Recuperation - Mind and Body

      It will be three weeks today since my surgery.  I've been instructed to "take it easy", don't lift over 10-15 pounds, and avoid steps.  Sounds easy but not so, not when you work full time and usually don't have time to get the things on the "to-do" list done.  But this has been my perfect opportunity to just laze around without guilt.  Guilt-free napping, sometimes twice a day.  Sleeping in late.  Not lifting heavy items.  Not feeling anxiety every time I see the Eliptical or drive past the YMCA, which is right down the street from my house.
     Yesterday I took some pictures of what I've been doing while spending time at my weekend getaway, the Cabin.
     I've placed this hammock under the sycamore tree where I get dappled shade and nap, usually with at least one dog surrounding me.

     This is the view looking up.

Below is the view looking out into friend Melissa's pasture.  I could sit for hours and watch the horses.

Now it's time to SIT at Courtois Creek.  Once we settled in with our chairs at the creek, hardly a word was spoken for almost an hour.  Melissa, her mother, who is now 87 and sharp as a tack, and I, just SAT and listened to sounds of nature.

 

This "Bird Head" rock was next to my chair.

When I moved my chair, I found this "Unhappy Ghost" rock.

There is a double recuperation going on here at the cabin this week.  A stray lab mix found me.  The vet visit yesterday revealed an eye infection, infection in the mouth from a laceration, and of course, malnourishment.  But NO HEARTWORM.  He's being treated with antiboitics.  At the moment, there are four labs here, my two, Carl and Hershey, the neighbor's yellow lab, and our stray Frank.  It's crazy at feeding time.

Here is a picture of Frank.  I've already found him a home, which he'll go to after his health improves.

He fits right in.

I'm not the only one lazing around this week.

My mind is finally slowing down and feeling peaceful.  No schedule besides doctor appointments.  No rushing. 

While sitting quietly in nature I noticed events I'd never notice in my typical hurried life, such as while sitting outside on the deck several crows came swooping in squacking and circling my house.  It was then I noticed all the dragonflies that they were hunting and eating.  It's those "little" things I find interesting.

So while physically recuperating, I'm certainly mentally recuperating.  Didn't realize how strung out I really was.  This has been a good lesson for me.

AND FRIENDS.  I've got great friends calling me, dining me, feeding me cookies an pies and casseroles.  I've got some great friends.

It's been a happy recuperation.

Linda

 

The Art of Sitting

     Recently I read a little article referencing "The Art of Sitting".  Being an anxious, easily bored and distracted person, I have always found it difficult to "just sit" and relax and enjoy my surroundings.  My endeavor is now to learn to "just sit" and enjoy the act of just sitting.

     To feel relaxed while sitting, I, like most people, like to prop my feet up on something, or else I'm not comfortable.  Sadly, though, this table is rough on the ankles.  I am on the lookout for an x-large ottoman, preferrably in cows hide.

     The weekend at the Cabin gave me the opportunity to perfect the art of sitting.  It was my goal to sit and enjoy the act of sitting.

     My good friend, Mary, accepted my invitation to sit with me this weekend at the cabin.  She was all over that idea after working a 12-hour shift at Children's Hospital in the NICU, plus driving an hour and a half to the Cabin.  As soon as she came in she hit the shower, put on her new PJ's, and sat in the big brown chair.  I had a frosty glass of cold beer ready for her.  She seemed to enjoy sitting and drinking it and winding down.

Sometimes a sit turns into a laydown, if you're not careful.

While chatting on the phone, I like to sit in the chair next to the phone.

 

Here I am sitting the the most uncomfortabel chair that I own.  But it's cool, isn't it?

All this sitting is wearing me out.   It's time to go to bed.  I have a day full of sitting to look forward to.

The next morning, we decided to sit and drink coffee at the barn, enjoying the morning and the view and the birds and woodsy noises.    It was so relaxing and joyful that we sat till 11:30 a.m.

Then I had this great idea, hey, let's go sit somewhere else.  We finally got dressed and took a drive to the Meramac Springs State Park in Missouri.  We found a great place to sit.

"Sitting Pretty"

My hat looks fab on you, Mary.

Sitting Friday evening and all morning and afternoon Saturday left me with a relaxed, peaceful feeling.  I needed the time to just sit and enjoy my surroundings, the sites and the sounds and the calmness that I so rarely feel.  Thanks Mary, for the weekend of sitting.

Phlox, Folly & Friends

     April is the time of the year my friends and I venture out on our horses for the Dogwood Ride, always taking place somewhere in Missouri.  This time it was right out my back yard on the Ozark Trail, and the Dogwood were in full bloom, but sadly, the Redbud were finished and leafing out.

