Orchids in Bloom

All of these orchids were Grandma's - she had a green thumb and at times had many violet plants which I think are hard to grow. Mom has the orchids now and as she says "has been trying to keep them alive for 4 years".

This purple and white one has been in bloom since Mom came home from the hospital. The white one in the last picture has been looking like it's ready to open for several days.

Nice weather here in Indiana all week - and in Iowa (although windy there). Bill is getting equipment ready to start planting. He had some helpers this past weekend. Our nieces and nephew helped him change sweeps on the cultivator.

I had a quick lunch with a friend on Sat. at Bub's with a stop at Quilt Corner for some fabric to make a rag quilt purse for one of the demonstrators in my downline. I gave it as a door prize at our meeting. She wants a pink and chocolate one. Will post pictures at some point. Think I'll cut the squares for hers today while it's nice and sunny.

Yesterday I met another friend for a few minutes. I'm like everybody else that moves away, when you're back, you want to try to fit in visits with everybody.

Mom's therapy is coming along. So far she seems to have a good day and then the next day she feels pooped. We've been trying to ice her knee more to get the swelling down. The therapist said we should see a difference this week.

Building in Carmel Continues

No matter what the economy, the building in Carmel never stops. This is on Main Street next to Bub's (a great burger place). Mom thinks it's going to be a parking garage, shops on the main level and condos above.

This building has been in the works for a long time - it's going to be the Performing Arts Center.

Yesterday we had rain all today. Today is sunny but chilly.

Mom's knee is getting better every day. Today the therapist could tell she's getting better because she started to turn corners too sharp with the walker. He wants her to keep rounding corners when she turns. He's had her go down the steps and walk outside twice this week. No therapist coming tomorrow or Sun.! But exercises have to continue.

I baked & cooked most of the morning. I baked brownies and froze some for Mom for the next few weeks. I roasted a pork tenderloin for moist, lean protein and froze some of it, made German potato salad, green beans and honey wheat bread. Yum! But no more cooking today or maybe even tomorrow!

More Things Blooming

These are some of the daffodils that Dad planted at their church. I went there yesterday to drop off corn pudding and cheesecake for the funeral dinner for Norris Foulke's family. They were neighbors of ours for years. His son, Gary, LOVES Mom's cheesecake so had to make that for him.




Mom's other darker purple crocuses in bloom.








I think the orange centers of flowers like this are amazing.

Today was a nice day but more showers and cooler temps are on the way so I got out and picked up sticks and raked a garbage can full of these burr things (from a sweetgum tree).

We had bacon wrapped steaks grilled on the charcoal grill last evening - Yum! With baked potatoes and salad.

Taco Potatoes

Mom has been enjoying having a personal cook this week. Today I made one of my favorite quick & filling meals: taco potatoes. We had a restaurant here in Carmel back when I was just out of high school that had baked potatoes with various toppings you could get like broccoli & cheese, chili & cheese, etc. My favorite was the taco one. You just bake one potato per person. Smash it with a fork and add butter if you like. I leave that off. I add pepper (I don't use salt since the taco seasoning has sodium in it).

Make taco meat (browned hamburger with taco seasoning). Top with shredded cheese (it melts a little if you put it on over the meat). Then shredded lettuce, taco sauce or salsa and some sour cream. Tomatoes are good on it too. I usually use a bigger baked potato for Bill and smaller for me. It's just nice that it's a meal all in one!

Bill went to a meeting today where he was fed a good lunch. He says he has plenty to do in the next couple of weeks getting equipment ready and picking up seed.

New Bronzes in Carmel

Carmel has added some more bronzes since I was last here! Not sure how many more there are going to be. They're all in the old downtown area now called the Arts & Design District. I took these pictures last week when we were going places before surgery.



The therapist Mom will have the rest of the time came today. He was very nice, professional and we learned a lot about how she should be doing the exercises. He'll be here the next 6 days before she has 2 days "off" although she'll have to continue doing the exercises every day - most 3 to 5 times a day.

Bill says he has been working on the planter and some other stuff (fans ?) - less than a month till they can plant, he's been to a couple more gun shows and yesterday the fire dept. burned a house (on purpose). Had to have the plumber come to the house. It snowed there a couple of days ago and everything was covered in snow again but yesterday was nice - good day to burn a house. He's watching lots of Sy-Fy and living on pizza I think.

Spring is in Indiana

These crocuses were in bloom to greet Mom when she came home from the hospital yesterday. Great timing! There are lots of flowers that are getting ready to bloom here. Some of the neighbors' daffodils are already blooming. Dad had planted lots of bulbs at their church, and the daffodils there are about to open. I'm sure you'll be seeing more flower and blooming tree pictures from me in the next couple of weeks.

The therapist came to Mom's today. It's so nice that they come to the house! He went over the exercises she's supposed to be doing 3-5 times a day and made sure that she knows how to use the walker to back into the shower and other daily things like that. As you can imagine, the simplest things take a lot of effort. She's supposed to be sure to eat at least 3 meals a day especially including protein to help with healing. We were told that ice would be her best friend. We're keeping busy!