WEDNESDAY HODGEPODGE #665

Thank you Joyce.

To join in click HERE

1. What's something on your August calendar you're looking forward to? Or dreading if that's easier to answer. 

I'm excited for what you will read in my random thought. 

However, for me my calendar has about 3 doctors appointments each week. I am not looking forward to those. 

2. August 5th is National Oyster Day...do you partake? How do you feel about pearls? 

No, I do not partake in that day. I do think pearls are very pretty. 

3. Tell us about a time when you felt like 'the world was your oyster'. 

I'm sure there are several times when I felt that. I'm going to say after we were married and we bought a townhouse. 

Then several years later we bought a beautiful home in the lovely community called Western Springs. These were both in Illinois. 

We were married in 1972 and didn't have Adam until 1979 and Amber in 1981. 

4. Trip Advisor lists seven islands in the US that require no passport (for US citizens). If you're answering today from outside the US you'll still need to produce yours. An-y-way, have you been to any of the seven? Let's pretend you get an all expense paid trip to one this month...which one do you choose and why? 

Catalina Island California~Martha's Vineyard Massachusetts~Mackinac Island Michigan~Key West Florida~South Padre Island Texas~or Kauai Hawaii

We have been to Mackinac Island. We actually honeymooned there. I believe we have been to South Padre Island in Texas and also Catalina Island.

5. Sylvia Plath is credited with the following- 

"August rain: the best of the summer gone, and the new fall not yet born. The odd uneven time."

Agree or disagree? In other words, how do you feel about this month? 

I'm not sure if I agree with her. However, I think August is a nice month. Living in Southern California we can have a lot of wonderful months. Although I must say we have been having a lot of extreme heat this summer. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

So on Saturday, Mark, Adam and James are driving up to Mammoth Lakes, CA. It's about a six hour drive. They will spend the first night in a hotel and then two nights in a camper at a camp ground. James can't wait. They will fish and hike, along with going up to a special mountain in Mammoth at night where they will see thousands of stars. I can't wait for James to see those. 

We spent 18 years going up to Mammoth Lakes with Adam and Amber, along with going up on our own and we always stayed in a cabin for a week. Those were wonderful trips. We haven't gone ourselves in a long time because we are not sure that I can take the elevation with my lungs. 

So anyway, James has been so excited about campers and motor homes. So when he spent the night here on Saturday, Sunday morning Mark and James went to a few local places that sell motor homes and campers. He had so much fun doing that.  

WEDNESDAY HODGEPODGE #609

Thank you Joyce.

To join in click HERE

1. What does freedom mean to you? 

I seem to be struggling to answer some of these questions. I don't know why??? So I am just going with something that I read...

"The condition or right of being able or allowed to, say, think, etc., whatever you want to, without being controlled or limited."

2. How will you celebrate Independence Day this year? If you live outside the USA answer this question as it relates to your own country's patriotic holiday, wherever that may land on the calendar.

We will driving home from Montana. We were originally going to get home on the 4th but we are staying an extra day. 

3. This or that...red, white, or blue? Stars or stripes? Watermelon, home made ice cream, or blueberry pie? How do you feel about fireworks? 

Oh my, I guess I will go with blue. I will go with stars. I'm going to pick watermelon. I do like fireworks and since we moved in our house 18 years ago we can watch fireworks from several towns from our view. They are not up close but they are really fun to watch. 

4. What have you purchased recently that made you excited? 

I can't think of anything right now. 

5. I'm thankful to live in America (or fill in whatever country you call home) because____________.

Because of the freedom we have. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

As I type this I am sitting in Amber and Dylan's kitchen. Their house is so beautiful and I will share pictures at some point. We have just been hanging out at the house. We will be visiting places by the time you see this post and going to some of our favorite places to eat. We will be heading home on Thursday and get home on Saturday. 

KEEPING YOU UP TO DATE

Hi,

I just wanted to keep you up to date on what is going on here. I left the hospital on Thursday evening. I have a few medications to take and I will be tapering off  the steroids. Still having some issues but it has been nice being home. 

I will do Wednesday Hodgepodge but I may not be able to link it up with Joyce since I will be in the car heading to Montana to visit Amber and Dylan. That will happen the following week also. 

I most likely will not be reading many blog posts while I am gone. Hope all is well with everyone. 

