tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249592045442388060Mon, 21 Dec 2009 13:31:09 +0000http://atpatsplace.blogspot.com/pflat@austin.rr.com (Pat's Place)Blogger328125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249592045442388060.post-3934743310626886348Mon, 21 Dec 2009 02:29:00 +00002009-12-20T21:22:58.415-06:00ChristmasFamily timeWe got together with two of our boys today for a pre-Christmas celebration and had a great time! Son #2 and family joined hubby and me and Son #3 here in the Panhandle. It was a beautiful day, we ate heartily of the goodies Son #3 provided, and then we did our Christmas gift exchange and had lots of good fun watching the children and the dogs play. Here are a few pictures from our wonderful day: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~3/mfUNvNKP0tY/good-time-was-had-by-all.htmlpflat@austin.rr.com (Pat's Place)2<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~4/mfUNvNKP0tY" height="1" width="1"/>http://atpatsplace.blogspot.com/2009/12/good-time-was-had-by-all.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249592045442388060.post-7212481066552420750Sun, 20 Dec 2009 16:01:00 +00002009-12-20T10:17:42.071-06:00We spent last evening helping Son #3 finish decorating his tree for our gathering with Son #2 and family today. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~3/hf_AT9gOCsw/decorating-decorating.htmlpflat@austin.rr.com (Pat's Place)2<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~4/hf_AT9gOCsw" height="1" width="1"/>http://atpatsplace.blogspot.com/2009/12/decorating-decorating.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249592045442388060.post-5577936299881780690Sun, 20 Dec 2009 03:44:00 +00002009-12-19T22:39:10.527-06:00grandchildrencelebrateChristmasWe have started our visits with our children and grandchildren for the holidays. On Thursday we went to visit Son #4 who has been a firefighter and see him graduate from an academy (he is the tall on in the back. We are not sure where he got his height but we can always spot him because he stands out in a crowd!) and be sworn in as a fire and arson investigator.We were very proud of him and http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~3/AUhUgSyMjlE/visiting-kids.htmlpflat@austin.rr.com (Pat's Place)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~4/AUhUgSyMjlE" height="1" width="1"/>http://atpatsplace.blogspot.com/2009/12/visiting-kids.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249592045442388060.post-1299283978622801169Wed, 16 Dec 2009 11:14:00 +00002009-12-16T05:18:45.637-06:00CalmStressHolidaysI borrowed the title for this post from my friend, Melody who has posted a link to some great suggestions for a less stressful holiday season. When I read the list of "stress busters" I realized that I was breaking MOST of the rules. I promised myself that I will try to implement those rules in my life TODAY and hopefully lessen the stress that we all experience during this season. I hope yourhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~3/L8Mfssmwwig/all-is-calm.htmlpflat@austin.rr.com (Pat's Place)2<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~4/L8Mfssmwwig" height="1" width="1"/>http://atpatsplace.blogspot.com/2009/12/all-is-calm.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249592045442388060.post-4828454789066556935Sat, 12 Dec 2009 21:28:00 +00002009-12-12T16:08:51.951-06:00Chaco Canyonhibiscusoil paintingsunflowerFajada Buttewater colorsIrisRosemaryI have finished several paintings lately and finally got some great pictures of them. I have a new camera and it takes wonderful pictures of my paintings. I will share a few with you. Most are from my "flower period." I saw some oil paintings of single flowers on a black background in Santa Fe last summer and decided to do my own set. I have completed four. I did the rosebud back in the summer http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~3/JawJSJFzgh0/paintings.htmlpflat@austin.rr.com (Pat's Place)6<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~4/JawJSJFzgh0" height="1" width="1"/>http://atpatsplace.blogspot.com/2009/12/paintings.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249592045442388060.post-2033832631630415216Thu, 10 Dec 2009 18:04:00 +00002009-12-10T12:33:39.612-06:00washing machinetibiawater mainengineBreakingwellLet's see: the week started out Sunday with an early a.m. call from Son #2--his well went out and they had frigid temps and no water. Next Son #1 called and the engine (or motor or whatever) went out on his vehicle. Monday dawned with lots of fog and drizzle and our hot water heater went out. Hubby got it fixed and I decided to do a load of laundry. Soon I heard a loud screeching noise, opened http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~3/O3Q86vzyJdk/breaking-breaking.htmlpflat@austin.rr.com (Pat's Place)3<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~4/O3Q86vzyJdk" height="1" width="1"/>http://atpatsplace.blogspot.com/2009/12/breaking-breaking.