Everything happens ....

for a reason.  Do you believe that?   Only when it fits a scenario?  Or always?  Not the first time for this situation, but certainly the most profound.

This morning ….
Carole has plans for a haircut, return home, out to lunch and then to see D'Auria.  I was to take her to that doctor but since his office is a short walk, she told me to stay home, she can manage.  Leaving her house for the haircut, the car makes a strange noise and keeps pulling to the left.  She calls, I tell her to take it to the garage and I will pick her up.  CANCEL your other plans.  No, not yet.  The gentleman we hired to fix some things at her house calls, he's coming, would she be there?  No choice Carole.  Someone is trying to tell you to stay home.

Two miles away …
Mark and I are sanding the blotchy deck to prepare for sealing.  I leave to pick her up and when I return, Mark decides we are going to Eastwood mall to pick up my boxes instead of waiting until Saturday.  I'm tired, covered in sanding dust, joint weary (that's when my joints scream - hey, we're weary), but he is insisting we go.  Now.   

If our plan for me to take her to the doc was not changed, she would have been gone.
If her car didn't break down, she would have been gone.
If the workman hadn't come on an unscheduled day, she would have been gone.
If she would have been gone, Chris would have died.

If we didn't change plans and were home, Mark would have answered Carole's call.
If Mark had driven over, checked on Chris, then called the paramedics, in that elapsed time Chris would have died.
If the paramedics weren't within a mile returning from another call, Chris would have died.
If they decided to transport instead of treat immediately, Chris would have died.

He was comatose, rigid. After injections and 30 minutes on an IV, he started to awaken, after one hour, he was coherent.  His sensor failed, and it's only a few months old.  Chris worked midnight, slept only a few hours, was to get up at 1:30 for golf.  If she was gone all afternoon, she would not have returned until after 4:00.  She called for Mark at 2:00, we left at 1:45, forcing her to call the paramedics who arrived within minutes.   They would have been back at their base had Mark gone first and then called them.  Usually he sits Chris up, tries to reason with his foggy brain, gets juice and a PB&J sandwich in him and all is well in a short time.  If he sees a more serious situation, the paramedics are called, and they are familiar with his case. 

 

There were a lot of minor daily happenings that all came together, if one would have been different, the result would have been devastating.  But look at how many needed to be in line for this outcome!  As they say, everything happens for a reason.  Could our family angels be the source of such events?

 

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Found!

That room is still a mess, but I did find the magazine.  I had forgotten that I stuck it in a plastic folder to prevent pages from being bent by a where-the-hell-is-she-now sleeping cat.  The floss was already pulled but I did remove a few for the recent Santas, hopefully their location won't be as difficult to find.  If so, I will just stop at JoAnn's rather than get flustered.  My hot flashes are no where near the intensity of a few years ago, but they still come on with the slightest frustration.  In other words, almost constant.

 

 

And another find!  I don't know if any of you would be interested in purchasing the square box with houses, but a super sweet online friend found some for me.  She actually looked at her local HL and found sets of three and offered to ship them!  From the photo, I got the item number and located them online for ordering, they are not shown in the stock photos and that puzzles me.  Among other things. 

 

Since the sampler boxes have been done and done again, I don't want to get too many but I will definitely have a few soon.  I'm going to check my samplers (I know where they are being stored!!  YAY!) and see if there are any houses I can add.  The other labels from the corner squares of a few years ago may still be on the laptop somewhere, will check.  Those shiny little buggers were one of my favorite items.  For those that purchased, have they held up well??

 

Taking Carole for heart tests the end of this week and next.  Just like the ridiculous layout of the Diagnostic Center, the testing area is a long walk for heart patients.  Handicap parking is fairly close but the tests are a very long walk to an elevator and another very long hallway.  Waiting for a aide with a wheelchair could make you miss your appointment.  Much easier for me to grab a chair and make her bounce over the speed bumps.  Every time she gets into one, we start giggling about all the times she was airborne or lunged from a hand brake.

 

Have a good day!

I'll be sitting without much head turning.  The vertigo woes again.

 

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Daith. Coffee. SUN!!

Starting the last week of June!  What???  Finally warm this week but rain and storms every other day.  We hit 80 (I think) Sunday and it was a blue sky day.  Almost unbelievable but it was the first time in a very long time, and I found out that I cannot drive because of light sensitivity on these days.  My glasses can't be any darker.  Maybe it will get better as I adjust to sun rather than overcast and clouds.

 

 

Finding more items that I don't want or need.  The Fenton bowl is very pretty and some times it's hard to let go of such niceties, but it's time.  And one set of S&P shakers is all a girl (who doesn't want dinner guests) needs.  Isn't it mind boggling to realize how much "stuff" we have and don't use?

