Hodgepodge with Zinneas - Update on Noah

Happy Zinnea

UPDATE ON NOAH:
Original post HERE.
 
It looks like Noah will be moved out of ICU today and into a regular room,
only 1 week after falling 6 stories onto concrete.
The only tubes remaining are an IV. This is such wonderful news! 
Thank you for praying, friends!

 Praise  God!


***

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Wednesday Hodgepodge post.

1. "Summer is like childhood. It's full of warm memories and gone too soon."~Kellie Elmore  Agree or disagree? Share something you loved about the summers of your childhood.

I loved riding my horse, jumping him over stacked hay bales; running across a freshly cut hay field stubble on my bare, calloused feet; smelling the fresh hay; going swimming at Silver Lake after chores. Ah, yes. Sigh. Wonderful memories.

2. Are you a fan of auto racing-NASCAR, Indy, Stock, Grand Prix, etc? Ever been to a race in person? Any desire to do this?  Do you know a lot about cars? Do you notice particular makes and models when you're out and about?

I know nothing about cars and can distinguish them only by color and size, usually. You know, 'It was a big red car, Officer.' I don't get excited about different makes and models unless it's an olive green Mazda Miata with tan leather seats. Other than that, they're simply a means to an end.  While others are watching NASCAR, I'm watching a British Mystery DVD. But, when I was a kid I went to a few local stock car races. Those were fun. The other night our son showed me a video he had taken at the Barron County Fair demo derby. That was fun to watch, and not something I'd bother to go to, EXCEPT it's definitely something I'd love to take our grandsons to. I know they would love it! Maybe next July.

3. What's something you think is too serious to be joked about? Or do you think anything and everything is fair game?

Death. Usually. Generally speaking, there are a few cute jokes out there, but more like the old Milton Berle silly jokes, and certainly no personal jokes. God is serious business, but I have heard a few cute jokes about Heaven. Personally, I don't think anything and everything is fair game, but people have to use their own judgement. If we're trying to decide whether something is appropriate, it is probably a good rule of thumb to just leave it. Leave it!

All Ole and Lena jokes are out of bounds. Not because I'm sensitive about being of Scandinavian descent, but because they are so lame. So lame.


4. July 29th is National Lasagna Day. Are you a fan? Do you have a great recipe, and if so where did it come from? If given a choice would you choose a plate of lasagna or a plate of spaghetti?

I love lasagna. I make it with Tinkyada gluten-free noodles. I think it's time to make it again. Ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, mozzarella cheese, what's not to like? Actually what's not to like is the amount of salt in the cheese. Then again, it's not like we have it every day. Making lasagna is such monkey business, though, that I always make two pans, one to freeze and one to eat. Too much work to go to for one measly pan of lasagna.

 When I woke up this morning, it felt like

I should build a small fire in the stove.

Already??

5. What's a simple pleasure you'd miss if it were not a regular part of your life?

Enjoying wood. Our barn is made of wood, our furniture is made of wood, our bookshelves are made of wood, our books are made from wood, we burn wood to stay warm in the winter, we look at the beautiful trees year 'round, etc. Wood is an amazing thing. 

Drinking coffee in the early-morning quiet with the dogs lying at my feet.

6. If you could be the CEO of any company, which would you choose?

None, thank you. Well, maybe Exxon Mobil. Then I'd immediately resign after giving myself a huge severance deal of several million dollars. Would they even notice?

7. August is just around the bend...bid farewell to July in exactly seven words.

 Family coming August. Hasta la vista July. 

 The grandsons

Taken at last August's family reunion

Can't wait to have them together again!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Our daughter is traveling to Austria next month, alone. I'm happy for her to have this trip, but I don't really like it that she's going alone. Our youngest son gave us a movie to watch, 'Taken.' I refuse to watch it until our daughter is once again safe at home.

Neighborhood coyotes kept me awake last night with all their crying and squealing.
 
I've got the Today Show on as I type this and Lady Gaga (never seen her before) is on with Tony Bennett. She reminded me of someone...who?...and at last I realized it was the secretary from Doc Martin. Yeah, she reminds me of  Pauline. But kinda like Pauline got carried away with the crayons. And Pauline's funnier. I miss her.

*** 

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Rusty Stuff and Wisconsin Barns

Running Board

I would have had this blog post up sooner, but I was distracted by the fun goings on at Donna's Cottage Days & Journeys blog today. Go see for yourself. Don't weep, Android users. Surely soon they'll come up with stunning apps for us as well. Right? And iPhone users, please don't gloat.

Side Mirror

Another Wisconsin Barn

Just off Hwy O

Thank you, friends, for your prayers on behalf of Noah and his parents. I will update you when I have new information.

It looks like a beautiful summer day here in Wisconsin. Right now it's 56 degrees and sunny. It feels warmer than that.

