Family Update

Hi Everyone, This is Margaret's son, Doug, and I am posting this in case anyone still watches or visits my Mom's blog. My Dad passed away on June 5. I had been taking care of him here at our home, but it became too much for me and so I put him in the same nursing home as my Mom. He did not want to be there and I think this is why he stopped eating. Not having much control anymore over many things at his age I think this is the one thing he could control (the eating). So I believe this was my Dad's way of saying, "I'm done." I was with him at the nursing home right before he passed. I was watching him sleep and he was not sleeping well. He seemed so small and frail and I asked God to please not let him suffer anymore. He passed two hours later.

My mom is still in the nursing home. She is doing well for now, but Hospice has been called in to evaluate her. Hospice says she is doing better, but you can't stave off the inevitable. She still suffers physical side effects from her heart attack and because of her age and the congenital heart failure. I've been told these symptoms will only get worse as time goes by. I can do nothing but wait. In the meantime I visit her, show her pictures of things on my phone, talk about the old days when we were all here living in this house as a family. Now it's just me.

I have started to take care of her blog again. I'm currently attempting to replace some of the images and photos that disappeared and uploading them to my new hosting server. It's not much, but this blog was something she loved and I want to keep it maintained. At least for now anyway. I feel so useless and out of sorts these days. Doing this gives me some small measure of sanity and purpose, even if it isn't that much.

Nice Day For A Visit

Me and my folks relaxing in the yard.

Thought I would post an update on how things are going. Today my mom came home to visit. We sat in the yard, talked and played with the dog. My mom is still in the nursing home, but she is doing better than she was. She still can't speak very well and she doesn't have full use of her right arm, but she can get around with her walker and wheelchair. She called my niece yesterday from the nursing home on her own. Sarah asked her if someone had called for her and she said she had done it herself and even remembered the number.

My Mom with Jackson.

Sarah had asked me a few weeks ago to move in, because she just wanted to have me around and also to help out with chores. Since my brother passed (her dad) and my mom had her stroke she has been kind of lost over here. Being here feels kind of strange without them around. I still haven't fully accepted my brother being gone and neither has Sarah. When we talk about it it's like we're talking about some other family. It's weird how quickly things can change and when they do you feel sort of alien and lost.

My mom and dad in the yard with the dog.

But for now my mom is doing great and we are very happy about that. She can come to visit and we can go see her at the nursing home here in town anytime. And now that I'm living here with Sarah and my dad we at least have each other and we can be thankful for the blessings God has given us.

The New Year

At the end of 2011 my mom had a heart attack and was taken to Mercy hospital in Muskegon. While she was there she had a stroke, and was paralyzed down the left side of her body. After being held there for several weeks she was finally released to a nursing facility here in Grand Haven.

She has made some encouraging progress since then. She has recovered most of her mobility, but she is still unable to speak or use her right arm very well. She gets very aggravated because she can't articulate to us what she wants to say. Last week while I was there with my niece Sarah my mom sat up and was trying to tell us something. We waited. Finally, as tears welled in her eyes, she managed to say, "I have no home anymore."

My niece has taken over the house my folks lived in and she is handling the rent and bills and keeping an eye on my dad, who isn't doing very well himself. My brother drank himself into a stupor and Sarah had to call the ambulance to take him to the hospital. After being there for several days they told her that he would never recover and so they sent him to a rehab facility in Fremont. So now it's just me and Sarah trying to keep what little family we have left together, for the time being at least.

Last week they allowed my mom to leave the nursing home and come back to the house for a short visit. She was able to sit outside with Sarah and my dad and enjoy the quiet of her yard once more. She can continue to come home or go for drives as long as she is doing well. She makes progress everyday, because my mom is very stubborn and refuses to give up. Her beloved computer is now gone. I had my own drama happen at the beginning of 2012 and I'm now staying in the basement of a friend's house. I gave the computer to my friend's son, and his wife is using the computer desk. I have the monitor.

We certainly had a traumatic new year here at the Cloud residence and while things can never really go back to what they were, we can only hope and pray that what we do have will improve.

- Doug Cloud

A Child's Christmas Eve Dream

Last night I had a lovely dream, but strange as it could be,
For on the hill beside our house, stood a great Christmas tree.
It glowed with lighted candles, right at the top a lighted star,
And round it dancing in a ring, children from lands afar.
Polite little English girls, Swiss boy's with funny skis,
Dutch children in queer wooden shoes. joined hands with shy Chinese.
Turkish lads is tassled fez, tots from France, Greece and Poland.
Laughing as the children do, in the safety of a free land,
Perhaps my dream's a prophecy, of Christmas to be,
When little children everywhere, can sing because they are free.
I surely wish with all my heart, this day of Jesus birth,
That peace and love and happiness, soon cover all the earth.

