a room with a view

hope it makes you smile, just a little.

Green Eyes

is slowly getting used to the "new normal" around these parts. The rest of us wish we were taking the changes as gracefully.

Putting away groceries

A tribute to a Queen

Oh, how she will be missed.

What D has to look forward to if he chooses to be a local cop:

(seen in the police blotter in the local weekly)

3-13-09-3:35-Report of a pig loose on Rt---. Unable to locate. Notified local pig owner.

3-14-09 1:00 PM-Patrol observed two subjects at a yard sale take an item w/o paying for it. Investigation continues (MY comment; what, they stake out the garage sales here? Undercover detectives at garage sales, or what?)

3 :35- take report of a pig loose again on Rt---. Notified owner of Smoky Meadow Farms. "Snowball" was rounded up by its owner. FYI; Owner advised patrol "Snowball" is housebroken so the next caller can just keep it in their house."

~from AA.

Grandma's C2 Fracture

To put it in perspective: Christopher Reeves shattered his C1 and C2. Basically, those are the vertebrae that cradle/hold your head and cause you to turn it from side to side. And they also contain some pretty important nerves. Oh, like the ones that help you BREATHE! (minor detail, righto?)

So, to put it in other terms( see my translations in purple):

"Cervical spine (C-spine) injuries are the most feared of all spinal injuries because of the potential for significant deleterious sequelae (translated: really, really bad stuff can happen). Correlation is noted between the level of injury and morbidity/mortality(could make ya close to dying/dead) (ie, the higher the level of the C-spine injury, the higher the morbidity and mortality)(ie, C1 is really high, C7 is low). Craniocervical junction injuries are the deadliest (C1 and C2).

"As many as 10% of unconscious patients who present to the emergency department following a motor vehicle accident (MVA) have C-spine pathology. MVAs and falls are responsible for the bulk of C2 fractures.¹ The clinical manifestations range from asymptomatic to frank paralysis." (just thought I'd highlight that bit)

So, just to drive the point home, it's amazing that Grandma can be discharged tomorrow.

quilt inspiration from sicilia

(there, lb. happy?)

MIL recipe-so easy even AA could do it! ;)

So my MIL has brought these to Thanksgiving the past two years and they tasted better this year so I asked for the recipe: TWO ingredients! Got that? ONLY TWO! (I reiterate that point b/c I told a friend of mine this and she went out, bought the ingredients and didn't just add the TWO ingredients together-she also followed the recipe on the back of the box and called me when she couldn't figure out why they were still soggy 40 minutes into backing!)
Ok, now remember, just TWO ingredients. For those who can't remember this, Jim is modeling the TWO ingredients. One box of Duncan Hines spice cake mix and one small can of pumpkin (pumpkin, not pumpkin pie can). Add together. If you think it's too thick (I usually do) add no more than 1/4 cup (preferably 1/8) cup of water and if you want to "spice" it up, throw in some walnuts. Bake at about 375 for about thirty minutes. Yummy results and Jim gobbles them up. Now remember-JUST TWO INGREDIENTS! ( FYI: MIL stole recipe off of weight watchers web site)

Lake Placid Conference 2008

Jim was totally bored to tears the majority of the time. Something about hating being cooped up in a hotel room while I was at conferences all day (what's wrong with that?) ;) So I dragged him to the free ice skating and lunch sponsored by a local residency (never mind we were too old to apply-all were allowed to enter free that day! Even the museum-it was kinda neato. And I'm always up for a cheap date with Jim!) ;)

Quilt I made Jan 2008 for a co-worker's baby

She said she didn't have a single white wall in her house, so I figured this would match. Too bad it was my first attempt at fancy borders-I think I totally botched it. This is my "sewing set up" at the apt we rented last year and my cat supervising my sewing job (she always has to investigate everything!)

Various Pictures from Feb 08

What we make my poor FIL do on trips ;)


















The "welcome back to NY" sight after our cruise 08


















Our Fav restaurant in St.Pete's











This is a FISH at Cindy's local Tourist Attraction-A MUST SEE every visit! ;)


















The boy at G'ma's and LB's Birthday Party

Better Late than Never

Rebecca visiting Brenda Spring 08

















The doll's hand caught on fire while G'ma was lighting Amy's Birthday Cake '08

J's new Lego set...

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/lrlap.htm

Robbins family reunion

Here's Carolyn before going up in the plane with a Coast Guard Vice Admiral, one of Abuela's cousins! C- when did you turn into a young woman?? Last I recall, you wore ruffles on the butt of your tights, pigtails in your hair, and sang "gingko gingko itto 'tar" at the top of your lungs for fun.



ps: Will add more pics if they are sent to me :)

Goodbye Jeff!

Don't go!

Practice Session

A's 15th birthday

Lesson #1:
How to balance a spoon on your nose.
Lesson #2:
How to balance a spoon on your chin.

Our rocket scientist!

Pineapple growing on my patio!

It's easy, I just stuck a pineapple top from one I had eaten, two years ago, into a pot of dirt.

J's Senior project