Friday, September 2, 2011
Terry, Jasper and I left the house around 10:30am bound for Elizabethton. We stopped in Cookeville at Krystal for a quick lunch and filled up the tank arriving at Grandmother’s a little before 5pm. We arrived just ahead of her as she was returning from the hair salon.
Dinner at Cheddar’s in Johnson City with Phyllis and Patsy. We practically ate everything on the menu. We started with appetizers of artichoke dip and onion rings. For entrees, Terry and Patsy had the catfish, I had a grilled chicken sandwich, Grandmother had grilled shrimp and Phyllis had Shepherd’s Pie. Patsy wanted to treat everyone for dinner but shockingly couldn’t find her wallet. Thankfully she finally found it at home in a chair in her bedroom.
Back at the house, I showed Grandmother and Phyllis the Wall Springs Memory box I made for Roy for his birthday and one to keep for myself and we watched the DVD Terry and I created. We finally all got in bed around midnight. It’s hard to keep up with Grandmother and Patsy.
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Last night Grandmother decided she didn’t want to wait another day to get on the road to come to Franklin so we got her all packed up so we could leave today. We loaded the Land Rover and then drove Grandmother’s Cadillac to Johnson City where we met Phyllis and Patsy for breakfast at Perkins. The food was delicious and the company outstanding. After breakfast, Phyllis had to go to the Coalition for Kids to work on her Sunday school lesson and Patsy had to get ready for a birthday party at Ashley’s. Saying our farewells, we went back to Grandmother’s, picked up Jasper and headed home.
Arriving in Franklin, there was absolutely nothing in the refrigerator for dinner so we decided to take Grandmother to El Pueblo Real. We had a great time. We laughed because she ordered the Nachos Grande (as in nachos super duper big) and then she was shocked at how enormous they were.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Hot and muggy again today. Roy called this morning to see if we would like to join them for breakfast/lunch at Country Boy in Leiper’s Fork. Arriving a little before 11am there was already a 30 minute wait so Leah went across the street to see how Puckett’s Grocery looked. There was no waiting so we moseyed across the street. While enjoying our lunch we were entertained by a group playing bluegrass/gospel music.
After lunch, everyone came back to our house and relaxed and visited. After everyone had gone home and Grandmother went to lie down I ran to the grocery store. The cupboard was bare so I had to restock ASAP. Returning home, it started to rain which we desperately needed. I unloaded groceries and then we lazed around and watched “Two Weeks Notice” until time for dinner. Tonight we had grilled pork chops with apples, grilled asparagus and basmati rice.
Monday, September 5, 2011
Labor Day arrived rainy and cold. The temperatures have gone from near 100 degrees to the mid 50’s.
For breakfast I made Grandmother and I a couple of eggs over hard with toast and bacon.
Roy, Leah, Lily and Elijah joined us for a hearty Labor Day dinner tonight. We had a crockpot pot roast with new potatoes, squash casserole, sliced tomatoes, marinated cucumber and onions, roasted corn fresh off the cob and roasted green beans.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Rainy and cool again today. Since it was so miserable out we decided not to get out to go to Lily’s ballet class so Leah brought her over afterwards so Grandmother could see her in her cute pink tutu.
For lunch, Leah and I had paninis with deli turkey, apple slices and cheddar cheese, Grandmother had left overs from last night – squash casserole, onions with cucumber, sliced tomato, corn and green beans. Terry had fried chicken and mashed potatoes and Lily had Ritz crackers with peanut butter, mini carrots with Ranch dip, grapes and cheddar bunnies. After lunch we all hung out until it was nap time for the kids.
Later in the afternoon, Grandmother joined me in the kitchen and kept me company while I made Lemon-Zucchini Cornmeal Cookies. I found the recipe this morning on Martha Stewart and realized I had all the ingredients and I thought Grandmother would love them. While those were baking I made homemade meatballs to bake later in the evening.
Roy, Leah, Lily and Elijah came back over for dinner tonight. As soon as Lily came in she was ready for a movie. Since we had watched “Finding Nemo” that afternoon I gave her a choice of “Toy Story” or “How To Train Your Dragon”. She chose “Dragon”.
For dinner we had spaghetti with the homemade meatballs and Texas toast. We sat in the dining room again and enjoyed the camaraderie of food and family. After dinner, I gave Lily a cookie which she really liked and then went in to start the movie again. She wanted me to stay with her which is very unusual so we snuggled up on the couch. I think she was a little afraid of the animated dragons and wanted a comforting presence. I was not about to pass up cuddle time with Lily. Not much later, the movie just stopped for no good reason so I popped it out and put in “Toy Story”.
Leah laid a blanket on the floor in the living room and placed Elijah in the center. Looking up he could watch the ceiling fan lazily, twirl which he just loves. He just kicked and cooed happily. Leah laid down on one side of him tickling his tummy while I loaded the dishwasher. Roy, Terry and Grandmother sat in the dining room lingering not wanting to break the spell of dinner music and conversation. Roy and I used the Face to Face program for the first time, he on his iPhone and me on my iPad. Grandmother thought that was amazing and Lily was just plain confused which made us all laugh.
Retiring to the living room and with the movie playing in the background, Roy, Grandmother and Roy kicked back and relaxed, I laid on the other side of Elijah to play with his cute toes and Lily climbed on Leah like a jungle gym.
As they were leaving, I put together a baggie of cookies for Lily’s lunch tomorrow. She wanted to eat them then but we convinced her they were for later.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Finally stopped raining but on the cooler side. Grandmother wanted to spiffy up before her trip to Florida so I took her to have her hair washed and set at J. Bang’s Salon in Green Hills. After her appointment we drove back to Franklin and had lunch at Marcia’s Patisserie. Because it was cool and dreary, we both decided to have the French Onion soup, she also had a chopped salad while I had a hot rosemary chicken sandwich on a baguette and baked macaroni with bacon. Delish! Grandmother lives for dessert so she bought a creme brulee and a cream cheese pecan tart to have there and we took one big walnut chocolate chip cookie home for Terry and six small chocolate chip cookies for later.
I talked to Leah briefly and she told me that Lily asked her if her cookies were in her lunch box this morning and made sure that she told her she had eaten them for lunch when she picked her up from school. She emailed me for the recipe and I forwarded it to her.
Leah had a 6pm massage appointment tonight so she couldn’t join us for dinner. Roy arrived with Lily and Elijah as I was just starting to prep dinner. Tonight we had grilled chicken with mushrooms and onion in white wine with grilled asparagus and snow peas with basmati rice. I made homemade oven fried chicken fingers for Lily and served them with Ranch dressing, mini snack carrots, grapes and cheddar bunnies. She had quite and appetite and made a “happy” plate.
While getting dinner ready, Grandmother fed Elijah and watched “How to Train Your Dragon” with Lily.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Up at 4:30am to get ready to take Grandmother to the airport. We had to leave at 5:30am for her 8am flight. We met Dad curbside at the Southwest gate and they were off to Florida for her knee surgery.
Friday, September 9, 2011
Grandmother had her partial knee re-surfacing surgery. Talked with Dad this morning and everything went well. In fact, the doctor told her she wouldn’t need home health care just walking and exercising will be enough. I am so relieved everything went well. I hardly slept last night with worry and anxiety.
Tammy sent me a text asking how everything went and I filled her in. DJ will be going to Elizabethton to help Grandmother with her recovery which I think is just wonderful.
Dad called this afternoon to say that Grandmother had been up walking around. He’s going to try to get them rooms at the Airport Marriott in Tampa Saturday to save time and to make their departure easier.