Thursday, September 2, 2010

Now if someone will just move the cat from my face...

I remember coming in the other day and sitting down at the computer and posting on my blog for the first time in a long time.  I was taking a break from food preservation chores and enjoying every second of my time away from the stove/freezer/dehydrator...you know, the tools of the trade for Little Susie Homemaker.  I went to bed after catching up with about half my friends on-line.  I was so upset to hear about their losses and tragedies, but then there were those who had triumphs and victories in life and that cheered me back up again.  So, that was on Saturday.  I had canned 7 quarts of pears and knew that I would do no more until the coming weekend.  I remember going to Church on Sunday and greeting friends, adding Anya and Wilfred to our prayer list http://anya-kareltje.blogspot.com/ because her situation is so desperate at this time. (I urge you all to go read up on her situation and pray for them.)

But then came Sunday night.  I had a slight cough and my head began to feel as though it were stuffed with jello.  I've heard people say it is like cotton wool, but no, Jello is definitely what it seems to be.  I stretched out on the sofa and put a pillow beneath my head and under my knees while waiting for the person who might bring me a cold compress for my head and a warm drink for my hands.   When no such creature appeared to take care of my aches and snuffles, I got up and got the damned cold compress and made myself a cup of hot tea with honey and cinnamon. Grouchy was going to be the theme of the day. I also fetched a roll of paper towels, this was no job for Kleenex.   I sat, legs pulled beneath me, holding the cup gripped in two aching hands and sipped.  I placed the cold compress on my neck and immediately took it off while I developed a chill.   I remembered my little cross stitch sign I had done from an old Erma Bombeck quote:  Why do my family get to have flu in bed while I have it at the kitchen sink?   I dimly wondered what had ever happened to my lovely little cross stitch piece.   I cursed the garden that robbed me of Mac's tender care...damn garden.

So, I am not sure exactly how sick I should tell you I am.  I do know that I came to at least once  with one cat on my stomach and another wrapped around my neck.  I sort of whimpered and Mac came and moved JJ off my throat and went to move Hound, the cat from hell,  where she now lay possessively across my chest.  That was a mistake.  He quickly pulled his hand back while it was still attached to his arm and left me to my misery, Hound my only guardian.  Someone, the hot tea fairy maybe, brought me a cup of tea and wanted to know what was for supper.  The glare in their direction sent them scuttling backward.  That was Monday.  Tuesday I was up at the stove trying to fix Mac a hamburger when older son asked if I wanted him to do it.  "You sort of look like you might dive head first into that frying pan, " he warned me.  Turning over burning dinner duties to him I stumbled back to the sofa and the remote control.

Then  came Wednesday.  Still with a hacking cough, head more like warm tapioca  than Jello, I'm not making the mistake of taking my temperature .  I took it on Tuesday to find it was 101 and immediately felt 101% worse.  Won't do that again.  I tell Mac and older son if anyone calls to check on me to tell them I'm sitting up and taking a bit of broth. While I really don't feel much like phone talking,  oddly enough blogging relaxes me.  But I see that I've probably been up long enough, when everything I've just posted suddenly disappears from the screen.  Damn Windows 7.  Damn garden.  Damn Tea  Fairy.  But I hear that somewhere there is a Toddy Fairy.  So I'm wishing for a Toddy Fairy, and hoping she'll make it a double.  

38 comments:

Strawberry Jam Anne said...

Sorry to hear that you are feelling so unwell Sandi. You are right to take it easy until you are feeling up to par. Good that your son and husband are there to help out BUT where on earth would you be without your lovely cats for comfort. They seem to sense when nursing is needed and always do their furry and purry best. AND I have heard that the Toddy Fairy is THE BEST! Hope you get well soon. A x

PS word verification is WORSH! Are you sure you haven't overdone the toddy!

Lee said...

