Nice Ride - 1968 Chevelle

Helping out a neighbor is easy when they have a ride this nice.

When Jeff came over and asked for a bit of help rebuilding his big block Chevy engine, it was no trouble for Jim to take a look and give some prudent advice.

Together, they spent four days working on reassembling this 454 cubic inch Chevy, bored thirty over with flat top pistons.

With its Pro Comp aluminum heads with oval ports along with a Pro Comp intake, a nine and a half to one (9.5 to 1) compression ratio was attainable.

The engine had returned from the machine shop in pieces and needed to be completely assembled starting with painting the block. They chose Chevy orange finishing it off with a clear coat containing a heavy gold pearl. This gave the engine block a similar appearance to the car's exterior without the five hundred dollar a gallon price. The pistons were already on the rods, so they assembled the short block, added the heads and Jeff went home to install the oil pan and the intake manifold.

Jim uses a makeshift stethoscope to detect odd noises in the engine

The guys made an appointment with Randy at Wayne Calvert Precision Engines in Denton to test out the performance of the finished product. The dyno session turned into a ten hour Marathon because of small problems that would have taken months to troubleshoot had the engine been installed as is in the car. They were able to achieve horsepower at four hundred seventy (470 hp) with torque of five hundred sixty pounds (560 LB/FT).

Salad of the Day

All week I've been eating salads for lunch. This one started out with a bed of organic baby spinach and Iceberg lettuce.

Then sliced strawberries were added along with strips of orange bell pepper. 

Then I added a diced Roma tomato and some Garbanzo beans. I like to open a can and run cold water over the contents to drain the beans. I use the lid as a strainer or sometimes break out my colander. Then, transfer the washed beans to a covered container for use during the week. I do the same thing with organic black beans.

To top the salad off I added a boiled egg and served it with Raspberry Vinaigrette dressing.

Baby Spinach leaves and a sliced strawberry

Strips of orange bell pepper and Garbanzo beans for protein

Diced Roma tomato

Topped off with a small amount of shredded Queso Quesadilla cheese and a boiled egg, this was truly a filling lunch.

Spinach Salad for Lunch all Week

It's what's for lunch this week - spinach salad. Crisp salad greens, sliced strawberries, a spoonful of rinsed black beans and a boiled egg make this a hearty meal.

Since the Christmas holidays, I've been struggling to drop the extra ten pounds that I gained with all the wonderful meals and gifts of cookies, candy and treats. Now I'm paying for my over indulgence.

I don't really mind eating healthier and not eating my own baked goods to drop the extra weight.

The produce came from Aldi where I found a beautiful head of iceberg lettuce for eighty-nine cents,  organic triple-washed baby spinach for around two dollars, a dozen eggs at a dollar twenty-nine and a pack of fresh strawberries for two twenty-nine.

Their store brand organic black beans are ten cents higher than the non-organic ones so I splurged and paid the seventy-five cents. Lemons were just a quarter each. I squeezed the juice from half of one over the top of this salad and then topped it off with some Raspberry Vinaigrette dressing.

Roma tomatoes were six for sixty nine cents so I topped Tuesday's salad with one and shredded a carrot to add color along with a spoonful of leftover canned corn. A bit of Quesadilla cheese over the top of the salad the second day added a bit of protein.

All together, the ingredients for my lunch all week made each meal reasonably priced at about a dollar per salad.

Red Dawn in Texas

Today held another spectacular sunrise in North Texas that rolled in with the early morning fog. It's rare to see a dawn as brilliantly red as this one was and it lasted for only a few delightful moments.

Before the skyline had a chance to brighten, I grabbed my trusty camera and ran outside in the cool mist and snapped a few photos.

The scripture describes it well, "The Heavens declare the glory of God" Psalm 19:1

He painted a wondrous morning greeting today.

Spring is popping out at an amazing rate with the Bradford pear trees, for the first time, covered in white blossoms. Within days, the green leaves will outnumber the blooms, but at the moment, it is the sure sign of warmer days ahead.

I nearly lost my sense of humor when calling the Medicare Replacement Insurance to get the phone number for Mom's hearing evaluation doctor. Their HIPA rules are more a barrier to progress than a protection against identity theft.

