Friday, September 19, 2014

Let me introduce you to an amazing lady

I don't know how I found her- but I'm addicted.............

Her blog is called My Alzheimer's Story -
and it's an amazing journal of a Daughter's journey with her Mom through the process -
it's a blog not to be missed - seriously.
There are video's and soundtracks of conversations they have - some will leave you smiling - some will leave you crying - all will leave you absolutely mesmerized by the power of love.
Susan ( the daughter ) is eloquent and articulate as she shares her stories and you can't help but fall in love with both Mother and Daughter.
Their story is filled with grace and dignity - respect and above all, love.

Here's an excerpt from one of her posts.

Today is moving day.
My Mom Pinkie Patti leaves her home of 40 years to go into another kind of “home.”
The kind you go to when you don’t know where you’re going or what you’re doing anymore. And she doesn’t.
She won’t know when she opens her eyes this morning that it will be the last time she’ll cast them on the sunlight streaming through her bedroom window.
(Dawn is just about to break, the sky is streaked with pink and blue, and a light frost coats the trees and fallen leaves all around the house.)
She didn’t know yesterday it would be the last time she would enjoy breakfast in her kitchen, clean her counter tops, or stare into the crackling flames in her fireplace. Soon these small joys will belong to someone else, someone who may never know how much each of them once meant to Patti.
She doesn’t know she won’t dance in the goldenrod in her field again, or swim naked with me in the lake or walk in the winter wonderland behind her house at Christmas.
Somehow the fact that she doesn’t know seems to make her imminent (within hours now) departure more tragic.
But none of us know when we’re going to leave the life we’re living. We may be snatched away at any moment, with no inkling the breath before was to be our last. It can happen at nine months, nine seasons or 99 years.




It's such an important story that affects so many and most of us know very little about it.
Take a visit
I promise, you'll be glad you did.
My Alzheimer's Story
and this is what love looks like.

Everyone have a wonderful weekend
Huge Hugs,




Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Oh It's ladder time again.....................

John doesn't get it -
John never will I suppose
But I keep trying.....................

Oh it's ladder time again - he's going to leave me
I can see that far away look in his eye....................................

I had a ladder in our bedroom in the last house and the conversation that ensued from that was ridiculous ( HERE )


I decorated a ladder one Christmas ( when everyone in blogland was doing it ) and he went over the moon nuts about it - thought it was the ugliest thing he'd ever seen..................and was actually embarrassed when people came over.

Last Spring - when we were marvelling at all the surprises that kept creeping up in the garden ( our first Spring here ) I saw something poking out from behind the shed and jumped up and down with glee

It was an old hand made weathered ladder !
( you know, you think he'd be grateful that that's all it takes to make me do a happy dance - I don't ask for diamonds )
Which I quickly hung up in a corner and used it as an arbor during the summer - a place to hang flowering plants - a bird feeder or 2 and fairy lights...................and yes he thought that was ridiculous too - a ladder is a ladder is a ladder - not an arbor..................sheesh - what part don't I understand?
( none - I don't understand that type of reasoning at all )




Anyway,  that F word has been floating all over the place lately..................
You know that 4 letter word.................
I hate to use it - it goes against my nature completely - but here goes.
F.A.L.L.
uggghhhh - sorry all you Fall lovers - you have to live in a 4 season climate to get it................
Where we mumble Fall Off ................frequently.

Anyway I ran in and got the ladder while John was out - because nothing says that 4 letter word like
a perfectly aged - rustic - home made ladder - that reaches the ceiling ( we have high ceilings ) no less.........

A place to drape a throw
Display some cotton ( but I've never picked cotton ....................I bought them )
And waited for him to come home .................knowing this time he was going to marvel at my genius and remark on how fabulous it looked.


And that he'd agree that a ladder works perfectly in this little cottage -


And that he'd be insane not to see that this time


Suzan says - LOOK what I did with the ladder !!!!!!!!!!
John turns his head around to look in the living room - shakes his head and walks by it without saying anything
Suzan says - Don't tell me you don't like this one either?
( and don't tell me you're not going to say anything - it's half the reason I blog after all - but I didn't say that )
John says - I DON'T LIKE IT AT ALL
Suzan says - You know, you'd never believe you grew up in England - I'm trying to incorporate a little English rustic chic into the house
John says - ENGLISH RUSTIC CHIC????????
John says - What the hell is that?
John says - YOU'VE GOT ENGLISH DECORATING ALL WRONG !!!!!!!!!!!
John says - We kept ladders in the tool shed - or the cellar for God's sakes.
Suzan says - but you said we don't have enough wood in the house - so I thought you'd
John interrupts - I DIDN'T MEAN OLD DECREPIT LADDERS -
John says - What in God's name is wrong with you?
John says - You get everything looking nice and than you stick this in there?

I can't win -
Well I CAN win - because it's staying
And he's insane.................obviously - it's quite clear to me now.
And I also know - without a doubt - that somewhere in England - there's an old cottage with a rustic hand made ladder leaning against a wall.


and if there isn't - than there definitely should be - don't they know English Rustic Chic when they see it?


If you want to hear a conversation and a half on those branches you can read it HERE

Wonder what he'll say when he sees miniature pumpkins on the rungs?

Because whether I like Fall or not................I'm a blogger - so I HAVE to decorate for it, don't you know?

And I wonder where I should put this one?


Update -
John mumbled as he walked by it again - " maybe it'll grow on me "
Glory be to God !!!
He's not quite as insane as we thought !

Have a wonderful day everyone
Much love,
Suzan

Update - the cotton kept falling down LOL - I added a jute basket - vertically


for the cotton to rest in


But for which I will be on the lookout for dried lavender !


John sees them as ladders - I see them as a piece of furniture !
And that's the last word on the ladder LOL


Come join me at these fabulous parties !

The Charm of Home                               French Country Cottage                   Shabby Art Boutique
Too much time on my hands                  My Turn for Us                                My Romantic Home
Knick of time ( best DIY party )            Funky Junk Interiors                        One more time events
Life on Lakeshore Drive                        The DIY Showoff                             Sand & Sisal            I Should be Mopping the Floor              Between Naps on the Porch             Stone Gable
A Stroll Thru Life                                  An Extraordinary Day                      Art is Beauty
Kathe with an E                                     Homestories A to Z                          Savvy Southern Style
Ginger Snap Crafts                                Adorned from Above                       DIY by Design
Beyond the Picket Fence                       Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson
From my Front Porch to Yours