It is a lovely sunny and breezy day, especially welcome after the sweltering heat of last week. I have no air conditioning in this house and the numerous fans were just not doing the job! One of my grandsons contacted me on Friday to tell me his new apartment complex has central AC so he will come and install the window unit he owns here in my bedroom this week. YES, PLEASE! It will be a place for the beasts to relax too. They are all getting up in age and the high, humid temperatures do them no favors.

The past 3 months have been rough. It seems that my body decided to pay me back for all the hard times it had endured during the younger, carefree, very active Adnohr days. Immediately following my eye surgery (fantastic results BTW), intense pains started in my back, then circled from the waist down like a very wide belt of torture. I was unable to work, unable to lie in bed, and spent a couple of days whining from my comfy TV chair. Although I will often cancel recreation activities for one reason or another, I very seldom miss work, so my daughter decided to check things out. She showed up, took one look at me and called an ambulance. That event created a flurry of doctor visits, tests, hospital days, scans, x-rays…UGH! They found plenty of reasons for my pain, from passing kidney stones to an old spine fracture, probably from my hockey playing days, dangerously low sodium count, etc., etc. And…they put me on a diet of narcotics. Wow! I floated through the next couple of months then – the coming down. Not so fun.

Feeling much better now, will be wearing a back brace for a while, special exercises to do, and the docs are looking for some type of pain killer so that I can work comfortably but not feel nauseated all the time. My pharmacist touches base with them, so I am well served. The strides made in medicine are amazing.

Other than that, I am missing my Little Flea who is attending school in Japan for a month. Her return is scheduled for my birthday in July, and I can’t wait! She has promised to teach Memere some Japanese when she comes home. 😊

I’ll be sitting in front of my TV tonight, first watching the Blue Jays play baseball against the Red Sox, then the Oilers play the Florida Panthers for the Stanley Cup. Awesome games and am loving it all.

Sending you all long overuse SMILES, and hoping that each of you take care to stay safe in the heat.

LUV  FROM THE BUSH IN QUEBEC

“Well, hello there!” The vet technician’s greeting was cheerful, but loud. Sam quickly stood and moved in front of me, then barked once. It was a no nonsense bark – warning. He is protective of his mistress. The only time I speak loudly to my beasts is when I am not happy. In his mind she was a danger to me. She also looked him directly in the eye – not a great idea when meeting a dog the first time, especially when he is already hyper about being there. She stepped back, her expression changing.

“He’s okay,” I told her before we followed her into the examination room. She glanced down at him; I could tell she didn’t believe me. “He was startled.” I wasn’t about to lecture this girl on how to greet a dog properly. She is working in that domain, so should already know this, right?

After assuring her for the second time that yes, I would have no problem holding his mouth open so she could examine his teeth, she did the ordinary preliminary checks, then went out to send in the actual veterinary,  I was happy to see it was the elderly female doctor that I really like and trust.

The final result of it all, including blood tests, was that he is fine; it was probably a case of indigestion that caused his vomiting and coughing. Relief!! Sam behaved like a trooper with the vet, and in the truck both going and coming, although on the way back home he was far less stressed.  I am proud of my boy.

While we were putting Sam through his paces, my phone rang. On leaving the clinic, I returned the call.  it was the eye surgeon, telling me there was a cancellation and that I could have my cataracts removed this Friday instead of the end of May. Yes!! It means I’ll be on a forced vacation all next week, but I had held back allotted holiday time especially for this reason, so all good. I will finally be able to work without scrunching my nose right up against the computer screen.

Karen will be coming back today, darned good timing. There are lots of ‘things not to do’ for the full week, so her aid will solicited, and freely given, to keep things safe.

That’s it for today, folks. I’m off to make the donuts, earn my bread, or whatever.

Everyone stay warm and watch for the SMILES – if at all possible, share a couple too!

LUV FROM THE BUSH IN QUEBEC

We can safely call this house a senior’s residence. Human, beast and fowl – we are all up there in age, and I am steeling myself for what is coming; the inevitable.

Mommy, my oldest beast, is already 11. She is deaf, starting cataracts, and has a bit of dementia. Her back end gives out often enough too. She no longer can jump up to share the bed at night and refuses to use the stairs installed for that purpose. Many nights she will come into my room and whine, louder and louder until I rise and stroke her and talk with her for a bit. I believe it is more because she feels lost and needs reassurance because then she’ll go to her comfy crate and fall to sleep. She actually sleeps most of the time.

