Life Is Too Short Not To Have Adventures!

Oh my so long between visiting with you! Hopefully you are doing well and enjoyed your summer time. Every day I look at my calendar I say to myself or sometimes I find myself muttering out loud, " Where did this summer go?" Have you been doing the same?

It was blistering HOT here in Texas. You realize I say this every September. I truly believe I feel the heat more now than other years so I am  ready for cooler temps. Not Winter but Fall. Of course, we don't have Fall here like all my friends farther North do.  Sometimes I believe we go straight from Summer to Winter. I am praying that will not be the case this year.

Every year I say I am going to just throw a few necessities in my car and head toward Vermont. All my life I have dreamed of seeing the foliage season in Vermont, New Hampshire or Maine.

A few years back when I did finally make it to Maine I was three weeks early for their foliage spectacular showings. My daughter could not get off work during those weeks so we went on with our plans and I still find myself day dreaming about our days spent in such a beautiful state.

Will I carry out my plans this year and see how far I can go in this grand old USA without turning around and heading back home. Just getting out of Texas will take me a half a day. haha Would I be crazy to do it or crazy not too.

The delight of of seeing the pure gold, orange and red hues is maybe too hard not to give into at this time of my life. We all know the saying Life is Too Short! But I think it's too short not to have some adventures!

So many of you have wrote me emails asking about my health and when was I ever going to post again. I love you all for your concerns and prayers. In all honesty these emails and prayers have gotten me to a good place in my life right now.

The past six months have been difficult and lot's of doctor visits. I have seen doctors from just about every field known to man. I have though managed to keep my job out here thanks to two very kind understanding boss ladies. They encouraged me to not over do it and so have my children and you.

Rest easy on that I am taking care of myself. I eat better than I probably have since I was pregnant many years ago. Lot's of fruits and veggies and very little to no processed foods. Hard when my friends want to eat out but I try to watch it even then.

Like most diseases I have the bad days but then I really think they just make me appreciate the good ones even more. Corny I know but oh so true.

I wanted so often to write you on here but most of my days I have been either off to Austin to see a doctor or I was sick. I am praying the next few months will be different and I can relax more and enjoy blogging at least part time. Though I think you have heard this before.

Another reason I am not on my computer is I have my internet through my Dish Network for my television and I believe I could mow the North Forty by the time this service down loads a sentence. And Dish calls it High Speed Internet. My contract is up in October and I am searching for something better and cheaper if that is possible.

Let me share a quick little story with you before I say goodnight. After Thanksgiving last year I threw out three big pumpkins I had sitting on my porch steps. I decided to throw them out in a pasture not to far from my house and let the deer enjoy them. Well much to my surprise and delight I have a small pumpkin patch. You would of thought when I found it that I was a kid finding the gifts Santa had left me. I was like I always say "Tickled Pink!"  I have about ten blooms on it but so far no pumpkins. I think it may be getting to late now for them to give me pumpkins but I haven't given up hope. I bought some bird netting yesterday to maybe keep out critters from getting them in case I get lucky.

Sending you love and gorgeous fall weather! May you marvel at God's plethora of incredible colors this season. Maybe just maybe you might see me leaf-peeping at some SPECTACULAR FOLIAGE!

Love to all,

Maggie

Thinking of You!

Hello my Sweet Friends! Where do the weeks go,  I hope you are all well and enjoying the warmer weather. Hard to believe it's already June. I am still wondering where April and May went.

Wanted to share this crazy picture of my son Chad's cat Chester with you. I laugh every time I look at it. I have never seen any of my cats sit up like this. haha

I have been spending a lot of time in Austin at the Heart Doctor but last week he told me I did not have to return until July.  I am doing pretty good. As always I love each of you for the kind words of encouragement through your comments here and emails. Your the Best!

My big problem is trying to eat right and keep my sodium level to 1500 mg a day or under. As you know that is a challenge because everything has sodium. If I am lucky enough to find a product without it I do a Happy Dance right there in the grocery aisle.

If you have any suggestions for me or recipes to share with low sodium I would forever be grateful to you. I haven't joined a gym yet for heart rehab which I promise to do this week. Not sure how much I can use any of the machines but will find out if I get myself going.

I am mowing again which I did not think I would be doing. My bosses are the best and have been very understanding where my health is concerned. I do know I have to watch myself because our temperatures are already in the 90's on most days.

For six weeks we had nothing but rain here and one storm after another. I promised if it ever stopped raining I would never complain about mowing again. Well we have had one week of sunshine and the grass was so high out here that I had to mow everything at least twice. I am still mowing the back acres and noticed the front twenty already look like I never mowed. So much for my promise of not complaining.

