Sleep, Where Art Thou?

It's a little after 5 a.m. and I've been up since 4. I can't sleep. Hubby got up at some point, probably not too long before I did. I was tossing and turning, My back was aching and my eyes were itching and burning. I knew he was awake and I was in and out. I thought it was later than it was. I didn't hear him leave but the next time I woke, he was gone. I'm assuming he walked up to the shop to get some work done  - he'll do that when he can't sleep. I'm worried about him. I'm also worried about what he's not telling me, it seems there is something bothering him that he's not sharing. I tried to sleep but finally gave up. Usually when I get out of bed, Suki follows me, but not this morning, even she's smart enough to know it's way too early to be up. 

Hubby has a full day today getting the children's race ready for tomorrow in the Harbor. It's about an hours drive from here on narrow, winding roads, then he has to prepare the course, take care of any other details and drive home.

I've done my floors already, I did them this morning with the dust mop, funny...I just couldn't bring myself to disturb the quiet of the morning with the roar of the vacuum cleaner. I'm getting hungry, but it's too early to eat. 

Today I have to play the organ for a funeral at 11:00. I wish I had the new organ, I'm not looking forward to playing that thing today without the pianist there to hide behind. I hope I can manage on such little sleep. I don't know what I'll do this afternoon, whatever strikes my fancy at the time, I suppose...there is plenty from which to choose. Hubby won't be home until around 5. 

Yesterday was a long day, but not bad as far as days go. I had my lunch with the Anita's. Anita with Alzheimer's is getting worse, when we arrived, she was in her underwear. We helped her dress and ate BLT sandwiches with homemade bread and garden lettuce that I brought from home, then we went to visit Marcia, another church member who had knee surgery and because she lives alone, has to stay in a nursing home until she's able to get around. Marcia is one of the local piano teachers; I didn't get a chance to ask her but I wonder if she's even going to try to teach this year, she said it would probably be October before she goes home. I was glad to get out of there, the nursing home brought back memories I had a hard time dealing with, besides which, I'm not ready to sit around with a bunch of old, sick people and shoot the breeze for the afternoon. 

After Anita took me home, I hit up a couple of rummage sales but didn't find much for my cards. There was a large canning jar full of old buttons that I really wanted, but they were asking $20. for it which I thought was rather steep so I called a friend who knows more about antiques than I do and she said she wouldn't pay that much. There were no interesting buttons in there except a few bone buttons which are quite old. She said maybe at $10. she might, but even at that, unless there were some unique ones in there, even that was high. 

The family that was deciding to sign on for lessons finally decided and they are in the schedule starting on the 17th. YEAH!

Hubby and I ordered out from our favorite restaurant and on his way into the house with the food, he spilled his all over the ground. He was trying to carry the two foam containers of food and a growler of beer and instead of making two trips or asking for help...well...he ate it anyway. We watched several episodes of NCIS and went to bed. Too bad the morning came so early.

Well, I'm getting hungry and Hubby will probably be heading back soon looking for breakfast himself...guess it's time to sign off for now. 

I'm remembering my dad, he was born 96 years ago today. I wasn't real close to my dad, but I loved him and knew he loved me. 

Plans today are to have lunch with the Anita's. Finn Fest is coming to our area and we are going into Houghton today to see a Finnish dance team and to help Anita set up a display. My friend, Anita has a Finnish heritage so she is quite involved in the festivities. I will probably be the one to keep track of the other Anita while my friend takes care of what she needs to do. 

I hope to do some more cleaning if there is time when I get home this afternoon. I need to dust the living room and dinning room. 

Hubby is stressed with everything he has to do. On the upside there is lots of work, on the downside, there is too much for him to do alone, do well and do in a timely manner that will please the customers. 

I was able to completely clean out the garage yesterday and put out all my summer yard decor. I feel quite a sense of accomplishment. I should have thought to take before and after photos. We were even able to get my car repaired and returned to us all in one day.

Supper will be easy tonight. I have some left over shredded chicken and lots of fresh vegetables that won't be fresh for long, so we'll have a chicken salad.  

