paws and effect

When I'm working in the yard, Roxy-Doxy (a.k.a. 'rockhound') definitely has her own agenda. Her agenda does NOT involve helping me with the chores.

See?! She's found the perfect stone! Isn't this thrilling? ****yawn****whaterthechances??

As I dutifully unload my car of potting soil and plants, the Doxy has another plan for my day.

Yeah Roxy-Doxy.... I see your perfect rock. Nice. ****sigh****Rock=the cause

You're gettin' mighty close to the edge with that rock, wiener....don't drop it!

Doxy....it's gonna fa..... Uh-oh.

The effect.

The ultimate effect.

Pick up rock, throw rock into the bushes and repeat. The rock-drop never loses it's appeal. Ne-ver.

You can imagine how much I am getting done.....

Spring love to all.

drama

What a busy week this has been! Wanted to share one of my most fun moments with you. I was asked to sing and do a little program for the NUFFS (no one under fifty-five) over at First Presbyterian Church. The Texan and I attended that fine church for many years, so it was kinda old home week for me.

Got to visit with Amarillo Man of theYear....Eddie M!

Eddie told me of BIG plans for his upcoming 100th this July! I'll be there, Eddie.

The show for the NUFFS was a kind of  Broadway revue...complete with quick costume changes and very bad wigs. I definitely play for the 'fun factor'.

I told the NUFFS absolutely NO NUDITY, so I left my clothes on for All That Jazz.





 My stage was in their gorgeous parlor.

Always keepin' it classy with my redition of Memories from CATS. The flea-bitten old feline was remembering when she was a beautiful, young, and less-lumpy cat.

Channeling my inner Ethel Merman in Everything's Comin' Up Roses. The song is from Gypsy...about a stripper, but I STILL kept my clothes on. You're welcome.

This bleached blonde floozy was trying to figure out how to love Him, from Jesus Christ Superstar.

Yup, you guessed it smarty pants! Everyone's favorite Cockney, Eliza Doolittle.

The old Fantine dreaming a dream. Is there an owl or something makin' a home in that wig??

Just when life KILLS Fantine's dream, she yanks off the shawl/bad wig and underneath it all she's really ANNIE belting out how everything will be great Tomorrow!

The above photo shows the fantastic accompianist who helped me...Miss Sara. She was my rock! Brava, Sara!

After my part of the program was done, I got to learn about fire safety.

Why, oh why did I not take a picture of the hot firefighter? My bad.

I learned basically that old folks are screwed if there's a fire, cuz we're all too feeble to get up out of our wheelchairs and run out of the house. We're deaf and can't hear the smoke alarm. Hell, we can't even stop, drop, and roll! Most of us are tethered to an oxygen machine anyway, so we're gonna die or explode. Lesson learned, Mr. Hot Firefighter.

Really....he was very nice and said we could call him for anything. Anything?. ..hmmmmmmm

Thank-you NUFFS for being an appreciative audience. I had a great time being with all of you.

NUFF-y love to all!

Ready, Set, GOpera!

I'm not an opera aficionado. Don't know a libretto from a library card. I think a cadenza is something my grandmother stored her Sunday china in. No idea what toi, toi, toi means....is it the number three spoken in Latin or the sound of spitting to keep evil spirits at bay?

The gorgeous set of Amarillo Opera's La Perichole

Even though I don't know much about opera, I'm positive there are lots of reasons to like Amarillo Opera's production of La Perichole.

You see, I attended a picnic on the stage and was treated to some sneak peeks of the upcoming performance.

I enjoy the fact this opera will be sung in my native tongue Oklahoma Hillbilly English. Therefore, I can understand perfectly what this gentleman is singing about.

He is singing about women being goddesses. Who am I to disagree??

I enjoy the fact this show is clever and it makes me laugh. I like to laugh.

Our heroine...Perichole

Isn't she beautiful? She's singing a song about how men are generally dull and thick-skulled. Who am I to disagree??

I enjoy hearing gorgeous voices and supporting the arts in our humble town. We are fantastically blessed to have outstanding talent grace the stage in our glorious Globe News Center. The acoustics are sublime, so please silence your cellphone.

The director described this opera as a fluffy, tasty bit of meringue. Now pies....that's something I understand. Remember these?

Ever seen such gorgeous meringue?

I understand meringue and I LOVE it! Not sure I've ever had it at an opera before, but I'm ready.

Another thing about this show that excites me....some lucky locals are in the production. Gives me some hometown faces to bravo about.


This is Michael and he is over the moon about being in the opera, even though he plays the role of a prisoner.  I'm happy for him and can't wait to spot him onstage.

Although I don't count myself among the opera 'educated', I'm still attending La Perichole next weekend. It looks too fun to miss.

If you feel like coming....don't be shy! Call AMARILLO OPERA for tickets to the show Saturday, March 31 or Sunday, April 1. There won't be a quiz about opera terms or etiquette or anything like that.