This post is linked to

Rubbish Tuesday

***

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***

When Noah Was Ten Years Old

View From Our Deck

 

Who says miracles don't happen? 

If you need to be reminded that they do, read the following Facebook message that our nephew posted late last week:

Italics are mine.

"Monday, [July 21] our 10 year old, Noah, fell off the balcony 6 floors onto concrete.

We were told not to get our hopes up. He is still in the ICU but the CT scan yesterday [Friday, I think]  showed that other than the damage to the lungs there is no damage to the heart, liver, brain and other internal organs. The bleeding in and around the lungs seems to be subsiding. He was in line for an MRI this morning to try to identify the cause of the pain in his abdomen but got bumped because of an emergency. His neck, back, tailbone and pelvis are broken but there does not seem to be nerve damage. His lower left arm is fractured and his upper left arm has a compound fracture. He is in a lot of pain and is a bit scared but is holding up remarkably well. He is off the respirator but still has a chest tube. He was doing fairly well this morning but he is a bit down this afternoon. Anyhow, all is not well and safe but we are all just a small part of something that is very good.  It’s not the way I would have done things, but God gets better results.
Karl”

An update via Noah's grandparents:

'This came Saturday:
They are giving him pain medications but are not keeping him sedated.  He says it is hard to sleep at night because of construction noise so he has to get plenty of sleep during the day. He doesn't like to call mom at night either for fear they won't let her visit as much during the day. He said most of today was pretty good but there were some rough patches.  He was pretty tired and looked it during the middle of the day and was in quite a bit of pain..."

The following message was in response to a friend who (probably hadn't heard about the fall) sent a message "Hope all is well and safe".

“Not safe and well, but good.

God is using Noah to reach people. Many acquaintances have come to visit and give comfort. They leave having heard the good news that is changing their lives."

We have spoken with Karl this morning (Sunday) and he reports that all of the tubes have been removed except the catheter and IV.  He is still in ICU. They are starting to feed him food. Praise God.

Again we thank you for all your prayers that have helped make this possible.'

***

To my blogging friends,

please pray for this little boy and his parents

and siblings

and grandparents

and the doctors

and those who may come in contact with the Good News

of Jesus

because of this incident.

Noah's not out of the woods yet, but whoever heard of a kid falling 6 stories onto concrete and less than a week later is bumped in the MRI line because someone else has a more acute injury!

Miracles do happen.

And when you think about it, 

isn't it a miracle that each night when you go to sleep

your heart keeps beating

your lungs keep breathing air

the blood keeps flowing through your circulatory system

your hair keeps growing

your digestive system keeps working

your brain keeps working, even giving you dreams

your cells are repaired

and somehow that time of sleep rejuvenates your body.

And we hardly take notice.

Vintage School Atlas, School and Library Publishing Company, 1967

My favorite map in the atlas

Maybe by looking at this map, you can understand the gravitational pull that we who live in the upper midwest feel from the [huge] Great Lakes. The red dot roughly represents our neck of the woods. NW Wisconsin is called the 'Indianhead' region. Do you see the profile? Actually, I think it looks more like my Grandpa Nelson, but the 'Nelsonhead' region doesn't have the same ring, I guess.

I purchased this vintage school atlas at an auction some years back. I think it was at the same time that I made a haul on other maps as well, including the set of pull-down world history maps, pull-down map of North America, pull-down map of the United States, and various other maps after I was the high bid at $18. I paid that price for the set of world history maps, but because I had the high bid, I was able to get the others for a few dollars each. Evidently few others saw any value in 'old' history maps. I mean, really. World history maps? Unless you're in the business of changing history, I don't think they're going to go out of date. I know that at some point I will need to de-clutter our house even of old maps, but that drastic step won't be occurring for a while. My Big Red Box full of National Geographic maps is safe for now too. (This does not apply to a recent phone conversation, btw.) (Sorry, inside story)

Below are some special pages the publisher threw in for fun and education.

Country maps look like this:

State maps are a solid pale yellow.

And I know those of you who mail packages regularly will love the following charts!

Wouldn't you love to see postal rates like that again!

It looks like we could get rain at any minute, and are expecting temps in the mid 70s. Perfect weather, and I won't have to water the raspberries. It's a good day to clean another closet - or maybe make a batch of soap or read or drag out my old piano books or make a list - or all of the above.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

***

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Although I usually forget to do it, there is a chance that this post will be linked to one or more of these great linky parties: Inspiration Monday and Make it Pretty Monday and  Making the World Cuter Mondays and It's a Party at Creative Princess and Artsy Corner Thursday and Treasure Box Tuesday and KatheWithAnE and Rubbish Tuesday and Tuesday with a Twist and  Knick of Time Tuesday (vintage)  and   Tweak it Tuesday and Adorned From Above  and All Things With Purpose and Home & Garden Thursday and Good Fences on Thursdays and  Time Travel Thursday and Freedom Fridays and Junkin' Joe and Vintage Inspiration Friday and A Favorite Thing Saturday

Robin Family and the Wednesday Hodgepodge

 The hungry family who live on our front porch rafters

The mama, perched in the cranberry bush, waiting us to leave so she can deliver breakfast

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1. When I look at the sky I feel so grateful that there is a sovereign, gracious God who made the universe and everything in it, who loves us and wants us to love Him and delight in Him, who gave us all good things to enjoy and to reflect His glory. I am grateful that He is a God of justice, but also a God of mercy. I'm glad He gave us beauty and music and family and love...I really could go on and on...