12 years is the life expectancy for their breed of dog, and both Sam and Elie will turn 9 this summer. Sam had surgery for cancer when he was younger, and there was also the operation for intestinal blockage. Sam and I will be heading to the vet this morning. He has been vomiting and choking too often in the past weeks, drinking much more than usual, and is somewhat lethargic too. I’m worried.

Ellie however is still rock and roll! She has always been a high energy pup, and it hasn’t seemed to diminish with age. She too had surgery for blockage, and suffers from an abnormal esophagus so can occasionally show slight stomach pain after meals. It is nothing serious yet though, thankfully!

The mouthy parrot, Pistache, and I were at the avian vet two weeks ago. They were sad to tell me that she is older than we thought (she was also a rescue and we never did get her exact age) and her heart has started giving out. She has been much quieter and cuddlier lately, so I knew something was not right. Where before she would grab a treat (she loves dried papaya), I now need to break it into little pieces that will fit her beak, then hand feed them to her one by one, or she will not take it.

And the humans? There is a mix of gout, arthritis, COPD, cataracts, reduction of strength and energy and reaction – all a part of the aging process. I am happy to add there is an increase in patience, wisdom, humor, appreciation, love and ‘mellowing out’. The feathered and fur bearing part of the family can attest to that, as can the children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, and the many friends.

And, of course, there is always the huge, warm SMILES. Some of those are on their way to y’all now.

LUV FROM THE BUSH IN QUEBEC

“You are not blogging anymore?”

The question comes up regularly. Unfortunately the answer seems to be the same month after month. Life is getting in the way. So much going on, and with the speed I get things done nowadays, time to blog has been regulated to the back burner…the item lowest on the ”To Do” list. A shame really because it is a favorite hobby.

It has been an adjustment, this new shift from 2:00 to 10:00 AM. Once upon a time I could get by on very little sleep, and a quick hop into the shower on jumping out of bed would have me ready to go in 30 minutes. It took a while for me to admit that no, I can no longer watch my favorite sports until 10 PM, sleep for 3 hours, then get up and sit in front of the computer and be functional for the next 8 hours without the distinct possibility of nodding off at my desk. Thankfully, our electronically oriented world’s easy recording of episodes we cannot immediately watch takes care of that problem. It is not as much fun, and I am trying to not check on scores before watching the recording. We make do.

I attempt a short snooze during the early afternoon, especially those days when my Little Flea comes to stay with me after school. When I am tired I am in a zombie state; my Little Flea deserves better.

UGH! This is a short, stilted, lame post – definitely lacking practice – but hopefully will improve as I get back into putting thoughts and events down in a cohesive manner. Time will tell.

I don’t need practice to SMILE, however, and I am sending a big one out to y’all. Maybe it can warm your day!!

LUV FROM THE BUSH IN QUEBEC

It started to snow yesterday around 3 PM, and it looks like an accumulation of 8 inches or so already, and continues falling – those big, fluffy flakes giving us another splendid winter-wonderland view. Karen, although SHE has been doing the shoveling, remarked more than once how lovely the whole scene is out there. An hour ago the driveway clearing tractor-dude showed up; the beasts are so used to the sound of his machine that they only lifted their heads to make sure I was aware, then went back to snoozing. Anyone else coming onto the land at 4 AM would be greeted with loud barking and even louder squawks from the ‘guard’ bird.

Having been warned that the storm was coming, we were up and out to town early for dogfood and some groceries, and returned well before it began. I did some cooking, preparation for the coming week, and there was baseball, curling and hockey to watch, plus some chatting, something we don’t really have time to do during the week; even if working from home, the hours I keep are not for everyone. It was a nice relaxing mood. I was scheduled to study today, so the Saturday break was appreciated by us all.

President Biden visited my country on Thursday until Friday. Lately I been staying away from general news, but made an exception, and I did enjoy his sense of humor as he interacted with the media. This AM I mistakenly switched from sports information to the Associated Press and was disturbed by the article of the EX-president doing his usual in Waco, Texas. Still shaking my head in disbelief over that one. It certainly reinforced my determination to keep avoiding the news for the time being.

My DIL may be working later, so it’s possible that Little Flea and her daddy show up for supper. This son is not much of a cook, and I made Cabbage Rolls in a Pan yesterday. It’s a meal he likes. Little Flea doesn’t care for the texture of ground meat, but will be quite happy to have mashed potatoes (yours are the BEST, Mémère!) and I have lots of the fish she so enjoys. I see them at least twice a week, but that’s just fine. One can never get too much of Little Flea!

And this is the second post within a week!! Hey, Folks, I think I’m on a roll, and that makes me SMILE. Sharing it with you as always – all wrapped up in a warm, cozy blanket!