I woke up one morning after high winds and lot's of heavy rain to most of my furniture blown off my
porch. Considering tornado's touching down in quite a few places I was very lucky. There are trees down in the back and I am still waiting on the tree man to remove them so I can get back there with the tractor.

This is the porch where everything blew off of. As you can see it was a mess.

The storm also brought inside creatures with way too many legs. As you can see by this picture I lost control of Spider Spray when I panic after finding a big hairy Tarantula on a chair near the front door.

This ole grandma lost it because my fear of  these big boys is close to my fear of snakes. Needless to say I killed him and my chair.  

That happened about 10pm one night and I did not sleep a wink that night because this is not the first one I had inside since all the rains. 

In between storms I did enjoy my life long friends Bonnie, Linda and Ruby for a girly weekend.

We try to do them whenever we can slip away. We were so busy laughing, playing cards, dominoes and talking that I didn't remember to take pictures. 

I have to say when I am with these three Sisters my problems are gone and all the laughter we share is a  Blessing to me. We call it our Sister weekends now because they are my sisters. I have known them since before I learned how to tie my shoes. haha..... As most of you know from other post Linda is married to my oldest Brother Billy.

So hope I haven't bored you too much. I mainly wanted to check in with you and please let me know how your doing. I think of you often and do Miss You.

I am grateful for your friendship and God has Blessed me many times with knowing you.

Love to all,

Maggie

PS:  Thank you so much for your precious comments about Christ's wedding. She is over the moon happy which you know what that means to me. God Bless You!

Here Comes The Bride!

Hello my dear friends. I have a very special post for you tonight. I wanted to share with you my sweet daughter Christi's wedding pictures that were taken by guests and shared with us until the photographer develops all of hers. Some of these were also taken by my son Chad so please enjoy!
Not sure if I can put them all in the right order but will do my best.

On April 18th she married the man of her dreams and the man I have always prayed for her to spend the rest of her life with. Paul and Christi dated in high school and were reunited several years ago.
The love they share radiates in these pictures.

Texas weather is so unpredictable and on this day it was a 90 percent chance of rain and had rained every day that week. The storm clouds were moving in very fast and I was getting very nervous that her dream of an outside wedding would be ruined.

Much to all of our surprise though it rained all around the venue and we remained dry for the ceremony.

Their Pastor Scott Payne added very much to this prefect day. His words calmed me down many times during the ceremony when I thought I might burst into tears. Paul anxiously waiting with him for his Bride.

Paul has two children by a previous marriage and this is his darling Audrey who was the Junior Bridesmaid.

 Here I am being escorted down the isle by my grandson Bailey. Doesn't he look so handsome and grown up. He turned eleven in February and it meant the world to me that he walked me to my seat.

 Here comes the Bride.  My sons Clint (left) and Chad (right) walked their sister down the isle. I had to do everything not to let the tears flow.

Christi looked radiant and her brothers so handsome in their gray tuxedos. The closer to the alter all three of them were teary eyed and so was the groom.

Watching Paul at the alter waiting on them made me realize how lucky the happy couple were to be so in love and starting their lives together.

Look how happy Christi is here.

 And now their husband and wife! The joy I felt at this moment and still feel is unbelievable.

 After the ceremony somehow we ended up in the back yard where we posed for a number of pictures before moving inside for the dinner and dance.

 

 One of my favorite photo's of the day was this one of Clint, Andrea, Kaci and Bailey. I have so many pictures to frame now and we haven't even seen the photographers yet. haha

 Clint, Bailey and Chad.

 We moved inside for the reception. I loved the tablecloths Christi ordered for her tables. They were prefect with the flowers.

The florist was from Austin and she somehow had every flower that Christi wanted for her big day.

 The cake was really pretty and just as good as it looks.

After a delicious dinner the happy couple danced the first dance.

I have to tell you they would not stop kissing. haha

Bailey and Kaci sharing a moment together!

Kaci with Uncle Chad. My granddaughter is growing up!

I think Chad managed to walk around and take pictures for me of several of the guest. Here is Paul's lovely Mom Donna and Step Father Larry. I hate I don't have one to share of his Father and Step mom. Hopefully in another post.

You have seen these ladies before in previous post. I would of been so sad if they had not been there  to share this special time with me. I grew up with them in La Porte and we have our girly weekends about three times a year. Ruby, her husband Jeff and Bonnie. Great picture! 

My precious sister-in-law Linda (sister to Ruby and Bonnie) and my brother Billy.

My four brothers and myself. From left to right Doy, Gary, Billy and Tommy. So happy they all were there to celebrate this day.