Sandi, I'll gladly become your toddy fairy if I could figure out how to fly without wings to your home. Glad to know you're feeling a bit better and hope this cold goes away in short order. Also VERY glad to know the boys help take care of you. I believed you when you said you'd take care of it yourself. You brought them up right, Honey! :-)

And darn, I wanted to be the first post but someone beat me to it. Oh well. I'm glad you're back to writing. Hope it continues.

Love,
Lee

Jeni said...

This past weekend must have been the assigned time for blogger illnesses! I spent all day Friday and Saturday and most of Sunday too, wrapped in a blanket, freezing. Didn't take my temp either -mainly cause I had no clue where the thermometer might have been hidden but I'm pretty sure I had a lo-grade fever. Just ached and froze but thankfully, no other issues developed. Woke up Monday morning free of the frozen syndrome and been a-okay on that front since then. (OH and from Thursday night thru Saturday, my neighbor's son was here fighting a nasty virus on my computer too so apparently it really was the weekend for sickness I think.) Hope you feel all better quickly, Sandy. Can't have you out of commission from something like this after being away working on the garden stuff for so long, ya know! Get some rest, a hot toddy, meds too and get well, please.

Vee said...

Feel better, Sandi. I'm so sorry that the bug got you and if that old temp hovers that high, call the doctor. They have stuff these days you know. I mean, it's not the dark ages anymore. Wish I could bring you some tea. Does it help to know that I'm working on a tea cozy for you?

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

Sandi, I hope you feel better soon! If I was a neighbor, I would bring you that hot toddy! Along with some chicken soup.
Hugs,
Penny

Pondside said...

I love the saying on your cross stitch and I may have to stitch it up for my daughter-in-law, who is at that full-tilt-ahead stage of life with two wee ones and can't afford two minutes to be sick (remember those days!?)
I hope you're feeling better by this morning - and that your medical team turns things up a notch so that a toddy appears when needed!

larkswing said...

Oh Sandi! Sorry to hear you are under the weather. Offer a prayer for speedy recovery and a warm toddy!

Kathy's Klothesline said...

Sorry to hear you are down. I am still battleing my poison whatever outbreak. I have been down all week, too. He who should be taking care of me is more than happy to jump in a vehicle and go on a mission to purchase the latest remedy, but he's not very useful in proving creature comforts .....

I think sometimes that this is the body's way of slowing us down....

i beati said...

oh the cat poultice I know it well.

NitWit1 said...

Hope you have found the toddy cat fairy by now. That sounds like awful stuff.

I already have my flu shot for this season. not sure that is what you had but darn near it.

Prayers for a faster recovery.

Finding Pam said...

Sandi, it is just awful that you are sick. I am sending hugs and love your way.

I usually wait a week to ten days before I go to a doctor. They say it takes three days to get sick, three days to be sick and three days to get well.

Hilary said...

Aww poor you. Sending healing hugs your ways... feel betterd soon.

Love Bears All Things said...

Wondered what you were up to but expected to hear about something fun...sorry you've been so busy with canning and then that you are sick but perhaps you over did the work and needed a rest. I think I would have thrown something if Honey Bear had asked me that question in the middle of my sickness. Tell them I said to take care of you for me.
Get well,
Mama Bear

Carver said...

I'm sorry to hear you're sick. I hope you feel much better very soon.

SandyCarlson said...

I hope you feel better soon, my friend. Thanks for keeping us informed and entertained despite how you feel. God bless.

myonlyphoto said...

Oh Sandi sorry to hear about your cold. You know what happens, usually when you work so hard, that something you did those many weeks, and that one time you relax, the bug will get you. It happened to me so many times, lol, once I got shingles, but according to statistics, they do happen after fifty and not in mid thirties. Again, I hope you will get better soon, and thanks for sharing your post, looks like you are back to blogging full time. Anna :)

PS I been visiting Anya since her husband got sick, this is such a terrible tragedy, and my prayers are with the whole family. Thanks for the reminder.

Brian Miller said...

hope your fairy is nice to you...smiles. and that you feel better very soon...

��Radio Mihalis Thalassis - Athens Greece said...