LUV FROM THE BUSH IN QUEBEC

So today will be the first day in over 2 weeks that I will venture out of the house…if I decide to go that is. I certainly don’t feel like it. Even if I had another good, long sleep last night and am in top shape, the need for company or visiting just isn’t on my wish list at the moment. Maybe I should start forcing myself to dress each day instead of working in my pj’s, because I seem to have developed a strong dislike for donning clothes for whatever reason.  My pj’s are so comfy!!

My Little Flea wanted to come and see me yesterday but she has been in contact with people who later informed my son that they showed positive for Covid two days after that interaction. So no Little Flea for another 3 days at least. Seven have already passed, and as she told ‘my son’ (her dad) yesterday “I haven’t seen Mémère like FOREVER!”

She is such a funny little tinker. My daughter asked her a question at one point and, receiving no response, my daughter said to Little Flea, “I asked you a question. It’s polite to answer Auntie.”

“Just a moment,” answered Little Flea. “My brain is loading.”

She comes out with spurts of imagination that keep us on our toes, sometimes hilarious, other times simply astounding for a child who just turned 8. We wonder where she picks up such ideas. Granted, without siblings she spends most of her time with adults, in spite of seeing her little cousins often, and of course most children are subjected to information media such as we, or even those of her parents’ ages, could never have accessed. One of her biggest Christmas presents was a puppy, who she promptly named Bella and who is already sleeping on her bed and is her ‘bestie’ and who, of course, will learn all the magic that Little Flea can impart.

On a similar note, Karen also will be testing before arriving here in a couple of days. Her oldest son’s family, the 7 year old twins included, suffered Covid during the holidays. Karen was with them at New Year’s so precautions will be taken to keep this home as safe as possible. She lives in an apartment downstairs but we usually take our meals together and she is up here the majority of her time. That may have to be put on hold until the danger period has passed. We could always open the door at the top of her stairs and yell out our conversations. J

Christmas supper here with the huge family was as warm and lovely as always. My Rug rats are all taller than me now and insist on being measured up against me each time they visit. The oldest, who turned 18 in early December, helped out in serving and cleaning up, much to my surprise. I’m proud of them as young men, but somewhat lonely for the three little boys they used to be. Nostalgia rearing its head.

Now – if I am going to go, I better get to it. Sending you all best wishes for 2023, accompanied by a huge SMILE. That SMILE could be wearing warm, fuzzy flannel pj’s!!

LUV FROM THE BUSH IN QUEBEC.

I spent New Year`s Day alone with my beasts and the bird; in silence, no TV or radio. I did a few chores around the house (not many), did some reading (light fantasy), lots of sleeping, no social media, no telephone, no texting. The only time I did messaging was early evening when my daughter began to sound frantic because I hadn’t answered her. I figured I`d better let her know I was alive before she brought out the posse. Karen is away with her family since before Christmas, and the kids get nervous with me out here on my own. They should be used to it.

This past year has been weird, for the lack of a better description. For my part, it was even weirder than 2020 when Covid set us ALL upside down. Events seemed to just happen, one after the other, no rhyme or reason, no evident control, seeming to take forever to get over yet running all into each other…and we lost so many along the way, especially during the last couple of months. Too many, too quickly. Then there are others who need help, but it is difficult to know where to start giving them what they need, or a little of it anyway.

So yesterday, the first day of 2023, I was feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, and I withdrew from it all in an attempt to recharge.

Today I have places to go, people to see, and I need to study. I have another exam on Thursday and haven’t cracked open a book since writing the last one. Tomorrow it is back to work, and I’m so thankful that I can do it from home! All in all I have many things for which to be grateful, but some days I just need to step back and remember that. Yesterday was one of those days

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year, and that wish comes with a SMILE!!!

LUV FROM THE BUSH IN QUEBEC.

I am supposed to be studying, but my course is on the same computer as Blogit so…oops! I got distracted reading and commenting, and now soon my Little Flea and her parents are to arrive for, and with, supper (Chinese take-out on the menu), then it needs to be an early bedtime because it’s back to the grind tomorrow. I fear hitting the books is out for today.

My daughter had invited us all for a meal this past Friday evening to celebrate my grandson’s 32^nd birthday. This girl of mine is a very busy lady; when she isn’t working at one of her three jobs, she is cleaning or renovating or helping out either a member of her family or a friend doing one thing or another. During our Friday 5 AM chat she mentioned that she would quickly run to the grocery store after her shift because she didn’t have enough spaghetti sauce to feed us all. I had a couple of large jars of my sauce in the freezer, and between the two of us we decided that, by putting our supplies together, it would be enough. I offered to throw the makings of French loaves into my bread machine, and that would leave her with just the salad and the birthday cake to bake – it’s a simple and quick one-pan recipe much loved by grandson. It worked out just fine.