Chad with his best friend Jimmy. Jimmy is like a son to me and I love him dearly.  

It was a day for great friends to be together. Janie and Sharon who I share lots of good times with.

My oldest son Chad. Another picture I love. 

Of course I had to pose with the beautiful bride.

I now have four wonderful grand kids. Paul's children Audrey and Bryan along with Kaci and Bailey.

How lucky Grandma Yellow Hair is to have these four in her life.

Of course there was a dance.  Bailey was kind enough to dance with his grandma. I have to say I spent hours watching Bailey and Kaci dance. They entertained everyone there. The moves those two had and of course I didn't have a camera to capture them but I am sure the photographer won't disappoint me there.

This is Kaci and her mom Andrea I believe doing a line dance.  I have a feeling Andrea has been teaching her babies to dance. haha

I have to end this with the Photo of the night! Clint was doing a dance off with Bailey and Chad captured the moment for me. I wish someone would of video this because it was priceless.

Sorry for such a long long post. I have never shared this many pictures in a post ever. It has taken me hours to do it and this ole grandma feels like she has participated in a dance off.

I have been taking good care of myself. I love all of your comments and appreciate your prayers. Some days are rough but I still have some good days and I enjoy them as much as I can.

You are so special to me and with out you this disease would be too hard to do but knowing I have such support has really been a true Blessing to me. 

God is so Good and he let me enjoy this special day one that I have waited on for years and now he has let me share it with you.

Love to all,

Maggie

Thank You!

My Dear Sweet Precious Friends I can not find the words to thank you for all your heart warming comments and your many prayers. Your words have kept me going these past weeks. I have to say what I have been through just since I wrote you last I honestly can not imagine doing it without knowing you were there beside me.

I appreciate all of you so much and wanted to update you just a little tonight before I go to bed.

It's only been a month since I was told I have Congestive Heart Failure but if you were to visit me or talk to me on the phone you might think that this has been going on a very long time. Considering how fast I have been going down in the last two weeks I wonder if I have had this disease already for a year or more.

My children were able to find me a doctor at the Heart Institute in Austin and last Thursday I kept my appointment. We were surprised that it was hours before I actually got to see the Doctor. I had been feeling worse every day so was happy just to be there knowing maybe I was going to get answers and hopefully help. He visited with us for a long while and then decided that since it had been three weeks since my diagnosis that something else was happening too so he ordered a Heart Cauterization for the next day which was Good Friday.

The next morning we had to be back to the hospital by 5am and the procedure at 7am. Everyone was on schedule and by 9 am I was back in my room. Praise God there was not significant blockage to warrant any stints. Best news but still no answers to why I feel so bad. The Doctor explained he wanted me to come back on April 14th and he would work on setting me up with a Lung Specialist.

Clint and Chad were with me the whole day and I went to recover at Chad's house since I could not climb stairs. The next morning I woke up sicker than a dog and living in the bathroom for the next 12 hours. Chad phoned Clint and poor Clint showed up with Depends and a package of panties. He told us the story of trying to find the right panties not having a clue what to get me and even though I was feeling awful I did manage to laugh. I told him not even I have ever bought depends and how proud I was of him doing this for me.

Christi came by on her way to meet with the Wedding Venue people and was too impressed with her big brothers.

The next morning my stomach had settled down but I started having bad chest pains that would come and go. I didn't know what to think since I had just had the heart test on Friday and this was Sunday.
After hours of the pains coming and going and then jaw hurting, arm hurting along with my back Chad took me back to the hospital emergency room which was all the way across Austin. It wasn't long and Clint was there too.

In a matter of minutes there were ER nurses and techs all over me. I could not believe how fast they ran all the needed test to determine if indeed it was a heart attack. Thank God it was not but the ER Doctor told me he could not explain the pain in my chest.

He then got brutally honest with me and not sure I was ready for what he was saying to us. He let me know in no uncertain words that what I had was a very serious disease and that I would be sick quite often with it. I told him that I was just diagnosed with it and did not expect to be feeling bad every minute of the day. I have no energy and can't do anything with out loosing my breath or lying down for a while..

He said I would not get better in two weeks, one month or two months. That what I had came with a very high Mortality Rate. I needed to just do what the doctor tells me, take my meds and eat a low sodium diet.

I know it's better to be honest with patients but I think he was so cold about it. Maybe he had a long day and was tired or he felt I was being to naive with my disease.

I left the emergency room feeling really down and went back to Chad's. I managed to sleep some of the night and woke up Monday feeling okay.

What I was trying to explain to this ER Doctor was I knew how serious my disease was but I did not expect to be short of breath not able to do hardly anything without having to lay down to rest so soon into this disease. Of course I guess he thought she must not realize she has probably had this for a while.