Sandi,καλημέρα ευχαριστώ πολύ
γεια το σχόλιο σας.
Χάρηκα πολύ γεια σας,Μιχάλης.

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Sandi: Hang in there and turn the bend for better.

Donna said...

Oh!! Sorry you're sick Sweetie!! Hope you feel better Soon!!
I HATE Windows7...NOTHING works with it! SO, I Unloaded it and returned my computer to Vista Home Premium...love it!
Now everything works!
Happy weekend!
hughugs

Maggie May said...

Hope you will soon feel a lot better.
You are lucky to have such guardians to your throat and chest!
Maggie X

Nuts in May

www.retiredandcrazy.com said...

There's a lot of it going about Sandi. You take care now. And get Mac to make his own blasted burgers. Just to cheer you up, I hate Windows 7 too!

Mary said...

Sandi
Hope you fell better soon See Sarahs blog for wedding photo MAry

Pseudo said...

Hope you are feeling better already.

Akelamalu said...

Sorry to hear you've not been feeling well Sandi, I hope you're feeling better. x

Justabeachkat said...

Oh no! Hope you feel much better soon sweet friend.

Hugs,
Kat

Mickle in NZ said...

The world definately needs a toddi faery - or at least the pub I was introduced to in London (UK) in 1987 that would "Hot Toddy" any spirit.
Whisky loathing me had a brandy one.

Lovely to have you back blogging after such an incredible summer of grwoing, tending and cooking. No wonder you are feeling poorly!

Mac!!! give your Sandi a break to recover properly - try preserving the treasures from your fruit and vege garden yourself for a bit. (My dear Dad makes all the jams, marmalades, pickles and relishes for himself and Mum - he will be 80 years young in December)

Darling Sandi - so good to have you back blogging, what a magnificent, on going harvest you and Mac have from your yard.

Sending full on Respect (with that capital R)to Hound, and care and huggles to everyone else,

Michelle and Zebbycat, xxxx and purrrrumbles

larkswing said...

Hope you are feeling much better this week!

ancient one said...

Hope you feel better soon..

Lib said...

Hope you feel better soon!
Blessins',Lib

Merisi said...

I hope you are feeling better,
big hug,
Merisi

Beth P. said...

Hi Sandi--
Sure good to hear from you here and on my blog--been missing you!

And if I had my druthers I'd come over right now with toddies for both of us, as I'm in the head-pudding stage of a cold as well.

Loved the Erma quote...and that you cross stitched it, that was fun to think of !

Get better, with or without some pampering!

Diva's Thoughts said...

I remember Erma!! Haven't heard her name in ages. I remember the day she died. :(

I truly hope that Toddy fairy comes soon and you begin to feel better very quickly.

Diney said...

hope you feel better soon - love the cat blankets!

imbeingheldhostage said...

Oh I hope you're better soon!! Bless Hound for looking after you.

The bright side?: you are building an immunity so that you won't get ANY colds or flu this winter.
bad side: You'll be plenty healthy to take care of Mac and everyone else that didn't build up this immunity.

feel better soon Sandi, xoxo

merry weather said...

Are you better now Sandi? I do hope so. Catching up here with you has been lovely :-)

Boy. Do I envy your garden!! I can so understand the lure of being outside and harvesting all these crops. (And I am so with you on that loaded sandwich over the kitchen sink moment. Hey sister!)

Hugs back to you. Hope all is well. X

jay said...

Oh, my goodness - it sounds as if you are very far from well! :( I do hope you will soon feel better. Meanwhile, it will do them no harm to cook dinner and bring you tea and hot toddies!

Take care of yourself, and don't let your cat guardian tear anyone to shreds while you're still in need of that tea!

rosecreekcottage-carol.blogspot.com said...

Sandi...I haven't been around in quite a while...too much work shtuffs...and I'm so sorry to find you under-the-weather! I hope this passes soon, and finds you back to canning all those goodies again!!! xoxoxoxox Carol