no dress rehearsal

mom's garden

First, I realize after weeks and months of blog neglect, I am posting a record two, possibly three, times today. Plus I've semi-caught up on my project 365 photos. I have pneumonia, which has me plenty of time to put my feet up, relax and catch up on such things as blogging and television watching. Now, back to my mom and her garden.

I have inherited many qualities from my mother. We don't necessarily look alike, but there are times when I say or do something and I swear it's not me, but my mom whose voice I hear or actions I see. Dean claims he knows exactly who I'll be as I age by observing my mom (luckily, they get along well). Unfortunately, one of the qualities I have not gotten from my mom is her green thumb. She is a great gardener, I am proud when I keep a couple of potted herbs alive in my windowsill for more than a month.

Mom's garden has a pond with fish and lots of flowers and trees that span the front, side and back yard space. It's not too formal or contrived, but with much more of a wild, country garden feel, which suits both my mom and her yard's landscape. Here's just a bit of what is blooming now. A little orange flower, whose name escapes me right now. Purple lupins, scattered throughout the yard. Gorgeous pale pink peonies, with dark pink trim on some of the petals. Peonies are some of my very favorite flowers. Little vines of deadly nightshade, which is quite pretty despite it's name. The deadly nightshade and the metal bird archway (or perhaps it's called a trellis? You know, one of those things you walk through...not only am I not a gardener, I cannot even name common garden objects). A little clump of maltese cross flowers in a gorgeous deep orange. Purple iris around the fish pond, which is nestled in the front of the garden. Such bright, vibrant pink flowers, another name that escapes me right now (and also escaped my mom when we walked through the garden, as I recall). I love this snow in summer because of it's slivery colored leaves. This unusual flower is so much prettier when you slow down and take the time to look at it close-up, much like many other parts of life, I think. And look at these little forget-me-nots, so tiny yet so very perfect. Such a lovely garden, and mom really enjoys working it in. Many a summer evening, she gathers the two dogs and heads out with her tools, weeding and planting until the sun goes down.

breathing heavy

Our house held a small party last Saturday night, the first that we've had since we moved into this particular place. My stepsister Heather left for British Columbia on Monday, so we threw a little backyard bbq, a chance to carve out some time to hang out with her before she left. She and her boyfriend Tom, who also headed out west, dad and his wife Debbie, my other stepsister Chelsea and her boyfriend Alex, and one of the girls good friends, Erica, came over for food and drink. It was a pretty night.

We set up way back in the yard behind the shed, under the goldenrod tree. As night fell, Dean put up one of the big construction lamps we've been using during work on the house to shine on our little group. Standing in the darkness of the yard by the house and looking down towards our set-up, the circle of light pooling over our spot made a pretty effect.

As the evening turned into night, the guitars came out, and we had a little sing-a-long.

Hopefully the first of many get togethers in our almost renovated home.

Speaking of parties, my Nanny Tracey turned 80 years old this summer, and the whole family celebrated with a party. Here's Nan with all seven of her children, and Pop. Dad is the one all the way to the left.

I did Nan's cake in a knitting theme, a lifelong hobby of hers. We always had the best sweaters when we were kids.

I got a little bit of disappointing news this week. My CAT scan came back showing that my right lung is partially collapsed. I had a bronchoscopy on Monday, and the collapse is a result of blocked tubes preventing air from entering the lung chambers. Some of the blockage is from scar tissue, which is likely permanent, but there is also evidence of progression of the sarcoidosis from new granuloma growth. That means another course of steroids, which I was hoping to avoid.

This probably explains why Ive been feeling so tired. I just contributed it to being back to work and keeping up with the renovations, but some of it was probably because I'm not getting enough oxygen throughout my body. That would explain it. Hopefully I'll get to feeling better soon.

first wedding cake

We're continuing to be busy bees in the Moakler household. Dean has been working long hours and, though I continue to get a bit quicker with my paperwork, I've been working more than I expected at the clinic. My mom's side of the family had relatives in town last week, and now my dad's whole family has come home from far and away for my Nan tracey's 80th birthday celebration. Her cake is in the oven as we speak, and I'm thinking I'll decorate it in a knitting theme, as it's one of nan's passions.

Dean and I were out to supper last night with an old friend from New Orleans, who is here on business. How nice it was to see Schroeder again and catch up. A friend of mine from occupational therapy school, Brenda, was in town last weekend. Many of the old OT girls got together for a mini reunion. Speaking of OT girls, one of my classmates, now my co-worker, got married last Friday. The wedding was beautiful. Jen was a gorgeous bride and had Murray's Pond Country Club, where both the ceremony and reception were held, decorated in such a simple, elegant way.

I did the cake, and was so nervous about it. Jen is very crafty, a "Martha Stewart" type, and quite a perfectionist too. Plus, I was going to actually be at the event. I like to drop a cake off and leave. Being there, I tend to look at it all night, and worry about it. "Oh, I think it's drooping a bit there" or "Oh my, it doesn't look very straight at this angle". 

Overall, the cake held up pretty well, especially considering how hot it was that day (and combine that with the fact there was no A/C at Murray's Pond). Jen wanted something simple, yet elegant, and with fresh flowers on the top. I had never put real flowers on a cake before, but when I arrived at the florist that morning to pick them up, she gave me a few pointers. Here's a picture of it, after set up that day:

Feels good to have my first wedding cake under my belt, and one that everyone seemed to enjoy.

do you know what it means...

...to miss new orleans? And do I ever today. If we were down south, we would be tired from going to parades all weekend. Perhaps we would have stayed out all Lundi Gras night to catch Galactic at Tipitina's. Or we may have skipped that, and been up bright and early this morning to catch Zulu, then head down the the Royal Sonesta balcony on Bourbon Street with Joey and Bonnie, then head over to Frenchman to see some really great costumes. So Happy Mardi Gras to everyone!

I am tired today, but for a different reason. My mom was admitted to hospital from the emergency room yesterday. I went to St. Clare's with her lunchtime because she was vomiting what looked unusual. Luckily we did go, because it turns out she was bleeding internally, and her suspicious vomit was blood. It turns out it was from an ulcerated hernia, which is one of the best cases it could have been. She's still in but will hopefully be discharged within the next few days.

It was really scary to see mom in hospital as a patient yesterday. The only room available had four beds, three already occupied with women that looked so much older than my mom's 52 years. Myself and Dean went and got her new pj's and slippers, a magazine and book, a few new toiletries, and some clear fluids, which was all she is allowed right now. She was feeling pretty good and definitely in good spirits when we left her last night, and sounded the same when I talked to her this morning. She has worked in the hospital system or years and knows at least half the people working there. I think it's a bit of a social event for her, catching up with former co-workers. But we all hope she'll be home soon. 

where's the pictures?

OK, I think I've gotten the banner thing down...now let's see if I can figure out how to put pictures into the posts. If so, I should be well on my way...let's try this one. It's a picture of my family on Christmas night, at our traditional gathering place of Uncle Bob's. Dad and Uncle Jim are play guitars, and everyone else sings. For the most part we sing poorly, but with spirit.

You know, I wasn't really excited for Christmas this year. I missed New Orleans and almost skipped out on the whole holiday celebration. But Dean insisted that, being our first year back home, no one was going to accept us just "bowing out" of the holidays. I'm so glad he did. I really had a good time, especially Christmas night, when we didn't leave until the wee hours of the morning - 6 am to be exact.

Dean, the voice of reason these days. How scary is that?