I'm supposed to be cleaning....

but I'm not. The day is just too pretty to be inside so here I am sitting on my deck, enjoying the sunshine. It's been so long without it that I just can't bear to be inside. The house work beckons  especially the bathtub scum, but I don't care. I may care tomorrow when I shower, but not now. 

My ride to Anita's today was a little more difficult than I had anticipated, but I made it alright. I got quite the stares when I went through the bank drive-through and the Burger King drive-through on my bike! Anita and I ate our sandwiches outside on their picnic table and then took a short walk. I like Ranch sauce to dip my fries in, I learned today she does not - note to self...ketchup for Anita. She was much more talkative today than she has been. Last week I had a difficult time getting her to grasp the concept of licking an envelope shut and today she was talking about how she needed to give the picnic table and good cleaning and she read part of a recipe off the ketchup bottle. I did notice she likes order. She finds things that are alike and lines them all up in a row. Today there were 5 bananas all lined up on the counter and several sets of nail clippers all lined up on the window sill. 

This picture was taken last week - my friend Anita is in the white sweater and the Anita with Alzheimer's is in the red. 

A couple more pictures related to last night: this is the Attendance ribbon I had to make since I can't find award ribbons anymore to purchase. I think I like mine better anyway ;). 

Yesterday I made strawberry-lime water for a recital beverage. It looks pretty and it's very refreshing and good for you. One of my adult students just loved it, but not many others tried it...oh well, more for me. You can use any kind of fruit you like, our pastor's wife used apples and cinnamon sticks. 

The Day After Recital

Last nights recital was a success, even the parent that likes to make trouble was on her good behavior. I wrapped my arm in an ace bandage because I was hauling heavy beverages into the church and moving furniture around and my Dr. saw it and questioned me. He examined it on the spot and says it's not carpel tunnel or tennis elbow (I don't think he ever did say what it was, except inflammation) but that he'd call something in to the pharmacy for me today. I put ice on it last night and it's not quite as bad today as it was yesterday. 

All the students did very well. One young man had a memory lapse but was able to collect himself, pick it up and continue

on. 

Plans for today are cleaning, cleaning, cleaning oh, and laundry, laundry, laundry! Also I have lunch with Anita, the lady with Alzheimer's; my friend, Anita can't make it today so I'll go alone. I'm thinking of riding my bike over, it will take about 15-20 minutes and I'll stop for some sandwiches on the way. 

Some things on my heart this morning are my son who is very discouraged with his life, job etc., healing of my arm, success for the business so we can have a little financial breathing room and I'm having trouble getting my eyes to focus on the computer screen this morning and I just got my prescription changed. Also, we've had someone step up to give the church a free organ, but it's not of the quality that I have prayed for. I knew we couldn't get what I want, but this one is quite old...mid 70's technology...How do you say no to free, even if it's not good enough?

I saw my first Oriole in the yard this morning! Hubby said he didn't know they got this far north. I'm going to make something to hold an orange for him today to see if he'll come back. 

It's partly cloudy this morning, but we've had gray skies for the last few days so I'm excited to have a day with some sun. 

Even though I will not have much in the way of income this summer, I am looking forward to some time to get some other things accomplished and projects finished before winter sets in again. It seems around here the entire summer is spent preparing for another winter. 

I wish for you a day filled with music!

Sunshine, Goats and Honey

What a beautiful day...well, it could have been a smidge warmer, but the sun was out so I'm not complaining. Nor should I complain since I still have my home and loved ones as many others of the recent tornado in OK do not. 

I had to go a little off schedule this morning in order to get in a grocery trip when it was most convenient for Hubby to drop me off and return later to get me when I was finished. Again, I shouldn't complain, but I don't like not being able to come and go when it is most convenient for me, but rather, having to fit my routine into someone else's schedule. At least I was able to get groceries, so we will eat for another ten days or so. 

