Diana's Musings: 2008

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Some songs just bring back happy memories.

Growing up I was (and still am) a fan of John Denver's music. Annie's song was a hot 45 record one summer. The flip side was Cool and Green and Shady. I must have drug the record player, the extension cord, blanket and pillow out front under the maple tree for over two weeks. I played those songs over, and over, and over, and over for hours. I'd make cloud pictures, give myself a manicure with outrageous colors in bright reds, blues, purples, and any color that had sparkles in it; or just watch the cars pass by. Those songs can still invoke that sense of peace and joy today.

Cool An' Green An' Shady

(Denver/Henry)

Saturdays,

holidays,

easy afternoons,

lazy days,

sunny days, nothing much to do.

Rainy days are better days for hanging out inside.

Grainy days and city ways make me want to hide

some place

cool and green and shady.

Find yourself a piece of grassy ground,

lay down close your eyes.

Find yourself and maybe lose yourself

while your free spirit flies.

August skies, and lullabies,

promises to keep,

dandelions and twisting vines,

clover at your feet.

Memories of aspen leaves trembling on the wind,

honey bees and fantasies,

where to start again,

some place cool and green and shady.

Cool and green and shady.

Monday, November 10, 2008

Gma I ate cereal 2day Chip 10-27-08 7:32 Pm

G'pa, Jayme, and Buster 2008

Canning time again 10-13-08

It's been a busy weekend canning. Over two days I did the following canning.
24.5 quarts of frozen veggies (cauliflower, broccoli, onion, green pepper, garlic, green beans, and brussel sprouts)
21 quarts of spaghetti sauce
15.25 quarts mild salsa
9.75 quarts of V8 juice
35.5 quarts of tomatoes
6 quarts dilly beans
4 quarts dill pickles

It sounds like a lot but it sure goes quickly during the winter!

Sunday, August 10, 2008

Our nephew Bo

Here is an article in the local paper about my brother's son, Bo! He's a supererb athelete. He was awarded a scholarship to college but decided to go locally.

http://www.thenews-messenger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080617/SPORTS03/806170328&referrer=FRONTPAGECAROUSEL

June 17, 2008
SLL tops SBC 12-7 G'burg's Faunce, Hobbs aid Suburban Lake's win News-Messenger reports

GENOA -- Gibsonburg's Bo Faunce caught a 38-yard tipped touchdown pass from Elmwood's Nathaniel Fitch late in the fourth quarter as the Suburban Lakes League defeated the Sandusky Bay Conference 12-7 in a senior all-star football game Monday.
The SLL has won two of eight meetings in the series.

The Golden Bears' Ben Hobbs recovered a fumble in the end zone for the SLL in the third quarter.

Clyde's Justin Cook caught a 30-yard scoring pass from St. Mary Central Catholic's Ryan Heath late in the second quarter. Heath, who was named SBC offensive MVP, completed 7-of-13 passes.

Oak Harbor's Spencer Skinner (a co-worker's son), who was defensive MVP for the SBC, forced a fumble to set up Cook's touchdown.

Fitch was offensive MVP for the SLL while the Comets' Josh Teet was defensive MVP.
Cook caught four passes for 66 yards while Clyde's Ethan Ott added three for 28.

Alex isn't here yet...!

6/16/08

Mom- Still no MAJOR contractions, I had a few last night in the early evening but nothing compared to what I've exprienced already. I am feeling really crowded lately, seems as though I'm not able to get comfortable for the life of me. lol. Alex has been doing his fair share of pushing today....not just out but on my bladder as well. My next appointment in tomorrow moring at 945, so we shall see what happens. Chip is working in Perrysburg today, yet has to go back to Marysville the rest of the week. The girls are going home Tuesday then coming back Wensday night until Friday. Call me tonight after 0700 & maybe we'll get together sometime this week. Have you had a chance to look for a dresser for Alex yet, the only reason why I ask is because I've ran out of room to put all his clothes....blankets....other baby items. It seems as though the UPS man has been to my house like every day since last week. lol. Hugs
Katrina

