FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE

I didn't feel well on Monday, I kept thinking about the skeleton I saw lying on the bed this weekend. Luckily Isabelle my personal "nurse" came to help me to fix and put up the parasol. One worked, the other one not and I decided to buy a new one. My terrace is so sunny that it is impossible to stay there without parasol. And as I was already there I cleaned the seats and the table and put the decorations and flowers in place which helped me to not think.

and this was the result

I had to do some shopping for Rick, as he can't drink from a glass anymore, I had bought a bottle for children where the water doesn't run out when you turn it around. I bought a second one because those they had in the home were not practical. I also bought a little plastic bowl for yogurt or ice cream. 

I had taken Adeline with me who also needed some decoration things and then we went to Rick. She stayed downstairs with the others and I went in his room alone. He was sleeping and as I tidied up a little bit and filled the bottles with juice and water, he suddenly woke up looked at me asked me what I was doing, I answered and hadn't finished my phrase yet he slept again.  I picked up Adeline and we went home.

 

I knew that the next day the ice man came and that was always a big event. The oldies were waiting already like children excited to get their ice cream. I joined them with my bowl, and they let me be the first so that I could bring it to Rick.  He was still sleeping like he was when I had arrived and now I woke him up just telling that I have two balls of Straciatella (vanilla with chocolate crumbs) He didn't even open his eyes but his mouth and spoon by spoon I put the ice cream in his mouth. I suddenly had to laugh because I looked like a bird mother feeding their baby birds. They also just open the mouth. Slowly, slowly he continued opening his mouth until the two balls were gone. I asked him if he enjoyed it, but he didn't answer he slept. I gathered my things washed up the bowl, looked around to see if everything was in place and then I returned home. 

I also had met his doctor and had a long talk with him. Now he will lay in bed gets special liquid food because he can't swallow anymore and to drink of course. I insisted not to let him suffer but
she reassured me that he gets also painkillers and tranquilizers. 

Now it is a matter of time. I had time to get "used" to my situation. "Used" is a not really the word, because I will never get used to the fact that the rest of my life I have to live without him. 

Today my son is coming together with Toby, but we have decided together and Toby agreed, that he won't see his grandpa in this state, I prefer that he keeps his Nonno in mind like he was when he was not sick. 

On my way back I found a feather and I gave it to Rosie as she loves to play with feathers 

And see my little cat playing with her feather and throwing it in the air, running around and catch it again, calmed me down and I thought it is a pity that Rick can't see that, what we also shared was the love for cats. I remembered that it was my first cat who choose Rick for me.

 

more participants at Susanne at Living to tell the Story.

HODGEPODGE MAY 12

1. What do you never get tired of? 

Easy question, I would never get tired of writing, that's my exhaust tube. And for my nerves I get never tired of cats ! 

 

2. My mother made the best 

cakes, and cookies, she baked like a professional, but she couldn't cook as much as she was creative with cakes and cookies, the daily kitchen was a punishment for her.

3. What machine or appliance in your home aggravates you the most? Why? 

Actually nothing anymore because living alone (with my cat) I don't cook and for the rest it's my cleaning lady who takes care of the cleaning and I don't think that anything disturbs her !

4. What are three things that brighten up your day when they happen? 

Sunshine, watching my cat play, a phone call of a friend or family

5. Thursday (May 12) is National Limerick Day...write a limerick about relating to spring weather, spring blooms, or a spring event (five lines, the first two lines rhyme with the fifth line, the third and fourth lines rhyme together)  

This spring rain does not give me a thrill

never has, and probably never will 

I just want you to know that I will use a plane as wing 

and go to a place where it's always spring 

 

6. Insert your own random thought here.

For the moment I try not to think Rick's  health has deteriorated so much in 5 days that I have to reckon with the worst unless a miracle happens, but I don't believe in miracles. My son has visited him on Saturday, me on Sunday and Isabelle (who is a nurse too) on Monday, I have seen him on Tuesday and I sincerely hope for him that this state doesn't last too long. He sleeps most of the time and that is good. At least he doesn't suffer. That's why when I think of something my thoughts always go back to him like I have seen him yesterday.

 

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

 

 

more participants here, and Image-in-ing here 

FLORALIES OF GHENT - BELGIUM

In 1959 my parents moved with me to Brussels. Ever since I never managed to see the flower show called "Floralies" in Ghent which became very famous over the years. This year a Bus company from Waterloo proposed a trip to Ghent to visit the "Floralies" ! We were 17 to participate and it had been really very beautiful and worthwhile to see.

Flower festivals have been organized in Ghent since 1648 mostly in churches. From 1808 on the flower growers founded a new association in the Society of Agriculture and Botany of Ghent.

The creativity of these artists is amazing. Pictures are better then words !

Warhol pictures made with moss

Linking to 

TRAVEL PHOTOS SOUVENIRS 

THROUGH MY LENS 

TRAVEL TUESDAY  

AWWWW MONDAY - WEEKEND MAY 7

 

Yoga exercises and meditation !

Linking to AWWW MONDAYS

 

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 WEEKEND

This weekend, for the first time since two years or more I participated in a Bus trip from a Waterloo company which does one day excursions. I had already traveled several times with them and it always had been very well organized and the things we visited were very interesting. We were not very much only 17 people so they had sent us a mini bus with 18 seats but that was OK. The people were all in a good mood and wondered that we were only 17 but there are still a lot of people who don't dare to travel not even for a day because they fear for their lives the Corona virus is still hanging in the air for them !

We visited the Flower festival and drove to Gent. Five minutes later another single lady climbed in the bus and immediately started to speak with me. We found out that we had the same interests and she was really nice, she also loves traveling and finally it was as if we knew each other for ages. The good thing is she is 14 years younger then I and in good shape ! I to my big surprise was in good shape too ! For me it was a kind of test if I am still able to travel and above all to walk the whole day, but I was fit like a fish in the water and had to use my puff only once. We had a real nice day and when we arrived in Waterloo we promised each other to meet as soon as possible. And this morning she sent me already a picture. 

 

We had a flower painted on our hand

Unfortunately just after lunch I got a call from Rick's Residence that he had fallen and the guy on the phone asked ME what to do ! It was the weekend and probably a poor nurse student. Fortunately my son had come to visit his father for "mother day", that I was not there didn't bother us I had planned my trip since a long time and he wanted to stay with his son's mum ! I had to laugh when he gave me this explanation ! I honestly was happy that he was there and could take care of his dad and I could continue to enjoy my flower exhibition. And when I came home I found 

 This beautiful bouquet he had left with Adeline my neighbor. This has been a flowerfull day !

On Sunday the printer mystery was solved and it was such a stupid thing ! Isabelle came over to find out why my computer was connected to the printer but didn't print. She started the whole procedure again and came to the same result as before. But I heard the printer behind me printing something ! He had already printed pages always with the same text what I hadn't seen was that the printer only worked with a pin code which was valid  90 sec. And all papers which the printer had spit out said the same but I hadn't read it ! So we tried again, and as soon as the paper came out I gave it Isabel, she put the pin code in the computer and ......printed one of my documents and it worked !! Almost two weeks had passed by to find out that it was only the pin code, but that wasn't written nowhere ! I am talking about a HP computer and printer !!

In the afternoon I visited Rick. My son had already warned me that Rick's condition had deteriorated. He was even more emaciated and only skin and bones. He had fallen again, no one knows how that could have happened. But he wasn't in pain. It was impossible to talk to him, he mixed up all the words. After I gave him a drink and a yogurt, he couldn't eat by himself this time, and I had to feed him, he fell asleep and I escaped home I wonder how much longer he has to go through this !