PT

We all know how busy the month of December is...I know we bring it on ourselves but sheesh so much in one month. It is almost as busy as canning!!!

Since we had met our deductible for the year based on my E.R. visit early in the year I decided I should head into the specialist to see about my shoulder and knee. They had been bugging me for months and not getting any better. Remember I do not like doctors so for me to be going you know it was bugging me.  Anyway I can't get one appointment for both the shoulder and knee. NOOOOO, it is so specialized these days I had to see two doctors. Racket????? I think so. Anyway those appointments required an afternoon off plus it ended as I thought it would. Want a shot - NO FREAKING WAY. OK go to physical therapy.

So this busy month of December I have been working hard with my physical therapist to try and rehabilitate my shoulder and knee. Impingement and arthritis what a combo... I have been working hard all month and have improved. I can now straighten my leg out and move my shoulder without biting pain. I am not back to 100% but at least I now have the knowledge of the exercises I need to combat the pain.

I like physical therapists. They actually try to help you get well versus a doctor that rushes you in, wants to give you a quick shot or pills and send you on your way. Physical therapists listen to where it hurts, take the time to feel the knots and sore spots and help you to get well. My therapist has worked so hard. We tried: ice, massage, and finally decided heat was my bodies choice of ways to feel better. We both were amazed at how well both responded to warming before working the muscles.  The therapist, as all people who are allowed to touch me, say the same thing: YOU ARE FULL OF KNOTS!  I carry my stress that way so it was not surprising to hear. We worked through the knots and were doing well until one week we went to far on the shoulder. EEEKKKK pain all weekend. That next week we worked hard and had the chiropractor also adjust me and we are back on track.

It has been a lot to fit into the month but worth it to feel better.

Here is to a great 2014~~~

HAPPY NEW YEAR ALL!

December can be beautiful

Amazing photo taken by my husband. I just had to share.

December in the Midwest. Beautiful in its own way.

Christmas

Well it is that time of year again, The Christmas Season. I have been thinking lately - wow I sure have a lot of rituals this time of year. I guess you could call them habits or routines also but it all boils down to a lot of extra work and things to do at a normally very busy time.

This is not a very good photo but it does show our Christmas tree. This year I went with a red and white theme. It was the first time I did the entire tree in a theme. The lights are white, angel on top white and all the ornaments are either crystal, white, clear, or red or a combination of both. It turned out really well and I love it!

I also have my Christmas cards mailed. I know you are thinking Christmas cards??? Who does that in this electronic age. Well I do. I love getting cards in the mail. They are always so beautiful and sometimes come with a nice letter from a friend or relative. It gives me joy to write our annual letter. It gives me pause to reflect on our past year and all that we did. I count my blessings I guess.

Baking...Yes I do all the baking I can this time of year. Cookies and candies. The kids love this part of my rituals.I have done one batch of both and have another batch to do yet. In addition to the kids scarfing down many, I give some to neighbors. I also donate to the church cookie bazaar so others get to eat the fruits of my labor.

Shopping - yes I force myself to do this also. People close to me always get presents. It is the season of giving after all. Some people also get the true fruits of my labor some of my canned goods! I hope they enjoy the love that goes into those gifts.

Cooking. I am sure I will cook a large Christmas dinner for family and friends. This entails cooking and cleaning. Not that my house doesn't need a good cleaning but it still adds more to the to-do list.

Here is to a lovely holiday season - no matter what your rituals or yearly to-do. Take a moment to breathe and enjoy a slice of time.

Love to you all.

Thanksgiving

Hi readers, just taking a little time to say THANK YOU to all of you for reading. I hope you enjoy some of what you read and get a laugh now and again.  Thanksgiving in the USA is this coming Thursday. It is a holiday for us to reflect on everything we are thankful for. I have SO much I am thankful for.

Here is a short list:

My faith
My family
My readers
My friends
My home
Good food to eat
A nice home to live in
My pets
Love

Take a minute and think about all you are thankful for this holiday season. Peace and blessings to each one of you.

Love,
Deb

November backyard beauty

The other day I was out in the yard and had to stop in the yard and enjoy. Not often in November is there such beauty still blessing my back yard. Well this year it did so I thought I would share some of this late season beauty with you. I hope you enjoy as much as I did. What a wonderful way to count Sunday morning blessings.

A frozen red rose.

Multi-colored rose.

