Hope your Saturday is a Great One.....

I really do hope you are having a good day because so far, I have. My leg feels a little better and hopefully the cream will start working soon. My leg took a real bad turn for the worse Thursday night so I called to go in to see the dermatologist yesterday and she ruptured all the blisters. She said there were blisters inside of blisters and that she got the big one that had started oozing as good as she could and it would take a while to heal. She also said that my lymphoma could be one of the reasons my allergic reactions have become even worse than before. Oh well. I came home and tried to make some headway in making this little place presentable enough for company. As always - everything got piled up in the office/laundry room and the rest was hit with a lick and a promise. I do like my new vacuum cleaner. Yep - I finally broke down several weeks ago and bought my Dyson Ball. I went to Sears and handled both of them and

still decided to go with the smaller one for all the reasons I have had all along. The bigger one is easier when it comes to using the wand but the one I got is just fine in that area. It is very lightweight and takes up very little storage space. I just pick it up, extend the arm and it takes no time to do the living room carpet, push a button and do the kitchen and hallway for a quick clean up. I've offered my old one to a young friend who just moved into a garage apartment and is living alone for the first time. On Wednesday, Rie asked me if a friend had sent me a text message. I told her I didn't know so she checked my phone and sure enough, there was a message asking me what I was doing Friday. When I told Rie, she said - "yes, Friday is going to be her last day of work (she drives a school bus) and we were talking about getting together to have a glass or wine to celebrate." So I'm like - alright - that sounds like fun! Then Rie said in her hesitating so as not to make you mad voice - "well, we were kind of hoping to have this at your house". LOLOLOL and of course I said YES - I would love to.

Luz was the first one to arrive in her lovely pink outfit with matching shoes. She was laughing when she came in and said, "I don't get to go out or get dressed up too often so thought this was an appropriate occasion." I knew right then we were all going to have a very good time. Rie had told us earlier in the week about a very simple and quick pasta she makes for her family. I had bought some of the ingredients thinking I would try it and asked her if she would make it for us so we could all try it and watch how she does it. Vera's younger sister wanted to come and brought one of the best salads I've ever eaten. Gail made delicious garlic bread so we had a feast. This was an expensive week for Kendall Jackson so I finally bought several bottles at Wal Mart where I also picked up a nice cheese ball to go with some crackers I already had.

I also picked up a small bunch of roses at WalMart but didn't hold my breath over how long they will last. As it turns out, I think they are going to be the first fresh flowers I've purchased in a long time that do last.

Everyone decided they also love Kendall Jackson - except for Vera who likes her sweet wine. I didn't care as long as she was enjoying herself. We all LOVED the pasta which was delizioso which is the Italian word that sounds a lot like the Spanish word for delicious!!! After we finished the pasta, we had some of my fresh fruit salad with a big serving of Greek yogurt with a little honey added. Everyone said they liked that too.

Poor Vera was so tired she would just sit with her eyes closed and listen to us talk. Everyone started getting real comfortable while some music played in the background. It was an excellent way to wind down and cool off after a hot week in service.

When Gail pulled the chair out to recline it she said - "that's it - I'm gone". I had the digital frame Kurt and Leah gave us for our anniversary last year on and everyone was looking at the pictures while Vera was trying to not snore. She swears she heard everything we said but I doubt it. At one point she realized I was taking her picture and "discreetly" pulled pulled her shirt up.

Once she was quiet again, Gail was going to tug on her shirt to scare her while Rie and Luz pointed but Luz's arm got in the way. Not long after everyone got here, it started raining.  We were laughing about all the things we heard as youngsters about when it rains while the sun is shining.  Mine was that the devil was beating one of his wives. That brought up how we were also all told thunder was the sound of the angels bowling. Then we started remembering the first time we saw it rain across the road from us or down the middle of a car. As the evening progressed, the rain became a downpour.  When it first started, I opened the back door thinking it would be cooler but it wasn't.  By the time everyone left, it had cooled off a bit.
 
