Hi everyone

 

STATES MAP - Short But Good!

A father wanted to read a magazine, but was being bothered
by his little girl, Shelby. She wanted to know what the United States looked like.

Finally, he tore a sheet out of his new magazine on which was
printed a map of the country. Tearing it into small pieces, he
gave it to Shelby and said, "Go into the other room and see if
you can put this together. This will show you our whole country today."

After a few minutes, Shelby returned and handed him the map,
correctly fitted and taped together. The father was surprised and asked how she had finished so quickly. "Oh ," she said, "on the other side of the paper is a picture of Jesus. When I got all of Jesus back where He belonged, then our country just came together."

        I thought that was cute so decided to share.  It is raining cats and dogs outside right now. 

 Yesterday was so beautiful.  I was getting the bikes ready for a ride and my MIL called that she had fallen and cut her eye.  I rushed over there and she had a small cut next to her eye.  Checking her blood pressure I noticed that her sitting and standing pressure was very different.  When she stood her pressure went way down.  No wonder she gets black spots in front of her eyes when she stands.  So called the doc and had her blood pressure meds changed.  I also got her walker out and told her to start using it.  No buts.  We shall see.

   I haven't been around much because we have been over there but I will get to everyones journals eventually.  I have been trying to research the flow blue I got.  I didn't realize it was going to be this difficult so I will be going to the library soon to try and find pattern names.  I should stick with pottery.

Auction hauls

  It was a long auction so I didn't stay for the entire thing but I did pick up some nice items.

   Nice old Van Briggle Vase.

 

 

   Wonderful old Caliente Pottery vase.

   Nice piece of art pottery I haven't ID'ed yet.

   What wonderful flow blue and staffordshire plates.

  Cute little toothpick I have to find out the pattern too.  I got more items, but haven't got them all sorted and pictures yet.  I love a good auction.

    My MIL was having a good day so I didn't even feel bad being away.  Bad storms though all over and driving home was a challenge.

Relaxing evening

                                         

       Knowing I needed, no we needed, to relax we went out to eat and then sat outside in the wonderful warm spring day and drank a glass of wine.  I could smell the pear tree.  The deer, birds and squirrels came over to eat.  It was lovely.  Filling the sky's were dozens of dragonflies.  I will have some great subjects for photo shoots this year.  All of a sudden, mosquitoes by the dozen also filled the air and like hungry little vampires attacked us without mercy.  We ran to the house.  So much for our lovely night outside.  But it was lovely and relaxing and we needed it badly.  Wouldn't it be lovely if the bugs followed spring by at least a month.  Oh, one of the deer is obviously nursing.  Soon I will have new babies to take pictures of.  Soon I hope to plant flowers unless I am at my MIL's. 

    Tomorrow I am going to an auction.  I hope to get some lovely items at some lovely prices.  Wish me well.  Have a great weekend all.       

Another rant and rave

                                           

   I thought the cute little Mickey would offset the angry words just a little.

   Went to my MIL's today and we decided to call my BIL to talk about when he is coming back and how we are going to handle affairs when my MIL passes away.  We found out she can give each of us something like $12,000  without it being taxable.  That will be put into an account to pay expenses until the house sells, then whats left divided.  Then we won't have to mess with the lawyer again.  We wanted to discuss with my BIL who has been strangely absent lately. 

    He was home but his roommate said he was in bed.  My MIL said we needed to talk to him and to please wake him up.   So my BIL said he would call back.  What!   Refuse to take a call from his dying mother after everything she has done for him! 

   So we wait thinking maybe he wanted to go the restroom, brush his teeth, get some coffee before he called.  Why he was in bed at 11:30 we don't know.  He never called back.  I just can not believe this. What is his problem?  My husband says now that he can't get anything out of her anymore he has no use for her.  I sure hope thats not true because that makes my opinion of him even lower.  I also worry he may have fallen off the wagon again.  Drinking or drugs.  She could always tell as could we and that may be why we can't get ahold of him.  Why does he have to make this difficult right now.  As if it isn't difficult enough already.  My poor MIL was so hurt.  Angry and hurt.  Would any of you refuse a call from your dying mother.  What kind of person does that?

As Promised, mommy Robin

    You can see in the 2nd picture the nest she made last year.  This wreath had dried corn and grass in it.  The deer ate all the corn and the birds stold most of the grass.  I was going to take it down but now it will stay until the babies are gone.   I have a sign up telling people to use the back door.  The last picture is my long awaited pear tree blooms.  Spring is finally here in Iowa.

 

Friday picture day

     Today I have to go to work and get my name badge picture retaken.  I haven't had it done for around 10 years.   The picture on it now shows me with curly permed hair and younger and fatter.  Although the younger part looks good I think an updated picture is in order.

     We went to the lawyer yesterday.  So upsetting.  If you have been reading for awhile you know I am sole support.  My husband isn't working.  So financial worries fall to me.  The way my MIL has the will done everything will be divided evenly between my husband and BIL.  Sounded simple and straightforward.  What we found out though is as soon as she passes away we won't be able to touch her funds or life insurance until the estate is settled.  It won't be settled until the house and car and all belongings are sold and equally divided.  That means if the funeral expenses go over her small life insurance policy I will have to come up with the money.  If the house doesn't sell for 2 years I will have to pay the utility bills and taxes and insurance.  If I can't pay it would probably be sold for back taxes.  That is how my father got all his property, bought other peoples houses that they lost for back taxes.

