It’s been a long time since I’ve posted to this blog. I thought I’d start posting a bit more of some special things that happen in my life.

My mom, who is 90, is living in a retirement complex in their Assisted Living section. I’m fortunate that she’s only 15 minutes away so I get to see several times a week. On Sundays my son and I have dinner with her in the “fancy” dinning room.

But tonight was a special night. There was a special dinner in the Assisted Living dinning room (they have their own) and the families were invited to help celebrated Assisted Living Week. It was nice to see the place that mom eats each day. I had seen it when we toured the placed, but this was the first time I got to share a meal with her there. Interestingly, the lady who sits at the table with her everyday is also named Sandra. I said, “Well that makes it easy to remember.”

After we had a nice dinner we went across to the living room for AL and were treated to a sing-along with the SONflower group. The ladies had come together through their love of singing and joining in with the weekly sing-alongs. We say things such as “My Country Tis of Thee,” “Jesus Love Me,” “Amazing Grace,” and others. It had been ages since I’d experienced something like that and I had a tear in my eye as I could hear my mom singing along loud and clear.

I can’t help but feel that my dad, who passed away in June, just before they were to move into the new place, was up there watching us. One of the last things he said to me, as he pointed a finger at my mom, was, “You take care of her.” I promised my dad I would.

Everything, no matter how small, that I do with my mom to create a cherished memory is precious.

To all the moms – Happy Mother’s Day this Sunday. And as always, a great big thanks to Bev at How Sweet The Sound for another wonderful Pink Saturday giving us a time to share all thinks wonderful and PINK!

I’ll be spending the day with my mom who is 90 years old but still sharp as a tack. We’ll be going to visit my dad in the hospital. We had hoped he would be in the rehab facility this weekend, but looks like it will be next week sometime.

My wonderful son surprised me with a floral bouquet. He had told me that he was expecting a UPS deliviery the other day. Since he’s at work during the day he usually has his packages delivered to my place and not his condo. He called me mid-afternoon the other day and asked if the package had arrived. I said there hadn’t been a buzz but that I’d go out and look. I figured he was getting a new phone, or camera, or something for the computer.

I was so thrilled when I opened the door and there was a box from Pro Flowers. How sweet! I nearly dropped them on the floor while trying to thank him on the phone and open the box. They are so nice and come directly from the field, not from the florist. They aren’t fully bloomed and even this morning the bouquet seems to be growinig.

Here’s some photos of the beautiful flowers. Oh, and he even made sure to order a pink vase – so that I could post it here for Pink Saturday. What a great kid.

It’s Pink Saturday, with a twist. This week many of us are participating in a special series of posts about Miracles. Special thanks to Beverly from How Sweet The Sound for including Pink Saturday in this special time. You can find more blogs who are taking part over at Bev’s Blog – How Sweet The Sound. This special time was inspired by the wonderful caring and love given to Colette, pictured below.

I’m sure by now you’ve read all about the wonderful Makeover – but if not, go over to Kattilac Shack to watch the video of the make over and find out about the wonderful giveaways! The video is truly inspirational and shows what can be done when people chose to reach out to each other from a place of love and healing.

As for my own “miracle” I believe it happened to me this past May. I was getting my dinner and Bootsy’s dinner ready (my son’s Chihuahua who spends the day with me while my son is at work.) I hadn’t been feeling well for several days – had a bug or something. As I was working in the kitchen I felt my left hand go numb and an area around my mouth go numb. I called my son at work – not sure why – I really wasn’t thinking too straight – and asked if I should call the ambulance. He told me “Yes!”

So I called 911 and within five minutes the paramedics were there taking all my vitals. I got Bootsy into my bedroom and closed the door before they got there – poor little guy didn’t know what was going on but I wanted to make sure he didn’t bolt out the door.

The paramedics were wonderful and within half an hour I was in the ER of our local hospital and while they were doing some tests my son showed up. I was really surprised when they said they were going to admit me. I suppose once I saw a specialist in strokes from the Heart Hospital I shouldn’t have been surprised I wasn’t going home.

I had a bilateral stroke – meaning a stroke on each side of my brain. I got just about every test they could think of – including one where I had to swallow a camera on the end of a feed – luckily I was knocked out for that one.

The doctors were puzzled. They couldn’t find where the blood clots had come from or any part of the clots. The evidence was there – but they can’t figure out what caused them.