Miya enjoyed watching the rain also. Of course she had to greet everyone and fell in love with Vera's younger sister Monay. It turns out she isn't like her older sister and actually likes cats! Everything feels really fresh today because of the rain last night. As long as I don't go into the office or look around too hard, the house looks pretty good which is why I probably should have a few friends over every month - it forces me to do what needs to be done. I feel so honored that people actually enjoy coming to my little cottage to wind down for relaxing but fun conversation.  They know they can kick off their shoes and nothing is off limits - hopefully they will always feel this way.  I wish Marlan could have been here but she was in Virginia with Bri who found out there is a 95% probability she is going to have another little girl.  Woo Hoo!  Can't wait to meet the little princess.

Bites are taking on a life of their own....

This is getting crazy - the bites on the back of my leg are going nuts. The cream I've been using wasn't  helping at all. My leg was tight and the red was spreading.

I took these pictures before I left to take Miya to the Vet's office. Of course, everyone there was freaking out about my arm and leg - especially my leg. I told them I thought it was severe reaction to flea bites and they were like - NO - it can't be that. The young woman who was going to put Miya's flea meds on and clip her nails came in and I showed her my leg and said; "what is it?" and she said "fleas". She said she has bad reactions too. The mystery of the day is that neither of us saw fleas on Miya BUT they could still be in my house. As many of you already know, my house had fleas before Miya moved in and the meds we put on her helped get rid of them. 

Miya was quite anxious while they were clipping her nails and applying the flea medication. She hates that medication - acts like she can almost taste it. We put her back in her cage so she could calm down before they checked her heart rate. We were very pleased with her heart rate - 152!!! I couldn't wait to call her cardiologist who was also happy because that means her meds are helping her. Whew - don't feel like such a bad Mommy right now. I called my dermatologist about my leg. They couldn't work me in but knew about my previous visit to Urgent Care for the bites on my upper arm a few weeks ago. They called in a prescription for a very, very strong cream. If it doesn't help, they will try their best to work me in tomorrow. I made sure the cream wouldn't interact negatively with my other meds and told the pharmacist how they had hoped I could take Zyrtec. She told me I can take it 12 hours before the other med for two or three days and might sleep but if I felt I needed it to use it. I put the new cream on and am so hoping it will do the trick. I almost stayed home but really didn't want to miss the meeting. I was so dreading everyone freaking out about my reactions - especially my leg. Of course the larger blister started oozing during the meeting which made things worse.

Everyone thinks it is poison oak/ivy and it does look like it but I'm still quite sure it is some kind of bite. Please let the cream  do the trick. Of course, one of the bites on my arm has red spreading out from it so I can't win.

Wachapreague, fishing, bites......

BigD had a good fishing trip this past week while Roseanne and I were down East.  There were 10 guys on this particular trip and even though they usually stay in Wachapreague, this year they found a nice house right on the water a little further South.

He is getting real good at taking pictures with his little phone. I am constantly amazed by some of the pictures we get on our cheap little phones - sometimes better than my "new" camera.

Here are a few of the guys who went this year. BigD always calls me each evening to let me know "they got back in". I act pretty casual about it but am actually waiting for that call every afternoon I know they have gone out. My dear hubby has no fear when it comes to taking a small boat out into the big, bad ocean so someone has to be concerned.

He really liked the place they stayed in and kept talking about how the young guys were cleaning the fish. When he got home, he mentioned it again saying, "I think this is the first fishing trip I've ever been on that I didn't clean the fish". I'm sure he was out there overseeing everything. :) I have never known another man who gets as much out of fishing as my husband. Anyone who thinks that going out with him is going to be a walk in the park has another think coming. He works at it but enjoys every moment of it. I have wonderful memories of our trips with GG and David. Nothing like being on a boat on the salt water with the sun, wind, birds, and slapping of the water against the boat. It takes a few hours to really feel yourself winding down the first day. This was before cell phones so there you are - no phones, no job, no housework - just you, your loved ones and nature at it finest.

Speaking of nature - this is not it's finest. Yep - I've been eaten alive again by who knows what. I was asleep but realized I was trying to scratch the back of my leg last night. This morning I realized something had been chewing on me through the night. The pictures don't show how red and swollen the whole area is  has become. I also noticed I have new bites on the back of the same arm as before.