 'It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, 

because his compassions fail not.

They are new every morning.

Great is thy faithfulness.'

Lamentations 3:22-23 

 July Sky

And speaking of family...
You should see the one that got away!

2. If you had to run for political office, which one would you run for? Do you have any real desire to actually do this?   Unless someone is totally selfless and devoted to upholding the Constitution and willing to put all their time and energy into making our country better and solvent, I don't think they should run at all. Do you know any people like that? I think it's been a long time since we've seen that type of person running for office.  As for me, if nominated, I will not run; if elected, I will not serve.

Baked by Daddy

3. What scent makes you think of home? Unlike the photo above, a beef pot roast. My mom would put it in the oven before we left for church on Sunday.

4. How often do you take a step back to think about where you're headed in life? Do you need more or less self-reflection?  I know why I'm here and where I'm headed, but the journey along the way needs some contemplation, prayer, confession, forgiveness, and refreshment from time to time - like daily (or sometimes moment by moment.)

 Astilbe in July

 
5. July is National Ice Cream Month...besides a cone, what's your favorite food item to top with ice cream?  If I ate ice cream, my favorite food to put it on would be apple pie. Or blueberry pie. Or peach pie. But if I ate ice cream, I would most likely put it on nothing at all. And it would be New York Cherry or Georgia Peach. And plenty of it.

 Then again, there are few things better than peach pie.

6. What might your autobiography be called?  A Life, In Two Pages (to help out that kid, like I was, who is looking for a quick book report.)

My Dragonwing Begonia that wintered over in the house

Happy to be out on the deck this summer

7. Your least favorite mode of transportation? Why?  Ship across the ocean. I watched Titanic.  And, I can't imagine not feeling claustrophobic on a ship out on the ocean, creeping its way toward my destination.

Seafaring Vikings, braver than I

8.  Insert your own random thought here.  The raspberries in the garden are ready, which means the end of summer is near. Those Six Dreaded Words. I see blight creeping up on my tomatoes and I don't know if they're going to mature before the blight gets to them. I'm afraid that next year if we want to get tomatoes we'll have to plant them in big containers and use only potting soil. I wonder if there is a sure way to prevent blight. I've tried all the suggestions from the county extension office, and they're not working for me, so I'm open to any suggestions from my fellow bloggers. I know that one suggestion is to move them to a different location, but we have a 50' x 50' garden that is fenced in. I can't move that.

Slim pickins on the first day, but a good crop coming along

***

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Although I usually forget to do it, there is a chance that this post will be linked to one or more of these great linky parties: Inspiration Monday and Make it Pretty Monday and  Making the World Cuter Mondays and It's a Party at Creative Princess and Artsy Corner Thursday and Treasure Box Tuesday and KatheWithAnE and Rubbish Tuesday and Tuesday with a Twist and  Knick of Time Tuesday (vintage)  and   Tweak it Tuesday and Adorned From Above  and All Things With Purpose and Home & Garden Thursday and Good Fences on Thursdays and  Time Travel Thursday and Freedom Fridays and Junkin' Joe and Vintage Inspiration Friday and Precious Pets and Saturday's Critters

Vintage Rusty Stuff, Wisconsin Barns, and Grandsons

 CLUE #1

 WHAT IS IT?

 CLUE #2

 CLUE #3

 You were right! It's an old Farmall B tractor

Every grandson has been attracted to that old tractor.

Another neighborhood Wisconsin barn

***

Check out my handcrafted, vegan soaps

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...and more! Check out all my handcrafted soaps at

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and at

Our ETSY Shop 

Although I usually forget to do it, there is a chance that this post will be linked to one or more of these great linky parties: Inspiration Monday and Make it Pretty Monday and  Making the World Cuter Mondays and It's a Party at Creative Princess and Artsy Corner Thursday and Treasure Box Tuesday and KatheWithAnE and Rubbish Tuesday and Tuesday with a Twist and  Knick of Time Tuesday (vintage)  and   Tweak it Tuesday and Adorned From Above  and All Things With Purpose and Home & Garden Thursday and Good Fences on Thursdays and  Time Travel Thursday and Freedom Fridays and Junkin' Joe and Vintage Inspiration Friday and A Favorite Thing Saturday