... All the time. I never seem to know when to stop, even with hubby calling out the door "Time to come in now". When it's hot I pin a pillow slip with crushed ice in it around my neck. When it gets dark I turn on the outside lights, but try to come in by 10 PM so the lights don't bother the neighbors. I'd rather be outside than inside any ole' day and gardening gives me an excuse to be there. Incidentally, for insect bites Bob happened to notice that HEB brand antibiotic ointment has a topical pain reliever in it so it stops the itch of mosquito bites very nicely. Maybe other brands have it too. Well, almost time to put the rolls in the oven. My computer is right next to the kitchen so it's easy to take a little rest from cooking in that chair :-) Wishing you all a blessed Easter Sunday ...

Yes and no. Mother is by nature a complainer. She complained about the hot afternoon sun in her west-facing apartment before, and this apt, on the north side, is too cold. Yesterday really blew me... I got a cell-phone call from the head of Assisted Living. Mother had apparently stopped her to tell her that she "has no money", and is very unhappy that I can't be reached (huh?). And she told another resident that she has no money, and the woman she told doesn't have the best cognitive skills, and now THAT person is all upset. So, I was in town (we live about 12 miles away, out in the county), and I went right over there. Mother says that I told her not to call me... truth is that I told her I would not be visiting her all last weekend. She said she had no pocket money. There is $30 in her wallet in her purse, but she had not looked there. She stashes little bits of money in hiding places, changing it every day, but she never thought to check her wallet. Afraid that I lost my temper again. I told her that the staff is not happy if a resident makes other people upset (true), and if she does this again, then I don't know whatI can do to help her, but that she might have to move to Las Vegas, near my brother. Truth is, this is an independant living facility with assisted living services available for a fee. These are complete apartments. This is not a care-taking facility. They do not take AD patients, and if someone loses it too much to function well, they are asked to move. And there is nothing else in this community of this sort of place. She tells me how lonely she is, and I say I cannot help her there. There are 150 people right outside her apt. door, but I cannot help her. Then she sobs about "why am I cursed to live so long?" She is so negative in general (always has been) that she looks at the roses that my cousin brought her and says, "I hate to see them die." (Roses were still lovely; she couldn't say anything positive about how good they look.) Today was better. I returned with her laundry, and the VNA PT showed up for a first visit. The housekeeper was due after lunch, and the maintenance guy showed up to check her thermostats. That should tire her out completely. At some point, I realized that all I was hearing fom her was: I don't want to bother you, I know you did a lot of work moving me but you shouldn't have, I hate to be a burden on you, you shouldn't have to do things for me, I hate asking you for anything, etc etc etc. Never once did she say, Thank you. No wonder I get frustrated.

It's good to hear that you're home, feeling well and getting settled in. With the computer operating as it should. I hope that the healing goes well, with minimal discomfort. As some have said ... take it easy: do what they instruct, but don't go getting brave, O.K? ole joyful

Well Amcf, If you're crazy then I'm right in there w/ ya. I'd thought the same abt nice striped cotton pants which had worn out at the thighs. They're washed, pressed & wating for a project. I have no hubby to account to so I can do whatever I want. I once bought a size 8 sundress (not a size I ever fit) from a thrift shop 'cause it was made of 3 different indigo & white batiks, was GORGEOUS! Right front bodice was one, left front bodice another, back bodice a third & the skirt repeated one of the front bodices. I made a sampler to teach myself Flying Geese, made 3 columns, sashed w/ indigo solid, all on a white ground w/ binding of one of the other patterns. Cost me $5 or 10, was great! Can you go buy a duplicate pair, wear one & quilt the other? Otherwise, maybe cut them down to sort shorts (w/ which to entice him) & make quilts from the legs? See -- told ya you're not alone!