All I know for sure is that I'm miserable again. The ones on my leg are really bothering me because the bites are right where your leg touches chairs, car seats, recliners - you get the picture. I've put some of the cream I got for the last bites and used it this morning and tonight as directed. Please let it start working sooner than later but I'm not holding out much hope. I had to drop some things off to Roseanne at Urgent Care to take to Virginia with her for Leah to pick up before Page2 leave for DC and NY. She is going up to be with her daughter when she finds out what sex her baby is going to be.  Exciting!!  I showed the bites on my arm to Sher and we pretty much agree that my body just reacts very strongly to anything alien to it. Too bad it doesn't react that way to fat isn't it? I noticed the blisters that had appeared so sent these pictures to her and another friend to get their opinion. I'm going to call the Vet tomorrow to see if they can clip Miya's nails, apply flea meds (even though I still can't see any - but just in case) and listen to her heart for me so I can call the cardiologist with the results. I was going to take my car to be serviced but don't think I'll have time for all of that. Maybe next week. Today was Page2's last day of school.  Wow - she will be in the 5th grade next year - when did that happen?!  Her Mom is trying to get everything ready for the big trip this coming weekend.  What a grand adventure she will have.  I can't wait to hear all about it. 

Back to reality.....

We woke up Sunday to the knowledge that it was time to head back to reality. Since everything about our trip was so nice, it wasn't as hard as it could have been. Even though it was hot, every day was gorgeous and special to us. On Saturday we had lunch at Ballyhoo's and it was delicious. We were sorry the owner (Mae's grandson) wasn't there but we were not sorry we had lunch there. We got there a little after the lunch rush and the service was great. Roseanne got a nice, juicy hamburger and waffle fries and I got the Spinach Wrap and Sweet Potato fries. They say a picture is supposed to be worth a thousand words - I think this picture says it all don't you?  Since we had used all our coffee, we decided to pick up breakfast on our way out Sunday. Everything was packed and ready to go - except - for - PRINCESS MIYA CHULA YUM-YUM who decided she wasn't ready to leave.  She got way up underneath Eileen's king sized bed and Roseanne was laying flat on the floor trying to coax her out while I was squeezed down as far as I could get between the wall and bed on the other side with the long duster trying to push her out.  THAT didn't work.  SO - I closed the door and we went to pick up some sorely needed coffee and breakfast.  After we ate - I opened the door and she was right there - all poised  to take off again. GOTCHA!  Poor Roseanne is allergic to cats - especially Siamese. As long as Miya didn't get close to her face, she was okay.  She was careful each night to close the door to her room so Miya couldn't climb on the bed with her. That worked well until Roseanne woke up to her sleeping on the bed one morning. Oh my.....she is a curious little bugger.

Time to say good-bye again. Thank you so much Eileen and LC for sharing your wonderful slice of Paradise with us. We both appreciate it more than you will ever imagine. Speaking of reality, I have been home all day trying to wade through laundry (BigD got back yesterday from a fishing trip) and paperwork.

Almost over......

Oh well - I didn't get to sleep until quite late last night while feeling really bad because I had failed to get Miya's meds in her the night before and she was still hiding. When she finally tried to get in bed with me later - I knew I had to get up and give her the meds. Then I couldn't get back to sleep! Arggghhh!! I finally gave up and started reading my book again to go back to sleep. It felt like I had just gone to sleep when I heard Roseanne making coffee and getting ready to walk on the beach. I decided to opt out of a walk this morning and take it easy. I can't believe this is our last day here. It makes me remember the few times we went to the coast for a week when I was still young.  I don't know how Mama and Daddy did it with all of us girls. I was just talking to Roseanne about it and how the last two years we came as a whole family for a week - my parents let me bring my friend Eileen. I know that was an added expense as far a food but Mama not only knew how to make any spot we were in for longer than a day feel like home; but how to stretch a dollar to the limit. I wonder if that is the reason I always unpack my suitcase when I go somewhere and put things away as if I live there?  BigD never unpacks his suitcase - even if we are at the coast for a whole week.  I used to unpack for him, but he asked me not to since he knows where everything is when he wants it. Go figure.

I decided to open the blinds and let the outside in - at least until it gets too hot. Roseanne decided to organize some of the treasures she bought in Beaufort yesterday. We both love pottery (even though I have  NO ROOM for any more) and we both love dragonflies.

Roseanne bought the bigger one and I chose the smaller one that has a Baked Brie recipe in it. I plan to use mine for my fruit salads. Some people will never understand what that means - but eating out of a plate or bowl you love makes everything you eat out of it taste special. Kind of like when I drink tea out of one of my dragonfly cups I bought from the same shop many years ago.