18 years strong - July 27, 2008

we celebrated our 18th wedding anniversary yesterday. it's hard to imagine it's been that long. it's gone by in a blink! we just hung out saturday -went to the genoa faremer's market, the hayes museum and toured the house, ate ice cream, went out to eat for supper at appleby's, just had anenjoyable day. he surprised me with a ipod nano. i've been so busy i haven't had a chance to load more music on my 'puter. yesterday i canned what we got at the farmer's market then later jo and the kids then even later katrina and kids came over to visit. ken was hilarious! the girls were breastfeeding the babies in the living room - nothing indecent was showing. we were hanging out having adult time when he started to come into the living room, saw them feeding, turned and walked right on past. he was blushing and shaking his head.

it's amazing how little things can put lives into perspective. jo and juan were arguing and neither was talking - texting a ton but not talking - toeach other. jo and jordyn went down to the golf course to pick up supper.there were a couple of guys in there being jerks. the wife of one of themen called on the cell phone and he handed it off to his buddy. they were giving the wife grief. she kept calling but not getting her hubby - onlythe his friends. jo came back and had to text juan that even though they were arguing at least he wasn't a jerk. i laughed when she told me she had to tell jaun he wasn't a jerk. perspective is a good thing...:)

jayme's now 7.5 months old. he army crawls everywhere! he gets so excited about buster (the dog). buster just loves having kids to watch over! the cats weren't as thrilled. tinkerbell was hiding under the kitchen table and chairs. jayme crawled over and the looks on tink's face was cute. you almost hear her thinking..."how did this kid get down on my level!" jayme cried when she'd had enough and ran away. pumpkin just hides when they come. he doesn't like being picked up and given "elmira" hugs. (elmira hugged her pets until they strangled to death. it's a bugs bunny spinoff.)

Sunday, July 6, 2008

Katelyn

Heather, Katelyn, Kira

Katelyn

Katelyn at Chucky Cheese 7-1-2008

Georgia

Here's one of my best friends...
Georgia!
She likes frogs, (she got Katrina started liking frogs a long time ago),

babies, gardening, sewing, and family.

Georgia and Trina blowing out Georgia's b-day candles.

Georgia, Jim (her hubby) and g'daughter, Heather.

Hula Hooping - Can you still do this?

Do you remember hula hooping? That was a favorite pasttime of ours as kids. Leisa was the champ most of the time when she did it around her waist; but I could beat her for longevity when we challenged each other to the arms or neck. Being taller helped. There was one size of hula hoop - big; not like today when I even found one Kaylee-size!

This cartoon, Rose is Rose shows it all.