As soon as I got the groceries put away my friend Anita came to pick me up so we could go have lunch and visit with Alzheimer Anita. After we ate and cleaned up the dishes my friend Anita wanted to take us to see a friend of hers who keeps goats - they recently had babies. It was a gorgeous day for a drive out of town, up on the hill where a beautiful view of the lake greeted us. We meandered down a dirt driveway which eventually brought us to several outbuildings and a very old house. I'm kicking myself for not having my camera on me, so no,

I did not take this picture, I stole one off the internet that looked similar to the cuties I saw today. We met an eccentric bohemian couple who were very welcoming and excited to show us around. We enjoyed visiting with the goats, though it was a bit close in the goat house with the three of us and four adult goats and two babies...but it was fun and the goats were very well mannered.

The couple also keeps bees. That many bees in one place make me nervous so I didn't get very close but I did enjoy looking at the charming old house and surrounding outbuildings. Again, this building only looks somewhat like what I saw today. I hope we can go back in a few weeks and visit again...I'm taking my camera!  

When we left she gave us each a jar of her honey! And guess what...this photo is of the real stuff LOL! I offered to pay for it, but she wouldn't hear of it. I love, love, love organic honey and just this morning I finished the very last of my supply and didn't know when I could get more. What a fabulous blessing! FREE HONEY!! I tried some tonight on the tip of my tongue - so yummy and very raw...I could even taste the honeycomb. I'm enjoying some in my tea now. She told us we could buy it at Jacob's Falls, but I so rarely get that far north...I'm hoping I can go back and buy some off her. I'll talk to Anita about it since she knows her well. That's the kind of stuff I'll buy for gifts for Christmas! 

On the way home we stopped at the cemetery so Anita could place flowers on the graves of her family members. I got to see her mother's grave who I was never able to meet because she died just before we moved here and her grandparents, aunts and uncles. I couldn't help but long to see my own mother's grave and be able to place some flowers there for her. Anita told me the story of her grandparents and how they and the couple next to them were all best friends. When her grandmother died and the husband of the other couple died, her grandfather married the other woman. Now the graves are side by side and her grandfather is laid between both his wives and the one woman is between both her husbands. I thought it was a cute story.

And now for the perfect end to my day...my son called...just to talk. It was so good to hear his voice. 

I hope to get out tomorrow for a walk - I saw several rummage sales when we were out today, so if I come upon some, I'll stop to browse.

I'm BACK!!

I'll bet you never thought you'd see three posts from me in two days! It feels very odd to me as well to be writing so much at once, but it's been an odd kind of day for me. I thought about waiting until tomorrow to post again, but I'm not sure if I'll have the time. 

First thing this morning was the call about the organist position, then I got a call from a friend of mine. She is a dear person and I love her dearly, but I don't often hear from her unless she has a new volunteer position to fill. She is involved in many activities and causes around the area and is always looking for help for one thing or another. We have a woman in our church who has Alzheimer's and lately I've noticed her declining rapidly. My friend and several others have been helping her husband by going over every day at lunch time and eating with her and spending a little time with her and they would like to have more people with which to share the load. After caring for my mother who died from complications of the disease, I never wanted to have anything to do with it ever again, but I told my friend I would go with her tomorrow to see what responsibilities are involved. I will probably be taking a shift every other Friday. I'm sure it will afford me lots of things to blog about!

Just a bit ago my mentor called. Have I properly introduced you? I'll have to go take a look-see. Anyway, due to the weather I have not been to practice in several months now and he has been away helping his mother since his dad passed away recently. He called to tell me he's back at work and I am welcome to go practice as soon as I can. I'm hoping if my company doesn't show up by then, I'll take Monday and go for a much needed visit with my favorite organ! I will help him do some tuning and must practice for and plan a field trip for my students to hear and play it. 

Here I go for weeks grasping at straws for something to write about and now I have more than I can handle LOL! I feel like I've been on this computer all day. I did get another section of the floor done, there are two, possibly three yet to do.

Thank you to all who have responded to my post about the organist job. I appreciate all your advice and prayers offered.  

The sun has been dancing in and out between the clouds this afternoon...I'll take it.