2023 Christmas contuined

 Christmas came and went and now on to a new year.  I will post some Christmas pictures.

Christmas 2023

 We had a lovely day with our family.. Sara, Archie, Stephanie, Quinn and Aurora, Jacob and guests Arnold and Laurel who joined us for the day.  Many lovely gifts were opened and ham, breakfast casserole, fruit, candy and Sweet Potato biscuits were enjoyed by all.  I got new ceramic critters for my gardens. The family took a woods walk and the twins and Archie climbed on the largest white pine in Maine while Aunt Sara    looked on.

 

December 19, 2023 flood

 Monday afternoon started a heavy rain which flooded many roads and uprooted many trees.  Our generator was a wonderful investment.  Most of Sumner is without power still and all of Buckfield  and Hartford are still without power.  Rumford is flooded and people have been washed away in the flooded rivers.  Beth barely made it home Monday night as a large tree almost fell on her car.  The winds were very strong.Charlie made it home fine.  

Decorated world

 The Sunday night snow covered the entire town with trees hanging heavy with snow laden branches.  Every tiny limb was wrapped in cotton   and glittered in the sun like lace,  It was too beautiful to really describe, but I loved driving through the winter wonderland.

December 4 snow

 We lost power about 2:30 a.m.  Generator lit up everything until about 8:30 a.m. when we ran out of propane.  The gas people forgot to fill up the new tank.  finally about 10:00 the tank got filled.  We had about 6 inches of beautiful snow.  

First December snow

 We got a lovely snow storm this afternoon.  It made the world magical. 

Thanksgiving 2023

 We had a great Thanksgiving Day and birthday celebration for my actual 90th birthday.  There were Archie, Stephanie, Quin and Aurora, Charlie and Beth, Mary and Tom, Charlies' son Jacob, his brother, Alan, his nephew Eion making a total of eleven around a heavily  laden table,.Everyone had a great time eating and visiting  Maybe I can post a picture.

Luella made matching skirts for us on Thanksgiving about 50 years ago.  This is the  skirt.

First snow of 2023

 We have a good coating of snow this morning.  Maybe 2 or 3 inches

Really Cold day

 With the wind and low temps, we have wind chill of 25.  It is really cold.  Tomorrow we expect snow.  Beth and Charlie are in Arizona.  I went for checkup yesterday. All things look good.  Just the heart thing.  Will meet on Nov. 21 to find out what Doc plans to do .

I'm in charge of Mara, but she didn't wake me up until 6:30 this morning, so all is good.  Went to dump and swap shop.  Got rid of bags of Tom things, shoes, old jeans etc.  Also got out out winter hats and gloves.  Needed a scarf today as well.  Also got winter things out of  the closet downstairs, so I am ready, not happy, but ready.  

covid booster

 Today is November 2, 2023 and I got my Madernao Covid booster at Walmart. I have never had any reaction to any of the Covid shots and don't expect any today.  We had a heavy frost on the first day of Novermber ,yesterday and it was a beautiful sunny day today, however, cold. 

We had Archie's birthday dinner last night.  I made salad and banana pudding, angel cake and bread.  

Jewel of the night

 We had an epic number of blooms this month.  I believe we had 16 over 4 nights.  It was an awesome sight.  

We also had a mass shooting in  Lewiston Wednesday night.  Such a senless waste of 20 lives and many injured.    The man is still running loose.  We lock up every night.  

I hope to post flower pictures when   I figure out how

More tests

 Before the doctor makes his decision we have  a lot more tests to do and more consultations.  Maybe he is having second  thoughts about any interventions.  

Cardiologist report

 It looks like I will be having the Aorata cleaned out via a procedure with entrance through a vein in my leg.  The date is not set yet.This is from the Echo Gram a few months back which discovered Aorata blockage in my heart.  More details to follow. 

Jean's passing

 We are so grateful for last MOnday night and glad God worked it out so they could come over.  I shall treasure that night always.  I am sad and a little over whelmed with her death and the burden of Tom's health on my shoulders.  I find solace in my inside flowers. That is the way I cope.  I also escape into TV stories.  I'm  currently waiting for Virgin River to have more series, but am content with Vera at the moment.  Charlie is making a  soccer field in the back yard for the twins and he is moving my giveaway lilies to the front where we have a free sign over them.  They are really disappearing.  Glad to give them new homes.  