Thursday, July 3, 2008

Alex's birth - a G'ma's side

it was a long day and night. I got to be there the whole time. just after she gave birth she looked at chip and said "i don't think i want any more babies." we just laughed at her. i told her to wait a year then think about it. katrina's doing well. they had to cut her three times. ouch! i was off by one stitch - i said 15 and it took 16. she ended up with a hemorrhoids that are causing her pain too. she started contractions on monday then they sent her home. she was induced on tuesday. she went in at 4 pm. they started the pitocin at 5 pm. we got there around 7:30 pm after getting a few errands done. they broke her water around 9 pm. she was so grossed out! and she is the gross queen! i kept teasing her for a little bit since she's an stna and you know what you used to clean up! she said she could handle that it's her own fluids she was grossed out about! she was so upset she cried a couple of times over it! alyssa said something about it being gross. i whopped her lightly on the butt and her dad whopped her on the arm. he told her any more comments like that and she wouldn't get to see his birth. that was the last of those comments. around midnight we went home to let the dogs out and sleep for a few hours. i don't do hospital chairs well anymore to sleep in. we were back around 4:30 am. before we left they gave her nubain for pain. she was hilarious! you could see the instant is kicked in! She went from pain to a smile. She kept saying "this is goooooooood shit! i want to write a letter to the guy that invented it! this is gooooooodddd shit!" throughout the night several times she asked for her dad. he always calmed her down. she will always be a "daddy's girl". somewhere around 3 am she needed a breathing treatment. baby didn't like the breathing treatment and the pitocin. he went into stress - heartrate and breathing dropped dramatically and became erratic. doc discontinued the pitocin and gave her an epidural. that eased up the stress on her and alex. she ended up with two epidural total. she kept asking why no one talked her into it around 10 pm. i was very impressed with how she hung on as long as she did! pitocin makes the contractions a lot worse. around 8:30 am tuesday when they gave her the second epidural she was all thinned out and dilated except for her left side which was where alex was laying. she was still at 70% thinned out and a 7 dilation. at around 9:30 the nurse came and moved her to her left side. within 10 minutes she said, "i've got to poop." i told her hold that thought. i raced out to catch chip who was going for a cigarette. i told the nurses on my way past, caught chip and told him to grab alyssa. doc had just left the hospital and had to turn around. sharon (lamaze coach) was behind and sharon's hubby Jonathan (pre-med student) who had her left leg, chip had her right leg with alyssa (big sis who's 11) at her head, and g'ma snapping pics. i don't know why she wanted pics of his head coming out but i took them. she labored for 30 - 40 minutes. once he came out and was suctioned out he was wailing. when the nurse cleaned him up he was not happy. he kept wailing and kicking and trying to roll over. i told alyssa to go talk to him. she thought he wouldn't know her. i told her "you talked to him the entire pregnancy, he'll know your voice." as soon as she started talking to him and rubbing his head he calmed right down. then he looked around at everything. katrina was upset that he wasn't crying until we told her alssa was talking to him and he was fine. i ended up explaining the cord blood drawing procedure and afterbirth to her. she'll make a good surgeon one day if she has a inclination to become a doc - nothing fazed her. i ended up waking his oldest sister, trina who was asleep in the waiting room. she was all woozy and didn't comprehend until we were passing the nurse's station. when it dawned on her that the baby was born she woke right up! she was the first to hold him. katrina was worried about her milk coming in so i had to explain that. then she was worried he wasn't eating enough until i explained how tiny his stomach was and that about 2 tablespoons would fill his tiny tummy. g'pa got to hold him and i got lucky and snapped that picture. they just kept looking at each other for a long time. we went home around noon and came back later in the evening. i got about a 2 hour nap. we didn't stay long last night...too tired out. plus alex's other g'parents came to visit and they needed time with him. chip called earlier this am with an update. they can go home today if the doc can get there from another birth to do the circumcision. mommy's feeling better today after some sleep and a shower.

Minutes old

"Would someone PLEASE turn off these bright lights!"

"I clean up pretty good don't you think?"

My stats.

Mommy and G'pa. She sure looks tired!

G'ma and me

G'pa and me

Uncle Jonathan and me

Aunt Sharon and me

My big sisters and me. Trina says good for you Alex. Alyssa's holding me.

G'ma and me. I'm a whole day old!

G'pa and me

G'ma Gale and me

Yes It's all about me!!!

The Quest

“Why so sad me beautiful lass?” He asked.
She looked down at her three bristle- haired children. She’d been with him now nigh almost five years. How could she tell him she longed for her own kind?
“Ye’ve done me proud since you came,” he continued. “I din’t think ye had it in you at first.” Juliana looked around at her home.
She sighed, “I never thought I’d be able to call this place home.” “It’s so different,” her words trailed off into her own thoughts. “It’s so alien from what I’d ever known; so unlike my world.” Her last born squealed with laughter at the antics of her first born, snapping her back from her musings. Her husband, “Yes, she could call him that now,” she thought, grunted a low command and their youngest offspring stopped the mayhem and scampered off to hide.
“Is it truly so hard to be away from those of yer own kind, lass?” he asked.
Juliana looked at him in surprise.
“How did you know I was thinking that?” she asked.
“I’ve known ye for long these five years now.” He continued, “Ye were mightily unhappy when ye first came to be with us after the great fire. At first ye were a slave like all the others. Ye did not openly rebel and therefore lived. I protected ye from Elan. I could see the good inside of ye that ye kept hidden. After a time ye were allowed to become one of us.”
The great fire. That is how she now too thought of that moment in time. Her thoughts drifted back to the day she arrived in this barren place that she now called home. Their ship had crashed. Someone had sabotaged the ship’s navigational computer. She could now still only speculate as to whom. Only a handful of the crew and she had escaped the fireball. Warily they had banded together to avoid the dangers of this foreign world. They traveled by night and slept by day, searching for some suitable shelter – any shelter after a few days. Food rations were low to begin with and then non-existent. No one dared eat the indigenous plant life or animals – if you could call these alien creatures, animals. Juliana lost track of time on this quest. One night, the group instantly awoke to a strange grunting noise. As her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she noticed odd boarish-shaped beasts. They walked on two legs, and did not have cloven feet or hands! “How strange” she had thought, “for pigs.” She was instantly snapped to awareness with the sharp point of a spear.
“Aye, it was a difficult time.” She answered him. “But it is over now and I am here with you.”
“Would ye change any of it?” he asked.
Juliana did not answer him. She kissed him on the snout, turned, and returned to tending her garden. She was content – for now.

