September

Years ago when I was in grade school, we had to memorize the poem September by Helen Hunt Jackson.  I loved memorizing poetry and, all these years later I still remember most of those poems that we memorized.  Fall has always been my favorite season of the year, I was married in the fall.  I've lived all my life in Pennsylvania where fall nights turn chilly and the daytime air is crisp.  Aromas of fall, those of apples and pumpkins are so beloved in our house that we burn candles to keep those smells in the house even when we're not baking.  As I sat on the deck this afternoon, I thought of those words of Helen Hunt Jackson.  Our apple trees are holding fruit, "fish" have formed in the milkweed pods, and the goldenrod is definitely yellow.  I rejoice in the colors, sounds and smells of fall, and I almost look forward to the soups of winter.  I hope you also smile and think lovingly of fall as you read this excerpt from one of my favorite poems.

September

by Helen Hunt Jackson

The goldenrod is yellow

The corn is turning brown.

The trees in apple orchards

With fruit are bending down.

The gentian's bluest fringes

Are curling in the sun.

In dusty pods, the milkweed

Its hidden silk has spun.

By dewy lanes at morning

the grapes' sweet odors rise.

At noon the roads all flutter

With yellow butterflies.

By all these lovely tokens,

September days are here.

With summer's best of weather

And autumn's best of cheer

Doing The Happy Dance

Today, I am doing the Happy Dance. There are several reasons why I dance today.  First, my hubby, the love of my life, my partner for nearly 40 years, has been 18 days with No Cigarettes!!! And that's amazing, unbelievable, courageous, and the best gift I've ever received.  And I love him for it!

I'm also dancing because we have 60 days until our trip to Disney, and last night (or early this morning) daughter Pam got online to get our Fast Passes for our trip, and was able to get a Fast Pass for a meet-and-greet with Anna and Elsa.  This is Jake and Izzy's first trip ever to Disney, and when you ask Izzy who she most wants to meet on this trip, she replies Anna and Elsa.  Jake wants to meet Darth Vader, and we're going to try to sign him up for the Jedi Training Academy.  I'm so excited for this trip.

And last, I'm dancing because I have been so busy sewing and filling orders for my two Etsy sites, Linda B's Crafts and The Frozen Mouse, that I've decided that I need a day for me.  So, today is officially Linda's Day - a day for me to do whatever I want, whenever I want.  So far, I've had a nap, and worked on my blogs, and who knows what might happen later today.  I may read for a while since I haven't done much reading lately.  I think that having a Linda Day on a day when I Happy Dance is a very good idea.

Can I Hear Big Wahoo??!!!

Yesterday was doctor day.  Rod and I both had an appointment.  We see different doctors in the same practice.  Unlike most visits, I was called back first.  We had a bet as to who would be done first.  So, I was pretty hopeful that  I would win the bet.  Turns out I have an ear infection, which explains why I am having trouble hearing out of that ear.  Since I didn't get a flu shot last year, I figured that I should get one this year.  And I guess that's what caused me to lose the bet.  When Jake and I emerged from the exam room, Rod was already at the check-desk.

Rod was doing a little dance while teasing that he won.  But the good news is that his lungs are clear, and he's released to go back to work on Monday without no further oxygen therapy.  Rod is a pretty active guy, and he's just not accustomed to sitting around. He was driving me buggy being here with little to do.  And he's very glad to be returning to work.  His boss told him yesterday that they had brought in 3 guys to carry his load.  I guess that's job security.

But here's the best news - my hubby has been 10 days without a cigarette!!!  He has smoked since he was 14, usually a pack a day.  But he says that he has no desire to start again.  I am sooo very proud of him, as are all the kids.  When Kristin told Jake that Pappy didn't have to be on oxygen anymore, Jake replied, "Oh Good!  Now he can get that shed painted."  Jake figures that there's no rest for the weary . . .  or the sick!

Problems with a Shed

We decided that we needed to replace our old shed with a new one.  The old one was built in 1976 when I was pregnant with our second daughter, and as you can see, it definitely needed to be replaced.  Rod took a day's vacation, and began to tear the shed down.  And soon it was down.  Rod decided to burn the old lumber, shingles and all.  The dark smoke puffed each time a new piece was added to the fire.  But soon the burning was finished, and the clean up needed to begin.

The twins came down to help,  and soon Kristin was home from work and pitched in to help.  Even Jake and Izzy got involved.  It didn't take too long before the old concrete floor was ready to meet its new top.

 Saturday morning the building began.  The twins helped son-in-law Jimmy to start the walls, and soon they were up.  

We noticed that Rod wasn't looking too good, and was having a hard time breathing.  But, he kept assuring us that he was ok.  Sunday morning he seemed worse, but insisted that he was fine.  By Sunday evening, his breathing was worse.  By Monday afternoon, his temp was 104 degrees and he was ready to go to the emergency room.  They didn't waste any time getting him onto oxygen and determined that he had pneumonia.  He was admitted, and they started tests, blood work, chest x-rays, and an EKG.  By Wednesday, they had determined that he was suffering from legionella pneumonia and tried to figure out how he got it.  The only thing we could figure out was that it was from the dirt and lumber from the shed.  They just kept stressing to us that he was very ill.  He was treated with antibiotics, steroids, inhalers, and breathing treatments.  Friday, the doctors decided that his lungs were clear enough for him to return home.  I don't know which of us was the happier.  He's on oxygen here at home and hasn't had a cigarette in 7 days.  He says that he feels better today than he has in 10 years.  I am so proud of him, and glad to have him home again.  

The shed isn't finished yet, but it's coming along.  Jimmy has half the roof shingled, and the windows are in.  There's still a lot to do, but we have time.