Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Home is where the heart is

I am home. *heavy sigh* The trip to Florida was an emotional whirlwind. I helped get my mom ready to move into
an assisted living apartment, found in the nick of time a new home for her cat, and said goodbye to my dad
as we scattered his ashes in the lake near their house. The sadness was overwhelming at times,
but so was the outpouring of love and kindness from their friends and neighbors. Enough said.


I got home Monday night. Smooch and I exchanged a ridiculous amount of hugs and kisses,
then she finally ate her breakfast.



Then the fun began. Ranchsitter Danni had left a trail of sticky notes.



I'll get a better picture in the daylight, but Danni's ranch Christmas tree is decked with chicken feathers,
cholla cactus ornaments hung with baling twine, and topped with a bovine vertabrae angel.
I couldn't love it more.



Johnny CashCat came in the house to ease me through the pain of checking my work e-mails.


He also helped me unpack.



Sticky notes ... how did we ever live without them?



You've got to love a ranchsitter who leaves the latest issues of the weekly gossip magazines 
and resists the temptation to steal your cat.



Smooch: Promise you'll never leave home without me again?



Me: I promise.



Look...there's another sticky note.




28 comments:

  1. I know it must have been tough, but I'm glad your mother will have help in the future. Welcome home, it really is where the heart is, no matter how far it is from nowhere.

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  2. What a thoughtful ranch sitter she is! Luv the tree....Merry Christmas!

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  3. 2013 has been some kind of year for you. I admire your fortitude and independence. You are a fortunate woman to have good friends in time of need. And you are a great daughter to be with your mom in her time of need.

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  4. Those sticky notes are just too much fun eh! If I came home to 252 work emails I would need more than one small glass of wine ;)

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  5. Isn't it so nice to be welcomed home in such a wonderful way? Poor Smooch, Mom's been gone way too much this year.

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  6. Great that you are home, Carson. Dani is such a good ranch hand with a wonderful sense of humor. She even left a creative Christmas tree. Loved it too.
    Stay well and keep warm.

    Best always,

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  7. You two crack me up. It's always a good feeling to get back to "normal".

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  8. What a year you have had. Glad you are home. My Mom was in an assisted living after dad died. I was a couple of states away. She thrived. Hoping for the same for your mom (and you).

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  9. Glad your home. It must have been a difficult trip.
    Danni's Christmas had to crack you up. What a great person.

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  10. Wow you have had some year of ups and downs. And I am sure that you are so very glad to have been able to help your Mom but now you're home and hopefully things will level out for you and your critters.
    You are a very fortunate soul to have found the kind of friend that is Ms. Danni, ranchsitter 2, 4 & 7 . And to see her talent as a seasonal decorator is enchanting. The woman obviously gets the 7MSN style vibe. Love it so much. And the sticky notes....well it speaks volumes of the fun you two have.
    Happy Homecoming. The Cuckoos

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  11. Aww... love the tree, Danni! So glad everything went well and you are home with the kids! We all missed you

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  12. Oh jeez, I had *such* plans for that ranch Christmas tree, but I just ran out of time. Also, did you know that even when the gigantic pokey spines are removed from the cholla cactus blossoms, there are still thousands of invisible ones that will embed themselves ridiculously deep into your hands and fingers? This is why there are only 3 such ornaments. Ouch! Lesson learned. :-)

    Look, the house stayed warm until you home!

    Glad you're home safe...but, wow, sorry about those 232 work emails. Glad I didn't drink all the wine you left me. :-)


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  13. Welcome home. Hard but necessary trip. Now Smooch can stop worrying and take care of filling up your hearts. I loved that part of the Legend of Zelda game when my daughter had it. For lives they used hearts. Now I always think in terms of filling up hearts. Just fits.

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  14. It seems that Danni had a lot of fun and found time to entertain you in between stoking the fire and feeding the animals. What fun to come home to such treasures! I bet Smooch went crazy!

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  15. An emotional whirlwind indeed, yet one full of love of family and friends, both in Florida and seven miles south of nowhere.
    I love the Christmas tree! I've always maintained that Charley Brown type trees are the best of the best, and yours is extra special.

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  16. Glad you made it back to your herd and home. Also glad that your Mom won't be alone.
    You're blessed to have such a fun, quirky and good friend. Loved the tree Danni!

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  17. Danni is priceless! Glad to hear you got home safe and sound. I know how stressful it must have been moving your Mom to a new place. All of my friends who have moved elderly parents to assisted living say it is great. The elders seem to brighten up because of all of the activities and care. Plus, you can relax knowing she is being well looked after.

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  18. Read this post with smiles and tears. Bless your heart!! You can see the love in Smooch's soulful eyes. Happy days ahead for all at 7MSN! :-)

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  19. I too lost my dad this year... In Sept actually. I know how hard it is and am sorry you had to go through it too.

    The stickie notes were adorable!

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  20. glad you are home safe and sound and i hope you bought more sticky notes while in Florida...he he he

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  21. Your house is a true welcoming nest, alive withe nice written memories and adorable critters-helpers!

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  22. you can see the love in Johnny'eyes too!

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  23. Welcome home! We assumed this would not be an easy trip, but it sounds like you did fine.

    That Danni is worth her weight in vino!

    Jo, Stella and Zkhat

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  24. So glad you found a home for your parents cat or Johnny would have a new friend.

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  25. After an emotional trip, I'm sure it was wonderful to come home with Danni's "fingerprints" all around to show how much love she showed in caring for your herd and in caring for you. Glad you are safe!

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  26. I live in Orlando, I wonder if you were close by?? Glad you made it back home safely. :) Looks like a warm welcoming!

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  27. It was a trip that needed to be made and I'm sure your mom was grateful to have you there through all the emotional stuff and concrete changes. Nice to come home to happy critters who love you and miss you, isn't it?

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