So here's the short of it, 
We had a great evening.

And here's the long.

Mom, Mommy Anne, and Mia as well as the kids joined us for the Seder.
It was a lovely evening.

Here's our closing prayer.

May the memories of this night inspire us to cast off our own shackles of intolerance, greed, and hatred. May we here resolve to break the chains that fetter our minds and blind us to the glory, beauty, and goodness which life offers in such abundance. Help us to realize that we cannot have freedom for ourselves unless we are willing to give it to others.  Through our daily deeds and devotion, may each of us in our own way, help to liberate all who live in fear, poverty, and oppression. May the light of freedom penetrate into all corners of the world, and lift the darkness of tyranny, until tyranny is no more, so that all people may be free.    Amen

So here's the short of it, 
Fun with Liga tonight.

And here's the long.

Liga came by this evening and we got some of tomorrow's cooking out of the way. We decided because of everyone's work schedule to have our Seder tomorrow (second night) instead of tonight.

Best picture I could find online

For the first time ever we are trying Poppy's recipe for creamed herring as our appetizer.  It was really fun to try it for the first time with Liga.  It's not done yet.  It turns out that you add the onion and apple and toasted almonds just at the last - but everything is ready to go for tomorrow afternoon.

Then we made our favorite Passover treat - homemade Eagle Brand Coconut Cookies.  Simplest recipe ever!  And we love, love, love them. We made a batch with and a batch without nuts.  I think they'd be good with chocolate drizzled on top of them, but I've never done that before.

Tomorrow she's coming over early to help get it all put together.  I'll enjoy having a partner in the kitchen.  I'll have to say,  I'm one lucky Mom.

So here's the short of it, 
Today I got a mid morning massage!

And here's the long.

It's quite luxurious to be able to go get a massage on a week day in the middle of the morning!

There was news just recently about a study that compared massage to pain medicines for lower back pain. You can find an article about it here.  It seems that research found that those who received massage were better able to work and be active for up to a year than those getting Painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants, or even physical therapy!

But insurance still hasn't come around to pay for massage therapy. I think it's made such a difference in my ability to function at a level that allows me to work, and enjoy some quality of life.  Maybe in the near future that will be a change.

So, in the meantime, I have to figure out a way to keep making it happen.

So here's the short of it,
Today was a great Mother-Daughter day.

And here's the long.

Mom and I spent the day getting a few things done.

Our first stop was at Lowes  for replacement bulbs for Mom's round florescent fixtures and garden seeds. Then to Home Depot - I was looking for a shelf - I bought something they had to cut and got it home to discover that it didn't work!!

Then we headed to Red Lobster for lunch - it's one of Mom's favorites and she doesn't get there very often unless we go.  Our next stop was to see Mommy Anne at Elmcroft - but she was on an outing so we missed her!

From there we headed to Publix - neither of us ever goes that far out of the way to grocery shop, but since we were going to be halfway there, we decided to go for it.  I saw people at the grocery store that I never see - and got a few things that I don't ever see at Bi-Lo or WalMart!

We ran by the house to put away cold things and then headed to the Barn Nursery.  We both got plants. I got herbs as well as flowers for the hanging baskets in the back and the vases on the front porch.  Mom got several things as well.

Finally, on the way home, we made a stop at the Cemetery.  Mom had some beautiful Easter Lilies for Dad's gravesite.  They were really beautiful.

Our final stop was WalMart to take a look at chairs for her gazebo.  She found a small table, but nothing else.

It was lovely to get to spend so much time with Mom! Another great reason to love Spring Break.

So here's the short of it, 
Sophie is just right for this time in my life.

And here's the long.

 Alan and I have had 3 dogs together, and they've all had very distinct and great personalities. And it seems like each has been just right for the time of our lives.

Sophie keeps me company every day.  Almost every evening we take a walk around the circle.  Sometimes we go around 2 times - sometimes more.  Most of the time she's not on a leash.  She walks at her pace and I walk at mine.  Sometimes I go faster, sometimes she is the one going faster.  She stops to sniff at all sorts of interesting smells, chases squirrels, and plays with any of the circle dogs that happen to be out at the same time. She's learning to sit when I give her that command even if she's several feet away from me.  I do that so that if a strange dog or a person who seems fearful of her comes into the circle.  She sits for me and I can get her on leash in just a flash.  We're making progress on that!  When I'm ready to come in, I just have to say "Sophie, Home", and she heads home from wherever she is on the circle (I'm exaggerating a bit - this happens only about 3/4 of the time now-but she's making great progress.

While she's home during the day and not busy with some other self assigned task, such as patrolling the fence or barking at whatever she thinks might need barking at, she often hangs out in the front room fireplace.  It's a non-working fireplace, and it's always been a favorite spot for our dogs, and she really does enjoy it.

When I come home in the evening or from being out on a shopping trip, Sophie will meet me at the back gate.  If I have more than one trip to bring things into the house, she'll "help" me by walking with me.  Running away doesn't even occur to her; she's too busy with her job of making sure I make it to the car and then back into the house!

Then there's breakfast.  We eat breakfast together every morning.  Whatever I'm having, I just make her some as well.  She eats oatmeal, eggs, yogurt - whatever - then eats her dog food!  As the weather gets warmer, we'll do this ritual out of the patio!  At supper time, she's not so interested in eating, but she's always in the dining room just keeping us company and waiting to help me in the kitchen.  In the evenings after I'm all done and sit down for a bit of time with the computer, she stretches out and naps nearby - but only after she's had a beef short rib.  I keep them in the freezer and thaw one out every night.  She just loves her meaty bone.

When I finally make it to the bed - as I'm going to do in just a few minutes, she comes right along and spends the night on the floor just in reach.

What a gift!  What a beautiful companion. 

So here's the short of it, 
Hurray for a Spring Break Monday!

And here's the long. 

I slept just a little later than usual (not until noon as I had wished); I got the kitchen cleaned up; and I took one of those long, luxurious, not on a schedule, have all the time you ever wished for showers!

Now it's late, and I'm watching the final NCAA Championship Basketball Game.

Yes, I'm watching the game.  Well, Kentucky is playing - that might be one of the few reasons I can think of that I'd be interested in watching a televised basketball game.

I'm going to hope we win, keep watching til it's over, and say, "Kentucky, you've got a strange hold on me."

So here's the short of it, 
The saga of Plato has a happy ending.

And here's the long.

Plato 

Plato, the kidnapped cat, is home safe this evening - with his second family.  We covered the neighborhood with fliers on Saturday and today someone found him and called.  When Joan got there, he was in the family's driveway and he came running to her.

Mom is so grateful that they spent so much time and energy to get him back.  She's decided that instead of sharing Plato with them, that she should let them be the owners and share him with her from time to time.  She knows how attached they've become to him and they really do spoil him.  He has two beds and his own chair at their office.  They brought him by to visit for a bit tonight and promised that she can have visitation rights - they'll bring him by to see her from time to time.

They are going to keep him inside for a few days.  We all think that's such a great idea.  He must be terribly confused right now after being taken to a strange house full of strange people and strange cats and dogs - then two days and nights lost in the woods!  He needs some stressless time to recover!  In addition there's some concern that the woman who took him might try to come get him again. She seems to be quite an unsavory character with quite a long police record.  It's still pretty hard to imagine that someone would really steal a pet!

Hey Plato - welcome home(s) boy!