Saxon Switzerland National Park Saturday @ TDD - C&C

[kitkat]

Good morning!
Thanks for the start
I just read your post, trissie... That is more than a handful. The situation is bad enough - not having SIL's cooperation, agreement, is a disaster waiting to happen. (and, I'm saying this b/c I dealt with dementia, unfortunately...)
(((((((((((()))))))))))))

FFly - my DDIL has been looking for a running mill... Sitting is place can be torture... Glad you found one

Kittykatt - hope you enjoyed that time in the garden! It will be my turn this weekend:)

LAnn good morning - you posted while I was typing this:)

I never got back here yesterday as my plans were changed for me:
I was supposed to have DGD for an hour - I had her until I needed to leave ... 3,5 hours. (Which was lovely: we both enjoyed the time on the porch and in the backyard, but I got NOTHING done)
Then, we had fam. plans to go to a movie, after 6. That got bumped up to 4.... So we went. All productive time was over by the time I got back: took my pup for her second walk , made dinner and that was it. It was a good day - just not what I had planned.

Since DGD is staying with me starting tomorrow morning, today is the day to get things done.
I will also have farmers market, yoga class today with the inevitable pup walk(s).
I'd better get started.

[Lauralind]

Morning all. That was a productive garden time kittykat. I bet it looks beautiful as ever. What's blooming now?

Trissie oh my goodness I can so relate. How far along is mil. Still able to do much on her own? I'm so thankful my sister and I agree. Only dad is still in charge . It's stabilized a bit now mom is in care but the calls for what do I do still come. Dad wants to still be in control and doesn't take our advice well. And for all we know he could go before her. Mom is almost bed bound or wheelchair. Sometimes they have to use a lift cause she can't figure out which muscles to use.. she's struggling a lot with swallowing already too. I'm so thankful for nurse care. Except I wish we could hurry along the wait for the longterm care home.

I got out of the trip this weekend and have smoothed over the other side of the family. My sister explained it being too much for me atm and they understand. She told dad about the event last night. He has capabilities to get there but probably doesn't want to anyway. And that aunt doesn't even want him there. Exactly why I don't want to be there. I haven't talked to dad yet. We'll see what I hear from him. It's his problem and I just can't figure out why they both are so difficult.

Anyway I'm going on with my life. Do what I want to do. Garden prep. Greenhouse for plants. Some inside whb . Painting just cause? Dh has mowing and a few other outdoor tasks I think. Music prep for tomorrow. And maybe connect with ds and ddil and dgs?

Qt properly first. I dunno but my body aches enough it's going to be soak and such. Then I will post a list.

[trissie]

I knew you would understand, as dealing with relatives with dementia is kinda a joint experience in this thread... and I have been paying attention and I know SIL is being totally unrealistic. But I also know that as stubborn as my husband is, he is also a "creature of duty" (oh I do love Downton Abbey) and I do love him for that.

lauralind, DMIL suffers from a multitude of issues. The dementia thing is not yet that profound (there's almost no short term memory left, but she will eat food even when it's out of sight (pull out a plate out of the fridge, make a simple sandwich), will take meds if somebody readies them for her in the dispenser, shower etc. But she's rapidly losing sight, can't pick up anything from the floor due to chronic back issues, and hasn't left the apartment unacompanied for over 2 years. And then there's the heart problems. All in all, she is NOT fit for independent living.
What movie did you see, kitkat?
how many bushes do you need to trim, L.Ann?
Frenchie, glad you had a good visit! And fruit for dessert is very French and very healthy!
kittykatt, yes, my 3 season planting book is designed so that you keep replacing things as they are harvested. Like, for example - you start with radishes and salads which can be sown in February/March and harvested in May. Mid-May, you plant tomatoes and basil, because they can only go out after the frost season is over. And in September/October, after you get rid of the tomato plants, you sow spinach and cornsalad, because both winterize well.

