What I did on my summer hiatus Part II

Ok, more catching up on the summer adventures, or in this case the challenges and curve balls of summer.
(pic is of the tomato plants in Midland).


Family Matters

On a sad note there were some troubling health problems with three dear family members this past summer. First my grandmother’s heart started to give her trouble. I’m still not quite sure what the exact diagnosis is other than she has a slow heart rate and that medication, very expensive medication, is doing the trick. No pace maker is required at this point. She carries on with most of her routines; baking, gardening, painting, but all of which are measured and apportioned based on her energy. I can definitely see where she has cut back and relaxes more. And at 88 she should enjoy some good nap time whenever she wants! The other consequence is that she’s no longer able to help me at Mom’s, which is okay as we’ve got matters under control.

Gram was only in the hospital for a weekend and it wasn’t more than a week later when cousin Earl suffered a heart attack in June. His kids rallied around him and his dear wife Helen ensuring that he was getting the best care, not an easy task. Earl is a man of action and I think the worst of it for him has the need to slow down and wait for answers. My cousins arranged for consults for him at the Cleveland Clinic where work was done to map the arrhythmia that is causing the problems. The healing is not over yet and Mom, the MR and I keep both him, Helen, and their kids, in our daily prayers.

Finally, my dear Aunt Stella passed away in September. She’d been on the decline for the last year and it was a comfort that she died without prolonged suffering. Stella was the unofficial matriarch of my Mom’s family. It seemed to me that she commanded an air of refinement and was treated with more deference to her wishes than the other great aunts or uncles. This was due to her loving and generous nature, but also the strength of her will, as she was one not easily crossed.

Stella had a group of her favorite nephews and nieces and my father was one of them. He cared a great deal for her and she never let me forget how much she loved him in return and appreciated his thoughtfulness. In fact, Stella was the one who gave my folks a lot on Wixom Lake, where we built a small house. For a decade or more the cottage served as one of the main gathering points for my entire family…many a good meal and party was had there, and Stella was always in attendance. There are two things about her I will always remember about Aunt Stella: her laugh and her cooking.

Like my grandmother, her blue eyes twinkled when she smiled and her laugh came easy. Each Christmas she would make punchki and give each niece and nephew a bag of them rolled in cinnamon and sugar. These punchki were so DELICIOUS and completely unlike the donuts sold by the same name in grocery stores for fat Tuesday. How do I describe them and do this justice? Well…her punchki looked like handmade fritters, cakey yet spongy with a hint of lemon zest, and oh so rich from the egg dough. I was lucky have made them with her on two occasions and to learn the recipe first hand. (The secret is that the dough rises 3 times!) Thanks for all the wonderful punchki, love and care throughout the years of my life Aunt Stella. Rest in peace.

A Silver Lining

It was all death and petulance you know. In June, the MR’s sister-in-law Lisa gave birth to a baby girl, Kayla. The new baby is happy and healthy and will soon be joining her older sister in laughing and running (or drool'n and crawl'n) around the house! Congratulations to brother ER too; you got the baby's room remodeled just in time!

oh…I have to add this one too even though the event occurred in the fall. Our dear friend Cindyloo welcomed the birth of her second daughter in October, Willa. Congrats Cin and Andy, but wasn’t I promised a boy after Charger was born?

And then there was a week in Provincetown, but since I’m running out of room here, I’m saving that for the next post!

What I did on my summer hiatus Part I

Our victory with Obama spurred me to blogging again last week, and preempted this nice little summary I’d put together of adventures over the last several months. I’ve got too much to say about the last several months so this part 1 of “What I did on my summer hiatus."



I can see
After two years of cajoling, the MR convinced me that LASIK was the best 40th birthday present I could give myself. While researching possible eye centers, I ran into a friend who raved about a laser surgery place in King of Prussia, PA. Then I found out my optometrist was afflicted with the same group (Kramer) so all of my check-ups would be with him in the city. That cinched it. My only compliant...no AMBIAN! Everyone else I know got decent pharmaceuticals to dull the anxiety. What's that all about?

I couldn't be happier with the results. I've got 20/10 vision, which is far better than I ever experienced with contacts. When I'm tired at night my eyes are VERY dry and it feels like I still have dry contacts in. This is getting better a small price to pay! The joys of swimming and seeing the shore!

Indie 500
A good friend of MR’s, from his Notre Dame days, got married Indie 500 weekend. Actually the wedding was like a pre-party to annual Indie party his friends through. It was pleasure to meet all of his colleges friends as everyone was extremely nice to me and welocming. Didn’t go to the race though, I’m just not that into it, even though the party was a block from the track.

Summer Solstice
The MR and I had a short but wonderful visit with the Reelitz/Hall/Lack gang in Cedarville, MI. Celebrating a beautiful warm solstice sunset couldn’t be better than with our extended family on the shores of my spiritual birth-waters. Spending time with Michelle and Heather was great, and a rare chance to see them both together with MR by my side.

For the last year and half I’ve been able to see Michelle 4 times!!! Unprecedented in all our years living across the country from each other.

I’m so lucky MR loves the Cabin (and how could he not?). The love for him is returned by the Jan, Dan and the Halls, and this is a lovely thing for me to experience.

Of course Dan put us to work on his latest construction project: a garage/kids dormitory (seriously). A trip to the Cabin is never complete without lifting a hammer or shovel anyway. MR and I helped Chris, Dan and Joe (yeah Joe!) frame out the roof. The new garage will have more square footage than our house in Philly!

Summer at Mom’s
After a rather rough winter, Evie started to feel well enough to get out more by this summer. The congestion that plagued her from December on finally abated and I’d noticed a real upswing in her energy level come August. I do remember her energy returning quicker last summer, but I’m grateful none the less. She didn’t feel up to traveling Nehatwanta again, but we’ve had weekend outings, which always included mass on Sunday followed by a Bob Evans breakfast (buttermilk biscuit…yum). In September she’s had outing four days in a row without any serious consequence. It’s difficult going back and forth from Philly to Midland, but I’m blessed to be able to be here. (the pic is of the garden I've been tending at Mom's for the last two years.)