Letters to Mom

Going through stuff in the craft room, Ma.  Moving things around, arranging things and going through things.  Putting more stuff in the "to go to charity" pile and then I came across your robe. The big fluffy pink robe, the plush material one. I wondered why we kept it past the first pass through your clothes. It's way too big for us but is kinda comfortable. I threw it in the wash before I was going to put in the "to go" pile and then it hit me why we held onto it. I put your robe at the foot of my bed and later Alice jumped up on the bed and onto my chest. I wasn't in the mood to hold a heavy cat right then and playfully tossed her off my chest and she landed with her face and front paws on the robe. That cat was dancing before her hind end hit the bed. LOL  We'll keep the robe, Ma.

We started putting together the shelves for the tubs of material.  We've a two car garage and basement but having the material in the garage didn't work out. I asked Jackie if we even want to keep it, the feeling right now is yes. I have an idea - I'm good at hand sewing and piecework but lousy at quilting - maybe just doing quilt tops for sale. We'll see how it goes. I'm still going to give another try at the quilting, Ma. These cinder blocks are HEAVY. It was really hard for Jackie and I to get them in the house - 8 of them and I need 4 more <sigh> The room is beginning to feel more like progress towards a craft/guest room.  Having to baby my back AND my neck/shoulders is very frustrating! And then came news from Mama P, you know, my Jewish friend in Arkansas.  She's been feeling horrible and thinking it was because of being taken off one medicine for an upcoming knee surgery.  Her husband took her to the ER tonight and they've admitted her.

Hey Ma, We've started turning your room into a craft/guest room.  I moved the bed from the middle of the area to up against the wall and got everything off of it and remade it and moved the night stand. Now to work on the rest of the room.  Donated your clothes, changing the room needs to be steps to help move past the grief.  Hurts though. I needed to change the bed because I keep expecting to see you there.

A victim chosen at random from the Yad Vashem Lala Lamsztein, born 01/25/1924 in Warsaw, Poland died in Treblinka concentration camp between 1942-1944 She was between 16-19 years old May her name and memory never be forgotten.

Ma, got it done! I was scheduled for an MRI about 1 1/2 months ago.  First time I got sick and had to reschedule.  2nd appt was delayed because the machine broke down.  3rd time there was snow in north Atlanta.  4th time, ice and slush in north Atlanta.  4th time there was a fire in a strip mall in Mableton right by the road. We were the first car the police turned around.  Okay, we'll cut over and catch the interstate - this was on a Saturday (MRI department was working weekends to get caught up after the machine had broken down).  We got past Six Flags and traffic began getting really thick..... WTH? Is there a game scheduled, we wondered.  No. No game. No room to move either.  Someone at Georgia department of transportation had the brilliant idea of funneling THREE lanes of interstate traffic into ONE LANE.  One lane of traffic on the highway that runs from Texas to Florida.  It was stopped traffic. It took us 40 minutes to go 1/4 of a mile and another 15 to reach an exit to

Pumpkin a Super Food for All 12 Months of the Year DeeDee Stovel 1 slice whole wheat bread * 2 tbspn. low fat milk * 1/2 cup finely chopped onion * 3/4 cup canned unsweetened pumpkin * 1/4 cup chopped parsley * 1 egg * 1 tbsp dried oregano * 1 tsp salt * freshly ground pepper * 2 lbs meatloaf mix (ground beef and pork) * 2 tbsp dark brown sugar Oven 375F for 1 hour * 1/2 cup pumpkin in the meatloaf, the rest is mixed with brown sugar and coat the loaf of meat. This is a keeper, Ma!  It doesn't taste like any other meatloaf we've had and the taste was great!  I even got the timing down where the mashed potatoes and meatloaf were done at the same time.  Yay

http://aravahsproject.blogspot.com/ making progress on the jacket, Ma.  We should be out doing yard work but haven't gotten moving yet, rough night sleeping and my neck is painful today. Falling apart, Mom

Did my seder here with a site where several rabbis do an online seder (and Shabbat services and other holy days).  I did my Shabbat last night and seder today - splitting the work and stress over two days. I didn't get the floors scrubbed in the living/family room but I'm okay with that until we figure out what's up with the shoulder and I do the MRI for the back. Falling apart, Mom.

Hey Ma; Lynn called with news. Nicholas went down and didn't want to get up. They got him into the vet and they found he had cancer and was bleeding into his stomach and there wasn't anything to be done and they had to let him go.  They're both grieving. He was like a Sam to them. So damned hard losing any of them but some reach deeper into your heart, you know?

Hey Mom; Got most of the cleaning done but there's a lot more left if we count in the craft room, garage and yard work.  We'll start that probably Monday or so.  I didn't handscrub the living and family rooms but that has to be okay, you know?  I overdid a lot on the other rooms but I was pretty much ready for Pesach when sundown hit.  I made paparika chicken in the slow cooker and you know how much Jackie loves that! A bit tired today so I'm actually going to rest on Shabbat - shock, I know. We've started going through some of your stuff, Ma. I found your journal from when you were with Uncle George in Texas.  I haven't read through it yet. We've gone through your dress up clothes, books, cds (keeping the Rod Stewart and Johnny Cash, of course).  Next is all the papers, pictures and then the turtles. I debate with myself about keeping all of them and taking over your collection, my eyes can spot a turtle from across a crowded store, but turtles aren