Late afternoon already. Did two rides out - one to my favourite garden store before lunch, and one to pick up DBD from train station and stop at a different garden store where I get flowers for the windowsill boxes. I really do like visiting garden stores

TaDas
- morning routine
- 30 on laundry
- 30 outside on who knows what
- trip to garden store No. 1
- trip to garden store No. 2
- drop off regular recyclings
- drop off green waste
- pick up DBD
- load of darks No. 1 washed and flipped to dryer
- load of darks No. 2 in washer
- lunch
- midday routine

ToDos
- afternoon routine
- 30 outside
- 15 in the garden

Braindump
routines
- evening routine
food
- dinner
- bake something sweet
- feed breadstarter
organization
- homework and backpacks
- DBD's speech therapy
- update land contract
- 15 on filing
- plan for May
- ask for British ETA
cleaning
- strip and remake all beds
- clean out / reorganize attic
- spiff up DBD's room
- spiff up twins' room
- spiff up DS15's room
- spiff up master bedroom
- spiff up master bathroom
- spiff up kitchen
- spiff up living room
- spiff up downstairs bathroom and hallways
- spiff up office
laundry
- load of towels
- load of linens
- ironing
- folding
- mending
- laundry put away
garden and outside - weekend
- review seeding plan for veggie garden
- repot seedlings I bought
- weeding in veggie garden
- weeding in front garden
- work in raspberry patch - pruning, fertilizing, replanting
- prune fruit trees - blooming pit fruits
- prune bushes
- prune/tie/shape climbing roses
- pick up - front garden / porch
- pick up - backyard
- work on cleaning out the carpool
- work on cleaning out the garage
- fertilize fruit trees and bushes
- fertilize conifers
- oiling garden furniture
- fertilize vegetables
me time
- 15 of exercise
- Bible study
- reading

[helia]

((trissie)) I think some people don't understand elder care and dementia and what is at risk. And to be manipulated by dsil adds another layer of emotional dissonance and anger/ frustration that you then are forced to deal with. SO glad you're keeping your therapy appointment. Could you get a professional outside the family to evaluate dmil and then sit down with dsil and explain things to her? --Of course, that would be more work for you. In our family, Dbro refused to do what was best for dmom, so I stepped in and did it, driving 800 miles total every 4-5 weeks to visit her because he refused to drive 50 miles total -- ever. It had real costs, time and money, for me - and emotional frustration with dbro. But, at this point in time, I'm very glad I did it, even though it had a cost and even though part of that cost was brought to me via my brother. I even came to enjoy the trips and visits with Mom. The icing on the family drama cake - when I finally decided to move mom to be closer to me, dbro visited her in the nursing home on his own (yay!), told the nurses he was at the nursing home seeing mom "all the time" when the nurses didn't recognize him, (the nurses told me about it later when I moved Mom; we were on a first name/ give advice basis - and they knew it was a lie and were NOT impressed, to say the least), snapped photos of himself and dniece with her, and posted the pics on FB with a complaint that I was moving Mom away from him. I just didn't engage with him on that point. --But enjoy some planting this weekend, trissie! You also have to live your life! Did the kids help you with the gardening?
Lauralind, it sounds like you're having your own eldercare issues. I think gardening is the way to go with your day, especially if it brings you joy!
What did you get at the farmers market, kitkat? I have those days too - not productive but fun and good for relationships.
L Ann, did you get your bushes trimmed?
So glad you had a nice visit with dsisyounger and family, FFB. That sounds like a great purchase for your family!
Sounds like you had a super productive gardening day yesterday, Kitty. Is MJ the handyman working on the kitchen cupboard? Or is that already done?

I didn't get back here yesterday. After class, AC wanted to talk to me about a conversation she'd had with another teacher and how to respond. Then, I went straight to WF to pick up veggies for a fresh salad because LO had messaged me at some point asking if I could bring a salad for dinner. Finally home, I made the salad, and then dh was home around 5:30 and we went to the Os for dinner. Dinner was nice! This couple is growing on us. We need to have them over again. However, I ate too much; we had burgers on the grill, and I ate one - and I'm not used to eating that much red meat. I also ate extra bread. . . I felt very heavy last night - and this morning, the number on the scale was shocking after a lower number Friday morning. BUT I know what to do, to stay the course and be consistent. . . Consistency is hard for me.