So I talked the boys into letting me come back home to the North Forty mainly because my cats had been alone for six nights. Long time and I needed to hold my Tinkerbell. She has not been two inches away from me since last night.

I don't know the future no one does. I do know that I am not going to just give up and let this take over until it has taken over. I will do everything I can to get stronger and if it's not meant to be then I will pray for the courage to accept this way of life and live the best I can under the circumstances.

It does scare me to think I could be a lot farther along than I ever imagined with this disease but until I hear that from a specialist then I have hope.

It's just strange that before my visit to the emergency room a month ago I was working two jobs and doing good. Then all of sudden I can't even walk to the mail box or do little chores.

I hope soon I can write a post that is filled with something funny and not about feeling bad.

As always I knew you were waiting like the dear friend you are to hear what's going on. Right now I am just taking one day at a time. I need to go shopping tomorrow and see about a different pair of shoes for the wedding but I dread having to go. It will be here before we know it.

I thought I would be sharing stories of getting ready for the wedding but life has no guarantees so we all just do what we need to do.

You are the best and I love you. Thanks for always being here for me.

God Bless You!

Love to all
Maggie

Congestive Heart Failure!

Spring is here! I know many of you are still having some very cold temperature's but hang in there it won't be long and you can enjoy beautiful Azaleas like these. 

For weeks now I have been trying to sit down at my computer and to let you know what is going on in my life since March 8th but I didn't really know how to tell you. 

Sunday three weeks ago today I went outside to move one of the tractors. It was starting to rain again and I wanted to move it to higher ground. I started wheezing and since I had heard wheezing in my chest area the week before I decided to go to the emergency room. I honestly thought I had pneumonia. I was tired all the time and had lost my appetite.

They ran several test and then the emergency room doctor gave me the bad news. He told me I had Congestive Heart Failure. You could of knocked me over with a feather because I had no idea it was my heart. 

A heart doctor was there before I could blink an eye and put a Nitro glycerin patch on my chest and the rest of the day I was sick as a dog.  

In a very short time my three children were by my side and stayed with me for the three days in the hospital. I have always known they loved me but never have I felt more love than I did during this time.

I am home taking it slower and have not returned back to work yet. I keep thinking this is all a bad dream and it will go away but of course then reality slips in and I know it will never go away.

I seem to be in shock and can't grasp it all just yet. I wanted to share this with you weeks before now but like I mentioned I didn't know how to tell you.

Heart problems has a long history in my family especially my mother's side of the family. When I had radiation twenty years ago they told me the radiation would damage a section of my heart and I am wondering if this is why I have this disease besides family history and of course too many pounds over the last few years I am sure has not helped.

After leaving the hospital I honestly thought I would feel better in a week or so but I am weak and can hear the fluid in my chest at times. I have no energy and I pretty much just feel blah most of the time. I would be lying to you if I told you I am not scared. I go to sleep at night wondering if I will see the sunrise the next morning.

My daughter Christi wedding is April 18th and I keep praying that by then I will be stronger because she deserves the prefect day.

Thursday the 2nd I will see a heart doctor in Austin. He is at the Heart Institute there and maybe he can shed more light on all the questions I have about this disease. Reading about it on the internet has absolutely scared me to death. 

It's strange how one day you think your fairly healthy and the next your taking a dozen pills and feel like your time is short. My sweet grandson Bailey writes me text all the time and right after this happened he wrote me "Please Grandma Yellow Hair get well for Me!" It made me cry but I promised him I would.

His dad is after me to move closer to them in Austin. I am of course thinking maybe I should figure out how to make that happen.

Sorry for going on and on about my latest issue. I knew you would want to know and I love you for always being here for me.

Love to All,

Maggie

My Giveaway Winner!

Good morning my sweet friends. I hope you are cozy and warm this morning! Just think it is March and Spring will be here soon. So all of you snowed in hang in there and remember it will be over soon.

Thank you all for entering my book giveaway. I loved having this giveaway because I wanted to share this amazing book Purr Therapy written my Dr. Kathy McCoy. Who knows I might have to order extra books and have another giveaway soon.

So the lucky winner was chosen by Random Generator and it picked number 17.  I counted to number 17 and it was my dear friend Mumsy from Just Me Pooh. Congratulations honey! Send me and email and I will order your book from Amazon and have it shipped to your address. 

I will be back in a few days and share pictures of my daughters Bridal Showers she had over the weekend. 

Thanks again for coming by and visiting me. 

Love to all,

Maggie

The Purr Therapy Giveaway!

