There aren't many pleasures nowadays, with hubby's severely broken leg and all. There are some though, that I wouldn't trade for the world.
One of them is right outside my front door. I planted some mammoth sunflower seeds in the spring, and they have grown beautifully this summer. Now, in the waning days of summer, they are seeded out, and the birds are just loving them! As I sit out there, I see a family of six titmice pecking at the seed heads, to find their favorite food. Funny thing is, one titmouse will fly in, hit a browning leaf, and they all scatter, just to realize it was one of them making a noise, and immediately they're back for more. Some of the seed heads I cut off the dead stems, and placed on a platform feeder. These noisy little birds, just happy to have all this abundant food available, chirping, tapping, flitting around.
Then a few moments later, a beautiful male goldfinch flies in to see what he can gather for a meal. He lands on a plant, looks around, flies to the top of the seed head and proceeds to turn upside down to retrieve a seed. Another goldfinch, swoops in to see what all the fuss is about.
I have a hummingbird feeder buried amongst the stalks of huge sunflowers, and in they zoom to quickly sip a quick drink, and buzz off to the nearby tree to rest.
It's so relaxing, to sit out there in the afternoons, and just let the activities of nature take me away to a calm place.
Next to me, off the front porch, a butterfly bush is busy with swallowtail butterflies, monarch butterflies, and hummingbird moths, along with plenty of bees, all searching for their nectar.
I love the waning days of summer, cooler breezes promising relief from the scalding days of past, watching nature prepare for the winter.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Relearning life's importance
Life's sure been hectic these last few weeks. Hubby severely broke his leg almost three weeks ago. Unfortunately, we didn't realize how bad until about four days later. We thought that it was just torn ligaments, so he suffered for days, with two bones broken in his lower, left leg. I feel guilt and all that comes with that, on not insisting that he go to the ER earlier, but what's done is done, as they say.
So, now here we are, almost a full three weeks later. He's undergone two surgeries, has been living in a narcotic haze, and still faces months of physical therapy, before he can even put any weight on the leg.
It's been a stressful, scary, lonely ride, but also an eye opening experience. One thing I've learned for sure, is that I'm a lot stronger than I give myself credit for. At first, all of it was so overwhelming, that I don't know how I could've gotten through it without the support of my fabulous family and friends. I've had to learn firsthand, on how to care for someone who can't care for themselves. It's a good lesson, since hubby is 15 yrs older than I, and more than likely will be an issue for us both later in our lives.
I've also learned that right questions to ask, and how to ask, and who to ask. Feeling a little more in control, makes the day to day tasks that much easier to handle.
My bosses have been fantastic, giving me the time I needed to deal with care, from home health aides, to coordinating family and friends as sitters, to surgeries, etc. One fantastic thing about working for a family business, they do emphasize the importance of family. I've known this for some time, since hubby has been dealing with cancer for years now, as well.
Learning to deal with work, care, hospitals, even transporting the ever hurting hubby, has been challenging, but I'm getting better at asking for help when I needed it.
It's still an adjustment dealing with having to do EVERYTHING, from taking out the trash to working, to paying bills, to coordinating health care. I'm figuring it out, now, and learning that the dust bunnies can wait, the lawn will have to look like a jungle for a bit, and the work can be handled, even if on Saturdays.
Thank god for my wonderful family and friends.
So, now here we are, almost a full three weeks later. He's undergone two surgeries, has been living in a narcotic haze, and still faces months of physical therapy, before he can even put any weight on the leg.
It's been a stressful, scary, lonely ride, but also an eye opening experience. One thing I've learned for sure, is that I'm a lot stronger than I give myself credit for. At first, all of it was so overwhelming, that I don't know how I could've gotten through it without the support of my fabulous family and friends. I've had to learn firsthand, on how to care for someone who can't care for themselves. It's a good lesson, since hubby is 15 yrs older than I, and more than likely will be an issue for us both later in our lives.
I've also learned that right questions to ask, and how to ask, and who to ask. Feeling a little more in control, makes the day to day tasks that much easier to handle.
My bosses have been fantastic, giving me the time I needed to deal with care, from home health aides, to coordinating family and friends as sitters, to surgeries, etc. One fantastic thing about working for a family business, they do emphasize the importance of family. I've known this for some time, since hubby has been dealing with cancer for years now, as well.
Learning to deal with work, care, hospitals, even transporting the ever hurting hubby, has been challenging, but I'm getting better at asking for help when I needed it.
It's still an adjustment dealing with having to do EVERYTHING, from taking out the trash to working, to paying bills, to coordinating health care. I'm figuring it out, now, and learning that the dust bunnies can wait, the lawn will have to look like a jungle for a bit, and the work can be handled, even if on Saturdays.
Thank god for my wonderful family and friends.
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