from the porches

it's beginning to look a bit like Christmas

Yes, it IS beginning to look a bit like Christmas around our house; but that is only because I paid someone to put up our two Christmas trees!

Today I took Truett to an ENT to clean out the wax in his ears.  Last week I took him to the audiologist; but she found nothing wrong with his hearing aids . . . just this huge build up of wax in his only good right ear.  Well, the left ear too; but that one doesn't count since he has no hearing left in the left ear because of his surgery last January 29, 2011!

"Come on, Roger!  Give these folks a smile . . . you silly cat!"

Today this really nice tall, stoic giant of a male nurse at the ENT's office took Truett's vitals.  His weight.  His height.  His medications all downloaded on EPIC (UF's medical database). 

"So," the male nurse said, " You are here to have ear wax removed. . . and to get a new hearing test."

What does my husband say, "Yes.  And I have a sore butt!"

"Truett!", I shouted.  "They don't deal with that here!"

And I heard a chuckle emanating from the male nurse.   The nurse had somewhat of a sense of humor and said, "We don't deal with butts here!  Only ears!"

And Truett's response:  "Well, that's good because I can't hear out of my butt!"

Nevertheless, the good ENT doctor couldn't break up all the wax in Truett's good right ear and instead prescribed an ear drop for Truett to use for one week.  Five drops a day!

Tonight, as we were watching the Florida Gators playing basketball, I heard "Squish!  Squish!"

"What are you doing?" I asked. 

"Putting my ear drops in," Truett answered.

Then I went ballistic!  "You've already put your ear drops in!  You just squirted Nasal Spray into your ear!"

This year can't get over fast enough! 

2011 YOU SUCK!

 

duck feet

Every day Truett wants to take a drive.  So every day I take him for a drive. A drive to Winn-Dixie and back doesn't cut it with Truett. 

Oh, no!  That's not a drive to him; but then, he is not driving.  I am! 

However, I try to remain patient (remind me to look that word up), and let Truett assimilate back into the real world. . . a world of nature . . . a world of people  . . . a world of fresh air and God's beauty.

 Today we drove to the Santa Fe River bank just past the Winn*Dixie in High Springs.  The first things that met me when I stepped out of the car were ducks.

"HA!" 

Now, if you've read my previous posts, I am not a duck fan.  Ducks do not excite me to photograph them.  However, today, the first thing I noticed were duck feet! 

"Duck Feet!  How interesting!" I thought. 

I've never really ever looked at duck feet.  Never ever studied duck feet.  And, are they really feet?  Or do they have a scientific name that I am too lazy to google?

Yet, here is the bigger question.

Is this it?  Is this what my life has transformed into? 

A desperate person searching for beauty in nature, snatched up in a moment of time whose life is wrapped all around in a tight ball being a care-giver? ( And seriously, does care-giver have a hyphen?)

People.  I will take duck feet any day of the week over care-giving. 

I just didn't know how beautiful duck feet were until today!

flying fries

Truett's brothers, Kenneth and Boyce; and Kenneth's wife, Darlene visited us since Monday.  They left early this morning headed back to Tennessee and Kentucky. 

What a riot the George boys are when they reunite.  Always picking at each other.  Always making wise-cracks!  Always lecturing each other. Always being the George brothers!  Lots of laughs!  But, NEVER, EVER discussing Religion or Politics!

  Meanwhile, Darlene and I survived their jibber-jabber. 

As a final meal together, the five of us drove to  Roy's Restaurant at Steinhatchee, Florida for a final celebratory lunch. 

Mom didn't go and these are her exact words, "Heavens NO! I don't want to go way down there!  Just bring me back some oysters!"

And we did.

Truett and I have been to Roy's Restaurant several times in the past year; but I was always disappointed that I hadn't seen any seagulls.  It was almost like a wasted trip.   Anyway, after our meal yesterday, I told Kenneth I wanted him to put his french fries in a take-out box in hopes of luring seagulls.  (Look at the picture above to see the flying french fry.)

I really must thank Darlene for tossing the french fries into the air for that previous shot.  By the way, I asked the waitress if it was okay to feed seagulls french fries.  She threw her head back and laughed and said, "Go for it!"  So I nominated Darlene as the "french fry tosser" while I took photographs.

WHAT FUN! 

Darlene and I squealed and ducked and I shouted, "Close the top to the take-out box!"  

Then Darlene and I laughed and ducked some more. 

Hey, do you want to know what the George brothers did? 

 

They took refuge in the car!

Wimps!

They didn't want to get  seagull poop in their hair!

It was a great last meal with Truett's family!

Thank you all and I love you!

xxxooo