Today: It is gray and 63F right now. It looks like we'll be getting some thunderstorms here soon. I need to figure out when to get in my longer jog. It looks like around noon might work - or after 3 pm. Around 1 pm, dh and I are helping AA move to her new house. I don't know how long that will take. Then, we have CG1 starting earlier than usual at 4 pm. It's a grad party for S2's son and J's son, both who have just graduated high school. It will probably last until 9pm or even later, but dh and I will not stay that long. SO, between a jog, helping AA move, and then the CG1 grad party starting at 4 pm, there's not much time in my day for anything else. . . .Tomorrow will be church and then Sunday dinner - if the Cs are available.

Next:
- back exercises
- s2s and self care (I may not jog until after we help AA)
- squeegee and wipe down shower

Later:
- unload dw
- put away pack 'n play
- strip MBR
- clean sheets on MBR
- pay 2 snail mail bills
- lol 1: w d f pa
- lol 2: w d f pa
- write out menu plan
- payroll: reply to LH
- payroll: email changes to CM
- payroll: update gradelink week 4
- lunch
- after lunch clean up
- help AA move
- JOG at some point
- write grad cards for AT and DK
- 1 help AA move
- 4 - ? CG1 grad party
- DON'T overeat at the grad party
- duolingo
- update health apps

TaDas!
- up very late; weighed self
- coffee
- email deletions + weather website

WEEKLY ACTIVITIES
Sat can I get in a jog?/ 1 - help AA move/ 4 - 9ish CG1 grad party for DK and AT (graduating high school)
Sun 10 - church/ 6 - host Sunday dinner for up to 7 people

Mon 1-1:40 payroll: instructor mtg/ 1:40 - 3:30 payroll: teach AI AS D12/ 6 -7:30 church plant BS
Tue a.m. - KS2J get together/ 6:30 - ? host MM for dinner
Wed 10 - 12ish coffee with SS/ 1:40 - 3:30 payroll: teach AI AS D13 (final exam)
Thu 8-8:30 WW/ 11-12 payroll: CA ci mtg w. AC/ 4-5 work out with AS/ 6 - 7:30 Vol. ESL class?
Fri 1-1:40 payroll good bye party/ 1:40 - 3:30 teach AI AS D14 - play games.
Sat 8 - 5K run/ 5:30ish? host Gs and Rs for dinner here
Sun 10 church/ 6 - host dinner for up to 8 people/ 8:15 family zoom

Menus:
M - leftovers (teriyaki salmon, Tuscan shrimp - freezer), rice, roasted butternut squash
T - ravioli, homemade tomato sauce (suga), green salad
W - lentil stew, rice, roasted veggie
Th - on my own
F - dinner at the Os
Sa - CG1 potluck - grad party for DK and AT
Sun - we host: bread, rotisserie chicken, pizza

APRIL Brain Dumps
This Week - House
- remake guest bed
- can I spend some time decluttering in MBR?

This Week - Deskwork
- Writing progress - wip
- write BD card to DS
- figure out another knitting project?

This Week - Errands
- buy pillows?
- weekend groceries?
- buy 2 grad cards

General Brain Dump
- progress decluttering clothes - wip
- new phone eventually

[Lauralind]

I think that's why I can share here cause almost all of us have some sort of elder care . Good or hard. Most of the time it's a very hard road.

Sounds like a very full day helian.

I'm trying to figure out where to start. I don't know what happened. Maybe weird dreams that are almost gone from memory .. we were up late as ds27 came for a shower and didn't leave till a bit after 10. I was awake before 5 again.. had thought perchance we could sleep in some..

Dh is still watching stuff i his office. Ds16 is still sleeping. I don't have crochet atm cause I think I need a good mental awake time to back up a few stitches and examine how it went together. Then maybe I can figure it out. I guess just routines and start something for breakfast. Maybe ds will smell bacon and get up

[trissie]

You really make me want to pull out some crafting, lauralind! and L.Ann makes me want to curl on the sofa with a book. unfortunately, helia does not make me want to go running, and I'd say that's a pity, but given that I am not really likely to do cratfs or read a book, I guess it doesn't matter anyway
helia, I do remember the lenghts you had to go to care for you mother with your brother's attitude! We can't chose our siblings, and it does seem that the responsible hard working ones are generally paired with the irresponsible lazy bums!