Hello my dear friends! Seems like ages since we have visited and way to long since my last giveaway. If you read my last post or can even remember that long ago then you know I took another job besides working out here on the North Forty. Since starting nights I have no clue sometimes whether I am coming or going. No idea what day of the week it is or should I be eating breakfast, lunch or dinner. Totally and completely crazier than my normal crazy. Your shaking your heads and saying that is not possible. I too thought so but believe me when I say that you can always be a little crazier than you think you are now. I am living proof! 

Enough on my crazy life let's talk about a book I received from my friend and fellow blogging buddy Dr. Kathy McCoy. It's a lovely book about lessons in life, loss and love--feline style. Dr. Kathy writes about what her two precious cats Timmy and Marina who in time became extraordinary rescue cats that were employed by her as therapy pets. 

It's a must read for all my animal loving buddies here in this amazing world of blogging. You know how much I love to find a great book.  Purr Therapy is a memoir that will tug at your heartstrings as it has mine. Warning have a box of tissue close by while reading this story. 

 Dr. Kathy is a psychotherapist and author of more than a dozen books. She has written for Reader's Digest, The New York Times, Redbook, Glamour, Family Circle and a guest writer for my Blogazine on my blog.

Not only in this giveaway will you win a must have book but you will have a book with my name in it. Yep under acknowledgements you will see my name Maggie Mallard. I have to say I thought I had won the academy award seeing my name in one of Dr. Kathy's books.  After grabbing a tissue and drying my eyes I called and wrote everyone I could think of about this honor. It truly touched my heart in a way that is hard to describe. I wrote her a note to tell her how grateful I am but I don't think there are words for how I felt knowing that she did this for me. To be acknowledge in a book is an honor alone but to be mentioned in a book as lovely as this one just is like being loved to the moon and back. 

So I am sharing that love with you dear friends by giving away one of these books to one of my faithful awesome followers that you guys all have been over these years.

You just have to leave a comment on this post only by February 28th 2015 and tell me you would love to have a copy and I will use the Random Generator to pick the winning number. 

Good luck to all of you! I am excited because I love this book and you!

I do want to add that I miss all of you and I have not given up hope to get back into this world of blogging that I have been neglecting for a while now. This night job in all honesty is kicking my old rear end but it's too soon to tell if I can adjust and do both jobs. It has been raining so much here that I know that in less than two weeks I will be mowing like crazy again. Right now I am having all the equipment serviced and getting ready for the work ahead. 

If I find that I can not do both then I will give up the night job. There is a possibility that another employee here is going to quit her day job and might want one or two of my five nights. I don't think that I will have a problem with that at all. haha

I hope to share some of the crazy things that have already happened to me up here with you soon.

I did want to go ahead and do this giveaway. I actually wanted it to be done by Valentine's but didn't of course make it. 

Your all my sweet Valentine's and I love you!

Maggie

My Selfie!

It's been all the rage of 2014 to post your Selfie on every site you think someone might enjoy seeing a picture of you. Never have I mastered the art of holding up my phone and taking one I would care to share until today. I finally captured how I have been looking for most of  this past year.

Honestly you might laugh but this was taken on a good day!

The weather here has me hibernating more that usual. A year ago even while hibernating my hair was always fixed, make-up on and legs shaved but sadly this winter my selfie tells it all. If someone were to knock on the door I would have to hide.

It seems though these lazy days are not to last. Every month I seem to dip into savings 

to make ends meet and I knew for a long time I had to do something different. Even cutting back on everything has not worked so I have been job searching.

I have my application in several places and then Tuesday I went for an interview at a hotel where I had worked as a night auditor before I went to work for the Sheriff's Office. They were glad to have me back and I started the next day. 

I only wanted part time so I could keep my job here but for now they need me full time so I am going to do my best to work both places. I should be okay until all the mowing starts. Even though just three days of training kicked my rear end. I was exhausted every day and so glad to have the weekend off.

I should be able to do it when my body adjust to being up all night. I worked here and twelve hours at the Sheriff's Office so if my health holds out I can do it.

After a few months of nights my next selfie may be a lot worse than this. haha

I wanted to share this picture of my Kaci taken after her dance team performed their Christmas Dance. Wish I could of seen her because she gives a 100 percent to the performances.

Yes! This is the little girl I have shared with you since I started my blog. Where oh where have the years gone.

Hope you are staying warm. It never got above 35 today which is cold for us but not like some of you are having to deal with.

Looking forward to catching up with you and visiting your sites. Thanks for always coming by and checking on me and leaving me such delightful comments. You are the best!

Love to all
Maggie

Ever have one of those mornings?