After 10-days of heat and no rain things were pretty sorry looking. Then as summer so often does it whipped up the right recipe to bring us rain. Cool front coming down from the north and juicy hot air coming from the Gulf…..mix well together and pour out for rain. Works every time. The trick is to keep it under control so there are no tornados, high straight winds and no hail. That’s the tricky part. When winds are clocked at 70 mph it’s going to do a lot of damage.

I’ve been pretty much passive about it all as I’ve had to humor the sciatic nerve on my right side. I’ve been to the chiropractor twice, the doctor once and have applied cold packs and an infra-red lamp to the area that keeps belting out a painful punch. Of course none of this is exactly news for those of you who are regular readers.

It is so frustrating to look out instead of being out. As hot and humid as the weather has been it would have been some help to at least pull a few weeds. However, I am one who believes there is a great primeval plan for our days so whatever I’m to learn from all this is: I am definitely not in control. That’s my take on it, at least.

I take full credit for the wonderful rain we’ve had. I drove through the car wash on Friday and even selected the deluxe wash. As much as I love Napoleon, he has several aggravating habits. For one, he insists on getting up on top of the van with his tail hanging over the driver’s window. Does this bring a red light to anyone? In the natural way of things he relieves himself and it runs all the way down my side window and door.

If I’m not careful I leave the window slightly cracked and he manages to let it run down the inside onto my driver’s seat. Needless to say I would put the car in the garage but remember we have about a dozen booths to keep full of stuff? My garage has become the dumping ground for whatever we can’t haul at the time and since cold weather it has become fuller and more out of organization than ever. When I’m up to the humiliation I’ll snap a picture and let you see for yourselves. It is not a pretty sight.

My aim is to get the garage cleaned and organized so I can put the van in out of the weather and away from Napoleon. However, that depends on how soon I can get back to work. Well, I digress. My washing the car, finally, was what tempted the downpours we’ve had the past several days. It’s been a long time since I’ve heard much thunder and seen that much lightening and it was rewarding.

All things considered life is moving right along here on our little acre……and now, it is time for the infra-red lamp again. Cheers.

Essentially Esther

Some days are better than others. I never know why but it’s true. It’s like you wake up with a happy, expectant feeling that “today” is going to be special. In my case, I think it’s because I’m limited with activities right now and it gives me time to appreciate everything more. I have every reason to be grateful for God has been very good to me. He has seen me through many a trial and error and answers every prayer; sometimes yes and sometimes no. That’s enough to make any day special. We have an advocate who is always watching out for us.

I sense a growing feeling that the citizens of this country are banding together to get back to basics. It really doesn’t take a lot to make most of us happy. When I see the ruins of tornado’s or earthquakes, etc; on TV, most of the people interviewed will say “our family is safe….the things can be replaced.” If your house were burning and you had five minutes to grab something, it more than likely would be a child, or pet. If there is no child or pet, it’s usually photo albums.

Fire, wind or water doesn’t care what we pay for things or what brand we are wearing. It burns the same no matter the price tag. When everything is gone that we spent our lives getting what do we have left? Who and what we are and the integrity we hold dear. Boiled down, sifted and tried we really don’t need much.

I’m happy because there are still flowers blooming along the roads, beautiful sunrises or sunsets, butterflies and birds and all the little critters running around in the acre I call home. My mother was always one who enjoyed looking at the yards and homes of other people. She didn’t have to own it or acquire it…..she simply enjoyed the beauty as she walked by and was satisfied.

Satisfied! What a wonderful gift she gave to me.

Essentially Esther

I’m writing today in a room closed off because I have stained a piece of furniture in here. The smell is not only terrible but I would imagine not too good for my lungs. Just an update on the doctor visit today……she agreed with the chiropractor and the only thing she could do differently was prescribe a pain pill.

I am not better today….it hurts worse but only took the pill an hour ago. I’m like an addict watching the clock until the next pill. I’m hoping it will work since I’m more or less sedentary at this stage.

John sent a book I’m reading so it’s a chance to finish that and maybe do a little work on an afghan I’m making. I can find something to do at any level of activity or no activity. I have a crossword puzzle half finished so that will be first on my list……OK…..I think I’m set.

Our weather is getting ugly. The next couple of days is mid-90’s and the weekend is to be 100. It will be OK if we keep the little breeze we’ve been having. No matter how hot it is……if there is a breeze and you are in the shade, it’s tolerable. On the other hand if the above isn’t happening……the humidity is in control.

There are so many things to be thankful for I can’t find it in my heart to complain. There are people everywhere who hurt this bad all the time. There is no “pill” to ease their pain and they certainly don’t have AC or clean water. In comparison I don’t stand very tall.

My condition will improve in time and I’ll be normal again. (Well, anyway “my” normal.) The odds of recovery aren’t very good for the people we see on TV that are truly suffering with no chance of getting help or getting better. I don’t know the full extent of needs for these people but it doesn’t take a brain surgeon to realize we have it pretty good in comparison.

The picture is one taken by George (son #1) of his rock berm. I thought it should have a chance to be enjoyed by those of you who read my blog. I’ve seen it close and personal……it is very pretty.

Essentially Esther

One never knows what the day will bring. I’ve been bothered with a sciatic nerve problem. At first it was like a mild bruise and I ignored it for the most part. For quite a while I could overlook it except when I sat for any length of time or stood for long periods.

