FRIDAY's FAVORITE FIVE

The week started with the celebration of Candelmas, which takes place on February 2, 40 days after Christmas. But Candlemas is also “crepe day”. It is said that crepes, with their round and golden shape, recall the sun and evoke the return of spring after the dark and cold winter.

All households are baking pancakes this day or they buy, we (not me) did the dough on Monday morning so it was ready for coffee time ! I don't know how many were baked, and they were rather pancakes and not crepes which are thinner and far bigger. But the little once were good too and  if I am not wrong they ate 60 pancakes ! They were real good.

Here are Kim and Elinor baking the pancakes and then some of us followed, the others watched with interest and watering mouth !

On Tuesday there is always mass, and those who don't go played cards. Then we got all together for coffee and cake. 

Unfortunately when I came back into my room the daughter of my friend Nicole called me to tell me that her mum had finally passed away, the last weeks, she didn't eat anymore and on the 27th just fell asleep forever. I was like paralyzed. 25 years of friendship gone !

On Thursday you could see the coffin, which was unfortunately closed and not half open like Rick's, so we could see him.  There were only three of us, daughter, son and I and then people from the staff who were particularly close to her. 

Because of my lung problems I was unable to take part in the incineration celebration. It was too cold and too humid and quite far away from my home where her husband's ashes were and she wanted her ashes close to his place. 

The last few days until today I felt like a robot, I did everything automatically and thought, yes, now the last link to my former life is finally over. And then I got a message from Karin with a photo of Charlie, Nicole's great love, a golden retriever. She had painted him and  I wanted it as a souvenir. 

The picture had changed, it was no longer the happy Charlie, he was crying! That was a sign for both of us and we were a bit confused. When did Nicole paint the tears on the picture ? She could barely hold a spoon and it must have happened in the last few days because neither Karin nor I noticed anything during the last visit. It will remain a mystery, or a miracle. How did she take the picture from the wall and found her painting material ? She could rather move. I will hang the crying Charlie in my room.

Now I'm trying to create a new blog, but it's not that easy, so much has changed. Of course I'll put a link to the new blog...... when it's ready.

Nicole and I traveled a lot together, here we are in France, with our body guard.

more participants at Susanne at Living to tell the Story.

 

 

 

 

 

 

HODGEPODGE FEB 6

 1. What area of your life feels like you're stuck in a Groundhog's Day loop, doing the same thing over and over? Does it bother you or is that just how life is in this particular season?  

Thanks to Rick, my husband, I had a pretty eventful life in a positive sense. Now that I am a widow,  I have started the third part of my life, Now I have the impression that my days are like a pearl necklace, every day the same. But it doesn't  bother me only every now and then!

My days in pearls 

2. Something that makes your heart skip a beat ? 

When suddenly I see  an extraordinary landscape turning around a corner  and I hadn't thought of it at all. When I was a teenager, it happened when I suddenly saw a handsome boy ! Times change.

3. Do you wear your heart on your sleeve or are you more of a closed book? Elaborate. 

I think I wear my heart on my sleeve, I am certainly not a closed book ! Rather wide open !

4. According to Prevention Magazine, these are 25 of the best foods for heart health-

wild salmon, sardines, liver, walnuts, almonds, chia seeds, oatmeal, blueberries, coffee, red wine, green tea, soy milk, dark chocolate, raisins, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, sweet potatoes, whole grains, apples, oranges, grapefruit, avocado, avocado oil, olive oil 

Which five do you include in your diet most often? Are there any foods on the list you simply cannot abide? 

I don't do any diet, therefore I must have the best heart in the world because I like everything which is listed and not just 5 ! The only thing I have never eaten  is chia seeds and Google had to explain me what that was. And I learned a lot ! 

"Chia seeds are tiny black or white seeds derived from the Salvia hispanica plant, a member of the mint family native to Central America. These small seeds have been a part of human diets for over 5,000 years. Chia seeds were a staple food for the Aztecs and Mayans."  

To me it looks like lentils.

5. What was the last piece of furniture you bought? Is there a piece of furniture you need/want to purchase this year ? 

I don't even remember when I bought the last piece of furniture ! But I got a new table for free which I use as desk.

When it is warm and the sun is shining, I open wide the window and I have this beautiful view on our park. 

And no, I have no intention to buy a new furniture, I am happy as it is, in my cozy nest.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

The last 3 days !  I tried to sort out at least 20 winter and summer scarfs that Nicole's daughter had brought me. They are very beautiful, made of all kind of materials. This and the photos of Nicole I chose for the slideshow at the funeral ceremony brought back so many memories that I suddenly found myself sitting in a deep black hole. I felt like I didn't want to do anything anymore, like my life was now over. But then I pulled myself together and ordered me not to keep looking at the past but to plan a future. And suddenly I decided to end this blog and make a new one with a new title and my real name. My life has changed so much, that this blog is not actual anymore.

And with that idea I have already taken a step into the future. But I will never be able to forget Rick. Only now do I realize what a loving husband and partner he was. We were a real team.

54 years together

 

 

 

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

  

 

 

 

more participants here, and Image-in-ing

AWWW MONDAY

 

Kim, one of my cats at the groomer !

 

The thief !

Linking to AWWW MONDAYS