Jean

Jean and Bruce made it over to the house tonight for supper and we played 2 hands of cards.  It was a win, win night,.Sadly to say, she was very feeble, but lasted okay until about 8:.00.Breaks my heart to see her like this. 

star Train

I think Elan Musk put a star train in space and I saw it move across the sky tonight.  It was a sight to see with son Charles who came over for the day. The train  is to put internet all over the globe.It could have looked like a planet invasion.  I would have been frightened, if Charles hadn't know what it was. 

Arizona Casita

 We will spend a month this winter in Arizona at a small Casita near Molly and Ethan.  We are very excited.  I will try to post a picture.Casita in Oro Valley - Guesthouses for Rent in Oro Valley, Arizona, United States - Airbnb

New bath aid

Tom bought a bath lift that raises him up out of the water and aids him in standing to get out of the tub.  It is wonderful for him and gives him such peace of mind.I am thankful for this.  

We have made reservations in Arizona for a month in the winter.

Birthday dinner

 I made a birthday dinner yesterdayfor Beth at 63.  Charles Thomas came and Archie and Aurora, and Quin, me Tom and Charlie Maddaus.  I failed to get a picture, but it was a good meal.  Charlie made a campfire out back and the boys enjoyed talking around the fire until late.  Tom and I sought warmer places inside.

Health

My ECHO test revealed I have severe aortic stenosis.  I feel fine except a little weird,  I am waiting for an appointment with a cardioligst.  

Jean Tyner

Every where I look in this house I see Jean.  

"A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand" magnet,  " Friends are the family you meet along  the way" plaque that hangs above my door,  "Treasure yesterday, celebrate today, dream of tomorrow"plaque than hangs on my flower shelf,  sunroom floweres she ooded and ahhaded when she came in the door, and numerous magnets of pictures in and around the house.  These are just a few reminders of a dear and precious friend.  Heaven will ber richer with her angel there.

Echo Test

 I had an echo test today, but no results yet.  I feel fine, just a little tired.  Thomas is having low sugar alarms,

and this is a little concerning,but we will conquer this, I am sure.  Fall is very much in the air today.   I am

 not ready for this.

New Chrome Book

 I am writing on my new chrome book.  Hopefully I won't get hacked on this as it has no hard drive.  Beth got me all set up and I am very happy to be in the internet again on what feels like a  regular computer.  Today is Monday, August 13, 2023.

 This is about the tenth bloom on my night blooming cirus this year.  I see 4 more buds which will open next month.  

It is such a large ugly plant to have such glorious blossoms. Which  only open for  3 or 4 hours in the night.

Fig Tree

Brian dug up my fig tree as it had sprouted from the bottom and all the top was dead from the winter. We potted it and will leave it outside until winter when it will live in the sunroom.   Hopefully next spring we will have figs.

Tom's new insulin

 YEsterday, JUly 26, Tom started on his new insulin to take three times a day. so far so good.  

I have a few more party pctures.  

More party photos

 

Ninety Party

 Beth organized the most wonderful party to celebrate Mine and Tom's 90th birthday year.  We had family and friends come from Indiana, New York, Florida, Arizona, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Texas, Ohio   and Kentucky, West Paris and Sumner. 

We had a grand dinner at the Hilton Garden Inn with some 44 people present.  Sam did a marvelous video and Sara did her great job as MC for the evening.  Grandson Archie spoke for a toast as did Cousin Charlene.  Charles Marten spoke and Pastor Mace did the blessing. Molly did all the invitations and arrangements for the event.  

2023

2023 Daylily selections

 

Caution Light in bloom July 3

 

Pictures of the June 30 storm damage

 

First 2023 daylilies

 Here it  is  July 3rd  and my daylilies are just starting.  But that's better than last year, when I didn't see a single bloom.  

June 30 storm

 We had quite a thunderstorm on Thursday, June 30 which took out most of our road and all of our driveway. Leonard said he measured 4 inches of rain in one hour, hence the amount of road destruction.

We cannot access our mailbox due to deep water eroded ditches, though we have a little path to get the car out, which the road commissioner fixed for us.

The sun actually came out today. 

Tom has been riding his 4 wheeler on the trails.  He went out Thursday and got home   just before the storm came. He found lots of storm damage today.

Beth's wildflower/nature club came today in rain gear as the promised storm came and went. They were treated to  a wonderful slide /lecture presentation in the carriage barn on Pollinators.  It was most informative.  It seems all manner of creatures are pollinators.  After the presentation, the rain slacked up and the 30 or more students hit the wildflower beds in the unmowed 3 acre lawn. Beeth was a wonderful host and they all hiked to the big tree (largest white pine in Maine) and it took 17 people standing shoulder to shoulder to reach around the big tree.

