Preparing for Sandy

For the past few days, we have been preparing for this "Frankenstorm".  Superstorm, Storm of the century.  It has been all over the news. 

I hadn't taken it seriously a few days ago.  It was a typical hurricane and was supposed to venture to the right when it makes it way north.

Apparently, it decided to hook up with another system and try a  different route.  Literally,  straight for us.  Lucky us.

It seems and that every few years it has to rain and flood my basement.  I  am due for a flooding and  guess who is going to help, Sandy.  The only thing that makes this different than other years is there is a very good chance that we may lose power.  If I lose power, the flooding will get worse. because my sump pump needs electricity.  I can't imagine what 12 inches of rain can do. 

I am hoping for the best.  I have stocked up on water, candles, and dry goods.  This time around I will have extra company.  My son and his family will ride out the storm with us.

Hope everyone makes through this with minimum damage.

Hurricane Abbie

Lovin on my baby

My baby boy.

My shadow, when he was so small.  He followed me everywhere.

The last of my original angels.

My stubborn, sweet, and charming son.

Creative

Funny

Sarcastic

Loyal

Where did the time go?

Love him

Abbie, known by him as Mom

October Day

I have new housemates.  They are the cutest in my eyes.  My son and his family have temporarily moved in and it is great to be greeted by these Angels, when I come home. 

 It was a beautiful day.  Warm with a slight breeze and blue skies.  I took advantage of it and took them in the back yard.

Liam walked around and Zoe loved the texture of the grass.  Actually, Zoe loved to rip the grass out.  I guess it is her way of helping Pappy with mowing the lawn.  She noticed that it was also fun to rain grass on Liam's head.

Liam would laugh and Zoe would get some more grass.  She was having such a good time.

 

No they are not in the safari or wilderness, that is my backyard.  In desperate need of a mowing and trimming!  Who knew grass still grows in late October??

 

I love this picture of him. 

 

Wonder what he is thinking? Its more like "I'm getting tired".

 

We enjoyed our fall day.

 

Autumn Lovin'Abbie

 



Wordless Wednesday 10/24/12

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer

Tale of Two Men

Where to begin? 
Its not that I don't have stories to tell but my life has had many turns and changes.
My mind was on full alert and I had no time to just think about me over this past year.  Sounds selfish.  I know. 

The bulk of my attention was aimed at the two men in my life. 
My Dad and my son.

My dad's health since his heart attack and triple by pass surgery had consumed my thoughts and my mind. The constant trips to the city.  Talking to his doctors. Sorting out his medicines.  Making sure he knew what his medicines were for and how to take them.  I found out that he took his medicines when he thought to take them and not when he should. Going to specialists and preparing for the day he would need dialysis.  Finding out his heart has been severely damaged.  Fighting through his fears, fighting with my mom and her issues, trying to build a relationship with a brother. A brother I had met just a year ago and getting him to help me with our Dad and meeting his family. 

On top of that...
My son

We visited him for the last time in Colorado and then the repercussions that happened after we left. His wife is in the Air Force and her time was coming up when she would get out of the military.  The isolation that he felt when we left, the despair.  It came and hit him hard.  He couldn't wait any longer to be free from the strict rules of military life.

Sean was in the military and when his time was up, he became a stay at home time dad.  It was a little rough.  His wife worked sometimes 12 to 14 hour days.  They had only one car and he was stuck at home.  He just reached the end of his rope.

Things are better now, he is in our home with his family. My son has family around and Sean is not feeling isolated. They are getting the time they need to rebuild the relationship they had prior to the kids. Sean and his wife are not drowning with all the craziest that comes with having a family so young and you are far from home. Sometimes you need a break and it helps when you have people you can trust around.

While trying to solve all the worlds problems, there has been the one who was by my side.   Just waiting for  me to reach out for help.   My Rock.  My love. The one constant.  My husband Bill, who supported me through the nightmares and heartaches.

I have always taken things on and not ask for any help.  I hate depending on someone when I can do it myself.  Wonder where my son gets it from?  ha ha
I didn't like sharing this with Bill. But he needed to know where I was going especially when I left the state.  It is only right.  Sometimes I felt bad for giving him so much bad news.  Too much for one person to handle. 

During the crisis, my husband received news that his dearest sister's mother in law died suddenly.  I can only imagine the struggle of who to be with and comfort. Stay with his wife or be with his loving sister.  Stuck between a rock and a hard place.

He stayed with me until my dad was in better condition and the day before the funeral he was able to come back home and be with her.   I hated to put him in that position.  Bill is so loyal and to be divided with women he loves.  Letting him go was tough, but he went with a clear conscience.

I wanted to be be so selfish. I am far from perfect. I wanted him to be with me.  She has a huge family, a husband and a mom with her.  Why did she need him too?  Who did I have?  My mom was angry with me and worried about my Dad.  I have children who had their own families to tend to and I didn't want to burden them with my emotions.  I have no siblings aside from the person who is my brother whom I just met.  I was alone.  But I had to be the bigger person.  It super sucks but it made Bill feel better to go. I hid what I was screaming in my head - don't leave me alone.  I sucked it up.  It was only right and with a smile I let him go. 

Throughout the turmoils,we have grown stronger and tighter.  I would not deny him anything because he has proven himself over and over.  Bill is a man that truly deserves every good thing in the world.

Eternally grateful Abbie

Miss Olivia - Little Crabber

We had a family event, Bill's sister and her family have come up on a rare family visit.  Rare because we haven't seen the whole family in over a decade. They may visit but it is usually one at a time.
 
It was a combination of reunion and bridal shower for their eldest daughter.  Caitlin is planning to get married next year and many won't see the family until the wedding but that will be in Florida. It is an opportunity to shower them with lots of love. 

After the bridal party games, the feast began.  Plenty of food and time to catch up with family Bill hasn't seen in some time.

Crabs were up for grabs and some of the nieces and nephews enjoy getting their hands dirty and eating the crustaceans.  Miss Olivia noticed the comotion at the table and wanted to be in on the action. She pull a chair and sat her butt down. 

Meaghan, Bill's niece and goddaughter, was teaching Miss Olivia how to eat a crab.  She will be a wonderful teacher. Lots of patience.   I love crab cake but to crack open a crab.  I wont do that for myself. It takes too long and I get cranky to work that much for a little bit of crab meat. 

My father in law would sit and watch TV and his wife would do all the work and give him a nice pile of crab meat.  That would irritate some of his daughters feeling that he should have done it himself. .  I would smile because I would have done the same if I was his wife and as long as it isn't crab. She didn't mind and they shouldn't either but that is my opinion.
 
I make things for Bill that I don't like to eat.  Why should he be deprived of something he enjoys just cause I don't like it.  I won't cook crabs unless it is from the freezer. Mrs Paul's or Gordon's are old friends.   I cant bring home a live animal and then kill it.  I prefer my animal meat to be already killed before it touches my hands.  ha ha  Sorry PETA.
 

Miss Olivia did a very good job! 

 

Miss Olivia was very attentive and listened to everything Meaghan was saying.

 

 She couldn't wait to try it herself.

 

 

 Miss Olivia was not squeamish at all.  She dug right in, washed her hands, and ate.

I wonder if she would make a pile of crab meat for me?

No stinky hands for Abbie