I would like to wish all my blogging friends==A very Merry Christmas and may all your dreams come true, love=Margaret.

The Night Before Christmas

Clement Clarke Moore (1779-1863), wrote the poem "The Night Before Christmas" also called "a visit from St. Nicholas" in 1822. It is now the tradition in many American families to read the poem every Christmas eve. The poem has redefined our image of Christmas and Santa Claus. Prior to the creation of the story of Twas the night before Christmas St. Nicholas the patron of children had never been associated with sleigh or reindeer's.

Clement Moore the author of the poem, The Night Before Christmas was a reticent man and it is believed that a family friend, Miss H. Butler sent a copy of the poem to the New York Sentinel, who published the poem. The condition of publication was that the author of The Night Before Christmas was to remain anonymous. The first publication date was December 26, 1823 and it was an immediate success.

It was not until 1844 that Clement Clarke Moore claimed ownership when the work was included in a book of his poetry. Clement Clarke Moore came from a prominent family and his father-Benjamin Moore was the Bishop of New York, who was famous for officiating at the inauguration of George Washington. The tradition of reading The Night Before Christmas on Christmas eve is now a world wide institution and tradition.

Waiting For Winter

Right now I crave the quiet days that brings along with winds that sweep the streets clean of life.

What wonders lies in cold times, the ground gets bright like the moon in the night sky, and during those times when the moon shines, she tends to brew up a gloomy atmosphere for all to bathe in and all to sleep through.

Those peaceful times!
Those peaceful times!

Poem by Ralgy Cepeda

My Year 1933

Some facts that occurred the year I was born, I found interesting. It was a common year, starting on a Sunday of the Gregorian year. As you probably guessed, this is my birth year (November 24th), my birthday comes on Thanksgiving every seven years.

These are just a few facts that happened in the year 1933. Construction of the Golden Gate bridge in San Francisco Bay begins. The U.S. Congress votes for the independence of the Philippines. U.S. Constitution is ratified, changing Inauguration Day from March 4th to January 20th.. Mount Rushmore was dedicated. A powerful earthquake and tsunami hits Honshu Japan, killing 3,000 people.

During the Great Depression, President Roosevelt declares a "bank holiday, closing all the banks in the United States, and freezing all financial transactions. Dachau, the first Nazi concentration camps, it opened March 22nd. 1933. The Jews called for a boycott of German goods. Beer is legalized in the United States.

The first alleged sighting of the Loch Ness monster occurs. The first drive-in theater opens in Camden, New Jersey. A United Airlines Boeing 247 destroyed near Chesterton, Indiana by a bomb. This is the first proven case of air sabotage in airline history. Albert Einstein arrives in the US as a refuge from Nazi Germany and accepts a position at Princeton University.

New Deal by President Roosevelt unveils Civil Works Administration designed to create jobs for more than four million of the unemployed in our country. The 21st amendment goes into effect, alcohol becomes legal in the United States. King Kong movie is out. Aldof Hitler becomes Chancellor of Germany. Gas was 10 cents a gallon. Rent was $18.00 a month. Bread was 7 cents a loaf. Hamburg was 11 cents a pound. Average labor wages was $20.00 a month. This may seem like a dream but most were unemployed or their salary was small.

Hope you enjoyed these and Hope you all have a very happy Thanksgiving, don't eat too much, know I probably will.

Facebook

My facebook problem has been solved, thank goodness.

Facebook

I just found out that my facebook account is blocked and I am trying to find out who is using my account. Just wanted to let you know why I can not post. Has this ever happened to any of you?

Coming Back

I will be commenting on your blogs by the end of the week. I appreciate all your kind comments. I guess we all get into the blue stage of our lives, especially in our older age of life.

I really hate feeling sorry for myself but I guess this is what I am doing, please forgive me for doing this. We do have our health and I am glad I live in America and have the freedom we all share. I have missed you all and I guess I will come and see what you are up to (I missed this most of all).==love=Margaret

Ode To My Dog Spot

Even though it has been sixty-seven years since I last saw you, I still think of you. You were my dads dog and he had a few years with you before he was killed at work. I remember seeing you lying by his bed with sad eyes, hoping he would come home.

I was only a young child of seven years and don't remember too much of your first two years. I am sorry to say I don't remember ever feeding you but I am sure I did, especially after my dad died. You did follow us all over the neighborhood. You must of been a good dog because the neighbors never complained about you.