Of course I rationalized it wasn’t a serious thing……I got my doctor book out and read about the sciatic nerve and it seemed it would go away in due time. Due time has a puzzling explanation. My doctor book was printed in 1989.…..can you imagine the changes in medicine since 1989? And what is “due time?”

The past two weeks have doled out pain I can’t ignore any longer. I’m tired of giving in to the right lower back and hip because it just plain hurts. Any movement from either leg makes the right one hurt worse. Doing anything makes it hurt worse. Now I’m a very stubborn person and I don’t like to be dictated to by a nerve but I threw the towel in this morning.

After a miserable Sunday, I woke this morning with a mission. I called for an appointment with my doctor and then a friend had a chiropractor she highly recommended. I called him and was in his office @ 10:00 AM. Believe me if you called to tell me a witch doctor would work, I’d be on the phone the minute we hung up. I was making tracks like Jonah after the whale spit him up.

The chiropractor took an X-ray and said I had very little bone loss and everything looked good. He did his snap, crackle and pop and told me to keep ice on the places that hurt. Around 2 ½ hours a day…..in intervals of 20 minutes on ice, 20 minutes off, then 20 minutes of the ice again. Repeat a couple times a day to take the swelling out and help the pain. It works…..not perfect yet but it’s helping.

So I will be doing the ice thing until Friday morning at 9:00 AM when I see the chiropractor again. It’s up all the way from here…..I’ll keep you posted.

Essentially Esther

Inspiration is funny. Either you’re full of stuff to write about and can’t shut-up or you’re brain dead. Since my last post I’ve pretty much been brain dead. I understand why some blogger’s just quit writing altogether or take leave. This is always sad when it happens to one of my favorite writers.

Most of you remember Ellen Crush. I enjoyed her journey from the time I met her on line until cancer claimed her last ounce of strength. She was a fighter with a gentle heart and good brain. Then from what I gather Critter Chick developed cancer and was so engrossed with treatments she quit writing because she didn’t want to talk about cancer all the time.

I was sorry to see her leave the blog world and finally there were so many comments they had to shut down her site. I am not aware of any updates and so I wonder what ever happened to her. Her site was full of beauty….an avowed animal lover, she had pictures of her pets and others in a fresh way for viewing.

My cousin Dale’s last blog was on May 9, 2007. One month later and on the same day…..he died. I not only miss him but he had a wonderful gift of writing. The Andersen’s were great story tellers and Dale did them proud. I will always hate that he died alone and that he died before we were ready to let him go.

Those were a few of the writers but John and Becky have quit for a while or maybe forever because they are in Administrative jobs. You can only pack so much into 24-hours. I have struggled lately because it seems I write about the same things all the time. Repetition gets old after a while for the reader.

As far as news from Shady Lane……..I’ve had the deck power-washed and wood sealer put on. It looks much better and hopefully will aid in preserving it for more years to come. I water the foliage around the house area and the other things just have to tough it until it rains again. Hopefully that will happen soon.

I enjoy being outside for any reason. I have not been able to do much work in my flowers for the rainy weather from May to half of June. The past three weeks have dried out our reserve……..but every day I can do a little and that keeps me happy. Today I am planting “Hen and Chicks”……they were a favorite of Rocky’s and therefore, a favorite of mine.

Essentially Esther

After so much rain you would think the ground would still give moisture to the flowers but not so. Each day makes them suffer terrible heat so I water early morning or in the evening. I swear they drink up the moisture and thank me.

The television is full of warnings about “the elderly” who may be in homes without AC. Those that do don’t use it because of high electric bills. Since it feels strange to be thought of as “elderly” I get a wake-up call with heat related warnings. I’ve had severe problems with the heat so I stay in through the major part of the day. Good thinking to remind us because I throw caution to the wind and suffer the consequences at times.

When I think I used to pick, prepare and can green beans in July in a small kitchen it leaves me shaking my head. No AC at all and most of the time with no fan. We didn’t think anything of it. The end result was the focus. Can up all you could for a long hard winter. The old pressure cooker spewed hot steam and the pressure release would jingle a little tune.

It was still better than the way my mother and grandmother’s canning went. Same heat, different place……a big kettle full of boiling water with jars rattling around in it to make the contents safe to eat. Later on Mom had a pressure cooker which made her life easier but she was ever fearful it would blow up. She walked around it with the same respect given dynamite or an atom bomb.

Well, the old memories seem just like yesterday. Time is an elusive thing. I’m thankful for the experience of growing food and canning it but now that I’m a household of one I find memories are as satisfying.

Today is a good day to make memories so you will be enriched down the line. Make each day count to the fullest…….it is, after all, a gift.

Essentially Esther

This is the cupboard that Rocky made. Since the space was limited it wouldn’t be possible to find a cupboard to fit. Rocky asked if I would like him to make one……..does a bear live in the woods? Though married three times I never had a husband who could do carpentry, electrical, plumbing….the works. Rocky amazed me with his “can do” attitude. This doesn’t take anything away from my other two husbands. They had talents that Rocky didn’t and at the time were needed.

He made a trip to the lumber yard and began his project in the garage. The next few days he was busy as a bee…….occasionally having me look to determine how far apart the shelves should be and such. When he brought it into the house, it fit the space perfectly. To the half-inch it fit into the space with no problem.

It is one of my prized possessions because he made it. I am one who is appreciative of handwork and “home made” because love is always tucked into the project. It is a valued gift of time and effort.

Essentially Esther