TaDas
- afternoon routine
- one windowsill box planted
- pruned last two panicled hydrangea
- some rose pruning
- 15 in the garden

ToDos
- 30 outside
- 30 in the attic
- dinner

Braindump
routines
- evening routine
food
- dinner
- bake something sweet
- feed breadstarter
organization
- homework and backpacks
- DBD's speech therapy
- update land contract
- 15 on filing
- plan for May
- ask for British ETA
cleaning
- strip and remake all beds
- clean out / reorganize attic
- spiff up DBD's room
- spiff up twins' room
- spiff up DS15's room
- spiff up master bedroom
- spiff up master bathroom
- spiff up kitchen
- spiff up living room
- spiff up downstairs bathroom and hallways
- spiff up office
laundry
- load of towels
- load of linens
- ironing
- folding
- mending
- laundry put away
garden and outside - weekend
- review seeding plan for veggie garden
- repot seedlings I bought
- weeding in veggie garden
- weeding in front garden
- work in raspberry patch - pruning, fertilizing, replanting
- prune fruit trees - blooming pit fruits
- prune bushes
- prune/tie/shape climbing roses
- pick up - front garden / porch
- pick up - backyard
- work on cleaning out the carpool
- work on cleaning out the garage
- fertilize fruit trees and bushes
- fertilize conifers
- oiling garden furniture
- fertilize vegetables
me time
- 15 of exercise
- Bible study
- reading

[Doggedly]

Hi, all. It's a beautiful Saturday morning, and I am listening to my radio programs.

Thank you for starting us off, trissie. How cool to have two national parks on either side of the border. I think that animals do better with bigger protected areas.
(((trissie and dh))) I hope that you and dh find a way to get help for dh's dmother.

It's too early in the season for flowers, Kittykatt. I only saw two dandelions, which surprised me, as I don't think that it's too early for them. What really confused me was that in the field of clover, I could smell the sweet clover flowers but there were no blooms. It was green everywhere, there was one duck in the pond and the walk was worth the need to put my feet up after.
I'm guessing that MJ has come and gone and that your patio door has a beautiful new pane.
Woo hoo on getting your garden's spring cleaning done in one go.
Matilda, there are days when we are mgrthhjjjilkppo9ool too.

I'm glad that you had a good visit with your dsister and her dfamily, FrenchFly. The running mill sounds like a great find.

trissie, I don't know anything about the Czech legal system, and I'm fuzzy about the Canadian one, but I believe that your SIL's choices would eventually lead to a charge of failure to provide the necessities of life under our criminal code. Would it be practical for your DH to either apply for power of attorney or to have your MIL declared incompetent so that she would become a ward of the court?

(((L.Ann and dmother))) That must have been so hard for your dmother and your dfamily. Thank goodness they prepared for it so that you weren't trying to provide that care by yourself.

I am at the end of Page 1. Time to do something.

[L.Ann]

Morning Dogged! I am trying to decide if I want to take a trip to the farm where the poppy fields are in full bloom. Only 4 Trissie. Three fake boxwood of some sort and the camellia bush. We’ll see if I get inspired to tackle it this weekend. Motivation is hard to come by!!!

1-shower help if needed for DD33
2-laundry reboot
3-walk



Menus
Saturday-kale chicken Caesar
Sunday-left overs
Monday-middle Eastern chickpea bowls
Tuesday-turkey burgers with salad or roasted veggies
Wednesday-DD33 out/me leftovers
Thursday-blackened salmon with veggies
Friday-za’atar crusted grilling cheese with rice and zucchini
Saturday-sweet turkey chili lettuce wraps

Events
Saturday-
Sunday-
Monday-Little Bit 7:40-5, Little Bit school 9:15-3, lunch with college roommate@11
Tuesday-Little Bit 7:40-5, Little Bit school 9:15-3, breakfast out @8:30 (Little Bit haircut@5:30)
Wednesday-Little Bit graduation @10(no Little Bit), DD33 PS 3-8(cheerleading)
Thursday-Little Bit7:40-6:30, bocce DD33@4:30 (library storytime or museum craft time)
Friday-Hopkins


