Thankful end of the year. . .

What a great day...a peaceful day...locked away in the house....too much snow to leave.
A wind whipping across the lake....a few minutes to create.
Started the day with mint tea and english muffin that I sliced with my new Swiss Army knife. (gifts from Barbara). I topped the muffin with the peach butter from Kim...and lit my candle from Gail.
Then I opened my e-mail from Anthony...and a Robert Frost poem appeared. I then remembered the song I received from Yves the other day....introducing me to Holly Cole.
More e-mails...Karl, coming to visit us tomorrow. Katherine with wishes of love & strength. Shari saying just the right things.
Then I head to the mailbox...Beverly our maillady always makes it through the snow. Inside the box was another big surprise!! Amazing treats from Kim.
So I sit here counting my blessings...yes a cliche phrase....stuffing my face with peppermint mocha shortbread.....and realize that I am happy.
Yes...thanks to all of the love that all of you have sent my way!!

WOW what a boost of aesthetics...gifts from the heart to feed my soul!!

Thank you,

Ringing out the old year....thank God!!

Just a quick note about Paul and his progress........journey.
He has had a wild ride this last few weeks....literally wild rides. Two trips back to the hospital...he took a dive at rehab. Down he went on his head. Thank God his head is hard....no bleeds...cat scan OK.
Trip two - bladder spasms....bad pain. Think it's now addressed. Also hoping that rehab stays on top of his Coumadin (med for blood thinning) readings.

Speech slow in returning...."when" is his word. As in When...when...wheeen..when...........when...when......whennn...when....when when...when..when.....WHEN...when..when...When....wHen....when whenwhenwhenwhenwhen. I have to stop him and repeat what he has said so that he 'hears' it. When he speaks he hears what is in his head, which is a full spectrum of words.
Sound frustrating?
You can only imagine!

I find that the best thing to do is try to speak for him. When someone says something, I know what he's thinking....so I say it for him. He howls with laughter!! I don't think he thought that I was paying such close attention for all these years!
I'm becoming Paul.

Much love to all and when you ring in the new year.....think of us and send us a toast!!

A note from Karl....

Click on above note to enlarge!

Karl is a physical therapist that has had a large impact on Paul and his recovery.
Here is a Christmas note that I received from him.....what a great blast of humor!!

Snowed in and feeling black and blue......

I couldn't get across our icy bridge to see Paul today...
so I decided to work on some of my images from Venice.
Blackish and white seemed to be the theme.....
.........
....
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Where have I been?

Just wanted to let everyone know why I disappeared.
On the morning of November 22nd Paul suffered a stroke....and then early the following morning he had a second, more severe stroke.
We are on the ride from hell!
Paul has lost the ability to speak, read and write.....for a writer this is devastating. He also has a significant lose of vision and his right arm and leg are also tremendously paralyzed.
He is struggling with his lose with humor and determination!
I am constantly amazed at his grace!
My heart breaks 50 times a day as I can only imagine his suffering!

Keep us in your thoughts and whatever form of prayer you practice.....even smoke signals are appreciated!