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Jordyn and G'pa summer 2005

Make up time!

"Aren't I pretty?"

Swimming Fun 2005

Macy, Tiffany and Ken 2005

Macy 2005

Our four-legged children!

Harley and Buster June 2008

Katrina could not give harley a bath cuz her belly was too big! I went to Katrina's to give Harley her bath. There are two secrets to giving Harley a bath. First, put down a mat or towel. Harley absolutely HATES to slide in the tub. Secondly, bribery works every time! She LOVES the beef chewy treat I get at Walmart. I told Harley to "get in". Buster wanted that treat too and hopped right in beside her!

Tinkerbell playing with the pirate ship. That lasted about two days then she was bored with the thing! I gave it to Brannon and Samantha.

Mo (Moisha) One of Brannon and Sam's cats.

Tink and Pumpkin posing so nicely....at least you would think that....

But what really is going on is that Ken has food!

Jayme 3/11/2008

I'm a celebrity! Look out Hollywood here I come!

Jayme May and June 2008

Great G'ma Eborg and me.

"Isn't he so precious!"

Uncle Brannon and me.

Great G'ma and me again.

My book!

Let's see you do THIS one!

Kaylee's pre-school graduation May 28, 2008

"I got a pretty new dress for the graduation!"

"Look how Mommy did my hair!"

G'ma n me! I have an icing 'stash (mustache)

Myt little brudder, me and Daddy

Baby Alex update...he'll be here soon!

Mommy and baby Alex had a good check up today! Dr. Owen says Mommy is 1.5 cm dialated, has lots of amniotic fluid, and is in good health. Alex needs to flip, is 7 - 8 pounds.

Fremont Farmer's Market

Ralph's Joy of Living Farmers' Market, Fremont's downtown open air market, opens at 9 a.m. Saturday, June 21, downtown on Front Street.

I found some great deals last year! I hope it continues to grow and grow!

Future dates in 2008

Sat - Jun 21, 2008
9:00 AM

Sat - Jul 19, 2008
9:00 AM

Sat - Aug 16, 2008
9:00 AM

Sat - Sep 20, 2008
9:00 AM

Sat - Oct 18, 2008
9:00 AM

Women's friendships

Friendship between women can take different forms. It can run like ariver, quietly and sustaingly through life; it can be an intermittent,sometime thing; or it can explode lie a meteor, altering the atmosphere sothat nothings ever feels or looks the same again.

~~ Mary Haskell

Ask for what you want. Do not assume that you must "make do" with a second choice.

~Mary Kane Radmacher

As women, we are caregivers. That is the role we are taught whether we work at home or outside of the home. We are taught to put others' needs before our own. We then treat ourselves as "second best". Put yourself first. You are no good to anyone else until you do. First there is burnout, then anger, followed by depression. Stop the cycle. Your emotional and physical needs come first. Exercise, take a class, learn a craft. The more your needs are met, the more balanced you become. When you are in balance the stressors of life can be prioritized - either by discarding that which is not worthy or handling those things deemed worth your time and effort.

Sunday, June 1, 2008

it's all in the details

"I want to know the thoughts of God; the rest are details." -- Albert Einstein

Everything -- absolutely everything -- that happens in our lives has aspiritual cause. Events on all other levels -- mental, emotional and physical -- are only effects. When we are struggling with any challenge, whether it be ill health, a lack of money, a lost job, poor relationships, an accident, whatever -- we need to look for the spiritual learning. We can ask ourselves, "What quality does my soul want me to live more fully?"

"If you start to think the problem is out there, stop yourself. That thought is the problem."
-- Stephen Covey