Another fall

 Today is June 14.

While loading groceries in the Hannaford parking lot in Winthrop, ME, Tom lost his balance and grabbed for me and sent me reeling across the store parking lot.  People came from all directions to help. Some were nurses and all where helpful.  Someone got a pillow out of their car to put under my bloody head.  After much testing by EMTs, it was suggested that I go to the hospital for head scans.  The scans were clear, so no head bleeding inside.  My bruised elbow needed a compress bandage for a large hematoma but test showed no breakage.  My blood pressure is high so I will follow up with my doctor in the morning. I also g0t a tetnus shot.

Midddle May 2023

It is the middle of May and the weather is cold and windy.   I have to bundle up to go outside.  We expect a fost tonight.  I'm glad I haven't' put in my potted plants.  My Yard is lovely.  Right now blooming are azaleas, flowering quince,

Carolina Fragrance, Bridle Wreath, splurge, verbena, lilac, and others.

Sunroom

 Winter is bearable because of my little sunroom. I love the brilliant colors that show up every day and bring color into my snowy  world.

world. 

Easter orchid

 Tom bought me thie Oncidium orchid for EAster.

tom's eyes

 For many years Tom has been getting eye injections for his macular degeneration to keep him from going blind.  He does not like to have this done, but it's better than going blind.  This week, the doctor did a thorough exam and since it had been 17 weeks since his  last injection the doctor  decided that things looked good and he would not need the shot this time. Tom was delighted not to get it, as you can imagine.  We have to go back in a month to make sure things are still okay, but a win is a win.  

EASTER 2023

 We had a lovely Easter day today.  The church was nearly filled and pastor brought a wonderful Easter message.  Arnold and I played piano/organ preludes fifteen minutes before church.

Tom treated me to dinner at LaFluers restaurant in Jay for a wonderful Easter Buffet.  Then I watched to Sox win their game, took a long nap and will be ready for bed again soon.  

The temperature was nice and the day was bright and sunny.  

March 26, 2023

 Woke up to another 3 inches of snow this morning.  Spring may come sometime.

March 25 2023

 It is snowing, but not much accumulation.  Maybe an inch so far at 9:30 p.m. Temperature is around freezing. So much for Spring.

March 4 entrance

 March came in like a lion for sure.  We had a foot of new snow in a heavy blizzard.  Charles Thomas had come over from NH where he has a consulting job and he made it over on Friday..  The storm came on Saturday and we had a great time with Charles while the storm raged outside.  Then this week, we had a northeaster with snow and high winds.  This was a real blizzard though it dropped little snow, but the wind was awesome.  I didn't dare go outside as I woud have been blown down. So much for March.  I look forward to baseball with start date for the season on March 30.  

February 28, 2023

This is finally the last day of February which was a frigid horror.  Now march comes in with storms over the next 3 days.  We already have about 4 feet of snow covering the ground.  We sleep a lot under soft comforters, and let the world go by.

  I have left over Chili for supper, so no worry there, I do need to go to the store or cook things in the freezer for this week. I can't do something new however, unless I visit a store.  That is very unlikely as snow continues to fall heavily outside.  

If I sound a little depressed, I am.  However, my friend Jean had good news yesterday as the cancers are diminishing.  I was praying that the little mountains of cancers would do just that.  I didn't want to move a mountain with my faith, just the cancers and I hope my prayers helped this happen.

Enough for today, so I will go and play in my inside sunroom garden.  Maybe that will bring a little cheer to my winter heart.

January 23 snowstorm

 Orchids inside while storm rages outside.

Another snow storm.

 January 22. 2023

On Friday, we got 6 inches of new snow, and 8 inches are forecast for tonight.  We are surely having a snowy January.  I also don't feel well.  I have a sore throat and slight cough. We did get out to church today.  People are so happy to see Tom out as he has been so sick.  I will try to put in snow pictures tomorrow.

Flu bug

 Christmas2022 came and brought me and Tom a vicious virus bug.  Not covid but we were really sick for a whole week.  I lost 20 pounds.  Doc gave me Doxycline, which I can take.  All other antibiotics gives me allergies.    The medicine and friends praying are making me a wee bit better today.  I did a few simple chores in the house today for the first time in a week.  My sinus infection seems better too.  

Tom still in under the weather.  I'm too sick to cook, so Beth is making her great Mac and cheese for my supper. 

Molly and Sam enjoyed skiing the back forty and Sadie enjoyed sledding. She is such a big girl now.  All in all it was a fun Christmas after all.