Wordless Wednesday

Easter Monday

We had a quiet Easter at home yesterday, just Bruce and I. We took Jessie for a walk around the park, then stopped over to see Grandma Gloria. She was sleeping, so we went home and then went back later in the afternoon to see her. She was more restless than usual, and didn't want to sit and eat. In the end, though, she ate some salad and pie, which was probably good enough considering her mood.

The weather has been so nice! I've been leaving the sliding door to the porch open a crack when I'm home so the cats can come and go as they please. Tristin, especially, has been loving it. Jessie has been very comfortable, and spends a lot of her time sleeping. I'm thinking that her new dog food must be helping.

And the updates on Danielle have been encouraging. Her breathing tube is now out, and her sister posted on Facebook that she spoke something today. The doctors are not worried about the fractures in her neck or back as they're not pressing on her spinal cord. In fact, she may be able to fly home in a few weeks. All in all, it sure seems like some miracles are happening.  :-)

Easter Dinner

We had Easter Dinner a day early this year. Jake had to work on Sunday at school, and this seemed like a more relaxing way to do things. Nick was here, but we missed having Katie with us. Lucky for the kids, the Easter Bunny brought baskets of candy early. (And, I promise to keep Katie's safe from Trisitin until she gets home.) We had ham and cheesy potatoes, of course, plus Mom's famous lemon jello. Mom brought homemade oatmeal chocolate chip cookies and snicker doodles, and Bruce made lemon bars. I think we had plenty to eat!

I'm really glad that we've been able to have these family dinners all these years, and I know that I will cherish the memories made. Life would be so empty without family.

Danielle

It's been a sad and scary last couple of days since we've heard about Danielle's injuries from a bus rollover accident in Malawi, where she has been working with orphans during the last year. Her injuries ended up being the worst of them all, as she was thrown from the bus and received fractures of her neck, back, and skull plus lacerations and lung damage. Her mom is flying out to be with her, and I can only imagine how terrifying it must be to not be with her already. The good part of all of this is that she was transported to an excellent hospital in Johannesburg (Nelson Mandela was treated there) and that she has been able to move all extremities. This is SO GOOD.

As horrible as this all has been, Danielle was loving what she was doing there. I guess we can't be afraid of what unknown things might happen to us as we go out and live our lives. I'm praying that Danielle will heal completely, and then get back to doing what she loves most.

Sausage and Rice

Bruce gave me this casserole dish some time ago, although I don't remember when. I guess these days if I can't remember the when or why of some gifts, I can at least remember who gave them to me! Last night I made a casserole of sausage and rice that has become a favorite of ours. Bruce says it reminds him of risotto, only better. It's also much easier to make.

Sausage and Rice

One pound of ground pork sausage
About one half of an onion, diced
1/2 cup rice (I use brown rice)
Cream of Chicken soup, one can
Chicken Noodle soup, one can
Sliced mushrooms, one can, drained

Brown the sausage and onion together, drain off the grease. Mix together with the rest of the ingredients in a greased casserole dish. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for about 1-1/2 hours until rice is tender, stirring occasionally. We love to eat this with some cinnamon applesauce.

Comfort food at it's best!

At Last

Spring is finally here, the last of the snow is melting, and critters are out and about. I think we're supposed to get rain tomorrow, but that should clean things up a bit and wash away any snow in our yard. I remembered that we forgot to put the screens up in the windows over the kitchen sink last year, dug them out of the basement, and put them in. So much better! Then being on a roll, I washed a few windows including our front door. I think my next mission will be to clean out the porch, maybe even get something planted in my strawberry pots. This mild weather does my heart good.

Wordless Wednesday

Pie

There is just something so enjoyable about making pretty pies.

Out and About

We've been out quite a bit this weekend, and to places more exciting than usual. I think it's good for us, especially since we've been missing having the kids around.

Friday night, Bruce said let's go to the little Russian restaurant and then see a movie.  We had some amazing food … Borscht, Cheburki, Chicken Stroganoff, and something they just called Dessert. Afterwards we went to see The Grand Budapest Hotel, which Bruce said reminded him of a combination of Napoleon Dynamite and a Cohen Brothers film. I'm not sure I totally understood what was going on, but it did get a 4 star rating.

Last night, we went out with someone Bruce works with, along with his wife. We ate at a place called the Cheeky Monkey in St. Paul. They had Rabbit Pie on the menu, which looked to be just vegetables (and rabbits eat vegetables, so it made sense) but when I asked, they said it did actually have rabbit meat in it. We opted for Shepherd's Pie. (Bruce said he liked my Shepherd's Pie better which was another good husband comment)  We then went to see the Minnesota Rollergirls at Wilkins Arena. At half time they had a little band that played polka music and people got up to dance. We stayed up in the bleacher area, and did our own version of the Chicken Dance. We didn't get home until midnight and as we were walking out to the car, I heard someone call out my name … turned around and it was a couple of friends from college. Fun!

It's back to our normal routine today, getting a few things done for the upcoming week and hanging out with the animals. The snow is melting and they say it might even reach 70 degrees by Wednesday! I'm thinking that it just might be time to fire up the grill. Life is good!

A Glimpse of Home

It Just Never Ends

We're supposed to get another 8-14 inches of snow, starting any time soon. We could say that maybe it will pass us by, but the fact is, that the weather people have been unusually accurate this year with their forecasts. Both Bruce and I have admitted to being crabby this week, and we can probably blame it on any number of things, but right now I'm going to say it's this never ending winter.

Wordless Wednesday

Post Weekend

Jake's spring break is now over and he's headed back to school. Sometimes I think that I'm adjusting to our newly empty nest, and then when the kids come and go again, I have to readjust!  Katie's been in Seoul for a week now. She seems to be liking it there, says she's been sleeping okay and likes the food. I'm hoping that we'll see Nick at Easter. I guess once a mom, always a mom.

I think our old lady dog is in a better spot. I don't see her biting at her rump or licking her legs much any more, if at all. And she seems to be resting better. We took her for her first spring walk around the park on Sunday, and we made it around once. When we got home, she promptly fell asleep. But, Jessie will always defend our home against invaders … she had a fit when four deer walked through the yard last night.

Grandma Gloria seems to be more and more in her own world. I think she still recognizes us, but the memory unit has become her home now and she seems to prefer being with the other folks there. I think that's okay, she seems content and relaxed.

So maybe things are as they should be for now. The weather is not very spring like, but it is April and this snow can't last forever.