Well, it's me. Yes, the former blogger. I have no explanation why I stopped regular blogging..I lost my voice..my inspirations...I don't know..I guess I just felt I didn't have much of interest to blog about, which says more about me than anything else.. But I have been challenged by my dear friend Anne, at Phamilyblog, to try again...at least she misses my blog posts! I just need to find my blog voice again.
We sold our house this summer. Yep, we did. It basically sold itself, it was a very stress free transaction and we have sold enough homes to know what a nightmare it can be..then we were lucky to have a neighbor rent us his furnished home for a few months. He lives in the Los Angeles area and comes out to his house every few weeks, but he was gracious to agree to rent to us..so hopefully this works out well for both of us..It's very hard to find a furnished place with a yard, and again most folks won't rent to people with dogs. So we are very blessed indeed.
Where are we going, you might ask?! Well, after trying to figure out our future for more than a few years, we are going to Reno, Nevada..we were visiting our friends Ruth and Bill in Reno this spring and went out looking at some areas we might like. Found it on the first day out..and after a few years of no homebuilding, the developer was just starting to build again. We put our name on the interest list and to be honest, kind of put it in the back of our minds after we got home..other things going on and such...a few weeks later we get a call from the developer and are we still interested? We talked finances between ourselves, and most important, what we were looking for in a new area...Reno seemed to be our answer. The best part is no more 9 hour, 520 mile drives to see the grandchildren near Sacramento...Reno is only 115 miles. That has been our goal, to get closer and be more involved in Gracie and Jack's lives..Be there if they need some childcare, watch their little soccer and t ball games. Plus it's Reno, an area we have always liked.. We put our deposit down on a 1596 square foot house in late April, picked options in July, and hoping for a move in date in January..Seems like the waiting has been going on forever..I guess it has been.
Other news, we lost our dear Dalmatian, Gracie, in September a couple weeks after we moved into this rental home. Kidney failure, she was almost 13 years old and it happened suddenly..We are still brokenhearted and she is badly missed and will be. She was a big brat sometimes, but she was loved and is really missed. She was definitely one of a kind..Always remembered, as are all of our departed dogs..
India is now 13, and doing ok. She has really bad arthritis in her legs, but we try to keep her walking around in the house..Has good days and not so good days. She has a huge kind heart and always a smile. She has been a huge blessing to us all these years..
Halo is also 13. Still stubborn and at times, ornery..but definitely slowing down. He had some disc problems a couple months ago, was taking prednisone and pain meds, but off those now and we just kind of hold our breath. Dachshunds tend to have back and disc issues as they age, he is no different. He can also be a big baby...He is my buddy and is loved..
My mom is not doing well at all, has taken a turn for the worse since the summer. I won't go into all the details but please keep her and my dad in prayer..this is where limitations come in. My siblings and I have been taking turns caring for mom for the past two years and as hard as I've tried, I have physical limitations..My fibromyalgia and fatigue are not getting better as I get older..limitations. I can only do so much physically for them. It hurts my heart. But I have to deal with it..I cry at times more than I smile..I have guilt that I carry..probably that I shouldn't have..anyway, it's been probably the hardest couple years of my life, so hard to watch them age and have all these problems..I pray a lot. God is a good God..I know he is watching over all of us.
Our sons, Dan and Scott are doing well..both have beautiful ladies in their lives and we are so grateful for that..and the grandchildren, what can I say. Gracie is now 4 1/2 and Jackson is 3 1/2..What a pair they are! They are in preschool now 3 days a week, and Grace will be in Kindergarten next fall. I was blessed to spend a few days over Halloween with them and oh so fun. I now know that when Jack eats too much candy, he can't stop talking. Literally. My daughter in love and I were trying to watch a movie that evening after trick or treating, Hocus Pocus with Bette Midler, and Jackson could not stop talking. It was pretty funny. Finally he crashed and he and Gracie both went to bed and just dropped. Yakety Yak!
Well, that catches me up a little bit.. I will try to post some pictures on my next post, which is hopefully not a year from now.
I've missed you all!
We sold our house this summer. Yep, we did. It basically sold itself, it was a very stress free transaction and we have sold enough homes to know what a nightmare it can be..then we were lucky to have a neighbor rent us his furnished home for a few months. He lives in the Los Angeles area and comes out to his house every few weeks, but he was gracious to agree to rent to us..so hopefully this works out well for both of us..It's very hard to find a furnished place with a yard, and again most folks won't rent to people with dogs. So we are very blessed indeed.
Where are we going, you might ask?! Well, after trying to figure out our future for more than a few years, we are going to Reno, Nevada..we were visiting our friends Ruth and Bill in Reno this spring and went out looking at some areas we might like. Found it on the first day out..and after a few years of no homebuilding, the developer was just starting to build again. We put our name on the interest list and to be honest, kind of put it in the back of our minds after we got home..other things going on and such...a few weeks later we get a call from the developer and are we still interested? We talked finances between ourselves, and most important, what we were looking for in a new area...Reno seemed to be our answer. The best part is no more 9 hour, 520 mile drives to see the grandchildren near Sacramento...Reno is only 115 miles. That has been our goal, to get closer and be more involved in Gracie and Jack's lives..Be there if they need some childcare, watch their little soccer and t ball games. Plus it's Reno, an area we have always liked.. We put our deposit down on a 1596 square foot house in late April, picked options in July, and hoping for a move in date in January..Seems like the waiting has been going on forever..I guess it has been.
