One week closer to Christmas

If you asked us here in Nova Scotia and all of the Maritimes for that matter if it looks like or feels like a month before Christmas we would all have to gratefully and joyfully say it sure doesn't. Yesterday was an absolutely beautiful, sunny 12 degrees or so and today San and I just got back from walking Jake and it is overcast but we were more than warm enough with just a hoodie on.

However even though the weather doesn't look like it Christmas is fast approaching. San and I braved the malls and did some shopping yesterday and next Saturday December 2nd, Trish and Joe are coming over for the day and we will decorate the house and the tree and they will stay for supper and maybe I will convince them to stay the night.

Thank you all for your inquiries about Mom. We still have no firm answers. She is still in the Yarmouth hospital. She has been there a month now. She had an MRI on Friday and when the results are read by a specialist here in Halifax they will be better able they say to give us a prognosis of what is actually going on. Right now she is still on oxygen because her blood is low and not carrying the oxygen through her body properly. This week she has also had three i.v.'s of iron. She is eating well and is in no pain now so that is a good thing. I will keep you posted as I find writing about it on here helps me come to grips with it.

On a lighter note, as I just said San and I just got back from walking Jake. Because of some rain we had last night there were some muddy spots where we walked him so needless to say his underbelly and legs were pretty dirty when we got home. I got the hose out and San held him while I sprayed him. After I finished I was winding up the hose and hadn't turned it off at the faucet. When it got to the end of course and pressure was put on the nozzle out came the spray. Three guesses who was standing in front of it wiping Jake off. Yep, Sandra. We got a good laugh out of it anyways.

We had a problem this weekend with our water. It was a big problem actually. We had no water at all. Of course it being a Saturday meant a hassle finding an emergency plumber but Ralph finally did. The pressure gauge on the tank in the garage had broken and it had to be replaced. Let's not talk about what it cost. Outrageous. I should have been a plumber. Anywho we have water again and all is right in the Murphys world again. Take care all of you who are reading this blog and here is a little quote about this time of year that I thought was appropriate.
"Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen. " ~Author unknown, attributed to a 7-year-old named Bobby

Sunday Evening Musings

First of all I want to thank everyone for their emails and calls about Mama. It is very comforting to know that there are so many people in your corner and rooting for you. I was down again yesterday to the Hospital to see her and she is doing as well as we can expect. Still on the oxygen and they have given her a patch that she wears for pain. I just got off the phone with my sister Velvet and she said that she told the Doctor this morning that the pain in her ribs is completely gone. They are going to do another Cat Scan and then we will have an idea as to what the next step(s) will be.

My Mom always made marble cake for Christmas for all of us that couldn't bake and Mama's marble cake was the best I have ever tasted. Apparently though we have a new Queen of Marble cake in the family, my niece Donna. She made one and took a piece up to Mama at the hospital today and Mama declared it to be better than hers ever was. Hurrah, I have someone else to bug for my cake. Mama used to send me one every year at Christmas, she even managed to send one that arrived in one piece out to Comox when we lived there. Ralph and the girls knew it was hands off Mom's cake and I would put it in the freezer, cut off a frozen piece and let it thaw and gradually eat it like that over a period of time.

One funny thing did happen when I was at the hospital last weekend. I had been there quite a while and before we went to the hospital I had been out walking around SuperStore and other places. Well I'm setting there in the room with Mama and looked down at my feet and lo and behold I had been wearing two different shoes all day. They were both black (at least) but one had a heel and one was a loafer. I know, I know, how could I have walked around all day and not noticed one foot was higher than the other? I have no excuse except that my mind was occupied elsewhere obviously. Mama got quite a kick out of it anyways.

Got a litte colder here today but I guess we could not expect to keep the 16 and 18 degrees celsius that we were having last week. It sure doesn't seem like Christmas with weather like this. I did my first Sunday shopping excursion today at Bayers Lake and let me tell you every person who wanted Sunday shopping must have been out today. It was crazy busy. The streets are so much busier all around because of the stores being open.. Used to be hardly any cars out and about on a Sunday but now it is just like every other day.

Ralph and the Olympic Gold Medalist

Well that title got your attention didn't it? Brad Gushue (he's the cute one on the left in the picture) was at the Chapter's store at the Micmac Mall last night signing copies of his new book. Of course our's truly had to be there as he thinks curling ranks right up there with the greatest sport on earth and to have the Newfoundlanders win the Olympic Gold was one of the proudest moments of his life. The only thing that could have made him prouder I think is if he had been on the team :) So anyways Ralph got the book signed and then got to hold the gold medal with his hero. I lifted the medal and it is really, really heavy.

So much for the snow in my last post. It is certainly, completely gone. It has been very mild the last two days. A lot of wind and rain today as a matter of fact. I heard that they had closed both of the harbour bridges here in Halifax to high sided vehicles because of the winds. Rememberance Day is supposed to be very mild. Sunny and 10 degrees. That will be one of the mildest Rememberance Days that we have had for a while.

I am sorry to say that I am on the way to Yarmouth hospital tomorrow. My mom has been in there for almost two weeks and tonight on the phone she sounded pretty bad. She now has pneumonia and sounded very short of breath on the phone. Ralph and I are leaving in the morning for Yarmouth and we will stay the weekend and see what is going on. I would appreciate it if those of you who pray to a higher power that you do so and keep her in your thoughts. I can't help but let it creep into my mind that my Dad passed away from pneumonia in the same hospital 4 years ago. Also last year this time we were getting ready to go up to Toronto to be with Ethel. I am beginning to hate this time of year.

I'll post when I get back and let you all know what is going on.

In FLANDERS FIELDS the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch;
be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep,
though poppies grow In Flanders fields.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Halifax has received its' first snow of the season. Jake liked it if nobody else did. Ralph got 1/2 of the door when he looked out the back door to take a picture of the snow on the deck.

I have to go to Port Hawkesbury tomorrow for work. I hope that it does not snow. I know that this does not compare in any way to what Calgary has hey George.... but I'm sure that we will get more soon enough.

So has everyone started their Christmas shopping? Never too early to start you know. Ralph is just getting ready to go curling. San and I are here the rest of the night alone. I am just going to try and stay awake until 10:00 p.m. I don't know if I will be successful or not.

Take care everyone until next time.