I really feel as though it’s a miracle that no damage was done. It’s been four months now and my doctor says he expects for me to make a full recovery. I still have a few more doctors to see for a test or two and follow up – but other than being just a bit more tired (which could be attributed to the awful summer) I’m fully recovered. My cholesterol is down to a very respectable number, my gloce, for the most part, is good, and I’m gradually losing weight.

I know the dangers of a stroke. I never knew her but my maternal grandmother died of a stroke when my mom was only 16.

I think God every day for the Miracle I experienced. The feeling isn’t quite as strong now, but I can remember when I got home from the hospital I felt such a Joy for not having suffered something very severe.

A blessing in my life happened after the stroke. I’d been after my parents for sometime to move from Florida, where they had retired many years ago, back up here to Illinois. They finally agreed and just last week my son flew down to Florida to pick them up and drive them and their car up here. They now live about ten minutes away and a beautiful retirement village! Oh, and they are both 89 and will be 90 in December and January.

And of course my biggest blessing is my son Dave who has been a real trooper through all of this – getting them moved up here (my dad was in the hospital when he got down there so that set them back a day) and then spending all of the next week (one of his vacation weeks) helping them get the furniture moved in, organizing their “stuff” and running various errands because of something that no one had realized they would need.

I am so thankful for all the Blessings in my life.

Sandra

I “puppy sit” Bootsy during the day while Dave is at work. When he gets here around 10:30 in the morning he’s ready for a nap – which he takes until about 4:00 when we go out for a walk. Then it’s dinner time after which we curl up on the sofa and watch tv until “daddy” gets home.

These are pictures Dave took of him today along with captions of what he imagined Bootsy was thinking.

I want to thank Beverly for featuring Cottage Dreamer this week in her post for Pink Saturday at her blog How Sweet The Sound. I think it’s a wonderful idea to pick several blogs each week to highlight so we can get to know the Pink Saturday participants better.

This week I went through my previous posts and picked out a few of my favorite things to give you and idea of what I like. I suppose my style could be described as “pink, blue, and cream.” I don’t think I could ever become tired of living surrounded by these colors.


To start off, even though it’s not pink, here’s a photo of my son, Dave, and his Chihuahua, Bootsy, who I “puppy sit” each weekday when Dave is at work.





One of my favorite rooms is my bedroom. I’m not quite through decorating it – still have to put up the pictures, but it’s a very pretty pink room and very relaxing.





Many years ago I had a business selling my original dolls. I’ve been slowly getting back into sculpting and hope to have something to show soon. This doll, Allison, is what a few people have said looks like a self-portrait. I tell them, “Maybe in my dreams.” lol She’s about 28″ tall and is made of porcelain. One of the many things I love to do is Heirloom Sewing which I used in creating her costume. Ok, she’s not in pink, but on the umbrella she holds there are pink embroidered flowers.





One thing I love to collect is Angels, mostly Seraphime Angels by Roman and those by Jim Shore. Here’s one of the sets of Seraphime Angels that I’m fortunate to
have in my collection. It’s called Angel Garden. I just love the delicate nature of them and, of course, the blue, pink, and white color scheme.





And lastly, I’m fortunate enough to have been able to collect several pieces of art by Debi Coules. The piece below is one of several boxes I have by her. Thoughout my blog you’ll find more of her creations. I just love the beauty of her paintings and the touch of romance they bring to each room in my home.





Thank you so much for stopping by Cottage Dreamer today. I hope you have a wonderful Pink Saturday and I’d love to hear any comments you’d like to leave.


Sandra

This is my son’s Chihuahua “Bootsy” whom I “puppy-sit” suring the week when Dave is at work. Bootsy is 7 years old and weighs about six pounds. So he’s really not a puppy – but when you’re this small you seem to be a puppy all the time. He’s a real character.

Dave had taken him out front to “do his thing” before they went home from my place. I think Bootsy decided that he’d rather walk. lol

It’s my parents 68th Wedding anniversary this week. Congratulations, Mom and Dad. They were married just three months after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Dad soon left for four years to serve as a Marine in the Pacific. Over the years my parents worked together to build a business and provide for their children and grandchildren. They are now retired and living the good life in Florida. I couldn’t be prouder of them.

March is also my son’s birthday. He turned 35 this year! Happy Birthday to my Davie. (No one else but my parent and myself get to call him that. LOL) I don’t have grandkids, but I do have a grand-puppy, Bootsy, a six pound six year-old Chihuahua who spends most days with me while “daddy” is at work.