Wait, wait.....seems I spoke too soon about the quiz.

What on earth are you doing, Roxy-Doxy?!

**Doxy breathless in a run-on sentence**I auditioned for the part of Perichole, but David O'Dell says I might be better cast as Madame Butterfly next season...do you realize it's pronounced pear-uh-kole NOT pear-uh-CHOLE?...do you know the term opera buffa refers to all the hot, buffed-up men in the cast?...do you understand the term contralto refers to......

No opera quizzes. Just fun. Promise.

Buffed-up opera love to all.

news

So much news....so little time.

Made the drive to the Dallas area to visit Sprout #3 and play a little golf with the Texan. I was struck by the increased greening of the countryside as we drove further southeast. Praise God Texas is getting some rain! We've had some good rains in central Texas and we're beginning to see (maybe?) the loosening grip of the devilish drought.

No spring-time trip in Texas is complete without the obligatory photo of the bluebonnets. The Sprout and Texan coaxed me out of the car to pose in this field of road-side wildflowers. As I knelt down to get close to bursting blooms for the photo, I THOUGHT I heard the Sprout yelling, 'Be sexy!' Therefore, I obediently laid on my side and gave the Texan my best sexy pout for the camera-phone. When I returned to the car, the disgusted Sprout explained he was shouting, 'DON'T be sexy!'
Oops.
Must have been the noise of traffic whizzing by....or old age. Can't. help. myself.
I thought you'd enjoy seeing my blue photo.


Kinda looks like Grandma forgot to take her Miralax

 While were were in Big D, the grandson attended his first NCAA March Madness basketball game in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He saw his Mom's alma mater, Baylor, beat Colorado. Sic 'em Bears!

His KK got him the Baylor T-Shirt

Maybe next year he can fill out his bracket IF he has the cash.

Driving back to Amarillo, we stopped at a cool trailer place. You see, I've been without horse-wheels for a while now. It's complicated, but I sold my truck and trailer years ago and relied on my horse trainer to haul my horse to shows for me. He moved downstate and I was left with horses, but no way to haul them. The Texan helped me solve this dilemma. I can borrow his red truck and pull this sweet little number down the road.

Happiness

Thank you, Texan. xoxo

Now....for the most splendiforous news. Steady yourself. Really.

Ta-dah-dah-------dah-DAH!

Sprout #3 (first in our hearts!) asked darling J to marry him!

The handsome couple in Cabo last year

We think it's the smartest thing he's ever done. We ADORE her. We're giddy with excitement for these two extraordinary young people. Guess that means there's gonna be a wedding! Fun times. We feel profoundly blessed.

Thanks for sharing all this news with me, kind reader. I couldn't wait to tell you this stuff!

Bluebonnet-y love to all.

mimicry

We have a problem on our hands.



 It's hard to explain, so I'll just show you.

The grandson enjoying his bouncy chair.

What the??.....someone appeared in the bouncy chair doing the 'bichon wave'. Notice she strapped herself in for safety.

The baby experiencing his first try in the jumper.

Really Sophie??! How did you get in there?





The waving Bee-shawn Free-say is totally outta control.

Can her behavior be an extreme case of animal mimicry? Just like this clever owl?



Can you see him? I didn't snap this photo BTW.

 Don't tell the Sprout I found Soph swaddled in the crib with the pacifier. Come to think of it....was her barking episode telling me of her preference for pureed lamb?

Send. help. now.

Love to all.

pie happiness

Wind has been been blowin' in West Texas. On days when the wind is whistlin' out here on the High Plains, it's nice to have an indoor activity prepared. My activity yesterday was making lemon meringue pies for a special in-law birthday. #6-0!!

Consulted the old Betty Crocker cookbook. Do you have one of these relics? This is circa 1975-before feminism.

Wanna see my pie? Of course you do!

Used a Pioneer Woman pie crust recipe, but I adjusted the fat ratio to 2 to 1 butter to crisco. This recipe had a little bit of vinegar in it. The food processor is the only way to go in mixing pie crusts, but pie crust is always a messy proposition for me. You should've seen the flour and the parchment paper flying around the kitchen.

Hot heaven in a pan.

The filling. This is where I consulted Betty Crocker. Lots of egg yolks, sugar, cornstarch and freshly-squeezed lemons. I might have licked this pan clean with a spatula...by myself since the Texan was at work. Sorry, Texan.

Beating, beating, and beating egg whites until they are stiff and glossy.

Ta-dah! The paaahs. Aren't they gorgeous? See why I was excited to show them to you? The in-law was very happy to have these for his birthday....oh, and the taste! The taste was lemony sweetness surrounded by a flaky crust and topped with a heavenly (not too sweet) meringue. The textures were sublime and the flavor sensations amazing, even if I do say so myself! ***patting myself proudly on the back*** Fun times with the in-laws.

