Mosaic Monday #85: The Rest of the Story

Postcard for my sister in Texas

This post picks up the thread from last week, when I wrote about returning to Ohio to visit my Mom.  I had promised her that I would do some cooking during my stay, so I hit a grocery store close to her house.  As faithful readers will know, I am not the grocery shopper in our family, so this was a unique experience for me.  I was organized, and managed not to do circles around her hometown Kroger's.  Even so, I am sure it took me twice as long as it would have taken Head Chef, and I have a (re)new(ed) appreciation for his talents.  And I was getting anxious to just see my Mom!

Such a joy to pull up to her house and have her greet me at the door.  On our first day, we engaged in companionable conversation while crafting.  It wasn't long before we were playing a card game called Kings in the Corners, as in the "old days".  When I worked 45 minutes from her, I would come over once a week for dinner and cards.  So it was deja vu when she treated me to her chicken dinner with salad and baked potatoes.  During the day, we also worked on what we came to call our "homework" - documenting important pieces of information and collecting paperwork into an organized file box that I could take to my oldest sister at the end of the week.  When my Mom turned in for the night, I strolled the beautiful grounds of her senior living community and called Spousal Unit for an update on Montana happenings.

And just that quickly, our time fell into a routine.  Eating, cards, and doing "homework."  A bit of crafting.  A few "honey-dos" around the cottage.  I rose early a couple of mornings to run my six miles before the heat and humidity became overwhelming.  I had the pleasure of cooking for my Mom - not even a drop in the bucket compared to the hundreds of meals she has prepared for me while I was at home.

Sloppy Joe Pot Pie

One day, my Mom had a visit from her physical therapy nurse, who determined that her balance had improved sufficiently to discharge her from any further therapy sessions.  That same day, we had to sort out some prescription issues to ensure that my Mom would continue to receive these critical supplies.  For anyone that lives in the US, I don't think I have to tell you how complicated our health care system is, especially when it requires senior citizens to navigate automated phone systems and "easy" on-line websites.  I have the advantage of decades of computer experience, and years working through on-line health care apps as an HR professional, and yet I was pulling my hair out!

We had a few opportunities to breath fresh air, including the day we planted the four hydrangeas that were languishing in Mom's sun room.  She supervised from the seat of her walker, and I was pleased the soil was easy to dig.  Upon returning inside, we applied her permanent to her hair.  This is normal for her, every four months or so, but I have never done it - a bit of a learning "curve"!  She told me what to do and I was the muscle.  I am pleased to say that she was happy with the results - whew!

Chicken Chili

That same day, the first hummingbird visited the feeder that she had filled the day before.  It was a delight to watch it come and go at speed while we enjoyed my dinner of Chicken Chili.  Storms rumbled, flashed and poured during my stay; one of them was quite violent and we heard about tree damage and power outages the next day (fortunately, it did not affect us.)  But they sure make for gorgeous sunsets and rainbows.

Are you familiar with gooseberry plants?  We always had one or more while we were growing up, and my Mom has two that are full of fruit.  One of her specialties is gooseberry pie, so on my second-to-last day I asked her to check on the fruit.  Just possibly, could they be ready?  We had just returned from a bloodwork appointment (masks and all), and rolled our way across the lawn to the plants.  One small squeeze and she dashed my hopes.  Too green.  Sigh.

We carried on with our day.  Cards.  Homework.  I tripped to Aldi's to fulfill her shopping list, and it wasn't too far out of the way to pop in Graeter's for a pint of her favorite ice cream - Butter Pecan.  All in all, we had a sugar-fueled day since she placed the ingredients for S'mores on the purchase order.  Did you know 10 seconds in a microwave can make an outstanding indoor S'more?

Before I knew it, our ultimate day arrived.  The final pieces of our homework were placed in The Box, and we moved on to happier activities.  Changing it up a bit, we played Mexican Train.  (And we might have had some more S'mores!  Isn't that why they are called S'mores?)

I made the last of my three meals, Basil Sun-dried Chicken Tortellini.  So delectable.  The previous night, we had discovered how pleasant it was to play cards on the back patio, so we repeated the experience.  How fitting to listen to evening birdsong and watch the sunset.  It capped off a hectic and yet eminently satisfying week.  I could move on to the next phase of my trip, visiting with my kids, full up on the love that only a Mom can bestow.  

(Some of my comments on your posts may be a bit delayed this week due to a short camping trip.)

Mosaic Monday

Welcome to Mosaic Monday, a weekly meme where we get together to share our photo mosaics and collages.
Please include at least one photo mosaic/collage in your post.
The link will be open from 1 p.m. Sunday until 11 p.m. Monday (U.S. Mountain time).
Remember to add the link to your Mosaic Monday post and not the one to your blog.
Please link back to this post so that your readers will be able to visit and enjoy more wonderful mosaics; taking the MM blog button from my sidebar is an easy way to link back.
As host I will visit every participant and leave a comment so that you know I stopped by.
Please try and visit as many other blogs as you can, especially those that join in later, so that everyone's creativity can be appreciated fully.
Thank you for joining in today and sharing your mosaics with us.  

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