After a tense few minutes of denying me any information, I finally advised the representative that I was not seeking any top secret information on my mother's health or coverage, I simply need a phone number for a doctor who will take her insurance for a hearing test.

"Ma'am, this is the number to fax your power of attorney as her representative so that I can speak with you," she kindly informed me.

Grandma at lunch at the facility today.

I told her after ten years of faxing the power of attorney into what might as well be outer space, that I was quite frustrated that no one could keep track of this information, and by the way, isn't this a violation of privacy not to be able to maintain a patient's information?

We were assured when we signed up for this coverage that this would never be necessary, as the proper forms were submitted with the application, however, this has not proven to be the case.

We did eventually come to terms and she kindly provided me with the phone number for two doctors who promptly informed me that they do NOT take this insurance, despite repeated attempts at trying to remove their name from the insurance company's list.

I said, "Good luck with that, would you like their fax number?"

Birds in the Snow

The snow is gone now and spring is on the way. Last week was a different story with ice and snow completely covering the driveway and front porch.

I finally got out and cleaned the window that overlooks this bird feeder so that I can get a clear shot of Mr. Cardinal and his beautiful face.

They were flocking to the Audubon mix of seeds that were placed outside for them. I've never seen so many varieties sharing the same perch. It was fascinating to watch them come and go, resting for a few moments on the branches of the Bradford pear tree nearby. Soon they would take flight and resume their voracious feeding during the worst of the storm.

Winter Moves in Overnight with a Texas Style Ice Storm

Two o'clock this morning our heater stopped working. Wouldn't you know it? Last week we had temperatures in the seventies, but today we're in the twenties.

I'm not complaining, though, compared to our counterparts in the northeast that had an Arctic blast of deep freezing snow, we've had a mild winter. This is, after all, Texas. If we don't like the weather we can be sure it will change in a couple of days.

The birds were delighted to have an ample supply of bird food and were making a feast of it all morning. I was able to catch a few of them at the buffet.


They were taking turns at the bird feeder with Mr. and Mrs. Cardinal, a few sparrows, a dove and one stray blackbird who seemed to have lost his flock.

The best shot was when Mr. Cardinal decided to hop on the ground and scout for fallen corn.

When the Internet decided to take a short break this morning as well, I decided it was a good day to do some baking.

We purchased one of those huge bags of triple washed broccoli crowns from Costco last week.

After serving it a a couple of times steamed, it was time to put the rest of it to good use in a broccoli and ham Quiche. This was the perfect day to use the oven.


Here's how the Quiche came out. We had this for lunch today. Yum.

It turns out the HVAC compressor unit just needed to defrost a bit. Jane at Ross Air Conditioning, the service company that has taken care of us for over twenty years told us to turn it off for a few minutes.

After we turned it back on, we were delighted to get warm air out of the vents once again. Their company was iced in by the weather as well, so it's a good thing the heater is working. It's a nice warm feeling...

Back to bird watching.

Christmas at the Skilled Nursing Home

Muddy Creek on McMillan Drive

Celebrating Christmas with the family will change this year. We'll be sharing Christmas Eve with the ladies at the Skilled Nursing Home. It's over the river and through the woods to get to their facility.

For the past twenty-five years, we've invited the girls over to our house for the holidays. When they lived in Fort Worth, we'd drive over and pick them up and they would stay with Mom. Now, this isn't possible due to things that most people take for granted. For one, getting up the front stairs has become a major hurdle. The most important consideration for someone in a wheelchair is access. I never gave this a thought until I knew someone confined to a chair.

Also, access to a bathroom is one of the key things one must consider in these situations. I probably know the location of every bathroom in every store we used to frequent from Kroger to CVS Pharmacy to Home Depot and every medical office we ever visited.

We're lucky that the ladies live in a place with a caring staff and nurturing caregivers. Their Wellness Director, Latrice, is a happy and energetic lady who keeps them involved, even visiting their rooms to make sure they remember events. Despite the personal invitation and flyers distributed to remind them, Mom had forgotten about the Christmas party that was scheduled for this past Thursday night. When we arrived, she asked us why we came to visit so late. It was six pm. We said, "We're here for the party." She said, "What party?"

