Thursday, April 12, 2012

sooo much better!

I feel so much better today!  Amazing what a difference a couple of days can make - I'm beginning to think there is light at the end of this tunnel.

It's time to turn in the scooter.  I'll miss it, but so will Smokey.  She has actually gotten to the point that she wants to ride with me. We "share" the knee seat as we scoot slowly along.


Girls and their fast toys!

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Cast off!

No, not Latitudes' lines, I'm afraid.  But we did get the cast off!  I was ready - "take IT off!"


So, now the cast is off, but boy, does it hurt to walk! Pressure hurts the heel, the nerves send shots of electricity through my foot and leg, my right leg is weak, and the incision is sore.    My orders are to wear my air cast (the big black one) for 6 weeks.  I'll wear it at all times that I am on my feet and will take it easy, letting my pain dictate how much to do.  I'm to keep the scooter for a while, for times that I'll be on my feet longer, like trips to the store, etc.

Here is why (you queasy-stomached people - -- don't scoll down).  Actually, this looks much better than it did after 2 weeks.


So, step by step.  Glad to have the first couple of big steps behind me!

Sunday, April 8, 2012

Easter

The best part of Easter is old traditions, like egg dyeing.  So, armed with a child's egg dyeing kit, a dozen or so eggs, and a bottle of Blood Orange Mimosas, Nikki, Luke, and I set our sights on beautiful Easter eggs. 

Glasses of vinegar smelling dyes, a little egg dipper, and off to the races we went, carefully dyeing the eggs.


Luke had a little crisis with one of his eggs, but ended up with the cutest Humpty Dumpty ever!


Humpty's only concern was the fact that he missed out on the mimosas!


Now, if we could just figure out what to do with all of these hard-boiled eggs..

Saturday, April 7, 2012

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood!

It IS a beautiful day in the neighborhood!  Luke took me bye-bye in the car this afternoon, to get some fresh air and appreciate the beautiful mountain area where we live.  It could not have been a clearer, more beautiful day. 
Everything is that new green color that just screams "spring!!!!!" From the fields to the hills, it's green, green, green. That's Smith Mountain in the background.



Virginia's state flower, the dogwood, is in full glorious bloom.  The white flowers are eveywhere along the roadways and forest edges.  Do you know the legend of the dogwood?  Legend is that the dogwood tree was used for the cross for Jesus' crucifixion.  The "rusty" ends of the pedals are from the nails and the green cluster in the center represents the crown of thorns.  For a full story on the legend, check out http://www.traditioninaction.org/religious/h034rpLegendDogwood.htm .  This version is a little intense for me, but whatever your beliefs or legends, the dogwood is one of the most beautiful trees of spring.



The country roads are full of old tobacco barns, memories of the crops of the past.  They are rather pretty in their own way.


The last stop on our little afternoon ride was the park at the hydro-electric dam on Smith Mountain Lake.  We've seen this many times from the other side of the dam, day sailing on Lukes little old sailboat.  I don't think I've seen this side for many, many years. 


I'm doing ok - I just might get this cast off on Tuesday and go to the air cast instead! That would mean some walking!  Fingers crossed!

Sunday, April 1, 2012

Weekend spent with daughters

It's been a great weekend - spent with daughters Nikki and Heather!  Heather came up from the Raleigh area on Friday and Nikki, my Roanoke native, has been here most of the weekend with us.  It has been just so great, just hanging out and having fun.  Wonderful fun - they took me off yesterday for a girls day of shopping and pizza.
Today Luke, Heather, and I spent most of the day touring the Blue Ridge Parkway.  The Blue Ridge always lives up to it's name.



We toured from a Roanoke entrance to Mabry Mill.  Mabry Mill is a beautiful, old, working mill located about 70 miles from our parkway entrance.  http://www.virtualblueridge.com/parkway_tour/parks/176_2/index.asp


During the warm months, the park is full of folks working the mill, the gunsmith, etc, in addition to live bluegrass music.  We assumed that that the park would be open - always has been - but apparently, due to financial cutbacks, nothing on the parkway was open today.  No open campgrounds or picnic areas, that I can understand.  But NO BATHROOMS!!!  For miles!!!! There are viturally no business along the parkway, so there was no help there. 
Fortunately for us, the Chateau Morrisette is located just off of the parkway, a few miles from the Mill.  http://www.chateaumorrisette.com/
The winery is a nice place to visit, tours are given, and there are wine tastings.  We declined to do the tastings because the girls and I did that yesterday in a wonderful little wine shop in Roanoke and it cost us all way too much money!

It's definitely spring in the mountains of the Blue Ridge - the trees are new green.


Flowers are blooming.


Recent rains have the waters overflowing.


There are old farms dotting the parkway, lush green and full of animals.


Heather, too, is a photographer.  She does rodeo photos and gets published!  Her cover photo on a local NC magazine ---


I'm still counting days until, hopefully, the cast will come off...9 days...