Merry Christmas to all! I hope you’re having a wonderful Christmas. Last night my son and I took our traditional ride through Naperville looking at the decorations. This year we found two houses that had the lights coordinated with music where you tune into an FM station and can listen to the music in your car while watching the light show. I’ve seen this in videos on YouTube, but it’s so much better to see them in real life. I told Dave, next year we’re bringing his video camera.

For the first time that we can remember it rained for almost the entire four hours we were out. Course we were a bit slowed by the fact that Dave stopped at about every three houses to take pictures. lol

Last year Bootsy was good for almost the whole “tour” but this year he was fidgety from the start – so about an hour into the excursion we decided to take him back to Dave’s place. I guess he was a lot happier there since Dave was trying to handle the maps he’d printed out and his camera and couldn’t let Bootsy ride on his lap. Dave said when he got home Bootsy was snuggled into the big bed watching the Discovery channel. lol I keep the Cartoon Network on in the living room when he’s spending the day here. Yes, the dog is spoiled.

Below is a photo of my two “boys.” Dave sent this out as his Christmas greeting. Poor Bootsy, he just doesn’t look real happy. I think Dave took so many pictures of him when he was a puppy that he got sick of the camera. That’s why Dave is holding him while I took the picture.

Once again, Merry Christmas and I hope you have a Blessed New Year!

Welcome to a very special post of Christmas Memories. This week, and for the next two weeks, Bev at How Sweet The Sound has suggested we have themes for our Pink Saturday posts. I love the idea. This week the theme is A Special Memory of a Holiday. For me, that has to be Christmas. December is always a very important month because of my birthday, my dad’s birthday, and Christmas.

But, to start things off with a bit of a current memory I’m starting, I thought I’d show off my “finds” at Home Goods this week.

These are adorable little teacups and saucers for the small tree I’m putting in my bedroom. I should have pictures of the tree starting on Monday. I had been taking a “House Tour” and fell in love with Cindy’s full-size Christmas tree filled with cups, saucers, and even silverware at My Romantic Home. I plan to spend the next year gathering items for a similar tree – but in pinks and blues.

Got some small mirror ornaments for the “pink” tree. Shades of the 70s and the Disco era.

Christmas Memories

While going through the boxes of pictures I’ve got I was reminded of so many great memories but the one that always sticks out in my mind is from when I was three. I’m not sure that I have any actual memories of this specific year, but I do remember the many Christmas days spent with my Grandfathers and other relatives. Often we would spend Christmas Eve with one side of the family and the Christmas Day with the other. But I do remember several times having both Grandfathers at our house for the holiday.

The photos that I want to share are from Christmas 1949 when I was three.

Me at three with my new baby doll.

Here I am with all the presents that I got when I was at Grandpa Thompson’s and Auntie’s. A baby doll, a train, and what looks like some new clothes. I believe that the pleated skirt was made for me by my great, great grandmother. And don’t you just love the dark shoes. So charming. lol

Here’s my dad giving me a horsey-back ride. But as you can see I’m not letting go of my new baby doll.

This is my mom and me. Isn’t she pretty? Oh, and excuse the bit of the undies showing. lol

This is a photo of my Grandpa Thompson, me, and my daddy. I was named after my grandfather. His middle name came from his middle name which was Sander.

This is my “Auntie.” She was my mother’s great aunt. She and my great great grandmother came to America from the “old country” of Norway when they were in their teens. She helped to raise my mother and uncle and was an absolute fantastic cook. Dinner at Auntie’s was always wonderful.

And once more Christmas comes to an end. Most likely I’m thinking how tired I am but that I just don’t want to go to bed and have Christmas really be over. But a year later there will be wonderful memories to make of Christmas with my Grandfathers and the rest of the family – but my Grandfathers will always hold a special place in my heart.


Thank you for visiting and sharing these memories with me. I hope the joy of this time of year fills your home and heart.

Last Saturday I asked for prayers for my dad, who is in the hospital. He’s doing much better and should be out before the weekend, though he will be going to the rehabilitation facility at the retirement complex where they live. He was there around the first of the year for about four weeks, but I don’t think he’s going to need that much care this time.

Thank you to those who posted, and even to those that didn’t post but still said a prayer or sent good thoughts.

My parents are 88 and have been great role models all through my life.