The sad thing is my mom had to sell our house and we had to move to another state and live with my Aunt Lottie and her family. You came with us but things did not work out for you there. My mom found you a home back in our old neighborhood and I am sure you missed us. Again we had to move this time to Michigan to live with our Aunt Margaret, and I knew I would never see you again, this made me sad for many a years.

I found you one last time before we moved, you were with your new family. I really cried to know I would never see you again. I never forgot about you and over the years I wondered if you had a good life. I also wondered how your little life ended, I hope of old age. I think of Spotty ever time I read my friend Abe's story's about his dog Pepper Jax.

I write this with a heavy heart and tears in my eyes, This is the first dog we had, and things did not go our way either, we were left alone a lot. I really can't remember too much about Spots care after my dads death, because we were scattered to the wind, doing what ever we wanted (unsupervised), my mom had taken to drinking and spent much time at the bars, sometimes not coming home all night. and sometimes not for a day or two.

I wish I had a memory like my blogger friend Linda, then things would come to me. I don't know how to put pictures on my posts, but if you click on Family Pictures above and scroll down to see Spot sitting up with my Grandfather. you will see him. Sad days make for no sunshine but my blogger friends make the rays of the sunshine break through the clouds and brighten my day.

I am sorry I sound so blue, but things around here have not changed, please bear with me, I feel better getting this out of me and feel Spot heard me==love Margaret

To My Friends

Hi, to my good friends, I would like you to know I will not be posting for a while. All the luck to you and will post comments on your blogs after a bit. I am tired and can't think what to write about anymore. My husband is no better, and other issues have risen. So, goodbye for now, love you all..

Vitamins & Minerals

Vitamins and Minerals are essential nutrients that our body requires daily in order to function normally. Vitamins are a complex organic molecules that are required to carry out the normal functions of our body. Minerals are the basic components of all matter and are essential in building the body cells, therefore, minerals are called as building blocks of the body.

It is important to know how our body works. Ever day our body manufactures 200 billion red body cells and every 120 days our blood supply is totally replaced. Every 1 to 3 months our skin regenerates and our bone structure is destroyed and rebuilt within 90 days. Thus, to carry out this major rebuilding of the body, vitamins and minerals are very essential.

Vitamins are divided into two types: fat soluble and water soluble. Fat soluble vitamin are stored in the fat tissues and liver. They can remain in the body up to six months. When the body requires these minerals, they are transported to the area of requirement with in the body with help of special carriers. The fat soluble vitamins include vitamin Water A, D, E and K.

Water soluble vitamins are not stored in the body like the fat soluble ones. They travel in the blood stream and need to be replenished every day. Water soluble vitamins include the vitamin B group and vitamin C.

Minerals are important as vitamins in the development of our body. They are known as "spark of life" as they have a multi-functional role in our body. They are found in cells, tissues, organs, in fact the whole body . There are two types of minerals essential minerals and trace elements.

Essential minerals include calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, sodium and sulfur. The trace elements are required in very minute quantity than vitamins and minerals. They include boron, cobalt, copper, chromium, florid, iodine, manganese, molybdenum, selenium, silicon. and zinc.

Minerals play an important role in catalyzing or activating an enzyme in the body. If there is deficiency of any mineral, it may lead to acute or chronic ailments. Decrease in potassium and magnesium may lead to heart attacks. Minerals help in prevention of osteoporosis, cancer, arthritis, goiter, gastrointestinal problems, periodontal disease and anemia.

Potassium, sodium, iron and calcium phosphates are essential in nerve formations. Minerals are needed for controlling body fluids inside and outside the cells. They help in converting the food into energy. If even a single mineral is deficient in the body, the normal functioning of the body cells gets hampered. Proteins, carbohydrate, fats and vitamins are rendered useless if there are no minerals to catalyze. the chemical molecules in the body. Thus, without the minerals, body cannot function normally. Before you start on any vitamin or mineral tablets, you should consult your doctor for advice.

If you would like to read about the vitamins and minerals I have mentioned, go to this link I t will be the first one on the page.

http://www.buzzle,com/articles/why-do-we-need-vitamins-and-minerals.html

NOTE: I do believe that the second paragraph is worth knowing about your body function.

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Prelude

My very next post will be a little long but it is worth the read. I usually don't like to post long ones but when I started to read this it was so interesting I did not know where to stop, and I wanted you all to know this, it is important to know how our body functions. Besides I think it is something you should know, hope you enjoy it. I can't believe it, I just posted my 200th blog, OMG it took me three years to do it, but it was worth every word. I enjoyed all of your blogs and I learned a lot, like recipes, your travels, lots of antiques, how to decorate with those vintage items and jokes, quotes, lots of garage sale items, the list goes on, ,thanks to you all. Friends are great and I loved all of you, especially when I was down you brought me up. We are not over the hump yet, but hopeful it will get better. LOVE=Margaret.