Weekly House Blessing-mop dining room, bathroom, kitchen, dust, swish and swipe
Detailed cleaning of dining room-quick declutter of game cabinet, polish furniture, wash woodwork, scrub floor, wash door, wash window, wash window screen
Death book-update DD33’s pages
Phone calls-
Extra stuff-


Accomplishments
-Little Bit dressed, breakfasted, packed to go and ready for soccer
-Little Bit’s doll dressed in her cheer outfit for soccer
-breakfast for dog and coffee for me
-chat with Little Bit’s parents
-breakfast for me
-stretching and knee exercises
-diet sites
-dress and pick up bedroom
-start laundry
-walk a mile
-errands- bird seed, bank, Farmers Market
-lunch and clean kitchen

[L.Ann]

1-read for 20 minutes
2-errands with DD33- Amish, CVS

Menus
Saturday-kale chicken Caesar
Sunday-left overs
Monday-middle Eastern chickpea bowls
Tuesday-turkey burgers with salad or roasted veggies
Wednesday-DD33 out/me leftovers
Thursday-blackened salmon with veggies
Friday-za’atar crusted grilling cheese with rice and zucchini
Saturday-sweet turkey chili lettuce wraps

Events
Saturday-
Sunday-
Monday-Little Bit 7:40-5, Little Bit school 9:15-3, lunch with college roommate@11
Tuesday-Little Bit 7:40-5, Little Bit school 9:15-3, breakfast out @8:30 (Little Bit haircut@5:30)
Wednesday-Little Bit graduation @10(no Little Bit), DD33 PS 3-8(cheerleading)
Thursday-Little Bit7:40-6:30, bocce DD33@4:30 (library storytime or museum craft time)
Friday-Hopkins


Weekly House Blessing-mop dining room, bathroom, kitchen, dust, swish and swipe
Detailed cleaning of dining room-quick declutter of game cabinet, polish furniture, wash woodwork, scrub floor, wash door, wash window, wash window screen
Death book-update DD33’s pages
Phone calls-
Extra stuff-


Accomplishments
-Little Bit dressed, breakfasted, packed to go and ready for soccer
-Little Bit’s doll dressed in her cheer outfit for soccer
-breakfast for dog and coffee for me
-chat with Little Bit’s parents
-breakfast for me
-stretching and knee exercises
-diet sites
-dress and pick up bedroom
-start laundry
-walk a mile
-errands- bird seed, bank, Farmers Market
-lunch and clean kitchen
-shower help if needed for DD33
-laundry reboot
-walk
-refill bird feeders

[Doggedly]

I went down a rabbit hole on Ali Express's sight, looking at artificial greenery for my balcony. This spring I have concluded that I want to keep the real plants inside the apartment where I can reach them to water them on bad days as well as the good ones. From the fourth floor, artificial leaves will look fine and I will feel that my balcony is a bit dressed up. I have too much in the cart and still need to make some decisions.

The poppy fields sound very nice, L.Ann.

Sounds like yesterday was a well-deserved day off, kitkat. I'm glad that you enjoyed it.

Lauralind, you are very wise to step aside and let the feuding parties feud without you. You have enough on your plate without that.
Sorry about the short night. That always leaves me fuzzy headed the next day.

trissie, your book sounds like a great thing for a gardener to stay on top of things and benefit from the season.

I'm glad that you got to spend some time in the garden store. I love wandering around them too.

(((helia))) I'm sorry for the family drama, but glad that you don't have to deal with dbro more than you want to now.

Saturday
Put on a pot of coffee
Put away dry tshirts and hung more out to dry better
Started putting away dry dishes
Cleaned up after dog
Saw Germane using her pee pad. Went over to praise her.
Grabbed her as she came off of the pee pad and washed her feet thoroughly. Don’t ask.
Cleaned up the area in front of the pee pads.
Picked up three of the pee pads, leaving only one that was face down on the floor.
Came back from the garbage to find Germane on that one face-down pee pad, peeing on the plastic backing
Managed to dump a clean pee pad on top of it before it ran off onto the floor
Picked up the pee pads
Cleaned area around pee pads
Washed the floor
Germane came out and walked everywhere that the floor had been washed.
Germane had no pee pads available, but did not pee on the washed floor. Big win!