2016

January 1, 2016

Greetings and Salutations fellow bloggers, family and friends,

    Is it really the year 2016 already?  Where has the time gone.  I started the year 2015 with a Cruise to Jamaica, Cayman Islands and Cozumel with my wonderful husband.  What a fantastic experience we had on the Carnival Magic. We ate real authentic Jamaican Jerk Chicken (I loved it and it tastes so much better than what I make) while at Jaimaca and learned they have no rodents or wildlife of any kind.  Just pigs and hens (they are called chickens only after cooked) and most are pets. Oh and plenty of fabulous birds, just gorgeous and they have bees for honey production. 
    We swam with the Dolphins at one stop and that is one experience I will always treasure.They are such soft and loving/obedient creatures. There are velvety smooth and seem dry to the touch. Our guide said they are very easy to train and each has their own personality. I also snorkeled for the first time ever.  So much fun! Plus we seen a barrier reef and sunken ships while riding on a partial submerged boat.  The colors and the oohs, aahs and WOWS underwater are truely gorgeous. Loved hearing the stories while riding and watching the undersea world go by thru the windows.  
    The year continued with everyday living and some good and not so good experiences. It was a really hot summer this year in Kansas. The end of the year starting in September was packed with strange adventures.  My daughter, Bobbie Jo (the brain tumor survivor for those of you wondering which daughter) was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 39. Both my mom's sister and my mom are survivors, 1 eveven years and 1 seven years respectively I think. They both underwent radical mastectomies with no chemo or radiation, just a pill to take daily for a long time.  Bobbie Jo underwent a partial mastectomy in lateSeptember and was told she would need radiation treatments.  They believe they got all of the cancer and the one lymph node they took was clean.  I don't recall the exact term but her cancer was hormone fed so she will have to take a hormone pill the rest of her days. This time has brought my two daughters closer and more together out of need.  With 6 years between them and two completely opposite personalities they have never really shared sisterly times or togetherness much; more like just tolerated each other.  Billie has been a great help getting her sister to and from Dr. appt. and such.  The day of her surgery my hubby and I drove to Emporia together as Billie wanted to go on her own and Ravens daddy was able to take her and her mommy to the hospital.  As with most surgeries she had to be there early just to "hurry up and wait".Well Chuck and I hit a rather large coyote on the way.  It came out of nowhere and luckily did not fly up into the windshield.  We were not able to stop just then and found a small place down the road to pull in.  The drivers side light was smashed and the bumper pushed in rubbing the tire (luckily it was plastic rubbing and not metal, he was able to pull it back some) and some of the quarter panel mangled, we were lucky.  The insurance agent happened to be in Emporia and called to see if he could stop by and take a look. Such great service and a welcome diversion for hubby while "waiting".  I highly recommend the Emporia hospital except that the radiology dept. forgot to insert a wire the surgeon needed to be in place in order to do the surgery so that delayed the surgery by about 2 hours or so.  More "waiting"... the "waiting" is the hardest part. Everything turned out good that day and she actually went home the same day. The same day, unbelievable! In late October (I think as it is all such a blurr and I still work fulltime so coul;d not be with her as much as I wanted too) the radiation treatments started and Bille has taken her to almost all of them during October and early November, 5 days a week. 
    Oh a few weeks after we hit the coyote.  Billie Jo hit a deer with her car. She was alone at night and she said terrified to the point she just kept driving and crying.  She was on her way from Junction City to Manhattan (where she lives) to pick her husband up from work.  When she got to the parking lot she called me in tears and I wanted to go to her as we were in Manhattan picking up Boy Scout popcorn (yes we are still involved with the BSA). She said no and insisted I stay where I was.  The next morning when I seen the pics oh my it was so terrible.  He car was much more mangled than ours was. I am so grateful to the powers that be for not taking her life that day. Luckily she has a fairy godmother in a friend who's husband owns a mechanics shop and who loves her dearly (She went thru her own breast cancer battle in 2014 or 2015 too.) and she told Billie to find a way to get the car to the shop.  A mechanic friend of ours looked it over and said yes you can drive it but straight there and follow us.  He then loaded their other car that has not run in years onto a flat bed to take it to his place so he can try to figure out what is wrong with it. Here is the WOW and AWESOME part.  The mechanic that took the car she hit the deer with just happened to have an exact make/model car on his lot for parts.  She only had severe body issues, the engine and radiator were fine.  She got the car back two days later and there is no sign that anything had happened.  What a blessing her friend and the husband is. Early Christmas gift, no charge.  I love those two for their kindness to our daughter and can't express my appreciation enough.