SEASONS

A Season is a division of the year, marked by changes in weather, ecology and hours of daylight

Seasons result from the yearly revolution of the Earth around the sun and the tilt of the Earth's axis relative to the plane of revolution in temperate and polar regions, the seasons are marked by changes in the intensity of sunlight that reaches the Earth's surface, variations of which may cause animals to go into hibernation or migrate, and plants be dormant.

During May, June and July, the northern hemisphere is exposed to more direct sunlight, because the hemisphere faces the Sun. The same is true of the southern hemisphere in November, December and January. It is the tilt of the Earth that causes the Sun to be higher in the sky during the summer months which increases the solar flux. However, due to seasonal lag, June, July and August are the hottest months in the northern hemisphere and December, January and February are the hottest months in the southern hemisphere.

In some tropical and subtropical regions it is more common to speak of the rainy (or wet or monsoon) season versus the dry season because the amount of precipitation may vary more dramatically then the average temperature. For example in Nicaragua the dry season (November to April) is called summer and the rainy season (May to October) is called winter even though it is located in the northern hemisphere.

In other tropical areas a three-way division into hot, rainy and cool season is used. In some parts of the world special seasons are loosely defined based on important events such as a hurricane season, tornado season and wildfire season.

You may go to Google and learn more, here is the link;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Season

OLD GLORY=PART TWO

On June 14, 1777, in order to establish an official flag for the new nation, the Second Continental Congress passed the following Resolution : "Resolved, that the flag of the United States be made of thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new Constellation."

On May 14, 1804, by order 0f President Thomas Jefferson, the explores Lewis and Clark set forth on their journey to map and record the vast territory of the recently acquired Louisiana Purchase. Traveling by boat, foot and canoe. After two years of travel they carried the American flag all the way to the shores of the Pacific Ocean.

After the two day bombardment of Ft. McHenry in Baltimore harbor. on the morning of September 14th, 1814. the battered garrison flag was still visible. Young lawyer Francis Scott Key was inspired by sight to write his famous poem, which later became the national anthem. That flag featured fifteen stars and fifteen stripes, and is now on display at the Smithsonian.

The flag featured in the iconic photo "Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima" taken by Joe Rosenthal was the second flag raised on Mt. Suribachi that day, larger then the first . Both flags are preserved at the National Museum of the Marine Corps. Like all US flags during World War two, they boast 48 stars, as Hawaii and Alaska had not yet joined the union as states.

July 20, 1969, the world watched breathless as Neil Armstrong made history. The first man to set foot upon the moon, he planted a specially supported US Flag. The Flag still stands, next to a plaque which reads, "Here Men From The Planet Earth First Set Foot Upon the Moon, July 1969 A.D. We Came in Peace For All Mankind."

OLD GLORY=PART ONE

On September 3, 1777, the US flag was flown for the first time at the Battle of Cooch's Bridge in Delaware. Over the next two centuries, the flag would become one of the most recognizable in the world, and stands today as a symbol for the values of the American people.

The nickname "Old Glory" was coined for the flag in 1831 by Capt. William Driver of Salem, MA. As he set sail on his whaling vessel, the Charles Doggett, he raised the large flag of 24 stars. Seeing it as it caught the ocean breeze, he dubbed it "Old Glory" Capt. Driver's flag survived his sea faring life as well as the Civil War, and now housed by the Smithsonian in Washing, DC.

The exact hues used in the flag have been designated by Congress as "White ", "Old Glory Red" and "Old Glory Blue". They were formally standardized in 1946, and are the colors used in flags produced for use by the US Federal government. The United States Flag Code was devised by a committee of 68 organizations organized by the American Legion in 1923. It was adopted as law by the US Congress in 1942, and dictates proper display and treatment of the flag.

The first version of the Pledge of Allegiance was written by Frances Bellamy, circulating manager of the Boston-based magazine, "The Youth's Companion," in 1892. Bellamy circulated a simple leaflet to schools nationwide with the recitation and requested students repeat it in front of the flag on Columbus Day. That year on Columbus Day (October 12th, 1892), 12 million children said the Pledge of Allegiance.

During World War 1, citizens from across the country sent letters to the Capitol urging that the flag be flown continuously over public buildings in Washington, DC. Since then the flag has been flown 24 hours a day over the White House and many historical land marks.

