Saturday, March 27, 2010

Spring Greetings!

This season bombards one's senses with the constant daily, noticeable changes. Our local fruit stand, Frog Pond, reopened Friday and I loaded up on fresh fruits and vegetables, a few frilly pansies and a hyacinth (the sure smell of Easter and Spring!) for my Mom.

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Soon, my daffodils will bloom a Springtime greeting!

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Fabric choices for quilt to welcome baby Blaire.

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A nice surprise Spring porch bouquet of pussy willows, cattails, ferns, hemlock & lilac buds...

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The Hudson River Bridge as seen from the newly opened Walkway over the Hudson...

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The freight train looked like a model when seen from the walkway.

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I think I'll draw this lake scene from Chenango Valley State Park to include in my 2011 Water themed calendar.

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My friend, Warren, from line dancing loaned me his Yosemite park photos to use as reference photos for my water drawings.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Bees!Crocus!Action!

Spring's skipping into town, trailing sunshine, blue skies and a breath of fresh air! Yesterday I noticed our first clump of crocus in the front border!

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Today, a line of crocus greeted me, complete with welcome soundtrack of busy, buzzing bees!

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Saturday, March 13, 2010

Seeds for Dad's Garden

Another sure sign of Spring is my Father's thoughts of gardening! He used to send extensive mail orders to various seed catalogs, but due to his advancing age (he's in his nineties) he's allowed me to purchase his seeds from KMart. (I like buying seeds there because they don't charge shipping fees and the seed packs are 40% discounted. The store I shop at carries Burpees and Ferry Morse brands.) Dad presented me with two copies of his handwritten wish list and I had fun selecting the seeds Thursday night before line dancing. I found everything except for the curly kale he likes.It's a big honor to be able to help him with this Spring ritual.

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Friday, March 12, 2010

Nursing Homes=Nurturing Homes

Earlier this year, due to compounding physical problems, my Mom became a resident of a nursing home. Frankly, she's often scheming about how she can return to her longtime home and that's understandable. It's hardest on my Dad, who theoretically knows he's not equipped to care for her but continues to talk as if it's a possibility. Mom's congestive heart condition, declining mental acuity and appetite, limited mobility and propensity to fall make it doubtful she will be "rehabilitated" enough to go home. I can't totally diminish Mom's hope that returning home is an option or she may lose the drive to keep going, but I try to help Dad see that all her needs are met and she's actually thriving.

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Her roommate is a peach of a lady who keeps busy, folding laundry; her daughter-in-law graduated a year ahead of me at the school where Mom and Dad taught and she often chats with Mom when she visits. The caregivers administer Mom's daily medicine and see that she's showered, dressed, fed, participates in physical therapy, given snacks, receives appropriate medical attention and exposed to a diverse amount of activities such as weekly church services, celebrations, karaoke, etc. Dad visits nearly everyday and they hold hands, exchange family news, review old photos. Sometimes she demands that he sit with her until she's discharged, and then he calls me, frustration in his voice. (Often, the next day, she never mentions it). I try to visit every week, bringing fresh flowers, or photos or pictures to post by her bedside. My brother's wife has come armed with piano books and plays the piano in the dining room. The staff seems friendly, even though there is always someone to attend. People who knew Mom from school stop by to say "Hi" and she receives cards and letters. She has more contact with society than she did a year ago.

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This cat is also a resident!


Mom is lucky to be in a place where smiles and touching kindnesses are not rare. I'm trying to convince Dad (and perhaps myself) that it's the place Mom needs to be right now. Her around-the-clock care is worth the expense-it justifies all their scrimping and saving and working so hard.

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Robins!

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Sure signs of Spring! Robins returning as the snow recedes! Reports of Red wing Blackbirds! More snowdrops!

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Tuesday, March 9, 2010

GreenPrints #81, Spring 2010, 20th Anniversary edition



Received my complimentary Spring GreenPrints Issues yesterday and feel honored to be included in the editor's, Pat Stone's, list of regular illustrators. I really enjoy drawing for this quarterly! I wish it twenty more years of success!

Snow Drops!

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Snowdrops poking through the snow bring welcome signs of Spring!

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We took a walk at a nearby park on Sunday and passed numerous others soaking up the sun's rays and walking their dogs, too. It's such a relief to see blue skies and sunshine! We are indeed ready for Spring!
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The sunny weather calls for us to have a pre-Spring picnic!

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Spring Sneak Preview

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Went to the Philadelphia Flower Show on Tuesday! I love going by myself- can scurry arround at my own pace, if someone tried to track me they'd see a convoluted trail kinda like the kids' trails in Family Circus. As always, it was breathtaking, dazzling, too crowded, and tiring, and I hope to return next year!

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Self portrait inside a decorated, mirrored RR container car.

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