Where Have I Been

Wow, I just looked at this blog, and I haven't written anything in years. A lot has happened since I last wrote. Both my parents died in 2014 within six weeks of each other. Then Don's dad died a few months after mine. Lots of going back and forth from Colorado to California to handle estates and funerals. However, his mom is still alive and living in Southern California with Don's sister. 

In 2015 we sold Mountain Air Oxygen Service (which put me in the hospital over that deal). I had been doing that business for 28 years. Dealing with the state and federal government programs was impossible. I was so relieved when we finally were able to see. That story is a miracle in itself that I will share sometime later.

In 2016 our daughter, Casey, contracted Hodgkins Lymphoma and had to go through two stem cell transplants. Don was her caregiver, and I took care of the boys. Lots of traveling back and forth to Denver. After her second transplant, Casey got remarried. 

Back in 2010 Don had a terrible bout of diverticulitis which you can see some of the updates in earlier blogs. This almost killed him. But God spared him for me. In 2017 he had an abdominal hernia and had to have that surgery during the same time Casey was getting treatments in Denver. He was pretty sick. I was running between the Blood Cancer Center where Casey was and Swedish which is where Don was. It was crazy and scary, but God is good and brought them both through it all.

We remodeled our home (as if we didn't have anything else on our plate). It turned out beautiful and I was content to live there the rest of my life. However, Don husband retired and wanted to move to a smaller place in a warmer climate. Casey was living in New Mexico teaching so sold our home in 2021 and moved to New Mexico to be close to her and help with the boys. However, two years later our Casey got a job in Nebraska and moved. We are still in NM. We like the weather here and our friends. Not interested in moving again until we have to. Lesson: Don't follow your kids around.

We love our church in Corrales. Sandia View Academy is there, and I found myself teaching music for three years to the high school kids. Then I added an art class. I enjoy the students very much. I love teaching. This leaves me very little time to bake cakes. Plus, my beautiful kitchen in our previous home is not in this house. Our house is quite small now and no room for all the stuff needed for fancy cake making. I don't have a second fridge either which was essential when I did cakes.

Jemez Creek, New Mexico

Since I have been here, I have made two or three cakes. I just did a chocolate cake with strawberry filling and stable whipped cream frosting. I had never done that before. Not sure I like working with it, but I was able to do it. Advantage, it isn't overly sweet, and not greasy. The person I made it for loved it so I guess it was all good. Just go online and find a stable whipped cream frosting recipe. Most come with videos which I always find helpful.

Because of budget cuts at the school, I was furloughed until there is room for me again. Since I am semi-retired, I have gotten my paints out again and am really enjoying it. 

My daughter, Callie, is also an artist. She and I get together and go "painting" somewhere. Fortunately, she still lives in Colorado and plans to stay put. It is only 3 hours from our house so we can get together often. We are making plans to do some painting trips together. I'm looking forward to that and will share our adventures.

I didn't expect my work to sell but I am pleasantly surprised that it has. My most recent painting was from a picture I took on one of our excursions up to Jemez Springs. The drive is beautiful especially in the fall. I whipped out my phone and snapped this picture. I just finished painting last week and it will be in a show tomorrow at the Fall Festival for Sandia View Academy.

New Mexico Road Runner

I love birds. I finished this little guy a couple of weeks ago. He is also in the show. 

I will post more artwork and maybe a cake or two. I plan on decorating cookies with the girl next door. She is excited to learn how to decorate sugar cookies with royal icing. That is always fun and very artsy. I'll post something when I get it done. 

So much more happened during this time but it just gets to be too much to put it all down now. Maybe later. What I am happy about is that we are doing well. Our son, Josh, is going to be a father in December with his beautiful wife, Isa. This is their first child and our 6th grandchild, another boy. We have two boys and three girls right now. God just keeps on blessing us every day.

I hope you enjoyed this post. Make a comment and let me know how you have been doing while I was away. Stay connected. You are loved!