Flag Day, June 14th, was declared by President Woodrow Wilson in 1916, but the US flag was celebrated in its own right before that. The earliest known reference dates from 1861! Communities across the US mark Flag Day with parades and picnics.

Here is a link from Google that you will find interesting about Flag etiquette.
http://www.usflag.org/flagetiquette.html

Laura Elizabeth Ingals Wilder

Laura Elizabeth Ingals Wilder was born in the big woods of Wisconsin on February 7, 1867, she died on February 10, 1957, living to be 90 years old. Laura is buried in Mansfield, Missouri, with her husband Almanzo and daughter Rose Wilder Lane.

Most of the schools houses when Laura was young were one room, students of all ages attended. The students had to buy their own supplies and books which was purchased at the General store for a few cents. Students brought their lunch in a small pail. Male teachers was paid more than female teachers

Laura taught three terms of teaching but she had never attended a college. Although Laura never kept a diary she did write constantly throughout her whole life and saved nearly every scrap of paper that she wrote on. Laura wrote down her thoughts on life, her famuly and the people and places around her and her little house.

Laura's first book "Little House Big Woods" was published in 1932 and she next wrote "Farmer Boy". Girls and Boys wrote to her asking what happened to the little girl in big woods, so Laura continued writing her series of books, her last book was published in 1943. After her death a manuscript of her first four years of marrage was found among her belongings she was writing when Almanzo passed away but she did not have the heart to finish it.

Almanzo Wilder was born in Malone, New York on February 13, 1857. Almanzo and brother Royal decided to try and homestead in the Dakato territory and this is where he met Laura Ingals. They were married on August 25, 1885, they moved to Mansfield, Missouri in 1894. This would be the last home of Almanzo, he had been weakened from diphtheria when he was young but it was his heart he had trouble with later in life, he died on October 23, 1949 at the age of 92.

After they lost their crops and their home burnt they moved to Minnesota with his parents, both Laura and Almanzo were sick with diphtheria . Almanzo had a sister whose name was Laura so to not cause confusion Almanzo nicknamed his wife "Bess", short for Laura Elizabeth, this nickname followed her all the rest of her life.

You can go here http://discoverlaura.org/discover.html#q28 it will be the first one at the top_" Discover",there is a lot of information there.

Will You Remember Me

Rosanne Cash, born May 24, 1955, in Memphis, Tennessee, she has three younger sisters. Her father is the famous country singer Johnny Cash. Rosanne wrote this song for her step-mom June Carter Cash (Johnny Cash's second wife), it is titled "Will You Remember Me".

Will you remember me, like the circle of stones,
On the ancient hills where you walk alone?
Where the wind can speak my secret name,
Like the air you breathe, will you remember me.
Will you remember me as your airplane flies?
Over foreign seas and breaking skies-
Like a perfect child you can't bear to leave,
In your last long days, will you remember me?
Will you remember me on the edge of life,
Where time runs slow; where song can fly
In these shuttered rooms, where we say goodbye,
When the soul is free, will you remember me?
When there's no need to breathe, will you remember me?

Rosanne wrote this song after June and Johnny passed away. June died May, 2003 and Johnny passed away same year on Sept., 2003. Both their family's are still involved in music. I might note that June and Johnny's home burned to the ground in 2007. They lived in it for 35 years and sill lived in it when they passed away and they wrote most of their music from there.

Cozy Kitchen Quotes

I received my 2012 calender today from "Vet's First", a United Spinal Association and would like to post it now instead of waiting until 2012.

January==Eat, Drink and be Merry...for tomorrow we surly Diet!
February==Forget Love..Wouldn't you rather fall in Chocolate?
March==Never Underestimate the Power of a Cozy warm Cup of Tea!
April==Happiness is Home Brewed!
May==A Happy Cook makes Thyme Fly!
June==Happiness is like jam...You can't Spread even a Little, without getting Some on Yourself!
July==When life gives you Lemons, Make Lemon Ade!
August==Housework never killed anyone, but why take a Chance?
September==This is an Equal Opportunity Kitchen.
October==Kitchen Help needed, Apply here!
November==Keep in mind...Stressed is Desserts spelled Backwards.
December==Holiday Tea-Cranberry, Cinnamon apple, and etc

Hope you enjoyed these. Hope your summer is going great, but alas, fall is upon us. I love all the seasons, my favorite is fall, so much going on.
Spring==rebirth of all nature, and the last of snowstorms and Memorial Day.
Summer==lazy days, sunburns, picnics and swimming and the Fourth of July.
Autumn (Fall)==falling leaves, crisp nights, harvest time, school and Thanksgiving.
Winter==falling snow, sledding, hayrides, cool crisp mornings, Jack Frost and Christmas.