Where's My Human?

My father went back in the hospital a week or so ago, he kept falling down and hitting his head - he was mildly concussed and very confused - and in that state, messed up his medications - mistaking Percocet for high blood pressure medication (for starters). It was a very crazy week.

He is now in a Rehab Center - the staff are making sure he exercises, takes the right medications at the right time, and eats properly. He looked pretty good yesterday (I mentioned to my mom he looked a half dozen years younger). So we are encouraged as of now.

His dog, Zoey has been really lonesome. She misses every member of "her pack" when we aren't around. I qualify as a pack member!

I took my dad's dog over to the rehab center because he wanted to see her. Just outside the center's dining room is a small gazebo and it was nice and shaded.

While we were waiting for my dad to come out two old ladies stopped by in wheelchairs wanting to see the dog. So Zoey was happy enough to say hello and lick their hands softly. You should have seen their smiles.

My dad then came out in a wheelchair and we had a big reunion! My dad was very happy to see Zoey. It has been about two weeks. You should have seen the tail wagging and heard the gleeful wuff-wuffs! After my dad returned to his room two more patients came out in their wheelchairs just say hello and to pat her head. They were absolutely thrilled to see her.

Zoey waits for human to come home - he should be there tomorrow (Friday) noon Zoe!

Photos from January

I've been really busy and have been missing blogging mojo - I'd say more about these photos that were taken late December and early January but I've got to scoot... Hope to post more soon.

A cherry tree in bloom in January - a warms spell got it royally confused!

The aftermath of Super Storm Sanday (2012) linger on...

Santa waves from the porch in a house that was recently raised.

Beautiful Dolphin sculpture.

Another house being raised. This one is actually sitting in the street while they dig the new foundation.

Winter Beach - my favorite time down the shore.

My Dad's dog Zoey makes herself at home.

The place down the shore. I need to do some exterior painting.

The Morris Arboretum was brown and dull - It has exploded with Spring flowering now. I got to get there and take some photos of the blooming trees.

My older brother and his family spent a week in Myrtle Beach.

A South Carolina snowman.

The Myrtle Beach lighthouse.

While he was on the beach in South Carolina, I was on the beach in New Jersey.

New Jersey beach.

My family memories at the beach photo collage. Over 110 individual photos are mounted in the "room divider".

Holiday Scenes

A short video of the Garden Train at the Morris Aboretum.

A pretty barn near Peace Valley Nature Center

A decoration at the old office

Happy Birthday Dad!

Over the Thanksgiving Day holiday, my older brother and I were out for a walk on the Delaware Canal towpath - it was a very nice late autumn day. The sun shone brightly against the white bark of the Sycamores.

My brother and I got to talking about a Thanksgiving a couple years ago, when my father was very ill and spent the holiday in the hospital, coming home only to have dinner with us on Thanksgiving day. We added up all the "life-threatening" moments he has had in the past few years - since his quintuple bypass surgery - and the tally stood at once every other year - for well over a decade.

This year, Dad celebrated his 80-th birthday with a trip to the Kidney Doctor, where he was told to go on a very low potassium diet. He being diabetic, he can actually eat very little as it is - and now it is even less. But...

On a dreary day, he and my mom were surprised by their Church and they had a nice celebration with folks that care about him (and good folks that they care about in return). He got some funny cards, some small gifts and a huge cake! Mom and I looked the other way while he enjoyed a small bit topped with creamy, sugary icing.

Happy Birthday Dad! Keep plugging away!