We did however get to see Adam, Gabby and James on Sunday which was nice. They returned home on Saturday from their cruise and we didn't think we would see them until we got back from Montana, so the was awesome. 

Love,

Debby

P.S. I just realized that today is our wedding anniversary. (1972)

MONTANA DRIVE

These are some photos from our drive to Montana in April. We have been going there a few times a year for about six years now so I don't take as many photos as I used to. I always like the rock formations as you can tell by the photos. 

If you are reading this post today, I am on my way to Great Falls, MT. Mark left 2 days ago for Chicago and will be going fishing in Canada. He suggested that I go and visit with Amber and Dylan so that is what I am doing. I will not be reading posts during this time. Hope all is well with everyone. 

To be fair, this is one of the things I have been struggling with. I have been very nervous.  I haven't flown alone in about 5 years and I don't even know how to check in at an airport anymore. 

I'm driving to Adam's house this morning and he will take me to the airport near their house. I have a layover in Denver for a few hours. I also use the wheelchair option because of my COPD. Please pray for me. My lungs still are not where they should be. 

(Update) I have been to Urgent Care twice and the last time was yesterday. Chest x-ray looked okay. I have gotten a steroid shot each time. First one did nothing. I was also given an antibiotic because it looked like I may have had some leftover infection but I do not have pneumonia. Keep me in your prayers. 

Utah snow capped mountains. 

Sunrise.....

Take care and God Bless

VACATION BLUES

I'm finding it very hard to get back into the swing of things. I'm just feeling sorry for myself. I was gone for  17 days visiting my dad in Florida and then we were gone for 11 days visiting Amber and Dylan in Montana. 

Actually I was looking forward to August because most days were open compared to other months where several days were marked off on the calendar each week with places to go. (Note to self: busy is better)

Seriously other than unpacking my suitcase, doing laundry and eating I've done nothing but catch up on my TV shows and watch movies. By the way Stranger Things Season 3 is excellent! 

I've been home for 10 days. Every day I tell myself tomorrow you are going to the gym. Well that hasn't happened yet! 

Thankfully Skye has a vet appointment tomorrow morning and I have two doctor's appointments on Tuesday so I believe that both of those will get me back on track. I plan on going to the gym after I get home from Skye's appointment. 

In another week Adam will be home for three weeks, taking his maternity leave, and we will be heading there hopefully at least two times each week. 

Thankfully we were able to see this guy on Wednesday afternoon for a few hours. We picked him up at daycare and fed him his dinner. Adam and Gabby came home, gave him his bath and then he went to bed. Then we had a nice dinner with them. 

He is the light of my life! James is very mobile now and before we know it he will be walking. You can see a bruise on his forehead from his excursions.....

 

"NATURALLY INVITING"

Gold and Silver

I was trying to come up with a title for this post so I Googled Montana State Motto, there were several things to choose from. I went with "Naturally Inviting" because we were visiting Amber and Dylan who were great hosts! 

While driving we had cloudy days, 

the weather did clear after that.

Our visit was short and sweet. Mark did all the driving although I did offer to drive. It was a long 18 hours in the car both ways. We drove each way with one stop overnight to sleep. Skye of course was not pleased with the drive but she eventually settled in pretty well and she was great in the hotel rooms.

7 hours of panting the first day! 

Along the way......

Behind their place.

I've never seen so many pine cones on one tree. 

Their side of the duplex and a fenced

yard for Charlie. 

Skye had her first encounter with squirrels!!!

Squirrel at feeder.....

Charlie could care less about the squirrels yet

he watches TV all the time!!!

A natural spring....

I didn't even know Sinclair was still in business! 

 Outside of the C.M. Russell Museum in Great Falls.

This buffalo is at the entrance of the 

Lewis & Clark Museum.

Some sightseeing, also stopped at a great place

for lunch while we were out and about. 

A herd of antelopes at a rest area.....

Utah mountains....

A Lilac bush in Utah. Oh how I miss them....

We celebrated Amber's 36th birthday 

while we were there.

After dinner we went to the famous Sip 'n Dip Lounge in

Great Falls. This is a source photo. No mermaids were 

swimming while we were there. 

She did eventually quiet down after some Benadryl.

Next time I'm getting something from the vet.