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249592045442388060.post-9173702248041690351Fri, 04 Dec 2009 23:15:00 +00002009-12-04T17:17:38.312-06:00snowWell, a few flakes. I took a few pictures of the big flakes falling down around our banana trees (that will freeze tonight!) as the sun came out and I cannot see one flake in the picture. Sigh! And yet, down on the coast our kids saw LOTS of snow. Sigh!http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~3/cT73p-rDrR4/no-snow.htmlpflat@austin.rr.com (Pat's Place)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~4/cT73p-rDrR4" height="1" width="1"/>http://atpatsplace.blogspot.com/2009/12/no-snow.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249592045442388060.post-2479943113075110315Thu, 03 Dec 2009 23:02:00 +00002009-12-03T17:12:36.550-06:00snowweather forecastThe weatherman says that we can expect some snow tomorrow. At the gym this morning the girls' dressing room was abuzz with talk about possible business closings, school closings, hurrying out to shop, what emergency items to buy and so on. And, NO, we do not live in the far north. We just live in an area that sees freezing weather infrequently and snow about every ten years or so. People http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~3/_eZdQyTPeVs/expecting-snow.htmlpflat@austin.rr.com (Pat's Place)5<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~4/_eZdQyTPeVs" height="1" width="1"/>http://atpatsplace.blogspot.com/2009/12/expecting-snow.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249592045442388060.post-3092744821599665678Fri, 27 Nov 2009 03:57:00 +00002009-11-26T22:39:14.107-06:00We have had a wonderful Thanksgiving here in West Texas visiting with Son #3. I cooked Thanksgiving dinner at his house and he got off work in time to help a LOT!Then he took us out to a friend's ranch and we had a tour, saw HUGE deer, and watched a beautiful West Texas sunset.Back home, we ate leftover Thanksgiving turkey and are calling it a night (while we watch the Texas Longhorns beat Texas http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~3/fVnflNeYodE/happy-thanksgiving-to-all.htmlpflat@austin.rr.com (Pat's Place)5<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~4/fVnflNeYodE" height="1" width="1"/>http://atpatsplace.blogspot.com/2009/11/happy-thanksgiving-to-all.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249592045442388060.post-2263715094045334904Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:36:00 +00002009-11-24T16:44:35.069-06:00FishingPrayersMany people have asked how Miss Ella Bella is doing after her hospital stay and I am happy to report that the infection seems to be under control although they have to be very careful for about 3 more months. Meanwhile, she is back into her busy life. Thank you for your prayers!Over the weekend the family went fishing and Miss Ella Bella, like her dad, loves to fish. She actually caught the http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~3/ibuesUIuHCM/thanks-for-prayers.htmlpflat@austin.rr.com (Pat's Place)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~4/ibuesUIuHCM" height="1" width="1"/>http://atpatsplace.blogspot.com/2009/11/thanks-for-prayers.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249592045442388060.post-7832454397410718644Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:35:00 +00002009-11-19T15:50:53.254-06:00WritingRudy's BeatRudy's BraceletHumorI follow the blog of a family whose youngest child was born a little over a year ago with HLHS which, in simple language, means that he was born with part of his heart missing. This family has been through many, many medical challenges this past year and the year has been very difficult for them and their other three children. However, this blog has three things that make it very entertaining andhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~3/zHV3fllnREQ/i-laughed-out-loud.htmlpflat@austin.rr.com (Pat's Place)4<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~4/zHV3fllnREQ" height="1" width="1"/>http://atpatsplace.blogspot.com/2009/11/i-laughed-out-loud.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249592045442388060.post-4742815791282203767Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:09:00 +00002009-11-18T14:32:32.078-06:00supportSurprisesBooksHospiceThis morning I went to the fitness center as usual and ran into my friend Melody Chatelle and she told me that she had mentioned my book on her excellent blog. She said she had also provided a link to the NPR interview that I did at the end of September (which seems like an eon ago!). What a wonderful surprise! Melody is quite a talented (and beautiful) person herself. She has been a longtime http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~3/akedSKaJBRA/surprise-today.htmlpflat@austin.rr.com (Pat's Place)4<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~4/akedSKaJBRA" height="1" width="1"/>http://atpatsplace.blogspot.com/2009/11/surprise-today.