In case you were wondering about my security...making pies out in the rural-ness of West Texas and all, you needn't have feared.

Can you spot the guard dog on her couch perch?

Roxy Doxy was looking out the bedroom window keeping constant vigil making certain our house is protected and I can make pies in blessed peace.

She keeps her squeaky squirrel nearby in case she gets bored.

See? I'm very well-guarded.

Do I smell pie?

A sleepy Roxy Doxy:
What does Lin-sanity mean?

An exasperated me:
Knock off watching Sports Center, will you? Come help me clean the kitchen...I might have a sticky pan you can lick!

Lemony love to all.

pure unadulterated joy: crossing

This will be the last in a series about my mother. February 20th, 2012 will be the one-year anniversary of her passing.


The source of her constant pain that forced her into a nursing home? My fear of recurrent cancerous tumors was WAY off. She had multiple fractures in her spine. Maybe caused by taking steroids for years for her COPD, who knows?

I recall her last trip away from the nursing home. She was to go to the local hospital for an MRI of her spine. I could no longer transport Joy because her pain was intense and she couldn't make it from the wheelchair into my car. Arrangements were made for the nursing home van to take her to the hospital and I would meet her there. I waited in the large lobby as sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows. The van approached the door and the driver got out, went to the back and slowly lowered the silhouetted figure in a wheelchair to the ground. He wheeled her into the bustling lobby as I met them. Mom was severely hunched in her chair and she donned a pained smile when she saw me. In her hands was a large manila folder containing the doctor's orders for the procedure she would undergo today. Her name was written in large print on the outside of the folder. The thing I noticed most about the folder were the 3-inch tall letters, written in bold black on a fluorescent green sticker DO NOT RESUSCITATE! 

Mom....you look like a school kid holding your report card.

Joy glanced down at the folder and replied, Yeah, and it looks like I failed!

The inscription inside the Big Book of Alcoholic's Anonymous Joy gave to me in 1980

We tried to control her pain. Joy was on a cocktail of meds to regulate her failing systems; any change was a high-wire act performed without a net. The pain patch didn't help much.


Two other developments lowered my spirits to their nadir:  Joy kept having bouts of pneumonia requiring treatment with strong antibiotics. One morning she pulled me close to her face as she lay propped on her bed. In desperation she revealed,


Kath, I can't see!


I squeezed her hand.


I know Mom.....I'm so sorry.

I sat with her as we both absorbed the cruelty of Joy being deaf and now blind. Freakin' macular degeneration...they say if you live long enough, you're gonna get it.

I won't go into details of her last days. Made the decision to call hospice, as she had given me her medical power of attorney. She trusted me to make the right decision and I did the best I could. Maybe we could have gotten her through this episode, but I didn't see the point. It was time to let go and let Joy move on.

A letter I cherish, written to me after a girl's trip to Dallas. We saw an art exhibit 'El Greco of Toledo'.

One of her last lucid moments was talking to the hospice nurse. He got close to her face and told her he was from hospice and they were going to take good care of her. She was resigned, but she was definitely not HAPPY to see hospice and she told him as much. The nurse thought she was hilarious and full of spirit. Said he loved her spunk.

Thankfully, Joy wasn't in hospice care for long....only 2 days. Not sure what I expected from a dying person. Maybe I thought there would be lots of hand-holding and Joy would slip quietly into the night. That turned out to not be her dying 'style'. Joy fought tooth-and-nail for every last precious breath and moment on this earth. I really didn't expect this, but her dying was like her living:  she'd overcome many setbacks and she wasn't going west without a good fight! She didn't need or want any hand-holding or hair-stroking.....the battle was hers to wage. I was simply an onlooker. Good thing we hadn't left anything unsaid.

What did I learn from Joy? Here are some things I keep in my heart.

1. It's never too late to start over.
2. Never....ever....stop learning.
3. Don't judge a person on their possessions or lack thereof. It's a gift to be comfortable around all sorts of people.
4. My children are extraordinary.

One of my last little notes, written in Joy's increasingly shaky handwriting.

5. The Texan is a Saint, and I am never to bad-mouth him.
6. Surviving awful experiences can make one stronger.
7. Always trust your Higher Power...this is the path to true serenity.

Thank you, dear reader for sharing my remembrances of my mother. I wanted to write some truths of her life to help myself and hopefully shine a light on the difficulty of alcoholism and addictions in general. Seems no one is untouched these days. Redemption is always out there. Joy found it through God and Alcoholic's Anonymous. I spent many-a-day in Al-Anon trying to find answers for myself.

This has been a difficult, but ultimately triumphant series, I hope.

Please check back, as I will be posting some lighter, more humorous blog posts. Oh...and lots of pictures of a certain grandson and an adventurous wiener dog! Did I mention I caught Roxy-Doxy Tebowing after a spectacular tennis ball catch the other day? Oh....lawd-eee, that dog!

Redemptive love to all.