    I am freaking out.  We had no idea.  My MIL did not mean to leave me in this position, she didn't understand, nor did we, what this would mean.  So we have to figure out a way to do this where I won't get stuck. 

    Yikes.  Another worry,  I needed that....life was getting to calm.  The lawyer wasn't much help actually either.  He did say the way it was worded if my BIL decided to move into the house and slow down the sell of the house by keeping it dirty and not fixed up there was nothing I could do about it.  Of course my MIL doesn't think her baby boy would do something like that but I do.  Calgon take me away.

    Now I don't know about the rest of the country, but big old 100 year old houses aren't selling rapidly in this town.  The young folks all want those big blocky houses and the older folks don't want a big old house to take care of.

    J-land.   Any suggestions.  Help, help, help.  Do I run now and not look back.  Leave them to this mess and start over.  AAARRRGGGGHHHH.

                      

And I'm off!

  The first day of my long stretch off....always a occasion for celebration, LOL.  Came home and checked on the baby eagles.  Already they are bigger and more active.  Mom, or Dad, I can't tell the adults apart, was feeding them fish.  For the first time the wind has died down, looks like a beautiful day there.

   Work was very busy.  I seem to be having trouble controlling my temper lately.   Believe I am not much of one to have a temper.  The smallest things are driving me nuts.  Lights not getting answered fast enough, I always have hated that, but now it is really making me angry.  The.. it's not my patient attitude, is making me grit my teeth.  Since I worked on oncology for years I realize I am projecting my anger about my MIL on of all people the nurses.  I have had that anger projected at me in the past.  I realize I am doing it, but seem powerless at this point to stop.  At least I am not breaking out in tears which would be much worse, LOL.  Everyone is tiptoing around me.  Julie the Bear.  Fortunately my patients only see the professional me.  But watch out co-workers.

    Today we are going to my MIL lawyer as it turns out she doesn't quite have all her affairs in order.  Then I am going to fix her something to eat and I hope to take a bike ride this afternoon.  It is suppose to be nice.  Sunday if everything is OK I am going to an auction.  They look like they will have some pretty neat things.  I love auctions.

   My diet has been going well.  I have been sticking to around 1300 calories which  combined with how busy we have been at work should help.  For some reason it is easier now.  Maybe because the weather is finally warming up and things are blooming.  Salad time and bike riding.  I have also been getting my water in.

    I talked to my boss about how I plan on handling my MIL illness and missing work.  I will take a leave of absence when the time gets nearer.  I told her if it came to my MIL or my job my MIL would win.  She wishesthe hospital would have a more flexible policy.  The trouble is people would abuse it.  I worked management for 10 years in nursing service.  I know they would.  A few bad eggs have ruined it for us all.

   Well, time to sleep as I have to get up at noon.  Bye all.

 

          

Sand and Stone

TWO    FRIENDS    WERE    WALKING
THROUGH    THE    DESERT.
DURING    SOME    POINT    OF    THE
JOURNEY,    THEY    HAD     AN
ARGUMENT;    AND    ONE    FRIEND
SLAPPED    THE    OTHER    ONE
IN    THE     FACE.

 

 

THE    ONE    WHO    GOT    SLAPPED
WAS    HURT,    BUT    WITHOUT
SAYING    ANYTHING,
WROTE    IN    THE    SAND:

TODAY    MY    BEST    FRIEND
SLAPPED   ME    IN    THE    FACE.

THEY  KEPT    ON    WALKING,
UNTIL  THEY    FOUND     AN    OASIS,
WHERE    THEY    DECIDED
TO   TAKE    A     BATH

THE    ONE     WHO    HAD    BEEN
SLAPPED     GOT    STUCK    IN    THE
MIRE    AND    STARTED    DROWNING,
BUT    THE    FRIEND  SAVED    HIM.

AFTER    HE    RECOVERED    FROM
THE    NEAR    DROWNING,
HE    W ROTE    ON    A    STONE:

"TODAY    MY    BEST    FRIEND
SAVED    MY    LIFE  ".

THE    FRIEND    WHO    HAD    SLAPPED
AND    SAVED    HIS    BEST    FRIEND
ASKED    HIM,    "A FTER   I  HURT    YOU,
YOU    WROTE    IN    THE    SAND    AND    NOW,
YOU    WRITE    ON    A     STONE,    WHY?"

THE   FRIEND    REPLIED
"WHEN    SOMEONE    HURTS    US
WE    SHOULD     WRITE    IT    DOWN
IN    SAND,   WHERE    WINDS    OF
FORGIVENESS    CAN     ERASE    IT AWAY.
BUT,    WHEN  SOMEONE    DOES
SOMETHING    GOOD    FOR    US,
WE    MUST    ENGRAVE    IT   IN   STONE
WHERE    NO    WIND
CAN    EVER    ERASE    IT."

LEARN    TO     WRITE
YOUR    HURTS    IN
THE    SAND    AND    TO
CARVE    YOUR
BENEFITS    IN    STONE.