     That was not the only deer accident in the family.  Our other son in law hit a deer smake on at night and no way of attempting to miss because three were just standing in the road.  Luckily he was by himself and had his cellphone with him. AND he was not hurt.  The car however is a complete mess.  The radiator is pushed into the engine and the front bumper is mangled and the hood flew up and smaked the windshield so it is a mess but did not break apart into his face thankfully.  He has a second car that has good engine and radiator but does not run so he will be parting out to fix the car himself.  Luckily they have friends that are letting them borrow one of their cars for the time being. And I bet you think the story of car troubles ends there.... Nope. 
    My nephew Travis bought his very first car with his own money and wrecked it not a month later.  He was not hurt but decided it was best to sell the car.  He was honest about the accident and what was wrong and someone did buy it.
    We had one heck of a storm here the beginning of this winter and a tree fell on my brother James's truck, a big tree.  Luckily he has full coverage because the insurance company totalled it.  And the next day after the first tree fell another one fell. He was just beside himself with grief and worry and no power and two little ones to care for.  But the good news again noone was hurt and his landlord and a neighbor did come and help cut up the tree and remove it. I am so glad my nephews and brother were inside the house when this happened.
   I had my brothers and their families as well as my girls and their families here for Thanksgiving as mom went to my stepdads sons place for Thanksgioving. They bought a new house and Henry was eager to see it. We had a wonderful thankful celebration that day with plenty of turkey, pie and laughter. 
    Christmas Day was awesome with us, our girls and families and a dear friend of Bobbie Jo that is heloping her out as much as possible.  It was a very good day and I so enjoy seeing my two girls interact lovingly and not just tolerating.  There was no hostility in the air, I loved it.  And while Bobbie rested on the sofa Billuie helped mom wth the china.  We always wash the china first.  She even deboned the left over turkey and got all the tlittle tidbits out for soup.  I love making turkey soup. 
   Hubby and I won tickets from the local Rock station we listen too to a "70's 80's 90's New Years Eve Party" at the Columbian Theater in Wamego.  We made a night of it and rented a motel room. If you are ever in Wamego, Kansas I highly recommend the Simmer Motel.  Such a cozy, clean atmosphere and free high speed WiFi.
Not that we had much time to use it. I was so delighted when we entered the room amd it felt as if it was decorated just for me.  Chickens and roosters decor.  And an antique desk and oh my it was just beautiful.  My kitchen is decorated in roosters. I don't know why but I love the rooster decor. We went to the party dressed as hippies. It was so much fun putting our costumes together.  The band was called Electric Suede and they were really good.  Free horsderves, fun decorations, a beautiful setting, hats, horns, a cash bar and a free glass of champagne to toast the new year. So much fun, we had not done anything like that in years if ever! I tried a new drink to me, it was called an Electric Smurf. Coconut rum, rum, pinapple juice, grenadine and whatever else they put in it. It was yummy and made me think of fruity drinks on the Islands.  I so want to take another Cruise.
   I also did Life Book 2015 which I am way behind on and gifted myself Life Book 2016.  I love Tamara LaPorte and so enjoy all of the neat classes and even already follow some of the artists that she lines up to teach.  Tam's website is Willowing and Friends. I suggest you go over and check it out. She is awesome, her art is whimsical & fun & creative (mostly mixed media) and the classes are still available for sign up.
   So now for 2016.....
I am eager to see what 2016 will bring us and praying there will be no vehicle accidents and no more cancer in the family.  I also am hoping it does not fly by as fast as 2015 did.  Oh and in October of 2015 I decided to stop dying my hair.  It is almost dye free now and I am very salt and pepper - brown/gray/white.  I hope it is mostly white once I gray completely and what's funny is my mom grayed in the front first like a crown; I am too. But my moms color is gray. Ok so I will post some pics of 2015 at some point and a new years goal is to visit my blog and post more often.

  Blessings for the New Year to All of You,
  Peace Out,

Tess