 We met new girls in two of my doc offices and I noticed the Daith ring on one, a stud on the other.  Being curious and mouthy, I inquired with each of them about their experience.  Both, as the other two nurses I previously talked to, had debilitating migraines for years, preventing them from full time employment.  Since their Daith piercing, the headaches are mild and infrequent.  Both were done by the same man who has owned a local tattoo parlor for over 30 years.  Isn't that amazing?  I am seeing more of them, all with excellent results.

 

An article in my newest food magazine regarding migraines listed foods that contain tyramine, a known trigger.  Found in aged and fermented foods - salami, pepperoni, cured meat, aged cheeses, pickles and olives and kraut, smoked fish, nuts and nut butters, miso and soy, tap beers and red wines.  Well there goes dinner.

 

We didn't go out to eat for my birthday because … well … I can't.  Without saliva the food sticks to my teeth, even with sips of water, and it's pretty embarrassing.  I need to rinse my mouth out and swish around the water, not something you want to see in a restaurant or restroom.  So Dunkin Donuts was my choice of treat.  Our friend Coni mentioned a cold brew vanilla sweet cream from Starbucks so I had to try it.  To me it didn't taste any different than my (Splenda, cream, light ice) DD's iced cold brew.  More expensive and smaller serving, so I will stick with DD for my splurge, but maybe try one more to make sure.  My home made is better than both!!

 

For flavoring any coffee drinks, I use the Torani syrups (regular and sugar free) that I find at Walmart, and now they carry Starbucks flavoring also.  Doesn't take much, I prefer Hazelnut, but most times the coffee flavor alone is enough. 

I mentioned before about cold brew and this is the vessel I purchased for home.   I bought a set of eight 64 oz canning jars at my local Agway for a few dollars more than ONE on Amazon.  So I'm keeping the cat food fresh in several and gave a few away.  Considering a smaller version for a quart sized jar since one recipe makes quite a few servings.  There is always a little sludge that settles at the bottom because I don't use a coarse grind as recommended.  Because I'm a rebel.  And a bonehead.  It's strong and very good, I need the cream and ice to tone it down.  And I can have decaf  if I need to, not always offered in cold brew.  Lots of options and products for this method online.

Insert the tube, add your coffee, pour in the water, stir the grounds, and let it sit for 12 - 18 hours on the counter.  Remove the vessel and put your brew in the fridge.

 

That's my report for today.  Keep your fingers crossed that my berries don't end up in the Ninja as a smoothie.  I worked something out that is different, hoping it will be a success.

 

Have a great day!!

 

Thanks for visiting.

 

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Winner!

Hi folks.  I gotta say, this little box has my heart!  I considered keeping it and giving away the larger one!  But a deal is a deal.  I'm OK with it, love them both.  Random scrambled the email and comment entries and then chose …

 and that number was given to ….

Samplrmary I will contact you shortly!!

Thanks again for participating. Always fun to share something with blog buddies.

 I'm ready to scoop vanilla ice cream into a bowl, top it with chopped walnuts, and pour pure maple syrup over. 

 

 Have a good evening!!

 

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It may be small

but it's still cute as heck. 

 

Before I show your offer, I just want to say that the sun is out!  For two days we will not have rain!!  Since it's been weeks of chilly temps and swamp conditions, it will finally feel like summer.  I have already used a large container of salt on the slugs, can't believe how many there are in my petunias, pots, ground cover, garden, everywhere!!  And here is my road and yard.

 

Back to the offer!!

I tried every search engine and craft store online, HL and Michaels and JoAnn, there are no 4" square tall boxes.  Create for Less has them for $24, they don't list quantity and I only need one.  So I've decided to keep mine and use it for storage in my bathroom.  But someone will receive a smaller version, the 3", if they enter the giveaway.  Leave your initials in your comment or name if anonymous, email if that's easier.

samplersandsantas@gmail.com

 

I will remove the moderating so you may see comments from the male troll.  In the photo you will notice that I added layers of cardboard in the lid so it sits high enough to not cover the labels.  You can see how heavy and sturdy these very old boxes are by the thickness of the mache.  

 

Drawing will be Sunday evening at 8pm.  I am sorry to restrict the entries to USA only after checking international shipping charges for a box.

 

Here ya go!  A tiny little box of houses for you.  

You and I will have the only two!   Mine's bigger but it's my birthday.

Happy day to all!!

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It was to be

but I changed my mind!  Here is the 4" square box with a house on each side (4 3/4" high).  I planned on this being my birthday giveaway but I hate to give it up.  So stinking cool!

 

 

The box is from many years ago when paper mache was sturdy and rigid.  Pat Catan's is now closed and no one has the selection they offered.  So I have to come up with something else to offer, hopefully today.  If the damn cap fit, it was to be the berries.  There's still hope!  Maybe I will even find another square somewhere as I did these last few boxes.

 

I found two of the 8" x 6" and 3" high sturdy ovals and may sell one of them, will let you know when.

 

Be back soon! 

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