Groundhog

We spent a lovely weekend at the Trailerhood and had a visitor during our supper at the firepit.  He came from the east along the edge by the river but when he saw us he ran back from where he came.  I thought, darn wish I had my camera out here.  But then he came back - this time he was over the edge of the yard and kept popping his head up over the bank to look at us.  Each time the groundhog watched us a little longer and came up a little higher.  We had two sets of neighbors stop by, one on a four wheeler and one in a truck and each time I figured that would scare him away for good but it didn't so I went in and got my camera and got a few good pictures. 

Sick of being sick

I read other blogs and am "insert my feeling here" of the ones that can write their innermost feelings on the internet for all to see.  Not sure how I feel about it, impressed?  surprised?  astonished?  Just not sure but I know it isn't me.  I just don't usually write about my feelings maybe I am not sure how I usually feel.

I know how I feel right now.  I  Am  Sick.  and I am sick of being sick.  My mom use to joke that she was sick and tired of being sick and tired well - I am there.   I started coughing a little on Tuesday (while with the girls dang it) but didn't feel bad.  By Tuesday night I was coughing all night.  At the same time Dennis was not only coughing but also running a high fever.  He insisted he felt like going to Bartlesville for the Straight No Chaser concert (we bought the tickets long ago) so I drove us there.  After the concert the plan was to drive to the trailerhood which was about half way home and stay in the trailer that night.  We had never been to Bartlesville so thought this was a good plan.  The road between Ponca City and Bartlesville is HORRIBLE.   I was scared in broad daylight - no shoulder but lots of hills and curves.  I never said a word because I have found as I age I hate driving more and more so figured it was just me.  While waiting for the concert to begin I mentioned that perhaps we would want to just get a motel in town there since he felt so bad (I am nothing but a considerate wife) (and it had nothing to do with not wanting to drive that road in the dark) (ha).   Dennis said - "we might - that road was awful!!  It was so dangerous!"   I breathed such a sigh of relief.  So we got a motel and came home the next day.  I still didn't feel all that bad - tired but coughing wears a person out.  By Thursday I dropped the girls off at school and went to Walgreen's Take Care clinic and Dennis went to his "doctor"  (family members understand the quotes around doctor - have a very low opinion of the man)  We were both diagnosed with bronchitis and given antibiotic and told to take Mucinex DM or Robitussen DM. 

I went ahead and watched the girls since I had already exposed them and hope so much they don't catch this.  They were very good as usual but I felt so sad because they all love to cuddle and I wouldn't let them.  They watched a movie and then played with play doh and I sat in the recliner the entire afternoon. 

So here it is Saturday and I am still sick.  Yesterday was awful.  Dennis and I are having coughing contests and he is winning.     I tell you the following but first - don't call 911 for me - I haven't knitted since Wednesday!   Now folks - that is sick.  And depressing.  I have cried more in the last couple of days than I have in the last four years put together.    I read about people that "are so bravely fighting cancer" and I can't be brave fighting bronchitis.  I am a huge failure.   I am not grouchy though.  Just don't ask Dennis if I am. 

Easter is tomorrow - one of my favorite holidays.  I loved it more before the stores started pushing expensive "Easter presents" down our throats.  We don't need Easter presents - Jesus gave us the only present we need for Easter.   Although I do get the grandkids books, our family has never participated in the Easter bunny ritual.   So tomorrow Jimmy's family was invited over for dinner and egg hunt.  Yesterday I changed it to let's go out to eat and then to your house because I don't feel like even buying the groceries and sure don't feel like cleaning up the house.  Now today I am changing it to "tell me what time we can come up and give the girls their baskets".   I went to the store this morning to replenish the orange and apple juice supply and got a couple of tv dinners for us.  I don't feel like fighting crowds tomorrow.

Tomorrow would have been my dad's 84th birthday.  He was told by his mother that he was born on Easter but never believed her because Easter never fell on his birthday again.  I think he was in his 40's when I found an almanac that showed the dates for Easter from the 1900's on and proved to him that Grandma was right (Grandma had shall we say a very selective memory at times).  Easter did not fall on his birthday again until 2007 but he spent that first Easter birthday in Heaven.  And now just five years later it falls on his birthday again.  I just find that very strange.  He always said he wouldn't make it to this one but he thought he might for the other one.  He only missed it by 72 days.

Hope everyone has a blessed Easter and next time I write I won't be so touchy feely.  :)

Tulips at Botanica

Looking for fish

I must confess I have not been a frequent visitor to Botanica until last summer.  But of course that was before I was retired and had time to go there (ha ha).  (as everyone knows, I have no life and have time for anything).   But last summer we had lots of company and one thing I wanted to do was go to Botanica to the new children's garden.  I discovered that buying a year long family membership was cheaper than buying everyone's tickets.  Since then the triplets and I have gone there many times and always enjoy it.   The girls love the flowers, feeding the fish, the butterfly house when it is open and of course the children's garden.  We went a few weeks ago and most of the tulips had not bloomed but were tall green stalks.  When we returned the last time it was such fun - we got to the area where they could see the tulips and they all shouted "they bloomed!"    It was amazing to see all the different types and colors of tulips.  

Trailerhood part 2

Even though the weather during spring break was not the type of weather you would reasonable expect windows to be taken out and replaced - the guys did it anyway.  Dennis and Ron got so soaked one day they had to change clothes and then got soaked again.  But the windows were installed and we very much appreciate Ron's assistance.   We love the new windows!

Before

After

We also had a some visitors - they must be related to Dennis -

Turkeys passing by the trailer

Trailer news

Spring break was spent at the Trailerhood.  That was our plan and by golly we were going to do it no matter what.   It rained every day and I was sick with a cold the whole week.  The only good days were the first Sunday of the week and the last Saturday.  And they made us happy we were there. 

The first weekend a tree trimmer came and took out quite a few trees for different people in the hood.  We had a tree that was right next to the trailer that they took down to improve the view out the picture window.

working on a tree at Mueller's trailer

Scott probably won the prize for the biggest tree to come down.   I put my cell phone on the stump to show a comparison on how big the tree was.

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Texas

Jessica (middle) said she knew I was taking the picture.  :)

This is only April 2 so I am not too late on this post - we went to Texas in March and had so much fun. We got to see Jessica in a Winter Guard competition that her group received first place.  She is so good and we love to see the different groups preform.

We also got to see James Jr in a soccer game.  He is in an older group than we remembered him being in as the field was much bigger and the game was longer.  James played goalie and did a great job and being goalie let me get some good pictures.

On Saturday we went to the Picklepalooza event in Mansfield where Stacy walked with friends in a 5K and the rest of us went to a bookstore.  I usually get the kids books for Easter so this year had James and Jessica pick out their own books.  They were quite excited.

We all had on Kstate St Patricks Day t-shirts that I got at Dillons.  The Renfroes looked great!  Stacy is quickly becoming the shortest in the family.  :)