What a difference a week makes

...And what an emotional roller coaster it’s been….Last Friday night we got a 1am call no parent wants to receive Our son who lives in San Diego was in the UCSD Medical center …ICU Trauma Unit.  They were on his motorcycle (with helmets) merging onto the freeway and hit a mattress left in the road. With traffic, there was no avoiding it and down they went. His girlfriend Bri, we think rolled off the bike, she had a quite a bit of road rash on her lower back where the riding jacket slid up and quite a few bruises.

When we spoke to those in the trauma unit checking on his condition I let them know I would be flying in Saturday the first flight I could get & they said no….you have to wait.    Ummmm what? WAIT?  WHY!!    Because as next of kin I had to be available to authorize any possible emergency surgery needed..and I couldn’t do that if I was in flight.  I flew in Sunday expecting all the nasty “road rash” & broken bones  which come with bike wrecks, I had the attitude if I visualized the worst any thing less would be wonderful.

Boy was I shocked when I saw him.  He had 2 black/purple eyes  Johnny Depp would be proud of, the backs of  his hands were pretty raw but looking at him, that was it.   Best they can figure he flipped over the handle bars and landed on the back of his head and left shoulder breaking his collar bone.  On his back he has a touch of road rash which a week later is nearly healed.  

 What you can’t see is, both temporal bones are broken, the bones above and below his left eye (I believe are the orbital bones), a fracture at the base of his scull and significant hearing loss in his left ear. 

Because of the frontal lobe trauma, Initially we were give a pretty scary recovery….as in long term care rehab facility…we were looking at all the options, he couldn’t fly because of the head trauma so bringing him home was not an option…and his recovery would be best in an area he was last familiar with….living here for a while? I was scared to say the least…

Less than a week later he was discharged from the hospital,(with constant massive headache’s) on his own 2 feet, grumbling talking, reading and resuming modified activities . We have our son back…a more determined and stubborn stronger version.  He knows how blessed he is, and we all are so very thankful for all the prayers, good wishes and positive energy sent his way. Healing will be a long rough & rocky road & he's on his way one step at a time

Believe it or not, he started back in classes today….

17 credit hours.

Thank you is just not enough.

I’m sure he had better plans for his spring break!

Give those you love a big

Katie

Beautiful Spring Weather

Calls for a few day trips. 

I’d planned on a surprise trip to a park by the river with the kids but, nearby construction had the entire playground equipment covered in orange construction barriers.

Surprise surprise!

Not to let them down, we drove a mile further to

“The Falls Of the Ohio”

Such a beautiful spot, so close and we forget the many beautiful parks nearly in our own “backyard!

We found a shady table on a quiet path & I turned the kids loose to run, climb and play.

. 

The photo’s are from my cell, so it’s not greatest. 

We played our version of “Where’s Waldo”

Can you find them in the photo below?

When I had shown Larry these photos, he said “how were the snakes”?

SNAKES!?!?!

I’d forgotten this type of log pile is a favorite of theirs, toss in the warm weather and the fact we were climbing all over in this…I about wet my pants. 

Alix, remained unimpressed and slept through the afternoon

I think this summer we’ll be spending more time here..nearly in our own back yard!

Technorati Tags: Katidids,day trips,staycations,falls of the ohio

Is this amount OK?

What is the saying ….make plans and God laughs?

My plans for planting salad greens this morning have changed.  Last night we had some heavy rains storms which left the garden a soggy mess.  It needed raked well of any weeds left after tilling.  We had a real good crop of stink weed going for a while & I don’t want to be fighting them all summer.

With the change in plans I ended up in town for a groceries, eggs & a few other things (oh, for chickens of my own!)  Any way, as I was checking out something caught my eye.  The statement above my total bill had changed from prior visits. It went from.”Is this total correct” to “is this amount OK?”  Are you kidding me????

Heck no!!! That total is way to high! I bought the same items as last month and this months bill is about $10-15. higher. 

It looks like all the talk of hyper inflation is starting already.  Yet another reason to urging us further along the path of learning to do for ourselves.in a sustainable manner. 

Last nights rain brought a new crop of dandilions raising their bright yellow heads behind the house which reminds me I wanted to try my hand at making dandilion jam.   So I’m off to look up a few recipe’s. Might as well take advantage of what we’ve been blessed with right?

Any suggestions for tried and true recipes?

Technorati Tags: Katidids,dandilion jam,gardening

Outdoor Spring Cleaning

Last fall we finished this stage of the remodel (for the most part) right as the weather changed, it got cold wet and rainy quick. We used the patio as a staging area for lumber mixing concrete & cutting tile.  When we were done, all the tools got put up but there were a few things that were left out. This mess, is next on the clean up list.

In the summer this is usually one of my favorite spots on the patio.  Lots of shade for plants & a nice calm, quiet spot. Right now…. it’s a disaster

We’d moved the old table from the back deck to the corner near the hose (for the tile saw) and working in the shade…which just happens to be where I store my pots in the fall & winter.  With everything going on things got away from us pots & outside toys were placed in front of the mess.  We were burnt out, it was easier to let it go at the time.   Installing the water barrel  entailed shifting more pots, plants, hose hangers, potato buckets & the kids have been digging in the outdoor toys….It’s become a royal mess.

Another leftover from the bathroom is all the scrap tile, angle cuts and slices. I hate to just throw them out, there’s got to be a way use them.. I just can’t think of any…...

Any ideas?

Katie

Technorati Tags: Katidids,Patio,construction

Is this March or May?

Everyone’s talking about this weird weather we’re having,  I can’t get over how warm it is and have to wonder what this means for the upcoming summer’s growing season.    With that thought in mind and, taking advantage of our beautiful weather this weekend Larry installed our first water barrel.  I bought it end of last summer and was able to purchase it at a really good price

It sure beats my system of buckets under down spouts when it rains….who am I kidding, I’ll still do that for other areas

It took a quick trip to the hardware store for a few gutter connector pieces, a little over an hours work and it was done. One step closer to sustainable living!

I’ll use it for the herb bed and pots on the patio. It’s hard to believe the county we live in wants to stop the use of these! They think it will create “dry areas”…. I think it has more to do with lost revenue as your sewer bill is based on your water usage.

Thankfully we are still on septic system….for now anyway.  They were scheduled to run sewer lines down our road 2 years ago so I’m not holding my breath for that to happen, They can take all the time they need

My next task is to get the patio cleaned up, it’s still cluttered up with the remnants of construction

Have a great day

Katie

 

Technorati Tags: Katidids,water barrel,sustainable living