After a little persuasion, she and Louise trekked down to the cafe where we found a nice place to sit together. Louise went on a tour of the party table and she oooh'ed and aaah'ed and said she wasn't hungry but that everything looked so pretty.

We asked if there had been any Christmas music. John usually comes to play his guitar three times on one day each week. Mom didn't remember at first, then she told us he comes three times on Thursdays. We said, today is Thursday. "Oooooh, yes, he sang today."

John plays his guitar for the residents each Thursday.

They always enjoy his songs, stories and interaction with the group that gathers for his performances. He remembers each of them by name and plays their favorite song requests.

We consider ourselves very fortunate to have such an extended group of people looking after our loved ones. It's never ideal to live in a facility nor is it what they really want. Thankfully, Mom realizes that it is safer and better for them to have twenty-four hour staff to help them with their needs. She told me recently, "You children made the right decision to bring us here".

Even so, these things are difficult and have changed the face of the holidays for us all.

Handyman Special For Sale

Each time I unlock the door to her house, I'm struck with a sense of overwhelming sadness. Memories come flooding back even to that day years ago when we moved her from Fort Worth and carried her possessions inside.

The TV is off, the room is cold, mementos are scattered everywhere. These inanimate objects remind me of birthday celebrations, meals, new refrigerators, septic tank repair, skunks in the yard, trees planted, yards mowed, tornadoes, and days that will forever live in the past.

Children, grandchildren and great grandchildren have come and gone. So have two wiener dogs and a cat who shared this home with its two loving human parents.

Now the house lies vacant, silently waiting for me to empty it of all traces of the people who spent the last twenty years inside.

 

 Pictures on the walls, nick knacks on shelves, dishes in the cabinets, pans in the drawers, clothes in the closet, food in the cabinet, all wait for proper disposal.

My siblings have visited, taking with them any items to which they felt connected or which they presented as gifts over the years.

The vibes of these tangible items can be felt with eyes closed, holding these objects in hand, more clearly, sitting in a chair once occupied by the former residents.

Yet, nothing can replace those who resided here, two elderly women who wish they could still live in this small country home on half an acre, with its fenced yard and tiny storage shed; this handy-man special, double wide mobile home where their treasures on this earth remain and they do not.

Bike Ride on a Country Road

Last night as we settled into our post dinner stupor, our reverie was broken by the sound of an ambulance heading our way. Our custom of running to the window to check if it's headed to Grandma's hasn't changed, despite the fact that she no longer resides across the street.

"They're congregating at our corner!" I advised J who remained for the moment in front of the TV.

Seconds later, the ambulance was joined by a Lavon Police Department SUV which pulled across the end of our road blocking access to the corner where the ambulance stopped, lights flashing.Sirens screamed as a white Sheriff's car pulled to a stop behind the ambulance.

We were glued to the window, concerned, so J took a walk to the corner. The Nevada Fire Department vehicle that accompanies the paramedics arrived. Shortly afterward, their Number 2 engine arrived along with a Department of Public Safety marked car.

I ran upstairs to get a better view, but the scene was semi-blocked by the trees on the corner of our property. People were running about, gesturing wildly as officers looked on, taking notes with their eyes.

As J walked solemnly up the long driveway to our house, I could hear the unmistakable beat of a helicopter heading in our direction. The bright yellow Care-Flight helicopter circled above searching frantically for a place to land nearby.

In the past, they've landed on our front pasture, but this time, they chose another site down the road.

We found out that a woman riding a bicycle had been struck by a speeder who, according to a witness, had been doing about sixty miles per hour on our thirty-five mph street. Fortunately, someone in the car behind the woman stopped to render aid.

For about an hour, traffic in both directions and down our street was blocked off as the officers conducted their investigation while the noise of the chopper made its way across the cool blue sky.

We hope that her injuries were minor and that care and healing follow her Sunday night ride.



Three Dog Day at The Resort

It's always a good day when Ginger comes to work at the Skilled Nursing Home with her Dad. Up and down the hall you can hear calls of "Ginger...Come here, Ginger".

