Disabled Parents (part 4)

After relocating to South Carolina to help in the day-to-day care of Mom, my husband, daughter, and I did the best we could in assisting the family. I stayed with her at night because everyone else had to get up very early in the mornings to go to work. Mom never slept but an hour or two, at the most, at a time. When she didn't sleep much, she constantly called me during the night. I was always so tired. Also, I was having trouble falling asleep when I did get an opportunity to get some much needed rest.

Once, when I took Mom to the clinic for her checkup, the doctor took one look at me and said that I needed to get away from Mom for a while. He said that as a caregiver, I was neglecting the most important aspect; taking care of myself so that I might be better able to care for my Mother. I then asked my family if they could relieve me more, because I needed extra time for myself.

I learned so much about myself and my family at that time. Do the things that you can and don't be afraid to ask for help when things become too stressful. Pray a lot to ask for guidance from above. Only then can situations get better and things can be easier for everyone involved.

Return of the Wanderers

The wandering dogs returned home the same day, which was highly unusual for them. They mostly always pull a one or two nighter. They were so hot and tired from their little getaway until they basically slept for at least two days. Choca and Slick will be on their best behaviors for a while until it enters their mind to go rogueing again.

I love both dogs so very much. They are undeniably a part of our family. I'm never contented until they are safe behind our fence. But they enjoy roaming the woods near us. They now have a taste of chasing birds, sniffing everything they come across, and simply expressing their curiosity. I really need to put the dogs to some chores. They have so much energy!

Choca is the leader of the two dogs. He keeps Slick in lots of trouble. Choca does all or most of the digging out of the fence. He's constantly checking to see if there's a hole in the fence that's left unguarded. He makes a beeline for that hole and persuades Slick to join him. Of course, Slick is Choca's little flunkey. He seems to do whatever Choca wants him to do. I am so happy they're home for now!

Rogue Dogs At It Again!

Those two naughty dogs of ours are at it again! I goes into the house for an hour or so, and when I went back outside to check on them, bang! They had made their great escape. I am so angry with them right now. I certainly do not want the dog catcher to pick them up. Of course, that would never enter into their little pea brains.

I realize the dogs, Choca and Slick, want to be free. Who doesn't? Our job is to care for them and protect them from all harm, including the dog catcher, hunger, other vicious dogs that runs loose and travel in packs. Our dogs wouldn't stand a chance with those kinds of dogs.

When Choca and Slick goes missing, they usually stay gone overnight. They make it home the next morning all dirty, tired, and dehydrated. Choca is always the initiator of their little romps out of the fence. Slick is his loyal follower. I just wish they would find themselves back home as soon as is possible. We really and truly miss those impish mutts.

Eating Of Our Labors

Yesterday was a day of Thanksgiving for a very bountiful harvest. We trimmed and cleaned
the flat Italian beans, cooked them. Wow! were they great-tasting. We also cooked white potatoes from our garden. Fresh garden tomatoes were on yesterday's menu, too. The day before; on Saturday, I had prepared the bottle-neck yellow squash with white onions and a large
orange bell pepper. I used olive oil for a quick sauteeing.

I will chop some vegetables and chunks of chicken breast with shrimp and some catfish nuggets for a quick meal served with couscous. The meat and vegetables will be thoroughly marinated with lime juice, garlic powder, salt, red crushed pepper, and fresh parsley.

Real soon, we will have okra, hot peppers, butterbeans and green bell peppers to harvest. Our plum tree did not do so well this year. If we're here next year, we plan to have a bumper crop of plums and I would love to try my hand at growing blueberries, too. They seem a cinch to grow.

Dream Warning!

It was in the year 1973, and we were living in the slums of Brooklyn, NY. Our apartment was on the third floor of an old tenement building. There were two other families living in the building.
We had recently purchased a color tv. They were not common in our neighborhood. Black and white tv was still the accepted norm. My husband would often invite our downstairs neighbor upstairs to watch baseball or football. The color tv was enjoyable to all of us.

One day, after taking my older daughter to school, straightening up the apartment, and picking up a few items from the store, I decided to take a quick nap in my daughter's room. I would get up in time to pick her up from school. While I was asleep, I dreamed that someone was going to break into our apartment. "Get up and get out right now!" The voice from my dream was saying, loud and clear.
When I became fully awake, the warning was still echoing in my mind. "Get out of here. Someone is going to break into your home!" I even thought about going to the police precinct,
but I didn't dare. They probably would have laughed at me. On a dream? The police couldn't have acted on that information, could they?

I moved quickly and left home real fast. I visited with a neighbor for about an hour or so. I wanted to talk to her about the dream. But I decided to keep it to myself. I picked up my daughter from school, and we took our time walking home. I didn't want to frighten my daughter so I didn't mention the dream to her. When we climbed the three flights of stairs to our floor, the apartment door was ajar. I know I did not leave it like that. I'm so very sure I locked that door. I was afraid to enter into the first room. We ran down the stairs, across the street to a friend's barbershop and asked him if he would come in the apartment with us. He assured us that he would do what he could.

Sure enough, someone had been in our home and taken the color tv. We looked and searched
around, but that was the only item missing. The place was in shambles. Drawers were emptied
on the floors. So much was scattered about. But to this day, I often think of that warning from the dream. It probably saved our lives to not to have been there when whomever it was that decided to break in on that afternoon. Our guardian Angel was certainly looking out for our family. I give much thanks.