of Roger locking up....

here is the full picture of the trailer and on the left hand side though you can't see it very much is your picnic table... next time I go up I will take a good picture of it ... 

and the gravel that you see is the road and we are parked right across there.... will take a picture from the trailer the next time too he he.... 

And questions answered ... I hope... 

Okay now on with the news of the day....Dad has been having problems with his legs once again... the doctor had put him on medication but it didn't work so at the moment instead of putting him in the hospital she has him at home with an iv with antibiotics as well as other pills... this is the first day with them so I can't really tell you how good it is working...so I will let you know what is going on in a day or so... he is on the iv for the next 6 days.... there is a nurse that comes in around dinner time to change the bag... 

Okay I am back from lunch with a friend... and my visit to mom and dad's... 

There are many times I will not say too much about what is going on at home because some people think it is really to personal but hey we have elderly parents and they do have problems like most elderly parents but there are days that it is just too funny and it has to be repeated like this afternoon when I was visiting with mom and dad....

 

With dad having his iv mom is being more then a mother hen to him and it was all too funny when I came in and found them in the front porch just relaxing.... the only thing was that dad didn't have his feet up and I suggested that he put them on the stool that was near by but he explained as he raised one leg that if he used the stool that he would end up with a cramp in his legs... just sticking his leg up in the air straight out it happened... so he had to get up and walk it off... so mom started what was the matter and where was he going... so he told her what happened and as dad slowly walked from the front porch to the kitchen you know who was following him... he said that he was okay that she didn't have to follow him... so mom came back to the porch stating that she was scared that he would fall... stood at the door way for all of a count of 10 and I think I am stretching the count....she turned around and like someone trying to sneaking on something she made her way through the livingroom until she was almost to the kitchen door but no matter how much she stretched her neck to see where he was she couldn't see him.... of course mom being hard of hearing I was able to ask dad what he was up to so I could find out where he was in the kitchen because mom was looking at me for that answer... so as soon as she was able to see him... she came back to the porch quite quickly as not to get caught her checking up on him....  okay some may thought that it is not funny I guess you may have had to be there....

 

Dad with is bag and iv on... not looking too bad I have to say...

Dad trying to get mom to sit of his knee... she is worried that she is going to be too heavy which is just too funny for me as well... 90 pounds but still not someone to mess with he he 

Dad and mom... they are just too cute... 

Well that is it for today... have a wonderful one... I did ... going to watch some movies and knit myself to sleep he he..... Joanne