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249592045442388060.post-4626421125483086342Thu, 12 Nov 2009 20:10:00 +00002009-11-12T14:24:44.467-06:00Prayer RequestMiss Ella Bella's parents took her home from the hospital today with lots of medications and lots of instructions. The first hurdle was that Miss Ella Bella had to be able to swallow the medication and she passed that test. Now they have a strict set of rules to deal with the infection and the need to keep a sharp eye on her for a while. Her parents convinced the doctors that they could follow http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~3/nydwI4GBhvY/miss-ella-bell-goes-home.htmlpflat@austin.rr.com (Pat's Place)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~4/nydwI4GBhvY" height="1" width="1"/>http://atpatsplace.blogspot.com/2009/11/miss-ella-bell-goes-home.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249592045442388060.post-6303420885100672317Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:59:00 +00002009-11-11T17:30:09.306-06:00Prayer RequestMy sweet three-year-old granddaughter, Miss Ella Bella, is in the hospital with an infection and a very bad allergic reaction to the antibiotic they gave her for the infection. Her mother says she is being a real trouper about the whole thing, but she is very sick and the whole family needs our prayers. My very brave daughter-in-law says that she just wants to hear some good news from the doctor http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~3/ZhmrTWQNY6c/prayers-please.htmlpflat@austin.rr.com (Pat's Place)6<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~4/ZhmrTWQNY6c" height="1" width="1"/>http://atpatsplace.blogspot.com/2009/11/prayers-please.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249592045442388060.post-3062757436556580786Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:43:00 +00002009-11-10T09:47:40.300-06:00I read this this morning and it really struck a cord in me. I thought I would like to share it with you:God comes to us exactly where we are— Not where we should have been if we had made all the right choices in life, Not where we could have been if we had taken every opportunity that God has offered us, Not where we wish we were if we didn’t have to be in the place where we find ourselves, Not http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~3/Hl8rI0oCKrw/acceptance.htmlpflat@austin.rr.com (Pat's Place)4<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~4/Hl8rI0oCKrw" height="1" width="1"/>http://atpatsplace.blogspot.com/2009/11/acceptance.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249592045442388060.post-5964003766439735367Sun, 08 Nov 2009 20:46:00 +00002009-11-08T15:50:33.710-06:00SunrisehibiscusgiftBeachLighthouse InnGallerymoonWhen I was all caught up in the activities surrounding Mother's illness and death my husband said, "When this is all over I will take you off to the beach." Well, true to his word, on Thursday he told me to pack my bag for a few days' trip. He was taking me to the beach. He had made all the arrangements and we were off! We had reservations at the Lighthouse Inn--a favorite place where they have http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~3/iTg412vZzo4/gift.htmlpflat@austin.rr.com (Pat's Place)5<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~4/iTg412vZzo4" height="1" width="1"/>http://atpatsplace.blogspot.com/2009/11/gift.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249592045442388060.post-3031295464772969459Sun, 01 Nov 2009 14:29:00 +00002009-11-01T11:59:05.477-06:00This week has been a week of catch-up activities. We returned from Mother's burial in Amarillo on Monday and then I spent the week doing laundry, buying groceries, cleaning up the house and all those things I had not done the weeks that Mother was sick and after her death. It is amazing how many things I had neglected during those five weeks. I promised to post some of the wonderful pictures fromhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~3/1nbFmRVx7hs/catching-up.htmlpflat@austin.rr.com (Pat's Place)4<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~4/1nbFmRVx7hs" height="1" width="1"/>http://atpatsplace.blogspot.com/2009/11/catching-up.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249592045442388060.post-6994667398194827991Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:49:00 +00002009-10-21T20:11:46.024-05:00Family gatheringCelebrationFuneralWe had Mother's funeral this past weekend and had so many good friends and family members join us for several days. Saturday night we had a Vigil Prayer Service and story telling with friends and relatives telling their favorite Mary C, Mother, Grandmother, Great-Gram stories. Three of my boys made video tapes of the story telling and I watched one last night. It was wonderful!!Sunday our parish http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~3/AK9QwDbOlQs/family-time.htmlpflat@austin.rr.com (Pat's Place)3<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~4/AK9QwDbOlQs" height="1" width="1"/>http://atpatsplace.blogspot.com/2009/10/family-time.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249592045442388060.post-2769951369626259652Fri, 16 Oct 2009 16:37:00 +00002009-10-16T22:24:00.025-05:00Vigil ServiceFamily gatheringFuneralThe pace around here is definitely picking up and I am running around like a chicken with my head cut off. Family members are on their way from nearby and as far away as Egypt. Our WHOLE immediate family will gather this weekend for a marvelous celebration of Mother's life.Tomorrow night we will have a Vigil Service (a prayer service our parish priest suggested) and a session of story telling. