Thunder Storms and Safe Places

Last night as the lightning blazed against the dark sky, BG and I went outside to sit on the front step to feel and smell the storm.  We kept our eyes on the foothills so we wouldn't miss the beautiful light show.  Too soon the wind picked up, blowing leaves in my glass of wine, and then big drops began to fall so we headed inside.  (Somehow the wind caught the screen door wrenching it out of my hand against the house and twisting the frame.  Another honey-do for the dh.)  We watched for a few more minutes, but it was a short-lived storm.  We do love to watch a thunder storm.

Abra and I decided to watch Dr. Who; we have made it up to the third doctor played by John Pertwee.  While we were curled up on the couch with a bowl of buttered popcorn, I noticed the twins running between the dining room and upstairs, but as I was focusing on the doctor, I didn't pay much attention to what they were doing.  By the time I was ready for bed, Abby was throwing up and Abra was saying she thought she was too sick for school.  Such is life.

This morning while continuing the search for my missing brains (composition notebook with every thought, book, idea for school) I looked behind the dining room table.  There I found blankets, pillows, books, notebooks, pencils, pens, two containers of cereal, an old cell phone, and several owl banks.  I asked BG what they were up to, and she told me that was their safe space during storms completely stocked with all the necessities.  Ah, that's what they were so busy with last night.  I like safe places with life's necessities.  That's what my home is, and no doubt, why I rarely feel the need to leave.

Woke up today to snow and temperature in the 20s.  By 11:00 most of the snow has melted and the sky is a bright, clear blue.  My spirits have soared with the clearing sky.

I've been crocheting granny squares like crazy, using up bits of old yard.  The twins are arranging the squares into an interesting color pattern.  While working on the border, I noticed that I had used two different crochet hooks, supposedly the same size. Supposedly but not actually the same size.  Consequently, there are two different sizes of granny squares.  As I dream of making beautiful yarn creations, my granny squares don't even match up.  The twins don't care; they think it's beautiful.  Both of them have been busy making their own creations.  They aren't afraid of mistakes.  Indeed they turn their mistakes into their own unique styles.  Why can't I be like my children.

I picked up The Wisdom of Menopause by Christiane Northrup.  All because of the title.  'Wisdom'.  If there's any wisdom in this foggy brain, I want to find it.  First time I flipped through the book it fell open to the page on belly fat!  So appropriate.

On religious thought, I finished a book by Marcus Borg.  Can't recall the title right now, but it seemed a rehash of some of his other books I've read.  Along with that, I read Jesus Through Pagan Eyes by Mark Townsend.  I appreciated it.

For current reads I have Paul and Jesus by James Tabor (so far worthwhile) and I Don't Believe in Atheists by Chris Hedges (no opinion yet).  I'm finishing up the Wicked Years with Out of Oz.  If I leave too many years between books, I'm apt to forget what happened in the story.  Then I have to go back and re-read.  No wonder it takes me so long to read anymore.

And....

I'm so sick of scandal, popes retiring, cardinals resigning, the vatican imploding, conservative know-it-alls and liberal know-it-alls.  let's throw them all out along with the representatives in washington and start over.  with a new plan.  would it be any better?  could it be any worse?  i need earplugs and blinders.

Christmas Books

The Christmas Candle by Richard Paul Evans
The Clown of God by Tomie dePaola
The Christmas Box by Jo Anne Stewart Wetzel
Mary, The Mother of Jesus by Tomie dePaola
Christmas Tree Memories by Aliki
The Little Fir Tree by Margaret Wise Brown
The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree by Gloria Houston
The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wojciechowski

Christmas Books

The Christmas Cobwebs by Odds Bodkin
Spirit Child A Story of the Nativity by John Bierhorstill; by Barbara Cooney :)
The Angel of Mill Street by Frances Ward Weller
Silver Packages by Cynthia Rylant
Apple Tree Christmas by Trinka Hakes Noble
Merry Christmas, Strega Nona by Tomie dePaola
The Legend of the Candy Cane by Lori Walburg
The Attic Christmas by B.G. Hennessy

More Books....

The Miracle of Saint Nicholas by Gloria Whelan
Christmas Tapestry by Patricia Polacco (an absolute favorite)
Holly Claus The Christmas Princess  by Brittney Ryan
Guess Who's coming to Santa's for Dinner? by Tomie       dePaola
Welcome Comfort by Patricia Polacco

Tonight we shall trim the tree!

Books....

We pulled out the Christmas books and hit the library.  So far we've read:

Christmas in the Country by Cynthia Rylant
An Orange for Frankie by Patricia Polacco
Santa Claws: A Scary Christmas to All by Laura Leuck
Who's That Knocking on Christmas Eve by Jan Brett
Home for Christmas by Jan Brett
Christmas Mouseling by Dori Chaconas
A Cowboy Christmas: The Miracle at Lone Pine Ridge by Audrey Wood

We're finishing up The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly

I'm reading A Glass of Blessings by Barbara Pym

BG constantly has her nose buried in a Warrior book.  How many are there?

Abby finished the final Unfortunate Events book and is now reading The Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aiken.

Off to read some more Christmas books.

Health

For me: I finally had to make an appointment for another endoscopy with dilation. My esophageal stricture has been getting worse and worse. This meant that first I had to see my regular doctor, get a blood test and then get the endoscopy done. So far, nothing has been covered under my insurance policy meaning nothing has even applied toward my $5,000. deductible. I'm keeping my fingers crossed about the endoscopy. They also took a couple biopsies since my esophagus was more red and inflamed than 3 years ago when I had it done. $$$$$ Plus, they want to prescribe Nexium (I haven't tried that one yet). I hear it's expensive, and I have no prescription coverage.

For Tim: His 'annual' 3 year check up resulted in a blood test, an MRI for his back (to compare with the last one in '08), a trip to the cardiologist, and a sleep study test. Fortunately, his insurance, while not as good as it used to be, is far better than mine.

The joys of being over 50, I guess. It's the only time I'm cognitively aware of my age - at the doctor's office.