Happy Holidays! *Warning* This is lengthy. Just realized that I fell off of the face of the earth. My days have been busy with physical therapy and musical programs. I feel like such a slug for not giving gifts this year. My friends have so kindly reminded me how much they would LOVE truffles again. I'll have to make it up to you later in my own way. I look fine but I'm still recovering from surgery. I'm at about 70% right now and still working hard to gain back mobility and confidence. You don't realize how important your muscles are in your leg until they are non-existent. The thing that I so badly want is to go down the stairs normally because if I can do that I can wear my heals again! I never thought I would miss my boots so much! I still have pain from the one of the incisions and hopefully that will subside soon as with all the other pains that have come and gone. I have 5 more degrees to go until I get full motion back. Sad thing is I never really got it back with the first surgery so this may be as good as it gets. I got clearance to walk on my elliptical which has been amazing. I'm excited to exercise because I can. It's a very defeating feeling when you can't do something you know that you used to be able to do. I push forward and have 3 more months of therapy.
In the meanwhile I'll catch up what has been happening in our house. The family has been bugging me for years to get a dog. I didn't grow up with dogs so I was very leery. So hubby decided just to "look" at the animal shelter. When you go as a family to just "look" you can guarantee you'll be coming home with a new addition to the family. I love cats but poor Maryn is severely allergic. It about broke my heart when I was looking at the cats and one put it's paw around my finger not wanting me to go.
Her name is Maya and at first she was very shy and timid. Well, being with our family for a few months that has changed and her psycho dogness has come out. My children have that kind of effect. I guess it's better to dress up the dog then having the girls put dress and put make up on Buddy.
My girls had their first dance performance. It was fun to watch them on the BIG stage and to watch them accomplish something they had been working on for months. They were nervous but did such a good job!
Matt and I got to enjoy a meal at the The Garden Restaurant with family that was in town. I know! Can you believe it? We actually went out! We got to see the lights a little bit but walking around in the cold is not the best for my leg so we cut it short plus a snowstorm was beating down on us. At the restaurant they had this spinach artichoke dip that was divine with fried pita bread. I've been scouring the internet to try to find something that would compare. The texture wasn't runny and it didn't have mayo and sour cream in it. It was almost like a pate. And the best part of it is it didn't make me sick so I want MORE! I think they may have used ricotta cheese in it...maybe next time if I ask they will tell me what's in it. Who am I kidding...I'll probably never go back. Maybe I'll stalk the chefs.
I have gotten back into my crafts a little bit. If you are young enjoy the time that you have because it gets harder as you get older! While I was bed ridden for two weeks I re made Buddy's blanket. It was literally in shreds. We've had to tie parts of it together and I've been so worried at night because he has it right next to his head and I could just see him strangling himself with it. So I finished his new blanket which looks exactly like the old one and he doesn't want it. He told Matt that, "we have a problem with 2 blankets". I think the poor kid is conflicted. Macey lost her blankie at Grandpa's house over Thanksgiving so I'm making her a new one. I'm a little excited about it. It's called a Faux Chenille blanket. You make cuts in it to make it feel as soft as chenille. I originally had planned to give it to a family member then realized after I had bought everything they haven't found out what they are having. Maybe I have this crazy Aunt intuition and know that it's a girl. If it is a girl I would've been so on top of things. It's relatively easy it's just SO time consuming. I'm almost done quilting the lines then the cutting begins. I'll get a pic up here when I'm finished. I love the colors...pink, grey and white.
The kids have been pretending it's 90 degrees outside when in reality we've been averaging about 20. To try to convince them to wear long sleeves and pants is pointless at this stage in the game. They are going to do what they are going to do. Buddy's face in this pic just cracks me up. The kid will not smile for me instead he goes into zombie mode. Every night he tells me there is monsters and ghosts in his closet that are going to get me. Thanks kiddo...I was afraid of alligators under my bed when I was kid...this doesn't help my irrational fear of things in the dark.
I've finished up 2 new songs in the past couple of months and I'm partially through a new song which I love the chorus. My goal is to get them recorded in the next few weeks. I have the equipment just need the time. Also, I'm going to be playing at a venue...I'm nervous and excited but what do I have to lose? It's a place where people like me have original songs and they share them. Why not? It's an open mic night fight. I contacted the place and asked if they had keyboards there because I am guitar inept and sometimes they bring them in for people like me that don't have their own equipment so they said next time they have entries to contact them to make sure they'll have the keyboards for that night. The latest song is about empowering yourself and facing your fear...it's different from anything that I've written before. I've shared it with a few friends. I wrote it for myself but am finding there is other people needing it in their life. I don't know why but I feel compelled to get these things down. It has been therapeutic and a freeing experience and I don't quite understand how the music comes about but it just comes out somehow and creates itself. Most of the lyrics come when I'm folding clothes or doing the dishes. Cleaning helps me think I guess.
I am looking forward to a new year. Need to quit thinking that my life is over and let it begin. Good luck to everyone and their goals this year.