We are trying to decide what we want to do on our last day in this little piece of paradise. Sit around the lovely cottage and watch shows we never have time to watch, read our books, and eat our special treats or get in the hot car and drive in the weekend traffic to go to shops and spend more money we don't have? Hmmmmm - that should be a no brainer but we'll see.

Emerald Isle 2011......

Yep - Roseanne and I are one of my favorite places (and now one of hers) - Eileen's lovely beach cottage.  I just can't imagine what else she could do to make this place more of a Paradise than it is!  I LOVE the fireplace - got a picture for BigD to look at to see if it is what we want in our living room if we ever switch to gas and get a new TV.

I guess you could say Princess Miya likes it. As a matter of fact, she likes this entire cottage. Daisy isn't here this time and she is the ruler of the roost so to speak. We left Wednesday morning and "stopped by" Krispy Kreme to pick up a few (a dozen) chocolate glazed doughnuts.

And if you think we only got two of them you are NUTS! Great news is there were 3 left as of today and they may not get eaten at all - we'll see said the blind man.

Since I forgot my bathing suit and we needed just a few things from the grocery, we drove to Wally-World and I bought a floral bathing suit that is really a bathing dress. Yeah - I already look like a beached whale so let's add a few flowers to the mix. We ate at Chowda-Head our first evening down and it was yummy. We were going to eat at Ballyhoo but they were closed and wouldn't be open until after we wanted to eat. Last night we had sauteed salmon, roasted veggie, and wine. Yesterday we made the rounds to Swansboro, Cedar Point and all in between. We had yummy hot dogs and cherry cokes at Yana's and Roseanne blew her wad in the shop next door. Hot dogs, cherry cokes and she got one small order of fries - $20.00!!!! Cha-ching. I got BigD a new shirt and we picked up a few other doo-dads. Today we drove over to Beaufort and had a scrumptious lunch on the waterfront. I bought a cool pair of earrings and a little button for the both of us.

BigD has called from Chesapeake area every evening when they get in to let me know how it is going with him. I can tell he is having a good time but all he asks me every evening is - "are ya'll behaving yourself?". What could he mean? Why would he ask that? Could it be, he is hearing the Cha-Chings all the way up there? Man - are we both back in debt but you know - we are on VACATION!! It isn't like we have bought only for ourselves (well at least Roseanne didn't). LOLOL We bought a bottle of another of my favorite wines in Beaufort for tonight and are just resting.  Roseanne has read one book and half-way through another and I'm still working on Margaret Maron's latest.  It has been so much fun being on her FB and hearing all they things she and her friends talk about writing. How did I know she would be so nice and down to earth? Hmmmm  We found out on our way down that my friend who died a year ago yesterday's youngest daughter's twins are going to be a girl and a boy!  We were squealing when we found out and are trying to stay in close touch with her to show as much support as we can.  She misses her Mama.  So a few more pictures from our little escape to Paradise and maybe more later.......

So - Roseanne and I will say so long - don't be tooooooo jealous.....and yes BigD - we ARE behaving ourselves. Yuk, Yuk, Yuk

Where to begin.......

Okay - here we are in June but I need to digress. I haven't mentioned mine and BigD's very short trip up North to visit Kurt, Leah and Page2!  We had a lovely drive in our silver Cadilacky through the mountains while enjoying the gorgeous day.  We drove up last Saturday morning and were home by Sunday afternoon.

Leah's flowers and plants were looking good. Page2 and I walked around their lovely home and I took another picture of one of the dogwoods in their yard. I love dogwood trees.

Most of the natural Spring flowers - like the Peonies - were gone but the place still looks great. Princess Miya did pretty good with her brother and crazy Vincent.

BigD and Kurt were enjoying the outdoors while Leah brought the marinated steak and chicken breasts out for them to work their magic over the coals. We also had salad, baked potatoes, green beans, and, and...in other words - it was a feast. We went up to give Page2 a little gift of cash for her big trip with Papa and Grandma. She is getting so excited and I know she will have a wonderful time. We got up Sunday morning and ate breakfast together at McDonald's after which they went to the meeting and we headed South again. All in all - it was a very satisfying little trip. As usual, we were missing them before we got off the mountain.