Saturday's Scribbles

Iowa ice jam

Good Saturday afternoon to you from our corner of Iowa where seasonal weather has returned after temperatures reaching near 50 this week.  The warm temps have caused some major flooding in this state, among others.  We are watching the river here, but so far it is not causing too many problems.  I heard that the Racoon river went from 9.6 ft to 19 ft in just 4 hours.  Wow.  Most rivers have big slabs of ice causing jams and increasing flooding.  Winter seems to be reluctant about leaving and making sure we know it!!

This week I picked up some yarn so I could pass the time knitting.  I am making a simple scarf that I hope I won't need until next winter!  Going to Joanne's Fabrics was only the 2nd place I have gone that was not medically related in 3 months.  Today we headed to the library where I picked up a few easy reading fiction books.  Felt so good to get out and do something normal. 

Lacking energy takes me back to my years with Lyme Disease.  Confined to my home, sometimes the sofa, never going anywhere for weeks and weeks.  Joel would try to get me out for short drives so I could get a different view.  Lyme was slowly killing me just like so many others.  I know a family on the MN/IA border who all have Lyme to varying degrees.  Mom, Dad, and 4 kids.  Devastating.  We hear so many stories of those who suffer from this debilitating disease that is misunderstood and under diagnosed.  I cannot count how many people speak to us about Lyme once they know we both had it.  Sobering.

Joel had a good chuckle today when he took a letter to the mailbox.  A man was trying to get his short-legged white ball of fluff dog, Ralphie, to mind him.  The dog was having a blast and totally ignoring his master's voice.  When Ralphie saw Joel he ran quickly to his side, tail wagging.  Joel talked to him a bit and then held on to his collar until the man could get him back on his leash.  The man quietly said, "Ralphie is such a naughty dog."  Joel got a good laugh over Ralphie and his antics.

Speaking of laugh......Joel was in the Target parking lot when he noticed a little girl talking to her mom and pointing at Joel's cowboy hat.  He asked her if she liked cowboy hats and she nodded her head.  Her mom told him she loves boots too and would never take hers off is she had the choice.  Joel asked if they had horses and the mom said no, just a dog that weighs 105 lbs!  The little girl in all her innocence said, "Yeah, he farts a lot!"  Joel had another good chuckle over this. 

Our youngest daughter was in town today and stopped by.  I am often stunned by how beautiful she is.  Recently she and her guy gave us a 50 inch smart TV!  What a nice gift!  She joined our family when she was two years old.  Where have the years gone?  Our oldest is 49 and youngest soon to be 33.  Our oldest grand is 20 and youngest grand is 10.  Time passes swiftly. 

It is pancake night here in our house.  Every other Saturday we have almond flour pancakes, covered in almond butter, freshly mashed strawberries, fresh blueberries, pure maple syrup and coconut whipping cream.  Pancakes hold a special place in our house.  First of all, on our first date we went to Uncle John's Pancake House in the Twin Cities.  Pancakes have always been a favorite of mine and years and years ago we started having them Saturday night while listening to Garrison Keillor on the radio.  There is something comforting about routine and tradition isn't there. 

Enjoy your Saturday night, whether it involves eating pancakes or not!