Purple mums.

Pink tea roses.

Red rose.

Yellow rose.

Apples

Yep first it was peaches, now it is apples.

100's and 100's of pounds of apples.

Enough apples to make me whimper in defeat.

Here is a nice shot of some apples freshly picked.

This shot here is of some BBA's as I call them. Big beautiful apples still on the trees.

This shot here is of one of the trees.  You can see a the top how the branches broke from all the apples.

Dehydrated apples are SO yummy and easy to make. This first shot is of the apples freshly sliced and placed on the dehydrator shelves. Yes, I hand peel and cut each apple. Hubby helped to peel when he wasn't picking.

This shot is what those apples look like when finished. Still nice and extremely flavorful.

Here is a sampling of some apple pie filling for great desserts this winter.

The final photo is a sampling of the apples we gave away to food pantries and homeless shelters. I just added it up and we gave 1,030 pounds of apples to these places alone! That does not count all the apples I processed, the apples we gave to friends and family, and the apples that ended up in the garbage because the were not edible.

I put away all my canners, jars, and supplies tonight. I have the dehydrator doing the last batch of apples. Canning season is officially over. My gosh now it is holiday time.... Just shoot me now.

The Nation's Capital

Well after all these years of traveling for work I finally got to see the nation's capital - Washington D.C..  I am glad that I finally got to see some of these historic sites. I was VERY VERY lucky to even get to see anything as we were there the week before the government shut the doors on these wonderful historic landmarks.

The trip was for work. We had to go learn about a new planning software program we are implementing and the company had a conference to share ideas and learn new things. We had to leave on a Sunday morning at 6am!!!! Now that is just crazy but our company will not let us fly direct so it took 6 hours to get there as we had to fly to Dallas first.  We arrived around 1pm - took the metro to our hotel and checked in. The metro stop was right across the street from our hotel so it was wonderful and easy to travel around the city using that system. One of the ladies aunt had some metro cards so we used those! It was fun. We only got caught one time during a busy time where we were VERY close to all the other riders. The other lady I was traveling with is so tiny she had to hang onto me as she was unable to reach the bar to hang onto in the subway car. It was a hoot! Of course we were so packed in she wouldn't have gone far anyway.

So anyway, on that Sunday after check-in we headed to "the mall" which is Capitol hill area not a shopping mall. We began to walk, and walk, and walk, and walk some more. We walked for 6+ hours straight!!! I do not know how many miles but it was over 8 miles.  Next I will just show you some of the sites I did see during my stay. We didn't just walk on Sunday. On Monday after our training we went to Georgetown and walked up and down the entire shopping area. Tuesday we went back to the downtown area and ate at the Old Ebbit Grill. I guess this is where all the political folks hang out but I didn't look for anyone. I just enjoyed the restaurant and the decor.   On Wednesday we went back to "the mall" and walked some more and toured a few of the Smithsonian's before heading to the airport for our late flight back home.

I learned a lot at the conference and saw a lot of historical sites. My brain was full of both by the time I got home. It was a good thing and I am glad I went.  Now we will get into the photo portion of this blog. These are just a few of the things I saw. I didn't even take many photos after Sunday.


I have always liked the Lincoln memorial when I saw it in movies or on TV. I was not disappointed when seeing it in person either. It was even more impressive I would say because I got to see the outside of the monument in addition to the statue itself. I thought it was great and the view from the steps was awesome!

This is a different shot of the Washington monument.  There was an earthquake a couple years ago and to make it safe again it needs major repairs.  The stuff all around the monument is scaffolding to aid in the repairs. I like to think I got a unique view of this monument.

Here is the famous White House. I was surprised how far away from "the Mall" it was. There were a lot of other federal buildings near here but they were all drab and dull. This really stood out and was a beautiful building from what I could see from this distance. It looked like they were getting ready for some sort of event later as there were tents and musical equipment set up in the corner of the lot.

After all that walking around we decided we should see Arlington cemetery. I am very glad we did even if that meant another 2 mile walk...up to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  That was an extremely moving experience to watch the changing of the guard.  I was impressed!

 

Another shot of the guard marching after the changing ceremony was completed.

Click on the link below for:

Video from changing of the guards.

Here is a shot from Lincoln memorial looking over to the Washington monument.

And finally a shot of a tiger jumping out of the Smithsonian. Loved it.

Sorry it took so long to post...