Lucy and Mary arrived about 8:00 p.m. to the cabin, where I had cooked up a pot of Potato Bacon soup.  Was flying by the seat of my pants.  Hadn't made it in a long time, and happy to say it turned out great!

Simple country table setting.  Table enamel, old, bought in a flea market $35.

This setting was all about the food and welcoming to my cabin.

Got our bellies full and a good night's rest, ready for hard core riding. 

Picture of me and Dolly at Melissa's house, readying horses for the ride.

I took cuttings of the blooming bushes you see in the background for what will appear in the tablescapes.

We rode five miles from Melissa's house to my cabin on the Ozark Trail, then hitched up and prepared lunch.  Wish I'd prepared for a tablescape too, but nature took over.

Hot sandwiches and potato salad and chips.  Lucy had the brilliant idea (she always does) of eating outside by the barn taking in the view of the wild phlox growing on the hillside.  Great idea!

Dirty women, dirty table, but beautiful scene while we ate lunch.

Time to head back.  I can feel it's going to rain real soon.  Made it back to Melissa's ranch ten minutes before the rain started.

Mary just learning to ride this year.  She's doing great and she doesn't whine.

We finished the evening off with this, yes, Belly Dancing DVD.

Mary and Lucy left Friday morning early.  I decided Friday afternoon to use the flowers I cut and my new dishes for this tablescape.  Dishes bought at flea market.

The vase looks like Quimper, but it's not.

Tucked in some wild flowers clipped from my so-called yard.

Dogwood and wild phlox tucked in bourbon glasses.

I placed azalea and dogwood into this pottery thingy I purchased in Mexico.  It hangs at my kitchen window.

And I placed a Dogwood cutting in this bottle on the kitchen window sill.

I am so blessed to have good adventurous friends, a good hubby who never complains about my frolicking, and to have my little place in woods, the Mark Twain Forest, Missouri.

I am joining the party at http://betweennapsontheporch.net/on-a-balcony-in-switzerland-the-206th-tablescape-thursday/ 

Linda

Tears, Trails & Tablescapes

     Saturday was a special day.  The Ozark Trail Association held a special memorial for founder John Roth, who passed away July 2009.  We had a sculpture with plaque set in a foundation on the Middle Fork Section of trail to honor his memory.  He was a special man and is missed by so many friends and family.
To find out more information about the Ozark Trail, visit ozarktrail.com

Melissa and I trailored our horses to the event so we could take advantage of the beautiful spring day riding on the Middle Fork Section of the Ozark Trail.  I left my camera in the truck, so I didn't get any pictures.

Sunday was yet another beautiful day, so after enjoying a pancake and sauage breakfast with her and her husband, we took another trail ride, this time on the Courtois Section of the Ozark Trail, which is a four mile section which runs behind my house and meets the gate at her house.

The Ozark Trail Association is comprised of volunteers who have hand built and maintain the Ozark Trail.  I helped build this 4 mile section.  Awesome scenery.  Myself, Rick and Melissa have adopted this section and are charged with maintaining it.

Me & Dolly.

Melissa & Savannah

Me and pretty Dolly

Waterfall which only runs after much rain and snow melt.  How lucky am I to have this trail and scenery  behind my cabin?

Dinner for 6 on my screen porch.  Myself & Rob, Melissa & Phil, their daughter Julia and her friend from college had a dinner of filet mignon, asparagus with sesame & sesame oil, salad, cheese tortillini and bread.

It was beautiful out and we could hear the creek in front of the house babbling.

Yeah, I know the floor needs scrubbed.  It was a tough choice, scrub floor or ride.

I searched the cabin for a centerpiece and couldn't come up with a thing.  Thank you Spring.  I looked out the window and by the creek were some lovely daffodils blooming.  Perfect.

The flowers made their way onto my kitchen windowsill after dinner.

  My reflection can be seen in the window.  Scary.

We had an eventful exhilierating weekend.  We are blessed to have this wonderful weekend home.  It recharges me and fills my life with adventures, which keeps living interesting.

Linda

Vietnamese Dinner For 20

     Fortunately for me, my good friend Melissa belongs to a dinner club and it was her turn to host.  The theme was Vietnamese foods.  Knowing there would be a lovely table, interesting food and colorful guests, it gave me a grand opportunity to use her party in my blog.

                        Picture of hostess Melissa (on the right) and good friend Cindy on the left.

Host Phil and guest

Thelma, Melissa's mother, a lovely heart and soul.  Thelma introduced me to the joy of owning several sets of dishes with no shame!

Dining for 20

How pretty is that oriental screen and forsythia?

These spoons were purchased by Thelma's father while he served in the Navy.  The spoons date back to approx. 1910.  They are hand-made of silver.  Special memories and beautifully handcrafted.

Yep - Her hair is purple.

Beautiful tables, exquisite food and good friends.  What could be better?

Linda