The residents enjoy kind kisses and a gentle sniffing before Ginger strides on past. She seems, like her Dad who's the Administrator, to have a purpose and destination to her step.

Eleven year old Ginger is a regular at the facility, showing up nearly every Monday through Friday.

"It sounds like home when she barks," one resident says.

The usual place where she can be found is in the doorway of Pop's office. There she naps and takes crackers and scraps from the residents who love seeing her and petting her.



Today was a bonus dog day with at least three other canine visitors.
This is little Cocoa who's another regular who comes to work with an employee at the home. She can be seen running quickly behind her master down the halls.

This is little Roxie who has a Mickey Mouse shaped emblem on her hind quarters.

A good time was had by all.



There Goes The Neighborhood

This Memorial Day Weekend will mark 24 years since we moved out here to the country.

Just thirty-five miles outside of Dallas, the quiet beauty of star-filled nights, breathtaking sunrises and colorful sunsets can't be matched in town.

This has been our daily dose of delight for all these years.

Soon, that sweet isolation and quiet peacefulness will be forever changed. 

Yesterday, the electric company broke ground on what has always been a horse pasture. Ten new houses are scheduled to be built across from our front yard.

I'm hopeful that the quality of the structures will enhance the value of our homes and yet, at the same time, sad with the intrusion into our revered space.

We knew it wouldn't be more than about ten years before the expanse of home owners into the Dallas Metroplex would uncover our little slice of Heaven out here in no where's land.

Send in the Cranes.

The Backroads of Texas

The long and winding road that leads to Mom's door is a beautiful drive that, unfortunately, floods when we get any rain. Lately that hasn't been too often so I take this scenic back road which cuts a few miles off my journey.

After yesterday's frog strangler  that doused us thoroughly as we carried in our groceries, I didn't expect to see the road open today. As luck would have it, the way was shining and freshly washed, ready for rubber neckers like me with a camera.



Greener on this side today

Sugar in the Morning

The good news is that Sugar, the seventeen-year old cat, survived the airplane trip from Dallas to his new home in South Carolina. He's now happily exploring and getting used to his new surroundings which include a beautiful sunny spot where he can soak up the rays.


Photo by Janet

The outside cat looking in is one of the original members of the household either Sullivan or Simon.
Sugar seems to have effectively turned his back on his peeping step brother and is down to the serious business of sunbathing.

A Roof Over My Head, La, la la...

His feline brothers are free to roam the woodsy back yard but Sugar was declawed so he can't go outdoors and face the native wildlife without protection. The other two cats are big squirrel hunters.



Birthday Celebration With New Friends and Old

The birthday girl, Louise, is celebrating her ninety-fourth birthday today surrounded by old friends, new friends and family.

After clearing away the lunch dishes, we brought out the homemade Italian Cream Cake and served a slice to whomever walked by and wanted a piece. It didn't take long for the cake to disappear, all but one large slice, saved for the birthday girl to enjoy later at her leisure.

For the pair of ladies who've recently moved into the Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Facility, they've both put on a few pounds, made a host of new friends, attended church services, been serenaded by musicians, played Bingo and Wheel of Fortune and generally lived a more active lifestyle over the past few weeks than the previous few years.

Of course, there's still a general longing and tearful wish for "home" and the beloved family cat who can't join them at "the resort". Life has turned into a double-edged balance between pain and pleasure, matching safety against independence. To these precious ladies who would in any case, rather be in their own home, the services they have available have become more than just nice to have. They have physical therapists to help keep their mental and physical bodies in tune and a caring staff of dieticians, doctors, physician assistants and others to ensure their well being. They are in the care of around-the-clock nursing staff, technicians who assist during middle-of the night emergencies, along with the fail safe assurance of back-up generators for power loss like in the country home from which they moved.

Though all this is true, I deeply feel the loss of their proximity - my heart aches with each lonely entry I make into my Mother's former household seeking some missing item to deliver to their shared room.

Their world has grown larger in activities and yet, at the same time it's grown smaller in real estate. It is an adjustment for us all, but none feel it more clearly than Auntie, who has left behind her boy, Sugar, the cat.