Monday, July 15, 2013

I was a nurse


I was a nurse today and it felt really good.  Since I was a little girl I can always remember wanting to be a nurse.  The feeling of happiness and gratitude at being able to help those in need at critical times in their life led me to my profession.

Sometims my nursing skills have been removed from direct care of patients to caring for the nurses caring for the patients.  In climbing the professional ladder I was always very aware of how far from the bedside I stepped.  I am a people person and making someone’s day by relieving their pain, anxiety or putting a smile on their face, if even for a moment, is so intensely satisfying.

Offering comfort, knowing the best way to give without having to be asked were some of the best moments of my career.  As satisfying as being present when new life entes the world, is being there in the final moments of someone’s life.  Helping families start the grieving process, helping yourself start the grieving process, is filled with moments of true connectedness.

My patient today was a bit different than the typical one you might expect.  It was a 30yr stallion that had somehow broken its leg during the night.  My daughter and I arrived to take our lessons as usual and I met the farmer owner, Mrs W, walking back toward the barn.  I could tell, from across the riding ring by looking at her face and the way she carried her body , without a word exchanged between us that something was very wrong.   

I will spare you the details, but while running for phone to call the vet, cookies for the horse, water to offer the horse, etc the nurse in me kicked into gear.  It no longer mattered that I am a novice horse rider, I am a seasoned nurse that knows how to show compassion to patients and their families.  I stayed well after the vet left, helping to bring order to the morning and then left quietly for Mr and Mrs W to have some time alone to grieve.  

I have never been lucky enough to be a horse owner, but I have had other furry family members.  I can’t imagine losing one after 30yrs. 

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HiMark was an appaloosa very similar to image above


Tuesday, June 25, 2013

A new day

I am in love with the saying "Today is the first day of the rest of your life".  Charles Dederich  One of my fondest memories growing up was my mother giving me the opportunity for a clean slate.  I was forever getting in trouble and in her mercy she would let me clear my record and start fresh in the hope of having a different outcome.  Similarly, my best friend Jenny and I would clean the blackboards for my favorite elementary school teacher Ms Kelley after school, maybe a foreshadowing of what was to come. 


Magpie Photography


I was reintroduced to my running shoes today.  A convergence of a request to run the local 4Miler, a family photography session and a mother of the bride dress waiting for me in October.  I generally try to  stay behind the camera, but all of these events have me in front of the camera.



Robinshoward Nest


This is the best season to start with only summer workbook activities to get done and more daylight.  I have started taking vitamin and herbal supplements to feel like myself again.  I think exercise will help more than any pill ever will.



Robinshoward Nest

My new running partner: watch out Barney, here we go.......

Any new commitments in your life?

Sunday, June 23, 2013

Camp


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The girls were away at camp this week.  Watermarks Camp  A fabulous camp that a friend at work recommended 2 years ago. I had an overwhelmed moment when I looked last Sunday evening for the drop off time on Monday ( that is preplanning in my world) only to find out it was 1 hr ago.   Friends at work were telling me to just breath.


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A quick call to the support staff "hubby" as I am stuck at work, gets the ball rolling.  Quick zip the bags closed regardless of what is in them and threw them and the kids into the van and slide into camp right before dinner, only late for their first overnight camp by 2 hrs!

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Hubby didn't end up in the ditch, added for dramatic effect!  I then had to return to camp on Monday with reinforcements.  Some required a scavenger hunt (strap for swimsuit), laundry that was in the washer on Sunday evening, and various other miscellaneous requests.  Finally I'm

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The best part is the kids are not holding a grudge and are still talking to me.  They have such forgiving hearts.



So, I'm not really done.  Camp this week for the second oldest, thankfully not overnight so have the opportunity to address issues as they come up.  Touch Point Farm is a horse camp from last year that we go to with good friends and the kids end the day happy, exhausted and filthy.  The trade off to missing my kids every day is doing their laundry daily for horse clothes.  Can't have everything, but starting off with no crazy panic packing on Sunday night is such a better way to start the week, trust me! 

Who is willing to share their bad mother moments?


Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Signs of Spring

Cool mornings, warm afternoons, more daylight, and the end of formal schooling for the year.  Typical signs of the blessed break we all prayed for and lovingly remember from our childhood.  My middle child has been busy at work becoming a photographer.  I thought I would share with you her best picks yet.

Yes the clover grows abundantly in our fields, it must know we are Irish



Our cherry tree in full blossom


How fragile after a strong storm, always sad to see blooms on the ground


The promise of more beauty to come


In a matter of days, God is good


Crazy wildflowers that bloom all summer and spread, LOVE


I love the water on the leaves and Maggie's exclamation after a rain "Mom I  have to get out and take some pictures before the water dries up!"




And my personal favorite



What was your favorite?

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Making a house a home

We are now on our 4th house and while I love the process of remodeling and making it ours, I love hate the middle state.  I am impatient to have it done and to sit, drink and enjoy the fruit of the work.  I spend endless hours in my abode homeschooling my children and dreaming about the feeling I want myself, hubby, children, family and visitors to have when they are over.

My husband and I joked about the lack of curb appeal of the house below, when we drove by in our house hunting.  Be careful what you joke about, as it is the house we ended up buying!!

Third photo is with some of the overgrown bushes taken out


A wonderful couple had raised their son here and were moving to be closer to family.  The house was immaculate.  I often cringe about her walking back in here and discovering all the dirt and cobwebs that inhabit the house now.  

My husband is constantly reminding me that I will miss the hand prints and dirt that my kids, as well as the neighborhood posse, drag in my house.  We have a wonderful cherry tree in the front yard that is great for climbing.  Last summer was the meeting spot for the Spirit Club (don't ask, adults were not allowed in)

Kind of like this times 7



In bloom, about the best feature of the yard
So last summer, my husband dusted off his rotor tiller, shovel and power tools.  We add curving flower beds to softern the lines of the long driveway, planted over 10 trees and added round columns to the front porch.  We added a whitewashed beadboard ceiling and fans to keep the southern breeze going and the bugs at bay.


We (hubby) took out ceiling and rebuilt porch for the bigger/wider columns.  We added a bead-board ceiling with fans.  My advice to all is to whitewash before installing boards.


Gotta love the look of construction.  Getting in the front door was an obstacle course for a few weeks, but it was worth it in the end.


Still a construction area, but a major improvement.  Notice the new plantings, that always helps with curb appeal.

Is anyone else impatient?  What are you impatient for?  

Monday, February 11, 2013

Hot or cold ?

Winter is my least favorite season.  I really dislike snow ( disruptive to life, having to get to work regardless, more laundry...) but there is an upside.  37 days left of Winter!!  One of my favorite things happens frequently so I have found a silver lining in this season.  Here is a hint:

Thankfully I don't have to cook in it.

The previous owners had never had a fire in the fireplace in the living room.  At 40+ years it seemed almost sacrilegious to scar the firebrick, but the pull of a fire was too much.  Did I also mention that we have countless pieces of wood that are "suppose" to fit in the woodstove but don't?  What is one to do with all that wood?  

Here is what the living room looked like prior to the first fire:



We bought the fireplace screen from Lowe's.  I unfortunately sold the fireplace set as I was going to install a gas insert (and I still might , the lure of flipping a switch is very attractive).  The large pottery crock is from my husbands's great-grandfather who was a fisherman and it was used for salting fish.  It is going to be our kindling holder now.



Then my husband had a few minutes to get it going and this is what we enjoyed with a glass of wine:

  

We sat in the chairs and had our 'adult' time.  We actually had to move back as it was really warm.  As we sat there chatting we realized that out of our 4 houses, each with fireplaces, this was the first one that we had an actual fire in, we usually installed woodstoves.

There are downsides:  ash and wood droppings from carrying in the wood from outside.  The upside is the atmosphere that is created and the warmth...its a tough battle to decide which side wins.  I am a bit of a clean freak although you would never know given the usual condition of my house.  My plan is to curl up tonight and watch another season of Downton Abbey....I am a total addict.

Here is a hint to my next dream project,


Dreamy, just dreamy.  Fire and water together!


Be warm,
Kelly