When I arrived at her house (with the bread still warm from the oven), I was greeted by the boisterous tots, great-grandchildren and my Little Flea. There was running and playing and hugging and plenty of teasing and laughter, lots of food, endless banter….and I enjoyed it immensely. Because driving after dark has become a bit of a hassle for me, I left earlier than usual and got home when the basketball game was just starting. Karen and I sipped glasses of wine while cheering on our Raptors (who lost), then she headed downstairs and the beasts and I cuddled up in bed, me with my Kindle in hand for the usual hour reading. I had to shut down within 10 minutes; Morpheus made his appearance.

No matter how tired I am, I hold to whispering my grateful ‘Thank YOU’ before sleeping. I also add thoughts for any I know who may need it (one being Sea Gypsy’s family at the moment). I find it helps me stay positive and grounded in this presently very disturbed, unstable world. Having no doubt at all but that I am being heard makes me SMILE.

Sharing it with y’all, as usual, and yep – the virtual hugs are there too!

LUV FROM THE BUSH IN QUEBEC.

I have had the same email address for ages. Now the new internet fibre service, including television and home phone number, is being installed the beginning of November, so my change of contact information had to be transmitted. UGH! It took me over an hour this morning just completing this for the regular suppliers; get onto their site, sign in, make the change, wait for a confirmation number to come in by IPhone, return to their sites and enter THAT number…it seemed never-ending. It’s all for security so had to be done this way but, Great Scott, life used to be so much simpler before all this electronic imposition. Oh well, the new server will be worth the trouble, both in service and at half the cost besides, so I’ll stow my grumping.

It’s a busy time here preparing for the winter with the wood piling, the chimney cleaning, the moving of plants, batten down the hatches so to speak. The new job is great but still consumes 8 hours a day, and I have started the custom broker course (heavy stuff!!) which means at least 20 hours of study/tests a week, if not more with my brain( i.e. the power of retention) not so young and spry. Hockey and /or basketball are on TV nearly every night, the birthdays of my grandchildren and great grandchildren are mostly this time of year therefore lots of cooking for the get-togethers, my Little Flea comes to stay every other day…and I haven’t even started on the Christmas food preparation yet.

Of course I’m loving it all. I’m not sure just how I would react if I ever needed to be ‘not-busy’.

We’ve had warm weather and plenty of rain. Today it is crisp and cool, bright sunshine against a very pale blue sky but still no snow in the forecast much to my disappointment. I hear my Dunany Demons are out distributing that lovely, white stuff elsewhere, and am hoping they’ll come back home soon and give us our share. All this winter weather admiration from a lady who rarely has to pick up a shovel; there are others who do that here.

Gotta go feed the beasts and the fowl, so wishing you all a great day and sending you SMILES with virtual hugs!!

LUV FROM THE BUSH IN QUEBEC

”Mémère, the doctor told me I could have as many children as I want!” These were the words proclaimed by my Little Flea as she arrived for her regular stay while her parents worked. She had just come from the annual appointment with the pediatrician; being a preemie, they keep a close watch on her heart valves which were not quite developed when she was born.

“Really?” I answered. “And how many do you plan to have?”

She dumped her schoolbag on the table as she answered me. “At least three. Two boys and a girl. And you are going to be their babysitter.” She giggled when she looked at me. I can only guess that my eyes and mouth were open in surprise.

“Then I hope you are planning to start having them soon!” I said without thinking. These words brought a frown to that cute little face.

“Why?” The tone was almost tentative. Seeing her reaction, I changed what I was going to say. The child had a bad enough scare with her dad’s cancer during the summer. She didn’t need any more worry about losing someone.

“Because,” I quipped. “If not they’ll need to be very well-behaved, cause Mémère will be way too old to run after them!”

Her giggle was back. “Don’t worry,” she assured me. “Gerry will make sure they listen up.”

“And Gerry is….?” My question was valid.

“My oldest boy. His name will be Gerry.” Great Scott – she already had names for them!!

“Well alrighty then! Nothing to worry about!” We high-fived. “I’ll be happy to babysit your young’uns! But I don’t wash diapers!”

There was that giggle again.

I wondered if I should ask what the father’s name would be. Nah. I’ll leave that one for her dad, maybe just suggesting that he keep an eye out for any boy whose name is Gerry.

There you go, folks. Looks like my future is sewn up, populated with little dudes and a dudette, so how can I not SMILE?

Sending it out to y’all, hope it brightens up your day!!

LUV FROM THE BUSH IN QUEBEC.