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~3/NKlH2wrt9vQ/breathe-breathe.htmlpflat@austin.rr.com (Pat's Place)2<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~4/NKlH2wrt9vQ" height="1" width="1"/>http://atpatsplace.blogspot.com/2009/10/breathe-breathe.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249592045442388060.post-1660204750278539317Mon, 12 Oct 2009 20:01:00 +00002009-10-12T20:41:59.716-05:00My brother and sister and I whizzed through decision-making and planning yesterday after Mother died. We really work well as a team, just as we did when our dad died ten years ago. It is marvelous to have supportive family members at times like this. And it is wonderful to have so much support in making important decisions. The result of our planning is as follows:The church was not available on http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~3/K8oyqQzPcC0/making-plans.htmlpflat@austin.rr.com (Pat's Place)2<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~4/K8oyqQzPcC0" height="1" width="1"/>http://atpatsplace.blogspot.com/2009/10/making-plans.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249592045442388060.post-6286475303398913210Sun, 11 Oct 2009 15:18:00 +00002009-10-11T10:26:15.347-05:00Mother passed away peacefully this morning--about 7:50, Sunday morning, October 11, 2009. My sister, Anne, and my brother, Joe, and I spent a wonderful day with her yesterday. Early on Saturday morning we had a chance to visit with her and she recognized that her kids were there with her. We spent the day visiting and reminiscing with her and among ourselves. Fr. Jim Evans came and anointed her http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~3/rB6MM9eGzZM/mother-died-this-morning.htmlpflat@austin.rr.com (Pat's Place)6<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~4/rB6MM9eGzZM" height="1" width="1"/>http://atpatsplace.blogspot.com/2009/10/mother-died-this-morning.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249592045442388060.post-6248727061348847897Sun, 11 Oct 2009 02:48:00 +00002009-10-10T21:49:54.158-05:00Mother is resting comfortably today. They are keeping her pain under control and she is sleeping most of the time although she woke up this morning and had a bit of responsive time with my brother and sister first thing. After that she was uncomfortable until they gave her enough medication to help with the pain. Our dear guardian angel doctor had the day off but sent an associate to check on allhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~3/1trLxxvrq54/long-day.htmlpflat@austin.rr.com (Pat's Place)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~4/1trLxxvrq54" height="1" width="1"/>http://atpatsplace.blogspot.com/2009/10/long-day.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249592045442388060.post-90147420344722520Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:26:00 +00002009-10-09T10:27:04.091-05:00HospiceYesterday was a difficult day because Mother was in pain all day. This morning the doctor said her kidney has stopped working and she is unable to eat. He recommended Hospice and I agreed. This way we can take care of her pain and allow her to be more comfortable.http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~3/WBpZG_Aeqdo/hospice.htmlpflat@austin.rr.com (Pat's Place)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~4/WBpZG_Aeqdo" height="1" width="1"/>http://atpatsplace.blogspot.com/2009/10/hospice.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249592045442388060.post-2433762668525561740Wed, 07 Oct 2009 14:54:00 +00002009-10-07T10:05:53.080-05:00Mother woke up all chipper this morning. She had a rational conversation with the doctor and demanded food at 10:00. When the doctor started to leave she asked him what he was up to today (a favorite question she always asks me) and he just hooted. As he walked out the door she told him to behave himself and he just leaned against the wall and said "She cracks me up! Her grandchildren need her http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~3/upH3KIyDjDA/each-day-whole-new-chapter.htmlpflat@austin.rr.com (Pat's Place)4<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~4/upH3KIyDjDA" height="1" width="1"/>http://atpatsplace.blogspot.com/2009/10/each-day-whole-new-chapter.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249592045442388060.post-6719367419513609911Tue, 06 Oct 2009 22:34:00 +00002009-10-06T17:38:26.648-05:00Today they were supposed to do another surgical procedure on Mother and the nurse said she thought they would take her about 8:00. She suggested I get there a little before 8 a.m. so I could accompany her down to the surgical area. We waited all morning--no surgery. The nurse worked hard trying to get pain medication balanced so that Mother was not in too much pain or agitation and right after http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~3/-17m2zcAdrc/another-exciting-day-at-hospital.htmlpflat@austin.rr.com (Pat's Place)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~4/-17m2zcAdrc" height="1" width="1"/>http://atpatsplace.blogspot.com/2009/10/another-exciting-day-at-hospital.html