Other news, we lost our dear Dalmatian, Gracie, in September a couple weeks after we moved into this rental home. Kidney failure, she was almost 13 years old and it happened suddenly..We are still brokenhearted and she is badly missed and will be. She was a big brat sometimes, but she was loved and is really missed. She was definitely one of a kind..Always remembered, as are all of our departed dogs..
India is now 13, and doing ok. She has really bad arthritis in her legs, but we try to keep her walking around in the house..Has good days and not so good days. She has a huge kind heart and always a smile. She has been a huge blessing to us all these years..
Halo is also 13. Still stubborn and at times, ornery..but definitely slowing down. He had some disc problems a couple months ago, was taking prednisone and pain meds, but off those now and we just kind of hold our breath. Dachshunds tend to have back and disc issues as they age, he is no different. He can also be a big baby...He is my buddy and is loved..
My mom is not doing well at all, has taken a turn for the worse since the summer. I won't go into all the details but please keep her and my dad in prayer..this is where limitations come in. My siblings and I have been taking turns caring for mom for the past two years and as hard as I've tried, I have physical limitations..My fibromyalgia and fatigue are not getting better as I get older..limitations. I can only do so much physically for them. It hurts my heart. But I have to deal with it..I cry at times more than I smile..I have guilt that I carry..probably that I shouldn't have..anyway, it's been probably the hardest couple years of my life, so hard to watch them age and have all these problems..I pray a lot. God is a good God..I know he is watching over all of us.
Our sons, Dan and Scott are doing well..both have beautiful ladies in their lives and we are so grateful for that..and the grandchildren, what can I say. Gracie is now 4 1/2 and Jackson is 3 1/2..What a pair they are! They are in preschool now 3 days a week, and Grace will be in Kindergarten next fall. I was blessed to spend a few days over Halloween with them and oh so fun. I now know that when Jack eats too much candy, he can't stop talking. Literally. My daughter in love and I were trying to watch a movie that evening after trick or treating, Hocus Pocus with Bette Midler, and Jackson could not stop talking. It was pretty funny. Finally he crashed and he and Gracie both went to bed and just dropped. Yakety Yak!
Well, that catches me up a little bit.. I will try to post some pictures on my next post, which is hopefully not a year from now.
I've missed you all!
Posts
Yeaaaaaaa! I didn't even fall over when I saw this! All these things you have talked about here, I know I have missed hearing about some of them so I was glad to catch up. Keep blogging, it is good for the soul. Beverly said it is good therapy and you know, she is right. Sometime it just feels good to put things out there. So many people care and it is good to see you here. Take care and keep writing. Hugs to you from me, Anne
ReplyDeleteFirst, let me say (before I forget) that your doggies might get some relief from a Glucosamine/Chondroitin supplement. It helps their joints.
ReplyDeleteI forget things easily, so I had to get that out first. Our mutual friend Anne told me that you are back to blogging so I thought I would stop by to see what's happening in your part of the world.
I love just south of Boston, MA. We've been enjoying some gorgeous Fall weather lately, but I'm sure the cooler temps will be back very soon.
I have a tiny Yorkie. He was rescued and the shelter called me to see if I would like to adopt him. Of course I would!!! He was six and a half years and three pounds when I got him. I've had him for more than three years now, and he is up to six pounds. I feed him good! His name is Pogo and he is my sunshine and my joy.
I started blogging January 2009, mostly to keep my mind occupied because my hubby had recently passed. I then got into designing for digital scrapbooking.
What do I blog about? Just whatever is happening in my life that day. (six days a week) Every six months I have my blogs printed into a hardcover book. These are for my children and grandchildren and great grandchildren. I have five children, three step children, twenty grands and eight great grands (with two more expected soon).
I crochet a lot and give it all away. It's good therapy for my hands. A few days ago I turned 76. Ouch!! But it was a fabulous day.
I think it's wonderful that you and your siblings try so hard to take care of your parents. I do know how difficult this is. I spent a good part of my life in health care, and taking care of the elderly. Do they own their own home? If so, have you looked into a reverse mortgage? This would make it possible to pay for in-home care for your folks.
What will you do when You move? How will you be able to get to Mom's house then? Gosh, I don't envy you. God bless you kids for being so good to your parents.
Well now that I have chewed your ear off, I'm going to get ready for bed. It's almost 3 a.m. Yeah, I know it's late but I was playing on the computer and having fun, and I lost track of time.
My blog is at http://missednasplace.blogspot.com. Come visit when you can. You have a super night. Hugs, Edna B.
Hi Barb! Our friend, Anne, pointed me in your direction this morning ... and I'm so glad she did.
ReplyDeleteFirst, I'm SO sorry to hear about Gracie's untimely passing. We also lost my beloved Caraleigh suddenly two+ years ago. We adopted two (littermates) not long after ... as mental therapy for hubby who had been diagnosed with lung cancer, but you know what? I still grieve for Cara.
Congrats on the upcoming move! Reno is such a lovely part of the country. I really (really) hope we might relocate closer to my son and family in Alabama someday. The Big Someday, ya when the skies start raining dollar bills. LOL!
Before I go, please know I'm holding your folks -- and you! -- in my prayers. Yes, our God is a GOOD God. Of that I'm certain. Someday it will all make sense!
Best,
Myra (aka, Mevely317)
I am so glad to see you here on blogland! Anne let me know you were posting again!!!! She is so lovely!!!! I am excited about your move!!! I am with you on taking care of your mom! I remember the support you gave me when I was taking care of my mother!!! Such a wonderful sounding board and help!!!!
ReplyDeleteI grieve with you on Gracie's untimeliness. I know she was loved so much by you and Carl. I imagine she is playing with Maisy up in Heaven. I still miss Maisy at times too.
Heather